Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

"Chen Fu, your analysis just now was very accurate, much more profound than the speeches of Zhang Huangyan and Lin Changfeng from the past two days." Zhu Cilang put down his teacup and looked at Chen Fu with a smile. After he had all the guards withdrawn, the atmosphere suddenly became much more relaxed.

Then, while sipping his hot tea, he continued with a hint of appreciation, "Your thinking is clear and your approach is precise. I am very satisfied."

Chen Fu's heart warmed slightly upon hearing this, and he humbly responded, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. I was simply following your thoughts. Without your guidance, I would have found it difficult to think of those details."

Despite his humble words, Chen Fu's face couldn't hide his inner joy. However, Zhu Cilang didn't immediately offer him excessive praise. Instead, he shifted his gaze and spoke in a slightly more serious tone, "However, you still need to work harder on helping your subordinates learn to read. How is it that after more than half a year, many of your subordinates only recognize a little over 500 characters?"

He put down his teacup and cast his gaze upon Chen Fu, who stood respectfully beside him, his tone tinged with reproach. Chen Fu's heart tightened when he heard this. He had always been well aware of Zhu Cilang's strict demands. Whether it was for soldiers or generals, Zhu Cilang always emphasized well-rounded development, not just battlefield prowess.

"Your Majesty, I understand." Chen Fu quickly replied, a hint of embarrassment on his face. Although he was not good at reading, he never dared to make excuses in front of Zhu Cilang.

"You need to know." Zhu Cilang's tone softened slightly:

"Even if your men are truly exceptionally brave on the battlefield, if they lack literacy, further improvement will be difficult. Military regulations stipulate that battalion officers must be literate at least 1,200 characters, while generals must be literate at least 1,800 characters. This is written into military law. If you don't pay attention, even if I intend to promote your men in the future, I'm afraid I won't be able to give you the trust you need in this regard."

Hearing this, Chen Fu lowered his head and said in a respectful yet slightly embarrassed tone, "Yes, Your Majesty, I understand. From now on, I will definitely intensify my efforts to urge my subordinates to learn to read, and will never let such a small matter affect their future."

Seeing his current attitude, Zhu Cilang softened his tone a bit, "Don't be too nervous. No one is perfect. Although your men may lack literacy, their performance on the battlefield is unmatched. In terms of bravery, there are only a few in the army who can surpass those guys. Even with the exception of Lin Changfeng's cavalry, I'm afraid no one dares to claim to be able to truly defeat you on the battlefield."

Chen Fu stood before Zhu Cilang, bowing his head and remaining silent. Seeing this, Zhu Cilang knew that he was still feeling uneasy, so he continued to counsel him:
"However, as you've seen today, marching and fighting requires more than bravery alone. If you only recognize two or three hundred characters, future tasks like presiding over meetings like this, teaching military courses to reserve officers at the Military Academy, commanding vast armies, and drafting strategic plans will all require exceptional literacy and deep thinking. If you don't improve your literacy, you'll inevitably be limited in these areas and unable to fully realize your potential."

Chen Fu listened silently, feeling a tinge of resentment, but he understood Zhu Cilang's point. While swords, spears, and halberds on the battlefield were his forte, he often felt overwhelmed by strategic deployment and command. Especially in the future development of the Ming army, how to guide and train more qualified generals and how to improve the army's overall combat capabilities were no longer simply a matter of relying on valor.

"Besides, you don't want to be just a general forever, do you?" Zhu Cilang's words once again interrupted Chen Fu's contemplation. "If you only know how to charge into battle, but ignore military tactics and strategy, you will ultimately fail to achieve greater things. If your soldiers knew their general only knew a few hundred words, how would they respect you? Moreover, if I were to promote them to Grand Marshal in the future, I'm afraid I'd question whether they would be obeyed by their subordinates."

Upon hearing Zhu Cilang's words, Chen Fu jerked his head up, his face filled with surprise and confusion. He froze in his tracks, his gaze complex, speechless for a moment. He was already feeling uneasy about being kept here tonight. He had assumed that his earlier complaints to the army had reached the emperor, and he feared he would be punished, perhaps even demoted or reprimanded.

But he didn't expect that Zhu Cilang would speak to him in such a gentle tone, without any sign of blame, or even the anger he expected.

Zhu Cilang looked at Chen Fu with deep eyes. Seeing that he looked dazed, he sighed inwardly and gently pointed to the chair beside him and said:
"If you feel tired after standing for a long time, you can sit down and talk. When I talked with Zhang Huangyan before, I also asked him to sit down. You are my most trusted ministers, so you don't have to be too rigid about these rules in private."

Chen Fu's mind went blank, as if he was shocked by this sudden leniency. After a few seconds of hesitation, he finally reacted. He remained standing there, motionless, his legs tense, his hands clenched, unable to relax even a little. Zhu Cilang looked at his unmoving posture, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and smiled, "Aren't you tired?"

After saying that, he gently picked up the teacup beside him, blew on it lightly, and took a sip.

"I'll stand... I'll just stand..." Chen Fu's voice trembled. He didn't dare look directly at Zhu Cilang. He lowered his head, feeling a wave of panic. Remembering his dissatisfaction with the New Deal reforms in the army and his arguments with Zhang Huangyan, he couldn't help but feel an inexplicable sense of tension.

He knew full well that, while Zhu Cilang's attitude had become much more lenient and approachable over the past year, his former commanding presence remained deeply etched in his mind. Chen Fu, known for his frankness, was also not adept at disguising himself. His discontent was practically written all over his face, so how could he dare sit back and relax?

Zhu Cilang didn't insist. He gently put down his teacup and said bluntly, in a tone that seemed neither hurried nor slow, as if teasing but also examining him: "Since standing is comfortable, then stand. I heard that you are quite dissatisfied with the adjustments made in this new policy reform. Not only have you complained about it many times in the barracks, but you even had an argument with Zhang Huangyan?"

Chen Fu was flustered upon hearing this. He instinctively wanted to defend himself, but for a moment, he was completely speechless. His mind went blank, as if all his words had been interrupted by Zhu Cilang's words, and he couldn't form a complete sentence.

Seeing him like this, Zhu Cilang smiled faintly, "Alright, stop hesitating. I know what kind of person you are. There's no need to be so reserved in front of me. You're not usually as hesitant as you are now in the barracks. If you have something to say, just say it out loud. If you're dissatisfied with the new policy reforms, you should come to me directly and tell me. Why are you hiding it in your heart? You're in a very high position, so why can't you even do this?"

Although the words were neither hurried nor slow, they could not be refused. After hearing this, Chen Fu lowered his head and took a deep breath. Finally, he mustered up the courage to raise his head. He sorted out his thoughts a little and finally said:
"Your Majesty... I'm not opposed to the entire New Deal reform, but... I just have some concerns about some details. Some soldiers in the army are worried that the reforms will affect their treatment and the management of troops, especially outside the Great Wall. The pace of reform is too rapid, and many areas have not yet been fully sorted out. I'm afraid this will affect the war situation."

Zhu Cilang's eyes remained gentle upon hearing these words. He didn't let anger fester, instead he listened even more patiently. "You feel the pace of reform is too rapid, and some areas may not be ready? That's understandable. Reforms are indeed drastic, often causing discomfort and even resistance. However, I don't make these decisions on a whim. The purpose of reform is to ensure that the Ming Dynasty remains resilient in these turbulent times and better responds to external challenges."

Chen Fu looked at Zhu Cilang and felt an unprecedented pressure. Zhu Cilang sighed softly and said slowly:

"You also know that the situation outside the Great Wall is complex, with many hostile forces ready to make a move. I cannot only focus on immediate stability while ignoring long-term development in the future. Your performance outside the Great Wall is obvious to all. When I promoted you, it was not only because of your ability, but also because of your loyalty to the country.

I remember that great battle in Shandong. Although you didn't perform at your best and the army suffered heavy losses, you held your ground and led the troops to victory. Only generals like you are worthy of being reused."

Chen Fu's eyes moistened slightly, and he lowered his head, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He had originally felt guilty about his behavior, but even when he made mistakes, His Majesty had not given up on him and still given him hope and opportunities.

Zhu Cilang looked at him, his tone firm, "I value not only your past achievements, but also your future potential. I am very optimistic about your leadership outside the Great Wall, whether it is the command of the army or the tactical layout. Even now, you are still one of the people I trust most."

After hearing these words, Chen Fu finally relaxed a little, and the doubts in his heart gradually dissipated. He raised his head, and a look of gratitude appeared on his face. Although he didn't say anything, he couldn't hide his inner touch.

Chen Fu's originally stiff and tense expression finally relaxed a little. He lowered his head and replied with a hint of shame, "Your Majesty's teachings are in my heart. I did lose my composure a bit and said many things I shouldn't have said. I feel deeply guilty."

Seeing that his expression was no longer as tough as usual, Zhu Cilang raised the corner of his mouth slightly, his tone still calm but with a hint of seriousness: "You did lose your temper, but it's not that those words shouldn't be said, but it shouldn't be vented in private. If these emotions were to leak out, it would not only disrupt the morale of the troops, but also affect your prestige within the army. If someone with ulterior motives secretly passes on your gossip to me, how do you think I should respond? How should I handle this matter like He Nan did?"

Zhu Cilang's expression instantly grew solemn. His eyes no longer held a hint of a smile, but instead he gazed deeply at Chen Fu. "Look at Zhang Huangyan, then look at yourself. Why have I always trusted Zhang Huangyan so much, and why have I deliberately trained you more in preparation for further promotion?" This strategic location outside the Great Wall, with remnants of the Qing army to the north and the Khalkha Mongol tribe to the west, meant the war situation was changing rapidly.

You don't have to worry about military achievements. As long as you can hold your ground, stabilize the army's morale, and maintain your current position, I can promote you at any time, and it will convince others."

After hearing this, Chen Fu's heart was shaken, and a complicated look flashed across his eyes. He was silent for a moment, then said, "I understand. Chang Qingshan did remind me of this during the New Deal adjustment period."

He added with a hint of candor, "Ever since Chang Qingshan reminded me of this, I've begun to reflect on myself. Especially after seeing the Chief of the General Staff appointed, I gradually realized that there were still many areas where I wasn't doing well enough. Otherwise, why would His Majesty keep me where I am? Although I wasn't promoted as quickly as Chang Qingshan and Lin Changfeng, I understand His Majesty's considerations."

Zhu Cilang smiled lightly, his tone slightly teasing: "So you've figured it out yourself. Then I was really worrying too much by keeping you here tonight."

He paused, his eyes slightly sharp. "But even though you are now far away from Nanjing, outside the Great Wall, commanding tens of thousands of elite field troops, the status of a general in this area is still somewhat different. Just like the Guards Battalion, even if it is just one battalion, it is an elite force different from the other battalions. Although the army outside the Great Wall has mobilized some elite troops back to the camp, it still maintains the strongest combat effectiveness of the entire army. But, Chen Fu, have you really become the strongest general in the entire army?"

After hearing this, Chen Fu had to admit that although he controlled a large field army outside the Great Wall, compared with other experienced and well-commanded generals, he still had many shortcomings, especially in comprehensive command and overall control on the battlefield. There was still room for improvement.

"I still need to hone myself before I can take on the position of the general outside the Great Wall." Chen Fu lowered his head and answered sincerely.

Seeing that he had understood something, Zhu Cilang stopped asking further questions and smiled softly, saying slowly:

"This isn't just about the situation outside the Great Wall; it concerns the future of the entire nation. What you possess now is not just a military advantage, but also a test of your leadership. Your ability to command these elite troops will determine the success or failure of this battle. Now that you've recognized your shortcomings, you must work even harder in the days ahead. I've left you outside the Great Wall so that you can gain more experience."

He paused, then continued, "The battles outside the Great Wall aren't just about defending the frontier; they're also about laying the foundation for the future of the entire Ming Dynasty. The enemies you'll face in the future won't just be the remnants of the Qing Dynasty and the Khalkha Mongols, but also enemy nations further afield. At that time, you'll shoulder even greater responsibilities, leading the Ming army into a vaster world."

Chen Fu took a deep breath, his heart filled with a sense of responsibility and mission. He understood that he not only had to face the enemy, but also his own heart and shortcomings. Only by constantly improving himself could he truly be worthy of Zhu Cilang's trust and expectations.

"I will definitely live up to your majesty's trust and work even harder to fulfill my mission!" Chen Fu replied solemnly, his eyes firm. (End of this chapter)