sjar Chapter 860
Chapter 860
Zhu Biao was able to find a way to comfort himself, so there must be some misunderstanding that involved his good brother.
But the fact is, except for Taiyuan, the fief of his third brother, King Jin, it cannot be found anywhere else.
The merchants in Jin, the important border defense areas, and the important artillery weapons were all connected together, and Zhu Biao had no choice but to believe it.
Looking at the painful expressions on Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao's faces, Wei Wu couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
In fact, no one can determine whether Prince Jin was involved in this matter without a thorough investigation.
Everything Wei Wu said was the most likely guess based on the existing clues, but the possibility was indeed too great.
Taiyuan is the fief of King Jin, and he is the person with the highest power here. No one can move the artillery without his consent.
This is also the reason why Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao were in pain after Wei Wu finished speaking, because they both understood this truth.
However, Wei Wu had another guess about this matter, which might make the two of them feel better.
So after a brief silence, Wei Wu decided to speak out.
"Uncle Zhu, big brother, I actually think there is another possibility. Maybe, I mean maybe, the facts are different from what you think."
Hearing Wei Wu's words, the Zhu family father and son suddenly looked up and fixed their eyes on Wei Wu.
"Xiao Wu, tell us your guess and we'll analyze it together."
Looking at the two people's hopeful eyes, Wei Wu slowly nodded and said:
"I learned from Hosokawa Ze that when the Jin merchant sold them the artillery technology, he made a request."
"Before the artillery manufacturing technology can be traded, the Japanese pirates must first purchase a large number of artillery from that Jin merchant."
"This situation could be described as the Jin merchant's attempt to make money, but from another perspective, it could also be intentional."
Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao were very smart. After hearing Wei Wu's words, they immediately understood what he meant.
When they thought of that possibility, their gloomy moods did improve a lot, and then they heard Wei Wu continue:
"Artillery is such a sensitive thing. Selling it is a life-threatening matter. Anyone would be very careful with it."
"Things like inscriptions should be cleaned before they're sold, but one of the cannons sold to the Japanese pirates just didn't have it cleaned properly."
"The thing that should not have gone wrong has the most unexpected flaw. There is obviously something wrong here."
As he spoke, General Wei Wu looked at the two of them and said in a slightly deep tone:
"So, the Prince of Jin might have been framed. The cannon with the remaining information might have been left behind intentionally by Yao Guangxiao."
"The people may not know that the imperial court is attacking the Japanese pirates, but when you announced it, all the civil and military officials were present."
"With Yao Guangxiao's ability, it's not difficult for him to get information, and it's not too difficult for him to use the Prince of Jin to make plans."
After Wei Wu finished speaking, before Zhu Yuanzhang could speak, Zhu Biao spoke first:
"Xiao Wu, I think your guess is very likely correct. You once said that Yao Guangxiao was not greedy for power or money."
"His ultimate goal is to wreak havoc on the Ming Dynasty, to bring complete chaos to the world, and to verify what he has learned in this chaotic world."
"My third brother's fiefdom, Taiyuan, is an important border area. If Yao Guangxiao plots to harm my third brother, the border will easily become chaotic."
Hearing Zhu Biao's words, Wei Wu's heart suddenly skipped a beat, and the expression on his face suddenly became solemn.
If the guess he just made was just a possibility, then now this possibility has become very high.
Thinking of this, Wei Wu immediately looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and asked:
"Uncle Zhu, what is the approximate area controlled by the remnants of the Northern Yuan Dynasty?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was still immersed in the conversation between Wei Wu and Zhu Biao, and suddenly came to his senses when he heard Wei Wu speak.
Then, he took out a map and placed it in front of Wei Wu, pointing to the markings on it and said:
"Although I defeated the Northern Yuan, they still retain considerable strength and have occupied a large area of territory outside the Great Wall."
"From here to here, almost all the areas are under their control."
Afterwards, under Zhu Yuanzhang's guidance, Wei Wu also understood the current territorial situation of the remnants of the Northern Yuan Dynasty.
Simply put, the area from the Yalu River in the east to Hami in the west, including the entire Inner Mongolia and part of Outer Mongolia, belongs to them.
After Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking, Wei Wu looked at the area bordering Taiyuan and Inner Mongolia on the map and said in a deep voice:
"Uncle Zhu, I think I may understand what Yao Guangxiao is planning."
The Zhu family father and son were both stunned when they heard this, and then Old Zhu asked:
"Tell me."
"The Japanese pirates are just the beginning. Next, he will definitely sell his artillery technology to other small countries in the surrounding area, and it won't stop there."
Having said that, Wei Wu stretched out his hand and pointed to the southwest area on the map.
"In addition to the surrounding small countries, the chieftains in the southwest and the White Lotus rebels in Sichuan and Shu will probably also obtain artillery technology."
"We in the Ming Dynasty don't have complete control over these places. Once they start causing chaos, the imperial court will have no choice but to send troops to suppress them."
"And Yao Guangxiao's goal was precisely this. He wanted the Ming Dynasty to be distracted and powerless, so that he could achieve his goal of delaying time."
As he spoke, Wei Wu moved his finger again, pointing to the northernmost area of the map.
"Compared to other small countries and local rebels, the Northern Yuan is the biggest threat to the Ming Dynasty because they are the most powerful."
"Yao Guangxiao placed his bets on the Northern Yuan Dynasty and used other small nations to delay the Ming Dynasty, trying to delay it as long as possible to give the Northern Yuan Dynasty time to develop."
"Once the Northern Yuan Dynasty masters the steam engine and the rifled flintlock, it will be time for them to move south, and Taiyuan will be their breakthrough point!"
After Wei Wu finished speaking, the cold light in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes almost burst out of his eyes.
"Great! Very good! This evil monk even took my temper into account!"
While Wei Wu was speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang interrupted and continued:
"He betrayed the Ming Dynasty. Even if the third brother is our biological son, we will not let him go. At the same time, we will definitely conduct a strict investigation throughout Taiyuan."
"By that time, all officials and generals involved in the artillery case will be liquidated, and Taiyuan will be completely cleansed."
"Taking advantage of this handover opportunity, it will be much easier to plant spies or bribe officials. The Taiyuan border will be completely infiltrated!"