weaving

Chapter 1525 There are only three people who can defend against the Tartars!

"Your subject, Zhang Cheng, respectfully wishes Your Majesty a long and peaceful life!"

After Zhang Cheng entered the East Warm Pavilion, he took two steps forward and knelt down to kowtow, performing the greeting. However, Emperor Chongzhen did not speak for a long time, and he did not dare to get up, so he remained kneeling there.

About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea later, Emperor Chongzhen's voice finally rang out: "Get up!"

Zhang Cheng heard those three words clearly, but he couldn't tell whether Emperor Chongzhen was telling him to get up or the person who had already been kneeling before the imperial desk. So he remained in his prostrate kneeling position, not daring to move an inch.

"Zhang Cheng, His Majesty is calling you to get up." Wang Dehua's voice came from the side.

Marquis Yongning Zhang Cheng hurriedly kowtowed again: "Thank you for Your Majesty's boundless grace."

He pushed himself up with his hands and stood up. As he stood up, he nodded to Wang Dehua to show his gratitude for reminding him.

It was at this moment that he saw clearly the person who had been kneeling before—it was none other than Bian Yongqing, the military commissioner of the Yongyi Army.

"You should get up too. I get annoyed just looking at you. Get out of my sight."

Bian Yongqing felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders. He did not stand up immediately, but instead knelt on the ground and slowly retreated until he was about ten feet behind Zhang Cheng before slowly standing up. However, he still bowed and hung his hands, not daring to raise his head at all, looking like a punching bag.

"I ask you, why are the reinforcements from Xuanzhen so late?"

Zhang Cheng had anticipated the Emperor's question, and calmly knelt down again, preparing to reply. But then he heard Chongzhen say, "Don't kneel down so easily. You're just like those civil officials in the cabinet."

Zhang Cheng could only stand up again, bow, and reply: "Your Majesty, after the Yongyi Army soldiers returned from Henan Province, most of them took leave to go home and were not in the camp. After I learned of the alarm, I immediately summoned the soldiers back to camp and dispatched the two troops of Deputy Commander-in-Chief Lin Dengyou and Lieutenant General Xiong Tingrui to reinforce the capital. I dared not delay and beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly."

"How many troops did you bring to reinforce us?"

Emperor Chongzhen did not dwell on Zhang Cheng's delayed arrival of reinforcements, but instead asked him how many troops he had led.
"Your Majesty, two battalions of the Yongyi Army are stationed in Henan Province to defend against bandits, one battalion is guarding the Xuanfu border to defend against enemy bandits, and the remaining three battalions have all been deployed to reinforce the capital region. The total number of infantry and cavalry is 12,000."

"Do you think Zhao Guangbian's Hunhe River defense line can stop the Jurchens from advancing south?"

"Your Majesty, I believe that the Hun River line cannot stop the Jurchens' iron hooves from advancing south."

Emperor Chongzhen was only asking the question. Although he hoped that the Hunhe River defense line could delay the Jurchen army, he did not expect to stop the Jurchens on the north bank of the Hunhe River.

"Zhang Cheng, do you think Zhao Guangbian can stop the Jurchens and prevent them from penetrating deep into the southern part of our capital?"

"I believe...it is not possible."

"Why?"

"Although Zhao Guangbian had some knowledge of military affairs, he was brave and decisive, and fearless in battle, which was rare compared to other officials in the court; however, he also had some shortcomings in general strategy and had many oversights in long-term planning."

Moreover, Zhao Guangbian was appointed to his post in a time of crisis and hastily took office. He had not established a stable relationship of mutual trust with the generals of the Beijing garrison and the generals who came to reinforce him, and he was unaware of the true situation of each general and each camp.

Your Majesty, I fear that Zhao Guangbian will find it difficult to deploy his generals to defend various locations, and even more difficult to control them to obey orders. In the end, he will not only fail to stop the Jurchens from penetrating deep into the territory, but may also find that the reinforcements will fight independently and be defeated one by one by the Jurchens. After hearing Zhang Cheng's words, Emperor Chongzhen also fell into deep thought.

After a moment, Emperor Chongzhen asked again, "Zhang Cheng, who in the court do you think can lead the army to resist the Jurchens?"

This was a life-or-death question, and Zhang Cheng knew it all too well.

But given the current situation, what can he do?

Should we, like all the civil officials in the court, pretend to be deaf and dumb, give irrelevant answers, or simply remain silent?
After a moment's thought, Zhang Cheng finally spoke up: "Your Majesty, I believe that among all the civil and military officials in the court, there are no more than three who are capable of leading troops to defend against the enemy."

"Oh..." Emperor Chongzhen was clearly intrigued: "Which three?"

Zhang Cheng glanced at Emperor Chongzhen, and seeing that his expression was not hostile, he mustered his courage and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that Governor Hong, who is stationed in Liaodong, has a long-standing reputation and is well-versed in military affairs, and is more than capable of being the commander-in-chief to resist the Jurchens."

Emperor Chongzhen first nodded, then shook his head and sighed, "No, the Jurchen chieftain Hong Tai is leading tens of thousands of Jurchen cavalry to attack Jinzhou, the gateway to Liaodong. Although Hong Chengchou is the first choice to defend against the Jurchens, he cannot leave Liaodong."

He turned to Zhang Cheng and asked, "Who else is capable of this task?"

“Sun Chuanting, the governor of Shaanxi, should be the second choice. He is well-versed in military affairs and has fought against both bandits and Jurchens. When the Jurchens invaded in eleven years ago, Sun Chuanting led a large army to resist them. His prestige is enough to suppress all the reinforcements.”

Emperor Chongzhen shook his head and sighed again: "Sun Chuanting... Sun Chuanting is indeed a capable person, but he is in Xi'an, and water from afar can never truly relieve the immediate crisis."

You said...who is the third person?

Zhang Cheng sensed the expectation in Emperor Chongzhen's words. He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and calmly said, "Your Majesty, I believe that former Minister of War Chen Xinjia..."

Zhang Cheng stopped speaking immediately after uttering the name "Chen Xinjia," and glanced sideways at Emperor Chongzhen's reaction. He saw that although the emperor's expression changed slightly, he did not stop him from continuing, which reassured him somewhat.

"Chen Xinjia has served as the governor of Xuanfu and the governor-general of Xuanda. He was also the former Minister of War. His reputation for military expertise is known throughout the land. If we can have him lead the reinforcements from all over the country, we may be able to resist the Jurchens and prevent them from penetrating our heartland."

No sooner had Zhang Cheng finished speaking than a loud "smack" was heard, startling him so much that he immediately knelt down again and kowtowed repeatedly to Emperor Chongzhen.

"Zhang Cheng, what are your true intentions in recommending Chen Xinjia as commander-in-chief to defend against the enemy?"

Emperor Chongzhen's tone was clearly unfriendly, and Zhang Cheng could easily tell. He kowtowed repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. Although I served under Chen Xinjia, I had no personal relationship with him. My recommendation of him to lead the army against the enemy was a genuine act of recommending talent for the country, without any selfish motives. I beg Your Majesty to investigate... to investigate!"

Emperor Chongzhen's face was icy, and he said in a chilling tone: "I ask you, it is common knowledge throughout the land that Chen Xinjia secretly negotiated peace with the enemy behind my back. Even if I release him from the Zhenfu Division, how can the generals believe that he will really stand against the iron cavalry of the Jurchens?"

Zhang Cheng knelt on the ground and kowtowed, pleading: "Your Majesty is wise. I was preoccupied with the affairs of the country and did not consider this matter. I beg Your Majesty to forgive my ignorance."

Emperor Chongzhen remained silent, so Zhang Cheng could only kowtow and beg, the rhythmic thud of his head echoing incessantly.

"Alright," Emperor Chongzhen finally spoke, "I forgive you, rise."

Just as Zhang Cheng stood up, Emperor Chongzhen asked again, "Zhang Cheng, what do you think of commanding troops to defend against the enemy?"