My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Today, the core strength of the Jianzhou Jurchens has been destroyed, but a large number of Manchus and other ethnic groups who have submitted to them still live in the former Liaodong region. How to deal with their "common leader" is directly related to the hearts and minds of these people. If all the Jianzhou nobles are killed, it will only incite desperate resistance and drag them into a quagmire of guerrilla warfare.

Conversely, by showing tolerance, bestowing titles and emoluments, and settling people in the interior, we can not only demonstrate the magnanimity of the Celestial Empire, but also set an excellent example—we have treated even your emperor well, so what do you ordinary people have to worry about?

This is a rule that is the lowest cost and most effective.

Emperor Chongzhen knew that Liaodong and Korea, which had just been incorporated into the territory, needed stability and assimilation, not further bloodshed and hatred.

"Let's put this matter aside for now."

Emperor Chongzhen withdrew his gaze, his expression becoming solemn.

"Right now, there is an even more urgent matter that needs to be decided immediately."

He surveyed the crowd, his voice steady and powerful:

"Liaodong and Korea are vast regions, stretching from the Songhua River in the north to the Korea Strait in the south, bordering the sea in the east and the former Liaoxi Corridor in the west. Their area is almost equal to the combined area of ​​Zhili (Hebei and Hebei), Shandong, and Shanxi in the interior! If we continue to use the old system and only establish the Liaodong Regional Military Commission and the Korea Provincial Administration Commission, it will be difficult to govern them effectively and may even lead to separatism."

He paused, his gaze falling on the map hanging on the palace wall:

"My intention is to follow the example of the Han and Tang dynasties in managing the Western Regions and the establishment of the Guizhou Provincial Administration Commission in the early years of this dynasty, and to carry out a radical redrawing of the administrative divisions of the two regions!"

Upon hearing this, all the officials in the hall were invigorated.

This is indeed a matter of utmost urgency! Liaodong and Korea have unique circumstances and complex ethnic compositions, and the provincial system of the interior cannot be simply copied.

After days of secret and intense consultations, a preliminary plan has been formed and is now on Chongzhen's desk.

Emperor Chongzhen looked at Zhu Cilang, signaling him to explain to the assembled officials.

Zhu Cilang stepped forward, unfurled a meticulously drawn new map, and pointed it out:
"After discussing with several ministers, the Emperor initially proposed to divide Liaodong and Korea into five provinces."

He pointed to the map:

"Firstly, Liaoyang Province, with its capital in Liaoyang, governed the core area of ​​the former Liaodong Military Command and part of the northern border area of ​​the Korean Peninsula, which was its foundation."

"Secondly, the Shengjing Province, with its capital in Shengjing, governed the core area of ​​the former Jianzhou Jurchen and parts of Jilin, focusing on controlling the old Manchu territories."

"Thirdly, the Korean Province, with its capital in Seoul, governs the original areas in the central and southern parts of the Korean Peninsula, basically following the old system, but necessary adjustments are needed."

"Fourth, the Songhua River Province, with its capital initially planned to be located in Jilin Ula, will govern the Songhua River basin, the lower reaches of the Heilongjiang River, and Sakhalin Island. This area is vast, and the focus will be on both control and development."

"Fifth, the Bohai Province, with its capital in Lushun, governed the Liaodong Peninsula and the islands of the Bohai Strait, guarding the gateway to Beijing and Tianjin, and its strategic position was of paramount importance."

The division into five major provinces clearly incorporated this newly expanded territory into the administrative system of the Ming Dynasty, covering a vast area from the inland to the coast, and from the peninsula to the far east.

But this is not all.

Zhu Cilang circled several key areas with his finger:

"In addition, given the complex ethnic composition of Liaodong, Songhua River and other areas, in addition to establishing officials to govern, it is also necessary to follow the Tusi system and establish multiple ethnic autonomous regions specifically for settling Manchus, Mongols, Koreans and other minority tribes who have submitted."

Within the autonomous region, it is permitted to retain some of its original customs, traditions, language, and script, and to manage its internal affairs autonomously, but it must submit to the control of the provincial government, be registered as a unified population, and be gradually educated.

This is a groundbreaking initiative! It ensures the central government's absolute control over the core areas while also taking into account the feelings and realities of ethnic minorities in the border regions, which is conducive to easing tensions and promoting integration.

"As for the garrison."

Zhu Cilang continued.

"The majority of the 500,000-strong army will return to Beijing with the emperor, but at least 150,000 elite troops must be left behind to be stationed in strategic locations such as Liaoyang, Shengjing, Lushun, Seoul, and the Songhua River. The proportion of troops stationed in the Korean and Bohai provinces will be even higher due to their proximity to the capital and their crucial role in coastal defense."

Once the newly established provincial government offices are fully established and the local militias are properly trained, they can be gradually rotated and reduced in number.

Chongzhen picked up the conversation, his tone resolute:
"This method is excellent! Liaodong and Korea are the backbone of our Great Ming Dynasty, and also of great importance to me! Administrative divisions are related to the longevity of the nation, and must be carefully and thoroughly considered! Based on this proposal, detailed regulations should be drafted, including the appointment and removal of officials, the allocation of funds and grain, the deployment of troops, and the regulations on ethnic autonomy... Every single matter must be implemented! I want to personally witness this territory transform into the true heartland of our Great Ming Dynasty, nourishing hundreds of millions of people!"

"I will obey your orders!"

The officials inside the hall responded in unison, their voices shaking the roof tiles.

After resolving this matter, there is still one more thing to do, which is the issue of education.

This matter is far more complicated than fighting a war.

Conquering a piece of land has never been a difficult task for the Han people.

For hundreds of years, the armies of the Central Plains dynasties have fought in the south and north, and every time they have been swift and decisive. But what happens after they conquer? That's where the real headaches begin.

The land has been seized, but what about the people living there? The people are not convinced; they surrender one day and rebel the next. All this turmoil will ultimately amount to nothing.

That's why there's an old saying: "One can conquer the world on horseback, but one cannot govern it on horseback."

Now that Liaodong has been pacified and Korea has also come under the control of the Ming Dynasty, the most important matter on Chongzhen's desk is "governance".

A few days later, at the court assembly, an official stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I have a suggestion."

The speaker was an elderly vice minister from the Ministry of Rites, surnamed Zhang. He had gray hair and spoke slowly and deliberately, but he enunciated each word very clearly.

He bowed to Emperor Chongzhen, then said slowly and deliberately:
"In my opinion, now that Liaodong and Korea have submitted, the most urgent task is to educate and civilize them. We may have occupied the land and cities, but if the hearts of the people do not submit, it will eventually become a hidden danger. In the past, Emperor Wu of Han established the four commanderies of Hexi, moved people from the Central Plains to populate the land, and set up schools to educate the people. In just a few decades, Hexi became no different from the Central Plains. This is an old story from the previous dynasty, which can serve as a lesson for today."

Emperor Chongzhen sat on the dragon throne, listening intently. He nodded slightly, signaling Vice Minister Zhang to continue.

Vice Minister Zhang cleared his throat and said again:
"I suggest that a group of highly respected individuals be selected from both Korea and the Ming Dynasty and sent to various parts of Liaodong. These individuals should be either learned scholars or local elders, in short, people of renown who can command respect. They should be allowed to open schools to teach the people to read and write and to learn Han etiquette."

Anyone willing to learn, whether Han or Korean, will be treated equally. In this way, within a few years, the people of Liaodong will naturally accept Han culture. At that time, even if their ancestors were not Han, they will be no different from Han people.

As soon as these words were spoken, a chorus of agreement arose in the court.

"Lord Zhang is absolutely right!"

"Education is the foundation of a nation, and this matter cannot be delayed!"

"I second that!" A hint of satisfaction appeared on Chongzhen's face. He glanced at the ministers in the hall and thought to himself: They are indeed scholars; they have thought things through thoroughly.

The principles of this education, in essence, are nothing more than winning the hearts of the people towards our Great Ming Dynasty. Only when the people are united can the country be stable.

"allow."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded.

"This matter will be handled by the Ministry of Rites. They should draft a procedure, and I will take a look."

"Your subject obeys the decree!"

Vice Minister Zhang bowed and withdrew, a hint of smugness on his face.

Zhu Cilang did not speak, but he had some different thoughts in his mind, but it was not appropriate to say them at this time.

In the afternoon, in a side hall of the Hall of Diligent Governance.

Not many ice basins were turned on inside the hall; only a little agarwood was used to dispel the dampness.

Emperor Chongzhen sat upright behind his rosewood desk, flipping through a secret report on the expected autumn harvest in Liaoyang Province. Although there was a hint of weariness in his brows, there was also the relief of having accomplished a great task.

When Zhu Cilang's footsteps sounded outside the hall, he raised his head and a gentle smile appeared on his face.

"Lang'er is here? Please have a seat."

Emperor Chongzhen put down the secret report in his hand, casually beckoned his son to sit down on the embroidered stool in front of the desk.

A eunuch immediately brought over a cup of warm almond tea and then quietly retreated to the shadows in the corner of the hall.

Zhu Cilang sat down as instructed, but instead of immediately drinking tea, he got straight to the point:
"Father, regarding the proposal made by the ministers this morning to select virtuous and respected individuals to go to Liaodong and Korea to educate the people, I believe that although this method is good, it is not entirely perfect."

Emperor Chongzhen picked up his teacup, gently skimming off the foam, his movements pausing slightly.

He looked up at his son, a questioning glint in his eyes, but his tone remained calm:

"Oh? What brilliant idea do you have? What you all have said is also based on the ancient teaching of 'education first, changing customs and habits.' Liaodong and Korea have just been pacified, and people's hearts are not yet settled. They need to be immersed in poetry, books, rites, and music to make the barbarians know propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame, so that we can achieve long-term peace and stability. This is of utmost importance, and I agree with it."

Zhu Cilang took a deep breath, his gaze burning as if he wanted to set his father behind the imperial desk ablaze.

He pondered for a moment before slowly revealing the plan that would shake the entire Confucian bureaucratic system:

“Father, education is important, but the key is who will educate and what will be done. I believe that the fastest and most thorough way to win over the hearts of the people of Liaodong is to ask the entire lineage of the Duke Yansheng to move to Liaodong.”

"what?!"

The teacup in Chongzhen's hand suddenly trembled, and a few drops of scalding tea splashed onto the back of his hand. He was completely unaware of it, but stared wide-eyed at Zhu Cilang in disbelief, as if he had heard the most absurd and mad tale in the world.

"You... what did you say? You want the descendants of Confucius to move to Liaodong?"

Chongzhen's voice trembled slightly, a primal fear that came from touching the very foundation of his faith.

He almost blurted out:

"Absurd! Utterly absurd! Confucius is the teacher of all ages, the symbol of the Confucian tradition. His lineage resides in Liaodong, the central hub of the Ming Dynasty's rites and music education, the aspiration of the world's literary heart! If the Confucius family were moved to Liaodong, would Liaodong become the legitimate center of the Central Plains, or would our Ming Dynasty become a mere remnant in a corner of the country? This is not only putting the cart before the horse, but also shaking the very foundation of the nation! This matter must not be done!"

Zhu Cilang looked at his father's tense expression, but felt no emotion.

He knew this emperor all too well—at his core, Chongzhen was still a monarch deeply influenced by Confucianism, with an almost instinctive reverence for the "Supreme Sage and Teacher." But this reverence was precisely the shackle that Zhu Cilang wanted to break.

He did not back down despite Chongzhen's fierce opposition; instead, his expression grew even calmer, even tinged with pity, as he patiently analyzed the situation:

"Father, what do you truly revere—Confucius's 'Way' or the 'brand' of the Confucius family?"

He paused, not giving Chongzhen a chance to interrupt, and continued in that calm, almost cold tone:
"Your subject does not intend to offend the sage. But Your Majesty should also see clearly that the Yansheng Duke's Mansion, which has been passed down for thousands of years, is no longer the descendant of the sage who lectured at the Apricot Altar back then. From the Han and Tang dynasties onward, through the Song and Yuan dynasties, and up to our Great Ming dynasty, their secret to survival has never been to uphold the orthodox tradition, but rather—whoever is strong, they worship; whoever rules the world, they call them their master."

Zhu Cilang's gaze was sharp as a knife, as if trying to pierce through the facade of historical hypocrisy:
"During the Tang Dynasty's golden age, they revered the Li Tang; when the Mongols came to power, they worshipped the Yuan emperor; when our Great Ming Dynasty drove out the barbarians, they again honored our Zhu family as their ruler. Imagine, if the Jurchens had truly entered the Central Plains and replaced our Great Ming, given the way the Kong family behaved, wouldn't they have still donned Manchu attire, knelt and kowtowed three times and nine times before Dorgon, praising him as a 'benevolent and righteous army'?"

These words, like the sharpest icicle, pierced through the tender veil in Chongzhen's heart.

He opened his mouth, wanting to retort, but found his throat dry and unable to make a sound.

Because what Zhu Cilang said was the truth, a chilling "political wisdom" that has been played out in every dynasty.

These "descendants of sages" are nothing but cultural parasites living on imperial power; they are loyal not to the Way, but to power.

“Such powerful families, remaining in the capital region, are deeply entrenched and often use ‘public opinion’ to hold the government hostage and ‘moral tradition’ to coerce the emperor. What good is this for the country?”

Zhu Cilang's voice grew increasingly firm.

"Instead of letting them get in the way in the Ming Dynasty, why not simply relocate them to Liaodong and Korea? The people there are still uncivilized and in need of education. Let them teach the real people to read and write, to understand etiquette, and to spread the 'Imperial Standard' of our Great Ming Dynasty. Isn't this making the best use of them and letting them contribute their last bit of energy?"

Emperor Chongzhen's face flushed red and then paled. He knew, of course, that his son was speaking the truth. Hadn't emperors throughout history held the same attitude towards the Confucian family—"if the water is too clear, there will be no fish"? As long as they didn't rebel, didn't criticize the government, and honoring them helped win over scholars across the land, then they were left to their own devices.

Now, this pawn is to be moved to the front line to be used as a "tool for education," and the political risks and moral pressure involved make Chongzhen instinctively feel uneasy.

Just as Chongzhen was struggling with his inner conflict and didn't know how to respond, Zhu Cilang dropped an even bigger bombshell.

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on Chongzhen, and said, word by word:

“Father, as you have seen, since I promoted potatoes and sweet potatoes, improved firearms, and especially in the recent pacification of Liaodong and Korea, none of the flintlock muskets and iron forts used were made using classical Chinese phrases.”

His voice echoed in the empty hall, carrying an undeniable penetrating power:

"Science and technology are the foundation of a strong nation! The future Ming Dynasty will no longer need pedantic scholars who can only recite the classics, but versatile talents who can manufacture guns and cannons, build water conservancy projects, and study mathematics and physics! Your son has already made plans to reform the imperial examination system in the coming decades, abolish the eight-legged essay, promote the investigation of things, and select officials based on practical knowledge!"

"What?! The imperial examination system is abolished?!"

This time, Emperor Chongzhen was truly shocked and jumped up from his chair, his face turned ashen, and his heart pounded wildly.

The imperial examination system was the cornerstone of the entire feudal dynasty, the fundamental link between the scholar-official class and imperial power! If it were abolished, how would the scholars of the land react? The imperial court would erupt in chaos! This would be a thousand times more shocking than relocating the Confucius family to Liaodong! (End of Chapter)