Rule over Ming Dynasty

Bohai Bay, Tianjin Port.

Since the opening of the sea in the Ming Dynasty, the Beijing-Tianjin Canal was specially built and Korean rice was introduced. Today, this wharf is bustling with activity and has become an important window for the Ming Dynasty to the outside world.

The sea breeze from Tianjin Port was slightly salty, blowing on the faces of everyone present, but it could not dissipate the solemnity and expectation that filled the air.

Zhao Chengqing, the Duke of Jingguo, is over forty years old. He has a standard Chinese character face and an unusually tall figure. He is standing at the front of the pier, waiting quietly.

At this moment, his face looked very solemn, and he was looking at the mouth of the sea very seriously, his eyes slowly getting used to the dryness caused by the sea breeze.

Although he was deeply favored by the emperor and was canonized as a prince just because of a few military achievements, he had always been doubtful about the treasure species. He even felt that the two million taels were wasted.

It was just that Liu Zhang, who had disappeared for two years, returned and claimed to have brought back precious seeds from the American continent, which made him feel a little ashamed and also a little more hopeful.

Although he is not a farmer, he has seen the earth-shaking changes in Northeast China and understands the significance of a high-yielding crop and the benefits it brings to the nation.

That's why he came to welcome this triumphant hero on behalf of not only the emperor, but also tens of millions of Chinese people.

Behind Zhao Chengqing, Duke of Jing, the Ministry of Rites and local officials from Tianjin were already standing in a row. Their expressions were different, but their eyes showed how much they valued this reception.

As long as they are officials or generals who truly understand agriculture, they all know what treasure seeds mean, and Liu Zhang, who brought the treasure seeds back, is undoubtedly a national hero.

There is no sun today, but there is no rain either. It is a gray and overcast day.

As time passed, the outline of a sailboat finally appeared on the horizon.

The ship slowly took on the proud appearance of a three-masted ship and was slowly approaching. It seemed that it felt the solemnity and expectation and did not dare to show any slightness.

Liu Zhang, who was wearing official uniform, stood on the bow of the ship, looking at his homeland that was getting closer and closer from a distance. When he saw the officials welcoming them back at the dock, tears filled his eyes.

This trip to America was a dangerous one, and he thought many times that he would never be able to return to his homeland.

Now that I see this pier again, and the familiar yet unfamiliar team of official uniforms on the pier, a sense of sadness and happiness wells up in my heart.

It's just that the past is hard to look back on, but now he has finally returned successfully to the homeland he missed, and it is very likely that he will usher in his moment of glory.

The ship stopped at the pier, and Liu Zhang walked down the ship's ladder step by step, his steps steady and strong.

Every step you take seems to be having an affectionate dialogue with the land. The moment he finally set foot on his homeland, an indescribable excitement surged into his heart, making his eyes moist again.

Not to mention that the American continent is actually a wild land that has only been roughly developed, and he has a strong hometown complex. How can that foreign land be compared with China?

Zhao Chengqing, Duke of Jingguo, took the initiative to step forward and said with great enthusiasm: "Governor Liu, I came to greet you on your Majesty's order. Thank you for your hard work!"

"Your Majesty's kindness is so great, I am so grateful!" Liu Zhang learned that the emperor actually sent the dignified Lord Jing Yuan to greet him, and he immediately went to Beijing to express his loyalty.

When the officials and generals behind him saw Liu Zhang returning, they also came forward to pay tribute.

Liu Zhang stayed in the Tianjin Shipyard for a long time, greeted officials or generals he was familiar with, and was polite to Zhao Chengqing: "I'd like to thank Marquis Jingyuan for coming..."

"Master Liu, you are wrong. The Marquis has been promoted to the Duke of Jingguo!" Before he finished speaking, an official hurriedly corrected him.

After all, Liu Zhang had been away for two years, but the Hongzhi court had been in great turmoil in the past two years. Not to mention the dignitaries who have been beheaded one after another, as well as the officials and gentry in Jiangnan, even the original chief assistant Liu Ji has had his house confiscated.

"Congratulations to Duke Jingguo on your promotion!" Liu Zhang was stunned at first, and then said with even more respect.

Although he knew that the Hongzhi Dynasty had undergone great changes, and he also learned from Zhang Sui about the emperor's southern tour and the emperor's birth of an heir, more personnel information was unknown.

Zhao Chengqing, the Duke of Jingguo, did not ask for help. He looked very humble and said: "My Duke has only made a small contribution, but this is a great favor from the Emperor! Governor Liu, Your Majesty has been thinking about the treasure for two years. I wonder if I can let you take a look first." ?”

"Of course!" Liu Zhang said very cheerfully, knowing that the newly promoted Duke in front of him must be a popular person around the emperor.

Since it is something to be presented to the emperor, it must be verified in advance. What's more, whether Baozhong was really brought back, we can't just listen to Liu Zhang's words, but also need to be verified.

Since there is "Taizu's dream" as evidence, the image of the treasure species has been drawn, and it is very difficult for Liu Zhang to fake it.

Liu Zhang's mission was not to bring back the treasure species to satisfy the emperor's curiosity, but to bring the treasure species back to China and then promote them on the land of China.

Although precious seeds are hard to come by in China, they are only food in the American continent. Therefore, the treasure seeds carried by Liu Zhang's Mingyuan treasure ship are measured in baskets and are stacked in the cabin.

After receiving the instructions, the crew also carried the treasures brought back from all dangers to the deck.

"These are sweet potatoes!"

"Are there really sweet potatoes?"

"It looks very delicious?"

……

A group of officials followed Zhao Chengqing to the deck. When they saw the basket full of sweet potatoes being carried, someone immediately took out a portrait of the sweet potatoes and said very excitedly.

"This is corn!"

"It's like gold!"

"I just hope I can taste it in my lifetime!"

……

When they saw another basket of corn being carried out, it looked exactly like the one depicted in the portrait, and some elderly officials even cried excitedly.

The crew on the deck also felt a sense of pride as they watched the officials' excited scene.

After going through thousands of difficulties and dangers, they brought back the precious species from that land. This is probably a feat that will go down in history.

Just as everyone was cheering for joy, another basket of treasure seeds was carried out.

"This is?"

"It seems like potatoes?"

"Is it too small?"

……

The officials present took the drawings for comparison and just looked at the small thing in front of them. Although they had already guessed that it was a potato, they were still a little confused.

Liu Zhang seemed to have guessed everyone's reaction, so he looked at Zhao Chengqing, Duke of Jing: "My Lord, there are many varieties of potatoes in America, and this... this is the best variety I have found!" "Your Majesty has already made it clear. , there may be deviations in the treasure, but with this treasure, China will definitely prosper!" Zhao Chengqing was not a picky character, but also expressed his attitude seriously.

Although the potatoes were not quite up to his expectations, he had finally brought them back, and the sweet potatoes and corn gave him a very powerful feeling. This was considered a great achievement for Liu Zhang.

As for how the emperor will evaluate the rewards, I am afraid only the emperor knows this.

Looking at what the emperor has done over the years, although he has indeed killed many powerful people, he is also famous for never being stingy with rewards for meritorious ministers.

Liu Zhang has made such a great contribution this time. Regardless of how many levels he has been promoted to, I am afraid he will be knighted.

"With this precious seed, China will prosper!" The officials present all said with great enthusiasm as they wiped out the shortcomings of potatoes.

Zhao Chengqing immediately asked people to archive and seal the treasures, and these treasures had to be submitted to the emperor. Naturally, not a single particle could be lost.

Liu Zhang hesitated for a moment, but finally couldn't help but ask: "Your Majesty, where are my family members and Su Can's family members?"

After disappearing for two full years, he had to worry about changes in his family.

When he said this, he also carefully observed the reactions of the officials present, but suddenly found that the atmosphere was suddenly silent.

Things in this world are always unpredictable.

Ji Town is located in the north of Beizhili, with Xuanfu on the west and Liaodong on the east.

It is said that the Mongolian cavalry has always harassed Datong or Xuanfu, while the Jurchen cavalry visited Liaodong, and Jizhen was a place of peace.

Just when Ji Town was striving for development and planting crops peacefully, disaster still befell this harmonious land without warning.

A group of nearly 10,000 Mongolian cavalry took advantage of the laxity of the defenders, and under the cover of night, they entered from a breached wall in the west and swept across the land of Ji Town like a violent storm.

"kill!"

"Whoever grabs it will get it!"

"There are all fat sheep here, no one can be spared!"

……

The iron hoofs of this Mongolian cavalry trampled the stone slabs, stirring up a cloud of dust, like a ghost emerging from hell, baring its fangs and shouting.

An earthen fort named Dilian Fort had no time to defend itself, or could not withstand this large number of cavalry, but it was looted.

The Mongolian cavalry rushed into the gate of the earthen fort, their eyes flashing with greed and cruelty, and their eyes scanned the streets, looking for property that could be plundered.

Whenever they find something of value, they will pounce on it without hesitation and violently take it for themselves.

Due to the lack of supplies, they would take away even ordinary dirty boards. At this moment, they could not hide the darkness in their hearts.

The nomadic people follow the code of banditry, and they regard the people of the Ming Dynasty as no different from the mountain deer on the hunting ground. They must distinguish them because the people of the Ming Dynasty are richer.

If the emperor of the Ming Dynasty hadn't been a powerful monarch, they would have come down to loot every year, instead of just finding the opportunity now.

The hooves of the Mongol cavalry echoed through the narrow streets, accompanied by screams and cries.

The people in the earthen fort were frightened out of their wits and fled in all directions, but they often could not escape the fate of being chased by the cavalry. These Mongolian cavalry took pleasure in torturing people and even deliberately played a cat and mouse game.

puff!
A cavalryman did not rush into houses and loot their belongings like others. Instead, he set fires everywhere, then drew out his sword and harvested the lives of the people who escaped from the houses.

No matter it was a young man, a woman holding a baby, or some old people, none of them could escape the butcher knife in his hand.

In this sacking, the Mongolian cavalry showed their ruthless side.

They not only plundered property, but also treated human life with indifference. The people in the bunker groaned and fell under their knives, and the streets and houses were dyed red with blood.

When they left, the earthen fort where hundreds of people lived was blazing with flames and thick smoke billowing into the sky, as if it was shrouded in a doomsday-like scene.

"Tatar, I and you are sworn in!" Chen Ji, the governor of Jizhen, who came after hearing the news, saw the scene in front of him and shouted loudly with eyes wide open.

Due to the sudden intrusion of this Mongolian elite group of nearly ten thousand people, the entire Ji Town immediately entered a high alert state, and an army was organized to surround and kill this Mongolian cavalry.

Just wanting to do this, intercepting and killing nearly 10,000 Mongolian cavalry, was actually not an easy task.

Since the Ming Dynasty developed the Northeast, part of the army numbers in Ji Town and Liaodong have been transferred away, resulting in a decline in the garrison in Ji Town.

This time, the Mongolian cavalry suddenly came from the broken wall and caught Ji Zhen by surprise.

The roads within the pass extend in all directions. Without more than ten times the number of troops, it would actually be difficult to contain the cavalry. What's more, the mobility of the Mongolian cavalry is indeed stronger than that of the Ming Dynasty.

After Chen Ji, the governor of Jizhen, finished observing his filial piety, he was unusually appointed as the governor of Jizhen by Emperor Hongzhi. During his tenure, he also attached great importance to border defense construction.

He personally mobilized 30,000 troops to encircle the intruding Mongolian cavalry, but the effect was very similar to the situation in Dilianbao, and the result was always half a step slower.

Unfortunately, Ji Town is the northern gateway to Beijing, and he has to beware of the Mongolian cavalry going south, thus directly threatening Emperor Hongzhi in Beijing.

Chen Ji naturally did not dare to hide such important military information, but sent it to the Forbidden City immediately.

The night sky in February is deep and mysterious, like a huge black satin covering the endless universe.

Qianqing Palace and Dongnuan Pavilion are brightly lit.

After Zhu Youtang took a bath, he came here as usual to read information from all over the country and learn about the latest developments in the empire.

In fact, when the palace gate had just closed, they already knew that an urgent message had been sent from the Military Aircraft Department.

The authority of this Military Aircraft Department was different from that of the later dynasties. Ordinary government affairs still fell to the cabinet, but important military affairs were transferred to the Military Aircraft Department.

Wang Yue's military talent has been proven, and he is the most prestigious official in the entire Ming Dynasty. Now he is in charge of the military aircraft department, and no one can find fault with him.

It is worth mentioning that the members of the Military Aircraft Department are no longer limited to civilian officials, but Wu Xun will also join them. In the future, Wu Xun may even be in charge of the Military Aircraft Department to compete with the civilian cabinet.

After reviewing the military situation of Xuanfu, Zhu Youtang originally swore that there was nothing worth being angry about in the world, but now his anger was instantly ignited.

Although he could not witness the tragic situation of Dilian Fort with his own eyes, after seeing the description of the intelligence above, he knew that these Mongolian cavalry were simply a bunch of beasts.

There were veins on Zhu Youtang's forehead, and he said with a bit of self-blame: "If I had known that these people were so ambitious, I really shouldn't have made hasty peace back then. If I didn't kill them all, it would be difficult to eliminate the hatred in my heart!" (End of Chapter)