The Ming Dynasty: A bookstore sells the history of the Ming Dynasty, leaving Emperor Chongzhen bewil

Was this map also given by that expert?

Emperor Chongzhen had no intention of hiding the truth from Sun Chengzong, so he nodded without hesitation.

In fact, on his way to Liaodong, Chongzhen had already decided to reveal some information to Sun Chengzong, because some things would be difficult to explain if he didn't reveal a little bit. For example, some prescient judgments and some objects that transcended time could be attributed to that so-called expert.

Moreover, even if he didn't say it, ministers like Sun Chengzong probably already had their own guesses.

The important thing is that he has studied history, he knows who can be trusted and who cannot be replaced, and he cannot revive the Ming Dynasty by relying on himself alone.

Upon receiving the Emperor's affirmative answer, Sun Chengzong was surprised. At the same time, he also suddenly resolved many of his doubts. The map was one thing, but the biggest doubt was naturally the Emperor's recent changes, this trip to Liaodong, and even the decision to abandon Yuan Chonghuan and instead appoint him to guard Liaodong. These were probably all related to that person.

What kind of person could possibly cause such a drastic change in the Emperor's temperament? And it's clear that the Emperor trusts that person very much.

However, the world is vast and full of wonders.

Indeed, there are some extraordinary people and events that do not leave the mountains, and they cannot be judged by ordinary standards.

Emperor Chongzhen did not dwell on this topic, but instead asked, "If the Manchus really retreat like this, how do you think we should defeat them?"

Sun Chengzong pondered for a moment and replied, "I believe that since we have anticipated that the Manchus might take this route, we should prepare defenses in advance and reorganize the Great Wall defenses. In this way, the Manchus will not be able to enter."

Emperor Chongzhen asked, "What if I want to let them in?"

Sun Chengzong frowned upon hearing this, but asked in return, "Is Your Majesty so certain that the Manchus will come?"

Emperor Chongzhen replied, "In recent years, our Great Ming has imposed a blockade on the Manchus. In addition, the war in Liaodong has been at a stalemate, and the Manchus are facing severe shortages of food, cloth, and ironware. Moreover, the Manchus are suffering from natural disasters, and their land reclamation efforts have not been effective. In order to break the deadlock, they will definitely invade again. They cannot cross the Guan-Ning-Jin defense line and can only detour. Therefore, I am certain that the Manchus will prepare their troops and will soon detour to invade our Great Ming."

Emperor Chongzhen spoke with absolute certainty, and Sun Chengzong nodded in agreement.

The Manchus' wolfish ambitions are blatantly obvious.

Since Huang Taiji's defeat in the Battle of Ningjin, the Manchus had not launched a large-scale frontal attack on the Ming Dynasty's Liaodong defense line for two years. This two-year "peace" was actually a preparation period before the storm.

Therefore, the Emperor's analysis can be said to be very forward-thinking.

Let the Manchus enter the pass?

Without needing to be explicitly stated, Sun Chengzong knew what the emperor was planning.

Sun Chengzong replied, "Letting the Manchus into the pass is a risky move. In my opinion, it is not worth it for the Ming Dynasty to take such a risk at present."

"Isn't it worth it?"

Emperor Chongzhen, however, resolutely declared, "Since we have anticipated the Manchu invasion and gained the upper hand, why not seize this opportunity to inflict a heavy blow on the Manchus, ensuring they dare not invade the Ming Dynasty for at least five years, thus giving us a chance to regroup!"

"As the saying goes, 'To control others without being controlled by them,' what do you think, sir?"

After listening to Chongzhen's words, Sun Chengzong pondered for a long time.

How could he not understand what the Emperor was saying? If what the Emperor said is true, the Manchus will definitely take a detour to invade, which is indeed an excellent opportunity to severely damage the Manchus.

However, according to his judgment, the Ming Dynasty had not yet reached the point where it needed to take such a big risk and fight the Manchus to the death. He believed that as long as he followed his steady and step-by-step strategy, he could recover the lost territory little by little.

Chongzhen continued, "In ancient times, when swordsmen met their opponents on a narrow path, no matter how powerful the opponent was, even if the opponent was the best swordsman in the world, they would still draw their swords even if they knew they were no match for them. Even if they fell under the opponent's sword, they would still be honored in defeat."

"Sir, don't forget, our Great Ming Dynasty is the world's number one swordsman. This man dared to come and challenge us; shouldn't we draw our swords and slaughter him without leaving a trace?!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Chengzong was stunned.

Looking at the spirited and resolute Chongzhen Emperor before him, Sun Chengzong suddenly smiled. But as he smiled, tears streamed down his face.

"I am old, I am old indeed! I have only thought about defense and advancing step by step, but I have forgotten that the might of our Great Ming army once reached as far north as Mohe. Your Majesty's words have made this old minister ashamed. It is truly a blessing for the Great Ming and for all its people that the Great Ming has such a courageous and wise ruler!"

It took Sun Chengzong a while to compose himself.

At this moment, Sun Chengzong seemed like a completely different person. Without the slightest hesitation, and with no trace of turbidity in his eyes, he said, "The Manchus are fierce and cunning, skilled in open field battles and mounted warfare. I believe that if we let the Manchus enter the pass, we need not engage them in open field battles or hard-fought engagements. Instead, we should besiege them in fortified cities, wear them down, and then defeat them!"

Emperor Chongzhen nodded, then pulled Sun Chengzong to the map and pointed to it, saying, "Sir, look here. If I use Jizhou, Zunhua, and Santunying as my bases, then..."

Sun Chengzong listened, nodded, and offered his opinions.

Following the previous instance where Emperor Chongzhen invited Sun Chengzong to serve in the government, the two once again talked until late into the night…

……

After speaking with Sun Chengzong, Chongzhen's second task was to distribute military pay.

Rumors about the payment of military salaries had been circulating in the military for some time, but most people didn't believe them because they had been deceived too many times before.

Even after temporary tents were set up on the drill ground, thirty large carts formed a semicircle, soldiers of the Yongwei Battalion stood at attention with their guns, and the Grain Supervisor personally sat at his desk with the roster of the Liaodong garrison spread out in front of him, some people still did not believe it.

"The emperor has arrived? And with military pay? What nonsense!"

"Is this just another formality? Giving us a couple of coins and expecting us to express our gratitude while staring at an empty pot?"

"Stop talking! If someone hears you, you'll be beheaded!"

But the atmosphere at Shanhaiguan changed when the first soldier to receive his pay came out of his tent.

He was an old soldier from the firearms battalion. He carried a cloth bag, walked into the sun, and opened it.

The silver was plentiful: six taels for three months' worth of military pay, plus one tael as a "reward for the Emperor's personal inspection tour," totaling seven taels of silver.

"They really gave out money?!"

"Payment in full! Three months' pay! We're saved! Our family is saved!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The queue began to stir, and the officers maintaining order lost their voices from shouting.

On the Zhenyuan Tower, Emperor Chongzhen silently watched as soldiers entered the tents, registered, received their pay, and left, filled with excitement and cheers.

In the past, military pay went through more than a dozen layers from the central government to the soldiers, taking several months. Each layer considered deductions as their due, forming a chain where "civil officials drank soup, military officers ate meat, and soldiers went hungry."

If he really distributed two million taels of his imperial treasury like that, I'm afraid not much of it would slip into the hands of the soldiers.

Therefore, this time, Chongzhen chose to bypass the entire corrupt bureaucratic system and distribute the funds directly, ensuring that the soldiers' pay would reach them in full.

There were more than 110,000 registered garrison troops in Liaodong. It took three whole days to distribute 800,000 taels of military pay. Each soldier received seven taels of silver, which was three months' worth of full pay, plus one tael of "the Emperor's personal inspection reward".

On the drill ground.

The Ming Dynasty garrison, having received their pay, underwent a complete transformation, evident in the cheers they received.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Ming Dynasty!"

The shouts were deafening, reaching straight to the sky.

On the high platform, Chongzhen looked with emotion at the neatly arranged square formations in the drill ground. Each formation stood like a mountain between heaven and earth. The most eye-catching were the iron armor and weapons that were polished to a gleaming shine. The early spring sun of the north shone on them, reflecting rays of light—no, they should be called sharpness, because this was the edge of the army.

At this moment, every soldier is like a sword drawn from its sheath, gleaming with the sharpest edge.

This is what the greatest swordsman in the world should look like...