Zhu Gaoxu was furious!
This Xia Yuanji is getting more and more arrogant!
As the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, I am the most respected person in the world. I only discussed this with you to save my face. However, this bastard still wants to collect interest. It is really unreasonable!
Seeing His Majesty the Emperor going crazy, Xia Yuanji found it a bit funny and hurriedly changed his tune.
"Your Majesty, I can lend you this money and food, but I want to know how your Majesty is going to fight this war? How many years will it take to prepare for it? Where will it end?"
"I knew I couldn't hide it from you, an old fox." Zhu Gaoxu also smiled.
"You know the Timur Empire, right? It has now become the Kingdom of Khali, ruled by Shaharul, the fourth son of the dead lame Timur."
Xia Yuanji nodded.
He still knows about Timur's empire.
After all, Timur once led his army to conquer the Ming Dynasty and once reached the Western Regions.
At that time, the Ming Dynasty was in the early years of Yongle and the Battle of Jingnan had just ended.
At that time, the Timur army crossed the Syr Darya River. Timur ordered the commander-in-chief of the right army, his grandson Harry Sultan, to step up the march and make sure to capture Mongolia in early March.
His imperial grandson still lived up to expectations when he started the war. In late February, he advanced to Beslopali, about 400 kilometers away from Hamiwei, an important town on the western border of the Ming Empire.
It wasn't until Hamiwei noticed that something was wrong and immediately reported it to the Ming Dynasty that the court realized that something might be going on.
Because no one knew whether Harry Sultan planned to stop there, attack Jiayuguan south, or go east to Juyanhai.
In short, the final result was that "the imperial court heard that Timur had falsely bid farewell and led his troops eastward, and ordered Song Sheng, the commander-in-chief of Gansu Province, to warn him."
On the other hand, the Ming Dynasty was facing internal and external troubles.
On the day when King Zhu Di of Yan raised his army, there were still many good ministers and strong generals, but at this time Zhang Yu, Wang Zhen, Chen Heng, Zhang Wu, Tan Yuan and other generals were all dead. Qiu Fu, Liu Cai, Chen Gui, Zheng Heng, Meng Shan, All the generals of Huozhen are brave men. "Some of them were entrusted from the beginning, or they were the first to surrender. They all benefited from other schools. They are not called great generals unless they are brave, clever and clever."
The only one who can take charge of the battle is Zhu Neng, but he failed on the way to conquer Annan. The only one who is famous for his strategy is Yao Guangxiao. Among the generals, Ping'an, He Fu, and Gu Cheng are known as veteran generals, but they are all embarrassed to take on important tasks. , Sheng Yong and Geng Bingwen had already committed suicide.
Leaving aside the lack of good generals and soldiers, the biggest problems of the Ming Dynasty at this time were two: first, lack of information and lack of preparation for Timur's attack; second, there were many potential traitors within the Ming Dynasty.
As we all know, there are many Hui and Mongolian soldiers among the Gansu and Liang sergeants, especially Muslims. This incident is obviously related to Timur's Eastern Expedition the previous year. These foreign barbarians can privately send back those returning to Jia Jingshi out of the country. , and dare to "leak border affairs", of course they will defect on the battlefield.
At least, the internal organizational capabilities of the Ming Dynasty's northwest army, which has many foreign traitors, are worrying. Facing the powerful offensive of a Muslim country like the Timurid Empire, traitors are inevitable.
Therefore, the entire Ming Dynasty was mobilized urgently, and various parties in the court quarreled endlessly. The nobles and military ministers requested to send troops to defend against the incoming enemy troops, but the civil servants and gentry firmly opposed it on the grounds that the national power was empty. As a result, the two sides broke out several fierce quarrels, so that Even His Majesty the Emperor dare not act rashly.
As a result, before the Ming court could reach a conclusion, Timur himself died suddenly. After his death, the descendants of the royal family were busy fighting for the throne, and they withdrew their troops in a hurry and rushed back to the capital of Central Asia. A battle started by Timur. The vast Eastern Campaign launched ended in an anticlimactic end with Timur's sudden death.
But after all, they almost got a knock on the door, so Ming Dynasty also stepped up its exploration of Timur's empire and roughly understood the subsequent changes in Timur's country.
"Your Majesty, why do you want to target the Kingdom of Harlequin?"
"After Shaharul came to the throne, he has always been on good terms with the Ming Dynasty. He also restored his status as a vassal state and paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty. Moreover, this person especially loves literature and has no ambition..."
"I know what you said." Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand, "But have you ever thought about it, Shaharul is not a threat to the Ming Dynasty, but who can guarantee that there will not be another tycoon among his descendants? Character? There won’t be another ambitious Tamerlane?"
"The power of the country is always changing. After the death of the founding king, most of the defending kings will take the throne and stop the army to stabilize the people and cultivate their lives. After the death of the defending king, there is a high probability that a pioneering king will appear, because after one or two With the cultivation of life and health in this era, the national power has already reached its peak. When it reaches its peak, it is difficult not to breed ambition!"
Xia Yuanji sighed after hearing this and could only nod.
He understands the truth, but he really doesn't want to start a war.
Instead of investing all the huge amounts of money in the war, it is better to use it to develop people's livelihood and provide more benefits to the people.
This is Xia Yuanji's governing philosophy and the principle he has always adhered to.
"Don't worry, you won't lose money in the war."
"In the past, they lost money in wars because they were stupid."
"As the victorious party in the war, no matter what the requirements are, the defeated party must agree to it, such as paying tribute, ceding territory, paying compensation, etc. I, the Ming Dynasty, can take whatever you want from it..."
Xia Yuanji was confused and couldn't accept it.
What kind of thinking is this?
What is this behavior?
How is this different from bandits and robbers?
"Your Majesty, our Ming Dynasty is a country of etiquette. If we act like this, I'm afraid..."
"Oh!" Zhu Gaoxu sneered: "Don't you need to eat in a country of etiquette?"
"Is it the morality of benevolence, righteousness, and morality that makes you Xia Yuanji full, or is it the patriarchal etiquette that makes you Xia Yuanji full?"
Facing His Majesty the Emperor's questioning, Xia Yuanji blushed with embarrassment.
"Don't talk to me about a country of etiquette. It is a country that treats friendly neighboring countries, not a barbaric country with a criminal record like Timur!"
"What's wrong with this kind of behavior? Now that potatoes and sweet potatoes have been promoted and planted, the people can have enough to eat and clothe themselves, and they don't have to go hungry or cold. But have you, Xia Yuanji, ever thought about where potatoes and sweet potatoes came from? It was Zheng He who killed the native North American barbarians and snatched them from their hands!"
"Look, you have eaten potatoes and sweet potatoes, right? You civil servants and gentry have all eaten it, right? I haven't seen you jumping out and making nonsense, shouting about benevolence, justice and morality? Now you are shouting at me, why do you want to eat when you are full? Smashed the pot?"
Xia Yuanji was speechless and could only lower his head silently.
He shouldn't have provoked the Wude Emperor. He was simply a bandit leader who would scold you half to death whenever he got the chance, without caring about the royal dignity.
Bah, nothing!
Zhu Gaoxu scolded for a while, and finally felt happy in his heart.
"I know the worries in your heart, don't worry, I have everything planned."
"When the territory of Central Asia is conquered, it will be enough for my people of the Ming Dynasty to cultivate it for tens or hundreds of years, and I will not start war again."
"This is my last battle, and it is also the last thing I do for the Ming Dynasty. I have done enough for the Ming Dynasty in my life, and I have also received too much infamy and suffered too many grievances."
"It doesn't matter if you scold me. Anyway, when this battle is over, I will give my throne to the prince. You can just try your best to assist the prince. This will save you from seeing me upset, and I will also be upset when I see you."
As soon as these words came out, Xia Yuanji was shocked and looked at Zhu Gaoxu in disbelief.
"His Majesty?!"
Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand, not giving him a chance to speak.
"I will bear all the infamy."
"All wars will end in the Taketoku Dynasty!"
"After the prince ascends the throne, he will cultivate his health, develop people's livelihood, and create a prosperous Ming Dynasty!"
"So, what you, Xia Yuanji, have to do now is to fully support me in winning this battle. Whether it is for the Ming Dynasty or for the people, I will fight this last battle!"
Xia Yuanji stared at Zhu Gaoxu blankly. He only saw the exhaustion of His Majesty the Emperor.
Recalling everything that happened over the years, Xia Yuanji's eyes couldn't help but turn red.
This Emperor has indeed shouldered too much for Ming Dynasty, and none of this should be his responsibility.
But things are unpredictable!
Xia Yuanji knelt on the ground with red eyes.
"Your Majesty, I take your orders!"
