How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 315 Impossible, absolutely impossible! Where did Chongzhen get the money and provisions?

At dawn on the third day, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, the snow had lessened, but the wind hadn't stopped.

Vanguard General Cao Bianjiao led his thousand musketeer cavalry forward along a frozen river valley. Cao Bianjiao was young, only in his early twenties, but he fought with reckless abandon and was a renowned fierce general in the Imperial Guard. His eyes, like those of an eagle, scanned the snow-covered slopes on both sides.

Suddenly, several sharp whistling arrows rang out from the hillside on the flank!

"An ambush!" Cao Bianjiao's heart tightened, but his face remained calm. He drew his saber in a flash and roared, "Blow the horns! Form a circular formation! Musketeers, dismount!"

The bugle sounded mournfully. The well-trained cavalrymen immediately sprang into action. Most dismounted, using their horses as cover, and quickly formed several hollow circles for mutual support. Flintlock pistols and long guns were taken from their horses and set up. Pikemen stood in the inner circle, keeping watch on the outside.

On the hillsides on both sides, four or five hundred Mongol cavalrymen appeared indistinctly, riding ponies and wearing fur robes. They made strange whistling noises and began to circle around the hillside, occasionally shooting a few light arrows.

Cao Bianjiao spat: "Pah! That's a common trick of the Tartars! Trying to keep me occupied?"

He could see clearly that this Mongol army was small in number and was just trying to harass and probe, slowing them down.

"We can't let them waste time!" Cao Bianjiao steeled his heart, pointing his knife at the nearest Mongol group to the east. "First platoon, second platoon, flank them from the left and right! Third platoon, follow me and charge straight for their center! Musketeers, get ready, within thirty paces, fire!"

At the command, the army moved instantly. The cavalry from the left and right flanks swooped in like pincers. Cao Bianjiao, leading his elite detachment, spurred his horse and charged fiercely towards the heart of the Mongol army!

The Mongol soldiers did not expect the Ming army to be so fierce and brave, and to launch a counterattack instead of defending! In the blink of an eye, Cao Bianjiao had already led his men to within thirty paces.

"Release!" Cao Bianjiao roared.

Bang! Bang! Bang! A burst of rapid-fire flintlock pistol shots rang out! White smoke billowed up, and the Mongol soldiers charging ahead were instantly thrown to the ground.

Before the gunshots had even faded, Cao Bianjiao had already led his men into the chaotic enemy ranks! His blade flashed, his horse moved swiftly, slashing left and right, heading straight for a Mongol who appeared to be a leader. The Mongol leader had just raised his scimitar when Cao Bianjiao's blade had already grazed his neck!

With their commander dead, the remaining Mongol soldiers were even more disorganized. The Ming army, which had been flanked from both sides, charged and immediately broke apart, fleeing in terror up the western hillside.

"Chase them! Use muskets! Don't let them get away!" Cao Bianjiao ordered.

The musketeer cavalrymen mounted their horses and fired another volley at the fleeing soldiers, felling dozens, but they maintained their distance and did not pursue them further.

After taking stock of the battlefield, Cao Bianjiao found nearly a hundred Mongol soldiers killed, wounded, or captured, while he himself had only suffered a few injuries. He immediately began interrogating the prisoners.

The prisoners trembled with fear and stammered that they were from the Kharachin tribe and were patrolling this area. There were not many troops guarding Daning City now, only about two thousand men, mostly Eight Banner Mongols and a small number of genuine Tartars. There was no news of a large Ming army coming—the authorities all said that the Ming Dynasty had suffered natural disasters, and five northern provinces had been flooded, so it was a time of food and pay shortages.
Cao Bianjiao dared not delay and immediately dispatched a fast horse with prisoners and intelligence to the central army.

……

At the central command, Man Gui was growing impatient. Upon seeing Cao Bianjiao's messenger, he snatched the military report. After glancing at it a few times, his expression changed.

"Damn it! Our whereabouts have been discovered!" Man Gui cursed, his mind racing. He knew that he couldn't hesitate now.

He roared at the messenger sent by Sun Zushou: "Go back and report to the commander-in-chief! The Tartar scouts have slipped through the net and can no longer be kept in the dark! The opportunity is fleeting! We old Manchus can't just sit and wait! I'll take all the cavalry ahead and head straight for the walls of Daning City to seize a place for him to set up camp! Let him lead the main force of infantry and artillery to catch up as soon as possible!"

Without waiting for Sun Zushou's reply, he roared to his men, "Sound the horn! All cavalry battalions, follow me!"

Woo——woo——woo——

A sharp bugle call rang out. Four cavalry battalions, totaling four thousand riders, led by Man Gui, broke away from the main force like an iron torrent, braving the wind and snow, and galloped towards Daning. Hooves kicked up snow and mud, and the column stretched into a long dragon, its speed more than twice as fast as before.

……

The main force behind them quickly received the news.

After hearing the messenger's report, Sun Zushou remained silent for a moment. The generals around him were somewhat worried; Man Gui's actions were too risky.

Sun Zushou suddenly smiled and said, "This Manchu barbarian... though reckless, is precisely the way to break the deadlock! He's buying us time!"

He immediately gave the order: "Send word to all battalions! Only take ammunition, three days' rations, and artillery! Infantry, advance at full speed! Artillery, go all out! We must reach Daning before nightfall today! All the leftover supplies and tents must be carried by the supply corps. The supply corps must reach the walls of Daning within two days!"

At the command, the entire column sped up dramatically. The infantrymen swung their arms, running through the deep snow, their breath forming a continuous white cloud. The artillerymen and the lagging transport troops whipped their mules and horses, pulling artillery and sleds laboriously across the snowfield. No one spoke in the column; only heavy breathing and the clanging of machinery filled the air.

……

The sky gradually darkened. The wind and snow seemed to intensify.

Man Gui and Cao Bianjiao, leading five thousand cavalry, finally arrived ten miles outside Daning City before nightfall. In the distance, the blurry outline of Daning City could already be seen, resembling a crouching giant beast.

Man Gui immediately stood on a small hill and observed carefully. There were some scattered Mongol cavalry outside the city. When they saw this large army, they were so frightened that they turned their horses around and ran back.

“Cao Bianjiao!” Man Gui shouted.

"The general is here!"

"Take your men and sweep those flies outside the city clean! Leave no one alive!"

"Understood!" Cao Bianjiao waved his hand and led his cavalry out.

Man Gui then ordered the others: "The rest of you, follow me and seize that high ground in the east of the city! Cut down trees, build up earth, and establish a stronghold for the main infantry and artillery force!"

The cavalrymen dismounted, drew their swords and axes, and began to chop down dead trees and move stones and snow, getting busy with their tasks.

As darkness fell completely, Sun Zushou finally led the main force of infantry and artillery to arrive. The soldiers were exhausted and slumped over, but seeing the firelight of the camp ahead and their comrades waiting in battle, their spirits were lifted.

The two armies met. Man Gui greeted them, a smug look on his face: "General, I, Old Man, have captured the camp for you! How about that?"

Sun Zushou patted him on the shoulder: "Well done! General Man, you've worked hard."

He immediately surveyed the camp, then climbed to a high point to look at the dark city of Daning in the distance. There were noticeably more torches on the city walls than usual, and figures moved about in a somewhat chaotic manner. Man Gui leaned closer, rubbing his hands together: "General, shall I take some men to check the city's defenses? Before they catch their breath!"

Sun Zushou shook his head, his tone resolute: "No. The brothers have been traveling for a day and a night, and they are exhausted. Although the enemy is alarmed, the city's defenses are solid. Attacking the city at night is too dangerous."

He paused, looked at Man Gui and the surrounding generals including Cao Bianjiao, and said in a deep voice, "Let the brothers rest well and cook a meal. Artillery battalion, survey the positions tonight and set up the cannons! Tomorrow at dawn..."

Sun Zushou's voice was exceptionally clear in the cold wind:

"At dawn tomorrow, I will let the walls of Daming City be hit by cannonballs made by my Great Ming!"

"Let the Emperor hear in Huai'an that our men from Jiliao have not disgraced him!"

The generals agreed with a roar.

In the camp, campfires flickered, illuminating the soldiers' weary yet hopeful faces. In the distance, the cavalry sent by Da Ning City to report an emergency disappeared into the darkness.
In Shenyang, as dawn broke, the palace was quiet.

Huang Taiji had just finished breakfast, and hadn't even finished his bowl of hot milk. He was discussing matters after the start of spring with his two trusted Han officials, Fan Wencheng and Gang Lin.

"Great Khan," Fan Wencheng said slowly, holding the booklet, "the gift lists from several Taijis in the north are all here. We need to prepare provisions for the campaign against the Chahan tribe after the spring."

Huang Taiji nodded: "Yes. The followers left behind by Lindan Khan are still restless. We need to keep them in check."

Gang Lin added, "In western Liaoning, Ajige Beile is besieging Xiaolinghe, and Zu Dashou is about to collapse. Dorgon Beile is launching a fierce attack on Fuzhou, and Huang Degong is also struggling to defend it. It seems that by spring at the latest, there will be a result in western Liaoning."

A slight smile appeared on Huang Taiji's face. The situation was improving, and everything was going according to his plan. The five northern provinces of the Ming Dynasty were suffering from famine; he heard there were countless corpses of the starving. The young Emperor Chongzhen was probably overwhelmed with problems right now. How could he possibly have the energy to manage Liaoxi? This was practically a godsend for the Jin Dynasty!

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps outside the hall interrupted his thoughts.

A guard led a man covered in snow and almost frozen to the ground as he stumbled in.

"Great Khan! Urgent report! Da Ning... Urgent report from Da Ning!" The messenger fell to the ground, his voice hoarse, holding a military report that was blurred by sweat and snow water.

Huang Taiji frowned: "What's the panic? What could possibly happen in Da Ning? Which Mongol tribe is causing trouble again?"

"No...no!" the messenger gasped, his voice filled with terror. "It's the Ming army! A large contingent of Ming troops! They're flying Sun Zushou's banner and have surrounded Daning City!"

"what?!"

Everyone in the hall was stunned. Fan Wencheng and Gang Lin exchanged a glance, both seeing the astonishment on each other's faces.

Huang Taiji slammed down his bowl, spilling some milk, but he didn't care. "Explain yourself! Where did these Ming soldiers come from? How many are there?"

"I can't see clearly... the snow is too heavy... but there are at least tens of thousands! The banners belong to General Sun of Jizhou!" the messenger stammered. "There are campfires everywhere outside the city, and they're still building fortifications! They... they even have cannons!"

"Bullshit!" Huang Taiji slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and his face instantly darkened. "Why is Sun Zushou not guarding Jizhou? What is he doing in Daning, hundreds of miles away? Did you see clearly? Is he some Mongol tribe's mutinous soldiers, waving the Ming army's flag to intimidate people?"

He simply didn't believe it. It made absolutely no sense!

The Ming Dynasty suffered such a massive disaster, and it wasn't that they didn't try to provide relief; on the contrary, they did everything in their power to provide aid. Even Emperor Chongzhen himself went to Jiangnan to raise funds and supplies. Under such circumstances, could the Jizhou garrison possibly provide enough provisions and pay to support those soldiers who braved the snowstorm to advance on Daming? Without sufficient provisions and pay, those pampered soldiers of the Ming Dynasty could barely hold their ground in the city; going out to fight in the open? What a pipe dream!
The messenger kowtowed in fear: "It's absolutely true, Your Majesty! I saw it with my own eyes. The armor and flags are all in the style of the Ming Dynasty's official army! They even sent cavalry to sweep through the surrounding area. Many of our scouts died before they rushed out to report the news!"

Fan Wencheng stepped forward, his face grave: "Great Khan, this matter... it's better to believe it's true. If Da Ning is lost, the Mongol tribes in the west may cause unrest, and the flank of Ajige Beile, who is besieging Zu Dashou, will also be exposed."

Huang Taiji walked quickly around the hall twice with his hands behind his back, feeling both surprised and angry, but mostly confused.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" He stopped abruptly, his voice filled with suppressed anger. "Beizhili, Shandong, Henan—several provinces are suffering from devastating disasters, with millions of refugees! Where did Emperor Chongzhen get the funds to support tens of thousands of troops in this battle at this time and place?!"

He stared at Fan Wencheng and Gang Lin, as if asking them, or perhaps asking himself: "Sun Zushou's troops are the elite of the Ming Dynasty's Jizhou garrison! If he were to send out his entire force, wouldn't the defenses of Jizhou be left vulnerable? Doesn't Chongzhen fear that I will march straight to his capital?!"

"This is a desperate gamble! A recipe for disaster! It defies all logic!" Huang Taiji found it increasingly absurd. "Unless... it's a feint? Or a ruckus within the Ming army, using a false pretense?"

He tried to find a plausible explanation to calm his shock. But the messenger's terrified expression didn't seem fake.

Ganglin hesitated and said, "Great Khan, perhaps... perhaps the Ming emperor is desperate?"

"Even a cornered dog won't jump over the wall like this!" Huang Taiji waved his hand impatiently. He walked to the huge Liaodong map, his gaze fixed on the location of Daming.

There was a moment of silence. Only the crackling of the burning charcoal and the messenger's heavy breathing filled the hall.

Huang Taiji was, after all, Huang Taiji. He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the doubts and uncertainties in his heart.

“Whether it’s real or fake, a feint or the main force, we cannot afford to lose Daming.” His voice regained its composure, but carried a chill. “The Western Mongol tribes have only recently submitted, and their hearts are not yet settled. If they see that we can’t even hold Daming, it will be difficult to manage them in the future. Ajige will also be attacked from both sides.”

He turned abruptly and ordered, "Pass on the order!"

"Order Dorgon to halt the offensive on Fuzhou! Immediately divide the troops and return to reinforce Daming! Tell him that whoever is besieging the city, drive them away for me!"

"Tell Ajige that the siege of Zu Dashou must not be relaxed! But be extra careful and beware of Ming army tricks!"

"Order Abatai to intensify the harassment of Sun Chuanting and Kaiping, and test their strength!"

Orders were issued one by one, which the guards noted down and quickly ran out to relay.

Huang Taiji stared at the map, his brow furrowed. Although he had made the safest military deployment, his doubts grew stronger.

Chongzhen... what exactly do you want to do?
Where did you get the money and food?

Where did you get the guts?

(End of this chapter)