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Although Li Chengliang and his core followers have been summoned to the capital and are outwardly enjoying the honor of being the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor, the Liaoxi military families' decades of cultivation outside the Great Wall have already spread like an old tree with deep roots, penetrating every inch of land, every garrison, and every key point in Liaodong.

An order that is ostensibly a promotion but actually a demotion can transfer the commander-in-chief, but it is difficult to eliminate the many hidden agents lurking in the shadows and spreading throughout the military and political system in a short period of time.

Sure enough, shortly after Li Chengliang arrived in the capital and moved into the imperial residence, a series of unsettling "strange events" occurred on the Liaodong front:
A shipment of military rations transported from Shanhaiguan to Qi Jiguang's Liaoyang camp was found to contain nearly 30% moldy rice grains upon inspection, yet the escorting officer claimed there were no abnormalities during the journey; several urgent military reports from frontline outposts to headquarters were severely delayed due to messengers either "accidentally" falling from their horses and getting injured or "losing" in complex terrain; most heartbreakingly, several small elite units ordered to wipe out the remnants of the Jianzhou Jurchen forces suffered heavy casualties as their routes seemed to be completely known to the enemy, resulting in repeated ambushes by superior forces in the pre-arranged battlefields…

However, the most outrageous and shocking event occurred on a night when the north wind was howling and heavy snow was falling.

Qi Jiguang, the governor-general of Jiliao stationed in Liaoyang, suddenly experienced severe abdominal pain after eating dinner prepared and strictly guarded by his personal guards. He then vomited blood continuously and fell into a coma.

The imperial physician, having done everything in his power to save her, turned deathly pale after taking her pulse…

The poison that the governor was poisoned with was no ordinary poison; it was a "rare poison" composed of a mixture of several rare toxins. Although he was temporarily saved after being rescued, the toxins had penetrated deep into his internal organs, causing Qi Jiguang to vomit blood continuously and become extremely weak. He had to be sent back to the place in the interior of China where famous doctors gathered to recuperate, otherwise his life would be in danger.

The news was sent back to the capital by express courier, shocking the entire court!

"Outrageous! Outrageous!" Inside the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Wanli, Zhu Yijun, flew into a rage, slamming his jade teacup onto the gold-brick floor, shattering it into pieces. "The dignified Governor-General of Jiliao, a pillar of the nation, was poisoned in his own camp, under heavy guard! Is Liaodong still part of the Ming Dynasty?! Where is my authority?! Where is the law of the court?!"

The emperor was furious, his voice shaking the roof tiles. All the eunuchs and palace maids standing in the palace knelt on the ground, trembling with fear.

However, what chilled Wanli to the bone and made him feel powerless was the scene at the morning court the next day.

When he sternly questioned the court officials about Qi Jiguang's poisoning, a considerable number of officials in the court, whether openly or covertly, were trying to exonerate the Liaoxi military family:
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Your health is of utmost importance. The case of Commander Qi's poisoning is complex, and there is currently no conclusive evidence pointing directly to him. Further investigation is needed..."

"Yes! Your Majesty, the situation in Liaodong is turbulent and unpredictable. Perhaps the remnants of the Jianzhou rebellion harbor deep hatred for Commander Qi and have sent assassins to carry out this despicable scheme. We cannot be certain that has already reached a conclusion. If we draw hasty conclusions, we risk demoralizing the soldiers on the border..."

"I second that. The most urgent task is to treat Commander Qi and stabilize the morale of the army. The investigation should be discussed at a longer time to avoid falling into the enemy's trap of sowing discord..."

Just as this seemingly composed, yet actually conciliatory, conversation filled the hall, a man in the ranks of civil officials stepped forward resolutely, holding a secret letter stained with dark red, the handwriting twisted in agony yet still powerfully penetrating the paper. It was none other than Grand Secretary Su Ning.

"Your Majesty!" Su Ning's clear and firm voice instantly drowned out the noise in the hall, carrying an undeniable resolve. "Now that things have come to this, I believe Your Majesty and the officials will have their own judgment on the truth! This is a letter written by General Qi Yuanjing on his sickbed, enduring excruciating pain: 'The situation in Liaodong is critical; there are traitors in the army. I urge the court to quickly dispatch a high-ranking official to stabilize the situation…'"

He held the letter high, making the faded handwriting seem to be silently accusing him.

"Your Majesty!" Su Ning proclaimed again, his gaze sweeping over the officials who had just been "deliberating" their plans. His eyes were sharp as knives. "Your subject, Su Ning, requests permission to personally go to Liaodong and assume the post of Governor-General of Ji-Liao! I swear I will not return to the capital until I have purged the evil spirits beyond the Great Wall!"

These words immediately caused an uproar in the hall!
The newly appointed Grand Secretary Shen Shixing hurriedly stepped forward to dissuade him: "Grand Secretary Su! Absolutely not! You are a pillar of the court and the foundation of the cabinet. How can you lightly go to such a dangerous place? Moreover, although you are knowledgeable in military affairs, you are not the same as a general who has been on the battlefield for many years. Liaodong is now a den of dragons and tigers. If something unexpected happens, the loss to the country will be too great! I urge Your Majesty to think it over!"

"Precisely because it is a den of dragons and tigers, precisely because even a battle-hardened general like Qi Yuanjing suffered such a fate," Su Ning surveyed his ministers, his voice suddenly rising, "that is why I am even more determined to go! Tell me, after today, who will dare to go? Who will be able to go?! Are we to sit idly by and watch Liaodong crumble, letting General Qi's hard work and the sacrifices of the Ming soldiers go to waste, while the mastermind behind it all goes unpunished?!"

He turned abruptly to face the throne, bowed deeply to the bottom, and said in a sorrowful yet resolute voice: "Your Majesty! Liaodong is the shield of the capital and the bulwark of China. It must not fall into the hands of villains, and we must not let all our previous achievements be wasted because of an internal traitor! My mission is not only to thoroughly investigate the poisoning case and root out the traitors in the army, but also to complete the unfinished work of Commander Qi, to reorganize the military and government, to wipe out the remnants of the Jianzhou forces, and to secure the Northeast for our Great Ming!"

Looking at Su Ning, who stood resolutely below the steps, and at the unwavering expression on the face of his most trusted minister, who was also his mentor and friend, Emperor Wanli felt a surge of complex emotions...

There was emotion, worry, and even more anger at the chaos in Liaodong.

He knew full well that Su Ning's journey was fraught with danger.

Those forces that dared to poison even the mighty Qi Jiguang would certainly not show mercy to a Grand Secretary who came to rectify the situation as a civil official.

Silence filled the Qianqing Palace.

All eyes were on the young emperor.

Finally, Wanli took a deep breath and spoke decisively, his voice carrying an unquestionable imperial authority: "Granted!"

He stood up and announced, word by word, "Effective immediately, Grand Secretary Su Ning is hereby appointed as the Military Commissioner of Jiliao, overseeing all military affairs of the four garrisons of Ji, Liao, Chang, and Bao, and is granted the Imperial Sword, authorizing him to act as he sees fit! Any civil or military official below the third rank who disobeys military orders, neglects his duties, or colludes with the enemy to commit treason may be executed first and reported later!"

"Your Majesty, I accept your decree and express my gratitude! I will certainly live up to your trust!" Su Ning kowtowed, his voice resounding.

……

Three days later, outside Deshengmen in Beijing, a biting wind was blowing.

Dressed in an imperial robe with a unicorn design and a sword of imperial authority at his waist, Su Ning led three thousand elite personal guards, carefully selected from the Beijing Garrison, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and his former subordinates, on his journey to Liaodong.

Banners fluttered, and armor stood in neat rows.

Before his departure, he calmly said only one sentence to the Wanli Emperor who was seeing him off: "Your Majesty, please await good news. When I return, I will surely restore a bright and clear world to Liaodong!"

As the wind and snow intensified, this team, carrying a special mission, resolutely marched towards Shanhaiguan.

The wheels crunched over the snow, making a sound as if questioning the land beyond the Great Wall, shrouded in conspiracy and bloodshed.

No one knew that this Grand Secretary Su, known for his decisiveness and profound wisdom, would not only face the fierce remnants of the Jianzhou forces beyond the Great Wall on this northward journey, but also confront the intricate network of relationships within the region and the traitors lurking in the shadows.

The methods he is about to employ will be far more ruthless and decisive than anyone can imagine...

Inside the magnificent imperial mansion in the capital, upon hearing the news that Su Ning had personally volunteered to lead the expedition, Li Chengliang dropped his Hetian jade thumb ring with a "crack" and shattered it on the ground.

His face drained of color, filled with disbelief and deep regret. Speaking to his trusted family, his voice trembled almost imperceptibly:

"I miscalculated... I never expected... that he would go in person! This... this is truly outrageous!"

He knew all too well that the seemingly refined Grand Secretary Su, once truly enraged, would act with a cruelty and ruthlessness far surpassing that of the rule-abiding Qi Jiguang.

The situation in Liaodong is likely to change dramatically.

……

The thirteenth year of the Wanli reign (1684), the Bohai Bay.

The chill of early spring still lingered on the sea, and broken ice rippled with the dark gray waves, creating a soft, clattering sound. A massive Ming Dynasty naval fleet was breaking through the cold tide, approaching the Liaoxi coastline.

The new flagship, the Mingfeng, resembled a sea fortress, with its three masts and sails billowing, and the scarlet banner of the Jiliao Commander fluttering in the salty sea breeze.

On the deck, Su Ning, draped in a dark black cloak, gazed at the gradually clearing outline of the land shore.

Admiral Chen Lin, standing solemnly beside him, awaited orders, a complex light flickering in the veteran's eyes...

There was both awe for this civil official's strategic planning and a fear of the impending storm.

"Admiral Chen," Su Ning's voice was calm but unquestionable, "order all ships to immediately blockade all waterways in the Bohai Sea. From this day forward, not a single grain of rice, a handful of iron, or a stone of salt is permitted to flow into Liaodong! Anyone who disobeys this order, whether an official, merchant, soldier, or civilian, will be treated as a traitor, their ships and goods will be confiscated, and they will be executed without mercy!"

"Yes, sir!" Chen Lin replied sternly and immediately ordered the flag bearer to signal with flags.

In an instant, dozens of warships shot off like arrows, scattering into various sea areas and forming an iron curtain at sea.

Under the cover of naval gunfire, 30,000 elite troops began landing on multiple beaches.

These soldiers were all equipped with the latest Yongle rifles and wore uniform cotton armor. Their marching and formation exuded a solemn and murderous aura that was quite different from that of ordinary Ming soldiers.

What's most striking is that they all have a red armband on their arm...

This is the emblem of Suning's personal guard, symbolizing absolute loyalty to Grand Secretary Su.

Immediately after the landing was completed, Su Ning summoned all the officers of the rank of Qianzong and above in Liaoxi to the central command tent under the pretext of "discussing military affairs".

Inside the tent, the charcoal fire crackled and popped, but it couldn't dispel the suffocating chill.

Su Ning sat upright in the main seat, with the imperial sword lying across the table before him, its cold scabbard reflecting the flickering firelight.

"Gentlemen," he began, his voice not loud, but it sent a chill down the spines of every general, "I have been ordered to manage Liaodong. Today I have summoned you all to ask you only three questions: military provisions, weapons, and military orders."

His gaze slowly swept over everyone present, like a blade scraping across their faces: "Who can tell me how much grain the various garrisons lost last winter? Where did the weapons destroyed in the armory go? Why is it that the remnants of the Jianzhou army always seem to know our movements in advance?"

The tent was deathly silent, with only heavy breathing rising and falling.

Several generals' eyes darted around, and fine beads of sweat appeared on their foreheads.

Zhang Wenqiang, the commander of Guangning Guard, composed himself, stepped forward, and bowed, saying, "Your Excellency is wise; last winter was severe, and the transport of provisions was difficult, resulting in losses. As for military equipment..."

"Enough!" Su Ning suddenly slammed his hand on the table and stood up, his voice as cold as ice. "Zhang Wen, the commander of Guangning Guard, privately sold 3,000 shi of military rations to the remnants of Jianzhou last year. The evidence is conclusive! Execute him!"

"Li Yong, the military commander of Ningyuan Guard, has leaked military secrets for the bandit suppression campaign three times, resulting in the wrongful deaths of our soldiers! He shall be executed!"

"Wang Gui, the garrison commander of Jinzhou, has allowed his subordinates to trade weapons, salt, and iron with the Jurchens, and to share the spoils! He shall be executed!"

Before he finished speaking, the guards who had been waiting outside the tent rushed in and dragged the three men out of the tent like tigers and wolves.

The pleas for mercy and explanations abruptly ceased, followed by three dull thuds as the ground hit the ground.

When the guards brought in a wooden tray filled with human heads to report, a thick stench of blood instantly filled the air, and the generals inside the tent turned ashen-faced and their legs went weak.

Su Ning remained unfazed, sat down again, and lightly tapped the imperial sword with his fingertips: "Is there anyone else who would like to explain these three matters to me in detail?"

Over the next month, Suning swiftly and decisively purged western Liaoning:
Seventeen businesses, including "Yongfeng" and "Dechang," were found to have dealings with the Jurchens and their assets were confiscated. Fifty-three people in charge were all taken to the marketplace and publicly executed. Forty-three generals suspected of corruption and collusion with the enemy were dismissed or transferred, and key military positions were all taken over by confidants brought by Su Ning. The "military merit land grant order" was fully implemented, and hundreds of thousands of acres of land confiscated from major military families and unscrupulous merchants were distributed to meritorious soldiers and newly relocated farmers. Even the powerful Shanxi merchant group was not spared. Su Ning directly ordered Wanli to use the Embroidered Uniform Guard to uproot eight major merchant families and confiscate their assets worth millions.

What terrified the generals of western Liaoning the most was that the new army brought by Suning was completely independent of the original system.

These troops, equipped with new rifles and light field artillery, swept away all resistance like iron brooms with volley fire tactics and artillery coordination.

After internal purges were completed, Su Ning personally led a large army straight to Jianzhou's stronghold.

Before setting out on the campaign, he issued extremely ruthless orders to his troops: "All Jurchen tribesmen who stubbornly resist will be killed without mercy! Those who surrender will be relocated and resettled in the interior of the pass. Wherever the army passes, burn their villages, fill their wells, destroy their fields, and cut off their foundation for resurgence! I want to ensure that no one on this land will dare to rebel again for a hundred years!"

With the roar of cannons, the Jurchen mountain strongholds that had once given the Ming army a major headache crumbled under the bombardment of the new cannons.

The well-equipped Ming army advanced in orderly formations, firing volleys of gunfire and tearing any enemy who dared to resist to shreds.

Standing atop the ruins of Hetu Ala, Su Ning declared to the remaining Jurchen tribesmen, his voice as chilling as the Siberian wind: "From this day forward, the Jianzhou Eight Banners cease to exist! You may either migrate inland and become registered citizens, or flee to the wilderness to fend for yourselves. If you dare to use 'Jianzhou' as your name again and gather people to rebel—"

He paused deliberately, his piercing gaze sweeping over the terrified faces: "Exterminate the entire race, leave no one alive!"

……

Three months later, Liaodong had completely changed.

The power of the Liaoxi military families was completely eradicated, and the Jianzhou Jurchen as a political entity was about to become history.

Only the newly established military settlements, fortresses, and new flags fluttering in the wind bear witness to the blood and fire this land has endured.

Vice General Chen Lin rode alongside Su Ning, hesitated for a long time, and then asked in a low voice, "Your Excellency, please forgive my bluntness... but were the methods used in this military campaign too... cruel? I'm afraid there will be criticism in the court."

As Su Ning gazed at the gradually clearer outlines of the northern mountains and rivers, he said calmly, "General Chen, do you know why wildfires cannot burn them out, and spring breezes bring them back to life?"

Without waiting for a reply, he continued, "Because the fire wasn't thorough enough. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Today's swift and decisive action is precisely for the sake of lasting peace on this land tomorrow, and for the sake of future generations who will never shed blood again."

His gaze then swept past the city gates and toward the capital: "I, Su Ning, will bear this eternal infamy."

...(End of chapter)