Zhu Yuanzhang Returns from Modern Times

Lan Yu's good mood didn't last long.

Because when he led his troops to Heilongguan, a strategically important and heavily guarded pass in the southwest.

Before he could even exert any force, the people inside had already surrendered.

Lan Yu was somewhat stunned.

I don't quite understand these people. They clearly said before that they would fight to the death against them.

How did it become like this?

He was really looking forward to having a good fight with these people.

How could they surrender?

Despite feeling frustrated, Lan Yu couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of hope.

Don't lose heart.

There are still many battles to fight.

It's impossible for people here to surrender, and then people elsewhere to surrender as well.

Next, there will always be an opportunity for me to show my prowess.

In this situation, although he can quickly gain merit, it is not what he wants.

It was far from the kind of battle he wanted.

Soon after, bad news followed.

He obtained the information from these people.

It is said that the King of Liang has already fled with his men.

The people guarding the pass surrendered precisely because they learned of this news.

Upon hearing this news, Lan Yu was devastated.

Standing in the wind and rain, he looked disheveled.

The King of Liang has left.

How could such a thing escape before it was even born?
Didn't we agree to fight to the death with everything we had?

Why are they running faster than rabbits at this time?

Are these people like rabbits that have been scared out of their wits?

How come they're all such scoundrels, they don't have the slightest bit of courage!

Why don't they dare to stay and have a proper fight with our side?

Our own Ming Dynasty isn't that strong, so why do we have to run away?
He just wanted to have a good fight and compete with Mu Ying, so that people would know that Lan Yu could outdo Mu Ying.

But now, everywhere they go, everything surrenders.

How can this possibly highlight one's abilities?

Many Ming soldiers were overjoyed upon hearing this news.

But Lan Yu couldn't laugh.

Compared to the others here, he was completely out of place.

Suddenly, he lost interest in continuing the campaign.

It just felt so dull and tasteless...

……

In another direction, over the Bailong River, Mu Ying was taken aback as he watched as his troops, who had just arrived and hadn't even crossed the river, came to surrender.

Very unexpected.

For a moment, everyone was somewhat suspicious that the other party was cheating.

They were even more surprised after hearing what these people said about the fact that the King of Liang had secretly escaped.

However, Mu Ying did not react further.

Everything was carried out meticulously.

They dispatched troops to investigate step by step, and with caution, took over the enemy's camp.

They discovered that everything was actually true.

After confirming that these facts were true, Mu Ying did not feel much regret.

On the contrary, it was quite a pleasant surprise.

This is because it means that the upcoming battle will be much, much easier than expected.

There will be many soldiers, thus less bloodshed and death.

The price that the Ming Dynasty would have to pay would also be much less.

This is exactly what he wanted to see.

As for the fact that this would reduce his chances of making contributions and make his task seem less challenging, that was not something he was considering.

The easier it is to win the battle, the less casualties your side will suffer.

That's what makes people even happier.

However, this time, the King of Liang fled directly, which greatly reduced the resistance on this side.

Without resistance, the Ming Dynasty will kill fewer people this time.

After Liang Wang and others fled, the local tribal leaders would be unable to recognize the strength of the Ming Dynasty, and at the same time, they would also be unable to recognize their own strength.

Going forward, managing this area effectively will not be easy.

However, although it is not easy, it is still much easier than attacking a city gate or a narrow pass.

If we don't kill them now, it won't be too late to kill them later when they become disobedient.

If the local leaders need it, the Ming Dynasty would not mind filling in the missing link.

By then, they will also be able to clearly recognize how vast the gap is between them and their own Ming Dynasty...

Under these circumstances, the Ming Dynasty's advance into the southwest became very smooth, progressing at a rapid pace.

Before long, the army advanced all the way to Kunming...

……

"That guy was lucky he ran fast."

Inside the Wuying Hall, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the battle report that had been delivered, a look of regret on his face.

He had originally planned to capture this thing alive and behead it.

But they ran away ahead of time.

However, it's good that they ran away; it will save us a lot of effort, so it's a good thing.

In his previous life, the Tartars, including Zhalawami, were powerless to resist the continuous advance of their Ming Dynasty.

Ultimately, abandoning Kunming meant fleeing ahead of time.

However, they didn't get very far before making some other moves.

That is to stop the escape, then take action and drive his queen into Dianchi Lake to drown.

After witnessing the death of his queen, he went to the thatched hut and, together with Dad and Lur, set himself on fire and died.

This time, however, things were a little different.

Instead of attempting suicide, he fled.

This is something I've done in my life, and it has caused some fluctuations, flapped its wings, and brought about some changes.

After all, when they attacked the southwest in their previous life, their strength wasn't this great.

At the very least, the Northern Yuan royal court was not destroyed, and its emperor had not been beheaded.

Things are different now, so it's normal for there to be these differences between the past and the present.

However, this has created some additional difficulties for governing the southwest region.

But it's not too difficult.

As long as we keep getting things done there, governing the southwest will be fine.

As for those chieftains, and those tribes in the southwest...

Kill those who should be killed, bury those who should be buried, and win over those who should be won over.

A combination of kindness and severity can also make them behave.

To completely bring the southwest under our rule?
"Father, how should we govern the southwest region?"

Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and asked a question.

Zhu Biao was not at all surprised that the army had taken over the southwest.

The only surprise was how easy it was.

But it was just a slight surprise.

Even if the Prince of Liang in the southwest does not surrender or flee, it is still certain that the Ming Dynasty will take over the southwest.

In the southwest, the most important thing is not how to conquer it, but how to defend it after it is conquered. That is the most crucial point.

If we can't control the southwestern region after we've captured it, then it's as if we haven't fought at all.

"Biao'er, what do you think we should do?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Biao and asked with a smile.

As soon as Zhu Biao heard his father say these words, he immediately understood what his father meant.

Another test from the Emperor has arrived.

Of course, it can't really be called a test; it was more like guidance and instruction from my father.

Zhu Biao had already considered these things.

Upon hearing his father's question, he thought for a moment and immediately spoke.

“Father, I feel that the southwest is different from other places.”

The southwest is too remote, and it has been separated from China for far too long.

It far surpasses places like the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun.

And it has never been able to establish an effective rule.

The area to the south is characterized by high mountains and dense forests, and is located in a remote location.

Various tribes also lived there, and many of them were not very obedient to the king's rule and had not been brought under his control.

It is more difficult to govern than the area to the north.

To completely subdue the southwest and make it part of the territory of our Great Ming, we need to put in a great deal of effort.

First, there needs to be a trustworthy person who can lead troops into battle, and who is not only good at killing but also has a meticulous mind to guard the area.

Only by taking overall control and employing both kindness and severity can temporary stability be maintained in the southwest.

Only with such a person in place can we discuss the governance of various places in the southwest.

Otherwise, it's all just empty talk.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded to himself, agreeing with Biao'er's assessment of the matter.

"Who do you think would be the most suitable candidate for Biao'er?"
Zhu Biao didn't hesitate: "Brother Wenying, he's the most suitable."

Wen Yingge is an extremely capable commander, and he is very disciplined in his military operations. He is capable yet very disciplined and will not act recklessly.

He is unassuming and not domineering, but he can handle important responsibilities.

He wouldn't engage in indiscriminate killing in the southwest; he was a man of both literary and martial talents.

Wenying was the emperor's adopted son and had no family. He was very respectful to his father and mother and loved them from the bottom of his heart.

Although the relationship between adoptive father and adopted son was severed, Wenying still regarded his father and mother as his own parents in his heart.

Wenying and her child also have a very good relationship.

Besides, Wenying is also leading troops over there this time.

Having traveled this far, I also have a good understanding of the situation in the southwest.

Therefore, from any perspective, Wenying is very suitable to guard the southwest.

No one else could do it.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded upon hearing this, agreeing with what his son Biao had said.

Wenying truly deserves this.

Judging from the situation in the previous life, there was no one more suitable than Mu Ying to be stationed there.

In my past life, the southwest was pacified so quickly and was eventually completely recovered, becoming a part of China, undivided and unshakable.

The most crucial thing is to get Wenying to the southwest, so that Muying and the Mu family can permanently guard the southwest.

History has proven that this child is reliable, and his descendants are equally reliable.

"Biao'er's insight is getting more and more unique. Well said. Continue."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Biao and nodded, then spoke.

Zhu Biao said, "Besides Brother Mu Ying over there, we also need to have enough soldiers."

Moreover, one of the most important things is to send as many immigrants as possible to that area.

And to educate and reform those people.

Only when a large number of Han Chinese migrate there and continuously educate the people there can the people there gradually become honest and gradually identify with our Chinese civilization.

In the future, once the war in the southwest is quelled, the many soldiers and laborers who went on this expedition can settle down in the area and implement a military settlement system.

A large portion of the population was allowed to cultivate the land and stay there for generations.

Farmers during busy seasons, soldiers during slack seasons, combining farming and warfare.

Those who settle there will also receive substantial rewards.

For example, each person was given a certain amount of money, and the government distributed free seeds, farming tools, and even oxen for plowing.

They can also be exempted from certain taxes on the land they cultivate.

For example, three or five years.

In addition to these, some policies can be implemented to encourage Han Chinese to go to the southwest to make a living.

Those who went there to make a living were also treated well…

As Zhu Yuanzhang listened to what his son Biao had to say, the smile on his face grew even wider.

He felt that what his son Biao said was exactly what suited his taste.

"We should also encourage intermarriage there."

Of course, the most common form of intermarriage was for soldiers stationed there to marry local women and form families.

Those people, along with my Ming soldiers and Han people, will also receive preferential treatment in various aspects after they marry.

For example, one can automatically become a Han Chinese and obtain household registration.

Even the woman's family members, if they behave well, can also obtain Han Chinese household registration in the future.

As for the southwest, it is also necessary to try to win them over and divide them, and to figure out who is loyal to the Ming Dynasty.

Who are friends and who are enemies?

Try to make as many friends as possible and as few enemies as possible.

Of course, reducing the number of enemies can also be achieved by using swords to reduce their numbers.

A combination of kindness and severity must be applied; neither should be neglected.

They registered households and gradually implemented a system of appointed officials.

Remove the village chief and the headman.

Let them gradually adapt to our Han Chinese official system.

Weaken the power and authority of those leaders.

Make them listen to the government...

Zhu Biao kept talking about his considerations.

Everything he said sounded very reasonable and logical.

Zhu Yuanzhang listened attentively, nodding from time to time, his delight growing with each word, his smile impossible to hide.

My son is becoming more and more outstanding and impressive.

"As expected of my son, after being re-educated in this life, Biao'er is even more outstanding than he was at this time in the previous life."

After a long while, Zhu Biao finally stopped speaking.

"Father, these are all I can think of."

"Father, please see if this is feasible."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and said, "It's feasible, absolutely feasible."

Biao'er, your consideration is very correct.

As long as we follow what you said in the future, do things properly, and persevere.

Then the southwest will surely enjoy long-term peace and stability, and will be embraced by the Ming Dynasty without any problems.

It shall become the true territory of my Great Ming.

Our Biao'er is truly getting better and better!

Zhu Yuanzhang's praise was unreserved and undisguised.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao said, "It is still thanks to your teachings, Father Emperor."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "However, Biao'er, you are very good in all these aspects, but there is one aspect that I haven't noticed."

We need to add a little something.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao quickly composed himself, waiting for his father to speak, wanting to see if there was anything lacking in his considerations… (End of Chapter)