Chapter 434 Let's do it! Let's split
As early as the Yuan Dynasty, Yunnan was a prosperous place. When the Ming Dynasty was founded, Emperor Taizu Gao ordered the army to conquer Yunnan. During this campaign, Lan Yu stood out and became a famous general.
Later, the remnants of the Mongols and the local indigenous tribes... the existence of many forces made the court quite helpless. Finally, Emperor Gaozu ordered his adopted son Mu Ying to stay in Yunnan to guard the area.
Times have changed. The Mu family has long been a thorn in the side of the court, but it is beyond their control.
"To this day, people in Yunnan are still afraid when they mention Lan Yu," said Mu Shu.
At this moment, they were still three days away from Kunming. Jiang Qingzhi was not in a hurry. After lunch, he asked everyone to rest. He took Xu Wei and others into a valley.
The valley is filled with blooming flowers and flying butterflies, creating a breathtaking beauty.
Jiang Qingzhi stood with his hands behind his back, "Thinking back then, the army marched southward and was invincible. How powerful it was."
"It's a pity that my descendants are useless. Now, let alone going south, they will become weaklings if they leave the capital. I think it's useless to keep those officers and soldiers. It's better to disperse them all and recruit brave warriors to form an army."
Xu Wei began to spew venom, but his words hit the nail on the head about the biggest problem facing the Ming Dynasty at the moment: the military household system!
The military household system was formed by Emperor Taizu Gao after referring to the military systems of the Former Han Dynasty, the Former Tang Dynasty, and the Yuan Dynasty. If one person joins the army, all his children and grandchildren will be warriors.
At the time of the founding of the country, this system was just like the pre-Tang military system, which was invincible. Emperor Taizu Gao once boasted: I have millions of soldiers, but I don't spend a grain of rice from the people.
But as the fields became less and less, the military household system, like the fubing system, became a source of waterlessness.
"Nowadays, military households in various places are like beggars. If these officers and soldiers go to fight, isn't that what Lord Bo said is sending their heads away?" Xu Wei said.
Sun Chonglou said: "Beggars are at least freer than military households."
That's a good point... Xu Wei looked at Sun Chonglou kindly, "The stone is getting smarter."
"Master, the scouts are back."
These scouts were different from those who went to Kunming. The general flag leader came and saluted, saying, "My Lord, there are many mountains ahead, and the terrain is dangerous, but we did not find anything unusual."
Jiang Qingzhi said, "Can Mu Chaobi really sit back and watch me go straight to Kunming?"
Mu Shu said, "My Lord, Mu Chaobi is ruthless. If he can take action, he will never use his mouth."
"It's been a smooth journey. Seeing that Kunming is not far away, I feel relieved..." Xu Wei said: "If Mu Chaobi wants to take action, I think it will be in the next two days."
"You are talking nonsense, aren't you?" Sun Chonglou said, "We will reach Kunming on the third day."
This kid... Xu Wei felt like he would feel uncomfortable if he didn't beat his own naughty child.
"If Mu Chaobi takes action, he will definitely use his trusted men, and they will dress up as natives." Jiang Qingzhi thought for a moment, "The entire army will remain the same and set off on time."
He walked to the mouth of the valley, looked up at the slit in the sky above, and said contemptuously: "Mu Chaobi, please don't let me down!"
If Mu Chaobi didn't come, Jiang Qingzhi would not be able to find an excuse to take the next step.
……
It was the beginning of spring, so there should be a lot of merchants and travelers. But a while ago, there were thieves here, so the merchants and travelers took a detour. So when Wang Xing arrived with hundreds of natives, they saw a deserted official road.
"Minister Wang, this is the best place to set up an ambush." Qian Hu officer Zeng Suo pointed to the flat ground on the right and said, "According to the speed of Jiang Qingzhi's troops, they should arrive here tomorrow afternoon."
"Is this the only suitable place to camp nearby?" Wang Xing asked.
"Yes. Mr. Wang, please look." Zeng Suo pointed to the right. "This place is surrounded by mountains, and there are no villages or towns around. Jiang Qingzhi brought a thousand cavalrymen. Unless he wants his men to camp on the official road, he can only choose to stay here. There is a water source behind, so it is convenient to get water. There is a forest on the left, so it is convenient to get firewood..."
Wang Xing nodded with satisfaction, "This is a good place to bury the bones."
Zeng Suo smiled and said, "Who says it's not true! The feng shui here is really good, I think it will benefit my children and grandchildren. But I heard that Jiang Qingzhi has no offspring, what a pity."
Wang Xing turned around and said, "Go and tell the governor that everything is ready, just waiting for the east wind!"
The Romance of the Three Kingdoms was now popular in Ming Dynasty, but people were just watching for fun. Decades later, the generals of the Manqing Dynasty were all reading the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, but they were reading about the art of war.
There are a thousand Jia Baoyus in the eyes of a thousand people.
With different starting points, the results will naturally be different.
……
It was late at night, and the candlelight was still flickering in Mu Chaobi's study.
He and Zhang Qian were both awake and discussing something... In the afternoon, news came from the capital, which contained a lot of information.
"The people outside Zuo Shun Gate attacked and beat up the officials. Afterwards, it was determined that someone instigated the people to attack. The reason was ridiculous. It turned out that the officials were preventing His Majesty from reducing the taxes of the people."
Zhang Qian smiled and said, "In all dynasties, taxes were only reduced or exempted after the founding of a country for several decades. Now that the Ming Dynasty is short of money, let alone reducing taxes, increasing taxes is the right way to go."
"Your Majesty and the scholars are at loggerheads, which is quite beneficial to the overall situation in Yunnan." Mu Chaobi stroked his beard, his eyes slightly cold, "This is why I dared to take action against Jiang Qingzhi at this moment. Your Majesty was restrained by the scholars, even if he knew that I did it, he still had no choice but to endure it."
"Then we should save money and food and recruit warriors." Zhang Qian's face was somewhat dim in the candlelight, and so was his voice, "Commander-in-chief, the Mu family has been in Yunnan for many years, and it's time for them to... make their own decisions."
"Hmm?" Mu Chaobi frowned. "Earlier, you advised me not to completely break up with the court..."
He is a ruthless man, and once he becomes suspicious, murderous intent will quietly come.
Zhang Qian sensed the murderous intent, but instead of being angry, he was happy. If he hadn't seen that Mu Chaobi was a tyrant, he would have chosen to stay away from him. "Jiang Qingzhi is your Majesty's close minister, and even a relative. Whether the governor succeeds or not, this time, it will make your Majesty furious.
Your Majesty... I have thought carefully about this man. Over the past twenty years or so, few of those who have been his opponents have had a good ending.
That famous scholar Yang Shen was exiled to Yunnan for many years. Many people have pleaded for him, but Your Majesty ignored them. Governor, this is revenge. "
"You mean, His Majesty will turn against me because of Jiang Qingzhi?" Mu Chaobi asked, "Is it worth it?"
In his opinion, anyone who affects his ability to seize power can be killed, even if that person is his parents, wife or children.
A person who lives with an animal mindset will never be able to understand Dao Ye's protective nature.
"The governor forgot that if it was another emperor, such as Renzong and Shenzong of the former Song Dynasty, they would definitely throw Jiang Qingzhi out as a scapegoat. But your majesty chose to confront the ministers..." Zhang Qian said, "The people in the capital said that it was Jiang Qingzhi who volunteered to come to Yunnan, which gave your majesty a way out. Otherwise, the capital would have been in a bloody storm by now."
"Why didn't Your Majesty force Jiang Qingzhi to come to Yunnan? He volunteered just for show." In Mu Chaobi's way of thinking, this is in line with human nature.
Zhang Qian shook his head. "Your Majesty fought for his biological father with Yang Tinghe and others for many years, and he would rather die than surrender. Although he has been hiding in the West Garden for these years, an emperor is an emperor. The moment he walked out of the West Garden, Governor, I have a hunch that the Majesty of that year has returned again."
Mu Chaobi's expression was uncertain under the candlelight. Zhang Qian said, "I think Wang Xing and others are already preparing to take action. This matter is irreversible. Commander, you can't just sit there and wait for death!"
"But the Ming Dynasty remains strong..." Mu Chaobi said softly, "Emperor Jianwen wanted to reduce the power of the feudal lords, but the Mu family took the initiative to report Min Wang Zhu Yu, and that's how An Ran got.
Later, Emperor Chengzu also wanted to take back Yunnan and sent people to infiltrate, but was defeated one by one by the Mu family... If Emperor Chengzu had not made five northern expeditions, I dare say that he would have led his army south to take back Yunnan. "
This shows the determination of emperors of all dynasties to take back Yunnan.
"But after Emperor Chengzu, the emperors of the Ming Dynasty no longer had the courage to take back Yunnan." Mu Chaobi sneered, "Let me think about this matter twice."
"Commander-in-Chief!" Someone came to report, "Minister Wang has sent someone to report that everything is ready and we are just waiting for the east wind."
Zhang Qian looked at Mu Chaobi and clenched his fists.
As long as Mu Chaobi nodded, in his opinion, Mu Chaobi's only choice would be to secede from Yunnan. Otherwise, he would not die a good death.
Mu Chaobi nodded without hesitation:
"Tell Wang Xing that I want to see Jiang Qingzhi's head!" Mu Chaobi's face flushed. "It's intentional, but Jiang Qingzhi can't escape this disaster!"
Zhang Qian walked out, looked at the stars in the night sky, and sighed: "The situation is like a tide, everything will happen in the next two days."
……
On the afternoon of the second day, the scout brought news, "Master, the only place to camp nearby is ahead."
Jiang Qingzhi personally surveyed the terrain and said, "It's right here."
Then set up camp.
There is a small river behind, and the water is quite clear.
Sun Chonglou took off his clothes, let out a strange cry and jumped into the water.
"Comfortable!"
The huge body swam flexibly in the water, and waved from time to time, "Master, come in and wash!"
Wash your ass!
It was February, and the sun seemed bright, but the water temperature was low. If Jiang Qingzhi went into the water at this time, he might get a fever at night.
"Looking at all this makes one want to forget about worldly affairs." Mu Shu walked to Jiang Qingzhi's side, "Chang Wei Bo, why do you think this man is alive?"
Jiang Qingzhi was stunned, "Why are you alive?"
Philosophy trifecta!
Jiang Qingzhi shook his head, and the two of them stood silently by the river. For a moment, they were actually lost in thought and felt very melancholy.
"Why live?"
Jiang Qingzhi was also slowly pondering this question...
Am I here to return, or to survive in this era?
As smoke rose above the camp, Wang Xing, Zeng Suo and others were looking at the camp from afar on the hillside in the distance.
"The number of people is roughly the same." Zeng Suo said according to the scout's report, "and Jiang Qingzhi's men went down to the river to play in the water, and that bitch Mu Shu was also bathing upstream... It can be seen that they were not prepared."
"Mu Shu...what a pity." Wang Xing licked his lips.
"What a pity what Mr. Wang said..." Zeng Suo asked.
"Such a beauty, but the soil is fertile but not her." Wang Xing sighed.
Then he went down the mountain, where eight hundred elite soldiers were waiting. They were all dressed in native clothes, but they were holding the best weapons of the Mu family.
"Eat dry food!"
As the night deepened, Wang Xing, who was taking a nap, was woken up and asked the time.
"It is the end of the midnight hour."
"set off!"
Wang Xing led 800 elite soldiers and quietly bypassed the official road and the small river, and arrived at the rear of Jiang Qingzhi's camp.
"The water is shallow there." Zeng Suo said, pointing to the front left.
"Cross the river!"
Eight hundred people, biting wooden sticks in their mouths, quietly crossed the stream.
The camp is ahead.
The opponent did not react.
Wang Xing looked at Ming Shao, took a deep breath, and slowly drew out his long sword.
"kill!"
(End of this chapter)
