Xianxia version of Water Margin

…

"I accept the order and vow to lead all the princes to the battlefield and fight the enemy bravely."

Yue Fei's voice was sonorous and powerful.

Afterwards, Yue Fei paused lightly and looked at Jiang Hongfei deeply, as if laying a layer of defense for his soul: "However, Your Majesty needs to know that on the battlefield, life and death are unpredictable, and the sword is ruthless. Even if you are a prince, It is impossible to escape destiny. I have the courage to ask Your Majesty to say goodbye to the princes. This may be a permanent farewell."

Yue Fei's words were ostensibly to inoculate Jiang Hongfei, but in reality they were hiding a secret, hoping to test the will and determination of the princes.

Yue Fei knew very well that how could Jiang Hongfei, an emperor who had gone through ups and downs and established an unparalleled legacy, be easily moved by words?

However, for these princes who have been pampered since childhood and have never experienced the sufferings of the world, these words are undoubtedly like a thunderous explosion, which may arouse waves in their hearts, or make them discouraged.

When Jiang Hongfei heard this, his eyes were like torches as he scanned the heirs in front of him, especially the princes who looked frightened:

"Yue Qing's family, you haven't mentioned it yet, but I will also mention it."

Jiang Hongfei spoke slowly, with unprecedented solemnity in his tone: "As my son, you should enjoy all the glory in the world, without having to work, and you can enjoy your family in peace. Because I have laid a golden path for you and future generations. The road allows you to live your life without worries.”

Ten years of hard work is not as good as three generations of business; three generations of business are not as good as the ancestors carrying guns; the ancestors carrying guns are not as fragrant as the black gauze hat.

Jiang Hongfei has fought for so many years and conquered a huge empire. No matter how many descendants he has, they should still enjoy glory and wealth. This is what Jiang Hongfei earned for his descendants, not who studied poetry and books or did business. It can be compared.

Otherwise, why would Jiang Hongfei put his head on his belt and engage in this life-and-death business?

Is it just to understand and save the poor people and the common people in the world?

I'm sorry, Jiang Hongfei really doesn't have such a high level.

The main reason why Jiang Hongfei rebelled was to establish a lasting legacy for himself and his descendants.

After giving his sons a moment of reflection, Jiang Hongfei continued: "This expedition is extraordinary. You will no longer just receive training, but you will actually step onto the battlefield and face the test of life and death. Perhaps, some people will never Stay in this land and become the heroic spirit that protects this country. What the Yue Qing family said is true. This may be the last time we see each other."

Speaking of this, Jiang Hongfei's voice became heavier and heavier, and he began to describe the cruelty and ruthlessness of the battlefield: "On the battlefield, life and death are unpredictable. Even I can't control your fate. Life or death is determined by destiny. More There are unfortunate people who may be pierced by thousands of arrows or trampled into mud by thousands of horses. Such scenes are definitely not imaginary.”

However, Jiang Hongfei did not stop there. He changed the subject and talked about a deeper fear: "But do you know that there is something more terrifying than this? That is life worse than death. I will bring the royal family and clan of the Jin Kingdom Imprisoned in the City of All Nations, all his female relatives are also included in the harem. This kind of hatred will never disappear from generation to generation. However, everything in the world has a cause and effect. If I can treat the Jin people like this, the Jin people can also take revenge on me. As long as you are caught. , life is definitely worse than death.”

Having said this, Jiang Hongfei introduced the cruelty of capital punishment in detail: "There is a punishment in the world called capital punishment. Under this punishment, the victim will be stripped of his clothes and tied tightly with a fishing net, and then the flesh in the net will be carefully cut off with a knife. It took three days and three nights to be relieved. The pain was beyond words."

As soon as these words came out, many princes looked horrified. However, Jiang Hongfei changed the topic again and spoke softly: "However, you also need to know that becoming a rich and comfortable prince is also a great blessing in life. And joining the army Although it is a path to glory, it is not the only way out. If you don't want to have a military career, I am willing to pave other paths for you. Whether it is politics, business, research and development, education, or medical care, it can be a stage for you to show your talents. "

Yue Fei watched the scene quietly from the side, secretly praising Jiang Hongfei's resourcefulness and affection.

Yue Fei knew very well that Jiang Hongfei's move was not only testing the courage and determination of the princes, but also planning the future for them and giving them the opportunity to choose.

This educational concept of teaching students in accordance with their aptitude and never giving up is the dual embodiment of Jiang Hongfei as an emperor and a father.

Finally, Jiang Hongfei looked around, his eyes shining with encouragement: "Now, tell me, are there any of you who are unwilling to set foot on the battlefield? Don't worry, even if you choose another path, I will regard you as mine. Be proud. The Great Yuan Empire needs not only brave warriors, but also outstanding talents from all walks of life. It is up to you to choose your future."

Jiang Hongfei's words were like the last straw that broke the camel's back.

Jiang Hongfei's son named Jiang Li walked out of the crowd with his head lowered and heavy steps. His voice was as thin as a gnat: "Father...Father, I am good at arithmetic, but not for battlefield battles..."

Faced with this slightly cowardly excuse, Jiang Hongfei did not get angry. Instead, he stroked Jiang Li's slightly messy hair with an unprecedented gentleness, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: "You will report to the Ministry of Household Affairs tomorrow."

Hearing this, Jiang Li slowly raised his head, his eyes flashing with complex emotions towards this father who was both familiar and unfamiliar.

When he saw that there was no trace of blame or disappointment in Jiang Hongfei's eyes, a warm current quietly surged into his heart. This was the first time in his life that he felt the depth of father's love.

Tears slid down his cheeks unconsciously. Jiang Li hurriedly wiped them away while firmly responding: "No."

Seeing this, Jiang Hongfei stepped forward in person and wiped away Jiang Li's tears with his sleeves. His tone was gentle but firm: "Do a good job. The economy is the cornerstone of a country. If you make achievements in this area, I will still be proud of you."

Jiang Li nodded solemnly, vowing secretly in his heart that he would make a difference in the household department and live up to his father's expectations. Then he turned around and left, with a firmness and determination in his steps.

With Jiang Li taking the lead and Jiang Hongfei's attitude, for a while, the princes who were unwilling to get involved in the battlefield withdrew one after another.

Jiang Hongfei looked at this scene, not disappointed in his heart, but comforted each of them with kind words.

Later, Jiang Hongfei said to the remaining more than 150 sons: "Your choice makes me deeply proud. What flows in you is my brave and fearless blood!"

As soon as these words came out, the princes who insisted on going to the battlefield all felt happy and became more determined in their choice.

However, Jiang Hongfei changed the topic and his tone became solemn: "But you must remember that no matter which path you choose, you need to have the courage to face challenges and sacrifice. If you choose to join the army, you must have the consciousness to die on the battlefield. . On the battlefield, no one can escape death because of your identity, but you may become the target of the enemy. Therefore, if you want to come back alive, you must hide your identity. This is my only requirement for you."

As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere suddenly became tense.

At this time, Jiang Hongfei's son named "Jiang Jin" stepped forward. He knelt on the ground and said firmly: "Father, I am willing to die on the battlefield for the Yuan Dynasty, and I will not hesitate to be buried in horse leather. But, I I still have one wish in my heart, I hope I can have a drink with my father before going on the expedition and have no regrets in this life.”

Jiang Hongfei heard this and did not blame him. Instead, he ordered someone to bring the royal wine and drink with Jiang Jin.

After drinking three cups together, Jiang Hongfei said to Jiang Jin: "When my son returns home in triumph, I will drink with you for three days and three nights!"

Later, Jiang Hongfei said goodbye to his sons one by one, and every warning was full of affection and expectation.

The princes knew that this trip was dangerous, and they all entrusted Jiang Hongfei with his funeral arrangements.

Whether it was his concern for his family or his expectations for the future, Jiang Hongfei accepted them all.

Yue Fei witnessed all this and was filled with emotion: "With such an emperor and prince, why should the Yuan Dynasty not be happy?"

After all the princes left, Jiang Hongfei turned to Yue Fei and said: "They are just the forerunners, and there will be more princes to embark on this road in the future. Aiqing is just the first one to take my son to the battlefield, not the only one. Those who take my sons to the battlefield. As long as Aiqing allows them to be fully trained, even if they all die in battle, I will not blame Aiqing, and I will protect Aiqing from anyone's revenge for this matter. "

When things developed to this point, Jiang Hongfei said this again, and Yue Fei could only bow down and accept the order: "Officials, don't worry, I will do my best to teach the princes to be fully trained, and at the same time teach them to reduce casualties."

Jiang Hongfei wanted to say: "No, just let them go to the battlefield on their own. Life and death are determined by fate, and wealth is in heaven. There is no need to give them any preferential treatment."

But when the words came to his lips, Jiang Hongfei softened his heart and said instead: "My dear, I will entrust them all to you."

…

When Jiang Hongfei called Yue Fei back from Jinzhou at this time, it was not just to give Yue Fei the important task of being the commander of the Jin Dynasty, or to simply entrust his sons to him. Jiang Hongfei also wanted to discuss with Yue Fei the strategy of destroying the Jin Dynasty. .

Looking back on the long history, the entanglement between the Central Plains dynasties and the grassland peoples has always been an unavoidable chapter in the land of China.

Ever since Qin Shihuang built the Great Wall and demarcated the boundaries between the Central Plains and the grasslands, the past dynasties have rarely achieved the feat of truly unifying the Central Plains and the grasslands despite their vast territories.

During the Han and Tang dynasties, although the map was vast, their rule over the grasslands relied more on the use of force to intimidate and restrict the country, rather than unification in the true sense.

The Ming Dynasty, a dynasty that Jiang Hongfei particularly admired, only managed the grasslands by building a defensive line of military towns north of the Great Wall, or directly suppressing it with force, but it never included the grasslands into the original map of the Central Plains and implemented integration. Management aspirations.

The attitude of the people of the Ming Dynasty, especially after Zhu Di, revealed a kind of conservatism and retreat that was different from that of the Han and Tang Dynasties. They regard the grassland as a foreign land and are unwilling and unintentional to conquer it.

The roots of this mentality can be traced back to the Song Dynasty.

Since Zhao Kuangyin, the Song Dynasty has positioned itself as a specific ethnic group and governed by dividing borders with surrounding ethnic groups such as Khitan, Mongolian, and Jurchen, forming a unique ethnic identity and cultural gap.

This concept limited the expansion ambitions of the Song Dynasty, which made it content with a corner of peace and failed to dominate the four directions with a majestic posture like the Qin, Han and Tang Dynasties.

As an important force on the political stage of the Song Dynasty and even the Ming Dynasty, the intellectual tendencies of the scholar-bureaucrat class deepened this conservative trend. They follow Confucian classics as their guideline, advocate peace and stability, and are cautious or even opposed to external expansion.

The denigration of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty by Sima Guang and other celebrities is a concentrated expression of this idea.

They believe that resorting to violence is not the way to govern a country, but that we should devote ourselves to improving internal affairs so that the people can live and work in peace and contentment.

This concept continued in the Ming Dynasty, especially after Zhu Di. The scholars of the Ming Dynasty further strengthened the concept that the south of the Great Wall was the northern boundary, and they defended heavily and did not attack lightly.

However, the wheel of history never stops.

The rise of the grassland peoples impacted the tranquility of the Central Plains like a violent storm.

Although the Ming Dynasty tried to rule indirectly through the Manchus in the Northeast, it ultimately failed due to lack of consciousness and ability.

The Manchus eventually unified the Northeast, conquered the grasslands, established the Later Jin, and eventually overthrew the rule of the Ming Dynasty.

This series of changes, seemingly accidental, is actually the inevitable result of the long-term game between the Central Plains and the grasslands.

The game between the Central Plains and the grasslands is an inevitable law of historical development, which cannot be avoided or escaped.

Whether the east wind overwhelms the west wind or the west wind overwhelms the east wind, the contest and competition between the two sides always exist.

An unordered grassland may bring turmoil and unrest to the border, while an orderly grassland may breed more powerful enemies and pose a more serious threat to the Central Plains.

Therefore, the Central Plains dynasty must always remain vigilant and sober, and actively respond to challenges and threats from the grasslands.

The Song Dynasty and the Khitan reached a low-cost game equilibrium through the competition for the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun.

Although this equilibrium did not achieve true unification, it maintained the interests and peace of both sides to a certain extent.

However, the fragility of this equilibrium is also obvious. Once external conditions change, it may collapse instantly.

Although the Ming Dynasty recovered the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, it failed to inherit the majesty and spirit of the Han and Tang Dynasties, but inherited the conservatism and retreat of the Song Dynasty.

This kind of ideological constraint made it impossible for the Ming Dynasty to completely eliminate the threat from the northern grasslands.

Therefore, for the Central Plains dynasty, if it wants to be invincible in the game of grasslands, it must abandon the concept of conservatism and retreat and establish a positive and enterprising ambition. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen its own strength and capacity building, and improve the ability and level of coping with external challenges. Only in this way can we take the initiative in the game of grasslands and ensure the security and stability of the country.

In short, the game between the Central Plains and the grasslands is an inevitable law of historical development. No matter which dynasty or which nation, this reality cannot be avoided.

To be realistic, there are actually only two dynasties in history that have truly unified the two plains-the Yuan Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty.

But these two dynasties are nomadic regimes that unified the Central Plains.

The Yuan Empire was not a nomadic regime, so the successful experience of the Yuan Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty was not really worth learning from the Yuan Empire.

The two-yuan ruling strategy during the Han and Tang dynasties, which superficially unified the grasslands, actually had endless troubles and was not something the Yuan Empire should follow.

It is particularly noteworthy that the scholar-officials of the Yuan Empire, who inherited the legacy of the Song Dynasty, were opposed to Jiang Hongfei's strategy of the Northern Expedition to the Jin Dynasty. They believed that this move was costly and costly, and advocated a defense-oriented approach, building a military defense line from Shanxi to Liaodong to keep the Hu people out of the Great Wall.

Faced with such short-sighted views, how could Jiang Hongfei sit idly by?

Jiang Hongfei knew that the value of the Northeast and the Far East occupied by the Jin people was far beyond what money could measure.

The Far East contains oil and natural gas resources that are difficult to estimate in later generations, which can be called an endless treasure for future generations. The Northeast is not only rich in resources, but also has rare black soil in the world. This fertile soil is known as "one ounce of soil and two ounces of oil", and its preciousness is often not understood by the world.

Therefore, Jiang Hongfei's Northern Expedition was not a simple military action, but a far-sighted strategic layout. He intended to completely eliminate the northern threat of the Yuan Empire and at the same time open up two priceless territories for the Yuan Empire.

However, these far-sighted plans have become synonymous with wasting money and labor in the eyes of many literati.

They have never set foot on that black land and have never felt the majestic power of the Far East resources, so they naturally cannot understand Jiang Hongfei's grand ambitions.

The wheel of history rolls forward, and Jiang Hongfei knows that only practical actions can prove that he is right.

Jiang Hongfei firmly believes that only when the Northeast and the Far East are truly incorporated into the territory of the Yuan Dynasty will the world truly recognize his foresight.

As for the gossip of the literati, he chooses to ignore it.

Time will tell these short-sighted literati how shallow their vision is...

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