Qianqing Palace, Dongnuan Pavilion.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked solemnly through the casualty reports sent from various gates in the capital, while Shen Zhanran, Liu Wenbing and other confidants discussed plans around a city defense map.
"Shen Qing, how is the situation of Zhenren Zhang?"
Zhu Yuanzhang read the document in his hand and found that although there were nearly 10,000 casualties in this battle, most of them were minor injuries, and only more than 3,000 people were actually killed. Then he put down his worries, rubbed his brows, and asked Shen Zhanran about Zhang Yingjing's situation. .
After hearing this, Shen Zhanran hurriedly came over and said: "When Wei Chen came over, Master Zhang's breath was already very weak. Although the imperial doctor was treating him, they said that all the internal organs of Master Zhang were injured, and I'm afraid he won't have much time left!"
There was a trace of regret in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, and he asked again: "I remember that Master Zhang had a little Taoist boy accompanying him. Where is he now?"
Shen Zhanran said: "That Taoist boy is now serving Master Zhang in the palace."
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flashed with murderous intent, and he said, "Has Wang Shoulin been guarding Mr. Zhang?"
Shen Zhanran nodded and said: "I'm always here, your Majesty, don't worry!"
Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Shen Zhanran and said in a deep voice: "Okay, Shen Qing, please go and tell Zhenren Zhang that we are grateful for his protection, restore the title of Celestial Master to the headmaster of Zhengyi Sect, and grant him the title of Zhengzhen." One religion is the state religion, and all the leading teachers from then on are the state teachers.”
Shen Zhanran raised his head and glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang, saluted respectfully, and then slowly withdrew.
"Xin Lehou, don't stand that far away, we still have some military matters to ask you!"
When Zhu Yuanzhang was talking to Shen Zhanran earlier, he saw that Liu Wenbing and others deliberately stood far away, and he nodded secretly in his heart.
Now that he had finished dealing with Zhang Yingjing's affairs, he smiled and called them over.
After Liu Wenbing and others heard this, they slowly stepped forward.
"Xinlehou, you participated in the defense of Deshengmen. What do you think is the difference between our soldiers and the rebels?"
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Liu Wenbing with a serious face.
Liu Wenbing hesitated for a while and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the gap between the two sides is indeed a bit big. If the capital city was not strong and the rebels were strong but not good at attacking the city, I am afraid that in the previous attack, Deshengmen would have been defeated. It has already been lost.”
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he subconsciously pressed the jade belt downwards and said in a deep voice: "Is it because the soldiers are afraid of death?"
Liu Wenbing shook his head and said: "It's not just fear of death. In fact, since the rewards for killing enemies were announced, both young master soldiers and ordinary soldiers have become braver when defending the city."
"It's just that the main force of the opponent's siege this time was the people of the Eighth Battalion. Due to the usual lack of training, our people did not have a tacit understanding with each other and did not know how to cooperate with each other, resulting in heavy casualties."
"Furthermore, they are not proficient in the use of firearms. For example, what a skilled artilleryman can do well alone, two or even three of them cannot do well. It not only wastes manpower, but also pushes each other away, and the efficiency is extremely low... ..."
Zhu Yuanzhang listened quietly to Liu Wenbing's story, then looked at Gong Yonggu and said, "Gong Qing, please tell me about the situation at the east and south gates!"
Gong Yonggu bowed respectfully and said: "The situations I saw in the southeast are roughly the same as those of Xin Lehou, but there is one difference, that is, some people are more capable than the soldiers guarding the city!"
"Are they stronger individually or as a whole?"
Zhu Yuanzhang asked again.
Gong Yonggu thought for a while and said: "Only a small number. I also talked to them afterwards. They are all common people with some land near the capital."
"Because they were worried that the rebels would pursue their stolen goods and pay them when they entered the city, they were particularly active in defending the city."
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him with some doubts and said: "Isn't it said that the three-month tax is too heavy, and the more people plant, the more they lose, and they abandon their fields?"
Gong Yonggu said hesitantly: "Most of the land in the capital is the private property of officials, so the three-rate policy has not been fully implemented..."
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, a look of anger immediately appeared on his face, and he shouted outside: "Come here, give us..."
He stopped mid-sentence, and the little eunuch who hurried in looked at him blankly.
"That's all, please step back first!"
Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and asked the young eunuch to step back, then looked at Huang Nilu and said, "What's the situation over there?"
Huang Nilu thought for a while and said: "Judging from today's battle, the power of the firearms on both sides is roughly the same, but I discovered that there are several new red cannons among the rebels."
"However, the rebels were not familiar with the performance of this new artillery, so they did not exert its power. However, Weichen heard that the Jurchens are vigorously developing artillery. If they encounter Jurchens in the future, I am worried that they will suffer a loss."
After Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he was silent for a while and said: "You are right. We are fighting fiercely with the rebels here. I'm afraid the Jurchens are not idle either, but we have to guard against them!"
"Huang Qing, starting from today, you will start recruiting people who are good at firearms. As long as you have talent, we will never begrudge your official title or wealth."
After saying that, he looked at Liu Wenbing and said: "Xin Lehou, you will go there later..."
"Shen Qing, how is Zhang Tianshi's situation?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was about to give instructions to Liu Wenbing when he suddenly saw Shen Zhanran walking in and asked him again.
Shen Zhanran said with a sad look on his face: "Master Zhang Tian has become an immortal!"
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he stared at Shen Zhanran and said, "Who were around Tianshi Zhang when he emerged?"
Shen Zhanran said: "There is no one else beside Tianshi Zhang except the little Taoist boy, and just after Tianshi became immortal, the little Taoist boy also became immortal."
"Is it also feathered?"
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Shen Zhanran with some surprise, was silent for a while, and said, "Then have you conveyed our will?"
Shen Zhanran nodded and said: "The message has been delivered. After listening to His Majesty's decree, Master Zhang thanked him repeatedly and then he became immortal!"
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he fully understood in his heart and said to Shen Zhanran: "Okay, Shen Qing, thank you for your hard work!"
"In addition, Tianshi Zhang has dedicated his life to our Ming Dynasty. You arrange for someone to take care of Tianshi's body. After the rebels are defeated, we will bury him with the honor of a national master."
After saying that, he just turned to look at Liu Wenbing, but before he spoke, he suddenly turned to look at Shen Zhanran and said, "Where is Wang Shoulin? Why didn't he come with you?"
Shen Zhanran's face changed slightly, and he replied respectfully: "Wang Baihu came with me, but we met the spies of Jin Yiwei halfway, so Wei Chen came first."
"spy?"
Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Shen Zhanran suspiciously and said, "Shen Qing, what do you think we should do next when the war is in such a situation?"
Hearing this, Shen Zhanran said loudly: "Although I have not been to the battlefield in person, I think that after the golden dragon appears, the rebels will definitely collapse without a fight."
"Song Xiance, in particular, has always prided himself on being clever and clever. After this incident, he is afraid of His Majesty and will be unable to do anything in a short period of time."
"So now the focus is no longer on defending the city, but on preventing anyone from offering it up. Therefore, we should strengthen patrols in the capital and at the same time select capable soldiers to form an elite division."
"Firstly, we can deal with emergencies in the capital. Secondly, if the rebels concentrate their forces to attack the city again, we can also use this elite division to defeat their arrogance."
"In addition, Your Majesty can send people out of the city tonight to persuade the rebel generals to surrender. As long as they can be persuaded to come back, the rebels will be defeated!"
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with satisfaction and said: "Then who do you think is better to persuade?"
Shen Zhanran smiled slightly and said: "I am a humble minister but I am willing to use my sharp tongue to persuade Bai Guangen and others to surrender!"
Hearing this, Liu Wenbing hurriedly stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, Mr. Shen is weak and does not know Bai Guangen and others. It is too risky for him to go. It is better to let Wei Chen go."
Just after Liu Wenbing finished speaking, Gong Yonggu stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, Xinlehou is very popular. Many people in the rebel army may know him. It is too risky for him to go."
"Although I am not as astute as Xin Lehou, I am fortunate that no one knows me. It is most appropriate for me to go on this trip."
Huang Nilu wanted to step forward, but he couldn't think of any advantages he had, so he could only watch them argue in silence.
Zhu Yuanzhang's original intention was to test Shen Zhanran, but now he was overjoyed to see everyone rushing to persuade him to surrender.
Just as he was about to speak, he saw Wang Shoulin walking in with a worried look on his face.
