Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 171 A bunch of useless idiots who only know how to talk and argue
While the entire capital, and even the entire Ming Dynasty, was still shrouded in the shadow of the bloodshed at the Imperial Academy, and silent in fear of the "screening exam" that overturned traditional learning, an even more frigid cold front was silently sweeping in from the distant north, carrying ice, snow, and murderous intent.

The source of this cold wave is Shengjing.

After the onset of winter, this newly established capital was shrouded in a biting cold.

The sky was leaden gray, the earth was rigid, and every breath exhaled instantly turned into white frost.

Inside the Khan's palace, the floor heating system was scorching hot, making it as warm as spring.

However, Huang Taiji, sitting upright in the main seat, had a face with distinct features that exuded an imposing aura, as if a layer of unyielding ice had been frozen over.

Stacks of intelligence reports were laid out in front of him.

This intelligence came from within the Great Wall, from old friends of Shanxi merchants with whom they had lost contact, and from spies lurking in the capital.

Each sheet of paper felt like a cold piece of iron, pressing down on his heart.

Initially, it was Qin King Zhu Cunshu who was beheaded in Xi'an.

Upon seeing this intelligence, a warm smile even appeared on Huang Taiji's lips.

He could almost foresee that the princes of the Ming Dynasty would be shaken, and that if things went wrong, they would all rise up to attack him.

An emperor who destroyed his own Great Wall—it's truly a stroke of luck!
Huang Taiji eagerly awaited news of the impending war within the Ming Dynasty.

However, the subsequent intelligence reports were completely silent; the vassal kings were like chickens with their necks choked, not even uttering a proper crow.

This gave him another taste of disappointment.

Following this was the decree for "collective tax payment".

This time, Huang Taiji was almost overjoyed. He knew better than anyone that this decree was tantamount to severing the roots of the entire Ming Dynasty's gentry class.

He waited steadfastly, expecting the scene of war raging across Jiangnan and officials and gentry rising up in opposition. But the turmoil was far smaller than he had anticipated. The young emperor, through some unknown means, managed to suppress this monstrous wave into a mere ripple.
Then came the purge of the Beijing Garrison.

Those powerful noble families who have deep roots in the capital will certainly not sit idly by and wait for their doom, will they?
But what he received was news that Zhu Youjian had seized control of the Beijing Garrison without bloodshed.

Finally, there is this latest report on what the "Gezhi Academy" is and what the "screening test" is.

Huang Taiji couldn't understand this at all.

Killing princes, reforming the tax system, and training a new army are all imperial tactics. Although the methods are ruthless, he can understand the meaning behind them.

But what is this unorthodox "investigation of things to acquire knowledge"?
As Huang Taiji stared for a long time at the sentence on the paper, "The state has nurtured scholars for a hundred years, not to support a bunch of useless people who only know how to talk and can't lift a finger or carry a load," he was unable to see through his opponent's true intentions for the first time.

He slowly stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the desolate, snowy world outside.

In the years before, when he fought against the Ming Dynasty, he faced a muddle-headed carpenter emperor, a group of corrupt and greedy civil officials who were partisan and opportunistic, and an empire that had begun to rot from the root.

Like a patient hunter, he constantly probed and harassed, slowly eroding the life of this behemoth.

But now, this sleeping behemoth seems to have been injected with a powerful drug, replaced with a cold and insane brain that it cannot comprehend at all!

These seemingly unrelated events are actually like a meticulously woven net, with each link interconnected.

This young emperor is using methods he has never seen before to try to prolong the life of this decaying dynasty.

However, no matter what, the most fatal blow was the complete severing of the Shanxi merchants' trade routes. That golden lifeline, which had supplied the Later Jin with countless grains, ironware, and salt, vanished overnight.

Huang Taiji could feel unprecedented pressure coming from all directions.

The grain reserves are being depleted at an alarming rate. The warriors of the Eight Banners may not be afraid of death, but their families need to eat.

At that moment, two people were standing behind him.

One was his younger brother, Dorgon, who had an arrogant expression and wild glint in his eyes.

The other was Fan Wencheng, a Han official, who bowed slightly and looked respectful.

"Khan," Dorgon finally couldn't help but speak, his voice like an undercurrent beneath the ice, "That little emperor of the Ming Dynasty is going too far! He's cutting off our trade routes, trying to kill our Great Jin! In my opinion, we should take advantage of the frozen rivers in winter and personally lead a detachment to bypass Mongolia and re-enter the Central Plains, to teach him a lesson! Let him know that the warriors of our Great Jin are not someone he can hold back!"

Huang Taiji did not turn around, and asked calmly, "And after entering the pass? Just rob a little and leave?"

"Yes!" Dorgon's fists clenched so tightly they cracked. "Rob his grain, seize his women, burn his cities! Let him know the pain!"

"And then?" Huang Taiji's tone remained completely calm.

"And then...and then we'll come back!"

Huang Taiji slowly turned around, his eyes showing no approval, but rather a cold scrutiny: "Detour through Mongolia? Dorgon, do you think that grassland is still a place where my Eight Banners cavalry can roam freely?"

He walked to the map and pressed his finger heavily on the area around Xuanfu and Datong.

"Lindan Khan has already allied with the Ming Dynasty! And that Man Gui has already laid a trap for us along the Xuanda line!"

Huang Taiji's voice was like a hammer blow, striking Dorgon's heart.

“If you lead your troops there now, it won’t be a surprise attack; it will be walking into a trap! Zhu Youjian is more than happy for us to go! The moment you step into the Mongol territory, Ligdan Khan’s army will attack you from the flanks and rear, while Man Gui’s main force will be waiting at the Great Wall, ready to let you run into his trap!”

"At that time, with fortified cities in front and pursuers behind, and supplies cut off, you'll be surrounded. You'll be handing over credit and a head to that little Ming emperor! Do you think the few men you bring are enough for Ligdan Khan and Man Gui to encircle you completely?"

Dorgon felt a chill run down his spine from these words, and his face turned pale and then red.

He was only thinking about the plight of the Later Jin and the bravery of the Eight Banners, but he never connected these seemingly scattered pieces of intelligence into a deadly trap. He opened his mouth, but found that any words of rebuttal seemed so pale and powerless, and could only turn his head angrily to the side.

Huang Taiji stopped looking at him and turned his gaze to Fan Wencheng.

"Mr. Fan, please speak."

Fan Wencheng stepped forward, bowed deeply, and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty is wise. I believe that at this time, our Great Jin should adopt the strategy of... uniting our forces."

"Go on."

"Emperor Ming's actions this time are thunderous and powerful, and his momentum has been established. If our Great Jin were to confront him head-on in the short term, it would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock. Our greatest advantage lies in our mobility, while our greatest disadvantage lies in our shallow foundation and lack of a stable rear. With the Shanxi merchants' trade routes cut off, this disadvantage has become a major concern."

Fan Wencheng paused, raised his head, and a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.

"Therefore, I believe that we should temporarily avoid the Ming army's sharp edge and shift from offense to defense. Then we should concentrate all our forces to deal with the most pressing threat around us and take down the easiest target."

"Korea," Huang Taiji said for him.

"It is indeed Korea!" Fan Wencheng's voice was filled with excitement. "Korea is right next to our Great Jin. It is a wealthy country with a large population, but its military is weak and feeble. Although its rulers and ministers acknowledge the Great Ming as their suzerain, they are already outwardly strong but inwardly weak. As soon as our army arrives, they will surely surrender without a fight."

"The Shanxi merchants have cut off our grain supply, so we'll make Korea our new granary! Once we conquer Korea, we can obtain a million shi of grain, countless bolts of cloth, artisans, and even conscript its able-bodied men for our use! In this way, our Great Jin will have a stable and reliable rear. At that time, whether to fight or make peace, the initiative will return to your hands, Khan!" Huang Taiji listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously stroking the sword at his waist.

Dorgon understood as well. Although impulsive, he wasn't stupid. He slapped his thigh and shouted, "That's right! How come I didn't think of that! That brat Li Zong was beaten up by Brother Amin last time and behaved himself for a few years. Now he's probably forgotten the pain! Khan, give the order! I'm willing to be the vanguard. Within three months, I will bring Li Zong's head before you!"

"No." Huang Taiji shook his head, a deep sense of scheming flashing in his eyes.

"This time, I will personally lead the expedition."

Huang Taiji was extremely anxious and no longer referred to himself as "this Khan"!

"What?" Dorgon and Fan Wencheng were both taken aback.

"The conquest of Korea is not a mere harassment, not a punishment, but a complete subjugation." Huang Taiji's voice was as cold as the winter iron of Shengjing. "I will conquer it with overwhelming force! I do not want Yi Zong's head, but his knees. I want him to sever his tributary relationship with the Ming Dynasty and submit to my Great Jin!"

His gaze swept over the two men, and he slowly said, "Issue my decree, ordering each banner to reorganize its troops and prepare provisions. When spring arrives next year in February or March, and the weather warms and the roads thaw, that will be the time for the army to set out!"

Fan Wencheng was shocked. This move, seemingly a retreat, was actually an advance, forcing the Ming emperor to make a difficult choice.

To save North Korea or not?

With the land route cut off, the main force of the Ming army simply could not get through.

By sea?
Mao Wenlong's small force on Pi Island was no match for the iron hooves of the Eight Banners main force.

If the Ming Dynasty's rescue attempt fails, the prestige of the Celestial Empire will plummet. If it does not attempt to rescue, it will be tantamount to watching the Later Jin Dynasty annex Korea, thus raising a tiger to cause future trouble.

……

However, Huang Taiji's ambitions went far beyond that.

"Mr. Fan," he suddenly spoke, "how's the matter I asked you to prepare for?"

Fan Wencheng's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately replied, "Your Majesty, everything is ready. The ceremonial system, official robes, seals, and ceremonial guards have all been prepared in imitation of those of the Ming Dynasty. We are only waiting for Your Majesty to choose an auspicious day for... the coronation ceremony."

Upon hearing this, even the usually arrogant Dorgon paused, his breath catching in his throat.

Huang Taiji nodded, a mixture of ambition and weariness on his face.

"The Jurchens, Mongols, Han Chinese... their hearts are not united, their names are different, and in the end they are just alliances, not the legitimate dynasty." He said in a deep voice, "What I want to establish is a new dynasty that can rival the Ming Dynasty, or even replace it! I can no longer be a 'Khan'."

"By imperial decree, on December 16th, I will ascend the throne in Shengjing! I will change the country's name to 'Great Qing' and the era name to Chongde. I will offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth!"

……

When the two intelligence reports, "Emperor Huang Taiji of the Qing Dynasty intends to personally lead an expedition to Korea" and "The Jurchens have usurped the throne," were placed on Zhu Youjian's desk one after the other, almost simultaneously, the atmosphere in the Qianqing Palace plummeted to freezing point.

There was an uproar in the court.

"Usurpation! This is the act of a clown! Huang Taiji, a barbarian chieftain, dares to presume to call himself the Son of Heaven. He is simply defying the world! I request that a proclamation be issued to announce this to the world and call for a joint effort to punish this traitor!" Wen Tiren was heartbroken, as if his ancestral tablets had been overturned.

"Indeed! A mere false title is nothing to worry about! The most urgent matter is Korea. Korea has been a vassal state of our Great Ming for two hundred years. How can our Celestial Dynasty sit idly by? I believe that we should immediately order General Mao Wenlong of Pi Island to mobilize the entire army to protect our vassal state!" Another official spoke passionately.

Zhu Youjian sat expressionlessly on the dragon throne, listening to these empty but correct platitudes.

Overstepping authority? Could a proclamation really condemn Huang Taiji to death?

Send Mao Wenlong to meet the enemy? Don't you know that the small number of troops under Mao Wenlong's command are barely enough to fill the gap between the teeth of the main force of the Eight Banners?

He understood Huang Taiji's intentions better than anyone else.

That was a really vicious move.

Huang Taiji had accurately predicted that the Ming Dynasty was outwardly strong but inwardly weak and had no ability to carry out a cross-sea expedition.

How to save them? Who should be sent to save them? If we fail, the face of the Ming Dynasty will be completely torn apart, and those southern gentry who have just been suffocated by the "unified tax collection" will probably start to stir up trouble immediately.

Not to help? That would be tantamount to watching Huang Taiji turn Korea into his backyard, gain a chance to catch his breath, and then recuperate and become stronger before knocking on the gates of Shanhaiguan again.

What chilled Zhu Youjian even more was the name of the country, "Great Qing".

These corrupt scholars in the imperial court only saw the farce of "usurpation".

What Zhu Youjian saw was a formidable adversary who had completed internal integration, transforming from a loose alliance into a war entity with a complete state apparatus!

The disruption of trade routes by Shanxi merchants strangled the entire Later Jin dynasty.

The sordid rivalries between banner lords and the power struggles among nobles were instantly shattered in the face of the most fundamental and primal question of survival.

All conflicts were forcibly suppressed, and all forces were forced to unite as one!

At this moment, the Later Jin was more united than ever before, not because of worship and respect, but because of fear—fear of hunger and cold!

This unity has only one purpose: to survive.

Therefore, they must fight against external forces to seize their living space.

The first to be affected is Korea, but the ultimate target can only be... the Ming Dynasty!
Inside the main hall, the noise and commotion continued.

Zhu Youjian listened to all this, but only felt a jarring irritation.

A bunch of trash!
A bunch of useless bums who only know how to talk and argue!

After arguing for a long time, not a single person could see the real crux of the matter!
Zhu Youjian slowly closed his eyes, a mixture of anger and utter helplessness enveloping him once again.

He could kill princes, reform the tax system, reorganize the capital garrison, and vet officials; he could use ruthless methods to deal with his internal enemies.

But what should he do when faced with this attack from the outside—a united group that he had personally pushed to the brink of despair, which in turn unleashed an astonishing will to survive?
In the mighty Ming Dynasty court, there was not a single person who could share his burdens!

The main hall finally fell silent amidst the emperor's terrifying silence.

Everyone looked at the silent young emperor on the dragon throne, awaiting his decision.

After a long while, Zhu Youjian opened his eyes.

Those eyes held a suppressed rage like a volcano about to erupt, but in the end, everything turned into a bottomless calm.

"Retreat."

The emperor uttered only two words before abruptly standing up, his back view resolute and lonely.

(End of this chapter)