The wind rises at the end of the Ming Dynasty

This spring of the sixteenth year of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign is destined to be remembered by everyone.

News of the great victory at Jining spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the Yangtze River region with the countless southward-bound cavalry of the Jingnan Army.

With the northern lands pacified and the capital city restored, a series of victories revitalized the war-torn land of China.

The shadow of war has finally receded, and the peace that countless people have longed for has finally arrived. Everyone has an extremely unreal feeling in their hearts, and many people are unwilling to believe it at first.

However, when more concrete information came in...

Until imperial envoys arrived at various prefectures and counties with imperial credentials, the court issued a decree to permanently abolish exorbitant taxes and levies such as the Liaodong tax, the anti-suppression tax, and the military training tax.
Until the mighty, spirited, and majestic Jingnan Army marched south along the Grand Canal.

All voices of doubt, all voices of questioning, all voices of disbelief vanished.

Only then will everyone believe it.

The gloom that had long hung over the heads of the people of the entire northern and even southern kingdoms has now vanished.

When Chen Wang led his victorious army south along the Grand Canal, an unprecedented spectacle unfolded on both banks of the canal.

People from both sides of the canal and even surrounding areas, young and old, rushed to the Grand Canal, their cries of grief lingering in the air for a long time.

When Chen Wang led his troops south, the angels who had set out from Nanjing arrived in Xuzhou.

An angel from Nanjing brought a message.

A decree for promotion.

It was early summer in the southern suburbs of Xuzhou.

On the Huai-Si Plain, the boundless wheat fields rippled with golden waves in the morning breeze, and the heavy ears of wheat foreshadowed this year's bumper harvest.

The Jingnan Army's main camp stands along the canal, its continuous tents resembling silvery waves in the morning light.

An incense table had already been set up outside the main gate of the Jingnan Army camp. The table was covered with bright red brocade and displayed the three sacrificial animals, with a pair of coiled dragon candlesticks standing on either side.

Three sticks of sandalwood incense swirl in the central bronze incense burner, their smoke rising and swirling in the morning light, releasing a refreshing fragrance.

Chen Wang, wearing an iron crown and a narrow-sleeved, bright red brocade robe with cloud-shaped shoulder caps and knee-length embroidered robe, stood with his hand on his sword in front of the central command tent.

The four-clawed python pattern embroidered with gold thread shimmered in the morning sun, each scale sparkling with tiny golden light.

The generals of the Jingnan Army, all dressed in military officer uniforms with armor over them, stood solemnly on both sides according to their rank.

A group of armed soldiers stood like a forest, each carrying a spear and a sword.

Three whips cracked, and the imperial edict-bearing procession from Nanjing slowly marched out of the camp gate.

The angel delivering the imperial edict was dressed in a scarlet official robe and wore a black gauze hat, carefully holding the sandalwood edict box in both hands.

Four Jinyiwei commanders dressed in silver-white official robes followed closely behind, their goose-feather sabers swaying as they slowly approached the angel.

The angel who delivered the decree and his retinue dared not be arrogant; they dismounted and walked a hundred paces from the camp gate.

Under the watchful eyes of the assembled generals, the angel delivering the edict staggered, beads of sweat began to appear on his forehead, and his hands, holding the edict box, trembled slightly involuntarily.

A young Jinyiwei commander behind him unconsciously swallowed, while the older one, though relatively calm, betrayed his nervousness by gripping his sword hilt tightly.

In today's world, everyone knows this.

The one who truly holds supreme power is not the current emperor.

Instead, it was in the hands of the general in front of us, clad in a python robe.

After the Tumu Crisis, civil officials were valued while military officials were neglected. Military commanders were always appointed as civil officials, while military officers could only serve as generals.

Chen Wang, however, completely broke this century-old tradition.

He was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Jingnan, and was appointed as the supreme commander of all military affairs, both inside and outside the capital, and in charge of the troops of various towns.

After he recovered the capital, he wrote to the court, requesting the re-establishment of the Governor-General of Jiliao and Xuanda, and even created the position of Governor-General of Zhili.

Without exception, all three key positions were held by his trusted generals and officers.

Zhou Yumao was in charge of Jiliao, Hu Zhili was stationed in Zhili, and Cao Bianjiao was in charge of Xuanda.

From then on, the defense of the entire northern frontier, from Shanhaiguan to Juyongguan, and from Beizhili to Shandong, was entirely under his control.

The angel who proclaimed the decree finally completed his long journey and arrived before the incense table.

He looked up and met Chen Wang's calm gaze. His heart tightened, and he quickly lowered his eyes.

Chen Wang's gaze was calm as he bowed slightly.

“Those in armor do not bow; please greet them with military honors.”

The angel's Adam's apple bobbed as he took a deep breath, his voice slightly hoarse.

"In the military camp, one should naturally greet others with...military courtesy."

Chen Wang straightened his back and asked.

"Is Your Majesty well?"

"Your Majesty... peace."

The angel delivering the decree bowed instinctively, his voice trembling slightly.

In the past, delivering imperial edicts was a coveted job that everyone vied for, and one was showered with flattery wherever one went. Now, however, it has become a hot potato.

The reason the current emperor was able to ascend the throne was because Chen Wang led his troops to defeat the Wanmin Army and recapture Nanjing.

When the People's Army captured Nanjing, most of the officials with backbone followed Lu Xiang-sheng and were forever laid to rest in the city, sacrificing their lives for their country.

Nowadays, most officials in the court are those who choose to protect themselves in chaotic times. Under the intimidation of the Jingnan Army, they are even more cautious in their words and deeds, and obsequious, like clay sculptures and wooden statues, and silent as cicadas under the surveillance of the Jingnan Army.

The changes were even more pronounced within the inner palace, where all palace servants underwent rigorous selection by the Jingnan Army.

The palace maids were mostly women from respectable backgrounds who came from the common people, while the eunuchs were mostly elderly tomb keepers transferred from various imperial mausoleums.

These people had no connection with any faction in the court and were best able to ensure the purge of the palace.

The eunuch who has come to deliver the imperial edict is also an old eunuch.

"Angel, you may announce the decree now."

As Chen Wang's voice rang out, the angel delivering the decree trembled once more. He lowered his head, not daring to look directly at Chen Wang, and quickly unfolded the decree after taking it out.

The yellow silk trembled in his hand. When he unfolded the imperial edict, his fingers were stiff with tension, and he almost dropped it.

He opened his mouth, but his throat was so dry that he couldn't make a sound. He tried twice before he could barely squeeze out broken syllables.

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees..."

The sound seemed particularly faint in front of the empty tent, as if it could be blown away by the wind at any moment.

He had to take a deep breath and force himself to calm down; such a scene and such behavior were unacceptable.

"I have heard that when the stars shine brightly, it must be in accordance with the celestial phenomena; when the mountains and rivers are beautiful, they must have pillars of the state."

When the angel read the second sentence, his voice finally became a little calmer, but the fingertips holding the decree were still icy cold.

"Your Majesty Chen Wang, the Marquis of Jingnan, is renowned for your power and courage, which is awe-inspiring to both the Chinese and the barbarians."

"In the past, he commanded the army and pacified the Jianghan region; now, he holds the imperial axe and sweeps away the Yan and Yun regions."

With each word read, the angel proclaiming the decree could feel its weight increasing.

"In the Battle of Jining, the enemy was crushed like withered grass; in the battles of Beizhili, the old capital was recovered as easily as picking up a mustard seed. This is truly an extraordinary achievement, and can be called an unprecedented feat..."

The angel delivering the decree kept his eyes lowered, not daring to look up at Chen Wang even once.

Every word he uttered seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying an undisguised fear.

"Zitejin'er is a pillar of the state, a loyal and capable military official who quelled the rebellion, and holds the title of Grand Master of the Palace, concurrently serving as Grand Master of the Palace, Grand Master of the Palace, Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, Grand Commander of the Five Armies, Duke of Yan, with a stipend of five thousand shi of grain!"

As the last word was uttered, the angel delivering the decree breathed a sigh of relief, only then realizing that his back was already soaked with cold sweat. "Your subject respectfully obeys the decree."

Chen Wang bowed slightly and raised his hands.

The hem of the angel's brocade robe trembled slightly uncontrollably, and the hands holding the imperial edict unconsciously tightened, the knuckles turning white from the force.

He took a deep breath, as if drawing courage, and cautiously took half a step forward.

At the moment of handover, his fingertips touched Chen Wang's hands and he recoiled as if electrocuted, almost causing the imperial edict to slip from his grasp.

Chen Wang accepted the imperial edict, then lowered his left hand and placed it back on the hilt of the goose-feather saber at his waist, slowly raising the edict with his right hand.

In the next instant, a deafening roar of "Long live the Emperor!" rose into the sky!

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Countless generals of the Jingnan Army raised their weapons high and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"

The angel delivering the decree bowed his head, and the accompanying commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard also bowed his head deeply.

They all knew it clearly.

The deafening shouts of "Long live!"

It wasn't facing that bright yellow imperial edict.

Instead, it was directed at the one who held the power over the world.

A figure standing with his hand on his knife.

After a long while, the deafening shouts gradually subsided.

Chen Wang held the imperial edict firmly in his hand, his calm voice carrying an unquestionable authority.

"The angels have come from afar with great difficulty."

"This man..."

Chen Wang has already started using a new self-designation.

"Wine and drinks have been prepared in the side tent; please rest for a while."

The angel who proclaimed the decree dared not refuse and obeyed.

Chen Wang returned to the central command tent behind him, without going to deliver the imperial edict to the angel.

Now Chen Wang no longer needs to do these superficial tasks, nor does he want to waste his energy on them.

"What's the situation in Nanjing?"

Chen Wang strode into the tent with a powerful stride, with Dai Zhenglin following closely behind, handing him a document.

"The situation in Nanjing is relatively stable, but the gentry are still not very well-behaved. According to the intelligence department, the leader of the Jiangnan Fushe Society, Qian Qianyi, has been frequently convening literary gatherings to criticize the government under the guise of 'public opinion'."

"There is also Shi Kefa, who openly criticized the General in the court, accusing him of abusing his power and controlling the emperor."

Chen Wang walked to the commander's seat, sat down, glanced at the document in his hand, and then casually tossed it aside.

"A clown...not worth mentioning..."

After being ravaged by the Wanmin Army time and again, the power of the Jiangnan gentry has been greatly reduced.

"When Nanjing fell, the Wanmin Army stormed into the city. Why didn't Qian Qianyi, the leader of the Fushe Society, lead the troops to resist the invaders?"

Chen Wang felt absolutely no goodwill towards Qian Qianyi.

Even though Qian Qianyi secretly supported the anti-Qing restoration movement after surrendering in history, surrendering is surrendering, and he still led a group of officials and civilians to surrender, which had a very bad influence.

The water was too cold, and my scalp itched; I truly have no integrity whatsoever.

"Shi Kefa is a pedantic scholar, utterly incompetent and full of empty talk. Since he keeps babbling incessantly in the court, let him resign and return to his hometown."

Shi Kefa did preserve his reputation in history, but that was all he preserved.

He was a man of few words, always indifferent to worldly affairs, but willing to die for his emperor in times of crisis. Shi Kefa was an honest and diligent official, often working day and night on his official documents.

However, Shi Kefa was aware of the deep-seated problems in military affairs but failed to report them, allowing the four garrisons to run rampant with corruption. He was mediocre and incapable of shouldering great responsibilities.

Shi Kefa's mishandling of the matter of supporting the new emperor allowed military officials to seize the credit for the decision, and real power in the court fell into the hands of others.

Having been stationed in Jiangbei for nearly a year as the Grand Commander, he mobilized the people and exhausted the resources, yet he failed to make any progress and achieved nothing.

When the Qing army marched south in a large force, many of his generals defected and surrendered, becoming the vanguard for the Qing court to wipe out the Southern Ming.

This demonstrates Shi Kefa's incompetence in managing his generals.

In the beginning, with the Nanjing court newly established, Chen Wang could tolerate some criticism.

But now, with control over the local area and the military advantage he has gained, Chen Wang no longer needs to worry about the political obstruction from those pedantic literati.

After recovering the northern kingdom and defeating the Qing army, Chen Wang, in his own name, submitted a memorial to the Longwu Emperor, who then issued an edict abolishing a series of exorbitant taxes.

Meanwhile, officials from the Propaganda Department traveled between urban and rural areas, while spies from the Intelligence Department were active in the marketplace. With their combined efforts, his reputation spread like wildfire throughout the land.

In teahouses and taverns, storytellers slammed their fists on the table as they recounted their exploits.

In the fields, farmers praised his virtuous governance.

All of this propelled him to an unprecedented peak of prestige.

"Has Ma Shiying made no move?"

Dai Zhenglin lowered his head slightly and said.

“Ma Shiying is very honest. He usually keeps quiet in court and only says some trivial things.”

"He is a smart man."

Chen Wang snorted coldly.

Although Ma Shiying was not a virtuous person, he was not without principles either.

Although he lacked the talent to govern the world, let alone the ability to turn the tide and save the day, he was at most a traditional frontier official.

Although he possessed some political talent, it was far from sufficient to handle the crisis at the time.

Even after being captured, he was able to uphold his integrity, which made him appear more respectable and noble compared to those self-proclaimed upright gentlemen of the Donglin Party.

However, that's all there is to it. He also bears significant responsibility for the downfall of the Southern Ming Dynasty in history.

"The troops in each town are exhausted from long battles. Now that the situation has somewhat stabilized, although the northwest is not yet pacified, it is not a threat. You will lead the troops to Xuzhou and be responsible for coordinating the various towns..."

Chen Wang's gaze shifted, finally settling on Zuo Liangyu.

"The Earl of Ningwu led his army westward and reached Kaifeng. He granted each town two months of rest and allowed the soldiers to return home to visit their families, with a deadline for their return."

A slight commotion suddenly arose in the tent, and the generals were more or less puzzled.

Dai Zhenglin was also slightly taken aback and hesitated.

"General..."

This Northern Expedition inflicted a major defeat on the Qing army and eliminated border troubles. Although it was temporarily halted due to food and supplies issues, Tongguan and other areas in the northwest remained under wartime conditions.

The supply lines for the western expedition against the rebels were relatively short, and under He Tengjiao's supervision, the grain and provisions in Huguang were still sufficient to barely make ends meet.

At this moment, the army is at the height of its power. If we do not take advantage of this momentum to pacify the world in one fell swoop, wouldn't we be missing a golden opportunity?

"I know what you're thinking."

Chen Wang surveyed the tent, taking in all the generals' doubts.

"However, now is not the right time to unify the world..." (End of Chapter)