Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 369: Weighing the Pros and Cons
In the city of Nanjing, the spring breeze is blowing, flowers are blooming, and heroes are gathering.

Ever since this protracted battle finally came to a temporary lull, various forces have gathered here. Although on the surface there is harmony and prosperity, under this outward joy and harmony, undercurrents are surging and the game of power has never stopped.

As the new emperor, Zhu Cilang's control was undoubtedly formidable. His intimidating power prevented many powerful officials and generals from publicly revealing their ambitions. However, behind the scenes, strife continued to linger. Especially after the Northern and Eastern Expeditions, the power struggle over titles and conferrals had become the hottest topic of discussion within the court and military camps.

After the war, many generals who had made great achievements, though enjoying both fame and fortune, had different opinions on the rewards they deserved. Some seemed to enjoy great success, but in reality, they felt dissatisfied because they did not receive enough rewards, and even secretly harbored resentment. Others, while seemingly honored, felt unhappy about the disparity in rewards, and the fires of jealousy burned even more fiercely.

After all, this wasn't just a matter of rewards; it was also about consolidating one's power and future development opportunities. In fact, beyond the issues of factions and titles, many cabinet ministers were also engaged in a fierce power struggle.

The relationship between Zheng Zhilong and Li Guo became a key point. Although they were nominally allies, a power struggle had long been lurking between them. Especially after Zhu Cilang's hint, the division between the two factions became more and more obvious.

Li Guo's supporters, especially some ministers in the army, actually publicly denied Zheng's previous military achievements, believing that his record in Fujian was not enough to be granted a title. This aroused Zheng Zhilong's resentment, and also made Li Guo's supporters secretly proud.

For Li Guo, the issue of being conferred a title became almost his most pressing goal. However, despite Li Guo's strong ambition to be conferred a title, or even a king, he still knew how to keep a low profile and tried not to reveal too much ambition when dealing with the political game within the court.

In contrast, Zheng Zhilong had some evil intentions. Although he often behaved unsteadily due to health problems, his inner ambition and desire for power could not be concealed.

Li Guo and Zheng Zhilong were both stationed in other places. Although they each commanded a large army, their distance from Nanjing prevented them from being immediately informed of the turmoil in the court. This also meant that when the two men came into contact in the future, the rifts and conflicts between them would likely become even deeper.

Especially Zheng Zhilong, if he failed to realize his situation in time, he would sooner or later have a big conflict with Li Guo.

Meanwhile, Zheng Zhilong, a senior general of the Zheng army, faced a similar dilemma. He was deeply dissatisfied with the actions of Li Guo's cabinet. He was particularly enraged when he heard that Li Guo's cabinet ministers had publicly disparaged the military achievements of Zheng Sen and Zheng Hongkui. He devised a plan to personally seek justice for Zheng Sen by submitting a petition.

Of course, Zheng Zhilong did not take action in the end, and all this was thanks to Zheng Hongkui's persuasion.

Zheng Hongkui is a calm and tactful person. He is best at putting aside personal grudges and balancing the interests of all parties. He even appears to be "arrogant" on the surface, but he has already made up his mind in his heart.

Faced with Zheng Zhilong's anger, Zheng Hongkui advised him not to act rashly and reminded him to remain calm. Although Zheng Zhilong was upset, after Zheng Hongkui's persuasion, he finally decided to hold back.

However, the remaining generals of Zheng's army were not as easy to appease as Zheng Zhilong. They had endured humiliation for many years under the Ming court, and the shame of the "pirates" had accumulated in their hearts and they could not let it go.

In this complex political situation, Li Guo obviously realized the subtleties and dangers involved. Therefore, he decided to go to Gao Guiying's residence in person to discuss the affairs of the court.

In the morning, Li Guo rose early and headed straight for Gao Guiying's residence with his personal guards. Zhu Cilang had always shown tolerance and kindness towards the remaining Dashun troops, and especially support for Li Guo. Not only did he fully support Li Guo during the war, but he even built a luxurious five-story mansion specifically for Gao Guiying after the war.

As a female general who was once highly respected, Gao Guiying did not have too much ambition. She did not crave power, and she always stood on the side of the Ming court in many important decisions.

However, despite this, Li Guo knew that the situation in the court was still complex and volatile, and any slight disturbance could affect the overall situation in the future. As soon as he arrived at Gao Guiying's mansion, he bumped into Gao Yigong. The two looked at each other, nodded to each other tacitly, and then walked into the mansion together.

Li Guo felt a little doubtful. Since Gao Guiying had summoned him, there must be something urgent to discuss, which inevitably made him feel uneasy. After asking Gao Yigong, he learned that he had also received a secret letter from Gao Guiying. Although the remaining Dashun Army was somewhat divided in many ways, the tacit understanding and trust between Gao Guiying, Li Guo, and Gao Yigong remained unchanged.

When Li Guo and Gao Yigong entered the courtyard, they saw Gao Guiying practicing swordplay. Her sword was sharp as a rainbow, and her movements were graceful. Hearing footsteps, she turned around, immediately put away her sword, and smiled warmly, "You're here."

Li Guo stepped forward quickly and asked with concern, "Madam, why did you suddenly summon General Gao and me? Is there something urgent?"

Gao Guiying nodded and beckoned them to come in and sit down. Without beating around the bush, she got straight to the point: "Zhu Cilang plans to split up our Dashun Army. You, Li Guo, will have one part, Gao Yigong will have another, and the others will also be divided into different parts."

Her tone was calm, but a complex emotion flashed in her eyes. As one of the core figures of the Dashun Army, Gao Guiying never easily revealed her thoughts to others. Her words at this time obviously revealed a well-considered decision.

Hearing this, Li Guo was startled, a wave of nervousness rising in his heart. The Dashun Army was able to maintain its current situation thanks to their unity and cooperation. If, as Gao Guiying said, the imperial court wanted to split the army, it was clearly Zhu Cilang's attempt to test and suppress them, intending to weaken their power.

"Madam, what news have you heard?" Gao Yigong suddenly stood up and asked with a bow.

As the second-in-command of the Dashun Army and Gao Guiying's younger brother, Gao Yigong was in the middle of the situation and was always extremely sensitive to the affairs of the court.

"Yes." Gao Guiying nodded, her expression still calm, as if everything was under control. "In addition to the memorial about the reward, there is another memorial about the appointments of ministers and generals in the court and the army. As far as I know, these appointments have all been reviewed personally by Zhu Cilang."

Her words revealed a hint of calmness and determination, and it was obvious that she was prepared to deal with any situation.

After hearing this, Li Guo suddenly became more alert. He was not worried about the specific arrangements in the memorial, but whether Zhu Cilang would use these new arrangements to further suppress the power of the remaining Dashun Army.

A flicker of urgency flashed through his mind. This wasn't just about rewards; it concerned profound changes in the future of the entire Dashun Army. Li Guo stood up, his tone tinged with anxiety. "What exactly did that memorial say? Are there any new changes?" Gao Guiying smiled faintly and waved her hand gently. "Don't worry, Li Guo. Zhu Cilang will retain command of the army. As for the number of troops, that's not yet clear, but I estimate it should be no less than 20,000."

After hearing this, Li Guo felt slightly relieved, but he still vaguely sensed some unstable factors in the situation.

She paused, then looked at the somewhat disappointed Gao Yigong, and said in a relaxed tone, "I should congratulate Yigong. I heard that Zhu Cilang wants to give you the position of Minister of Revenue."

Gao Guiying smiled and joked as she spoke, obviously trying to comfort Gao Yigong's disappointment and doubts. Gao Yigong raised his eyebrows slightly and a look of joy flashed across his eyes.

Li Guo turned his head to look at Gao Yigong, and saw a smile on his face. He suddenly understood something in his mind. Gao Guiying's words were obviously hinting at a new power arrangement.

"Madam." Li Guo whispered, his eyes fell on Gao Guiying's face, and his tone became steady: "In this case, how should we deal with the changes in this memorial?
What is Zhu Cilang's intention? What exactly does he want to achieve by doing this?

He knew very well that in the face of the current situation, a reward alone could not solve the fundamental problem.

Gao Guiying looked up into the distance, an elusive light flickering in her eyes:

"I don't fully understand Zhu Cilang's intentions, but he won't let us go so easily just because of rewards and power arrangements. If it's true as I suspect, his ultimate goal is to weaken the cohesion of our Dashun Army, loosen our ties, and better control the situation. We must respond with caution, unite all capable generals, and ensure that the core strength of the Dashun Army is not damaged."

Hearing this, Li Guo's heart tightened. Gao Guiying's words weren't alarmist, but rather a well-considered conclusion. The current situation, while seemingly calm, was actually turbulent. Under Zhu Cilang's pressure, if the remaining generals of the Dashun Army couldn't unite as one, they would inevitably fall into internal friction.

After hearing Gao Guiying's words, Gao Yigong couldn't help but feel a shock in his heart. He suddenly realized that the situation might be more complicated than he imagined. He quickly clasped his hands together, and said with a hint of panic and doubt in his tone: "Madam, I don't know this!"

Seeing this, Gao Guiying suddenly smiled and said in a relaxed and playful voice, "Hahaha, Yigong, what's wrong? I heard that you govern the army well and the people live and work in peace and contentment. Zhu Cilang seems to be a man who values ​​talent, so how could he not know? Besides, according to seniority, you are his uncle. Since he asked you to be the Minister of the Interior, just go for it. There's no need to hesitate."

Gao Yigong lowered his head, his expression slightly gloomy as he said, "Madam... I actually want to stay in the army and continue to help my old brothers."

Gao Guiying's eyes flashed with a deep meaning, and she nodded gently: "Don't worry, Yigong, the court needs people like you. Remember, Zhu Cilang appointed you as Shangshu not because you are Gao Yigong, but because you represent Gao Yigong of Dashun. You are not only serving him, but also for the future stability of our old brothers. Do you understand?"

These words shocked Gao Yigong. He knew that what Gao Guiying said was not just the truth in her words, but also a warning - his identity was not just personal, but represented a greater power.

He slowly raised his head, looked into Gao Guiying's eyes, and said firmly, "Madam, I understand. I will definitely live up to your trust and do my best for my old brother."

Gao Guiying smiled faintly and turned to look at Gao Yigong. "Zhu Cilang is indeed a man of great ambition, but he also knows very well that as an emperor, he must always control his generals and troops. Now he intends to weaken those local forces and strengthen central power. In other words, this arrangement may seem like a trust in you, but in fact, behind it may be a more far-reaching strategic intention."

Gao Yigong frowned slightly. He was silent for a moment before he spoke: "Madam, do you think he is using this method to eliminate the power of us generals?"

Gao Guiying didn't answer directly. Instead, she looked into the distance with a complicated expression and whispered, "Zhu Cilang has made his choice. He won't let anyone or any force threaten his rule."

Li Guo stood aside, silently listening to their conversation. He was well aware of the twists and turns involved, and doubts gradually emerged in his eyes. After a moment, he whispered:

"Does Zhu Cilang's promotion of our Dashun generals mean he intends to use us to deal with the Zheng family? After all, the Zheng family's power is growing. Without external restraint, I'm afraid he won't obey willingly."

Gao Guiying couldn't help but smile. "You're right, Li Guo. Zhu Cilang does have this plan in mind. He wants to use the power of our Dashun clan to contain Zheng Sen. After all, the Zheng family's influence in Fujian is too great. If it's not controlled, it will be difficult to maintain the unity of the court."

Li Guo raised his eyebrows: "Then why isn't he afraid that we might disobey orders after we take control of the military power?"

Gao Guiying smiled calmly, "Zhu Cilang's ambitions are so great. To put it bluntly, he has put you on a chessboard, using power and interests to control you."

Li Guo seemed to understand something, but he still had doubts in his heart: "By doing this, can he guarantee that those of us with military power will not rebel?"

Gao Guiying turned to look at the two generals, a complex emotion in her eyes. "Zhu Cilang doesn't completely trust us. He trusts the government he holds more. He knows that all the generals and important officials in the court have their own interests and ambitions. Only by controlling them can he maintain his power."

Li Guo took a deep breath and suddenly thought of another question: "So what should we do now? Zhu Cilang has made such an arrangement, so do we have no choice but to accept it?"

Gao Guiying didn't answer immediately. Instead, she pondered for a moment before slowly speaking, "I summoned you here today not just for these words. I have other matters to discuss with you. Zhu Cilang's ambitions are terrifying, but he also has his own difficulties. We must deeply understand this and then make the wisest decision. No matter what the future holds, staying clear-headed is the most important thing."

(End of this chapter)