First Prince of Ming Dynasty

  Chapter 27 Sweeping the World and Northern Expedition to the Central Plains

Zhu Yuanzhang attacked Zhang Shicheng in October of the 25th year of Zhizheng (1365), and captured Tongzhou, Xinghua, Yancheng, Taizhou, Gaoyou, Huai'an, Xuzhou, Suzhou, and Anfeng counties in one fell swoop, and drove the forces of Soochow out of the country. Jiangbei area.

  In May of the twenty-sixth year of Zhengzheng, Zhu Yuanzhang issued a call to denounce Zhang Shicheng. In November of the same year, Hangzhou and Huzhou surrendered to Zhu Yuanzhang successively, and Pingjiang became an isolated city. So Zhu Yuanzhang surrounded Pingjiang with heavy troops and launched the Battle of Pingjiang.

  Zhang Shicheng is capricious, greedy for enjoyment, and very indulgent to his subordinates.

   After Zhu Yuanzhang cut off Zhang Shicheng's two wings, and then cut off his two arms, he formed a north, west, and south encirclement of Pingjiang, in order to implement his strategic policy of besieging Pingjiang and attacking his heart.

On November 25, the strategic plan to besiege Pingjiang was completed: Xu Datun at Fengmen, Chang Yuchun at Huqiu, Guoxing at Loumen, Huayunlong at Xumen, Tanghe at Changmen, Wang Bi at Panmen, Zhang Wentun The west gate, the north gate of Kangmaocai Tuncheng, the northeast of Geng Bingwen Tuncheng, the west gate of Qiucheng Tuncheng, and the northwest of He Wenhui Tuncheng.

   During the entire deployment of Zhu Yuanzhang's army, there was no crime in autumn, and the people were happy. Xu Da's troops successively defeated Zhang Shicheng's outlying army at Yinshanqiao, Catyukou, and burned more than a thousand warships of Zhang's army at Guandu.

  Under the deterrence of Zhu Jun, Songjiang Prefecture and Jiading Prefecture surrendered one after another in the first month of the 27th year, making Pingjiang even more isolated.

  Zhu Jun built a long perimeter outside the city, and built a wooden tower and a three-story enemy building to overlook the city. Each floor is equipped with bows, crossbows, firecrackers and Xiangyang cannons to attack day and night.

  After eight months of siege, Zhang Shicheng's army was out of support, and many soldiers surrendered. Zhang Shicheng failed to break through twice.

On the last day of the siege of Pingjiang, Zhang Shicheng’s younger brother, Zhang Shixin, supervised the battle at the top of the city. He still did not forget to enjoy himself. He sat on a silver chair and drank. Was beaten to pieces.

  In September, Xu Da's troops attacked Fengmen, Chang Yuchun's troops attacked Changmen, Zhang Shicheng's troops Tang Jie, Pan Yuanshao and others surrendered.

  Zhang Shicheng led the rest of the troops to fight in the street and failed, and Zhu Jun then occupied Pingjiang. Tongzhou, Wuxi and other places surrendered one after another, and the Dazhou regime perished.

  In this battle, Zhu Jun adopted the long-term siege method of "locking the city" against Pingjiang, which had become isolated. Zhejiang and Anhui laid a solid foundation for going north to destroy the Yuan Dynasty.

  At the same time as the Battle of Pingjiang began, Zhu Yuanzhang sent Liao Yongzhong to Chuzhou to pick up King Xiaoming Han Lin'er to Yingtianlai, but the bottom of the boat was leaked when Guabu was crossing the river, and King Xiaoming sank at the bottom of the river.

   Then, Zhu Yuanzhang announced that he would no longer use the dragon and phoenix to record the year, and called the 27th year of Zhizheng (1367) the "Yuannian of Wu".

  In the first year of Wu, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered Tang He to be the general who conquered the south, to attack Fang Guozhen who had ruled eastern Zhejiang for many years. Later, Hu Tingrui was ordered to be the general who conquered the west, and He Wenhui was the deputy general to attack Fujian. In the same year, Fang Guozhen surrendered.

   In this way, Zhu Yuanzhang's momentum overwhelmed the world. Everyone knew that the world was already in his hands. Countless small forces defected one after another. Wherever the army went, they won without fighting.

  But the civil servants and generals under Zhu Yuanzhang's command are all frantically "persuading" and want Zhu Yuanzhang to hold the founding ceremony immediately.

   These arrogant soldiers are all looking forward to what kind of title they can get!

One day when Xu arrived at Wu Wangfu to visit, he came to Zhu Yuanzhang and said directly: "Brother, you should have been proclaimed emperor long ago, and you will be proclaimed emperor before Chang Yuchun and I go out to fight, so the prestige of the Northern Expedition will be greatly reduced." Bigger!

  Zhu Yuanzhang looked expressionless, and glanced at Xu Da: "Who asked you to say this?

   "No, no one, brother, isn't this a good thing!"

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't speak, and Xu Da then persuaded him after seeing it: "Brother, for so many years, you have always pushed and pushed the matter of the emperor. Before, I understand! Brother is afraid that the tree will attract the wind and be targeted by the rebels all over the world." , but now you can’t push anymore!

  Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the lobby and still did not speak.

  Xu Da walked up to him: "Brother, as long as he sends troops to the Northern Expedition now, the Yuan court will undoubtedly be defeated, and the world cannot live without a king! Isn't it?"

   "Another one, the brothers are anxiously looking forward to the founding of the country!"

  Zhu Yuanzhang took a deep look at Xu Da and said: "Brothers are all so anxious that they can't help but want to be the founding fathers, princes and prime ministers!

   "The emperor is not in a hurry about proclaiming himself emperor, the general is in a hurry!"

  Xu Da also heard Zhu Yuanzhang's dissatisfaction, and asked cautiously: "Brother, shouldn't this be the case?"

  Zhu Yuanzhang stood up: "It should! Absolutely! But why don't you think about it for us?

   "Once we become emperor, we will have to be canonized! Hundreds of outstanding generals, who don't want to be dukes and marquises! There must be comparisons among them, and they will compete for positions and glory!"

   "How do you ask us to settle it? Others don't say it, just say you Xu Da! What title do you want to confer? Do you want to be crowned king?"

  Xu Da was at a loss immediately, "I...I, I"

   "Me, me, me! You can't say it! Besides you and Li Shanchang, Chang Yuchun, why are people like Liu Bowen banned?"

  Xu Da quickly waved his hand: "Don't ask me about this, we don't care about right and wrong.

  Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at him: "Oh! You also know that there is not only a lot of entertainment here, but also right and wrong?"

  Seeing that Xu Da dared not answer, Zhu Yuanzhang said helplessly: "It's better to delay Kaiyuan's proclaiming emperor! It's better to be later! It's better to be later! Let's go, let's go! What's wrong with you!"

   "Hey brother, we have one more thing..."

  Zhu Yuanzhang frowned: "When you came in just now, you only said one thing!"

   "Let's think of one more thing!"

  Zhu Yuanzhang took a deep breath, "Say it!"

  Xu Da looked at him carefully: "Brother, if you become the emperor, we don't care what other people do! But you have to let your sister-in-law be the queen!

  Zhu Yuanzhang's face darkened: "What are you worrying about!"

  Xu Da stood up and looked straight into Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes: "We know that there are many women behind the palace. They are all younger and more beautiful than sister-in-laws. Once you become emperor, there will be more concubines and concubines!"

   "But there is no woman in the world who is more virtuous than my sister-in-law! Brother, you can't treat my sister-in-law badly even if you become the emperor!"

   Zhu Yuanzhang's face darkened as he heard it, and he yelled violently: "Let me tell you! We are the sun, and your sister-in-law is the moon! The sun and the moon travel to the sky! It will never change!

  Xu Da laughed and said, "With that, we can concentrate on the Northern Expedition!"

"roll!"

"Why!"

  Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Xu Da who ran out happily with a dark face, shook his head and laughed angrily!

  October 21st of the first year of Wu, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered Xu Da, the right prime minister, to be the general who conquered the captives, and Pingzhang Chang Yuchun to be the deputy general. He led an army of 250,000 and marched northward to the Central Plains!

  During the Northern Expedition, the "Edict to the Central Plains" was issued. In the proclamation, the program of "expulsing the barbarians, restoring China, setting up the principles and disciplines, and helping the people of Sri Lanka" was used to inspire the northern people to rise up against the Yuan Dynasty.

Zhu Yuanzhang made another deployment for the Northern Expedition, proposing to take Shandong first and remove the barrier of Meng Yuan; march into Henan, cut off its wings, seize Tongguan, and occupy its threshold; Then send troops westward, and Shanxi, northern Shaanxi, Guanzhong, and Gansu can be swept down.

  The army of the Northern Expedition followed the plan. Xu Da led his troops to take Shandong first, then marched westward, captured Bianliang, and then sent troops to Tongguan.

  ...

   This chapter is a fragment of the TV series Zhu Yuanzhang, it feels very exciting

  (end of this chapter)