Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

After exiting Zuoshun Gate, Zhu Qiyu slowed his pace, glanced back at the ministers inside, and thought to himself, "I have done what you wanted me to do. Now it's up to you. Don't disappoint me."

For the past twenty-one years, Zhu Qiyu had already planned what to do after the Tumu Crisis.

The first step is to gain the support of the civil service; only with their support can one advance from regent to emperor.

Becoming emperor was the first step in making the Ming Dynasty great again.

So just now, Zhu Qiyu took the initiative to convict Wang Zhen and arranged for people to deal with Wang Zhen's accomplices. This was a signal to those ministers: we are in cahoots, and you will benefit greatly if I become emperor.

After waiting for about fifteen minutes at the Wenhua Hall, Yu Qian led dozens of people to the hall.

Compared to the previous court assembly, there were far fewer people present. Apart from high-ranking officials of the third rank and above, only officials from the Censorate and the Imperial Academy participated.

Zhu Qiyu looked at everyone and said, "Let's begin. Minister Yu, you tell us how to repel the enemy."

Yu Qian stood up and walked to the geomantic map, pointing to the three directions of Datong, Xuanfu, and Liaodong, and said:

"Recently, scouts reported that the Oirat army split into three routes, with the eastern route consisting of about 30,000 elite cavalry from the Tuotuo Buqa and Uriyangkhai tribes attacking Liaodong."

The central route led by Arazhiyuan consisted of 20,000 elite cavalry to attack Xuanfu.

Esen led 30,000 elite cavalry to attack Datong from the west.

Now, Esen and Araji have joined forces, and including their infantry, they are said to have an army of 150,000.

If Yesen and Toghtogbuqa were to enter the capital together, their army would likely number no fewer than 180,000.

Upon hearing this, a chorus of exclamations erupted within the hall.

Zhu Qiyu wasn't surprised and continued, "How many troops are there in the capital?"

Yu Qian paused for a moment, then slowly said, "The number of armored soldiers is barely twenty thousand."

Apart from the officials from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue, the other officials gasped in surprise.

They knew the capital city had few troops, but they didn't expect it to be this few.

With 20,000 against 180,000, the advantage is clearly not in my favor.

Moreover, Beijing is too big; it would be too much of a stretch for 20,000 people to guard the entire city.

Yu Qian continued, "I believe that the most urgent task is to rebuild the Beijing Garrison."

It is possible to mobilize reserve troops from Hebei and Henan, as well as anti-Japanese troops from Shandong, to Beijing.

I have already calculated that this way, the capital can gather an army of 200,000.

We can absolutely defend Beijing.

Zhu Qiyu then asked, "Should we order the mobilization of all troops in the empire to come to the capital to defend the emperor?"

Zhu Qiyu certainly knew that it was best not to conscript the loyalist army unless absolutely necessary; he was asking this question on behalf of the others present.

The so-called loyalist army was actually just criminals and refugees from various places, serving only as a facade.

Not only do they lack combat effectiveness, they also consume a lot of food.

Moreover, it is easy to recruit them but difficult to send them away; if not handled properly, a mutiny may occur.

Most importantly, wherever the loyalist troops went, not a blade of grass grew.

This is no joke; the local officials recruiting soldiers won't provide food and supplies, and the soldiers will have to fend for themselves.

How to solve this? Of course, we should "borrow" from ordinary people.

Yu Qian hurriedly said, "Absolutely not! We must not summon troops to defend the emperor unless it is a matter of life and death."

The losses incurred by the armies summoned by Emperor Huizong and Emperor Qinzong of the Song Dynasty were far greater than those in actual warfare.

Two hundred thousand men are enough to defend Beijing.

"We only need to hold out for a few days, and once the Oirat run out of supplies, they will retreat on their own."

Zhu Qiyu nodded and continued, "What about weapons? Are there enough for 200,000 people?"

Yu Qian: "Your Highness, I have already taken stock of the armory the day before yesterday, and there are currently less than 10,000 men in armor."

However, the Nanjing arsenal contained more than 1.9 million pieces of equipment, including helmets, armor, bows, and crossbows.

It can be transported from Nanjing to the capital within a month!

Zhu Qiyu thought to himself: A month, thankfully Esen was greedy enough. In history, he took Zhu Qizhen back and forth between Datong and Xuanfu for the sake of profit.

It took a month to get to Beijing.

If he were to bypass Datong and Xuanfu now and head straight for Zijing Pass, he could reach Beijing in just a few days.

He might actually be able to realize his great ideal of the grasslands once again ruling the Central Plains.

Zhu Qiyu asked again, "What about the grain? How much grain is left in the city?"

Upon hearing this, many people looked at Zhu Qiyu, and couldn't help but sigh, "This Prince Cheng has kept his abilities well hidden!"

Zhu Qiyu's previous persona was that of someone who was physically strong but simple-minded, lecherous, and cowardly.

However, since the start of the court discussion, he raised a total of four questions, three of which concerned people, equipment, and food.

These are all points that require the most attention during wartime.

Yu Qian sat back down, and another person stood up. Shen Yi, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, said, "The capital's grain reserves are insufficient for ten days..."

Gan!

Zhu Qiyu cursed Zhu Qizhen in his heart from beginning to end.

His knowledge of this history is limited to a few TV dramas and some strange anecdotes circulating online.

Regarding details like food, clothing, and daily necessities, they only know they are lacking, but they don't know exactly how much they are lacking.

Now he finally knows.

Beijing was the capital of the Ming Dynasty, and all the grain collected from across the country was stored in Beijing and Tongzhou.

The grain reserves in Beijing alone are enough to last at least six months to a year.

The result is that it's not even enough to last ten days. How much grain did Zhu Qizhen actually take with him?

There were also armor and weapons; the permanent garrison in Beijing was close to 200,000.

Even if we don't prepare a spare set for each person, preparing a set for every ten people would prevent us from being unable to arm even 10,000 people.

Was Zhu Qizhen leading them to war or to a fashion show?

Do you expect me to wear one outfit today and change it tomorrow?

Zhu Qiyu frowned and asked, "What about the grain from Tongzhou?"

During the Ming Dynasty, the imperial court's grain was mainly stored in two places: Beijing and Tongzhou.

These two places were respectively called the Emperor's Inner Granary and the Emperor's Outer Granary.

Shen Yi replied, "Tongzhou has over eight million shi of grain, enough to feed the capital for more than a year, but it would be best to order this grain to be burned as soon as possible."

Zhu Qiyu squinted at Shen Yi. Was this Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue a hidden member of the Southern Migration faction?

Only Tongzhou can solve Beijing's food crisis now.

Even if we could procure that much food from other places, not to mention whether we could even get that much, countless people in Beijing would starve to death just waiting for it to arrive.

Giving up the grain in Tongzhou is tantamount to giving up Beijing.

Shen Yi felt uncomfortable under Zhu Qiyu's gaze and explained, "Currently, the farmers and soldiers in the capital are insufficient to transport all the grain from Tongzhou to the capital."

Rather than leaving it there to become food supplies for the Oirat Mongols, it's better to burn it down now...

Zhu Qiyu interrupted him sharply, "What happens after it's burned? What about the capital? Are we just going to abandon it?"

Shen Yi was startled by Zhu Qiyu's expression and tone, and stammered, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty did not mean that..."

Zhu Qiyu waved his hand, saying that now was not the time to deal with these people.

He looked at Yu Qian: "Minister Yu, since you say you want to defend the capital, you must have already thought of a way to transport grain."

Alright then, from today onwards, you will be in charge of all the troops.

You are in charge of mobilizing troops to enter the capital and rebuilding the Beijing garrison; related matters do not require further court deliberation and approval.

At the same time, weapons and food were mobilized and transported to Beijing.

"By October, I want to see 200,000 men fit for battle and enough food to last until next year!"

Yu Qian rose, bowed, and said, "Your subject obeys the decree!"

Zhu Qiyu entrusted Yu Qian with this important task for two reasons.

One factor is the added benefit of the filter. Although some people in later generations believed that he was loyal to the country but not to the emperor, and that in the end, he not only harmed Emperor Jingtai but also himself for the sake of so-called fame.

Some people believe that he was just a hypocritical civil official, a fence-sitter who bet on both sides, and that he deserved to be beheaded and have his property confiscated in the end.

However, Zhu Qiyu believed that actions should be judged regardless of intentions, and the fact was that he led the defense of Beijing to victory.

Emperor Jingtai was indeed powerless to reverse the situation during the Coup of the Gate, and he had no one to blame but himself.

Yu Qian's life and deeds justify his title as a resident minister.

Besides the added benefit of filters, there is another major reason.

That is, Zhu Qiyu needed someone to help him share the firepower.

He wanted to create a person of immense power, someone who could command all his ministers.

The civil service has never been a monolithic entity; each member has their own agenda.

Zhu Qiyu's intention was to divide them from within.

While they were all fighting amongst themselves with Yu Qian, they naturally had the time and opportunity to develop their own power.

After all, if you want to target Yu Qian in the future, you'll need to do it legitimately.

As for me, the current emperor, I am the most legitimate name, and you all must borrow my name.