Zhu Yuanzhang once said that defeating Bei Yuan is not about defeating them themselves, but about finding them.
In fact, nearly a hundred years after taking over the Central Plains, the golden blood in Yuan Ren's body has gradually faded away, and it no longer has the ferocity of Genghis Khan in the past.
The Golden Family has ceased to exist in name only!
In frontal combat, today's Yuan people are no match for the Ming Dynasty.
But the problem is that the Mobei grassland is vast and it is not easy to find them. After repeated defeats, the Yuan people also learned to be smart and did not conflict with the Ming army head-on.
Otherwise, with the current national power of Ming Dynasty, Bei Yuan would have been disintegrated long ago.
Li Qing frowned slightly and said to himself: "If you want the horse to run, you have to let the horse eat grass.
The reason why Jin Yiwei, who was spying on Bei Yuan's intelligence, had little success was not only due to the bitter cold outside, but also partly due to Lao Zhu's stinginess. How could a person be motivated just to draw cakes?
You have to come up with something practical. There will be brave men under heavy rewards. As long as the reward is big enough, there will be no shortage of people who are willing to endure hardships. "
…
Ten days later, everyone arrived.
Li Qing summoned two deputy Qianhu and ten Baihu to discuss strategies to spy on the Yuan people.
Everyone was not very interested because going to Mobei was too painful, not only physically but also psychologically. No one wanted to leave Ming Dynasty and leave their hometown.
"Sir, didn't you say that we are here to monitor King Yan?"
"That's true, but just to monitor King Yan, we don't need so many people, and there is no need for me to go all the way." Li Qing said, "Prying out Beiyuan's intelligence is also within the scope of my work."
Everyone looked at each other and nodded helplessly.
"There is a subsidy for business trips to the Fortress!" Li Qing added.
As soon as they heard that they had money, everyone became somewhat interested, but only a little.
"Sir, how many!"
Li Qing stretched out a hand and made a gesture.
"Five taels?" Liu Hao's eyes lit up, "In this case, the subordinates will definitely be willing."
Li Qing shook his head, "It's not a total of five taels, but the salary will be increased five times during the business trip."
He glanced around and said, "The same goes for you!"
"ah?"
Everyone's eyes were fixed, and now even Liu Hao and Wang Qian had gazing eyes and were fascinated.
The Jinyiwei is prestigious, but there is basically no money to be made. Everyone is living on a salary. If the salary is increased five times, who wouldn't be tempted!
"Sir, I am willing to take this humble position." A hundred households took the lead in expressing their stance.
Following his statement, everyone expressed their willingness to take the lead for the sake of Ming Dynasty.
Li Qing nodded with satisfaction. Compared with the previous time, his enthusiasm was completely different. It seems that the money must be put to good use!
Lao Zhu asked him to expand Jinyiwei and allocated 50,000 taels. After several months of salary, he still had a small 40,000 taels.
Li Qing's waist was very strong, "Don't be impatient, just listen to me."
"Five times the salary is not free. Each team must record the route every day and draw it on a map." Li Qingdao, "Mountains, rivers, main roads, branch roads... nothing can be left behind!"
"No problem!" Everyone agreed.
Although it is a bit difficult, when you think about five times the salary, this difficulty is nothing.
"This intelligence gathering lasts for four months. As long as you work hard, your salary will be paid in full when you return." Li Qing said with a smile, "At that time, I will give separate rewards to each team based on their performance."
After a pause, "If any team explores the Yuanren's base camp, the reward will be doubled directly from this officer. Afterwards, the emperor will reward you and get another 30%!"
When they heard that the reward was so generous, no one hesitated at all. If they were not in the inn and it was inconvenient to talk, they would have screamed in excitement.
"Sir, how many teams will we go to this time?"
Li Qing smiled and said: "We don't need many people to monitor the vassal king. Leave a team of 100 people and the rest will go."
After a pause, "For the sake of fairness, the brothers who stayed behind should not complain if we draw lots. The brothers who left have made meritorious deeds, and the brothers who stayed behind will also have soup to drink."
Everyone nodded, nine out of ten, if they were caught and kept, they could only blame themselves for being unlucky.
That's fair enough.
A quarter of an hour later, nine people were happy, one was smiling bitterly, and two were eager to try.
Wang Qian and Liu Hao rubbed their hands and said, "Sir, how about we go too?"
Li Qing pondered for a moment, nodded in agreement, and warned: "You are here to obtain information about the other party, but if it is exposed, the information obtained will be worthless, so concealment is your first element.
Whether I'm pretending to be a fur trader or a herbal medicine dealer, I don't care about the process, only the results! "
"Understand?"
"Understood!" Everyone nodded.
"Well, you go back and prepare." Li Qing said, "There is no need to come and say goodbye. We will set off when we are ready."
"Yes, sir."
…
The weather is getting warmer, and Li Qing is gradually adapting to life here.
I usually go fishing, and occasionally go to Goulan to listen to music. When I am bored, I will go on a date with Little Fatty. My life is ordinary and comfortable.
The surveillance of King Yan has also been ongoing, but no valuable information has been obtained.
Zhu Di had no intention of rebellion and no signs of rebellion. Apart from going to Qingshou Temple from time to time, there was nothing else.
Everything is stable.
On this day, a fair-skinned young man came to the door and said that the prince missed him.
Li Qing and the young man were already familiar with each other, so he chuckled and said, "Sambo, please wait a moment and change your clothes."
"Well, I hope Mr. Qing will hurry up and don't make the prince wait too long."
"It'll be ready soon."
A quarter of an hour later, Li Qing walked out of the inn and said to Sanbao: "Let's go, it's getting hotter and hotter today."
"It's going to be summer soon, how can it not be hot?" Sanbao smiled, and then asked curiously, "Mr. Qing, why do you always wear a mask?
I've known you for so long and I haven't seen your true face yet? "
Sanbao is not old, but he is very mature, and he is different from other servants in the palace.
Although he is also a servant, he is a servant of some status.
"Me, I'm afraid that the crown prince will see my true appearance and send someone to catch me and drag me to do something..." Li Qing paused and said awkwardly, "I'm sorry, Sanbao."
"It's okay, I've been relieved for a long time." Sanbao chuckled and shook his head, very open-minded.
Li Qing felt guilty and took the initiative to change the subject, "How old are you, Sanbao?"
"Twelve years old."
Sanbao seemed to sense that he was feeling guilty and said with a smile: "Don't worry about Mr. Qing. In fact, I am very content with my life now. Not only do I have enough food and clothing, but I can also read and write. The prince, prince, and princess treat me very well, like family.
I don’t know how many people would envy this kind of life. "
Li Qing encouraged: "Three treasures will surely make great achievements in the future if you know how to read and break characters."
"Thanks."
Sanbao smiled and nodded.
Xu Shi was treated very well in the palace, and the three treasures were very different from the eunuchs in the palace.
He is not like the eunuchs in the palace who habitually bend over with a flattering and flattering look on his face. On the contrary, he always has a look of longing for life on his face, and he does not feel inferior at all. Full of positive energy.
Of course, this is due to the Yanwang family, who are really good to Sanbao.
The two of them talked and laughed all the way to Prince Yan's Mansion.
As soon as they entered the mansion, they saw Zhu Di and Dao Yan coming out with peaceful smiles on their faces.
Sanbao quickly stepped forward to salute and said respectfully: "Sambo has met the prince and the master!"
Li Qing also cupped his fists and saluted: "Your Majesty, Master!"
His heart was trembling. He had met Daoyan in Qingshou Temple before with this mask. Even though the lights were dim and so much time had passed, it was inevitable that he would not be recognized.
The two of them stopped, and Dao Yan saw the clues, showing a look of surprise and understanding, but he did not expose it.
He only stayed on Li Qing for a moment, then looked at Sanbao, his eyes full of admiration.
"Your Majesty, the Three Jewels are destined to be the Buddha. The poor monk wants to accept him as his disciple, but I don't know...?"
"Easy to say." Zhu Di smiled generously, "Sambo, are you willing to become your teacher?
The master is very capable, this is a great opportunity! "
"Sambo is willing."
Sanbao looked happy and was about to perform the apprenticeship ceremony.
Daoyan held him up and said with a smile: "Buddhism doesn't talk about this. I came here in a hurry and without preparation. I will come back another day as a teacher."
"Yes, Master...Oh no, Master."
Sanbao hesitated slightly and said, "Do you want to shave your hair?"
"Haha..." Dao Yan smiled and shook his head, "It would be a pity for someone like you to become a monk. Just be a lay disciple. There is no need for tonsure or taboos."
"Well, thank you, Master." The studious Sambo was very happy.
Zhu Di glanced at Li Qing, frowned slightly, and asked the question Sambo asked:
"Why do you always wear a mask?"
