Huangming

Chapter 188 Nine Cauldrons Hear Thunder, She An Will Indicate Chaos

Qianqing Palace.

Inside the East Warm Pavilion.

Wisps of smoke rose from the gilded incense burner, and the aroma of agarwood slowly permeated the warm pavilion.

Zhu Youxiao's hand, holding the vermilion brush, hovered above the memorial, hesitant to bring it down.

His brows were furrowed, his gaze fixed on the urgent military report—the four large vermilion characters 'Liaodong Urgent Report' were particularly glaring.

Wei Chao held his breath and stood silently beside the dragon pillar like a shadow, even deliberately making the sound of his robes rustling softly.

He stole a glance and saw the emperor's fingertips pressing heavily on the military report, his knuckles turning slightly white. Startled, he quickly shrank back, almost disappearing into the shadows behind the pillar.

The warm room was eerily quiet, with only the occasional soft crackling of the charcoal fire in the incense burner.

Just then, Wei Chao suddenly saw Wang Dehua, a eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs, rush into the East Warm Pavilion.

Wang Dehua held a book with a vermilion lacquer cover in both hands. His cheeks were flushed with excitement, and even the temples under his palace hat were covered in sweat, making him look like a rat that had stolen some oil.

He had just opened his mouth to shout when Wei Chao swiftly grabbed his python robe and jade belt, forcefully dragging him out of the warm pavilion.

Once back in the shadow of the pillars, Wei Chaoxian turned back and glanced through the carved lattice window.

The emperor was still bowing his head among the mountain of memorials, carefully reviewing them stroke by stroke, before finally exhaling slowly.

He shoved Wang Dehua against the white marble railing and hissed, “You damned fool! Can’t you see His Majesty is furious about the Liaodong affair? You barged in like this, are you trying to test the speed of the imperial sword with your head?”

The eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs hurriedly knelt down, his forehead pressed against the ground, and said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, you are wise! Even if you gave me ten times the courage, I would not dare to disturb His Majesty! This is truly a piece of great news, and I am eager to report it to His Majesty."

"good news?"

Wei Chao frowned, a hint of suspicion flashing in his cloudy eyes.

The eunuch in the courtroom hurriedly presented the register, his voice trembling slightly with excitement: "Your Majesty, please allow me to report! Lord Yang's inspection of the grain transport has been swift and decisive. He has seized 300,000 shi of grain and confiscated over 1.5 million taels of silver. All the corrupt officials involved have been apprehended. This is truly tremendous news!"

Upon hearing this, the wrinkles at the corners of Wei Chao's eyes suddenly smoothed out, and two beams of light shot out from his cloudy eyes.

His fat fingers gripped the book tightly, causing the golden python embroidered on his cuffs to tremble three times.

"Three hundred thousand shi of grain? One million five hundred thousand taels of dirty silver?" He lowered his voice to a whisper, but could not hide the wild joy bubbling in his throat.

"Yang Lian is quite capable!"

Suddenly, as if remembering something, Wei Chao's smile vanished, replaced by a ruthless expression.

He grabbed the wrist of the eunuch in the court and asked, "Has everything been checked? What if the people below, just to curry favor, used bran to pass off as rice? If His Majesty hears a false report, we'll all be in deep trouble."

The eunuch in the courtroom winced in pain but dared not break free. He could only nod repeatedly: "Your Majesty is wise! Lord Yang personally oversaw the weighing, and those corrupt officials in Suzhou alone seized 200,000 taels of silver. The camphor wood chests containing the silver broke two carrying poles! This matter is absolutely true, and I am willing to guarantee it with my life."

Wei Chao then released his grip, squeezing out a few laughs through gritted teeth: "Good! Good! Now the military pay for Liaodong and the gunpowder for the nine border regions are all secured."

but
Wei Chao's smile didn't last long.

I almost forgot, this kid is inherently rebellious.

Wei Chao looked at Wang Dehua with a gloomy expression, which made the eunuch in the court feel a chill down his spine.

A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he grabbed Wang Dehua's chin and said in a sinister tone, "What a clever little brat! Instead of informing us of such a joyous occasion, you want to go directly to the Emperor to ask for a reward?"

He increased the pressure on his hand by three times, his nails almost digging into the other person's flesh.

"Speak! Who taught you to bypass our home and play this trick that reaches the ears of the emperor?"

Wang Dehua banged his forehead against the gold brick with a loud thud, his voice trembling with tears: "Even if I had the guts of a bear and the gall of a leopard, I wouldn't dare to deliberately hide from my ancestor! I searched the entire Directorate of Ceremonial but couldn't find you anywhere, so I dared to ask for your help."

He stole a glance at Wei Chao's gloomy face, and was so frightened that he kowtowed twice more, crying out, "Your son knows his mistake! Please, Your Majesty, have mercy!"

"Humph!"

Wei Chao let out a cold snort, his fat fingers gripping Wang Dehua's nape tightly. He said menacingly, "Trying to climb over our shoulders to get ahead? I'll spare your worthless life this time because of this good news. But if there's a next time, all the turtles in the Jinshui River will be starving."

bang bang bang~
The eunuch in the court kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Your son understands, thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty!"

"get out!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Dehua immediately crawled out of Wei Chao's sight.

"Cough cough."

Wei Chao straightened his python robe and jade belt, cleared his throat, and after confirming that his appearance was in order, he quickly walked into the East Warm Pavilion with the book in his hand.

His face was full of smiles, and his wrinkles smoothed out.

He walked to about five steps in front of the imperial desk, then suddenly slid his knees down, gracefully kneeling in a standard sliding kneeling posture, holding the book high in his hands, his voice trembling slightly with excitement:
"Your Majesty, I have the greatest joy to share! Lord Yang Lian has rendered an extraordinary service during his inspection of the grain transport!"

He paused deliberately, waiting for the emperor's vermilion brush to pause slightly, before continuing: "During Yang Lian's inspection of the grain transport, a total of 300,000 shi of grain and more than 1.5 million taels of illicit silver were seized, and all the corrupt officials were brought to justice! These parasites have sucked the blood and sweat of the people, and now they have finally been punished by heaven. It is all thanks to Your Majesty's wise and enlightened rule that such a thunderous effect was achieved!"

Zhu Youxiao's tightly furrowed brows suddenly relaxed, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, revealing a rare smile.

He put down his vermilion brush, looked up at Wei Chao, and said with a hint of ease in his voice, "Oh? Minister Yang has achieved such results? Quickly present the booklet."

Upon hearing this, Wei Chao immediately crawled forward on his knees, respectfully raising the document above his head with both hands, still flattering him: "Your Majesty's wisdom and insight are the key to Yang Lian's achievements. These corrupt officials embezzled grain and silver, bringing disaster to the country and its people. Now that they have been brought to justice, it is truly a blessing from Heaven for the Ming Dynasty!"

The emperor took the book, tapped the cover lightly with his fingertip, and then opened it to examine it closely.

As his gaze swept over the lines of reports, the smile in his eyes grew more pronounced, and finally he even let out a soft hum: "Good, good! Yang Lian has indeed not disappointed me."

Wei Chao, observing the emperor's expression and seeing his great pleasure, immediately seized the opportunity and said, "Your Majesty, Lord Yang's inspection tour was swift and efficient. Wherever he went, corrupt officials were terrified, and the people praised the emperor's boundless grace. I believe he should be richly rewarded to recognize his merits."

Zhu Youxiao closed the book, pondered for a moment, and nodded, saying, "Approved. The Grand Secretariat shall draft an edict to promote Yang Lian to Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, while retaining his post as Inspector of the Grand Canal. He shall also bestow upon him fifty taels of silver and two bolts of hemp silk as a sign of my will."

Wei Chao immediately kowtowed: "Your Majesty is wise! This servant will immediately send someone to convey the decree."

In fact, Zhu Youxiao would hear reports from the Embroidered Uniform Guard every day regarding Yang Lian's efforts to reorganize the canal transport system.

He had a very clear understanding of what was happening on the canal.

Since Yang Lian took over the inspection of the grain transport, the corruption problem has been curbed, and the transport of grain has gradually returned to normal.

Although the long-standing problems have not been completely eradicated, at least no major chaos has broken out, which is already a rare situation.

Reforming the canal transport system is not something that can be accomplished overnight; it requires time and a gradual approach.

Zhu Youxiao originally intended to transfer Yang Lian to Liaodong.

but
After seeing this good news, Zhu Youxiao changed his mind.

Yang Lian governs the grain transport system with an iron fist, acting swiftly and decisively, and is well-versed in its intricacies. The grain transport office certainly cannot do without him now.

Moreover, the war in Liaodong is critical, and the situation on the border is dire. If Yang Lian were to be transferred north at this time, it would likely backfire.

He has a fiery temper, and if he clashes with the border general, it will only delay military operations.

It would be better to let him continue to oversee the grain transport, and then transfer him north to reorganize border affairs once the war in Liaodong has subsided and the border is relatively peaceful.

With his authority as an inspector of the grain transport system, he will be able to achieve twice the result with half the effort in eradicating corruption in the border towns.

Of course, the focus at this stage should still be on the Liaodong campaign.

Zhu Youxiao immediately shouted:
"Summon Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe, Second Grand Secretary Liu Yizhu, Duke of Yingguo Zhang Weixian, and Vice Minister of War Yuan Keli to the palace for questioning!"

Upon hearing this, Wei Chao immediately bowed and replied, "This servant will send someone to summon him immediately!"

He turned and strode out of the East Warm Pavilion, summoning several trusted eunuchs from the corridor, and gave them instructions in a deep voice:

"Immediately summon Grand Secretary Fang, Second Grand Secretary Liu, Duke of Yingguo Zhang Weixian, and Vice Minister of War Yuan to the palace for an audience! Remember, tell them that His Majesty has urgent military matters to discuss, and that they should put aside all their current affairs and rush to the palace!"

After the eunuchs left to carry out their orders, Wei Chao returned to the warm pavilion and whispered to the emperor, "Your Majesty, I have already sent people to summon the officials. In my opinion, Grand Secretary Fang is currently on duty in the Inner Cabinet, Grand Secretary Liu is most likely proofreading memorials in the Wenyuan Pavilion, the Duke of Yingguo should be overseeing affairs at the Five Military Commands, and Vice Minister Yuan is probably handling military reports at the Ministry of War. At the latest, all the officials will be here within half an hour." After speaking, he carefully observed the emperor's expression and added, "Should I have someone prepare some tea and snacks? The officials have been busy with military affairs for days and may not even have time for a cup of hot tea."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao nodded slightly.

Taking advantage of the break before summoning his ministers, Zhu Youxiao picked up his vermilion brush again and turned to the next memorial.

This time, it was no longer a military report from the Liaodong front, but a memorial from Sichuan.

Yongning Pacification Commissioner She Chongming, citing the critical situation in Liaodong, took the initiative to request the dispatch of 20,000 elite cavalry and infantry to Liaodong.

The content is as follows:

Your humble servant, She Chongming, Pacification Commissioner of Yongning, Sichuan, respectfully reports:

I have heard that the Jurchens are rampant, Liaodong is in dire straits, and the soldiers on the border are fighting a bloody battle, while the imperial army is facing difficulties in transporting supplies. I am deeply worried. Therefore, I hereby request that 20,000 elite cavalry and infantry from the Yongning Pacification Commission be dispatched to Liaodong overnight to relieve this urgent crisis.

The soldiers of the Yongning chieftain are skilled in archery and horsemanship, especially adept at mountain raids, and are fearless in the face of death. My 20,000 wolf soldiers are all seasoned veterans and can serve as the vanguard, joining forces with the border troops to suppress the bandits.

I am well aware of the nation's financial difficulties, and therefore I am willing to personally procure three months' worth of provisions, as well as bring with me a quantity of gunpowder and arrows from Sichuan, to reduce the burden of transportation for the court. I only request that 200,000 taels of silver be allocated to support the families of the soldiers and relieve them of their worries.

If Your Majesty grants your permission, I intend to divide our forces into two routes:
Ten thousand soldiers traveled eastward from Chongqing by cargo ship, changed into newly cast firearms in Yangzhou, and then headed north along the Grand Canal.

Ten thousand soldiers passed through Hanzhong and left Sichuan, and were at the command of the Ministry of War.

We humbly beseech Your Majesty to make a wise decision!

Although I am but a humble soldier from the borderlands, I know the importance of loyalty and righteousness. I am willing to personally lead my troops to quell the barbarian invaders for Your Majesty and display the might of the Ming Dynasty beyond the Great Wall!

Below She Chongming's memorial requesting permission to fight, there was also a memorial from Xu Keqiu, the governor of Sichuan.

Zhu Youxiao silently began to read:
Your humble servant, Xu Keqiu, Governor of Sichuan, respectfully reports:
Your Majesty, I have heard that She Chongming, the Pacification Commissioner of Yongning, has requested to send 20,000 troops to aid Liaodong. Although his memorial speaks of loyalty and righteousness, I observe that his forces are entrenched in southern Sichuan, with a strong and well-equipped army, and have long been too powerful to be controlled. Now that the war in Liaodong is raging, granting him permission to send troops would be a godsend.

The She tribe's soldiers are fierce and brave, but the Jianzhou Jurchens of Liaodong are also ruthless and unruly. When two tigers fight, one will surely be injured. Even if She Chongming wins, his elite troops will be severely damaged; if he is defeated, the court can more legitimately reorganize the region. In this way, the court's prestige will not be damaged, and the military power of the Tusi (local chieftains) can be gradually taken over.

Among the various chieftains of Sichuan and Guizhou, the She clan of Yongning is the most unruly. In the past, their demands for military equipment and their unauthorized expansion of military farms have already revealed their disloyal intentions. If we allow them to move north now, southern Sichuan will be left vulnerable. I can take this opportunity to investigate the land, register the households, and pave the way for the abolition of the chieftain system and the replacement of chieftains with centrally appointed officials.

Your Majesty may issue an imperial edict praising his loyalty and bravery, and bestow upon him 200,000 taels of silver to appease him. A trusted military supervisor shall also be dispatched to accompany him, thus sharing his military power. Once She's troops have left Sichuan, the Pacification Commissioner's office should be abolished and replaced with a centrally appointed official.

We humbly beseech Your Majesty's judgment!

Below the two memorials, the cabinet's vermilion annotations were prominently displayed:
"The military situation in Liaodong is dire, and the court is in dire need of capable personnel. She Chongming, the Pacification Commissioner of Yongning, is commendable for his loyalty and bravery. He is hereby granted permission to lead 20,000 elite troops to Liaodong. The Ministry of War shall allocate 200,000 taels of silver and send a supervising censor to accompany him. The route for his troops shall be implemented in accordance with the report."

The emperor almost burst out laughing in anger as he looked at the cabinet's comments and the Sichuan governor's memorial.

Was She Chongming truly 'commendable in loyalty and bravery'?
Zhu Youxiao's eyes were icy cold.

I'm afraid that's not the case!

Sending troops to aid Liaodong?

He's trying to swallow Sichuan whole!

Zhu Youxiao stared at She Chongming's memorial, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

This seemingly submissive chieftain is hardly a loyal minister or general.
They are clearly treacherous and wicked officials!

At this moment, in the Ming Dynasty, war was about to break out in Liaodong, and the chieftains in the southwest were also eager to make their move.

She Chongming's trick of requesting troops to aid Liaodong was the prelude to the catastrophic She-An Rebellion that marked the beginning of a great catastrophe in history!

Thinking of this, Zhu Youxiao's clenched fist trembled slightly.

The She'an Rebellion in history lasted from the first year of the Tianqi reign to the second year of the Chongzhen reign, affecting four provinces: Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Guangxi, resulting in over a million deaths and injuries, further exacerbating the already precarious state of the Ming Dynasty.

"The chaos of She'an..." Zhu Youxiao murmured, his voice filled with thunderous anger.

Since She Chongming raised an army in rebellion in the first year of the Tianqi reign, colluding with Xi Bangyan of Shuixi to stir up a huge wave, this turmoil has been like a malignant tumor, eroding the vitality of the Ming Dynasty.

To quell the rebellion, the imperial court mobilized elite troops from Sichuan, Guizhou, and Hubei provinces, spending millions of taels of silver on military supplies, further straining the already strained national treasury.

What's even more hateful is that this rebellion completely exposed the festering wound of the Tusi system.

Those hereditary chieftains, with their armies and power, held sway over their respective territories, effectively becoming states within a state.

Although the Ming court suppressed She and An with iron-fisted methods, it could no longer win back the centrifugal forces of the chieftains of Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan.

Those barbarian chieftains appeared submissive on the surface, but secretly they were preparing for war, waiting for the court to weaken before stirring up trouble again.

Wherever the flames of war raged, nine out of ten houses in Sichuan and Guizhou were deserted.

Fertile fields turned to scorched earth, people were displaced, and the tragic scene of starvation was so devastating that even the ink on the memorials was stained with blood.

The most fatal flaw was the weakness of the Liaodong defense line.

Qin Liangyu's White Spear Army could have rushed to Liaoshen, but they were held back on the southwestern battlefield.

By the time she finally had a free hand, Liaodong was already engulfed in flames of war, and the Jurchen cavalry had trampled half of the country.

Zhu Youxiao abruptly closed the memorial.

When it rains, it pours; and when the rope breaks, it always breaks at the thinnest point.

The chaos and rebellion of She'an in history must never be repeated!
He would never allow such bloodshed to occur under his rule!

But how can we stop the chaos caused by She'an?
Zhu Youxiao's eyes flickered, and he slowly began to write.

As Zhu Youzheng was engrossed in reviewing memorials, Wei Chao tiptoed forward and stood respectfully three steps away from the imperial desk, whispering, "Your Majesty, Grand Secretary Fang and Grand Secretary Liu are already waiting in the Nine Ministers' Office."

The emperor paused slightly with his vermilion brush, his gaze still fixed on the memorial.

He hesitated for a moment, then gently placed the imperial brush on the jade brush mountain, raised his eyes and said, "Summon."

Upon hearing this, Wei Chao immediately bowed and said, "This servant will go and inform them immediately."

Just as he was about to step down, he saw the emperor raise his hand again.

"Wait a minute."

Zhu Youxiao rubbed his temples, his voice tinged with weariness.

"Bring up the prepared ginseng tea."

Despite the many complexities of life, as emperor, he still had to act as a pillar of stability.

He absolutely must not act rashly.

Not long after, Fang Congzhe and Liu Yizhu entered the East Warm Pavilion to pay their respects to the Emperor.

Fang Congzhe, dressed in a scarlet robe with a crane motif, walked steadily despite being over sixty years old. He knelt down three steps in front of the imperial desk, his silver beard reaching his chest, and said, "This old minister pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Liu Yiju followed closely behind.

"Your subject Liu Yijing respectfully wishes Your Majesty good health."

After the two cabinet ministers were seated on the brocade stools, Zhu Youxiao smiled slightly and said gently, "My two dear ministers have been working hard for the country for days, and your temples have turned gray. I have specially ordered the imperial kitchen to prepare ginseng soup to replenish your energy."

The eunuch standing to the side immediately brought over a gilded lacquer tray, on which two celadon covered bowls were steaming.

Fang Congzhe quickly stood up, took the ginseng soup with both hands, his silver beard trembling slightly: "What virtue or ability does this old minister possess to receive such consideration from Your Majesty?"

Liu Yizhuan respectfully accepted the cup, and when his fingertips touched the warm porcelain cup, his eyes under his official hat became slightly hot: "Your subject kowtows to thank the Emperor for his grace."

After the two senior officials finished their ginseng tea, Zhu Youxiao then revealed the purpose of the summons:
"I have urgently summoned you two ministers for an audience. The matter to be discussed is of utmost importance, concerning the rise and fall of our Great Ming Dynasty!"

(End of this chapter)