How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 118 The Emperor Chongzhen's Kindness Reaches Korea (Second Update)

In April of the first year of the Chongzhen reign, the weather in the capital was already quite hot. The window of the warm pavilion in the Qianqing Palace was half open, letting in a slight breeze that made the hall less stuffy.

Emperor Chongzhen was dressed in only a light blue robe. He sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), with a cup of hot tea steaming on the rosewood tea table in front of him.

He looked at the few trusted ministers in front of him.

Yang Sichang's large body sank into the embroidered stool, sweat beading on his forehead. Xu Yingyuan stood by the door with his hands hanging down. Niu Jinxing stood beside the huge map of Liaodong and Korea, carefully pointing to the location of Korea.

“Old man,” Chongzhen began, addressing Yang Sichang, “what do you think? Should we save Korea or not? And how should we do so?”

Yang Sichang shifted his position, and the embroidered stool made a slight creaking sound.

He cleared his throat, his voice steady: "Your Majesty, I believe that now is a critical juncture for our Great Ming Dynasty to cultivate virtuous governance internally and defend the Great Wall externally!"

He paused, and seeing that the emperor was listening attentively, he continued: "The key to the virtuous governance of the inner court lies in 'relocating members of the imperial family,' 'confining maritime trade,' 'rectifying official land ownership,' and 'managing salt taxes'... Which of these matters is not subject to great resistance, yet also brings great benefits? If even half of them can be accomplished, our Great Ming can turn the tide and consolidate its foundation."

Emperor Chongzhen listened and nodded repeatedly, a look of approval on his face.

But he sighed inwardly.

Halfway there?
Even a 70% success rate might not be enough... There's still the huge pitfall of the Little Ice Age! Last year there was a severe drought in the north, and this spring there's still little rain, so the wheat seedlings are sparse. This can't be solved by relocating a few members of the imperial family or clearing a few acres of official land.

He turned his head and glanced at Niu Jinxing.

He thought to himself: This time I didn't shut down the post stations, and Li Zicheng is still dutifully "delivering packages"! It's like I've gotten rid of a major threat.

Even without Li Zicheng, the Little Ice Age was still tough. The sky wasn't raining, and the emperor's palace was short of provisions. What could be done? Perhaps... send Li Zicheng abroad to try his luck?
When Niu Jinxing saw the emperor's gaze sweep over him, he assumed the emperor wanted to hear his opinion, so he quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, Minister Yang's words are absolutely correct. As for the key to defending the Great Wall, besides training a new army, establishing the Three Feudatories, and forming an alliance with the Mongols, the most urgent matter at present is Korea!"

He walked to the map and pointed at it: "If the Jurchens achieve a great and swift victory in Korea and return with their spoils, their military might will be even stronger. Huang Taiji's next target will either be to bypass the Yanshan Mountains and take our Great Wall passes, or to besiege Jinzhou with a large force, forcing us to fight them in Liaoxi! Either way, we will be at a disadvantage!"

"On the contrary," he drew a circle in Korea with his finger, "if the Jurchens get bogged down in Korea and the war drags on, then our court will gain a respite and can expedite our preparations. Therefore, I believe that aiding Korea... to achieve complete victory and a swift defeat for the Jurchens is absolutely impossible with our current strength. What we can hope for is only 'protracted war'!"

Niu Jinxing emphasized, "If we can occupy several strongholds along the Korean coast, such as Pi Island and Tieshan, and maintain our position to prevent the Jurchens from achieving a quick victory, it will be a great victory for us! If we fail to recognize the current situation of the enemy being strong and us being weak, and blindly engage in reckless fighting in pursuit of a quick victory, we may suffer a great defeat, lose many soldiers and generals, and ruin everything!"

Emperor Chongzhen wholeheartedly agreed, adding, "We must also protect the King of Korea! With the King on my side, the righteous cause and legitimacy are all mine!"

In his previous life, he had also studied the essence of "On Protracted War," and understood that when facing an enemy who was clearly militarily superior, the worst thing to do was to gamble the fate of the nation by seeking a strategic decisive battle. Blindly pursuing a quick victory was a path to disaster.

Moreover, investing too many troops and supplies in Korea, which is far from the mainland, is clearly not in the best interests of the Ming Dynasty at present.

We need aid, but we can't afford to bankrupt ourselves through aid. Offering favors to North Korea is necessary, but those favors are limited; we can only give North Korea a little.

He murmured to himself, as if talking to himself: "I'm afraid... the officials in the court don't think so. Some of them probably want to achieve everything in one battle and push this aid to Korea as a swift and decisive victory!"

Yang Sichang was taken aback upon hearing this, a hint of worry flashing across his chubby face before he understood.

If the Korean War escalates too much, many things will have to be compromised.

After all, Emperor Chongzhen had given away all his favors to Korea, princes, members of the imperial family, gentry in Jiangnan, Li Zicheng who "delivered packages" in the Northwest, and Zheng Yiguan who charged tolls at sea. What were they going to do with the favors they had received?
Yang Sichang carefully considered the matter and said, "We must not let them succeed! The matter of Korea concerns the fate of the nation, and we must proceed with caution!"

Niu Jinxing, however, did not take it seriously. He was a newcomer and did not have a deep understanding of the complex and entrenched power dynamics in the court. He only thought that the emperor's absolute power was sufficient.

He said, "Matters of state and military affairs are ultimately decided by the Emperor's own will. As long as the Emperor makes up his mind and is not swayed by popular opinion, what use is it no matter how much others talk?"

Emperor Chongzhen sighed softly.

He thought to himself: "I, the emperor, don't yet have that much prestige! I've only been on the throne for a few months, and my foundation is not yet stable. If the court cannot reach a majority consensus on 'protracted aid to Korea,' then even if I forcefully send out a 'commander-in-chief' or 'general of aid to Korea,' the job will be very difficult. He'll be drowned in criticism from the court, and his logistics and supplies will be obstructed at every level."

Thinking of this, Chongzhen asked again, "In that case, who can be the commander-in-chief of the expedition to aid Korea? Who can be the commander-in-chief of the expedition to Korea?"

Niu Jinxing couldn't answer that question.

Having been an official for only a short time, he lacked a deep understanding of the military generals in the court and the governors and viceroys in various regions. He could only bow and say, "Your Majesty, I am foolish and have no suitable candidate in this matter. I beg Your Majesty to make a decision."

Emperor Chongzhen turned his gaze to Yang Sichang.

Yang Sichang pondered for a long time, carefully considering the wording.

"Your Majesty," he said first, regarding the selection of the commander-in-chief, "there are quite a few capable candidates for the commander-in-chief to aid Korea. Previously, in the pacification of Doyan and the defeat of Chahan, many brave generals were produced. However, I believe that the officers stationed in the Imperial Guard must go to Korea to gain more experience."

He glanced at the emperor's expression and continued, "Cao Wenzhao, Huang Degong, and Sun Yingyuan are the emperor's confidants, and their loyalty is beyond doubt. Moreover, after being trained by Eunuch Xu, they have also learned the Western method of fortification construction and are well aware of the essentials of city defense. They will be of great use in Korea."

“Even if they are not directly appointed as commander-in-chief,” Yang Sichang added, “they can be assigned as deputy generals or assistant generals, taking turns leading troops into the capital for training. They can hone their skills in actual combat to prepare them for future great use. As for commander-in-chief, one can be chosen from among Commander-in-Chief You, Commander-in-Chief Hou, and Commander-in-Chief Ma.”

Chongzhen nodded, already having a suitable candidate in mind. The "mahjong players" from Datong were quite good; their family had been to Korea during the Wanli era and knew the place well. "And what about the Grand Coordinator?" Chongzhen asked. "Who can oversee the military affairs in Korea? This person is crucial; he must be capable, strategic, able to stabilize the situation in Korea, and coordinate all parties."

Yang Sichang took a deep breath; clearly, he had been pondering this question for quite some time.

“I dare to recommend someone,” he said slowly, “who is the former governor of Dengzhou and Laizhou, who has retired and returned to his hometown—Yuan Jiehuan (Yuan Keli).

"Yuan Jiehuan?" Chongzhen thought for a moment, then realized it was Yuan Keli.

“Yes,” Yang Sichang affirmed. “Yuan Gong has a long military career. During the Tianqi era, he served as the governor of Dengzhou and Laizhou, managed Dongjiang Town, and supported Mao Wenlong. He is extremely familiar with Korean affairs, coastal defense, and Liaodong affairs. He is Mao Wenlong’s former benefactor in Dongjiang. There is a bond between them, so Mao Wenlong will listen to him to some extent.”

“Most importantly,” Yang Sichang lowered his voice, “Lord Yuan has long remained outside the factional struggles of the court, having retired for many years, and is highly respected. If he were to return to public service, he would be able to provide shelter for the generals at the front lines and shield them from the many criticisms and attacks from the court!”

Yang Sichang's considerations were very comprehensive. While military capability was important for the commander-in-chief of the expedition to Korea, political ability was even more crucial. He needed to be someone who could withstand the pressure of factional struggles, and he himself needed to be mature and prudent, avoiding being greedy for quick success. Furthermore, he also needed to be able to command Mao Wenlong, that stubborn mule.

Emperor Chongzhen nodded again. This man was indeed suitable; he had the qualifications, the ability, and the prestige.

"But..." Chongzhen hesitated, "Minister Yuan has been retired for many years and is getting old. Is he still willing to come out of retirement and work hard for me?"

Yang Sichang cupped his hands and said, “My father and Lord Yuan have a long-standing friendship. If His Majesty trusts him, my father can personally persuade him. He can take His Majesty’s imperial edict and go to Suizhou, Henan to invite him, as a sign of sincerity. Lord Yuan is a man of great principle and will surely agree.”

Yang He is currently the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief (this position is usually given as an "additional title" to governors and viceroys who are sent to other places), and he will soon be sent to serve as a governor or viceroy. Let's just make him the governor of Henan and take him to Suizhou to invite Yuan Keli.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen felt reassured.

"Very well!" he declared. "Then I will trouble Minister Yang to ask my father to mediate. I will have Xu Yingyuan select suitable personnel, prepare the imperial edict and rewards, and go to Henan to invite Lord Yuan to come out of seclusion!"

With the matter settled, Chongzhen felt much more relieved.

He instructed, "Xu Yingyuan."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the eunuch in charge of writing at the Directorate of Ceremonial, who had been standing quietly, quickly replied.

"Go and convey my imperial edict to summon Huang Liji, Sun Chengzong, and Wang Zaijin to the Wenhua Hall immediately to await an audience."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Xu Yingyuan bowed and withdrew, then quickly went out to deliver the imperial decree.

Inside the Wenhua Hall, Emperor Chongzhen had changed into casual clothes and sat upright behind his desk. Huang Lijie, Wang Zaijin, and Bi Ziyan were all offered seats.

Emperor Chongzhen didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "Regarding the matter of Korea, my mind is made up."

The three men perked up. The message for help from North Korea had just arrived, but they hadn't expected that His Majesty already had a solution!
"The Jurchens are powerful, and our dynasty is still beset by internal troubles and has not yet recovered its strength. At this moment, sending the entire nation on a distant expedition to seek a decisive battle with the barbarians three thousand miles away will not only have a slim chance of victory, but will also exhaust the nation's resources and shake its foundations. This is not the way of a wise man." In just a few words, Chongzhen set the general policy.

Upon hearing this, Huang Lijie and the other two felt somewhat reassured, knowing that the emperor had not been misled by the idea of ​​a "quick victory".

Chongzhen continued, "However, Korea must not be abandoned! Abandoning Korea would mean losing a bulwark, chilling the hearts of the people, and further emboldening the Jurchens. Therefore, we must aid them, and we must do so with great fanfare!"

How could they proceed with such a grand and ostentatious display? The answer was... The three senior ministers suddenly understood the young emperor's good intentions.

North Korea is probably not part of the overall situation.
Chongzhen continued, "What I mean by 'making a big show of things' is not about troops, money, or supplies, but about 'momentum' and 'strategy'! I want you to strongly advocate a 'large-scale aid to Korea' plan involving 'several thousand people' in the court meeting!"

“Several thousand people?” Wang Zaijin immediately grasped the key point. “Your Majesty means…”

“Indeed,” Chongzhen said sharply, “Only a few thousand elite troops will be sent. But the Koreans must believe that tens of thousands of heavenly soldiers are coming to their aid! I have three requirements!”

He stood up and walked to the hanging map, and the three of them quickly followed.

"First, protect the King!" Chongzhen pointed heavily at the coastal area south of Seoul. "The most important task is to dispatch elite troops, at any cost, to safely escort King Injo of Joseon, along with his royal family and ministers, to a place as easily defensible as Ganghwa Island! With the King in our hands, Joseon's right to rule and legitimacy is in our hands! This matter concerns the overall situation and must be accomplished!"

"Secondly, defend the islands!" He drew a circle with his finger around Ganghwa Island and the surrounding islands. "Using the elite troops who came to receive them as the core, and joining forces with the fleeing Korean government troops, we will leverage our naval advantage to construct numerous fortifications and gun emplacements in strategic locations! I will send a general from my personal guard who is well-versed in Western fortification techniques to oversee this. We must turn these islands into iron nails driven into the back of the Jurchens, making them unable to swallow or gnaw at them! We will force them to constantly divide their forces for defense, thus depleting their resources and manpower!"

"Thirdly, aid Korea in resisting the Jurchens!" Emperor Chongzhen's voice suddenly rose. "Tell the Korean emperor, his subjects, and his people that the Heavenly Dynasty's reinforcements have arrived, and the royal army will join forces with the Korean people to resist the barbarians! I will support the righteous armies and government troops throughout Korea to harass the Jurchens' supply lines and attack their weak points. In short, we must mobilize the entire Korean nation and its people, and for the sake of the overall resistance against the Jurchens, to spare no effort in entanglement, delay, and attrition against the Jurchens!"

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over his three trusted ministers: "The core of these three strategies is 'wear and burn'! To keep the main force of the Jurchens bogged down in the Korean quagmire for a long time with minimal cost! This will buy me the most precious time to reorganize my army, manage my finances, and stabilize the internal situation!"

Huang Lijie fully understood the emperor's true intention: to incite Korea to fight to the death, even to the last man. He immediately bowed, saying, "Your Majesty's wisdom is profound; this old minister is truly impressed! This strategy is indeed a mature and shrewd move for governing the country!"

As the Minister of War, Wang Zaijin saw the brilliance of Chongzhen's strategy—using King Yi to command Korea. He excitedly exclaimed, "I understand! In this way, our main force will not be mobilized, and the foundation of our nation will remain unharmed, while making the Jurchens in Korea lose their footing and be exhausted! A brilliant plan!"

Bi Ziyan also breathed a sigh of relief. The Ministry of Revenue could still scrape together the provisions and pay for several thousand men: "Your Majesty, rest assured, if it is only a few thousand elite troops, the Ministry of Revenue will do its utmost to ensure that they do not suffer from a lack of pay!"

Emperor Chongzhen nodded and gave his final instructions: "Tomorrow at the court meeting, there will surely be those who advocate a hasty and swift victory. You should respond with these three strategies: 'protect the king, defend the island, and aid Korea against the slaves.' In short, this is not cowardice, but the best strategy: 'use Koreans to defend Korea and aid Korea to wear down the slaves!' As for matters such as relocating vassal states and establishing maritime trade, these are fundamental to the nation and must not be delayed because of the Korean war!"

(End of this chapter)