Zhu Di: My fourth son is a great emperor of all time?

Chapter 42 Zhu Gaochi Wins Over the Fourth Prince
"Eight hundred people?" Zhu Gaoshuo was somewhat surprised.

"Fourth brother, eight hundred men is more than enough. I even had to beg the old man for it. We're going to war this time, not to go on vacation!"

Seeing Zhu Gaoshuo's reaction, Zhu Gaoxu thought he was dissatisfied and complaining.

Zhu Gaoshuo was simply lamenting that history always repeats itself in surprising ways.

Eight hundred people may not be a lot.

But it is a number of people who are bound to win.

The commotion abruptly ceased with the arrival of Emperor Zhu Di.

Zhu Di, who personally led the expedition, was dressed in black robes, with Zhu Zhanji beside him. They stood on a high platform, inspecting the 100,000-strong army.

From the moment Zhu Di ascended the stage, the Ming soldiers were already incredibly excited.

The look in his eyes as he gazed at Zhu Di was filled with awe.

Emperor Yongle was a man who could fight enemies on horseback and govern the country on foot.

Zhu Di clenched his right fist and placed it against his chest, his eyes resolute as he looked at the soldiers below the platform, and shouted: "The Ming army is mighty!"

The soldiers' fighting spirit seemed to be ignited, and 100,000 men shouted in unison:
"The general is mighty!!"

Zhu Di's eyes gleamed. This was the life he wanted. He had spent half his life fighting wars, and now that he was emperor, he felt completely uncomfortable.

"The Ming army is mighty!" Zhu Di shouted.

"Long live the Emperor!"

Zhu Gaoshuo also joined in, shouting with all his might along with the 100,000 Ming soldiers.

"Fourth brother, well done!"

Seeing the fighting spirit of his fourth son, Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help but admire him.

Zhu Gaoshuo was not particularly interested in this northern expedition, but now it seemed as if something in his bloodline had been awakened.

He began to yearn for the sounds of weapons clashing and bodies hitting each other on the battlefield.

Is this the allure of the Ming Dynasty?

The last dynasty of the Han people.

Looking at the Yongle Emperor on the stage, who exuded a fierce fighting spirit.

There were also 100,000 Ming soldiers below the stage, their necks red and roaring furiously.

Zhu Gaoshuo almost couldn't help but shout "Overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming!"

Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi did not come; he had a more important task: to oversee the entire situation within the palace.

Especially the issue of food supplies; war is essentially a war of logistics.

As long as logistical support can keep up, victory in the battle against the Oirat is assured.

Yang Shiqi said worriedly, "Your Highness, if this battle is to be fought, it will take at least three months. It will be very difficult to gather enough food for 300,000 Northern Expeditionary Army soldiers."

"Do everything you can!" Zhu Gaochi was not a hesitant or indecisive person. Since they were going to fight this battle, they had to do everything they could to ensure the safety of the soldiers on the front lines.

The people in the rear can suffer a little, they can go hungry.

The Ming Dynasty will not perish.

But if the northern expeditionary army were to be defeated due to food shortages, the Ming Dynasty would truly perish.

“Each locality must gather enough grain for me within a month, by whatever means necessary. Those who fail to do so will be severely punished.”

Zhu Gaochi's orders were carried out without any objection from the cabinet officials.

This is the Crown Prince's influence in the court.

It was even more effective than Zhu Di's methods.

Zhu Di personally rode his warhorse and led 100,000 Ming troops on a northern expedition. Starting from Nanjing, the troops marched north and eventually stopped in Datong, where they joined 200,000 Ming troops stationed on the border.

Three hundred thousand troops were stationed in Datong, waiting for Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi to prepare the provisions before launching an attack on the grasslands.

Datong was the most solid shield for the Ming Dynasty's defense against the grasslands. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, with the Sanggan River flowing through the city, it formed a natural barrier and was known as the Xuanda defense line along with Xuanfu.

If Datong is lost, the Three Jin states will be in danger!
Zhu Qizhen sent troops to Datong, but they had to retreat before they even reached it.

Datong was clearly easy to defend and difficult to attack, and it had at least 100,000 troops stationed there, yet it was easily captured by Esen, and blood flowed like a river.

Moreover, Zhu Qizhen was later brought to Datong and forced to enter.

"Your Highness, are you really going to lead the troops personally? Otherwise, forget it!" Uncle Chen was worried about Zhu Gaoshuo, so he also came to Datong with the army.

Zhu Gaoshuo smiled and asked, "How's the matter I assigned you going?"

Chen Bo said confidently, "Don't worry, Your Highness, our trained assassins have already been integrated into the army. I guarantee no one will be able to detect them!"

Zhu Gaoshuo smiled, somewhat surprised that Uncle Chen was so confident.

Since you've done it, it will definitely leave a trace.

He actually wanted Zhu Di to discover this group of assassins on purpose.
Zhu Gaoshuo had actually thought about it seriously. Given his current status, it was normal for him to have assassins. On the contrary, if the old man couldn't find anything, he would be even more suspicious of him.

Chen Bo had no idea what Zhu Gaoshuo was thinking. He assumed that his prince was afraid of being discovered, so he explained in a low voice, "Your Highness, rest assured, with the help of Liu Jiang, the garrison commander of Datong, His Majesty will not find out."

Liu Jiang.

Zhu Gaoshuo was not unfamiliar with this person.

He is also known in historical records as a famous general of the Yongle reign and participated in the Jingnan Campaign.

It's a talent.

He later participated in the Battle of Haiguo, where he annihilated the invading Japanese pirates and became a famous general in the fight against them.

This is also why Zhu Gaoshuo recruited him.

It will be used to fight Japanese pirates in the future.

Unexpectedly, it has come in handy now.

Chen Bo asked with some doubt, "Your Highness, the Ming Dynasty will surely win this battle, and the Oirat Mongols are nothing to fear. Why bring out assassins?"

Zhu Gaoshuo shook his head and said seriously, "I also want to hide in my tent and wait for a great victory to return to the capital, but the Oirat are not that simple!"

Since history had already been altered by the heavens, Zhu Di launched the second war against the Oirat Mongols.

The Mongol tribes would also be changed as a result.

The three major tribes of Mongolia may have already unified ahead of schedule.

If that's the case, this battle won't be so simple.

Zhu Gaoshuo wanted to save his own life, but he also wanted to make military achievements.

He wanted to confront Zhu Di directly and force the old man to make a decision.

Either he should take up a fiefdom as soon as possible.

Either give him the position of regent!
Uncle Chen didn't ask any further questions. After he had some free time, Zhu Gaoshuo planned to go to the old man to ask for some gunpowder.

He actually secretly saved some, but he still felt it wasn't enough.

Before long, they arrived at Zhu Di's temporary palace.

Just as he was about to go in, he was pulled to the other side by the second brother, Zhu Gaoxu, and the third brother, Zhu Gaosui.

The two looked expectant and excited, as if they had been waiting for Zhu Gaoshuo to arrive.

Zhu Gaoshuo, who was completely bewildered by the enthusiasm of the two people, was suddenly taken aback.

He knew very well that there must be something wrong when things were abnormal.

Before Zhu Gaoshuo could even ask, the second son said angrily, "Fourth son, don't you think Dad is going too far? The eldest son's family is already like this, and he's still showing favoritism."

Zhu Gaosui nodded vigorously.

Zhu Gaoshuo pondered for a while, and finally asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Zhu Gaoxu deliberately lowered his voice and said:
“My nephew is interrogating Yu Qian with our father. I just heard him saying that Yu Qian was spared because Zhu Zhanji pleaded for him. They clearly want Yu Qian to pledge allegiance to the boss’s faction.”

Zhu Gaoxu was extremely unhappy: "We are all sons, so why should the eldest son get all the benefits?"

"If you ask me, with your reputation as the fourth brother, Yu Qian should be yours!"

Did Zhu Gaosui agree?

"Are you trying to trick me into following you as the boss, just like the third brother?" Knowing the truth, Zhu Gaoshuo suppressed the urge to laugh.

"Second brother, if Yu Qian really becomes my disciple, you won't be unhappy, will you?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu immediately gave him a look that said, "You must be joking," and laughed, "Fourth brother, I'm speaking from the bottom of my heart."

(End of this chapter)