The Ming Dynasty’s Prodigal Son - Chapter 1897

[1897. Chapter 1806 Unstoppable]

Half a month later…the Ottoman border city was still in peace.

Immediately afterwards… they noticed that countless military horses began to cross the bridge and attacked the outpost, and then… began to launch an offensive.

The border of more than 100 kilometers is full of beacon fires, the roar of artillery, and the smoke of gunfire.

Once the huge cannon arrived at the city and roared, the defenders abandoned their armor and fled.

……

Istanbul.

This huge capital city spans two continents and is the center of the entire world island.

At this time… I have just received a letter of challenge about Ming Dynasty.

The Ottoman army had just experienced a war with Spain. In North Africa, the war was still continuing. At this time, the Ottoman navy had also been destroyed.

Although each other was still exhausted, the offensive had begun to stall.

But at this time, Suleiman… after learning that Daming was adding insult to injury, he suddenly became furious.

He immediately summoned his ministers and ascended the throne in the newly built Jinluan Hall in the palace.

All the officials stood bowed, and Suleiman, who was in the high position, just looked at the ministers in silence and said nothing.

He is an ambitious person, and even if he encounters such a big event, he still behaves calmly.

Now that Confucianism has been promoted for a long time, the civil and military officials have taken on some appearance. Everyone bowed down and shouted long live, but Suleiman only nodded.

Immediately…

the palace became quiet.

But at this time, Li Zheng, the Minister of Rites, stood up.

Li Zheng was initially hit in the Ming Dynasty, but after returning home, he finally slowly regained Suleiman’s trust.

In fact, Suleiman knew very well… Li Zheng’s ability may be mediocre and he also likes to talk empty words, but… such a person… is exactly what he needs.

Sometimes…people always need to keep some waste around them.

For no other reason…

just because there is no shortage of capable people in this world.

But capable people are often arrogant and arrogant, and they are often disrespectful even to the emperor.

Therefore…with a waste like Li Zheng around, and beating him every once in a while, I can just sit back and relax.

Therefore, after Li Zheng’s strategy failed in the Ming Dynasty, not only was he not punished, but he also regained his trust and became the Minister of Rites.

At this time, Li Zheng walked into the hall, and then… bowed down, knelt three times and kowtowed nine times, prostrate on the ground, but did not get up.

The Ming Dynasty of this era was not like a certain dynasty in later generations that bowed down at every turn.

There is something special about kneeling down.

For example…when you meet the emperor in ordinary times, just bow and salute.

If it is an important occasion, it is necessary to kneel down and salute.

Of course…you don’t have to kneel all the time during this salutation, but you stand up immediately after the salutation.

The so-called etiquette, in fact, also pays attention to the point.

Therefore, in many court paintings, when the emperor of the Ming Dynasty traveled, few ministers knelt down and worshiped, but most of them just stood and attended.

But after Confucian scholars like Li Zheng arrived in the Ottoman Empire, they thought this was inappropriate.

The Ottoman emperor, such a saint, can be compared with the most holy king in ancient times.

In this case, it is appropriate to bow down to the ground to show the obedience of the ministers.

After Li Zheng saluted, he did not stand up, but continued to kneel down, and then said: “Your Majesty, I heard that the Ming Dynasty declared war on me, the Ottomans. It is ridiculous that the Ming Emperor is so cruel, like a clown. Now the bandit army is approaching. I sincerely ask your Majesty to grant me the gift of war.” I have a partial army, and I will protect and teach the traitor army until they leave.”

Suleiman was very satisfied with Li Zheng’s attitude.

Not only was he respectful, but… he was also able to say such beautiful words at such a critical moment.

In fact, Suleiman was not unaware of the flattery in his words.

But Suleiman also needed to use Li Zheng’s words to appease people’s hearts.

Suleiman asked: “How long will it take for them to declare war and mobilize troops and horses?”

Li Zheng and others said one after another: “Your Majesty, it may not be possible to succeed in less than a year and a half.”

“But they have to cross the desert and the desert between the two countries. Where is the Gobi?”

“Your Majesty, it’s… hard to say.”

The officials said to each other: “This is a natural chasm. It is extremely difficult. I’m afraid it won’t be possible to mobilize a large army to reach the city within a year or two. “

Suleiman smiled. He is a man who is good at using soldiers.

Naturally…he also deeply believed in this.

How can it be so easy to march and mobilize troops?

It would take more than half a year for Osman to assemble a large army. This involved the transportation of countless money and grain, and the gathering of armies from all walks of life. This could not be accomplished at once.

What’s more, the other party was on an expedition, and to a certain extent, Osman had a huge advantage.

There’s still time.

Seeing that Li Zheng had asked for a fight, the officials became excited and said one after another, unwilling to lag behind: “Your Majesty, please go to the border town in person and fight to the death with the thieves.”

“Thieves love great achievements. It is an ancient saying that if you are willing to fight, you will die. This is an ancient saying. Today they are coming. We will occupy the favorable location and teach them to die without a burial place.”

Suleiman’s face became slightly better.

Then he turned his head and looked at other local old ministers. These old ministers seemed to want to say something and show some loyalty. However, the Confucian ministers were making noises, and they were all excited. They all quoted scriptures and talked, but they didn’t know. It’s time to say something.

Suleiman smiled and said: “I have always been in harmony with Ming Dynasty. Who would have thought… Ming Dynasty is so ambitious that provoking side provocations is intolerable…”

Halfway through his words, at this moment…

there was an eunuch outside .

He came in a hurry and said in a high-pitched voice: “Your Majesty, Your Majesty… urgent report, urgent report, Baku is asking for help.”

At this moment… everyone was stunned.

Nowadays, what Suleiman hates most is being interrupted when he is talking. In the past, he often encountered such situations with those Kashas, but since the Confucian officials entered the court, he began to enjoy everyone talking while he was talking. The feeling of always listening.

But now…

he suddenly became angry with a sullen face.

Because he couldn’t care about anything at this time.

Baku…

Baku is where the Ottoman border town is!

This place is close to the Caspian Sea, between the Ming Dynasty and the Ottoman Empire, bypassing the desert and a blank area of grassland.

There are many nomadic tribes here.

But once you cross this area, you will reach Baku, the important city of the Ottomans.

But… how is this possible?

When the war letter set off from Daming, only four months had passed!

Four months later…

“Is it a small group of Ming troops attacking?”

“No.” The eunuch said with a sad face: “Baku Kasha reported that Ming troops were everywhere, covering the sky. Not just Ba Baku, the nearby fortress, has been attacked within a few days. Baku is in danger, and it is even possible that it has been lost.”

Suleiman’s face suddenly became miserable!

He couldn’t understand why the army gathered so quickly?

Where did their supplies come from?

This is a run of thousands of miles.

Suleiman shuddered, and then his eyes fell on the ministers.

Li Zheng was confused.

At this time, he never mentioned anything about bringing a partial army to resist the Ming army.

After a long time, he said: “The Ming Army… the Ming Army… the Ming Army rushed thousands of miles… this… this… it must be difficult for them to supply. Your Majesty, as long as the walls are clear and the fields are clear, and they can avoid fighting, they will be able to teach them… teach them …Come here in good spirits and return in disgrace.”

But the officials were silent, you look at me, I look at you.

Suleiman’s face was livid: “Pass the decree, call up the army…”

…

In fact, by the time Baku’s request for help was sent to Istanbul, the Ming army had not only broken through Baku, but had penetrated hundreds of miles into the enemy’s territory.

One city after another collapsed.

The army and horses entered the city, and then… all the local Confucian scholars gathered together. These trembling Confucian scholars knelt down by the roadside, welcomed Master Wang, and said words of compliment and respect.

Fortunately…the army entered the city and did not start killing.

Instead, they immediately posted the announcement to calm the people.

Immediately… the treasury began to be sealed, and all order was re-established.

Although the Confucian scholars could not resist the Ming army, they played a huge role in settling the people for the Ming army.

They immediately began to preach the Ming army’s policy throughout the city, saying that as long as they did not resist, they would never invade.

If there are thieves in the city who dare to disrupt the order, they will be killed without mercy.

The household registration process in Baku had begun and order was quickly restored.

All the nobles and wealthy households in the city were also invited so that they did not have to worry.

These soldiers of the new army were stationed inside and outside the city. Their military discipline was strict and there was almost no sign of rebellion.

In this way… the people in Baku city finally breathed a sigh of relief.

(End of chapter)