How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 305 Emperor Chongzhen's Southern Expedition, Huang Taiji Sends Out Troops Again!

The morning mist at Wuchang Wharf had not yet dissipated. The river was shrouded in a hazy mist, and the emperor's dragon boat fleet lay quietly moored, its flags fluttering gently in the breeze.

Hong Chengchou, dressed in a scarlet official robe, stepped forward and knelt on one knee on the bluestone slab of the dock. "Your subject, Hong Chengchou, respectfully sees Your Majesty off!"

Emperor Chongzhen turned around, personally helped him up, and said with a smile, "Hengjiu, you've worked hard."

"Thanks to His Majesty's great fortune, the new policies in Huguang have finally taken hold." Hong Chengchou's voice was deep. "The first batch of 1.2 million shi of rice has been sent to Xiangyang as ordered. As for the remaining taxes and grain, Governor Hou and I will certainly expedite the collection and dare not delay."

He had barely finished speaking when Prince Zhu Yujian of Tang, dressed in his princely robes, stepped forward and bowed. “Your Majesty, rest assured. The Imperial Clan Court’s Huguang branch has already sent people to Xiangyang to meet us. This first batch of grain and provisions will surely be transported safely to Nanyang to alleviate the emergency in the north.” He paused, raising his voice slightly, as if wanting more people to hear, “Furthermore, these princely mansions in Huguang, grateful for the Emperor’s grace and understanding of the court’s difficulties, have collectively contributed three million shi of rice—the Chu, Xiang, Jing, Ji, and other eight princely mansions—as a donation. This will also be under the unified control of the Imperial Clan Court and will be sent to Nanyang in batches to contribute to Your Majesty’s disaster relief and suppression of bandits!”

One million two hundred thousand plus three million equals four million two hundred thousand shi (a unit of dry measure). If they could all be transported by water to Nanyang, it would at least alleviate the famine in Henan.

These eight princes of Huguang are quite pragmatic!
Emperor Chongzhen nodded, his gaze sweeping over Hong Chengchou and the Prince of Tang, finally settling on Hou Xun, the newly appointed governor of Huguang.

"Lord Hou," Emperor Chongzhen began, "I remember the disaster in your hometown. From now on, you and Hengjiu must work together for the affairs of Huguang. The grain in Huguang is the lifeblood of your hometown elders, and not a single grain can be wasted! Do you understand?"

Hou Xun's throat moved, he took a deep breath, lifted his robe and knelt down. "Your subject kowtows in gratitude for Your Majesty's grace! I will certainly do my utmost to work together with Minister Hong to ensure the supply of provisions and pay, to repay Your Majesty, and to live up to the expectations of my hometown elders!"

Emperor Chongzhen reached out a hand to help them up, then looked past them towards the misty southeast. "You have all done well. Huguang is finally taking shape and can set an example for the rest of the country."

He paused, lowering his voice so that only those in front of him could hear him. "I'm entrusting this place to you. The key is to 'stabilize' the situation. Those people in Jiangnan are definitely watching with wide eyes right now. I want to turn Huguang into a mirror and a sharp blade. Let those who follow the new laws see the future; let those who dare to oppose the new laws know that my blade is very sharp."

Hong Chengchou, Hou Xun, and the Tang King all solemnly replied, "Your Majesty, we understand!"

Emperor Chongzhen said nothing more, turned around, stepped onto the gangplank, and boarded the dragon boat step by step.

Three muffled blasts from the horn were followed by the sound of drums and music. The dragon boats weighed anchor, their sails slowly rising, and the entire fleet departed from Wuchang Wharf, sailing into the middle of the river. The shouts of "Long live the dragon boat!" from the shore were broken and intermittent by the river wind.

Following behind the dragon boat procession were several smaller official boats. On one of these boats, Tang Hui, the former governor of Huguang, and He Fengsheng, a retired Grand Secretary, stood side by side. Tang Hui had submitted his resignation as governor of Huguang a few days earlier and was now accompanying the emperor to Nanjing by imperial decree. He Fengsheng was in the same situation—although Chongzhen had given them a respectable position, he would not allow them to remain in Huguang and cause trouble for Hong Chengchou and Hou Xun.

The two men watched the receding city of Wuchang and the dispersing crowd at the dock, remaining silent. After a long while, Tang Hui finally let out a long sigh, his voice filled with indescribable weariness and desolation. He Fengsheng, upon hearing this, simply shook his head and sighed as well.

Not far ahead of them, on another, more imposing boat, the two princes, King Chu and King Xiang, were leaning against the railing, gazing into the distance, their faces revealing a hint of anticipation for their journey to the prosperous Jiangnan region.

Inside the main cabin of the dragon boat, the windows were open, letting in a damp breeze. Emperor Chongzhen stood before a huge map of the Ming Dynasty, his hands behind his back. Wei Zhongxian and Gao Guiying stood on either side of him, their hands hanging down.

On the map, the area of ​​Huguang was heavily circled in red ink. Chongzhen's finger slowly moved eastward from Wuchang, across Anqing Prefecture, and finally landed on Yingtian Prefecture (Nanjing).

"The situation in Huguang is relatively easy to handle, there's just a lot of land and grain," Chongzhen muttered to himself. "But Jiangnan is different, it's far more complicated. We have to be patient and unravel the complexities step by step."

He pointed to Nanjing, Suzhou, and Songjiang, those wealthy and prosperous places.

"The influence of the Donglin scholars and gentry in the southeast is unmatched anywhere else, and the prosperity of its commerce and industry is unique in the whole world. The difficulties in managing this place are probably ten times greater than those in Huguang."

He withdrew his hand, turned around, and looked at Wei Zhongxian and Gao Guiying with a fixed gaze.

"But if we can't handle the prosperity and wealth of the southeast, then the disaster in the north will ultimately be beyond saving!"

The Little Ice Age has only just begun!

Wei Zhongxian then stepped forward, holding several documents in his hands.

"Your Majesty, news has arrived from Nanjing. Ever since the message from Huguang came, they've been in a panic. The literati of the 'Fushe' have been gathering for several days in a row, and most of what they've been saying is aimed at the court's new policies. They're probably trying to rally together and challenge Your Majesty."

Emperor Chongzhen snorted but did not reply.

Wei Zhongxian picked up another urgent report sealed with wax.

"And this, it was sent by the Guangzhou Maritime Trade Office with the 600-li express courier service. It says that several large ships from 'Mongolia' have arrived at the port, and the envoys on board are carrying a letter of credence and tribute. They are speaking very respectfully and wish to see the Emperor of the Celestial Empire."

"Mongolia?" Emperor Chongzhen paused, his brow furrowing slightly as if recalling something. After a moment, he turned around. "That's it. Could it be the Mongol Khanate in India? I remember... its ruler was named Shah Jahan?"

Emperor Chongzhen smiled and said, "It seems that Wang Daban and his entourage have achieved great success in India. Inform the Guangdong Provincial Governor's Office and the Guangzhou Maritime Trade Office to receive them with proper etiquette. Allow their delegation to travel north by sea, dock at Shanghai Port in Songjiang Prefecture, and then transfer to riverboats to come to Nanjing to see me."

Wei Zhongxian quickly agreed: "Once the dragon boat docks, this old servant will go and deliver the imperial decree."

Emperor Chongzhen walked to the map again, this time focusing his gaze on the north, specifically the area around Jizhou and Xuanfu, where he remained for a long time.

The dragon boat cut through the river, steadily heading east. The setting sun shone in, bathing the cabin in a golden light.

For over ten days, the autumn rains in Liaodong had been falling incessantly. Near the eastern entrance to the Xiaoling River Valley, there stood a military fortress built of earth and wood, perched on a hillside. It was a crucial stronghold for Zu Dashou and his men in defending their base in the Xiaoling River Valley. The fortress was situated on relatively high ground, but the Xiaoling River outside it had long since overflowed. The muddy river waters not only flooded the unharvested autumn crops on the riverbanks but also washed away the road leading west from the Xiaoling River Valley to Yingzhouwei.

The fortress was deathly still, just like the sunless, rainy day. The most critical problem was the lack of food. Strict rationing had long been in place in the army; even the generals could only manage a meager daily meal, let alone the soldiers and their families. Yet the grain storages continued to collapse day by day.

Jinzhou was lost, the retreat route was cut off, and the autumn crops in the Xiaoling River Valley were flooded.
Zu Dashou stared at the rain outside the window, his face so dark it looked like it could be wrung out. He had spent half his life fighting in western Liaoning and never imagined he would end up like this.

"General!" Wu Xiang rushed in, his trousers covered in mud, his voice urgent: "The grain reserves in the fort... will only last for three more months at most. The roads to Yingzhou Guard are all cut off, and even if Ningyuan wanted to help, they couldn't send a single grain of rice! I'm afraid we'll have a hard time surviving this winter!"

Upon hearing this, the faces of the generals inside the room turned deathly pale. An atmosphere of despair permeated the air.

Zu Kefa, a trusted subordinate of Zu Dashou, leaned closer and whispered, "Father, news has come from within the Great Wall... The Emperor has gone on a southern tour, and Beizhili, Shandong, Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi... almost the entire north is suffering from disasters. The court itself can't even take care of everything, and I heard that Lu Xiangshan, the governor of Jiliao, is also having a hard time... In this situation, I'm afraid... no one can take care of us."

He paused, stole a glance at Zu Dashou's face, and then continued, "In three months, we'll be out of food. We won't even need Ajige to fight us; we'll be finished on our own... Perhaps... we should think of another way out?"

Zu Dashou suddenly turned his head, his eyes piercing Zu Kefa's face like knives, forcing him to swallow back what he was about to say.

Just then, a shout came from outside the fortress wall, piercing the rain. It was an envoy from the Later Jin, speaking broken Chinese: "...General Zu! A wise man submits to circumstances! The Ming Dynasty's fate is sealed, natural disasters are endless, this is the will of Heaven! My Great Khan cherishes talent and cannot bear to see you starve to death in this mountain valley! If you are willing to surrender, wealth and glory will be within your grasp! Why be buried with that Zhu family emperor who is far away in Jiangnan and has long forgotten you?"

The stone house was deathly silent, save for the sounds of rain and shouts of surrender outside. Many generals lowered their heads, not daring to look at Zu Dashou.

Zu Dashou waved his hand, signaling everyone to leave. He walked alone to the door, letting the cold rain lash his face. He gazed southeast, towards Jiangnan, the place where the Emperor resided, yet it felt like another world. He then looked west, towards Jinzhou, his hometown, now flying enemy flags.

He clutched a damp letter in his hand, desperately sent from Ningyuan Town. The letter described the dire situation in the north and the emptiness of the imperial court; every word pierced his heart. Years of drought, locust plagues, floods, and epidemics… Had Heaven truly abandoned the Ming Dynasty?
Loyalty and righteousness? His ancestors had guarded the borders of the Ming Dynasty for generations, shedding countless blood and losing countless lives. His grandfather, Da Shou, had done right by the Zhu family. But now the supply lines were cut off, and there were no reinforcements. Were these thousands of brothers who had risked their lives with him, along with their families, really going to starve and be trapped to death in this Xiaoling River Valley?

Unlike the cold and damp atmosphere in western Liaoning, the charcoal fire in the imperial palace in Shenyang burned brightly, creating a warm and oppressive atmosphere, yet also exuding a murderous aura.

The Great Khan Huang Taiji sat on the throne, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement, his hands trembling as he held several secret reports.

"...That little emperor of the Southern Dynasty, he got some money and grain in Huguang, and he really thinks he can keep those local bullies in Jiangnan in check? It's really God's help!" He stood up, walked to the large map, and pointed his finger hard at the south: "Beizhili and Shandong are flooded, and the crops have failed! Chongzhen can't even handle the disaster relief now, and all the money and grain in the national treasury has to be poured into the disaster areas! In Liaoxi, Zu Dashou is trapped in a dead end, his supply lines are cut off, and the morale of his army has collapsed. He's like a turtle in a jar, he can't escape!"

He turned around abruptly, his eyes sweeping over his trusted confidants, including Fan Wencheng, Daishan, and Dorgon.

At this moment, the young and impetuous Dorgon stepped forward first, his voice loud and clear:

"Great Khan! The Southern Dynasty emperor has himself mired in the quagmire of Jiangnan, and the north has suffered a great disaster. This is precisely the opportunity that the Eternal Heaven has given us! We cannot just watch; we must take action and strike at the most lucrative place!"

He walked a few steps to the map, pointing first to Liaoxi: "The first one is Zu Dashou! His Xiaolinghe Fortress is almost starving. A direct attack would result in too many deaths, it's not worth it. It's better to surround him and starve him to death! And have Ajige's men shout outside every day, promising him high-ranking positions and generous rewards, and promising not to kill a single one of his soldiers. Zu Dashou is a man of honor, he won't be able to hold out for long if he sees his men starving to death!"

Huang Taiji nodded: "Yes, surround it and simmer it slowly. Ajige will handle this."

Dorgon's finger continued to slide south, pointing to Fuzhou, Jinzhou, and Lushun at the tip of the Liaodong Peninsula: "The second one is here! These are the Ming Dynasty's outlets to the sea in Liaodong, and we must take them down! But Fuzhou is heavily fortified, and we suffered a loss last time. This time we must be ruthless! Send more Korean Green Standard Army soldiers and Mongol archers to lead the charge, and bring all our cannons to bombard them to the ground! This battle will not be easy; we must be prepared to lose lives and fight a protracted war!"

He turned to look at Huang Taiji, his eyes burning with determination: "Great Khan, leave this tough nut to your younger brother! Your younger brother will certainly mobilize enough troops, along with Koreans, Mongols, and Han soldiers, and even if it means overwhelming them with sheer numbers, we will take down Fuzhou and Jinzhou, extinguishing any hope the Ming army might have of returning by sea!"

Huang Taiji gave him an approving look: "Good! You have guts! I'm entrusting Liaonan to you, Dorgon! But remember, don't just rush in blindly, use more cannons and kill fewer of our own people."

"Yes, Your Majesty! I understand!"

Finally, Dorgon's finger moved to the Kaiping area in the northwest: "The third one is the Chahan tribe. That kid Sun Chuanting is stationed in Kaiping, keeping the Mongols in check, which is a bit troublesome. We just suffered a loss, and the Great Khan has to take charge of the overall situation, so it's not advisable to fight him to the death for the time being."

Huang Taiji's expression darkened when he heard Sun Chuanting's name.

Dorgon continued, "But we can't let him get too comfortable! We can send Abatai with the Mongol cavalry from the Khorchin and Kharachin, plus some Eight Banner Mongols, not to attack Pingcheng, but to sweep through the surrounding small tribes that are affiliated with the Chahan tribe, seizing their cattle, sheep, and people! This will keep Sun Chuanting running around, unable to spare the time to rescue Liaoxi. This way, we can work more freely in Liaoxi and Liaonan!"

The experienced Dai Shan frowned: "Fighting on three fronts? Isn't the force too scattered?"

Huang Taiji waved his hand and said decisively, "We won't disperse! Dorgon is right! Liaoxi is 'trapped,' Liaonan is 'attacked,' and Kaiping is 'harassed'! It looks like there are three places, but the real and the deceptive are distinct! Our real targets are only two!"

He stood up and pointed sharply at two points on the map: "The first is Xiaoling River! Once we've taken Zu Dashou, the gates to western Liaoning will be closed! The second is Fuzhou and Jinzhou! If we take these places, the entire eastern Liaoning will belong to the Aisin Gioro clan!"

He looked around at everyone, his voice resolute: "The attack in Kaiping was just a feint, leaving Sun Chuanting and Chongzhen confused! Once we've dealt with western and southern Liaoning and have some free time, we'll settle the score with them!"

The palace fell silent for a moment, then a chorus of agreement erupted.

"The Great Khan is wise!"

(End of this chapter)