Chapter 96: Campaigning on Behalf of the Emperor

The deteriorating situation in the capital region infuriated Chongzhen, and within half a month he issued several edicts reprimanding Zhang Fengyi.

Zhang Fengyi's head was as big as a bucket. Since the Battle of Tianjin Wei, the nine relief armies feared the Qing like tigers and dared not engage them in battle at all, simply watching as the Qing army plundered the surrounding areas.

When the Qing army occupied Dingxing, Datong Regional Commander Wang Pu moved his troops far away to Yi County; when the Qing attacked Dacheng, Baoding Regional Commander Dong Yongwen watched from Bazhou; when the Qing camped at Pinggu, Ji Garrison Regional Commander Ma Rulong withdrew his troops back to Jizhou and sat idle.

The Jianzhou generals saw through the Ming army's cowardly and battle-shy nature, and so they acted boldly and freely within Northern Zhili, as if entering uninhabited territory.

Abatai, camped at Pinggu, sneered coldly upon hearing that the Great Ming capital was holding a victory presentation ceremony, and immediately dispatched six thousand men in a sudden counter-strike against Shunyi, which lay only fifty li from the capital.

Shunyi County Magistrate Shangguan Jin, Mobile Corps Commander Zhi Guoqi, and Commander Su Shiyu defended the city steadfastly, holding off the Qing army's fierce assaults for several consecutive days.

When news of Shunyi's siege reached the Tongzhou camp, Zhang Fengyi was frantic with worry and hastily dispatched Capital Camps Mobile Corps Commander Zhou Yuji to lead troops to the rescue—Zhou Yuji was now the only capable general he could still deploy.

Zhou Yuji said not a word, leading three thousand men of his Zhou Battalion on a night march to Shunyi. Seizing the moment when the Eight Banners troops were assaulting the walls, he launched a surprise attack from behind their formation, fighting a fierce day-long battle beneath the city walls against six thousand Eight Banners soldiers—losing over half his own men while slaying three thousand of the enemy.

The Qing forces attacking Huairou rushed to rescue those attacking Shunyi. Zhou Yuji could not withstand them and was forced to retreat with his remaining troops. Shunyi city ultimately fell; County Magistrate Shangguan Jin, Mobile Corps Commander Zhi Guoqi, Commander Su Shiyu, and Instructor Chen Suoyun all died in battle, and the people's wealth and goods were plundered clean.

Shunyi's position was extremely important, and its fall threw the capital into great turmoil. With censors submitting one impeachment memorial after another, Minister of War Zhang Fengyi judged that he could not escape punishment, and so began taking rhubarb medicine daily, seeking death.

At the court assembly, Zhu Cilang requested permission to lead troops to retake Shunyi. Those "loyal ministers" who had thrown in their lot with Zhu Cilang, after a moment's hesitation, also responded one after another in support of him.

Wen Tiren opposed it on the spot and proposed sending Huang Degong to lead the Yongwei Camp out—clearly making a move to court favor with Huang Degong and the other Yongwei Camp officers.

Huang Degong, standing among the military officers' ranks as Vice Regional Commander, grinned broadly and said: "Many thanks for the Chief Grand Secretary's regard. However, the Yongwei Camp's last two major battles were both personally commanded by the Crown Prince, and the tactics used were the newest ones. If you want this humble officer to lead a charge, no problem—but as for commanding, forget it."

Huang Degong's outright refusal made Wen Tiren lose face; he gave a light snort and said no more.

Hearing Huang Degong's words, Chongzhen, who had harbored similar thoughts himself, was also helpless—and he knew in his heart that the Yongwei Camp had been thoroughly claimed by the Crown Prince.

At this moment, Yang Tinglin proposed: "I submit to Your Majesty—Shunyi is only half a day's journey from the capital. It would be best for Your Majesty to personally lead the expedition."

No sooner were these words spoken than the court erupted. A bold minister spoke directly: Can the Great Ming's emperor still personally lead an expedition? Have we forgotten the Tumu Crisis?

Yang Tinglin retorted: "In the twelfth year of Zhengde, when tens of thousands of Mongol troops invaded the border passes, our dynasty's Emperor Wuzong of Zhengde personally led tens of thousands of troops to meet the enemy. When our army was split and surrounded by the Mongol host, Emperor Wuzong personally led troops to the rescue, and only thus was our army relieved."

"Emperor Wuzong ate and slept alongside the common soldiers and even personally killed an enemy with his own hands. This greatly boosted the army's morale, and ultimately led to the great victory at Yingzhou. Your Majesty should emulate Emperor Wuzong and personally lead the expedition!"

Chongzhen was somewhat tempted by his words, but then he thought of that lot in the Capital Camps—better to forget it, lest he trigger another Tumu Incident and ruin himself for life.

Seeing Chongzhen's troubled expression and the ministers cursing him, Yang Tinglin showed not the slightest panic, and unhurriedly memorialized: "Your Majesty personally leading the expedition would of course be best, yet Your Majesty's heart lies with the altars of state and must direct from the center. Therefore, this minister suggests that the Crown Prince set out on Your Majesty's behalf."

Good heavens—this Yang Tinglin was quite the sly one! So all along he'd wanted the Crown Prince to go on campaign! The court ministers inwardly cursed Yang Tinglin's shamelessness.

Chongzhen felt a flicker of anger as well, but he understood these civil officials' rhythms well enough not to take it out on Yang Tinglin. He looked toward Wen Tiren, wanting to hear what that old thing had to offer.

Wen Tiren was hemming and hawing, just about to speak, when Zhu Cilang spoke up first: "Father Emperor, your son suggests letting Grand Secretary Wen lead the troops into battle. Grand Secretary Wen is, after all, Chief Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat and first among all ministers. With him overseeing the front lines, I am certain the nine relief armies will shatter the slave bandits!"

Wen Tiren's legs trembled with fright at these words. Go to the front lines? Looking for death! Zhang Fengyi, the big boss of the Ministry of War, couldn't even command the nine relief armies and was now at home swallowing rhubarb waiting to die. Sending him? How was that any different from offering up his head?

Seeing sweat begin to form on Wen Tiren's brow, Zhu Cilang continued: "If Grand Secretary Wen is unwilling, he may certainly select another venerable Grand Secretary from the Grand Secretariat to oversee the campaign."

As he spoke, Zhu Cilang looked toward the several Grand Secretariat ministers. Under his gaze, each of the Grand Secretaries involuntarily shrank their necks and shuffled backward a step.

Zhu Cilang then looked to the Censorate's censors and said: "If no one in the Grand Secretariat is available, one could certainly pick a Censor from the Censorate. Back then, Yuan Chonghuan was merely a lowly sixth-rank Bureau Secretary in the Ministry of War, yet once he went to Liaodong, he still won the great victory at Ningyuan. My Great Ming is teeming with talent—who among them cannot be used?"

At the mention of Yuan Chonghuan, everyone's faces turned rather sour—especially Emperor Chongzhen's and Hou Xun's.

It was Hou Xun who had originally promoted Yuan Chonghuan beyond the usual ranks to Bureau Secretary in the Ministry of War. Hou Xun had a piercing eye and had recognized countless talents—not only Yuan Chonghuan, but also Lu Xiangsheng and Zuo Liangyu were all men he had recommended.

At this moment, a terrible silence fell over the entire court. These ministers could jabber away endlessly at ordinary court sessions, but when it truly came to sending someone to the front lines as Supreme Commander, they all turned coward.

Zhu Cilang's meaning was also perfectly clear: if you've got the guts, step up; if not, shut up and go cool off somewhere!

Seeing the ministers silent, Chongzhen had no choice but to say: "The Crown Prince went on campaign last month and slew over ten thousand slave bandits; he understands military affairs deeply. I intend to appoint him Governor-General of Northern Zhili to direct the nine relief armies. What do my beloved ministers think?"

Chongzhen had ultimately decided to send Zhu Cilang out with the Yongwei Camp—in the current situation, there was no other choice but to deploy the Yongwei Camp.

Hearing this, the ministers thought to themselves: since things have come to this point, what objections could we possibly have? Were we supposed to fight over who gets to offer up their head? For the first time in history, no one opposed—they all voiced their agreement one after another.

Emperor Chongzhen, seeing his ministers thus, sighed inwardly and said: "Transmit my edict: Crown Prince Zhu Cilang shall set out on a personal expedition in my place, with the ceremonial rites of a Son of Heaven's campaign. Grant him the imperial insignia and the Imperial Sword. The Shenji Camp and the Shenshu Camp shall accompany him, and he shall command all armies of Northern Zhili. Cao Huachun shall serve as Army Supervisor."

"Xuanfu-Datong Governor-General Liang Tingdong has held office without doing a thing, allowing the slave bandits to invade the capital region from Xuanfu and burn Dingling. His crime of dereliction of duty is now to be prosecuted—he shall be immediately escorted to the capital for sentencing. Minister of War Zhang Fengyi, who failed to resist the enemy, shall likewise be escorted to the capital."

Zhu Cilang immediately stepped forward to receive the edict and give thanks, while inwardly somewhat surprised. Having the Shenji Camp and Shenshu Camp accompany him—this truly was the standard of an imperial campaign! When Emperor Chengzu had campaigned north against the northern wastes, he had brought the Five Armies Camp, the Shenji Camp, and the Three Thousand Camp (the Shenshu Camp's predecessor).

It seemed the Emperor Father was rather concerned about his little life after all—though making Cao Huachun the Army Supervisor was clearly also a precautionary measure.