The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Before the Tatars go out to fight, they like to investigate the Ming Dynasty's garrisons and military preparations. Now that there are traces of spies on the border, it means that they may be going out to fight.

Especially this year's poor harvest and lack of food for the winter have made this possibility more certain.

"Strengthen the garrisons of the border towns in Ningxia to prevent sneak attacks by the bandits!" said Emperor Hongzhi.

Ma Wensheng knelt on the ground. With his many years of experience in garrisoning border towns, there are many border towns in Ningxia, the garrisons are slack, and many soldiers in the garrisons have fled. The guarding force is not as solid as your majesty thinks.

If the Tatars are given enough time to gather their forces, the towns may...

"I think that it is urgent to use offense as defense and to raise troops to attack the bandits." Ma Wensheng said bluntly.

Ma Wensheng had been stationed at the border as early as the Chenghua Dynasty and had made many military exploits, but his fame was taken away by Wang Zhi, so people only knew Wang Zhi, but not him, Ma Wensheng.

He knew the Tatars very well.

Li Dongyang said: "I agree. Although I am not a military officer, I also understand the principle of striking first and then being defeated. Now that enemy scouts have appeared in Ningxia, the situation is different. The general in charge of the three borders is precisely our famous general Wang Shichang. We may not be unable to fight!"

Wang Shichang is the famous general Wang Yue, the military god of the Ming Dynasty!

Zhu Houzhao's blood was already boiling.

Emperor Hongzhi pondered for a moment and made a decision immediately: "Allow the request for troops! But although Wang Yue has experienced hundreds of battles, he is already in his twilight years. The Tatars are cruel and good at fighting. Does the Ministry of War have anyone who can assist him?"

Ma Wensheng pondered for a moment. The Ming Dynasty has nine borders, and most of the famous generals are stationed in one place. There is a lack of military generals in the court. How about recommending Yinggong Zhang Mao?

Zhu Houzhao was already very excited. He had just said that the border was too peaceful, and the Tatars attacked. Isn't this an opportunity to verify his military tactics? However, will he be beaten to death by his father? Humph, anyway, my name is Zhu Houzhao, and I am not afraid of being beaten!

A very discordant voice sounded: "I have someone to recommend!"

This rebellious son didn't study well, and he also wanted to make trouble. Emperor Hongzhi glared at him as a warning.

But Zhu Houzhao was determined and said: "I recommend, the censor of the Censorate, Yan Kesong!" If Yan Kesong went to the front line to verify for me, who would dare to scold me in the future?

Emperor Hongzhi was stunned. He knew what kind of person his son was. He must not have good intentions, but he said lightly: "Why do you recommend Yan Qing's family?"

Zhu Houzhao hesitated and dared not speak.

Wang Ao of the Zhanshi Mansion said loudly: "Yan Kesong has recently been writing "The Three Kingdoms Heroes' Struggle for Hegemony". His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is drawing maps in class. I'm afraid... it has something to do with this." He didn't know that Zhao Houzhu was the crown prince, so he only mentioned Yan Kesong.

Wang Ao had read it and knew that it was a book of military tactics and strategies. Seeing the surprise on Emperor Hongzhi's face, he said again: "This book talks about the chaos of the Three Kingdoms heroes. There are many deployments of troops in it, but... it's just talk on paper."

"Nonsense! That was the battle method that Master Yan came up with after several nights and many deductions. Without verification, none of you have the right to scold the person who wrote the strategy." Zhu Houzhao said angrily.

As Lao Gao said, without verification, everyone thought that I was talking nonsense!

Ma Wensheng, the military secretary, said, "I think what the prince said is not wrong!"

"The Ministry of War is confused! The enemy invaded the border and burned, killed and looted. How can it be a joke!" Liu Jian was furious. Would he listen to Zhu Houzhao's words?

Ma Wensheng said, "Your Majesty, since the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, it is not strange for civil officials to guard the border. Wang Yue is a civil official who gave up writing and joined the army in the previous dynasty. As your majesty said, Wang Yue is old and there is no successor to the garrison. I have also read the book written by Yan Kesong. If Yan Kesong is really talented, why can't I add another fierce general to my Ming Dynasty?"

Li Dongyang thought about it and said, "I think what the Ministry of War said is very true. This is the time of transition from youth to old. Wang Yue can still guard the border. It is not a big deal to lose Yan Kesong. Besides, there are no generals to be sent in the court now."

Thousands of soldiers are easy to get, but one general is hard to find.

Emperor Hongzhi also figured it out: "Approved, then order Yan Aiqing to go to Ningxia Garrison to assist Wang Yue in resisting the invaders."

Yan Kesong won the battle, which was a face-saving thing for him, so Zhu Houzhao naturally spared no effort, "Father, if you don't give Master Yan a position, how can Master Yan command those soldiers? Why not... give him a general?"

Big head of you!

Do you think a general is a big bun!

He is the general officer right after he gets promoted, how can this be done? Ningxia general Li Jun has experienced hundreds of battles, but he is only the general officer, and Yansui garrison commander Peng Qing has repeatedly made meritorious deeds, but he is only the deputy general officer.

Ma Wensheng was almost suffocated by anger.

Emperor Hongzhi thought about it and said: "Give him a deputy commander!"

"Deputy commander? Why don't I remember this position?" Zhu Houzhao looked suspicious.

Emperor Hongzhi was angry: "I said it is!"

…………………………

Yan Mansion, Yan Kesong has been receiving inexplicable imperial edicts recently.

"Chengjin, why is Dad's career so bumpy? I tried my best to teach the prince the principles of life and taught him like my own son, but he hurt me like this. It really hurts my heart. For more than ten years, I have been holding a pen. When have I ever led troops to fight? Now, he wants Dad to go to Ningxia Prefecture. I am afraid that one general will succeed at the cost of thousands of bones. Your father will have one more bone!" Yan Kesong raised his sleeves and wiped away the tears from his eyes.

Yan Chengjin was frightened: "Dad is going to Ningxia to fight?"

"Today, the Ministry of War reported that there were traces of enemy spies outside the border city of Ningxia. His Majesty issued an edict to appoint my father as the deputy commander of Ningxia and let my father go to Ningxia Prefecture to guard the border. Since ancient times, the punishment of criminals is to exile them to the border. I am afraid that my father... will not be able to come back." Yan Kesong sighed.

Don't laugh at me sleeping drunk on the battlefield. Since ancient times, few people have returned from the battles.

Once the war started, I don't know how many years it will take, and I don't know when I can return to the capital. Yan Kesong was reluctant to leave his son alone in the capital.

Whenever he thought of this, Yan Kesong burst into tears. My son has not married and had children yet, and I have not held my grandchildren yet. He still couldn't figure out when he offended the prince again?

In his father's intermittent confession, Yan Chengjin guessed the key to this matter. In order to prove his strategy, Zhu Houzhao let his father go to the battlefield?

He told Zhu Houzhao the truth because even if he told Zhu Houzhao, he would have no way to do it.

After all, it was impossible for Zhu Houzhao to go to the battlefield in person. Not to mention that Emperor Hongzhi would not allow him to do so, the civil officials would not allow him to do so either.

Unexpectedly, he would even get his own father involved. Zhu Houzhao, this bastard, was a master at pitting other people's fathers.

However, Jin had a thousand plans!

Fortunately, he was quite familiar with the defense of Ningxia. At this time, the three-border general was Wang Yue, a famous military general in the Ming Dynasty.

The three borders refer to Yansui, Ningxia, and Gansu.

Although he was called the three-border general, he actually commanded the nine-border generals.

Wang Yue was a brave and fierce general in the Ming Dynasty. He had made great achievements in battle. Before the little prince became famous, he had led his troops to take down the Tatars' lair. He was the bravest of the three armies!

As for the Tatars, the general who led the troops south this time was Dayan Khan, who frightened many emperors of the Ming Dynasty, that is, the famous little prince in history, Batu Mengke, the little prince of Borjigin.

This Khan was like a god to the Tatars. He was only one year younger than Emperor Hongzhi, but he was a nightmare that would haunt the northern border of the Ming Dynasty in the future.

Coincidentally, the little prince had a strikingly similar life experience to Emperor Hongzhi. As a member of the royal family, he was displaced from home due to tribal strife since childhood.

Later, he married a wife, Manduhai, who was 25 years older than him. With her blessing, he gradually rose to prominence.

Manduhai was the female war god of the grassland. She held the most elite troops on the grassland. It was with the help of Manduhai that the little prince gradually led the various tribes on the grassland and restored the unified situation.

Speaking of the little prince's enemies, Wang Yue was the most worthy one, because he sent his wife, Manduhai, to heaven.

Wang Yue's reputation was feared by the grassland. As long as he was still guarding the border town, he could suppress the Tatars mentally.

"Dad, don't worry. Although the border is dangerous, it is also a great opportunity for advancement. There are only a few civil servants in the court who can lead troops to fight. With military merit, Dad can be a prince." Yan Chengjin calmed him down first.

If he goes to the border crying like this, he will probably die of illness if he is not hacked to death.

When the war breaks out, there will be corpses everywhere and many bacteria. How can he lead troops to fight without a good mood?

Yan Chengjin doesn't want his parents to offer sacrifices to the heaven. Although one has been offered sacrifices when he came here, there is still one left, and he can't just send them away like this.

Yan Kesong gradually calmed down and said, "Dad is worried about you. Dad will leave for Ningxia tonight."

So anxious?

Yan Kesong said, "My son said that men have ambitions in all directions, so how can they allow children to have private feelings? Wang Yue is also from the Censorate, and now he has been made a prince and appointed as a prime minister. Dad is also from the Censorate, so how can he lose to him!"

Yes, Wang Yue is also a civil servant, so why should he be afraid of fighting on the front line?

Why do you cry like this when you come to me!

The next moment, Yan Kesong held his chest high: "After Daddy leaves, you must take good care of yourself. When Daddy comes back, I will find you a marriage partner. Daddy will definitely kill a few enemies on this trip, and make you a marquis and prime minister. By then, you will be the descendant of a duke!"

Seeing that he was in a stable mood, Yan Chengjin hurried back to the room and ordered Chunxiao to pack some luggage. Before leaving, Yan Chengjin handed a package to Yan Kesong: "Dad, keep it well. When you miss me, open it and take a look. At the critical moment, it may save your life."