After the military reform, the Ming Dynasty had a standing army of 600,000 soldiers.
There are 60,000 naval troops in the navy. Now, except for the 50,000 Nanyang navy, most of the rest have gone to Japan.
Of the 150,000 troops in the Beijing camp, more than 20,000 have already gone to Japan, and it is impossible to leave all of them in the border areas.
Jinyiwei and Nanjing Zhenwu Camp each have about 20,000 troops, mainly to defend the imperial power and suppress the capital and Jiangnan.
The border defense troops in the Qinggan, Hetao and Xuanning Border Regions are now full, with a total of more than 160,000; in the Jiliao Border Region, there are more than 40,000 troops, half of whom are now in North Korea. Yunnan and Guangxi add up to more than 30,000 troops, plus more than 10,000 in the Taiwan border area. This is a total of about 250,000 Ming border guards.
There are about 100,000 remaining territorial troops distributed in the hinterland provinces, with an average of no more than 10,000 per province. They are not a mobile force.
After the first lunar month, Ming Dynasty soon became restless.
"Ming Pao" suddenly became a weekly issue. This is because the editing and printing power has increased, and it is also the need of the situation.
The above article makes people very angry.
"The Ming Dynasty sent troops to North Korea at the request of the princes and people of North Korea! At that time, the bad news came. Who knew that Lord Anton had killed the enemy? The traitor was so bold that he slaughtered all the kings and crown princes. How much money did the Ming Dynasty spend on food relief? Refugees? How can we say that the Ming Dynasty deliberately embezzled the vassal state?"
"Who says otherwise? Those who destroyed Ryukyu were Japanese bandits. All the kings, ministers and people of Ryukyu lost their lives. The people of this country only survived ten or two! That princess's blood letter was an edict to the world. How much money did your majesty spend to rebuild Ryukyu? ? How can we not suppress Japanese pirates and other unscrupulous beasts?"
"Your Majesty is right! The imperial court has good intentions to establish diplomatic relations and become a brotherly country in the future, but they actually colluded with the Kou border! In the past, they pretended to be submissive and submissive, but now their true colors are revealed! Is it impossible to make them love the people and live in peace? In the end, What a thieves!"
"..."
The Ming court was paying attention to what the people were talking about, but it wasn't too worried.
Ming officials now have some experience in how to guide mobilization through public opinion, not to mention that the emperor is well-informed and knows more?
"Emphasis on a few points." Zhu Houcong told the current editor-in-chief of "Ming Pao", "Master Wang is brave and skillful in fighting, and there is absolutely no possibility of the war spreading beyond the border areas. In the past twenty years since the new law, the national treasury is full and food is sufficient, Ming Dynasty's self-defense Counterattacks will never be imposed on the people. Every man is responsible for the rise and fall of the country, so the military situation is communicated to the Ming Dynasty, and the people must know how the king is protecting his family and the country."
For Zhu Houcong, it is necessary to fight a "live broadcast" battle of this era.
The nature of the army and the relationship between the army and the country must connect the royal family, officials, people and soldiers.
It is naturally uncomfortable to be surrounded by enemies on all sides, but I am afraid that in the strong state of the Ming Dynasty, there is no better opportunity than this: to truly shape the concept of the country and the concept of the nation.
Why do the vassals still have to take risks despite knowing that the Ming Dynasty is stronger?
Because the Ming Dynasty put forward the standard of loving and tranquilizing the people, and used it as the basis for future relations between countries.
This underlying value orientation will shake the legal system and status foundation of the powerful people in the feudal state.
The people of the Ming Dynasty have had personal experience of changes over the years, so they can tell that the audacity of these vassal states is indeed for their own status and self-interest.
He can still treat the people under his rule like slaves, levy them violently, and beat them with eggs. Once the Ming Dynasty is weak, how can other people eat them indiscriminately due to their greed?
In addition to articles written by the emperor, the State Council and various ministries, Ming Pao now also contains many manuscripts submitted by scholars and celebrities.
In February, an article spread throughout Ming Dynasty through Ming Pao.
The author is called Taiyue, but he did not sign his real name.
But this is a majestic article, which recounts the rise and fall of history since the Han Dynasty was conquered and the Han people were reduced to two-legged sheep after the Tang and Song Dynasties.
Then the conversation changed, why are we fighting for power and land?
For thousands of years, throughout the dynasties, people have longed for good governance. The kings of the past dynasties, no matter whether they are virtuous or mediocre, can really include the people and the people in the official name of the country, write love and service for the people into the constitution, and treat people of all ethnic groups living in China equally as they are now. This is the only one. Just one generation.
This is why China is obviously the most powerful, and there are still so many neighboring vassal states that are attacking in groups.
Many new laws and restructuring are for the sake of the people of Ming Dynasty, which is no longer the same as them.
This is the desire of the world's powerful to "eliminate dissidents". After all, they all just take advantage of the people's fat and enjoy their wealth no matter who is king and hegemon.
China is only on a new path and has already become the enemy of the whole world.
But let me ask the Chinese people, do they still want to go back to the era when being a foreigner was regarded as a slave or a two-legged sheep? Do you still want to go back to an era when taxes and servitude were extremely heavy and officials were corrupt and abusive?
The good governance of the Ming Dynasty is still improving, and the official style has only improved. However, His Majesty is not yet forty, and the prince has traveled among the people to understand the sufferings of the people. Could it be that the Ming Dynasty, who was walking on this road, could be beaten back by the feudal lords and thieves and join them in their evil deeds?
As soon as this heroic article was published, it was really discussed among scholars and the common people heard about it.
Everyone in the capital who was ranked fourth or above was sweating profusely.
This is also a battle for the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty to deal with both internal and external affairs in the center of public opinion.
It was the emperor who advocated the new law. Officials who were loyal to the emperor wanted to implement the new law that loved and served the people. Soldiers who were loyal to the emperor also wanted to defend their country and protect their people.
Because of his love for the people, the emperor first became the enemy of the powerful officials in the surrounding vassal states who "did not join in the same deeds". If the civil and military officials of the Manchu dynasty did not follow this path, would they have the same intentions as the powerful officials from other vassals?
Zhu Houcong naturally reviewed this article first. Now after hearing some of the news reported by Lu Bing, he could only say to his son with emotion: "Did you see it? This kid wants to recruit himself, so there is no need to take care of him."
Is there anything more suitable for Zhang Juzheng to support him than this?
He pointed out that the emperor was young and strong and the prince was wise. From the perspective of the Ming Dynasty, he insisted that this path could continue stably and make the Ming Dynasty better and better. This not only helped the Zhu family establish the authority of the legal system more firmly, but also made people want to do it in the future. It seems that those who are worried about continuing to suppress him have evil intentions.
Of course, since he has said such things publicly, if he becomes an official in the future, he will be watched by others and must not go against his original intention.
Zhu Zaiyi could only nod his head with emotion: "My father has a keen eye for knowing people, and he never makes a mistake."
"This time, the most dangerous thing is the country." Zhu Houcong had mixed emotions, and only lamented Zhang Juzheng's talent, "If there are still old-minded gentry who are dissatisfied with the new law, the danger Ming Dynasty faces now is their last chance. "
Zhu Zai'an's heart suddenly thought: "Father...you have such a high prestige, but there are still people who dare to..."
"Don't underestimate the patience and courage of some people. The Ming Dynasty is at its peak, so many foreign enemies dare to jump out?" Zhu Houcong sneered, "Zhang Juzheng wrote this article very well, I have to thank him. But you have to be sober, this This is really their last chance. You have to be ready for that."
"My son...what preparations should I make?"
"Dad goes to Xuancheng, and you come to supervise the country." Zhu Houcong said calmly, "This is not because dad wants to lure the snake out of the hole, but Hetao and Xuanning are extremely important. You are also getting married, so it's time to start real experience. Dad values practical learning. There are many things that you also need to practice.”
Zhu Zaiyi looked at his father's eyes, and his heart couldn't help but tremble.
"Father, at this critical moment, my son...can't bear it!"
"Xuancheng is not far from Beijing. You have your own opinions on how to deal with it. You can't miss important things if you come back again and again. If you want to kill people or do evil things, leave it to dad. There are many ministers in the court, so you should also act accordingly. You can take on the role of a master to fight against them. Otherwise, how will you make good use of people like Zhang Juzheng in the future?"
"But……"
"Don't pretend, I know what I know." Zhu Houxuan glanced at him, "I'll give you this opportunity, just understand it. I said, you need to practice, and I don't want to test you. I am here for the future of China. This is the inheritance for all generations, and you must do the same.”
"...I understand, my son."
"For more than a month, this is just one of the general strategies that I and all my ministers have discussed. Now that we have set the general tone that my royal palace will be in charge of the border areas and that the prince will supervise the country's governance, in the following military affairs meeting, you will I have officially participated. There are many plans, you can’t be unaware of them!”
"My son, I accept the decree!"
Even to deal with today's situation, there is no need to make hasty moves.
The Ming Dynasty's frontier troops were not weak to begin with, and there was no reason why they could be defeated thousands of miles away.
What's more, I'm afraid I've also seen clearly that since the Ming Dynasty has already marched eastward and established two vassal states as rulers, there is no way it will abandon the defense in a hurry without substantial gains.
"The Tatars have been resting and recuperating in Mobei for more than ten years. I have been fighting in the Western Region for several years, and I don't know how many people they have captured. Knowing that they are difficult to defeat and taking action boldly, how can they only have less than 50,000 troops?" Zhu Houcong snorted again. He said, "Remember, after you supervise the country, the most important thing is to see if anyone is playing in front of you about the time difference between the Liaodong Army intelligence reaching Beijing and Xuanfu and back!"
…
After withdrawing from the diplomatic embassies of various vassal states, Ming Dynasty naturally lost a network for surrounding intelligence work.
The rest are mostly merchants in border trade.
But what the Ming Dynasty is doing in Korea now naturally touches the sensitive nerves of the rich and powerful in other vassal states.
Not every family dares to bet that their life will be better than now after the leader of the country has changed his surname to Zhu and a large number of officials from the Ming Dynasty have occupied prominent positions.
Has Daming considered this possible situation?
After actually participating in the military affairs meeting as a supervisor, Zhu Zaiyi understood: he had considered it.
In other words, withdrawing the ambassador was to give them a chance. With fewer informants, facing the pressure from the Ming Dynasty, whether the pro-Ming faction will finally gain the upper hand or something else, it is all about causing chaos within them first.
It's just that Daming really didn't expect that they could really connect on such a large scale.
Zhu Houcong still couldn't figure out that problem. This is not the future with telephones. In today's era, things stretch for tens of thousands of miles. From the twelfth lunar month to the first lunar month, things happen one after another. It is strange that there is no pre-planning.
This is next to impossible.
What the military affairs conference is studying and judging now is the variable that has not yet been understood.
"There is no need to assume that there are people inside and outside the country who are planning to seize the main contradiction." Zhu Houcong pointed to the north on the map, "I am the only one who has the strength to cause real trouble to the Ming Dynasty. He has the most soldiers and the most combat power. Strong. In other directions, as long as Daming concentrates on defending first, there will be no problem."
Mao Bowen agreed: "According to what has been discussed before, the most likely possibility...is always the northeast?"
"Leave Xianjing Road and Jiangyuan Road alone, if tens of thousands of powerful soldiers suddenly appear there, North Korea and Japan will be unable to succeed." Zhu Houcong frowned, "I just haven't thought about it clearly. Previously, I promised to plunder the Jurchens for many years. How can they abandon their prejudices and work together?"
"Most of the Jurchens plundered by the Khan's court were Haixi and Barbarian Jurchens, and they did not have much enmity with the Jianzhou Jurchens."
"The Liaodong border wall is still there. Apart from this road, there is probably no other solution that really puts Ming Dynasty in a dilemma, right?"
Zhu Houcong pointed to the Yalu River again.
As long as the Jurchens are not only mixed with the remnants of the Korean soldiers, but the real main force can also pass through the Jurchen and Korean streets, then the area on both sides of the Yalu River from Jiuliancheng to North Korea will become the best path for the Mongolian cavalry to enter the Liaodong border wall.
By the way, the land route from Ming Dynasty to North Korea will be cut off, and the situation in North Korea will change.
Maybe they had the idea of the Jurchens taking over North Korea and the Khans taking control of Liaodong?
Under attack from inside and outside, if a section of the Liaodong border wall is breached and I continue to hold the Liaoxi corridor leading to Liaodong from Shanhaiguan, Ming Dynasty will indeed be passive.
The domestic conflicts caused by the ineffective Eastern Expedition were not small, and tens of millions of military expenditures were wasted.
At present, everything in North Korea is not stable.
There are still language barriers to communication between the newly established team of the King of Liao and the Korean people, which is not smooth.
The number of truly elite soldiers left in North Korea to guard the situation is just over 10,000. Yu Dayou went to Japan after the autumn wind swept down Gyeongsang Province like fallen leaves.
"If we really choose to do it here, that's fine! It's just a transfer to Liaodong, and the Beijing camp can move quickly."
"Don't forget, this year it has been decided that the money and grain from Jiangnan will be transported to Beijing." Yang Shen said in a deep voice, "There must be a traitor in the Ming Dynasty! Qinggan, Hetao, and Xuanning also have to guard against it. Only Huanghuai The food in the north will indeed be exhausted."
"I have arranged to go check it out." Zhu Houcong finished speaking calmly, glanced at the ministers and then said, "Since after several studies and judgments, we all think that the war situation is going like this, let's prepare according to this direction first. In short, if North Korea has Change, the 30,000 soldiers from the Beijing camp who claim to be reinforcements for Japan will cut off their retreat from Jeju Island where they are hiding! If I come from Xuanning, Hetao, I will be in Xuanfu, and he will not gain much!"
"The safety of the capital..." Yan Song reminded.
"If we can still allow outside thieves to threaten the capital, or let internal thieves cause chaos in the capital, it is useless to leave more. I will bring 30,000 soldiers from the capital to reinforce Hetao and Xuanning, and another 10,000 each will go to Qinggan, Yunnan, and Guangxi , not only to confuse the enemy, but also to calm the hearts of the people."
There are 150,000 troops in the Beijing camp, and more than 20,000 have gone out. Now there will be another 30,000 to accompany the Northern Expedition. A total of 30,000 will be mobilized to reinforce the other directions. 30,000 are planned to reinforce Liaodong and North Korea. Only less than 30,000 will remain in the capital. All in all. Coupled with the power of the Jin Yiwei and the General Secretary of Public Security, the capital is empty.
However, the emperor's new northern expedition can indeed boost the morale of the people. After all, the emperor's two previous northern expeditions had great successes.
However, Zhu Houcong still went to the direction of Hetao and Xuanfu this time, and he brought a lot of people with him. If Anda really wanted to go to North Korea and Liaodong, and knew that the Emperor of Heaven was going to Xuanfu, he would probably take action, right?
In the third month of Yangchun, the capital camp set off for an expedition.
Thirty thousand to Japan, a quick battle.
Ten thousand goes to Qinggan, ten thousand goes to Yunnan, and ten thousand goes to Guangxi.
After more than twelve years, the Emperor of Heaven once again led the Northern Campaign.
Yang Shen watched the imperial chariot go to Juyong Pass, turned around with a majestic look on his face: "Bite your teeth and work together!"
(End of chapter)
