Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

On the first day of the twelfth month of the fourteenth year of the Zhengtong reign, in Xuanfu Town.

The flags on the city wall fluttered in the wind.

Yang Hong stood on the city tower, gazing at the vast expanse of the northern sky and earth.

His face was weathered and worn.

A thin layer of frost even formed on his beard.

Nearly two months have passed since the Battle of Zijing Pass in October, when he led his troops to ambush Yexian's army.

He has been guarding Xuanfu for the past two months.

He patrolled the city's defenses and drilled the soldiers daily, never daring to slacken his efforts.

Although the Oirat army withdrew, small groups of cavalry still appeared outside the pass from time to time.

A few days ago, a scout came to report.

It is said that several hundred Oirat cavalrymen were spotted outside Yehuling, suspected of scouting the border.

Yang Hong knew this winter would not be peaceful.

The Oirat people were short of food.

Every winter they would raid and plunder.

Although we suffered a major defeat this year, the food shortage problem will only get worse.

Esen would inevitably send troops south again to stabilize his people.

Yang Hong turned and walked down the city wall.

As soon as he returned to the yamen, a personal guard came to report: "General, someone from Beijing has arrived."

Yang Hong perked up: "Please come in quickly."

A moment later, a travel-worn official entered the hall.

The official cupped his hands and said, "I am Chen Yue, the Chief Clerk of the Military Affairs Department of the Ministry of War."

He was ordered by Junior Guardian Yu to escort military equipment and provisions to Xuanfu.

Three hundred crossbows and twenty thousand arrows.

Five thousand bushels of grain and thirty thousand taels of silver.

A hint of joy flashed in Yang Hong's eyes: "Good! Good! Young Master Yu is indeed a man of his word."

He knew about Beijing's predicament, and it was truly remarkable that so many supplies could still be sent.

Chen Yue said, "Junior Protector Yu has one more thing for me to pass on to the General."

Yang Hong looked at him and said, "Please speak."

Chen Yue: "Yu Shaobao said that although the Oirat Mongols were defeated, they would certainly not be willing to accept it."

This winter and next spring, there will surely be war along the nine borders.

General, please be vigilant and do not be negligent.

In case of urgent military matters, please report to the Ministry of War via express courier (800 li).

Yang Hong nodded: "Please report back to Junior Guardian, Yang Hong will do his utmost to guard Xuanfu."

Chen Yue bowed and withdrew.

Looking at the list of supplies in his hand, Yang Hong suddenly felt a surge of emotion.

After the Tumu Crisis, he thought the Ming Dynasty was doomed.

The emperor was captured, the army was wiped out, and the Oirat army besieged the city.

At that time, he thought that he might spend the rest of his life in Xuanfu.

Unexpectedly, Beijing held on.

The newly enthroned emperor, with a group of defeated soldiers, managed to drive the Oirat Mongols away.

The imperial court still has the resources to send provisions and military equipment to the border regions.

The Ming Dynasty seems to have come back to life.

At the same time, in Datong Town.

Guo Deng returned to Datong at the end of October.

After the Battle of Zijing Pass, he led his army north to wipe out the defeated Oirat troops along the way.

At the same time, they gathered up the scattered people and it took them more than a month to return to Datong.

Winters in Datong are colder than in Xuanfu.

The wind felt like knives on my face.

Guo Deng, however, acted as if nothing had happened, walking around the city wall every day.

He had just come down from the city wall when a personal guard came to report: "General, people from the Prince of Dai's mansion have arrived."

Guo Deng frowned slightly: "The Prince of Dai's residence?"

The guard said, "It was the chief clerk sent by His Highness the Prince of Dai, who said he would like to invite the General to his residence for a chat."

Guo Deng was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Understood."

According to the rules, as a general, he was not allowed to have private contact with any princes.

However, he had already heard about the clan reforms in Beijing.

They also knew what the Prince of Dai had said in Beijing.

Half an hour later, at the post station where the Prince of Dai was staying.

Zhu Shih-hsuan was enjoying hot tea and snacks.

Upon seeing Guo Deng enter, he quickly stood up to greet him: "General Guo, please have a seat."

Guo Deng bowed and said, "Your Highness has summoned me; this humble general dares not be negligent."

The Prince of Dai waved his hand: "General Guo, there's no need for such formalities. I've summoned you here because I have a favor to ask."

Guo Deng looked at him and said, "Your Highness, please speak."

The Prince of Dai sighed: "General Guo, you are from Datong, so you know the hardships of the border regions of Datong."

This year, the Oirat Mongols invaded, and Datong Prefecture suffered the most from the war.

Of the more than 370 members of the imperial family of Dai, more than 30 died in the chaos of war.

More than a hundred people have fled and are still missing.

The remaining two hundred or so people were trapped in the city, without food or clothing.

Some time ago, I submitted a memorial requesting a reduction in the actual amount of rice I receive as a salary.

His Majesty has granted permission.

Before my departure, the Emperor specially granted my fiefdom of Weizhou the permission to receive my stipend of rice this month.

However, the actual stipend for rice must be allocated from the local tax grain.

Datong suffered from disasters and war this year, with less than one-tenth of its tax grain remaining.

The Ministry of Revenue's documents stated that any shortfall would be covered by assistance from neighboring prefectures and counties.

But neighboring prefectures and counties have also suffered disasters; who has food to provide relief?

Guo Deng was silent for a moment: "What does Your Highness mean?"

The Prince of Dai looked at him and asked, "General Guo, is there any surplus grain in the army of Datong?"

Could you lend some to the imperial family of Dai?

"I will certainly repay you after next autumn's harvest."

Guo Deng pondered for a long time: "Your Highness, the border troops' provisions and pay are also allocated by the imperial court, and this humble general dares not act on his own initiative, however..."

The Prince of Dai's eyes lit up: "But what?"

Guo Deng said: "This humble general may submit a memorial to the court, requesting that the Junior Guardian allocate a batch of grain and fodder specifically for the imperial family of the Dai princes to get through the winter."

Your Highness may submit another memorial to state the facts.

"With two memorials submitted simultaneously, the court will surely take them seriously."

The Prince of Dai nodded: "General Guo is absolutely right. I will write a memorial immediately."

As Guo Deng left the post station, he was filled with emotion.

He knew the situation inside Datong Prefecture.

The places with grain were all looted by the Oirat people in the first two months.

In some places, not only were grains taken, but people were also captured.

This Prince of Dai was a rare and insightful person.

They don't cause trouble, they don't follow ancestral rules, they just want to survive.

Such a prince is far better than those who only shout slogans.

On the tenth day of the twelfth month of the fourteenth year of the Zhengtong reign, at the Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Qiyu sat behind his desk, with two memorials laid out in front of him.

One document was from Guo Deng, the General of Datong, requesting grain to be allocated to relieve the imperial family of the Dai princes.

One document was from Zhu Shizhu, detailing the plight of the Ming dynasty's princely clan and requesting the court's assistance.

Zhu Qiyu sighed softly after reading it.

Life on the frontier was indeed difficult.

He picked up his vermilion brush and wrote a line on Guo Deng's memorial: "Approved. Order the Ministry of Revenue to quickly allocate 3,000 shi of grain to Datong Prefecture, specifically for the needs of the Dai princes and their families during the winter."

Then he wrote a line on the memorial submitted by the Prince of Dai: "The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War shall jointly discuss and deal with this matter, so as to ensure that the border vassal states and members of the imperial family are spared from freezing and starvation."

After finishing his criticism, he looked at Yu Qian beside him and said, "Lord Yu, the winters at the border are tough."

Yu Qian cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty is benevolent."

Zhu Qiyu suddenly asked, "Junior Protector Yu, how many points do you think the overseas maritime trade vessels can collect in a year?"

Yu Qian was taken aback: "Your Majesty wishes to open the seas?"

Zhu Qiyu looked at him: "It's not that I want to, it's that I have to open it."

Imported goods are highly profitable.

The imperial court takes a cut, and they can easily collect hundreds of thousands of taels a year.

Yu Qian pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, the matter of opening up the seas involves a wide range of issues."

Coastal residents, merchants, and local officials all benefited from the situation.

Improper handling could lead to trouble.

Zhu Qiyu nodded: "I know, so I'm not in a hurry. Let's get the other sixteen strategies done first, and then slowly work on the rest."