"Your Majesty, I arrived with my concubine and Xu Zhengjing, and are waiting to meet you outside the Huangji Gate."
A chamberlain appeared quietly, announced a few words, and then stood with his hands down, waiting for Emperor Zhu's oral instructions.
Emperor Zhu was sketching, standing in front of an easel, holding a pencil in his hand. Sitting on a chair opposite him as a model is an extremely beautiful white girl. Her eyes are azure, her blond hair is naturally curved like waves, her facial features are as gorgeous as if they were carved from ice and snow, and her red lips are tightly pursed. , a rosy color appeared on his cheeks, looking shy.
This is a Rakshasa girl named Natalie. She is only 16 years old this year, but she has already grown plump and voluptuous. She is a very good model. Zhu Cixiang had previously misunderstood her as a spy from the Rakshasa Kingdom and had her taken to the palace for questioning. After interrogation, I found out that it was a misunderstanding, so I kept her in the palace as a special model.
Oh, this was specifically done to ask for Natalie's wishes - Emperor Zhu asked her if she would like to accompany a fifty-year-old grandfather, or would she rather stay with the Supreme Emperor of the Celestial Empire?
Natalie didn't understand Chinese, and Zhu Cixi didn't speak Turkish or Rakshasa, but he could still see the Rakshasa woman's wishes from her eyes... As the emperor, he still had this Eye-catching.
"Natalie," Zhu Cixiang said with a smile, "that's all for today!"
After saying this, Zhu Cixiang handed the pencil to an elderly "old palace maid" on the side - this old lady's surname was Cao. She was a childless widow from the Cao Huachun tribe. She was introduced to the palace by Cao Wenbao and became a An old palace maid.
These "old palace maids" were used to replace eunuchs. After Emperor Zhu established Nanjing as his capital, the eunuch system began to go nowhere. However, Zhu Cihong did not issue an imperial edict to drive all the eunuchs out - drive them out to starve to death? This is not possible, and the palace still needs them to do things.
Therefore, the abolition of the eunuch system is a gradual process. The first step is not to recruit new eunuchs.
Secondly, the position of eunuchs changed - they were no longer coolies in the palace, but became officials of the palace. In other words, new people are not recruited, but the status of the old people is improved and their role is strengthened.
This is because Zhu Cixiang also relied on the power of eunuchs in his early years. He has a group of "eunuchs who overcome difficulties" and must take care of their interests.
Moreover, before the balance between the Kenan Xungui Group and the imperial civil service group is formed, Zhu Cixiang still needs the eunuchs of the inner court to play the key weight in the power game...
Again, of course, it is necessary to find a replacement for the eunuch. The person who can replace the eunuch is of course the palace maid. However, Emperor Zhu was not willing to recruit young girls into the palace as maids - he wanted aunts who did rough work, not lovable young ladies.
So now Emperor Zhu's maids are basically elderly widows, especially those who are helpless. Zhu Cixi also set up a nursing home for them, where they could go to take care of themselves when they were no longer able to work. They would be given food and drink, and they could be buried next to the emperor's mausoleum. The treatment was pretty good.
After sending Aunt Cao and Natalie away, Zhu Cihong told the eunuch: "Let Tokugawa Gao and Xu Zhengjing wait in the Xinuang Pavilion of Yanshan Palace."
Tokugawa Gao was the concubine, one of the nine concubines.
Now her father Masayuki Hoshina has become Xu Zhengzhi, the Lord of Kyushu - he can be regarded as the queen of Xu Fu!
In terms of background, he is already higher than the Tokugawa clan!
Therefore, Gao Mei's status also rose, becoming Emperor Zhu's concubine and considered the number one figure in the harem.
Xu Zhengjing is Baoshi Zhengjing. This time he came with the delegation of Tokugawa Mitsukuni. In addition to congratulating Emperor Chongzhen on his 50th birthday, he also reported to Zhu Cihong on the organization and training of the "Ming Warrior Legion".
After the civil war in Japan settled, the samurai recruited by the Ming Dynasty were all concentrated in Kyushu, with Xu Zhengjing as their general, responsible for training and reorganization.
...
"Your Majesty, the warrior corps is now roughly divided into two parts. One part is the elite Red Iron Artillery Corps! There are a total of 10,000 people, all equipped with flintlock muskets, and have practiced reloading and assassination skills. During the training, a It can complete three firings within minutes.
The other part is the traditional Japanese army, consisting of arquebusiers, pikemen and archers, as well as a small number of mounted warriors. Sixty thousand people in total! It was divided into ten major groups, each with 6,000 people! "
The one who was speaking was Xu Zhengjing. He had now changed into the official uniform of the Ming Dynasty and was sitting opposite Emperor Zhu, with his hands on his knees, looking a little reserved.
It was Zhu Cixiang's intention to divide the samurai army into the Red Iron Artillery Army and the Dafan Army. After learning about the power of the Red Iron Artillery Army, Emperor Zhu decided to make good use of them...
In Zhu Cixiang's view, his Nine Sides Youth Army and Japan's Red Iron Artillery Army are probably the most powerful fusiliary units of this era.
It's hard to say who is up and who is down, the key is how to use it.
The Jiubian Youth Army follows the route of elite troops. They are good at night fighting, skirmishing, and rapid marching, and they can move quickly and agilely on the battlefield.
The Red Iron Artillery Army took a desperate route and could withstand the enemy's firepower and attack fiercely - the brave one wins when they meet on a narrow road!
Therefore, these two elites must be captured and used on the most critical battlefield.
For the Ming Empire, the most critical battlefield in the future is of course the Americas... Nanyang can deal with the Dutch lackeys first without having to break up with the Dutch, because there is still a Louis XVI in Europe! He is now building up an army that will reach the Dutch mainland sooner or later.
At that time, we will just decide whether to capture Batavia based on the situation in Europe.
Therefore, it is enough to send the Japanese samurai army to Nanyang - 60,000 people will go there, and it is estimated that 30,000 people will die of illness. The rest will be sealed in Pattani, Perak, Johor... and some can be sent to Luzon. island.
Of course, important cities, ports, and islands will not be given to them. What can be given to them is the vast countryside. After they suppressed the place, Emperor Zhu made his children, born to two Japanese beauties, Gao Mei and Miho, the kings...
As for the American battlefield, because the distance is too long, transportation costs are too high, and logistics supply capabilities are limited, only elite troops can be used.
"Seriously," Zhu Cixiang said, "I have other uses for the Red Iron Artillery Army... Just use the Fan army when sending troops to Nanyang! Are you willing to lead the troops?"
"I am willing to go on an expedition!" Xu Zhengjing said loudly.
"Okay!" Zhu Cixiang nodded approvingly, "I will order you to be the general who conquers the barbarians, and you will serve as the governor of the Western Army, Prince Luokun."
Zhu Cizhao was also entrusted with an important task this time!
Zhu Cixiang originally looked down on him, but this boy is blessed with great fortune and will always have noble people to help him. This is also his skill!
Zhu Cizhao also has another advantage: he listens to others' advice. That is to say, he is good at accepting advice, and he knows what "admonishment" is right and what "admonishment" is wrong.
This is better than Chongzhen!
Therefore, he can be the head coach of the Nanyang Battle. With the assistance of Zhang Yong, Xu Zhengjing, Shi Lang (in charge of the navy) and others, basically nothing can go wrong.
"Your Majesty," Xu Zhengjing seemed a little eager to send troops, "When can I lead my troops to attack?"
Zhu Cixiang looked at him, "What? Are you in a hurry?"
Xu Zhengjing nodded and said: "I am not in a hurry, but the people below are anxious... The royal court in Tokyo is even more anxious!"
Japan now has Tokyo, which is Edo, the seat of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
After the marriage of Tokugawa Mitsukuni and Queen Meimasa, the public and military affairs were completely integrated, so Kyoto was no longer suitable to serve as the nominal capital of Japan. The name and entity needed to be merged, so the capital of Japan was moved to Edo, Edo. The house was renamed Tokyo. After absorbing some of the courtiers, the shogunate was also reorganized into the Imperial Court of Japan.
The royal court was of course very worried about the 70,000 warriors in the hands of Xu Zhengzhi, Xu Zhengjing and his son!
"I know!" Zhu Cixi said with a smile, "After you return to the country, start sending out troops... But the 70,000-strong army cannot be shipped out at once. I'm afraid it will take two or three years to complete. , you have to make them a little patient!"
