Ma Jiu never expected that he would have the opportunity to see the prince in his life, and the future emperor would now stand in front of him. He felt that his life might be rewritten.?

When Zhu Houzhao took Ma Jiu and stepped into the military gate together, Ma Jiu was in a daze, his head was buzzing, and he couldn't listen to anything others said to him.

Ma Jiu and Chen Xi have experienced storms. From an illiterate gangster to an indispensable part of the Shen family. With Xiaoyu as his wife, both husband and wife have to rely on the Shen family to live on the Shen family. Now he is only thinking about one thing in his mind, and it depends entirely on his own master to have a chance to make a fortune.

When he arrived at the main hall of the Ministry of War, Zhu Houzhao entered and all the people who were discussing the matter respectfully stood up and saluted. In addition to Xiong Xiu, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of War who was temporarily serving as the Minister of War, Ma Wensheng, the former Minister of War, there were also several officials including the Ministry of War, the Minister of War, the Chief Officer, and Zhang Mao and Zhang Heling.

The three Auxiliary Secretary of the Cabinet did not attend because it was a military deployment meeting. Zhu Houzhao did not want others to interfere in his arrangements. Ma Wensheng was purely worried and came uninvited.

"This is Ma Jiu who made great contributions to pacifying Japanese pirates and bandits along the southeast coast with the Chen Qing family!"

Zhu Houzhao introduced Ma Jiu like this, "I invited him to come because I wanted him to take charge of military operations. If I have any arrangements, I will also send him to do things!"

Ma Wensheng and Zhang Mao looked at each other.

Neither of them expected that Zhu Houzhao valued Chen Xi's people so much, but no matter what, Ma Jiu was just a small role. Ma Wensheng and Zhang Mao did not want to interfere too much, so Zhu Houzhao "dodged around".

Although Ma Jiu was accepted by Zhu Houzhao, he was just a follower of Chen Xi before. Even though he learned to read and read from Chen Xi and his wife, he was just an executor and was in a state of being ignorant of military strategies.

However, Ma Jiu has the advantages that others are not as good as others, that is, he is loyal and honest, meticulous in his work, and even if he doesn't understand it, he will execute it meticulously. Moreover, he regards the prince as a god. Even if the prince is young, he has no hesitation about the prince's orders.

Zhu Houzhao talked freely in the lobby of the Ministry of War. Before, Zhang Mao and Ma Wensheng looked down on the prince, but after Zhu Houzhao analyzed the current situation with great sensation, he was thinking in his heart, who was giving the prince guidance in this regard?

"...Okay, that's all. I expected that within one or two days, the Tartars would kill the Nine Gate of the Capital. As for which city gate the Tartars attacked, I cannot be sure of, but every city gate needs to be vigilant. The Ministry of War and the Governor's Office of the Five Army arranged the generals to lead the troops. I will meet the previous one tonight. If the Tartars get up overnight to attack the city, I will personally go to the city to boost the morale of the army!"

Zhu Houzhao still did not stop thinking of leaving the palace at this time. When the Ming Dynasty encountered disaster, he was full of energy and a newborn calf was not afraid of a tiger, and he had no intention of retreating.

This is completely different from the ideas of many old ministers in the court!

The reason why Zhu Youzhang asked his son to come out to manage military affairs was not only because of distrust of the ministers in the court, but mainly because he hoped to use his son's bloodiness to compete with the Tatars, demonstrating the Ming Dynasty's confidence and courage to never retreat... This was a difficult decision made by Zhu Youzhang after seeing his son's personal writing.

Zhu Houzhao looked at Ma Wensheng and others and asked, "Shangshu Ma, Mr. Zhang, uncle, what I arranged is fine?"

"Your Highness the Crown Prince's command is admirable!"

Zhang Mao praised him and then expressed his opinion on behalf of the military: "The old minister will follow the instructions of the prince and dispatch troops to ensure that the capital is safe and sound. Although the northern enemy has not invaded the capital, it is reported that his vanguard troops are less than fifty miles away from the capital. Now the capital is closed, and the Northern enemy scouts have no chance to sneak into the city!"

"It's better if the Tatars were not allowed to sneak into the city. I am also afraid that those Tartar spies would cooperate with each other inside and outside, and the situation would be dangerous. Let's do this, Mr. Zhang, today you will be on your behalf to inspect the Nine Gates to inspire the morale of the army. After I pack up tomorrow morning, I will also go to inspect. What do you think?" Zhu Houzhao made arrangements casually.

Zhang Mao looked embarrassed. He wanted to say that he was old and would die if he climbed the city. Where could he have the spare time to supervise and inspect the troops?

But the prince's order was given. In front of Ma Wensheng, Zhang Heling and so many civil servants of the Ministry of War, he refused the prince's dispatch. He knew that this would greatly damage the prince's prestige.

Zhang Mao could only respectfully accept the order: "Old minister obeys the order!"

...

...

The defense of the nine gates of the capital is in full swing.

The troops stationed in the capital were composed of two parts: the guards under the Central Army Governor's Office, and the emperor's personal army was composed of two parts. The total number was about 120,000 to 140,000, but nearly half of them were reserves. The number of soldiers who could actually dispatch the city was about 70,000 to 80,000.

The main force of the Tatar vanguard, led by Dayan General Susuha, arrived at Lugou Bridge, thirty miles southwest of the capital in the morning of October 28.

The cavalry of Susuha's troops were about 10,000 to 15,000. On that day, Susuha did not attack the city, nor did he harass the Xingzhou Zhongtunwei, Yingzhou Qiantunwei, Shenwu Zhongtunwei, Dingbianwei and other counties around the capital, and directly stationed troops on the banks of the Yongding River, preparing to send troops after the Tatars arrived in the future.

On the evening of October 28, Zhang Mao followed Zhu Houzhao's instructions and went to the city to inspect. Zhang Mao learned that the Tatar vanguard had already arrived at the city and immediately sent someone to the palace to report.

Three Grand Secretary of the Cabinet stayed at Wenyuan Pavilion and received the latest news from Tatars. They immediately submitted it to the Sili Supervisor, and the eunuch Xiao Jing, the head of the Sili Supervisor, reported to the emperor to know about it.

However, Zhu Youzhang was still unable to manage the government at this time. After that, Xiao Jing hurriedly took people to Xiefang Palace and woke Zhu Houzhao who was sleeping.

Zhu Houzhao did not dare to neglect, so he took the eunuch Zhang Yuan and others directly to Wenyuan Pavilion to discuss matters.

When Zhu Houzhao entered the Wenyuan Pavilion gate, the three cabinet ministers all sorted out their clothes and saluted, Zhu Houzhao yawned and waved his hand: "Three cabinet masters, don't know what the situation of the Tartars?"

Liu Jian reported: "Return to the crown prince, the vanguard of the Diyi Yi had 10,000 troops stationed on both sides of the Yongding River southwest of the capital. His scouts had already appeared in Xuanwu Gate, Zhengyang Gate and other places!"

Zhu Houzhao pinched his finger and asked in surprise: "With the strength of the Tartars' soldiers and horses, you can reach the capital city in just 30 miles! Dangerous, too dangerous. Liu Shangshu, do you think the Tartars will take the opportunity to send troops to disturb the Tiandi Temple in the south of my city?"

The Ming Dynasty built the Nancheng city walls during the Jiajing period. At this time, there were only nine inner gates in the capital, and even the altar of heaven and earth that the emperor sacrificed to heaven was not protected by the city wall.

Liu Jian was helpless about this and said, "If the Di Yi soldiers and horses take the opportunity to invade the north, the Heaven and Earth Arena may be occupied by bandits!"

"Bang!"

Zhu Houzhao suddenly slapped the table and was furious, "It's outrageous. How can the royal family sacrifices to heaven and earth be misunderstood? I'll send orders to send a group of people to guard the heaven and earth altar!"

Liu Jian, Li Dongyang and Xie Qian looked at each other. Faced with the prince's military order, the three of them had one idea. Isn't this just a fool?

There was no matter in the defense of the capital. Even when the Oirat attacked the capital, Yu Qian did not say that he would give special favors to the Oirat. It was not until the Oirat withdraw his troops that the damaged Oirat were repaired.

Now Zhu Houzhao is reluctant to give up a place outside the city that does not have defensive value. What is the difference between giving heads to the Tatars?

Liu Jian quickly advised: "Your Highness, the Heaven and Earth Altar is outside Zhengyang Gate, and there is no fortress to guard it. After sending troops, if the Diyi troops invade, how can we guard it?"

"Then... I won't believe it. It's all one head and two legs. My Ming army is not as good as others. Besides, even if I can't fight, I have to let the Tartars know that my Ming soldiers are not good at slaughter!"

Zhu Houzhao clenched her fists and her little face turned red.

Liu Jian was almost saying "absurd" and thought to himself: "The prince is so sarcastic about military and national affairs. Your Majesty asked him to come out to preside over the situation. Could it be that God is going to destroy my Ming Dynasty?"

As an assistant, Liu Jian could not publicly contradict Zhu Houzhao no matter what. He looked at Li Dongyang and Xie Qian. Seeing that the two colleagues did not intend to express their opinions on the prince's opinion, he could only say: "Your Highness, fight with Di Yi and win the battle to stabilize the morale of the army. If you rashly send troops to the Heaven and Earth, if you suffer a defeat, it will inevitably lead to a major decline in the morale of the army, which is not conducive to the subsequent fierce battles!"

"That's how..."

Although Zhu Houzhao was hot-headed, he could think. When Liu Jian proposed that the war must be won, he thought for a long time and finally nodded, "Young Master Liu said it right, so let it go. It's not too late, and I have already cleaned up and prepared to go to Zhengyang Gate to supervise the battle!"

Liu Jian had just breathed a sigh of relief, and when he heard this, he almost jumped up. He had just persuaded the prince to return his unreliable plan to send troops. Why did the prince himself go to "supervise the battle" again?

What other benefits does a naughty child go to the city besides increasing danger?

Liu Jian said: "The prince is in charge of the country and the country, so you must not take risks yourself. The prince thinks twice!"

Zhu Houzhao insisted surprisingly this time: "Don't think twice, I have decided, no one needs to say, let's lead the way!"

Liu Jian was amused and crying, but he had no way to dissuade the prince. After all, the prince was the one who was in charge of the overall situation in name, so he could only obey orders.

Just when Liu Jian felt helpless, Xie Qian suddenly walked out and said, "Your Highness, you might as well wait until dawn, and the old minister will accompany you to Zhengyang Gate. At this time, the night is late, the frost is heavy, so the prince should rest first!"

Zhu Houzhao thought: "On the way to Wenyuan Pavilion, the wind blew on his face like a knife cut. The cold wind directly poured into my collar, which made me feel goosebumps all over my body. It was really uncomfortable. It would be better to follow Mr. Xie's words and wait until dawn... Anyway, the Tartars didn't come, and the effect was similar to going early and late. Well, that's it!"

Thinking of this, Zhu Houzhao nodded in praise: "Mr. Xie's words are reasonable, and I will accept them. Okay, my family will rest first, ignore me, I can find a place to rest!"
Chapter completed!