Zhu Yuanzhang can see my dreams - Chapter 386 Everyone Has Their Own Selfish Motives

With the consent of the Empress Dowager, the ministers urged Prince Qing to ascend the throne himself.

Because the emperor was captured and his infant son was unable to govern the country.

Zhu Qiyu initially refused because he believed that this would disrupt the Ming Dynasty's succession order.

Only with the approval of Empress Dowager Sun and Yu Qian's argument that the country was in dire need of leadership was he finally persuaded to proceed with a simplified ascension to the throne and declare the following year Jingtai.

Only one courtier dared to protest, and he was immediately executed.

The new emperor Zhu Qiyu issued orders to the guards, stating that any attempt by the Mongols to issue "orders" through the deposed emperor should be ignored.

Messengers were sent to inform the former emperor Zhu Qizhen of everything that had been done.

Zhu Qizhen had no choice but to agree, and at the same time warned the envoys to be alert to Yesen's intention to launch another attack.

During this crisis, Ming political and strategic needs overrode ceremonial order and protocol regarding succession, but this to some extent disrupted Ming stability and its right to be the legitimate line.

The situation was further exacerbated by the fact that the original emperor was still alive.

But now that a disaster is imminent, everyone is attracted by the external enemies and no one is thinking about what to do next.

During this month and a half, Yu Qian devoted all his energy and energy to rectifying internal affairs and strengthening war preparations from all aspects.

After Yu Qian's reorganization, people's hearts were stabilized, military strength was enhanced, and all the passes, big and small, that could allow people and horses to pass were either blocked or guarded.

If it is blocked, use wood and stones; if it is blocked, use sharp tools.

As the new emperor, Zhu Qiyu also fully trusted Yu Qian, which led some people to attack him, saying that "the emperor trusted Yu Qian too much."

But Zhu Yuanzhang had "seen and experienced it all". What Yu Qian did was not too much. It was normal to look at the powerful ministers behind him.

About 80,000 Xuanfu troops led by Yang Hong withdrew to the capital, and the rest of the troops were recalled from Liaodong.

In order to ensure that the army in Beijing reached the authorized strength, all soldiers in training, coastal garrisons and transport troops were sent to Beijing and received rigorous training.

By the time the enemy approached Beijing in October, the losses suffered by Tumu had been largely made up, and the number of defenders had reached about 10.

At the same time, the manufacture of weapons gradually increased, food was stored in the city, and defensive measures were taken for the several large granaries in Tongzhou that Beijing relied on.

This may be the moment when the entire Ming capital is most united.

Because the Ming Dynasty established a new emperor, Zhu Qizhen in Yesen's hands suddenly became worthless.

This operation made Yesen very angry.

Obviously I was lucky enough to catch a golden pig, but before I could be happy for long, it turned into a tattered pig.

During this period, Yesen was gathering his army, and the tribal leaders he assembled were determined to restore Zhu Qizhen to the throne.

They attacked Datong first.

The emperor was brought to the city gate again, and the Mongols explained their purpose of restoring him to the throne.

But it was rejected by the Ming garrison commander, who now had a new emperor.

Under the leadership of Sun Xiang, the Ming army put up a tenacious resistance by relying on the rugged valleys, high walls and deep moats.

The captured eunuch Xining led Yesen in through a secret passage, and attacked from both inside and outside, entering the city gate. The commander Han Qing was killed in the battle, and the right deputy censor Sun Xiang led his troops to fight the enemy in the streets, but was finally killed.

The defenders were able to hold off the Mongol advance for several days, but were eventually overwhelmed.

Xining led Yesen's army to burn down Zijing Pass, took Zhu Qizhen hostage and passed through Yizhou, Liangxiang, and Lugou Bridge, and arrived at the suburbs of Beijing.

At that time, the wind was thick and sand was everywhere, making it impossible to distinguish people from horses. Some people suggested moving to other mountain passes to avoid the enemy, but Xie Ze refused and firmly resisted.

The soldiers fled, the enemy attacked, and Xie Ze denounced the enemy and was killed.

Two days later, Mongolian troops appeared outside Beijing.

"Why did you become like this?"

Zijing Pass was attacked by a small group of people, and they were defeated?

This is a battle to defend the city.

"They announced that they had 500,000 troops, but ended up being defeated. How could this not have an impact on the morale of the army?"

Wang Buli found a reason for these soldiers.

If the emperor is hurt, we cannot afford to be punished.

What's more, the Ming army was already somewhat weak in combat effectiveness at this time.

In addition, there were also lackeys who voluntarily surrendered and led the way, which was also a weakness for the Ming army.

"I know where the problem lies. You don't have to explain it to me."

Why do we whitewash the situation like this?

My eyes are not blind.

In fact, the one who could not bear it the most was Zhu Di. He had always been proud of his military ability and trained his soldiers more, hoping to have a strong army.

But from the current perspective, the Ming army has become so rotten that he feels very uncomfortable.

Is it possible that we haven't made good use of the military academy?

The Oirat leader Yesen reiterated his "diplomatic" solution, and the envoys he sent were attacked by the Ming people.

There is no peace talk.

The Mongols were repelled, and at the instigation of Xining, the eunuch who was captured and defected to the Ming Dynasty, Yesen asked the Ming Dynasty to send important officials to escort Zhu Qizhen back to Beijing in the hope of obtaining more high-ranking hostages.

But the Ming court sent only two low-level officials, who were unable to escape and immediately confirmed that the Mongolian proposal was a trap.

Yesen is not in a hurry, but he wants Yu Qian and others to come for the talk. You are not qualified yet.

Zhu Qiyu was appointed to the throne in a time of crisis and had not yet shown any signs of being an emperor. He wanted to negotiate peace as soon as his ministers suggested so.

After all, his elder brother is outside the city of Beijing. Who will recognize him as the emperor then?

There is no such thing as peace talks. Your Majesty, please do not be deceived by villains.

"Good good."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at this eunuch named Xining. After he defected to the Mongols, he was determined to work for them and was extremely dedicated.

"It would be better if we use eunuchs less frequently in the future."

It is also extremely inappropriate to employ only female officials.

Don’t women have selfish desires?

They could even fight to the death in the palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the entire Ming Dynasty and suppressed the rebellion of foreign relatives.

How can it be possible for everyone to become the emperor?

"That's right." Zhu Di nodded repeatedly. There must be some restrictions on eunuchs.

In terms of both numbers and power, they were slaves of the royal family, not here to exercise power on behalf of the emperor.

In general, facing this threat.

Yu Qian led Shi Heng to fight against the Oirat outside Deshengmen, first luring the enemy and then sending out the ambush troops.

The artillery and muskets of the Shenjiying Camp left by Emperor Taizong fired together, and more brave generals charged into the battle.

Yesen's younger brother was known as the Iron Marshal, but he was killed by a musket and the Oirat was defeated.

This time, Yesen led the Oirat army deep into the capital, thinking that the Ming army was vulnerable to a single blow and Beijing could be captured overnight.

Since the battle began, the Ming army has won many victories and its morale is high.

Yesen's army numbered about 70,000, while the Ming defenders outnumbered them three to one.

The 50,000 Waqi troops who attacked Juyongguan were unable to get close because of the severe cold. The Ming Dynasty garrison commander Luo Tong pumped water to flood the city, but the ice was so solid that no one could get close.

After seven days of fighting, the attacks of the Tatar army were repelled. Luo Tong went out of the pass three times to pursue them and gained countless victories.

So they withdrew their troops, looting the countryside and burning three imperial tombs along the way, but failed to capture the city. The Ming army quickly wiped out the remnants of the Mongols in North China.

"The imperial tombs were burned down by the Mongols!"

Zhu Di clenched his fists, his face full of anger.

Wang Buli glanced at him, looking surprised.

There will be plenty of opportunities in the future.

Zhu Yuanzhang also felt ashamed. The Mongols were really ambitious and would come south to show off their power as soon as they had the strength.

If we don't completely eliminate them, their desire to destroy the Ming Dynasty will never die.

And it seems that Zijing Pass is not foolproof, and there are still loopholes that need to be filled.

On the one hand, the Oirat army did not suffer serious losses during the war and still held Zhu Qizhen hostage, posing a serious threat to the northern border defense and the capital of the Ming court;

On the other hand, during the war, the important border towns of Datong and Xuanfu failed to play their role in shielding the capital, and the Zijing, Baiyang and other checkpoints failed to stop the enemy's intrusion. Beijing was attacked and the capital area was ravaged.

The defense of the capital and the border areas still needs to be rectified and strengthened."

Zhu Yuanzhang stroked his beard and never thought that the strategy he had arranged for the King of the Frontier had so many loopholes.

However, Zhu Di immediately said that he would set up a Beijing camp, increase troops in Xuanda and other places, and station troops outside. He must not place the defense line in the hinterland.

In this way, as long as the Mongols broke through the city wall, they could ride on horseback to plunder everywhere. The Ming army did not have so many war horses and had no time to intercept them.

Zhu Yuanzhang had long known that this was how the Jurchens came to plunder the Ming Dynasty.

The important cities in the north of the Ming Dynasty were made of paper and were repeatedly plundered by the Jurchens.

"I don't know much about military affairs, but I still need to talk about the discipline of the Ming army." Wang Buli recalled a little:

“The Ming army had lax discipline, and when the Tatar army attacked, some generals were the first to flee, causing the borders and towns to fall into the hands of the enemy without a fight.

Rewards and punishments are clearly defined. This is a common practice throughout history and a key military strategy. Those generals who violate military discipline should be punished resolutely.