Chapter 590: Zhu Youjian's Decision
The capital, Imperial Study.
The Chongzhen Emperor, Zhu Youjian, scanned the memorials before him, his face etched with worry, an expression utterly grim.
The rebels in Shanxi were growing increasingly fierce and destructive.
Apart from the line connecting Puzhou, Hejin County, and Pingyang Prefecture, which the pacified bandit Xing Honglang desperately held, the rest of the region was utterly ravaged.
The Governor of Shanxi, Song Tongyin, had retreated to Taiyuan, but outside Taiyuan, nearly half of Shanxi was being mercilessly ravaged by the rebels, with the fires of war burning everywhere.
“Where is Cao Wenzhao?” Zhu Youjian demanded, his face dark. “What has become of Cao Wenzhao?”
The chief eunuch, Cao Huachun, stepped forward. “Cao Wenzhao is currently suppressing bandits in northern Shaanxi, as the rebel Bu Zhan Ni led tens of thousands of rebels from seven different groups. They crossed the river back into Shaanxi, engaging in a protracted struggle with Cao Wenzhao's forces.”
Zhu Youjian fumed, “What about the White Pole Soldiers from Sichuan?”
Cao Huachun replied, “The White Pole Soldiers are too few in number, and their military provisions are insufficient. Currently, they can only move back and forth along the line of Daling County, Puxian, and Pingyang Prefecture, constantly resisting and utterly exhausted.”
Cao Huachun: “He is desperately defending Taiyuan.”
Zhu Youjian was speechless.
He felt completely numb!
For a moment, he didn’t know what to do.
Zhu Youjian continued, “So, are you telling me that not a single one of my magnificent Ming imperial troops can fight, and they’re all inferior to that pacified bandit, Xing Honglang?”
Cao Huachun cleared his throat. “Well... Xing Honglang simply has more soldiers. It seems she built up quite a fortune back when she was a bandit. Now, she commands five thousand elite troops. Naturally, she's far more formidable than other generals. Your Majesty, consider this: Cao Wenzhao has only three thousand men, the White Pole Soldiers from Sichuan also have three thousand, and Wang Guoliang has just two thousand five hundred... Xing Honglang has a full five thousand troops.”
Zhu Youjian’s expression immediately became a sight to behold, a look of utter disbelief and exasperation. But as emperor, he could not utter such vulgarities.
After a long moment, he finally muttered in frustration, “That’s true enough. Rebels always seem to have a disproportionately large number of troops, inexplicably so.”
To console him, Cao Huachun hastened to add, “Rest assured, Your Majesty, we do have capable officers among our imperial troops. Under Wang Cheng'en, the Grand Commander of Shaanxi, there are two thousand-household commanders who are exceptionally skilled fighters. One is named Shi Jian, and the other is Wang Xiaohua. Currently, one is stationed in Pingyang Prefecture, and the other guards the bridgehead of the Dragon Gate Yellow River Bridge. They have repeatedly repelled rebel attacks and performed meritorious service.”
“The Dragon Gate Yellow River Bridge?” The name landed strangely on Zhu Youjian’s ears, leaving him somewhat bewildered. “There’s a bridge on the Yellow River?”
Cao Huachun replied, “According to reports from below, an immortal built a colossal bridge across the Yellow River, spanning a vast distance and incredibly majestic...”
Zhu Youjian scoffed, “Nonsense! Where do these absurd claims come from?”
Cao Huachun coughed twice. “Well... Your Majesty knows that officials submitting memorials always tend to exaggerate. Take Shi Jian’s memorial, for instance; he claims he single-handedly charged into the enemy ranks, fighting his way in and out three times, and had over two pounds of arrows removed from his body... Oh, and he’s also the one defending the Dragon Gate Bridge.”
Zhu Youjian snorted. “I understand now. This so-called Dragon Gate Bridge must simply be a chain stretched from the east bank to the west, used to secure a pontoon bridge or raft for crossing. And half of Shi Jian’s supposed achievements are undoubtedly inflated.”
Cao Huachun agreed, “Most likely, Your Majesty.”
Zhu Youjian simmered with frustration, deeply vexed. However, having something to boast about was better than having nothing. After all, Shi Jian had indeed rendered service, and he wouldn’t punish him just for a little exaggeration. In fact, he might even have to promote him.
Promoting military officers who could defeat rebels, and letting those who couldn’t win see it, would surely motivate the others to relentlessly suppress the bandits.
Zhu Youjian instructed Cao Huachun, “Help me draft an imperial edict: Xing Honglang, Shi Jian, and Wang Xiaohua are meritorious and deserve rewards. Order the Ministry of War to review their records and suggest suitable promotions. Furthermore, the Governor of Shanxi, Song Tongyin, has failed to suppress the bandits and alleviate Our worries; dismiss him and send him home to fend for himself. Those who show merit shall be rewarded, and those who are useless shall be punished. Let this clear distinction between rewards and punishments serve as a lesson for all civil and military officials.”
Cao Huachun quickly began writing.
Just then, a young eunuch rushed in. “Your Majesty, an urgent secret dispatch from the Jinyiwei has arrived.”
An urgent secret dispatch from the Jinyiwei, of course, demanded immediate attention.
Zhu Youjian immediately took the letter and, upon reading it closely, was greatly astonished. The dispatch was from Shi Kefa, a hereditary Jinyiwei centurion of impeccable lineage and a loyal supporter of the imperial family. Though Shi Kefa's official rank was not high, his family had served in the Jinyiwei for generations, making him a staunch imperial loyalist and utterly trustworthy.
The letter astonishingly reported that the Prince of Qin’s estate had organized death-sworn agents to attack government transport convoys, and Shi Kefa had even captured one alive, who had confessed.
Zhu Youjian’s mood plummeted as if he were on a plummeting tower ride.
While helping to draft the imperial edict, Cao Huachun had also been surreptitiously glancing at the letter in Zhu Youjian’s hand. After finishing it, he couldn't help but feel a drop of sweat trickle down his brow, and he whispered, “Your Majesty, this... what is to be done?”
Zhu Youjian grunted, “Hmph! The Prince of Qin’s estate has become utterly lawless.”
Cao Huachun asked, “Are we to move against the Prince of Qin’s estate?”
Zhu Youjian slowly shook his head. “We cannot touch them!”
The Ming emperors had always harbored a sense of guilt towards the Prince of Qin’s estate.
This guilt stemmed from a confluence of factors. Firstly, to consolidate imperial power, the emperors had stripped the Prince of Qin of his military authority, reducing his tens of thousands of troops to a mere five hundred personal guards. Thus, successive emperors had always compensated the Prince of Qin in other ways.
Secondly, there was the matter of the Prince of Qin and his heir’s succession, which the Ministry of Rites had long stalled on. It had been repeatedly delayed since the Wanli Emperor’s reign and remained unresolved even into the Chongzhen era. The civil officials did this, of course, to prevent the Prince of Qin’s estate from acquiring too much land, but their constant procrastination infuriated the emperors, who issued several edicts to rebuke the officials.
The imperial family had indeed wronged the Prince of Qin’s estate!
How could he now bring himself to punish them?
Zhu Youjian declared, “The imperial family has always been indebted to the Prince of Qin’s estate. If We were to make an example of them for this matter, the other princes would surely grow disheartened and resentful. How then could We face Our ancestors in the afterlife?”
Cao Huachun countered, “But... this time, he has caused too great a stir. With a live captive in Shi Kefa’s hands, how can this be explained to the civil officials?”
Zhu Youjian frowned deeply, considered for a long moment, then sighed. “Draft an edict for Me, instructing Shi Kefa to escort the captive to the capital, but arrange for him to be silenced en route. Then, I will personally write an imperial edict, severely admonishing the Prince of Qin’s estate, scolding them fiercely and harshly, to make Zhu Cunji behave himself for a while and let this matter be swept under the rug.”
Cao Huachun warned, “If so, the civil officials will once again denounce Your Majesty as a tyrannical ruler.”
Zhu Youjian waved his hand dismissively. “Let them curse. Beyond their endless scolding, these civil officials are useless for anything else. Do you think We fear their insults?”
Thus, the matter was settled.
Zhu Youjian personally penned an imperial edict, vehemently berating Zhu Cunji, telling him to conduct himself properly, stop causing trouble, and cease provoking the civil officials, lest even the emperor himself could no longer protect him...
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