Chapter 334 This death is more important than a lifetime of living
Chapter 334 This death is more important than living a lifetime
Author: History turns to ashes
Chapter 334 This death is more important than living a lifetime
"I will pay my respects to Duke Dingguo!"
Xu Jingchang hurriedly raised his head and saw a tall figure with a white face and no beard standing at the door. He was wearing a bullfighting suit and his weapons were majestic, making him look like a general between a bear and a tiger.
The person coming is none other than Zheng He!
Don't think that eunuchs must be frail and sharp-tongued. Zheng He followed Zhu Di to the rescue. He was a man who could carry a sword, kill enemies in battle, and make many military exploits. Otherwise, how could he be given the surname Zhu Di?
confidant.
If we really talk about merit, it is not a problem to be granted the title of Duke, but also to be granted the title of Marquis, or almost even a count.
However, his status as a eunuch locked Zheng He's upper limit.
He knew it, but he didn't complain.
But Zheng He never imagined that he could actually become a marquis.
"Dong Guo, I, I really don't know how to repay your great kindness."
Xu Jingchang laughed loudly, "I just made some trivial suggestions based on the facts... It's nothing." Xu Jingchang asked Zheng He to sit down, and then said: "Ning Yuanhou, you must also know that some people are envious of talents and talents.
They will inevitably chew their tongues and say things that they are not good at. Don't worry, just tell me if you have anything. Don't worry, I have enough ways to shut them up."
Zheng He believed what he said.
Xu Jingchang's illustrious reputation is almost unknown to everyone. Among other things, Jian Yi, Xia Yuanji and others were driven out of the capital by him, and they have not returned yet. If Zhu Di had not been there, it is hard to say whether those few people would have survived.
Zheng He said with a smile: "Dong Dingguo loves me so much that I am worthy of it. In fact, many of the nobles today have been born and died together, and they are not talking about it. Even if someone says something, I will just pretend that it does not exist."
I, Zheng He, will only be loyal to Your Majesty in my life. I... have no descendants and will not care about messy things."
Xu Jingchang nodded with a smile, "Marquis Ningyuan is indeed generous, but we are not soft persimmons... After all, you represent the navy. This is not your own honor or disgrace, but the dignity of the navy!"
At this moment, Zheng He was shocked and couldn't help but said seriously: "Ding Guo Gong, do you mean that the status of the navy is going to be improved?"
Xu Jingchang said: "Actually, I have wanted to be promoted for a long time. You also know that the status of the navy is becoming more and more important. To carry out overseas missions, we all rely on the navy. For business transactions and for conquering unconquered subjects, how can we do without the navy? The same is true for Your Majesty.
I want to improve the status of the navy. But the navy lacks enough generals and no one can support the situation, so it is delayed. This time I am running you as Ningyuan Marquis, and I also want to establish a corps specifically responsible for overseas operations.
Temporarily named Marine Corps."
"Marines?"
"Yes, they are full-time soldiers who cooperate with the Navy to carry out overseas missions... I plan to recommend Cao Guogong to be the commander-in-chief. If you have a Duke and a Marquis here, no one will bully you. If it doesn't work, I will also recruit my uncle.
come over."
What else could Zheng He say, "Thank you very much, Lord Dingguo, for your kindness. I can only do my best to live up to my trust." Zheng He paused and then said, "Mr. Dingguo, I see that after Ryukyu is annexed, what will happen to Damingshui?"
It is indeed much more convenient for the army to travel across the sea. Next...where will Duke Dingguo take action?"
Xu Jingchang smiled and said: "Of course it is convenient to start... It must be beneficial and it must be a famous teacher. Does Marquis Ning Yuan have a good idea?"
Zheng He said: "I can't talk about a good solution. I just heard something occasionally. The leader of North Korea, Li Chenggui, was seriously ill and seemed to die soon."
Mentioning Li Chenggui, Xu Jingchang also sighed with emotion... This man is definitely a figure. He took advantage of the troubled times at the end of the Yuan Dynasty to rise up, take control of the Kingdom of Goryeo, and replace him with the establishment of Lee's Joseon.
Looking at the first half of his life, he can definitely be regarded as a heroic figure.
But in his later years, he allowed his son to usurp power and was completely ignored, leaving him with a miserable life.
When Zhu Di first came to the throne, he also thought about attacking Goryeo. Considering the situation at that time, Xu Jingchang spent a lot of effort and handed over this errand to Zhu Gaochi.
Zhu Gaochi only punished Goryeo and did not help Li Chenggui recover.
After a few more years, Li Chenggui reached the point where his fuel was exhausted.
Zheng He said to Xu Jingchang: "Ding Guogong, do you think this is an opportunity?"
"Forget it, why not! This is still a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Xu Jingchang rubbed his hands excitedly, eager to try.
"Ning Yuanhou, you go prepare for war first. When the opportunity comes, send troops immediately."
Zheng He agreed to leave, but Xu Jingchang did not dare to neglect.
Ryukyu was just a small test. The country was too small and the environment was too miserable. Being able to sell it at a good price was considered a blessing from God.
This is not sarcasm, but fact.
As for other vassal states, especially those that are large in area, have a relatively short history, and have a population of several million, it will be quite difficult to swallow them up easily.
Xu Jingchang quickly gave orders to various ministries, especially the Ministry of Rites, asking them to investigate the situation quickly... However, before the people from the Ministry of Rites could come up with the results, his old father-in-law Huang Guan wrote an article again.
The last time he was targeting barbarian merchants trying to purchase Ming women, Huang Guan's article landed on the heads of dozens of officials.
This time Huang Guan went one step further. He believed that the people of the Ming Dynasty were noble, and that the Ming Dynasty, as a representative of civilization, also had the obligation to lead the barbarians towards civilization.
In a word, when the Ming Dynasty came to power, its power was unlimited.
The power of the remaining vassal states is limited and must be subordinate to the Ming Dynasty.
Regarding this kind of paternal rights claim, Xu Jingchang wants to say, please increase your efforts.
Xu Jingchang handed the article to Zhu Di, and at the same time, he sent it to various ministries, asking all officials, especially military generals, to understand it deeply, write their thoughts, and discuss it together.
Xu Jingchang first carried out ideological mobilization, and then called Jin Yiwei and asked Ji Gang to arrange people to understand the situation closely.
"Do you know what you are going to do this time?"
Ji Gang said hurriedly: "I know, we need to understand the reality of North Korea, find out its military strength, and prepare for sending troops for the crusade."
"What else?"
"Also...Xiaguan didn't think of it for a moment and asked Duke Ding for advice."
Xu Jingchang chuckled: "You need to bribe the lieutenant general of the Goryeo Army. You should know how Li Chenggui got up... I need you to find the next candidate, contact the local bigwigs, and bribe the courtiers... In short, you have to find a way,
I have done everything I can and cannot do... If I don’t have the ability to reach heaven and earth, how can I be a commander of the Imperial Guard?"
This sentence calmed Ji Gang. It was true that he hadn't done enough and needed to improve.
The intelligence was also spread out, and then there was the matter of raising military pay and arranging troops.
Xu Jingchang was working hard here and did not dare to neglect at all.
Almost at the same time, Lee Sung-gye also came to the end of his life... The founder of Lee's Joseon Dynasty, he experienced two princes' rebellions in his later years and lived in seclusion in Changdeokgung Palace, worse than a prisoner.
It was cold and windy all night, and I was lonely and helpless.
He is seventy-four years old and looks haggard. He contracted thirst syndrome in the first few years and his whole body gradually became thinner. Now, he is just like a piece of skin covering his skeleton.
His two dry eyes seemed frozen, and only moved occasionally, proving that he was still alive.
And even this little brilliance comes and goes at this moment, and eventually goes out at night.
Li Chenggui passed away.
His filial son Li Fangyuan came belatedly the next day, took one look at him, and ordered his burial.
An old country leader who had lost power for eight years had no movement even in North Korea. No one could have imagined that he would actually cause a huge stir in the Ming Dynasty.
"Dong Guo, we have received the news that Li Chenggui is dead." Hu Xi said hurriedly.
"really?"
"Absolutely true!"
Xu Jingchang paused, clapped his hands, and laughed, "Okay, that's great. His death is more important than his whole life."
"I have ordered that all ministers be summoned immediately to discuss important matters."
Several ministers hurried over, and Xu Jingchang smiled and said: "My lords, another opportunity to expand our territory has come."
Yang Shiqi asked curiously: "Dong Guo, are you planning to attack North Korea?"
"No!"
Xu Jingchang shook his head and said: "I am ready to arrest the unfilial people."
"Unfilial person?"
"He is the leader of North Korea, Li Bangyuan. He secretly murdered his biological father, was disobedient and unfilial, and violated human relations. How can such a great traitor and evil man live in peace in the world? I, the Ming Dynasty, have only arrested the unfilial son Li Fangyuan in order to punish the people and not implicate the others.
"
These people are also familiar with Xu Jingchang's routines, and he can always start from unexpected angles.
Sending troops to capture Li Fangyuan instead of attacking North Korea has a completely different meaning, and the difficulty has dropped several levels.
But then again, since you can capture the leader of the other country, what else can't you do?
Xu Tongzheng’s skills are really something.
"Ding Guogong, who should be the more appropriate person to handle this matter?"
Xu Jingchang smiled and said: "This is exactly what I need your recommendation for."
Yang Shiqi thought about it and said, "Dong Guo Gong, what do you think about letting Xia Shangshu serve as the imperial envoy?"
Let Xia Yuanji go?
Xu Jingchang rolled his eyes slightly and couldn't help but nod, "Yes, Shangshu Xia is familiar with the situation in the north, and he is highly respected and resourceful. He is indeed a rare candidate. Let him represent the Ming Dynasty and go to express condolences to Li Chenggui."
Xu Jingchang looked at the others again. Huang Huai, Hu Guang and others all agreed.
Immediately, Xu Jingchang wrote to Zhu Di, suggesting that Xia Yuanji be sent there, and asked Zhu Yong to lead 3,000 people to escort Xia Yuanji there.
After so many years, the younger brother Zhu Yong finally got a chance to express himself.
Boss, you are so interesting.
"I'm talking about Zhu Yong, do you have any plans?" Xia Yuanji asked curiously.
"Plan? What plan?" Zhu Yong seemed not to understand, "What kind of plan is this?"
Xia Yuanji rolled his eyes, you bastard, how can you be as unreliable as Xu Jingchang!
"That's the head of a country. Don't you need to prepare?"
Zhu Yong said unceremoniously: "You also know that you are the leader of the country? In this case, we can't make plans... Haven't you heard that plans can change quickly... When we get to the place, we will arrest people directly and get on the boat.
Come on, as for other things, they have nothing to do with our money."
Xia Yuanji's head suddenly buzzed, "Xu Jingchang, you are just hoping that I will not die, so you sent me here to die!"
"Um...can I go back now?"
Zhu Yong nodded, "Yes, you just have to bear the charge of deserting before the battle, resisting the order and being disrespectful... Are your nine tribes still there? They will all be grateful to you."
