Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

Chapter 136 Letter from Yunnan

Although Zhu Qiyu's change of Zhu Qizhen's posthumous title to "Emperor Ling" caused a great uproar in the court.

However, as Crown Prince Zhu Jianshen entered the Qianqing Palace to study every day...

Empress Dowager Sun claimed to be ill and did not leave her residence, and the turmoil gradually subsided.

On this day, Zhu Qiyu was reviewing memorials in the East Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Jianshen, Zhu Jianji, and Zhu Jianjun all sat upright at the small desk.

Zhu Qiyu's second son, Zhu Jianjun, was the same age as Zhu Jianshen.

The eldest son, Zhu Jianji, was one year older than them.

Every day, what they learned at the Qianqing Palace was to listen to Zhu Qiyu tell stories.

As for the way of being a ruler or king, let's not even talk about their young age.

Zhu Qiyu himself is still figuring things out.

Therefore, his current goal is mainly to shape their values.

After finishing his memorials, Zhu Qiyu walked up to them and asked, "What story would you like to hear today?"

Zhu Jianshen tilted his head and thought for a moment: "Yesterday, my uncle was talking about how Emperor Taizu conquered the country, and he got to the Battle of Poyang Lake, but he hadn't finished yet..."

.

Zhu Qiyu smiled and was about to speak.

Suddenly, Xing'an rushed in from outside the palace: "Your Majesty, an urgent message from Yunnan, delivered by Duke Mu Bin of Qian!"

Zhu Qiyu frowned, took the memorial, unfolded it, and his expression darkened after reading only a few lines.

The memorial stated that Sijifa, the Pacification Commissioner of Luchuan, had been frequently mobilizing troops recently, indicating signs of a potential rebellion.

There were also unusual movements by the chieftains in places like Mubang and Myanmar.

At the end of his memorial, Mu Bin wrote: "I have received great favors from the country and have guarded the border for more than 20 years."

Now that there are unusual occurrences in Luchuan, I dare not fail to report it.

However, I am old and ailing, and fear I am unable to personally lead the expedition. I humbly request Your Majesty to make a decision as soon as possible.

Seeing that Zhu Qiyu's expression was not right, the three children all sat obediently at the small desk and dared not make a sound.

After reading the memorial, Zhu Qiyu said to Chen Jing, "Take them to the back hall to play."

Chen Jing understood and led Zhu Jianshen and the other two away.

Zhu Qiyu then looked at Xing'an: "Summon the Ministers of the Six Ministries, the Grand Secretaries of the Inner Cabinet, and the Commanders of the Five Military Commands to the palace immediately for a meeting in the Wenhua Hall."

Zhu Qiyu thought for a moment and then added, "Call Yang Hong over as well."

Yang Hong just came to Beijing from Xuanfu a few days ago to give a lecture.

This matter concerns border warfare, and he is a seasoned veteran who can offer valuable advice.

"As you command."

Xing'an then bowed and withdrew.

Luchuan.

Zhu Qiyu was familiar with this place name.

During the Zhengtong era, Zhu Qizhen launched four campaigns against Luchuan.

The conflict lasted for more than ten years, involving hundreds of thousands of troops and costing countless amounts of money and supplies.

The last campaign was launched in the thirteenth year of the Zhengtong reign, which was two years ago.

At that time, he was still the king, and all he knew was that the court had fought another war and won it again.

But what happens after you win?

Siji fled to Mengyang and has not been captured to this day.

As a result, the national treasury was emptied, and the border towns were left vulnerable, ultimately giving the Oirat Mongols an opportunity to exploit the situation.

Zhu Qiyu looked at Luchuan on the map, and a complex emotion welled up in his heart.

This is the place where the seeds of the Tumu Crisis were sown.

It was also one of the turning points in history that led to the decline of the Ming Dynasty.

Half an hour later, all the officials arrived at the Wenhua Hall.

Zhu Qiyu looked around and said, "Mu Bin, the Duke of Qian, reported that Si Jifa of Luchuan is showing signs of rebellion."

There have also been unusual movements in places like Mong Bang and Myanmar.

I summoned you here to hear your opinions.

After saying this, he handed Mu Bin's memorial to Xing'an, who then passed it around for everyone to see.

After the memorial had been circulated, Zhu Qiyu looked at everyone and said, "Speak, how should we deal with this matter?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Shi Heng was the first to speak: "Your Majesty, I believe this is a golden opportunity!"

Siji, that scoundrel, fled to Mengyang during the Jingyuan Earl's campaign in the thirteenth year of the Zhengtong reign.

Now that he dares to rebel again, we should seize the opportunity to advance our troops, wipe out Luchuan in one fell swoop, and eliminate future troubles forever!

After Shi Heng finished speaking, he looked at Zhu Qiyu with great anticipation.

He stayed at the Five Military Governors' Office for more than half a year.

Despite his high position and great power, he was already feeling stifled by dealing with nothing but official documents every day.

I recall the days I spent in Datong Border Town.

The bandits were captured, and the border guards received tributes.

That was true freedom, unlike now, where we can only live on a salary.

Zhu Qiyu did not answer Shi Heng, but looked at Yu Qian instead.

After a moment of contemplation, Yu Qian slowly spoke: "Your Majesty, I believe this matter must be handled with utmost care."

Luchuan is located in western Yunnan, south of the Jinsha River.

During the Yuan Dynasty, Luchuan Road was established, which was originally a Tusi (chieftain) area.

During the Hongwu reign, Silunfa surrendered and was appointed as the Pacification Commissioner of Luchuan and Pingmian.

Later, Si Lun rebelled, and the Prince of Qianning quelled the rebellion.

During the Yongle and Xuande reigns, there were frequent feuds and killings between Luchuan and places like Mubang and Burma.

The imperial court mediated multiple times, but the problem remained unresolved.

In the early years of the Zhengtong reign, Si Renfa succeeded to the throne and became increasingly arrogant.

They invaded and occupied Mengding, Wandian and other places, killing and plundering the border people.

In the fourth year of the Zhengtong era, Emperor Ling ordered Mu Sheng, Duke of Qian, and Fang Zheng, Left Commander-in-Chief, to lead an army to conquer the enemy.

result----"

At this point, Yu Qian sighed.

Zhu Qiyu continued, "As a result, Fang Zheng underestimated the enemy and advanced recklessly, leading to his defeat and death on the battlefield."

Mu Sheng, fearing punishment, died suddenly from an illness.

Although Zhu Qiyu had previously been detached from politics, such a major event was known throughout the city, so he was naturally aware of it as well.

Yu Qian nodded: "That's right. After that, the court appointed Mu Ang as General Who Conquers the South to continue the campaign."

In the fifth year of the Zhengtong era, Mu Ang led a large army to Longba.

Right Assistant General Zhang Rong underestimated the enemy and suffered a defeat, abandoning his tally and military equipment to flee.

Mu Ang was unable to provide aid, and his army returned empty-handed.

In the sixth year of the Zhengtong era, Emperor Ling appointed Jiang Gui, the Duke of Dingxi, as the General Who Conquers the Barbarians.

Marquis Jingyuan, Wang Ji, took charge of military affairs and dispatched 150,000 troops for a large-scale expedition.

This battle lasted for more than a year.

Although they decisively defeated the Luchuan army and beheaded over 50,000, Si Renfa escaped.

"In the seventh year of the Zhengtong reign, the Earl of Jingyuan went on another expedition, and Si Renfa fled to Burma."

The imperial court ordered Burma to hand over Sirenfa, but Burma refused.

"In the eighth year of the Zhengtong era, Si Renfa's son, Si Jifa, rose up again, and the Earl of Jingyuan once again led an expedition against Luchuan."

"In the thirteenth year of the Zhengtong reign, the Earl of Jingyuan launched his third campaign against Luchuan and fought against Sijifa on the banks of the Jinsha River."

Siji was defeated and fled to Mengyang.

"The Earl of Jingyuan and Siji made a vow, setting a stone at the Jinsha River as the boundary, agreeing that only when the stone rotted and the river dried up could they cross."

Only then did the army return to base.

After Yu Qian finished speaking, there was silence in the hall.

Zhu Qiyu was aware of these matters.

Zhu Qiyu, however, had a bit of a headache regarding Wang Ji, the general who had led three campaigns against Luchuan.

Wang Ji was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).

But as a civil official, he spent almost half his life on horseback.

First, he pacified the northwest, then he led three campaigns against Luchuan.

In the seventh year of the Zhengtong reign, he became the first civil official in the Ming Dynasty to be granted a noble title.

The Ming Dynasty had an ancestral rule that civil officials were not allowed to be granted the titles of duke or marquis.

However, there is another rule: "Those who served as generals or ministers during their lifetime, were able to eliminate major threats, and were loyal to the country, shall be granted the same titles of marquis and duke as those who made great contributions to the founding of the country, without being bound by this rule."

Therefore, Wang Ji was able to be granted the title of Earl entirely because of his "martial arts skills".

During the Tumu Crisis last year, Wang Ji was suppressing a Miao uprising in the Huguang and Guizhou areas.

I only returned to Beijing this May.

Since Wang Ji returned to the capital, Zhu Qiyu has received impeachments from more than two-thirds of the civil officials.

Some say he wasted money and resources, and that he made a big show of every campaign.

Some say he was a henchman of Wang Zhen, and that he had a very good relationship with Wang Zhen in private.

Wang Zhen always provided strong support for him on his campaigns, helping him to mobilize military supplies.

The Ming Dynasty is currently lacking in generals.

Zhu Qiyu was reluctant to part with this "talented general".

But he didn't want to stand against all the ministers for this.

Therefore, Zhu Qiyu devised a delaying tactic.

Wang Ji was given a sinecure and sent to Nanjing to oversee military affairs.

We'll recall him when the new Ming army is fully formed and ready to fight, two years from now.