Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

Chapter 108 The Marquis of Henan surrenders, giving Zhu Di wings to his tiger!

"Zhang Yi, Zhu Shou, Wang Bi, Cao Tai, Chen Huan."

"Zhang Wen, Han Xun, Cao Xing, Sun Ke, Pu Ma, He Rong, Sang Jing."

Inside the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters, Zhu Di looked at the roster of names handed over by Mao Xiang, a slight smile curving his lips.

Every single one of these people would eventually achieve at least the rank of earl, with most becoming marquises. The second generation of nobles of the Ming Dynasty implicated in the Lan Yu case are all here; it truly is a den of rotten fish and shrimp.

"Your Highness."

"His Highness the Crown Prince ordered twelve people to be beaten to death in the palace."

"Six of them were eunuchs and palace maids who served Princess Ningguo."

"The number of people investigated was as high as 238, and 57 of them were exiled to the frontier with their families."

Mao Xiang carefully observed Zhu Di's expression and reported back.

"My brother is afraid that I'll discover the truth behind this and treat them the same way he treated Zhu Liangzu."

"They were the only ones involved in this matter; none of the dukes and marquises were involved."

"It seems he has improved quite a bit."

Zhu Di gave a cold laugh, it was unclear whether he was mocking Lan Yu and the others for overestimating their abilities, or ridiculing the Huai Xi Xun Gui for being sensible.

"Your Highness."

"The Duke of Yuan sent someone to deliver a memorial to Your Highness."

"Oh?"

Zhu Di raised an eyebrow. Wang Baobao had someone bring over a folded document. What important matter could it be?

Immediately, Mao Xiang presented a folded document sealed with cinnabar to the table, while he himself stood at the lower end, waiting quietly.

"rustle!"

Zhu Di opened the seal, took out the letter inside, and his eyes lit up instantly upon closer inspection.

Wang Baobao mentioned a person in his memorial: Lu Ju, the Marquis of Henan, one of the founding dukes and marquises in the third year of Hongwu. This person had served as the Associate Administrator of the Privy Council of the Yuan Dynasty, guarding Wuan Prefecture. He was once trusted by the Yuan Prime Minister Tuotuo and was responsible for guarding Xuzhou. Later, he surrendered with Xuzhou and Suzhou, and had made great military achievements.

The History of Ming states that his troops were all elite soldiers from Huai, surpassing even the best cavalry from Yan and Zhao.

Unexpectedly, he took the initiative to side with Wang Baobao. This was an expression of goodwill towards him. The Huaixi Xun Gui were never a monolithic group.

"Immediately send someone to deliver a message to the Marquis of Henan, saying that I am waiting for him at Taiping Embankment."

"Yes."

Mao Xiang's eyes flickered, and he immediately ordered his elite guards to deliver the message.

At 9 PM, the shores of Xuanwu Lake were serene, with the bright moon reflected in the water.

Zhu Di, standing on the shore, wore a tiger-skin cloak, exuding the air of a superior.

"Whoa!!!"

A rider galloped from afar, dismounted less than a mile from Taiping Embankment, and ran forward.

"Your Highness, Prince Yan."

Lu Ju appeared before Zhu Di, panting, his eyes filled with awe.

"Marquis of Henan".

"This is the first time we've met alone, isn't it?"

"I thought the nobles of Huaixi hated me to the bone, but I never expected that the Marquis of Henan would take the initiative to come and make contact with me."

Zhu Di turned around and scrutinized the middle-aged military general, who possessed a rugged yet refined air.

"Your Highness is a man of exceptional talent. In your prime, you pursued the fleeing enemy and destroyed the Yuan Dynasty, pacifying the northern deserts and the northern court."

"Throughout history, who has been able to achieve this? Although I am of humble origin, I know that Your Highness's talent is unparalleled throughout the ages."

"The Duke of Song and his ilk are blind to talent and truly lack insight."

Lu Ju sincerely praised Zhu Di, and it is not difficult to hear his respect and affirmation for Zhu Di from these words.

Putting aside the personal grudges between the Huaixi generals and Zhu Di, Zhu Di's achievements were something that these military generals could never accomplish in their entire lives.

"Hahaha!"

Zhu Di laughed heartily, his voice resonating particularly clearly on the tranquil lakeside.

"call!!!"

Upon seeing this, Lu Ju secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Facing Zhu Di, he felt an even greater sense of pressure than when facing Zhu Yuanzhang.

After all, Zhu Yuanzhang did not achieve the feat of sealing the wolf's lair and expanding the territory by five thousand miles at the age of thirteen like Zhu Di.

Moreover, Zhu Yuanzhang always maintained a sense of loyalty to the nobles of Huaixi, but Zhu Di was different. Once you offended him, you would definitely face a fierce and violent retaliation. Marquis Yongjia Zhu Liangzu and others are a prime example of this.

"The old man already said that at the year-end grand assembly."

"The country was divided into sixteen provinces and twenty-five directly governed prefectures."

"You are at least a military officer, a third-rank military officer, in charge of the military power of a province."

"I don't understand why you would give up such a promising future and abandon your noble status in Huaixi to come and find me."

After some casual conversation, Zhu Di got straight to the point.

"Your Highness."

A glint of ambition flashed in Lu Ju's eyes as he solemnly said, "To put it nicely, a military officer is a high-ranking official in charge of a region; to put it bluntly, it's a place to retire."

"His Majesty has reorganized the capital army. In the future, the capital army will definitely be the main force in the expedition, with the border army as the auxiliary force. These local soldiers are good at clearing bandits and thieves, but it is simply absurd to ask them to go to the battlefield."

"I am only 40 years old, a time when I am sharp and capable."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di stared at Lu Ju for a long while before speaking, "Do you know what will happen to you if I recommend you?"

"This subordinate understands."

Meeting his scrutinizing gaze, Lu Ju bluntly stated, "It's just that they've been excluded from Huaixi."

"I am not a proper native of Huaixi, so I don't care about that."

"Following Prince Yan is better than following civil officials like Li Shanchang and Hu Weiyong."

"Our honors and titles are earned through hard work and battles. What kind of men rely on trickery and empty words?"

"He's a smart person!"

Zhu Di felt even more favorably toward Lu Ju.

Although he knew that Lu Ju was deliberately saying these words for him to hear, the ambition in Lu Ju's eyes had never been hidden.

A qualified monarch is never afraid of his subordinates having ambition; what he fears is his subordinates not having ambition. An ambitious and intelligent person can go further.

"Marquis of Henan".

"I must tell you."

"Huaixi is nothing special; the old man is the one you really need to watch out for."

"Lan Yu and his group are the core of the old man's team prepared for the eldest son. If you stand on my side, you may never be able to return to the capital in your entire life."

"Thump!"

Lu Ju felt a jolt of fear.

Huaixi has never been a unified entity. Feng Sheng and others were among the first batch of nobles from Huaixi, while Lan Yu was merely a rising star.

The emperor punished Feng Sheng and others, stripping them of their military power, but he wanted to give important positions to Lan Yu and others, all for the sake of the crown prince's succession.

At this moment, by standing beside the Prince of Yan, he had offended the entire Huaixi region. The emperor regarded him as part of the Prince of Yan's faction and naturally could not allow him to approach the center of the court.

However, he quickly made a decision, his resounding words echoing across the lake: "This humble general will not regret it."

"it is good."

Zhu Di smiled slightly and said confidently, "I believe that in less than twenty years, you will be glad you made the choice you made today."

"What?"

Lu Ju suddenly looked up, staring at the boy in disbelief.

The amount of information conveyed in those words was so great that his heart was in his throat.

"Neither the northern deserts nor the northern court need manpower."

"Although I am in charge of the southern desert region remotely, the old man will not allow me to plant people there right now."

"The commanders of the Ten Guards were all personally appointed by the old man. Apart from the Shenji Battalion, the other two battalions under my command will be heading to Beiping after the New Year."

"Before taking up their fiefdoms, they were unable to exert substantial control over Beiping and southern Mongolia."

Zhu Di spoke frankly.

"Your Highness."

Lu Ju was about to say something when Zhu Di interrupted him, saying, "Listen to me first."

"The threat from the grasslands has been eliminated. Next, the Ming Dynasty will focus its main efforts on developing the southwest."

"There is another place that is a major threat to our Ming Dynasty."

"Nahachu of Liaodong has an army of over 200,000 and controls the vast land of the Changbai Mountains and the Heilongjiang River."

"Liaodong!"

Lu Ju's pupils contracted sharply. Nahachu, the Grand Commandant of the Northern Yuan Dynasty and who called himself the King of Kaiyuan, was no pushover.

This man was not only a Mongol nobleman, but also a descendant of Muqali. He inherited his ancestor's position and guarded Liaodong. After Emperor Shun of Yuan, Toghon Temür, fled north, he issued an edict to promote Naghachu to the position of Left Chancellor of Liaoyang Province, forming a three-pronged control over the Ming Dynasty with Wang Baobao and others.

Nahachu used Jinshan (northeast of present-day Shuangliao, Jilin) ​​as his core stronghold, controlled the Songhua River basin, and commanded more than 200,000 troops. He implemented the military-agricultural system in the area, integrated various Mongol tribes, and built a tight defense system.

Even now, the Ming Dynasty has not sent troops outside Shanhaiguan to recover the Liaoxi Corridor because Nahachu is constantly threatening them.

"In February of last year, Liu Yi, the Pingzhang of Liaoyang Province of the Northern Yuan, sent Dong Zun, the Right Vice Minister, and Yang Xian, the Vice Director of the Imperial Academy, to present a memorial of surrender and to offer maps of Liaodong prefectures and counties, as well as the number of troops, horses, money, and provisions."

"My father, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, praised his sincerity and established the Liaodong Guard Commandery, appointing Liu Yi as the co-commander and ordering him to protect the people of Liaodong and safeguard the border."

"However, Liu Yi's generals, such as Hong Baobao, were not granted titles and led a rebellion, resulting in Liu Yi's death."

"The imperial court subsequently appointed Wu Li, Zhang Liangzuo, and Fang Gao as commanders of the Liaodong Guard, and established the Dingliao Capital Guard, with its seat in Dingliao Central Guard (present-day Liaoyang City, Liaoning Province)."

"All affairs of Liaoduwei were under the jurisdiction of Shandong Province, making it like an isolated piece of land adrift in the world."

At this point, Zhu Di's gaze fell on Lu Ju. To manage Liaodong, he needed a strong army, and even more so, a talent capable of governing the army and managing the government.

When Lu Ju, the Marquis of Henan, was under the rule of the Yuan Dynasty, he transformed Xuzhou into a rare and peaceful place, and the Huai Army he trained was known for its fierce and valiant nature.

"Does Your Highness wish for me to go to Liaodong?"

Lu Ju blurted out.

"The Yuan Dynasty established the Liaoyang Provincial Secretariat outside Shanhaiguan, which governed seven circuits and one prefecture. It had twelve subordinate prefectures and ten subordinate counties."

"In terms of area, it is second only to Lingbei Province."

"The only cities under the control of the Ming Dynasty are Liaoyang, Haizhou, Gaizhou, Fuzhou, and Jinzhou, which are located west of the Liao River."

"In addition to facing the covetous eyes of the remnant Yuan forces, we also have to face the spying from Goryeo in the east."

"Wu Li, Zhang Liangzuo, and Fang Gao are nothing more than guard dogs, with no ambition to expand their territory."

"These people are good at governing the local area, but to expect them to steal meat from Naha is simply wishful thinking."

"Do you dare to stroke the tiger's whiskers?"

Zhu Di's gaze was sharp as he stared directly at Lu Ju.

"What is there to be afraid of?"

Lu Ju straightened up abruptly and said proudly, "If Your Highness wants me to go to Liaodong, I will definitely make Naha Chu, that Tartar, pay!"

"Excellent! This is the kind of military general my Ming Dynasty should be!"

Zhu Di exclaimed in praise.

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