Chapter 231

"My beloved ministers, the siege of Dalinghe has lasted a month, and Liaozhen has no plan to break it. What strategy should we adopt now? Let us discuss it today."

Inside the Qianqing Palace, the Chongzhen Emperor's voice carried a stiff edge, his face even paler than a few months before. He had discovered that whenever the Later Jin troops appeared, there was very little he himself could do — basically, he could only stand there and take a beating.

As Minister of War, Liang Tingdong naturally had to speak first. He swallowed a mouthful of saliva, but before he could open his mouth, Zhou Ruibao, Supervising Secretary of the War Section, stepped forward and loudly declared: "Reporting to His Majesty, Dalinghe City has been besieged for nearly a month. Liaozhen has fought only twice, reporting one victory at the Battle of Songshan. Your humble servant dares to ask: the Guan-Ning line annually consumes over four million taels of Liaodong Tax and assembles a host of one hundred thousand troops. Why, after a month of siege, has there been only one battle, and that battle fought at Songshan? With an army so timid and shrinking, when can the siege of Dalinghe be lifted?"

After finishing, Zhou Ruibao shot a glare at Liang Tingdong. "Moreover, the construction of Lingcheng was already disputed at court. Since the Minister of War, the Grand Coordinator, and the Liaodong Provincial Governor were all firmly determined to build it, then whether the slaves attacked or not — every eventuality required planning before action. Now the slave troops have been at the city for a month, and from the Liaodong Provincial Governor to the Minister of War, not a single plan has shown real effect. Your humble servant asks: ignoring court debate to lightly provoke conflict, failing to prepare a fully comprehensive strategy in advance, and leaving behind an intractable mess — can such men be called loyal and capable ministers?! Though we need not now pursue past blame, yet Zu Dashou's ten thousand elite troops and tens of thousands of merchants and civilians are trapped there. How can we bear to abandon them?"

A slight panic stirred in Liang Tingdong's heart. The Supervising Secretaries of the War Section were specifically tasked with finding omissions and deficiencies in military affairs, and could even seal and refute imperial edicts. He was utterly helpless against this minor seventh-rank official. Now that the man had questioned him to his face, he had to answer, and was just organizing his response in his mind when Zhou Ruibao continued: "Your humble servant secondly impeaches the Grand Coordinator Sun Chengzong. His Majesty granted him the Imperial Sword and ordered him to inspect the frontier, precisely so the Grand Coordinator would personally go among the ranks, ensuring merit and fault went unmissed, reward and punishment were immediate, to bolster the soldiers' morale. Now Dalinghe is besieged, yet the Grand Coordinator, citing the inconvenience of riding, lingers at Ningyuan, merely having the Liaodong Provincial Governor sit at Jinzhou. Since the Grand Coordinator bears this exclusive responsibility, how can he transfer it to another? Is this not betraying His Majesty's special intent in granting the Imperial Sword? Your servant begs to immediately request the Grand Coordinator to assume exclusive command and station himself at Jinzhou, setting a deadline to lift the siege."

Zhou Ruibao had an imposing presence, and his resounding voice echoed through the great hall. His several impeachments were far from light. Seeing someone had stuck their neck out, the others all fell silent, waiting to see how Liang Tingdong would respond.

Liang Tingdong now calmed his mind. He glanced in Wen Tiren's direction, only to see him with head lowered and brows smooth, giving no signal. He knew he could only rely on himself. Gritting his teeth, he straightened up, assuming an expression of confidence. "Zhou Ruibao impeaches me for lightly provoking conflict. I request permission to defend myself."

The Chongzhen Emperor said flatly, "Let the Minister of War speak."

"The construction of Dalinghe was not focused solely on Liaoxi. Dalinghe lies only thirty-plus li northeast of Jinzhou. Even in terms of recovering Guangning, it falls far short. When I proposed building Dalinghe, the focus was on Jizhou, not Liao. Consider the time of the Jisi year when the Jianzhou Bandits entered the passes. The soldiers and civilians lost numbered far more than tens of thousands. For a hundred li around the capital, nothing was left unravaged. The Jizhen Great Wall stretches for several hundred li, and its defensive line is shattered. The tens of thousands of battalion troops Liu Kexun trained are all new recruits. How can they withstand the Jianzhou Bandits? Day and night I agonized over this, and then I thought: the mighty troops of Liaoxi are stationed there, and after all, it is easier to defend than Jizhen. There were once the victories of Ningjin and Ningyuan. If we could draw the main Jianzhou army there, Jizhen would naturally be safe. The rebuilding of Dalinghe arose from this. Since construction began in the seventh month, the main Jianzhou army has been drawn to Liaoxi, leaving them absolutely no spare strength to turn west toward Jizhen. With the Grand Coordinator's ability, as long as he can firmly hold Liaoxi, it is already a gain for our Great Ming. If we can buy one year, then Jizhen's troops will be trained, the broken border walls will be reinforced, and we may not lack the strength for a battle. I call this the strategy of using Liao to defend Ji."

A buzz immediately arose in the court. Liang Tingdong's defense was quite novel. Everyone lived in the capital and naturally had no wish to be trapped inside again by the Jianzhou Bandits. Seen this way, building Dalinghe City was no bad thing. And Liang Tingdong's self-defense spoke only of his own brilliant strategic decision-making, that his planning was without fault. As for whether Dalinghe could be held, he hinted that it depended on how Sun Chengzong fought — the responsibility lay with the executing Grand Coordinator, not with him, the decision-maker.

The Chongzhen Emperor also frowned slightly. Liang Tingdong's tai chi was slick and left no handle to grasp. But even if perfectly correct, it was utterly useless for the current siege. Though according to Liang Tingdong, as long as the Jianzhou Bandits did not enter the passes, Great Ming had won, the world would not see it that way. What everyone saw was Dalinghe besieged with tens of thousands trapped — Great Ming had lost, in the end. Moreover, those trapped were the most elite troops of Liaozhen, Zu Dashou's command, which was far from an ordinary loss of tens of thousands.

Zhou Ruibao, however, was unwilling to let Liang Tingdong off so easily. He turned to face Liang Tingdong and said, "Is Liaozhen not under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War? With tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Dalinghe, does the Minister simply use Liao to defend Ji and abandon them all to the barbarians?"

Zhou Ruibao belonged to neither Wen Tiren's nor Zhou Yanru's faction; he simply addressed the matter at hand. With neither Wen's nor Zhou's people stepping forward, Liang Tingdong addressed the Emperor: "Your Majesty, the people of Dalinghe City are all Your Majesty's children and subjects. The Ministry of War will never abandon them. Troops from Changping Garrison and the Tianjin Provincial Battalion are already prepared and will set out for relief within days. It is just that the Jianzhou Bandits are fierce and cruel; the Grand Coordinator presumably wishes to plan thoroughly before setting out."

Zhou Ruibao shook his sleeve, about to debate Liang Tingdong further, when the Chongzhen Emperor said softly, "Enough. Since the Minister of War already has a plan, order the various battalions to set out at once. Though the city has provisions, the food will eventually run out. Zu Dashou and He Kegang are still men who serve with sincere hearts. The Minister of War shall convey this intent to the Grand Coordinator."

Liang Tingdong hastily assented, knowing he had passed this hurdle for now. He bowed in acknowledgment. Just as his voice faded, Xiong Kaiyuan, Supervising Secretary of the Personnel Section, stepped forward and said, "Your servant seconds that the Grand Coordinator should assume exclusive command. Since Your Majesty has granted him the Imperial Sword, the Grand Coordinator and the Liaodong Provincial Governor bear unshirkable responsibility. Generous reward and public execution — duty cannot be declined. Yuguan originally had eunuch supervisors such as Gao Qiqian and Li Mingchen, yet Your Majesty has specially dispatched the eunuch Wang Yingchao for this task. Do such eunuchs truly possess the frontier talents of Sun Wu? If Dalinghe is lost, I fear the Grand Coordinator and Qiu Jiahe will shift blame onto the eunuchs. Your servant requests the withdrawal of eunuch supervisors to unify authority..."

As soon as the Chongzhen Emperor heard Xiong Kaiyuan jump out again with the same old tune, he felt deeply displeased. If the outer officials could set his mind at ease, why would he need to send eunuch supervisors? Given the current situation, he was even planning to send more eunuchs to various places, let alone recall the supervisors. He said coldly, "The dispatch of eunuch personnel is decided at Our discretion. There is no need for excessive suspicion and speculation."

Everyone at court understood at once that the Emperor had no intention of withdrawing them. No one pursued the topic further, but Xiong Kaiyuan alone rambled on. The Chongzhen Emperor's expression grew even more frigid. These Supervising Secretaries feared no one, and they gave the Emperor no face either. In the end, it was Wen Tiren who spoke, exhausting every kind word, and only then was Xiong Kaiyuan pacified.

Wen Tiren turned around and shot a glance at Wu Zongda. Wu Zongda stepped out of the ranks and memorialized: "Your Majesty, just now the Minister of War mentioned that the troops mobilized from Zhili are about to set out. Why was the Deng-Lai force alone not mentioned? Since Sun Yuanhua assumed office, he has annually wasted over nine hundred thousand taels of military pay, claiming fifty thousand crack troops are stationed there. The naval forces of the three camps at Dengzhou, Dongjiang, and Wendeng blanket the sea. Why, when the time comes to dispatch troops, is not a single man seen for so long?"

Hearing Sun Yuanhua mentioned, many courtiers' eyes turned toward Zhou Yanru. Zhou Yanru, just thirty-nine years old, sat still as an old monk in meditation. From winning the Top Graduate title to the present, he had been in politics for eighteen years and had seen plenty of storms. He was also very clear about the court's current situation. The Emperor disliked factional strife. Both Wen Tiren and he avoided showing any group of officials, but those censors had noses keener than dogs. They impeached often, and the Emperor actually knew the two men were at odds.

Sun Yuanhua and Zhang Tinggong were, needless to say, his men. Datong was relatively quiet; Wen Tiren could find no flaws in Zhang Tinggong. The main target was Sun Yuanhua's side. Originally there had been the great victory at Shenmi Island, and Sun Yuanhua had the merit of planning. Who knew Sun Yuanhua would immediately be impeached by Lu Zhi and Chen Xin, the two direct heroes, turning Sun Yuanhua's merit into fault.

Fortunately, the Chongzhen Emperor actually understood the principle of balance, and he valued Zhou Yanru greatly, unwilling for Zhou Yanru to fall from power because of this. So Zhou Yanru was able to delay the imperial envoy's investigation, waiting for Sun Yuanhua to strike back. According to the plan Sun Yuanhua had sent word of, he thought there was some confidence, and merely sent a message telling Sun Yuanhua not to overly impeach the Wendeng Camp. As the only commander who had repeatedly defeated the Ming army, Chen Xin actually held considerable weight in the Emperor's mind. He wanted Sun Yuanhua to focus on the eunuch supervisors, and as for Chen Xin, to mainly impeach his low personal character. But yesterday, his informant inside the palace had sent word that Lu Zhi had just dispatched a six-hundred-li express report, which seemed to be something unfavorable to Sun Yuanhua.

Now hearing Wu Zongda's question, Zhou Yanru naturally would not step out to answer. It was still Liang Tingdong who replied: "Deng-Lai is far away. Reinforcements should travel by sea. Perhaps..."

The Chongzhen Emperor suddenly gave a cold laugh. "Grand Secretary Wu asks an excellent question. It so happens that We have just received an urgent report from the Deng-Lai Army Supervisor. As of the fifth day of the ninth month, Deng-Lai has still not dispatched troops. All the ships of the Dengzhou naval camp actually require repairs. This is the mighty host of tens of thousands that annually wastes nine hundred thousand in military pay." His tone gradually rose. "Never mind that the naval camp has no sound ships — there was one ship that was sound, only it was not loaded with soldiers. On board, besides three military attendants from the Provincial Governor's office, there was one other person."

The Chongzhen Emperor slowly swept his gaze across the assembled ministers. Zhou Yanru sensed the situation was extremely dire. Sure enough, he heard the Chongzhen Emperor loudly declare: "There was also a Jianzhou Bandit. Identified by the Liao refugees in Deng-Lai, this man is the grandnephew of Li Chengliang, currently serving as a Mobile Corps Commander among the Jianzhou Bandits."

The assembled ministers were stunned by this bombshell, exchanging astonished glances. Zhou Yanru's body also trembled slightly. To say Sun Yuanhua embezzled military funds would not surprise them in the least, but to say Sun Yuanhua colluded with the slaves — that they absolutely would not believe. Even with the wide Liao Sea between them, the Jianzhou Bandits could offer him no benefit.

Wen Tiren, naturally having received the news in advance, feigned astonishment as he stepped out of the ranks and said, "Your Majesty, this matter is shocking to hear. Your servant dares to ask: from where did this news come?"

The Chongzhen Emperor nodded to Cao Huachun below the throne. Cao Huachun stepped forward and loudly declared: "Urgent report from the Deng-Lai Army Supervisor, the eunuch of the Directorate for Palace Servants Lu Zhi: on the fifth day of the ninth month, in the waters off Dengzhou, a vessel of suspicious appearance was captured. When pursued, some on board resisted. After they were killed by the naval forces under Lu Zhi's command, several bodies were found in the inner hold, apparently dead from killing each other. Identified by Lu Zhi's attendants, three of them were military attendants from the Provincial Governor's office, carrying a letter. The other was dressed as a Jianzhou Bandit, carrying a letter written in the barbarian tongue. Neither was signed. The tone of the one in Chinese resembled that of an official of our Great Ming. Lu Zhi did not dare handle it arbitrarily. Both letters have arrived with Lu Zhi's urgent report. The Jianzhou Bandit's head was also delivered to the capital at the same time. Identified again by an old Liaodong clerk in the Ministry of War, it is confirmed to be Li Chengliang's grandnephew Li Sizhong, serving as a Mobile Corps Commander among the Jianzhou Bandits."

The Chongzhen Emperor said, "Show the letters to the several Grand Secretaries." As he spoke, his voice had turned utterly icy.

Cao Huachun handed the several letters to Zhou Yanru, Wen Tiren, and the others. When Zhou Yanru took them and looked, this one actually did resemble Sun Yuanhua's handwriting. It read: "The troop movement schedule can be delayed, simply using ship repairs as the pretext. The number of troops will certainly not exceed four thousand. However, obtaining Fuzhou for half a year and five hundred bondservant heads for one million taels is, I fear, difficult to pay. I propose changing it to five hundred thousand. As for dispatching the Wendeng Camp to Liaoxi, because they suffered heavy losses in the Pidao battle, court officials will likely oppose further deployment. At most, a portion of them can be sent. I can only do my utmost..."

Zhou Yanru's first reaction was that this was Lu Zhi's treacherous scheme, and not a particularly brilliant one at that. No matter how foolish, Sun Yuanhua would never do such business with the Jianzhou Bandits, nor could he produce that much silver. Few would believe it. The only worrying point was that there indeed was a Jianzhou Bandit, and a Han Chinese Mobile Corps Commander at that. But he immediately thought of Chen Xin. It must be that Chen Xin captured this man and arranged this trap. Detestable that this Chen Xin would rather forgo this military merit and use it to frame Sun Yuanhua instead.

After reading, Zhou Yanru ignored Wen Tiren's outstretched hand and directly passed it to Vice Minister Xu Guangqi. Xu Guangqi had likewise placed high hopes on Sun Yuanhua and had never imagined the situation before him. After reading, his hands trembled, and he dropped to his knees with a thud, saying to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, this is a Jianzhou Bandit stratagem to sow discord. It cannot be lightly believed. If the four were in collusion, how could they have killed each other on the ship? If it was suicide, why did they not destroy the letters? It makes even less sense. Moreover, Sun Yuanhua is by nature honest and simple. It is absolutely impossible for him to do such a shameless thing. This old servant is willing to stake the lives of his entire household and clan to guarantee that Sun Yuanhua is a man loyal to the country. I beg Your Majesty's clear discernment."

Wen Tiren, not waiting for Zhou Yanru to speak, preempted him: "Lord Xu speaks truly. This old servant seconds the motion."

Zhou Yanru was astonished by Wen Tiren's performance. Before he could react, Wu Zongda continued: "Your servant also believes in Lord Sun's loyalty. However, we must observe his actions. The Deng-Lai troops have long delayed without moving, which groundlessly raises suspicion. Even if Lord Sun has no such intent, it will cause others to misunderstand, which is ultimately no fortunate matter for Lord Sun."

Liang Tingdong immediately stepped forward and said, "Your servant agrees with Grand Secretary Wu. This matter is far too bizarre. Your servant also does not believe Lord Sun would commit such a heinously treasonous act. But since Lord Sun assumed the post of Provincial Governor, his conduct has indeed had debatable points. Apart from the dispatch date, in this recent great victory at Shenmi Island, the Deng-Lai merit report has been long delayed, all because Lord Sun refused to countersign it. As a result, the promotions and pensions for the officers and men have no basis. Is this not chilling the hearts of the brave? Even if we do not believe this matter of colluding with the enemy, we should swiftly dispatch personnel to investigate, so as to clear Lord Sun's name."

Xu Guangqi, not realizing it was a trap, hastily replied, "Your servant seconds the motion. I beg Your Majesty to dispatch personnel to investigate."

Zhou Yanru inwardly cried out in alarm. If someone were sent to investigate now, what good could Sun Yuanhua possibly get? Even if nothing were found, he would be pressed to dispatch troops, and then Dalinghe would become linked to himself. But now the various ministers were stepping forward one after another to second the motion. He could only accept this overall situation. Just as he was about to contest the choice of personnel, the Chongzhen Emperor spoke.

The Son of Heaven of Great Ming could not contain his inner displeasure. He stood up and loudly declared: "Deng-Lai has jurisdiction over Dongjiang and is a crucial front against the Jianzhou Bandits. There must absolutely be no one with sinister intentions there. Since there is suspicion, it must be verified. Order Wu Zongda to select a capable censor, along with a Vice Minister of War, to proceed to Dengzhou to investigate the truth. If true, arrest on the spot. If false, urge the advance of troops, setting a deadline by which they must arrive. Dalinghe is besieged day and night — how can perfunctory evasion be tolerated? Let the Minister of War separately send a communiqué to Assistant Regional Commander Chen of the Wendeng Camp, to detach a portion of his troops to accompany them, to serve as the army's bold spirit."

After speaking, he turned and left. Cao Huachun hastily called out, "Court dismissed!" and then hurried after him.

The courtiers dispersed one after another. Zhou Yanru, his expression dark and still, stared at Wen Tiren. Wen Tiren stroked his graying beard, gave Zhou Yanru a face full of smiles and a bow, and swaggered off with Wu Zongda.

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