Huangming

Chapter 428 The foundation of the nation is initially established; the task is arduous and the road ahead is long.

Zhu Youxiao carefully took the swaddling clothes from the midwife, his arms slightly bent as if he were holding a rare treasure, and he even breathed softly.

The swaddling clothes were made of newly made bright yellow brocade, embroidered with lotus patterns. The baby inside had his eyes closed and his little face was wrinkled, like a freshly peeled lotus seed, but that didn't stop Zhu Youxiao from staring at him endlessly.

The little one seemed to sense a familiar presence. His soft whimpers gradually stopped, and his tiny hands peeked out from the gaps in his swaddling clothes, grinning at Zhu Youxiao.

"Weighing eight jin...you rascal, your name really matches that of the founding emperor when he was young."

Zhu Youxiao's voice was full of laughter, and the tenderness in his eyes was almost overflowing.

Emperor Taizu Gao, Zhu Yuanzhang, was born into a peasant family. Because he weighed eight jin (4 catties) at birth, his parents called him "Zhu Chongba" (meaning "Zhu Heavy Eight"), and later changed his given name.

Now that his eldest son has achieved such importance, it seems like a coincidence from the heavens, filling him with a strange sense of anticipation.

The midwife stood bowing to the side, a fawning yet sincere smile plastered on her face, her voice extremely soft:

"Your Majesty is right!"

His Highness the Prince is clearly blessed by heaven. Most babies are born weighing only five or six pounds, so it is rare for a baby to weigh seven pounds.

His Highness weighed a full eight pounds, and his crying was so loud that it could almost be heard outside the palace just now in the warm pavilion.

With such a healthy body, she's sure to be very robust in the future!

That's no exaggeration.

In those years when infant mortality rates were extremely high, a newborn's weight was almost a direct indicator of "survival rate".

In the past, it was common for concubines in the palace to give birth to princes, but because they were not heavy enough, they would die within a few days.

Now the legitimate prince weighs eight jin (approximately 4 catties), and just that weight gives him more confidence to survive than others.

Zhu Youxiao gently shook the swaddled baby, his gaze falling on the infant's full forehead, but his smile gradually turned into one of heartache:
"It's just that the Empress has suffered."

He looked down at the baby sleeping peacefully in the swaddling clothes, then looked up at the curtain of the East Warm Pavilion. The Empress's heart-wrenching screams from earlier still seemed to echo in his ears.

He slowly lifted the curtain and entered the warm chamber, where a faint scent of mugwort mixed with the smell of blood wafted in.

Zhang Yan leaned against the canopy bed covered with soft cushions, covered with a brocade quilt embroidered with phoenix patterns. Her face was extremely pale, and her black hair was wet with sweat, clinging to her skin in strands. Even her usually bright eyes were now covered with a layer of tired mist.

Seeing Zhu Youxiao enter, she mustered her strength and managed a weak smile:
"Your Majesty... how is the prince...?"

"Okay, very good."

Zhu Youxiao walked quickly to the bedside, gently placed the swaddled baby on the small table beside the bed, and reached out to hold Zhang Yan's cold hand.

Her hands were still trembling slightly, suggesting that she had exhausted herself during childbirth.

"Don't worry, the midwife said he's very strong, weighs the same as the Great Ancestor, and will definitely be a lucky person in the future."

The midwife standing nearby quickly stepped forward to add, her tone carrying a hint of self-satisfaction:

"Your Majesty is absolutely right. Although this is the first time for the Empress, and the prince is on the heavier side, the baby is in the right position, and the Empress is doing well."

Although it took some time, it didn't cause any fundamental damage. With proper rest and recuperation for about a month, he should recover completely.

Zhu Youxiao, however, was not completely at ease.

If a 15 or 16-year-old girl gives birth to an eight-pound baby as her first child, extra precautions should be taken.

It is common in folk tradition that women die from postpartum hemorrhage because their firstborn baby is too large.

While waiting for news outside the pavilion, he had even asked the Imperial Hospital to prepare the best ginseng soup and hemostatic medicine, and his palms were constantly sweaty.

Holding Zhang Yan's cold hand, he still felt a lingering fear.

Fortunately, both mother and child were safe in the end.

"You should rest well. Others will take care of things in the palace, and the princes will be cared for by wet nurses. You don't need to worry about it."

Zhu Youxiao gently stroked the back of her hand with his fingertips, his voice extremely soft.

Feeling the emperor's tenderness, Zhang Yan felt that all the suffering she had endured was worthwhile.

However, she still has some problems.

"Your Majesty, what should our son be called?"

Zhu Youxiao paused, holding her hand, his gaze falling on the swaddled baby on the small table beside the bed.

The wet nurse was holding the baby carefully, afraid of disturbing the sleeping infant inside.

He hesitated for a moment, then his tone became more serious:
"The rules for naming princes were set long ago by the founding emperor, and we cannot disregard them."

Zhang Yan nodded slightly at these words.

Although she was the empress, she was aware of the strict naming rules for members of the Ming Dynasty's imperial family:
To prevent confusion in the generational rankings of future generations, Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang had already established "generational characters" for each branch of the family.

The order of the lineage of Emperor Chengzu is: "Gao Zhan Qi Jian You, Hou Zai Yi Chang You, Ci He Yi Bo Zhong, Jian Jing Di Xian You".

Zhu Youxiao belonged to the "You" generation, so the imperial son should naturally belong to the "Ci" generation; this cannot be wrong in the slightest.

“I belong to the ‘You’ generation, and the character ‘Xiao’ in my name has the wood radical, so it belongs to the ‘wood’ element.”

Zhu Youxiao began to speak slowly.

"The five elements generate each other, with wood generating fire. Therefore, the third character in the prince's name must have the fire element, either a fire radical or a character containing the meaning of 'fire'."

This is an ancestral custom, and it also reflects the hope that the imperial bloodline will continue unbroken, like the five elements in a cycle.

Zhang Yan listened attentively and asked softly, "Then please bestow a name upon me, Your Majesty."

The warm room was quiet for a moment, with only the occasional soft murmurs of the baby in the wet nurse's arms.

Zhu Youxiao's eyes suddenly lit up, and his tone became more excited: "I've decided, let's name him 'Zhu Cikun'."

"Zhu Cikun?"

Zhang Yan read the name aloud and found it easy to pronounce and somewhat elegant.

“Yes, ‘Ci’ refers to seniority, and ‘Kun’ means bright and shining fire.”

Zhu Youxiao leaned down and whispered in her ear, his voice softening, but he couldn't hide the light in his eyes.

The Book of Songs, in the Minor Odes, contains the line "The glory shines brightly upon my heart." "Glory shines brightly" means that one's virtue shines universally.

This little guy was born at this time.

With the Ming Dynasty's revival and the foundation of the nation firmly established, shouldn't this be a sign of dispelling the gloom that has shrouded the Ming Dynasty in recent years?

I hope that in the future he will not only treat the people with benevolence and compassion, but also wield virtuous character to revitalize the prestige of our Great Ming Dynasty, so that the whole world can see the orthodox spirit of our Zhu family.”

As he spoke, he couldn't help but look at the swaddled baby and said with a smile, "Our Kun-ge'er will definitely be a great person in the future!"

The word "we" in those words lost its imperial majesty, leaving only the intimacy of a father to his son, which warmed Zhang Yan's heart.

She glanced at the sleeping baby, and the fatigue and fear from the past few days of childbirth gradually dissipated, replaced by a deep sense of peace.

With a name and the Emperor's high hopes, this child is not only her flesh and blood, but also the foundation of the future of the Ming Dynasty.

"Kun-ge'er...a good name."

Zhang Yan nodded gently, her eyelids growing heavier and heavier. The strength she had been holding on to finally gave out. As soon as she finished speaking, her breathing gradually calmed down, and she fell into a deep sleep.

Seeing that she was fast asleep, Zhu Youxiao carefully withdrew his hand, afraid of disturbing her.

Then, he bent down and gently brushed away a strand of hair from her cheek with his fingertips. He then walked to the small table and gently touched the baby's cheek through the swaddling clothes. The little one seemed to be disturbed by the touch, her little mouth moved slightly, but she did not wake up and continued to sleep soundly.

"Keep a close eye on the Empress and the Prince, and don't let the wind in."

Zhu Youxiao whispered instructions to the wet nurse and palace maids who were standing guard beside him.

"Yes!"

The wet nurses and palace maids immediately accepted the order.

Afterwards, he tucked the brocade quilt beside Zhang Yan's bed, making sure the corners were tucked in tightly, before quietly leaving the warm chamber.

After leaving the East Warm Pavilion, Zhu Youxiao said to Wei Chao beside him:

"The birth of the Crown Prince is the most auspicious event since my ascension to the throne. All those who have been busy with this matter inside and outside the palace should be rewarded. We must not let their hearts be chilled."

Wei Chao quickly stepped forward, bowed, and replied:
“Your Majesty is wise. The birth of the eldest son is a blessing to the nation. These people have served diligently and deserve Your Majesty’s favor.”

Zhu Youxiao nodded slightly.

The so-called reward is not only to reassure people's hearts, but also to express a stance.

This is also a political matter.

Zhu Youxiao pondered for a moment, then slowly said:
"The Empress gave birth to the imperial heir, and her efforts were of great merit."

He was bestowed with a golden book and a golden seal, plus a thousand taels of silver and three hundred bolts of brocade from the Jiangning Imperial Silk Manufacture Center.

Furthermore, her maternal family, the Zhang family, according to the old custom of bestowing honors upon relatives of the emperor, will be granted the hereditary position of Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Ministry of Personnel is instructed to draft the necessary documents and seals as soon as possible.

Wei Chao kept it in mind while responding in a low voice:
"His Majesty is so considerate of the Empress, even extending his regards to the Zhang family. It is truly a sign of imperial love and compassion."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao's lips curled into a smile again.

"Those in the palace who directly take care of the Empress during childbirth should not be treated poorly."

"The midwife in charge of the delivery, the imperial physician on duty at the Imperial Hospital, and the palace maid who served the Empress personally were each given fifty taels of silver and ten bolts of Hangzhou silk."

The midwife was quick and efficient; the Empress relied entirely on her for her care during childbirth, and was specially granted the title of "Sixth-Rank Lady," ensuring her dignity in the palace from then on.

The head of the Imperial Medical Academy was highly skilled in medicine and was promoted to Director of the Imperial Medical Academy, a fifth-rank official. He was then entrusted with much of the medical affairs of the inner palace.

"This servant has noted it down. I will immediately send someone to convey the decree, so that they may know of His Majesty's grace."

Wei Chao bowed and replied, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the palace servants standing in the corridor, all holding their breath, afraid of missing a single word.

Zhu Youxiao added, "The palace maids in charge of the Empress's affairs, such as those in charge of the bedchamber and those in charge of the guards, as well as the eunuchs who attend to her, will also be rewarded."

Each was bestowed with two hundred taels of silver and five bolts of colored silk, and each was promoted one rank: the head of the imperial bedchamber was promoted to 'Shangqin', and the attendant eunuch was promoted to 'Dianbu', so that they could continue to serve the Empress and the eldest prince well.

"The other concubines in the palace, although not directly cared for, are also part of the royal family. Each of them was given five hundred taels of silver and twenty bolts of silk as a token of shared joy."

At this point, he glanced at the palace servants below the steps and said loudly:
"As for all the palace staff, whether they are maids who sweep and clean or guards in front of the emperor, each of them will be given ten taels of silver and one shi of rice. Today, the palace is specially permitted to drink wine and eat meat, so that everyone can share in the joy of the eldest prince."

As soon as the words were spoken, the palace servants in the corridor and before the steps all knelt down in unison, and a moment later a deafening roar erupted:

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."

Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!
Long live the Queen!"

Zhu Youxiao raised his hand and waved for everyone to stand up, his tone regaining some of its composure:

"Officials in the outer court shall be rewarded according to established practice. The Cabinet, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Personnel shall jointly draft an edict, which shall be promulgated at the morning court tomorrow."

Wei Chao had just answered "Yes" when Zhu Youxiao said again:
"Furthermore, by imperial decree, all prisoners in the world, except for those guilty of heinous crimes such as 'treason' and 'high treason,' shall be pardoned."

"Let's hold another special imperial examination, so that all scholars in the land will have a chance to advance their careers and also share in the auspiciousness of the eldest prince."

Upon hearing this, not only were the palace servants below stunned, but even Wei Chao was slightly taken aback.

Pardoning prisoners and granting special privileges are usually reserved for the establishment of an heir or during celebrations!

The group exchanged glances, and a realization dawned on them:
His Majesty is making his emphasis on the eldest son public; the treatment he receives is clearly no different from that of the Crown Prince.

Wei Chao bowed, his mind already racing:

The Empress is the principal wife, and the eldest son of the Emperor is the eldest legitimate son, who should be made Crown Prince according to ancestral rules.

Your Majesty's arrangement is both in accordance with ancestral rules and to demonstrate to the world the stability of the newly established foundation of the nation.

"Your Majesty is wise. This move not only demonstrates the Emperor's boundless grace but also lets the world know the value of the eldest prince. It is truly a blessing for the nation."

In less than an hour.

Zhu Youxiao's decree of bestowal of honors was carried by a eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial, along with a heavy book of silver rewards, and delivered to the Cabinet office located next to the Wenyuan Pavilion.

"Gentlemen, there is joy in the palace. His Majesty has specially allocated funds from the imperial treasury to bestow rewards. These are His Majesty's decrees. Please have the Grand Secretariat draft the decrees."

Fang Congzhe stepped forward to receive the imperial edict and was stunned.

Because the palace was kept in the dark, none of the officials knew what the good news was.

It wasn't until Fang Congzhe saw the contents of the imperial edict that he understood.

"The Empress has given birth to a prince?"

Ye Xianggao and the others also approached.

When they saw the imperial edict granting special privileges and amnesty, they were all dumbfounded.

At the same time, they also realized that the eldest son born to the Empress was the Crown Prince favored by His Majesty!
Each cabinet minister was deeply shaken.

Seeing the shocked expressions on the faces of these old foxes, Wei Chao personally handed out brocade boxes containing portions of silver to each of the cabinet ministers.

As per the imperial decree, each cabinet minister was granted two hundred taels of silver, and Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe was additionally rewarded with ten bolts of Jiangnan brocade.

"Gentlemen, let us express our gratitude!"

At this moment, Fang Congzhe and the others finally came to their senses.

They all knelt down and loudly expressed their gratitude.

After everyone had expressed their gratitude for the emperor's grace, Wei Chao was about to turn around when Fang Congzhe put down the silver book, a perfectly timed smile on his face, and stepped forward with his hands clasped in a respectful gesture.

"Master Wei, please wait. I have a question: Since His Majesty values ​​the eldest son so highly, does His Majesty intend to select a tutor for the Crown Prince to begin his education?"

The room fell silent the moment those words were spoken.

Liu Yizhu, who was sitting in the second seat, immediately straightened his back. Ye Xianggao and Zhu Guozuo also exchanged a glance, and their originally upright bodies leaned forward slightly.

It should be noted that although His Majesty is only seventeen years old, the eldest son of the emperor is the legitimate heir and his future position as crown prince is a foregone conclusion.

If he becomes the emperor's teacher in the day before, he will become the "Imperial Tutor" after the new emperor ascends the throne. This honor and power are enough to tempt any cabinet minister.

Not to mention, His Majesty just issued a special imperial examination and a general amnesty, clearly putting the "foundation of the nation" in the open.

The current scramble to become the prince's tutor is a contest for future power and influence in the court.

Wei Chao's smile faded slightly, but he still maintained a humble demeanor, raising his hand in a gesture of apology.

"The Grand Secretary and the other ministers are overthinking it. The eldest prince has only been born for less than a day. It's too early to talk about starting his education when he's still an infant in swaddling clothes."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the expectant expressions of the cabinet ministers, and then added:

"However, according to the old custom of our ancestors, cabinet ministers have the responsibility of 'assisting the crown prince'."

As long as you all diligently assist His Majesty, His Majesty will naturally appoint an official when the eldest prince reaches the age of formal education; this rule cannot be changed.

This statement gave the cabinet ministers hope without completely ruling out any possibility of a resolution.

Wei Chao, however, knew perfectly well:

Your Majesty is most averse to close ties between eunuchs and officials outside the court. The distribution of rewards was already within the scope of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs' duties. To say another word about the education of the Crown Prince would be to cross the red line of "collusion between the inner and outer courts."

He said no more, bowed slightly to the cabinet ministers, and left the duty room with light but unhurried steps.

As soon as Wei Chao's figure disappeared outside the duty room, Liu Yiju withdrew his gaze, a hint of contemplation flashing in his eyes before they gradually brightened.

He suddenly clapped his hands and sighed softly, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement: "The eldest son has been born, and the foundation of the nation is now firmly established. This is an incredibly good thing!"

Sitting opposite him, Zhu Guozuo nodded, but also frowned:
"Yes, only when the foundation of the country is stable can people's hearts be at ease."

However, although Your Majesty is a wise ruler, your conduct does not conform to the way of the sages and you have repeatedly violated ancestral rules.

"That's precisely why this future crown prince needs to be taught so well!"

“He should be taught the Analects and Mencius from a young age so that he understands that ‘the people are the most important, and the state is the next most important.’”

We must teach him to read the "Zizhi Tongjian" (Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government) so that he can understand the principles of rise and fall throughout history.

We also need to make him study the "Collected Statutes of the Ming Dynasty," because the rules set by our ancestors cannot be changed!
If future monarchs can be taught to distinguish right from wrong, to govern diligently and love their people, what worries could the Ming Dynasty possibly have about not returning to the prosperous era of Renxuan?

Ye Xianggao listened and slowly nodded:

"What the Prime Minister said makes sense. We, as cabinet ministers, must not only assist His Majesty the present, but also plan for the future of the Ming Dynasty."

On the day the eldest prince begins his studies, we will jointly petition the emperor to select the most suitable lecturer.

Even if it means offending some people, we can't let the future crown prince go astray.

These officials were already planning to influence the imperial heir to achieve their own political goals.

The aftermath of the birth of the legitimate prince in Kunning Palace is still ongoing.

In the heart of Beijing.

A sweltering horse suddenly burst through the city gate, its hooves pounding the cobblestones as it galloped wildly toward the Forbidden City.

The messenger carrying eight command flags was a messenger on an urgent mission!

"A great victory in Liaodong! Commander Xiong has captured Huang Taiji alive and destroyed the puppet Jin dynasty! Liaodong is now secured!"

The messenger rode his horse and shouted loudly.

The children who were laughing and playing around the sugar painting stall stopped in their tracks, the farmers carrying vegetable baskets straightened their backs, and even the tea drinkers in the teahouse who were eating melon seeds suddenly put down their teacups and looked towards the center of the street.

In the teahouse, a bold scholar asked:
"Brother! What did you say? Huang Taiji has been captured?"

"Absolutely true!"

The messenger turned around and shouted, his voice filled with excitement.

"The Jurchen stronghold has been destroyed, and the puppet Jin dynasty has been wiped out! Our Great Ming's Liaodong region will never have to fight again!"

These words were like a drop of boiling oil falling into boiling water, instantly causing an uproar throughout the entire capital.

The young scholar in the teahouse slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups shake.

"Excellent! Excellent! Last year His Majesty pacified the Shanxi merchants, and this year he has destroyed the Jurchens. What is this if not a restoration?"

The old scholar beside him stroked his beard, his eyes reddening:
"When I was young, Liaodong was in constant danger every year. Countless soldiers were buried in foreign lands, and countless people were displaced... Now, we have finally waited for this day!"

The teahouse was bustling with activity.

Meanwhile, the people of Beijing heard their neighbors shouting "Long live the Emperor!"

Even if you don't know what happened, it's always good to shout "Long live the Emperor!"

All of a sudden.

The entire city of Beijing was filled with shouts of "Long live the Emperor!"

Amidst the shouts of "Long live the Emperor!", the black horse had already galloped to the Meridian Gate. The messenger tumbled off the saddle and, without even catching his breath, handed the victory report, wrapped in layers of oiled paper, to the Imperial Guard on duty.

The good news was quickly relayed to the Directorate of Ceremonial.

When the three chief eunuchs, Wei Chao, Wei Zhongxian, and Wang Tiqian, saw the junior eunuch rushing towards them with the report of victory, Wei Zhongxian snatched it away, unfolded it, and his pupils dilated suddenly, his voice changing tone:
"It's...it's a victory report from Liaodong! Xiong Tingbi has captured Huang Taiji alive!"

"Quickly! Present it to His Majesty!"

Wei Chao didn't even bother to straighten his wrinkled python robe. The three of them, wearing court boots, stumbled and ran towards the Qianqing Palace.

now.

Inside the East Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Youzheng was reviewing the first batch of memorials when he heard hurried footsteps outside the hall. Before he could even ask what was happening, three eunuchs suddenly knelt down with a thud, shouting in unison:

"Your Majesty! Fantastic news! A great victory in Liaodong! Xiong Tingbi has captured Huang Taiji alive, destroyed the puppet Jin dynasty, and Liaodong is now at peace!"

Zhu Youxiao's hand, which was holding the vermilion brush, suddenly stopped. He abruptly stood up, the armrests of the dragon throne creaking under his grip.
"What did you say? Play it again!"

Wei Chao quickly crawled a few steps on his knees and held the victory report high:

"Your Majesty, good news is here!"

Xiong Jinglue reported that on the 20th of this month, they captured Hetu Ala, took the puppet Jin emperor Huang Taiji prisoner, killed over 7,000 Eight Banner soldiers, and captured over 13,000. The puppet Jin dynasty was completely destroyed!

Zhu Youxiao grabbed the report of victory, his fingers trembling as he opened it, his eyes quickly scanning the words on it.

Xiong Tingbi's handwriting was strong and vigorous, and every sentence was written clearly:

"I led an army of 200,000 from Liaodong and besieged Pingjin City for nearly a month. I broke through the city with breech-loading cannons and personally supervised my soldiers to capture Huang Taiji alive..."

The threat of the Jurchen Jurchens in Liaodong is, from this day forward, gone forever!

"Hahaha! Okay! Okay! Okay!"

Zhu Youxiao said "good" three times in a row, his voice filled with barely suppressed joy. He slammed the report of victory on the table and laughed loudly.

The eunuchs and palace maids in the palace had never seen His Majesty so distraught.

In the past, even when new policies were implemented smoothly, His Majesty would only nod indifferently.

But today, his eyes shone like flames, and even the hair at his temples trembled slightly with excitement.

prior to.

He was so afraid of the Jurchens entering the pass that he couldn't even sleep soundly.

He was terrified that the crooked tree on Coal Hill would come after him with a white silk ribbon.

Therefore, Liaodong was always a major concern for Zhu Youxiao.

At this moment, the great threat to Liaodong was finally eliminated.

I finally let out a long-simmering feeling of frustration today.

How could he not be happy?
At the beginning of his reign, the memorials from Liaodong piled up like a small mountain, each one stating "out of food," "defeated army," and "Jiangnu invaders on the border."

In order to raise funds for Liaodong, the ministers in the court argued heatedly, some saying to increase taxes, and others saying to abandon Liaodong.

Fortunately, he overruled public opinion and appointed Xiong Tingbi to a high position. He confiscated the property of Shanxi merchants to fund the military. Many people secretly said that he was "eager for quick success and instant benefits" and "disregarded the people's livelihood".

But now, it was all worth it.

The Jurchens are finished. That malignant tumor that has sucked the blood of the Ming Dynasty for decades has finally been completely removed!

"The Liaodong military expenditure! It can finally be stopped!"

The Liaodong military campaign was eroding the very foundation of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Youxiao had wanted to stop for a long time.

However, because the Liaodong war was truly costly, Zhu Youxiao dared not stop paying the Liaodong military expenses, even though he knew they were bad.

Now, he finally has the confidence to do so.

"In addition, we don't need to allocate silver to Liaodong every year. The silver saved can be used for many things."

Zhu Youxiao's smile grew even brighter.

With the birth of the prince securing the foundation of the nation and the great victory in Liaodong eliminating a major threat, the Ming Dynasty, this dilapidated ship that had been tossed about in the storm, was finally about to set sail again!

"Preach my will!"

Zhu Youxiao turned around and gave orders to the eunuchs.

"The Ministry of Rites shall immediately draft the regulations for bestowing titles and rewards. Generals such as Xiong Tingbi, Li Hongji, and Liu Xingzuo shall be promoted and rewarded according to their merits, without any error!"
Furthermore, have the Court of Imperial Sacrifices prepare the ceremony for presenting the captives to the Imperial Ancestral Temple. I will personally accompany Huang Taiji to offer my condolences to our ancestors!

Last year he presented Ligdan Khan and Mangultai as captives to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and now he wants to present them to Huang Taiji.

Zhu Youxiao thought of those ministers who secretly criticized him for "not following ancient laws," and a surge of pride welled up in his heart:
Who would dare say that he was a bad emperor?
I have only been on the throne for two years, yet I have already solved the Liaodong problem that the Ming Dynasty had been unable to solve for decades. Can such an achievement not be considered that of a wise ruler?

of course
Zhu Youxiao's arrogance was fleeting.

  He was not like Emperor Yang of Sui; he did not have the habit of being ambitious and eager for quick success.

As an emperor, and as a qualified emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Youxiao knew this clearly.

The fall of the Jurchens was merely one move in the game of Liaodong, not the end.

Even with the temporary peace in Liaodong, the Ming Dynasty's game of chess, riddled with cracks, still has many areas that need repair.

Zhu Youxiao got up and walked to the "Map of the Nine Borders of the Ming Dynasty" hanging on the side of the hall, looking at the Liaodong area.

He closed his eyes, and began to review the Liaodong War, which had lasted for several years, in his mind, while also dismantling the chronic problem that had plagued the Ming Dynasty for decades.

Why was the small Jianzhou Jurchen able to drag Liaodong into a quagmire for decades?

In Zhu Youxiao's view.

The first problem was the complete collapse of the military household system.

Military households in Liaodong were bound to the land of the garrison for generations, but the land was annexed by officers and nobles at each level. Some military households with five members were left with only half an acre of barren land, and they could not even make ends meet.

Even worse, military pay was delayed for three to five years, leaving soldiers "barely clothed and hungry."

A report once stated that in the winter of the first year of the Tianqi reign, the soldiers of Jinzhou Guard had to survive by digging up sod and peeling tree bark, and some even froze to death on the city walls.

Such "national serfs" struggle to even survive, so how can one expect them to fight to the death with knives?
The second problem is the chaotic personnel selection process caused by factional infighting.

in history.

From the end of the Wanli era to the beginning of the Tianqi era, the Donglin Party and the Qi-Chu-Zhe Party fought tooth and nail for the position of commander of Liaodong. When Xiong Tingbi was the first commander of Liaodong, he won a battle, but was forced to leave office due to impeachment in the court.

After Yuan Yingtai took over, he was ignorant of military affairs but insisted on promoting the "recruitment of refugees," which allowed the Jurchens to take advantage of the situation and lose Shenyang and Liaoyang.

Officials only focused on their own biases and didn't care about the lives of the soldiers in Liaodong.
The appointment and removal of generals and commanders were based entirely on the outcome of factional struggles, rather than military merit and talent. How could the situation in Liaodong not deteriorate?
The third problem is the vicious cycle of fiscal issues.

Liaodong required five million taels of military pay annually, but the Ming Dynasty's annual fiscal revenue was only three to four million taels. In order to fill the gap in Liaodong, the court had no choice but to levy additional "Liaodong tax".

This kind of "inefficient blood transfusion" caused the Liaodong soldiers' combat effectiveness to collapse due to lack of pay, while the people of the Central Plains were filled with resentment due to heavy taxes. It was simply like drinking poison to quench thirst.

Thinking of this, Zhu Youxiao opened his eyes, a hint of determination in them.

The reason he was able to pacify Liaodong was precisely because he hit the nail on the head regarding these three problems.

To deal with the collapse of the military household system, he did not adhere to the old system, but instead directly addressed the issue from the perspective of "money":

The property of the eight major Shanxi merchants was confiscated, yielding over ten million taels of silver. This money was used not only to pay the soldiers in Liaodong who had been owed wages for three years, but also to equip the soldiers with new armor and muskets.

In their secret letter, Xiong Tingbi and Wang Chengen wrote that on the day the military pay was reissued, the soldiers in the Liaodong military camp cheered while holding up silver ingots, and some veterans even cried.

It was an exhilarating feeling of rain after a long drought, and also a touching feeling of regaining trust in the imperial court.

His methods for dealing with factional infighting were more direct:

He suppressed all memorials impeaching Xiong Tingbi and even issued an edict stating that "anyone who impeaches the generals in charge of Liaodong based on personal grudges shall be punished as 'disrupting the army'."

The memorial impeaching Xiong Tingbi was kept in the archives and not issued.

His attitude was clear: as long as Xiong Tingbi is in Liaodong, I will trust him.

It was this unreserved support that allowed Xiong Tingbi to break free from the constraints of the imperial court and unite the people of Liaodong as one.

He was unconventional in dealing with personnel difficulties.

In order to win over the Khorchin tribe and restrain the Jurchens, he took the daughter of the Khorchin leader as his concubine and promised her the benefits of trade, turning the Khorchin from an "ally of the Jurchens" into a "vassal state of the Ming Dynasty," thus providing flank support for the Ming army.

When promoting generals, he did not consider their background but only their military achievements.

Li Hongji was originally a courier at the Yinchuan Post Station, but rose through the ranks to become a deputy general due to his bravery in battle.

Zhao Shuaijiao, Zu Dashou, Mao Wenlong, and others were also low-ranking generals, but they were entrusted with important responsibilities because of their outstanding performance.

This personnel management approach, which "disregards background and only focuses on effectiveness," led to the emergence of a group of daring and courageous new generals in the Liaodong Ming army.

If Emperor Wanli had made such a decision back then, if he had set aside factional strife, spared no expense in the imperial treasury, replaced Li Chengliang early on, and filled the financial loopholes in time, how could Liaodong have fallen into such a state of decay today?

Fortunately.

He finally resolved the mess that had plagued them for decades.

But Zhu Youxiao did not dare to relax.

The military households in Liaodong still need to be resettled, the problem of displaced people in Shaanxi urgently needs to be addressed, and tax reforms in Jiangnan have not yet been implemented...

The Ming Dynasty, like a dilapidated ship, has only just avoided the "Liaodong Reefs." It still has a long way to go before it can truly set sail.

. . .

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(End of this chapter)