Chapter 126: Willing to Count the Yellow-Whiskered Son of Ye

Although the words "fart" and "farting" were always on the lips of these common soldiers, today they burst from the Emperor's mouth and instantly closed the distance between him and the rank and file.

If the Emperor had spoken in refined, bookish language, these soldiers would of course have listened, but they would never have dared to roar with laughter the way they did now, feeling only that the Emperor was just like them and truly understood common soldiers like themselves.

Once the soldiers' laughter had died down a little, Chongzhen finally said, "Who isn't tired? We're all flesh and blood, not forged from iron — how could you not be tired? You lot, all you know is how to sweet-talk Us into a good mood!"

Watching the soldiers beneath the muster platform all chuckling softly, some even whispering to each other, Chongzhen paid it no mind and simply went on: "Still, being tired means you're doing it right! Sweating buckets during training is no problem.

Drink plenty of water and you'll always get it back. But if you don't drill properly, when the time comes it won't be sweat you're shedding — it'll be blood, or even your lives."

Looking at the soldiers, who were now deep in thought, Chongzhen continued: "You were handpicked by General Liu Xingzuo on Our orders, and many of you bear blood feuds against the Jianzhou barbarians. We hope you will become the seed stock for the rest of the Ming's guard posts.

That is to say, you are Our hope, and the hope of every army in the Great Ming."

"We would far rather you sweat and get hurt in training than lose your lives on the battlefield. After all, on the battlefield, blades and shot show no mercy."

"Don't think We are fond of war. It's those dog-spawned Jianzhou barbarians who force us to fight. If we don't fight, they will invade the Great Ming, abuse your parents, wives, and children, and steal everything you have!"

"Since we must fight, then let's fight one great decisive war! We don't just want to lead you to smash the Jianzhou barbarians — We want to lead you to expand our frontiers and open new lands. When that day comes, every one of you will have the hope of earning a noble title through military merit!"

"Finally, We will send supervisory eunuchs to teach you to read and write. In the future, to go from the ranks to the court as a minister — that may not be impossible either!"

That last line ignited the soldiers' passion. The very reason they had become common soldiers was precisely because they couldn't read, wasn't it?

Once they could read, they could go home and teach the children in their families, and gradually their own households would produce some literate, cultured men too.

Watching the soldiers, whose morale had been completely whipped up by his few words, Chongzhen felt more and more satisfied. He raised his hand again to signal, and the soldiers instantly fell utterly silent.

Only then did Chongzhen say with satisfaction, "The business of the battle line — that's yours to handle! The rest — leave it to Us!

Merit will be rewarded without fail; fault will be punished without fail! Whether you win distinction, suffer grievances, or the affairs after your death in battle — We will take care of it all!"

"That's all We have to say. Now all of you, get back to your drill."

After the soldiers dispersed and returned to their drill, not only seasoned military men like Zhang Weixian and Liu Xingzuo, but even complete military laymen like Chongzhen, Fang Zhenghua, and Wang Cheng'en could clearly see that the soldiers' fervor in training was markedly greater than when they had been demonstrating formations just moments before.

If earlier they had given ten parts of effort when they had ten parts of strength, now they seemed desperate to give twelve parts of effort with those ten parts of strength.

Zhang Weixian, who had been standing to the side the whole time, finally spoke: "Your Majesty, look at these soldiers — they are clearly far stronger than they were a moment ago.

If all the soldiers in our Ming guard posts were like this, and if the ammunition for the firearms could keep up, why would we need to hem in the Jianzhou barbarians? We could simply strike straight at them."

Chongzhen laughed.

"Well said, my dear minister.

But as for the firearms, Our knowledge is limited; everything still depends on how Minister Xu and the others handle it. The firearms tested earlier were not bad, but production cannot be scaled up — they rely entirely on old master craftsmen making them by hand.

To equip every guard post in the Great Ming, who knows what year or month that will take."

"Moreover, We later heard from Minister Xu that all ten of the firelocks used for test-firing have already burst their barrels — the only difference being whether it happened sooner or later."

"From this, it seems the steel and iron used to forge these firelocks is still not up to standard. In the future, we must still rely on Minister Xu and the others to slowly find a way to improve the quality of the steel."

"A heavy burden and a long road."

After a bout of sighing, Chongzhen pulled himself together and said to Zhang Weixian and Liu Xingzuo, "Come, accompany Us back to the palace. You two ministers will help Us deliberate on the current situation in Liaodong."

Zhang Weixian and Liu Xingzuo bowed together in assent. After returning to the palace, Chongzhen summoned Xu Xianchun and Cao Huachun and ordered the two of them to report directly on the situation in Liaodong.

Xu Xianchun said bluntly, "Reporting to Your Majesty, according to the latest secret dispatches from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the slave chieftain Hong Taiji has already seen through Supreme Commander Mao Wenlong's intention to once again trick and kill the Jianzhou barbarians' envoys, and plans to launch an attack on Dongjiang and Joseon directly after the start of spring."

"Joseon's Prince Neungyang, Yi Jong, is considerably stronger than the former Prince Gwanghae.

Acting on Mister Sun's instructions, he has already killed the Jianzhou barbarians' envoys. He is now conscripting troops and stockpiling provisions within Joseon, intending to join forces with Supreme Commander Mao Wenlong to meet the Jianzhou barbarians head-on."

Chongzhen, however, laughed coldly.

"It's good that Joseon has the will, but don't count on them.

Their soldiers are even worse than our Ming guard posts. Relying on Mao Wenlong alone, it is fundamentally impossible to withstand the Jianzhou barbarians.

When Sun Chengzong went to Joseon previously, We discussed this with him: as soon as the Jianzhou barbarians move their troops, our Ming side must also put on the appearance of attacking them in order to tie them down."

Zhang Weixian, however, said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, why not go all the way — since we're at it, let's not just put on an appearance.

After the Jianzhou barbarians dispatch their troops, let Joseon's side fight as the main force first, with Mao Wenlong's side pinning them from the flank.

As long as those two sides can draw in the Jianzhou barbarians' main strength, the Shanhai Pass and Ning-Jin fronts can simply send troops to cut off the Jianzhou barbarians' retreat."

Liu Xingzuo objected.

"That won't work.

The Jianzhou barbarians now have the support of those mongrel bastards from Khorchin and lack no warhorses, so they are gradually shifting to a cavalry-based force.

I fear that when the time comes, the troops on the Ning-Jin front will not be able to withstand the Jianzhou barbarians' cavalry.

In this general's humble view, we should still put on the appearance of an attack, force the Jianzhou barbarians to withdraw, and simply prevent them from striking Dongjiang."

Zhang Weixian, however, still held to his own view.

"The Great Ming's winter this year has been far too cold, and the Jianzhou barbarians are no better off.

What I fear is that the Jianzhou barbarians, like a cornered dog, will leap over the wall and truly go all out to strike Dongjiang and Joseon.

After all, from the Jianzhou barbarians' perspective, if they truly take Dongjiang and Joseon, never mind the captured population to be used as slaves — just the provisions and fodder they could seize from Joseon would make up for all the Jianzhou barbarians' previous losses in our Great Ming, and likely leave them with a considerable surplus."

Liu Xingzuo knew that what Zhang Weixian said was the truth, so he grunted once and said no more, merely pondering to himself how it should be handled.

Chongzhen also began to find the matter difficult. When he had discussed it with Sun Chengzong earlier, they had indeed overlooked this point.

If the Jianzhou barbarians truly acted like cornered dogs and struck hard at Dongjiang, he feared he would indeed be in a difficult position when the time came.

There should be more in a bit. Then another chapter scheduled for tomorrow morning at seven. Tomorrow noon I'll try to code out an afternoon chapter. In the evening I'll update two more chapters. That's roughly the plan.

(End of chapter)