Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 70: Liaodong Jurchen Strategy
When Zhu Changluo returned to Ciqing Palace, Wang Zhizhen and Luo Sigong were already waiting there.

Luo Sigong left at the end of August, and Wang Zhizhen left on the first day of September.

Whoever arrives first will report first.

"When I arrived, Gao Huai had been beaten to death. It was Governor Xing who sent the standard bearers to calm the rioters and capture the culprit..."

Luo Sigong reported everything he had seen and heard that day, and submitted the list of property that had been counted by the Governor's Office.

"Gao Huai had previously sent his slaves and servants to various places in Liaodong, and some to Korea, and there are still seven people who have not been brought back. I left seven people there, and together with the admiral, I transported the tax silver back to the capital first, and it has been handed over to Eunuch Tian to count and store it in the treasury."

Zhu Changluo looked at him, a little surprised that the person who went to Shanhaiguan to handle this matter in person was also a famous figure.

At this moment, Zhu Changluo just nodded first: "You are indeed the descendant of a loyal minister of the Emperor's Palace. You did a good job in this matter, and you did not hide the fact that you persuaded Xing Dutai not to resign in a hurry."

"I dare not! When I was ordered to go to the court to gather information, I met Xing Dutai. The people in Shanhaiguan rebelled and beat the imperial envoy to death. People in Liaodong are inevitably in panic. Xing Dutai must come forward to control it."

When Wang Zhizhen heard the successor mention the loyal ministers in the temple's private residence, he was moved.

Hearing Luo Sigong showing his ability to consider things and dare to do things in front of the heir, I glanced at him standing aside.

"You go back first."

Zhu Changluo first sent Luo Sigong away, and then looked at Wang Zhizhen.

"You must travel at full speed and report back to the capital urgently. Roughly speaking, it only took you three or four days to get to Shanhaiguan to find evidence that the governor of Liaodong and many officials and businessmen were involved. Was it so smooth?"

Wang Zhizhen had cold sweat on his back. The heir apparent in his eyes was certainly different from that in the eyes of outsiders.

After returning to Beijing, he heard that Shen Yikuan had been forced into that state, and naturally he became even more frightened.

If Wang Zhizhen had revealed even a little bit of his potential as the heir to the throne, the current situation would probably not be like this.

Now that the heir apparent has the power to suppress Shen Yikuan, Wang Zhizhen understands even more clearly the reason why he dares to use himself to investigate the case.

"Your Highness, please understand that I am now putting loyalty and duty first, and I can no longer care about family ties and old friendships!"

Zhu Changluo did not comment: "How did you find out? Tell me in detail."

The Jinyiwei knife still needs to be used.

He pointed out the Wang family and the Zhang family to Wang Zhizhen, and the implied meaning was obvious.

If Wang Zhizhen did not submit his "letter of surrender", why would Zhu Changluo employ him?
As for the "leak of secrets" leading to other changes in the situation, Zhu Changluo could easily delay it until Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue returned to the capital, and he could still use the reason of "imperial power being forced" to reuse Tian Le and the civil and military officials recommended by Tian Le.

However, although the situation under that condition was concealed by the "jealousy between the ruler and his subjects", it was inevitably a bit acute.

Now Wang Zhizhen has initially shown that he still cares about the position of "Jinyiwei Commander". He has understood the words "I will watch". With the evidence in hand, the strategy of attacking Liaodong and Jurchens will be much more justified.

The process of investigating the case is naturally simple.

Through the management of the uncle and nephew Wang Chonggu and Zhang Siwei, after the overall transition to a new stage of tribute trade with the northern barbarians, the Ming Dynasty has gained a new interest group of Shanxi merchants in recent years.

Naturally, they were not as good as the merchants along the coast, who had the products of the wealthy Jiangnan area and the advantages of maritime trade, but relied more on tea and horses traveling west, south and north.

Wang Zhizhen didn't need to put in too much effort. He just went there and found a few of his own people. He easily found out who were conspiring behind the scenes, who condoned, and who would come out to clean up the mess.

Of course, Xing Jie cannot be said to have no responsibility at all. But Gao Huai himself was too suicidal. Did he want Xing Jie to come forward to protect him and become an enemy of other Liaodong civil and military officials?

"So these six families are your scapegoats to show your loyalty to me? And getting the evidence of the Liaodong governor's crime is also your token of loyalty to the outsiders?"

"…I dare not think so. I have only investigated this far. If Your Highness orders me to do so, I will continue to investigate!"

"The Three Courts have sent someone again. Your family has a long history of learning and you have received many teachings. How could you not understand?"

Wang Zhizhen was sweating profusely and knelt down waiting for the decision of the successor.

Zhu Changluo closed his eyes and thought.

After a long time, he spoke.

"Two things."

"I am listening respectfully!"

"First, I'll give you two months to submit the names of all the Jinyiwei in the two capitals, including those who received salaries, before the end of the year. You must sort out the names of the descendants of nobles, descendants of favors, and those who received salaries through requests and frauds."

"I obey your command!" Wang Zhizhen groaned inwardly, as this meant a thorough investigation into the internal problems of the Jinyiwei.

"Secondly, with your Wang and Zhang families as the connections, you should call the heads of ten families who have escaped this time to come to the capital and obey my orders. They must arrive before the coronation ceremony."

"I will send you an urgent letter as soon as I get back!"

"Get up."

Zhu Changluo waited for him to get up, then looked at his face and said, "If you remember the word loyalty, you will be able to turn a disaster into a blessing. I have heard Cheng Jing talk about the open and covert struggles between you and the other officials in the hall. Please help me to purge the Jinyiwei. I want a Jinyiwei that does not learn from the civil officials to fight among themselves."

"…I will remember your highness's instructions."

"You can use more of your own people for the time being, alright! But Luo Sigong must be used. After ascending the throne, if I think the Jinyiwei are ready for use, you can take charge of the Jinyiwei as its commander! Go!"

"I thank Your Highness for your grace!"

Wang Zhizhen felt relieved. This was a clear signal.

If he didn't bite his teeth and do his job loyally this time, he would be the only one to lose in the open and secret struggles within the Jinyiwei, and Wang Zhang and other families might be implicated and questioned. The matter of Shanhaiguan should not be handled lightly, but that was talking about the civil and military classes, not the merchant families.

Although the Wang and Zhang families have produced important officials, if only the Wang and Zhang families involved and the other in-laws are affected, who in the court would be willing to risk the wrath of the new monarch and plead for them?
Even Shen Yikuan no longer has the glory he had in previous months.

After Wang Zhizhen left, Zhu Changluo stood up and said, "Let's go sit in the Jianxiang Pavilion."

"Yes."

Tian Yi followed silently.

Usually at times like this, the heir would be alone thinking about problems silently, and Tian Yi only had to be ready to answer questions at any time.

Zhu Changluo took a walk silently, still thinking about Nurhaci's personal visit to pay tribute.

Now he appeared to be extremely submissive to the Ming Dynasty, and had even requested to fight in the Korean War together.

Many soldiers and civilians fled from the Ming border forts, and Nurhaci sent them back every time.

Zhu Changluo had to consider many issues regarding this "loyal barbarian chief".

Killing him is certain, it does not depend on whether he himself will rebel against the Ming Dynasty.

Once the pace of unifying the Jurchen tribes was set, he could no longer stop as he needed to satisfy the interests of more of his subordinates.

There is a reason why there have been only scattered tribes between the White Mountains and the Black Waters for so many years. The products that can be obtained there with the technological conditions of this era are only enough to support a small tribe.

But when to kill him, whether it can be done efficiently, and the relationship between killing him and solving the real problems within the Ming Dynasty all need to be sorted out.

Now that Nurhaci is about to come to the door in person, to be honest, it is also a good time to make a choice.

However, now that Nurhaci has been eliminated, the Jianzhou Jurchens will lose a leader, but the situation on the Liaodong border will suddenly become more complicated.

At a time when the court and the army are not yet in order, the risks are quite high.

As for money... the Zheng residence was previously confiscated, the tax collector has returned to the capital, and the meat eaten during the Shanhaiguan uprising can support a special campaign.

But then all the money will have to be taken from the treasury, and it will be difficult to predict how things will develop in the future.

"Tian Yi, after the Jianzhou Jurchens defeated the nine tribes of the Haixi Jurchens, what is the current situation?"

Tian Yi didn't expect that his successor was thinking about the Jianzhou Jurchens. He thought he was thinking about how to resolve the Shanhaiguan uprising.

After thinking for a while, Tian Yi could only answer based on his memory: "After defeating the nine-tribe coalition, Jianzhou Guard Nurhaci has now married the two strongest tribes of Haixi Jurchen, Yehe and Ula. In the past two years, Jianzhou Jurchens have been fighting against the Woji and other tribes of the wild Jurchens in the East China Sea."

"Do you remember that day when I asked Grand Marshal Kuandian Liubao?"

"I remember." Tian Yi is now more serious. "Your Highness asked whether the Liaodong border army can fight the Jianzhou Jurchens now. The Grand Marshal replied that after the Korean War, Liaodong cannot talk about war for several years. Your Highness asked again whether the six forts in Kuandian can be held. The Grand Marshal replied that Xing Dutai is old and Liaodong lacks good military officials."

Zhu Changluo thought of Xiong Tingbi, who was now the magistrate of Baoding Prefecture. He had been in office for only two years and was only a seventh-rank official.

It is really outrageous that Marin used the method of posting flyers on the streets to fight others with their real names, not to mention that this time he is involved in a criminal case.

The one who was famous in Mobei was his father Ma Fang, and Ma Lin was really far behind.

Liu Jing is only good at wielding a broadsword, and he has no cunning mind. If he were to go to Liaodong to be the general commander, his reputation and military strength would be enough, but it might be a bad thing strategically.

We need someone who is capable of managing Liaodong to keep it in check, and we also need a good governor and inspector general to support it.

After Xing Jie, Zhu Changluo, the governor of Ji and Liao, actually wanted to let Tian Le go, but it was also necessary to reorganize the Beijing camp.

Li Chengliang? Zhu Changluo could ask Tian Le about Kuandian Liubao, so how could he not remember what happened after Li Chengliang returned to Liaodong?
"Your Highness, if you are just worried about the lack of good officials in Liaodong, I think the person the Grand Marshal mentioned that day can be used."

"Who?"

"Yuan Keli of Guide Prefecture, Yuan Liqing, was known for his honesty and never feared the powerful. When he was a seventh-rank official, he impeached the governor of Yingtian, who had close ties with the elders Shen and Wang, and handled the Huzhou case that shocked the court and the public. Later, when he was the Supervisory Censor of Shanxi Province, he rejected... the order of His Majesty and killed the ministers who were causing trouble. In the 23rd year of the Wanli reign, when thunder struck the Jingde Gate, he submitted a memorial to advise His Majesty, who was furious and finally dismissed him from office and made him a commoner."

Zhu Changluo remembered: "He..."

"Yes, he is known as Yuan Qingtian and has served as a censor. If you appoint him to inspect Liaodong, Your Highness can deal with the Shanhaiguan uprising, and your dissatisfaction with the hasty handling of the Liaodong civil and military affairs will be obvious, and the court officials will not be able to stop it. After that, Yuan Keli will inspect Liaodong, and the civil and military affairs will be cautious. After Cao Xuecheng, Your Highness will appoint Yuan Liqing, and the world will know that Your Highness wants to govern."

"Weichuan, you are very thoughtful! Then go and pass the message."

Tian Yi said a little embarrassedly: "I'm afraid it will be difficult. I heard that he doesn't want to serve as an official anymore..."

"Why?" Zhu Changluo understood later that he was hurt by his father. "That's easy. Leave this problem to the cabinet. They also sent a letter to invite him. Now I am going to ascend the throne. After all, it is a new dynasty!"

With Yuan Keli's qualifications, it would be difficult for him to become a governor directly now, but he is indeed qualified to be the inspector of Liaodong.

According to the governor, Xing Jie can still be used, but Zhu Changluo wants to meet with him.

As for Nurhaci... Zhu Changluo has figured it out.

The Ming Dynasty was defeated by its own people. As long as there was an emperor of decent ability who could solve internal problems, who couldn't be used? Xiong Tingbi, Sun Chengzong, Lu Xiangsheng, Sun Chuanting, Hong Chengchou... even the always-raging Yuan Chonghuan?
It must be admitted that everyone has his own character flaws and his own interests to consider.

He was about to ascend the throne, and Zhu Changluo only needed to give Nurhaci a look and make a request when he came to pay his respects in person.

I believe that Nurhaci, who was extremely submissive, would not refuse to send his eighth son Huang Taiji to study in Beijing, right?

The look in the eyes will make people with grand plans in their hearts understand that protons may become the "eighth hatred" in the future?
But it is also possible that there won’t be any, because Nurhaci will probably come to pay tribute again.

In a word, the strategy against the Jurchens in Liaodong was fundamentally within the Ming Dynasty. It was based on that canal and the financial and taxation center of Jiangnan that "satisfied" the empire through that canal!
This is the main contradiction.

(End of this chapter)