My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

He then took a sip of tea and said calmly:
"Hmm, Hauge has learned his lesson. What goes around comes around. Back then, they were the ones who dominated our Great Ming, and now it's their turn to taste the bitterness of being cowards. But beneath this calm, I'm afraid things may not really be peaceful."

Upon hearing the Crown Prince's meaningful words, Zu Dashou felt a slight chill run down his spine, knowing that the Crown Prince was not just asking casually. An extremely unnatural expression flashed across his face, his lips trembled a few times, as if he was having some difficulty speaking, and the fingers holding the teacup unconsciously tightened.

Zhu Cilang, with his keen perception, immediately noticed his unusual behavior. He put down his teacup, his gaze calm yet penetrating as he looked at Zu Dashou, and said gently:
"General, is something on your mind? There are no outsiders here, so please speak freely. Even if there was any oversight, I know that you are loyal to the country and I will never blame you without cause."

Upon hearing this, Zu Dashou's expression shifted, and after a moment of struggle, he finally seemed to have made up his mind. He took a deep breath, stood up, bowed deeply to Zhu Cilang, and said in a low voice, filled with guilt and lingering fear:
"Your Highness is discerning... This old minister... This old minister has something that is truly troubling me, causing me great unease day and night. I have long wanted to apologize to Your Highness, but I fear... I fear that I will jeopardize important matters and shake the morale of the army..."

"Oh? What's so serious?"

Zhu Cilang remained expressionless.

Zu Dashou straightened up, his face pale, and said in a low voice:
"Your Highness, do you recall that around the autumn or winter of the year before last, I submitted a memorial stating that at a sentry post in the Jinzhou camp, a soldier, after drinking, carelessly knocked over a candle, causing a fire in the tent. Although there were no major casualties, some firearms were destroyed. I have already dealt with the relevant personnel according to military law..."

Zhu Cilang recalled briefly and nodded:
"I vaguely recall. The Ministry of War reported that it was an accidental flood and had been dealt with. Is there something else going on?"

Zu Dashou gritted his teeth, his voice even lower, almost inaudible:
"Your Highness, that fire... I'm afraid it wasn't an accident! Afterwards, I always felt something was amiss. The outpost was in a remote location, the fire happened late at night, and after the fire started, some patrolling soldiers vaguely heard unusual noises and saw a dark figure disappear. I was busy with defenses at the time and didn't have time to investigate further."

Later, the more I thought about it, the more uneasy I became, so I secretly sent my most capable night scouts to re-examine the scene and question all the soldiers on duty that day and those nearby..."

He paused, his face showing a mixture of lingering fear and self-reproach:
"It turned out...it turned out that before the fire, unidentified night travelers had approached the outpost! After the fire, during the inventory of losses, due to the chaos at the scene, nothing unusual was initially noticed. But later, after carefully checking the armory ledger, it was discovered...it was discovered that a flintlock musket, along with its accompanying ammunition bottle, cleaning rod, and other items, was missing from the inventory!"

"what?"

Upon hearing this, Hong Chengchou's expression changed drastically, and he gasped in shock. Having spent so long in Liaodong, he knew all too well what this meant.

Zu Dashou fell to his knees with a thud, touching his head to the ground, his voice choked with emotion:
"Your Majesty, I am guilty! I failed in my military discipline and supervision, allowing Jurchen spies to infiltrate the camp and steal the nation's most valuable weapons! This is an unforgivable crime! The thief was highly skilled and meticulous, taking advantage of the chaos created by the fire to carry out the theft, and then vanished without a trace... Your Majesty, I deserve to die a thousand deaths!"

He raised his head, his old eyes bloodshot, filled with deep fear and self-reproach:
"Your Highness, losing a gun may seem like a small matter, but the Jurchens... they are no longer the barbarians who only knew how to ride and shoot! They have recruited many of the Ming Dynasty's defector craftsmen, and there are also firearms workshops in Shengjing! If... if they were to obtain a complete flintlock musket and try to replicate it... even if the imitation is not perfect at first, given their persistence and resources, it is not impossible that they could create a usable weapon in time!"

"At that time... the advantage that our Ming soldiers have established with firearms will likely be greatly diminished! For every soldier who dies on the battlefield in the future, this old minister... this old minister will not escape blame!"

Thinking of the possible consequences, even this seasoned veteran couldn't help but tremble.

The air inside the tent seemed to freeze instantly.

Hong Chengchou looked at Zhu Cilang with a grim expression. If this was true, it was indeed a major oversight, and the consequences would be unpredictable.

However, to the surprise of Zu Dashou and Hong Chengchou, Zhu Cilang did not show any anger or surprise after hearing this apology. Instead, he remained strangely calm, and even the corners of his mouth curled up in a barely perceptible, knowing smile.

He slowly stood up, paced a couple of steps, and gazed at the vast autumn sky outside the tent, as if he were pondering something, or as if he had already anticipated it.

After a moment, he turned around, walked to Zu Dashou who was still kneeling on the ground and dared not raise his head, and personally helped him up.

"General, please rise."

Zhu Cilang's voice was calm, revealing no emotion.

"This matter... is not surprising to me."

"Not...not surprised?"

Zu Dashou looked up in astonishment at the Crown Prince.

Zhu Cilang nodded, walked back to his seat, and spoke in a calm tone, yet with a profound wisdom that revealed his understanding of the world:
"Neither Huang Taiji nor Dorgon were incompetent rulers. They suffered such heavy losses and casualties from flintlock muskets; it would be strange if they didn't try to acquire them and find a way to counter them. Defense against them is impossible. No matter how meticulous the plan, there will always be a loophole. They will find a way, whether it's bribing them with large sums of money, sending assassins, or capturing them on the battlefield... In short, they will definitely try every means to get a sample of the flintlock musket."

This gun theft is just one method among many. Even without this incident, there would be a next time. This matter cannot be entirely attributed to the general alone.

He looked at Zu Dashou, his gaze deep and penetrating:
"Furthermore, does the old general think that just because they get the guns, they can immediately replicate the flintlock guns that are exactly the same as those of our Great Ming? Lord Bi Maokang has devoted years of painstaking effort, gathered the most skilled craftsmen in the world, and spent a fortune to create the flintlock guns we have today. The Jurchens may have the form, but they may not have the spirit, much less the essence. Excellent steel, precise springs, proper quenching, and even the standardization of bullets... which of these is easy?"
It's only been a little over a year since they got their hands on the guns. I'm certain that even if they've achieved something, it will be a crude, shoddy imitation, prone to barrel explosions, and far inferior in range and accuracy to mine!

Zhu Cilang's tone was filled with absolute confidence in his own technology, and even carried a condescending strategic contempt:

"More importantly, times... have changed."

He stood up, walked to the tent entrance, and gazed at the faint outlines of the testing ground in the distance. His voice turned cold, carrying a hint of iron-bloodedness:
"While they are still gloating over obtaining a flintlock musket and racking their brains to imitate it, our Ming army has already begun to mass-produce rifles with longer range, higher accuracy, and faster rate of fire! By the time they can finally barely produce a usable flintlock musket, our Ming army will probably already be equipped with tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of elite troops!"
On the battlefield, their flintlock muskets fell in droves under the hail of our rifle bullets before they even entered effective range! This is the difference in generations! This is utter crushing superiority!

He turned around, his gaze sharp as lightning, and stared directly at Zu Dashou:
"Therefore, General, there is no need to blame yourself too much. This incident, on the contrary, further proves the threat posed by the Jurchens. Their ability to learn, adapt, and even seize technology by any means necessary should not be underestimated. This also strengthens my determination to completely, cleanly, and utterly eliminate them! We must not give them any chance to breathe, catch up, or even surpass us!"

As Zu Dashou listened to the Crown Prince's insightful and far-sighted analysis, the huge weight in his heart finally lifted, and was replaced by an even stronger sense of shock and awe.

His Highness the Crown Prince had already calculated everything, even seeing through the Jurchens' possible reactions and limitations! This calmness and confidence in controlling the overall situation impressed even this veteran general.

"Your Highness... Your Highness's vision is boundless and your understanding is crystal clear! This old minister... This old minister is foolish and has worried unnecessarily!"

Zu Dashou bowed again in excitement.

Zhu Cilang stepped forward, patted Zu Dashou's hand, which was calloused and bulging with veins from years of wielding a knife, and his tone softened with encouragement:
"General, you are loyal and diligent to the country, and your mind is meticulous. It is already a great achievement that you were able to find out the strangeness of this matter. Let this matter end here. There is no need to mention it again or make a fuss about it, so as not to shake the morale of the army. If the Jurchens want to imitate it, let them imitate it. The more they imitate, the more craftsmen and materials will be wasted, which is actually a good thing for our army."

He paused, looked at Zu Dashou, and a meaningful smile appeared on his face:
"The mission in Liaodong is of paramount importance, concerning the success or failure of the first battle to annihilate the Jurchens. Upon your return, diligently prepare the troops, fortify the city defenses, and stockpile provisions. I place high hopes on you. Once this battle is won and Liaodong is pacified, I will petition my father to grant you the title of Duke, in recognition of your generations of service in defending Liaodong and your meritorious service in this annihilation of the nation!" "Duke!"

Zu Dashou trembled violently, suddenly looked up, and his eyes burst forth with an unbelievable, dazzling light!
A duke! That's the ultimate honor that every military general in the Ming Dynasty dreams of! It can only be conferred upon someone who has made outstanding contributions to the founding of the dynasty, the pacification of the rebellion, or other unparalleled achievements! The Crown Prince's words are tantamount to giving him a promise that leads to the pinnacle of a minister's career!
Overwhelmed by excitement and a sense of responsibility, he collapsed to his knees with a thud, his voice hoarse from extreme emotion yet filled with an unwavering resolve:

"Your Highness... Your Highness's grace is boundless! This old minister... This old minister, Zu Dashou, hereby swears to Heaven! I will dedicate my remaining years, give my life, reorganize the Liao army, guard the key points, sweep away Liaodong for Your Highness, and strike at the heart of the enemy, serving as the vanguard! If I fail in this endeavor, I will offer my head in return! I will certainly not betray Your Highness's trust and great kindness!"

"Very well! I'll wait and see!"

Zhu Cilang nodded with a smile, helped the excited old general up again, and gently reminded him to take care of his health and be wary of spies before letting Zu Dashou take his leave.

As Zhu Cilang watched Zu Dashou's slightly hunched but seemingly revitalized figure disappear outside the tent, his smile faded, and his gaze turned to the northeast, becoming deep and cold.

Did the Jurchens acquire flintlock muskets?

maybe.

But so what? The wheels of history have already been forcibly turned onto a different track.

When the hail of rifle bullets rains down, and when the roar of the "Iron Fortress" shakes the earth, all the struggles and imitations of the old era will be crushed in the face of the steel torrent of the new era.

Next year will be the time to settle everything.

Several days later, in the warm pavilion of the Eastern Palace.

Autumn sunlight streamed through the delicate window frames, casting dappled shadows on the polished gold-brick floor.

The incense burner emitted fragrant smoke, creating a tranquil atmosphere. However, Zhu Cilang's mood at this moment was quite at odds with the serenity of the room.

Standing before him was a special guest—Qin Liangyu, the Marquis of Loyalty and Chastity of the Ming Dynasty, the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, the Commander-in-Chief of Sichuan, and the Pacification Commissioner of Shizhu.

This legendary female general is over seventy years old, with silver hair that is neatly combed and tied into a sleek bun at the back of her head.

The years have etched deep lines on her face, but her eyes remain clear and sharp, showing no sign of dullness.

She was not dressed in the fine clothes of a noblewoman, but in the traditional Tujia warrior's clothes of Shizhu, which had been washed and faded, with a half-worn armor over them. She sat there with her back straight, exuding a dignified and imposing aura of someone who had been through many battles.

Unlike ordinary elderly people, she showed no signs of aging. On the contrary, she was vigorous and her every move was clean and neat. It was clear that her years of martial arts training and military life had honed her strength and physique, which was far beyond that of ordinary people.

"Your subject Qin Liangyu greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

The old marshal's voice was slightly hoarse, but full of energy. His salute, though a little slow due to his age, was meticulous and carried the uprightness of a soldier.

"General, please rise quickly, please have a seat and some tea."

Zhu Cilang spoke gently, personally offering a helping hand, and then ordered a eunuch to bring over a brocade stool.

He held this female general, who had fought for her country all her life and whose entire family was loyal and brave, in the deepest respect.

Qin Liangyu thanked him and sat down. Without much pleasantries, she looked directly at Zhu Cilang with her still clear eyes and went straight to the point:

"Your Highness summoned this old minister specifically, but... has the appointment for next year's Liaodong campaign already been decided? If there are any assignments, Your Highness may give the order. Although this old minister is old, my heart for serving the country has not cooled, and I can still kill the enemy with my white spear! The soldiers of Shizhu are also always ready to die for our Great Ming!"

Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was firm and resolute, carrying an undeniable determination.

That burning desire to return to the battlefield and make new contributions in the twilight of his life was almost bursting out of his chest.

Her "White-Spear Soldiers" were brave and skilled in battle, especially adept at mountain and jungle warfare, making them a rare and formidable force in the Ming army. This war of annihilation was unprecedented in scale, and she naturally did not want to miss it.

However, looking at Qin Liangyu's full head of silver hair and the deep wrinkles on her face, Zhu Cilang found it difficult to utter the decision he had already made in his heart.

He had initially thought that, given Qin Liangyu's advanced age and seniority, receiving the order to stay behind and guard the rear, even if regrettable, would at least be understandable given the court's consideration. But now, seeing the burning fighting spirit in the old general's eyes and feeling the fierce determination in her words, he realized that he might have underestimated the fire burning within this veteran general.

The warm pavilion was quiet for a moment, with only the soft sound of tea being poured into the cups.

Zhu Cilang picked up the teacup, gently stroking the warm rim, organized his thoughts, and finally spoke:

"The old general's loyalty and bravery are evident to heaven and earth. The Emperor, I, and all the Grand Secretaries and Ministers of War in the court will remember the old general and the White-Spear Soldiers' illustrious achievements."

He paused, met Qin Liangyu's expectant gaze, and slowly said:
"However, precisely because of this, after repeated discussions, Father Emperor, I, and all the ministers unanimously believe that... this expedition to Liaodong, a war to destroy the country, is a long and arduous journey with a harsh climate, and the war will inevitably be fierce and protracted... The old general is already old and it is really not appropriate for him to personally brave arrows and stones and travel to the harsh land beyond the Great Wall."

The court...cannot bear to see the old general, in his seventies, suffer the hardships of war and the elements. If anything were to happen, not only would a pillar of our Great Ming Dynasty fall, but my father and I would also be filled with unease. Therefore...the old general need not personally go to the front lines in this battle.”

Zhu Cilang's words were clear and gentle, but the meaning was crystal clear. (End of Chapter)