Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 465 The Struggle Between Civil and Military Officials: A Strange War!

In the long corridor outside the Imperial Study, the setting sun shone through the carved beams and painted rafters, where dozens of officials in court robes stood solemnly awaiting the emperor's summons.

Their gazes met occasionally, and their whispers, like a gentle breeze, carried a hint of unease.

Suddenly, the eunuch's shrill voice broke the silence: "His Majesty has decreed that the Minister of Military Affairs, Duke of Liang, Lan Yu, and the Minister of State Affairs, Yang Rong, be summoned to an audience!"

Upon hearing this, the people in the corridor were taken aback and looked puzzled.

After all, neither of their names were on the list of those to be presented to the Emperor today, nor were they waiting in the corridor.

Fortunately, both the Political Affairs Office and the Military Affairs Office were not far from the Imperial Study. In just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Lan Yu and Yang Rong, having received the imperial edict, hurried over.

Lan Yu, dressed in a new military uniform, walked with a steady gait, his brows revealing a sharpness honed by the battlefield.

Yang Rong, on the other hand, was a scholar in flowing robes, exuding the composure of a gentleman in every gesture.

The two men entered the imperial study, immediately bowed, and said in unison, "Your subjects pay their respects to Your Majesty!"

Zhu Yunwen waved his hand gently: "No need for formalities, rise."

He immediately got straight to the point: "I summoned you here today to inquire about the progress of the campaign to quell the rebellion of the chieftains in the southwest."

"How effective has the imperial court's policy of replacing native chieftains with appointed officials been?"

Upon hearing this, Lan Yu immediately stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, Your Majesty. I will do my utmost to quell the rebellion of the chieftains in the southwest and will never fail Your Majesty's grace!"

His voice was strong and resolute, with the decisiveness unique to military generals, but then his tone softened slightly as he said, "However, the southwest is a dangerous place with towering mountains and continuous ridges, rugged roads, and difficult travel for carriages and horses."

"Soldiers traversed mountains and valleys, and the march alone took a great deal of time. Transporting military supplies such as food and fodder was even more difficult."

"In my opinion, it is difficult to quell the rebellion in the southwest in a hasty manner. We should proceed steadily and cautiously, step by step, to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

At this point, a flash of anger appeared in Lan Yu's eyes, and his voice suddenly rose: "I have another matter to discuss. I wish to impeach several ministers in the Administrative Office!"

"They were greedy for credit and acted rashly, even interfering in military affairs without authorization, which is a serious overreach of their authority!"

He paused slightly, as if controlling his indignation, and then continued, "The rebellion of the chieftains in the southwest is a matter of the imperial court's military affairs. His Majesty has long since promulgated the policy of separating military and political affairs, and local officials are not allowed to interfere in military matters."

"But these ministers, citing the reason that 'the chieftains belong to local jurisdiction, and suppressing the rebellion of the chieftains is an internal matter that should be handled by the government through pacification and suppression,' privately dispatched troops and acted recklessly!"

"They are ignorant of military strategy and warfare. Such actions will only disrupt the war situation in the southwest and delay important matters!"

Lan Yu's voice was extremely loud, so loud that it echoed faintly in the imperial study.

Zhu Yunwen raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of surprise flashing across his face.

Unexpectedly, Lan Yu would impeach the Administrative Office.

He did not respond immediately, but instead turned his gaze to Yang Rong.

Although Yang Rong was a minister in charge of political affairs, he was always responsible for coordinating military affairs.

If this is true, then he must know it all too well.

"Your Majesty, in the southwest, the chieftains are separatist, each ruling their own territory. They are unruly and have long defied the court's control, causing long-standing problems."

Yang Rong stood solemnly before the hall, his voice steady and respectful: "Now the court is implementing the policy of replacing native chieftains with appointed officials, which directly targets the foundation of the chieftains' power and touches their very lifeline."

"These chieftains naturally rose up in rebellion, vowing to defend their ancestral dominance to the death."

His tone grew increasingly solemn: "To quell the rebellion of the chieftains in the southwest, the imperial court should act with overwhelming force, dispatching a large army to sweep away those chieftains who dare to defy the imperial court's orders one by one, like autumn winds sweeping away fallen leaves, thus deterring all sides."

"However, the Military Affairs Department only dispatched a new army of three thousand men, originally sent to the expedition to Siam, to the war to pacify the southwest."

"Three thousand men are like a trickle, unable to extinguish the raging flames, far from enough to quell the chaos."

"The Political Affairs Department has repeatedly requested the Military Affairs Department to increase troops in the southwest, but the Military Affairs Department has resolutely refused to add troops, citing that this year's military budget has been set and there is no surplus financial resources."

"The government affairs office had no choice but to find another solution."

Yang Rong paused slightly, his tone revealing a hint of determination: "After repeated discussions and reviewing the regulations of the new policy, we have discovered that the Tusi (local chieftains) in the southwest belong to the territory of the Great Ming Dynasty. Their local affairs are internal affairs of the Great Ming Dynasty, not external wars."

"His Majesty once issued a clear decree that the military and the government should be separated, and the Ministry of State Affairs should not be involved in military affairs, but should only cooperate with the military when necessary."

"However, internal affairs are different from foreign wars. According to regulations, the Ministry of State Affairs has the authority to command all departments of the court and order local officials to maintain stability and peace throughout the Ming Dynasty."

"After the original provincial military commands were abolished, some elite troops were reorganized into the Inner Guard Army, which was under the command of the Political Affairs Department and jointly controlled by the Ministry of War and the provincial governors and inspectors."

"The regulations clearly state that if a local rebellion breaks out, the governor and the imperial inspector have the right to urgently dispatch the local military guards to suppress it."

"Based on this, the government affairs office sent a document to Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, ordering them to mobilize the internal guards and military officers within their jurisdictions to swiftly launch an attack and suppress those chieftains who openly challenged the court and disregarded the law."

At this point, a hint of excitement flashed in Yang Rong's eyes: "At the same time, the Ministry of War took on the responsibility of coordinating the use of troops by the Tusi, and the Ministry of Justice also fully cooperated."

"The Ministry of Justice's Anti-Theft Division dispatched elite personnel to aid Yunnan and Sichuan."

"Local officials also strengthened their patrols and deployed their forces closely, capturing one by one those barbarians who dared to defy the law."

He took a deep breath, his voice tinged with pride: "These measures have already shown initial results."

"Wu Ding, the Inner Guard, was brave and skilled in battle, and his advance was unstoppable. He successively suppressed rebellions, and nine chieftains have been executed, which has intimidated the southwest."

"The Ministry of Justice's Anti-Theft Division acted swiftly and decisively, capturing three stubborn chieftains."

"The constables from various local governments also lived up to their mission, quelling several rebellions and capturing two chieftains who had instigated the unrest."

"Even the tax inspectors, while investigating tax evasion, also captured a group of barbarian rebels who were trying to escape."

"Many of the chieftains who rebelled in the southwest have already been brought to justice."

At this point, Yang Rong's tone suddenly changed, becoming somewhat cold and sarcastic: "On the other hand, the Military Affairs Department, because it clings to old ways and is unwilling to increase its troops, is unwilling to divide its only three thousand men."

"Although they won a few battles, they were trapped in the mountains and valleys, their advance was slow, and the campaign to quell the rebellion almost came to a standstill."

"If we continue with the Military Affairs Department's sluggish strategy, I'm afraid the rebellion of the chieftains in the southwest will continue indefinitely, wasting national resources and missing opportunities for war!"

He bowed deeply, his voice firm and resolute: "Your Majesty, the situation in the southwest is crucial to the stability of the Ming Dynasty. Since the Military Affairs Department cannot quickly mobilize troops to quell the rebellion, the Political Affairs Department cannot sit idly by while the country is in turmoil. Mobilizing troops to quell the rebellion is indeed our duty!"

Yang Rong spoke with conviction and passion, and Zhu Yunwen finally understood.

Good guy!
He thought to himself, "Wow!"

What an unexpected turn of events!

This war in the southwest was not caused by the Military Affairs Department dispatching the elite troops of the Ming Dynasty to fight again. Instead, it was the Political Affairs Department relying on the Imperial Guards and Wu Ding, in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice's Anti-Theft Division, local government constables, and the tax bureau's inspectors and other quasi-military forces to fight.
The administrative system, without relying on a single soldier from the military, launched an external war on its own, and achieved remarkable results, with progress in full swing.

This scene was truly beyond imagination.

However, upon closer examination, it seems quite reasonable. While the armed forces of the southwestern chieftains should not be underestimated, their combat strength was ultimately far inferior to that of the Ming Dynasty.

Historically, the Ming and Qing dynasties' military campaigns in the southwest often cost enormous sums of money and resulted in the loss of countless soldiers before they could achieve any significant gains.

But the Ming Dynasty of today is far from the Ming Dynasty of the original history.

The wave of industrialization swept in, and the manufacture of firearms and artillery advanced by leaps and bounds, quickly becoming widespread.

The new army was well-equipped, rigorously trained, and well-supplied. Its combat power was a devastating blow to the old-style army.

Even the Imperial Guards under the dual control of the Ministry of War and the local governors and inspectors were all equipped with new firearms.

Although they were not as advanced as the newest firearms in the army, these muskets were far superior to the old weapons and were quite powerful.

As for the elite troops of the Ministry of Justice's Anti-Theft Division and the armed inspection teams of the Tax Bureau, they were also equipped with firearms.

Even some local government officials and constables are being issued firearms one after another.

The government affairs department's priority in equipping constables of local government offices in the southwest with firearms was within their authority.

Although the quasi-military forces controlled by these administrative systems could not compare with the new army under the Military Affairs Department, they were more than capable of dealing with the small fry under the chieftains.

However, the way the government affairs office is doing this also reveals a hint of something intriguing.

"Ridiculous! It's absolutely ridiculous!"

Before Zhu Yunwen could speak, Lan Yu could no longer contain himself. His face was full of anger. He suddenly stepped forward, pointed at Yang Rong, and shouted, "Your Majesty, listen to this absurd theory!"

"Yang Rong is clearly arguing unreasonably and distorting the truth!"

Lan Yu's eyes widened, his hair and beard almost stood on end, and his voice boomed like a bell, echoing throughout the hall: "Three thousand new soldiers are capable of conquering Siam, sweeping across the kingdoms of Pagu, and winning every battle and conquering every city!"

"The mere chaos caused by the chieftains in the southwest is nothing to worry about."

"My three thousand elite troops are enough to quell the rebellion! Why should we send more soldiers?"

His tone was full of indignation: "It is only because the southwest is a dangerous place with towering mountains and steep ridges, rugged roads and inconvenient transportation that the progress of suppressing the rebellion has been somewhat slow."

"What does this have to do with the strength of the new army? Yang Rong's words are clearly a slander against our army's prestige!"

Lan Yu turned to Zhu Yunwen, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed: "Your Majesty, since the implementation of the new policies, the budgets of all departments of the court have been fixed. Unless it concerns the safety of the country and Your Majesty specially approves temporary funding, who can overstep the bounds?"

"The funds available to the Military Affairs Department for the war in the southwest are limited to the funds allocated by the imperial court."

"Even if I, Lan Yu, possess extraordinary abilities, I cannot conjure silver out of thin air!"

"Am I to allow the soldiers on the front lines to burn, kill, loot, and plunder the people to make up for the shortfall in military funds?"

Even so, you still can't conjure bullets.

"Then how can we reinforce the southwestern front?"

"The government office was unwilling to allocate more military funds, and on the grounds that our army was making slow progress, it arbitrarily used the power of the internal guards, constables, and even the tax commissioner to wage war against the chieftains in the southwest."

"This move is clearly an attempt to seize military power. They intend to use the pretext of suppressing the rebellion to expand the military force they can control, harboring malicious intentions!"

"Your Majesty, I humbly request your wise judgment to thoroughly investigate his intentions and rectify the court!"

Yang Rong and Lan Yu each held their own version of events, engaging in a fierce verbal battle, neither willing to yield.

The two argued more and more fiercely, and the argument became increasingly heated.

"Enough! Shut up!" Zhu Yunwen slammed his hand on the dragon table, his voice authoritative and resounding throughout the hall.

Upon hearing this, the two men reluctantly fell silent, but still glared at each other, their anger still lingering. The atmosphere in the hall became as heavy as ice.

Zhu Yunwen sat upright on the dragon throne, looking at Yang Rong with a cold tone: "Political affairs are political affairs, and military affairs are military affairs. This is the court order personally established by me. How dare you overstep it?"

"Although the chieftains in the southwest have long nominally submitted to the Ming Dynasty and submitted to its rule, in reality they have carved out their own territories, established themselves as kings, and are unruly and disregard the laws of the court."

"This campaign against the chieftains is no ordinary domestic affair; it is no different from conquering an enemy state, and therefore falls under military affairs!"

“Only when the military marches south, quells the rebellion, completely subdues the chieftains, and then hands them over to the government to implement the policy of replacing chieftains with centrally appointed officials, and dispatches capable officials to govern the local areas and eliminate the remaining bandits, can it be called internal affairs.”

"The Ministry of State Affairs, under the pretext of 'internal affairs,' has taken it upon itself to mobilize the Imperial Guards, the Ministry of Justice's Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and local constables to attack the chieftains without waiting for the Ministry of Military Affairs to deploy troops. This is clearly an overstepping of authority and a blatant violation of the separation of military and political power established by me!"

Upon hearing Zhu Yunwen's anger, Yang Rong's expression changed slightly. He dared not argue further and respectfully said, "I have acted rashly and violated the laws of the court. I am guilty and beg Your Majesty for punishment."

Zhu Yunwen's gaze was like a knife, piercing Yang Rong, and he said in a deep voice, "This matter is by no means solely your fault."

"Is it possible that several ministers in the Administrative Office discussed it together and worked together to make it happen?"

Yang Rong lowered his head and remained silent, neither admitting nor denying it.

Zhu Yunwen understood that this matter was definitely not Yang Rong's scheme alone.

The civil officials in the government affairs office will surely pool their wisdom and efforts to promote this initiative.

Although Yang Shiqi was at odds with Zhan Hui, Wang Zuo, and others, they were all civil officials throughout their lives.

Deep down, he still harbors the unwavering belief in using civil administration to control military affairs; it is deeply ingrained and difficult to shake.

In their eyes, military generals are fierce and righteous, and their close personal relationships with their soldiers make them prone to forming cliques and creating hidden dangers.

If military power remains in the hands of military men, the court may one day fall into the danger of regional separatism.

In the past, starting a business was difficult, and military generals had no choice but to take command of troops and lead them into battle to conquer the country.

Now that the world is at peace, it's time to put away our weapons.

Governing a country requires an emphasis on cultural governance.

The civil officials believed that military power should be returned to the imperial court and controlled by them, civil officials who were well-versed in the art of governance, in order to ensure the stability of the country and the peace of the nation.

Actually, these ideas are not entirely unreasonable.

The Song Dynasty's emphasis on civil affairs over military matters led to a period of weakness and a decline in military strength. However, the dynasty was still able to last for hundreds of years, demonstrating its resilience in governing the country.

In contrast, during the late Tang Dynasty, when military power was in the hands of military generals, and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, state power changed hands frequently, like a revolving lantern.

In other words, if the civil government cannot control military power, the disaster of regional warlordism will likely reappear within a few decades, leading to continuous civil wars and social unrest.

……

(End of this chapter)