Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

As the carriage drove along Chang'an Street, Zhu Qiyu lifted the curtain and looked out the window.

The streets of Beijing are still bustling with people, but the difference from the past is already noticeable.

The shops are still open, but the usual hustle and bustle of selling has disappeared.

Pedestrians hurried along, their faces showing varying degrees of worry.

Occasionally, large carts loaded with grain would drive in from outside the city.

When Zhu Qiyu arrived at the Five Military Governors' Mansion, the soldiers guarding the gate were clearly not expected that the Regent would suddenly arrive, and hurriedly saluted.

Qi Yu waved to stop the soldier who was about to go in to deliver the message: "No need to announce it, I will go in myself."

The Battle of Tumu Fortress nearly emptied the Five Military Commands.

Duke Zhang Fu of Yingguo, Duke Zhu Yong of Chengguo, Marquis Chen Ying of Taining, Imperial Son-in-Law Jing Yuan...

These meritorious and important officials, whom the court relied on, have now become wronged souls in the north.

The remaining vice-commanders were either inexperienced or "playboys" who had never experienced a major battle.

Very few are truly capable of shouldering great responsibilities.

Upon entering the mansion, Zhu Qiyu was greeted by a bustling scene.

Several vice-commanders were arguing about something in front of a huge map of Beijing's defenses.

Several officials from the Ministry of War were also taking notes nearby.

"We should abandon the outer city and retreat to the inner city, so that we can concentrate our forces..."

"No! If we abandon the outer city, what will happen to the hundreds of thousands of people?"

"But if we don't abandon it, how can we defend such a long city wall with our current forces?"

Zhu Qiyu coughed lightly, and only then did everyone notice his arrival. They quickly bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Highness!"

"No need for formalities." Zhu Qiyu walked to the city defense map. "I overheard you discussing strategies for defending the city just now?"

Sun Tang, the Vice Commander-in-Chief, stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, we are discussing the deployment of garrison troops at each gate."

General Shi Heng proposed that the defensive line should be contracted, the outer city abandoned, and all efforts focused on defending the nine gates of the inner city.

Zhu Qiyu looked at Shi Heng: "General Shi, why do you have this idea?"

Shi Heng clasped his hands and said, "Your Highness is wise. Although the capital is said to be able to gather an army of 200,000,..."

However, most of them were newly transferred reserve troops and anti-Japanese forces, inexperienced in combat, and their fighting strength was questionable.

He then pointed to the city defense map: "The outer city of Beijing has a circumference of more than forty li."

If the Oirat cavalry concentrate their attacks on a single point, they can easily break through.

The inner city has a circumference of only about 20 li, so the number of troops can be doubled, making the defense more solid.

Furthermore, many sections of the outer city wall had fallen into disrepair over the years, making it less tall and thick than the inner city wall.

Your Majesty, I believe we should abandon the outer city, fortify the inner city, and await the arrival of the loyalist army before attempting to retake it.

Zhu Qiyu frowned. Yu Qian had said long ago that the army sent to defend the emperor should not be summoned without authorization.

Shi Heng actually hoped that troops from other regions would come to the aid of the emperor?

Zhu Qiyu's tone turned cold: "General Shi, do you know how many people live in the outer city?"

According to statistics from the Ministry of Revenue last year, the permanent resident population of the outer city was no less than 300,000.

If we include the refugees who have recently fled from the suburbs into Beijing, the number has probably exceeded 400,000.

These people are all subjects of my Great Ming Dynasty.

When Emperor Taizong moved the capital to Beijing, wasn't it precisely to protect the territory and ensure the safety of the people?

Now you intend to abandon the people; what kind of logic is this?

These words made Shi Heng blush with embarrassment, and he hurriedly clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I have not thought things through. Please punish me."

Zhu Qiyu waved his hand: "Enough, military affairs should be decided by pooling our wisdom."

However, General Shi, you must remember one thing: a general has the responsibility to defend the territory and protect the people.

A lost city can be retaken, but lost hearts can never be regained.

Shi Heng bowed deeply: "Your Highness's teachings will be remembered!"

Zhu Qiyu turned to the others: "What is Minister Yu's opinion?"

Sun Tang replied, "Minister Yu also opposes abandoning the outer city."

He believed that although the outer city was large, the city walls were basically intact, and as long as the troops were properly deployed, it would be enough to hold the city.

Minister Yu also suggested that we should not blindly adhere to the old ways.

When elite troops are dispatched out of the city to set up camp, forming a pincer movement with the city's defenders, the enemy will be unable to launch a full-scale attack on the city.

Zhu Qiyu nodded; Yu Qian's strategy was similar to that in history.

A battalion of several thousand elite soldiers was set up outside Deshengmen, Xizhimen, and Andingmen.

In times of war, they can either leave the city to engage in battle or retreat quickly back into the city.

If the Oirat wanted to attack the city, they had to break through the three camps outside the city first.

If we want to attack the three camps outside the city, we must also guard against the troops inside the city attacking from both sides.

Zhu Qiyu clearly stated: "I believe that Minister Yu's plan is excellent."

After spending some time at the Five Military Governors' Mansion, Zhu Qiyu arrived at Desheng Gate.

Deshengmen was the most important city gate on the north side of Beijing.

Historically, this was the main direction of the Oirat army's attack.

The goalkeeper was Wei Ying, the Vice Commander-in-Chief.

Upon seeing Zhu Qiyu, Wei Ying quickly bowed and said, "This humble general, Wei Ying, greets Your Highness!"

Zhu Qiyu helped him up: "General Wei, please rise. How are the defenses at Desheng Gate progressing?"

Wei Ying led Zhu Qiyu up the city wall: "Your Highness, I have ordered men to dig three trenches outside the city and set up numerous barricades and caltrops."

The city walls were stockpiled with over five hundred cubic meters of rolling logs and stones, and twenty large cauldrons for boiling molten gold.

Zhu Qiyu followed Wei Ying to inspect the defensive fortifications on the city wall.

Behind the battlements were piles of stones and logs, and a large pot was set up every ten steps.

The side was piled high with the raw materials for the "golden juice" that were ready to be used.

It is actually a mixture of feces and urine. If boiled and poured on, it can cause severe burns and infections, making it a powerful weapon for defending the city.

Zhu Qiyu fanned his nose: "Are there enough arrows?"

"Based on an allocation of thirty arrows per person, we are still short over 20,000 arrows. The Ordnance Bureau is working day and night to produce them, and we should be able to replenish the supply within five days."

Zhu Qiyu nodded, then suddenly noticed that most of the soldiers guarding the city wall were thinly dressed, and many were even shivering slightly in the autumn wind.

"Have the soldiers received their winter clothing?"

Wei Ying was taken aback: "This... not yet. In previous years, winter clothes were not distributed until mid-October."

Zhu Qiyu frowned: "It's already the end of August, and the autumn chill is getting stronger. How can the soldiers who guard the city walls day and night not have warm clothes?"

Xing'an, write this down. Once you get back, immediately order the Ministry of Revenue to distribute winter clothing.

Each soldier defending the city will be issued a cotton-padded coat, which must be in place within three days.

Xing'an quickly wrote it down: "Your subject obeys the decree."

Wei Ying and the soldiers around her showed gratitude in their eyes upon hearing this.

One soldier couldn't help but whisper, "Your Highness... Your Highness is compassionate towards us..."

Zhu Qiyu walked up to the soldier and asked, "What's your name? How old are you? Where are you from?"

The young soldier was so nervous that he could barely speak: "This...this humble general is Luo Zhao, ten...nineteen years old, from Daxing County, Shuntian Prefecture."

Who else is in the family?

"I have parents, a younger brother, and a younger sister."

Zhu Qiyu patted him on the shoulder: "Defend the city well, and protect your parents, brothers, and sisters. Once we defeat the Oirats, I will reward you for your service."

Luo Zhao blushed with excitement: "Thank...thank you, Your Highness!"

Zhu Qiyu then looked at the other soldiers and said loudly, "My lords, you are not only guarding this city wall."

Behind them are their parents, wives, children, and hundreds of thousands of ordinary people in Beijing.

I hereby assure you that all those who have rendered meritorious service in defending the city, regardless of their social status, will be rewarded according to their merits.

If any soldier unfortunately dies in battle, their compensation will be doubled, and their children will be raised by the imperial court!

"Long live Your Highness!"

Someone shouted first, and then a cheer erupted from the city wall.