May laughed, waved her hand, and turned away.
Watching Wu Yue and Zhao Dabao walk away, Bumbutai couldn't help but complain: "You're not very old, but you're not humble at all."
Hai Lanzhu closed the book and said, "He's young, but he's learned a lot. He's about to graduate from elementary school!"
Bumbutai snorted in dissatisfaction and said, "That wicked emperor has to find all sorts of ways to torture people. Washing clothes is fine, but he also wants to come here to study. What's the point of graduating from elementary school? Who cares about learning Han knowledge?"
Hai Lanzhu lowered her eyes and said quietly, "Father, brother, and those captured members of the tribe, aren't they all trying to learn Han knowledge? The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty has deep concerns for the northern grasslands!"
"What's your intention?" Bumbutai asked doubtfully, not thinking deeply enough.
Hai Lanzhu shook her head slightly and said, "I can't really explain it now, but I just feel that the Ming Emperor must have some ulterior motive for treating the captured Khorchin people this way. Alas, we are no longer in control of our situation, so let's just take it one step at a time!"
Bumbutai said "Oh", then remembered something and complained, "Sister, please don't call me Yu'er, Yu'er anymore. I don't like it."
Hailanzhu laughed and teased her sister, saying, "Then call you Dayu'er. The full name the emperor gave you is actually quite nice."
"Don't scream, Dayu'er." Bumbutai rolled her eyes, looking very angry.
Hailanzhu smiled and put her arm around the girl's shoulders, saying, "Okay, no more yelling. Let's go eat. We can sit together if we go early."
Bumbutai followed her sister to the dining hall, muttering, "The Ming Emperor is quite rich, raising so many orphans. Well, the food is really good, but nothing else is great."
………………………….
To the south is the ocean and the countries of Southeast Asia, which are rich but also infiltrated and invaded by Western colonists; to the north are the surviving Jiannu people, nomadic peoples, and the polar bears that will become a formidable enemy.
While most of these threats aren't imminent, they're not far away either.
To survive the peak of the Little Ice Age, the emperor had already made a plan to march south to seize land and resources. Furthermore, the establishment of Mekong Province and the settlement of immigrants and garrisons were only the first steps.
The north needed to strengthen its military to prevent nomadic peoples from raiding south. The Little Ice Age's impact and damage on nomadic peoples would have been even greater.
A military response alone is not comprehensive enough; taking the opportunity to conquer is also an essential strategy.
Zhu Youxiao didn't know how effective his plan would be, but if he took action first and made arrangements early, he would always gain the upper hand and achieve better results.
Therefore, starting with the captured Khorchin nobles was both the beginning of the plan's implementation and the beginning of the attempt.
Zhu Youxiao was like a skilled chess player, laying out a grand game for the Ming Dynasty.
South, north, inside, outside. They may seem scattered, but when activated, they become like beads strung together, forming a whole and fulfilling their respective functions.
Of course, his plan was for the long term, but the most important thing right now was to launch a major counterattack ahead of time.
Just when a hint of autumn coolness was felt, the cavalry of the Beijing Camp moved according to the order, splitting into two groups, with their target - Liaodong!
The generals who traveled to Liaoxi by land were Zhou Yuji, Huang Degong and others. They led 6,000 cavalrymen north, passed through Shanhaiguan, and headed to Guangning to assemble.
Those who traveled to southern Liaoning by sea were Cao Wenzhao, Jin Riguan and other generals. They also led 6,000 cavalry to Tianjin, preparing to gather in southern Liaoning by sea.
This military mobilization was a massive undertaking, involving not only the army but also the transportation of supplies and food. There were more than a thousand large sea ships mobilized.
The General Chamber of Maritime Merchants made every effort to undertake the imperial mission, and the navies of Tianjin, Denglai and Chongming were also dispatched to transport personnel and supplies.
The storm was brewing. It was impossible to completely suppress information about such a large-scale military operation. Even many ordinary people were shocked by the number of troops passing through, suspecting that another major war had broken out.
However, thanks to the tight blockade of the Jiannu along the coast and on land, tens of thousands of elite cavalry entered Liaodong without being known to the Jiannu.
Knowing yourself and your enemy, you can fight a hundred battles without defeat. The Ming Dynasty had a clear understanding of the Jiannu's strength; yet the Ming Dynasty suddenly sent reinforcements to Liaodong, leaving the Jiannu in the dark.
The great counter-offensive planned for next year's winter and spring had become this year's autumn and winter decisive battle. The emperor's mood was mixed, but mostly he was excited. The great cause of pacifying the Liao and destroying the slaves was finally going to be accomplished ahead of schedule.
One head is worth fifty taels, ten heads are worth five hundred... one hundred thousand heads, that’s five million!
Thanks to the "Eight Great Locust Merchants", their savings of decades or even centuries finally made a huge contribution to the country.
The emperor didn't need pen and paper; just mental arithmetic gave him a surge of confidence. To say he could crush the Jiannu with money was an exaggeration, but with over 10 million silver in hand, destroying the slaves was no exaggeration.
"Your Majesty, these are the accounts of the inner court." Li Chengcheng presented the account book and stood obediently beside him.
I am afraid that I won’t be able to use my own private money, but looking at the amount of my family assets is also pleasing to the eye.
Zhu Youxiao took the account book, glanced through it briefly, nodded with a smile, and said, "We should practice frugality during the Wanshou Festival. I set the amount, and you have calculated carefully and saved some. You have really worked hard."
Li Chengcheng smiled and replied, "I am being stingy. As long as Your Majesty doesn't blame me, I will be extremely grateful. How dare I complain about the hard work?"
"Next year should be a grand celebration!" Zhu Youxiao sighed, putting his arm around Li Chengcheng's slender waist, smelling the faint fragrance of his daughter's body, but his eyes were looking outside through the window.
Thousands of soldiers and horses, the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty, are marching towards the land of Liaodong. The tragic history of China will eventually be reduced to ashes in my hands.
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