Huangming

Chapter 416 Sending Envoys to Secure the Borders, the Situation of the Empire

Zhu Youxiao placed Ma Shilong's secret memorial on the table and his gaze fell on the stack of memorials waiting to be sifted in Ni Yuanlu's hand.

Most of the memorials were ordinary reports from local prefectures and counties, but his mind was preoccupied with the chaos in the nine border regions, and he had no interest in even looking at them.

“Ni Qing.”

Zhu Youxiao's voice broke the silence in the hall. He leaned forward slightly and asked Ni Yuanlu:
"Tell me, after the reorganization of Liaodong and Jizhou, those who draw salaries without working and exploit soldiers in the other border towns of the Nine Garrisons are now terrified and even have the slightest intention to revolt. How should this matter be handled?"

Ni Yuanlu was sorting through memorials when he heard this and was taken aback.

He looked up and saw that the emperor looked solemn, with worry in his eyes, so he immediately put down his pen.

He then straightened up, his brows slowly furrowing.

This is indeed a thorny problem. Rectification is the foundation of the country, but the risk of mutiny is imminent, and the slightest carelessness could lead to turmoil.

After a moment, Ni Yuanlu cautiously spoke.

"Your Majesty, the reorganization of Liaodong and Jizhou is to remove the termites from the border walls of the Ming Dynasty and to strengthen the foundation of the nine border regions."

Since the Jiajing era, the military pay for the nine border regions has been wasted and the soldiers have suffered hardship, all because these generals embezzled public funds.

If we stop our efforts to rectify the situation because of the risk of mutiny in other border towns, we are essentially letting a tiger run rampant.

If we indulge them today, they will only become more brazen tomorrow, widening the gaping hole in the nine border regions and making the court's foundation increasingly unstable.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao sighed softly.

“What you say, Ni Qing, is something I am well aware of.”

But look at the current situation.

Although Xiong Tingbi of Liaodong had rectified his internal affairs, he still had to deal with Huang Taiji's Jurchen army, which was pressing on the border, and the supply of food and military pay could not be interrupted for even a day.

In Sichuan, She Chongming was making moves in Yongning.

"If the border towns of Xuanda and Yansui were to mutini at this time, the Mongol tribes would take the opportunity to move south, the Jurchens would launch a pincer attack from the east, and She Chongming would respond from the southwest, and our Great Ming would be caught in the predicament of fighting on three fronts."

By then, let alone annihilating the Jurchens and pacifying She Chongming, the Ming Dynasty would likely be engulfed in constant warfare.

These words were like a heavy stone, making the air in the hall feel even heavier.

Ni Yuanlu also fell silent.

The emperor's concerns were not without merit. The Ming Dynasty's military forces were already scattered, and if internal strife were added, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Zhu Youxiao seemed to remember something, and his tone softened slightly as he continued:
"Actually, there are reasons why Jizhou and Liaodong were able to be reorganized smoothly."

Jizhou was the first to act, catching those corrupt generals completely off guard.

Furthermore, when Qi Jiguang reorganized the Jizhou garrison, he left behind many disciplined and loyal veteran soldiers, so the deep-seated problems were not particularly severe, making the reorganization easy.

"As for Liaodong, guest troops accounted for 60% of the troops."

Those soldiers transferred from Xuanda and Shandong had no connection with the former generals of Liaodong. I also paid them half a year's salary in advance. With a way to make a living, the soldiers naturally did not want to follow those parasites and cause trouble.

But what about the border towns of Xuanfu, Datong, and Yansui?

“Those generals in the border towns have been entrenched for generations, with their protégés and former subordinates scattered throughout the army. They have long regarded the army as their private property.”

Now that they see the people of Jizhou and Liaodong have met their end, how can they sit idly by and wait for their doom?

They will definitely make secret contacts and even incite the soldiers.

More importantly, the soldiers in those border towns had their rations and pay embezzled for more than a decade, and they couldn't even afford winter clothes in the winter. They were like a pile of dry tinder, ready to ignite at any moment.

If someone were to shout, "The imperial court is cutting off our livelihood," there would probably be a mutiny in no time.

Upon hearing this, Ni Yuanlu's expression also turned serious, and he bowed and said:

"Your Majesty is absolutely right. Last month, the Shaanxi Provincial Inspector submitted a memorial stating that refugees had gathered in Yan'an Prefecture, and due to the drought and lack of food last winter, many people had begun to loot the government's granaries."

In Shanxi, several military officers in Datong Town have been frequently contacting leaders of displaced people, seemingly with the intention of colluding with them.

If the rebel soldiers and refugees in the border towns were to merge, and then join forces with She Chongming in Sichuan, the situation would be dire…

He didn't say anything more, but they both understood.

That would be a massive upheaval sweeping across the north, far worse than the Bozhou Rebellion and the Ningxia Rebellion during the Wanli era.

Zhu Youxiao leaned back on the dragon throne, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

The rectification cannot stop, but it also cannot be rushed.

The goal is to intimidate those generals, but not to drive them to desperation.

"It's difficult."

Zhu Youxiao slowly opened his eyes, his eyes filled with exhaustion.

"These people have clearly figured out my current predicament and want to force me to compromise."

But if I back down now, I will never have another chance to reorganize the nine border regions.

Looking at the emperor's appearance, Ni Yuanlu felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.

This young emperor has had few days of peace since his ascension to the throne. First, there was the struggle between the Donglin Party and the eunuch party, then the war in Liaodong, and now he has to deal with the chaos in the Nine Garrisons.

Your Majesty has it tough!

"His Majesty."

Ni Yuanlu carefully considered his words before speaking.

"Perhaps we can first send trusted ministers to Xuanda, Yansui and other places to appease them, and say openly that 'the court takes into account the soldiers' hard work in guarding the border and will not pursue past minor mistakes for the time being' to stabilize people's hearts."

Secretly, they also ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate those who had committed heinous crimes, and then, once the war in Liaodong had eased up a bit, they would take them down in one fell swoop.

This way, the conflict won't escalate, and the corrupt elements can be gradually eliminated.

“That’s a good idea, but which of those generals in the Nine Borders isn’t a seasoned veteran who’s been fighting on the border for over a decade?”
Their ability to read people's expressions and guess the emperor's intentions is even better than that of the officials in the capital. I'm afraid my delaying tactic won't fool them.

"Your Majesty is absolutely right. Although delaying tactics are easy to detect, they can be combined with 'real benefits' to stabilize people's hearts."

"Two million taels of the confiscated money from Liaodong can be allocated first, and the border patrol soldiers can take it to the Nine Garrisons to make up for the lost military pay."

Those military officers who wanted to cause trouble relied on nothing more than embezzling soldiers' rations and inciting their resentment.

But if we pay the soldiers who owe us half a year's worth of military pay in full to each soldier, and then give each person an extra two months' worth of rations.

With a way to survive, who among the soldiers would still be willing to follow their commander and risk being beheaded?

"Once the war in Liaodong is over, Your Majesty can recall ministers with experience in reorganization, such as General Xiong and Minister Yang, and lead the elite troops of Liaodong back to the Nine Garrisons. At that time, there will be no resentment among the soldiers and a strong army to deter them from the outside. Those generals who harbor corrupt intentions will not have the confidence to rebel!"

Ni Yuanlu's voice was not loud, but every word was clear, clearly explaining the idea of ​​"stabilizing the present while planning for the long term".

As Zhu Youxiao listened, the concerns in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a more resolute expression.

"This method of reassuring the troops and buying time is feasible."

"I think we can give these generals another chance to 'turn over a new leaf'."

The emperor issued an edict to the nine border regions, stating that anyone who had previously engaged in corruption or embezzled funds would be pardoned and retained in their official position if they voluntarily surrendered themselves and returned all the embezzled grain and military land they had seized.

If this is concealed and discovered later, the perpetrator will be executed without mercy!

At this point, Zhu Youxiao's eyes flickered, and his tone carried a hint of weighing of options:

"The reason why nearly 20 million taels of silver could be confiscated in Liaodong is because the corrupt officials there have been exploiting the area for decades, and the deep-rooted problems are the most serious."

The other nine regions may also have some profits, but they may not be as plentiful as this.

If I can exchange 'saving a million taels of silver' for preventing unrest on the nine borders, allowing me to focus on dealing with the Jurchens and She Chongming, then this is a worthwhile deal.

After all, the current situation doesn't allow for gambles.

The army in Liaodong is still focused on Hetu Ala, She Chongming in Sichuan has already gathered troops, and refugees in Shanxi and Shaanxi have begun to gather. If the nine border regions are thrown into chaos again and fire breaks out on three fronts, the foundation of the Ming Dynasty may be shaken.

Rather than investigating to the bitter end and inciting a mutiny, it would be better to give them a break and stabilize the overall situation first.

This was the only chance those corrupt officials could have to survive.

"But who should we send to handle this?"

Zhu Youxiao frowned slightly, troubled by the choice of someone to go and appease the nine border regions.

"This person must not only have prestige among the border generals and be able to keep order, but also be meticulous and able to secretly investigate whether those generals are truly surrendering, and also be knowledgeable in military affairs and able to manage supplies..."

but.

A moment later, Zhu Youxiao had a candidate in mind.

"Zhang Heming, the Vice Minister of War! He is the perfect candidate!"

Ni Yuanlu, who was standing to the side, nodded in agreement.

"Your Majesty is wise! Minister Zhang is currently the Vice Minister of War. In his early years, when he was in charge of military affairs in Fujian and Guizhou, he quelled a rebellion by local chieftains and understands the people's hearts in the border areas."

More importantly, he had served in the Ministry of War for many years, and most of the commanders-in-chief and brigade commanders of the nine border regions had dealt with him before. They would give him some face, so there wouldn't be a conflict right after he took office.

“That’s right. Zhang Heming has both local experience and is familiar with the Ministry of War’s procedures. Sending him to the Nine Garrisons with the Beijing Garrison and the supplementary military pay can both appease the soldiers and secretly verify the surrender situation, killing two birds with one stone.”

He immediately picked up a vermilion brush and wrote on a blank memorial, “Is Zhang Heming, Vice Minister of War, appointed as the Governor-General of the Nine Garrisons’ Pacification Affairs, and ordered to transfer 3,000 men from the Beijing Garrison to accompany him, and allocate 2 million taels of embezzled silver from Liaodong to fund the military expenses.”

Zhu Youxiao had practiced calligraphy for a long time, and his handwriting was already vigorous and powerful; the imperial edict was also completed in one stroke.

"Send Zhang Heming to the palace tomorrow to receive the imperial decree. He must set off before April. We cannot give those border generals too much time to collude!"

Looking at the emperor's decisive and efficient manner, Ni Yuanlu secretly admired him.

Although Your Majesty is young, you know how to find a balance between "firmness" and "softness". You neither give up on rectification out of fear of mutiny, nor do you blindly use force and cause great chaos. This kind of balancing act has already shown the demeanor of a wise ruler.

However, Zhu Youxiao looked at the decree that had just been written on his desk and felt it was still not enough.

A single imperial edict was not enough for Zhang Heming to fully grasp its deeper meaning. The affairs of the nine border regions were interconnected and affected the whole situation. It was necessary to discuss the matter in person and finalize the details.

He looked up and shouted towards the outside of the hall: "Issue the decree that Zhang Heming, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, must immediately enter the East Warm Pavilion to meet the Emperor!"

Soon, a eunuch carrying out the imperial decree left.

The Ministry of War's duty room was not far from the East Warm Pavilion. Upon receiving the report, Zhang Heming hurried towards the Warm Pavilion.

However, on his way to the Qianqing Palace, he had a question in his mind:
There have been no urgent military reports recently, so why has His Majesty suddenly summoned me? Could it be about the deployment of troops in the border towns following the victory in Liaodong?
In less than half an hour, Zhang Heming bowed and stepped into the East Warm Pavilion. As soon as he entered, he knelt on the ground and spoke respectfully:

"Your Majesty, I, Zhang Heming, Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, respectfully wish Your Majesty good health!"

He kept his head down, not daring to look up.

"Please rise, Zhang Qing."

Zhu Youxiao's voice came from the dragon throne, carrying a hint of gentleness.

As soon as he finished speaking, Wei Chao carried forward a round-backed chair covered with brocade and gently placed it beside Zhang Heming.

Seeing this, Zhang Heming's eyes were filled with astonishment.

Being granted a seat before the emperor was a privilege reserved for cabinet ministers or the emperor's confidants. Although he served as the Vice Minister of War, he had never been among the "confidants," let alone a cabinet minister.

He instinctively bowed in thanks, saying, "Your Majesty's kindness is too much for me to bear..."

"It's alright, sit down and talk."

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand.

Zhang Heming then carefully sat down, his bottom barely touching the edge of the chair, his back still ramrod straight, and his gaze still not daring to meet the emperor's eyes.

Seeing that he was seated, Zhu Youxiao picked up a secret memorial with the sealing wax removed from the desk and placed it on the edge of the imperial desk:
"Take a look at this secret report first."

Wei Chao quickly stepped forward and handed the secret report to Zhang Heming with both hands.

Zhang Heming took the secret fold and unfolded the pages.

This is a report sent by Ma Shilong, the deputy commander of Xuanfu, which is full of warnings that "the generals of Xuanfu and Datong are in a state of panic" and "there is a fear of mutiny".

The further he read, the more his brows furrowed, the tighter his grip on the pages tightened, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

"His Majesty."

After reading the secret report, Zhang Heming suddenly stood up, his tone full of indignation.

“Those generals in Xuanda who took advantage of the remoteness of the border areas to embezzle rations and pay and to embezzle military farmland should be severely punished!”
Now they dare to harbor rebellious intentions because the imperial court is purging corruption in Liaodong! This must not be tolerated!

Zhu Youxiao raised his hand to interrupt him, his voice deepening:

"I know that I cannot tolerate this."

But think about it again, right now the Liaodong army is eyeing Hetu Ala, and the Jurchens have not yet been defeated.

There are potential risks in Sichuan, Shanxi, and Shaanxi.

If the nine border regions were to mutini now, wouldn't all these chaotic situations, combined, hollow out the heart of the Ming Dynasty?

Zhang Heming was taken aback upon hearing this, and his earlier indignation was gradually replaced by calm.

He lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then looked up again, as if he understood why the emperor had summoned him.

"Your Majesty has summoned me. Is it to entrust me with the task of pacifying the nine border regions?"

"Exactly."

Zhu Youxiao nodded.

"In his early years, Zhang Qing served as the Right Vice Minister and Provincial Governor of Shaanxi, and also as the Governor-General of the Three Border Regions of Shaanxi. You know the terrain and the temperament of the generals of the Nine Border Regions better than anyone else in the court."

This job is absolutely essential for you.

Zhang Heming's heart sank, but he also breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately.

It's not about assigning blame, but about entrusting someone with an important task.

However, this mission is unlikely to be easy.

The generals of the nine border regions are mostly arrogant and unruly, and the slightest carelessness could escalate the conflict.

If a mutiny were to occur in the border town, the achievements of the previous rectification efforts in Liaodong and the stability of Beizhili could be destroyed in an instant. Therefore, after only a moment's thought, Zhang Heming accepted the assignment.

"Your subject obeys! Even if there is danger, your subject will not fail in your mission!"

"it is good!"

Zhu Youxiao saw that he agreed quite readily and showed some approval in his eyes.

"I have already ordered three thousand soldiers from the capital garrison to accompany you north."

Although these men were newly trained last year, they can still be considered elite. Equipped with muskets and chariots, they can both protect you and demonstrate the might of the imperial army.

He stood up and walked to the map, beckoning Zhang Heming forward, and pointed out details on the map with his finger:

"You have three things to do on this journey:"

First, take two million taels of embezzled silver from Liaodong to the Nine Garrisons to pay the soldiers who were owed half a year's wages, and give each soldier an extra two months' worth of rations, so that the soldiers can receive real benefits.

Second, I hereby issue an imperial decree giving those generals a one-month deadline to surrender themselves. Anyone who returns the embezzled grain and salary or the illegally occupied military land will be pardoned. Anyone who dares to conceal anything will be executed without mercy if discovered in the future.

Third, they secretly dispatched secret agents from the Embroidered Uniform Guard to accompany them, to verify whether the military pay was paid in full, and to find out the movements of the generals.

You need to know in your heart which repentance is genuine and which is feigned compliance.

Zhang Heming leaned down to listen attentively, nodding occasionally and interjecting only now:

"Your Majesty, I believe that the clerks in the accompanying army should register the soldiers' names on the roster when distributing their pay. This will not only prevent generals from embezzling funds, but also ascertain the actual number of soldiers in each garrison, thus preparing for future reorganization."

"well said."

Zhu Youxiao nodded approvingly.

"Do as you say. This journey is dangerous, so think carefully before you act. If you encounter any emergencies, you can send a secret letter back to the capital, and I will send troops to support you."

The emperor and his minister discussed the map in detail for nearly half an hour.

From the process of distributing military pay to contingency plans for dealing with resistance from generals, everything was finalized.

After the discussion was completed, Zhang Heming bowed again.

"With Your Majesty's full support, I will certainly stabilize the nine border regions!"

Zhu Youxiao looked at his resolute expression and nodded in satisfaction:

"Go and make preparations. Make sure we set off before April."

"The minister obeys the order!"

Zhang Heming bowed to take his leave, and his steps were much more steady as he turned around than when he arrived.

As he reached the entrance of the warm pavilion, he glanced back.

The emperor had picked up the memorials on his desk again, and his diligent demeanor stirred Zhang Heming's heart.

With such a wise and virtuous ruler, how could the Ming Dynasty not recover?

Zhang Heming took a deep breath, gripped the secret document in his hand, and strode out of the warm pavilion.

The stability of the nine border regions and the overall situation of the Ming Dynasty now rest on his shoulders.

After Zhang Heming bowed and withdrew, the noise in the East Warm Pavilion subsided, leaving only Zhu Youxiao sitting alone at his desk reviewing memorials.

"Your Majesty, it is getting dark; it is time for dinner."

Wei Chao walked in quietly, holding a cup of freshly warmed ginseng tea in his hands, his tone respectful to the point of being cautious.

Seeing the emperor staring intently at the palace gate, he followed his gaze and then added:
"The Imperial Kitchen has already prepared the dishes; they'll get cold if we wait any longer."

Zhu Youxiao put down his brush, picked up the ginseng tea, but shook his head:

"No rush, hasn't tonight's secret report arrived yet?"

After he ascended the throne, he established the following rules:

Every morning at court, he would read the secret reports from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and before lighting the lamps, he would read the secret memorials from the local areas.

Those memorials stamped with the red seal bearing the character "密" (secret) came from either the generals of the border towns or the governors of various provinces.

Unlike official memorials that had to go through the Six Ministries, these documents delivered the news of the world to him as quickly as possible, which was key to his control of the court and his ability to detect hidden dangers.

Just as Wei Chao was about to reply, hurried footsteps came from outside the hall.

"Your Majesty! A secret report has arrived!"

Before he finished speaking, Wang Tiqian bowed and strode in. Behind him were two eunuchs who carried a bamboo basket about half a person's height. The basket was filled with folded documents wrapped in blue silk, each sealed with a bright red "secret" stamp.

"Your Majesty, all the secret memorials for today are here, a total of thirty-seven, including eleven from the border garrisons and twenty-six from the inland provinces."

Wang Tiqian, panting, personally picked up the topmost memorial and handed it to Zhu Youxiao.

"This servant has already sorted them by importance and urgency. The top one is from Mao Wenlong in Tianjin."

Zhu Youxiao reached out and took it, feeling the delicate texture of the blue silk. He untied the silk ribbon and unfolded the folds.

Mao Wenlong's memorial stated that after leaving Beijing last month, he rushed back to Tianjin and had already mustered 3,000 men and 20 warships for the Tianjin navy. He would soon set off to Penghu and Taiwan for reconnaissance.

Firstly, it was to ascertain the local terrain and ports in order to prevent the Jurchens or the Dutch from stationing troops there.

Secondly, they sought out local refugees to see if they could be recruited as auxiliary soldiers for the navy to supplement the military strength.

"Mao Wenlong is quite efficient."

Zhu Youxiao's lips curled up slightly as he recalled Mao Wenlong's appearance when he came to Beijing not long ago.

The military officer, clad in armor and with a sword at his waist, spoke with a gleam in his eyes about coastal defense, stating bluntly, "Penghu is the gateway to Fujian, and Taiwan is the shield of the southeast. If we do not occupy it soon, it may be seized by foreign barbarians."

In retrospect, this person not only dared to speak, but also dared to act.

At the end of the memorial, he wrote, "Approved. Instruct the Governor of Fujian to provide provisions and supplies."

Then he started rummaging through the basket.

Most of the memorials were greetings from provincial officials.

The Guangdong governor said, "The region is at peace, and spring plowing is proceeding in an orderly manner."

The Zhejiang Provincial Governor reported that "the maritime ban has been temporarily lifted, and the number of merchant ships is gradually increasing."

Even the chieftains of Yunnan submitted a memorial, saying, "We are willing to pay tribute every year and forever submit to the Ming Dynasty."

These memorials, though vague in content, were not entirely useless.

Zhu Youxiao knew that this was his subjects expressing their loyalty, but more importantly, it was a signal to him that "the local areas are stable," allowing him to promptly detect which provinces had not submitted memorials and which officials' tone was inappropriate.

When he turned to the twenty-third letter, Zhu Youxiao's fingers paused.

This is Yuan Keli's memorial.

The handwriting on the cover is elegant and neat, with the formality of a civil official; it is indeed the work of Yuan Keli.

The memorial began with the usual greetings, but the second half got down to business:
He arrived in Nanjing on March 20th, paid his respects to Duke Zhang Weixian of England, and also met with the garrison eunuch Gao Qiqian. He is currently checking the roster of the Nanjing garrison and verifying military equipment.

"Yuan Keli has arrived in Nanjing."

Zhu Youxiao muttered to himself, a sharp glint in his eyes.

He put down the folded document, his thoughts racing.

Nanjing was a secondary capital, and although it was not as important as the capital, it held military power in the south of the Yangtze River and was key to checking and balancing the officials and gentry in the south.

He sent Yuan Keli to Nanjing because he valued Yuan Keli's abilities and loyalty.

With the garrison eunuch Gao Qiqian monitoring the inner palace and Duke Zhang Weixian mediating, the three of them are now together, and the framework of Nanjing is finally in place.

For many years, officials and gentry in Jiangnan had been entrenched in their power, seizing land, evading taxes, and even secretly trading with Japanese pirates and the Dutch, making a fortune, yet they complained of poverty every year and were unwilling to pay more taxes.

Previously, he was busy reorganizing Beizhili and Liaodong and had no time to pay attention to this. Now that Liaodong is gradually stabilizing and Nanjing's military power will fall into his control, it is time to teach these people a lesson.

He wanted to see if those cloth merchants dared to monopolize the silk from the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau!
Call ~
Zhu Youxiao quickly regained his composure and continued reading the secret memorials.

After finishing the last official document with his imperial rescript, he finally leaned back on the dragon throne, stretched his arms slightly, and yawned.

From reading the secret reports of the Embroidered Uniform Guard at dawn to finishing reading all the secret memorials at this moment, for nearly six hours, his eyes had hardly left the memorials and maps. He had only taken a few sips of tea, and now the soreness in his back and waist finally surged up.

"Alright, bring up dinner."

He spoke to Wei Chao below the steps, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of weariness.

Wei Chao quickly bowed and replied:

"This servant will go and inform them immediately."

Having said that, he tiptoed out, afraid of disturbing the emperor's moment of relaxation.

As Zhu Youxiao gazed at the pile of memorials on his desk, his thoughts drifted to the vast territories of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhang Heming will be setting off tomorrow on the Nine Borders. Will the three thousand garrison troops from the capital be able to keep those scheming border generals in check?

Xiong Tingbi in Liaodong is probably watching Hetu Ala closely right now, wondering how long it will take to take Huang Taiji's head.

Although She Chongming in Sichuan is under strict guard, the Tusi soldiers are known for their ferocity. Will they take advantage of the instability in the Nine Border Regions to cause trouble again?

Yuan Keli from Jiangnan has just arrived in Nanjing. How long will it take for him to figure out the strengths and weaknesses of Nanjing Wei and to establish a good working relationship with Gao Qiqian and Zhang Weixian?

And what about Mao Wenlong at sea? He led the Tianjin navy to Penghu and Taiwan. Could he find traces of the Dutch and Japanese pirates?
These things were like a fine net, tangled in his heart, each one disturbing his peace of mind.

If possible, he really wanted to do this one thing at a time.

First pacify Liaodong, then reorganize the nine border regions; first stabilize Jiangnan, then manage the coastal areas.

But things in this world are never up to us; often, the more you try to be safe, the more unexpected things happen.

Just like last winter, who could have predicted that someone in Liaodong would dare to cut off logistics?

This year, who could have predicted that the border general of Xuanda would harbor disloyal thoughts out of fear of reorganization?
However, despite the many and complicated matters, Zhu Youxiao did not show any fear on his face.

Since his ascension to the throne, from the Donglin Party's control of the government to his position as Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial at the beginning of the Wei Dynasty, from the loss of troops and territory in Liaodong to the gradual turnaround now, every step has been taken through storms.
there is always a solution to a problem!
As long as we safeguard the two foundations of "popular support" and "military power," even the biggest troubles can be quelled.

Not long after.

Wei Chao then led a dozen or so eunuchs in carrying food boxes. When the sandalwood food boxes were opened, the steam and fragrance filled the hall.

The braised chicken with chestnuts was stewed until tender and the chicken meat fell off the bone, while the chestnuts absorbed all the meat juices.

The tofu in the Jade White Jade Soup is so tender it's almost juicy, the greens are crisp and fresh, and the soup is clear and bright.

There are also various other dishes, all of which are delicious and visually appealing.

Zhu Youxiao didn't care about formalities. He took the jade chopsticks handed to him by Wei Chao and began to eat slowly.

The hall was quiet, with only the soft clinking of bowls and chopsticks and the crackling of candlelight.

After dinner, the eunuchs removed the tableware.

Wei Chao then brought over a red lacquered tray, on which were neatly arranged more than a dozen ivory plaques, each engraved with the name and residence of a palace concubine.

He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, it is late. Shall we choose a concubine tonight?"

Zhu Youxiao was wiping his hands with a warm handkerchief when he heard this, and he was taken aback.

Lately, he has been busy with many trivial matters, and he has mostly stayed in Kunning Palace or reviewed memorials in the East Warm Pavilion until late at night. He has even forgotten about the matter of choosing a concubine.

Now that he had finished reading the secret memorial, and with no urgent matters to attend to after Zhang Heming's departure tomorrow, and his energy gradually returning, he nodded and said, "Bring it here."

Wei Chao hurriedly handed the tray to the emperor's desk. Zhu Youxiao's gaze swept over the plaques, and suddenly he remembered something, asking:

"Where are those beauties that Prince Regent Yi Jong of Joseon sent over before now?"

Wei Chao was taken aback for a moment, then bowed and replied:

"Your Majesty, as you instructed, the Korean women have been placed in the side hall on the west side of Chuxiu Palace, and special servants have been assigned to take care of them, teaching them Chinese and court etiquette every day."

Zhu Youxiao hummed in agreement.

Yi Jong sent eight Korean beauties at once, each with delicate features and exotic charm, but he had been preoccupied with state affairs lately and had no time to pay them any attention.

After thinking for a moment, he looked up at Wei Chao and said, "There's no need to choose a consort. Go and deliver the imperial decree to summon Zhe Zhe and Hai Lan Zhu, the aunt and niece from Khorchin, to the Qianqing Palace tonight to serve you in bed."

Wei Chao was slightly surprised.

These two Mongolian women were sent by the Taiji of Khorchin last year. Zhe Zhe was gentle and dignified, while Hai Lan Zhu had the fiery and lively spirit unique to women of the grasslands. Although His Majesty had summoned them several times before, he rarely summoned both of them to serve him in bed at the same time.

But he dared not ask any more questions and quickly bowed and replied, "This servant obeys the decree and will go to convey it immediately."

After the Wei dynasty withdrew, Zhu Youxiao stood up.

He stretched, and the fatigue of the past few days seemed to have dissipated considerably.

The straightforwardness and enthusiasm of the women of the grasslands always allowed him to temporarily shed the burdens of being an emperor and enjoy a moment of relaxation.

As night deepened, the candlelight in the Qianqing Palace burned ever brighter.

Zhe Zhe and her niece Hai Lanzhu also arrived at the Qianqing Palace.

After taking a bath, Zhu Youxiao went straight to his bedchamber.

This night.

Without the annoyance of secret memorials or the constraints of state affairs, there were only moments of tenderness belonging to the emperor.

In addition, there was Zhu Youxiao's obsession with being a tyrannical ruler.

but
At the end of this dynasty.

昏君
It can only be done at night.

At daybreak tomorrow, he will once again become the shrewd and resourceful monarch, continuing to uphold the vast empire of the Ming Dynasty.

With the responsibility of governing two capitals and thirteen provinces on his shoulders, Zhu Youxiao had no choice but to be diligent in his duties!
after all
I've been watching that crooked tree on Coal Hill all along!
PS:

7500 words!
The typhoon is still affecting my writing.

o (╥﹏╥) o
The extra chapter will be posted tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)