Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 452: Vast World
"Now the right army has controlled Monywa and Bukan, the left army has taken Yagan along Jinda, and the central army has pressed down on Sidi. Ava has been surrounded. After the New Port Squadron occupied the port of Sayan, the merchant ships of Fushunhang and other foreign companies were unimpeded. The rainy season is coming, and they are heading straight to Bagan along the river. Now, Toungoo can only defend the area around Toungoo."

Another winter has passed, which means a new round of offensive has been launched from Outer Yunnan.

Zhu Changluo looked at the map in front of him.

Toungoo destroyed Lanna, which was originally called Babai Dadian by the Ming Dynasty, and took over all the three Xuan and six Wei of the Ming Dynasty.

Now the Ming Dynasty can send troops to help them restore their country. The Toungoo army must strive to protect the area around Ava, the capital of the original Burmese Xuanweisi Ava Dynasty. The surrounding areas are all mountains and plateaus, so how can it be easy to defend?

Lanna was the most motivated. After they sent troops from Chiang Mai and joined the left wing main force of the Ming Dynasty, they had already controlled the high ground southeast of Ava.

To the west of Ava, the Ming army's right wing took control of Monywa and Bukan, an area located at the confluence of the last tributary of the Irrawaddy River. The city of Ava, located upstream, had been cut off from support from the south by land and water.

"Once the rainy season is over, Ava will be taken." Yuan Keli made a judgment with a relaxed expression, "Maybe we don't have to wait until autumn or winter for the Ava defenders to surrender."

Zhu Changluo nodded and said, "We can start finishing things now. Send an imperial decree to formally confer the title of Prince Rui on the fifth brother of the Emperor, and the title of Prince of Mian'an on the Duke of Qian, and prepare for the establishment of a new country. The war has come to this point, and they will have to be self-sufficient starting next year. As for Yunnan Province, we must take good care of the trade routes. Even though it is not possible to transport goods back safely from the sea now, Myanmar produces a lot, and we should make it operate according to the vassal border trade system, especially for copper, silver, and iron."

The Ming Dynasty paid the initial food and military supplies, and now the situation there is different.

For his fifth brother Zhu Changhao, what he conquered was his country, and this was especially true for the Duke of Qian's family.

At this point, Mu became a prince. Even if he was only a prince conferred by the future vassal state of Myanmar and no longer received salary from the Ming Dynasty and left the list of meritorious officials of the Ming Dynasty, he was still the first prince of a different surname conferred by the emperor.

Outer Yunnan is different from Yunnan, and it still needs a relatively backward system.

But it will more effectively enable the Yunnan chieftains who participated in this expedition and the chieftains from outside Yunnan who originally lived there to smoothly transition to the new era.

Of course, this will bring new situations to Yunnan.

"The Executive Yuan must focus on the transformation of the natives in Yunnan, the Ministry of Official Property must manage the Yunnan copper and silver factories, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs must work together with the Yunnan-Myanmar Office to straighten out the border trade." Zhu Changluo urged, "The new currency system is about to be implemented, and the output of Yunnan and Outer Yunnan's minerals cannot be lost!"

Why must we take over Outer Yunnan? It is not just about gaining access to the Indian Ocean.

70% to 80% of the copper output of the entire Ming Dynasty depended on Yunnan, and Yunnan was a special case. The Ming Dynasty had to retain many chieftains for more than 200 years. Because of this complicated situation, the Duke of Qian was able to stay in Yunnan forever, and Yunnan had to spend a lot of financial resources and energy to stabilize the occasional chieftain rebellions.

In this case, how can Yunnan achieve the highest output efficiency?

Now the Ming Dynasty is exchanging the interests of Outer Yunnan for the interests of Yunnan.

If they wanted to retain their own independent chieftain system and go to the future Outer Dian, the Mu family would take them there, and the vast Outer Dian would give them a larger "territory" and population.

In Yunnan Province, it is natural to thoroughly reform the local system and reduce unnecessary costs for maintaining stability.

In addition, Yunnan produces copper, as does Outer Yunnan.

It is like the Monywa area that the army has now controlled, which is a copper mining belt with huge reserves.

Since the victory was obvious, Zhu Changluo had to wean his fifth brother and the Mu family. Of course, the northern region they controlled was large enough to be self-sufficient in food and wages. As for other materials, they needed to start feeding back to the Ming Dynasty and obtain them through trade.

After Zhu Changluo arranged this matter, he looked at Xiao Ruxun, Marquis of Pinglu, who was summoned.

"The war in Outer Yunnan went smoothly, and Ji Xin also made an indelible contribution."

Xiao Ruxun watched as the other ministers left, leaving only Yuan Keli and Fang Congzhe, the chief minister of the Lifanyuan, still here.

He replied respectfully, "How dare I take credit for it? Duke Fuguo made great contributions in defending against the enemy and training troops at the Right Army Command Office. I am just doing my best."

"You went to the Right Army, and you stayed in the Rear Army twice." Zhu Changluo laughed, "It seems that you have been following Liu Jing all the time."

"The Duke of Fuguo is unrivalled in loyalty and bravery, and I am not even as good as him."

Back then, he was still Pinglu Bo, and initially served as the Left Commander of the Rear Army. During the first northern expedition, he and Liu Jing swapped positions, and Liu Jing was already in Yunnan and was granted the title of Marquis. After arriving at the rear army, he fought thousands of miles away, participating in all the wars against the northern border, the Jurchens, and even Korea. Now he has become the Duke of Fuguo, who is permanently stationed in the northeast.

After the emperor's southern tour, he resigned from the position of Left General of the Right Army and gave it to the Duke of Qian. This was also a manifestation of the emperor's trust in the Duke of Qian, allowing him to calmly prepare for the expedition to Burma.

After that, he returned to the Rear Army Governor's Office.

He was granted the title of marquis only after he pacified the Xuanfu, Datong and western border armies, completed the military reform within the Rear Army Governor's Office and incorporated all military households into civilian population.

"You are both civil and military." Zhu Changluo said, "Without you in charge of the rear army, the rear army reform will not be successfully completed."

After a pause, he got to the point: "You probably know why you were summoned back to the capital this time. Xiliang Hou is seriously ill, and Fuguo Gong has to stay in the old forest in the northeast. Although the various tribes in the northern border have selected elite soldiers to follow the Ming Dynasty on the expedition to Japan, someone still needs to be in charge of the two towns of Liaodong and Liaoxi. The Left Army Governor's Office has a lot of things to do, and someone needs to be in charge of the army on the eastern expedition to the north."

Xiao Ruxun hesitated: "Marquis Xiliang has many brave generals under his command..."

"I know what you are worried about." Zhu Changluo waved his hand. "The Marquis of Xiliang is not the Duke of Ningguo in the past, and the Liaodong and Liaoxi towns are not the same as they used to be. Besides, the Ma family members and the Liaodong and Liaoxi warriors mostly go with the army. They are fighting for their future in Japan, and you are just making the right arrangements."

When Xiao Ruxun heard him mention Li Chengliang, who was like a local tyrant in Liaodong at that time, he dared not say anything more.

"I understand. I will do my best."

"You just go first and sort things out." Zhu Changluo sighed again, "I hope Xiliang Hou can survive this. When I first ascended the throne, some of the ministers I conferred titles of honor have passed away, and some are old. You have worked diligently for many years, and it is time for you to use your military skills on the battlefield. After the conquest of Japan, you should be promoted to a Duke for your great achievements."

"Your Majesty, minister..."

"No need to panic."

Zhu Changluo looked at him. Xiao Ruxun was a man who had read a lot of books, so he had more concerns than other civil officials.

With a smile, Zhu Changluo encouraged, "The strength of the Ming Dynasty is growing day by day, and it is time for brave and resourceful generals and soldiers to make contributions. I already have a strategy for dealing with the meritorious officials of the past dynasties. What I am doing now is tantamount to re-establishing the country, and there will not be too many meritorious officials. I have already conferred the title of Prince, and you are still in your prime, what are you afraid of? Hone your ability to command the army, the generals in the rear army are eagerly waiting for you, and when you return from the northeast, you will lead them to continue to make achievements!"

Xiao Ruxun's heart was pounding as he accepted the order respectfully: "Your Majesty has been very kind to me. I dare not seek credit for myself, but only know how to repay the emperor's kindness."

"Go ahead. You have been in charge of the rear army twice, and there will definitely be a third time. Let the generals of the rear army be more patient."

Xiao Ruxun's heart trembled: "I obey your order."

It was not easy for a meritorious official and frontier commander like him to suppress the restless northwestern border generals for so many years.

Especially after the reform, more benefits in the northwest will come from border trade.

The emperor was well aware of these things, and he was also very clear about them.

The Ming army still had not reached the level required by the Emperor and the Privy Council, and this was a process with no further recourse.

Now the court's approach is very clear: if the concept is still old, then they will all fight outside in the future. They hope to be less restricted by the military discipline and military management of the Privy Council, which is only possible in the outer vassal.

What the Ming Dynasty needed were more pure soldiers and generals under the training of the newly established military and political committees. It did not want the old habits of retaining family servants, private soldiers, and those who profited from military pay and military settlements.

He, Xiao Ruxun, has been in the Rear Army Governor's Office for so many years and is very clear about the situation below.

The court's previous focus was on the northeast, east and south, and its only requirement for the northwest was stability.

Xiao Ruxun is very calm, so he needs to understand what the emperor means.

Not only did he have to take over the affairs of the Rear Army Governor's Office, he also had to deal with the Left Army Governor's Office system after Ma Gui and the Ma family left.

In fact, how things are done over there and whether the troops of Liaodong, Liaoxi and other provinces of the Zuojun Military Governor's Office can become a new army with strict military discipline and special military and political committees, are the key factors that determine whether he can go further.

If he fails to do so, he will still command the rear army, but in the future he will have to become a vassal vassal somewhere in the Western Regions, just like the family of the Duke of Qian.

If it can be done... The Privy Council has already made a plan. The Ordos and Tumed tribes in Hetao must return. The actual defense line in the northwest must eventually be pushed to the Yinshan line and even to the Tianshan Mountains.

It would be best if there was also a duke who would permanently govern the northwest.

Zhu Changluo arranged these things and went to Yude Palace first.

This is one of the six western palaces. It was originally called Changle Palace and was renamed Yude Palace in the 14th year of Jiajing. It is located to the south of Yikun Palace and is the closest palace to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Now Wang Wei has moved here from the Yangxin Palace because she is pregnant.

The most different thing about Yude Palace from other palaces is that it is young. Nowadays, Yude Palace is basically filled with people who were presented by various foreign vassal states after the Tongliao League.

Zhu Changluo had not selected a concubine for many years except for the one time after he ascended the throne. However, after the Northern Expedition, all the tribes offered people as tributes.

Those who were offered after that were naturally younger.

Wang Wei had not yet given birth to a prince or princess, and her position was still a concubine. But the emperor placed her so close to the emperor, and there was no one in the palace who was a principal wife. The other concubines were either foreign nobles like Zhezhe, or just lower-ranking ones. This clearly showed that the emperor looked at her differently.

Zhu Changluo looked at Wang Wei, who was pregnant, and then heard her say, "I have just started the task assigned by Your Majesty. In the past few months, I have been thinking about it..."

"There's no rush for this matter. Just focus on taking care of your baby first."

Wang Wei shook her head. "Your Majesty has granted me the grace to do something. How can I just ignore it? I have discussed these matters with the Empress, Rong Fei, and Shu Fei. Your Majesty has favored me, so I must make some achievements. But now there is a difficult matter..."

"You said."

Wang Wei looked at her and smiled, "Your Majesty has granted the palace ladies and maids five years of service before they can be allowed to marry. This is because, firstly, the tributes from the vassal states are many and there are enough people, and secondly, Your Majesty does not want to delay them for their entire lives, unless they are willing to stay in the palace to serve. But in this way, I cannot find so many suitable people in the palace. It is easy to deal with these maids from foreign vassal states. It is easy for me to arrange some songs and scripts with the Empress, Rong Fei and Shu Fei, but I have to teach some people to sing and perform. These people are not good enough, most of them can't read..."

Zhu Changluo was stunned for a moment, then shook his head helplessly: "Since you have thought about this, there should be a way, right?"

"Well, there are two ways."

Wang Wei then continued to tell the story.

What Zhu Changluo wanted her to do was actually to have more ways of performing based on the already rich vernacular scripts and poems of the Ming Dynasty.

Storytelling is a form of art that already exists. There are also many folk opera troupes, but most of them are for "literati and scholars" and there is a certain threshold for appreciation.

What Zhu Changluo needed was a form that could reflect the prosperity of Ming culture after it was spread to the outer vassal states, so that the outer vassal states’ people would yearn for it. It had to be easy to understand and have a better dissemination effect.

Of course, it was like the new style songs like "Hongyan" that he sang in Tongliao, as well as the stage plays performed in vernacular Chinese.

It is not easy for folk opera troupes to transform. If this form is to become a new trend, it requires many high-quality works.

Starting with the royal family first is a convenient method.

But Wang Wei was in the deep palace, so she naturally couldn't show up in public, not to mention that it would be a waste of her talent. She actually had quite strong creative ability, and the problem she faced now was manpower.

Zhu Changluo never stopped reforming the system of eunuchs and maids in the palace. Since the success of the Northern Expedition, there has been a large source of eunuchs and maids in the palace.

Zhu Changluo was not polite to the foreign vassal states in this regard, because this was also a way to promote integration: young men and women from foreign vassal states were constantly sent to the palace, and there was a "retirement" mechanism in the palace. Whether the palace maids stayed in the Ming Dynasty to get married or returned to their original tribes, they would bring back new things. These foreign eunuchs could also go back, because they were all literate when they arrived at the palace, and they would also be useful after returning.

By now, nearly half of the young eunuchs and palace maids in the Forbidden City are from foreign vassal states, although they are all at the bottom of the social ladder.

The problem Wang Wei encountered was, of course, their poor foundation.

There's no way around it.

So Wang Wei proposed two solutions. One was to form a special troupe outside, so that they could directly select those with excellent singing, dancing and performance from the people and train them specially. The second solution was to select a group of female officials for this purpose, female officials rather than palace maids.

"As for the first method, we can only arrange it outside the palace. I will find eunuchs and female officials in the palace who can understand the emperor's intentions and my intentions, and supervise the training, and then invite Your Majesty to watch the results together. The second method is more effective, and I can watch them practice in the palace. If there is a play, the female officials can play the Sheng role, or let the talented eunuchs play first, it's all fine."

Zhu Changluo smiled helplessly. The problem turned out to be that her status as a concubine made it inconvenient for her to leave the palace to give instructions.

"Both of them should come." Zhu Changluo shook his head. "Renshou Palace is now empty, and there is a large open space to the north. We can set up a place there instead of setting up outside the palace. This way, you can go there more often, and it won't be a problem for the male actors in the troupe to enter the palace from the north gate to rehearse during the day."

"Your Majesty, this..."

Zhu Changluo laughed loudly: "I am not that old-fashioned. Am I that petty? As for these female officials, they are more useful. They are the apprentices you brought up personally. Well, these female officials must be carefully selected. This business will continue in the future. It cannot rely on you and me alone. With the first batch of new lyrics and repertoire samples, people outside will know how to do it. Now that these apprentices have been trained, the rest will come naturally."

Wang Wei blinked his eyes and said, "Then you have to choose carefully. They must be talented and beautiful, have a good foundation, and study for three to five years without delaying their marriage. They are going to go out. Your Majesty cannot touch such a good girl. If you touch her, she will not be able to go out again."

Zhu Changluo rolled his eyes at her and said, "Am I not satisfied? Let your elder brother take care of this matter later. I will discuss it with the outsiders and make it clear. A girl in her teens must be both talented and beautiful. She cannot just stay in the backyard in the future. This can only be found in a rich and noble family."

Liu Ruoyu accepted the assignment with a smile.

As they were talking, the other people in Yude Palace cautiously came to the palace gate and said they wanted to pay their respects to the emperor.

Only when Zhu Changluo came could they, thanks to Wang Wei, see the emperor.

Zhu Changluo often just met with them and chatted with them for a few words.

So he said goodbye to Wang Wei and went outside the palace gate.

Na Haoshan was in the palace of Yehenara clan, and the leader here was Zhezhe of Khorchin.

Only Zhezhe was favored by the emperor just once, and Zhu Changluo used this to appease Korchin's heart - there were too many beauties in the harem, and Zhu Changluo liked other girls more.

He accepted their greetings with a friendly face and, as usual, just asked about their lives after moving into Yude Palace. Zhu Changluo saw a little kid behind Zhezhe.

"…Who is this? Why did Korchin send such a young child here?"

Zhu Changluo pointed in that direction, and Zhezhe saw that it was his direction. The child behind him had already knelt down, trembling all over.

"In response to your Majesty's question, this was just presented to the palace at the end of last year. She is my niece."

"How old is he?" Zhu Changluo was a little helpless, "This King Xing'an..."

Although Zhezhe was nervous, she looked at him with some resentment, and then said, "I am ten years old this year, and my name is Hailanzhu. The prince was afraid that I would be lonely, so he sent her to accompany me."

Zhu Changluo was stunned: Hai Lanzhu?

"Get up, I'll take a look."

The little guy kowtowed first, then stood up tremblingly, not daring to say a word. He lowered his head, at a loss, and subconsciously hid behind Zhezhe.

“Your Majesty, please forgive me.” Zhezhe quickly pulled her forward and asked her to bow again. “I have only been learning for three months and have just arrived at Yude Palace. I am not very polite…”

Zhu Changluo could see it clearly now, although he only got a rough idea from a bird's-eye view.

Then I couldn't help but sigh: Khorchin still uses the old ways. In my memory, Huang Taiji, who had been chopped off by Empress Dowager Li, finally took in several Khorchin women in succession. In order to consolidate the relationship, Khorchin saw that the women he had sent before had no results, so he finally sent Hailanzhu.

That is of course because Korchin thinks Hailanzhu will definitely be favored and is more powerful than Zhezhe.

But now she is just a little girl with a frightened look on her face.

Zhu Changluo looked at her and then at Zhezhe, then burst into laughter: "Okay. You go back first, I'll come back at night."

Zhezhe was stunned for a moment, then his face was filled with joy.

Zhu Changluo waved his hand and left.

Probably after meeting them in Chengde the year before last, Korqin saw that Haoshan and Zhezhe were motionless. Although the emperor took them to Chengde, it was more like a show for them and did not mean anything.

In the long run, they believed that having a prince with Khorchin blood would be more beneficial to the interests of Khorchin.

So after I got back, I set about sending another one over.

Even though she was still young, it was natural to see that she was a beauty. She just said to Zhu Changluo: Your Majesty, please give me some care.

Zhu Changluo shook his head as he walked.

Burma, Japan, Southeast Asia...it can be predicted that they will also offer tributes to show their absolute loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor.

So why does he need to choose any concubines?
As they walked, he suddenly said to Liu Ruoyu, "I see that Hai Lanzhu is very young, so she can be taught from the basics. You can examine it later and teach her the basics of words and rhythms. If you succeed, you can help Wei'er in the future."

(End of this chapter)