The emperor had complicated feelings towards Mao Wenlong.
In his analysis and judgment, it was indeed unfair for Mao Wenlong to be killed by Yuan Chonghuan in history.
But Mao Wenlong's arrogance was not fabricated. Despite various complex reasons, the emperor still had some concerns about this.
Therefore, since the establishment of Dongjiang, the emperor adopted a new model, giving Mao Wenlong military command power, controlling military discipline and food and wages, and also supervising the secret reporting system.
Now, the emperor has enough confidence to firmly control the Ming army, including the Ming generals, Mao Wenlong is no exception.
After a long silence, the emperor slowly spoke, saying, "Mr. Mao, there is no need to be so reserved. You can look up and observe."
Mao Wenlong trembled and hurriedly bowed to express his gratitude, then slowly raised his head and looked at the emperor.
The emperor was very young. Although he had a beard, he was in his twenties, which was considered young in Mao Wenlong's eyes.
The emperor's smile was warm and gentle. If no one knew how many corrupt officials and evil gentry he had killed and how many criminals had been exiled in the past few years, I'm afraid no one would think that the emperor was violent.
The emperor looked healthy, but he was not strong. However, Mao Wenlong knew that the soldiers on the front line had made great contributions to the pacification of Liao in a few years, but the emperor was the indispensable and strong backing for victory.
Mao Wenlong had been in Liaodong since the Jiannu rebelled against the Ming Dynasty. It can be said that he witnessed the entire Liaodong war. From the disastrous defeat at Sarhu to the fall of Liaodong, and the rise of the Jiannu to sweep across most of Liaodong, he saw it all.
After three dynasties, the Jiannu were finally suppressed and fled north in disgrace. Although the Tianqi Emperor was young, he showed decisiveness in killing and had amazing foresight and strategy.
Even Mao Wenlong would feel admiration and even shock whenever he thought about it.
Since the Battle of Guangning, every strategic move of the emperor was almost flawless, and the generals he appointed were all loyal and brave.
The replacement of weapons and equipment, the innovation of tactics, the collection and transportation of food and supplies... all these were the reasons for the Jiannu's disastrous defeat, and it would have been unimaginable without the emperor's strong support.
"Long live!" Mao Wenlong took only one look and then bowed again.
The emperor smiled and waved his hand, saying, "The great victory over Liao was due in no small part to Lord Mao. Lord Gou has also lived up to my expectations, and both deserve praise and encouragement."
"The remnants of the Jiannu have fled north, barely surviving. Their demise is imminent. I have summoned you two, my dear ministers, simply to hear your plans. It is not only about destroying the Jiannu, but also about rebuilding and stabilizing Liaodong."
"During the Tang, Song, and even our own dynasties, the north was the great enemy of the Central Plains dynasties. Liaodong can also be called the source of war and chaos. During the Song Dynasty, there was the Liao first, and then the Jin..."
The history is different, but there are also similarities. The Liao, Jin, and Qing dynasties all rose from the northeast and dealt a devastating blow to the dynasties in the Central Plains.
Therefore, the emperor not only wanted to defeat the Jiannu, a major threat to him, but also wanted to build Liaodong into a stable base, expand the territory of the Ming Dynasty northward, and form a more powerful defense.
In a dozen or even dozens of years, Liaodong will no longer be the front line, but the rear area.
"Your Majesty," Mao Wenlong bowed and said, "I believe that although Liaodong is known for its bitter cold, it is a fertile land. With proper management, it can become a prosperous place. As long as the population grows and the cultivated land increases..."
The emperor listened and smiled, but did not find anything new in it.
To develop and build the Great Northern Wilderness, the emperor understood the various policies and measures better than anyone else, and thought more deeply about them than anyone else.
Population is indeed the most important thing. If millions of educated youth had not gone to the Northeast, it would still be called the Great Northern Wilderness.
However, relying on current factors such as productivity, transportation capacity, and the impact of major disasters, immigration and development to Liaodong will be a slow process.
Even though the progress was slow, the emperor did not care much. As long as he kept moving forward and implemented the development plan resolutely, things like Yalu River and Nerchinsk in history would not happen again.
Because, according to the emperor's plan, it would not take many years to reach Heilongjiang by advancing northward a hundred miles every year.
Heilongjiang and Daxinganling were not the emperor's ultimate goal. The emperor also wanted to take the black gold buried underground in Siberia into the hands of the Ming Empire.
The coldness of the Little Ice Age could not destroy Tsarist Russia further north, nor could it destroy the Mongolian tribes in the northern desert, let alone stop the emperor's will and the Ming army's steps to expand northward.
The emperor was so confident in the system of supervision and control he had designed that he no longer needed to consider the historical records of his ministers. He would use them if they were useful, and dismiss them if they were not. No one could act arrogantly or even lead an army to cause rebellion.
"Build a fort every ten miles, with roads connecting them. We'll occupy and station troops along the way, advancing step by step. A hundred miles per year isn't the limit; two hundred miles is possible..."
The emperor pursed his lips slightly, agreeing with Mao Wenlong's suggestion, but also thinking that his ambition and vision were not as great as his own.
Building a fort is so petty, building a city is better. He has already thought of names: Changchun, Siping, Harbin, Qiqihar, Jiamusi...
The strategy of building cities and roads was not only applicable to the expansion of territory from Liaodong to the north, but also to Mongolia. Hohhot, Baotou, Ulanqab... were just goals that the emperor wanted to achieve within a dozen years.
There was basically no possibility for the Jiannu to make a comeback. How could Ligdan Khan, who was trying to unify the Mongolian tribes and repeat the glory of his ancestors, be a match for the Ming army?
The entire northern part of the Ming Dynasty was a chessboard, and advancing northward was the only strategic plan. Mao Wenlong also understood this very clearly by repeating Khorchin and setting up Zasak.
In this regard, Mao Wenlong supported the emperor and had great confidence.
Through the war in Liaodong, the imperial court, with its vast resources, had forged and built a mighty army capable of sweeping away all enemies. With overwhelming weaponry and a wall of cavalry, could this power remain silent?
"Recovering the former territory of Nurgandusi and bringing it under the direct jurisdiction of the Ming Dynasty, I believe it will not be difficult to repeat the glory of Taizu and Chengzu under the command of your wise and powerful majesty..."
Mao Wenlong praised the emperor, paused briefly, and looked up slightly to observe.
Hahahaha, the emperor laughed heartily. At least that's what Mao Wenlong thought, and he couldn't help but feel relieved.
"It's not just about expanding territory, it's also about firmly occupying it and actively managing it." The emperor stopped laughing and said, "If the occupied territory becomes a burden to the court, it might be fine for a year or two, but what's the point of doing it for longer?"
The emperor pondered for a moment and said, "Lord Mao, I would like to know how many troops are needed in Liaodong to complete the task of exterminating the slaves and expanding the territory?"
Mao Wenlong quickly bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, after repeated calculations, I feel that 36,000 is sufficient."
This was the number Mao Wenlong arrived at after repeated compression and discussion with Gou Zhenhuai and others. It was enough to complete the task while ensuring the court's food and salary.
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