Volume 4: Hot! The whole world is a warring state Chapter 629: Emperor Tianqi leads the army
"Long live the Lord, long live the Lord."
"Um, what is it?"
"I will be punished by death for disturbing His Majesty's sweet dreams. But His Majesty has said that any memorials from the Indian Expeditionary Force must be reported to you at any time, so..."
"Hold the lamp and show it to me!"
On June 23, 1633, after nearly three months of full-speed relay by personnel from all parties along the way, the report from Cao Wenzhao and others was delivered to Zhu Youdong at the fastest speed of that era.
After carefully reading the joint memorials of Cao Wenzhao and Liu Zhaosun, as well as the memorials of Mao Wenlong, Luo Xiong, Zhang Hong and others, Zhu Youdong put on a single coat, walked out of the Qianqing Palace, and slowly walked up Coal Hill in the moonlight.
The buildings in the Forbidden City were not very tall. After the Ming Dynasty's cement was widely used, many taller buildings with seven or eight floors or even more than ten floors were built around the capital. However, when Zhu Youdong reached the top of the mountain, half of Beijing was still within his sight.
It was five in the morning. Whether in the Forbidden City or in the ordinary urban areas further away, there were some tiny lights: were they lit by countless people who got up early to work ? Were they busy preparing breakfast, or mixing noodles and cooking porridge to cater to the large number of diners coming? Or were they diligent students studying all night? Or were they people waking up at the sound of the cock crowing?
The dark night gradually faded, and the vision gradually became clear. In the dimness, the shadow of a crooked tree appeared in Zhu Youdong's sight. He walked over following the faint light, and then touched the trunk of the tree again and again with his hands.
Fang Zhenghua was already very familiar with the emperor's action: For some reason, in the past one or two years, the emperor liked to come here very much. After coming here, he would linger under this crooked tree for a long time, and sometimes he would mutter to himself something that no one could understand - in fact, it was not that he couldn't understand, but Zhu Youdong didn't allow them to get too close, so he couldn't hear clearly at all.
Fang Zhenghua, who had served Zhu Youdong for more than 20 years, did not understand the significance of Zhu Youdong's action. It is estimated that no one in the entire Ming Dynasty could understand why the emperor did this. In fact, in this era, the only person who could understand Zhu Youdong's action might be Philip. If he stood here, he could tell the reason why Zhu Youdong did this in one sentence: the king needs to reflect on himself and be vigilant at all times!
The Ming Dynasty began mobilizing in March 1632 and sent troops in May. Even if we count from Liu Zhaosun's landing in Calcutta in August, it is now July 1633, and the Ming Dynasty has been conquering India for a year.
In one year, including the navy, 430,000 troops went on a long expedition, and the daily expenditure was extremely staggering. The Minister of Finance Cao Sanxi told him with a sad face the day before yesterday: In one year, the country has invested 22 million silver dollars for this - and this is because the list of casualties is incomplete and the pensions have not been fully paid!
Although the court now has an annual surplus of about 17 to 18 million, plus the 10 million allocated by the inner treasury, the court's revenue and expenditure this year is estimated to be in surplus. However, there is no doubt that as long as the war continues, it is only a matter of time before the court runs into a deficit.
But after a year of such a large-scale expedition, what results were achieved?
It can't be said to be insignificant. At least Bengal was taken: this Bengal is not the later Bangladesh with only 140,000 square kilometers. It includes the later Bangladesh, West Bengal in India, and the seven northeastern states of India headed by the so-called Assam, a total of more than 400,000 square kilometers of land. This is the world's largest natural jute producing area, with the world's most suitable water sources for growing rice and developing freshwater fisheries. In short, for an agricultural society, except for the serious flooding of rivers in the rainy season, this is a big blessed land.
However, although such a large piece of land was cut off, for the Mughal Empire, which at that time ruled an area of more than 4 million square kilometers, it would be a stretch to say that it was a serious blow.
It is indeed not easy to travel thousands of miles to fight against a big country.
However, compared with future rivals such as the Ottoman Empire and Spain, India is relatively close to the Ming Dynasty. Moreover, the Mughal Empire was still only a medieval country at that time. Even if Aurangzeb had obtained Datar's memory, he would not have had enough time to exert his power. I have been in charge of the Ming Dynasty for eighteen years since I became the regent. If I cannot even take down such a country, how can I face the Ottoman Empire and the European Union headed by Spain in the future?
In the past year, I personally sat in the capital and presided over the reform of central and local government institutions. Generally speaking, it has been steadily advancing and has achieved very obvious results. The institutions of various local governments, at least at the provincial level, have been fully sound and effectively perform their duties. The middle and low-level civil servants in various places have gradually replaced the previous clerks and runners. The improvement of government functions has further promoted economic development. And because of the war, the country has spent so much money at once, which has also stimulated the outbreak of the private economy. Generally speaking, the Ming Dynasty is on the right track. This is no longer a revival, but has surpassed the Yongle and Renxuan eras when the Ming Dynasty was the most prosperous!
However, it has only been a year since the expedition to India, and the generals in the army have different ideas. Generals such as Cao Wenzhao and Liu Zhaosun, who came from Henghaiwei and Fangshan, are fine. Generals like Mao Wenlong actually publicly requested me to temporarily stop this expedition in a memorial?
I made some mistakes in the matter of conquering India. I always remember the various strange things that the Indians did in later generations, and I instinctively looked down on them. However, at this time, India was still under the rule of the Mughal Empire. This country is actually still in its rising period. Compared with the historical plane, by the 18th century, the Mughals were already a mess, and I don’t know how much stronger they are. At least, in the historical plane, the Battle of Plassey in 1757, 900 British plus 2,000 local Indian mercenaries faced the 70,000 troops of the Bengali prince. The British army only killed 500 of the enemy, and the entire Bengali army collapsed. This would not happen in the Mughal Empire army of this era.
However, although this Mughal is much stronger than the Mughal in the 18th century, the power that my Ming Dynasty can mobilize is definitely not comparable !
He pressed his hands harder on the crooked tree: I have been searching for it repeatedly in Coal Hill in the past one or two years, and this tree looks the most like it. I guess this is the place where Emperor Chongzhen hanged himself eleven years later in the original history? This is really a place worth coming to reflect on myself.
After meditating for a long time in front of the tree, Zhu Youdong finally withdrew from his spiritual world: "Fang Zhenghua."
"The servant is here."
"Pass on my order. Tomorrow, no, one hour later, have the Cabinet, the Privy Council, and the Imperial Guards, all officials above the third rank, come to the Palace of Heavenly Purity to discuss matters."
"As you wish."
…
As the State Council meeting came to an end that day, countless messengers rushed out from outside Beijing and headed for the entire country and even many vassal states.
July 15, Wucheng, Zhejiang.
"The imperial edict has arrived. Wen Tiren will receive it."
"Your servant Wen Tiren respectfully wishes God peace."
"Your Majesty, rest in peace... The Emperor has decreed that Wen Tiren be appointed as the Governor-General of Bengal. He does not need to come to Beijing to see His Majesty and will take up his post immediately!"
"I accept your order and thank you."
July 18th, the capital of the Kingdom of Fu.
"Master Fuguo deserted the battlefield, shaking the entire defense line, and causing the Ming Dynasty's conquest of India to suffer a temporary setback. Does Master Fuguo know his crime? Does he know shame? I order Master Fuguo to rebuild two divisions and board ships to fight in India within three months. Anyone who deserts the battlefield again and harms friendly forces will be expelled from the country!"
"I, Zhu Changxun, acknowledge my guilt. I will personally lead 30,000 elite troops to fight in India. If you desert the battlefield again, I will never return to Seoul alive!"
July 21, Osaka Castle, Japan.
"The Japanese division is brave and loyal, and they fought to the death. I am deeply moved by this. I now grant you 10,000 gold coins and 500,000 silver dollars to provide relief to the families of the fallen soldiers. I will also write the loyalty and bravery of the Japanese division into the imperial report and send it to Ming and its vassal states. I order the Japanese regent to form two more divisions and send them to India to fight within three months!"
"Your Majesty, Toyotomi Tsuchihide, expresses his gratitude to God. I will personally lead the army to India to serve the Emperor."
"Gao Panlong, Yang Lian, Zuo Guangdou and others have raised the orphans of the fallen nation for many years and assisted the young emperor in stabilizing Japan. Their contributions are immeasurable. From today on, their exile is lifted and they are allowed to travel freely between the Ming mainland and its vassal states. The three of them are also recruited as academic officials of the Bengal Governorate, and they will take office today!"
"Your subjects accept my order and respectfully thank God for His grace."
In addition to Fuguo and Korea, many vassal states, including Guiguo, Tangguo, Zhouguo, Qinguo, Jinguo, etc., all received Zhu Youdong's imperial edict. Among these vassal states, Gui, Tang, Zhou, etc., which had reliable combat effectiveness, also requested to send more troops. Qin, Jin, etc., after being severely reprimanded, asked them to send more civilians.
At the same time, the Ming Dynasty issued another conscription order and established five new divisions. Zhu Youdong then took five of the original ten divisions in the country and formed the second batch of expeditionary forces.
On October 18 of that year, Zhu Youdong's 33rd birthday, Zhu Youxiao, who was at the Tianjin Binhai Shipyard, met Tian Ergeng who came to convey the emperor's order.
"It's actually the commander himself. I suddenly have a bad feeling."
"What His Royal Highness King Lai is thinking is what is written in this imperial edict in my hand."
"Hey, is my brother going to lead the army again?"
"That's right. Your Highness, the Emperor, at the State Council meeting this time, went against all the others' opinions and resolutely decided to continue to increase his power and destroy the Mughals as soon as possible. The ministers' bitter persuasion was in vain, so now, we have no choice but to ask you to return to supervise the country."
"Got it. I'll pack up a little and go back to Beijing with you."
On October 19, 1633, Zhu Youxiao returned to Beijing to serve as regent again. On the 20th, Zhu Youdong swore an oath in Beijing and led the army to fight again!
