Ming politicians

When Hong Chengchou, Xu Eryi and Qu Qingze entered the wing room again, what they saw was Su Tiancheng with a resolute expression.

Before everyone could speak, Su Tiancheng spoke directly.

"After thinking for a day, I have already made up my mind. These officers have committed many evils and violated military discipline. They cannot be forgiven. They will be beheaded in order to stabilize the Liaodong Frontier Army and rectify military discipline. As for the fluctuations caused, I will bear it alone."

"There have already been some discussions in the imperial court. The peace letter written by Huang Taiji has been circulated in the imperial court for a long time. Many adults must be against it. Therefore, the emperor has made up his mind to reject the empress Jinhuang Taiji's peace appeal. Under such circumstances, the situation in Liaodong may change, and military discipline is particularly important. If we cannot make up our minds to rectify military discipline, it will still be difficult for Liaodong's frontier army to undergo fundamental changes."

"Master Hong, you are very clear why the Jiangning Camp has combat power. The military discipline of the Jiangning Camp is very strict, even harsh. The treatment of our soldiers is fully distributed, and we try our best to take care of their families. , but the requirements of our team's soldiers are also very high, and we must not do anything that violates military regulations, otherwise it will be done by military law. combat power."

"Why did the army of the guard completely lose their fighting spirit, why they were so vulnerable, they had no fighting power at all, what was the root cause? Eight years ago in Chongzhen, it could be said that the army was in arrears of salary, and the soldiers could not eat enough. That is There is no way to fight, let’s say this statement is true, but what is the situation of those officers. Can they say that they have no military pay, can they say that they don’t have enough to eat, I’m afraid there is no such possibility.”

"In the army, the most important thing is the officer. If the officer is depraved, the army will have no hope. The officer has played a leading role. Fighting and charging ahead will definitely inspire the soldiers' fighting spirit and courage to the greatest extent. See Look at the current situation of the frontier army in Liaodong, what kind of situation the officers have reached, it can be said that they are doing all kinds of evil, what role can these officers play."

"Master Hong said yesterday. For so many years, we have been facing battles all the time. It is inevitable that the quality of officers and sergeants will be somewhat uneven. This is also a normal situation. I have thought about it. It is reasonable to say that since the first year of Chongzhen, there have been many guard troops who have mutinied, and there are many reasons. The biggest problem is the military pay. Later, there have been many cases of killing good people and pretending to be meritorious. Exterminated, not to mention the military pay of other guard troops, the military pay of the frontier army is completely in place. There is no reason to explain it."

"In fact, everyone understands that the mutiny of the army in the past had a lot to do with the officers. After I came to Liaodong, why did I abolish the frontier army? Why did I completely abolish the army's households and let them simply farm? It is because of these Military households have become a tool for military officers to make a fortune. They farm for military officers. They don’t have enough food and clothing to support their families. They are struggling on the line of food and clothing. The frontier army in Liaodong is considered to have some combat effectiveness in our Ming army. Yes, the troops that can be pulled out are all like this, so we can see what the other guard troops will look like."

"If we don't play hard and let these officers be arrogant, even if we spend money and energy, can we completely change the situation of the frontier army? Maybe our worry and kindness today will bring about tomorrow's bitter fruit."

"I know that doing so requires a lot of responsibility, and there may be a lot of fluctuations, so that I will be impeached by some adults in the court, but as I said before, I will bear all the responsibilities."

"Eastern Liaodong must be stable, the combat effectiveness of the frontier army must be enhanced, and we must dare to face the Eight Banners Army. Everyone understands our goal."

Neither Hong Chengchou nor Xu Eryi said a word. They knew very well that Su Tiancheng had made up his mind. As for the possible impact, speaking of it, that was the case. Liaodong could not do without Su Tiancheng and Jiang Ningying. For Shizhong and the censor, at most it will be a while.

Qu Qingze is clear that Su Tiancheng has a last resort in doing this. The letter last night is the key. If there is no letter, the situation may not be like this. On the one hand, he must stabilize Liaodong as quickly as possible. On the one hand, to build Dengzhou, Laizhou, and Qingzhou well, Su Tiancheng has no time to waste. He can only change the appearance of the frontier army in the shortest time. The best way is to get rid of those who have no positive effect and have corrupt military discipline. officer.

This is the best way, no matter who it is to establish prestige by killing people, they need to weigh how hard their neck is. As for Zu Dashou and Wu Sangui and others, Qu Qingze believes that Su Tiancheng always has a way Shocked them.

When Zu Dashou and Wu Sangui entered the wing room, their faces were not very good. They already knew some things, especially Wu Sangui, who had mixed feelings in his heart. This time, Su Tiancheng's range of actions was very wide, and he meant to make a thorough rectification Yes, among the arrested officers, many of them are his absolute confidantes. Just like the last time he attacked Dalinghe City, some officers are even his cash cows, and they have been purged again and again. What does this mean? , Wu Sangui would not think so simple.

Su Tiancheng didn't care about the expressions of the two of them, and spoke directly.

"General Zu, General Wu, I invite you here today to talk about how to deal with those officers who committed crimes. After deliberation, the Governor's Office decided to behead all of them in order to rectify military discipline..."

Zu Dashou's face turned pale, and Wu Sangui's body even trembled a little.

After Su Tiancheng finished speaking, the two calmed down a little.

Zu Dashou looked at Wu Sangui, and spoke first.

"My lord, these officers have always been stationed in Liaodong, and they have worked hard without credit. Can your lord forgive me? Some officers in the frontier army did have serious faults, but will such a large-scale punishment of officers be punished in the frontier?" It caused fluctuations among the military."

Wu Sangui also followed suit.

"My lord, it's all because the general is not strict in discipline. The general has an unshirkable responsibility. The general implores the lord to forgive these officers. The general will definitely rectify the military discipline strictly."

The attitudes of Zu Dashou and Wu Sangui were completely within Su Tiancheng's expectation, if they readily agreed, there would be a real problem.

"I can understand your feelings. I have fought for many years, and I also know the hard work of the soldiers. When stationed in Liaodong, they are always facing the attacks of the Houjin Tartars. The pressure you are facing can be imagined, but have you ever thought about it? , the more important the military discipline of the frontier army is, if the officer takes the lead in violating military discipline, what will the sergeants below think and think? I don't need to explain further, if we can't completely solve the situation of the frontier army, what should we do if the emperor asks us to attack the Empress Golden Tartars?"

Zu Dashou and Wu Sangui were stunned. They didn't think that they were going to attack the Houjin Tartars so soon, as if they hadn't prepared for it yet.

"Some of the news that has been circulating in Liaodong recently, I think you are also aware of it. Huang Taiji of Houjin wrote a letter to the emperor, asking for a handshake and reconciliation. The Guan Ning Jin line of defense launched an attack. In such a situation, who can guarantee that if the frontier army cannot improve its combat effectiveness, how will it deal with the attack of the Houjin Tatars? , I am going to form a navy in Dengzhou and Laizhou in Ming Dynasty, and I must transfer some of my troops to enter Dengzhou and Laizhou. This kind of news cannot be concealed, so the frontier army will gradually become the main force guarding Liaodong."

"When I first arrived in Liaodong, I said something like this, asking the frontier army to dare to fight the Houjin Tartars in a short period of time, and even dare to face the Houjin Tartars in the field. It's easy, but if you really want to do it, it may not be that simple, and you are more aware of this."

"Of course, you must feel uncomfortable beheading so many officers this time, but we all want to better guard Liaodong, serve the emperor better, and live up to the great trust of the emperor and the court."

What Su Tiancheng said made Zu Dashou and Wu Sangui speechless. They knew the bravery of Jiang Ningying, and they also knew that Su Tiancheng's decision had become a fact, and it was impossible to change it.

In mid-December, outside Ningyuan City.

More than [-] military officers were tied up and taken to the execution ground. They knew their fate.

Those who watched this execution included more than [-] officers from the Jiangning Camp and the Frontier Army. In the howling wind, no one spoke. The shock of beheading so many officers this time cannot be described in words. .

Following Hong Chengchou's order, the steel knife flashed through the cold pass, blood splashed out, and the moment the head fell to the ground, many people lowered their heads. They had experienced many fights and were used to seeing dead people, but this time, more than 30 The head gave them tremendous pressure. Everyone thought of themselves, what to do in the future, and if they violated military discipline, would they have the same fate?

The beheading of officers had a very good influence among the sergeants. Ordinary sergeants even supported the decision of the Governor's Office. They also really realized that Su Tiancheng was truly law-enforcement, and he wanted to stabilize the situation in Liaodong. , What I thought of was to enhance the combat effectiveness of the frontier army, and what I thought of was the heaviest annihilation of the Golden Tartars. (to be continued..)