Huangming

Chapter 156 Xiong Jing Refines Qi, The Changes in Liaozuo

January 24th, the first year of the Tianqi reign.

Qianqing Palace.

It was still early, with the first light of dawn and a thin mist, and the chill of early spring still lingered.

Zhu Youxiao was dressed in a plain white training uniform, his clothes fluttering like a crane spreading its wings with each move.

Train your body to resemble that of a crane~
The Crane Frolics, one of the Five Animal Frolics, was a move that Zhu Youxiao always focused on practicing.

Of course, other situations should not be overlooked either.

Tigers, deer, bears, and monkeys took turns performing, their agile figures reflected in the golden bricks of the hall.

After practicing the Five Animal Frolics several times, the next step is the Eight Pieces of Brocade!
Zhu Youxiao embraced the moon and supported the sky with both arms, his back taut like a drawn bow.

As he focused his mind and finished his practice, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, glistening faintly in the morning light.

After a round of training, Zhu Youxiao finished his work and his training clothes were soaked with sweat.

Zhao Qingyue, who had served the emperor the previous night, hurriedly stepped forward to attend to him.

After being watered by Zhu Youxiao, the woman's pretty face turned rosy and her lips and teeth were smiling, but the smile was somewhat forced.

Zhu Youxiao let her take off her martial arts uniform and asked, "What's on your mind?"

When asked this question by the emperor, Zhao Qingyue, the palace maid in charge of the emperor's bedchamber, showed a hint of panic on her face and quickly shook her head to deny it.

"Your Majesty, I have nothing on my mind."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qingyue's slender body trembled slightly, and she bent even lower like a willow in the wind.

Her black hair cascaded down, unable to conceal the snow-white nape of her neck, which shone brightly in the morning light.

Zhu Youxiao lightly lifted her delicate chin with his fingertips.

Her lips, adorned with rouge, were bitten slightly by her pearly teeth, leaving a deeper crimson stain, like a cherry blossom about to bloom in the spring rain of March, delicate yet tinged with a hint of hidden pain.

"Are you truly without any worries?"

The emperor's warm fingertips brushed across the corner of her lips, and he sensed a slight tremor as he caressed them.

Zhao Qingyue's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she finally loosened her teeth, her voice as soft as a whisper: "This servant will no longer be able to serve Your Majesty in a few days."

It turned out to be for this reason.

With the palace selection process nearing completion, these palace maids who served as bedchamber attendants had essentially fulfilled their historical mission.

However.
Throughout history, the fates of palace maids who served as bedchamber attendants were mostly tragic.

Zhao Qingyue was worried about her future.

After understanding the woman's thoughts, Zhu Youxiao chuckled and said, "Don't worry, since you are my person and serve me diligently, I will give you a title."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qingyue's tears suddenly rolled down her cheeks, like pearls falling from a broken string onto Zhu Youxiao's fingertips, which he had not yet withdrawn.

The warm touch made her tremble with gratitude. She hurriedly pressed her forehead to the ground, but could not hide the joy that burst forth from her sobs: "This servant...this servant thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness!"

She gripped her clothes tightly, wrinkling the silk, as if only in this way could she suppress the excitement in her heart.

The extravagant hopes that I dared not even dream of last night when the red candles were lit were now being presented to me by the emperor himself.

The word "title" carries immense weight. From then on, she was no longer a rootless palace maid, but a woman who rightfully belonged to the emperor.

Raising her eyes to steal a glance at the emperor's smiling face, Zhao Qingyue blushed shyly.

His burning gaze beneath those sword-like eyebrows was like the morning sun in March, warming her to the very core, even turning the soreness from last night's pleasure into sweetness.

Your Majesty, that's wonderful!
How could she not love a man like that?
"Your Majesty, this servant is willing to serve you for the rest of my life."

Zhao Qingyue was already moved, but Zhu Youxiao showed no intention of making love to her again.

Driving a large truck not only tests your skills, but also your physical strength.

Zhu Youxiao should focus his energy on military affairs!

We can't waste too much time on a woman's belly.

Surrounded by palace maids and eunuchs, Zhu Youxiao changed into a bright yellow everyday robe embroidered with the twelve symbols. Amidst the crisp sound of jade belt buckles, the imperial entourage had already quietly lined up.

On the palace road where the morning mist had not yet dissipated, the emperor walked along the blue brick imperial path toward the East Warm Pavilion.

As soon as Zhu Youxiao stepped into the East Warm Pavilion, the eunuch bowed and reported: "Commander Zhang of the Noble Camp and Commander Luo of the Imperial Guard are waiting for an audience outside the hall."

The emperor raised an eyebrow slightly, and although he seemed surprised, he nodded and said, "Summon him."

Once he was seated on the dragon throne, two figures appeared at the palace entrance:

Zhang Zhiji strode forward with a fawning smile, while Luo Yangxing shuffled along behind him, his lips drooping so low they could hang an oil bottle.

The two knelt down simultaneously, but their tones were completely different:
"Your humble servant, Zhang Zhiji, is the commander of your esteemed camp." (His voice was loud and clear.)

"This humble servant is Luo Yangxing, a centurion of the Imperial Guard, who carries a sword before the Emperor." (Muttering like a mosquito.)

"May Your Majesty enjoy good health!"

Zhu Youxiao looked at the two kneeling on the ground and said irritably, "Speak your mind if you have something to say, or shut up if you have something to say!"

Zhang Zhiji's lips curled into a malicious smile. He glanced sideways at Luo Yangxing beside him, then cupped his hands towards Zhu Youxiao on the throne, saying, "Your Majesty is wise! Such a heavy task as reorganizing the Noble Camp is truly beyond my capabilities on my own. If I could have the strong assistance of a highly skilled Jinyiwei centurion—"

He deliberately dragged out his words, subtly nudged Luo Yangxing's ribs with his elbow, and said with a grin, "I dare to pledge my life to discipline those spoiled brats!"

Luo Yangxing stiffened his neck and nearly shattered his back teeth.

I was thinking that after this guy got promoted, it would be my turn to fill the vacancy of the Imperial Guard Commander!

Who would have thought that this scoundrel would want to drag me to the noble camp to do hard labor?

Zhang Zhiji, I curse your ancestors!
Zhu Youxiao lightly tapped his fingertips on the imperial desk, his gaze sweeping over Luo Yangxing's tense profile: "Minister Luo, would you be willing to serve in the Noble Camp?"

"This humble servant..."

Luo Yangxing's Adam's apple bobbed, and the words of refusal had just begun to escape his lips when Zhang Zhiji suddenly grabbed his sleeve.

"Your Majesty clearly shows you!"

Zhang Zhiji suddenly raised his voice, abruptly cutting off the speaker.

"Last night, when Commander Luo was drinking with me, he personally said that he would serve Your Majesty with his life and blood! He would do his best to help Your Majesty reorganize the noble camp."

As he spoke, Zhang Zhiji secretly pinched Luo Yangxing's lower back hard, winking and saying, "Right? Commander Luo?"

That heartless Zhang! He forced me to drink three jars of pear blossom liquor, all he was waiting for was this!

Luo Yangxing's lips twitched as he looked toward the throne, meeting the emperor's ambiguous gaze. He finally resigned himself to his fate and lowered his head: "This humble servant did indeed say that."

Zhang Zhiji immediately beamed with joy, looking just like a fox that had just caught a fat chicken.

"Your Majesty, look!"

These two are a real handful!
A sharp glint suddenly flashed in Luo Yangxing's eyes, and his previously slumped shoulders and back instantly straightened.

He glanced at Zhang Zhiji, who was winking at him.

However, her eyebrows and eyes didn't seem so hateful after all; instead, they were rather cute.

Ten days of hard labor can earn you a high-ranking official position; what a shrewd business!

"Your humble servant kowtows in gratitude for Heaven's grace!"

Luo Yangxing's loud voice made the palace beams vibrate, and his forehead slammed solidly into the gold bricks.

As he rose, the hem of his robe fluttered in the wind; there was no trace of his previous dejected appearance. "Go, go!"

After Zhang Zhiji and Luo Yangxing left the hall, Principal Zhu You breathed a sigh of relief and was finally able to calmly review the memorials.

As was customary, he first took out the military memorials and placed them on his desk.

There are two urgent military reports awaiting review.

The emperor's slender fingers swept across the gilded box, and he pulled out the topmost letter first.

This memorial, titled "Request for the Transport of Grain and Supplies by Sea to Liaodong," was written by Sun Chengzong.

Zhu Youxiao opened the memorial to the emperor:
Your humble servant, Sun Chengzong, Minister of War and Governor of Liaodong, respectfully reports:

The military affairs in Liaodong were urgent, and the land transport was extremely costly, and the region was also frequently plundered by the Jurchen cavalry.

Your Majesty, the ports of Chadeng and Laizhou are open to the public. I request that one hundred Fujianese ships from Zhejiang and Fujian be dispatched to transport grain from Tianjin, via the Bohai Sea, to Lushunkou.

Its advantages are threefold:

To avoid the dangers of land routes, the annual loss of laborers, mules, and horses exceeded 100,000.
Secondly, the boats are fast and can reach the destination in ten days, so as not to delay spring prevention;

Thirdly, it can mislead the enemy, making it difficult for them to determine the strength or weakness of our army.

We humbly request the Ministry of Revenue to quickly allocate 200,000 shi of grain for the imperial transport, and the Ministry of Works to prepare warships for escort.

I, your humble servant, risk death to report this.

After reading the contents, Zhu Youxiao did not rush to review the memorial.

The energy expenditure of traveling by sea is indeed less than that of traveling by land.

However, Tianjin Sanwei has not yet been reorganized, so this strategy is not yet mature.

Zhu Youxiao kept the memorial in his residence, deciding to think it over further before replying.

The emperor unfolded the second memorial from Liaodong, and saw Xiong Tingbi's powerful, vigorous handwriting that seemed to penetrate the paper:
Your humble servant, Xiong Tingbi, the Military Commissioner of Liaodong, respectfully submits this report:
On the 23rd day of the first month, a report came from the remnants of the Yehe tribe that their city and stronghold had been captured by the Jurchens. The Jurchen chieftain Nurhaci took over all his troops and also gained 3,000 elite cavalry.

Now that the snow in Liaodong is about to melt, I predict that they will take advantage of their recent victory and unite the Eight Banners to raid and plunder the border.

I observe that the walls of the fortresses east of the Sancha River, including Aiyang and Kuandian, are not yet fortified. If the Jurchens launch a surprise attack with light cavalry, I fear it will cause great turmoil in Liaodong and Shenyang.

Special Invitation:

First, quickly dispatch 2,000 elite troops from Xuanfu and Datong to reinforce Shenyang; second, pre-allocate 30,000 catties of gunpowder to be stored in border fortresses; third, order Korea to strictly guard the Yalu River to prevent it from fleeing eastward.

I humbly beseech Your Majesty to determine a strategy as soon as possible, perhaps following the example of the 47th year of the Wanli reign, by concentrating a large army at Fushun to contain them; or perhaps granting my previous suggestion to build a series of fortified outposts to trap the Jurchens. This matter concerns the survival of our territory; I humbly submit to Your Majesty's decision.”

Zhu Youxiao frowned slightly after reading Xiong Tingbi's memorial.

Perhaps to prevent the emperor from being unaware of the situation in Liaodong, Xiong Tingbi also attached his personally written "Study on Jianyi" to the end of his memorial.

Zhu Youxiao opened the Jianyi Kao (a book on the Jianyi people), and thus gained a preliminary understanding of the grudges and affections between the Yehe tribe and the Jianzhou Jurchens:

Yehe and Jianzhou share the same roots, both tracing their ancestry back to the Wanyan clan of the Jin Dynasty.

The Yehe ancestor Xinggendarhan had the blood of the Mongol Tumed tribe, while the Jianzhou ancestor Menggetemur was a descendant of the Yuan Dynasty's Odoli Wanhu.

In their early years, the two families intermarried. Nurhaci's birth mother, Lady Hitara, was the adopted daughter of Yehe Beile Yangjinu, while Yehe Nara Dongge's aunt, Menggu Zhe Zhe, married Nurhaci and became his primary consort.

This should have been the cornerstone of the alliance between the two organizations, but it crumbled due to a power struggle.

Yehe Beile Nalinbulu, unwilling to be subservient, united with nine tribes including Ula and Huifa, and, under the pretext of "usurping the state's power," amassed an army of 30,000 to press on the border.

However, Nurhaci used the ruthless tactic of "no matter how many routes you come from, I will only go one way" to kill Yehe Beile Buzhai—Dongge's father—in the Battle of Gule Mountain.

From that moment on, the blood feud took root, and there was no turning back.

What enraged Nurhaci even more was that Princess Dongge of Yehe, whom he had betrothed to, repeatedly broke off the engagement, successively marrying into the Ula tribe and the Huifa tribe, and finally marrying Manguldai of Mongolia.

Enraged, Nurhaci swore a solemn oath: "If this woman is not married off, all will be well; but if she is, I will destroy her entire kingdom!"

After the Battle of Sarhu, the Ming army lost contact with the Yehe tribe and could no longer provide any support.

North Korea, terrified by the Jurchens, dared not offer any assistance.

Taking advantage of the situation, Nurhaci led his troops north to besiege the eastern and western cities of Yehe.

They eventually defeated the Yehe tribe and annexed its people.

The Haixi Jurchen (Yehe tribe), which was able to draw away the Jianzhou Jurchen forces for the Ming Dynasty, was thus destroyed.

Zhu Youxiao's face was cold and stern. He knew in his heart that after the spring, without the Yehe tribe dragging them down, the Jurchens' offensive would inevitably become even more ferocious!
However, upon seeing the Yehe tribe, Zhu Youxiao was reminded of an interesting curse:

Jintaiji, the last Beile of Yehe (Dongge's brother), defended the eastern city to the death. When the city fell, he climbed the octagonal tower, set it ablaze, and uttered his final curse amidst the flames:

"Even if only one daughter remains among my descendants, she will surely overthrow the Manchus!"

Ultimately, the Qing Dynasty did indeed perish under the rule of Empress Dowager Cixi.

It has to be said that this really feels like fate.

Zhu Youxiao shook his head slightly, clearing his mind of the jumbled thoughts. After pondering for a long time, he decided to approve both memorials.

The emperor dipped his brush in ink and wrote in vermilion ink on Sun Chengzong's memorial, "Request to Transport Grain and Supplies by Sea to Liaodong":
"Sea transport is indeed a good strategy. The Ministry of Revenue shall immediately allocate 200,000 shi of grain for the tribute, and the Ministry of Works shall dispatch 100 Fujian-made ships and 30 warships for escort. The three garrisons of Tianjin shall organize their naval forces to provide escort along the route. Furthermore, the Governor of Fujian, Nan Juyi, shall be instructed to assist in the transport of 50,000 shi of rice from Southeast Asia, which shall be transported directly to Liaodong by sea. All of this must be completed before June. Any delays will be severely punished."

He then unfolded Xiong Tingbi's memorial, pondered for a moment, and then wrote:
"The Jurchens have annexed the Yehe, and their power is growing ever stronger. Your three requests are granted:"
1. Commander-in-Chief Du Wenhuan of Xuanda is hereby ordered to lead 2,000 elite cavalry to Shenyang immediately. 2. The Ministry of War's Gunpowder Department is to allocate 30,000 catties of gunpowder to be stored in Aiyang, Kuandian and other forts. 3. King Injo of Joseon is hereby ordered to strictly guard the Yalu River. If the Jurchens are allowed to flee eastward, I will surely punish them.

The proposal of establishing a network of fortresses is excellent. The terrain should be surveyed immediately, and ten beacon towers should be constructed first along a line from Shenyang to Fengji Fortress. This line should be expanded to Fushun in the autumn. You may make your own decisions regarding the defense and offense in Liaodong, without being bound by conventional practices.”

After writing all this, Zhu Youxiao still felt it wasn't enough, so he secretly sent another yellow silk message to Xiong Tingbi:
"If any remnants of the Yehe tribe submit, they can be secretly organized into the 'Black Flag Battalion' and promised revenge. The Jianzhou Jurchens are not a monolithic group; the former subordinates of Shurhaci and the surrendered soldiers of Ula can be sown apart. Remember: strategy is the best approach, military force is secondary."

After putting down his pen, Zhu Youxiao slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

Currently in Liaodong, the Jurchens are primarily on the offensive, while the Ming army is primarily on the defensive.

The strategic initiative was in the hands of the Jurchens.

As for the reason
Or perhaps it was because the Ming army suffered such a crushing defeat at the Battle of Sarhu that they sent too many soldiers, armor, horses, provisions, and people to the Jurchens.

Take it easy.

Within two or three years, as long as nothing goes wrong and logistics keep up, the border area will be cleaned up.

A defensive posture can definitely be turned into an offensive one!
However, a lot of preparation is needed to make it easier to switch between offense and defense.

If grain is to be transported by sea, capable ministers must be selected to reorganize the three garrisons of Tianjin.

Tianjin will become a strategic hub for dealing with the Jurchens, and Zhu Youxiao will not feel at ease if he does not send a capable person to take charge of this matter.

Zhu Youxiao was deep in thought about the candidates for the three guards of Tianjin, his fingertips unconsciously tapping lightly on the imperial desk.

Wei Chao approached silently, stopping three steps in front of the emperor, and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, Yang Lian has returned."

"Yang Lian?" Zhu Youxiao paused, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes as he looked up.

Yes, the Imperial Censor who was in charge of transporting grain had been away from the capital for more than two months, and he returned quietly without making a sound.

He recalled the secret reports from the Embroidered Uniform Guard these days: the Tongzhou Canal was calm and peaceful, with no protests from the canal workers over unpaid wages, nor any indication that Yang Lian had requested the mobilization of troops.

This unusual calm makes it even more perplexing.

Can the canal transport system really be reformed without bloodshed?
Or is it that Yang Lian, this so-called upright official, also mingled with the corrupt officials in the grain transport system?

"Summon him to the palace for an audience."

Zhu Youxiao's eyes flickered.

"I want to see what this Supervising Secretary Yang has accomplished during this inspection of the grain transport."

(End of this chapter)