The imperial concubine is happy. Although the whole world is not celebrating, the palace is also full of joy. Everyone has a smile on their face. When they see Zhu Youxiao, they shout congratulations to Your Majesty.
After the concubine learned about it, she personally came to Qianqing Palace to visit Concubine Chun. She gave her enough face, and personally explained the things that needed to be paid attention to in the past few months, and also told her all her own personal experiences back then.
"Emperor, now that the imperial concubine is happy, can the previous matters be put aside for the time being?"
Of course Zhu Youxiao knew what the concubine meant. She still hoped that she could stay in the palace and not be in danger.
"Concubine, there is no need to worry, just remember the previous arrangements!"
Seeing what the emperor said, she completely gave up the idea of admonishing him. The harem was not allowed to interfere in politics, and she did not want to ruin the ancestral system, so she resigned and returned to Cining Palace.
"Wang Banban, the imperial edict has been sent to all civil and military officials, and a court meeting will be held tomorrow!"
Although the personal expedition has been decided with the six cabinet ministries, it still needs to be officially announced at the court meeting. After all, he is a dignified emperor, so he still needs to pay attention to some scene issues.
For the safety of Concubine Chun, Zhu Youxiao made an impromptu decision and announced that Hakka would also accompany her this time. Although Zhu Youxiao trusted her more, after all, there were rumors of murdering the concubine and the prince in history.
It would have been fine if Concubine Chun was not pregnant, but now that she is pregnant, she must be treated specially, and unstable factors must not exist.
At the Xifengkou military camp, two guards in golden uniforms walked straight into the camp gate and shouted at the station:
"His Majesty's order has arrived. Man Gui, Li Songping will come quickly to receive the order!"
The guard sergeant immediately rushed into the camp, leaned slightly, Man Gui, and Li Songping hurriedly ran all the way to the camp, knelt down and shouted:
"Welcome angel!"
Seeing that the two of them had arrived, the royal guard Tiqi opened his hand and said loudly:
"The Northern Expedition has been decided. I will soon lead the expedition in person, and I will go to Mangui. Li Songping and I will immediately prepare military supplies and distribute high-quality war horses and armor to the cavalry. At least one person and two horses will be guaranteed to prepare for departure!"
"The entire army is under strict control, all training has been stopped, recharge your batteries, and be ready to leave at any time!"
"I accept the order!"
After announcing the decree, Li Songping wanted to invite two Tiqi to rest in the camp. Another Tiqi said:
"No need, General. I also ask General to immediately replenish dry food and water for the two of us, and change the horses. We have to go to Liaodong later!"
"That's it, then wait a moment!"
After seeing off the two Jin Yiwei, Man Gui said excitedly:
"Okay, the war is finally about to begin. I didn't expect that Your Majesty would have to lead the expedition in person. How many years have passed since Emperor Wuzong!"
"Finally we can give him a good fight, Brother Li, it's time for us to make some achievements!"
Man Gui was very happy, but Li Songping was not as happy as him, and only said:
"That person just mentioned the Northern Expedition. Could it be that Your Majesty is going to conquer Mongolia?"
Man Gui also put away his smile and replied seriously:
"That's right, but right now, isn't it the wild boar skins of Jianzhou that I, the Ming Dynasty, should conquer most? What is the purpose of your Majesty's move?"
Not only did they not understand, but the ministers in the court also couldn't understand.
"Your Majesty, you cannot conquer it yourself. The disaster of the Yingzong Tumu Fort is still in front of you. Your Majesty, please be cautious and think twice before you act!"
"I am admonishing your majesty with death. If your majesty wants to go to war in person, please step over my corpse!"
"Your Majesty, there is no war between Mongolia and the Ming Dynasty. Why does your Majesty want to conquer Mongolia? I don't understand your Majesty's intentions."
Zhu Youxiao on the throne said slowly:
"Then let me ask you, why did Boar Skin unite with the Horqin tribe to suppress other Mongolian tribes?"
"I'm asking you, why have we, the Ming Dynasty, been unable to pacify the north for more than two hundred years? What is the reason why we have been without war in these years?"
Zhu Youxiao confused these people by asking three questions in a row. He didn't answer them at all, but asked directly.
They set their sights on Wang Xiangqian, Yuan Fu of the Cabinet. They hoped that this veteran minister with both civil and military skills would also come to give advice, but the result was very disappointing.
Wang Xiangqian just stood aside and stared at them without squinting, without even looking at them, and without making any response at all.
There is no other way. These people can only rely on themselves. Liu Zongzhou, the head of the Ministry of Rites, said bravely:
"I dare to ask your majesty, the Chahar tribe and our Ming Dynasty are allies. They have been in peace with each other these years, and they have no disloyal heart. Why did your majesty attack?"
Zhu Youxiao looked at this minister who died for the Ming Dynasty in history and said:
"Liu Aiqing, you can't tell from the surface whether you are disloyal or not. The so-called peace and quiet is just that Lin Danhan did not invade the border on a large scale. How can we say there is no war?"
Liu Zongzhou still said reluctantly:
"Despite this, it is harmless. Besides, Lin Danhan has written many times to explain that it was the tribe below who acted without permission and it was not his will!" Zhu Youxiao shouted:
"Could a few words be the reason for them to rob the people in the border towns? One talent and another. If they are not stopped, they will become more unscrupulous and push their limits. Isn't the lesson of the Song Dynasty enough?"
"The last time they went south, how many people in the border town lost their lives forever? Do you want me to watch my people being massacred by them? If they are so indifferent, where is the prestige of the Ming Dynasty?"
Even Liu Zongzhou, a stubborn old man, could not find a reason to refute when Zhu Youxiao reprimanded him.
"Your Majesty, even if we want to march north, the time is not right now. The national treasury does not have the money and food to supply the logistics of hundreds of thousands of troops. Moreover, the first problem is to pacify Jianzhou Wild Boar Skin first."
"And the grassland is not so easy to pacify. Emperor Chengzu's five northern expeditions also returned without success, and the grassland tribes are still full of vigor and vitality."
"If Your Majesty does not listen to the loyal advice of his ministers and insists on going his own way, and insists on sending troops to the north, the Ming Dynasty will be trapped in a two-front war, and the national treasury will not be able to support a protracted war!"
Zhu Youxiao also admitted that what Zhou Yingqiu said was correct. If there was a large-scale northern expedition in the past, it would indeed require a lot of preparations, and most of the time it would be tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of troops, and it would indeed require a lot of money.
The largest was Zhu Di's five northern expeditions. Each time he went to the grassland, there were hundreds of thousands of troops. The food, grass and military pay alone were not a small amount.
"Don't worry, I will change our tactics this time. It will be different from the past and it won't be long-lasting."
Then he said in a deep voice:
"The Chahar tribe must be fought. Lin Dan Khan appears to be obedient, but in fact he is ambitious and wants to sit back and watch the fight between tigers and profit from it. I will not do what he wants."
Everyone saw that the emperor was completely unmoved, and most of them chose to remain silent. Only a few so-called loyal ministers who did not know whether to live or die were still making suggestions.
Seeing this, Liu Zongzhou stepped forward again and said:
"If Your Majesty has a plan, please inform the ministers and let them know, and there are many people in the court who know the military, so that they can fill in the gaps for Your Majesty!"
"Liu Aiqing will know when I return to the court."
How could Zhu Youxiao tell military secrets in front of so many people? He was not Zhu Qizhen or Zhu Youjian. He wouldn't even tell lies. It would be fine if someone knew.