Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 606 Hinges (Part 4)

May 6th, the seventeenth year of Chongzhen (June 20th, 1644).

The setting sun, like blood, dyed the walls of Pyongyang a poignant orange-red.

The dilapidated city walls cast long shadows in the setting sun, much like the city's unbearable past.

The bricks and stones on the city wall are mottled and uneven, with arrow marks and cannon craters visible everywhere. Several crenellations have collapsed, silently telling the story of the vicissitudes this ancient city has endured.

When a Ming Dynasty army of over two thousand men marched in orderly ranks through the gates of Pyongyang, the Korean officials and civilians lining the streets stood silently, watching the procession with complex expressions.

Their eyes held neither joy nor anger, only a numbness and weariness born of hardship.

The crisp sound of horses' hooves clattering on the bluestone slabs mingled with the orderly footsteps of the soldiers, sounding exceptionally clear in the quiet twilight.

In the crowd, an elderly man with white hair and beard leaned on a cane, his cloudy eyes fixed on the fluttering banner bearing the character "Ming," and murmured to himself, "...In the year of Ren Chen, it was this same banner that entered Pyongyang..."

The young man beside him asked, puzzled, "Grandpa, what did you say?"

The old man slowly shook his head, his voice hoarse: "Fifty years ago, the Ming army marched into Pyongyang in the same way. Back then, they were our saviors, coming to help us fight the Japanese pirates..."

His gaze swept over the dilapidated houses and sparse crowds on both sides of the street. "Now, they've come again, but this Pyongyang is no longer the Pyongyang of yesteryear."

Indeed, Pyongyang, once known as "Ryugyong," had a population of over 300,000 at its peak, but now it is in ruins, with fewer than 30,000 people living there.

Most of the houses on both sides of the street are empty, and the courtyards are overgrown with weeds. Some courtyards have even lost their doors.

In the Second Sino-Japanese War alone, "hundreds of thousands of officials, wealthy families, wives, daughters, and able-bodied men were abducted from Pyongyang," severely damaging the once-glorious ancient city.

Today, Pyongyang is almost deserted, its former prosperity gone. Even the once bustling Jongno Street is now only frequented by a few scattered vendors, their calls weak and feeble.

At the front of the procession, Shen Zhixiang, deputy commander of Dongjiang Town, rode a tall warhorse, his sharp eyes scanning the ancient city.

He was about forty years old, with a resolute face, high cheekbones, and a pair of eagle eyes that revealed the sharpness of someone who had been through many battles.

His military uniform was washed until it was almost white, and the sword at his waist swayed gently as the horse moved forward. The wear marks on the scabbard showed that the sword had accompanied its owner through many battles.

"My lord, Pyongyang Prefect Yi Su and officials from the city are waiting to greet you at the front," a guard reported.

Shen Zhixiang nodded slightly and urged his horse forward.

In the central square of Pyongyang, a group of North Korean officials waited anxiously.

The leader, Li Zhu, was about fifty years old. He was pale, and although his official robe was neat, the cuffs were worn and the hem was stained with mud.

"Your humble servant, Li Zhu, the Prefect of Pyongyang, respectfully welcomes... the Heavenly Army." Li Zhu bowed deeply, his voice trembling slightly.

Shen Zhixiang dismounted and helped Li Zhu up: "Your Excellency, there is no need for such formalities. I have been ordered by the Ming Dynasty to be stationed in Ping'an Road to ensure the peace and tranquility of the region."

Li Zhu raised his head, a complex expression flashing in his eyes: "I wonder... is the Heavenly Army here only temporarily, or..."

Before he finished speaking, his worries were already evident.

Shen Zhixiang did not answer directly, but looked around at the emaciated people and said slowly, "Ping'an Road has been ravaged by war and the people are impoverished. Since Dongjiang Town is the garrison of the Ming Dynasty, it is our duty to protect the territory and the people and restore order."

He paused, then raised his voice: "From this day forward, all military and political affairs in Ping'an Circuit shall be under the jurisdiction of Dongjiang Town!"

Upon hearing this, the North Korean officials exchanged bewildered glances, and a suppressed commotion arose in the crowd.

Several young officials looked indignant, but were stopped by their older colleagues with glances.

Li Zhu's face turned even paler, but he dared not refute, only bowing his head deeply, his voice barely audible: "Your humble servant... obeys."
-
That night, Shen Zhixiang convened a meeting of his generals in the temporary government office.

The flickering candlelight cast the shadows of everyone on the wall, like dancing phantoms.

"General, today I observed in Pyongyang that the Korean people are mostly afraid of us, and the officials also harbor ulterior motives," said Lieutenant General Zhao Dezhu in a deep voice. "I'm afraid these people will find it difficult to truly submit to us."

Shen Zhixiang picked up his teacup and gently blew away the foam: "They are not afraid of us, but of the chaos of the world. Do you know that the population of Dingce in the entire Ping'an Road is only 120,000? It's not even as good as the desolate and impoverished Hamgyeong Road."

He put down his teacup, his voice turning cold: "Since Joseon betrayed the Ming and joined the Manchus, my Dongjiang Town and Xinhua Army have frequently invaded Pyongan Province. In addition, the Qing army plundered twice, and this place has long been severely damaged. Now that Prince Gwanghaegun has entered Seoul, the Joseon central government is in chaos, and the counties and districts are leaderless. This is the perfect opportunity for us to control Pyongan Province."

Another general asked, "But won't our actions provoke resistance from the Koreans?"

Shen Zhixiang sneered: "Resist? What can they resist with? When the Qing invaders came, they still knelt down and surrendered, utterly powerless to resist. Now, the military strength of Ping'an Road has long been exhausted in the various wars. Where does it come from to rebel against my Dongjiang Town?"

He walked to the map and pointed to the location of Ping'an Road: "Our control of Ping'an Road is not only to secure a foothold for Dongjiang Town, but also to cooperate with the imperial court's strategic layout in Liaodong."

By candlelight, the situation on the map was clear at a glance.

“Look…” Shen Zhixiang’s finger moved across the map, “The Xinhua people have established strongholds in the Heishui and Ussuri River basins and are gradually advancing southward; after Kong Youde gained a foothold in Hamgyong Province, he crossed the Tumen River and slowly pressed westward; our Dongjiang Town controls Ping’an Province and guards the Yalu River, so we can coordinate with the Ming army in Liaodong…”

Zhao Dezhu said in a very cooperative manner, "In this way, the Qing invaders will be completely surrounded by our forces!"

“Indeed!” Shen Zhixiang nodded with a smile. “By controlling Ping’an Road, we can completely sever the connection between the Qing and Korea. After that, the Qing will no longer be able to bleed the conquered vassal state dry, and at the same time, they will be more isolated in the external environment. The only place where they can catch their breath is the Mongol tribes to the west.”

A young general exclaimed excitedly, "Aren't those Qing barbarians doomed? Their day of destruction is not far off!"

Shen Zhixiang shook his head: "You should not underestimate Dorgon and other slave chieftains. The Qing have been operating in Mongolia for many years, and their relationships are deeply entrenched. Moreover, even a cornered beast will fight, and a wild animal driven to the brink of despair is the most dangerous."

He walked to the window, looked at the bright moon in the night sky, and said in a deep voice, "What we need to do is to firmly control Ping'an Road and turn this place into the foundation for the survival of tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Dongjiang Town."
-
The following morning, Shen Zhixiang inspected Pyongyang under the protection of his personal guards.

When the people on the street saw the Ming army, they all gave way, their eyes filled with vigilance and unease.

Several children curiously peeked out, but were immediately pulled back inside by the adults.

At a market in the south of the city, Shen Zhixiang saw only a few vendors trading, with scarce goods and exorbitant prices.

The price of a peck of rice was as high as three taels of silver, which was three to five times that of previous years.

An old farmer squatted on a street corner, with only a few wilted green vegetables in front of him.

"The people's livelihood in Ping'an Road has deteriorated to this extent," Shen Zhixiang said, frowning.

Li Zhu, who was accompanying them, said with a wry smile, "Years of war have left the fields barren, and with various forces levying exorbitant taxes, the people are suffering terribly. Last year, Ping'an Road was also hit by a locust plague, and the harvest was less than 30% of previous years, hence this situation..."

Shen Zhixiang was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Lord Li, do you think Dongjiang Town's control of Ping'an Road is a blessing or a curse?"

Lee Soo was taken aback, clearly not expecting Shen Zhixiang to ask such a direct question.

He hesitated for a moment before cautiously replying, "This humble official dares not presume to comment."

“Speak freely,” Shen Zhixiang said calmly. “What you say today will only enter my ears, and will not be spread outside.” Li Zhu took a deep breath, his words carrying a hint of flattery: “Since the Commander-in-Chief has inquired, I will speak frankly. Dongjiang Town’s control of Ping’an Road will inevitably lead to the collection of grain and military pay in the short term, increasing the burden on the people. But in the long run, it may end the chaotic situation of Ping’an Road being controlled by various forces for many years, bringing a sense of stability to hundreds of thousands of people.”

He paused, then continued, “In present-day Korea, the central government is in chaos, and there is a power vacuum in the local areas. Kong Youde’s faction is in Hamgyong Province, and Gangwon Province has also been affected by them. The Xinhua Army occupies many islands along the southeast coast, and Dongnae Prefecture is also under their control. Local strongmen in various provinces and counties have declared independence. If Pyongan Province is not guarded by a strong force, it will probably also fall into a state of division and war.”

Shen Zhixiang smiled and said, "So, you support Dongjiang Town taking over Ping'an Road?"

Li Zhu smiled wryly and said, "Of course I support it. In chaotic times, the strong prey on the weak. Ping'an Road is powerless to protect itself and will eventually be controlled by a certain force. In comparison, Dongjiang Town is, after all, the Ming government army, and its actions are still in accordance with the law. For the people, this may not be a bad thing."

Shen Zhixiang gave Li Zhu a deep look, then suddenly changed the subject: "Take me to see Pyongyang's granaries and armories."

In the west of Pyongyang, in front of a dilapidated granary, Shen Zhixiang saw a shocking sight: the granary was mostly empty, with less than 100 shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain remaining, all of which was old, coarse rice that smelled musty.

Several rats scurried around the corner, showing no fear of people.

"Is this all the grain stored in the Pyongyang granary?" Shen Zhixiang asked incredulously, reaching out to grab a handful of rice, letting it slip through his fingers.

Li Zhu nodded with shame: "Last year's revenue was already poor, and with the additional requisitions from all sides, there's hardly anything left. If it weren't for the timely arrival of military provisions by the Ming army, the people in the city probably wouldn't have survived until autumn."

Upon hearing this, Shen Zhixiang's expression froze.

Damn it, they're trying to take advantage of me!

He originally planned to replenish military supplies with Pyongyang's grain reserves, but now it seems that not only will he be unable to obtain supplies from Pyongan Province, he will also have to pay out of his own pocket to provide relief to the people.

"Pass down the order..." Shen Zhixiang pondered for a moment, then turned to his personal guards and instructed, "Take 100 shi (a unit of dry measure) from the military rations we brought and set up a soup kitchen to relieve the starving people in the city."

He gritted his teeth and added, "Allocate another fifty shi (a unit of dry measure) to be distributed among the officials in the city."

Upon hearing this, Lee Soo looked up in surprise, a hint of gratitude flashing in his eyes: "General... this move will surely win over the hearts of the people of Pyongyang."

Shen Zhixiang shook his head: "I am not trying to win over the people, but I cannot bear to see them starve to death. Hehe, now that Dongjiang Town has taken up residence in Ping'an Road, I will naturally appease the people."
-
"Dezhu, what are your thoughts after today's inspection?" Shen Zhixiang asked, glancing sideways at Zhao Dezhu, the adjutant general beside him, as he rode on his horse.

Zhao Dezhu chuckled and waved his riding whip: "General, Ping'an Road is not a piece of fat meat at all. It has been gnawed too much and there is not much oil left. ... However, it is still a good territory after all."

“Yes, territory…” Shen Zhixiang sighed, his gaze sweeping over the dilapidated houses on both sides of the street. “After Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming and the like fled Dengzhou, they were able to recruit soldiers and horses in Hamgyong Province within a few years, and drive the wild Jurchens to their side. They have become local tyrants who have carved out a territory in northwestern Korea!”

"If they can do it, why can't my Dongjiang Town's legitimate Ming Dynasty troops do it?"

His voice carried a hint of suppressed resentment and...jealousy.

"General, you are absolutely right!" Zhao Dezhu agreed wholeheartedly, echoing, "Those two, Kong and Geng, fled from Dengzhou in a sorry state and were in a panic at sea. If it weren't for Master Shen (Shen Shikui) being soft-hearted and letting them go, they would probably be fish food in the sea by now. How could they be so arrogant today!"

"Although they control Hamgyeong Province, it's a harsh and cold place, unlike Pyongan Province, which is strategically located, connecting the Ming Dynasty, Joseon, and Liaodong. If we can firmly control this place, we'll have a strong foothold whether we advance or retreat! However, we still need to be mindful of the imperial court..."

"The imperial court? Does the imperial court still care about us, this isolated army overseas?" Shen Zhixiang said disdainfully. "With bandits rampant inside the pass and Governor Hong gone, who among Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong, and Luo Rucai is easy to deal with? Even if Grand Secretary Sun (Sun Chuanting) has the ambition to hold up the sky, I'm afraid he can't hold up the sky alone!"

He reined in his horse and glanced at the generals: "To say something outrageous, if the Ming Dynasty falls, we tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians of Dongjiang Town must find a way to survive!"

These words resonated with everyone.

Pi Island is bitterly cold, and its food and supplies have been scarce for a long time. It is dependent on the imperial court and cannot get anything from it. It also has to face the threat of the Qing invaders at all times.

If it weren't for the occasional help from new Chinese people over the years, they probably would have broken up long ago.

They had long been fed up with this precarious existence.

With North Korea currently embroiled in internal strife and its central government collapsing, this presents a golden opportunity.

Shen Zhixiang stopped his horse in the middle of the street and said in a deep voice, "Anyone with eyes can see that the Ming Dynasty's ship is probably... about to sink. Our tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Dongjiang Town cannot go down with it!"

"Although Ping'an Road is dilapidated, the land is fertile and there are many valleys. With proper management, it may well become a foundation for us to settle down and make a living. Today, we occupy this place not out of rebellion, but to save ourselves and to seek a prosperous future for our descendants!"

He paused, then lowered his voice: "The old commander (Shen Shikui) gave instructions on this matter before he left, telling us to proceed cautiously and seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take Ping'an Road as soon as possible."

“Dezhu…” Shen Zhixiang looked at Zhao Dezhu, “Tomorrow you will lead a battalion of troops to Anzhou, Dingzhou and other important towns in the western part of Ping’an Road, under the pretext of eliminating bandits and pacifying the local area. You must take actual control of government offices, granaries and strategic passes. If any local strongmen or remnants of the army resist, wipe them out with lightning speed, so as to establish the prestige of our Dongjiang Town army!”

"Your subordinate obeys!" Zhao Dezhu clasped his hands in acceptance, a gleam of excitement in his eyes.

"Commander Wang," Shen Zhixiang then looked at another general, "you are in charge of reorganizing Pyongyang's defenses, repairing the city walls, and setting up additional sentry posts. At the same time, send someone with my order to the southern counties of Pyongan Province, ordering their officials to come to Pyongyang immediately. Anyone who delays will be punished for disobeying orders!"

"Yes!" Guerrilla Commander Wang replied loudly.

“In addition…” Shen Zhixiang pondered for a moment, “issue a proclamation in the name of the General’s Office of Dongjiang Town to announce a reduction of 30% of the taxes for Ping’an Road this year… no, 40%! Also announce that all those who have fled abroad and return to their hometowns to reclaim wasteland will be given seeds and exempted from two years of corvée labor.”

One general hesitated and asked, "General, if taxes are reduced, where will our army get its supplies?"

Shen Zhixiang sneered: "Look further ahead! The people of Ping'an Road are suffering from poverty and hardship. Killing the goose that lays the golden eggs will only incite the people to rebel and cause them to flee to other places."

"At this time, let them rest and recuperate, and stabilize their morale. As for the shortage of military supplies... we can first use part of the military rations we brought and the reserves on Pi Island, and at the same time..."

A glint of light flashed in his eyes. "Send someone to make contact with the people on Tamna Island (Jeju Island). Since Xinhua is willing to sponsor Kong Youde, there's no reason why they shouldn't give us some support as well."

"General, what about... how should we deal with Prince Gwanghae in Seoul?" someone asked.

Shen Zhixiang stroked his short beard, confident: "Gwanghaegun? He is seriously ill and will not live much longer. How can he care about Pyongan Province? Just you wait and see. Once he dies, it will be good enough if that Crown Prince, who is not even four years old, can control Gyeonggi Province."

"Of course, we still need to put on a show. Send someone to deliver a document to him in the name of the Ming Dynasty's military, saying that Dongjiang Town, at the request of the Korean people, has temporarily taken over the military and political affairs of Ping'an Province to protect the borders and people and prevent banditry and foreign invasion."

"As for the wording, it should be a little more respectful, but the attitude should be firm and not allow any opposition. If he knows what's good for him, then give him nominal respect; if he doesn't... well, what can he do to me!"

Upon hearing this, the generals burst into laughter.

"Damn it, we finally have a territory where we can really maneuver around!"

Since Mao Wenlong founded Dongjiang Town, these men from Liaodong have drifted on the islands, struggling between the Ming Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty, and Korea. They have paid a heavy price in blood and sacrifice, yet they have always been like rootless duckweed.

If a traitor like Kong Youde could carve out a territory in Korea, why couldn't these Ming Dynasty officials and soldiers who persisted in resisting the Qing Dynasty?

The imperial court was already in turmoil, and war was raging throughout the Central Plains. After Hong Chengchou was dismissed from his post, the situation in the Central Plains deteriorated rapidly.

Li Zicheng was powerful in Henan, Zhang Xianzhong ravaged Hubei and Hunan, and even Luo Rucai had become a force to be reckoned with, infiltrating Anhui and proving difficult to subdue.

Although Sun Chuanting was a capable fighter, he was no match for the overwhelming odds, and signs of the Ming Dynasty's impending collapse were already evident.

The tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Dongjiang Town must always think about the future and plan for their families and descendants.

This Ping'an Road, backed by the Liaodong region of the Ming Dynasty—though severed by the Qing Dynasty, its maritime connections remained intact—faces the heart of Korea and controls the natural barrier of the Yalu River, making it a strategically important location that can be both offensive and defensive.

If we can build upon this foundation and integrate our strengths, we may well be able to secure a place in this chaotic world and create a bright future for everyone.
-
(End of this chapter)