Huangming

Chapter 494 The vassal states are in dire need of help; the southwest is pacified.
The day before the 30th of the twelfth lunar month in the second year of the Tianqi reign.

The Forbidden City is already imbued with a faint festive atmosphere.

Under the eaves of the Qianqing Palace, gilded copper wire lanterns are hung, covered with bright yellow silk cloth. When the wind blows, the lantern tassels sway gently.

Palace maids, dressed in newly starched blue jackets and skirts, carried food boxes adorned with the character "福" (fortune) as they moved through the corridors. The boxes contained freshly steamed rice cakes and candied fruits, filling the air with a sweet and glutinous aroma.

Even the pine and cypress trees in the Imperial Garden were tied with red ribbons, making them look like guards dressed in red from a distance, exuding a festive atmosphere.

But this festive atmosphere failed to penetrate the East Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace.

Inside the warm pavilion, candlelight shone brightly, and a tall pile of memorials on the table almost obscured Zhu Youxiao, who sat behind the desk.

He was dressed in imperial robes, the cuffs of his black python robe rolled up, revealing a section of his fair but well-defined wrist. His fingers held a vermilion brush as he bent down to review the memorial submitted by Zuo Guangdou, the imperial envoy from Shandong.

The top of the memorials on the table was a war report from Jiangnan, in which Yuan Keli requested that "the attack on Suzhou be postponed and the remaining forces in Changzhou be wiped out first."

The memorial in the middle regarding the clearing of wasteland in Beizhili was reported by Hong Chengchou, who stated that "30,000 hectares of wasteland have been cleared and the displaced people have been properly resettled."

There were also documents regarding the reorganization of the nine border regions, with Ma Yinglong, the general of Xuanfu, requesting "increased military pay to repair the border walls."

There was even a petition from the Academy of Sciences requesting "funds to develop new artillery, requiring 5,000 catties of refined iron."

Every single matter is a matter of vital importance to the Ming Dynasty, and none of them can be neglected in the slightest.

Since ascending the throne more than two years ago, Zhu Youxiao has rarely had a moment of leisure.

The civil unrest in Jiangnan was not yet quelled, the salt administration in Shandong had long been plagued by corruption, land annexation in Beizhili had just begun to show signs of progress, the military preparedness of the nine border regions still needed to be reorganized, not to mention that Liaodong had just pacified the Jurchens, and now chaos had broken out in Korea.

One such matter would be enough to overwhelm an ordinary emperor, let alone the fact that these matters come in waves, requiring him to weigh and decide on each one.

Finally, he wrote in vermilion ink at the end of the memorial, "Approved. The Ministry of Revenue shall allocate 200,000 taels of silver to assist Shandong in reforming the salt tax." He put down his vermilion pen and raised his hand to rub his throbbing temples.

The young eunuch standing nearby quickly stepped forward, picked up the silver pot, and refilled the celadon teacup on the table with hot tea. The steaming tea misted Zhu Youxiao's slightly tired face.

He picked up his teacup, about to take a sip, when the door to the warm pavilion creaked open, and Wei Chao, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, bowed and walked in.

"Your Majesty, the Korean envoy Hong Seo-bong is already waiting outside the Meridian Gate. Shall we issue an order to summon him?"

As the year draws to a close, envoys from vassal states are customarily required to come to pay homage, present tribute, and offer New Year's greetings.

Hong Ruifeng had arrived in the capital half a month ago and stayed at the Huitongguan, but Zhu Youxiao had been busy with official business and had not had time to summon her.

"Hong Ruifeng?"

Zhu Youxiao paused, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

"He certainly knows how to pick his time, coming right before the end of the year, most likely because of that mess in North Korea."

Zhu Youxiao always kept the situation in North Korea in mind.

Last year, Huang Taiji led the Later Jin cavalry to invade Korea. In just one month, they captured Seoul, and King Yi Hun of Korea fled in panic, with most of the country lost.

When Huang Taiji withdrew his troops, he specifically supported two puppets.

King Park Hee of Pyongyang and King Jeon Hwan of Seoul intended to split Korea and contain the Liaodong defense line of the Ming Dynasty.

Initially, Zhu Youxiao ordered Mao Wenlong to lead the Tianjin Navy to aid Korea. Park Hee was an incompetent fool, and his soldiers were a motley crew. In less than a month, they were defeated by Mao Wenlong and the Korean militia, and Pyongyang returned to Korean control.

Zhu Youxiao originally thought that without Park Hee, Jeon Hwan in Seoul would be unable to fight alone. In addition, with Yi Hun and Prince Nyongyang in Joseon controlling the north and south respectively, Jeon Hwan would be destroyed within half a year under the combined attack, and the situation in Joseon would be stable.

But little did anyone know that North Korea was already utterly corrupt.

Yi Hun and Yi Jong, in their struggle for the throne, became suspicious of each other and each held their own armies. Instead of joining forces to eliminate Jeon Hwan, they repeatedly clashed over territory.

While taking advantage of the situation, Jeon Hwan gathered up the remnants of Park Hee's forces and secretly colluded with Japanese pirates, gradually gaining a foothold. Last month, while Yi Hun and Yi Jong were at war, he led his army north and recaptured Pyongyang, making his power even stronger.

Thinking of this, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but scoff, his tone tinged with helplessness and mockery:
"This Joseon is truly a hopeless case. It has hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians, yet it can't even handle a puppet. After a year of stalemate, it has only allowed Jeon Hwan to grow stronger. If it weren't for the Ming Dynasty, it would probably have perished long ago."

Wei Chao stood with his head bowed, not daring to speak.

Zhu Youxiao took a sip of hot tea, the warm tea soup sliding down his throat, slightly relieving his fatigue.

He put down his teacup, his gaze sharpening once more.

"Issue an imperial decree to summon Hong Ruifeng."

Wei Chao received the imperial decree and quickly left the Qianqing Palace.

He didn't dare to delay, so he summoned two eunuchs and hurried to the meeting hall.

Inside the hall, Hong Ruifeng was pacing back and forth at her desk.

The ginseng tea on the table had long since gone cold, but he hadn't touched it, his mind preoccupied with the chaos in North Korea.

Quan Huan's troops are approaching Gaeseong, and Yi Hun and Yi Jong are still fighting to the death for "legitimacy." If the Ming Dynasty does not send troops, it may really perish.

"Messenger! Messenger!"

The innkeeper suddenly burst in, his voice tinged with urgency.

"Eunuch Wei from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs has arrived. He says His Majesty has issued an edict summoning you to the palace for an immediate audience!"

Hong Ruifeng suddenly looked up, a flash of wild joy in her eyes, which was then replaced by anxiety.

He hurriedly straightened his robes, his fingers frantically tying the jade belt of his court dress.

As he followed Wei Chao outside, he couldn't help but ask:

"Eunuch Wei, did His Majesty... mention anything about Korea?"

Wei Chao pulled on the reins, glanced at him sideways, and said in a flat tone:

"His Majesty will make his own decision. The envoy will know the outcome when he arrives at the warm pavilion."

These words, though unspoken, made Hong Ruifeng even more anxious.

He couldn't tell whether the Ming emperor was willing to send troops or was trying to shirk responsibility.

Half an hour later, the door to the East Warm Pavilion was pushed open.

Hong Ruifeng took a deep breath and walked step by step into the pavilion.

The warm pavilion was much warmer than the meeting hall. Behind the silver table, Zhu Youxiao, dressed in a black casual robe, was looking down at a memorial with a calm expression.

"Hong Seo-bong, the envoy from Korea, pays his respects to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Hong Ruifeng knelt down with a thud, her forehead hitting the gold brick heavily, kowtowing three times.

Zhu Youxiao put down the memorial, raised his eyes, and his tone revealed neither joy nor anger:
"Get up. The New Year's Day ceremony is the time to receive envoys from various countries. Your hasty request for an audience is not in accordance with the rules. I suppose you have something urgent to discuss?"

Hong Ruifeng stood up, but dared not straighten her back; her hands hung trembling slightly at her sides.

"The foreign envoy's urgent request for an audience was truly a last resort."

North Korea is currently in chaos due to war. The traitor Jeon Hwan has colluded with Japanese pirates to occupy Pyongyang and Seoul, leaving the people displaced and destitute.

"My lord, Prince Regent Yi Jong, though he has devoted himself wholeheartedly to quelling the rebellion, is hampered by domestic divisions and insufficient military strength. He earnestly requests the Celestial Empire to send troops to aid and save the people of Korea!"

After he finished speaking, he was about to kneel down again, but Zhu Youxiao raised his hand to stop him.

Zhu Youxiao picked up his teacup, gently blew away the foam, and spoke with a hint of sarcasm:
"Is that so? I do remember that Mao Wenlong led the Tianjin Navy to aid North Korea, defeating 50,000 rebel troops and helping you recapture Pyongyang."

"The remaining tens of thousands of remnants—you two countries, or rather, your two factions—can't even handle this small force?"

These words were like a slap in the face, landing hard on Hong Ruifeng's cheek.

His face flushed instantly, the redness spreading from his cheeks to his ears, even the tips of his ears felt hot.

He gripped the hem of his court robe so tightly that his fingernails almost dug into his flesh.

What is the problem that cannot be solved?
It was clearly a case of Yi Hun and Yi Jong fighting for the throne. They had just scattered Park Hee's remnants when they immediately turned against each other and clashed in Gyeongsang Province. They even had to transfer the troops guarding Pyongyang, which gave Jeon Hwan an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

"This...this is due to our incompetence."

Hong Ruifeng lowered her voice, tinged with shame.

"But now Jeon Hwan's power is immense, having already amassed an army of 100,000. If we do not send troops now, once he breaches Kaesong, the Joseon dynasty... will truly be doomed!"

By the end, his voice was trembling with emotion, almost breaking down in tears.

Despite their rivalry, Yi Hun and Yi Jong were ultimately descendants of the Yi family. However, Jeon Hwan was a puppet supported by the Later Jin. If Jeon Hwan were to seize power, Korea would become a vassal state of the Japanese pirates, and these officials would either die or surrender, with no way out.

Zhu Youxiao looked at him like this, but his heart was not stirred.

He put down his teacup and gently tapped the table, his tone calm:
Do you know the current situation of the Ming Dynasty?

With the civil unrest in Jiangnan still unresolved, Yuan Keli's troops were still in Changzhou suppressing the remaining rebels.

The nine border regions need to reorganize their military equipment; the salt administration in Shandong has just begun to show signs of improvement, and silver needs to be allocated to appease the salt producers.

Even if I wanted to help you, I am truly powerless to do so.

Upon hearing this, Hong Ruifeng broke out in a cold sweat and quickly said:
"Your Majesty need not dispatch a large army! Simply send General Mao Wenlong's Tianjin navy to Korea again!"
Last year, when the navy arrived, the mutinous troops fled at the mere sight of them. If the navy returns, they will surely crush Quan Huan!

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao sighed softly.

Do you know where the Tianjin Navy is now?

His tone carried a hint of helplessness.

"The Dutch, seeing the booming silk trade between our Great Ming and Spain and Portugal, became envious and sent a fleet to occupy Penghu and plunder passing merchant ships."

The main force of the Tianjin Navy is currently stationed along the southeast coast, preparing for a decisive battle with the Dutch. There is simply no time to spare for them.

Hong Ruifeng panicked completely.

He looked at Zhu Youxiao, his lips moved as if he had made up his mind, his voice carrying a subtle threat:
"Your Majesty... if the Ming Dynasty truly refuses to send troops, the King of Joseon... will probably have no choice but to borrow troops from Japan."

The Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan once sent envoys to negotiate, saying they were willing to send 30,000 troops to help us quell the rebellion, but... but they would need Jeju Island as a token of their gratitude..."

"presumptuous!"

Zhu Youxiao slammed his hand on the table, splashing most of the tea in his teacup onto the memorials on the table.

His eyes suddenly turned cold, like an icy blade in the dead of winter, piercing straight at Hong Ruifeng.

"You dare threaten me with Japan? How can I allow others to snore beside my bed!"

"Korea is a tributary state of the Ming Dynasty. If we allow Japan to seize Jeju Island, and Japanese troops return to the Korean Peninsula one day, will the Ming Dynasty have to send troops to help drive them out?"

Hong Ruifeng was so frightened that she fell to her knees with a thud, trembling all over.

"The envoy dares not! The envoy was merely... merely spoke rashly in the heat of the moment! Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"

How could he forget that what the Ming Dynasty feared most was Japan's interference in Korea?

During the Wanli era, the Ming Dynasty suffered heavy losses in the war against Japanese aggression and aid to Korea, only managing to drive the Japanese soldiers out of Korea. How could the Ming Dynasty tolerate the return of the Japanese now?
Zhu Youxiao's expression softened slightly when he saw Zhu Youxiao's trembling appearance.

He knew that Hong Ruifeng was truly desperate, which was why she said such foolish things.

However, if North Korea were to actually borrow troops from Japan, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Once Japan establishes itself in Korea, there will inevitably be more unrest. At that time, Liaodong and Korea will become one, and the northeastern defense line of the Ming Dynasty will completely collapse.

"Get up."

Zhu Youxiao's tone softened somewhat.

"I can order Sun Chengzong to transfer 10,000 troops from the Liaodong army to aid Korea."

However, one thing is certain: the provisions and military pay for these 10,000 soldiers must be supplied entirely from within Korea.

The Ming Dynasty's treasury is currently strained, and it simply cannot afford to undertake any additional logistical support.

Upon hearing this, Hong Ruifeng was overjoyed and immediately kowtowed to express her gratitude:
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty! On behalf of the people of Korea, we thank the Celestial Empire for its rescue! As for the matter of provisions and military pay, our Lord Lingyang will certainly handle it properly and will not allow the soldiers of the Great Ming to suffer the slightest injustice!"

His forehead hit the gold brick with a "thump" sound, but he didn't feel any pain at all.

As long as the Ming Dynasty sends troops, Quan Huan's rebellious army will be no threat, and the state of Joseon can finally be saved.

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand: "You may leave now. I will have the Ministry of War draft the imperial edict as soon as possible and send it to Liaodong." "Yes! The envoy takes his leave!"

Hong Ruifeng respectfully withdrew.

As soon as Hong Ruifeng's footsteps disappeared outside the warm pavilion, Wei Chao bowed and stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, this servant will go to the Wenyuan Pavilion to convey the imperial decree, instructing the Grand Secretariat to quickly draft the troop mobilization document so that Liaodong can make preparations as soon as possible."

He thought that since His Majesty had already agreed to send troops, the matter should be handled as soon as possible to avoid any unforeseen complications.

Zhu Youxiao slowly waved his hand.

"Wait a minute."

Wei Chao suddenly stopped in his tracks, a look of surprise on his face.

His Majesty had just agreed to Hong Ruifeng's request, so why did he suddenly change his mind?
He stood with his head bowed, not daring to ask any further questions, and only whispered, "Does Your Majesty have any further instructions?"

"It's just a matter of troop deployment; there's no need to rush it right now."

"Now the Ming Dynasty is beset by wars on all sides. Along the southeast coast, we must contend with the Dutch fleet; in the Jiangnan region, we must suppress bandits; and at the nine border regions, we must prepare for war. If there are any hidden troubles in Korea, wouldn't the Ming Dynasty be plunged into a situation of fighting on all fronts?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Chao's eyes gradually revealed a look of understanding.

His Majesty is worried that Hong Ruifeng's claim of "borrowing troops from Japan" is not unfounded. If Korea is indeed colluding with Japan, then the Ming Dynasty's military intervention will only benefit others.

"Does Your Majesty mean... that we should investigate first?"

"Exactly."

Zhu Youxiao nodded, his tone becoming more solemn.

"You shall immediately order Luo Sigong, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Wang Tiqian, the director of the Western Depot, to each dispatch their elite agents to infiltrate Korea."

First, we need to investigate whether Japan truly colluded with Yi Jong or Quan Huan.

Secondly, they needed to ascertain Quan Huan's troop deployment and whether Japan was secretly providing support.

If it is confirmed that Japan was indeed involved, then Sun Chengzong should transfer 10,000 troops from the Jiliao border army to the capital.

Using their troops would not only save our Ming Dynasty's grain supplies, but also allow us to use the Korean war to contain these tribes—a win-win situation.

Wei Chao then fully understood His Majesty's profound and far-sighted plans:
Not only must the rebellion in Korea be quelled, but the opportunity must also be used to ascertain the movements of surrounding forces, and even to utilize external forces to strengthen the border defenses of the Ming Dynasty.

He bowed and replied, "This servant obeys! I will go and convey the order immediately, and I will make sure that Commander Luo and Admiral Liu handle it as soon as possible!"

After saying that, he tiptoed out of the warm pavilion, even his breathing became lighter.

This young emperor is far more meticulous in his thinking than outsiders can fathom.

soon.

Only Zhu Youxiao remained in the warm pavilion.

He poured the cooled tea into the charcoal brazier. With a soft "sizzle," wisps of white steam rose, blurring his slightly tired face.

He walked to the window, pushed it open a crack, and the cold wind, carrying snowflakes, blew in, landing on the back of his hand, bringing a chill, but making his mind clearer.

"Being an emperor is truly not an easy task."

He muttered to himself, his voice carrying a hint of melancholy that went unnoticed by anyone.

In the Jiangnan region, although Yuan Keli had achieved a great victory over the rebel army in Changzhou, it would be impossible to completely eliminate the remaining rebels, rectify officialdom, and restore taxation in less than one or two years.

During this period, of the twelve prefectures in Jiangnan, only a handful, such as Yingtian and Zhenjiang, were able to pay their taxes on time.

If it weren't for his efforts over the past two years to reorganize the fields in Beizhili and turn barren land into fertile land...

If it weren't for the imperial merchants monopolizing the overseas trade of raw silk and porcelain, the Imperial Household Department wouldn't have been able to manage the royal mines and farms.

If it weren't for the Ming Dynasty Bank absorbing deposits and making loans to generate profits and fill the gap in the national treasury, the salaries of officials and the military pay for the nine border regions this year probably wouldn't have been paid out.

but
The chaos in Jiangnan was not entirely bad.

This war and famine led many gentry and merchants from Jiangnan to migrate north to places like Beizhili and Shandong, bringing with them their property and artisans. This not only replenished the population and financial resources of the north but also indirectly weakened the foundation of the Jiangnan gentry.

In the past, the gentry in Jiangnan formed cliques, monopolized the imperial examinations, and annexed land. Whenever the imperial court implemented new policies, they would obstruct them.

Now that they are scattered across different places, it is difficult for them to form a united force, making the implementation of the new policy much smoother.

As for the long-standing problem of "too many people and too little land" in Jiangnan, it was also alleviated through this migration.

In the past, the Jiangnan region suffered from overpopulation and severe land annexation, making it prone to peasant uprisings during years of disaster.

The Suzhou weavers' uprising during the Wanli era was caused by overpopulation and lack of livelihood.

As for forcibly relocating people from Jiangnan to overseas colonies, Zhu Youxiao did not agree with it.

The Chinese people are attached to their homeland and will never leave unless they are driven to desperation.

Colonization can never be achieved through coercion; it requires profit for people to voluntarily go.

Fujianese merchants had established warehouses in places like Luzon and Java, making a fortune by selling silk and tea. Many locals would voluntarily follow these merchants to sea for a living.

This is the right way to colonize.

If the new policies of the Ming Dynasty are implemented for a few more years, the sprouts of capitalism will grow stronger, and there will be a surplus of domestic goods. When it becomes necessary to explore overseas markets, people will see that they can make money by going overseas, and they will naturally follow the trail of profit to go to more distant places.

Forcing them won't work.

The key is the implementation of the new policy.

Zhu Youxiao stood up, rubbing his throbbing temples, preparing to go outside the warm pavilion for some fresh air.

He had been reviewing memorials since dawn until now, and had only managed to grab a quick bite of dinner at his desk. His back was already stiff and aching.

But before he could even reach the door, soft footsteps sounded outside the hall, accompanied by Wang Tiqian's low announcement:

"Your Majesty, this servant, Wang Tiqian, has brought today's secret report."

Zhu Youxiao stopped and turned around. Wang Tiqian had already walked in carrying a sandalwood box.

He bent down and placed the wooden box on the table. He carefully opened it and found more than twenty secret documents neatly stacked inside, all sealed with kraft paper and stamped with the word "secret" in red ink.

Three of them were selected separately, placed on bright yellow silk cloth, clearly indicating that they were the most important reports.

"Your Majesty, the secret reports have been sorted out today."

Wang Tiqian stood with his head bowed, his voice extremely low, as if afraid of disturbing the tranquility of the night.

"The most important documents are those from Qin Liangyu, the General of Sichuan; Mao Wenlong, the naval commander of Tianjin; and Sun Chengzong of Liaodong. They are all here."

Zhu Youxiao walked to the desk and looked at the secret memorial bearing the mark of "General of Sichuan".

That was Qin Liangyu's handwriting; he recognized it.

Zhu Youxiao twisted open the kraft paper cover, unfolded the letter, and the candlelight fell between the lines. Words such as "Yongning She family's strange activities", "Xu Keqiu colluding with She Yin", and "White-Spear soldiers being framed" pierced his eyes like needles.

His originally relaxed brows gradually furrowed into a deep frown.

"The Southwest is bound to be affected eventually."

Zhu Youxiao muttered to himself, but there was no surprise in his tone.

According to the course of history, the She-An Rebellion should have broken out in the first year of the Tianqi reign. It was because he transferred Qin Liangyu to Chongqing in advance and secretly sent more troops from Huguang to guard eastern Sichuan that this turmoil was dragged out until now.

But he also understood that this was only a temporary measure.

The policy of replacing local chieftains with centrally appointed officials was the bottom line of the imperial court. The court wanted to bring power in the southwest back to the central government and truly integrate the people under the rule of the chieftains into the household registration of the Ming Dynasty.

For chieftains like She Chongming, who had held power for generations, this was a red line that could not be crossed.

This contradiction was irreconcilable from the very beginning.

Either the imperial court would subdue the local chieftains and completely incorporate the southwest into its territory.

Either the chieftain overthrew the imperial court's rule and continued to be a local emperor.

Sooner or later, the two sides will have to fight. The only difference is whether it will be fought when the court is fully prepared or when it is caught off guard.

"Your Majesty, is She Chongming... really going to rebel?"

Wang Tiqian asked in a low voice, his tone tinged with worry.

Although he was in the capital, he had heard of the power of the Yongning She family.

They are the wealthiest in the southwest, command tens of thousands of local soldiers, and even control the salt and horse trade. If they were to truly rebel, it would be no easier to deal with than the chaos in Jiangnan.

"If he dares to rebel, I will dare to quell it."

When Zhu Youxiao looked up, the weariness from before was gone from his eyes, leaving only the decisiveness of an emperor.

"By my oral decree, immediately summon the cabinet ministers to the Wenyuan Pavilion to draft two imperial edicts:"

A document was sent to Xiong Tingbi, ordering him to lead 20,000 elite border troops to prepare immediately for an invasion of Sichuan, with provisions and pay allocated from the reserves of the Nine Garrisons.

Another order was given to the General of Huguang, instructing him to reorganize the military preparations in Huguang, especially to defend key routes into Sichuan such as Kuizhou and Yiling, so that they could immediately rush to Chongqing's aid from the east should She Chongming raise an army.

Wang Tiqian bowed and replied, "This servant obeys! I will go and convey the decree immediately!"

"Wait a minute."

Zhu Youxiao stopped him and added.

"Pass on another message to Xiong Tingbi."

I don't want him to fight a protracted war; I want a quick victory.

The southwest is mostly mountainous, and the She family's soldiers are adept at traversing treacherous terrain. He should send out numerous scouts to reconnoiter the terrain and must not underestimate the enemy.

"I've got it."

Wang Tiqian nodded in agreement and turned to leave, only to see Zhu Youxiao pick up a vermilion pen and begin writing on a blank sheet of secret letter paper.

Under the candlelight, Zhu Youxiao's pen moved swiftly.

"General Qin is aware that a change has occurred in the southwest. You are in full charge of the defense of Chongqing. Work with Xu Keqiu to carry out the three strategies of 'luring the enemy, trapping the enemy, and annihilating the enemy' as previously planned."

The White-Clad Soldiers must defend key passes such as Chishui Pass and Tongluo Gorge, and must not allow the She family's troops to advance eastward out of Chongqing.

If Xu Keqiu causes trouble again, you may detain him first and then report to the emperor; I will endorse him.

Once Xiong Tingbi and the General of Huguang's troops arrive, they will join forces to encircle and annihilate She Chongming, ensuring the chaos is nipped in the bud within Sichuan's borders.

After writing it, he read it carefully and added a sentence at the end: "If there is a shortage of food and fodder, it can be transferred from Huguang. There is no need to worry." Then he picked up the sealing wax and stamped the seal with the seal of "Emperor's Seal".

Then he looked up at Wang Tiqian and said, "Send this secret letter to Chongqing by express courier, and make sure to deliver it to Qin Liangyu personally. Do not delay."

"My slave understands!"

Wang Tiqian took the secret letter, carefully tucked it into his pocket, and turned to leave quickly.

The wind and snow outside the palace seemed to intensify, the wind howling against the window frames like the faint sound of war drums echoing from the southwestern mountains.

Zhu Youxiao walked back to the desk, his gaze falling on the unopened secret memorial from Mao Wenlong, but he did not open it immediately.

He stared blankly at the candlelight, his mind already calculating the battle situation in the southwest:

Qin Liangyu's three thousand White-Spear Soldiers guarded Chongqing, Xiong Tingbi's Liaodong troops pressed in from the north, and the Huguang General's Huguang troops blocked them from the east. Under the encirclement from three sides, even though She Chongming's local troops were brave, they could hardly pose a threat.

He would never allow the great war that swept through several provinces in history, including Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan, costing the Ming Dynasty tens of millions of taels of silver and dragging on for several years, to be repeated this time.

"The chaos in Jiangnan is a minor ailment, while the chieftains in the southwest are the real threat."

Zhu Youxiao said softly.

"If we can quell the She-An Rebellion in one fell swoop, there will be no war in the southwest for decades, and the foundation of the Ming Dynasty can truly be stabilized."

(End of this chapter)