Chapter 28: Zhu Di’s Strategy!

Guo Zi pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Your Highness is absolutely right!"

Seeing both his confidants in agreement, Zhu Di smiled.

"Qiu Fu, tell the entire army: from now on, whoever kills the enemy and earns merit will be rewarded with promotion and titles. Once the Jingnan Campaign is successful, all promises will be fulfilled. I will never treat any meritorious official shabbily," Zhu Di declared once more.

"I understand, Your Highness," Qiu Fu replied respectfully.

"Your Highness, there is one more matter," Guo Zi said, looking somewhat troubled.

"Speak," Zhu Di commanded immediately.

"With Your Highness launching this campaign, the imperial court has blockaded the trade routes and supply lines leading to our Beiping Prefecture. Aside from the cities held by Song Zhong, both Beiping and Tongzhou are now cut off from the outside world. It is impossible to secure grain and supplies through commercial channels anymore. At our current rate of consumption—including the needs of the people in the cities we control—we cannot sustain this for long. Two months at most. After that, not only will the army face a shortage, but the people under our rule will also run out of food," Guo Zi said with concern.

"Do not worry about this," Zhu Di replied with a faint, confident smile.

"Does Your Highness already have a solution?" Guo Zi asked immediately.

"As early as a year ago, when that boy Zhu Yunwen ascended the throne, I was already making plans. Outside of Beiping, I established ten hidden grain depots. The stores within them are enough to sustain my entire Beiping army for a full year," Zhu Di said with a laugh.

"Your Highness is truly farsighted. I am filled with admiration," Guo Zi said, looking impressed.

"In truth, this was planned by my strategist. He saw long ago that Jianwen would not spare me, so he urged me to prepare early. Looking back, he was right!" Zhu Di remarked with a touch of emotion.

This strategist was, without a doubt, Yao Guangxiao. He preferred to stay out of the limelight, yet he had orchestrated everything for Zhu Di.

"With these depots, Your Highness need not worry about the crisis of supplies for at least half a year," Guo Zi said.

"I will entrust the allocation of these ten depots to you, Minister Guo. Use half for the military and the other half for the people. However, you must plan carefully. Furthermore, secretly reach out to the Prince of Dai and the Prince of Jin. I intend to conduct clandestine trade with them to acquire grain and military supplies," Zhu Di said in a deep voice.

Yao Guangxiao had naturally anticipated this step as well. The stored grain could only solve immediate needs; since he had raised the banner of rebellion, the court’s blockade would surely persist, so they had to find a way to open a gap elsewhere.

"But will the Princes of Dai and Jin be willing to trade with us? If discovered, it would be a grave crime," Guo Zi worried.

"The miserable fate of the other princes is still fresh in our minds. I am the only one who dared to stand up and resist. If I lose, their future will be grim as well. As long as they are not fools, they will trade with me," Zhu Di sneered, his tone firm.

"In that case, I believe we should also attempt to contact the other princes connected to our territory. We can secretly send envoys to the Prince of Ning and the Prince of Liao as well," Guo Zi suggested.

"I leave this matter to you, Minister Guo. I grant you absolute authority to handle it. However, our treasury is currently insufficient, so be frugal, especially with the soldiers' pay—that must never fall short," Zhu Di warned sternly.

The army was the top priority. Even if the livelihoods of the people faced challenges, the military must not falter, for they were the capital of his rebellion.

"Your Highness, our military strength is lacking, particularly in logistics. I believe we can recruit able-bodied men from the cities we control and organize them into a logistics corps. They can be responsible for transporting grain and clearing the battlefield, so our main combat troops are not delayed by such menial tasks," Qiu Fu proposed.

Zhu Di thought for a moment and nodded. "General Qiu, you shall handle this personally. Begin by recruiting in Beiping, and proclaim that we are 'clearing the court of evil officials' to call upon those with ambition to enlist."

"I understand," Qiu Fu replied.

"Very well. Both of you may go and prepare. General Qiu, take extra care with military affairs. Once the situation in Beiping is fully stabilized, I shall lead the campaign myself," Zhu Di said solemnly.

"At your command," Qiu Fu said, withdrawing.

Once Qiu Fu and Guo Zi had left, Zhu Di looked at Xu Miaoyun with a smile. "Miaoyun, the war is looking better. Though the enemy is strong and we are weak, there is great hope now. We might truly fight our way to Yingtian in the future."

"I believe you can do it, my husband," Xu Miaoyun nodded firmly.

Then, as if remembering something, she asked, "Is Gao Xu doing well in the army? He has practiced martial arts since childhood and volunteered to enlist."

"It is not just him. After some time, I will send Gao Sui as well. Having embarked on this path, our family has no retreat. Not only must they go, but I must go as well. When the time is right, I will announce their identities to the entire army. I want them to know that my rebellion is not just empty words—my own sons are among them, fighting by their side. You must understand me in this, Miaoyun," Zhu Di said gravely.

A typical woman might have argued against sending her sons to the battlefield, but Xu Miaoyun remained calm; far from opposing it, she was in full agreement.

"Husband, you are right. This battle is our family's affair. If our soldiers are spilling blood for us while we remain on the sidelines, we would become a laughingstock. This is a battle for our family's survival. Even if Gao Xu and Gao Sui were to die on the battlefield, that would be their fate. One day, our family will be reunited," Xu Miaoyun said with a solemn expression.

"With you by my side, what more could I ask for!" Zhu Di held her hand tightly.

After a while, Xu Miaoyun recalled the recent news. "That Zhu Zheng is Guo Zi's son-in-law. Why did he join the army? And judging by your words, he has children who are still in Beiping?"

Zhu Di smiled. "Speaking of this Zhu Zheng, he is quite a remarkable man. We should be grateful to him; Gao Xu was nearly killed by the enemy, and it was Zhu Zheng who saved him. Out of consideration for Guo Zi, I gave Zhu Zheng two choices: stay in logistics or join the main combat force. He chose the latter. He is truly different from ordinary men."