stubborn thief

Dengzhou.

Northeast of Shuicheng lies the Dengzhou General Headquarters.

Chen Hongfan, the coastal commander-in-chief, wore a jade ring headband, held a pipe, and wore a plain Taoist robe with a straight collar and wide front. He sat on a lion-patterned armchair.

He wore a pair of convex crystal glasses with gold and silver frames on his nose, leaned slightly over the table, and looked at the three letters on the table with a complicated expression.

A letter from the Ministry of War.

Yang Sichang sensed impending doom for the vassal state and urged it to quickly unify the Dongjiang and coastal naval forces and station them in Korea for defense.

The second letter came from Kim Il-gwan, who landed on Pi Island.

The report stated that communication with North Korea had failed, and that the North Korean border defense command was unable to fulfill any of Chen Hongfan's requests for troops, provisions, ships, and horses.

Furthermore, ice floes along the Korean coast during winter make it difficult for ships to travel, and the island has limited food supplies, requiring additional maritime transport from Shandong.

The third message also came from Jin Riguan, but this time it was a private message.

The letter stated that Shen Shikui was wary of the Ming army in Laiden and was unwilling to let them station in Zhenjiang, Yalu River and Uiju in Korea, and proposed that they station in Lushun, Gaizhou and Changxing Island.

Chen Hongfan took off his glasses, rubbed his blurry eyes, looked at the neatly arranged armor hanging on the weapons shelf in his study, and sighed.

He was nearly sixty years old, and after reaching the highest official position, he spent all his time at his desk, feeling increasingly powerless.

Especially after he took over as the commander-in-chief of Dengzhen and prepared for the crossing of the sea to aid Korea.

The seven battalions of the land forces and the five battalions of the navy, along with the twelve battalions, were busy with military affairs. Not to mention the lack of cooperation from Dongjiang Town and North Korea in this aid mission, which made him gradually show signs of fatigue.

"They're all barely able to save themselves..."

Chen Hongfan shook his head, looking troubled by Yang Sichang's letter urging him to join the army.

Neither Emperor Chongzhen nor Yang Sichang ever went to Korea.

When the Wanli Emperor launched the war to aid Korea and expel the Japanese pirates, Yang Sichang was just a little kid who couldn't even hold his pee.

Needless to say, Emperor Chongzhen was even worse.

Chen Hongfan is different.

During that war, he sat on a warship sailing across the Yellow Sea, rising and falling with the waves, transporting supplies between Liaodong of the Ming Dynasty and Hwangju of Korea.

The Korean War ended more than 30 years ago.

Whenever he smells the salty sea breeze, his memories are still taken back to that era.

In that era when everything was cheap from Liaodong to Lingnan, a mere tael of silver could buy two cartloads of rice weighing 400 jin, the Ming Dynasty was at its peak, with its heavenly army defeating the Hu in the north, fighting the Japanese in the east, destroying the Bo in the west, and pacifying the Bo in the south.

In Chen Hongfan's memory, that era has long passed.

The Ming Dynasty was in turmoil, and the emperor and the senior officials of the Ministry of War were delusional enough to think of preparing an army for the precarious vassal state of Korea and launching a sea-crossing rescue operation.

How easy is it?

When Chen Hongfan saw the official document urging him to advance, he felt no emotion whatsoever; in fact, he almost wanted to laugh.

They didn't understand Korea, and thus placed unrealistic hopes on that nominally vassal state.

It was as if that person was a miniature Ming Dynasty just like them.

In reality, North Korea's political system was more similar to that of the Later Jin Dynasty than that of the Ming Dynasty.

A kingdom that, while outwardly a bureaucratic system, was in essence a co-rule between a king and hereditary slave aristocrats, yet also delegated power to local authorities, emphasized civil affairs over military matters, lacked centralized authority and private commerce, and had remained untouched for over two hundred years, was already on the verge of extinction.

Its hereditary nobility comes from Goryeo tradition.

Delegating power to local authorities was an old system of the Yuan Dynasty. The lack of centralized power stemmed from the royal family's lack of strength.

The lack of reliable support and the emphasis on civil affairs over military matters are the root causes of the strange succession methods of several generations of kings.

The first king, Yi Seong-gye, led an army to Liaodong as a senior minister of Goryeo. He crossed the Yalu River and returned to Wihwa Island. He attacked the capital in the style of Zhao Kuangyin and seized the throne by force.

The second-generation Yi Bang-won used the Xuanwu Gate succession method of Li Shimin, twice, first attacking his seventh brother and then his fourth brother, and from then on, princes no longer commanded troops.

After several short-lived minor kings, in the third year of the Jingtai reign, a new emperor, Zhu Di, emerged.

Wang Shu, Prince Suyang Yi Yu, launched the Gye-you Rebellion, seized the throne from his nephew, proclaimed himself King Sejo, and compiled the "Gyeongguk Daejeon" (National Code).

From this point on, it became very difficult for members of the royal family to wield real power.

As for the lack of private commerce, it was simply a matter of poverty.

Korea also minted Tongbo coins during the Yongle era, and the quality was quite good, but they never circulated.

The common people were so poor that they couldn't even afford two meals a day, and the nobles were also dirt poor.

Even shops only temporarily set up sheds during imperial examinations and when the king went on tours to barter, so there was nowhere to spend money.

So much so that during the Imjin War, Korea was so poor that the Japanese invaders were shocked when they landed there.

The Ming army was shocked for a hundred years.

General Yang Yuan pleaded with the King of Joseon: "People of a superior country at least need salt and soy sauce when they eat. Since the Heavenly Army crossed the river into Joseon, they have not tasted salt, soy sauce, meat, or vegetables. How can we fight this war?"
The King of Joseon was also surprised. He wondered if soldiers in the Celestial Empire could eat salt and soy sauce.

After the Imjin War, although the war was ultimately won and the Ming army managed to keep the Joseon Dynasty afloat, the country became even poorer and slid into a deep abyss of decline.

Because of the post-war rewards, a large number of commoners rose to the ranks of the nobility, and the number of Yangban nobles in Korea was increasing but not decreasing, resulting in the noble population accounting for 10 percent of the entire country.

Nobles, bureaucrats, and soldiers were all off-the-job personnel who did not directly participate in production.

Liu Chengzong, who was fond of militarism, had an army that accounted for less than five percent of the total population. As a result, the government was always short of funds and survived only by relying on an export-oriented economy that made money through military force.

In the Joseon Kingdom, the Yangban nobles completely overwhelmed Liu Chengzong's army in both numbers and proportion.

The presence of many nobles is a serious problem, but not a fatal one.

However, the nobles mostly valued civil affairs over military matters, and the high-ranking officials in office were all former imperial guards who had come to power with Li Zong in a coup a few years ago, which made the problem much bigger.

It was to be expected that the Korean border defense command would refuse his requests for troops, provisions, ships, and horses.

The designated battlefield, this is the situation in North Korea.

On the transit island, Dongjiang Town remained wary of the Ming army.

The supply and grain routes were disrupted by the fact that Shandong had just suffered from years of major disasters.

Chen Hongfan, who held military power along the coast, was deeply troubled by this.

Just then, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Bai Dengyong heard about the imperial edict and came to request an audience.

Upon entering the study of the General's Office, Bai Dengyong saw the letters and said, "General, has the court urged us to send troops? Korea still hasn't asked for help."

Chen Hongfan looked up at his colleague and let out a long sigh.

Bai Dengyong hit the nail on the head. At this point, the Joseon king and his officials had no intention of letting the Ming army into the country.

By now, the Ming court had learned through the captured civilians and prisoners of war in Guan Ning Army and Dongjiang Town that the Later Jin had amassed a large army on the banks of the Yalu River, yet Joseon still had not sent anyone to Shandong or even Dongjiang Town to ask for help.

Despite North Korea's loud pronouncements before the war, Chen Hongfan couldn't say how firm their resolve to resist the Later Jin was in the current situation.

"Let alone North Korea, even the imperial court's official documents still refer to it as 'cooperation in defense'."

Chen Hongfan shook his head: "The imperial court also lacks the determination to wage a major war against the Eastern barbarians in Korea." Having seen it all over the decades, the old man had witnessed it all.

How did the Korean War end? Upon receiving a request for help, the first thing to do was send troops to fight.

After the vanguard suffered setbacks, a large-scale mobilization was launched, drawing troops from all directions to attack. If there was no money, they allocated funds; if there was no food, they used force. Their morale remained high.

The current situation is quite large, with 20,000 troops being allocated right off the bat. But where will the money come from, and where will the food come from? There's no answer.

To simply talk about joint defense is like saying that 20,000 troops crossing the sea and landing in Korea can frighten the Eight Banners and prevent war.

How is this any different from a vassal state simply making a big show of things before a war?
"This is not like the aid to Korea during the Wanli era. The Japanese attacked from above, and even if the battle situation was unfavorable, we could still retreat by land through Liaodong. If we are not careful, 20,000 troops will be left behind in the vassal state."

Chen Hongfan said, "If the court is just putting on a show, I cannot let 20,000 soldiers pay the price."

Bai Dengyong was a middle-aged general who still had ambition. He felt uncomfortable with these words, but he did not refute them. He only said, "Even if we cannot protect the vassal state, the vassal state will fall, and Pi Island will be in danger, my navy must still protect Dongjiang."

He thought to himself that whether it was 20,000 or not, it was probably because General Chen himself was unwilling to pay the price.

This is also normal.

Chen Hongfan was not the kind of person who would willingly go through fire and water without considering the strength or weakness of the enemy.

Otherwise, if Nurhaci had betrayed his lord and rebelled against the Ming Dynasty, he would have died in the very place he was guarding, Kuandian Fort; and in the subsequent Battle of Sarhu, he would have died alongside the commander-in-chief Liu Ting.

Instead of escaping death time and time again to earn his current position as Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince.

"With the loss of Dongjiang, the court can no longer restrain the Jurchen rebels. However, the island has been plagued by internal strife, and the island is already on edge. The landing of 8,000 soldiers on Pi Island has already made that Master Shen uneasy. If more troops land on the island, I'm afraid there will be internal strife again before the Jurchen rebels even attack."

After Chen Hongfan finished speaking, he said to Bai Dengyong, "You just need to appease the soldiers and prepare more ship provisions. I will petition the court myself. The warships still need to wait for the wind to cross the sea to the east. Let's wait for news from the east."

According to his estimation, the court was not well prepared for this defense of Korea and did not have the real determination to fight the Eastern Barbarians in Korea.

Even if he misses a good opportunity, he won't be blamed too much.

As long as he pretends to be serious about his work, hides at sea after his failure, and waits until the emperor is at his angrier, he should be fine.

After all, the difficulties in making this happen are right in front of us.

The nation's strength is insufficient, its military strength is inadequate, and its supplies are inadequate. These are things he doesn't need to report; the court is already aware of them, otherwise it wouldn't lack resolve.

Bai Dengyong understood Chen Hongfan's meaning.

Prepare plenty of provisions for the ships, so that even if the Later Jin attack Dongjiang Town and the battle turns against us, we can bring back as many soldiers as possible.

This was a bit hard for him to accept.

It's like the commander-in-chief has already conceded defeat in his heart before the battle has even begun.

However, it is indeed very difficult to start a war in North Korea.

According to Bai Dengyong's idea, instead of sending troops to Korea to help defend the country, it would be better to send their 20,000 Dengzhou troops to Lushunkou and take advantage of the advantage brought by Liu Chengzong's campaign against Liaodong this year to firmly occupy Gaizhou, Haizhou and other places along the coast.

After all, if the Dengzhou army could aid Korea and achieve victory against the Later Jin, then marching south to Sanchahekou and retaking Liaodong would probably not be a big problem.

However, Chen Hongfan certainly wouldn't want to go.

Because compared to landing in Korea, it was more dangerous for troops to march to the confluence of the three rivers.

After making arrangements for Bai Dengyong, Chen Hongfan then reported the progress of the Dengzhou Army preparations to the Ministry of War with exceptional sincerity.

Eight thousand soldiers have arrived at Dongjiang Town to assist in the defense, and the remaining twelve thousand troops are also ready for battle. In addition, more than two hundred warships of various sizes and more than eighty thousand catties of gunpowder have been prepared. At the same time, the military craftsmen of Dengzhou and Laizhou along the coast are also rushing to make more fire pots and fire bottles for defense.

The report made no mention of the problem of aiding North Korea, only saying that after the sea breeze stopped and the wind direction changed, North Korea sent a message requesting assistance, and the Dengzhou Army immediately landed on Pi Island to aid North Korea.

His attitude was very proper.

The official document was sent to the capital only three days ago.

Three days later, while Bai Dengyong was still collecting mules and carts, he was urgently summoned by Chen Hongfan.

When he rushed to the General's Office, he was not greeted by Chen Hongfan, who was dressed in a Taoist robe and holding a pipe, but by Chen Hongfan, who was dressed in full armor and had the seal of the Ming Dynasty's Admiral hanging from his waist.

"Is the fleet ready to cross the sea now?"

The contrast was so great that Bai Dengyong was momentarily stunned.

He wondered why he hadn't received a request for help from North Korea.

The imperial court's call for war wouldn't come so quickly.

Without thinking, he immediately asked, "General, has North Korea requested aid?"

Chen Hongfan shook his head.

Three days ago, he was the general in the entire Ming Dynasty who least wanted Korea to ask for help.

But now, he's eagerly awaiting North Korea's request for help.

Because of the Yellow River breaching its banks, Liu Chengzong, who had just defeated the Eastern barbarians in Liaodong, did not allow himself time to recuperate and instead hastily set out from Tongguan to march eastward and conquer Henan.

After the rebellion of Zhang Zhi, the Henan commander-in-chief of the Marshal's Office, the people of Henan now flee at the mere mention of the Marshal's army. The gentry of Luoyang sailed across the Yellow River and fled to Weihui Prefecture.

Prince Fu of Luoyang was the first to be affected, followed closely by Prince Zhou of Kaifeng. Both princes were spurred on by fear and offered large sums of money to recruit warriors to defend the capital.

On the contrary, the young Prince Lu, who was seven hundred miles away from Tongguan, abandoned his fiefdom and fled to Guangping Prefecture in Beizhili as soon as he received the news.

He was even going to Beijing, but Emperor Chongzhen persuaded him to stop.

Chen Hongfan received the message from Yan Jizu, the governor of Shandong.

When the Yellow River breached its banks, the local officials in Henan Province requested his assistance, hoping that Shandong could send troops to garrison the Yellow River banks in Yanzhou Prefecture and, if necessary, come to Henan's aid.

Currently, Shandong has suffered from disasters for several years, and its troops, money, and food supplies are all limited. The available troops and food supplies are all stockpiled along the Dengzhou-Laizhou line to defend the coast. There are not many troops that can be mobilized, and even the standard troops of the governor's standard battalion are not fully staffed.

Are they even going to provide aid to Henan?
Do not make jokes.

Yan Jizu's idea was that since General Chen's coastal defense battalion wasn't going to assist in defending Korea at the moment, it would be better to report to the court and have it transferred to the Yanzhou front to defend against Liu Chengzong's offensive.

Chen Hongfan always maintained a calm and collected demeanor, and his statements to the court and local officials were always sincere. Only his subordinates knew that he was not proactive in achieving his strategic goals.

But this time, the old general was furious when he saw the official document that Yan Jizu had brought.

I don't even want to fight Liu Chengzong's defeated opponent, but you want me to go and fight Liu Chengzong directly?
Since the beginning of the year, so many good generals and famous teachers have marched into Shaanxi to quell the rebellion. Apart from Zu Dale, a famous general from Liaodong, who else could come out?

Zu Dale was considered a fierce general in the past, but he was far from being a famous general.

However, ever since he emerged unscathed from Shaanxi, and not only did he emerge with an even larger force than when he entered Shaanxi, Zu Dale has been a renowned general in the land.

Emperor Chongzhen promoted him from a military officer to a deputy commander-in-chief this year.

In terms of public opinion at court, he even surpassed his elder brother, Zu Dashou.

Chen Hongfan didn't think that with his old arms and legs, he could run away after meeting Liu Chengzong.

He preferred to fight the Eastern barbarians on the islands rather than engage Liu Chengzong, a marshal renowned for his land-based annihilation campaigns.

He thought to himself, "If I don't leave now, I won't be able to leave at all."

"Order the entire army to board the ships in order and march towards Lushun!" (End of Chapter)