Huangming

Chapter 379 A Plea of ​​Guilt and Remorse, Heaven's Grace is Boundless

Outside Tieling City, the world is a vast expanse of white.

The leaden-gray clouds hung low, pressing the snowflakes down into a fine, dense layer, which fell on the already frozen land, draping the land in a white veil.

The outline of Tieling city wall was faintly visible in the wind and snow, and the large golden flag on the city wall drooped, losing its former arrogance.

This city, known as "Yinzhou" during the Liao Dynasty, was named after Emperor Taizu of Liao, who mined and smelted silver here.

By the Ming Dynasty, although there were traces of silver mining, it had long been abandoned due to meager output and high labor costs, leaving only a few desolate mine shafts that tell the story of past rise and fall in the wind and snow.

but.

Since the Jurchens captured Tieling, these abandoned silver mines have become bustling again.

The cost problem that the Ming army considered "not worth the effort" was not a problem at all for the Jurchens.

They treated the captured Ming people as slaves, driving them into mines to work day and night. When they were hungry, they threw them moldy rations, and when they collapsed from exhaustion, they simply dragged them out and buried them, showing no regard for human life.

It was precisely because of these gold mines that the Jurchens received a considerable amount of silver.

of course
The silver mine has now returned to the Ming Dynasty.

The people who went to mine the mines were no longer ordinary Ming people, but surrendered Jurchen soldiers.

nowadays.

The Ming army's main camp was set up on an open space not far from these mines. The camp stretched for several miles, and the soldiers cleared the snow outside the tents to create paths. The smoke from the campfires rose straight up in the cold wind, forming a stark contrast with the deathly silence of Tieling City in the distance.

Inside the camp, the soldiers were taking a rare break to rest.

Some people huddled around the campfire, warming their frozen fingers with their hands. The ice crystals on their armor melted as they heated up, dripping down the seams of their nails and forming small puddles on the ground.

Some sat at the tent entrance, mending their torn battle robes with needles and thread.

Others led their warhorses to drink at nearby streams. The horses lowered their heads and carefully licked the cold water beneath the ice, the white breath exhaled from their nostrils quickly dissipating in the cold air.

The continuous fighting over the past few days had exhausted them, and even the youngest soldiers had an undeniable weariness on their faces.

now.

Xiong Tingbi is going deep into the grassroots and chatting with the soldiers.

Do you think we can attack the city tomorrow?

"My lord, we simply cannot take the city! It's not that we don't want to attack, it's that we are truly too exhausted to do so."

A lieutenant general stood beside Xiong Tingbi, gazing at the distant city of Tieling, and said with a wry smile:

"The brothers chased us all the way from the Red River Valley without a good night's sleep. Many of them had frostbite on their hands and feet and were so weak that they could barely hold their spears."

Xiong Tingbi nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers resting in the camp, his tone steady:

"The siege cannot be rushed. Winter warfare is already difficult, and after continuous high-intensity fighting, the soldiers' morale has been dampened. Forcing a siege will only increase casualties."

He paused, then added, "Moreover, news came from Hetu Ala that Nurhaci is dead, and most of the Jurchen troops have been annihilated. The garrison in Tieling City is already on edge, so we don't need to fight them with brute force."

This is true.

Since the news of Nurhaci's death spread, the soldiers in the camp have become more composed.

With the greatest threat eliminated, the Jurchens are leaderless, and Tieling City is nothing but an isolated city; it will be theirs sooner or later.

Moreover, although Tieling City is not very tall, it is a sturdy city built of rammed earth, with its walls covered with crenellations and lookout posts.

Although the Jurchen garrison numbered only a little over a thousand, they were able to hold their ground by relying on the city walls. If the Ming army were to forcibly scale the walls, a bloody battle would be inevitable, and there would certainly be casualties.

Now, if we can reduce some losses, we should naturally reduce them.

There is no need to make unnecessary sacrifices.

"So we're just going to wait it out like this?" the guard asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Wait and see, that's also a strategy."

A faint smile appeared on Xiong Tingbi's lips.

He immediately gave the order to his personal guards:

"Go and bring over those Jurchen prisoners. Also, prepare some coarse cloth and paper. Write down in Tungusic language the news of Nurhaci's death and the annihilation of the Jurchen main force. Also, write down the news of the Khorchin tribe and the five Inner Khalkha tribes surrendering to the Ming Dynasty."

Before long, a dozen Jurchen prisoners were brought over, their hands tied behind their backs, their faces filled with fear.

Xiong Tingbi walked up to them, speaking calmly.

"Go down to the city walls and shout the message on the coarse cloth to the people inside. If you can persuade them to open the city gates and surrender, I, the governor, will spare your lives."

The prisoners exchanged glances, a glimmer of hope for survival flashing in their eyes, and quickly nodded in agreement.

soon.

Ming soldiers tied coarse cloths covered with messages to arrows and shot them toward Tieling City.

White coarse cloths fell like snowflakes, landing on the city walls and streets. Many Jurchen soldiers picked up the leaflets, and their faces turned deathly pale upon reading their contents.

At the same time, the dozen or so Jurchen prisoners were brought to the city walls and shouted in Tungusic:

"Brothers in the city! Stop defending! The Khan is dead! The main force has been wiped out by the Ming army! The Khorchin tribe has all surrendered to the Ming, no one is coming to our rescue!"

"Open the gates and surrender! Xiong Tingbi said that those who surrender will not be killed!"

"If they continue to resist, then kill them without mercy!"

"If you want to live, surrender!"

Shouts of battle echoed through the wind and snow, reaching every corner of the city.

The Jurchen soldiers on the city wall began to tremble as they held their bows and arrows, their eyes filled with panic and confusion.

Their morale was already low due to the siege, and when they heard the news of Nurhaci's death and the hopelessness of reinforcements, their last line of defense collapsed instantly.

Xiong Tingbi stood on the high platform of the camp, looking in the direction of Tieling City, a slight smile on his lips, very confident.

As the art of war says: "To attack a city is the inferior strategy; to attack a mind is the superior strategy!"

This psychological warfare is more effective than any forceful attack.

I believe that it won't be long before Tieling returns to the hands of the Ming Dynasty.

After finishing his work on the attack on Tieling, Xiong Tingbi continued to inspect the military camp.

It's time for dinner now.

Inside the camp, soldiers took turns receiving hot soup by each campfire. The rising steam condensed into white mist in the cold air, carrying the aroma of grain and permeating every corner of the camp.

Xiong Tingbi was wearing a thick mink coat, his left arm was still in a sling in front of his chest, and although the wound under the bandage had stopped bleeding, it was still throbbing with pain.

He slowly patrolled the camp's passageways, stopping at each tent he passed to peek inside at the soldiers resting.

As he approached the kitchen, he saw two cooks struggling to stir the rice porridge in a large pot, so he went up to them and asked:

"How much mixed grain was added to today's porridge?"

"Reporting to the General, as you instructed, each pot has been mixed with 30% millet and 20% beans, along with some dried wild vegetables, so that the brothers can fill their stomachs more."

"In addition, there are plenty of dried sweet potatoes, enough to fill them up."

The cook bowed respectfully in response.

Xiong Tingbi nodded, but asked, "The horses that died in battle can also be used to make horse meat for these bastards to have a taste of meat!"

The cook immediately nodded and said, "Alright, I'll go cook a pot of horse meat soup in a bit!"

Xiong Tingbi nodded in satisfaction.

His gaze then fell on several wounded soldiers sitting by a fire not far away.

Their hands and feet were wrapped in thick strips of cloth, clearly from frostbite, yet they still chatted and laughed, without a trace of resentment on their faces.

As he stepped forward, a guard quickly offered him a bronze hand warmer, but he waved it away, squatted down, and asked:
"Do you have enough frostbite ointment? Don't skimp on the charcoal fire in the tent tonight."

Enough! Enough!

A wounded soldier quickly straightened up and said respectfully, "Governor, please rest assured, the medical officer comes to change your dressings every day, and there's plenty of charcoal in the tent, so it's not cold at night!"

Looking at the spirited look in the soldiers' eyes, Xiong Tingbi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Although the soldiers were exhausted from the continuous fighting, their morale remained high, which gave them the confidence to attack the city.

He gave a few more instructions, such as "be careful to keep warm" and "change the dressing on time," before slowly standing up with the help of his bodyguard.

As he stood up, the wound on Xiong Tingbi's left arm was aggravated, and a sharp pain made him frown slightly, but he quickly relaxed.

Just then, a guard rushed from deep within the camp, knelt before Xiong Tingbi, and reported:

“Lord General, Liu Xingzuo, the Earl of Weilu, requests an audience and is currently waiting outside the central command tent.”

"Liu Xingzuo?"

Xiong Tingbi was taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He had assumed that Liu Xingzuo was currently at the Khorchin tribe's camp, coordinating the subsequent movements of the various Mongol tribes, but he never expected him to suddenly come to see him.

After a moment's thought, he said to his guard, "Understood. Take him to the central command tent to wait, and have the kitchen warm a pot of wine. I'll return immediately after I've finished inspecting this last place."

"Yes, sir!" The guard replied and withdrew.

Next, Xiong Tingbi spent another half hour checking the repairs to the armory and the feeding of the warhorses. After confirming that everything was arranged properly, he turned and walked towards the central command tent.

As the commander-in-chief of an army, one must have a clear understanding of the situation of one's soldiers.

This was Xiong Tingbi's way of leading troops, and it was also the reason why he was supported by his soldiers.

He promptly resolved any problems these soldiers had and tried his best to meet their needs.

His prestige was built up little by little in this way.

On the way back, Xiong Tingbi kept thinking about what Liu Xingzuo had been doing these past few days.

This general, who had served the Jurchens, devoted himself wholeheartedly to the Ming Dynasty after surrendering to them.

He first served as a military supervisor on a campaign with Ligdan Khan. Although he failed to contain the main force of the Jurchens due to Ligdan Khan's incompetence, he still managed to understand the details of the Mongol tribes.

Later, he single-handedly persuaded Chaohua and Mangus, managing to get the wavering Inner Khalkha five tribes and Khorchin tribe to side with the Ming Dynasty. In the Battle of Red River Valley, he promptly sent troops, allowing the Ming army to form an encirclement and ultimately kill Nurhaci.

Such talent is not only courageous and resourceful, but also understands the true nature of the grasslands and the Jurchens; it is truly rare.

Soon, Xiong Tingbi arrived at the central command tent.

He opened the large tent flap and stepped inside.

Upon hearing the rustling of the tent flap, Liu Xingzuo immediately turned around and saw Xiong Tingbi enter. He quickly bowed respectfully, his voice filled with deference.

"This humble general, Liu Xingzuo, pays his respects to the Commander-in-Chief!"

"No need for such formalities, Lord Weilu."

Xiong Tingbi waved his hand, walked to the main seat and sat down. His personal guard handed him a cup of hot wine, which he took and sipped. The warmth slid down his throat, relieving the chill in his body.

"You've come all the way from the Mongolian camp, you must be tired. Have a cup of hot wine to warm yourself up."

After the pleasantries, Xiong Tingbi got down to business.

"I wonder what important matter brings you here, Lord Weilu?"

"Nothing's wrong."

Liu Xingzuo was a little hesitant and stammered, like a child who had done something wrong.

Xiong Tingbi saw his expression and had a vague idea in his mind, but he didn't say anything. He just took a sip of his wine and waited for him to speak.

Liu Xingzuo swallowed hard, as if he had been weighing the matter in his mind for a long time, before finally steeling himself and raising his head.

"General, I have a private matter I would like to ask you about."

"Oh? Wilhelm has some personal matters to ask me?"

Xiong Tingbi put down his wine glass, a playful smile appearing in his eyes, but his tone remained gentle.

"But it doesn't matter."

Encouraged, Liu Xingzuo took a deep breath and spoke a little faster, but he still couldn't hide his nervousness:
"I have heard that Eunuch Wang has arrived in Shenyang with a reply from the two daughters of the Khorchin tribe's leader, Bu and Taiji."

do not know……

"Have you heard any news from the Duke's side?"

As soon as he spoke, he stared intently at Xiong Tingbi's face, even softening his breathing.

In those eyes, there was expectation, trepidation, and a hint of barely perceptible panic.

Upon seeing this, Xiong Tingbi couldn't help but laugh out loud: "I thought it was something important, but it turns out it's about this."

He paused deliberately, observing Liu Xingzuo's increasingly tense expression, before slowly saying:

"I haven't heard the news, but I received a letter from Shenyang yesterday saying that Eunuch Wang will be coming soon. I suppose you'll know the information you're looking for when he arrives."

"This……"

Liu Xingzuo's brows furrowed instantly, and his tension intensified.

"My lord, as you know, I promised the Khorchin tribe many benefits in order to persuade them to send troops."

What Bu and Taiji valued most was the future of their two daughters. At the time, I was anxious to appease them, so…

Then he said that His Majesty had already taken the two Okens into the harem, giving them the title of 'royal relatives' of the Khorchin tribe.

He swallowed hard, his tone growing increasingly urgent:

"But if there are changes on the court's side, or if the news brought by Eunuch Wang is not like this, Buhe Taiji will definitely feel deceived."

"At that time, the Khorchin tribe, which we finally managed to win over, might just side with the Jurchens, and all our previous efforts would be in vain!"

Before he could finish speaking, Liu Xingzuo seemed to remember something, his face paled even more, and his voice lowered further, tinged with lingering fear:
"Moreover...moreover, the situation was urgent at the time, and in order to make the Khorchin tribe believe it to be true, I also falsely conveyed the gist of the imperial edict and the Ministry of War's decree, saying that the court had already decided on this matter."

If the higher authorities investigate, the crime of falsely conveying imperial edicts and forging imperial decrees is... is a capital offense!

His voice trembled slightly when he said the word "death penalty".

When he made the decision, he only thought about "stabilizing the allies first," but after calming down, he realized the seriousness of the matter.

Falsely conveying imperial edicts is a heinous crime. If investigated thoroughly, not only would he himself be implicated, but even Xiong Tingbi might be implicated.

The smile on Xiong Tingbi's face had long since faded, replaced by a solemn expression.

He remained silent for a moment, looking at Liu Xingzuo who was filled with anxiety, then suddenly raised his hand and waved it, his tone unusually firm:

"Don't worry about it."

He stood up, walked up to Liu Xingzuo, and gave him a reassuring look.

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. What you did certainly broke the rules, but what was your purpose?"
It was for the Ming Dynasty, to stabilize the Mongol tribes, and to kill Nurhaci and recover Liaodong!
Without your 'adventure,' the Khorchin tribe would not have sent troops, the siege of the Red River Valley would not have been lifted, and Nurhaci might not have been defeated.

Your merits far outweigh your faults!

His Majesty is aware of this.

"Besides, if it really comes down to it, I, Xiong Tingbi, will take the lead. You are under my command, and I, the military commissioner, also bear responsibility for what you have done."

Even if I lose my position as the Liaodong Military Commissioner, even if I'm demoted to commoner status, I will never let you suffer the slightest injustice because of this!

"Lord General..."

Liu Xingzuo looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with shock, followed by an indescribable warmth that made his eyes slightly hot.

He had assumed that even if Xiong Tingbi didn't blame him, he would have some reservations and distance himself from him.

But to his surprise, the other party was so willing to take responsibility for him.

This trust and protectiveness deeply moved him, and the seven-foot-tall man was moved to tears.

But this feeling of being moved didn't last long. Liu Xingzuo took a deep breath and slowly straightened his back.

"Thank you for your kindness, General. I am deeply grateful. However..."

"When I made this decision, I had already considered the consequences. I was the one who forged the imperial edict and the imperial decree; I must take responsibility for my actions."

If the court truly intends to investigate, this humble general is willing to bear all responsibility, and will never implicate the Grand Marshal, nor will he put His Majesty in a difficult position!

Although he was a surrendered general, he still had his own backbone.

How could he implicate Xiong Jinglue, who was so loyal and righteous?
Looking at him like this, Xiong Tingbi couldn't help but feel a bit more admiration in his eyes.

He walked back to the head of the table, sat down, picked up his wine glass, and raised it to Liu Xingzuo:

"What a fine example of taking responsibility for one's own actions! No wonder I, Xiong Tingbi, value him so highly. But you don't need to worry too much. Since Eunuch Wang's trip is to reward the army, he must be bringing good news as well."

"Perhaps the court really will grant Buhe Taiji's request. As for how you persuaded the Khorchin tribe that day, you can go back and think about it again."

total?

Liu Xingzuo was stunned.

"What does the Duke of Jinglue mean by that?"

"Experience it for yourself!"

If you don't even have this much wisdom, then you deserve to suffer!
of course
Xiong Tingbi did not intend to hide this matter.

He would inform the emperor in a secret letter, rather than in a formal report.

It's best not to let the news of falsely conveying imperial edicts reach the ears of the censors.

This will bring His Majesty and them a lot of unnecessary trouble.

The next morning.

The camp was gradually becoming lively, with the sounds of soldiers drilling, warhorses neighing, and cooking smoke from the kitchen mingling together, dispelling some of the bleakness of the deep winter.

Just now.

A simply decorated carriage slowly came to a stop outside the central command tent.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Wang Chengen, dressed in a dark blue eunuch robe with python patterns, stepped off the carriage using the footstool handed to him by a young eunuch.

He was a robust man with a composure typical of those in the palace. His gaze swept over the orderly ranks and patrolling soldiers in the camp, and a hint of approval unconsciously appeared in his eyes.

The fact that Xiong Tingbi could maintain such discipline even after a series of battles truly demonstrates his exceptional military leadership.

"Our family has met Xiong Jinglue before."

As soon as he entered the tent, Wang Chengen bowed slightly to Xiong Tingbi, who had risen to greet him. His tone was calm, but when his gaze fell on Xiong Tingbi's sling arm, he showed even more respect.

"The General is still working hard on the front lines despite his injuries; he must be exhausted."

“It must have been hard for you, Father-in-law, to come all this way.”

Xiong Tingbi moved aside to let him sit down, and his personal guards quickly served him hot tea.

"The conditions in the military camp are simple, so my father-in-law made do with what he had."

He didn't beat around the bush; after Wang Chengen took the teacup, he asked directly:

"Your visit must be about the Khorchin tribe, right? What is the imperial decree?"

Wang Chengen warmed his hands with the hot tea before taking out two neatly folded letters from his sleeve and handing them over:

"Rest assured, General, His Majesty has already decreed that the two daughters of Buhe Taiji be brought into the palace. This is the reply written by the two noble ladies to their families."

Upon receiving the letter, Xiong Tingbi felt a weight lift from his heart.
"That's good. Although it wasn't delivered before the Khorchin troops set out, it's not too late."

With these two letters, Mangus would no longer doubt his previous promises, and the morale of the Khorchin tribe would be completely stabilized.

At this point, his eyes darted around, and his tone shifted accordingly, saying:

"By the way, Your Excellency, in order to persuade the Khorchin tribe to send troops as soon as possible, I promised them some benefits, including the established trade privileges granted by the court, as well as some rewards."

He deliberately omitted the details of Liu Xingzuo's false imperial decree and took all the promises upon himself.

This was naturally to protect Liu Xingzuo.

Upon hearing this, Wang Chengen paused, his hand holding the teacup slightly furrowing his brow, but he didn't press further, simply nodding slowly.

"His Majesty has already entrusted the Liaodong matter entirely to the General. These small benefits, as long as they can stabilize the Mongol tribes and help our Great Ming recover Liaodong, His Majesty will surely agree. When I return, I will also put in a good word for the General before His Majesty."

Xiong Tingbi's face immediately lit up with joy, and he was about to express his gratitude when he saw Wang Chengen change the subject, his tone becoming more reproachful:
"But... Lord General, there are some things I need to tell you the truth."

You are decisive and His Majesty trusts you, but you can't always rely on His Majesty to "cover your losses".

"Take this matter of bringing Mongol women into the palace, do you know how much of a stir it caused in the court?"

"Oh?"

Xiong Tingbi's smile froze instantly, his heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked:

"I've been busy on the front lines with this matter and haven't heard anything from the court. What do you mean by that, Your Excellency?"

Wang Chengen put down his teacup and sighed softly.

This Xiong Tingbi is capable, but he is far too indifferent to court intrigues.

Without His Majesty, I'm afraid...
His tenure as the Liaodong Military Commissioner was long over.

Wang Chengen said slowly:
"Since the founding of the dynasty, there has been no precedent for taking women from foreign ethnic groups into the palace. Although it is not explicitly stated in the ancestral rules, it is a tacitly accepted rule."

For the sake of the overall situation in Liaodong, His Majesty issued the decree even though he knew it would violate ancestral rules.

As soon as the imperial decree was issued, impeachment memorials from the Censorate piled up like a mountain. Many veteran officials knelt outside the Wenhua Hall, accusing His Majesty of "breaking ancestral rules" and "indulging in foreign women to disrupt the palace." Even the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet stepped forward to advise His Majesty to "reconsider." To this day, the turmoil has not subsided.

"boom!!"

These words struck Xiong Tingbi like a heavy hammer blow.

He was only thinking about how to stabilize the Khorchin tribe and how to win the battle at hand, but he never thought that his "promise" would cause the emperor to bear the infamy of "violating ancestral rules" and even attract impeachment from the entire court.

He clenched the letter in his hand, the color draining from his face, and an indescribable heaviness and guilt welled up in his heart.

"So that's it..."

Xiong Tingbi's voice became much lower, and his eyes dimmed.

"I had no idea that my arrangements in Liaodong would cause His Majesty such great trouble..."

He couldn't imagine the scene of the emperor facing impeachment from the entire court.

He had to both continue supporting the war in Liaodong and deal with the remonstrances of veteran officials, and this pressure was all caused by him.

If it weren't for the emperor's trust in him and his attention to the war situation in Liaodong, someone would probably have used this incident to impeach him for "making irresponsible remarks about the palace" and "coercing His Majesty." His tenure as the Liaodong military commissioner would probably have truly come to an end.

Seeing his solemn expression, Wang Chengen softened his tone and comforted him:

"Governor, there's no need to blame yourself too much. His Majesty knows that you did all this for the Ming Dynasty and for Liaodong."

He often told our family that Xiong Tingbi was a rare military genius, and that as long as Liaodong could be recovered, he could handle this 'storm'.

These words did not reassure Xiong Tingbi; instead, they made him feel even more guilty.

He remained silent for a long time before slowly raising his head, a resolute light returning to his eyes:

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, I, Xiong Tingbi, will not betray His Majesty's trust. Once I have recovered Tieling and Kaiyuan and stabilized the situation in Liaodong, I will personally submit a memorial to the court to explain the cause and effect of this matter. All responsibility should be borne by me, and His Majesty must not be allowed to bear the blame alone!"

Looking at the determination in his eyes, Wang Chengen nodded inwardly.

No wonder His Majesty trusts Xiong Tingbi so much; such a responsible minister is indeed rare.

"Don't worry, His Majesty will not forget those who have made contributions. His Majesty asked me to pass on a message: You just need to do your job, and leave the rest to me."

With the emperor's words, Xiong Tingbi felt more at ease.

"Your Majesty's kindness is beyond words; Tingbi can only repay it with his life!"

"Alright, from now on, just be more cautious in your actions. Is there anything you want to ask me, or anything you want me to pass on a message to?"

After hearing Wang Chengen's words, Xiong Tingbi also started talking.

The two talked about the political turmoil in the imperial court and the practical affairs in Liaodong. The topic gradually fell on the most crucial issues of food supplies and finance.

These two matters are the foundation of the Liaodong campaign and cannot be taken lightly.

"Angel, the Liaodong army is consuming a huge amount of grain every day. Can the imperial court supply it? And with the expenses of this constant warfare, the Ming Dynasty's finances must already be stretched thin."

Wang Chengen put down his teacup, a mixture of relief and helplessness on his face.

"The matter of grain supplies is currently quite secure. Thanks to His Majesty's vigorous promotion of sweet potato cultivation this year, many sweet potato fields have been opened up in Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi and other places. This autumn harvest, the yield of these sweet potatoes far exceeded expectations. Many prefectures and counties have handed over their surplus grain to the national treasury. The court has allocated 30% of it to Liaodong, which is enough to last until next spring."

"But the financial problem is indeed thorny. In recent years, there have been constant wars in Liaodong, and money has been spent like water, leaving the national treasury empty."

If it weren't for Yang Lian's inspection tour of Jizhou, which uncovered many corrupt border generals and powerful families hoarding grain, resulting in the seizure of over two million taels of gold, silver, and grain, coupled with the meager autumn tax revenue collected this year, Liaodong's military supplies would likely have been cut off.

Even so, His Majesty is under considerable pressure in the capital.

Many officials petitioned for cuts to military spending in Liaodong, arguing that it was "exhausting the people's resources for war." His Majesty argued extensively with the cabinet to quell these voices.

Xiong Tingbi listened quietly, his brows furrowing slightly.

Although he had been on the front lines for a long time, he knew that the Ming Dynasty's finances were deeply entrenched in problems, and that His Majesty must have paid a heavy price to squeeze out military supplies.

He nodded slowly, his tone firm: "I have kept Your Majesty's difficulties in mind. Once we recover the three cities of Kaiyuan, Tieling, and Fushun, we will immediately restart the Great Wall defense line in Liaodong and at the same time promote large-scale military farming along the Liao River."

Soldiers were allowed to both guard the border and cultivate the land, while displaced refugees were recruited, given land, and taxed lightly.

If the situation can be stabilized this winter, there will be a good summer harvest next year. At that time, Liaodong will be self-sufficient in grain, and the court will no longer need to transport grain from within the Great Wall, which will also lighten Your Majesty's burden.

He knew in his heart that the emperor's trust and support were not unlimited, and the Ming Dynasty's finances could not withstand years of "blood transfusions".

Only by enabling Liaodong to develop its own self-sufficiency can this battle be fought indefinitely and this land truly be defended.

Upon hearing this, Wang Chengen's eyes were full of praise: "If His Majesty knew that the Grand Coordinator had such a long-term plan, he would surely be very pleased. It is not in vain that His Majesty has endured so much criticism from the court for the sake of Liaodong."

After discussing practical matters, Xiong Tingbi stood up and said, "Your Excellency, we have been talking inside the tent for a long time. Why don't you come with me outside for a walk? I have two things that I would like to ask you to present to His Majesty on my behalf."

Curious, Wang Chengen followed him out of the central command tent and walked along the camp's passageway toward the stables.

Along the way, whenever the soldiers saw Xiong Tingbi and Wang Chengen, they all stopped and saluted.

Xiong Tingbi's prestige goes without saying, and Wang Chengen's repeated rewards also made the soldiers in Liaodong like him.

soon.

The two then arrived at the stables, and Xiong Tingbi pointed to the innermost stable: "Please take a look, sir."

Inside the stable, a jet-black warhorse was munching on dry grass. It was tall and its mane cascaded down like an ink waterfall. Even in the winter stable, it showed no signs of weakness.

As someone approached, it raised its head, snorted, and its eyes, sharp as an eagle's, exuded an extraordinary aura.

"This is……"

Wang Chengen's eyes lit up, and he took a few steps closer to examine it carefully.

"What a fine horse!"

"This is Nurhaci's steed, named 'Treading Snow Black Steed'."

Xiong Tingbi explained, "This horse can travel a thousand miles a day and can withstand severe cold. Nurhaci relied on it to break through enemy lines many times."

Now that the bandit leader is dead, it's a waste for me to keep this precious horse. I'd better offer it to His Majesty.

As he spoke, he ordered his personal guards to bring him a long sword.

The blade was about three feet long, gleaming with a cold, sharp light. Even though it hadn't been drawn for a long time, it still exuded a murderous aura.

A piece of black jade was inlaid on the hilt of the sword, with faint Jurchen characters engraved on it, which was Nurhaci's name.

"This sword was Nurhaci's personal sword, which he never parted with during his many years of battles."

Xiong Tingbi handed the knife to Wang Chengen.

"Please take this back to the capital and present it to His Majesty."

Wang Chengen took the Shundao knife and immediately felt its weight; the black jade on the hilt was still warm and smooth.

He secretly admired him.

Although Xiong Tingbi was somewhat slow to handle court etiquette, he knew how to please people.

His Majesty has always been fond of weapons and fine horses. These two spoils of war are not only evidence of the great victory in Liaodong, but also exquisite items that suit His Majesty's tastes. They will surely enhance His Majesty's impression of Xiong Tingbi.

"The governor has a good intention."

Wang Chengen smiled and handed the knife to the eunuch behind him to put away.

"I will certainly deliver this fine horse and precious sword to His Majesty intact."

You can focus on attacking Tieling and Kaiyuan. Once the news of the recapture of these three cities reaches the capital, I'll come back next time, bringing with me His Majesty's gold, silk, and imperial edicts, ensuring you and your soldiers are all honored!

"Thank you so much, angel!"

this side.

The flames of war in Liaodong are still burning.

And it's unknown when it will all be burned.

Meanwhile, in Beijing, Emperor Zhu Youxiao of the Ming Dynasty was not having an easy time either.
You could even say it's a bit sour, but also a bit refreshing!

ps:
A long chapter of 8400 words!
Who else?
Also, with 399 monthly votes, it looks like the extra chapter will have to wait until tomorrow!

(End of this chapter)