Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

Zhu Qiyu stared grimly at the secret memorial in his hand, which had been delivered through the Eastern Depot's channels.

The four memorials differed in content, but they all pointed to the same fact: Gansu Town was completely rotten.

Xing'an stood to the side with his head down, not daring to breathe.

Having followed Zhu Qiyu for so long, he knew that Zhu Qiyu was now beyond furious.

"Xing'an".

"Your subject is here."

How much do you know about Ren Li?

Xing'an carefully replied, "Your Majesty, Ren Li, courtesy name Shangyi, is from Xixian County, Runing Prefecture, Henan Province."

He came from a military background, serving as a soldier in the Yanshan Guard in his early years.

He later participated in the Jingnan Campaign and Emperor Taizong's Northern Expedition, and accumulated merits to become a Vice Commander-in-Chief.

During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, he was promoted to Deputy Commander-in-Chief and participated in the suppression of Zhu Gaoxu's rebellion and the campaign against the Uriyangkhai.

In the first year of the Zhengtong era, he was promoted to Left Grand Commander, given the seal of General Pingqiang, and sent to Gansu as Left Deputy Commander-in-Chief.

In the third year of the Zhengtong reign, he led Wang Ji, the Minister of War, and Jiang Gui, the Right Vice-General, in separate attacks against the Tatars, Adai Khan and Dorjibo, achieving a great victory. For his meritorious service, he was enfeoffed as the Earl of Ningyuan.

In the ninth year of the Zhengtong reign, he led his army two hundred li beyond the Great Wall, defeated a part of the Tatars, and beheaded more than three hundred.

In the eleventh year of the Zhengtong reign, taking advantage of the internal strife among the Shazhou tribes, more than 1,230 people were coerced into relocating to Ganzhou.

He was granted a hereditary title for his merits, allowing his descendants to inherit the earldom.

"The fourteenth year of the Zhengtong reign..."

Xing'an was interrupted by Zhu Qiyu.

He already knew about what happened in the fourteenth year of the Zhengtong reign.

In July, Esen split up and marched south. Ren Li confronted Esen at Ganzhou and suffered a great defeat.

Subsequently, they even demolished the old palace of Prince Su to house the soldiers.

Zhu Qiyu didn't speak, but a complete picture appeared in his mind.

He came from a military background and had some skills.

He rose through the ranks based on his military achievements, eventually becoming the commander-in-chief of a border town.

But I don't know when it started to slowly change.

Perhaps they felt too tired from fighting all the time and wanted to rest.

It could also be that they feel they've worked hard all their lives and deserve to enjoy themselves.

And so they fell into depravity.

He didn't not want to hand over the reins; he was afraid to.

Once the handover is complete, all the messy accounts accumulated over thirteen years will be exposed.

Received salaries without working, occupied military farmland, falsely reported military achievements, and indulged subordinates...

Any one of these things would be enough to give him a lot of trouble.

He was not the one who smuggled ironware and gunpowder.

But the incident happened under his jurisdiction, how could he be completely unaware of it?

Even if he was truly unaware, he, as the general, cannot escape responsibility.

So he wants to delay.

We should delay as long as possible, whether it's one day or one month.

They dragged it out until the imperial court relented, allowing him to retire gracefully and return to his hometown.

He lived a peaceful and comfortable life as a wealthy man, carrying the wealth he had accumulated over the years.

Zhu Qiyu suddenly asked, "What position does Ren Li's son, Ren Jie, hold now?"

Xing'an replied, "Your Majesty, Ren Jie is currently the Vice Commander of the Ganzhou Guard."

However, according to a secret report from the Eastern Depot, this person never took up his post.

He spent his days swaggering through Ganzhou City with a group of personal guards, indulging in all sorts of vices, including eating, drinking, gambling, and whoring.

Zhu Qiyu nodded: "Does Ren Li have a private army outside Ganzhou City?"

Xing'an said, "Yes, according to the investigation by the Eastern Depot, Ren Li has a farm twenty miles north of Ganzhou City, where he keeps about three hundred personal guards."

These men were all elite soldiers he had selected from the army.

They were nominally guards of the estate, but in reality, they were his private soldiers.

In addition, many officers in Ganzhou Guard were his men.

If a real fight breaks out, he can mobilize no fewer than a thousand troops.

Zhu Qiyu was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

That smile sent a chill down Xing'an's spine.

"Three hundred private soldiers and over a thousand trusted confidants."

They occupied the general's residence and refused to hand over the reins, delaying the imperial envoy from taking office.

What is he trying to do?

"Does he want to become a local tyrant in Gansu?"

Xing'an lowered his head and dared not reply.

Zhu Qiyu got up and walked to the huge map on the wall, his gaze falling on the location of Gansu Town.

Ganzhou, a strategic point in the Hexi Corridor, served as a bulwark for the western border of the Ming Dynasty.

If trouble breaks out there, the entire Northwest will be shaken.

The people of Turpan will take advantage of the chaos to loot.

The Oirat people will come back again.

Hami will be isolated and helpless.

The Hexi Corridor will be cut off.

He cannot tolerate such a thing happening.

"deliver an imperial order.

He ordered the Junior Guardian to select one thousand elite soldiers from the capital garrison to disguise themselves as laborers transporting grain to Ganzhou.

The leader…

Zhu Qiyu was at a loss as to who to lead the army.

Shi Heng cannot go; he is the commander of the Beijing Garrison and needs to remain in the capital.

Li Yan is still on the grassland with Yue Qian, "slowly searching" for Esen.

Fan Guang and Han Cheng were originally in Ganzhou.

Who's going?

He suddenly remembered someone: "Let Wang Qi go."

Xing'an was taken aback: "Wang Qi? Your Majesty means Wang Qi, the Commander of the Left Guard of the Golden Guard?"

Zhu Qiyu nodded.

Wang Qi is forty-two years old this year.

He rose through the ranks from a lowly soldier to the position of commander.

This person is taciturn and not good with words, but he is a master of warfare.

During the Battle of Beijing, he led his troops to defend Xizhimen, fighting alongside Sun Tang.

He took over command after Sun Tang died in battle.

In recognition of his merits after the war, Zhu Qiyu promoted him to Commander of the Left Guard of the Golden Guard.

This person's greatest strength is that he only follows orders and doesn't ask about anything else.

He'll fight wherever he's told to, and he'll kill whoever he's told to, without ever uttering a word.

Moreover, you and Ren Li have absolutely no connection.

Such a person, upon arriving in Ganzhou, would not allow personal feelings to cloud their judgment.

"Tell him that once he arrives in Ganzhou, he should follow the arrangements of Fan Guang and Wu Ning."

Anyone who dares to disobey orders will be killed without exception.

Xing'an bowed and said, "As you command."

Zhu Qiyu continued, "Order all the secret agents of the Eastern Depot in Ganzhou to cooperate with Cheng Jing in his actions."

"Starting today, a daily report will be sent back to the capital detailing the movements inside and outside Ganzhou City."

Zhu Qiyu turned to Xing'an and said, "Tell Wu Ning and Fan Guang."

I will give them a month.

The matter in Gansu Town must be resolved within a month.

If it can be resolved peacefully, then it should be resolved peacefully.

If we can't resolve this peacefully, then let's settle it with a knife.

Xing'an bowed again: "As you command."

Meanwhile, in Ganzhou City, a thousand miles away.

Fan Guang lay on the bed in the inn, staring at the roof beams above his head.

He had been lying there for half an hour, but he was not sleepy at all.

The events of the day kept replaying in his mind.

He went to the general's mansion again, but was turned away at the door once more.

This time, it wasn't the gatekeeper who blocked the way, but Ren Li's eldest son, Ren Jie.

Ren Jie was followed by more than twenty personal guards who blocked the gate of the General's Mansion.

Ren Jie gave a forced smile and cupped his hands in apology: "General Fan, I'm really sorry."

My father is not feeling well today and is unable to receive guests.

Please leave.

Fan Guangqiang suppressed his anger: "Commander Ren, I have been appointed as the General of Gansu by imperial decree for half a month now."

General Ren has been dragging his feet; when will this handover finally be completed?

Ren Jie shrugged: "I don't know about that."

I never interfere in my father's affairs.

Why don't you wait a little longer?

Fan Guang stared at him: "Commander Ren, I'll ask you one more time, when exactly are we going to wait?"

Ren Jie's smile gradually disappeared.

He narrowed his eyes and looked down at Fan Guang with a condescending gaze: "General Fan, are you threatening me?"