Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 220: Agreement and Liaodong History

Zhu Changluo didn't hug Mi Mengshang back, but asked in confusion, "What's wrong? Why are you suddenly saying this?"

Mi Mengshang immediately realized her abruptness and quickly let go of the emperor. She licked her lips, which had become dry and slightly chapped from the heat of the charcoal, and tried her best to put on a normal smile. "I don't know. I just suddenly felt a little cold."

Zhu Changluo lowered his head, held her chin with two fingers, and gently lifted it up. "Did you hear something bad from somewhere?" Zhu Changluo had a smile between his eyebrows, and his tone was still calm and warm.

"I haven't heard anything." Mi Mengshang stood upright with her chin propped up and her feet on end. She didn't turn her head, but just turned her eyes to the side.

"Then what are you afraid of?" Zhu Changluo said in a serious tone, his eyes showing a solemn expression: "Look at me and tell the truth."

Mi Mengshang didn't dare disobey the order. She raised her eyes again and cast a look of grievance at the emperor. The corners of her mouth still maintained an upward arc, but it was already shaken by the constant trembling.

"Don't cry. Talk." Zhu Changluo said firmly.

"Your Majesty, I just had a nightmare because I heard about something that happened in the East Factory." Mi Mengshang sniffed. At this moment, her dry lips suddenly cracked from the forced smile. Mi Mengshang didn't feel the pain because her attention was completely captured by the emperor's sudden harshness. "Your Majesty, I will get the job done."

Zhu Changluo's solemn expression suddenly melted away, replaced by a sense of pity. After all, this so-called Inspection Bureau Director was just a young man of sixteen or seventeen years old.

Zhu Changluo withdrew his fingers from supporting Mi Mengshang's chin, twisted up his wide sleeves, and wiped the blood from her lips. "Your mouth is dry and bleeding." The blood on her lips was not heavy, but it still stained the light-colored dragon robe with a dazzling red.

Mi Mengshang stuck out her tongue and, sure enough, tasted a hint of salty sweetness on her lower lip. She instinctively covered her lower lip with her upper lip, clamping her lips with her teeth. A slight push from her white teeth forced even more blood into her mouth. "Your Majesty." The aftertaste of blood flowed through her nerves, breaking through the bank that held back her tears, dripping down in crystalline threads, just right onto that dazzling spot.

"Why are you crying? Why do you all like to cry?" Zhu Changluo held her head and let her lean back to where she had been leaning before. "Okay, okay. I shouldn't have been so mean to you." Zhu Changluo gently patted her back and soothed her tenderly.

Mi Mengshang doesn't know yet that she is the only woman who has received gentle comfort from the emperor after he made her cry.

After Mi Mengshang stopped crying, Zhu Changluo took her back to the bed and sat her down. This way, Mi Mengshang didn't have to look up at his face. "It seems that the matter of life and death is still too cruel for you. If you don't want to do it anymore, I can replace you. You can just live a good life in Yongshou Palace."

Zhu Changluo considered removing Mi Mengshang from his position as Director of the Inspection Bureau more than once. While he had pressured the Imperial Household Department to suppress the incident, the Western Depot was, after all, an intelligence agency, and the Inspection Bureau's authority over certain matters surpassed that of the Western Depot headquarters. As Cao Huachun had said to Wang An, there was no guarantee that Mi Mengshang would stumble upon the truth through some unexpected channel. Zhu Changluo was unsure whether Mi Mengshang would remain sane after learning the truth and refrain from assassinating the emperor. But he also didn't want to exile her.

Therefore, Zhu Changluo thought: Since Mi Mengshang woke up in the middle of the night in fear because of the East Factory’s affairs, I should take this opportunity to remove her.

Zhu Changluo's backup candidate was Li Qinfang. Although Zhu Changluo felt that the most suitable woman for the post of Imperial Guard in the harem was Li Zhulan, a woman not only scheming and ambitious but also capable of execution, Wei Zhongxian was, after all, a former member of the Western Li Palace. If Li Zhulan were to supervise Wei Zhongxian in the Western Depot, who knew what strange things might happen.

Overall, Li Qinfang is the best concubine because she is of the right age, emotionally stable, has no background, and is not involved in any entanglements.

"No!" Zhu Changluo's pity had the opposite effect. Mi Mengshang not only did not accept it with pleasure, but fell to her knees and began to sob again: "I will do the job well. Please don't abandon me, Your Majesty."

"Sit down and talk." Zhu Changluo pulled Mi Mengshang up and forced her to his side, then put his arm around her shoulders to restrict her movements. "I didn't say I was abandoning you. Even if you're not working at the Western Factory, you're still mine. I sent a formal letter to the Ministry of Rites before the New Year. Once they're free, you'll be Concubine Mi instead of Concubine Mi."

Mi Mengshang was stunned, and then a feeling of joy rose in her heart.

Conferring titles is a formalization of names. The division of imperial concubines became a clear demarcation during the reigns of Emperor Shizong and Jiajing. Before Emperor Shizong, the nine titles of imperial concubines, such as Zhaorong, Zhaoyi, Jieyu, and Meiren, were used below the rank of consort, and these titles were not formally defined in the imperial decrees. Under Emperor Shizong, the titles were redefined, with the conferring ceremony standardized. The nine consorts were given equal status and their respective titles. In other words, while consorts were slightly lower in rank than consorts, from the Jiajing period onwards, they were officially considered concubines. Below these, according to popular standards, they became ji, not qi.

However, this spontaneous joy wasn't enough to reassure her. While status was important, she wanted the Emperor's attention, even genuine love, even if it was just a little bit. Mi Mengshang knew the Emperor well enough to believe that physical intimacy was meaningless. Being useful to the Emperor was the only way for a suspicious woman like her, who had entered the palace halfway and used her beauty to please others, to gain love. After all, the seven beauties who had shared Yongshou Palace with her had never been favored by him again since that one, single encounter.

Mi Mengshang struggled but failed to free her arms, so she could only verbally say, "I bow to thank the emperor."

"That's it."

"I will complete the task assigned by the emperor and will never let the emperor down." This was the first time Mi Mengshang interrupted the emperor.

"Why do you insist on staying in the Western Depot?" Zhu Changluo asked. "I am the descendant of a criminal, of humble origin. My access to the Emperor's favor is due, first, to Heaven's blessing, and second, to the Emperor's grace. Sharing His Majesty's worries is a way of repaying both the Emperor and Heaven." Mi Mengshang's words were quite grand. But Zhu Changluo, who wore a crown every day, had grown almost immune to such talk, so he said, "I want to hear the truth."

"I have no desire to compete for favor, but I fear losing it. I am not an old member of the Qian Palace, and I come from a humble background. Only by being useful to the Emperor can I retain his favor." Mi Mengshang grabbed the Emperor's hand, placed it on her chest, and said, "This is my sincere words, without any falsehood. If the Emperor still doesn't believe me, I will reveal my heart as proof."

"Well, since you're willing, you can continue to stay at the Western Depot." Zhu Changluo had a smile on his face, but he couldn't quite bring himself to laugh. "According to common practice, after a concubine is appointed, her father is usually given the non-hereditary title of Jinyiwei Qianhu. Since you've made great contributions, I'll give your father the title of Qianshi, which can be inherited for generations."

"I thank the emperor." A smile came from Mi Mengshang's face, one that was genuine and not forced.

"I have a promise with you. As long as you remain useful to me, no matter what happens, I will not harm you. You must believe it."

Although Mi Mengshang didn't know why the emperor said this, she still replied, "It's a deal."

------

In the fourth year of the Hongwu reign, Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang established the Dingliao Guard Command in Liaodong, with Ma Yun and Ye Wang as commanders-in-chief, Wu Quan and Feng Xiang as associate governors, and Wang De as assistant governor. This command was responsible for overseeing the Liaodong garrison troops and repairing fortifications to maintain security on the frontier. In the eighth year of the Hongwu reign, Emperor Taizu renamed the Dingliao Guard Command to the Liaodong Command, or Liaodong Command for short, a name that remained constant. Since Liaodong lacked a provincial administrative commissioner or a judicial commissioner, the military governor of Liaodong effectively assumed both civil and judicial functions.

The seat of the Liaodong Regional Military Commission was Dingliao Zhongwei in Liaoyang, but the current military and political chief of Liaodong, Xiong Tingbi, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War and Left Censor-in-Chief of Liaodong, was not in Liaoyang, but in Shenyang.

The twists and turns of Liao's history are hard to describe in a few words.

On April 13, the 46th year of the Wanli reign, Nurhaci reported his "Seven Great Grievances" to heaven. The next day, Nurhaci dispatched troops from two directions to besiege Fushun and sent a letter to Li Yongfang, the Fushun guerrilla commander. After reading the letter, Li Yongfang climbed the south gate to surrender, but hesitated. Nurhaci then attacked the city with ladders. The chieftain's soldiers climbed the walls, beheaded the commander of the central army, Wang Mingyin, and forced the commanders Wang Xuedao and Tang Yao to retreat. Although Fushun remained unbroken after the initial assault, Li Yongfang, unwilling to die for his country, actually surrendered. He prostrated himself on the ground, performing the rites of a slave, and met Nurhaci.

The next day, Nurhaci destroyed Fushun City and moved the people there to a small hilltop 150 miles east of Fushun, where he built Hetuala City. Hetuala City was the first capital of Nurhaci after he founded the country and was proclaimed Khan.

In stark contrast to Li Yongfang's cowardice was the brutal Battle of Fushun. Shortly after Fushun's fall, Zhang Chengyin, General of the Conquering Enemy Army and Commander-in-Chief of Guangning, was ordered to lead 6,000 troops in five directions south of Fushun City, where they engaged in a field battle with 40,000 slave soldiers. Nurhaci ordered the Jianzhou troops to feign a retreat in three directions, luring the Ming army into pursuit. He then launched a pincer attack with 10,000 cavalry, annihilating the Ming army in one fell swoop. In this battle, Zhang Chengyin was defeated and killed, along with Deputy General Po Tingxiang, Guerrilla General Liang Rugui, and fifty others.

The news of Fushun's fall, the defection of its defenders, and the failure of its efforts to recapture it reached the imperial court, immediately drawing the attention of the entire court, including the emperor. The court began to realize that the situation in Liaodong was far more than the Wei, Suo, and Dusi could handle.

On the day when the news of Zhang Chengyin's complete annihilation reached Beijing, the cabinet's sole prime minister Fang Congzhe summoned Li Ruhua, the Minister of Revenue and acting Personnel, He Zongyan, the Left Vice Minister of Rites and acting seal-holder, Huang Jiashan, the Minister of War, Li Zhu, the Minister of Punishment and acting Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, and Lin Ruchu, the Right Vice Minister of Works and acting seal-holder, to hold a "Nine Ministers Meeting".

The six people who attended the "Nine Ministers Conference" quickly reached a consensus. After the meeting, Fang Congzhe submitted a memorial to the emperor, stating: "The situation in Liaodong may not be resolved overnight. A governor-general, commanding from a distance of thousands of miles, is unable to communicate effectively. The details of the government-in-charge of rice and salt are inconsistent. In previous years, during the Korean and Tao River campaigns, it was convenient to appoint a special governor-general to handle this responsibility. Now that the Liao situation is urgent, it seems appropriate to appoint a special governor-general to oversee all defense and suppression measures and to withdraw once the situation is resolved."

Uncharacteristically, the emperor responded to this memorial quickly. He ordered the cabinet to immediately organize a recommendation and ordered Sichuan, Shaanxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, and other provinces to dispatch troops to reinforce Liaodong. Later, because Yang Hao had "previously visited the region and was familiar with the enemy's situation," he was nominated by the court to govern Liaodong as Right Vice Minister of War. He was also granted the Imperial Sword to oversee military affairs and lead the campaign.

Facts proved this expedition a complete failure. While the emperor valued the cause, he was impatient and stingy, spending virtually none of the treasury's silver. The national treasury was depleted, leaving the Ministry of Revenue with no choice but to impose a nationwide pay increase. Raising pay meant increasing pressure. Fearing the army's age and lack of funds, officials like Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe, Minister of War Huang Jiashan, and Military Censor Zhao Xingbang repeatedly issued red military banners to Yang Hao, urging him to dispatch the troops as soon as possible. Consequently, the expedition, originally scheduled for March 21st, the 47th year of the Wanli reign, was moved up to February 21st.

As if by providence, on February 21st, heavy snowfall made the march difficult and forced the postponement of the expedition. Even if the heavens could not hold back those who sought death, the heavy snow only bought the Ming army four more days of life. Yang Hao rejected all proposals for a delay from the various generals, insisting on setting out on February 25th.

From February 28th to March 5th of the 47th year of the Wanli reign, three Ming armies were routed, and the Korean army surrendered en masse, ending the Battle of Sarhu. In this battle, the Ming lost over 45,000 soldiers and over 310 generals. Kaiyuan, Tieling, and other cities subsequently fell. Shenyang became the closest important city to the Qienu.

On the second day of August in the 47th year of the Wanli reign, the newly appointed governor, Xiong Tingbi, handed over his command to Yang Hao in Haizhou. The next day, he hurried to Liaoyang, his seat of government. Upon his arrival in Liaoyang, Xiong Tingbi immediately sought to stabilize public sentiment. He first arrested officials who had moved their families out of the city and then ordered wealthy households to relocate their families back, effectively stabilizing public sentiment.

Afterward, while assuming the position of Vice Minister of War, he reorganized military affairs while, as Assistant Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, he apprehended deserting generals and corrupt officials. He requested the imperial order to punish the deserting generals Liu Yujie, Wang Jie, and Wang Wending, as well as the corrupt general Chen Lun, with banners and imperial swords. Six altars were set up to mourn the fallen soldiers and civilians. Simultaneously, Xiong Tingbi issued a notice urging the return of fugitives, supervised the production of weapons, dredged the moat, and reinforced the city walls. A few months later, the Liaoyang garrison was established.

Although Xiong Tingbi had relocated to Shenyang, he had once considered abandoning the city. At the time, Liaodong's elite troops had been depleted, and reinforcements were slow to arrive. On August 24th, soldiers from the various camps in Shenyang received news of the fall of the Yehe tribe at Beiguan, and fled south in panic. Xiong Tingbi dispatched Han Yuanshan, a deputy governor who had fled south from Kaiyuan to Liaoyang, to defend Shenyang and pacify the people. Han Yuanshan was afraid to go, so Xiong Tingbi dismissed him and replaced him with Yan Mingtai, the deputy governor.

　The Liao Line was opened

　　
　
(End of this chapter)