Chapter 435: Xuzhou Ennobled
The Battle of Xuzhou was unprecedented, and it was also the largest battle that Chen Cao had participated in since time travel. This battle also directly allowed the Ming Dynasty to gain a firm foothold again. Of course, it was predicated on him becoming the new Ming Emperor.
On August 15th of the first year of Shengwu, on the occasion of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Chen Cao reviewed the participating troops on the plain outside Xuzhou City, and announced his early knighthood on the damaged tower of Xuzhou.
According to the previous plan he and Huang Chunyao had planned, dozens of meritorious personnel in Xuzhou would be canonized as Daming Lords in advance.
"The emperor is destined to be transported by heaven, and the edict says:
.........
You Shiwei is canonized as the first-class Fengtian Yiyunpuzhenxuanli Yulin Marquis...
..."
The process of conferring titles lasted for two and a half hours. In nearly five hours, thirty-six marquises were conferred first, namely:
The hereditary first-class Marquis of Yulin is You Shiwei, the Marquis of Jianyang is Ning Guoxing, the Marquis of Chengyang is Hu Yanqing, the Marquis of Nanhai is Chen Yongsu, the Marquis of Beihai is Chen Maoxiu, the Marquis of Huaiyang is Cao Wenzhao, the Marquis of Laizhou is Qi Xianyun, the Marquis of Huai'an is Lou Xingye, and the Marquis of Hejian Huang Degong, the Marquis of Zhenhai Pang Zhifan, the Marquis of Donghai Deng Guang, and the Marquis of Anqing Wanqing;
The second-class Liu'an Marquis Cao Xiang, Tongcheng Marquis Yan Chun, Anlu Marquis Zhang Ting, Guangping Hou Kangze, Yongping Marquis Liu Xiang, Yanzhou Marquis Liu Shouwen, Qingzhou Marquis Xin Laosan, Nanyang Marquis Han Xianchu, Runing Marquis Li Xiukuan, Zhending Hou Pang Zhihuan, Dingyang Hou Zhang Yingwu, Ruzhou Hou Bei Tianhua, Haifeng Hou Gao Qingnian, Anzhong Hou Chen Pingzhong, Funing Hou Su Zhongnian, Taizhou Hou Jiang Danian, Lin'an Hou Jin Yuzheng;
The third-ranking Liujues include Li Xingye, Marquis of Dongchang, Qian Qianyi, Marquis of Shunyi, Xu Fuyuan, Marquis of Dong'an, Zhou Lixun, Marquis of Xi'an, Ke Guangxian, Marquis of Yanzhou, Liu Liangzuo, Marquis of Dezhou, and Liu Zeqing, Marquis of Lijiang;
There are also three counts, namely the first-class Gaoyou Bo Li Xuanjun, the second-class Shuyang Bo Chen Jiming, and the second-class Suzhou Bo Li Yan;
The two barons are First Baron Liu Shun and Second Baron Zhong Junxi.
Anyone who understands clearly knows that most of the knights serving in the military this time are division-level generals, a few brigade-level commanders, three civilian officials, and someone like Li Xuanjun who served in Gaoyou. A combatant who made great achievements.
There were no other commanders at the military level or higher. This also made those who had doubts understand that these people who were obviously the emperor's cronies would only be crowned after the final victory of annihilating the Tatars. , and the title must be very high.
The first batch of dozens of people who were knighted were all very excited. No matter what the title was, at least they had a status, and it also reassured most people.
After the Mid-Autumn Festival dinner party, Chen Cao was having a meeting with everyone in the back hall. There were not many people attending the meeting, only four people, Zhao Xin, Huang Chunyao, Xu Fuyuan and Song Che.
"What do Yunsheng think?"
Huang Chunyao looked up at Chen Cao and said, "Your Majesty, I think it's feasible."
Song Che also clasped his fists and said: "It is a great plan to purge the south of the Yellow River and completely eliminate the threats in the Central Plains. Moreover, when Xu Da went on the Northern Expedition, it was also a good time for Emperor Taizu to calm the south."
Xu Fuyuan also nodded: "Go back to Nanjing to rest and recuperate first. All the troops have been fighting for a long time and need to rest and recuperate. What Your Majesty said about recovering Henan is not inappropriate. Xuzhou is a choke point to enter Shandong, which is of course a good thing. However, Your Majesty, I have something to worry about;"
Xu Fuyuan frowned and said: "The Northern Expedition is now within my control, but we must be careful to prevent the Tatars from repeating the Northern Yuan's path."
Everyone realized that when Xu Da attacked Dadu, Emperor Yuan Shun had already fled to Mobei. This also allowed Chengzu to conquer Mobei five times, and the Yuan army was suppressed for a long time, which also laid the foundation for the rise of Oala.
"According to Jin Yiwei's news, Huang Taiji married the Horqin tribe after conquering Mongolia. If the Tatars fail to fight with us and escape to Mongolia, it will be very troublesome for our army to pursue them. On the contrary, if they run to Liaodong, there will be no problem."
Chen Cao nodded and said: "I already have a complete battle plan. Taking into account Xu Fuyuan's concerns, we can divide the battle into three fronts. First, after regaining Luoyang, Fengyang and other places, order Hong Chengchou to enter Shanxi from Shaanxi and attack Shanxi and Gansu. After completing the plan, they entered Hebei from the Zijingguan line; secondly, Shi Xiu stayed in Xuzhou to prepare various armies, and entered Shandong from Xuzhou, which was a frontal battlefield; thirdly, they landed from Lushun by sea, and the infantry went deep into Liaodong and encircled it from the inside. "
Huang Chunyao raised his hand and said, "Your Majesty, if the Tatars cannot hold Beijing and their retreat is cut off by us, they will really retreat to Mongolia. Once they enter Mobei, they will all be cavalry. The sky is high and birds can fly." , it’s very difficult to pursue.”
Chen Cao nodded, carefully studied Huang Chunyao's words, and then said: "Mongolia is not a piece of cake, at least not the Chahar tribe where Lin Dan Khan belongs."
Zhao Xindao: "Lin Dan Khan fled to Qinghai in order to preserve the tribe's vitality. According to the Jinyiwei's report, the Chahar tribe was grazing in Qinghai. At the beginning of the year, some Tatars went to Qinghai to look for it. However, in mid-June this year, Lin Dan Khan was in Qinghai. He died suddenly in the tent, I heard he died of smallpox."
"Who is the current Great Khan?"
"The current Great Khan of Mongolia is Ezhe, the eldest son of Lin Dan Khan."
Chen Cao touched his chin and looked at Huang Chunyao frowning: "Does Yunsheng have any ideas?"
Huang Chun turned his dazzling eyes and said after a while: "I have a plan. Lin Dan Khan was quite respectful to the Chongzhen Dynasty during his lifetime, but it was only because of the Battle of Sarhu that our Ming army lost the trust of the Mongols. Your Majesty can send someone to personally Contact Ezhe, the new Great Khan, and I believe that with the great victory in Xuzhou ahead, Ezhe will have to consider whether he can stop our Ming army before considering surrendering to the Tatars."
Xu Fuyuan interjected: "Although Lin Dan Khan is the Great Khan of Mongolia on the surface, he has this title after all. It will be a good gimmick for Ezhe to succeed. Otherwise, the Tatars would not have traveled thousands of miles to Qinghai to find them. Horqin and Bahrain could not Representing the whole of Mongolia, the Chahar tribe of Ezhe is the great khan of the Mongols. With them, it is like having an eagle flying in the sky."
"Shixiu, what do you think?" Chen Cao looked at Song Che.
Song Che thought for a while and said: "Your Majesty, I think Mr. Huang's words are reasonable. I have united with Chahar and You Shiwei's cavalry to enter Mongolia from Shanxi and attack Horqin and Bahrain from Mongolia." Lao Lao, as long as the Tatars' escape route to the west is blocked in the west, then Huang Taiji can only withdraw from Shanhaiguan after his defeat in Beijing. The troops landing in Lushun only need to arrive in the Xipingbao area before Huang Taiji flees north to Guangning. Stop the Tatars completely."
Everyone nodded, and Huang Chunyao said again: "Your Majesty, I heard from Mr. Zhao that the Japanese country is making good progress. The Japanese pirates were making trouble in the southeast back then, and their infantry fighting was particularly fierce." Huang Chunyao looked at Chen Cao in a low voice: " Your Majesty, the Japanese army can do some things that our army cannot."
Chen Cao took a breath, and he suddenly understood what Huang Chunyao meant. The key point is that a man must not be benevolent to a woman: "It is indeed a life-threatening scholar, Yunsheng, you have reminded me, Zhao Xin... "
"Your Majesty..."
"Pass my decree to Fu Yingxing and tell him that no matter what means he uses, I will have an army of at least 10,000 Japanese warriors arrive in Shanghai within three months."
"Yes, I will do it immediately."
At the end of the meeting, Chen Cao issued an order to return to Nanjing.
However, only a group of high-ranking civil servants and generals returned to Nanjing. The Dingwu Army and the assembled Shenwu Army stayed in Xuzhou. After the Longwu Army failed to pursue Haizhou, they also went to Xuzhou to assemble. Chen Cao left Song Che to guard Xuzhou, and the Qin Dynasty conquered Peking University. The marshal is in charge of all people, regardless of whether they have titles or not.
Of course, he had to take a boat back to Nanjing. After twelve days of sailing, Chen Cao finally arrived at the mouth of Longjiang River in early September, where he was given a grand welcome.
Nanjing garrison commander Zhang Fengnian had a serious look on his face. After saluting, he clasped his fists and said, "I am sorry for your majesty's entrustment."
Chen Cao snorted coldly and made a show of it, and then asked Zhang Fengnian to lead the way back. After entering Nanjing, he did not go directly to the city, but went to the Zhongshan Mausoleum in the East Outer City to pay homage to the great ancestor Zhu Yuanzhang, and to inform Zhu Yuanzhang about the great victory in Xuzhou. .
Xiaoling Guard not far from Zhongshan. After the reconstruction of Xiaoling Guard, this unit that guarded the tomb of Emperor Taizu was completely abolished. Chen Cao ordered the Ministry of Industry to focus on the construction of Xiaoling Guard on the basis of the original five-mile radius. The size of the residence of the Zhu family princes is based on the "Ten Prince's Palaces" in Beijing. The Zhu family princes, under the Chen family's court, build palaces as large as their title. All the palaces are lined up, and each palace is Thirty steps away, good people and people were moved in, and a "Xiaoling Town" was established to integrate these princes and people.
Prince Lu's Mansion was among them. When Chen Cao stepped into Prince Lu's Mansion, everyone knelt in front of the screen wall to greet him. The convicted Zhu Shouhong was guarded alone in a room in the Prince's Mansion by Jin Yiwei.
Xu Kaixian accompanied him and said: "Your Majesty, Zhu Shouhong has been mentally disturbed these days."
Chen Cao sneered, and then looked at the relatives of Prince Lu's palace kneeling in front of him: "Emperor Chengzu was even willing to eat shit in his mouth to avoid trouble, what about him?"
After saying this, Chen Cao saw two familiar faces among the people kneeling to greet him. They were extremely beautiful and moved his heart. One was Zhu Shouhong's concubine Kong, and the other was the princess Zhu Weisi who had an affair with the Prince of Laiyang.
These two women have been dealt with by Chen Cao. Looking at them after a long time, they are really interesting. Zhao Xin stood aside and followed Chen Cao's gaze and noticed these two people. The faces of the two women were in his mind. After remembering it, I started to care about it.
Following Xin Zhao's cough, Chen Cao came back to his senses, glanced at Xin Zhao, and then said coldly: "Bring Zhu Shouxun to see me."
Chen Cao was sitting in the lobby, and Zhu Shouhong's family members were all standing outside the lobby waiting obediently. Not long after, the Jinyi guards escorted Zhu Shouhong to the lobby. The moment he saw Chen Cao, Zhu Shouhong ran a few steps quickly, frightening Zhao Xin. When he was about to draw the knife, he saw Zhu Shouhong's fat body kneeling down five steps in front of Chen Cao.
With a loud cry, Zhu Shouhong burst into tears: "Your Majesty..."
