In early May, the Northern Expedition army successively captured Anding, Huizhou, Jingning, and Longde, passing through Xiaoguan and heading to Pingliang. On the one hand, they divided their troops and stationed in the strategic locations of Yan'an and Jingzhou. On the other hand, Zhang Huan was sent to lead the cavalry to reconnoiter the movements in Qingyang.
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As early as when the Ming army captured Lintao, Zhang Sidao left his younger brother Zhang Liangchen and his general Yao Jun to guard Qingyang, while he fled to Ningxia, where he was captured by Kuku.
Zhang Huan sent people to recruit Zhang Liangchen to surrender. Zhang Liangchen learned that his brother had been punished by Ku Ku and decided to surrender to the Ming Dynasty, but he soon rebelled. Xu Da ordered Qingyang City to be surrounded on all sides. Zhang Liangchen resisted despite the danger and asked Ku Ku for help outside the wall.
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In order to save Qingyang, Kuku divided his troops into three groups to contain the Ming army. They attacked Datong all the way to Taiyuan, Fengxiang all the way, and Jingzhou all the way. In mid-July, Kuku's troops went to Hanan to attack Yuanzhou, which changed the situation of the battle.
Great change. Seeing that Kuku's troops were very strong, Xu Da took a temporary defensive position and ordered Xu Li to guard Yima Pass, Ye Shizhen to guard Pengyuan, Wei Zheng to guard Haozhou, Fu Youde, and Xue Xian to guard Lingzhou to control key points.
Seeing that the situation was settled, Zhu Yuanzhang, who was in Bianliang, set off to return to the capital. The dynasty was just established. He, the emperor, could not leave for too long, otherwise he would have to take over most of the capital with his own hands!
Zhu Biao in the palace breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the news that Comrade Lao Zhu was finally back. It is true that he is now the prince of the prison country, but he is too young and has no direct relatives under his command. He is more of a symbol in the court.
Zhu Yuanzhang's news that the Poseidon Needle was coming back immediately excited many people. Zhu Biao felt as if the entire court's operation had been lubricated, and everything became more efficient.
Zhu Biao did not have contact with any ministers during this period, and he was even more cautious than when Zhu Yuanzhang was around. No one could find him except in the court.
When Zhu Yuanzhang came back, Zhu Biao led his ministers outside the city to welcome the emperor back to the capital.
After returning to the palace, Zhu Yuanzhang took over the government affairs directly and dealt with several ministers without asking anyone.
Zhu Biao could finally talk about his leisurely daily life. The younger brothers who had been to the front line had also made great progress. He looked much more stable. Although it was impossible to really let them go into battle, he had seen them.
That’s considered progress!
In the past few days, Zhu Biao began to sort out the history of the Hongwu period. The most urgent thing was that Chang Yuchun died suddenly next year. Zhu Biao had to find a way to keep Chang Yuchun in Yingtian Mansion after he captured Dadu (revised in August of the first year of Hongwu).
for Nanjing).
Judging from the current situation, it won't be a problem to win most of them in August. Then after completion, we will have to take over Ying Tianfu.
Zhu Biao thought for a moment and then got up and went to his mother's side. Liu Jin hurriedly went to report that there were more and more women in the harem, and it was difficult for Zhu Biao to go directly.
After Liu Jin came back, Zhu Biao arrived at the entrance of the Imperial Garden. There were indeed many concubines on the road, but it was right to think about it. The weather was getting warmer in May, which was a good time to go out for a walk. Besides, what else could these women do if they didn't visit the Imperial Garden?
Along the way, he saw Zhu Biao, the concubine of several princes, and stopped to salute. After all, she was the concubine of his brothers, so he should show some respect.
Of course, these concubines also hurriedly returned the gift. Zhu Biao was the prince and crown prince. Although they were elders, they had to respect the courtesy of a monarch and his ministers.
At present, there are still very few people who hold the title of imperial concubine in the harem of the country that has just been established. That is, only a woman who has given birth to two princes will be granted the title of imperial concubine, and the rest are all concubines.
None of the people going down were qualified to stop Zhu Biao. They all stayed far away and stood on both sides of the road, folding their hands and bending their knees to salute.
Zhu Biao suddenly understood why the emperors in those TV series never cared about the competition among their concubines in the harem.
All the way to the Queen's Kunning Palace, Zhu Biao waited for the palace maid to pass the message before going in. Once inside, Zhu Biao saw that in addition to his mother, there were several concubines.
Those few people had already stood up and were waiting. They bowed their knees gracefully and said, "I'll wait to see His Highness the Crown Prince."
Zhu Biao smiled politely and raised his hand, then straightened his face and respectfully saluted the sitting Queen Ma: "My son, I pay my respects to the Queen Mother."
Empress Ma asked her son to stand up with a smile, and the concubines cleverly approached him and talked about how well-behaved His Highness knew how to honor his mother.
Queen Ma said a few polite words, and the others resigned sensibly.
Zhu Biao walked aside and sat down, while Empress Ma ignored him, picked up her needle and thread, and started working again.
Zhu Biao quickly said: "Mother, your sons and ministers have all come to see you. Why don't you ask your son if he has eaten well or something recently?"
Queen Ma glanced at him: "What can be wrong with you? Can Yun Jin take care of you?"
Zhu Biao laughed: "No matter how well Yun Jin takes care of him, his son still needs his mother's care!"
Empress Ma shook her head and said with a smile: "Okay, you must go to the Three Treasures Palace for nothing, so tell me! If you have anything to do with your mother, let's talk about it first. Your father just emphasized to me yesterday that the harem is not allowed to be involved in politics!"
Zhu Biao said: "My father has been emphasizing to you for more than ten years that I will not have to discuss it with you when I encounter difficulties this time."
Queen Ma didn't say anything. Zhu Biao asked cautiously: "Mom, have you two discussed the matter of ennoblement?"
Queen Ma raised her head and swept away, and everyone retreated respectfully, then stood up and pinched Zhu Biao's ears!
"Boy, what do you want to know about this?"
Zhu Biao quickly begged for mercy, and Queen Ma let go and said: "Biao'er! You don't have to think about these things. If your father thinks you can do it, he will naturally tell you. But if he doesn't tell you, you are not allowed to inquire!"
Zhu Biao said: "Mom, I don't want to ask who has been knighted, but can you tell me when?"
Queen Ma shook her head: "Your father hasn't made up his mind yet, so you are not allowed to ask! I don't know what you are asking about, Biao'er, you are your father's favorite son, don't do anything stupid!"
Zhu Biao was a little helpless. Queen Ma had seen what he wanted her to persuade Zhu Yuanzhang, and now she directly labeled it as a stupid thing. Zhu Biao couldn't resist, just like your mother thinks you are cold, there is no use resisting.
Zhu Biao was scolded again before being kicked out of Kunning Palace.
Zhu Biao thought about it again and again, and decided to go directly to Zhu Yuanzhang. In fact, he had known that going directly to his father was the best way, but he didn't dare to face him directly. He wanted his mother to give him some grounding, but in the end
You still have to do it yourself!
Zhu Biao glanced at the sky. The morning court should have ended at this time, and he should be handling government affairs in the imperial study. Zhu Biao walked directly to the imperial kitchen. There must be a gift if he goes straight there!
It was almost lunch time, and Zhu Biao was thinking about the dishes his father liked to eat.