Chapter 280: Preparations

When Zhu Youjian returned after bathing and changing clothes, Zhou Kui had already left the palace.

"Hmm, not bad—Qiushui's cooking has improved considerably, matching even the imperial kitchen. I ate most heartily this meal! What business brought the Earl of household retainers here? Why did the Empress not keep him for a meal before he left? Surely it's not that she thinks the palace fare is too bland? I hear the Earl of household retainers's household employs over a dozen renowned chefs from various regions, and every meal is meticulously prepared with fine ingredients—a single meal for him and his son can cost dozens of taels of silver, enough to cover a well-off family's entire year's expenses in the capital. Though his family is wealthy, at a time of national hardship such as this, as relatives of the imperial house, they should exercise restraint!"

At either end of a long table in the side hall, Zhu Youjian and Empress Zhou sat facing each other, their meal nearly finished. Zhu Youjian set down his chopsticks, took a sip of tea, and after placing the cup down, spoke.

There were seven or eight dishes on the table, all personally prepared by Qiushui, Empress Zhou's personal lady-in-waiting—typical Suzhou cuisine, each dish appearing a masterpiece of color, aroma, and taste. Among them, Zhu Youjian's favorites were Stir-Fried Shrimp with Biluochun Tea, Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish, and Sizzling Eel in Oil.

Ever since he had taken Empress Zhou as his wife while still Prince Xin, Zhu Youjian had fallen in love with Suzhou cuisine after tasting her cooking several times, and the transmigrated Zhu Zhenqing also greatly enjoyed the flavors of Jiangsu dishes. Besides frequently cooking for her husband herself, Empress Zhou had also passed on her culinary skills to several of her ladies-in-waiting and maidservants—among whom Qiushui's cooking was the finest, now far surpassing even Empress Zhou's own level.

Whether it was the former Chongzhen or the current Zhu Youjian, neither was naturally inclined toward extravagance; their meals were simple yet refined. Since the Emperor frequently dined in Kunning Palace, the imperial kitchen had become considerably less busy—but this left the supervising eunuchs and imperial chefs both embarrassed and worried, thinking their cooking displeased His Majesty, which was why he ate elsewhere. In the end, the supervising eunuch went through several layers of connections to reach Wang Cheng'en, begging this Old Ancestor to put in a good word for the imperial kitchen before His Majesty, so that all might be at ease.

Wang Cheng'en, who understood human hearts well, personally went to reassure them. Only then did the imperial chefs learn that it wasn't that their cooking was poor—it was that His Majesty was economizing to save money for the people and soldiers. Under Wang Cheng'en's reassurance, the entire imperial kitchen was moved to tears, whether genuine or feigned, and ultimately set their minds fully at ease.

Of course, this noble-sounding explanation was for public consumption—in truth, the Emperor simply preferred simplicity by nature.

Zhu Youjian knew that every time Zhou Kui came to the palace, it was either to ask for money or for official positions. This time, though he came under the pretext of delivering tonic gifts, it would inevitably lead to other requests. So before Empress Zhou could speak, he preemptively blocked her words.

Toward the insatiably greedy Zhou Kui and his son, Zhu Youjian felt an inexpressible revulsion from the bottom of his heart. But if Empress Zhou made a request, it would be difficult to always refuse her to her face. After all, they were a couple who had shared hardship together; moreover, Empress Zhou was of upright character, truly a rare and worthy partner, deserving of her position as mother of the realm.

"Is what Your Majesty says true or false? From what your consort knows, the Earl of household retainers's household, though well-off, is far from matching other nobles and wealthy merchants. In recent years, though favored by Your Majesty's grace and having accumulated some silver, it could hardly reach such extravagance, could it? When the Earl of household retainers has come to the palace to visit your consort on several occasions, apart from his official robes, he has always worn tattered old garments, and has stated plainly that his household has many mouths to feed with daily expenses beyond counting—that to save costs, he has not purchased new clothes for several years. Your consort, unable to bear this, has even bestowed several thousand taels of silver upon him to supplement household expenses and ensure his family need not struggle over money. Could Your Majesty's words just now be the result of believing others' rumors? Your consort cannot believe it no matter what!"

That her own father was by nature miserly and covetous—this Empress Zhou knew all too well. But that his daily life was so extravagant—this she simply could not believe.

Though since her husband's ascension he had bestowed fields and manors upon the Zhou family, and in recent years had even allowed several imperial relatives to take shares in some of the Four Seas Trading Company's businesses, it still shouldn't have made the Zhou family suddenly wealthy, should it? Without silver to back it, even if her father and brother wished to live lavishly, they would have no means.

"Heh heh, Empress, do not be deceived by appearances. The Earl of household retainers is truly a man skilled at making money! Over the years, he has borrowed the prestige of being the Emperor's father-in-law to buy and sell by coercion all around, and your elder brother has devised schemes for him. The father and son have used every means to amass wealth—their family fortune must be at least several hundred thousand taels by now! This matter is only unknown to you because you reside within the palace—outside the palace walls, who in all of the capital with any awareness does not know?"

Because Zhu Youjian had raised the matter of nobles making contributions to aid the state, Zhou Kui, on Zhou Yi's advice, began feigning poverty—going out only in ragged clothes, even placing old furniture from his mansion outside the gates to sell at a stall, proclaiming he was sacrificing his family's wealth to relieve the nation's difficulties. These sordid acts of the Zhou family had long been reported to Zhu Youjian by the Eastern Depot and Embroidered Uniform Guard, deepening his disgust for the family.

Hearing Zhu Youjian speak with such certainty, Empress Zhou realized she had long been deceived by her father and brother. Shamed and angered, she set aside the matter Zhou Kui had entrusted to her.

After a brief rest of half a shichen following the meal, Zhu Cilang and the other children had not yet returned to the palace. Zhu Youjian comforted Empress Zhou with a few words, then left with Wang Cheng'en for Qianqing Palace.

Yang Sichang, Wang Jiazhen, and other key officials of the Ministry of War, who had been waiting by imperial decree in Zhaoren Hall, stepped forward to salute Zhu Youjian. He then ordered seats for them, and a young eunuch served him tea. The council on the war situation at the Jinzhou front formally began.

Hong Chengchou's report on the Jinzhou campaign had arrived at the Ministry of War at the si hour that day. Since the situation was not urgent, the ministry's key officials deliberated briefly before submitting it to the palace. As it happened, Zhu Youjian had gone to Kunning Palace; only after he rose from his rest did Wang Cheng'en report the matter to him.

"Reporting to Your Majesty: according to Hong Hengjiu's dispatch, the Jinzhou campaign is currently at a stalemate. The Jianzhou barbarians' attacks on Songshan, Daxing Fort, and other locations failed, and they have now withdrawn somewhat, but they still remain between the two cities of Songshan and Jinzhou. Judging by their movements, they appear caught in a dilemma of advance or retreat. The Supreme Commander of Ji-Liao states that during this period there were several small-scale skirmishes between the two sides; our forces killed over a hundred of the Jianzhou barbarians, with our own casualties roughly similar. Though the enemy's fighting spirit has not waned, they are operating in hostile territory—if this continues, their grain supplies should become difficult to maintain. He judges that within no more than a month, the enemy chieftain should withdraw his troops. He therefore submits this memorial seeking counsel, requesting the court decide how to respond thereafter!"

Yang Sichang reported with clasped hands.

Yoto, after the failure of the traditional Jianzhou strategy of dividing forces to plunder, now felt somewhat like a rider who could not easily dismount from a tiger. Retreat? He was unwilling, and feared that a fruitless campaign would invite other consequences. Advance? The Ming army defended each fort tightly—no matter how the Qing troops baited them, the Ming forces would at most exit the city to form ranks beneath the walls, resolutely refusing to leave the cover of their cannons to fight recklessly in the open.

He had marched south with full confidence, expecting that even if he could not take Jinzhou, he could at least seize several forts and plunder large quantities of grain, supplies, and population. But the cruel reality had jolted him awake: the Ming court had suddenly reinforced the Jinzhou area, and while blocking the Qing army's southward advance, had also pinned down Zu Dashou's Liaoxi military clan. Moreover, though the newly arrived Ming troops were few in number, their firearms were formidable and their morale high. If he could not effectively inflict casualties on this Ming force, then for the Qing army to raid the Ming, they could only march through the endless mountain ranges before breaching the passes. And if the Ming court could strengthen defenses around Jinzhou, how could it sit idly by while fortresses closer to the capital were broken through?

Hong Chengchou's judgment was correct—Yoto had indeed developed the intention to withdraw. He had already sent messengers back to Shengjing to report the current situation to Hong Taiji, who would then make the specific assessment and decision.

"Minister Yang, has the main force of the Jianzhou western expedition returned? If their main force returns laden with spoils, I expect the barbarian chieftain will send troops south to reinforce—his intent being to use superior numbers to severely damage the Yongwei Camp, thereby striking at our army's morale and preventing our Ming forces from having the strength to stand against him!"

Zhu Youjian spoke after a long moment of contemplation.

Wang Jiazhen, Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, nodded and replied with a salute: "Your Majesty's judgment is most precise! According to intelligence relayed back successively by clerks of the Ministry of War's Bureau of Operations from border garrisons such as Xuan-Da, Ningxia, and Yansui, the Jianzhou barbarians' western expedition appears to be concluding—beyond the border walls, things grow increasingly quiet. Your ministers judge that the Jianzhou main force has either already returned to Shengjing or is currently on the way back."

Zhang Wenyan, the other Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, continued: "After receiving the Supreme Commander of Ji-Liao's report, your ministers also held deliberations, and our conclusion matches what Your Majesty has said: under the court's strict blockade, all manner of supplies in Jianzhou have grown increasingly scarce, hence their western expedition—its purpose being nothing more than plundering population and goods to strengthen themselves. But the poverty of the Tartar lands cannot be compared to the wealth of the Great Ming—though the western expedition gained something, it cannot sustain their long-term consumption. In the end, the Jianzhou barbarians will still seek to replenish their needs from our Great Ming. And the Yongwei Camp's sudden appearance at Ning-Jin, with the battles at Yizhou and Songshan displaying their prowess, the enemy chieftain, fearing they might grow too strong, will surely raise a great army and march south—the timing should be between one and two months!"

Zhu Youjian nodded in agreement with the Ministry of War's assessment.

Yang Sichang rose and reported with clasped hands: "Since Your Majesty concurs with the Ministry of War's judgment, your ministers suggest: the Sichuan troops and Shaanxi troops should each complete their preparations separately before heading north through the passes. The over thirty thousand Capital Camp troops already through the passes should await orders at Ningyuan, so as not to let the enemy detect the existence of our follow-up main force—they should only head north once the enemy's main force reaches Jinzhou. Lu Jiandou should also begin mustering surrounding cavalry to concentrate at Xuan-Da and Yansui, then once the battle at Jinzhou erupts, exit through the border walls to circle around the enemy's flank. The Liu and Zhang forces crossing the sea from Denglai should do the same! In this way, the spring campaign Your Majesty has planned may well commence within a few months!"

"The Ministry of War's assessment should be correct! These several routes of troops must be dispatched by fast riders tomorrow. All grain, supplies, and manpower needed for this great battle must be prepared to perfection. Sun Qing of Shaanxi and Lady Qin of Sichuan should come to the capital for an audience before leading their forces through the passes! Also transmit an edict to Minister Lu: he must not charge into battle first—the original thousand-strong cavalry of the Yongwei Camp under his command must guard his person closely. Should the main commander fall, the entire army shall be executed!"

Zhu Youjian issued his decree decisively.