Chapter 387: Sun Chuanting, Put to Important Use

Chen Hong had not been gone long before he walked back in from outside.

Behind him followed Qi Jin. Clearly, Qi Jin had already arrived before this.

Upon seeing Zhu Youxiao, Chen Hong withdrew to one side.

Qi Jin hastily bowed and said, "Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "Rise."

He instructed Chen Hong, "Bring a chair."

After Chen Hong had set the chair down, Zhu Youxiao said to Qi Jin, "Sit, and speak."

Once Qi Jin was seated, Zhu Youxiao asked slowly, "Have you heard about the matter of establishing the Imperial Guard Corps Command Office?"

Although the matter of Your Majesty establishing the Imperial Guard Corps Command Office had not stirred up much of a fuss outside, it had still drawn the attention of quite a few people, especially those in the military. Anyone could see how much importance Your Majesty placed on the Imperial Guard Corps Command Office, so naturally they had to pay even closer attention.

There was another thing they cared about—how would the Imperial Guard Corps Command Office develop in the future?

After all, the Imperial Guard as an institution had existed throughout the Ming dynasty, but the Imperial Guard Corps Command Office was truly something entirely new, and everyone wanted to know what would become of it.

From the current situation, Your Majesty intended to separate the Imperial Guard from the other troops. Under such circumstances, this Imperial Guard Corps Command Office became all the more important.

"To answer Your Majesty, your subject has already heard of it." Qi Jin said hastily.

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "Since you have already heard of it, there is no need for me to repeat myself. The Imperial Guard Corps Command Office—I intend to put you in charge of its establishment, but like the Five Chief Military Commissions, it will be divided into several offices."

"The Eastern Imperial Guard Command, I intend to place in your hands. As for the specific organization, I plan to establish five guards, with the number of men tentatively set at sixty thousand. The men you have on hand now should be sufficient; it is only equipment and other things that are lacking. I will have someone prepare them for you as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Qi Jin hastily bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty. Your subject will not let Your Majesty down."

After hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, Qi Jin understood—the Imperial Guard Corps Command Office was not a single office but five offices, just like the Five Chief Military Commissions.

Clearly, Your Majesty would not hand all of the Imperial Guard over to one person to command. This was only to be expected, and there was nothing to say about it.

In such matters, no one could say much of anything. As for offering opinions and such, that had to be set aside. The Emperor would not allow anyone to interfere in this affair.

"As for the office's structure, I have already thought it through." Zhu Youxiao continued, "There will be one Grand Commander of the Imperial Guard, which you will hold; two Deputy Grand Commanders; six Commanders, each Commander overseeing one guard; the other officials modeled after the Five Chief Military Commissions. Go back and draft a set of regulations, and submit them to me."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Qi Jin agreed once again.

"If you have any other ideas, you must tell me as soon as possible. Once this matter is settled, changing it afterward will be difficult. Reversing orders issued in the morning by evening is a great taboo in the military." Zhu Youxiao cautioned.

"Your subject understands." Qi Jin hastily agreed.

"You may go." Zhu Youxiao nodded.

"Your subject takes his leave." Qi Jin respectfully bowed to Zhu Youxiao, turned, and walked out.

Watching Qi Jin's departing back, there was no unusual expression on Zhu Youxiao's face.

There was indeed no room for negotiation in this matter, and Qi Jin clearly knew it as well.

"Has Sun Chuanting arrived?" Zhu Youxiao asked Chen Hong once more.

"He has already arrived." Chen Hong nodded and said, "He arrived even a bit earlier than General Qi."

"Have him come in." Zhu Youxiao nodded and said.

Upon hearing this, Chen Hong turned and went out to bring him in.

Before long, Sun Chuanting walked in from outside.

Upon seeing Zhu Youxiao, Sun Chuanting hastily bowed and said, "Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."

"Rise." Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said, "I called you here today because there is something I want to ask you. This time, accompanying me to Shandong—what impressions did you come away with?"

Hearing this, Sun Chuanting hesitated somewhat.

In truth, he had not had much contact with Your Majesty, and he did not even know why Your Majesty thought so highly of him.

Starting from the Southwest, he had continuously received Your Majesty's attention and had continuously been given important posts by Your Majesty. This could be seen from his career history—it had been so all along.

Moreover, his rise in office had been remarkably rapid. Not to mention those of his own cohort, even compared to the promotions of some of his seniors, his advancement could be said to be extremely swift.

Now Your Majesty had summoned him again—clearly there was something afoot.

For a minister, to receive Your Majesty's high regard and be allowed to display one's talents to the fullest—that was the grace of a patron who recognized one's worth.

Sun Chuanting still hesitated somewhat. It was not that he feared saying something wrong, but rather that saying something wrong would disappoint Your Majesty.

"Say whatever is on your mind. Before me, you may speak without reservation, holding nothing back." Zhu Youxiao glanced at Sun Chuanting and said with a smile.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Sun Chuanting nodded and said, "Your subject feels that the Great Ming is not at peace."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao smiled and asked, "How is it not at peace?"

"Whether in the Southwest or in this Shandong affair, there are many people with treacherous designs. The regions are decayed, officials are corrupt, and the common people live in hardship. Should natural disasters strike, I fear there will be even more incidents like the one in Shandong."

Zhu Youxiao nodded and asked with a smile, "Then what do you think is the cause?"

Hearing this question, Sun Chuanting truly hesitated.

After pondering for a long while, he said somewhat tentatively, "Perhaps it is that education and moral transformation are insufficient."

"You are not being honest." Zhu Youxiao said slowly.

"Your subject is guilty." Sun Chuanting hastily knelt and said.

At this time, Sun Chuanting was not one of the great powers at court—he was still a newcomer—so hearing Zhu Youxiao say this, he truly felt some panic in his heart.

Especially after spending time with Zhang Yu, Sun Chuanting had come to regard Zhu Youxiao with awe mixed with fear.

In Zhang Yu's words, Your Majesty was a rare wise sovereign—not only with piercing vision and decisive action, but also incomparably brilliant.

His little schemes had clearly not escaped Your Majesty's notice.

"Rise." Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said, "Before me, there is no need to always kneel. And when you speak, you should be more honest."

"I may not be a wise sovereign, but I am capable of humbly accepting remonstrance, and I will never punish anyone for their words. So whatever is on your mind, you may speak freely."

"But I also know your concerns. If you will not say them, then I will. This sort of thing happens because the court has grown weak."

Zhu Youxiao stood up and walked over to Sun Chuanting's side, saying, "The border troubles in the northwest are severe, and in Liaodong we have been beaten back step by step. Ever since the Battle of Sarhu, the Great Ming has grown weak."

"The Great Ming has also lasted over two hundred years. The armies across the realm have grown lax, and people's hearts have turned corrupt. Put plainly, everyone under heaven feels there is nothing much to fear from the Emperor, so those with ambition have multiplied. Officials across the realm are rampant in corruption, and the common people live in hardship—this has also made many people feel that opportunity has come."

While Zhu Youxiao was saying this, Sun Chuanting kept his head lowered.

He didn't dare raise his head, let alone speak.

Sun Chuanting could not help but feel some admiration. His Majesty was indeed incomparably wise, with a profound understanding of the situation. But those words were probably something only His Majesty himself dared to say.

Zhu Youxiao looked at Sun Chuanting and said, "I know very well what the Great Ming is like, so whether you speak or not makes no difference. From now on, in my presence, you need not have any reservations."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Sun Chuanting hastened to reply.

"The old officials have grown corrupt. To revitalize the Great Ming, we can only use new men. That is also the reason I hold you in such high regard."

"Among the young, you can be considered talented and learned." Zhu Youxiao looked at Sun Chuanting and continued, "This is also the reason I wish to establish the Imperial Academy."

"This time, I am giving you an opportunity. Regarding the establishment of the Imperial Guard Corps Command Office — have you heard of it?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject has already heard." Sun Chuanting said hurriedly.

Zhu Youxiao nodded. "I have just summoned Qi Jin and appointed him Grand Commander of the East Guard Corps Command Office, commanding five guards, totaling sixty thousand men."

"I intend to have you serve as Grand Commander of the West Guard Corps Command Office, to train a new army for me. Likewise, five guards, sixty thousand men."

"You should have heard of Qi Jin — his reputation is immense, his military achievements are great, and he is also Qi Jiguang's nephew, having followed Qi Jiguang since childhood. He has campaigned many times and can be called a seasoned veteran of the battlefield, an old hand in the military. The new army I want you to train must be able to rival his, or even surpass it."

Sun Chuanting was at this moment stunned, the whole man at a loss for what to do.

He knew His Majesty held him in high regard, but he had not expected His Majesty to hold him in such high regard. Was this not a bit too much?

"Emperor Wu of Han once promoted Wei Qing and trained Huo Qubing. I wish to emulate the deeds of Emperor Wu. Do not hold back just because you are young."

"Precisely because you are young, with many days still ahead, daring to charge and fight with drive — that is what I value. I too am young, and I understand what young men think. So, how about it? Do you have the confidence to do it well?"

At a time like this, hearing such a question from the Emperor, even a fool would know how to answer. Let alone someone like Sun Chuanting.

Sun Chuanting was single-mindedly devoted to serving his country, single-mindedly determined to accomplish great deeds. Ever since his days of study, he had set this aspiration, and now that an opportunity had come, naturally he had to seize it.

Sun Chuanting knelt straight down to the ground and said in a loud voice, "Rest assured, Your Majesty. Your subject will certainly not disappoint Your Majesty's expectations, and will fulfill Your Majesty's commission even at the cost of death!"

Walking over to Sun Chuanting's side, Zhu Youxiao personally helped him to his feet, then patted his shoulder and said, "Don't let me down. Let those outside see that my judgment is not bad, and that the men I promote are also not bad."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Sun Chuanting said once more with earnest sincerity.

"Those few men who accompanied me to Shandong this time, I intend to transfer them to you. Lu Xiangsheng, Cao Wenzhao, Wu Xiang — these are all men I have my eye on, and all can be handed over to you."

"As for the people in the Imperial Academy, you may also go and make your selections. As for the soldiers, think for yourself where to recruit them. You may pick from the armies in various regions — I will not interfere with that. Handle it as you see fit."