Chapter 98 Chapter 9 When the son grows up, the time is ripe

At the beginning of the 23rd year of Hongwu (AD 1390), an extremely important event happened in the Ming Empire, but few people noticed it at the time. Not long after New Year's Day of this year, Yan Wang Zhu Di and Jin Wang Zhu Wei (gang), who were stationed in Beiping and Taiyuan respectively, were ordered by Zhu Yuanzhang to send troops separately to attack Prime Minister Meng Yuan on the Mongolian grassland. Zhang Naier doesn't spend a lot of money. The Mongolian army has always been the confidant of the Ming Empire. Unwilling to flee north in a hurry, they always spy on the situation in the Central Plains and often go south to harass.This time, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered his children to strike first.

Zhu Di happened to be 30 years old this year, the so-called year of his thirties, while Zhu Di was 32 years old.The two princes have been feudal vassals for many years, and they have a lot of soldiers. This is the first time to cry. In order to have enough good cards in his hand to replace his over-reliance on heroes, Zhu Yuanzhang took great pains in the education of his children.According to historical records, when the scholars were young, Zhu Yuanzhang believed that they "should practice hard work, and ordered the servants to make hemp to carry out the work. All the scholars went a little farther from the city, 17 on horseback, and 13 on foot" (Volume 1 of "Small History of the Ming Dynasty").

Choose masters for them to be the best in the world, and hope that they can be both civil and military, and become their real right-hand men. Under his strict requirements, there are quite a few outstanding talents among Zhu Yuanzhang's sons.For example, the second son of King Qin, the third son of King Jin, the fourth son of King Yan, the sixth son of King Chu, and the twelve sons of King Xiang all had high martial arts skills and were familiar with military books and war strategies.Although well-educated, no one can judge whether they can take on the important task of maintaining the imperial screen without testing.So before dispatching troops, the entire Ming Empire was as suspicious as Zhu Yuanzhang.

On the second day of March in the 23rd year of Hongwu, King Yan led his generals out of Gubeikou.The advance sentry found out that Naier Buhua was stationing troops in Yidu (now north of Sunid Left Banner, Inner Mongolia).Despite the sudden heavy snowfall and the sudden drop in temperature, King Yan decided to rush forward in the snow and give the Mongolian army a surprise attack.After several days of marching in the snow, the Ming army quietly completed the siege of Naierbuhua.It was too late when Naier didn't notice, and finally had to lead the crowd to surrender.So on the first expedition, he captured "Nai'er Buhua and his famous king and chiefs, tens of thousands of men and women, no sheep and horses, and thousands of camels" (Volume 1 of "Records of Taizong").

The king of Jin sent out troops and went far north, but he didn't meet the enemy, so he had to return empty-handed.However, according to reports, the king of Jin led the troops and marched in a very orderly manner. Zhu Yuanzhang was very satisfied with this result.He said: "The one who clears the desert is the king of Yan. I have no worries about going north!" (Volume 201 of "Records of Emperor Taizu of Ming Dynasty") Zhu Yuanzhang had been looking forward to this day for too long.In the past, the military activities that the princes participated in were mainly honored officials and marshals, and the prince was in a learning or internship position.It was not until the Northern Expedition in the 23rd year of Hongwu, when the princes personally served as the commanders of large-scale military activities for the first time, and the results of the battle were so brilliant, that Zhu Yuanzhang was completely relieved.

With such a wolf-like son, what is Zhu Yuanzhang afraid of? King Yan returned triumphantly, and everyone in the court was jubilant, but no one expected that the massacre plan had matured in Zhu Yuanzhang's mind.