Chapter 1688: Shi Kefa and Zu Kefa

"This subject, newly appointed jinshi Shi Kefa, and this subject, Battalion Commander of the Four Guards Camp Zu Kefa, humbly inquire after His Majesty's sacred well-being. Ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"

In the Hall of Literary Splendor within the Forbidden City, Zhu Youjian was receiving one civil and one military official — two "Kefas." The "civil Kefa" was Shi Kefa, a newly appointed jinshi of the first year of Chongzhen — the first year of Zhu Youjian's new reign era happened to coincide with the grand triennial examination, and the "great military strategist" Shi Kefa had passed with high honors in this very examination. Originally Zhu Youjian had wanted to make him the top-ranked zhuangyuan, but according to convention, a zhuangyuan's first appointment was that of a Hanlin Academy Compiler of the upper sixth rank. A fine post, but it would have buried Shi Kefa's military talent, so Zhu Youjian did not open a back door for Shi Kefa and let him place as a third-class jinshi instead. Today was the day this third-class jinshi received his official appointment.

As for Zu Kefa, that shameless "fourth subject," he had come to Beijing together with several of Zu Dashou's sons and had been stuffed by Zhu Youjian into the Four Guards Camp under the Directorate of the Imperial Horses as a nominal Battalion Commander — because large numbers of fighting men had been drawn off to the Front Army, the Loyal and Brave, Brave Warriors, and Four Guards camps under the Directorate of the Imperial Horses now had only a little over 2,000 men left, and four Battalion Commanders were enough to manage them. But originally there had been a dozen or more Battalion Commanders in the three camps, and only half had gone to the Front Army; the rest were all crammed together in the three camps of the Directorate of the Imperial Horses. An outsider like Zu Kefa could of course only hold a nominal post. However, Zhu Youjian did not intend to leave Zu Kefa hanging for long, because he knew Zu Kefa was a rare diplomatic talent.

"One civil, one military — two Kefas. Not bad at all. Rise." Zhu Youjian smiled as he bade the two men stand. After they had climbed up from the floor, he carefully looked Shi Kefa over.

Shi Kefa was as righteous and awe-inspiring as ever — broad forehead, long face, pointed chin, phoenix eyes, and downward-slanting brows. One look and you knew he was a loyal subject who wielded troops like a god!

"Kefa," Zhu Youjian called Shi Kefa by name, "you are of military registration, so you must be well versed in the art of war, yes?"

Shi Kefa was also of military household origin, registered under the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Had he not been good at reading and examinations, he might well have strapped on an Embroidered Spring Saber by now.

"Your Majesty, this subject has not read much on the art of war. This subject only knows to lead from the front. Wherever Your Majesty bids this subject charge, this subject charges."

These words, of course, were not spoken by Shi Kefa but by Zu Kefa. He too was a Kefa, and he too was of military registration.

Zhu Youjian turned his head and glanced at Zu Kefa — still that crafty look of his: thick brows, large eyes, and a full beard, standing there like an iron pagoda. At a glance he looked like a treacherous man; no wonder he had become a fourth subject.

But a fourth subject had his uses too.

Zhu Youjian nodded and said to Zu Kefa, "Zu Kefa, can you speak Mongolian and Jurchen?"

"I can!" Zu Kefa nodded. "This subject can even read Mongolian script."

A diplomat through and through — fluent in three languages!

"Good," Zhu Youjian said. "We have an imperial commission for you. You and Li Chengyun of the Directorate of Ceremonial are to travel together beyond the passes to Guihua City and discuss with the Hutudun Khan a joint campaign against the eastern barbarians. This time We do not ask him to help defend any particular place; We only wish to conclude with him an alliance of 'besieging Wei to rescue Zhao.'"

Zu Kefa was taken aback. He had not expected Zhu Youjian to hand him such a "diplomatic mission." He was a great general who charged into battle! For diplomacy, you should have gone to Shi Kefa!

But he did not dare decline, so he could only patiently ask, "Your Majesty, what is an alliance of 'besieging Wei to rescue Zhao'?"

"It means that when the eastern barbarians attack our Liaoxi or the border wall of Ji Garrison, he is to send troops into the Liao River bend or attack the Khorchin." Zhu Youjian explained. "If the eastern barbarians send troops beyond the Xuan and Da border walls into the grasslands to attack the Chahar tribe, then We shall send troops from southern Liao, Dongjiang, and Ningyuan to strike the eastern barbarians' rear.

Furthermore, We can also aid the Chahar tribe with a batch of great general cannons, crouching tiger cannons, and three-eyed guns to help them defend Guihua City."

According to Man Gui's latest report, the Hutudun Khan's army had already seized the Tumed Plain and Guihua City, taking the Tumed tribe's stronghold.

Guihua City was a great city that the Mongol Altan Khan in his later years had gathered skilled craftsmen to build, modeled on the Yuan capital of Dadu, at the foot of the northern side of the Daqing Mountains and by the banks of the Yellow River. Its Mongol name was Kuku Khoton, or Hohhot, and the Ming court had bestowed the name Guihua City after Altan Khan's submission and the opening of tribute trade.

In the original history, the Hutudun Khan had garrisoned Guihua City for five years, and when Hong Taiji campaigned against Ligdan Khan for the third time, he had once again fled without a fight, thereby setting out on a road of no return. Now, although Zhu Youjian wanted to teach the Hutudun Khan a lesson and incidentally win some prestige for himself, he did not wish to cripple the Hutudun Khan — because he knew that the only one capable of threatening Hong Taiji's rear was this "runaway khan" of the Chahar tribe.

For no matter how down on its luck the Chahar tribe was, it was still the "Mongol center," and no matter how useless the Hutudun Khan was, he was still the common sovereign of the Mongols.

As long as the Chahar army appeared in the Liao River bend or on the Khorchin grasslands, Hong Taiji would have to pull his troops back from the battlefield against the Ming — otherwise his Mongol-Manchu alliance would collapse. If the Hutudun Khan finished off the Khorchin tribe, the Left Wing Mongols would return to the Hutudun Khan's banner!

Therefore Zhu Youjian hoped the Hutudun Khan would not flee from Guihua City again. If he really ran off to Qinghai, he would be of no use at all.

And in order to let the Hutudun Khan remain securely on the Tumed Plain, Zhu Youjian was not only willing to conclude an alliance and treaty with him and provide market rewards, but could also give him some great general cannons (actually a type of light artillery), crouching tiger cannons, and three-eyed guns. Moreover, he was willing to send troops to attack Liaodong in the event the Chahar tribe came under fierce assault from Hong Taiji.

Having heard the terms Zhu Youjian laid out, Zu Kefa guaranteed with full confidence, "Your Majesty, rest assured. This subject and Eunuch Li are certain to persuade the Hutudun Khan and relieve the crisis at Datong."

Zhu Youjian smiled and waved a hand. "Withdraw for now. Go back and make preparations. The day after tomorrow, set out with Li Chengyun."

Watching Zu Kefa withdraw from the Hall of Literary Splendor, Zhu Youjian turned and asked Shi Kefa with a smile, "Minister Shi, do you think Zu Kefa and Li Chengyun can persuade the Hutudun Khan of the Chahar tribe?"

Shi Kefa, a scholar from Kaifeng in Henan, had no idea what was on the mind of the Chahar tribe's Hutudun Khan. But he had read the Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, and he knew the standard answer.

"Your Majesty, this subject believes the Hutudun Khan is, after all, a barbarian ruler. Barbarians are beasts — they fear might but do not cherish virtue!" Shi Kefa said. "Only by first showing them danger can one then bestow a little grace and kindness; only thus can one drive them to use."

Zhu Youjian nodded repeatedly, thinking: Truly impressive — his insight is far higher than that of that simple-minded Yuan Chonghuan!

"Shi Kefa," Zhu Youjian asked again, "do you fear the barbarians?"

"This subject does not!" Shi Kefa said solemnly. "Though this subject is a scholar, he has also studied the art of war and martial skills. Why should he fear barbarian beasts!"

"Good!" Zhu Youjian nodded heavily. "Then We shall give you a chance to do battle with the barbarians!"

What?

Do battle with the barbarians?

Shi Kefa broke out in a cold sweat. He had studied the art of war and martial skills, but he had not mastered them. How could he defeat barbarians?

His heart was in a panic, but on that face full of righteousness, not much fear showed.

Zhu Youjian continued, "Zunhua County in Shuntian Prefecture lies within the border wall of Ji Garrison. Right now the Kharchin Mongol tribes beyond the Ji Garrison border wall are being conquered by the Jianzhou slaves, and the Ji Garrison border wall has become the front line. Once a breach opens in the wall, Zunhua County town will be the first place the Jianzhou slaves attack!

We now appoint you Magistrate of Zunhua, with full authority over local militia training. We shall also issue you fifty thousand taels from the privy purse, assign you six young officers as Battalion Commanders, give you one hundred brave men of the Directorate of the Imperial Horses as a backbone, and provide you with enough arms and armor for three thousand men. Can you govern Zunhua well and hold Zunhua?"

Shi Kefa had no idea where this young emperor had seen that he could fight, but he could only grit his teeth and accept the commission, answering loudly, "This subject will surely hold Zunhua for Your Majesty!"

It turned out that Zhu Youjian was still worried that Hong Taiji would break through the pass at Xifengkou — even with Zhao Shuaijiao leading fifteen thousand Liao troops into the pass to reinforce the Ji Garrison defenses, he was still deeply uneasy.

So the only option was to strengthen the defenses of the various prefectures and counties within the Ji Garrison border wall. Appointing Shi Kefa as Magistrate of Zunhua was only one part of this. Lü Daqi, a jinshi of the same year as Shi Kefa, would soon be appointed Magistrate of Yutian. He Tengjiao, also a jinshi of the first year of Chongzhen (originally he had not passed; this time a back door had been opened), was appointed Magistrate of Pinggu. Lu Zhenfei, who had been dismissed from his magistracy for offending Wei Zhongxian, was also reinstated and placed in Shunyi County northeast of Beijing.

Yang Sichang, whom Zhu Youjian had favored in his previous life, now also received important employment, being appointed Circuit Intendant of Jizhou, stationed in the prefectural seat of Jizhou. Gao Hongtu, who during the Tianqi era had been responsible for reorganizing the three camps of the Directorate of the Imperial Horses, was appointed by Zhu Youjian as Governor of Shuntian (Ming governors did not necessarily govern a single province), stationed at Tongzhou.

In short, compared with the previous life's Jisi Incident, the officials guarding Hong Taiji's line of advance — whether civil or military — were no pushovers now!

(End of Chapter)