Chapter 269: At a Disadvantage

Even Wen Tiren was rather surprised. Xu Guangqi was an upright man, already advanced in years, and usually absorbed in the study of Western learning and Catholicism; his ambition for official advancement was not strong. By all reason, he would not do something like throwing in his lot with Zhou Yanru.

After a moment's thought, he understood the reason — it was still Sun Yuanhua. Xu Guangqi had always regarded Sun Yuanhua as the hope of the Jesuit mission, and at the same time he saw the Deng–Lai personal troops as the hope for a strong Ming army. If Xu Guangqi now proposed amnesty, the chances of success were high, because Li Jiucheng had already become a roving bandit. After amnesty, Sun Yuanhua's crimes would be greatly lessened, perhaps even sparing his life. Zhou Yanru would also not be dragged down further.

And by doing so, the Wendeng Battalion could also be dragged into the quagmire at Dalinghe, at which point Zhou Yanru might instead seize on a flaw of Wen Tiren's.

Everyone present was an old fox, and all quickly caught on, waiting only for Wen Tiren to counter. Wu Zongda naturally had to step forward for his patron. After briefly considering his wording, he spoke: "Your Majesty, men like Li Jiucheng and Kong Youde are cunning and fierce. During their rebellion in Shandong, they already exploited the amnesty offers of Sun Yuanhua and Yu Dacheng — Wang Daochun's memorial just now made that clear. To accept their surrender today only to have them rebel again tomorrow — how is that different from the disgraced Viceroy Yang He? They have slaughtered gentry and commoners in Shandong in great numbers. Even if they are granted amnesty, where could they be resettled, and what place would dare accept them? If we redirect the relief troops on this account, and within a few months that unit stirs up trouble again over pay and provisions, are we to once more mobilize forces from every region, and then once again have people propose amnesty — what then?"

Chongzhen hesitated for a moment. The roving bandits in Shaanxi had played this trick many times, and it was precisely why he was dissatisfied with Yang He. In his heart, none of these people who had rebelled could be trusted. But now the court was in dire financial straits. Every time taxes were levied, someone would leap out to proclaim that the state must not contend for profit with the people. Yet when military funds ran short, the Ministry of Revenue simply looked to the palace treasury, and no one jumped out with any ideas.

Liang Tingdong was also deeply conflicted. He wanted the Wendeng Battalion to go relieve the siege in Liaozhen, but he was also unwilling to offend Chen Xin. As long as he remained Minister of War, Chen Xin was a local power broker he had to deal with, not to mention Wen Tiren standing behind him.

While he was still thinking, Xu Guangqi continued laying out the advantages of amnesty. His goal was indeed only to save Sun Yuanhua, and at the same time preserve the hope of a strong army. Both sides' arguments were well grounded. Xu Guangqi believed that Dalinghe was more important than annihilating the rebels, and that freeing up the various Shandong units now could give Dalinghe a greater chance of success. As for the problem of Li Jiucheng and the others rebelling again, he proposed adding a condition to the amnesty terms: that all leaders like Li Jiucheng be barred from retaining their original posts, while other offenses would not be pursued.

As the two sides deadlocked, Wen Tiren felt it was time for him to step in. Xu Guangqi was clearly being used as a tool by Zhou Yanru, and the Wendeng Battalion absolutely must not go to Liaozhen. Military merit was growing ever more important, and this powerful force had to be used where it would most benefit Wen Tiren, to give him the capital to surpass Zhou Yanru — it must not be casually tossed into that bottomless pit at Dalinghe. Even if Dalinghe were won, Wen Tiren would not get much of the credit; if it were lost, however, there could be problems.

Wen Tiren rose and bowed once to the Emperor and once to Senior Grand Secretary Zhou Yanru, then spoke coolly: "Minister Xu's counsel for His Majesty is indeed born of utter loyalty, which this old minister sincerely admires. The policy of amnesty is also a common one — in former years, granting amnesty to Zheng Zhilong off the Fujian coast brought peace back to the southeast. However, the choice between suppression and amnesty must be carefully planned according to the circumstances of the moment; there is no fixed rule. In the case of men like Li Jiucheng and Kong Youde, this minister believes amnesty absolutely must not be carried out. Minister Xu advocates amnesty in order to transfer the Wendeng Battalion to relieve Liaodong, but he fails to consider: if Li Jiucheng and the others are willing to accept amnesty, it is solely because of that one Wendeng Battalion. The men in that battalion are all Liaodong natives — are they all to be disbanded? If they remain in their original units, then as soon as the Wendeng Battalion leaves Shandong, Li, Kong, and the others need only incite and delude them, and it will be another Dengzhou rebellion all over again."

Xu Guangqi was about to open his mouth to retort when Chongzhen gently raised a hand to stop him. "Let Minister Wen finish."

Wen Tiren continued: "This minister believes that Li Jiucheng's force has not a shred of loyalty or righteousness. The agony of Shandong and Dengzhou is still vivid before our eyes. In their eyes, amnesty is nothing but a temporary expedient. In dealing with such types who surrender and rebel in turn, we can only respond with the wrath of thunder to warn the evildoers, overawe petty schemers abroad, and restore order and discipline at home."

Chongzhen felt these words struck right to his heart, and he nodded involuntarily.

Just as Wen Tiren was feeling pleased with himself, Zhou Yanru finally spoke. Sitting upright in his chair, he said coolly: "Minister Wen's words show the seasoned judgment of a pillar of state. This official agrees with most of them. But as for saying amnesty absolutely must not be carried out, this official cannot quite concur."

Having said this, Zhou Yanru rose to his feet. As Senior Grand Secretary, he had interrupted the floor, and Wen Tiren could only swallow his indignation.

"Suppression and amnesty are indeed not fixed policies, yet one amnesty differs from another. Xiong Wencan's amnesty brought merit to the state; Yang He's amnesty brought disgrace to the court's honor. Why? Because they adapted to local conditions and guided matters according to the circumstances. If the terms differ, the effect of amnesty also differs. Li Jiucheng is now at a dead end. We can disperse his followers, settling a few dozen or a hundred or so in each department and county across Shandong, with no communication between them — where then would they find room to delude others and stir up rebellion? The troops from Tianjin, Tongzhou, and Baoding that are being used in Shandong can all be preserved, and together with the Wendeng Battalion they can go to the relief of Dalinghe. The Wendeng Battalion has a paper strength of 3,500 men; even if it has suffered losses, its fighting strength remains. Kong Youde's force also contains many fierce soldiers, from whom we can recruit to fill the ranks. Together with the Sichuan troops and Liaozhen, they can rescue Grand Mentor Zu — then Liaozhen's strong army will still be intact. By granting amnesty to one rebel force under Li Jiucheng, we preserve several strong armies. That is the true effect of amnesty. If we insist on nothing but annihilation, Li Jiucheng will surely roam and ravage Shandong. We will not be able to finish the job quickly, and instead every locality will be thrown into turmoil, and worse, no troops will be available for Dalinghe. What benefit is that to the state? If Grand Mentor Zu is lost because of this, and Liaozhen's elite troops are all destroyed, we will still have to transfer the Wendeng Battalion to defend the passes and Ningyuan. If Li Jiucheng is still on the loose then, will we grant amnesty or not? Therefore, this official believes that now is precisely the time for amnesty. I wonder if Minister Wen agrees."

Wen Tiren opened his mouth, but his eloquence was still no match for Zhou Yanru's. He had to cough once to stall for time, and sure enough, Wu Zongda leaped out to his rescue. He said respectfully: "How does the Senior Grand Secretary know that Li Jiucheng will not be captured in a single battle? They have only just reached Pingdu Department, and the Wendeng Battalion moves swift as the wind…"

"If they move swift as the wind, why were they held up so long at Huangxian? Who knows if they will not be held up just as long again at Pingdu? Grand Mentor Zu may not be able to hold out much longer. Even if amnesty gains us just one more day, it is worth a try."

Wu Zongda's face darkened after being cut off. Wen Tiren's fellow townsman Min Hongxue interjected coldly: "Why is the Senior Grand Secretary so set on granting amnesty to Li Jiucheng? Wang Daochun has stated that Sun Yuanhua was in fact a member of the rebel force. Could it be that the Senior Grand Secretary still cherishes the bond of being from the same hometown?"

Zhou Yanru composedly knelt before the Emperor. "This minister and Sun Yuanhua are indeed from the same hometown, but that has no bearing whatsoever on the matter of amnesty. The other day, Yu Yinggui impeached this minister on several counts, none of which concerned Sun Yuanhua. If this minister had selfish motives, he would simply let the great army annihilate them, letting Sun Yuanhua die amid the chaos of battle, and thus the dead could bear no witness. This minister is also aware of the hidden perils of granting amnesty to Li Jiucheng and Kong Youde. Sun Yuanhua and Yu Dacheng were demoted three grades but retained in office because of it — does this minister not know a tottering wall when he sees one? It is simply that the circumstances then and now are different. The Wendeng Battalion has smashed the rebels at Dengzhou, and the conditions for amnesty are now ripe. This minister has only a loyal heart to relieve His Majesty's worries, and a conscientious heart to preserve a strong army for the state. And finally, one selfish wish: I beg His Majesty to have Sun Yuanhua arrested and delivered to the Prison Court for interrogation, so that all matters — the ginseng and sable, the silver, the shielding and collusion — may be examined one by one, and this minister's innocence be proven."

When he finished this speech, Chongzhen was at last visibly moved. Zhou Yanru always knew how to move Chongzhen. Wen Tiren's old face flushed slightly, his heart full of rage. With the situation so favorable, he still could not gain the upper hand.

Chongzhen thereupon agreed to amnesty. They deliberated for another half a watch before leaving the Wenyuan Pavilion. Wang Chengen accompanied him back to the Qianqing Palace before he could get away. He had only just been assigned to Chongzhen's side, and his prospects were limitless. The guards at the palace gate did not stop him, and soon Wang Chengen arrived at Zhang Dahui's residence outside Chongwenmen.

Three days later, an urgent letter was laid on Chen Xin's desk.

PS: Went out at noon yesterday, just got back in the evening, and only managed to write this much.

38kanshu. com Haige) w【"_8978837" href "http: 23137" ttle "Late Ming" Late Ming】 "_8978837" href "http:" Good Novels First Release 【Late Ming 112