Chaos of Ming 1628

Not only Sun Qing, but even Yang Qingqing's face was full of astonishment.

Sun Qing looked at Yang Qingqing, feeling extremely embarrassed.

This face had once haunted his dreams. Now, how should he face it?

Sun Qingqing also looked at Sun Qing. Unlike Sun Qing, his expression was much calmer, and he even had a slight blush on his face, shyly lowering his head.

"This..." Sun Qing stammered, "How can this be? Eunuch, didn't you say this was your most precious treasure?"

Wei Zhongxian's face showed no trace of a smile, but his eyes were extremely firm: "I know what I'm doing."

"Whatever you want, we can give you."

"In addition to these gold, silver and jade artifacts, there are also the people in Qing'er's hands."

In an instant, Sun Qing's palms were covered in sweat. He was incredibly excited, and his blood seemed to boil at that moment.

Marrying this woman would grant you not only the daimyo's strongest bodyguards, intelligence network, and assassination squad, but also make you instantly richer than the national treasury.

Wei Zhongxian laughed: "Young Master Sun, you don't need to rush to reply to me."

"We'll give you two days to think it over."

After he finished speaking, he clapped his hands.

The shadows that were moving outside the window gradually dispersed.

Wei Zhongxian smiled and said, "Young Master Sun, please go ahead."

Seeing this, Yang Qingqing hesitated for a moment, then slowly stood up: "Young Master Sun, let me see you out."

The snow in Beijing is frighteningly heavy.

Sun Chengzong rode at breakneck speed, traveling day and night to the capital.

The Imperial Study was solemn and silent.

Sun Chengzong finally arrived at the palace gate. Although only two or three years had passed, it felt like an eternity.

When Sun Chengzong arrived, Wang Chengen personally came to greet him.

Sun Chengzong slowly entered the hall, his python robe making him appear as upright as a mountain.

Although his hair and beard were all white, as the emperor's tutor, he did not prostrate himself in fear like the other ministers. He only bowed according to etiquette, and when he raised his eyes, his gaze was clear and his demeanor was calm and resolute.

Zhu Youjian, seated above, rose to greet the arrival of this tutor to two emperors.

"Your Majesty, I greet you!"

Sun Chengzong, despite his long and arduous journeys to the frontier, wore a worn-out official robe covered in dust, yet he maintained an upright posture when performing the grand ceremony of emperor and subject.

He longed to see the current emperor, yet he maintained his integrity.

They bowed their heads, their expressions respectful and solemn.

Thinking back to the past, he recalled how the eunuch faction of the Tianqi court had framed him at every turn, and how the political situation in the court was murky and unclear.

At this moment, they were unsure of the new emperor's temperament and ideas for governing the country, and dared not speak rashly.

He was also deeply concerned about the dilapidated defenses in Liaodong, where countless soldiers had died or been wounded, and his heart was filled with worry about the deterioration of the border defenses.

Looking at the emperor, who was only sixteen or seventeen years old, Sun Chengzong dared not flatter him or complain, but waited for the emperor to ask him questions.

Zhu Youjian also stepped forward, hurriedly saying, "Grand Secretary Sun, please get up quickly."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Sun Chengzong rose according to etiquette, carefully concealing the weariness of the past years in his eyes.

Today's arrival is entirely due to my unwavering patriotism.

Zhu Youjian seemed to notice the other party's restraint and sighed, "Your Excellency, you have had a long and arduous journey. I also know your patriotism."

"As you can see, the court is beset by internal and external troubles. The eunuch faction has not yet been eliminated."

"I have been unable to sleep day and night, constantly thinking about what to do. I want to purge the eunuch faction, I want peace on the borders, and I want the people to live in peace and well-being."

Upon hearing these words, Sun Chengzong's tense mind relaxed slightly, and his originally gloomy eyes showed emotion.

He spent half his life guarding the border and repeatedly served the country, but was repeatedly ostracized and framed. He was fortunate to encounter a monarch who was willing to reform the court and valued border defense.

He immediately bowed and kowtowed, his tone earnest and solemn: "Your subject is willing to dedicate the rest of his life to managing the defenses outside the pass."

At the same time, he exercised restraint in his speech, and even though Zhu Youjian said so, he dared not rashly criticize the eunuch faction.

The new emperor patiently plotted his plans, while he simply fulfilled his duties as a subject.

The two of them also relaxed a lot.

Wang Chengen was originally guarding the door, but he kept looking out from time to time.

Upon seeing this, Zhu Youjian couldn't help but scold, "What is it?"

"Your Majesty, Minister Wang has come to the palace, saying he has important business to discuss and wishes to see you."

Zhu Youjian's gaze fell on Sun Chengzong, and no one knew what he was thinking. Instead, he nodded and said, "Let him in."

After Wang Zaijin entered, he stood to the side, staring at Sun Chengzong with surging hatred.

Seeing this, Zhu Youjian spoke to Sun Chengzong as before: "The situation on the Liaodong border is in a terrible state, with each step a retreat, and I am restless day and night."

"I know that Grand Secretary Sun has long been stationed in Liaodong, is well-versed in border affairs, and has made meritorious contributions in building fortifications, training troops, and consolidating the Guan-Ning defense line."

"I intend to reinstate Sun Chengzong and order him to return to Liaodong to oversee military affairs outside the pass and rebuild the defense line."

In the eyes of the world, Sun Chengzong was a veteran of the Donglin faction. During the Tianqi era, he served as the military commander of Liaodong for four years, stabilizing the country, but was framed by the eunuch faction and resigned to return to his hometown.

The new emperor purged the eunuch faction and cleaned up the court. Now, by reappointing Sun Chengzong, he clearly intends to thoroughly reorganize the Liaodong border affairs and reverse the decline.

Everyone can understand this situation.

Sun Chengzong came here with the same intention.

Just as he was about to express his gratitude, Wang Zaijin immediately lifted his robe and knelt down, his expression earnest: "Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

"My dear Wang, why not?" Zhu Youjian raised his voice.

Wang Zaijin became emotional and uncontrollably raised his head and shouted: "Although Sun Chengzong has achieved merit on the frontier, his strategies have emptied the national treasury and wasted the people's strength. They are by no means the best policy for Liaodong today!"

He bowed and kowtowed, clearly and logically presenting his reasons for obstruction:

"Firstly, when Sun Chengzong was in charge of Liaodong, he undertook large-scale city construction and military expansion, costing the imperial court millions in grain and funds every year. Now, with widespread famine, an empty treasury, and refugees everywhere, continuing his costly city construction policy would be beyond the imperial court's financial capacity and would only drag down the nation and its people!"

"Secondly, their battle lines are too wide, dispersing their forces. While they appear to be advancing step by step, they are actually weak in many places. The previous defeats in Liaodong were all due to their long-term deployment and inability to support each other. Now that the Later Jin army is at its peak, our army should consolidate its forces and hold the strategic passes, rather than repeating the same mistakes!"

"Thirdly, Sun Chengzong has been away from the court and the border for a long time. The situation in Liaodong, the strength of the Later Jin, and the terrain and troop strength outside the pass are now very different from what they were a few years ago. The old strategies of the old ministers are outdated. If they are rashly reinstated, at best it will be a waste of manpower and resources, and at worst it will harm the country and the border, destroying the only remaining defense line outside the pass!"

Wang Zaijin spoke with conviction and deep emotion. Crucially, every word he uttered struck at the heart of the current political situation.

Just listening to it makes sense.

Zhu Youjian's brow had relaxed after Sun Chengzong's arrival, but upon hearing these words, his brow furrowed again.

The reason for resuming Sun Chengzong's service was because of Sun Qing.

Now, Wang Zaijin's analysis of the advantages and disadvantages immediately made Zhu Youjian waver.

Seeing that the emperor was moved, Wang Zaijin pressed his advantage, kowtowing again, his tone even more earnest:

"Your Majesty is eager to govern and wants to recover the lost territories of Liaodong, which I am well aware of. However, the way of war is to assess the situation and act according to one's strength. The best course of action at present is to abandon the desolate city outside the pass, concentrate troops at Shanhaiguan, conserve strength, and allow the people to recuperate."

"It is not too late to plan the recovery once the national treasury is full and the army is well-equipped."

"If Sun Chengzong is reinstated and the policy of large-scale city construction and border expansion is restarted, it will inevitably lead to military exhaustion and financial depletion. Liaodong will be in grave danger, and the Ming Dynasty will be in grave danger!"

At this point, Wang Zaijin knew that Zhu Youjian had been persuaded by him.

He then set aside the issue that Zhu Youjian cared about most: "Moreover, I have heard that Sun Qing is a member of the Sun family of Gaoyang."

"Why wasn't the eunuch faction eliminated? Isn't that thanks to Sun Qing?"

"We simply cannot trust someone who can raise such a disciple!"