Di Ming

Chapter 467 "He is Zhang Juzheng's youngest son!"

The spacious Shenhu Hall was filled with the smoke of incense, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

On the north wall, a shrine stretching five zhang (approximately 10 meters) from east to west enshrines statues of Chi You, Sun Wu, Bai Qi, Han Xin, Wei Qing, Huo Qubing, Guan Yu, Li Jing, Guo Ziyi, and Yue Fei.

Each statue is life-size and incredibly lifelike, cast entirely from fine iron.

The ten statues each have a different expression and slightly different posture, as if they are all listening intently to the discussions of the Ming Dynasty's military officials.

On the east wall hung the distinctive red sun, crescent moon, and star banner of the Ming Dynasty. Beneath the banner was a row of weapon racks displaying knives, spears, swords, halberds, and other weapons.

On the west wall is a huge map, almost like a mural, which is none other than the "Map of Military Strategies of the Ming Dynasty".

This is a military map personally created by Zhu Yin, arguably the best available today. The map is appropriately detailed, extending from the Mongolian steppe in the north to the Kuril Islands in the east, from the Strait of Malacca in the south to the Syr Darya River in the west.

On this huge map, mountains, passes, roads, routes, islands, cities, grasslands, swamps, and deserts are all clearly marked, making them easy to see at a glance.

On the south wall was another huge map. But it wasn't a military map; it was a "Map of the World," also personally made by Zhu Yin. It was the world map of later generations, only with many geographical names modified.

These two maps were state secrets. The "Map of the World" in particular caused quite a stir in the court when it was first produced.

So this is what the real world is like.

This Divine Tiger Hall is now the highest military secretariat of the Ming Dynasty. It's hard for anyone entering for the first time not to be awestruck by its solemn and grand atmosphere.

At this moment, several of the Grand Commander's personal guards, carrying teapots, entered the Divine Tiger Hall one by one to serve tea to the military officers attending the military council.

The military officials, dressed in their regular military uniforms, wearing black gauze hats and embroidered with fierce beasts on their chests, sat upright in an orderly fashion.

Zhu Yin was the regent prince, and his attire was exceptionally different. He wore a winged crown, a bright red robe with four embroidered dragons on the front and back and on both shoulders, and a seven-sided white jade belt, which made him appear extremely noble and dignified.

Qi Jiguang's deep, resonant voice, like a dragon's lair, echoed throughout the spacious Shenhu Hall:

"The Northern Dynasty is not a concern. The Mongol tribes are restless and it is inevitable that they will march south and attack the pass. The Tartars will not give up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Zhu Shuaixin of the Western Ming is also eyeing the pass covetously. The Northern Dynasty is currently short of troops, money and supplies. It is not advisable for them to even protect themselves, let alone launch another southern expedition."

"The allied forces of foreign powers are on a long-distance expedition across the sea. They should be safe for the next six months. It's not an urgent matter. Let's leave that aside for now."

"The Trinh family of Annam is restrained by the Nguyen and Mo families and cannot send out their full force, so they always have worries about their rear. The Vietnamese army is still mobilizing troops and it will take at least a month to invade the Ming Dynasty. The troops of the Guangxi governor and the chieftains such as the Cen family can also hold out for several months, so the Vietnamese army will not be able to enter the country unimpeded. This is not a matter of life and death."

"There are priorities. As long as we address the urgent matters first and the difficult matters later, we can manage things at our own pace."

Qi Jiguang paused slightly at this point, picked up his teacup, and took a small sip.

The crackling sound of burning charcoal echoed from the large stove in the hall, instantly making the entire Divine Tiger Hall even quieter.

The so-called five formidable enemies were quite frightening to hear. However, Qi Jiguang's few words reassured his generals considerably.

The Duke of Qi leisurely put down his teacup, smoothed his long, white beard, and continued slowly and deliberately:

"The only real concerns for the court at present are the Tibetan invasion of western Sichuan and the Burmese invasion of Yunnan, which are only two routes."

"Although the imperial army is not yet fully trained, the Ministry of Revenue has plenty of money and grain, and Daishan has plenty of military equipment. It is not difficult to deal with two strong enemies at the same time."

"The imperial court can issue an edict to conscript troops from the various chieftains in the southwest. With General Yang, General Song, and General Qin leading the way, and with She Chongming and An Bangyan already defeated, no chieftain in the southwest will dare to disobey. Regent, how many soldiers can the chieftains in the southwest conscript?"

Zhu Yin replied, "The various families in the southwest can mobilize approximately 100,000 soldiers."

Qi Jiguang pondered and said, "In that case, with the army that the Northern Dynasty has switched sides and surrendered, the court has nearly 300,000 troops available for battle. Excluding the troops stationed in the capital and the provinces, the army that can be mobilized for expeditions is still 200,000."

Zhu Yin nodded. "The Duke of Qi's calculations are pretty accurate. Apart from the necessary garrison troops, there are at most 200,000 troops available to resist the enemy, and there are actually none ready to go on the expedition."

Why do I say this? Because Xiong Tingbi's troops and the various units commanded by Hao Yunlai in Yunnan were already fighting the enemy on the front lines. Apart from these, only a few hundred thousand troops could be mobilized.

Qi Jiguang cupped his hands and said, "Then, this old general is willing to volunteer and take charge of any campaign, whether it be a western expedition or a southern campaign."

Zhu Yin returned the greeting with a cupped hand, saying, "I was just about to appoint the Duke of Qi as the General Who Pacifies the West to defend against the Tibetan rebels."

"I myself will lead the army on a southern expedition. Once the army's provisions and supplies are fully prepared after the New Year, we will launch a joint expedition from both directions."

Why did Zhu Yin send his adoptive father to fight against Tibet instead of Burma?

Because my adoptive father is from the north, he would definitely not be used to the climate of the Yunnan border region. In addition, he is getting old, and I am afraid that he will fall ill due to the change in environment.

My adoptive father has been stationed at the Nine Border Garrisons for many years and is not afraid of the severe cold. Sending him to fight in western Sichuan would allow him to better adapt to the climate.

Having come from Southeast Asia, he was perfectly suited to Yunnan and Southeast Asia, but not to the high altitude of western Sichuan, making him more suited to the southern expedition.

Perfect division of labor.

"Alright." Qi Jiguang nodded. "Then this old general will go to western Sichuan."

Zhu Yin opened the military register in front of him, stroked his beardless chin, and slowly said:

“Chengdu already has 3,000 Jinghai soldiers, and western Sichuan has 10,000 under Xiong Tingbi. We will also allocate 7,000 Jinghai soldiers, 10,000 Qi family soldiers, 10,000 Bozhou soldiers, 15,000 Ma Gui soldiers, 15,000 Dong Yiyuan soldiers, 20,000 Japanese soldiers, 5,000 Xiao Ruxun soldiers, and 5,000 Zu Chengxun soldiers to you. All these troops together will bring the total to 100,000.”

"General Qi will lead these 100,000 troops to deal with the Tibetan army. As long as they are defeated and forced to retreat back to the plateau, it will be a great achievement."

Zhu Yin has divided his forces.

"I myself led 15,000 Jinghai soldiers, 7,000 Baigan soldiers, 8,000 Cao Wenzhao soldiers, 8,000 Mao Wenlong soldiers, 10,000 Li Rubai soldiers, 10,000 Zhao Shuaijiao soldiers, 10,000 Shuidong soldiers, 7,000 Yongshun soldiers, and 25,000 Japanese soldiers, a total of 100,000 troops to Yunnan."

"There were also 30,000 Cuan family prisoners of war who went to Yunnan. Actually, there were 130,000."

"With two armies totaling 200,000 men, preparing provisions, supplies, and weapons in a short period of time is a daunting task. But the military situation is urgent, and everything must be ready within a month at most. Xiong Tingbi and Hao Yunlai have fewer troops and cannot hold out for long."

"The number of troops stationed in the capital should not be too small. Zhang Cha, Duke of Wei, and Zong Qin will lead 50,000 troops to guard the capital region and protect Xiaoling Mausoleum and the Yangtze River."

Zhu Yin turned to look at Feng Menglong after saying this, "Young Marshal Feng, in another month, before the tenth day of the first lunar month, will the Ministry of War be ready in all matters?"

The second youngest Vice Minister of War in the history of the Ming Dynasty replied:

"In response to Your Majesty, the military rations were sufficient due to the previous confiscation of property. Your Majesty's great victory in Sichuan resulted in the capture of tens of thousands of mules and horses, and the transport capacity was readily available. However, due to a lack of fodder, there are not enough mules and horses to feed, so not too many can be mobilized, and transportation has become a problem."

"The Ministry of War is urgently procuring fodder and horse feed, but it is not easy to procure fodder in the south, and it will be difficult to get everything ready in a short time. However, everything will definitely be ready within a month."

"We have plenty of gunpowder and arrows, so there's no need to rush. The only problem right now is the fodder."

Zhu Yin knew the answer; he asked the question mainly on behalf of the generals.

What is fodder? It's equivalent to oil in later times. Once on the battlefield, tens of thousands of mules, warhorses, and draft horses would require a huge amount of fodder.

However, there was not much fodder in the south, and there weren't many horses and mules in the south before. Fodder was mainly transported from the north by canal.

Now, Qi Jiguang led his army to switch sides, bringing with him 100,000 horses and mules. Combined with the Southern Army's own horses and mules and those captured from the rebels, the Ministry of War's total number of horses and mules reached nearly 300,000.

It's enough for their needs. But with so many horses and mules, they consume a huge amount of fodder every day, which is a major headache for the Ministry of War.

Horses and mules are not human; they cannot eat only grains, they must eat grass. If there is too little grass and too much grain, they will suffer from colic and die suddenly, or become sick and have diarrhea.

Currently, the Ministry of War only has enough fodder to keep the horses and mules alive, and can only prioritize supplying it to warhorses to prevent them from losing weight.

Although the shortage of fodder was a major issue, since it could be replenished within a month, Zhu Yin didn't ask any further questions. Although Feng Menglong was young, Zhu Yin trusted his abilities and thought he was well-suited for military logistics.

"The second thing," Zhu Yin changed the subject, "I previously recruited seven hundred soldiers in Sichuan, and they have been training hard for more than ten days now. This is only one of the Shu vassal states."

"The Ministry of War is responsible for recruiting soldiers, so issue another recruitment order to recruit soldiers from the various vassal states in the south, with the same pay as before. However, the Ministry of War must be careful to ensure that no one is left out. The court has given them freedom and opportunities, but it is not to let them enjoy high pay for nothing."

“There are probably 150,000 to 160,000 princes in the southern vassal states, most of whom are poor and destitute. It should not be difficult to recruit 10,000 men to join the army.”

"The imperial clan is a heavy burden on the court, but the court cannot ignore them, nor can it continue to support so many people for nothing. The only option is to lift the ban and let them find their own way to make a living. Joining the army and receiving a salary is the first step."

Feng Menglong asked, "Can the eldest sons of the Ning and Liao princes, who have been stripped of their princely titles, also apply for the military?"

This shows his meticulousness. The several vassal states he mentioned were all lineages of vassal kings who had been stripped of their titles and fiefdoms for crimes committed in the past.

Zhu Yin nodded and said, "They are equally qualified to apply."

The main purpose of this military council was to report on military affairs, divide troops for the southern expedition and the western campaign, and set a date for the deployment. After discussing this important matter, Zhu Yin adjourned the meeting.

The Grand Military Commission, now increasingly well-established, has all the necessary functions. Zhu Yin no longer needs to handle many things personally; he only needs to keep an eye on things. Now that his adoptive father, Qi Jiguang, has arrived, he has even more free time.

...

After the military council of the Grand General's Office adjourned, when it was time to go home, Qi Jiguang put on the sable cloak that Zhu Yin had bestowed upon him on behalf of the emperor, and rode home in the snow.

Qi Jiguang's new residence in Nanjing was the Zhenyuan Marquis's Mansion, located east of Qingliang Temple. There were no other readily available ducal mansions in Nanjing; even Zhu Yin, the Prince of Wu, lived in a marquis's mansion.

During the second Jingnan Rebellion, all the nobles in Nanjing, except for the Duke of Wei, were deposed for resisting the city's defense, and their properties and mansions were confiscated. The mansion of Marquis Li Tingzhu of Linhuai was seized by Zhu Yin, and the mansion of Marquis Zhenyuan was given to Qi Jiguang.

When Qi Jiguang returned to his residence, which had been renamed "Qi State Duke's Mansion," he was filled with emotion upon seeing the four large characters.

I do not desire titles and honors; I only wish for calm seas.

These are lines from his poem from back then. But even so, what man wouldn't want to be immediately ennobled?

However, after decades of military campaigns, including those in Guangdong and the northern frontier, fighting against Japanese pirates and the Tartars, he was nearly seventy years old but still couldn't obtain the rank of earl.

Feng Tang grew old easily, and Li Guang was hard to be ennobled.

Who would have thought that in the end, because he submitted to the Southern Dynasty, his adopted son, Zhihu, directly bestowed upon him the title of Duke, specifically the Duke of Qi!

His life's achievements, spanning eight thousand miles, have finally been recognized by his adopted son. Although he dares not say that his merits are complete or that his due is right, he has brought honor to his ancestors and found solace in this life. But the Beijing court, for which he served his entire life, has now become an enemy state.

Qi Jiguang felt both gratified and sorrowful. He felt that the vastness and uncertainty of human affairs could not be greater than today.

Qi Jiguang, oh Qi Jiguang, your story has been passed down through generations, but the historian's pen is like a knife, perhaps earning you eternal infamy.

Qi Jiguang stood quietly in front of his residence, his body covered in snowflakes. He showed no intention of dismounting, remaining like a statue.

Seeing the old general standing still, the guards behind him also stood still, looking like snowmen.

The gatekeeper at the mansion finally saw his master and immediately shouted, "The Duke has returned!"

This shout finally broke Qi Jiguang's train of thought. He could only shake his head with a complicated expression and nimbly dismount.

Immediately, a large group of servants rushed forward, some leading the horses, others taking the whips.

As soon as he entered the gate, a large group of servants knelt down, shouting in unison, "Welcome back to the manor, Your Excellency!"

Most of these slaves were government slaves given as rewards, and many came from the families of officials who had committed crimes.

Zhu Yin was very filial to his adoptive father. He not only granted his adoptive father the title of Duke, but also gave him servants, gold and silver, and expensive furniture, all of which were of the highest quality.

After passing through the magnificent mansion and entering the back courtyard through the hanging flower gate, Lady Wang, the Duchess, was already there to greet us with a smile.

Not only the Duchess, but also the three concubines who had been dismissed years ago have been welcomed back, and even her married daughters have come.

He had wives, concubines, children, and a large family.

"Our Duke is back!" the old lady said happily, as she stepped forward to personally remove the old general's cloak, showing no trace of his former domineering and shrewish nature.

Perhaps it's because of her age that she's become so kind and approachable.

"master!"

"Daddy!"

The concubines and children greeted each other together, all chatting and laughing.

“You,” the old lady shook the snowflakes off her cloak, “you’re sixty-eight years old, why do you still like riding horses? Didn’t Zhihu give you a carriage?”

Qi Jiguang laughed and said, "I'm used to riding horses, how could I possibly ride in a luxury carriage? I'd get sick even if I wasn't."

As they walked in, they saw the maids lighting lamps, and the snowy courtyard was instantly bathed in their light.

Upon entering the warm, painted hall with its burning charcoal stove, one finds that wine and food are already prepared. Warm wine and hot tea, delicious dishes, and golden cups and jade goblets exude luxury.

Once the Qi family was granted the title of Duke, their status changed dramatically.

Qi Jiguang was different every day when he returned home during this period.

As soon as they arrived, they were immediately served how to change clothes, wash their face and hands, and then they were allowed to sit down.

"Madam, isn't our household too extravagant?" Qi Jiguang held the warm wine, looking at the dazzling array of dishes on the table, and couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.

He was actually a wealthy man who had always enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle, and in his youth he was quite extravagant. But compared to the current grandeur of the Duke's family, it was nothing.

Madam Wang smiled and said, "These were all sent by Zhihu and Caiwei. They have been very thoughtful in providing everything we need, from food and daily necessities to servants. Some of the things were even sent by Caiwei herself. She repeatedly told us to enjoy them."

“Master, Zhihu and Caiwei are truly your lucky stars.”

"Back then, you were labeled as a member of Zhang Juzheng's faction, dismissed from office and punished. Officials took advantage of your misfortune, your family was heavily in debt, and your entire clan lived in constant fear, never expecting to be where you are today. Before, the Emperor Emeritus wouldn't even give you the title of Earl, but today you are actually a Duke."

At this point, the old lady couldn't help but shed tears of joy. "If you can be granted the title of Duke of Qi, and the title is hereditary, I can die in peace. We are now extremely wealthy and powerful, and we will have the face to meet the ancestors of the Qi family in the future."

At this point, Qi Zuoguo, Qi Baoguo, and others wept with joy.

My father was not only granted the title of Duke of Qi, but also a hereditary dukedom—what immense glory and wealth! This was truly extraordinary. Because according to the new nobility system, most titles were inherited in a lower rank, while hereditary titles were in the minority.

Qi Jiguang drank a cup of wine, looked at his elderly wife with a joyful face and gray hair, and said with a mixture of happiness and worry:

"Madam, I know you're happy, but I have so many unspoken feelings..."

Lady Wang poured him wine, saying, "I know what you're thinking. You're afraid of your posthumous reputation; how will the historians write about you?"

Qi Jiguang nodded and sighed: "You understand me best. I am now in a high position, and I have made some contributions and have been granted titles and honors for my wife and children. I have no shame before the country and my ancestors, nor before my descendants. But I have betrayed the Emperor Emeritus, and I cannot escape the punishment of being a traitor in history."

“That’s right, the Southern Dynasty is also the Ming Dynasty. Zhihu is a descendant of Emperor Jianwen, the eldest son of the first wife, and the direct descendant of Emperor Taizu. The current emperor is also the eldest son of the retired emperor, and should rightfully succeed to the throne. However, although I have not wronged the Ming Dynasty, I have wronged the retired emperor, the late emperor, and Emperor Shizong!”

Qi Jiguang recalled how the Jiajing Emperor and the Longqing Emperor had valued him in the past, and he couldn't help but feel nostalgic for his former masters.

"Qi Yuanjing, you've finally given up!" Madam Wang couldn't help but raise her eyebrows, her previous gentle and kind demeanor vanishing, replaced by a face full of sarcasm.

"Hmph, the retired emperor! The late emperor! Emperor Shizong! To put it bluntly, all three of them—grandfather, grandfather, and grandson—are equally mean and ungrateful!"

"I remember it clearly: in the 40th year of the Jiajing reign, you fought against the Japanese pirates in Taizhou, Zhejiang, winning nine battles in a row and beheading five thousand pirates! What a great military achievement that was! Many people said that you should be granted the title of Earl!"

“At that time, the whole family was celebrating. Many people came to congratulate him, saying that General Qi was going to be ennobled as a count, because at that time, the heads of Japanese pirates were more important than those of Mongolians! In the two hundred years since the beginning of the country, no one has made greater contributions to the fight against Japanese pirates than you.”

"But what was the result? That year, you not only didn't get the title of Earl, you didn't even become a General! It wasn't until two years later, after you repeatedly made new contributions, that you were promoted to General of Fujian! Is this a sign of being given an important position?"

"During Emperor Shizong's reign, you made so many military achievements, wiping out the Japanese pirates in several coastal provinces, and all you got was a real position as a general and a nominal title of deputy governor-general. You even emptied your family fortune to subsidize the soldiers' pay! Is this Emperor Shizong's way of valuing you, Qi Yuanjing? Did he even summon you once? No!"

"During the reign of Emperor Muzong, you were stationed in Jizhou and patrolled the border. For many years, the Mongols dared not invade the border, and upon hearing that you were going beyond the Great Wall, they immediately fled far away. You ensured fifteen years of peace for the northern border of the Ming Dynasty! Isn't that a merit?"

"And what happened? Did you get the title of Earl? You were even implicated by Zhang Juzheng and almost went to jail!"

"Over the years, you and Zhihu pacified the Northwest, recovered the Hetao region, and annihilated 200,000 Japanese pirates in Goryeo. The Emperor Emeritus not only did not grant you the title of Earl, but also dismissed you from office again and stripped you of your title. Have you not learned your lesson?"

"You've also studied the classics, yet you don't know that a ruler treats his subjects like dirt, and subjects treat their ruler like an enemy? Qi Yuanjing, you're a military general, don't have those hypocritical and pedantic thoughts of scholars! What are you afraid of, historians! You have a clear conscience!"

"Come! Duke of Qi, if you agree with what I said, then drink this cup!"

After saying that, he poured Qi Jiguang a full glass of wine.

Qi Jiguang's face flushed red and then paled as his wife spoke, but suddenly he laughed heartily with a broad-minded spirit:
“What you say makes sense, Madam! I was being too attached to appearances! I have not wronged the Emperor Emeritus, nor the Emperor Shizong or the late Emperor! My loyalty has always been to the Ming Dynasty! The nation is more important than the emperor!”

After saying that, he picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.

Seeing that Qi Jiguang had resolved his inner conflict, Madam Wang immediately regained her previous gentle and kind smile and said:

“Caiwei also said that her company is designing a new Duke’s mansion. Once we go to Chang’an, we will build your Duke’s mansion there. This mansion is just a temporary residence. Master, why does Zhihu want to establish the capital in Chang’an?”

Qi Jiguang said to his son Qi Zuoguo, "Tell your mother something."

Qi Zuoguo explained: "Back then, Emperor Taizu wanted to move the capital to Chang'an and sent Crown Prince Yiwen to Chang'an to investigate. The plan to move the capital was originally decided, but unfortunately Crown Prince Yiwen fell ill and could not get out of bed, so Emperor Taizu had to give up temporarily. Later, Emperor Jianwen also wanted to move the capital, but Emperor Chengzu raised an army to seize the throne, which interrupted the plan again."

"It is said that in his later years, Emperor Taizu received guidance from a wise man who said that Nanjing could only be the capital temporarily and not for long, otherwise the dynasty would not last. The wise man said that the capital of the Ming Dynasty should be in the north, not the south. If the capital was set in the south, it would either lead to a partial peace or be difficult to maintain for long. Emperor Taizu asked the wise man, 'Since it is better to set the capital in the north than the south, if we were to set the capital in the north, where would we choose?'"

When Qi Zuoguo finished speaking, everyone except Qi Jiguang showed curiosity and listened attentively.

But Qi Zuoguo continued, "The wise man replied to Emperor Taizu that the only places in the north suitable for establishing a capital are Yanjing, Chang'an, Luoyang, and Bianjing."

"The wise man said that the best choice is Yanjing or Chang'an. But whether to choose Yanjing or Chang'an depends on whether the scourge that brings chaos to China is in the east or the west."

"If the calamity that brings disaster to China is in the east, then we should establish the capital in Yanjing (Beijing) to suppress it, which will ensure the longevity of the Ming Dynasty. If the calamity is in the west, then we should establish the capital in Chang'an (Chang'an) to suppress it, which will also ensure the long-term stability of the Ming Dynasty."

Madam Wang said, "This expert's words are ambiguous, it's as if he didn't say anything at all."

"Not exactly," Qi Zuoguo explained with a smile. "The Emperor Taizu then asked, 'Is the harbinger of disaster that is wreaking havoc on China in the East or the West?'"

"The expert replied that the location of the calamity star is not fixed. After calculating, he deduced that the calamity star of the Ming Dynasty would first be in the east, and then in the west several hundred years later."

"A wise man said that the reason why the Zhou Dynasty had the Eastern Zhou and Western Zhou periods, and the Han Dynasty had the Eastern Han and Western Han periods, was because of the changing of the 'disaster star.' If the Ming Dynasty learns from these lessons, it can surpass the Zhou and Han Dynasties."

Lady Wang finally understood. "Does that wise man mean to establish the capital in Beijing first, and then in Chang'an? Beijing has been the capital for two hundred years. Now that the calamity has shifted to the west, shouldn't we move the capital to Chang'an?"

Qi Zuoguo nodded, "That's roughly the idea, which is Beijing first, then Chang'an. But this statement is too mystical, and the Emperor Taizu didn't quite believe it."

"This rumor is currently widespread. It's because someone discovered an ancient book from the Hongwu period in an old temple that records this event, and many people know about it."

"Chih-hu wanted to move the capital to Chang'an, probably because he saw that ancient book."

Qi Jiguang said, “Now that Japan is crippled, the Mongol tribes are fragmented, and the Jurchens are also severely weakened, it seems that the harbinger of disaster is no longer in the East. However, the Tibetan Empire, the Western Ming Empire, and the great powers and strong nations further west should not be underestimated. On the maps I have seen, the West is vast and contains many countries. Those foreign barbarians are located in the West on land. Moreover, the customs and education of the Western countries are vastly different from those of us Han people, and they will become our great enemies sooner or later.”

"Zhihu wants to establish the capital in Chang'an, not only to restore the Western Regions and reopen the East-West trade routes, but also to control Tibet, Hexi, and Western Mongolia. He also talks about resisting the Greening, which makes a lot of sense."

The family was having a lively conversation when the steward came in and reported, "My lord, a family has collapsed from hunger at our gate and wants to see you. They say they are the sons of an old friend of yours."

"The son of an old friend? Collapsed from hunger at the gate of the mansion?" Qi Jiguang's brow twitched. "What's his name? How old is he?"

The butler replied, "He calls himself Zhang Jingxiu, and is about thirty years old."

"What?" Zhang Juzheng's expression changed slightly. "He is Zhang Juzheng's youngest son!"

……

P.S.: Thank you, please vote for me! Goodnight!

(End of this chapter)