Chapter 311: The Realm

"Your Majesty, Zhang Guowei has submitted another memorial, reporting dozens of minor victories at Anqing, but his main point remains a request for reinforcements."

Snowflakes drifted over the Capital that afternoon, the layered gold of the Imperial City blanketed in white. In the square before the Palace of Heavenly Purity, a group of eunuch officials were sweeping the accumulated snow from the Corridor.

The Chongzhen Emperor, wrapped in a yellow robe with a fox-fur collar, strolled slowly along the white marble palace terrace, followed by Wang Cheng'en and several personal attendant eunuchs. Since the new year had just passed, a considerable number of memorials had piled up; even during this walk, he had Wang Cheng'en bring the memorials along, reading them aloud as they walked.

"How did the Cabinet draft the Drafting and Redacting?"

"It was drafted by the Chief Grand Secretary. Zhang Guowei is ordered not to use insufficient troops as an excuse to delay, and must coordinate with the various Supervisory Coordinators and Regional Inspectors to deploy forces and vigorously suppress the bandits."

"Mr. Wen wrote nothing incorrect. The Directorate of Ceremonial may follow regulation and endorse it in vermilion." Chongzhen paused, then added, "Zhang Guowei commands the Rations and Pay, troops, and horses of the Jiangnan Ten Prefectures. If he cannot even hold a single Anqing, then what more can be said of Henan and Huguang? In the future, if he merely requests reinforcements, let the Directorate of Ceremonial handle it according to the Drafting and Redacting. No need to bring it before my eyes."

"This slave understands."

Chongzhen stopped beside the eastern sundial, watching the bustling crowd in the square. Just then, a northern wind blew past, and he could not help but draw his collar slightly tighter. Wang Cheng'en quickly waved behind him, signaling a eunuch to move the canopy over to block the snowflakes, but the Emperor waved his hand, refusing again, letting the snowflakes fall upon him.

"Among what the Directorate of Ceremonial sent over just now, was there also a memorial from Liaodong?"

Wang Cheng'en hurriedly said, "Your Majesty's insight reaches a thousand li. The Liaodong Grand Coordinator sent a memorial to the Ministry of War that has arrived. It states that, based on Dispatch Reports received from Every Direction, it is confirmed that the Bandit Slaves have mobilized a large force and headed for Joseon at the beginning of the twelfth month. Besides the various Later Jin Banners, there are also Mongol Tribes."

Chongzhen's hand trembled slightly. He noticed it immediately and gripped the lapel of his robe. Wang Cheng'en fell silent at the appropriate moment, waiting for the Emperor to digest this bad news.

The entire situation in the Liao theater had grown increasingly dire in the ten years since the Emperor ascended the throne. Chahar had been crushed by the Later Jin army, and the Mongol tribes north of the Nine Borders had all submitted to Later Jin. The Dongjiang Garrison existed in name only. Lüshun, the Ming Army's last foothold on the Liaodong mainland, had also been captured. Now only Pi Island remained, isolated at sea, barely holding on with supplies from Joseon. Its ability to pin down Later Jin was extremely limited, thus giving Later Jin the spare strength to breach the passes and plunder multiple times. Now Huang Taiji was about to move against Joseon again.

In the seventh year of Tianqi, Later Jin had attacked Joseon for the first time to remove the threat to its east. At that time, they signed a Brotherly Alliance. But after that, Joseon still honored the Ming Dynasty as its suzerain, sending tribute to the Capital every year, outwardly complying with Later Jin's orders while secretly supporting the Dongjiang Garrison on Pi Island. This was Later Jin's second attack on Joseon, clearly aimed at forcing Joseon into complete submission.

Given Joseon's military strength, facing a full-scale Qing invasion, the Outcome was obvious without asking. In the entire Liaodong periphery, apart from the defensive line in Liaoxi, no force remained that could pin down the Qing army. The next time the Qing army attacked, the Ming Dynasty would face unprecedented pressure.

The Emperor's eyes were vacant. His hands unconsciously clenched the lapel of his robe tighter and tighter. After a long while, the Emperor finally spoke. "Since Fang Yizao detected the Tartars marching out in force, Liaodong must be empty. Why does he not lead the Liao Garrison straight to the Liao River, to besiege Wei and rescue Zhao by aiding Joseon?"

Wang Cheng'en said cautiously, "This slave Realizes that the Tartars surely left troops behind. Fang Military Gate received the report in haste. To reorganize the troops and gather provisions, by the time he reaches the Liao River, I fear the Tartars will have already returned. I fear, I fear…"

"You fear the Liao Garrison is not up to the task, and not only would they fail to aid Joseon, but they would suffer another major Defeat."

Chongzhen's face was pale. His hands clenched his cotton robe tightly. He took a few heavy, ragged breaths that turned into white mist in the air, then quickly dissipated and vanished.

His gaze fell upon the sundial, which was now also covered in accumulated snow. Because the sky was overcast, he could not tell the current hour.

"The Liao Garrison is already our Ming Dynasty's strongest Border Army. They sweep all before them when chasing northern barbarians or striking Roving Bandits. Yet the moment they encounter the Tartars, they collapse at a single blow. That Jianzhou was nothing but a rebel. Yet for decades, no one has been able to restrain them. I rule all under Heaven. Wang Cheng'en, tell me, is there truly no army under this Heaven stronger than the Tartars?"

Wang Cheng'en said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, quell your Anger. Those Tartars are uncivilized savages beyond the pale. They were originally more barbaric and fierce, but they number only a little over a hundred thousand. As long as the civil and military officials devote their hearts to their duties, sooner or later we will exterminate these petty clowns."

"Devote their hearts to their duties. The problem lies precisely in this 'devoting their hearts.'" Chongzhen's gaze swept over the snow-covered square. His tone was icy as he said, "Since Wang Jiazhen took office, he has yet to step a single foot out of Zhongzhou. That is one thing. But even before his troops moved, his own Standard Battalion's personal soldiers Mutinied. Can this be called devotion? The Roving Thieves have been ravaging Macheng for over a month, and the Huguang Grand Coordinator and Regional Inspector are helpless. Can this be called devotion? I ordered Yingtian to investigate the matter of Zhou Zhikui's dismissal from office. There was neither credible testimony nor credible evidence. Zhang Guowei delayed for months and reported back that Zhang Pu was uninvolved. Can this be called devotion?"

He let out a long sigh. "Though there are many civil and military officials, those who can devote their hearts to their duties are few. It is precisely because of this lack of devotion that this great realm is so ravaged by the Eastern Slaves and the Roving Bandits."

Wang Cheng'en was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Your Majesty's discerning eyes are like torches. That Yang Sichang is a man who can get things done. Now, with the Roving Bandits running rampant and the Tartars growing bold, at a time when the realm is deploying troops everywhere, the post of Minister of War cannot remain vacant for long."

"Has Yang Sichang arrived in the Capital yet?"

"He has submitted a third memorial requesting to resign."

"Denied." A flash of impatience crossed Chongzhen's face. This Appointment had actually been issued in the tenth month of last year. Yang Sichang was still in mourning, and this was a special Imperial Edict for Seizing Office. Yang Sichang had already requested to resign twice and had yet to arrive at his post.

"This slave dares to speak a word on behalf of the Minister of War. Three memorials requesting resignation are also a matter of having no choice. Before he has even taken office this time, people like Huang Daozhou are already loudly proclaiming that Your Majesty is filling the court with inauspicious men. If the memorials requesting resignation were too few, I fear they would add the charge of being unfilial. At that point, as soon as he takes office, Impeachment Memorials would fill the court and the realm, and Minister Yang would find it difficult to get things done."

Hearing Huang Daozhou's name, Chongzhen let out a soft snort. Yang Sichang indeed had to submit memorials requesting resignation. Too few would make him appear unfilial. Otherwise, even if he took office, the saliva of the Remonstrance Officials would spray him to death. Chongzhen could understand this, but right now he urgently needed a qualified Minister of War.

The Emperor had calmed down somewhat by now. His hands released the cotton robe. After a moment's pause, he said, "A loyal minister must still be sought from the character of filial piety. Convey this Opinion to Yang Sichang. Order him to come to the Capital and assume office immediately."

"This slave has noted it." Wang Cheng'en observed the Emperor's expression and cautiously probed, "The Empress just sent word, inviting Your Majesty to speak with her this Evening."

"Is it again about the gossip in this palace? I heard she punished someone close to Tian Fei again."

"This… This slave heard that someone from the Palace of Heavenly Favor committed an act of disrespect."

The Emperor gave a Cold Expression. "And what good thing is she herself."

Snowflakes swirled before the hall, but a layer of fine sweat beaded on Wang Cheng'en's forehead. He did not know whether the "she" the Emperor spoke of was the Empress or Tian Fei. The Empress was the mistress of the inner palace, and Tian Fei was the most favored Imperial Consort. Both were people in the palace who could not be offended. But judging from the context of what was just said, the likelihood that "she" referred to the Empress was greater. For a moment, Wang Cheng'en felt only a parched mouth and dry tongue.

He had not expected a single ordinary sentence to stir up such trouble. Fortunately, the other eunuch officials were all standing far away, so there was no immediate fear of the news leaking. But Wang Cheng'en absolutely could not express any opinion on this matter. It was best not to say a single word. After his eyes darted around, he hurriedly changed the subject.

"This slave just forgot an important matter. The Directorate of Ceremonial requests His Majesty's instruction… It concerns Zhang Hanru's accusation against Qian Qianyi and Zhai Shisi. The Cabinet's Drafting and Redacting orders the Yingtian Grand Coordinator to immediately interrogate and arrest them and bring them to the Capital. The Directorate of Ceremonial asks whether the Embroidered Uniform Guard should handle it."

"I am already aware of this matter." The Emperor thought for a moment and said, "For those who do not devote their hearts to their duties, I would rather do without. Zhang Guowei falls somewhere in between. The Zhang Pu matter already carried a whiff of perfunctory handling. Since Qian Qianyi was his chief examiner, let him handle this matter of interrogation and arrest."

Wang Cheng'en responded in a low voice. Even he felt that Zhang Guowei's situation was difficult. Because of the Zhang Pu matter, Wen Tiren had demoted Feng Yuanbiao and transferred him out, and had not sent him reinforcements. Now he was even being ordered to arrest his own chief examiner. For a scholar, this was an immense pressure.

The Emperor thought for another moment and then said, "The Drafting and Redacting for Zhang Guowei's memorial just now, the Chief Grand Secretary was still too lenient. It may not be enough to make these civil and military officials devote their hearts. Convey an Imperial Edict to Mr. Wen: There are confessions from bandits that Nanjing has many spies. Order the Southern Military Governor and the city arrest agencies to strictly deliberate and carry out arrests. The burning and plundering of villages in Tongcheng must still be accurately investigated and reported urgently to the relevant ministry for their Knowledge. Although Shi Kefa and others report sporadic kills and captures, it is of no benefit to the suppression Company. Yet they use empty words of defense, interdiction, and reconnaissance to shirk their duties. They are further ordered to join with the Southern Military Governor, the Fengyang Supervisory Coordinator, and the Pacification Coordinator to strictly abide by repeated decrees, swiftly assemble elite troops, and join forces to annihilate and strike. No delays or dawdling."

"This slave has noted it."

"Go at once."

Wang Cheng'en acknowledged and hurried out.

The snow was still falling. The Corridor the eunuchs had swept was once again covered in a layer of white. The Emperor raised his gaze, looking at the stretching palace rooftops, as if he could see the endless mountains and rivers beyond them.

After a long while, the Emperor's lips trembled slightly. "This is the Ming Dynasty's realm. My realm."