The clatter of horse hooves crossed the Marco Polo Bridge, and the first horse on the horse had already set foot on the east bank of the Yongding River. Dozens of knights followed closely. The figure on horseback, wearing a black gauze robe and a sharp sword hanging from his waist, looks extraordinary in martial arts. In his thirties, he was none other than Zhu Yujian, the king of the Ming and Tang Dynasties.
Behind him, on the long Marco Polo Bridge, there were also large groups of chariots and horses marching mightily.
Zhu Yujian was sent to Lanzhou to be king by Zhu Youjian more than three years ago, and he was not just a king who was just waiting to die, but a king of Sai who could form a bodyguard and recruit military households!
According to the old rules, the King of Sai in the Ming Dynasty could build three guard and command departments, two guard posts, and one ceremonial guard department. Zhu Youjian also referred to this old rule and gave Zhu Yujian a target - the three guards, commanders and envoys were destroyed by 17 thousand-household units, and the two guards and one ceremonial guard department were destroyed by a total of 3 thousand-household units. 17 plus 3 equals 20 thousand-household offices!
Theoretically, Zhu Yujian can have up to 20,000 troops!
Let a prince from a distant branch gather 20,000 troops to guard the border... Zhu Youjian's heart is really not ordinary!
In the history of the Ming Dynasty, I am afraid that there will never be another emperor like this. Even Emperor Taizu Gao may not have such a measure. Those kings of Sai that Zhu Yuanzhang granted were all his own sons!
However, it is not unreasonable for Zhu Youjian to be ambitious. He knew that he could live to be 90 years old, and the traitor who came to the throne was even more capable than himself. Zhu Youjian learned all his skills from Nizi, and he hasn't learned them all yet.
And the local tycoon emperor who came after Nizi was also a hero of the generation - he was an outstanding man who opened up a territory of thousands of miles and built a country of unity! He is the founding monarch and is easy to deal with?
Zhu Youjian's own generation, the generation of treacherous sons, and the generation of local tyrants and emperors. These three generations of kings can survive for at least 100 years... During these 100 years, no one can stay in trouble, don't even think about it!
So when Zhu Yujian was asked to recruit 20,000 military households, Zhu Youjian was not worried at all.
Moreover, Zhu Youjian never thought of letting Tang King Zhu Yujian guard Gansu from generation to generation, because in his plan, Gansu would soon no longer be a frontier.
This time Zhu Youjian summoned Zhu Yu to enter Beijing to discuss the western expedition to the Chagatai Khanate... The so-called Chagatai Khanate was actually the Yeerqiang Khanate in history, but they Called itself the Chagatai Khanate. In fact, he does have this qualification. The Khanate of this Khanate is the descendant of Chagatai, the second son of Genghis Khan, and also comes from the Eastern Chagatai Khanate, a descendant of Miao Zhenggenhong’s Chagatai. Because he was attacked by the Uzbeks, he led his tribe to the Western Regions to establish a political power in the four towns of Xi'an in the Tang Dynasty. He also took over the territory of Hamiwei, which had completely fallen during the Jiajing period (including not only Hami, but also a large area of land west of Jiayuguan), and established A medium-sized khanate was formed.
Originally, this khanate had little to do with Zhu Youjian. Zhu Youjian was busy in the east, and the Yeerqiang Khanate was in internal strife in the western region.
But Zhu Youjian has now chosen the Mongolian Khan. How can there be no superior and subordinate between the Mongolian Khan and the Chagatai Khanate (Yerqiang)?
Moreover, the Yerqiang Khanate, which inherited the orthodox Chagatai Khanate, also formed a three-nation alliance with the Uzbek Khanate (Bukhara Khanate) and the Kazakh Khanate that came out of the Golden Horde, and did not recognize the Mongolian Kuritai at all. Zhu Youjian, the Heavenly Khan elected by the conference...
Therefore, it seems that there must be a fight between Great Mongolia and the Yeerqiang Khanate!
This war between the Mongols gave the Ming Dynasty the opportunity to regain the homeland of Hamiwei at a lower cost, which is why Zhu Yujian came.
But looking towards the tall and towering city of Beijing in the distance, Zhu Yujian was thinking of the words of his confidant military advisor Song Xiance.
When Song Xiance sent Zhu Yujian away from Lanzhou, he counted his fingers eight times and said to him: "Your Majesty is destined to be the king of a country! And this trip to Beijing is extremely crucial for your Majesty, so you must take it well." Seize...because the opportunity for your Majesty to become the king of a country lies in the city of Beijing!"
King of a country!
A vassal who doesn’t want to be a king is not a good vassal!
And Zhu Yujian, the king of Sai, was of course a very good vassal king, and of course he wanted to go further... But he couldn't figure it out, how could his opportunity to become a king come to Beijing? Could it be that Emperor Chongzhen Zhu Youjian was about to die? But even if he collapses, it seems that it won't be Zhu Yujian's turn, the distant branch king, to ascend the throne, right?
"Your Majesty, someone seems to be coming to pick you up!"
A middle-aged man dressed as a military attache rode up to Zhu Yujian's side and raised his hand to a group of knights coming from the direction of Beijing's Nancheng.
Zhu Yujian hurriedly collected his thoughts, then squinted his eyes and saw that what was coming was a group of cavalry in front of the tent! The first rider was a lanky young man, also wearing a rather impressive python robe.
After a while, the young man led a small group of cavalry in front of the tent to Zhu Yujian's horse. The young man turned over and dismounted, raised his fist at Zhu Yujian and said, "But His Royal Highness, Prince Tang? This is Zhu Yihai from Prince Lu's Mansion!"
It turned out that the visitor was Zhu Shouyong, the newly crowned King of Lu - his brother Zhu Shouhong had just died this year. Zhu Youjian immediately issued an order to make Zhu Shouyong king, but he did not make Zhu Yihai the county king. Instead, Zhu Yihai was allowed to join the bodyguard corps and learn civil, military and military skills, which was quite meant to cultivate him.
"It turns out he is the prince of Prince Lu's palace!" Zhu Yujian returned the favor on horseback, and then asked, "Did Long live the Lord ask you to come to Marco Polo Bridge to summon the little king?"
"It was Lord Long Live who asked me to come to greet the king," Zhu Yihai said with a smile. "By the way, he also asked me to ask how many troops you have?"
This question blinded Zhu Yujian - could it be that Long Live Lord wants to cut off my bodyguard?
His heart skipped a beat, but Zhu Yujian still answered truthfully: "I don't have much of an army, just 20 thousand households... I only have more than 2,000 soldiers on standby."
"Are they all cavalry?" Zhu Yihai asked again.
"It's cavalry..." Zhu Yujian explained, "There are many horses in Gansu, so it is easy to recruit cavalry."
"Then you're not weak," Zhu Yihai said with a smile, "If we want a bigger army, your family can afford 20,000, no problem, right?"
"No problem..." Cold sweat broke out on Zhu Yujian's forehead, but he did not dare to tell lies. Because he knew that Zhu Youjian had a spy!
"That's good!" Zhu Yihai smiled and said, "Come with me...Long Live Lord is hunting in Nanhaizi Palace. Let's go there to see the saints! I have something good to tell you!"
"Okay, I'd like to borrow some good words," Zhu Yujian thought for a moment, then raised his hand, "Please lead the way!"
…
"Prince Tang, how are you after we have been apart for more than three years?" Zhu Youjian met Tang Wang Zhu Yujian, who had grown into the King of Sai, outside the newly completed Nanhaizi Palace Hall.
"Well, thanks to Long Live Lord, everything is fine in Lanzhou. I just miss Your Majesty."
Of course Zhu Yujian is fine. He has 20,000 military households and 2,000 cavalry. He doesn't worry about rebellion and military chaos at all. What's wrong with that?
Zhu Youjian smiled and said, "Then do you want to go further?"
Zhu Yujian showed an expression of fear and said, "Long live my Lord, I am so loyal!"
"Hahaha," Zhu Youjian laughed, "Why are you panicking, Prince Tang? What I told you is a good thing!"
Is it my turn to do good things? When Zhu Yujian thought of this, he could only smile bitterly.
"Prince Tang..." Zhu Youjian took Zhu Yujian's hand, and the two of them walked to the main hall together. Zhu Youjian saw Zhu Yujian's worried face, so he smiled and comforted him and said: "Since I support you to become the king of Sai with soldiers and generals, I naturally hope that you can make great achievements... When you have achieved great achievements, why can't the king of a country do the same?
King Tang, after this Western Expedition, I hope you can establish a state in the Western Regions and guard the western border for the Ming Dynasty for generations to come... Are you willing? "
"My lord, my lord..."
What can I say? Zhu Yujian thought to himself: Is this the fate of the king of a country?
It’s just that it doesn’t seem like it’s easy to be the king of this country!
Just when Zhu Yujian was hesitating, Zhu Youjian had already laughed, nodded and said: "Are you willing? Okay, King Tang, I know you won't let me down... I will be the pioneer of Jiayu in the west, I I leave it to you too!”
(End of chapter)
