Chapter 71: The Capital Camps

The Capital Camps were the final force guarding the capital and protecting the imperial palace, so Chongzhen naturally would not allow them to fall into the hands of others, especially a fence-sitter like Zhu Chunchen, who was utterly unworthy of trust or entrustment. Now that the domestic situation was gradually improving, the large-scale ravaging of the Central Plains by the roving bandits that had happened in history had not occurred, and he now had the Yongwei Camp as a trustworthy armed force. After seizing command of the Capital Camps from the Zhu and Zhang families, he could hand them over to Xue Lian and Wei Shichun, men who had already proven themselves in history, and thus he and his family would have no further worries behind them.

Xue Lian, who had been seated, rose and cupped his hands in salute, speaking in a clear voice: "Your Majesty, your minister's family rose from the ranks of the army. Though I no longer command military affairs, I still know the soldier's trade quite well. Since Your Majesty has deigned to consult me, I will speak frankly. My words may touch upon others, but for the sake of the imperial house and the Great Ming, I shall speak all I know without reservation!"

Chongzhen nodded approvingly and said, "I know your loyalty and righteousness. Today I am indeed willing to hear plain speech."

Xue Lian continued: "Since the founding emperor first established the Capital Camps in the early years to guard the two capitals, though they have undergone many reforms, their importance has always been recognized by court officials. Thus the Capital Camps have grown from an initial several tens of thousands of men to several hundred thousand today. If properly managed, with strict military discipline, rigorous training, and adequate military pay and provisions, the Capital Camps will surely become a force that all under heaven fears!"

"But since the Tianqi era, when the traitor Wei's clique seized control of the court, dismissed upright and outspoken capable ministers, abused flatterers and sycophants, and sent eunuchs to oversee the Capital Camps, the camps have steadily declined. The camp commanders were all personal favorites of the inner officials, utterly ignorant of military matters. They daily abused the soldiers and embezzled their pay, draining all morale from the Capital Camps, and the soldiers' resentment festered in their hearts. Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have purged the eunuch traitors, abolished all their misrule, and sent nobles of meritorious houses to oversee the camps, and thus the pace of decline has slowed!"

Chongzhen sat behind the imperial desk and shook his head with a wry smile. Though Wei Zhongxian was reviled by the literati, while he held the reins of power he had still accomplished many practical things—for instance, throwing the nation's financial strength behind Sun Chengzong's Liaodong strategy, so that Nurhaci gained little advantage in his military operations against the Ming; and establishing mining and tax supervisors in Jiangnan, using the wealth of that prosperous region to feed the court's finances and the impoverished northwest. Wei Zhongxian's downfall was merely Chongzhen's negation of his elder brother, the Tianqi Emperor. Though it won the applause of the Donglin Faction, from that time onward treasury revenues plummeted, finances grew straitened, and the court sank into distress until its final demise.

Thinking of this, Chongzhen said, "Then in your view, what difference is there now between nobles and eunuchs commanding the Capital Camps? As far as I know, the present Capital Camps are no different from before!"

Xue Lian sighed and bowed, saying, "What Your Majesty says is indeed the truth. Forgive my bluntness—there is no other reason: the wrong men have been entrusted!"

Wei Shichun also rose and cupped his hands: "Your minister shares the view of the Marquis of Yangwu. I beg Your Majesty not to think otherwise—the Marquis of Yangwu is by no means a man covetous of power who wishes to supplant others! What the Marquis of Yangwu and I have said comes entirely from public spirit! I beg Your Majesty to see clearly!"

Chongzhen waved his hand and said, "I invited only you two ministers today precisely because I wished to hear words from the heart. Besides, if I had no understanding of this matter, why would I speak of reorganizing it? Speak frankly, and I will distinguish light from dark myself!"

"We thank Your Majesty for your forbearance!" After the two bowed in gratitude, Xue Lian continued: "The present Capital Camps have four maladies. First, soldiers are frequently dragged off by the court, powerful eunuchs, and military officers to perform labor service, so they resemble farmers more than warriors!"

"Second, when soldiers reach the age limit, their sons or younger brothers should replace them, but the petty clerks manipulate the process and demand heavy bribes, so the camps are filled with poor, aged, and weak soldiers!"

"Third, wealthy soldiers are unwilling to participate in camp training and bribe the officers to list their names as registered in their home villages. Their names remain on the rolls and their pay is collected as usual, but the men themselves are nowhere to be seen!"

"Fourth, there are many vacancies on the rolls, rewards and punishments are not clearly meted out by the officers, and daily embezzlement is severe. Over time the soldiers' discontent grows daily, and once they take the field, collapse comes at once!"

Chongzhen nodded deeply and praised: "What the Marquis of Yangwu says strikes at the very ills of the army, and differs hardly at all from what I have heard! I never imagined that though you do not wield military affairs, you know these abuses like the back of your hand! Standing high in the court, you worry for your sovereign! I have kept a bright pearl hidden away in my own chamber—this is truly my error!"

Xue Lian hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Majesty is a wise sovereign on the throne; how dare I be compared to a bright pearl? It is only that in my leisure hours, military men close to me come to my residence to chat, and when the conversation turns to these matters, only then do I learn of these abuses!"

Chongzhen waved for him to sit and said, "Then does Minister Xue know whether there are still officers in the army who wish to accomplish something?"

Xue Lian said, "I report to Your Majesty: though the Capital Camps have long been afflicted with deep ills, there are still loyal and brave men who, though suppressed by mediocrities and frustrated in their ambitions, still harbor aspirations to strive—they only lament that they have no gate through which to serve their country!"

Wei Shichun also took up the thread: "My ancestor also rose from the ranks of the army, and I have several acquaintances in the military. When we occasionally gather over wine and speak of the Great Ming's present situation, we too sigh without end, only hating that we have no platform on which to display our ambitions. Though I bear the empty title of earl, I am powerless in this matter, and in the dead of night when no one is about, I toss and turn, sighing ceaselessly!"

Both men ordinarily delighted in reading poetry and classics, and their literary attainments were considerable—in speech and bearing they resembled civil officials more—but in their veins still flowed the hot blood of loyalty and valor.

Chongzhen's expression was solemn as he fixed his gaze on the two men and said: "I wish to entrust the Capital Camps to you two. I want to see, in the near future, a battle-hardened force with strict discipline, daring to fight and press forward, that never retreats before the enemy! Do you two dare to accept this heavy responsibility?!"

Xue Lian and Wei Shichun were both in their thirties, in the prime of life, and naturally unwilling to let their lives pass in idleness. Hearing the emperor's words, they felt their blood surge. They knelt to the ground, touched their heads to the floor, then raised themselves. Xue Lian spoke with solemn tone and composed expression: "Your minister and the Earl of Xuancheng are bosom friends. In our usual conversations, we have been deeply worried about the present perilous situation, only hating that we have no gate through which to serve our country! Our families have received imperial grace for over two hundred years. At this time when the state needs men, we are willing to devote ourselves utterly, to pour out all our hot blood for Your Majesty and the Great Ming, to repay the kindness that has nurtured us!"

Chongzhen rose, walked around the imperial desk to approach them, bent down to help the two men up, then stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his bright gaze fixed upon them as he said: "With these words from you two, I feel warmth in my heart! So long as sovereign and ministers work together with one mind, whether it be the roving bandits or the Jianzhou barbarians, they will ultimately be unable to escape destruction! The people of my Great Ming will at last no longer be displaced from their homes, no longer have their families torn apart!"

Wei Shichun bowed and then said: "Your Majesty, we two do not fear the roving bandits or the Jianzhou barbarians, and we have confidence that we can train a valiant force for Your Majesty. But our present worry is only how to take over the Capital Camps. After all, the Duke of Chengguo's household holds deep prestige in the army. If we two suddenly march in, I fear untoward incidents! Moreover, the Duke of Chengguo bears no grave crime—on what grounds would Your Majesty take back his military authority?"

Chongzhen walked back behind the imperial desk with his hands clasped behind him and sat down, waving for the two men to sit as well. A young eunuch brought a teapot and refilled their cups. The two men raised their cups and sipped—after all that speaking, their mouths were indeed parched.

Chongzhen took a sip of tea, set down his cup, and said: "The Duke of Chengguo's household has long enjoyed imperial favor, yet at this time of national crisis and depleted treasury, they still refuse to restrain themselves, continuing to embezzle and devour public funds on a grand scale. This is already a grave crime of placing family private interest above the great righteousness of the state! The Censorate and Supervising Secretaries have already submitted memorials impeaching him. I will absolutely not tolerate such a man standing in the court!"

"Rest assured, both ministers—I already have a complete plan. I will send Vice Minister of War Wang Jiayan to lead a team to audit the Capital Camps. Once the facts are verified, will the Duke of Chengguo still have the face to remain in his post? I will naturally have him surrender his military authority and reflect on his faults behind closed doors. Should he harbor other intentions—hmph, that will be precisely the time for the Yongwei Camp and the Embroidered Uniform Guard's mounted riders to distinguish themselves!"

Xue Lian and Wei Shichun felt a chill of wariness and dared not respond.

Chongzhen smiled and said: "You two need not worry. I am not a man who cannot distinguish right from wrong. Who is loyal to the imperial house and the Great Ming, I know perfectly well. I am no longer a cold and unfeeling man. I have always admired the bearing of Emperor Taizong, and his way of treating meritorious ministers is also what I desire!"

After Zhu Di succeeded in the Jingnan campaign, he treated the meritorious ministers who had followed him with great generosity and favor. Apart from those who committed the gravest taboos, he never arbitrarily killed meritorious officials. These words from Chongzhen also set Xue and Wei's minds at ease.

Chongzhen continued: "I will transfer two hundred officers from the Yongwei Camp to you two, bringing the Yongwei Camp's daily training methods to the Capital Camps. You may also select capable and trustworthy officers and promote them to suitable positions. Only thus can you command as easily as moving one's own arm. Rest assured, I will not suspect you!"

The two men rose to give thanks, and Chongzhen continued: "After you take command, there is no need to dismiss the aged and weak soldiers. After all, they too are subjects of the Great Ming, having spent their lives in the army camps, supporting their families on meager pay. Once dismissed, men without a single skill would struggle even to earn a meal."

Xue Lian said: "Your Majesty's benevolent heart commands your minister's respect. But if they are not dismissed, how are these men to be settled? After all, they are numerous!"