Video Editor

Inside the Wenhua Hall, the appointment of the Liaodong Military Commissioner became the focus of the court discussion.

When someone suggested that, according to custom, a civil official or someone from a military family in Liaodong should take over, Su Ning resolutely stepped forward, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable force:
"Your Majesty, I recommend Qi Jiguang to serve as the Governor-General of Jiliao, and to be in full charge of the war against the Jurchen tribes."

These words caused a slight ripple throughout the hall.

Although Qi Jiguang had made great military achievements, his background as a general from Zhejiang Province, which allowed him to take charge of Jiliao, undoubtedly broke with long-standing conventions.

Before anyone could question him, Su Ning had already walked to the huge map of Liaodong and pointed precisely at the location of Jianzhou Guard:

"Have you gentlemen noticed that in recent years, our Great Ming's strategy towards the Jurchen tribes has fallen into a dangerous cycle?"

His gaze swept over the assembled officials. "When we send troops to wipe out a disobedient Haixi Jurchen tribe, its remnants are swallowed up by the Jianzhou Jurchens; when we suppress a rebellious savage Jurchen leader, his followers defect to Jianzhou. This cycle repeats itself, and the Jianzhou Jurchens are like a hungry wolf that we have personally fed, growing stronger and stronger!"

His voice suddenly turned stern: "How is this any different from how we treated the Oirats and Tatars back then? Today, the Jianzhou Jurchens are already the 'little overlords' of Liaodong. If we continue to use this method of 'using barbarians to control barbarians' without being able to control the situation, Liaodong will surely face a great calamity in less than twenty years!"

The Minister of War couldn't help but retort: ​​"Is Grand Secretary Su exaggerating? How can Jianzhou, a mere prefecture, be compared to the Oirat Mongols of yesteryear?"

"It is precisely this underestimation that is most fatal!" Su Ning turned around, his eyes blazing. "Back when Esen first rose to power, who took him seriously? By the time his army besieged the capital, it was too late for regrets! We must not repeat the same mistakes in dealing with the Jurchens, especially the Jianzhou tribe. We must change from 'indirect checks and balances' to 'direct annihilation,' and we must eradicate them completely, leaving no future troubles!"

He returned to the Emperor's presence and bowed solemnly to Wanli: "Your Majesty, Qi Yuanjing (Qi Jiguang) is most skilled in system warfare, having trained the new army, established the chariot battalion, and repaired the border walls. To deal with the Jurchen tribes scattered in the mountains, we need a commander like him who can both fight steadily and win by surprise. Only by granting him full authority and adopting the strategy of 'sweeping away the enemy' to thoroughly eliminate each tribe, incorporating their able-bodied men into military settlements, and relocating their women and children to inland areas for dispersed resettlement, can we eliminate future troubles forever."

He concluded by emphasizing, "If we allow the Jianzhou Jurchens to grow stronger through the hands of our Great Ming, the very descendants of our Great Ming will one day swallow this bitter pill! At that time, you and I will both become sinners in history!"

There was silence in the hall.

Su Ning's analysis closely linked the hidden dangers in Liaodong with historical lessons, causing many officials who had previously dismissed the issue to fall into deep thought.

Wanli looked at the "Jianzhou Guard" marked on the map, then at Su Ning with a resolute expression, and finally nodded slowly.

……

The sound of the court bells signaling the end of the day slowly faded over the Forbidden City. Officials filed out, discussing in twos and threes the heated debates that had taken place that day regarding the Liaodong strategy.

Emperor Wanli, however, kept Su Ning behind and instructed him to accompany him to the warm pavilion behind the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Inside the warm pavilion, the charcoal fire burned brightly, dispelling the chill of early winter.

Emperor Wanli dismissed his attendants, leaving only Su Ning behind.

He did not immediately mention the matter of Liaodong. Instead, he tapped the imperial desk lightly with his fingers, his gaze fixed intently on Su Ning:

"Mr. Su, what you said in court today is exactly what I think. I am at ease entrusting the affairs of Liaodong to Qi Jiguang."

He changed the subject, his tone becoming serious, "But what I am thinking about now is a more profound and fundamental solution. The other day you mentioned 'equalizing land tax and poll tax' and 'officials and gentry paying taxes together.' If we really want to implement these, how should we begin? I would like to hear your specific strategies."

Su Ning was well prepared for this. He knew that after experiencing the oppression of the Zhang Juzheng era, the young emperor longed to establish achievements that surpassed those of his predecessors, but he also knew the hesitation in his character and his fear of risks.

He paused for a moment, then instead of giving a direct answer, he first poured cold water on the situation:
"Your Majesty's determination is a blessing for all the people. However, these two policies are earth-shattering, and a single move can affect the whole situation. Their difficulty far exceeds that of land surveying, and is even greater than when Zhang Jiangling implemented the Single Whip Law."

He walked to the map of the Ming Dynasty hanging on one side of the warm pavilion, his gaze sweeping over the northern and southern Zhili provinces and the thirteen provinces, and slowly said:

"In my opinion, if we want to implement this unprecedented new policy, we must not seek quick results, nor can we make enemies on all sides. We should follow the strategy of Emperor Taizu Gao, who 'built high walls, stored up grain, and delayed declaring himself king,' and have a three-step plan."

"The first step is 'building momentum and piloting the reforms.'" Su Ning held up his first finger. "Does Your Majesty recall that when I was serving as the Governor of Yingtian, I used the 'Daming Supermarket' to purchase agricultural products and delineate land in some prefectures and counties of Southern Zhili, and piloted a method similar to 'incorporating corvée labor into land taxation'? Although it wasn't thorough, we accumulated data and understood the details. I suggest that we first expand the pilot program to areas with high tax revenue, such as Suzhou, Songjiang, Changzhou, and Zhenjiang, as well as areas where 'Daming Supermarket' has a strong influence. At the same time, we should establish a public service newspaper called 'Huangming Times,' which will publish articles about how unequal taxation and corvée labor in past dynasties led to popular uprisings, so that all discerning people in the world will know that 'reform' is an inevitable trend, not something Your Majesty does for personal gain."

"The second step is 'divide and conquer'." The second finger extends, "'Officials and gentry paying taxes together' directly targets the interests of the scholar-officials, and will inevitably face the greatest resistance. However, the gentry are not a monolithic entity. An imperial edict can be issued, clearly stating that the new policy aims to 'equalize taxes and corvée labor, enrich the country and strengthen the military,' and promising that the sons of officials and gentry who actively cooperate with the land survey and truthfully pay taxes will receive appropriate preferential treatment in the imperial examinations, official appointments, and promotions. At the same time, imperial relatives and meritorious nobles can be personally summoned by His Majesty, offered other political or economic compensation, and their neutrality can be secured. This is 'uniting the majority and striking at the minority.'"

At this point, Suning paused for a moment, his tone becoming extremely serious:

"The third and most crucial step is 'establishing authority and consolidating the foundation.' He held up his third finger. 'Once the pilot program proves effective, public opinion is formed, and some factions have been divided, then it will be time for full implementation. At that time, there will inevitably be those who emulate Xu Jie, hiding their land and resisting the new policies. Your Majesty must be determined to capture the ringleader first, selecting one or two powerful and irrefutable examples. Whether it's a powerful clan from the Grand Secretary's hometown or the estate of a certain Duke, they must be investigated and dealt with decisively, their property confiscated as a warning to others! At the same time, it is essential to ensure that the new army and the 'Great Ming Supermarket' logistics system are firmly under your control. This is the foundation for stabilizing public sentiment, transporting supplies, and responding to unforeseen circumstances.'"

Finally, Su Ning concluded, his gaze intense: "Your Majesty, this three-step process will take anywhere from ten to twenty years. It cannot be rushed, nor can it be chaotic. What is needed is Your Majesty's patience, composure, and... the determination to draw your sword at crucial moments! I wonder if Your Majesty is prepared for this protracted war?"

As Wanli listened to Suning's meticulous analysis, from building momentum to piloting the program, from differentiating the enemy to establishing authority, every step was both visionary and feasible, but each step was also fraught with risk.

He leaned back on the dragon throne, his fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of his robe, lost in deep thought.

Inside the warm pavilion, only the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire remained.

……

The air inside the warm pavilion seemed to freeze. Wanli was still digesting the immense weight behind the three-step strategy when he saw Su Ning suddenly straighten his robes and bow deeply to the throne with an unprecedented solemnity.

“Your Majesty,” Su Ning raised his head, a sharp glint in his eyes, “the three policies I just presented, seemingly interconnected, are in fact fraught with peril. The 'equalization of land tax and poll tax' and the requirement for officials and gentry to pay taxes together will shake the foundations built over a thousand years. When those powerful families discover that their ancestral privileges are about to be lost…”

He paused deliberately, making each word fall heavily: "It's hard to guarantee that no one will take the risk."

Upon hearing this, Wanli frowned: "Mr. Su means..."

"What I mean is that swords may not dare to point directly at Your Majesty, but I, as the initiator, will surely become the target of everyone's attacks." Su Ning's voice was calm to the point of cruelty. "Poisoning, assassination, creating accidents... how many of these methods are recorded in history books? Your Majesty must know better than I what happened to Shang Yang's reforms in the end."

He stepped forward, his gaze intense: "I personally fear neither life nor death, but if I were to die at this time without a clear explanation, the new policies would surely fail, and no one in the court or the country would dare to speak of reform! At that time, Your Majesty's grand ambitions would be..."

The words were left unsaid, but the meaning was already self-evident.

Emperor Wanli suddenly stood up and paced rapidly in the warm pavilion.

He certainly understood the weight of Su Ning's words—they were by no means alarmist. Thinking of the various unforeseen events that might occur, the young emperor's forehead was already beaded with sweat.

“Your Majesty,” Su Ning interjected at the opportune moment, “I humbly request permission to recruit fifty private guards to protect my residence and the safety of my family. These guards should be permitted to carry weapons and have limited rights of self-defense within the capital.”

Wanli stopped and looked at Su Ning with a complicated expression.

Allowing ministers to maintain such a large private army in the capital was unprecedented in this dynasty.

but……

"Granted!" Wanli finally made up his mind. "I will give you a written edict. However..."

He stared at Su Ning and said, word by word, "These fifty people must be registered and verified by the Embroidered Uniform Guard every quarter. Mr. Su should understand my good intentions."

"Your Majesty, I understand." Su Ning bowed deeply. "I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's grace. This action is not only to save my life, but also to preserve the spark of reform."

When Suning withdrew from the warm pavilion, the moon was already high in the sky.

He gazed at the majestic silhouette of the Forbidden City and gently stroked the imperial edict he had just received in his sleeve.

These fifty guard positions will be his first safeguard in implementing his new policies.

Inside the warm pavilion, Wanli Emperor still stood by the window.

He suddenly realized that from the moment he agreed to join this guard team, he and Su Ning had embarked on a path of no return.

……

The imperial edict appointing the Governor-General of Jiliao caused a stir in the court and among the people.

The person most shocked was none other than Qi Jiguang himself.

Since Zhang Juzheng's death, this famous general, who had swept away the Japanese pirates in the southeast and guarded the northern border for sixteen years, has lived in constant fear and anxiety.

When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. As a protégé of Zhang Juzheng, despite his outstanding military achievements, he was well aware that he had long been branded as a member of the "Zhang faction".

In the past few years, he has been extremely cautious, even feigning illness and staying at home, just to save his life from the chaos.

Unexpectedly, at this turbulent time, it was Su Ning, who is now at the height of his power in the court, who overruled all objections and entrusted him with the crucial responsibility of Governor-General of Jiliao, a position that concerns the fate of the nation.

On the afternoon of the day he received the imperial decree, Qi Jiguang hurriedly went to the Su residence to request an audience.

While waiting outside his study for his summons, this veteran general, who had struck fear into the hearts of his enemies on the battlefield, unconsciously straightened his clothes several times, his palms slightly sweaty with nervousness.

"General Qi, the master invites you in." The steward respectfully led the way.

Qi Jiguang took a deep breath and stepped into the study.

He saw a young man dressed in ordinary clothes standing with his back to him in front of a huge map of Liaodong.

Hearing footsteps, the person turned around...

His face was younger than Qi Jiguang had imagined, but his eyes were as deep as an ancient well, as if they could see into people's hearts.

"This humble general, Qi Jiguang, pays his respects to Grand Secretary Su!" Qi Jiguang suppressed the turmoil in his heart and was about to bow according to etiquette.

"General Qi, there's no need for such formalities!" Su Ning quickly stepped forward, firmly supporting his arm and stopping his grand gesture. "You are a pillar of the nation and a veteran on the battlefield. It is the junior who should be showing you respect."

This was the first time Suning had seen this legendary player in person.

The Qi Jiguang before me was over fifty years old, with slightly graying temples and a face that was dark and rough from years of military service, but his posture was still as upright as a pine tree, and his brows exuded a sharpness and composure that had not been worn down by a hundred battles.

However, deep within his eyes, one could vaguely discern a cautiousness honed by the years and the political landscape, and even a hint of weariness that was barely perceptible.

"I will never forget the kindness of your recommendation, Grand Secretary!" Qi Jiguang's voice trembled with a barely perceptible sob. "However... I am a criminal under investigation, and I fear I may fail to live up to your expectations and implicate you..."

"General Qi, you are mistaken." Su Ning interrupted him, her tone sincere and firm. "The court appoints people based solely on their talent, regardless of anything else. I am Zhang, and General Qi is General Qi. Your efforts in pacifying the Japanese pirates in the southeast, repairing defenses in the northern border, training new troops, and establishing the chariot camp are all for the sake of the Ming Dynasty. This is evident to all under heaven, and His Majesty is well aware of it as well."

He led Qi Jiguang to the map, pointed heavily at the location of Jianzhou Guard, and his expression turned solemn: "The reason I strongly recommended Commander Qi before His Majesty is not for personal reasons, but for the sake of public duty. The trouble in Liaodong is no longer a minor ailment; the Jianzhou Jurchens have become too powerful! Ordinary generals may be able to maintain the status quo, but they are ill-equipped to break the deadlock. Only a commander like Commander Qi, who is skilled in training troops, adept at strategy, and capable of creating tactics tailored to local conditions, can shoulder this heavy responsibility of 'wiping out the enemy' and eliminate future threats to our Great Ming!"

Hearing Suning's words, which affirmed his past achievements and clarified his future strategy, Qi Jiguang felt a long-lost surge of emotion welling up in his chest.

Years of repression, grievances, and unease seemed to find an outlet at this moment.

He straightened his back, his eyes regaining the sharp glint of a soldier, and clasped his hands in a deep voice, saying, "Your Excellency's trust and recognition are of paramount importance! Even if I were to die a martyr, I would certainly not fail His Majesty and Your Excellency's trust! Please rest assured regarding the affairs of Liaodong!"

Seeing the veteran in front of him rekindle his fighting spirit, Su Ning nodded with satisfaction.

He knew he had made the right move.

Only by shedding the burdens of suspicion and factional strife within the court, and allowing professionals to do what they do best, can this empire truly revitalize itself.

...(End of chapter)