Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 690 Guardianship and Regency Council (Part 2)

“Zhang Bingcao, no need for such formalities,” Yuan Keli waved his hand, looked around, and asked, “Is that Li Yuanyi you mentioned earlier here?” Yuan Keli remembered the name. As he asked this question, he even recalled that it was the Imperial Envoy Wu Yunqian who first mentioned this person to him.

Zhang Wan glanced at Li Erzhan subconsciously, only to find that Li Erzhan, with his head down, was also looking at him sideways. His face was deathly pale.

“In response to the guardian,” Zhang Wan took a light breath and said in a calm, declarative tone, “Master Li is not here at the moment.”

"Then where is he?" Yuan Keli asked again.

“It’s right here in Beijing,” Zhang Wan said.

"Which government office does he work for? Why didn't he come?" Yuan Keli subconsciously assumed that Li Yuanyi must be an official in office, and of a high rank, and qualified to attend the meeting.

"Replying to the guardian, Lord Li was only recently recalled to Hanyang and does not yet have a formal official position." Upon hearing this, Li Erzhan's expression immediately turned even more unpleasant.

Li Yuanyi was driven out of the capital by Li Erzhan's henchmen because he resolutely refused to support Li Erzhan's petition to "abolish his mother." Before Li Erzhan and Zheng Renhong lost power, Li Yuanyi had even been exiled.

"Recall him." Yuan Keli pressed further, "What happened to him?"

"He's seventy-four this year." Leaving room for maneuver, Zhang Wan decided not to proactively expose Li Erzhan's shortcomings. However, at the same time, Zhang Wan was also prepared to reveal Li Erzhan's secrets under questioning.

However, Yuan Keli did not press the matter. After pondering for a while, he said, "He must have been deeply involved in those two Japanese invasions?"

“You’re right,” Zhang Wan nodded. “Lord Li organized righteous armies to support the Heavenly Army during the two Japanese invasions, and he also personally participated in the Battle of Pyongyang and the Battle of Jiksan. The reason why King Seonjo conferred the title of Wanpyeongbu-gun on Lord Li was precisely because of his achievements during the Japanese invasions.”

“Hmm,” Yuan Keli nodded, then looked at the Regent Prince, Li Zhu. “Regent.”

"Here!" Li Chu immediately stood up, as quickly as a student being called upon by the teacher.

In reality, Li Chu was restless the entire time. He felt he should sit and listen to the lecture to demonstrate the dignity of a "soon-to-be-appointed heir," yet he also feared that Yuan Keli would resent him for remaining seated. The reason he remained seated was largely because Shen Yourong and Luo Yangxing had not stood up after Yuan Keli left his seat.

Yuan Keli, unaware of Yi Chu's thoughts, simply smiled and suggested, "As the saying goes, 'An old steed in its stall may still aspire to gallop a thousand miles.' Now, with the Jurchen traitors eyeing us covetously and Joseon in turmoil, I think it would be wise to find a post for this Prince Wanpyeong. What does the Regent think?"

"You can arrange the guardianship as you see fit!" Li Chu immediately replied.

“Hmm,” Yuan Keli shook his head. “It’s better for the Regent to make the arrangements, whether they are Korean officials or not. Once the Regent has made the arrangements, I will affix my seal and sign it.”

"Then," Li Zhu smiled and thought for a moment, "let Wanping Fuyuan fill the vacancy of Military Affairs Judge, and also serve as the head of the Border Defense Division, what do you think?"

"Your Excellency can make the arrangements." Despite saying this, Yuan Keli nodded.

"Then it's settled!" Lee Hyuk's face flushed slightly, showing some excitement. "Sangri Park."

"Your subject is here!" Park Seung-jong stepped forward solemnly and bowed to Yuan Ke-li and Yi Chu in turn.

"Today, let Prince Wanpyeong fill the vacancy of Military Affairs Judge, and also let him concurrently serve as the Chief of the Border Defense Division." When Yi Chu gave the order loudly, he subconsciously glanced at Zhang Wan, who was originally scheduled to be promoted to Military Affairs Judge. However, Zhang Wan did not show displeasure as he subconsciously expected; instead, he seemed to be holding back a slight smile.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will take care of it immediately." Park Seung-jong's heart was still pounding, and his voice trembled slightly. Although Yuan Keli kept talking about state affairs, as long as he didn't settle those damned accounts and give a definite and clear judgment, many people, including Park Seung-jong, wouldn't be able to put their minds at ease.

"The decree has been written; it must be shown to the guardian for review first!" Li Chu instructed in a declaration-like manner.

"Yes!" Park Seung-jong replied loudly.

Yuan Keli was astute as he was, and he immediately saw through the deliberate performance in this conversation, but he didn't care. "Does the Regent have anything else to say? If not, then I will continue."

Li Chu almost instinctively wanted Yuan Keli to continue. However, Yuan Keli's friendliness seemed to encourage him, and after hesitating for a moment, the young "heir apparent" actually mustered up the courage to ask, "Your Excellency, you just said that the slave rebels launched a massive attack on Zhenjiang, Tangzhan, and Fenghuang simultaneously. I would like to know the situation at the front?"

"The battle report is very vague, with no figures for casualties on either side or ammunition consumption. It seems the statistics haven't been compiled yet. So it's difficult to describe the battle situation in detail. But in any case, the Jurchens were ultimately repelled." Yuan Keli's mind raced, and he explained, "This is to be expected. Before I went south to Hanyang, reinforcements from Liaoyang had already been deployed to various parts of Liaoyou to guard against the Jurchens. So even though I transferred two battalions into Korea to secure peace, the forces on the west bank of the Yalu River were still formidable."

"You've dispatched two battalions into Ping'an Road?" Li Chu's interest was piqued.

“That’s right.” Yuan Keli nodded.

"May I ask which two battalions?" Li Zhu asked.

“Both Mao Wenlong’s and Zhang Changyin’s troops were originally stationed in Liaoyou,” Yuan Keli said.

"Have they also engaged in battle with the Jurchen rebels? How is Pyeongan Province now? Is Uiju still safe?" Yi Chuo asked hastily, his expression already showing anxiety. It was rather pitiful; even he, the regent of Joseon, had to inquire of others to know the situation in his own country. "Pyeongan Province is peaceful. Mao Wenlong's and Zhang Changyin's troops haven't engaged in battle with the Jurchen rebels either," Yuan Keli said, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "Does the Regent know why?"

Li Chu's heart tightened. He immediately thought of an answer, but it was one he couldn't bring himself to say.

Yuan Keli didn't force Li Zhu to answer. He held his baton and gently tapped the edge of the map stand. When everyone's eyes were on him, he raised the baton high and jabbed it heavily at the location of Yizhou: "The Jurchen traitors are launching fierce attacks on Fenghuang, Tangzhan, and Zhenjiang at the same time, but they are ignoring Yizhou, which is just across the river. Their purpose is to bully the weak and isolate Korea."

“Isolating North Korea?” Yuan Keli’s words brought Yi Chu a slight sense of relief.

“That’s right.” Yuan Keli stretched out his hand and drew a long, narrow circle in the empty space west of Zhenjiang. “As long as we can take and control the Fenghuang and Zhenjiang areas, we can block reinforcements from Liaodong. At that time, North Korea will be isolated and helpless.”

“But…” Yi Chu suddenly thought of the Ming army’s combined land and sea advance, rapidly approaching Hanyang, and subconsciously asked, “Can’t the Celestial Empire’s reinforcements still enter Korea by sea?”

Yuan Keli did not answer directly, but instead asked in a low voice, "What does the Regent think is the reason why the slaves would take the initiative to send Jiang Hongli and Kim Kyung-seo, who have been detained for so long, back to Korea at this time?"

Upon hearing this question, Yi Cho's heart leaped again. He truly did not want to answer such a question involving Kang Hong-rip and Kim Gyeong-seo, because no matter how he answered, he could not avoid the matter of his father, King Yi Hun, instructing them to observe the shift in their allegiance.

Just as Li Chu, unable to withstand Yuan Keli's gaze, was about to turn away, a voice suddenly emerged from the crowd. "Sowing discord! This is blatant sowing discord!"

The sound was so sudden. In an instant, all eyes turned to the source of the sound.

"Are you... Li Erzhan?" Yuan Keli looked at Li Erzhan, who had suddenly spoken, with a somewhat complicated expression in his eyes.

On his way south to Hanyang, Yuan Keli had already heard many rumors about Li Erzhan and his most steadfast ally, former Chief Councilor Zheng Renhong.

Without a doubt, Li Erzhan and Zheng Renhong, these two cronies, were typical figures like Yan Song. They fawned on the emperor, formed cliques and suppressed dissent, and abused their power through factionalism and cronyism, resorting to any means to maintain their grip on power. From Pyongan Province to Gyeonggi Province, from Uiju Prefecture to Hanyang Prefecture, in almost every well-known place, one could encounter impoverished officials who had offended Li Erzhan or Zheng Renhong and had been driven out of the capital or even exiled.

Conversely, Li Erzhan and Zheng Renhong were indeed the most steadfast advocates of war and pro-China. They were even so resolute that they dared to defy convention and openly instigate political upheaval against the king. Yuan Keli learned that Zheng Renhong, who had always dominated the court, quickly fell out of favor and was eventually dismissed from office and banished from the capital because he insisted on the argument that "when the country is in trouble, one should do one's utmost to help."

"It is I!" Li Erzhan took a deep breath without making it obvious.

"Then please share your insights," Yuan Keli gestured for him to speak.

Li Erzhan bowed and said, "As early as two years ago, shortly after the great defeat in the Jiwei Conquest of the Barbarians, rumors circulated throughout the court and the world that our Joseon Kingdom had betrayed the Celestial Dynasty and was secretly colluding with the barbarian chieftains. The situation was almost exactly the same as the early days of the Imjin War, when rumors spread both domestically and internationally that the Japanese pirates were colluding with Joseon and intending to use a pretext to attack the heavens. These rumors, whether true or false, would arouse the Celestial Dynasty's suspicion of our Joseon Kingdom."

"I still remember that when the seven provinces were lost and King Seonjo fled west to safety, the Liaodong Commandery sent a general named Lin Shilu to investigate the truth. Fortunately, the late emperor was wise and resolutely dispatched tens of thousands of heavenly troops to save our Joseon, so that our Joseon was not destroyed and our race was wiped out." When mentioning the Wanli Emperor, Li Erzhan bowed towards the northwest, and his voice gradually became choked with emotion.

"Now, before invading Fenghuang, Zhenjiang and other places in the south, the slave traitors will send back the surrendered generals who have been detained for many days. Their aim must be to sow discord between the Celestial Empire and Korea."

"If the Jurchen traitors capture Fenghuang and Zhenjiang, cutting off reinforcements from Liaodong, and then spread rumors that Korea gladly accepts the surrender of defeated generals, even if our Emperor is wise and discerning, he will still hesitate and be indecisive. At that time, the Jurchen traitors can take advantage of the Celestial Empire's suspicion of Korea to launch a large-scale southward invasion, turning our land of propriety and righteousness into a barbarian beast."

“Hmm,” Yuan Keli looked at Li Erzhan and nodded gently, his eyes showing a hint of appreciation.

“Your Highness,” Lear looked at Yi Ye and finally explained, “If the Jurchen rebels march south to Korea with 50,000 troops, they could march all the way from Uiju to Jeju in just over a month. If that’s the case, then even if the Celestial Empire is willing to cross the sea to provide support, it will probably have to send someone to take the royal family away first before making any further plans.”

After saying this, Li Erzhan withdrew his gaze and lowered his head, as if muttering to himself, but speaking with unusual clarity: "Before this, Judge Zhang foresaw this situation and invited me to submit a memorial to Your Highness, explaining the advantages and disadvantages, requesting Your Highness to execute the envoy and burn the letter to demonstrate the loyalty of a vassal state, and also requesting the assistance of the Celestial Empire. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned."

Yuan Keli's lips moved slightly. A seasoned official like him, how could he not hear the ulterior motive and desire for credit hidden in Li Erzhan's final "remark"? However, Yuan Keli was still somewhat puzzled; after all, someone actively seeking credit should put themselves first. He glanced at Zhang Wan, secretly categorizing the two of them as part of the same faction in his mind.

Yuan Keli's fleeting gaze sent a chill down Zhang Wan's spine. Even as Li Erzhan was speaking, Zhang Wan had already suspected that Li Erzhan's sudden outburst must have some ulterior motive. But he hadn't expected Li Erzhan to actually elevate him to the forefront.
Remembering that she hadn't kicked Li Yuanyi when he was down, but instead subtly hinted that Li Yuanyi's absence from court was due to retirement at an advanced age, Zhang Wan guessed that Li Erzhan was returning the favor.

However, Zhang Wanchun was simply being presumptuous. Li Erzhan would certainly reciprocate, but not at this time or in this setting. Li Erzhan's sudden speaking was a calculated move, seizing the opportunity to speak when Yuan Keli was keen to engage in dialogue with them, thus highlighting his loyalty to the Celestial Empire and subtly distancing himself from the deposed prince.

He pushed Zhang Wan forward simply to make himself appear less deliberate. And with Zhang Wan in front of him, he wouldn't inadvertently offend the Regent's heir while speaking ill of the King.

"Sigh," Li Erzhan's sigh made Li Chu sigh, but he did not feel offended at all.

On the contrary, Li Chu was even somewhat grateful to Li Erzhan. He felt that Li Erzhan's sudden intervention had saved him from a difficult situation. Since Yuan Keli's questions would inevitably involve his father, it was better for someone else to speak than for him to do so himself. Moreover, the term "sowing discord" could even mitigate Li Hui's responsibility to some extent.

"If only someone could take the blame for the treacherous minister who misled the emperor," Li Hui thought for no apparent reason.

“Li Panshu is right. The Jurchen traitors have stationed their troops in Kuandian, attacking Fenghuang and Zhenjiang, but refusing to attack Yizhou, which is just across the river. They even sent their traitorous and surrendered generals back to their country. This is all to sow discord between the Celestial Empire and isolate Korea, in order to launch a major offensive.” Yuan Keli withdrew his gaze, flicked his baton, and drew it back and forth along the border of Ping'an Province a few times. “Now that Fenghuang and Zhenjiang have not fallen, the Jurchen traitors will surely turn their guns on Korea!”

(End of this chapter)