Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

September 12th.

Zhu Qiyu had just settled on his throne when he noticed that there were more than ten extra people in the hall today.

Most of these people were dressed in the court robes of first and second-rank military officers with embroidered Qilin and Bai Ze patterns. They all had arrogant expressions and undisguised dissatisfaction in their eyes.

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects."

Zhu Qiyu said expressionlessly, "Rise."

As soon as he finished speaking, a middle-aged military officer wearing a qilin-patterned robe stepped forward: "Your Majesty, I, Zhang Yi, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Central Military Command, have something to report!"

Zhang Yi was the younger brother of Zhang Fu, the Duke of Ying.

After Zhang Fu died in battle at Tumu Fortress, his title should have been inherited by his son Zhang Mao.

However, Zhang Mao was young, so Zhang Yi temporarily took charge of the affairs of the Duke of Ying's mansion as his uncle and was appointed as the deputy commander of the Central Military Commission.

Zhu Qiyu raised his eyelids slightly: "What does Minister Zhang have to report?"

Zhang Yi raised his head and said, "Your Majesty, since the Tumu Crisis, the commanders, deputy commanders, and assistant commanders of the Five Military Commissions have been almost completely wiped out."

The personnel registers of each garrison were in disarray, and the deployment of defenses was chaotic.

With the Oirat army pressing in, if this chaos continues, it could jeopardize the crucial task of defending the city!

Whether the defenses of Beijing are in disarray or not is obvious to everyone.

Zhang Yi used this as an excuse, which Zhu Qiyu found amusing: a military general is a military general, he can't even come up with a reason.

Zhu Qiyu feigned surprise: "Oh? Then, according to Minister Zhang's opinion, how should this be handled?"

Zhang Yi looked around and said loudly, "The most urgent task is to fill the vacancies in the Five Military Commands as soon as possible!"

Duke Zhu Yi of Cheng State is eligible to serve as the Commander-in-Chief of the Left Army Commandery.

Marquis Chen Hao of Taining is eligible to serve as the Commander-in-Chief of the Right Army Commandery.

"Jiao Jing, the Imperial Son-in-Law and Commander-in-Chief, may be appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the Vanguard Military Command..."

He rattled off seven or eight names, all of whom were the sons, nephews, or in-laws of the fallen heroes.

Zhu Qiyu listened quietly, and only after Zhang Yi finished speaking did he slowly ask, "Did Minister Zhang recommend these people because of their outstanding talent or because of their illustrious family background?"

Zhang Yi's face stiffened: "These are all descendants of loyal and virtuous officials, well-versed in military affairs..."

Zhu Qiyu chuckled: "Duke Cheng, Zhu Yi, I remember he just turned twenty-two this year. He has been studying at home all this time. Has he ever been on the battlefield for even a day?"

Marquis Chen Hao of Taining was studying at the Imperial Academy in Nanjing before his father's martyrdom. He probably hadn't even seen a map of Beijing's defenses.

Several suppressed chuckles suddenly rang out in the hall.

Zhang Yi blushed and said, "Your Majesty, the inheritance of titles by the sons of nobles is an ancestral system established by Emperor Taizu!"

Although they are young, they possess the loyalty and courage of their fathers; with a little more experience, they can be promoted!

Zhu Qiyu asked sternly, "Minister Zhang, what time is it now?"

The Oirat cavalry was only a few hundred miles away and could be at the city gates at any moment.

You're letting a group of young nobles who can barely hold a knife properly command the defense of the city.

Are they going to use the lives of a million soldiers and civilians in Beijing to give them a lesson?!

Zhang Yi was speechless, but another military officer stepped forward.

This man was about forty years old and wore a lion-patterned robe. He was none other than Jing Heng, the younger brother of the Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant Jing Yuan.

After Jingyuan died in the Battle of Tumu Fortress, his son was still young, so Jing Heng became active in the circle of nobles as a member of the imperial family.

Jing Heng clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty! The Beijing Garrison is now under the command of Yu Qian, the Minister of War."

The three main battalion commanders, Shi Heng, Sun Tang, and Fan Guang, were all newly promoted generals.

Minister Yu was ultimately a civil official; how could he truly understand military affairs?

Shi Heng was merely a defeated general, a criminal, and had no right to command the elite troops of the capital garrison.

If the meritorious officials of the Five Military Commands were to take over, they would surely be able to…”

"What can it be?" Yu Qian stepped out from the ranks of civil officials, his eyes piercing.

"Commander Jing is saying that you noble sons who have never been on the battlefield are better at commanding than I, a civil official who has served as governor of Shanxi and Henan and reorganized the military equipment of the border towns."

Would they be more suitable than generals like Shi Heng, who had fought real battles against enemy forces on the frontier?

Intimidated by Yu Qian's imposing manner, Jing Heng subconsciously took a half-step back, but still forced himself to say, "Minister Yu, that was not my intention, but rather the ancestral laws..."

Before Yu Qian could speak, Zhu Qiyu interjected, "The laws and regulations of our ancestors were meant to protect the Ming Dynasty, not to protect the privileges of you nobles!"

Now is not the time to talk about seniority or background!

Now is the time to risk our lives to protect our country!

The commanders of the three major battalions were all selected after the Minister assessed their abilities and verified their achievements.

Now that the initial training is complete, morale is high.

If the commander is replaced at this time, it will inevitably cause unrest in the army, which will be extremely detrimental to the defense of the city!

Zhu Qiyu's words were a full affirmation and commendation of Yu Qian.

Yu Qian cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Zhu Qiyu nodded and looked at Zhang Yi and the others: "Now that the Minister is in full charge of military affairs, the appointment and removal of generals shall be entirely at his disposal."

As for the vacancies in the Five Military Commands, I will reward those who have made contributions after this battle.

Anyone who has rendered meritorious service in defending the city, regardless of their background, can be promoted.

Conversely, if someone desires a high position without merit, I will absolutely not allow it!

Upon hearing this, the nobles' expressions changed drastically.

Zhang Yi hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, this is against the rules! The positions of Commander-in-Chief and Assistant Commander of the Five Military Commissions have always been inherited or recommended by meritorious officials, how can they be determined by military achievements..."

Zhu Qiyu slammed his fist on the table: "Zhang Yi! The Ming Dynasty has never had a rule of hereditary official positions!"

You keep talking about rules and ancestral traditions, then tell me.

When Emperor Taizu was conquering the country, which of the founding heroes, such as the Prince of Zhongshan, the Prince of Kaiping, and the Prince of Dong'ou, rose to power based on their fathers' titles?

Which of them didn't earn their fame and fortune through blood and sweat?!

Zhu Qiyu stood up and looked down: "I'm putting my words here today. From now on, if you have the ability, go up to the city wall to kill the enemy and make meritorious contributions. I will not hesitate to confer titles and ranks upon you!"

If you're not capable, then stay home quietly and don't try to tell others what to do!

Court adjourned!

"His Majesty!"

Zhang Yi wanted to argue further, but Zhu Qiyu forced him to back down with a single look.

After leaving the Wenhua Hall, the nobles gathered together, all with gloomy expressions.

Jing Heng gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty is trying to cut off our path!"

Another young nobleman, Marquis Chen Hao of Taining, also said indignantly, "My father sacrificed his life for the country, and his body is barely cold yet, and His Majesty treats the descendants of meritorious officials so poorly. How can this not be disheartening?"

Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes: "His Majesty is determined to support Yu Qian and those emerging generals, while suppressing us old nobles."

However, we are not without leverage.

"What insightful opinion does Your Excellency have?"

Zhang Yi lowered his voice: "Shi Heng, Sun Tang, and Fan Guang may not be a united front."

Don't forget, Shi Heng is an ambitious man. Let's start by dividing them from within.

In addition, although the Five Military Commissions have temporarily lost power, many of the commanders and officers of the various garrisons are our people.

In critical moments, these people might not obey Yu Qian's orders.

Jing Heng frowned: "But His Majesty has clearly expressed his support for Yu Qian. If we act secretly, what will happen if we are discovered..."

Zhang Yi sneered: "Why do we need to take action ourselves? Have you forgotten?"

The civil officials in the court also had many grievances against Qian for monopolizing military power.

Especially those in the cabinet…

The group understood, and thoughtful expressions appeared in their eyes.