Chapter 77 Arrival in Kunming
With the support of the Duke of Qian's Mansion, the group quickly arrived in Kunming.
Zhu Yuhuan's memory of later generations is not very clear. She only remembers that Yunnan at that time was a place worth visiting and relaxing, and there were many landscapes she had never seen. However, along the way, she has gained a new understanding of Yunnan.
At least in eastern and central Yunnan, the central government can exercise normal control. Although the local development level is far less than that of the inland, the local situation is relatively complicated, and chieftains are still the main method of management. It is not easy to achieve such a level of development.
Seeing Huai En following Zhu Yuhuan with a pen and paper, Jiang Gui couldn't help but say to Zhu Yuhuan, "Your Highness has been asking Huai En to record every day along the way. I dare to ask Your Highness, is this recording...?"
Although Jiang Gui was deeply trusted by Zhu Qizhen, he himself did not know Zhu Qizhen very well. It was only during this expedition to Luchuan that he had the opportunity to see the emperor. The emperor was even younger and more energetic than expected. Thanks to Wang Ji's request to the emperor to "act according to his discretion", Jiang Gui finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The most important thing for a general when he is away is to have the ability to directly command the army. If every move has to be reported to his superiors, even if another 100,000 people come, they may not be able to defeat Luchuan.
However, Zhu Qizhen appointed Princess Shunde to accompany the army, which made Jiang Gui worry for a while that the princess who had been in the capital for a long time would rely on her status and give orders at will. But since Zhu Yuhuan "lowered his status" to communicate with the two of them, Jiang Gui had a new understanding of the princess.
At least the eldest princess must be more humble than His Majesty!
Zhu Yuhuan, holding the reins, smiled slightly upon hearing this. "When I accompanied the Emperor on his northern border patrol, he repeatedly taught me that patrolling the border wasn't just about inspecting external enemies, it was also about inspecting internal affairs. We need to see if our army can defeat external enemies, but also how the people living on the border are faring. Although I'm not in Yunnan for a border patrol now, there's no reason to return empty-handed. Naturally, I must report back to Your Majesty on the people's livelihoods and internal affairs along the way."
Huai En, who was standing by, also responded very considerately, "This is already the third volume. The first two volumes will be presented to Your Majesty after we arrive in Kunming and prepare them."
Jiang Gui was slightly stunned, and then he understood the value and importance of the booklet in Huai En's hand.
On weekdays, Princess Shunde discussed military affairs with them. He thought that this princess, who was only in her early twenties, was fully focused on the conquest of Luchuan, but he never expected that this princess still had the energy to do these things, and even did them so meticulously.
Seeing him stunned, Zhu Yuhuan smiled and said, "Actually, there's another volume that records the local climate and environment, but it's all rough records. Although the conscription is in the Southern Zhili and Sichuan-Guizhou areas, the climate is still different. If the soldiers' bodies can't adapt to the local climate, the army's morale and strength will be greatly reduced, which will be detrimental to the conquest of Luchuan. This time, Madam Xu, who was accompanying the army, was unable to come and only gave me a few prescriptions. I thought I'd compare them with the local climate as much as possible. When we get to Kunming, if there are doctors, these prescriptions will surely come in handy."
Even though Jiang Gui knew that this princess had been favored and taught by three generations of emperors, and had been assisting in government for more than a year, and was quite adept at handling government affairs, and that their interactions along the way further demonstrated Princess Shunde's meticulousness and organization, Jiang Gui still couldn't help but secretly take a breath when he saw that she was really so meticulous and attentive to every detail.
A single hair can move the head, a single hair can change the body. The battlefield is constantly changing, and such a careful and calm person would only be more perceptive on the battlefield. To be frank, the eldest princess is a good candidate for the battlefield.
Jiang Gui smiled and said, "Your Highness is truly meticulous in his actions."
Zhu Yuhuan half-jokingly said, "I have a spinning and weaving business. Weaving is the most delicate work. The warp and weft must be precise and there can be no carelessness. Only then can we get a piece of silk. I am used to doing things this way."
Jiang Gui said with a smile: "Your Highness, what you said is very reasonable."
Seeing that he and Princess Shunde had become very close, Wang Ji couldn't help but secretly sigh at the influence of the princess, who had unknowingly made people close to her.
He was born into a civil service examination family. Although he was now in charge of military affairs, he also had some knowledge of internal affairs. He knew how capable the Princess Shunde was. It was no wonder that since Yongle, several generations of emperors had repeatedly broken the ancestral rules for this princess.
Such a trustworthy and capable minister cannot be replaced by ordinary people.
Before the group reached the city gate, they saw the welcoming team, led by none other than the current Duke of Qian, Mu Bin, who led the Kunming officials to welcome everyone.
Although Zhu Yuhuan informed local officials in advance to keep everything simple and not to welcome her too early and waste manpower, Zhu Yuhuan was the eldest princess after all, and the eldest princess was sent by the emperor, so there was no reason for everyone not to welcome her.
Therefore, everyone welcomed the team ten miles away from the city gate.
After a round of greetings, Zhu Yuhuan and others were welcomed into the government office. Originally, they should have been welcomed and entertained, but Zhu Yuhuan insisted that official business came first, so the officials and Qian Guogong Mu Bin reported the battle situation.
"The Si clan bandits have launched an invasion, abducting people and food supplies. Some of the chieftains who had previously submitted to the Ming Dynasty have become disloyal and are joining the Si clan in the rebellion. Only a few chieftains in southern Yunnan have remained inactive, but they have inevitably developed some inappropriate thoughts. Officials have been dispatched to various locations to appease them."
Zhu Yuhuan frowned slightly, then asked, "Where's Mu Ang? Hasn't he returned from the front yet?"
Mu Yan looked slightly embarrassed and said, "The situation on the front line is volatile, so the governor has been busy fighting the Si clan recently and cannot meet the princess in person."
Since Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang, the Mu family has been ordered to guard Yunnan. The previous Duke of Qian, Mu Sheng, once fought against Si Renfa and achieved some success. However, Mu Sheng was already old and died of a sudden illness on his way back from the expedition.
The title of Duke of Qian was inherited by Mu Sheng's son Mu Yan. Since he himself had no experience in military campaigns, the actual position of General Zhengnan was taken over by his uncle Mu Ang.
Zhu Yuhuan pondered for a moment and asked, "Didn't the local chieftain contribute?"
"These chieftains are always changing their stance according to the situation. If the Si family comes, they will change their flags and join Luchuan."
Zhu Yuhuan and Wang Ji looked at each other and knew exactly what these chieftains were thinking.
The Three Xuan and Six Wei were nominally Ming territory, but the degree of control over them was far inferior to that of other places. Yunnan implemented a system of native officials, which looked like official management, but these officials were local gentry. In essence, it was local self-government, but it was just a disguised official system.
Especially in areas close to the border such as southern Yunnan, the gentry had great power and influence and were almost independent of the court's management.
Therefore, these local officials often take sides, which makes people hate them.
Anyway, no matter who comes, these local officials are in charge and can enslave the people under their command at will.
In this case, there is no difference between Daming and Luchuan. No matter who wins, it will not affect them.
Regardless of the expedition to Luchuan, if Zhu Yuhuan wanted to maintain stability on the border, dealing with the local officials was also part of his plan.
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