Hongwu Survival Guide

Chapter 139

Inside the Ming army camp in the east of Bianliang City.

Lao Zhu once again received a letter from the 23rd grandson of his precious family. It was the afternoon of the first day of August.

Different from the past, this time, even if it was still full of expectations, when Lao Zhu unpacked it, he was more or less absent-minded.

Or the war in the north.

After making a heavy bet, all the preparations that should be made have been made. Whether it is "closing the door" or "sieging the city" in the early stage, everything is going well as expected.

Even if things don't work out, Lao Zhu has actually made psychological preparations and made corresponding follow-up plans.

If you don't think about winning, think about losing first.

However, the mountain is already nine feet tall. If the primary strategic goal of this battle of Dadu is not achieved and the foundation of the Yuanshi is destroyed, then... it is really unreconciled.

What's more, Lao Zhu couldn't help worrying.

Most of Ming's elites are betting on this battle, what if something goes wrong?
Therefore, some shallow regrets were born.

Perhaps, it should be more stable.

Even if according to what was written in the "Book of Heaven", it seems that it is not bad to let Zhizheng Emperor and his son flee north, take down the Central Plains first, and then follow up.

Why bother?
However, knowing the results of the past, if you don't follow the trend, you are really not reconciled.

While his thoughts were chaotic, Lao Zhu first took the letter from Zhu Yuan in the package, opened it and read it.

This time, two things are mainly mentioned.

The first one, Zhu Yuan began to test coke on both sides of Yizhou and Mingzhou.

The letter first gave a general explanation of the coke technology that had appeared since the Song Dynasty, and explained the reasoning as usual.

Before coking, the traditional iron smelting, even with the best fuel, can only increase the temperature to about 1500 degrees, which happens to be the state where the iron material is about to melt, and the result is that the crude iron contains many Impurities require many additional processes to obtain steel.

In comparison, the coke made from coal can also increase the temperature to more than 2000 degrees with measures such as blasting.

This temperature can not only completely melt iron materials, but also can melt other metal elements adjacent to iron on the periodic table, so alloys with various physical properties such as rust resistance and high elasticity can be produced.

More importantly, using coke, artisans can build blast furnaces that are much larger than traditional iron furnaces, thereby greatly increasing steel production.

Steel production is the core indicator of a country's industrialization.

After reading this, Lao Zhu also understands that the so-called "core indicators" are obviously hundreds of years later.

Speaking of which, since the appearance of the 23rd grandson of his own baby, whether it is the study of economics, or the recent "Chemistry" and even the coke and iron smelting process, because of Zhu Yuan's unreserved and easy-to-understand explanations, Lao Zhu feels In his eyes, everything in this world, unknowingly, became more and more simple.

It is so simple that in the past few decades, life often saw things that would be considered miraculous, but now, because the essence can be seen through at a glance, it is even a bit boring.

Just like the letter paper in your hand.

Before, I asked random questions here, and answered them randomly.

The so-called papermaking, whether soaking and cooking, or crushing and rinsing, many processes are to remove impurities and select wood fibers, which are the main materials that make up paper.

Never leave its origins.

After understanding the truth, even ordinary people can make paper by themselves after a few attempts.

It's that simple.

Dull.

Let’s talk about the coke this time. After talking about the relationship between coke and steel, my baby’s 23rd grandson turned around again, saying that this coking is mainly for firing some glass.

Glass is fired to make something called a thermometer.

The purpose of making a thermometer is to promote artificial hatching.

Artificial hatching of poultry is to solve the problem of discarding and wasting fish caught on the spot in marine fishing, and at the same time open up another industrial chain. In the future, not only can a large number of meat and poultry be produced, but the entire industrial chain can also solve countless jobs again.

Interlocking.

This also once again reminded Lao Zhu of the child's exposition on a series of concepts such as quantitative change and qualitative change, agricultural age and industrial age, social division of labor and industrial chain, etc.Taken together, all of these shifts, one by one, will also lead to a systemic productivity boost.

Going one step further, when a country's productivity in all aspects is improved, even if it does not achieve the fundamental transformation from the agricultural age to the industrial age, the national strength will also show a tendency to crush compared with its surrounding areas.

Lao Zhu is looking forward to this.

And this glass, Lao Zhu was also curious.

However, it is probably the child's 'common practice', so I don't bother to elaborate a few words.

Don't worry, you can always see it.

Then came the second thing. Zhu Yuan planned to do a population census within the jurisdiction of the Yinghai Division, mainly fishermen in the southeast coast, and gave a complete plan, and also explained that this can be used for the whole country after the unification of Ming Dynasty in the future. Demographics provide a template.

Lao Zhu has no reason to disapprove.

After reading the letter, Lao Zhu found the plan on population statistics and a sample of the household registration book on high-quality paper, and browsed through it.Although the term "hukou" made him not used to it, and he thought it would be more pleasant to call it "huyou", but, thinking about it again, "hukou" has "hukou" and "kou", which seems to be more reasonable.

That's it.

Then he looked through some other things sent this time, and Lao Zhu was very satisfied.

He wanted to reply immediately, but after thinking about it, he stood up and came to the sand table placed in the middle of the big tent.

I can write a reply at any time, and now I am most concerned about the war in the north.

According to the Flying Pigeon letter sent by the frontline yesterday, all the armies should have launched an attack on Dadu early this morning. Lao Zhu only hopes that the trump card that blows up the city wall will be really useful and work hard. Not last year's Pingjiang, the more delays, the more variables there will be.

Thinking of this, Lao Zhu looked away from Dadu and turned to the surrounding area.

Whether it is Li Siqi in Guanzhong, Wang Baobao in Shanxi, or Nahachu in the northeast, the number of supporters is more than 10.Regardless of the reality, in legal terms, this is the family property of Yuan Ting.

Li Siqi and Wang Baobao had already been restrained, and Naha from Liaodong came out, this was his former defeat.

In the year when he crossed the river, Lao Zhu captured Naha Chu in Taiping, who was only ten thousand households in the Yuan court.

When he chose to release the other party at the beginning, Lao Zhu's idea was very simple. He used military tactics to win over as many people as possible.Just like Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, even if he defeated his greatest enemy Xiang Yu, Liu Bang did not cleanse the Xiang clan, but instead gave high-ranking officials generous salaries.It is this kind of tenderness to the enemy that Liu Bang was able to achieve unification in just seven years and establish the Han Dynasty that lasted for 400 years.

Lao Zhu did not expect that the former defeated general had now become a separate party.

Old Zhu believes that there is a high probability that Naha will not be involved in the war in the Central Plains. The relevant records in the "Book of Heaven" only show the opponent's surrender 20 years later.

If the matter is successful this time, it should be earlier to recruit and surrender Naha.

However, things are not absolute.

In case the battle of Dadu drags on for too long, it is difficult to guarantee that Naha will not have the idea of ​​taking advantage of the fire.

In this case, can the 5000 members of Zhang Cun's Daoist Department hold Yuguan?

There is also Juyongguan in the northwest of the capital.

Although the grassland tribes outside the pass are relatively scattered, they can easily gather more than 10 troops when they gather together. If they also enter the pass to King Qin, only these two aspects will put a lot of pressure on the Ming army, and even reverse the situation. level variables.

After much deliberation, Lao Zhu quickly decided that it is necessary to further strengthen the "closing" of the critical passes in the north. There must be more than [-] soldiers guarding the two critical passes, and additional troops should be sent to other important passes.

Having made up his mind, Lao Zhu was about to call his courtiers to summon the remaining generals for a detailed discussion, when suddenly there was a report outside the accounts.

With a promise, Hanlin waiter Qin Yubo hurried in with a carrier pigeon in his hands: "Your Majesty, send a message from the front line."

Old Zhu's heart skipped a beat.

Under normal circumstances, the attack on Dadu was only launched early this morning. It would take at least two or three hours for the carrier pigeon to fly back from the front line. It should be released in the morning, so there is no chance of any good things in such a short time.

Could it be that things changed temporarily and Xu Da postponed the siege?

After all, many of the fortresses around Dadu hadn't been cleaned up yet, so if a general who died loyal to the Yuan family raided the army outside, it would be troublesome even though he was fearless.

Thinking of this, Lao Zhu took the pigeon, quickly removed the bamboo tube from the pigeon's leg, tried to calm himself down, and then opened the bamboo tube and took out the text message.

Hanlin waiter Qin Yubo cautiously bowed and waited beside him, his head bowed and speechless.As the courtier next to Lao Zhu, he knew many secrets, and when the carrier pigeon came at this time, he also had a premonition that something unexpected might happen.

At this time, behave cautiously.

Until His Majesty the Emperor was silent for a long time, Qin Yubo couldn't hold it back. He raised his head and glanced, only to see the strange expression of the Lord, who was so unbelievable that he seemed to have seen a ghost.

Qin Yubo's subtle movements interrupted Lao Zhu's daze.

Tightly holding a pencil in his hand and carefully writing a text message with only a few words, Lao Zhu raised his head and glanced at Qin Yubo, the corners of his mouth twitched, and then twitched again, finally he couldn't help but grinned, and grinned into a face that he couldn't bear to hide Can't help laughing.

This……

How could it be so!

According to the letter, less than a quarter of an hour after the start of the battle, the defenders in the north of the capital city were shocked by a hot air balloon that accidentally disconnected the cable and flew past, and fled in a hurry.Chang Yuchun, the deputy general of Zhenglu, took the opportunity to press down with the whole army.

In the next hour, the Ming army not only broke through the capital, but even successfully surrounded the imperial city of the Yuan court.

When Xu Da wrote the letter, the Ming army also found Fan Chang, a Hanlin direct scholar who was ordered to go on an envoy. According to Fan Chang, the father and son of Zhizheng Emperor were all in the imperial city.

My grandpa that day!

It turned out to be... just like that? !
No gunpowder was used yet.

I was still worrying about gains and losses just now.

I still plan to draw out more troops to support the north!

What are you worrying about!
With an army of 20 and a small imperial city, it is impossible for Zhi Zhengdi and his son to escape again?

Thinking of this, Lao Zhu grinned and tried to calm down again.

I can't be happy too early, I must reply to Xu Da quickly.

There is nothing to be happy about winning the majority, and we must not forget the primary strategic goal this time.

Ok.

primary strategic objective.

This is the vocabulary proposed by the 23rd generation grandson of my baby.

And the hot air balloon, which was also the idea of ​​the child.

Hearing about Gubeikou before, Lao Zhu asked Tu Xiao to build a hot air balloon. Because he understood the truth and it was boring, he instinctively didn't expect too much, and only wanted to put some psychological pressure on the Yuan army.Unexpectedly, in the end, it was just this hot air balloon, or a hot air balloon that drifted away by accident, and it... destroyed the capital of the Yuan court.

Is this not a dream?

great merit.

Great work!
reward!
Thinking about what the child had done in the past six months, Lao Zhu felt that after the war, it would be unreasonable if he did not reward him generously.

Ok……

This is my child.

That being the case, when he returns to Jinling, this identity should be clarified and let him recognize his ancestors.

Let go of seniority.

After a lot of thinking, Lao Zhu felt his heart beating faster and his ears ringing, so he took a deep breath and calmed himself down again.

After returning to the book case, Lao Zhu said to Qin Yubo while writing a reply letter: "Yubo, you will spread the news later that the army has broken through the capital. Open and eat!"

Qin Yubo has been paying attention to Lao Zhu's expression all the time. He turned from apprehension to anticipation, but he still didn't expect such great news. He immediately knelt down and said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, congratulations, Your Majesty."

Old Zhu smiled and waved his hands: "Get up, this...you quickly find out the map of most of it for me, and I will think about it."

Qin Yubo got up quickly, and hurried to the cabinet on the side of the big tent to find the map of Dadu.

Northern Front.

The capital city was destroyed too quickly, triggering a chain reaction, and the army was defeated like a mountain. The Yuan soldiers who retreated into the imperial city and defended it only lasted for a day and a half.

On the afternoon of the second day of the lunar new year, repeated persuasion to surrender was ineffective, and the Ming army blew up the imperial city.

The gunpowder that was supposed to work in the outer city was finally used.

When the Ming army invaded the imperial city, Yuan Prince Aiyou Shili Dawa led his troops to break out of the siege to the north, and happened to bump into Chang Yuchun's headquarters. Killed himself.

Now that the imperial city was broken, Emperor Zhizheng wanted to die for the country with his own body.

failed.

I lit the fire, afraid of the heat, and ran out.

I'm going to swallow the medicine, it's too bitter.

He wanted to hang the beam, but he only forced a few concubines to hang on the beam, and he didn't go up.

The emperor who had been in power for 35 years and lost any ambition because of his long-time indulgence in pleasure, was greedy for life and failed to maintain the last dignity of an empire like his own son. Xu Da took out the jade seal and captured it without a fight.

With the surrender of Emperor Zhizheng, at the sixth quarter of the second day of August in the first year of Hongwu, the Yuan Dynasty, which once created the largest empire in this land, collapsed.

After taking Zhizheng Emperor and the Yuan court clan, Xu Da once again sent a letter to his lord to ask for instructions, and then took the initiative to release a group of captured Yuan officials. News spread that the father and son would surrender or die.

If the Ming army releases the news by itself, there is a high probability that it will be regarded as a trick of suspicious soldiers.

Afterwards, Xu Da sealed off the imperial palace and most of the treasuries of the Yuan Dynasty, and at the same time sent He Wenhui, the adopted son of His Majesty the Emperor, to escort Zhengdi and other important officials of the Yuan Dynasty clan to Bianliang.

At the same time, the surrounding areas of Dadu began to be cleaned up.

Knowing that the Ming army had completely breached Dadu in just two days, the surrounding villages knew they were powerless to resist, so they surrendered in anticipation.

Among them, the largest group of descendants was Prime Minister Yuan Yesu, who was confronting Li Wenzhong in Cangzhou, with a total of 3 troops under his command.

Knowing that the capital city was broken and all the family members were captured, they quickly understood that the situation was over.Facing the surrender of the Ming army, he wanted to flee westward and seek refuge with Kuango Timur, who had a good relationship, but was stopped by Chang Yuchun, who decisively led his cavalry southward after most things were settled.

In front is Chang Yuchun, and behind is Li Wenzhong. Going north is impossible, and going south is hopeless. The journey to the west is actually a long way. If you go east, you can't jump into the sea, right?In addition, less than 3 of the [-] people belonged to their own direct lineage, and the army's morale was lax, with no fighting spirit, and they were quickly forced to helplessness, and finally chose to surrender.

The 3 people in the Yesu Ministry were eliminated, and there were no more variables in the pass that could interfere with the Ming army.

Hebei was established, and Lao Zhu gradually came up with another idea.

I intend to take advantage of the trend again and go one step further.

The target is Wang Baobao.

According to the "Book of Heaven" records, Wang Baobao really brought a lot of losses to his family later, and even made Daming have to return to the defensive for a while.Compared with Nahachu, compared with Li Siqi, this is another variable that must be eliminated.

After discussing with Xu Da, Lao Zhu decided to make another bet.

He ordered Chang Yuchun to lead an army of [-] cavalry, leave Juyong Pass, and enter Shanxi from outside the pass.

Order Tanghe to lead [-] troops, and march westward to Daizhou as a supplement.

Fu Youde, who was ordered to guard Tongguan, divided up [-] troops, entered the pass to join Feng Sheng's [-] troops, and attacked Taiyuan from the south road.

With an army of 13, just like the Battle of Dadu, there is still only one primary strategic goal this time, Wang Baobao.

A thousand troops are easy to get, but a general is hard to find.

According to the records of "Book of Heaven", to defeat one Wang Baobao, except for this humerus that may continue the Yuan Ting's energy, other Li Siqi, Nahachu and others are not enough.

Moreover, even if the one bet this time can't do all the work, it won't affect the whole.

The big picture is set!

(End of this chapter)