The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 65 Kaiyuan Pair
"When can we resume the Liaodong Plowing Camp?"

There was a constant stream of pilgrims in front of the Yaowang Temple, and the white-pole soldiers were sweeping the temple grounds with brooms.

At the most critical moment of their lives, these Han people in Liaodong did not give up their faith, did not destroy their education, and no one worshipped the evil shaman gods.

"General Xiong, considering the current situation in Liaodong, I believe that within ten years the Jiannu can be pacified and the entire Liaodong region can be recovered."

Xiong Tingbi frowned slightly after hearing this, but then relaxed. The six ministers told the emperor that as long as more money was released from the imperial treasury to ensure sufficient food and wages for the Liao garrisons and foreign troops, the Liao rebellion could be quelled.

Some say it took three years to pacify Liao, while others say it took one year.

Zheng Yikui, the director of the Imperial Astronomical Observatory, wrote to Emperor Wanli, saying that he had observed the sky at night and saw that Sirius in the northeast was fading, so he concluded that the chieftain would die in three months and the Liao rebellion could be quelled in half a year.

Of course, the emperor would have to pay first before he could see this kind of astronomical phenomenon.

Xiong Tingbi scoffed at these rumors and nonsense. He believed that the Nu chieftain had become powerful and that the pacification of Liao needed to be done step by step and slowly.

Achieving success in one battle and resolving all problems with one great victory would, however, require the deployment of more foreign troops and the preparation of more Liao military pay, all of which would have to be paid by the Wanli Emperor.

There are rumors in the capital that the emperor still has 20 million in the treasury, and the loyal ministers and generals of the Ming Dynasty will not stop until this money is squeezed out.

"How will it take ten years? Please explain in detail."

"I believe that five years were spent clearing the land and five years were spent promoting education, which is why there is a saying that it would take ten years to recover Liao."

Xiong Tingbi's expression eased slightly, and he motioned Liu Zhaosun to continue. Liu Zhaosun then laid out the plan for pacifying Liao that he had been thinking about for some time:

"It is indeed as the governor said. Liao is in ruins, and the Ming army is at ease, in a daze, not considering defenses or striving for progress, as if they are still in a peaceful and prosperous era."

My father-in-law, Yang Hao, once said that Shenyang City only had 1 kilograms of gunpowder, and its military preparations were in such a state of disrepair: "I have been inspecting the Shenyang arsenal. I have checked the bows and crossbows, and they are broken. When I pulled out an arrow, it was in pieces. I have checked the swords and sticks, and the swords are so rusty that they can't even kill a chicken. The sword-holding sticks are so rotten that they break at the touch and can't even kill a dog. Bows have no strings, arrows have no feathers, and spears and heavy swords are all broken and rusted. The former Liaodong governor said that during the military parade in Shenyang, some people borrowed other people's swords and guns to pass the test, not to mention the armor." (See note )

Xiong Tingbi's face looked heavy.

Eleven years ago (the 36th year of Wanli), Xiong Tingbi was serving as the Inspector General of Liaodong. At that time, the Li family was at its peak, and their military achievements were well-known in the emperor's heart.

Unexpectedly, in just ten years, Liaozhen had fallen into such a state. When Xiong Tingbi passed through Shenyang, he happened to see Li Rubai, fearing that he would be arrested and taken to the Pacification Office, hang himself in the Liaodong General's Mansion.

"On the other hand, since the establishment of the Eight Banners by me, the Later Jin have been well-trained and disciplined. Whenever they encounter the Ming army, the real barbarian armored soldiers are in front, holding heavy shields, spears, and long-handled swords, while the archers in cotton armor are behind. The white armored soldiers, Bayala, stand on horseback on the high ground to supervise the battle. If the real barbarian attack is stuck, the white armored soldiers will rush in to help. They come and go like the wind. If the Liaozhen army is like this, how can they not be defeated?" (See note 2)

Xiong Tingbi listened attentively. Although he knew about military affairs, he had no experience of charging into battle on the battlefield, so he knew very little about the specific details of the battles against the Jiannu.

Thinking of the tragic plight of Ma Lin and his men at Shangjian Cliff and Feifen Mountain during the Battle of Sarhu, Liu Zhaosun could not help but feel sad:
"General Ma is at Shangjian Cliff, leading 10,000 well-equipped troops. They've built a fortification, linking chariots and ox carts into a chariot camp, ready for battle. Unfortunately, they've pushed their musketeers to the front, but most of them are newly recruited and lack the will to fight. They're completely incapable of withstanding the Jiannu's heavy assault."

At that time, Nurhaci personally led hundreds of white-armored soldiers and charged fiercely. When the Ming army's musketeers fired their muskets, 30% of them did not go off. The cannons either exploded or had insufficient range.

The Jiannu attacked across the board, breaking through the musketeer formations and overturning their chariots and shields. The Ming troops behind them, horrified by the slaughter of their musketeers, collapsed. Tens of thousands of Ming troops were pursued by thousands of Jiannu soldiers. The bodies of the dead Ming soldiers filled the valley, and blood flowed down the Shangjian Cliff, turning the river red.

Thinking of my adoptive father, my fourth brother, Deng Qilong, and the familiar faces that had passed away...
Xiong Tingbi breathed a sigh of relief. The Ming army's firearms were known to be crude, and the soldiers were unmotivated. The Nu chieftain, originally from Liaozhen, was quite familiar with Ming tactics. The Eight Banners were powerful, and they had spies throughout Liaodong, acting with deliberate tactics. These factors combined made the Ming army's disastrous defeat at Sarhu understandable.

"Lieutenant General Liu, although you are a military man, you possess such insight, which is truly commendable. In the Battle of Sarhu, three of the four Ming armies were crushed, yet you alone achieved military success. In time, you will surely become a general as talented as Qi Shaobao."

Liu Zhaosun didn't want to be Qi Jiguang,
Xiong Tingbi rushed from the capital, from Shanhaiguan to Shenyang, from Hupiyi to Tieling. What he saw and heard was that the Ming troops in various places were disorganized and listless, as if the loss of half of Liaodong had nothing to do with him.

The two walked west along the street until they reached Qingyun Gate. Climbing the corner tower, they saw red bloodstains on the steps.

In the Battle of Kaiyuan, the west gate experienced several fierce battles. A cavalry unit under Yu Chengming fought a bloody battle with the Jiannu cavalry, which was several times larger than their own, in the west of the city, and all of them were killed in the end.

The two men stood in front of the battlements of the city wall, looking out into the distance. They saw the beautiful mountains and rivers, and they were about to be taken advantage of by the Eastern Tartars. They couldn't help but feel a lot of emotion and patted the railings all over.

There was a popular temple of the goddess in Wangniugang to the west of the city. It was burned down by the Jiannu army this time, leaving only the blackened beams standing on the mountainside, which looked like a burnt chicken skeleton from a distance.

Jin Yu Ji followed behind him like a shadow, and Man Gui led the standard-bearers to guard the area around the corner tower.

Looking north at the mountains and rivers, and beyond Kaiyuan, there is a vast wilderness. That is the boundary between the Jurchen and Han peoples, and also the forefront of the conflict between civilizations.

"The pacification of Liaodong depends on the people's hearts."

"People's hearts?"

Xiong Tingbi looked at Lieutenant General Liu with great interest and no longer regarded him as an ordinary warrior.

Liu Zhaosun recalled a movie he had seen in his previous life and blurted out:
"People's hearts are food, an endless source of soldiers."

Xiong Tingbi's eyes lit up.

"Go on."

Liu Zhaosun looked towards the so-called capital of Kang Yingqian and said slowly:

"Now, the Ming Dynasty is in Liaodong, without food, money, or manpower. This means that the people have lost their hearts. Without people's hearts, Liao will inevitably fail. Even if there is no Later Jin, there will still be Chaohua, Hudun Rabbit, and even Korea."

Xiong Tingbi thought he was going to say something earth-shattering, but after hearing this, he shook his head slightly:

"What you just said is known to all the censors and imperial officials. They all say that Liao tribute should be increased. The capital is already in chaos. Not only the Liao garrison, but also the officials in the capital are counting on the emperor's generosity."

Xiong Tingbi thought about it and decided not to discourage this true gentleman from patriotic zeal.

"Since you can think of it, I'd like to hear your opinion. How much additional Liao military pay is needed? How many foreign troops should be sent to pacify Liao?"

Liu Zhaosun said sternly, "General Xiong has misunderstood. The food and manpower I mentioned do not refer to the additional Liao military supplies and foreign troops sent by the imperial court."

Xiong Tingbi stroked his beard and said, "Oh, what do you want to do? Use Liao people to defend Liao territory? I'm afraid the court won't support this idea."

Although Wanli was negligent in his administration, he would never agree to the Liao people defending the Liao territory, which basically meant recognizing the separatist status of Liaodong.

"I have seen much in Shenyang, Kaiyuan, and Tieling. For example, in Shenyang, at its peak, the enemy troops numbered 3. Together with the Liaozhen troops, a force of was gathered in a tiny place. The imperial court allocated military pay, and most of the soldiers were bachelors, free from worries and willing to spend lavishly. Hundreds of millions of silver in military pay suddenly poured into the city, but food, fodder, salt, iron, and general merchandise were difficult to transport and lagged behind the money. Furthermore, unscrupulous merchants drove up prices, so the market inevitably became turbulent and prices soared. This is the currency." (See note )

Liu Zhaosun was about to talk about inflation, but when he realized that it would take a long time to explain this term, he stopped.

"The court has distributed funds, but it's never enough, simply because prices are constantly rising. When I was training in Shenyang, Yang Jinglue had intended to buy me some cattle, but he discovered the price of beef had risen so dramatically, so he was forced to switch to mutton..." Xiong Tingbi roughly understood what he was getting at and said seriously, "I've been paying attention to what you're saying. Ever since the Battle of Tumu, our dynasty has pursued a policy of subjugation against the various Mongol tribes, but we've been met with constant setbacks, forcing us to increase recruitment. Border military activity has intensified year after year, yet the border troubles haven't ceased. This is true in Xuanda, Jizhen, and Liaodong as well. Whether it's Liao military pay or military pay for the nine border regions, it all ends up in the hands of a group of generals and merchants. The generals only need to support a few servants to keep up appearances, while the merchants smuggle goods to the Jiannu and Mongolians, hoard goods, and drive up prices. If this continues, how can the soldiers and civilians not suffer poverty, and how can the Liao Dynasty not be defeated?"

Foreign soldiers gathered in the small town, and all the money was earned by unscrupulous merchants and generals. The court had to continue spending money. After spending money, it was worried that the soldiers would grow old and run out of money. Once the money was spent, the soldiers would lose their fighting power, so it urged the army to fight as soon as possible.

Those foreign soldiers who were temporarily transferred from all over the Ming Dynasty, after a difficult journey of thousands of miles and enduring many hardships, finally arrived at the border town of Shenyang in Tieling, and they had already been complaining.

At this time, the imperial court was short of food and wages, and the soldiers were exploited by profiteers and discriminated against by the Liaozhen. In this way, let alone fighting the Jiannu, it would be a blessing if their own people did not start a fight first (before the Battle of Hunhe, the White Spear Soldiers and the Zhejiang Soldiers fought like this).

Even in a hasty battle, the troops of each army were unaware of each other and were suspicious of each other, just like the battle at Sarhu. The final result was that the southern troops, the northern troops, the Jizhen and the Liaozhen troops sent money, food and equipment in waves.

This was the case in Sarhu, Kaiyuan, and even more so in the bloody battle of Hunhe!
This strategy of drawing water to fill the well certainly cannot pacify Liao. In the end, it will only fatten up a group of military leaders and profiteers, and make the Jiannu stronger and more confident as they fight.

"Then what are your sources of food and troops?"

Liu Zhaosun finally revealed his trump card: "Returning to the strategy, people's hearts are changing from Chinese to barbarians."

"For food and soldiers, we need to curb annexation and prioritize commerce and agriculture. In simple terms, this means reforming the garrisons."

Xiong Tingbi was bewildered: "To change the barbarians into Chinese, to reform the garrisons?"

"So you promised trade to all the ethnic groups in the city, but didn't kill those Jurchens and Mongols? Do you think you can turn Chinese into barbarians?"

"The situation in Liaodong is dire, as the governor clearly sees. The apparent cause is the defeats in Qinghe and Fushun, the lack of Liao military funds, and the difficulty in retaining foreign troops. The reality is that the garrisons, the countryside, and even the prefectures below the city walls have been infiltrated by the Jianzhou Jurchens, and these are the very foundations of Liaodong."

"The thirteen provinces and garrisons in the north and south have all been rotten, especially in Liaodong. Do you want to rebuild the garrisons? It's probably not an easy task."

Liu Zhaosun knew this was extremely difficult, hence his request for Xiong Tingbi's help. He continued, "Under Taizu's system, the garrisons were already complete. It was only through land annexation and the private enrichment of the garrison commanders that things gradually became like this. I am powerless to change the garrisons of the Ming Dynasty, but the 30,000 garrisons under Kaiyuan, the Liaohai Guard, and the Tieling Guard, still have a glimmer of hope. I can oversee their reorganization. If the governor gives his full support, then..."

Xiong Tingbi remained silent.

Trying to redistribute land and making enemies of the surrounding gentry and local tyrants was like throwing a moth into a flame, courting self-destruction. This was not uncommon in the Ming Dynasty, but the fate of these people was not good.

"I believe that if this continues, even if we win a tragic victory in Kaiyuan, Liaoshen will be in jeopardy."

"I am willing to hold on to Kaiyuan and stand among the foreign tribes. I will educate the barbarians with the teachings of the sages and slowly make plans. I will lead 3,000 brave soldiers to prepare their horses and sharpen their weapons. If the Later Jin rebels, I will lead my troops to wipe out the enemy. I hope the governor will give me your full support and not be afraid of rumors."

Xiong Tingbi closed his eyes and listened to Liu Zhaosun talking about the drawbacks of Liao military pay and the rectification of the garrisons. He felt that there was some truth in what he said. But the idea of educating the barbarians and standing in siege, waiting for the Later Jin to change, was just a fantasy.

"How should we promote education and teach the Jianzhou Jurchens to read the Analects and the Book of Documents? Or should we cut off their pigtails?"

"Education is not just about reciting the Four Books and Five Classics and taking the imperial examinations; it also involves cultivating the moral character of the people. The Liao people are brave and skilled in warfare, no less so than the Jiannu. They are just more courageous in private fights than in public battles. If we can take advantage of the situation, they will be a constant source of soldiers."

“How to take advantage of the situation?”

"With emotion, with profit, with power."

"Among the Han people in Liaodong, those who are willing to be bondservants are still a minority, only two or three out of ten. Everyone has a sense of shame. Why would a Han man commit himself to being a slave? This is love."

"Kaiyuan borders Mongolia and Haixi, and is the largest horse market in the north. Various ethnic groups live together, and trade is prosperous and profitable. Unfortunately, it has been occupied by the Liao army and squandered. Now I can control a portion of Kaiyuan's trade, and then swallow it up and encroach on it. Using the power of trade, I can turn Chinese into barbarians. This is the benefit."

"Increase the population from the inner provinces to fill the Liao River, grant them preferential treatment, reduce taxes and labor service. For example, in places like Huguang and Yunyang, there are many people and limited land, and there are many refugees. If we can help the Liao River, one will benefit while the other will benefit. We can also promote culture and education, attach importance to the imperial examinations, and value military merit. This is a good opportunity."

Speaking of the imperial examinations, Xiong Tingbi leaned forward slightly. Liu Zhaosun knew he was most interested in this and continued, "As the governor knows, Liaodong doesn't have a provincial governor or provincial inspector. In previous years, there were only civil service examinations, not provincial examinations."

Xiong Tingbi nodded slightly. He had been in Liaodong for many years and was also very troubled by the imperial examination. Many civil servants regarded Liaodong as a barbaric place and would rather go to poor places like Shaanxi and Guizhou than go to Liaodong.

"Candidates from Liaodong had to travel to nearby Shandong for the exam, which was a tiring journey and very inconvenient. During the Jiajing period, the court allowed candidates from Liaodong to travel to Shuntian for the exam, but the journey was not short. The decline of the imperial examination system cut off the path to advancement for Liaodong scholars, increasing their tendency to defect to the Jiannu. The court must pay attention to this."

Before they could continue talking, it was already late, so the two of them went down the city wall and headed back to the Lieutenant General's Mansion.

Yang Qing'er has asked someone to prepare dinner.

At the banquet, Xiong Tingbi sat in the first seat, and Yang Hao sat next to Xiong Tingbi.

The two former and current Liaodong governors were speechless for a moment when they met each other.

Xiong Tingbi realized that his mission to Liaodong this time was to take the blame for the imperial court.

Xiong Tingbi focused on practical work, despised empty talk, and was stubborn and self-righteous. Over the years, he offended many colleagues. From Huguang to the capital, from the Ministry of War to the foreign kings and royal families, there were people everywhere who wanted to impeach him.

The last time Xiong Tingbi beat the head of the Armory, the censors accused him of being unruly and compared him to Huo Guang, who oppressed his colleagues as soon as he had a little power. They suggested that Emperor Wanli kill him to prevent future troubles.

Why did he need Huo Guang? If another Huo Guang appeared after Zhang Juzheng during the Wanli reign, it would be an insult to the Wanli Emperor. So the emperor ignored these censors.

Xiong Tingbi, on the other hand, not only did not write a letter to defend himself, but also said angrily that if the emperor did not trust him, he would resign and return home, which made Wanli very embarrassed.

The old emperor doesn't have much time left. Once the new emperor ascends the throne, Xiong Tingbi's Liaodong strategy will come to an end, and he might even lose his life.

Xiong Tingbi thought for a long time and decided to take advantage of his power to support this young friend who was not concerned about reputation but was only interested in getting things done.

Although Xiong Manzi was stubborn, hot-tempered and impulsive, after today's tour and inspection, especially after listening to Liu Zhaosun's long speech, he was certain that this boy was no ordinary person.

Liu Zhaosun was not only decisive in killing and fighting, strict in military discipline, and had a methodical approach to military strategy, but what was even more commendable was that he cared about the people of the world, followed the will of heaven, did not kill foreigners based on the distinction between Chinese and foreigners, did not care about his reputation, and did not pursue fame and fortune. He was a true gentleman of ancient times.

These are absolutely not comparable to those of Li Chengliang, Nurhaci and others.

After thinking for a long time, Xiong Tingbi's stubborn Chu temper came out, and he laughed loudly, clapping his hands and thinking: "Forget it, forget it, Liao affairs are like this, Liao Zhen is harming the country, and the capital is a bunch of rats who only know how to hinder. I can't bear to see Liaodong lost, so I will let this young man give it a try."

A group of civil and military officials raised their glasses to toast Xiong Jinglüe. They were full of heroic spirit, clapped their hands and laughed, and talked about the old days in Liaodong.

The cups and glasses were scattered, the music ended and the crowd dispersed. Xiong Tingbi muttered to himself:
"Lieutenant General Liu, I, Xiong Tingbi, can trust you, but who in this Ming Dynasty can trust me?"

～～～～～～～
Note:
(1) "Every time we draw a bow, it breaks; every time we take an arrow, it is cut in half; every time we try a knife or a stick, the knife cannot cut a chicken, and the stick cannot hit a dog. All the strong armor, sharp blades, long spears, and firearms have been lost. Now the bows held by the soldiers are all broken, their strings broken, their arrows are all without feathers or arrowheads, their knives are all blunt, their spears are all dull, and some even have nothing at all, and those who borrow them from others to fight are all naked, without a single piece of armor to cover them." - "Xiong Tingbi Collection: Memorial on the Long-Declining Situation of the Left Liao"

(2) "Those wearing long, thick armor, armed with spears and long-handled broadswords, fought in front, while those wearing light net armor, armed with bows and arrows, shot at them from behind. Selected elite soldiers stood on horseback and watched them from elsewhere. If they saw that they were losing, they would assist in the battle. Therefore, they were able to win every battle." - "Old Manchu Archives", Volume
(3) Zhang Nai, "Preface to the Memorial to the Imperial Secretary Xiong," vol. of the Baoritang First Collection
(End of this chapter)