"Bell... Clang... Bell ......"

In the cold winter, it is the morning bell and the dusk drum on the same day, and this also represents the quiet passing of the 29th year of Hongwu, and the arrival is the 30th year of Hongwu.

In this new year, many people are feeling that something is not right in the atmosphere.

There were many patrolling soldiers on the streets of Nanjing, and the Guozijian, who used to be full of reading, also became quiet.

The inspection of entering and leaving Nanjing City is more stringent than before.

All of these things are felt by ordinary people, not to mention those high-ranking officials who have secret information.

On the third day of the first lunar month, when many people were still celebrating the New Year, many tribute students of Guozijian were awarded official status, and walked out of Nanjing City under the escort of soldiers and walked in all directions.

On the fifth day of the first lunar month, the news that the rich families of the world had made a register of their fields began to spread, and the news of the rich people of the world entering the Beijing division spread.

For a time, the entire prefecture and county around Nanjing City have fried the pot, but the Gongsheng have already begun to register and compile those with more than seven acres of land according to the "Fish Scale Atlas" of the county government in various places.

Zhu Yuanzhang, a sixty-nine-year-old man, showed his strong control over the dynasty under his rule at this moment.

This kind of control exists not only in the people, but also in the temples.

"Jinyi Wei ......"

On the twentieth day of the first month, when Beiping City had walked out of the Lantern Festival, Zhu Di was afraid with a book in his hand.

In front of him, Zhang Yu, Zhu Neng, and Qiu Fu sat down one after another, and Yao Guangxiao, who was sitting first on his right hand, said softly while counting the Buddha beads:

"This letter was sent 10 days ago, and by the 10th day of the first month, 26 officials above the fifth grade had been impeached and investigated by the Metropolitan Procuratorate, all of whom were related to the six prefectures of Jiangdong."

Yao Guangxiao said the news he had collected from the south, and everyone in the carrier hall also swallowed their saliva.

The status of civil officials above the fifth rank is much higher than that of these thousands of households and commanders.

But even so, they were still investigated, which shows what happened to those who touched the emperor's bottom line.

"Besides......" Yao Guangxiao pondered for a moment, looked up and glanced at the hall, and found that they were all people close to Zhu Di, so he lowered his voice: "There is news in the palace, saying that His Majesty is in poor health......"

Just a sentence, everyone in the carrier hall only felt that their body temperature had dropped, and they all looked at Zhu Di.

In this regard, Zhu Di did not speak directly, but pondered the letter in his hand, as if he was thinking about something.

"I'm not sure I've heard of it."

After a long time, Zhu Di ended with eight words, and everyone got up one after another when they heard the words, and then left the carrier hall.

However, it is worth mentioning that Yao Guangxiao did not leave, and Zhu Di has no signs of getting up.

After a while, Zhu Di looked up at Yao Guangxiao: "My brother, I guess I also know the news, right?" ”

"Yes." Yao Guangxiao nodded lightly: "Five days ago, His Royal Highness the King of Jin already knew about this matter and wrote a letter to the Prince of Jin. ”

"Although I didn't know the content of the letter, I think it should be to teach Jin Shizi how to be filial piety in front of the hospital bed."

"He really can't let it go......" Zhu Di sighed after hearing this, and then threw the letter paper in his hand into the brazier in front of him and burned out.

Seeing the letter disappear with his own eyes, Zhu Di raised his head and continued to look at Yao Guangxiao: "Old monk, I don't want to get involved in this matter, just guard the north side of me." ”

"If nothing happens, my father should send me a letter, asking me to lead troops to inspect the area of the Trouble River after the beginning of spring."

"Although I feel that the Yuan people in the north dare not move eastward, but just in case, I am still ready to let people contain Harawu......"

Speaking of this, Zhu Di's figure suddenly appeared in Zhu Di's mind, and he subconsciously smiled: "Let the second child go." ”

"In military affairs, the poor monk will not advise, and His Royal Highness will be the master." Yao Guangxiao did not intervene in the military affairs, but reminded Zhu Di with his eyes, nose, nose and heart:

"However, the poor monk still has to remind you that if there is really a big change in the south, you and the King of Jin and the King of Zhou will bear the brunt, and you need to prepare early......

Yao Guangxiao reminded Zhu Di, and Zhu Di frowned slightly when he heard this, but after frowning, he replied: "Isn't it just a matter of guards?" ”

"I have read the history books, the succession of the founding kings of the past dynasties, but whoever ascends to the throne will have to cut the military power."

"The three guards in my hand, if the court wants to cut it, even if it is cut, if the court can use me, I can also lead troops to fight."

Zhu Di stood up as he spoke: "Okay, old monk, go back to your courtyard, there is no food in the house today." ”

After he finished speaking, he turned around and left, for fear that Yao Guangxiao would say something bad again.

Looking at his departing back, Yao Guangxiao's hand calculating the Buddha beads stopped, and slowly raised his gaze.

"If that's the case, then that's fine......"

After sighing, he got up and walked towards the outside of the hall, although he was already sixty-two, but his footsteps suddenly stopped in mid-air when he stepped out of the temple gate, and he paused for half a breath before falling.

"Jilin City ......"

He muttered about Jilin City, although it was only a flash of inspiration, but he remembered the words that Zhu Di had said to him about Jilin City after he came from the northern tour.

He always felt that the Second Highness was not as simple as it seemed, and he was probably preparing something.

However, this thought only flashed in Yao Guangxiao's mind, and soon he did not continue to entangle, but walked towards the outside of the palace.

At the same time that he left the Yanwang Mansion, more than a thousand miles away outside Jilin City, Zhu Gaoxu was happily looking at the things in front of him.

"This military horse farm is exactly what I thought!"

Outside Jilin City, when Zhu Gaoxu said this, what was in front of him was a river bay horse farm built in the southeast of the Songhua River.

If Zhu Gaoxu is not mistaken, this should be the Fengman District of Jilin City in the future, but now it is the Nanwan Racecourse of the Bohai Navy.

The area of this river bay is not as large as that of later generations, but even so, it still has an area of five miles from east to west and four miles from north to south, which is enough to graze tens of thousands of military horses.

Today it is fenced off by a wooden fence and has 200 large and small stables, each with 50 stables.

These stables were built by the people of Jilin City in the cold frost after the Zhengdan Festival, because the original stables were too crowded, which caused bacteria to breed, and many horses were sick.

In desperation, the people of Jilin City could only light a big bonfire and build this horse farm every day when it was warmer at noon.

Zhu Gaoxu chose a horse farm and walked in, there are 25 stables on the left and right, the whole is made of solid wood planks, which looks very sturdy and can also protect against wind and snow.

Although it was empty, Zhu Gaoxu could think of the scene when it was full of military horses in the future.

Yishiha, who followed Zhu Gaoxu into the stable, also took the opportunity to introduce: "Your Highness, now the army has selected 3,736 military horses over the age of three and put them into the horse farm, in addition to the other 572 military foals, 200 stallions and 4,000 mares are also in the horse farm. ”

"According to last year's situation, as long as this horse farm maintains the current number, it will be able to produce 3,000 horses every year, and at least 500 military foals can be selected."

"Good!" Hearing Yishiha's introduction, Zhu Gaoxu was very happy.

He patted the red horse under his crotch, turned around and asked, "The son of the red horse is also there, right?" ”

"Back to Your Highness, it's all there!" Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu also rode out of the stable, and took Yisha and Zhang Chun to the rest of the stables where horses lived.

In these stables, the grass is laid to prevent the horses from slipping, and a certain amount of bean feed, forage, water and other food are placed in the mange.

Looking at them, Zhu Gaoxu was very happy in his heart, and at the same time asked Yishuha:

"According to what you said before, won't this barn be full in another year or two?"

"Your Highness can rest assured that ......" Yizha continued to explain: "There is a road leading to Beiwan in this South Bay, and after the beginning of spring, the Yamen will also build a pasture in the southeast of Beiwan, and then the mare and the cattle and sheep in Zhongwan can be moved to Beiwan Ranch." ”

"The North Bay side is wide, and although there is a lot of grass and swamps, it opens up quickly."

The North Bay, Middle Bay and South Bay in Yishahakou refer to the three river bays in Jilin that are washed out by the Songhua River, among which the middle bay where Jilin City is located is suitable for cultivation and is the most flat.

North Bay is the largest in size, but swamps and bushes account for the largest proportion, and it takes a lot of effort to reclaim them.

South Bay is the smallest in size, but it has abundant water and grass, which is very suitable for building a horse farm.

It is precisely because Jilin Sanwan has such and such advantages that it will be selected by Lao Zhu and Zhu Di as an important place outside the Jingluo Pass in history.

However, Rao is the two of them have operated Jilin Bay for more than 50 years in history, but the results they can achieve are not as good as those of Zhu Gaoxu's management in the past two years.

Walking on the snowy meadow on horseback, Zhu Gaoxu looked at the white mountains and black waters outside the Guan, as well as the standing Jilin City on the other side of the Songhua River.

Here, it will be the first step for him Zhu Gaoxu to achieve achievements, and it is also the first step for Daming to control the Northeast.

"Let's go, we can go back to the city."

After looking at the racecourse, Zhu Gaoxu, who was satisfied, began to walk towards the ferry with Yishiha and them.

The Songhua River in the first month of the first month still had a three-foot-thick layer of ice, and everyone dismounted and cautiously walked towards Zhongwan on the west bank.

About two quarters of an hour later, they returned to Zhongwan on the west coast, and soon after returned to the city of Jilin.

After a whole winter, many buildings were built in Jilin City.

Although it is difficult to start construction in Jilin in winter, it is impossible for the more than 60,000 people in the city to do nothing all day.

The horses came to haul iron, coal, and limestone for the three fields, and the women were grinding to make cement and weaving armor.

As for the craftsmen, they are also working on iron and planing wood, and some are erecting shelves so that they can start work immediately after the beginning of spring.

Because of this, after entering Jilin City, many wooden shelves can be seen everywhere, and there are many people walking on the streets to clear the snow on the roads and light bonfires.

Zhu Gaoxu and the others returned to the palace, and the front yard of the palace was no longer in ruins, the entire site was cleaned up, and the front yard covering an area of 26 acres was full of wooden shelves, and stones and river sand, cement ash, bricks and other materials were prepared.

After a winter, there were many more workshops in Jilin City, and at the same time, many handicrafts were born.

Such as brick kiln, porcelain kiln, pottery kiln, dyeing workshop, mill, oil mill, machine workshop, paper mill, sauce mill, cotton mill, sugar mill, woodwork, copper work, lacquer work, iron work and other large and small handicraft workshops have sprung up like mushrooms after a rain.

In the past, only those craftsmen brought by Zhu Gaoxu in these industries, but with the naturalization of tens of thousands of Jurchens, these craftsmen began to recruit apprentices, so Zhu Gaoxu opened a separate Luban Academy, which was dedicated to teaching the Jurchen children in the city to learn Chinese and learn crafts.

Today, among the nearly 17,000 children in the city, there are 9,600 children over the age of seven, and all of them are enrolled in the academy and the Luban Academy.

It has been more than half a year since they learned Mandarin and written Chinese characters, and many children can use Mandarin to communicate basically, and even their parents have learned a few words of Mandarin in their daily lives.

Not only are they studying, but Zhu Gaoxu himself is also learning.

He learned Mongolian from the Mongol captives he was captive, and he learned the Jurchen dialect of the Hercynian and East China Seas with Yishaha.

With that superb memory, as long as he can spare time, he can basically master a language in about three months.

He didn't have time in the winter of the year before, because he had to compile some textbooks, which had already been mostly compiled, so he also had enough time.

Therefore, in the winter of last year, he learned and mastered the language of Haixi and Uliangha, and now he is learning the language of the Jurchens of the East China Sea.

The speed of his learning made Yishaha and Zhang Chun dumbfounded.

When Zhang Chun was still learning everyday language, Zhu Gaoxu was already proficient in conversing with the Haixi Jurchens.

Just like now, when many Haixi Jurchens who don't understand official language on the palace construction site greet Zhu Gaoxu, Zhu Gaochu can also answer in extremely authentic Haixi Jurchen language.

Such a dialogue greatly strengthened the sense of belonging of the Haixi Jurchens to Jilin City.

"Your Highness, your speed of learning is too fast......"

Walking into the palace of the palace, since there was no place for discussion, Guo Yan gave this place to Zhu Gaoxu and them, and he took two maidservants to live in the ear room.

This situation has been maintained for a winter, so Zhang Chun and the others also skillfully sat down after Zhu Gaoxu sat down, and then took their seats one after another.

Seeing the two of them sit down, Zhu Gaoxu also replied with a chuckle: "I don't have enough time, if I can't learn well in winter, I won't have time to study when I wait for the beginning of spring." ”

Speaking of this, Zhu Gaoxu also looked at Yishuha and asked, "Is there enough food in the treasury?" ”

"Enough!" Without hesitation, Yisha replied: "The grain in the treasury is still enough to eat until May, and as long as we send enough horses, the grain from the Liaodong Dusi can be transported back to Jilin City within a month." ”

"What we have to do after that is to maintain the way of pulling horses and camels, and waiting for the camels to transport the grain of Yang Shanren is enough."

Transporting grain is a difficult task in Jilin City, but fortunately, there are enough horses in Jilin City at the moment.

After accepting many small and medium-sized Jurchen tribes, the number of horses in Jilin City had exceeded 10,000 before winter.

10,000 horses, if you take the post road, you can use a carriage to bring back 80,000 or 90,000 stone of grain every month.

The Liaodong Dusi prepared the palace and the military salary of the guard in 30,000 Wei, that is, the convoy of horses and horses for three months.

What is really difficult is the 250,000 yuan that Zhu Gaoxu asked Yang Bin to prepare to buy grain.

Judging from the grain price that Yang Bin mentioned before, 250,000 yuan can buy at least 750,000 stone of grain.

Yang Bin has to spend two years buying grain while bulk goods, so the grain shipped to Liaodong every month will not be too much, basically 350,000 stone and the like.

To transport his grain, it was enough to keep a team of about 3,000 horses.

Although the organization of the Horse and Camel Games will delay the opening of the wasteland, there is no way to do it.

"After the beginning of spring, I will take 1,500 people from Jilin City and Jixi Fort, another 1,000 people from Zhaozhou City, and 500 people from Andong City, as I said last year."

Zhu Gaoxu said his plan after the beginning of spring, and continued: "In this way, lead 3,000 troops and sailors down the river and go to attack Ataiwailan. ”

"If he retreats, I will leave 500 troops to garrison Kulawan City, and then rush to Zhaozhou City with 2,500 soldiers and horses."

Speaking of this, Zhu Gaoxu looked at the two, and sure enough, he saw doubts on their faces.

Last year's Zhu Gaoxu didn't say that he would go to Zhaozhou City after beating Ataiwailan, but now he suddenly said it......

"If I don't come back to harass me, won't I be sorry for my brothers who died in battle!"

Zhu Gaoxu said his thoughts, that is, to learn from the Kharagu and fight the grass valley against the Wuliangha tribes.

"This ......" Hearing Zhu Gaoxu's words, Zhang Chun hesitated: "Your Highness, how many soldiers and horses are you going to bring to attack Haragu this time?" ”

"Leave 500 people to guard Zhaozhou City, and transfer 4,000 people to fight Wuliang Hada Grass Valley." Zhu Gaoxu stated his intentions and further stated the configuration.

"After I sent troops to fight Atai Wailan, I also lost your luck after you arrived in Jilin City with the grain and salary of the Liaodong Capital, and transferred 4,000 horses and 2,000 military horses to Zhaozhou City."

"In addition, prepare another 800 stone of military rations, 4,000 taels of salt crystals and 4,000 pieces of vinegar cloth, 4,000 catties of dried vegetables and fruits, 3,500 stone of beans and 10 ships of 200 materials."

Zhu Gaoxu explained everything, and the 800 stone military rations represented how long he was going to go to the Wuliangha grassland this time.

The 800 stone grain is different from the 800 stone military ration, and to make one stone of military food, five stone rice is basically needed, and the only way to do it is to steam, dry, steam, and dry again.

With such a reduction in size and weight, the original military rations can basically meet the needs of a soldier for 50 days in two buckets.

Eight hundred stone of military ration and three thousand five hundred stone of bean feed, such a ration was enough for four thousand horse and infantry cavalry to get out of the fortress, and Zhu Gaoxu asked for ten ships of two hundred materials, which were also used to facilitate the transportation of bean feed.

The military horses had to eat three catties of bean feed and one catty of horses every day, and they needed at least 3,400 stones for 50 days, so Zhu Gaoxu prepared an extra 100 stones.

The beans are not as good as military rations, salt crystals, vinegar cloths, dried vegetables and fruits.

These things are per capita, and each soldier has an extra 30 catties of weight, and there is no physical consumption on the back of the horse for the soldier and the horse, but the beans are different.

3,500 stone beans, all calculated are more than 130 catties of weight for each horse.

With this bit of weight plus armor and military rations, you basically don't want to think about riding a horse.

Therefore, Zhu Gaoxu needed ten ships with 200 materials, and used them to transport the bean feed.

With 200 boats to transport soybean feed, at least 900 miles of the Nenjiang River waterway, then from the upper reaches of the Nenjiang River to cross the river to hit the Wuliang Hacao Valley, from the Nenjiang west to the east of the Harawen Mountains, it will be only 2 or 300 miles.

Fighting in such a long and narrow place, but as long as he hits a few tribes, Zhu Gaoxu can return with a full load, and he doesn't have to fight Haragu head-on at all.

This time he fought with the Hara-Wu, and Zhu Gaoxu had no worries about defending the city, and he could completely give full play to the 16-character trick of guerrilla warfare and plunder the livestock of the Wuliangha tribes to develop and strengthen himself.

However, if you want to fully play the true meaning of the sixteen-character formula, you have to surpass the Uliang Habu in maneuverability, and this is also the reason why Zhu Gaoxu wants the ten 200 material ships.

He could send cattle, sheep and horses to the east bank by boat, or go straight down the Nenjiang River to Zhaozhou City, while the adult horses were left to improve the mobility of the army.

As long as the mobility is high enough, Zhu Gaoxu can turn the Hara Wu around.

He had this self-confidence, but not blindly, but because he had already obtained information about the Uliangha steppe.

This information was obtained from the surrendered troops of the Uliangha tribes.

"Your Highness......"

When Zhu Gaoxu was still thinking about how to give full play to the 'guerrilla spirit of our army', he said worriedly:

"Hit Ataiwailan first, and then go out of Modong for 50 days, is this too rushed......

When Yishuha's words came out, even Zhang Chun couldn't help but nod in agreement.

Indeed, judging from the sand table and map, the waterway is nearly 2,000 miles away from Jilin City.

If you return to Zhaozhou City from Kulawun City, it will be 1,200 miles by water, and from Zhaozhou City to Modong, it will be at least 13,400 miles.

This coming and going also means that after the beginning of spring this year, Zhu Gaoxu will at least go east and west to conquer more than 4,000 miles.

Even if you take the waterway, the whole army is horse infantry, and it takes two months to travel more than 4,000 miles.

This is still the day when Atai Wailan does not resist, and if Ah Taiwailan resists, then this day will have to be postponed.

Although it is likely that it will not be winter yet, Zhu Gaoxu has been away from Jilin City for so many months, and people like Rao Yisha who are crawling in the palace can't help but feel a little flustered.

In this regard, Zhu Gaoxu said heartily: "It's just to rush to catch up with Haragu." ”

He laughed heartily, but only he could know why he did it, and how much pressure he had on his heart.

It is now the twentieth day of the first month of the thirtieth year of Hongwu, and it is only a year and a half before Lao Zhu leaves.

He and Haragu have made a feud, and in the battle of Jilin, he slashed one-third of the armor soldiers under Haragu, and such a big feud, Haragu must be unforgettable.

The heavy blow hit him and let him stay honestly in the early days of the Battle of Jingjing, this is what Zhu Gaoxu wanted.

Otherwise, let him leave him alone, let him lead the troops south like the Battle of Jingjing, and it will be himself who will suffer at that time.

Historically, it was Daning and Liaodong that Haragu fought and contained, and Daning and Liaodong were also contained.

But now, Jilin City is closer to him than Daning and Liaodong, and is richer than Daning.

Whenever there is an opportunity, Zhu Gaoxu doesn't believe that he will let Jilin City, a prosperous city in the east of the sea, not do it.

Because of this, no matter what problems he encounters, Zhu Gaoxu has to fight this battle.

"This time, new and old hatreds will be settled together!"

(End of chapter)