Huangming

Chapter 191 The Integrity of the Ming Dynasty, Formulating a Strategy for Liaodong

Zhu Youxiao stared intently at the map of Liaodong, his fingertips tapping heavily on the location of Shenyang City. He said in a deep voice, “Although the southwest has been temporarily stabilized, Liaodong is in even worse shape! The Jurchens are so rampant. What do you all think—should Liaodong be abandoned or defended? If it should be defended, should we build deep trenches and high walls like Xiong Tingbi, or should we launch a proactive attack? Or…?”

The young emperor suddenly turned around, his dragon robe whistling sharply, and his tone was filled with murderous intent!
"Do you want me to follow the example of Emperor Gaozong of Song and hand over the ancestral territory to others?"

Upon hearing this, the East Warm Pavilion fell silent, and even the crackling sound of burning charcoal could be clearly heard.

The ministers' expressions changed drastically. Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe immediately kowtowed, his voice trembling: "Your Majesty, please be careful with your words! Your Majesty is the restorer of the Ming Dynasty. How can you be compared to Emperor Gaozong of Song? The legacy of Emperor Taizu and Emperor Chengzu still remains, and the fighting spirit of our Ming soldiers has not been extinguished. How can we allow the Jurchens to run rampant!"

Duke Zhang Weixian of England also bowed deeply, his white beard trembling, and said, "Your Majesty! The Song Dynasty's survival in the south was due to the rule of treacherous officials, but our Great Ming still has pillars of the nation such as Grand Secretary Fang, Grand Secretary Liu, Xiong Tingbi, and Sun Chengzong, and we also have the military training methods of Junior Guardian Qi to follow! How could we repeat the mistakes of the Song Dynasty?"

The Second Grand Secretary Liu Yizhu beat his chest and stamped his feet, saying, "Your Majesty, please retract your words. Your Majesty is a wise ruler, unlike Emperor Gaozong of Song, who brought ruin to the country. Moreover, our Great Ming Dynasty has countless loyal ministers and generals, which the Zhao Song Dynasty could not compare to."

The crowd immediately echoed, "Your Majesty, please retract your words!"

Zhu Youxiao slowly shook his head, his piercing gaze sweeping over the assembled officials, and said in a deep voice: "Our Great Ming Dynasty certainly has no shortage of loyal ministers and capable generals, but didn't the Song Dynasty also produce many famous generals? Yue Fei was loyal to the country, Han Shizhong decisively defeated the Jin army at Huangtiandang; Li Gang defended Tokyo, and Zhao Ding, Li Guang, and Hu Quan were all talents capable of governing the world. But what was the result?"

"Twelve imperial edicts summoned his death, and ten years of Northern Expedition were ruined in an instant! In the end, the country retreated to the south and watched helplessly as the Central Plains fell!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Keli immediately retorted:

"Your Majesty, you are wise! The downfall of the Song Dynasty was not due to the incompetence of its generals, but rather to the indecisiveness of the court officials: the likes of Qin Hui advocated for peace negotiations, and twelve imperial edicts were issued to order Yue Fei's death, causing Yue Fei's 'ten years of hard work to be wasted in a single day'!"
Today's Ming Dynasty, since the founding of the country by Emperor Taizu, has established the ironclad rule of "no marriage alliances, no indemnities, and no ceding of territory"! During the Tumu Crisis, the ministers would rather support Emperor Jingtai in a bloody battle than follow the example of the Song Dynasty's southward migration!

This embodies the spirit of "the emperor guarding the nation's gates, the monarch dying for the state!"

"The fall of the Song Dynasty was due to the cowardice of its court, but in our Great Ming Dynasty, not a single person dared to utter the word 'surrender'! Even after the crushing defeat at Sarhu, we merely regrouped and fought again in Liaodong! This is the backbone of our nation, far superior to that of the Song Dynasty!"

Upon hearing this, all the ministers in the cabinet straightened their backs.

Yuan Keli took the opportunity to bow again:
"Your Majesty has now halted the repairs to the palace and allocated funds from the imperial treasury to fund the army. This ambition is comparable to that of Emperor Guangwu in restoring the Ming Dynasty! Although the Jurchens are fierce, they are only a threat in one corner of the country. In the past, Qi Jiguang was able to use the miners from Yiwu to wipe out the Japanese pirates. The Ming army can also sweep away the pirates from all directions. If Your Majesty's heart is as firm as it is now, we, your subjects, are willing to follow the example of Han Xin and Yue Fei. With every last breath we have, we will surely win back an impregnable empire for the Ming Dynasty!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao's face immediately broke into a smile.

Yuan Keli's words are true.

The Song dynasty was weak. Its ruler was nominally Zhao Gou, but in reality, it was Wanyan Gou. However, Zhu Youxiao always only had the surname Zhu, not Aisin Gioro.

Although factional strife was constant in the imperial court, no one dared to speak of peace.

Aside from the pro-war faction, there were only radicals in the court; there were absolutely no surrender factions.

In this respect, the Ming Dynasty was far better than the Song Dynasty.

"Minister Yuan's words are the true path to governing the country!"

"but."

The emperor's eyes darkened, and he continued:

"The defeat at Sarhu is still fresh in our minds, and the pain of the fall of Kaiyuan Railway has not yet subsided. Now, Shenyang is in grave danger! You officials, who have received the emperor's bounty, must give me a clear explanation today."

Upon hearing this, Duke Zhang Weixian of England immediately stepped forward, clasped his hands in a solemn gesture, and said: "Your Majesty! This old minister believes that the situation in Liaodong should be decided by offense instead of defense! The Jurchens are rampant because our army retreated and cowered after the Battle of Sarhu, which allowed their arrogance to grow stronger day by day."

"However, things are different now. Sun Chengzong is the governor of Ji and Liao, training troops and cultivating land; Xiong Tingbi is prudent and steady, and deeply understands the enemy's situation. Both of these men are pillars of the nation. If Your Majesty gives them your full support, they will surely be able to reverse the decline!"

He stepped forward, his powerful voice resounding: "In the past, Qi Jiguang fought against the Japanese pirates, also with a small force against a large one. However, his strategy of 'advancing by land and sea, combining the orthodox and the unorthodox' ultimately brought peace and tranquility to the southeast. Today, the soldiers of Liaodong are not without courage, but they lack the court's unwavering determination!"

Your Majesty, I implore you to emulate Emperor Taizu's ambition of launching a northern expedition, and to dispatch the elite troops of the nine border regions to reinforce Shenyang. With Zhao Shuaijiao's Divine Machine Battalion as the vanguard, Huang Degong's Divine Martial Battalion as the shield, and Zu Dashou's Iron Cavalry as the wings, launch a proactive attack to retake Kai Tie and annihilate Hetu Ala! If the Jurchens lose their nest, they will surely become homeless dogs!

After speaking, Zhang Weixian kowtowed deeply: "This old minister is willing to personally go to Liaodong, to carry Your Majesty's dragon flag and oversee the battle. If we are not victorious in this battle, I will commit suicide to atone for my sins!"

The officials in the warm pavilion were all moved upon hearing this.

Zhu Youxiao stared at the figure of the Duke of England kneeling on the ground, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the gilded cloud pattern on the armrest of the dragon throne.

This usually shrewd old nobleman was now like a rusty sword drawn from its sheath, even the bulging veins on his forehead exuded a desperate, do-or-die ruthlessness. He was completely different from the worldly and unassuming man he had been years before he ascended the throne.

but
Using offense as a defense strategy, can the Ming army defeat the Jurchens today?
In open field battles, would the Ming army be a match for them?
"I am very pleased that the Duke has such lofty ambitions!"

After speaking, Zhu Youxiao turned his gaze to Fang Congzhe and asked, "What does the Grand Secretary think?"

Fang Congzhe paused for a moment, his mind racing as he reviewed the intelligence he had gathered about Liaodong over the years before saying, "Your Majesty! While the Duke of Ying's strategy of using offense as a form of defense is brilliant, I believe that the situation in Liaodong has not yet reached the point where we must gamble everything."

"The Jurchens excel in field battles but are weak in siege warfare. The three cities of Shenyang, Liaoyang, and Guangning that Xiong Tingbi built in the past, which form a defensive triangle and are supplemented by border walls and beacon towers, are a superior strategy that uses our strengths to overcome their weaknesses. We should now emulate the wisdom of Emperor Wu of Han in defeating the Xiongnu."

"In my opinion, we should adopt a scorched-earth policy! We should move all the grain and fodder within two hundred li from Jinzhou to Liaoyang inland, leaving the Jurchens with nothing to plunder; then we should send light cavalry to harass their rear and cut off their supply lines, and the Jurchens will surely retreat!"

The charcoal fire crackled in the warm chamber, and Fang Congzhe's memorial was like ice water poured into a boiling oil pot. "In the past, Li Chengliang guarded Liaodong for thirty years, relying on the six forts of Kuandian to advance step by step, eventually leading to the execution of Wang Gao and Atai. Now, Sun Chengzong's fortifications of Ningyuan and Qiantun are already well-established, and we should defend them with the same chariot tactics as Qi Jiguang. No matter how sharp the Jurchen army is, it will take three times the number of troops to break through the city. When they are unable to conquer it after a long siege and their troops are exhausted, that will be the time for my iron cavalry to march out of the fortresses and wipe out the Jurchens!"

Although Fang Congzhe was a civil official, he must have read a lot of military books.

When it comes to military strategy, he has a whole repertoire of theories.

Even a broken ship has three pounds of nails.

However, Zhu Youxiao was still not satisfied with Fang Congzhe's answer, and he turned his attention to Yuan Keli.

"What does Yuan Qing think?"

Yuan Keli straightened his clothes, stepped forward, and loudly presented his reply:
"Your Majesty is wise! Although the Duke of England's strategy of attacking instead of defending is impressive, after the Battle of Sarhu, our army's field combat strength was reduced to less than one-tenth; the Prime Minister's strategy of fortifying the walls and clearing the fields seems prudent, but in reality, it has three hidden dangers."

He counted on his fingers, his voice like the clang of metal on metal:
"Firstly, the Jurchens have already occupied Fushun and Tieling, and can plunder Han people for food, which would only make our fortification efforts a tool to aid the enemy! Secondly, the Liaoxi Corridor is as narrow as a neck. If the enemy cuts off our supply lines, we will be trapped before we can even complete the scorched earth campaign! Thirdly, the border walls and beacon towers built by Xiong Tingbi have not yet been connected into a network. The Jurchen cavalry can gather troops and break through key points, just like a butcher dissecting an ox!"

Yuan Keli's brows were deeply furrowed, and his voice grew increasingly impassioned.

"What's worse, factional strife is rampant in the imperial court, and the soldiers on the border are short of pay and weapons. In the Battle of Sarxu years ago, the Zhejiang soldiers used muskets to repel the enemy, but they were defeated because the gunpowder was damp and exploded! Now, Liaodong is short of 50,000 men, and more than half of the three-barreled muskets are rotten. This is not because the soldiers are not willing to fight, but because they are simply unable to do so. Moreover, since the defeat at Sarxu, our army has almost lost its ability to fight in the field. If we use offense instead of defense, we will surely suffer a great defeat."

Yuan Keli suddenly fell silent, kowtowed heavily, and almost shouted, "Your subject requests to implement the strategy of 'gathering strength and conserving power'!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao's eyes brightened slightly.

Whether someone is knowledgeable about military affairs or not can be discerned in just a few words.

The emperor leaned forward and said softly, "Minister Yuan, please explain in detail!"

While reorganizing the Beijing garrison, Yuan Keli kept a close eye on intelligence from Liaodong.

They have also been thinking about ways to break the predicament in Liaodong.

Seeing that the emperor was listening, he continued:
"First, abandon the isolated fortresses and concentrate troops to defend the Liaoyang-Shenyang-Guangning triangle. Following the old system of Emperor Wen of Han to 'move people to populate the border,' relocate the people of Liaodong into the three cities, burn the fields and block the wells, so that the Jurchens have nothing left to plunder!"

"Secondly, we will train a new army using Qi Jiguang's chariot camp method, stationing 20,000 elite troops in each city, equipped with 30 cannons. If the Jurchens attack, the three cities will support each other; if they retreat, we will use light cavalry to harass them!"

"Most importantly, Your Majesty should emulate Zhang Juzheng's 'Performance Evaluation Law,' stipulating that anyone responsible for delays in military pay and equipment should be executed immediately if their rank is below the fifth grade, and stripped of their title and punished if their rank is above this! Although this strategy may not bring a quick victory, it can restore Kaiyuan in three years and force the Jurchens to negotiate peace in five years!"

Upon hearing this, the Duke of England's expression changed drastically, as if he had suffered some humiliation.

"Isn't shrinking the defense line a sign of weakness? Minister Yuan just praised the integrity of our Ming Dynasty, but now he's acting like a coward. Won't he be ridiculed by the world?"

Upon hearing Zhang Weixian's words, Yuan Keli turned around and said sternly, "Han Xin endured the humiliation of crawling between someone's legs, and Goujian slept on firewood and tasted gall! Now, they temporarily withdrew their fists, preparing for a thunderous strike in the future! This is not a disgrace, but a moment of forbearance for victory. Your Majesty, I urge you to follow the example of abandoning Jiaozhi during the Xuande era, forsaking empty fame for real benefits. This is like cutting off rotten flesh to preserve the whole body!"

After listening to the three men's words, Zhu Youxiao's gaze shifted back and forth between the map and the assembled officials, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the raised and recessed gilded cloud patterns on the armrest of the dragon throne.

The crackling of charcoal fires and the dripping of water clocks in the warm pavilion made the silence before the emperor all the more solemn.

After a long silence, the emperor slowly rose, his black dragon robe gleaming coldly in the candlelight: "What you have all said is a matter of national importance. The Duke of Yingguo is commendable for his courage, the Grand Secretary is mature and prudent, and Minister Yuan has a deep understanding of the essentials of military strategy."

Fang Congzhe keenly sensed the deeper meaning in the emperor's words and was about to offer further advice when Zhu Youxiao suddenly raised his hand to interrupt him: "However, the Liaodong matter is of great importance and cannot be decided by me alone. Tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), I will listen to the court discussion of the Nine Ministers and Censors at the Huangji Gate."

Zhu Youxiao gazed at the map of Liaodong, his fingertips slowly tracing the lines between Shenyang and Liaoyang, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

Since ascending the throne, although he has worked hard to govern, the situation in Liaodong has been in a state of disarray for a long time, and it is by no means a task that can be accomplished overnight.

"Given the current situation, it is indeed beyond our capabilities to wipe out the Jurchens in one fell swoop. However, if we concentrate our forces and hold the two cities of Shenyang and Liaoyang, supporting each other, we may not be without a chance of victory."

He recalled Yuan Keli's earlier suggestion—to shrink the defense line, relocate people to populate the border area, and train a new army using the vehicle camp method.

Although this strategy may seem conservative, it is the safest approach.

Although the Jurchens were fierce, their ability to attack fortified positions was limited. As long as they had sufficient food and supplies and their morale was high, it would not be difficult for them to hold these two important towns.

"First stabilize Liaodong, then gradually make advances."

Zhu Youxiao toyed with the brush tip, having already made up his mind.

"It's not too late to fight the Jurchens after we've reorganized the capital garrison and strengthened border defenses."

The most important thing right now is to prevent a repeat of the defeat at Sarhu.

As long as Shenyang and Liaoyang are not lost, Liaodong still has hope of turning the tide.

I just don't know.
How much money will it cost to fight this battle? Is Taicang enough to cover the expenses?
And
After many days of training, are the Beijing garrison ready for battle?
ps:
Those who refuse to vote are not good ministers; those who do not draft new regulations are truly treacherous!
Watch out, or I'll draw a circle around you and curse you! (Cool guy face)
(End of this chapter)