Sapphire's expression is very solemn.

It is difficult for people to associate him at this moment with the unruly and domineering Duke of Liang in the Ming Dynasty.

Lan Yu looked up at Zhu Yunxi, who was sitting at the top, and said in a serious tone: "Your Highness, I am already fifty years old this year. In the past thirty years, I have fought hundreds of battles. I don't know how many years have passed or whether I have died in battle."

, or died of illness at home.

I have no other grand aspirations in this life. I only hope that while I can still ride a horse and carry a sword, I can kill a few more enemies for the Ming Dynasty.

This time, the imperial court devoted all its efforts to the Northern Expedition, hoping to wipe out in one fell swoop the traitors who had been causing trouble to the Central Plains for thousands of years. The ministers are old, but they are still as honest as ever. They can make more food for themselves and catch the enemy with their hands.

If Your Highness does not give up, and I do not seek to lead the way alone, then when the war begins, I can lead His Highness's horse and kick it, which will also comfort the old minister's hope that he will not live long."

Lan Yu's voice was very clear and reached the ears of everyone in the side hall.

Today there is a banquet at the Prince's Palace, and it is not just a solitary dinner.

Civil and military officials on the northern patrol, as well as civil and military officials from Datong City, were all present.

There were dozens of banquet tables, and civil servants and military generals gathered.

During this period, many military generals listened to Liang Guogong's petition and had complicated expressions on their faces.

When the imperial court wanted to make the Northern Expedition, it was true that a huge army had to be sent out to fight, but it also had to leave enough force in the rear to defend the rear for the army going out, so as to prevent the enemy from having the possibility of detours and sneak attacks.

Then who can lead the army forward to fight the enemy, and who should stay behind to guard the rear and food roads.

Naturally, the merits produced by going forward to fight and staying behind are different.

This created a situation in the military that required competition.

As Lan Yu took the lead in asking for a fight.

After a short period of silence.

The first lieutenant general stood up, walked to the main table with steady steps, and got down on one knee behind Lan Yu.

"My lord, I also invite you to fight."

With the first person, the rest becomes more natural.

A famous military lieutenant general stood up, walked behind Lan Yu, faced Zhu Yunxi, knelt on the ground, and asked for a fight.

The Ming Dynasty has been a country for nearly thirty years.

Over the years, many changes have taken place in the military.

And the military generals who followed the emperor in the north and south were gradually getting older and reaching the last years of their lives.

After the imperial court decided on the nationwide Northern Expedition, the hearts of many people in the army, which had been silent, became active again.

In the eyes of many people, this time may be their last time to fight for the Ming Dynasty.

The army marched northward for three thousand miles and never returned, vowing to clear the grassland.

No one wants to miss this opportunity.

Zhu Gui coughed lightly and glanced over the faces of the generals kneeling in front of him.

He finally looked at Zhu Yunxi and whispered: "In fact, not only Datong Mansion, but the entire Jiubian towns are fighting with the people's hearts at this moment."

Lan Yu spoke again: "Old minister, I don't seek military merit, I only seek to go into battle! Even if I die for my country, I will not hesitate to do so!"

"The same is true for you, ministers."

There was a loud sound in the side hall of Prince Dai's Mansion.

Zhu Yunxi's eyes flickered and he slowly stood up.

These generals who can be here are all figures who lead the army.

He cannot ignore these people's requests.

Zhu Yunxi walked around the table and walked to Lan Yu. Just like when he met him in the city today, he slowly bent down and stretched out his hands to help Lan Yu up.

"The armies are going to war, and they are so lonely."

After Zhu Yunxi spoke, he continued: "In this national war, the success or failure depends on you. The imperial court knows it clearly, and so does I. Which route of soldiers and horses goes north to fight, and which route needs to stay behind to guard the grain road and the rear. The imperial court knows I will consider it carefully.

Veterans are the foundation of the country, and young people are also the future of the country.

I think that when we go out to the Northern Expedition this time, we need to match the old and the new so that the country can be passed down from generation to generation."

Zhu Yunxi said a lot, but he also knew that he actually said nothing.

Lan Yu hesitated.

The emperor's grandson's meaning was very simple. It was impossible for the imperial court to completely let all the veteran generals in the army go into battle.

The court may have another decision on who to fight.

Zhu Yunxi looked at Lan Yu who looked hesitant, smiled slightly and said: "The grassland is very big, and the Ming Dynasty is also very big. After this battle, the Ming Dynasty will not just let the army disarm and return to the field.

If this battle is expected by the imperial court, then the imperial court will definitely continue to use troops to create a prosperous age for our Ming Dynasty."

His footsteps began to move, walking around the veterans who were kneeling in front of him to ask for battle.

At every step, Zhu Yunxi would reach out and pat these generals on the shoulders, asking them to stand up.

And he said softly in the crowd: "So I hope that if you go into battle, you can't act recklessly. The country will still need you in the future. If you stay behind, you will also need to train your troops and horses. The Japanese army will also need lieutenants." You will rule."

After finishing speaking, Zhu Yunxi had already returned to the main seat.

He put his hands on the edge of the table and looked at everyone with deep eyes.

"Everyone!"

"I wish you all the best in the prosperous age of the Ming Dynasty!"

Finished speaking.

Zhu Yunxi had already raised his glass.

In the side hall, all the generals returned to their positions.

"We are together in the prosperous times!"

The whole hall was in high morale.

…

"I heard that Duke Liang was at Prince Dai's Mansion a few days ago and asked you to fight?"

Upstream of Yuhe River outside Datong City, Zhu Gaochi stuffed his hands tightly into his sleeves, glanced at the calmly flowing river in front of him, and looked at Zhu Yunxi beside him.

Probably because he had stayed in Jiangnan for a long time, when he returned to the north again, he felt that it was so cold.

Zhu Yunxi smiled and said noncommittally: "The voice in the army has been very loud in the past two years, and we cannot simply suppress it. But we all know that it is not advisable to allow the army and horses to continue to accumulate fighting spirit."

"Is that why Xie Jin proposed to take back the Western Regions for the Ming Dynasty?"

Zhu Gaochi tilted his head and looked at Zhu Yunxi. The two brothers had not seen each other for a long time, which made him a little uncomfortable.

Zhu Yunxi laughed: "I was the first to bring this up. The success of Jiaozhi Road, Zhancheng Road and Yingzhou Four Roads proved that the ocean could bring huge benefits to the Ming Dynasty. But on land, Yang

The large area of ​​land outside the Pass will also bring countless benefits to the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Gaochi nodded: "You have to take care of both ends."

"You can't favor one over the other."

Zhu Yunxi smiled slightly and threw the extremely round pebble he had just picked up from the ground in his hand.

In the sight of the two people, the stone flew into the sky, and soon began to slide down in a parabola due to its own gravity, and finally plunged heavily into the river.

A perfect splash.

Zhu Gaochi frowned slightly: "What about after the Western Regions?"

"Do you still remember Dai Chi, the commander of the Xuzhou Guard?" Zhu Yunxi looked at Xiaopang with a smile in his eyes, who had just arrived in Datong City ahead of Tie Xuan today.

Zhu Gaochi nodded: "When you were in Xuzhou, and you were ambushed by the White Lotus Sect, it was he who was serving as the Xuzhou Guard. But this person... what happened?"

A trace of doubt appeared on Zhu Gaochi's face.

Zhu Yunxi explained: "Later I found out that Dai Chi turned out to be from the Xining Guard. Now, he has been transferred to the Shaanxi Xingdu Division as a commanding officer, in charge of the Xining Guard."

"You want to use troops on the plateau?"

Zhu Gaochi reacted instantly.

Then, his expression instantly became serious.

"How much land do you want to acquire? In national governance, more land is not always better. Jiaozhi Road, Champa Road and Yingzhou Four Roads have now brought a lot of benefits to the court.

But at the same time, it also brings more demands for officialdom. The court's stall is getting bigger and bigger, and one day it will be beyond the reach of the whip. If you are not careful at that time, the court's energy may be affected by troubles in the border areas."

With the development of the imperial court in recent years, new voices and ideas have gradually emerged in the imperial court.

Land-only theory, and governance-only theory.

There is also a group of Balanceists sandwiched in the middle.

Some people think that the more land, the better, but others feel that if the land increases uncontrollably, it will only make the burden on the shoulders of the court heavier and heavier.
To be continued...