Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 387: Pacification of Fujian
"Continue to strengthen the Jinyiwei's intelligence gathering, especially regarding the movements in Quanzhou and Fuzhou. Any changes must be reported back immediately." Zhang Huangyan's voice became more steady. "We cannot give the Zheng army any breathing space. The battle of Quanzhou will determine the ultimate outcome of the battle in Fuzhou."

"Yes, General Zhang." Wei Xian bowed again, a determined glint in his eyes.

"Since Zheng Hongkui is already waiting for our action, we don't have to hesitate any longer and continue to advance. At the same time, force Zheng Zhilong to make a decision as soon as possible to ensure that Zheng Hongkui can successfully delay one of the Zheng troops." Zhang Huangyan stood in front of the table, staring at the spread-out map, and said in a deep voice.

Several generals around him had gathered around, waiting for instructions. There was a glint of shrewdness and calmness in Zhang Huangyan's eyes.

"Tomorrow morning, we will continue our advance. We must put Zheng Zhilong under pressure and force him to make a decision." Zhang Huang's tone was firm. He knew that only by forcing the enemy to make a choice could they seize the initiative on the battlefield. Battles were often dominated by those who made bold decisions, and Zheng Zhilong's apparent hesitation was their opportunity.

As Zhang Huangyan made his decision, his generals began to get busy, carrying out their respective tasks. After explaining the tasks to everyone, Zhang Huangyan waved his hand and left Wei Xian alone.

Zhang Huangyan didn't speak immediately, but continued to focus on the map on the table. His fingertips gently traced the map, his eyes filled with deep thought. After a long pause, he whispered, "How is Zheng Hongkui's fundraising in southern Fujian? Is he proceeding according to plan?"

Wei Xian smiled slightly, took out a document from his sleeve, and handed it to Zhang Huangyan. Looking at the contents of the document, a smug look flashed across his face, and he said:

"According to the latest intelligence, Zheng Hongkui has successfully raised 170,000 taels of silver in four counties in southern Fujian. This silver primarily comes from local wealthy merchants. To achieve this goal as quickly as possible, Zheng Hongkui personally led a team to these locations and borrowed from almost every wealthy merchant."

"However, most merchants chose to swallow their anger. After all, who would dare to go against the banner of 'Your Majesty'? Only a few with stubborn tempers dared to stand up and complain, seeking a little justice." Wei Xian said with a bit of disdain and sneer in his tone.

Zhang Huangyan nodded after listening to it, his eyes still fixed on the map, his expression slightly calm.

"Zheng Hongkui is very capable and has done everything very quickly. It seems his control over Zhangzhou is quite solid," he said softly, a hint of approval in his tone, but then his eyes sharpened. "It would be a good thing if he could maintain his current status in Zhangzhou. In that case, this general will personally handle the follow-up matters."

Wei Xian nodded and said, "Don't worry, General Zhang. Zheng Hongkui is definitely a seasoned veteran. He has resorted to extreme means to raise military funds, even pulling himself out of the vortex of profit."

He used the banner of "Your Majesty" to raise funds to suppress the rebels, leaving virtually no trace. He dispatched trusted officers to personally deal with those merchants who dared to resist, while he himself escaped unscathed. When things went wrong, he could claim he simply failed to discipline his men and was not responsible at all.

"Sure enough," Zhang Huangyan murmured, inwardly sighing. Zheng Hongkui was not only a capable general, but also a very cunning figure. Such tactics went beyond ordinary military command and were more of a shrewd political scheme.

"If that's the case, then we must be even more cautious of his every move." Zhang Huangyan frowned slightly, quickly calculating his next strategy in his mind. "Zheng Hongkui is able to manipulate the situation so skillfully. If we allow this to continue, he will become a hidden danger for us in the future. We can't let him escape from Zhangzhou easily. We must ensure that he is used by us, or at least contained by us."

Wei Xian also nodded, knowing in his heart that Zhang Huangyan was always calm and rigorous in his actions, and would never give a potential enemy a chance to gain a foothold.

"General Zhang, although Zheng Hongkui is intelligent, he still has many shortcomings in certain areas. If we take advantage of these shortcomings, perhaps we can guide him onto the track we desire."

Zhang Huangyan's lips curled up slightly, revealing a meaningful smile. "You're right. Although Zheng Hongkui is shrewd, he's not invulnerable. We just need to find his weaknesses, break them one by one, and then force him to make a choice."

He paused, his gaze still fixed on the map, as if he had already made a decision. "Zheng Hongkui will continue to be in charge of Zhangzhou affairs. My military affairs here cannot be neglected either. Tomorrow is a critical moment. If Zheng Zhilong does not make a decision, our opportunity will slip away."

After hearing this, Wei Xian's eyes flashed with respect. He knew Zhang Huangyan's decision-making ability and strategy very well. If he followed him, he would definitely achieve great things. "General Zhang, your arrangements are absolutely flawless. Zheng Zhilong will definitely make the right choice under pressure."

Zhang Huangyan nodded, his expression still calm. "In that case, in tomorrow's battle, we must seize all of Zheng Zhilong's weaknesses and make it impossible for him to turn back."

Before he had finished speaking, several generals hurried into the tent and respectfully reported the military situation to him. Zhang Huangyan motioned for them to wait. He turned to Wei Xian and whispered, "Go and prepare. From now on, we must go all out."

Wei Xian bowed slightly and left the tent, preparing to begin planning the next move. Zhang Huangyan once again looked down at the map, his eyes gleaming with unparalleled confidence and determination. He had already made every possible preparation.

However, unexpectedly, as news of the defeats in southern and central Fujian spread, Zheng Zhilong's base in Fuzhou immediately rebelled. After the disastrous defeat, he fled north in a panic and finally arrived in Sha County.

However, his escape did not allow him to escape pursuit. Zhang Huangyan issued a death order and sent Li Xiaolin to lead elite cavalry in a relentless pursuit, vowing to capture him and bring him to justice. Zheng Zhilong was exhausted from dealing with this relentless pursuit, and his morale was low, and his troops were dwindling.

Meanwhile, Guo Zhikui and Shi Lang in northern Fujian, having already seen the direction of the situation, saw that Zheng Zhilong's army was in a state of collapse, with only a few hundred remnants left, and chose to pledge their allegiance to the Ming army. Without a single soldier's effort, they captured Zheng Zhilong and his remaining followers and presented them to Li Xiaolin as a token of their loyalty.

Although Li Xiaolin appeared calm about this "victory," he knew deep down that it marked a significant turning point in the stability of the southeast. Zheng Zhilong's capture was the final straw that broke the camel's back for the Zheng army. With the recapture of Fuzhou and the complete elimination of Zheng's bandits in Fujian, there was no longer any visible resistance in the southeastern part of the Ming Dynasty. The chaotic situation in the southeast had come to a temporary end.

Zhang Huangyan did not rest on his laurels. After pacifying Fujian, he quickly arranged for the deployment of troops and civil administration in each prefecture to ensure an orderly post-war recovery. He then led his army back to Fuzhou, where the people lined the streets to greet him with enthusiastic cheers.

Throughout the prolonged war, Zhang Huangyan's Imperial Guards earned the hearts of the people with their strict military discipline and non-disruptive behavior. After nearly six months of fighting in Fujian, Zhang Huangyan was finally able to return to Nanjing. However, he did not enjoy the rest and recuperation he had hoped for. Upon arriving in Nanjing, Zhu Cilang convened a meeting with military commanders, civil officials, and the heads of the newly established maritime trade system for a crucial national strategic adjustment.

During the meeting, Zhu Cilang, incorporating the latest battle reports from various regions, decisively announced a series of adjustments to supply allocation priorities and strategic deployments. While the southeast had been pacified, future challenges remained. As the meeting drew to a close, Zhu Cilang specifically retained Li Xiaolin, the naval commander responsible for "reforms in maritime trade and commercial management."

Li Xiaolin was somewhat surprised by the emperor's summons. He had thought he could wait until that evening to revise the reform plan that had been troubling him, and then present a detailed report the next day. He had never expected Zhu Cilang to be so anxious about matters involving finance and national policy.

In fact, Zhu Cilang's eagerness to summon Li Xiaolin was closely related to his latest military reform plan. He planned to comprehensively adjust the Ming Dynasty's military system, from combat troops, cavalry to navy, and everything else would be included in the scope of this reform.

He put forward more detailed requirements for improving the army's combat effectiveness, expanding its troops and logistical supplies, especially the research and development and deployment of new weapons and equipment, which became the core driving force of this military system reform.

Zhu Cilang was well aware that improving the army's combat effectiveness depended not only on training but also on the support of advanced weaponry. This reform would comprehensively optimize everything from organization to equipment, requiring substantial financial support. As a crucial source of revenue for the treasury, maritime trade directly determined the effectiveness of military reform.

"Maritime trade and military system reform are the cornerstones of the Ming Dynasty's revival." Zhu Cilang said to himself, his eyes revealing determination and decisiveness.

The pacification of the southeast was only the beginning; greater tests awaited the Ming's soldiers and civilians. Zhu Cilang took a deep breath, his eyes stern. His goal was clear and resolute: to establish a professional army completely independent of the traditional military system.

This army was not only built to respond to the current crisis, but also to lay the foundation for the Ming Dynasty's future for the next hundred years. Brutality on the battlefield alone could not bring sustained victory. Training of troops, refinement of tactics, and innovation of equipment were all essential.

This army needed to be a symbol—a symbol of Ming Dynasty's dominance over the world order. It had to be armed with advanced muskets and artillery, with firearms of greater range and greater speed, and supplemented by cutting-edge weapons that defied imagination.

Ming soldiers were not only expected to excel at charging into battle, but also to be elite warriors capable of manipulating complex machinery. However, behind all of this, there was one key factor: silver.

Zhu Cilang frowned slightly. He had seen money before, but the resources needed to support this reform were scattered among countless interest groups. He had to pool these resources, and to do so, he needed more subtle means, even resorting to the intimidating power of imperial authority if necessary.

Because of this, Zhu Cilang urgently hoped that Li Xiaolin's reform plan could be implemented as soon as possible. Li Xiaolin listened carefully to Zhu Cilang's instructions and wrote down each request one by one. This was not only a discussion about money, food and supplies, but also a strategic planning related to the fate of the Ming Dynasty.

"Your Majesty." Li Xiaolin bowed and presented the book in his hand respectfully. There was a hint of expectation in his voice. His eyes fell on Zhu Cilang's face, then quickly moved away.

Zhu Cilang took the booklet and felt its heavy weight. He flipped through a few pages casually, his eyes gradually becoming profound.

This was the "Maritime Trade and Commercial Management Reform Plan," designed by Li Xiaolin under his personal guidance. The plan contained his top-level vision for the future Ming Dynasty's economic system, and Li Xiaolin, as the actual executor, had clearly invested immense effort in it.

Zhu Cilang raised his head and glanced at Li Xiaolin, sensing the undisguised excitement in his eyes. For this powerful official, the resounding victory in the southern expedition to Fujian had boosted Zhu Cilang's prestige to an unprecedented level, and as the emperor's trusted confidant, his position would also rise with him. As the overseer of Ming commerce and maritime trade, Li Xiaolin not only possessed immense power and wealth, but also hoped to secure a title with Zhu Cilang's support, thereby solidifying his position and becoming a truly prominent figure in the Ming Dynasty.

"Li Qing has his own plans." Zhu Cilang chuckled inwardly, but didn't point it out. He knew it was these people's desire for fame and fortune that drove them to follow him at this crucial moment. As long as the overall situation was stable, these officials' ambitions would actually be a driving force.

"Your Majesty, this is a detailed plan for reform," Li Xiaolin said in a low voice. "I dare not hide my incompetence. I beg Your Majesty to review it."

Zhu Cilang nodded, sat back down, and carefully read the plan. His eyes lingered on a few particular diagrams, and his expression shifted slightly. These were the organizational charts he had personally taught Li Xiaolin to draw. Using simple lines and blocks, they clearly marked the functional distribution and relationships of each organization.

"The integration of maritime trade and commerce is of paramount importance," Zhu Cilang spoke slowly, his tone brimming with undeniable authority. "The Ming Dynasty has sufficient resources and manpower. The question is how to effectively utilize these resources to ensure expansionary wars and the sustainability of the nation's fortunes."

He pointed to the key points in the diagram and said, "The planning of the Department of Industry and Commerce is basically sound. The division of labor among brokerage firms, tax offices, and trading companies is clear, and their responsibilities are well-defined. This is a good start. We must start with top-level design to avoid disputes and confusion caused by loopholes in the details."

Li Xiaolin bowed quickly and replied, "Your Majesty is wise. I believe this reform will not only promote commercial development but also restore the prestige of the government. The design of the tax card, in particular, will ensure a sufficient treasury while establishing an image of integrity among merchants."

Zhu Cilang nodded slightly, his eyes sharp. "Reform isn't just about money; it's also about ensuring the efficiency of Ming's national policy. Every step serves a larger purpose in the future. If this one goes wrong, the rest of the game will spiral out of control."

He paused, then continued, "Mr. Li, this reform cannot afford to fail. You and I both bear a heavy burden. If we succeed, the world will have its own judgment. If there are any errors, I will not tolerate anyone."

The coldness in Zhu Cilang's words gave Li Xiaolin a chill, and he quickly knelt down to express his position: "Your Majesty, rest assured. I will do my utmost to bring this reform to success."

(End of this chapter)