At this time, the remaining defeated Yuan troops around Peking had been wiped out, and Shanxi fell into the hands of the Ming Dynasty. In the traditional sphere of influence of the Han Dynasty in the north, only Gansu and the Hetao region were still under the control of the Yuan Dynasty.
Zhu Yuanzhang ascended the throne and the Ming Dynasty was founded, which not only represented the return of the Central Plains to the hands of the Han Dynasty, but also represented the reincorporation of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, which had been separated from the Han rule for more than 450 years, into the Han Central Plains system.
The territory of the Ming Dynasty at its founding had already suppressed the Song Dynasty.
The establishment of the Han Dynasty, which had already begun to show its strength, was such that even though the literati still cursed Zhu Yuanzhang in their hearts as a commoner, they could not help but feel a sense of melancholy and pride in their hearts.
No matter how much people curse or complain, I still feel proud of it.
The literati outside Yingtian all thought that Zhu Yuanzhang's coronation ceremony must be very solemn and grand, and would be able to wipe out the clouds that had hung over the Han Dynasty for hundreds of years.
In fact, Zhu Yuanzhang's coronation was extremely simple. Fortunately, Chen Biao was stationed in Beiping and did not come to watch. Otherwise, he would have laughed at his father in his heart. This coronation ceremony was not as good as the performance-style coronations he saw in modern scenic spots.
Of course, Chen Biao might also turn around and run away, saying, "The world is so big, I want to go out and see it, and then meet my father again."
He couldn't just rush up and beat up his father when he ascended the throne, so he could only endure this injustice.
This is what Zhu Yuanzhang's coronation ceremony was like.
He first offered sacrifices to heaven at the Circular Mound Altar outside Yingtian (the Circular Mound Altar in Beijing was built during the Jiajing period in imitation of the one in Nanjing), and then the guards placed the dragon table and dragon throne on the altar, and the imperial crown on the dragon table.
The trusted and important officials among the officials crowded forward and helped (pressed) Zhu Yuanzhang onto the dragon throne. The trusted and important officials then hurriedly put on the dragon robe and crown for Zhu Yuanzhang (most people were just making things more complicated), and Zhu Yuanzhang successfully ascended the throne.
During this period, Zhu Yuanzhang and his close ministers, including the left and right prime ministers (Li Shanchang and Xu Da), were often heard cursing and fighting.
The generals who thought they were working very hard started arguing about which side of the dragon robe and the crown should be the right side. Zhu Yuanzhang kicked Xu Da, who was arguing the loudest, to the ground. Li Shanchang used a series of punches to drive away the other stupid generals. Zhu Yuanzhang finally put on the dragon robe, crown and other things.
Ji Renshou, the chief etiquette officer, whose voice was strong enough to be heard by the officials standing at the end despite his age, first had his mouth twitching, then his eyes, and finally his entire wrinkled face twitching.
If it weren't for the need to maintain the final solemnity of this coronation ceremony, Ji Renshou would have rushed up and beaten up all the ministers, including Zhu Yuanzhang.
Because this riot started with Zhu Yuanzhang saying, "I think this side is the correct one? Did the etiquette officer put it in the wrong place?"
Let me explain here. Both Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Di in later generations did not like to say "I". They usually called themselves "I". When they were in a hurry, they would call themselves "I". This was confirmed by the "Ming Shilu" and archaeological imperial edicts.
Generally speaking, when Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Di said "I", eight or nine out of ten were civil servants recording and beautifying the words, and the remaining one or two out of ten were in formal occasions.
Later film and television dramas claim that Zhu Yuanzhang referred to himself as "Zan." This is untrue. "Zan" originated in Shanxi during the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty, and later spread throughout China as a masculine self-description. Currently, the Shanxi army is still a surrendered Yuan Dynasty unit undergoing labor reform.
Ji Renshou had reminded Zhu Yuanzhang many times that at least during this coronation ceremony he should honestly call himself "Zhen". Zhu Yuanzhang was so happy that he called himself "I" again.
The civil servant who was going to record the actual ceremony and write the "Ming Shilu" in the future almost broke his pen, and Ji Renshou wanted to smash Zhu Yuanzhang's head with a hammer.
Perhaps Ji Renshou's eyes were too scary, and Zhu Yuanzhang's ecstasy was sobered up by a bucket of cold water. He put on a stern face and acted with the dignity that an emperor should have.
Ji Renshou snorted coldly and glanced at the still messy officials. They immediately returned to their seats, holding their tablets tightly, and looked very serious.
Ji Renshou withdrew his gaze and continued with the next steps.
The next steps were taken by the two prime ministers. After being kicked out by Zhu Yuanzhang, Xu Da was very honest and presented the imperial seal with Li Shanchang, leading all the civil and military officials to kowtow.
Under the chairmanship of Ji Renshou, all civil and military officials knelt, kowtowed, stood up, turned around, knelt, kowtowed, stood up, turned around... The whole ceremony ended only after Zhu Yuanzhang, who was sitting at the head, felt a little dizzy.
Ji Renshou winked.
Zhu Yuanzhang was still dizzy.
Ji Renshou had a dry cough.
Zhu Yuanzhang was not completely unconscious yet.
Li Shanchang clenched his tablet tightly, stepped forward, and said in a resounding voice, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, on ascending the throne! Please establish the reign title!"
Zhu Yuanzhang: "Oh oh oh... cough."
Mr. Ji's eyes were a bit scary, as if he wanted to smash my head with the tablet in his hand. This must be an illusion. Mr. Ji is such a person who pays attention to etiquette, how could he commit such a crime?
After deceiving himself in his heart, Zhu Yuanzhang stood up and bowed to heaven and earth again.
"I! Zhu Yuanzhang! I pray to the heavens and earth! My ancestors!"
"From today on! The Ming Dynasty will be established! The reign will be Hongwu!"
“Bang!” “Bang!” “Bang!”…
A row of large bells rang in turn.
Chaos and confusion will eventually turn into solemnity.
The 27th year of Zhizheng, 1367 AD, the fourth day of the first lunar month. This is one year earlier than the history of Chen Biao's time and space.
Zhu Yuanzhang ascended the throne in Yingtian, named the country Ming, and established the Hongwu era. The 27th year of Zhizheng became the first year of Hongwu.
At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang was just forty years old (in lunar age).
He was forced to join the Red Turban Army at the age of twenty-seven and ascended the throne as emperor at the age of forty, only thirteen years later.
…
At the same time.
In Pingjiang City, Zhang Shicheng sat on a high building facing Yingtian, drinking by himself.
Before him lay a newspaper brought by a traveling merchant from Yingtian. Dated a month ago, it announced that Zhu Yuanzhang would ascend the throne on the fourth day of the first lunar month.
Zhang Shicheng ordered that no one should disturb him while he was drinking, but Zhang Shixin, as Zhang Shicheng's favorite brother, was not included in the category of "anyone".
Zhang Shixin came over to drink with a pot of good wine.
He cursed while drinking, and couldn't understand why the people and scholars were on his side, while Zhu Yuanzhang took advantage of him.
He also cursed why Zhu Yuanzhang's Northern Expedition was so smooth that they didn't even have time to stab Zhu Yuanzhang in the back.
Zhang Shicheng said calmly, "We are also peasants."
It was rare to hear his doting elder brother refute him, and Zhang Shixin's mouth froze in his curse.
Zhang Shicheng added, "Even if I had time, I wouldn't have taken action."
Zhang Shixin was happy.
He put down his wine glass and said, "Brother, others will believe what you said. I am your closest brother, why do you have to pretend in front of me? Don't say that Zhu Yuanzhang's attack on the Yuan Dynasty was a righteous act and you shouldn't stab him in the back. That's not what you said when you attacked Han Song."
Zhang Shicheng looked down at the ripples in the wine glass in his hand: "That's different."
Zhang Shixin smiled and said, "Yes, yes, that's different. Come on, keep drinking."
Zhang Shicheng said, "You continue drinking. I'm going to sober up. Finish your jar of wine and go back to have a good rest. When Zhu Yuanzhang ascends the throne, he will attack us."
Zhang Shixin listened to his eldest brother's nagging instructions and waved his hands impatiently: "Okay, okay, yes, yes."
Zhang Shicheng sighed in his heart, not knowing whether he was sighing for his brother who still had little sense of crisis, or for himself.
He walked downstairs, picked up the weapon, and swung it with force.
He was just a salt merchant. When he first started his rebellion, he only had a little strength and no special skills.
When he became a general and had some wealthy men under him, he sought instruction and changed his movements, which were harmful to his body and ineffective, into the smooth movements he has today.
Zhang Shicheng waved the long sword in his hand, recalling every bit of the past and thinking of the letters sent from Peiping.
"From the King of Wu himself. My boy Chen Biao, the King of Wu may have heard of me."
"I won't say anything fancy, I'm not one for fancy. After I occupied Peking, I found letters from Yuan Dynasty officials. I can't give you the originals, but I'll give you copies. Believe it or not."
"The King of Wu was once a greater threat to the Yuan Dynasty than Han and Song, so they have the most people on your side. Now my lord's faction has also increased in numbers, and Zhang Chang is one of the masterminds."
"Zhang Chang advocates harsh punishments, praising my lord's merits and urging him to seize the opportunity to enjoy himself, saying that enjoyment is the only way for him to wash the dirt off his legs and gain acceptance among the literati. Doesn't this sound familiar?"
"The King of Wu was once a hero. The saddest thing in this world is the end of a beautiful woman and a hero. Biao is not trying to persuade the King of Wu to surrender on behalf of his lord. He simply hopes that in the final battle against Wu, the one fighting against the Ming Dynasty will be the former hero Zhang Shicheng."
"Should I say something last? (The chubby stick figure scratches his head). Well, I want to thank the King of Wu for his heroic feat at Gaoyou City. While he may not have intended it, those who followed him no longer believed the Yuan Dynasty was invincible and continued to hold high the banner of resistance against the Yuan Dynasty. They must have been inspired by his actions."
"The King of Wu will surely be mentioned prominently in future history books. I hope the time will come when we can meet on the battlefield."
"Respectfully submitted by Chen Biao."
The long sword in Zhang Shicheng's hand danced faster and faster, causing gusts of wind.
Soon, his long sword slipped out of his hand and stuck into the ground.
Zhang Shicheng fell to the ground, gasping for breath.
He wasn't tired. Even when he was addicted to wine and women, he never neglected his martial arts training. If he were to go to the battlefield now, he believed he would still be a formidable general.
But he was indeed tired.
Zhang Shicheng supported himself on the ground with his hands, looked up at the sky, with a look of confusion on his face.
Of course he knew Chen Biao.
If some people still scoffed at Chen Biao during the Battle of Hongdu, thinking he was just bragging by the Ming army, then in the Battle of Dadu, Chen Biao's unparalleled wisdom and strategy silenced everyone in the world.
The incident of cursing Chen Zuren to death was just icing on the cake for Chen Biao's reputation.
Although he was just a young boy, he was trusted by Zhu Yuanzhang. Not only was he destined to be the future crown prince's close confidant, but he had now become Zhu Yuanzhang's close confidant, surpassing a group of veteran generals to guard Yuan Dadu and face the Northern Yuan forces directly.
Chen Biao was not trying to persuade people to surrender, nor was he trying to disturb his own mind - a person like him would not bother to do such a thing.
Zhang Shicheng understood that Chen Biao was just a hero appreciating another hero.
Perhaps, Zhu Yuanzhang used Chen Biao as a token of appreciation for another hero, otherwise Chen Biao would not have dared to write to him alone.
But now that he knows that these letters are true and that those trusted confidants who sang his praises were sent by others to corrupt him, what can he do?
He thought of the first trusted adviser he disliked, Luo Ben Luo Guanzhong.
"My Lord, why do you always make the most wrong choices at critical moments?"
Zhang Shicheng lay on his back on the ground, one hand covering his eyes to block out the glaring sunlight of the fourth day of the first lunar month, and laughed out loud.
In a small alley in Pingjiang City, Robben supported his teacher Shi Er, and both of them faced the direction of Yingtian.
Shi Er said: "Zhu Yuanzhang should have ascended the throne by now."
Robben said: "Yeah."
Shi Er said: "I am old and no longer have the energy to serve another master. You are still young. If Zhu Yuanzhang summons you, go."
Robben said stubbornly: "No."
Shi Er smiled bitterly and shook his head. "I originally thought Zhu Yuanzhang was a tyrant, but now I think a tyrant can also be a wise ruler. You should go."
Robben said, "Zhu Yuanzhang may have been a wise ruler, but he already had many capable ministers under his command. It doesn't matter if I'm there or not. I just want to stick to my ambitions."
Choose a wise leader and stick to him.
Like a phoenix choosing a paulownia tree, if the tree withers, the phoenix will cry blood and never return to the sky.
Call it blind loyalty. People will always cling to some foolish things in their lives; that's what makes them human. Robben knew it was irrational, but people are irrational all the time, and this one wasn't the worst. He was simply following his heart.
Shi Er shook his head again and said, "Go back. If you change your mind later, don't be ashamed . Go ahead. There is no shame in following a wise ruler."
Robben was at a loss for words: "Don't worry, teacher. I'm not someone who would stick to my guns just to save face."
Even if he left Zhang Shicheng, he still regarded Zhang Shicheng as his master.
Even if Zhang Shicheng fell into depravity, he would not help him to commit atrocities, but he would not serve as an official in Zhang Shicheng's enemy camp either.
That's all.
…
Gansu Ningxia Prefecture Road (Ningxia belonged to Gansu Province at that time).
After Chen Biao reached the end of the Grand Canal, he captured Dadu in just two days, greatly disrupting the plans of Kuyuk Timur and the Yuan prince.
Zhu Yuanzhang personally led the army westward, conquering several cities in Shanxi along the way, all the way to Jining (Datong).
The Yuan prince accused Kuyuk Timur of strategic failure and split with him again.
Kuyuk Timur retreated to Ningxia, Gansu, and the Yuan crown prince retreated to Yingchang Road (now Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia).
Xu Da explained Chen Biao's suggestions to Zhu Yuanzhang and added his own suggestions.
Zhu Yuanzhang agreed with the opinions of Xu Da and Chen Biao, believing that the Yuan crown prince was not a threat and that Kuyuk Timur was the biggest threat to the Ming Dynasty in the future. He ignored the Yuan crown prince and divided the entire army into several routes to block the various passes in Gansu, while cultivating land and raising troops while advancing towards Ningxia.
Because Zhu Yuanzhang ascended the throne, Xu Da, Tang He and others temporarily responded to Yingtian, the Ming army's offensive was temporarily stopped, and Kuyuk Timur had a chance to catch his breath.
Ningxia is covered with ice in the first month of the lunar year.
The Ming army harassed the Yuan army for several days, but Xu Da, a very mean guy, only laid siege but did not attack. Every day, he had people beat drums and gongs and shout for fighting and killing near the Ningxia camp to make noise, which made the Yuan army mentally exhausted and nervous.
Even after he left, his lieutenants followed his strategy and harassed the Yuan Dynasty defenders with noise every day.
Kuyuk Timur had not had a good night's sleep for several days, and his eyes were bloodshot.
Before Xu Da left, he tied the letter to an arrow and shot it into the Ningxia military camp.
He told Kuyuk Timur that he was going back to attend the coronation ceremony of his lord Zhu Yuanzhang, and that from the fourth day of the first lunar month, the world would be renamed "The First Year of Hongwu".
"You can try sending troops while I'm away."
Kuyuk Timur tightened his cloak, and the strength in his hands seemed to crush the fragile paper.
Faced with Xu Da's provocation, Kuyuk Timur wanted to send troops to try, but he was worried that Xu Da was deliberately setting up a false formation.
He glanced at the drowsy Yuan soldiers around him and realized sadly that even if Xu Da had left, the Ming army was still outside. Even if he fought his way out, he would not succeed.
There were only less than 50,000 elite soldiers left under Kuyuk Timur's command.
He knew his only chance of survival was to abandon these soldiers and escape to the grasslands with light cavalry at night to seek refuge with the crown prince.
Although the Yuan Dynasty's influence in the Central Plains had been nearly eradicated, the steppes remained its domain. With the appeal of the Yuan Emperor and Crown Prince, the shared interests of the Mongol tribes, his own prestige and the political assets left by his adoptive father, he was certain to become the commander of this steppe cavalry and continue the struggle against the Ming.
But he also understood that it was too difficult to enter the country.
The Ming Dynasty was not the Song Dynasty, and Zhu Yuanzhang was not any of the Song Dynasty emperors. If he lost Gansu, Mongolia would lose the last piece of land where Chinese civilization had settled, and return to a tribal state.
Can the Yuan Dynasty still enter the Central Plains? Can it re-establish a dynasty in the Central Plains?
Kuyuk Timur was well-read. He read through all the history books and found that even the Eastern and Western Han dynasties existed almost continuously. He had never seen any dynasty that could restore its country after a dynasty.
If the emperor and the prince can integrate the forces of the grassland, cooperate with themselves from inside and outside, and retake Dadu, they still have hope.
If he left Gansu, the Ming Dynasty would have consolidated its foundation and it would be difficult for him to come back.
Kuyuk Timur closed his eyes and made a crazy decision.
When the Ming Emperor ascended the throne, the Ming army was at its most relaxed. It was said that the commanders of the Dadu garrison were Zhu Yuanzhang's three adopted sons, all of whom had returned to Yingtian. Only a wicked child, Chen Biao, remained in Dadu.
He decided to take Dadu directly.
If he succeeded, no matter how many concerns the Emperor and the Crown Prince of the Yuan Dynasty had, and no matter how many excuses the Mongolian princes on the grassland had, they would all attack the Central Plains together, use Dadu as a springboard, and regain the territory of the Yuan Dynasty.
If he failed, he would retreat to the grasslands. Even if he would never set foot in the Central Plains again during his lifetime, at least he could help the prince secure his position as the "Mongol Khan" on the grasslands.
To this end, all the chess pieces he placed can be put into motion.
Anyway, if he retreats back to the grassland, these chess pieces will be useless.
So that night, Kuyuk Timur and his nearly 50,000 troops quietly bypassed the pass guarded by the Ming army, traveled through mountains and rivers, left Bao'an Prefecture (now Zhuolu, Hebei), and approached Dadu.
Zhang Liangchen, the Yuan general guarding Qingyang, Zhang Liangbi, Li Siqi and other generals guarding Tongguan set out at the same time to block the Ming army and pave the way for Kuyuk Timur.
Other scattered Yuan troops also heard the news and started to "come alive" around the time Zhu Yuanzhang ascended the throne, fighting with the Ming army.
When the Ming army discovered that Kuyuk Timur had abandoned Ningxia City, they all thought that Kuyuk Timur was going to escape back to the grassland.
They sent half of their army to station in Ningxia City, thinking they had gained a great advantage. At the same time, they sent messengers to inquire about the route of Kuyuk Timur's return to the grassland and send messages, asking their colleagues to surround him.
When the messenger rushed a hundred miles and asked his colleagues guarding the garrisons along the way, but found no trace of Kuyuk Timur, he realized something was wrong and immediately went back to report.
The deputy general, who was grinning from ear to ear in Ningxia City and had already written a letter to Yingtian to report his achievement, was suddenly awakened as if by a basin of ice water.
He remembered what Xu Da told him before he left.
"We must completely surround the Yuan army and never let them leave the city. If they leave the city, immediately pursue them with our entire army and ignore Ningxia."
He was sweating all over and almost fainted.
The great achievement hit him on the head like a pie in the sky, making him see stars and even forget what Marshal Xu had told him.
"Quick, quick, get out of the city and chase them!" The deputy general's voice trembled.
The subordinate asked, "Chase? Where to?"
The deputy general was at a loss.
If Kuyuk Timur didn't return to the steppe, where could he have gone? Could he have continued westward to the desert?
"Eastward..." The deputy general's voice trembled even more. "It must be eastward. That lunatic, Wang Baobao! He actually wanted to take advantage of the fact that the garrison commanders of Dadu had gone to Yingtian and use a tired army to recapture Yuan Dadu?! How dare he?!"
…
In Peking, Chen Biao was checking the reports of students on their recent internships at various places inside and outside the city as civil and military officials.
What he spread out were the internship reports of the top five students in terms of overall performance.
Leaving aside his two younger brothers... Ting'er was first; Ting'er, despite being so young, managed to barely make it to fifth place, a real honor for his eldest brother. Of the remaining three, Geng Zaicheng's son Geng Tianbi came in second, Zhou Dexing's son Zhou Ji came in third, and Chang Wei, who had always topped the tests, fell to fourth.
Chen Biao was a little puzzled as to why Chang Wei had lost so many points. After reading Chang Wei's internship report, he sighed deeply.
Although Chang Wei is good at martial arts, he is too soft-hearted towards others.
This soft heart was not for the time when she was on the battlefield killing the enemy. Although Chang Wei was the same age as him, she was not afraid of killing people when she was a soldier. But when she faced ordinary people, she could not bring herself to do it.
Chen Biao ordered that the people near Peking during this period be expelled once. If they still disobeyed the order after three expulsions, they would be killed without mercy.
Chang Wei was soft-hearted many times. Although he did not let those people get close to Dadu, he only drove them away and refused to kill them.
That was fine. Chang Wei was young, hadn't experienced anything tragic, and was relatively naive. It wasn't her fault. Half of his students couldn't strictly follow his cruel orders.
What Chen Biao never expected was that Chang Wei was a person with poor direction.
Everyone knows why Li Guang was so elusive. Even if the Grand Historian raved about this good friend to the heavens, using legends and sayings like "those who are good at fighting never achieve anything," the number of words he used would rival the combined total of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing. But the fact that Li Guang always got lost and delayed military operations during his campaigns, and even Wei Qing sent him a local guide, yet he still managed to run around aimlessly, made it clear that he would never be granted a title of nobility.
To be honest, no matter what the reason was, he got lost in both battles and delayed military operations. If it weren't for the fact that he was a veteran, Wei Qing would have chopped off his head as a sacrifice.
Chen Biao had long noticed Chang Wei's poor scores in spatial geometry, but he hadn't expected her to have a similarly poor sense of direction. In ancient times, without satellite navigation systems, she could only serve as a deputy general.
If Chang Wei were only a deputy general, she would probably lose her position as a female general. Although Chang Wei was very strong, even if she was as strong as Chang Yuchun, there were at least a dozen "strong men" with the same name as Chang Yuchun in Zhu Yuanzhang's army. For example, Zhao Desheng, who was unable to return to Yingtian to attend Zhu Yuanzhang's coronation ceremony because of a mistake, was one of them.
Chang Wei's exceptional strength was simply based on her ability to compete with male competitors, a fact based on physiology.
If Chang Wei wanted to become a female general in a prosperous era, a woman like Fu Hao and Princess Pingyang who relied on her own strength to become a general instead of relying on her husband, she must have something that surpassed all men.
If you can't get enough martial arts, you can make up for it with strategy, bravery, and handsomeness. Chang Wei is still far from that.
However, since Chang Wei was only twelve years old, it was too early to be judged by the standards of Fu Hao and Princess Pingyang. Chen Biao did not look down on her.
Chen Biao's mother wrote a letter to Chen Biao, hoping that Chen Biao could take care of Chang Wei and find a way for Chang Wei to continue his career as a military general.
"I'm afraid this is the last female general of the early Ming Dynasty. I don't expect her to have the skills of her two masters, but if she can leave one or two achievements in history, I will be satisfied ."
Chen Biao thought about his mother's letter and said to himself, "A few achievements? That's easy, just being a deputy general will do. But that's so boring."
He already had a plan in mind, but now he had to wait until Chang Wei became more mature, experienced one or two rigorous battles, and smoothed out the naivety in his heart before he could execute it.
Not only Chang Wei, all his students are the same.
Chen Biao picked up Zhou Ji's internship report again.
No one expected that Zhou Ji, who was at the bottom of the class in the beginning and liked to sniff rouge from the mouths of beautiful maids like Jia Baoyu at a young age, would now grow to the top five in comprehensive scores among the first batch of students.
In fact, Zhou Ji was only in the top ten before. This time he made a great contribution and entered the top five for the first time. But Uncle Zhou should be in the afterlife... uh, Uncle Zhou is not dead yet, he should be crying tears of joy.
Chen Biao knocked his head and knocked out Zhou Ji's nonsense words when he learned that he was in the top five and cried with snot bubbles coming out of his nose, as if he had returned to his silly child days, shouting "My father would rest in peace if he knew about this in the afterlife."
I really don’t know why Zhou Ji, Uncle Zhou’s only son, has such great malice towards his own father.
Is it because he was beaten too many times as a child and became rebellious?
"Zhou Ji, this temper is too fierce." Chen Biao sighed, "If such a fierce temper is not properly restrained, I'm afraid it will cause big trouble."
Zhou Ji was the one who resolutely carried out Chen Biao's cruel orders.
It was right to follow orders, but Chen Biao could see that the others were reluctant. But Zhou Ji really didn't care. He killed people when Chen Biao ordered, without even thinking.
If Zhou Ji had a more brutal boss, or if he himself became the commander-in-chief, he might have done something out of line.
But Zhou Ji's character is innate. He has always been indifferent to outsiders. I don't know how Uncle Zhou's family raised him.
It can't be that just because Zhou Ji is a rare only son in this era and is the apple of his family's eye, he is indifferent to the feelings of outsiders, right?
"It's not a big problem. Just like Brother Zheng, Zhou Ji will be responsible for fighting, and he will be assigned a deputy to clean up the mess after the battle." Chen Biao rubbed his temple. "He just needs to understand what is right and what is wrong."
If emotions and morality can't restrain him, then use laws and military orders. What Chen Biao needs to do now is to make Zhou Ji accustomed to obeying laws and military orders.
After Chen Biao figured out how to continue arranging Zhou Ji's work, he picked up the last internship report.
Geng Tianbi, whose performance seemed average across the board, came in second this time. My own son, Chong'er, almost lost his first place.
Geng Tianbi lived in the army with his father Geng Zaicheng from a very young age. When Geng Tianbi was young, Geng Zaicheng selected a group of teenagers from his troops to accompany Geng Tianbi in military training.
After Geng Tianbi entered Yingtian Primary School, he consistently ranked around tenth in all subjects. His low-key nature made him a relatively unremarkable figure at the school.
But his low profile actually revealed a terrifying level of rationality and calmness. When he entered the real battlefield, Geng Tianbi, with his flawless skills and unusual calmness and rationality, immediately stood out.
This guy is not only a talent, but if he can develop the mental simulation ability of "playing military chess in his mind" like himself and Uncle Xu in the future, he can become a talented general.
Chen Biao couldn't help but smile and said, "Uncle Geng's teaching is very good."
Chen Biao took out the student roster and circled the name "Geng Tianbi".
This person can probably "go out" and lead a team on his own.
Chen Biao looked at his brother Chen Chong's name and sighed.
In fact, judging by his performance alone, Chong'er could have led a team on his own, but he was too young and lacked the energy, so he had to wait a few more years. Geng Tianbi was already seventeen years old, which was over the military conscription age.
Chen Biao looked at Chang Wei's name again and sighed again.
If Chang Wei hadn't had a bad sense of direction, even if she was still a little naive, she wasn't naive about the enemy. As long as she wasn't sent to deal with the people's affairs and only went into battle, she could lead a team on her own... Wait, she's not old enough!
Chen Biao rubbed his temples again and sighed repeatedly.
I'm not old enough! Why should I be planning other people's lives and becoming a life mentor at such a young age?
angry!
Chen Biao slammed his face against the table.
As soon as he hit his face, guards came running over.
"Prefect, Prefect, there is..."
Chen Biao lifted up the soft little face with a red mark on it and said, "Speak slowly. Is there someone coming from Gansu?"
The guard looked at Chen Biao's calm expression, and his heart instantly fell back into his chest. He spoke in a normal tone: "Yes! General Yu Guang only led a dozen cavalry to break through. He said Wang Baobao is coming!"
Chen Biao snorted coldly and said, "I knew it."
He no longer needed to jump up from the chair, but instead stood up steadily and walked towards the door.
As he walked out, Yan Qian came out from the shadows, put a cloak and a furry hat on Chen Biao, and also handed Chen Biao a hand warmer.
Yan Qian did not follow Chen Biao directly to the capital, but took a detour to the south and hurried here half a month ago.
Chen Biao walked out of the gate holding a hand warmer and stepped onto the snow in Peking.
"Uncle Yan, do you think Uncle Xu will cry after losing to me this time?" The battle was about to begin, but Chen Biao smiled easily.
Yan Qian said with a straight face, "Even if he doesn't cry himself, the lord will probably beat him until he cries."
"Please address the Lord as the Emperor or Your Majesty," Chen Biao corrected. "It's already the first year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty. I don't think that's necessary. Uncle Xu has already made arrangements, and Your Majesty won't be angry."
Yan Qian glanced at Chen Biao and thought, it would be strange if he wasn't angry.
Biao'er had just arrived in Peking when he had to fight the second battle to defend the city. If the lord knew about this, he would probably be furious.
But the lord must be more angry with himself, because he himself did not think that Kuyuk Timur would abandon everything and take the risk to come to Dadu.
There are many things to consider when deploying troops. If the lord places the army in the eastern part of Gansu, he will not be able to cut off the contact between Kuyuk Timur and the Yuan prince, nor will he be able to prevent Kuyuk Timur from returning to the grassland.
The Lord and Biaoer agreed that Kuokuo Timur was a greater threat than the Yuan Dynasty Emperor and the Crown Prince. Therefore, the Lord was determined to block Kuokuo Timur's escape route to the north.
But the lord and Biaoer disagreed. The lord believed that Kuyuk Timur would flee north and reunite with the Yuan prince, but Biaoer said that Kuyuk Timur might go east to take Dadu to boost the morale of the Yuan Dynasty.
The lord didn't believe it. Even if Kuyuk Timur went to Dadu, he wouldn't be able to take it. Even if Biao'er retreated, Kuyuk Timur, who had no large ships, wouldn't be able to catch up. Kuyuk Timur had lost many soldiers and generals, and couldn't even hold Dadu.
As a separatist warlord who had been fighting with the Yuan Dynasty court for many years, Kuyuk Timur had nothing better to do than to waste his energy on such a thankless task.
But Biaoer insisted that Kuyuk Timur was a separatist warlord before, but he was no longer one when the Yuan capital was captured.
"Kyukor Timur was a loyal minister of the Yuan Dynasty. He was also the one who saw the Yuan Dynasty most far-sightedly, putting its interests above his own. That's why I say he was the real threat to the Ming Dynasty. If he were still around, the Yuan Dynasty would have regained its spirit and been reintegrated. Even if it couldn't enter the Central Plains, the Northern Yuan would have continued to exist for many years."
Chen Biao had a very high opinion of Kuyuk Timur.
Because of his trust in Chen Biao, Zhu Yuanzhang made preparations for both scenarios.
If Kuyuk Timur really attacked Dadu, the army would be able to encircle it within ten days.
Chen Biao had already made preparations to defend the city. In this cold weather, with the support of new artillery, it was more than enough to guard the city for ten days.
If Chen Biao still loses by using his full strength to wait for the enemy's tireless attack and using hot weapons against cold weapons, he will not respond to the emperor for the embarrassment he has suffered.
Of course, this is what Chen Biao himself said. When Yan Qian returned to Chen Biao's side, he was ready to knock Chen Biao unconscious and run away with him.
Even if more cities were lost, how could they be more important than the life of Zhu Biao, the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty?
When he ascended the throne, after Zhu Yuanzhang said "Establishing the Great Ming Dynasty and establishing the Hongwu reign", he immediately named Ma Xiuying as the queen and Ma Xiuying's eldest son "Zhu Da" as the crown prince.
Yes, Zhu Da.
Chen Biao laughed again when he saw the name.
He never expected that when the Ming Dynasty was founded, poor Prince Zhu still had no official name. Although Zhu Yuanzhang said some superstitious words, Chen Biao knew that people in this era were superstitious and would rather believe it than not, but Zhu Da... Hahahaha, poor Prince Zhu.
The founding of the Ming Dynasty was such a great event that the name Zhu Da will go down in history.
Chen Biao will do his best to protect Zhu Da's safety and strive to let Zhu Da ascend the throne.
If Zhu Da had not ascended the throne, as a poor prince Ming who died young, few people in later generations would know his name. Even in TV dramas, he would only be a supporting role that the audience did not know.
But if Zhu Da successfully ascended the throne as Emperor Taizong of Ming, this name... Hahahaha, cough, it's nothing, many emperors have a tragic nickname, it's just Zhu Da, it's really nothing, hahahaha.
Chen Biao almost choked with laughter.
Beiping was his territory, and no matter how loudly he laughed, poor Ming Crown Prince Zhu Da would not know. So he just tried his best to laugh.