Chapter 40: Xu Guangqi

Looking at the barren land outside, with patches of unmelted snow still lingering in places, Xiong Tingbi knew that at this time of year, the Jurchens were having a hard time too—this attack was really just about grabbing supplies.

Of course, if they could take Shenyang and Liaoyang, that would be enough to fill the Jurchens' bellies, but Xiong Tingbi had no intention of becoming the morsel of food in the Jurchens' mouths.

The current situation meant there was no need for scorched-earth tactics at all, because outside the city walls was already nothing but wasteland. Therefore, Xiong Tingbi decided to simply outlast the Jurchens.

"Commander, the Governor has arrived." Regional Commander He Shixian said quietly at Xiong Tingbi's ear.

Unlike the civil officials who looked down on Xiong Tingbi, the generals and soldiers of Liaodong all had great respect for him. First, he wasn't corrupt, and second, he could fight and understood them.

What the civil officials saw as crude behavior was precisely what won Xiong Tingbi the hearts of the military men. So ever since Xiong Tingbi arrived in Liaodong, the military authority of the entire region had fallen into his hands.

Governor Xue Guoyong said nothing openly, but he couldn't stomach it, and so in recent days he had been making trouble for Xiong Tingbi at every opportunity.

The two sides hadn't openly broken with each other, but they were close to it.

The reason Xiong Tingbi was called arrogant and unpopular among the civil officials—or rather, unpopular with the Donglin Faction—was simple.

He came from the Chu Faction, and moreover, Xiong Tingbi didn't play by the rules the Donglin Faction had set—to put it bluntly, he didn't listen to the Donglin Faction.

You won't listen to what I say? You won't go along with the crowd... no, that's not it—you won't become a gentleman like us? Then we'll destroy you.

It was that simple.

"So what if he's come?" Xiong Tingbi raised a hand to press on the sword at his waist, gave a cold snort, and his face was full of contempt.

Xiong Tingbi looked down on Xue Guoyong for the same reason he looked down on Yuan Yingtai. They were Donglin Faction windbags—composing verses in their youth, burying their heads in the classics in old age; though their pens produced a thousand words, their hearts held not a single plan.

Before long, Xue Guoyong climbed up from below, and the moment he saw Xiong Tingbi's demeanor, his face darkened. The court ruled the military through civil officials—although the Military Commissioner was a civil official, shouldn't he at least show sufficient respect to a Governor like himself? At the very least, he should report in the morning and debrief in the evening, shouldn't he?

Look at Xiong Tingbi's attitude—this was having no regard for one's superior. What could a man like this ever accomplish?

"Commissioner Xiong, the Jianzhou barbarians are coming to invade. I wonder if Commissioner Xiong has a good plan to break the enemy?" Xue Guoyong looked at Xiong Tingbi and asked.

Though it was phrased as a question, the tone made Xiong Tingbi extremely uncomfortable. That condescending look of yours really stokes one's anger—a fist slammed into your face would be just the thing to vent it.

Of course, such thoughts could only remain thoughts, but Xiong Tingbi had no intention of giving Xue Guoyong a pleasant expression either. He said directly: "Nothing else—just hold the defense."

Xue Guoyong looked at Xiong Tingbi, a flicker of delight passing over his face, but he still shook his sleeves and turned to descend from the city wall: "Then this official will watch how Commissioner Xiong holds the defense."

Xiong Tingbi watched Xue Guoyong's retreating figure and couldn't help but snort coldly, though a trace of worry did flash through his eyes.

Without even thinking, Xiong Tingbi knew this Xue Guoyong was certainly going off to write a memorial. The content was simple too—it would be an impeachment of himself. He could guess the contents as well: arrogance and high-handedness were certain, and of course, that was just the opening.

The main thrust would be cowardice in the face of the enemy, or even making eyes at the Jianzhou barbarians—perhaps he'd even cook up a charge of colluding with the enemy.

Xiong Tingbi never doubted these men's ability to pin hats on people with their pens—scholars killed without a blade.

But Xiong Tingbi also knew that even if he were perfectly courteous to Xue Guoyong, the man would still impeach him—unless he was willing to bow into their ranks and become their lackey.

But what kind of man was he? He would rather die than do such a thing!

Gazing into the distance toward the capital, a hint of hesitation appeared on Xiong Tingbi's face, followed by a soft sigh. He hoped the capital wouldn't disappoint him!

Liaodong was actively preparing for war, while the capital was plunged into bustle. The biggest matter at hand was, of course, the Emperor's selection of an Empress; aside from that, there wasn't much else worth worrying about.

But for Zhu Youxiao, his mind was not on the Empress selection.

As for the Donglin Faction matter, the case had been handed to Yang Lian, and Zhu Youxiao had set it aside for now, planning to see how Yang Lian would handle it.

In Zhu Youxiao's view, Yang Lian would ultimately choose to yield—to yield to those people of the Donglin Faction, or rather, to compromise, because they were of the same kind.

In Yang Lian's view, everyone of his kind could be negotiated with; but as for the eunuch faction—no, that wouldn't do, those were class enemies.

Zhu Youxiao was waiting for that day.

So Zhu Youxiao had no intention of bothering with Yang Lian and the others—let them make their noise, let it go as far as it would go, and he would come out at the very end.

"Your Majesty, this memorial has been found." Chen Hong walked to Zhu Youxiao's side and respectfully handed him a memorial.

He reached out and took the memorial. It was actually very simple—just a memorial requesting leave, and the reason given was quite ordinary: I am ill, I can no longer serve Your Majesty, I wish to return home to recuperate.

There were countless memorials like this, but the reason Zhu Youxiao had sought out this particular one was simple: the man who submitted it was no ordinary person.

The man who submitted this memorial was named Xu Guangqi—the man Zhu Youxiao valued most since his transmigration, or rather, the greatest talent.

Xu Guangqi, courtesy name Zixian, style name Xuanhu, Catholic baptismal name Paul, of Han ethnicity, from Fahuahui, Shanghai County (present-day Shanghai). A renowned scientist and statesman of the Ming dynasty.

Xu Guangqi devoted his life to research in mathematics, astronomy, calendrical science, water conservancy, and other fields, writing diligently and prolifically, with particular expertise in agronomy. He translated works including the *Elements of Geometry*, *Hydraulic Methods of the West*, and authored the *Complete Treatise on Agriculture* among other books.

He understood firearms and cannons—it could be said that Xu Guangqi was the great scientist of this era, learned in both Chinese and Western knowledge.

What was this?

This was a talent rarely seen!

With talent like this, how could Zhu Youxiao possibly not use him?

Returning home to recuperate—Zhu Youxiao knew very well why Xu Guangqi wanted to go home to recuperate.

In the forty-seventh year of Wanli, the Ming army was defeated at the Battle of Sarhu. Xu Guangqi submitted multiple memorials requesting permission to train troops, and was subsequently promoted to Junior Supervisor of the Household and Censor of Henan Circuit, overseeing the training of new troops at Tongzhou. However, due to difficulties in supplying military pay and equipment, the training plan did not go smoothly.

To put it bluntly, no one thought highly of him, no one supported him—the court was busy with factional infighting; who had the mind to pay attention to an old man who wanted to train troops?

By this time, Xu Guangqi was utterly disheartened, beyond words, and could only submit a memorial requesting to return to Tianjin to recuperate.

Why Tianjin and not Shanghai? Because in the forty-first year of Wanli, in early winter, due to disagreements with certain high officials at court, Xu Guangqi had requested leave due to illness and gone to Tianjin.

There, in Fangshan and Laishui counties, he dug canals and planted rice, conducting various agricultural experiments, and successively wrote works including the *Proposal for Cultivating Wasteland*, *Draft of an Agricultural Treatise*, and *Records of Northern Farming*, laying the foundation for the compilation of the *Complete Treatise on Agriculture*.

Since I cannot serve my country with loyalty, then I might as well write books!

That was Xu Guangqi's thinking.