The coastal area of ​​Shandong is where Japanese pirates wreaked havoc most severely, after all, it is closest to Japan.

Zhu Di knew very well that if he indiscriminately massacred local people, he would definitely be reported to the emperor by local officials.

Zhang Yu came up with an idea, which was to find out which villages were the richest.

Target these wealthy villages.

The fact that they were able to remain wealthy despite the frequent looting by Japanese pirates in the coastal areas of Shandong was most likely due to their collusion with the Japanese pirates.

Officials need to pay attention to evidence when handling cases, or perhaps officials along the coast are themselves part of the vested interests, but what does this have to do with Zhu Di?

In this regard, Zhu Di could be considered experienced, as he had done this many times when he was in his own fiefdom.

Besides, the person Zhu Di worshipped was his own father.

Zhu Yuanzhang was a master in this area, neither big nor small, and Zhu Di inherited his father's business, so he was not much worse.

As some items related to the Japanese pirates were found, Zhu Di also directly arrested some coastal residents who were obviously in collusion with the Japanese pirates and escorted them to the capital.

This move is truly foolproof.

True and false, false and true, if there were three people among ten who colluded with the Japanese, it would be right for Zhu Di to kill them.

You should know that anyone who colluded with the Japanese would be punished.

As early as the eighth year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang issued an edict that if there were people in the villages in the coastal areas who secretly colluded with the Japanese pirates, the villagers who knew about it but did not report it would be punished with the same crime.

Relying on this decree, Zhu Di was able to kill people indiscriminately in the coastal areas of Shandong.

What does it mean to kill more than 10,000 people in more than ten days?

This means that Zhu Di's army would kill about a thousand people every day.

Among these one thousand people, only about three hundred were in contact with the Japanese or were fake Japanese.

But the other 700 people are really innocent.

When an avalanche occurs, no snowflake is innocent.

The common people, who are mainly composed of clans, have no idea at all about those who are colluding with the Japanese?

When the village encounters difficulties, they will naturally return the money and food they earn to the villagers.

There were also many conflicts between villages. Those who colluded with the Japanese pirates would directly carry out massacres and looting in the name of Japanese pirates.

Such incidents are common, and even when the government sends people to investigate, the villagers will cover up for these people.

This is also the reason why the fake Japanese pirates can never be completely wiped out. Along the coastal area of ​​Shandong, too many villages have been more or less involved in the affairs of the Japanese pirates.

Zhu Yuanzhang actually had some guesses about these situations, which is why he issued such an edict.

But if we really start a reckless massacre, all the villages along the Shandong coastal border will be killed. It will definitely not work if we kill everyone.

Zhu Di grasped this point and launched large-scale arrests and massacres.

From the perspective of the imperial court, not only was there no fault, but there was also great merit.

"I didn't expect that what General Zhang said was really right. Among these unruly people, any village that seems to have enough clothes and food has basically been in contact with the Japanese."

"These unruly people are really bold and daring."

In the conference hall, Zhu Neng said with some emotion.

Zhu Di also has many generals under his command. For these villagers, there is no need to dispatch generals like Zhang Yu and Zhu Neng so far.

Zhu Neng participated once, but then lost interest.

Zhu Neng said that this completely one-sided battle was too easy. The villagers and the Ming regular army had no ability to fight back, so Zhu Neng simply came back and stayed.

He only hoped that when the large Japanese pirate force arrived, he would be able to resist a little longer so that the fight would not end too quickly.

"Is there any news from Prince Jin?" Zhu Di first smiled lightly, and then asked Ma He beside him.

Ma He was originally in Peking. When he set out from the capital, because Yao Guangxiao did not follow him, Zhu Di sent a message to Ma He to come over.

Although Yao Guangxiao was Zhu Di's main intelligence chief, Ma He was also involved, so Zhu Di's intelligence system was not completely paralyzed.

"Reporting to Your Highness, the King of Jin has the help of the Heroes Chamber of Commerce, and everything is going very smoothly. In addition, the area under the King of Jin's charge has much less Japanese threat than Your Highness."

Ma He bowed and replied.

Zhu Di couldn't help but snort coldly when he heard this. He now felt particularly regretful about the Qunying Chamber of Commerce, especially Zhu Ying.

I regretted bringing him to the capital and letting him meet the emperor.

His current situation was even worse than before, and his capable military advisor was forced by Zhu Ying to flee to Goryeo.

Even now, Zhu Di still trusts Yao Guangxiao. He believes that Yao Guangxiao made such a choice only because he had no choice.

Later, when he heard the news that Yao Guangxiao had fled to Goryeo, his guess was further confirmed.

Zhu Di was of course very clear about what Yao Guangxiao was thinking and admired his talent.

Thinking of this, Zhu Di couldn't help but sigh and said, "I don't know how Master Daoyan is doing now. He has to go to another country at such an old age."

Hearing King Yan's sigh, the three people present couldn't help but feel moved.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan is indeed a man of loyalty and righteousness. He can even understand the betrayal of Master Daoyan. So what reason do we have not to swear allegiance to him until death?

Ma He, Zhang Yu and Zhu Neng all have very complicated feelings towards Yao Guangxiao. They are all confidants of Prince Yan and are naturally very familiar with each other.

In fact, the three of them admired Yao Guangxiao very much. Yao Guangxiao had very unique insights in both civil and military affairs.

In a sense, Ma He is more like Yao Guangxiao's apprentice.

Judging from the current situation, Yao Guangxiao has betrayed Prince Yan, but the three people have no intention of condemning him.

When His Highness mentioned Yao Guangxiao, everyone was silent, which shows Yao Guangxiao's status.

…

"How long will it take to get to Kaifeng?"

In the carriage, Yao Guangxiao opened the curtain and asked outside. His tone was not at all decadent, but rather unusually excited.

Surrounding the carriage were thousands of Goryeo soldiers supporting and ensuring Yao Guangxiao's safety.

Hearing the question, the groom in front immediately replied respectfully: "Reporting to the monk, we will arrive in Kaifeng at dusk this evening."

Yao Guangxiao nodded when he heard this and then returned to the carriage.

Thinking that he would arrive in Kaifeng today, Yao Guangxiao's mind began to become active.

Zhu Ying really gave him a huge surprise. Yao Guangxiao only found out about it after he followed Goryeo Shichen and crossed the Yalu River.

Zhu Ying had already given him a grand title: Imperial Master.

That’s right, now Yao Guangxiao has entered the Goryeo capital of Kaesong in the name of Goryeo’s national teacher.

This is really unimaginable for Yao Guangxiao.

Moreover, the position of national teacher was not just a casual talk, it had already been reported to the King of Goryeo, and Lee Seong-gye was also aware of it.

In fact, Lee Seong-gye was somewhat reluctant at first. After all, he felt a little disgusted with the Ming Dynasty sending a national teacher.

However, facing the strong support of his ministers, Lee Seong-gye was helpless. Even the generals in the army expressed their longing for the eminent monk sent by the Ming Dynasty.

The masses were also very enthusiastic, and Lee Seong-gye himself was very friendly to the Ming Dynasty.

After finally consulting his confidant, the commander of the palace guards, Lee Seong-gye issued the document of enthronement and waited for the monk Doyeon to arrive in Kaesong to hold the enthronement ceremony.

Outside the city of Kaesong, upon hearing that a great monk from the Ming Dynasty had arrived today, tens of thousands of people had already gathered and lined the streets to welcome him.

Yao Guangxiao was really shocked by Zhu Ying's strategy for conquering Goryeo.

"I might as well."

Yao Guangxiao was in the carriage, feeling the enthusiasm around him, and said with emotion.

At this moment, Yao Guangxiao felt as if the entire Goryeo was under the control of His Royal Highness Changsun.

National Master, the teacher of a country.

Such an honorable position could be obtained with just a message from His Royal Highness Chang Sun.

You know, even the Ming Dynasty might not have such a great influence. Moreover, Zhu Ying made such plans for Goryeo without the help of Your Majesty.

"There really are people with destiny in this world. His Royal Highness Changsun is so amazing. Perhaps I am following the will of heaven by joining His Royal Highness Changsun."

Yao Guangxiao's mentality began to change. He felt that as the inheritor of the Yin-Yang School, his Highness the Grandson was the most suitable person for the Yin-Yang school's doctrine.

…

"Grandson, we said we would arrange a marriage for you, but here you are, a princess of Goryeo, a princess of Anxiu, with a baby girl under your command."

"We haven't found a good family for you yet, and you've already got three of them. Not bad, not bad. You're just like us back then."

Inside the Kunning Palace, the Ming Imperial Palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang said to Zhu Ying with a smile.

After several days, after Zhu Ying had arranged the military camp and sweet potato issues, he went directly to the palace, ready to begin training the Emperor's Twelve Guards.

Among them, the Jinyiwei, which has the duties of a guard of honor, is of utmost importance, as it is a matter of the emperor's face.

Jiang Li and Liu He were also standing respectfully by the side.

"Grandpa, I am helpless. Yueqing is not an option. She is my capable female general. I don't know what Annan and Goryeo are thinking. They both sent princesses here. What can I do?"

Facing Zhu Yuanzhang's teasing look, Zhu Ying avoided the main point and spoke somewhat awkwardly and helplessly.

In fact, the princesses sent by Annan and Goryeo were not given to Zhu Ying. They were presented to the Ming royal family and arranged by the Ming emperor.

Theoretically, she was given to Zhu Yuanzhang as a concubine.

But Zhu Ying's subordinates intercepted the attack from both sides.

Zhu Ying did not hide this matter, and Zhu Yuanzhang naturally knew about it, so he teased his eldest grandson like this.

"What are you talking about? I'm still looking forward to having a grandchild. From my point of view, this thing is just like Han Xin selecting his troops. The more the better, the more the better, haha."

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help laughing after he finished speaking, but then he said seriously:

"These women are all good, but let's make it clear to our eldest grandson first. You can't just make her your principal wife based on your own preferences."

"The Crown Princess of our Ming Dynasty must be a native of the Ming Dynasty, otherwise it would be against etiquette. Grandson, please be clear about this."

"If the eldest grandson doesn't like anyone, we think Yueqing is not bad. She is not pretty but quite capable. I heard that the eldest grandson has put her in charge of the Gunpowder Department."

Zhu Yuanzhang had a very good impression of Ye Yueqing. He seemed to see the shadow of his older sister in Ye Yueqing.

When I was conquering the world, my elder sister was silently helping and supporting me behind the scenes, and managed a lot of things in an orderly manner.

Originally, according to Zhu Yuanzhang's idea, as the eldest grandson, it was natural that he should be married to the daughter of a top noble.

However, after knowing that Ye Yueqing was in charge of the Gunpowder Bureau and understanding some of Ye Yueqing's situation, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly felt that this woman was indeed a good choice for his eldest grandson.

He had seen the person before. She was beautiful, with a dignified temperament, and was also a girl from the Huang family.

Zhu Yuanzhang was very familiar with the look in the little girl's eyes when she looked at her eldest grandson. It was so similar to the way his eldest sister once looked at him.

The eldest sister lost both her parents when she was young, and this girl was also separated from her family. It’s a similar situation.

This attracted Zhu Yuanzhang's attention even more, which led to his just words.

"Grandpa, didn't we agree that you would arrange my grandson's marriage? Why are you bringing me into this again?"

Zhu Ying also said jokingly.

Only people in later generations know the happiness of arranged marriages. As for today, it is almost the same as the situation where the state provides wives for the brides.

"You are so lazy, you want us to help you choose a wife. Humph, Yueqing is a good girl, so we will choose her. Let's see what happens."

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he burst out laughing.

Zhu Ying chuckled and did not continue the topic. Instead, he said, "Just now, my grandson said that he would lend 50,000 soldiers to Annan. What do you think, Grandpa?"

Zhu Yuanzhang heard this and asked in confusion: "Fifty thousand soldiers is not a problem, but I am just curious, what is there in the small country of Annan that is worth your grandson's efforts?"

Annan is currently a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Yuanzhang naturally no longer has any problem with the strategic significance that his eldest grandson mentioned before.

However, the eldest grandson obviously wanted to interfere in Annan and even seize the government of Annan.

It would be better to spend so much energy to govern the Ming Dynasty properly. It is a bit of a sacrifice for the big and a loss of the great Ming Dynasty's great power.

Zhu Ying shook his head and said, "Grandpa, you don't know. The geographical location that your grandson mentioned is one aspect. There is another most important reason, and that is rice."

"Annan's climate is most suitable for rice cultivation. Through investigation, we know that in Annan, some people grow four-season rice."

"The reason why my grandson still wants to take over Annan is that he wants to develop Annan into the granary of the Ming Dynasty."

Annam's fragrant rice has been very famous in later generations, and China has always been a major grain exporter.

Although at present, Annan cannot reach the same production level as in the future, the Ming Dynasty does not have such a large population now.

Rice is what the Ming Dynasty needs most. Sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn alone cannot support the Ming Dynasty.

There is also the black soil of Northeast China, which is also a very important place.

Now Zhu Ying has sent his confidants to look for him.

There is no doubt that Zhu Ying will take all the three black soils that are famous in later generations.

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he said in a deep voice: "50,000 soldiers are not enough. Why not send 200,000 troops first?"