Zhu Yuanzhang: My second son is invincible!

The eighth day of the first month of the eleventh year of the Hongwu reign.

The festive atmosphere of the New Year had not yet dissipated, but the council hall of the Eastern Palace was already full of people.

Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, Lan Yu, Fu Youde, Feng Sheng…

Almost all the veteran generals of the Ming Dynasty who were still capable of fighting were present, as well as naval commanders Chen Xuan and Tang He, the commander of Zhoushan Guard, who were in charge of maritime affairs.

More than thirty people sat on both sides, all dressed in military uniforms, their backs ramrod straight.

Zhu Hui arrived not too late, but he was still taken aback by the scene as soon as he entered.

"Second brother, second sister-in-law, over here." Zhu Di waved from the front.

Zhu Li led Guanyin Nu over to sit down, looked around, and asked in a low voice, "Fifth Brother, are there so many people?"

Zhu Biao specifically asked Guanyin Nu to come along, just in case his second brother wouldn't understand.

"The campaign against the Japanese is a major event. My elder brother has summoned all the capable generals. I heard that he will be deploying the main force of the navy, the elite of the army, and... people from the Taoist sect."

Zhu Di lowered his voice.

As they were talking, the side door opened and Zhu Biao walked in.

He wasn't wearing the Crown Prince's usual robes, but rather a simple dark blue robe with arrow sleeves, a sword at his waist, and his hair tied up with a jade crown, making him look more dashing than usual.

Lady Chang followed behind him, carrying a thick stack of documents. She shouldn't have come to this occasion, but Zhu Biao said it wouldn't hurt for him to listen, as it would be useful when he was regent.

"Since everyone's here, let's begin!" Zhu Biao sat down in the main seat, with Madam Chang sitting slightly behind him.

Without further ado, let's get straight to the point.

Two eunuchs carried in a huge screen with a detailed map of the entire territory of Japan hanging on it, even more detailed than the one in Zhu Yuanzhang's study.

Mountains, rivers, cities, ports, and even major villages and roads are clearly marked.

The most striking features are the seventeen red dots circled in vermilion, representing mineral veins, with the largest markings for the Iwami Ginzan and Sado Kinzan.

"Gentlemen, in the war against the Japanese, we must first assess the terrain before making a decision today," Zhu Biao said in a clear and steady voice.

He got up, walked to the map, picked up a thin bamboo pole, and pointed it at Hakata Bay, the northernmost point of Kyushu Island.

"Our primary landing point is Hakata Bay."

This area is controlled by Ōuchi Yoshihiro, the daimyo who is the governor of western Japan. The Imperial Guard has already made contact with him, and the Ōuchi clan is willing to act as an inside agent on the condition that they will control western Japan after the shogunate is destroyed... I have agreed.

The bamboo pole moved upwards, gliding across the western part of Honshu Island.

"After landing, the troops were divided into three routes. The northern route, led by General Xu Da, advanced northward along the coast of the Sea of ​​Japan, with the target being Mount Sado.

"In the central route, General Lan Yu will lead the charge, advancing directly to Kyoto and capturing Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. In the southern route, General Fu Youde will be in charge, sweeping through Shikoku Island and controlling the Seto Inland Sea."

He then pointed to the Kanto Plain in the eastern part of the map.

"Eastern Japan is controlled by Ashikaga Mitsukane, the nephew of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. This man is ambitious and has a long-standing feud with his uncle. The Embroidered Uniform Guard is currently in contact with him. If we can make him hold back, he may be able to be used by us."

Zhu Hui stared at the map, his eyes following the bamboo pole.

He had some geographical knowledge from his past life and knew that Japan was an island nation, but this was the first time he had ever seen such a detailed map.

The winding coastline and the dense markings made him feel that... this place was quite fragmented.

"Big brother." Zhu Li suddenly raised his hand.

All eyes turned to him.

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "Second brother, do you have something to say?"

"This place... doesn't look very big, why is it divided into three sections... I can just chop it from south to north with one axe, wouldn't that be enough?" Zhu Hui asked seriously.

There was a moment of silence in the council chamber.

Xu Da coughed and said, "Your Highness, although Japan is not large, it is long and narrow from north to south, more than two thousand miles long, and has many mountains and rivers, making it difficult for a large army to deploy. The strategy of attacking from multiple directions is to seek a quick victory."

"Oh...which group should I follow?" Zhu Li asked, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Zhu Biao put down the bamboo pole, walked back to his seat, and said, "Second brother, you're not following any particular group."

"what?"

"You're the siege hammer. Wherever you encounter a tough nut to crack, you go and break it open, like..." Zhu Biao looked at him, his eyes gentle but firm.

He pointed to a city in the middle of the map.

"Kyoto, the capital of Japan, has walls that are five zhang high and moats that are ten zhang wide. It is said that there is also a barrier set up by Onmyoji. If General Lan Yu cannot conquer it, you can go and split the city gate open with an axe, or... just split the city wall down."

Zhu Hui's eyes lit up and she exclaimed, "I know how to do this!"

Lan Yu grinned and said, "With Your Highness here, I feel at ease."

Zhu Biao continued, "Let's talk about the navy. Commander Chen."

Naval Commander Chen Xuan rose and said, "Your subject is here."

"For this expedition, the navy's main force consists of 3,000 ships, including 200 treasure ships, each carrying 3,000 soldiers and 100 cannons, and 2,800 other warships of various sizes. Troop transport ships and grain ships are counted separately."

The navy is divided into three groups: one for escort, one for landing support, and one to control the sea lanes and prevent Japanese naval reinforcements. Any questions?

After a moment's thought, Chen Xuan said, "Your Highness, with three thousand warships setting sail simultaneously, the supply of provisions and fresh water will be a problem. Moreover, the sea is unpredictable, and what if we encounter a typhoon..."

"Regarding the grain supply, the Ministry of Revenue has already stockpiled enough for half a year in Dengzhou, Ningbo, and Fuzhou, and set up six supply islands along the route." Zhu Biao looked at Madam Chang.

Madam Chang opened a booklet and said softly, "Dengzhou has 800,000 shi of grain, Ningbo has 600,000 shi, Fuzhou has 500,000 shi, and there are also 100,000 jin each of cured meat, salted fish, and dried vegetables."

Fresh water was packaged in wooden barrels, with each boat receiving a three-month supply, which could be replenished along the way in Okinawa and Tsushima.

Chen Xuan nodded and said, "I have no worries."

Zhu Biao then looked at the several elderly Taoist robe-clad men sitting in the corner and said, "Master Zhang."

Zhang Yuchu of Longhu Mountain rose and bowed, saying, "Your Highness."

"The Daoist sect has dispatched two hundred cultivators this time, specializing in the three talismans of 'Wind Control,' 'Water Avoidance,' and 'Sturdiness,' which can ensure the fleet's speed during its voyage and prevent it from capsizing in the face of wind and waves."

Furthermore… we may also need to deal with Japanese Onmyoji (yin-yang masters).

Zhang Yuchu solemnly replied, "Your Highness, rest assured. The Yin-Yang arts of Japan originated from the Taoist practices of China, but they only grasped the superficial aspects. My Longhu Mountain Thunder Magic is specifically designed to vanquish evil spirits."

"Alright...Second brother, there's one more thing." Zhu Biao nodded and then looked at Zhu Hui.

"Um?"

"It will take more than a month to cross the sea, and you... might get seasick." Zhu Biao's lips curled up slightly.

A few suppressed laughs rang out in the council chamber.

Zhu Hui scratched his head and said, "Big brother, don't worry, it won't..."

Guanyin Nu, standing beside Zhu Hui, explained softly, "Husband, seasickness is caused by the rocking of the boat, which makes people dizzy."

It's not that the boat is unstable; it's that it's too stable, which makes people seasick.

Zhu Hui was even more confused and asked, "So, is it better to shake it or not?"

This question is too profound; no one has answered it.

The meeting continued.

Zhu Biao then explained the troop allocation: 500,000 troops in the army, including 100,000 cavalry, 350,000 infantry, and 50,000 archers.

The navy numbered 200,000, and an additional 300,000 laborers were responsible for transportation and supplies.

A total of one million people.

"Japan has about 400,000 troops available, but they are scattered among various daimyo and difficult to assemble. Our army has the advantage in strength, but we must fight a quick battle and not drag it out. In this war, we will conquer Kyushu within three months, pacify Honshu within six months, and bring all of Japan under Ming control within a year. Do you generals have confidence?"

Zhu Biao concluded.

"Yes!" the generals shouted in unison.

The sound was so loud that the roof beams trembled.

The meeting lasted from 7 AM to 11 PM, a full two hours.

Zhu Biao explained in great detail, from landing tactics to the allocation of supplies, from the treatment of the wounded to post-war governance.

The generals would ask questions from time to time, and he would answer them one by one, clearly and comprehensively.

Zhu Yuanzhang actually understood most of it, not the complex tactics, but the general direction.

They took a boat, landed, and attacked in three separate groups. When they encountered a difficult city, they would break through it. After conquering it, they would dig up silver and go home.

It's very direct, which aligns with his way of thinking.

On one occasion, when the topic of Japan possibly summoning "eight million gods" to aid in battle came up, Zhu Biao looked at Zhang Yuchu and asked, "Master, if we really encounter shikigami or demon spirits, can the Taoist sect handle them?"

Before Zhang Yuchu could speak, Zhu Hui interjected, "Brother, the demon is nothing to me; there's no need to trouble the Celestial Master."

Zhang Yuchu said with a wry smile, "Your Highness, some demonic spirits are formless and intangible, and an axe might not be able to strike them..."

"Then I'll use my shield to smash it. My shield is big, so I can smash a whole area," Zhu Hui said seriously.

Zhang Yuchu: "..."

Zhu Biao chuckled and said, "Alright, we'll see how things go. Second Brother will be in charge of the tangible aspects, and Celestial Master will be in charge of the intangible ones."

"Okay." Zhu Liu nodded.

The meeting finally ended at 3:45 PM.

The generals left one after another, each bowing respectfully to Zhu Biao before departing.

It was clear that after this meeting, they had gained a new understanding of the Crown Prince's military talent; he was not only benevolent but also far-sighted and thoughtful.

In the end, only Zhu Biao, Zhu Hui, Guanyinnu, and Chang Shi remained.

"Second brother, how are you feeling?" Zhu Biao asked with a smile after taking a sip of tea.

"I understand. Take a boat, land, break through the city, and dig for silver," Zhu Hui replied honestly.

Zhu Biao laughed and said, "That's a very insightful summary."

Madam Chang also smiled and said, "Although my second brother put it simply, that's exactly how it is."

Guanyin Nu asked softly, "Brother, is this battle... really going to last a year?"

Zhu Biao put down his teacup, his expression slightly serious, and said, "That's the plan, but the battlefield is ever-changing; it might be faster, or it might be slower."

What's wrong, sister-in-law? Are you worried?

"There is a point... I've heard that Japan is mountainous and forested, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack," Guanyin Nu replied, bowing her head.

"That's why we need a siege hammer like yours, Second Brother. No matter how dangerous the pass, one swing of the axe will open it up," Zhu Biao said to Zhu Hui.

Zhu Hui patted his chest and said, "Leave it to me."

"However, second brother, there is something I must remind you. Japan is different from Korea. Once the capital of Korea fell, the whole country surrendered. In Japan, the shogunate and daimyo jointly govern. Even if Kyoto is captured, the daimyo in various regions may fight their own battles."

"You have to be patient; you might have to break down the city gate many times," Zhu Biao said seriously.

"It's alright, my axe is fast," Zhu Hui said.

Zhu Biao shook his head helplessly and said to Guanyin Nu, "Sister-in-law, keep a close eye on him along the way. Don't let him impulsively chop down the entire mountain. The silver is in the mountain; if it collapses, it will be difficult to dig it out."

Guanyin Nu smiled and said, "Yes, I will remind my husband."

The four talked for a while longer, mainly with Chang Shi concerned about whether Guanyin Nu had suffered in Goryeo and whether she needed any additional supplies.

Guanyin Nu answered each question, saying that everything was fine, except that she might need to adapt to sea voyages.

Finally, Zhu Biao picked up a scroll of documents from the table and handed it to Zhu Li, saying, "Second brother, this is the meeting minutes. Take it back and take a look."

If you don't recognize a word, ask your younger siblings, or come and ask me.

Zhu Hui took it; it was a thick stack, probably dozens of pages long.

"So many..."

"These are all the things we just talked about. Write them down so you don't forget them. Go back and study them carefully. In a few days, we'll be going to Dengzhou to inspect the navy. You'll need to know which ship is the flagship and which general is in charge of which route then," Zhu Biao said, patting him on the shoulder.

"Oh." Zhu Li put the document into his pocket.

It was already afternoon when I left the East Palace.

The sun was shining brightly, dazzling the unmelted snow.

The two slowly walked back to the Wu King's Palace.

As I passed Zhengyang Street, lanterns for the Lantern Festival were already being hung along the street.

Red, yellow, and green, they swayed in the wind in clusters.

The children chased and played in the snow, their laughter ringing out.

Zhu Hui looked at the lanterns and suddenly said, "Wife, if we do things the way we discussed today, we can return just in time for next year's Lantern Festival after we finish fighting the Japanese."

"Yes." Guanyinnu nodded.

"Let's come to the lantern festival together, and I'll buy you the biggest lantern."

"it is good."

As they talked, their figures gradually blended into the crowds in the streets and alleys.

Behind them, the windows of the East Palace council chamber were still open.

Zhu Biao stood by the window, watching his younger brother and sister-in-law's departing figures, a gentle smile on his lips.