Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

(I'm working overtime today, so this is the only chapter tonight. Sorry. I'll make up for any extra chapters later this weekend.)

That day, Zhu Qiyu was discussing the reform of the Military Academy with Yu Qian.

Xing'an quickly walked up to Zhu Qiyu and whispered, "Your Majesty, an urgent message from the Eastern Depot, a secret report from Gansu!"

Zhu Qiyu took the memorial and quickly began to read it.

The memorial was written by Wu Ning himself; it was a thick stack of more than ten pages.

Zhu Qiyu read through the lines one by one, his expression first becoming serious, then relaxing, and finally he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Seeing Zhu Qiyu's changing expression, Yu Qian couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, what is the situation in Gansu?"

Zhu Qiyu handed him the memorial: "Junior Protector Yu, take a look. The Battle of Ganzhou was brilliantly fought!"

Yu Qian took the memorial and read it carefully.

In his memorial, Wu Ning gave a detailed account of the thrilling contest.

After news of Liu Yu's murder spread during the day, Wu Ning realized that the matter could no longer be kept secret.

Wang Jing, Ma Ang, and others will surely resort to desperate measures.

Wu Ning made a quick decision to take action ahead of schedule.

His plan was to lure Ren Li to the governor's office under the pretext of discussing the unusual activities of the Oirat Mongols, and then arrest him.

Meanwhile, Cheng Jing and Han Cheng led the agents of the Eastern Depot to control Ma Ang and Wang Jing.

If anything unexpected happens, the two of them will take control of the city gate and keep the garrison soldiers outside the city.

Fan Guangze led his guards to defend the governor's office.

The biggest problem with this plan is that they only have two hundred guards and thirty-odd agents from the Eastern Depot.

Once Ren Jie uses Ren Li's token to mobilize the garrison troops, they will be unable to stop him.

But Wu Ning had no other choice.

The only option is to gamble.

I bet Ren Li will come.

The casino gates can be controlled.

The garrison soldiers dared not make any rash moves.

They were betting that the imperial reinforcements would arrive before they could hold out any longer.

Everything went very smoothly at first.

Until Ma Ang led his guards to attack the governor's office.

According to Wu Ning's plan, their next task was to defend the city gates to the death.

Keep the garrison troops outside the city and delay them for as long as possible until the imperial reinforcements arrive.

But how many days can they hold out?

Three days? Five days?

There are over a thousand people outside the city, but only a little over two hundred who are capable of fighting inside.

Once the garrison troops launch a full-scale attack on the city, the city gates will be impossible to defend.

Just then, a miracle happened.

Wang Qi arrived ahead of schedule.

This kept Ren Jie and his thousand-strong garrison troops outside the city.

After reading it, Yu Qian breathed a sigh of relief, then rose and offered his congratulations: "Your Majesty, I congratulate you! With the matter in Gansu settled, the Northwest is now free of worry!"

Zhu Qiyu laughed heartily, "This Wang Qi is quite an honest man."

I ordered him to disguise himself as a grain transport laborer.

He, on the other hand, traveled day and night.

But it was fortunate that he made the trip.

Otherwise, everything would have been different once Ren Jie's thousand-plus garrison soldiers entered the city.

Wu Shilang and his small force were no match for them.

That night was too dangerous.

Yu Qian nodded: "It is indeed extremely dangerous."

Wu Ning's original plan was to control the city gates and buy time; it was a desperate measure to win under duress.

If Wang Qi hadn't arrived unexpectedly, the outcome would have been truly unpredictable.

Zhu Qiyu: "I think that Minister Wu's plan to control the city gates and delay the time was extremely courageous."

Knowing they were outnumbered, they dared to strike first; this decisiveness was more important than the number of troops.

This is the kind of capable minister I need.

Yu Qian said, "Your Majesty has a discerning eye for talent."

Zhu Qiyu laughed heartily: "Wasn't it you who recommended him?"

Then Zhu Qiyu sighed again: "That night, a total of twenty-one people died and forty-nine were wounded."

This led to the pacification of Ganzhou.

These are all my good sons.

The imperial decree stipulated that the fallen should receive generous compensation, and the wounded should be richly rewarded.

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

Zhu Qiyu then looked at Yu Qian: "Junior Protector Yu, what do you think of Ren Li and his ilk?"

Yu Qian pondered for a moment and said, "Ren Li has military merits, but he has also committed a crime."

Encroaching on military farmland, embezzling public funds, and condoning subordinates are all acts punishable by death under the law.

There were also people like Wang Jing and Li Gui who smuggled ironware and gunpowder.

Although he may not have been directly involved, he was a general.

He can't escape responsibility for something like this happening under his jurisdiction.

Zhu Qiyu sighed: "Alas, I have also checked Ren Li's resume."

How did such a meritorious official end up like this?

Yu Qian said, "Your Majesty, the long-standing problems in the border towns are not the fault of one person alone."

Ren Li spent thirteen years in Ganzhou. When he first arrived, he probably also wanted to make a name for himself.

But as time went on, seeing others occupying land and siphoning off quotas without consequence, he also became more relaxed.

He would turn a blind eye if his subordinate officers gave him some money.

When relatives and friends came to ask for his help, he couldn't refuse.

Over time, the roots rotted.

Zhu Qiyu slowly said, "I understand."

That's why I'm going to reorganize the garrisons.

I did not do this to kill a few generals.

I am doing this so that I can dig out the rotten roots and plant a good tree instead.

I know how to deal with Ren Li.

He has rendered meritorious service to the country, and I will not let him die.

But he can't keep his title; let him go back to his hometown to retire.

Yu Qian said, "Your Majesty is benevolent."

Zhu Qiyu: "Ma Ang, Wang Jing, Li Gui and others must be dealt with severely."

And then there's Liu Yu.

Although he is dead, his family should be dealt with according to the law.

I do not practice the practice of punishing entire families.

But those who deserve to have their property confiscated should have it confiscated, and those who deserve to be exiled should be exiled; there should be no leniency.

Yu Qian bowed slightly: "Your subject has noted it down."

Zhu Qiyu stood up and paced around the hall a few times, then suddenly asked, "Lord Yu, when did you say that Vice Minister Wu and the others faced their most difficult time in Ganzhou?"

Yu Qian thought for a moment and said, "I believe it was the moment I received the news of Liu Yu's death."

At that moment, they knew things would have to be expedited and a decision had to be made within a few hours.

If they hesitate and wait for Ma Ang and his men to make the first move, they'll all be finished.

Zhu Qiyu nodded: "Yes, that was the moment."

Most people wouldn't be this alert.

Vice Minister Wu, however, was able to think through all the situations and make the decision to act separately.

That composure is more valuable than ten thousand elite soldiers.

Yu Qian said, "Your Majesty, I believe that Wu Ning's talent is worthy of great use."

After the affairs in Gansu are concluded, he will be capable of undertaking important responsibilities upon his return to the capital.

Zhu Qiyu smiled and said, "No rush, there's still a mess to clean up in Gansu."

"It's good that Vice Minister Wu is over there; let him sort things out in Gansu before he comes back."

He then looked at Xing'an: "I need to instruct them on how to handle the aftermath. Xing'an, take notes of the key points."

Xing'an quickly fetched paper and pen.

As Zhu Qiyu pondered, he said, "Ren Li and his son have been brought to the capital. I want to meet them in person."

Ma Ang, Wang Jing, Li Gui, and others interrogated them on the spot.

Investigate all aspects of the smuggling of ironware and gunpowder, and hold those responsible accountable from top to bottom.

The reorganization of the Ganzhou Garrison continued as usual.

Now that Fan Guang has taken over as commander-in-chief, let him do his job.

In addition, Wang Qi's troops will remain in Ganzhou to assist in defense, and will return to the capital after the situation stabilizes.

Xing'an wrote them down one by one.

Yu Qian said from the side, "Your Majesty, there is one more thing."

Wang Qi was ordered to disguise himself as a grain transport laborer, but it turned out he was actually on a forced march. Should this be...?

Zhu Qiyu knew that Yu Qian was using this as a tactic of advancing while retreating.

While seemingly reminding Wang Qi to disobey orders, Zhu Qiyu was actually trying to vindicate them.

Zhu Qiyu waved his hand: "No need to pursue this."

He was acting out of necessity, not disobeying orders.

I will praise him for fighting this battle well later.

Yu Qian smiled and said nothing more.