20demayo Chapter 98 The Da Ning Commandery Moves Its Garrison Outside the Pass
Chapter 98 The Da Ning Commandery Moves Its Garrison Outside the Pass
Chapter 99 The Da Ning Commandery Moves Its Garrison Outside the Pass
Chapter 098 The Tianqi Emperor was unaware that he actually had the ability to save the Ming Dynasty. All he needed was the courage of Emperor Wu of Han to kill and solve the Ming Dynasty's problems.
The problem with the Ming Dynasty was that it didn't punish people for their words and treated the civil service too well. As long as the civil service was treated too well, people would take advantage of it.
Just like the Song Dynasty, which shared power with the scholar-officials, the country suffered from severe internal strife and a sharp decline in national strength due to factional struggles, and was eventually destroyed by the Jin Dynasty. As a result, Emperor Huizong of Song became the scapegoat.
Both official and unofficial histories place the blame for the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty on Emperor Huizong. A famous historical assessment of him is: "He was capable in everything, except being a good ruler!"
This statement pinpoints the core of the problem: he was an outstanding artist, yet an incompetent emperor—in fact, a paradox.
It is an absurd paradox that some fundamental institutional problems since the founding of the Northern Song Dynasty also foreshadowed its demise. In order to avoid a repeat of the regional separatism of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, the Northern Song Dynasty implemented a policy of emphasizing civil affairs and de-emphasizing military affairs for a long time in order to prevent military generals from seizing power.
This severely weakened the army's combat effectiveness, and it suffered repeated defeats in battles against the remnants of the Liao army, making it even more powerless to fight against the ferocious Jin cavalry.
To strengthen centralized power, the Song Dynasty concentrated its elite troops in the Imperial Guard, leading to the neglect of local military preparedness. When the Jin army broke through the defenses and marched straight on Bianjing (Kaifeng), there was no capable local force to come to the emperor's aid.
The main reason is that the Northern Song Dynasty lacked both capable prime ministers and generals due to the unscientific nature of its imperial examination system.
Although the Ming Dynasty had a large civil service group and the emperor was almost powerless, the problem was that the Ming Dynasty was not lacking in talent, whether it was local talent or good ministers.
The problem is that Emperor Tianqi's biggest problem was that he wasn't ruthless enough and lacked the decisiveness of Emperor Wu of Han. This was actually a matter of self-interest determining one's perspective.
The witchcraft persecution initiated by Emperor Wu of Han resulted in the deaths and injuries of tens of thousands of people, which weakened the national strength of the Han Dynasty. But the question is, where would the Han Dynasty have gone if it had not been for the witchcraft persecution?
The answer is yes, because the military meritocracy of the Han Dynasty directly undermined imperial power, and almost all emperors were puppets. Even Liu Ju, the crown prince, was no exception when he became emperor.
If Emperor Tianqi had possessed the boldness of Emperor Wu of Han, he would have directly executed officials, thus resolving the problem of being morally blackmailed by civil officials. However, neither Emperor Tianqi nor Emperor Chongzhen were ruthless enough.
The King of Chu favored slender waists, and many starved to death in the palace.
The same principle applies here. If an emperor is ruthless enough and dares to risk his life to kill without fear of leaving a bad reputation, then even if one is killed, there will be countless others. If a few civil officials are killed, will anyone still dare to risk their life to force the emperor to abdicate?
Civil officials study diligently for over a decade, aiming for promotion and wealth. How many of them truly aspire to cultivate themselves, manage their families, and bring peace to the world?
Unfortunately, even the Tianqi Emperor dared not do that.
The Tianqi Emperor looked at Wei Zhongxian and said, "Wei, what do you suggest we do?"
"Your Majesty—"
The Tianqi Emperor's question was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples in Wei Zhongxian's heart.
Wei Zhongxian lowered his head and pondered. How could he not want to take advantage of the great victory at Sanjiang to eliminate those Donglin Party members who opposed him every day?
But he knew even better that those supposedly upright people were best at occupying the moral high ground and portraying themselves as victims.
"Your Majesty—"
Wei Zhongxian raised his head, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "Since they refuse to back down, then don't blame me for being impolite."
The Tianqi Emperor frowned slightly: "What do you intend to do?"
"If they can fabricate charges against our family, can't we find some real evidence against them? Over the years, the Donglin Party members have done plenty of things like embezzlement, bribery, and forming cliques for personal gain."
Wei Zhongxian sneered, "Don't be fooled by how enthusiastically these people are jumping around. Which one of them has a clean record? A quick investigation will reveal all!"
The Tianqi Emperor remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded: "Go. But remember, don't implicate too many people."
"This servant understands."
In the days that followed, the situation in the capital changed dramatically.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard was mobilized everywhere, and secret reports flew into Wei Zhongxian's hands one after another.
Those who appeared upright and honest in public were exposed one by one for their private misdeeds: accepting bribes, seizing farmland, protecting their relatives, and some even colluding with maritime merchants to smuggle goods to the Jurchens.
Left Vice Censor-in-Chief Yang Lian was imprisoned, followed by the arrest of Wei Dazhong, a supervising secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, and the subsequent capture of censors Zuo Guangdou, Yuan Huazhong, Zhou Chaorui, and Gu Dazhang.
In just a few days, almost all the core figures of the Donglin Party were captured. Screams echoed day and night from the prison. Those who once pointed the way for the country were left battered and bruised under torture.
The news sent shockwaves through both the government and the public.
Some petitioned for leniency, but Wei Zhongxian arrested them all on charges of forming cliques for personal gain. Others attempted to organize a rebellion, but the Embroidered Uniform Guard detected their plot beforehand and rounded them up.
Others chose to remain silent, cowering at home in fear, lest they be next.
The entire capital was shrouded in terror.
In teahouses and taverns, no one dared to discuss politics anymore. Even the most active storytellers changed their tales to those of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "Water Margin," never mentioning the current events.
Some say that it was his great victory at Sanjiang that gave the emperor and Eunuch Wei the confidence to take action against the Donglin Party.
Some say that Chen Boying was the mastermind behind this storm, using his military achievements to gain the support of Eunuch Wei and to bring about the purge of the Donglin Party.
Of course, these are all rumors and cannot be verified.
But one thing is certain: the victory at Sanjiang did indeed become the fuse for a direct showdown between the eunuch faction and the Donglin faction.
Far away in Shuangchengwei, Chen Ying was completely unaware of all this.
At this moment, he is sitting in the council chamber, enjoying tea with a special guest.
This man was about forty years old, with a thin face, wearing a plain-colored straight robe, but his eyes were exceptionally bright.
The man who came was named Chen Fengyi, and he came from a family of Huizhou merchants. The Chen family had been in the tea, silk and porcelain business for generations and were quite famous in the Jiangnan business community. Chen Fengyi had come to Shuangchengwei from afar with the first batch of 300,000 shi of grain.
In fact, Chen Ying did not discuss the detailed business matters with Chen Fengyi. When it comes to people, these merchants know what Chen Ying wants. This time, Chen Fengyi not only brought 300,000 shi of grain, but also a large amount of tea, as well as more than 1,600 shipbuilding craftsmen recruited from Jiangnan.
Especially these shipbuilding craftsmen, which compelled Chen Ying to meet Chen Fengyi. After exchanging pleasantries with Chen Ying, Chen Fengyi gently clapped his hands three times. A fragrant breeze wafted by, the tinkling of jade pendants and the fluttering of skirts brought over a dozen Jiangnan singers and dancers. They spread their wide sleeves and danced gracefully, their beauty beyond description.
Chen Ying was quite impressed with the beauties from Jiangnan. However, the beauty of the Jurchen women from Haixi and the Wild Jurchen women was too much for him to handle.
Even after they bathed repeatedly, they still had an indescribable smell of sheep droppings on their bodies.
Chen Fengyi laughed and said, "My lord, these singers and dancers were all painstakingly collected by our master. They are proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry and songs. It is no exaggeration to say that they are one in a million."
Chen Ying nodded and said, "She is indeed as beautiful as a fairy, stunningly beautiful, and extremely talented."
At this moment, in the hall, a female guard dressed as a man pursed her lips. She was Unagihan, the daughter of Bomubogor, whose name meant lively and lovely.
This name is actually similar to names like Guli and Aman in the Solon tribe. At least two or three out of ten women have similar names, almost like Han Chinese names like Xiaohua and Xiaocao.
Unagi Khan scoffed in a low voice, "Sixteen of them? I can kill them all by myself!"
Chen Fengyi laughed and said, "Lord Chen is too kind. Why don't you come over quickly and offer him a toast?"
The dancers gave a graceful bow, moved with light steps, and brought over a fragrant breeze.
The lead dancer in white raised her wine cup and said softly, "My lord, you have already defeated the Jurchens so decisively upon arriving at the border. I admire you greatly. I would like to offer you this cup as a token of my respect. I hope you will not find it offensive."
The voice of a beautiful woman from Jiangnan is soft and sweet, making one's bones feel light. Chen Ying naturally did not resist it; he also had a keen eye for beauty.
"You flatter me, young lady."
Chen Ying raised his glass and gently clinked it against hers, then drank it all in one gulp.
The woman in green behind him immediately poured him a cup and said softly, "My lord has a great capacity for alcohol. Wan'er would also like to offer you a toast."
The girl named Wan'er raised her wine cup and said playfully, "Sister Banxia is toasting you, sir. If you drink it, you can't refuse little Wan'er's offer!"
Chen Ying was also a seasoned warrior. Compared to the princesses in the Shang Dynasty of later generations, these girls from Jiangnan were far inferior. He smiled lightly, picked up his wine glass, and drank it all in one gulp.
Chen Ying wasn't afraid of these beauties from Jiangnan taking turns with him; he could drink the yellow wine straight from the bottle.
When Chen Fengyi arrived at Shuangchengwei, he found a large quantity of mountain products, medicinal herbs, and furs in the border market. He naturally wanted to trade in them, but unfortunately, even after drinking two or three catties of yellow wine, he still couldn't get rid of them.
Merchants are greedy, and he would never give up this channel to the Huizhou merchants.
The next morning, Chen Ying woke up from his sleep. Yesterday was a day of fierce fighting. Everyone here is an adult, and Chen Ying is not a saint. Chen Fengyi wanted to use his beauty to corrupt him, but he was open to all comers. If he wanted to corrupt him, he would never succeed.
Just as Chen Ying was taking another nap, Chen Yongren's voice came from outside the door: "Godfather, Eunuch Lu is here!"
"Which Eunuch Lu?"
Chen Yongren said, "Lu Jiucheng, Eunuch Lu!"
Chen Ying said calmly, "Let him rest, I'll sleep a little longer!"
Lu Jiucheng was already in the backyard. Looking at the more than one hundred girls from various departments standing densely in the backyard, even though he was a eunuch, he understood what was going on.
Lu Jiucheng shivered from the cold, but said solemnly, "The imperial edict has arrived! Commander Chen Boying of Shahe Guard, receive the edict!"
"Father-in-law, let me have someone set up the incense table first—"
"Lord Chen, we're all on the same side, there's no need for an incense table!"
Lu Jiucheng made no attempt to hide anything, pushing open the bedroom door and entering directly. Chen Ying was changing clothes, being attended to by four beautiful women from Jiangnan. Lu Jiucheng, sitting on the soft couch in the outer room, said, "I braved the wind and snow to travel all night. I'll take a nap first. The imperial edict is on the table; Lord Chen, please read it yourself!"
Chen Ying glanced at the imperial edict, then looked up and read, "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees!"
"I have heard that extraordinary achievements require extraordinary people. Since the rebellion of the rebellious slaves, Liaodong has been in ruins. I have been working tirelessly day and night, and have never forgotten the goal of restoring Liaodong."
"Chen Boying, the commander of Ershahe Guard, rose from the ranks. He first presented the Tianqi plow to facilitate farming and sowing, and later offered the Tongdao sword to bolster the army's morale. I was well aware of his abilities. However, I never expected that you would strategize so skillfully, personally brave arrows and stones, and lead a small army deep into the barren lands, ultimately crushing tens of thousands of Fang Zhang's bandits at the foot of Changbai Mountain!"
"According to the report: On the 29th day of the ninth month of the fourth year of the Tianqi reign, you led the Shahe New Army to fight against the four banners of the right wing of the Jurchens on the Sanjiang Plain. You deployed cannons like thunder and muskets like a forest. Your soldiers fought bravely and fiercely all day long. You killed Yue Zha, the banner lord of the false Bordered Red Banner, killed more than 3,400 enemy soldiers, captured more than 200, and seized tens of thousands of horses, cattle and sheep."
"Since the rebellious slave chieftain raised his army, he has never suffered such a crushing defeat! Yue Ji, the eldest grandson of the slave chieftain, was beheaded on the battlefield, which is enough to chill the enemy's courage and enhance the prestige of the nation. What is even more commendable is that you did not become arrogant because of this small victory—"
"In the past, Emperor Wu of Han had Huo Qubing, and Emperor Taizong of Tang had Li Yu, both of whom won victories with extraordinary troops and displayed their power in distant lands. Although I am unworthy, how fortunate I am to have such a tiger minister as you! I hereby specially promote you to the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Daming Regional Military Commission, while still in charge of the Shahe Guard, and grant you the additional title of Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Rear Army Military Commission, and bestow upon you this imperial edict—"
Upon seeing this, Chen Ying's heart sank. He thought to himself, "It's over—they've squeezed the fish dry, they've got a live treasure and are using it to the death!"
Lu Jiucheng looked at Chen Ying and smiled, "Lord Chen, congratulations on your promotion to the second-rank commander, but why do you look unhappy?"
"What's there to be happy about!"
Chen Ying plopped down next to Lu Jiucheng, his face full of frustration. "Do you know how much money I've lost since I became the commander of Shahe Guard? Xingzhou Zhongtun Guard alone had over 50,000 mouths to feed, and I had to support them all. Now, they've dumped the Daning Military Command on me. The Daning Military Command has 27 guards under its jurisdiction, each with over 50,000 people. Doesn't that mean they're dumping over a million people on me?"
Chen Ying lay down dejectedly: "Look at all the flesh on my body, cut it all up and use it to feed these million-plus mouths!"
Looking at Chen Ying's expression, Lu Jiucheng couldn't help but smile wryly.
While others were overjoyed at their promotions, Chen Boying was dejected.
At twenty-two years old, he was a second-rank official, a rare young talent even in the military. However, Chen Ying was just putting on an act; in reality, he was overjoyed.
His biggest problem now is that he is only a commander of Shahe Guard. Although he is much stronger than the former commander of Shahe Garrison, the problem is that Shahe Guard can only set up a garrison garrison office at most. One garrison office is not enough to assume the local government functions of Shuangcheng Guard.
The military garrisons of the Ming Dynasty were essentially equivalent to local government functions, especially the twenty-five garrisons in Liaodong, which also included the garrisons of the Nurgan Regional Military Commission. Within each garrison, there was a Records Office, and departments for Personnel and Rites, Personnel, Criminal Affairs, and Revenue.
The office has six departments, including the military barracks and the storehouse, with two designated clerks and four assistant clerks.
It is not entirely accurate to regard the Ming Dynasty's garrisons as small military regions, because garrisons had the nature of local governments, especially in Liaodong, Guanzhong, and ethnic minority areas. Garrisons were both military and local government units.
The twenty-five guards of Liaodong in the Ming Dynasty could actually be considered as twenty-five prefectures in Liaodong. Shuangcheng Guard is now Shuangcheng Garrison Thousand-Household Office, but it does not have an office for officials and rites, nor a household office, so it cannot collect taxes legitimately.
Now that Chen Ying has been given the official position of Commander-in-Chief of the Da Ning Commandery, he can fully supervise the military and civil affairs in the vicinity of Shuangchengwei since its re-establishment.
Lu Jiucheng chuckled slyly, "Lord Chen, rest assured, there aren't that many people for you to support. The Da Ning Military Command has now been officially separated from Baoding Garrison. As for its administrative center, it will be located in Shuangcheng Garrison City. His Majesty plans to rename Xingzhou Left Garrison, Xingzhou Right Garrison, Xingzhou Front Garrison, and Xingzhou Right Garrison to Shuangcheng Left Garrison, Shuangcheng Right Garrison, Shuangcheng Front Garrison, and Shuangcheng Rear Garrison!"
Chen Ying looked at Lu Jiucheng and said, "This still won't work. The four guards alone have two or three hundred thousand men. How am I supposed to feed them all?"
Lu Jiucheng pointed to the imperial edict and said, "Lord Chen, please take a closer look. His Majesty believes that the officials are too self-serving. His Majesty wanted to promote Lord Chen, but he tried every means to obstruct it. In the end, His Majesty listened to Eunuch Wei's advice and moved the garrison of the Daning Commandery to the border, allowing Lord Chen to act as he sees fit. As for me, I will be the military supervisor of the Daning Commandery!"