Zhu Yuanzhang Returns from Modern Times

Chapter 249 Something happened!
The lights in Hu Weiyong's residence, which had been extinguished, were now turned on again.

Hu Weiyong's clothes were somewhat disheveled, clearly indicating that he had gotten up again after going to bed.

His complexion looked rather unpleasant.

Standing in front of him was a person who looked somewhat nervous and apprehensive.

This person was one of Hu Weiyong's trusted confidants.

Judging from their expressions, it was clear that something must have happened to Hu Weiyong, and it was something that Hu Weiyong had not anticipated.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

After a moment of silence, Hu Weiyong looked at the person in front of him and questioned him with dissatisfaction.

"Master...Master, it was my oversight."

The villain thought that after two incidents, nothing else would happen, but unexpectedly, trouble struck again.

Those lowly people deserve to die; they have nothing better to do than wander around aimlessly in broad daylight.

He quickly admitted his mistake, and then started cursing at the people who had been killed in the accident.

They never mentioned Hu Tianci, who drove recklessly on the road and raced with others.

He understood all too well just how high a place Hu Tianci held in Hu Weiyong's heart.

It's best not to mention him yourself. If you bring up Hu Tianci's affairs, you'll only be shifting the blame onto Hu Tianci.

Even though it was clearly Hu Tianci's fault, no matter how much she tried to persuade him, he wouldn't listen and insisted on racing with others, and he even went to crowded places.

Even after the incident, he showed no remorse and couldn't be persuaded otherwise.

But he couldn't say that; if he did, he would definitely suffer the consequences.

Hu Weiyong's expression remained unpleasant as he looked at Li Gui, who was sincerely apologizing.

But in the end, he didn't say much more criticism.

"You've been by my side for so many years. Seeing that you're reliable and conscientious, I've assigned you to Tianci's side so you can follow him."

Unexpectedly, this kind of thing happened!

After saying this, Hu Weiyong put his hands behind his back and paced back and forth in the room.

They are clearly trying to come up with a solution.

After a year, he stopped, as if he had made up his mind.

"Pack your things first, rush back, take Tianci with you, and set off immediately. Don't stay in Changzhou, go to Jiangxi."

I will arrange your itinerary and accommodation.

Once you get there, remember not to let Tianci cause any more trouble.

It is said that Hu Tianci was originally in the capital, but because he recently became obsessed with racing, Hu Weiyong was afraid that there would be too many people in the capital and he might hit someone.

Of course, the most important thing was that the emperor kept a close watch on them; under the emperor's nose, there was no fear of any trouble arising.

During this period, he openly and secretly caused the Crown Prince a lot of trouble, fearing that he would be caught out.

Only then did they send someone to take Hu Tianci to Changzhou.

Who would have thought that things would turn out just as badly there, with the same incident occurring.

Changzhou is quite close to the capital.

It would be better to take it to a more distant place.

Once they arrived in Jiangxi, far from the emperor's reach and with him, the prime minister, there was no doubt that even if his son caused some trouble, he could cover it up.

He knows many people in Jiangxi.

Even the current Provincial Treasurer and Provincial Surveillance Commissioner of Jiangxi have an excellent relationship with him and follow his lead without question.

Under these circumstances, his son lived a very comfortable life there.

Even if something really serious happens, there are people there who can cover for it.

They will suppress it so that the people above won't know.

As long as this matter doesn't reach Zhu Yuanzhang's ears, it's not a big deal, no matter how big the problem is.

"what?"

Li Gui was stunned upon hearing this, clearly not expecting his master to make such an arrangement.

"What do you mean 'ah'? Just do as I say!"
Oh, and we also need to clean up the mess in Changzhou, give them plenty of money, and make sure to put in a good word with the officials to keep this matter quiet.

Tell the families of the deceased not to dwell on this matter.

"Master, I have already made all the arrangements here."

Li Gui quickly spoke up.

Hu Weiyong nodded, said a few words, and then called out to another person.

This was another of his trusted confidants, whom he sent with Li Gui to Changzhou to handle the matter.

"Don't be stingy with money. Make sure to suppress this matter and do it properly, leaving no hidden dangers."

Of course, if those lowly people make exorbitant demands, one cannot simply submit.

After saying that, he looked at Li Gui and said, "It's not that I'm being unreasonable, but I don't trust your methods of handling things."

These are turbulent times, so caution is paramount.

It's enough to spend a little more money to get it done properly.

Money can't be earned anytime; that's the saying, "Even if you spend all your money, it will come back."

Upon hearing Hu Weiyong's words, Li Gui quickly said, "Master, your insight is brilliant."

The unpleasant feelings I had felt vanished at that moment...

After explaining the situation in detail, the two bid farewell to Hu Weiyong and left that very night.

The door had just closed when a woman came out from behind it.

It's obvious they've been waiting here for a while, wanting to speak for a long time.

This person was none other than Hu Weiyong's wife.

"Master, this...this can't be serious, can it? It's just that a few lowly commoners were run over and killed. Who told those commoners to come to Tianci's carriage when they had nothing to do?"
They bumped into my son, and we didn't even pursue their wrongdoing; that was already more than enough. We even went so far as to compensate them.

That's one thing, but you even made Tianci go to Jiangxi?
That place is so far away from us! I can't bear to leave.

That place was a poor and remote area; how could Tianci possibly get used to living there?

If someone gets hurt or bumped, we won't be able to know immediately since we're so far away.

It's heartbreaking to think about.

"My lord, you are the prime minister of the court, how can you live so cautiously?"

As soon as Madam Hu came out, she expressed her strong dissatisfaction to Hu Weiyong.

They believe that Hu Weiyong handled these matters very poorly.

"What do you know? That's just a woman's perspective!"
Tianci is growing up, so it's good to let him live somewhere far away. We can't watch over him forever.

Who told you that Jiangxi is a poor, remote place? I would send my son to a poor, remote place!

He is my only son, Hu Weiyong. You feel sorry for him, but do you think I don't?
Don't worry, I'll make sure everything is arranged when you get there.

He would definitely be more comfortable there than in the capital.

There are prosperous places in Jiangxi too; he's safer and happier there than in the capital.

Hu Weiyong suppressed his irritation and looked at Madam Hu, offering words of comfort.

When Hu Tianci was mentioned, Hu Weiyong's face was full of affection...

……

"What have you done?" Empress Ma asked. "Could it be that you've forgotten all about returning home?"

This was the worst thing Zhu Qizhen could ever do, as she could think of.

"If he could be so happy that he forgot about home, he'd be a decent human being! We wouldn't be so resentful when we talk about him!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said angrily.

Liu Shan is remembered for his famous line, "I was so happy in Shu that I forgot about Shu," which has led to him being ridiculed by many.

It became a typical negative example.

In reality, if we were to compare all these emperors, there would be far too many who couldn't compare to Liu Shan.

Take Wanyan the Dog for example; if he could switch places with Liu Shan, Yue Fei would be overjoyed.

Even if Zhu Qizhen were to be captured like Liu Shan and then become so happy that he forgot all about Shu, he would be thankful.

"Girl, this is a hundred or a thousand times worse than this!"

Empress Ma was stunned. What could be worse than this, a hundred times, a thousand times worse?

"He was then led by the Oirat people to Datong, and then to the other passes of the Ming Dynasty, where he declared himself emperor and asked the Ming generals to open the gates. He wanted to lure the Oirat people into the pass."

what? !

Even though Empress Ma had already made very bad plans in her heart, her expression still changed abruptly when she heard Zhu Yuanzhang say these words.

Could this really be?!
That bastard, how could he do such a thing?

He is the emperor!

The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty!
He led so many troops and ruined the Ming Dynasty, causing the deaths of so many people, not to mention that.

Not only did they not dare to commit suicide and were willing to be captured by the enemy, but they could also do something like this!

Go knock on the door for the enemy!

How could he do such a thing?
Go and call for the nation's borders for the enemy!

This is too humiliating, and too shameless!

This is even more disgusting than what Emperor Huizong of Song and his son did!

They should be even more despicable and even more vile!

Is this something a ruler of a country should do?!
How could such scum appear in our own Ming Dynasty?

No wonder Chongba looked like he was gritting his teeth and wanted to tear this guy to pieces when he mentioned him.

It turns out they actually did something so utterly shameless!

This is utterly shameful!

After seeing the series of terrible things Zhu Qizhen did, and then thinking about Zhu Yunwen, Empress Ma suddenly felt that Zhu Yunwen didn't seem so repulsive anymore.

"Chongba, have they opened the door?"

Empress Ma asked nervously.

"No."

That’s good!

Empress Ma breathed a sigh of relief.

"How could my Zhu family have such an unfilial descendant!"

Seeing his sister so angry, Zhu Yuanzhang reached out and gently patted Empress Ma's back, comforting her, "Sister, calm down, don't get angry over such a scoundrel."

It's not worth getting angry and ruining your health over such a beast.

"Zhongba, has the capital of my Great Ming fallen? Has it been defended?"

"This...it won't turn into the Song Dynasty, will it?"

Empress Ma asked anxiously.

After saying that, he suddenly realized that such a thing had not happened.

Because, as Chongba had told him before, Li Zicheng still managed to capture Beiping City at the end of the dynasty, and Chongzhen hanged himself from a crooked tree.

It left behind the saying, "The emperor guards the nation's gates, and the monarch dies for the state."

While feeling relieved, they were also extremely curious about how the Ming Dynasty had managed to hold on under such circumstances.

"No, sister, our Great Ming Dynasty won the Battle of Beiping."

When news of Zhu Qizhen's series of disgraceful acts to his ancestors reached the capital, it caused a great shock in the city!
Countless people immediately panicked.

Even if Zhu Yuanzhang hadn't told Empress Ma, she could have guessed it.

Just think about it, the emperor personally led the expedition, taking away many elite troops.

As a result, so many elite troops were wiped out, and even the emperor was captured alive.

So many military generals and so many ministers were also killed.

This devastating news was like a bolt from the blue.

She was now curious about how the Ming Dynasty managed to hold on under such difficult circumstances.

"At that time, some people suggested abandoning the capital and moving south."

In this situation, Yu Qian, the Vice Minister of War, stepped forward and angrily rebuked them in the court.

To put it bluntly, anyone who dares to suggest migrating south should be executed!

Empress Ma's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

A pillar of the nation! It is in times of crisis that true heroes are revealed!
Yu Qian's proposal was supported by Wang Zhi, the Minister of Personnel, and Chen Xun, a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.

At that time, the most combat-effective troops and elite cavalry in the capital had fallen at Tumu Fortress, leaving less than 100,000 exhausted soldiers, and the people were in a state of panic.

There was no confidence among officials and the court.

Yu Qian requested that Prince Cheng, also known as Zhu Qiyu, mobilize the reserve troops from the two capitals (Beijing and Nanjing), Henan, the anti-Japanese pirate troops from Shandong and the coastal areas of Nanjing, and the grain transport troops from Jiangbei and the prefectures under Beijing to immediately rush to Shuntian Prefecture.

With the management and planning in progress, people's hearts were somewhat at ease.

Subsequently, Yu Qian was promoted to Minister of War, and was given full authority to plan the defense of the capital.

Later, together with others, he petitioned to have Zhu Qizhen's younger brother, Zhu Qiyu, ascend the throne as emperor.

The emperor remotely honored Zhu Qizhen as the Retired Emperor, which served two purposes: firstly, to resolve the situation of a leaderless state and instability within the Ming Dynasty.

Secondly, this tactic also directly neutralized the sinister intentions of the Oirat Mongols to threaten the Ming Dynasty by using the emperor as leverage.

It can be described as killing several birds with one stone.

In October, an imperial edict ordered Yu Qian to take command of the troops in all camps.

Meanwhile, Esen, having taken Zhu Qizhen, who had become the retired emperor, hostage, broke through Zijing Pass and advanced towards the capital.

Shi Heng suggested withdrawing the troops and holding the position, so that the enemy troops would be exhausted and worn out.

Yu Qian disagreed, saying: Why show weakness to the enemy and make them despise me even more?
He immediately dispatched his generals to lead 220,000 soldiers to form a battle formation outside the nine gates.

Meanwhile, Yu Qian and Shi Heng, along with Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fan Guang and Wu Xing, lined up outside Desheng Gate to resist Esen.

He handed over the affairs of the Ministry of War to Vice Minister Wu Ning, closed all the city gates, and personally supervised the battle.

The order was given that any general who, in the face of battle, disregards his troops and retreats first, shall be executed.

The soldiers disregarded the retreating enemy and charged the rear guard!

Esen believed that his troops had penetrated deep into the territory and could easily capture the capital.

Arriving here and seeing the Ming Dynasty's army in full battle array, I felt somewhat disheartened.

The traitorous eunuch Xi Ning instigated Esen to invite the ministers of the Ming Dynasty to welcome the retired emperor, demanding countless amounts of gold and silk.

He also invited Yu Qian, Wang Zhi, Hu Ying, and others to come out of the city for negotiations.

Zhu Qiyu refused.

Esen was furious and ordered his men to attack Beiping.

However, they were bravely stopped by the Ming soldiers.

They also killed many Oirat people.

After a five-day stalemate, Esen realized that he could not capture Beiping in a short time, and upon hearing that reinforcements from various routes were about to arrive, he ordered a retreat.

Yu Qian dispatched troops to attack and pursue them, fighting all the way to Juyong Pass before returning.

This crisis is now completely resolved.

Speaking of these things, Zhu Yuanzhang's spirits rose.

Yu Qian, Junior Guardian, is truly remarkable!

When West Lake was later renovated and the tombs were relocated,

Only a very few tombs have survived, including Yu Qian's.

Thanks to the two Junior Protectors, people began to appreciate the West Lake.

This is the best evaluation of Qian.

Zhu Yuanzhang knew that in later generations, there would be many voices criticizing Yu Qian.

For example, the idea that civil officials were in charge of the military began with Yu Qian, and it is said that Yu Qian took the opportunity to plot and seize power, and so on.

In response, Zhu Yuanzhang could only say that these people were simply reversing cause and effect, talking nonsense without understanding the situation.

Without Yu Qian, under those circumstances, the capital would have been lost, and the Ming Dynasty would have had to move south.

When a country is on the verge of collapse, why would it still have the mind to consider such things?

It was precisely because of winning this defensive battle that the Ming Dynasty had the right and the destiny to continue with what followed.

Which is more important, which is the cause, and which is the effect? ​​We need to consider the lighter one.

This is like someone who is about to die saying that if only their parents hadn't given birth to them, they wouldn't be dying.

(End of this chapter)