Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 226 Chips and Morality

Xiong Tingbi's methods of killing people were a true reflection of his personality and a source of confidence. However, the most compelling principle among the Liaodong generals was that he wouldn't deliberately harass or oppress someone simply because he disliked them, nor would he steal or suppress their credit. He would simply tell them to get out.

And if you really have merits, he will not ask for your filial piety after verifying it, but report it directly to the Ministry of War. If the officials of the Ministry of War hold up the approval and insist on asking for service fees according to the old rules, or ask you to go to Beijing to kowtow, he will directly write a memorial to scold the officials. Then he will ask the emperor to send censors or even Jinyiwei to Liaodong to investigate and see if it is false merit and whether it is worthy of reward or promotion. This is simply against the long-standing unspoken rules of the Ministry of War. Cutting off someone's financial resources is like killing their parents. Although Xiong Tingbi holds the title of Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, if he loses the trust and support of the emperor, the bureaucrats of the Ministry of War will most likely be the first to jump out and add insult to injury and punish Xiong Tingbi to death.

"Master Zuotang looks like he has made the decision in advance." He Shixian nodded to himself.

Sun Chuanting found He Shixian's perspective and observations somewhat unique. He smiled and said, "Great minds think alike."

"Master Sun thinks so too?" With the help of his personal guards, He Shixian took off his third-rank military officer's uniform with a crimson tiger patch and changed into casual clothes that were easier to move around in.

"I think Lord Zuotang's idea should be in between. Not letting the Tatars into the city is his bottom line. As long as there is no objection from above, it doesn't matter if they don't enter the city and open a tent to distribute porridge." Sun Chuanting still had a lot of clerical work to do and had no plans to go to the training ground to accompany the exercises, so he didn't change his clothes.

"What do you think, Master Sun?" You Shigong, who had already changed his clothes, interrupted and asked.

"If Lord Zuotang really hated the Tatars so much, he would have sent troops to disperse them long ago. He would never have allowed the scattered Tatars to gather between Liaoning and Shenyang." Sun Chuanting twirled his beard with a subtle look in his eyes.

As far as Sun Chuanting knew, during the peak period of the Liao people's return to Liao, Xiong Tingbi dispatched cavalry to escort them along the route. These cavalry could not only escort the Liao people, but also naturally expel the scattered Tatars. The Ming army in Liaodong was temporarily unable to launch a counterattack against Hetuala, but it was possible to dispatch a few guerrillas with cavalry to disperse or even exterminate these neglected Mongols. More sinisterly, Xiong Tingbi could have taken their heads to Beijing. Even if he couldn't claim credit for them, it would have been enough to silence the censors.

"That makes sense." He Shixian didn't think too much about it and just nodded. Then he asked, "Master Sun will stay in the tent? Why not go to the training ground with us?"

"Yang Youqian still needs to check the numbers. If you're willing to do it for me, I can let you do it." In the tenth year of the Hongwu reign, prefectures and counties were abolished, leaving only the garrison offices in Liaodong. When Sun Chuanting entered Liao, the Shenyang Central Guard Commandery was given to Xiong Tingbi as the general's headquarters. After Sun Chuanting arrived in Shenyang, Xiong Tingbi didn't keep him around, instead setting up his office in He Shixian's military camp. This facilitated the allocation of supplies and allowed him to keep an eye on He Shixian, preventing him from disobeying orders and engaging in unnecessary battles.

"No need. You're busy." He Shixian shook his head hurriedly. After becoming an officer, he had spent a lot of money to hire a teacher to teach him how to read, but He Shixian was obviously not a scholar, so he only had a rough understanding of writing.

"Why are you asking?" Sun Chuanting dispelled his distracting thoughts, opened the document, picked up the pen, and stopped thinking about this matter.

------

Shenyang Zhongwei Commandery Office.

After everyone left, Xiong Tingbi leaned back in his chair, squinting his eyes and rubbing his Jingming acupoint with his right hand. This was his way of resting in lieu of a nap.

Between the 40th and 47th years of the Wanli reign, Xiong Tingbi was impeached for misconduct and forced to remain idle at home. During this time, he remained aloof from state affairs. Aside from matters concerning the well-being of the people, such as bridge and embankment construction, he never actively visited the government. In the 42nd year of the Wanli reign, after his elderly mother passed away, Xiong Tingbi returned to his old home in the countryside. Even when he returned to the city, he would plant trees, raise fish, and play chess in his garden. This lazy and leisurely lifestyle bred Xiong Tingbi into the habit of napping, but since April 17th, the 47th year of the Wanli reign, when he received the imperial edict to leave home and travel north to Beijing, he rarely took a nap.

After relaxing for a while, Xiong Tingbi raised his head and looked at Yang Lian, who had not yet left. "Wen Ru, are you going to continue talking about the Tatars, or something else?" He asked directly without beating around the bush.

"What exactly do you think about this matter?" Yang Lian put away his peacemaker smile and his expression became serious again.

Xiong Tingbi shrugged and said, "What else can I think? Sun Boya's suggestion is very good. Just put people in the pen, guard them, and feed them to prevent them from starving to death. Do you think they should be treated like masters by the government?"

"You know that's not what I'm asking." Yang Lian frowned slightly.

"Haha. You still understand me." When Xiong Tingbi learned that Yang Lian had impeached the Donglin Cult and the powerful East Factory Governor Cui Wensheng in court, he felt that this man was very similar to himself. "That's it. Liaodong can withstand the influx of this small group of Tatars. Killing them or expelling them would be detrimental to Liaodong's overall situation. Especially now."

"Are you talking about Hudun and Tuhan going to Beijing?" When Yang Lian used this incident to change the subject, he vaguely thought of the connection between the two.

"You've already said it yourself, why are you asking?" Xiong Tingbi laughed. "During the 47th year, when the Liao Dynasty was in turmoil, Hu Dun Tu Han kept raising his price. Hu Dun Tu Han doesn't care about their lives, but if I expel or kill the Tatar refugees in Liaodong now, Hu Dun Tu Han will immediately become their leader and use this opportunity to ask for an exorbitant price from the court."

In the autumn of the 47th year of the Wanli reign, the Yehe tribe, which the Ming had fostered as a northern defense against the Jiannu, was destroyed. The imperial court dispatched Wang You, the military supervisor, to Chahanhot, the capital of the Chahar tribe, with 4,000 taels of silver. Ligdan Khan initially feigned illness and then discarded the imperial edict, claiming he lacked any knowledge of Chinese characters among his staff. This was certainly not a rejection of the imperial court's offer of alliance, but rather an attempt to raise the price and extract more goods from the court. While the silver was certainly important, more importantly, he sought to leverage the Ming court's concessions to enhance his prestige within the Chahar and even the Khalkha tribes.

Afterwards, Lin Danhan instructed his uncle Naomaoda to tell the Ming envoy, "We want to raise an army to kill Nuerhaci, but the power lies in Han, so I am afraid it will be difficult for him to do it on his own." Translated, the Chahar tribe also disliked Nurhaci, but if the court wanted to mobilize the Chahar tribe to do specific things, it would have to pay more money.

When the news reached General Xiong Tingbi, he believed that with the Yehe tribe completely annexed by Nurhaci and Liaodong in dire straits, Ligdan Khan's importance had indeed increased significantly. He petitioned the Wanli Emperor, requesting a treasury reward. The Wanli Emperor agreed, raising the reward to 40,000 taels of silver, but still having the Ministry of Revenue provide the funds.

"Then why don't you just tell Yuan Dalai what you think?" Yang Lian felt that things were not that simple. He narrowed his eyes and began to think.

"Yuan Dalai is good in every way, except he's too bookish." Xiong Tingbi curled his lips. "He can't really help with these complicated matters. Might as well take this opportunity to scold him. Burn those sage books he's carrying on his back to clear his head. Of course, it doesn't matter if we can't burn them; he doesn't have the final say anyway."

"This scolding was in vain." Yang Lian figured something out. He suddenly widened his eyes and laughed indifferently. "Heh."

"It's not in vain. It's a precaution. It will be easier to talk it out when we have a quarrel." Xiong Tingbi supported his head, met Yang Lian's eyes and said.

"That's what you think!" Yang Lian said with a serious face.

"What else?" Xiong Tingbi replied, "If we expel these Tartar refugees, the Ming will lose its moral integrity. If we round them up and feed them, but they are plundered or even killed by Nurhaci, then the Nu tribe loses its moral integrity and we gain it. So even if Yuan Dalai doesn't talk about giving them alms and Sun Boya doesn't mention raising them outside, I will open a porridge factory outside the city and then round them up with fences."

"You really are..." Yang Lian sighed.

"A merciful army is not for the command of men. I am just such a wicked man." Xiong Tingbi was quite frank. "All I have to do is be worthy of the Emperor and the court."

"You speak so bluntly, aren't you afraid that I will expose the matter?" Yang Lian stared at Xiong Tingbi, the muscles on his face twitching slightly because of his too serious expression.

"You won't do that. I'm very good at judging people. Except for never fighting in a war or killing anyone, you and I are essentially the same kind of people." Xiong Tingbi affirmed confidently.

"Hahahaha. Hahahaha!" Yang Lian suddenly burst into laughter. "Yes, we are the same kind of people. As long as we are worthy of the Emperor and the Ming Dynasty, that's all." After laughing for a while, Yang Lian calmed down. His whole body relaxed, and he unconsciously adopted the same posture as Xiong Tingbi. "Have you reported this idea to the Emperor?" Yang Lian asked.

"The secret memorial has been submitted, but I only mentioned allocating land outside the city to set up a porridge factory for the Tatar victims," ​​Xiong Tingbi said. "The official memorial has been written and can be sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs at any time. It was originally scheduled for today."

Xiong Tingbi didn't know who else had obtained the emperor's secret box. But he knew Yang Lian had one. So he spoke frankly, "I'm not going to talk about moral matters. Neither overtly nor covertly. And you shouldn't say anything. The emperor doesn't need to know about such a bloody affair; it would be disastrous if he did."

"I understand." Yang Lian nodded, no longer discussing the topic. "I previously secretly reported to the Emperor about giving bonuses to the officers. You should have received my letter. What are your thoughts on this? I'm going to report back."

"Give it out. Giving money out is better than letting them embezzle it themselves." Xiong Tingbi said.

"No. I'm asking how much you plan to give out?" Yang Lian asked.

"First, I have to correct you. It's not me who issues the salaries, it's the Emperor, and it's best to have someone from the palace do it." Xiong Tingbi replied without hesitation, "As for the amount, there are 1,000 generals, 800 lieutenants, 500 lieutenant generals, 300 guerrillas, 200 commanders, 150 garrisons, and 100 captains. There's no need for the rest; we've already paid them."

Yang Lian did a quick calculation and figured the total would be between 30,000 and 40,000. It was a significant sum, but compared to Liaodong's military budget, it was a small fraction.

"What about you?" Yang Lian asked again.

"I'm not an officer, what do I need this money for?" Xiong Tingbi spread his hands and shook his head. "Xiong didn't come to Liaodong for money."

Yang Lian nodded and said, "Okay. Let's continue writing."

"How much did the emperor approve for you?" Xiong Tingbi asked curiously.

"Three words." Yang Lian said, "Tell me a number."

"Wow." Xiong Tingbi raised his eyebrows. "Your Majesty is very generous. Then when you write it up, add some more cloth and silk to make clothes for them."

"How much?" Yang Lian asked.

"The figure is half, calculated by the piece of cloth. Half cloth and half silk," Xiong Tingbi said. So the generals would get fifty pieces of cloth, and the lieutenants forty.

"Okay." Yang Lian nodded. "I'll write a secret report and send it back to Beijing today."

------

Beijing, Nanxunfang, Zhang Mansion.

Zhang Shirui's forehead burned hot, and her pillow was soaked with sweat. Her breathing was rapid and shallow, and each breath felt like she was climbing an invisible mountain.

She was dreaming, but her thoughts were like a turbulent flow, alternating between light and darkness, a chaotic mess.

"Girl." After putting another cold and wet but not icy handkerchief on Zhang Shirui's forehead, Zhang Shirui finally woke up.

Although Zhang Shirui was awake, her consciousness was still as muddled as a quagmire. A stabbing pain assaulted her brain from all sides, and a soreness and weakness gnawed at her mercilessly. She felt as if her body was being roasted by flames, yet her hands and feet were freezing cold.

"Girl, come, let's change our clothes again." Ding Baiying reached into the quilt and found that the nightgown she had changed for Zhang Shirui last night was soaked again.

"I don't have the energy. I don't want to move." Zhang Shirui swallowed her saliva, feeling a sharp pain in her throat. "Please pour me a glass of water, please?"

"Okay." Ding Baiying quickly brought a cup of warm tea.

"How long have I slept?" Zhang Shirui asked after drinking the water Ding Baiying fed her.

"A day and a half. I was almost scared to death." Ding Baiying wiped Zhang Shirui's forehead with her sleeve.

"What medicine was prescribed?" Zhang Shirui smelled the scent of boiling medicine.

"Rhubarb and Glauber's salt." Zhang Shirui stopped Ding Baiying just after reading the two medicines.

"Cough cough. What a mess." Zhang Shirui's voice was as thin as a firefly and was drowned out by the coughing.

"Girl, what did you say?" Ding Baiying didn't hear clearly, so she put her ear close to Zhang Shirui's lips.

"This medicine... Ha! Don't boil it." Zhang Shirui's hot breath made Ding Baiying's earlobe itchy.

"Why?" It was difficult to find a female doctor. The female doctor she brought to Zhang's house was the one she had to hire after going to several clinics and spending two taels of silver.

"This prescription is used to clear the bowels and relieve heat. It's not effective!" Zhang Shirui said with all her might.

(End of this chapter)