Zhu Youxiao also wanted to build more arsenals across the country, but he thought that if the scale of the work was too large, how could he guarantee the funds, technical personnel, manpower, quality, etc.?
Okay, okay, just like destroying the Jiannu and suppressing the southwestern rebellion, we can’t be impatient, we have to stay steady and take one step at a time.
Didn’t it take five years to pacify Liao? It’s not even a year yet and the Jiannu have already been beaten to tears!
Wang Tigan came in to report that Zhu Tongmeng, the military official of the governor of Xuanda, was summoned to see him.
Zhu Youxiao did not respond, nor did he raise his head. He put down his pen only after he had finished writing. He then said to Wang Tigan, who was standing there waiting with a bow, "Call him in!"
Not long after, the tall and handsome Zhu Tongmeng entered the imperial study and knelt down to pay his respects.
"No need for formalities, please take a seat." Zhu Youxiao looked at this official who was a man of both civil and military talents, and who was a man of integrity and had the courage to defend Xiong Tingbi when Donglin's power was at its peak in the court.
"Your humble servant thanks Your Majesty for his grace." After Zhu Tongmeng finished his greeting, he sat down on the embroidered cushion, his eyelids slightly lowered, not daring to look directly at the emperor's face.
Zhu Youxiao pondered for a moment and said, "I have read Mr. Zhu's memorial. It is very insightful. You have also done a good job in rectifying the military affairs of Xuanda."
The emperor paused, and Zhu Tongmeng bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I am humbled and unworthy of your praise."
In the first year of the Tianqi reign, Zhu Tongmeng was ordered to go to Liaodong to investigate Xiong Tingbi. After returning to Beijing, he defended Xiong Tingbi and impeached Feng Congwu and others for building the "Shoushan Academy", which offended the Donglin Party and made his life in the Ministry of War difficult.
Just when he was about to be expelled from the capital to take up the post of military commander in Suzhou and Songjiang, the court suddenly issued an edict, giving him a higher title and ordering him to be the governor of Xuanda.
Although Zhu Tongmeng was confused, he was loyal to the state and did not refuse. He left Beijing with a few guards to take up his post.
In Xuanda, Zhu Tongmeng diligently carried out his duties, promoting benefits and eliminating abuses. He resolutely refused those who threatened to pay him a reward, and promptly investigated and compensated those who defaulted on their payments. This brought a new spirit to the Ming army in the two garrisons.
All these political achievements were noticed by the young emperor, which enabled him to make a judgment and decision to hand over the important task of Governor of Xuanda to Zhu Tongmeng.
Xuanfu, namely Zhangjiakou, is the first of the nine important border towns and is known as the northern gate of the capital; Datong is also an important border town.
Since the abandonment of the Hetao region during the Jiajing reign, Xuanda's position has become increasingly prominent. Most of the elite troops were gathered here, and two garrisons were established to carry out their respective duties.
In order to unify command and closely coordinate the actions of the two towns, the Ming court established the Governor-General of Xuanda to unify major military and political affairs.
From this we can see that the Governor-General of Xuanda was not an ordinary frontier official, but a high-ranking official of the imperial court who was responsible for national defense and the safety of the capital.
In terms of rank and qualifications, the governor is the highest-ranking military commander above all generals and below the minister of war. Only the generals or officials with the most military experience can take on this position.
"The number of officers and soldiers in Xuanfu and Datong is tentatively set at 30,000 each."
The young emperor ordered a palace servant to serve tea to Zhu Tong, then took out a document and read it, instructing him, "Qing Zhu, go and train the army rigorously. In six months, I want to see a strong army of 60,000."
Zhu Tongmeng quickly bowed and said, "I will do my best to live up to the emperor's grace."
Zhu Youxiao smiled and said, "I have selected some capable and brave generals for you, Mr. Zhu, to help you."
After a pause, Zhu Youxiao's face turned serious and he said, "Minister Zhu must not only train elite troops and guard the border, but also pacify the Mongolian tribes, recruit naturalized Mongolians, and explore the situation in Hetao."
Zhu Youxiao emphasized, "With the loss of Hetao, the northern border of the Ming Dynasty will never be at peace. I will rebuild Dongshengwei sooner or later. Whether it takes five or ten years, this is a policy that the court must implement."
"If the Hetao area survives, border troubles will subside; if it is lost, border troubles will arise. If this strategy is implemented, it can ensure a century of stability in the north of the Ming Dynasty. What do you think, Lord Zhu?"
"Your Majesty, the wise emperor. Hetao is indeed an important place and must be recovered." Zhu Tongmeng admired and bowed to accept the order. He was also awe-inspiring in his heart, feeling that the burden on his shoulders was heavier, but he also admired the emperor's ambition.
In the early Ming Dynasty, after Emperor Taizu expelled the Yuan general Wang Baobao from the frontier, he recovered the Hetao area and established Dongsheng Prefecture.
During the Yongle period, Zhu Di moved all the guards and kings of the southern desert to the interior of the country to prevent them from making any unusual movements, and the Dongshengwei City gradually became deserted.
In the third year of Zhengtong, the Ming Dynasty re-established the Dongsheng Guard in the Hetao area. However, due to the isolation of the newly established Dongsheng Guard in the grassland, insufficient food and grass, and difficulty in defense, it was later moved to the Yan and Sui areas.
After that, the defense of the Hetao region was left unattended and was gradually occupied by the Mongolian tribes south of the desert, declaring that the Ming Dynasty had completely lost the Hetao region, a battleground for military strategists.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
