My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 171 The Micro-Management Soul of the Zhu Family
In fact, Qi Jiguang had already anticipated this urgent border report before it was sent to the capital.

This search of the Ordos was a great success, eliminating the threat posed by the Ordos in the Ordos region. As the overlord of the Ordos, Anda Khan could not possibly remain inactive.

However, the lambing season is the most vulnerable time for the entire nomadic people of the grasslands. Anda Khan was powerless to do anything about it and could only watch as Qi Jiguang swept through the Hetao region.

Now that May has passed and the cattle and horses have been nourished by the spring grass, Anda Khan could no longer bear it and decided to attack Datong.

Qi Jiguang had already discovered Altan Khan's preparations for war half a month earlier, and he had written to Su Ze to discuss the situation on the grasslands.

That evening, Qi Jiguang's envoy, Wu Weizhong, arrived at Su Ze's residence.

Looking at the large box Wu Weizhong brought, Su Ze sighed:
"Why does Commander Qi do this?"

Wu Weizhong was somewhat embarrassed; this was yet another setback he had encountered in the capital.

There was no way around it; military men were just that direct when it came to giving gifts. But for the high-ranking officials of the Longqing Dynasty, such direct bribery was simply too beneath them. Wu Weizhong's gift-giving attempt was met with setbacks at every turn.

Seeing that Su Ze refused to accept it, Wu Weizhong didn't hesitate and simply ordered the soldiers to carry the box out.

"Commander Qi wrote to me last time saying that the establishment of Dongsheng Guard has been halted?"

Wu Weizhong came specifically to explain this matter, and he quickly said:

"Commander Qi personally went to Dongshengwei to inspect it. Due to its long period of abandonment, the ruins of Dongshengwei are no longer usable and need to be rebuilt."

"Datongwei is still some distance from Dongshengwei. It will take time to recruit manpower and prepare materials. The biggest problem is the lack of animal power."

Su Ze nodded. Insufficient animal power was an old problem for the Ming Dynasty.

The problem remains the same: the Ming Dynasty lacked the high-quality horse farms of the Tang Dynasty, and the degradation of the land in the northwest made it impossible to raise horses on a large scale in these areas, leading to the increasing corruption of the country's horse administration.

The horses raised in the inland areas of the Ming Dynasty were already insufficient to support local government affairs and the wear and tear on post stations.

Therefore, the imperial court even set its sights on Yunnan horses and actively developed the tea-horse trade in the southwest.

However, the Yunnan horse is short in stature, which is fine as a transport animal, but it is really unsuitable as a warhorse.

Wu Weizhong then said:

"With a shortage of qualified warhorses, Commander Qi is already preparing to implement Mr. Qing Teng's method of using wagons in the camp."

Su Ze sighed softly.

This era is far from the era of cavalry's demise; the most mobile unit remains the cavalry, without exception.

Qi Jiguang certainly knew the advantages of cavalry.

However, the army was short of horses, so they had to settle for second best.

Xu Wei's method of using wagons was actually a passive tactic employed when warhorses were scarce.

Lacking sufficient cavalry, the infantry needed to be protected by wagons and firearms.

The tactics of the wagon camp are advanced in terms of tactics, but they are not as good as those of the cavalry in terms of strategy. It is a method of building strongholds and fighting a protracted war.

As a master of military strategy, Qi Jiguang certainly understood this principle. However, even the best military strategists adapt to local conditions. Without the conditions to form a large-scale cavalry force, he could only use a wagon battalion.

Simply put, the current situation is that Anda Khan is preparing to march south to retaliate, so Datong has no choice but to suspend the construction of Dongshengwei and retreat to Datong for defense.

Su Ze was helpless about this outcome.

Reality is not a game, and fortresses cannot be built by simply clicking a mouse.

The situation in the north has deteriorated for so long, and the imperial court has been in a state of strategic contraction. It will not be easy to reverse the situation.

Wu Weizhong said:
"Commander Qi is very confident about this attack by Anda. Summer is coming soon, and Anda's troops will definitely not be able to fight for long."

"But Commander Qi is worried that this time Anda's invasion will be reversed again because of the Dongshengwei incident."

Su Ze nodded. Qi Jiguang was no ordinary general; he understood the Ming Dynasty even better than many civil officials.

This time, Anda Khan raised an army for two reasons: one was to avenge the vassal tribes in the Hetao region, and the other was to provoke the Ming Dynasty to rebuild the Dongshengwei.

The fact that Anda Khan launched a large-scale uprising at this time was more of a political intimidation tactic than a practical action.

For nomadic peoples of the grasslands, the best time to lead cavalry is always in the autumn.

Autumn is the busiest time for agricultural societies.

Not only that, this was also the time when grain reserves were at their highest, allowing nomadic tribes to raid and then march south.

Now the fields are full of young seedlings, and the people of the Ming Dynasty are poor. Even if they tried to rob, they wouldn't be able to get anything.

Therefore, Qi Jiguang judged that this time, Anda Khan's actions were mainly based on political intimidation.

Of course, if the Ming Dynasty reveals any weaknesses, Anda Khan wouldn't mind robbing them to weaken its strength.

Given the nature of Ming Dynasty civil officials, this threat from Anda Khan will surely cause many to question the reinstatement of Dongsheng Guard.

Then they'll say things like the establishment of Dongshengwei was pointless, that the border troops recklessly started border conflicts for the sake of merit, and that the re-establishment of Dongshengwei increased the burden on the people.

"Commander Qi, rest assured, the re-establishment of Dongsheng is a matter supported by the Cabinet, and the opinions of foreign officials will not be so easily swayed."

"The Khan has mobilized a large army to march south; this battle must be fought."

Wu Weizhong immediately said:
"Don't worry, Su Hanlin. Commander Qi anticipated Anda Khan's southward advance and has already made preparations for war. This time, he will definitely make Anda Khan suffer."

Su Ze trusted Qi Jiguang implicitly, and Anda Khan's actions were also within his expectations. After seeing Wu Weizhong off, Su Ze said to Xu Wei:

"Mr. Qing Teng, would you like to go to the grasslands?"
-
The following day, Su Ze came to the cabinet during office hours to request an audience with Gao Gong.

Gao Gong put down his pen and met Su Ze in a side hall of the cabinet.

"Send envoys to the grasslands?"

Gao Gong frowned. Yesterday, military intelligence was sent to the palace, and the Longqing Emperor inquired in detail about the situation in the northern border from the cabinet ministers who came to the palace.

Clearly, the cabinet had anticipated how the civil officials in the outer court would discuss the matter after receiving news of Altan Khan's uprising, which is why the cabinet met with the emperor in advance to prepare for the worst.

However, this time the preventative measure seems to have been a little too effective?
Gao Gong recalled his meeting with the emperor the day before. The Longqing Emperor seemed somewhat excited about Anda's uprising.
Gao Gong said:

"There are already discussions in the outer court about abandoning Dongsheng today."

Just as Su Ze had predicted, the conservatism of the civil service group was truly extraordinary.

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, due to the Qiang rebellion in Liangzhou, officials repeatedly proposed abandoning Liangzhou altogether, which is known in history as the "Abandoning Liangzhou Proposal".

Throughout history, there have been such insightful statements. According to their theories, strategically retreating to the capital would ensure safety.

The cabinet can see the benefits of re-establishing Dongshengwei, and Qi Jiguang's great victory in the search of the Tao has also swept away the threat of the Tao in the northwest. This year is the best time.

It would be a great pity to abandon the establishment of Dongshengwei because of this.

Su Ze nodded and said:

“Prime Minister, now is not the time to fight. And Khan is not really going to fight. If we send an envoy to the grasslands to appease Khan, and once the Dongshengwei fortress is completed, it will not be a problem for Anda to attack.”

Gao Gong nodded, agreeing with Su Ze's assessment that Anda Khan wasn't really ready to fight at this point.

However, as the ruler of the grasslands, even though his subordinates were being bullied, Khan had to make a show of force.

Su Ze said, “The Khan doesn’t want to fight now, but that might not be the case in the fall. If we can send an envoy to appease the Anda people and use this time to repair the Dongshengwei Bastion, then we will have no worries about autumn defense.”

Gao Gong was also persuaded by Su Ze, and he nodded and said:
"That's one way."

Since both sides want to fight in the fall, why not send envoys to negotiate and postpone the fight until then?

Gao Gong also received news from the Ministry of Works that the new furnace was producing excellent steel, which meant the court could now directly mine coal in Datong to cast cannons.

When that time comes, if Anda Khan comes again, he will run into the fortified Dongshengwei bastion and its powerful artillery, and the Ming army can win the war at a very low cost.

Gao Gong then asked:
"What about the personnel for this mission?"

Su Ze bowed and said:

"I believe that Wang Shizhen is capable of undertaking this task."

Wang Shizhen?
Gao Gong looked at Su Ze in surprise and said:

"Is he okay?"

Su Ze said:

“Wang Yanzhou’s father was well-versed in military affairs and served in various military garrisons in the southeast and Jiliao. The Wang family had a tradition of scholarship.”

Gao Gong nodded. Wang Shizhen's father, Wang Yu, had once served as the Vice Minister of War and Governor-General of Jiliao. In the thirty-ninth year of the Jiajing reign, he was framed and killed by Yan Song and his son.

Wang Shizhen returned to his hometown to observe mourning for his father's death.

In such a family, Wang Shizhen had some understanding of military affairs from a young age, but his fame in the literary world overshadowed this.

Qi Jiguang also served under Wang Yu, and personally went to pay his respects after Wang Yu's death. He also had dealings with Wang Shizhen and greatly admired his military abilities.

Su Ze said again:
“Wang Yanzhou is famous throughout the world, and his articles are even circulated on the grasslands. Anda Khan is also known for his love of talent when he is gathering Han people in Bansheng. He will not kill Mr. Yanzhou.”

Gao Gong nodded in agreement. That's how it is in diplomacy; reputation is extremely important.

Diplomats must be highly respected, preferably those even enemy nations respect, as this often yields the best results with the least effort.

Of course, the national strength behind diplomats is even more important; the adage "weak nations have no diplomacy" holds true throughout history and across the world.

Gao Gong essentially agreed to Su Ze's proposal, saying:
"Submit a memorial to the throne, and we'll have the Ministry of War discuss it."

Then Gao Gong looked at Su Ze and asked:
Didn't you mention this to Grand Secretary Zhao?

Gao Gong suddenly mentioned Zhao Zhenji, and Su Ze quickly said:

“Master, such an important matter is naturally something I would discuss with you. How could I possibly go to Grand Secretary Zhao?”

Su Ze seemed to see a fleeting smile on Gao Gongyuan's face, but Gao Gongyuan quickly regained his composure and said:
"You can also talk to Grand Secretary Zhao; His Majesty trusts his advice on military affairs."
-
"An envoy to the grasslands?!"

Shen Yiguan looked at Su Ze. He hadn’t expected that the opportunity Su Ze was talking about to make a name for himself was actually an envoy to the grasslands!
Su Ze said:

"I have already submitted a memorial requesting that an envoy be sent to the grasslands to end the war."

Shen Yiguan asked in confusion:

"Brother Zilin, haven't you always been tough on the grasslands? Why would you propose sending an envoy to Anda at this time?"

Su Ze said:

"Now is not the time to fight, and the people on the grasslands know that, which is why they need an envoy."

Using foreign exchange to gain strategic initiative is not a new tactic, and Shen Yiguan quickly understood Su Ze's intention.

Su Ze said:

"Although our Great Ming does not want to fight, and I may not want to fight either, things on the battlefield are unpredictable, and going on a mission to the grasslands is a matter of life and death. If Brother Jianwu is not willing, I will not recommend you to the Prime Minister."

Shen Yiguan hesitated.

Seeing that Luo Wanhua's newspaper business was thriving, he recently opened a newsstand and hired newsboys to sell newspapers, which increased the sales of "Yuefu Xinbao" by more than a thousand copies.

In addition, Luo Wanhua's "Illustrated Explanation of Imperial Admonitions" has been presented to the emperor for review. The Longqing Emperor was very satisfied after reading it and it was only waiting for the final proofreading before it was completed and became the royal textbook for the education of the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty.

Even Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong's anti-smuggling work was very successful, and the piracy in the capital was greatly reduced. The literati praised the two as capable officials.

Under such peer competition, Shen Yiguan also felt the pressure.

Now that this opportunity was before him, Shen Yiguan gritted his teeth and said:
"Brother Zilin, I need to go home and discuss this first!"

Su Ze nodded. Sending someone on a mission is a risky business, so it naturally needs to be carefully considered.

After seeing Shen Yiguan off, Su Ze took out the [Portable Ming Dynasty Imperial Court].

——[Simulation Start]——

A day later, the memorial to send the mission to Altan Khan was sent to the cabinet, which drafted a resolution to approve it. The memorial was then sent to the palace.

The Longqing Emperor was not satisfied with your memorial. After the great victory at Soutao, the Emperor believed that Qi Jiguang's army was powerful and could solve the grassland problem in one fell swoop, so he kept your memorial.

The emperor personally ordered Qi Jiguang to engage in battle and made detailed military arrangements.

Thanks to Qi Jiguang's command on the battlefield, the situation was stabilized and no major losses were incurred, leading to a truce between the two sides.

——[Simulation End]——

Seeing this result, Su Ze could only smile wryly.

Does your Zhu family have a tradition of micro-management?

The emperor has become so arrogant after defeating a few poor tribes?
That's true. In fact, the theories of quick defeat and quick victory are two sides of the same coin. Both are based on a lack of military expertise. Zhang lacked a firm strategic vision and was unable to accurately assess the strength of both sides.

Moreover, these laymen can easily slip from the theory of quick defeat to the theory of quick victory.

Wasn't Su Ze just like that in his previous life? A few years ago, he was still praising the strength of a certain country, saying that as long as it took action against China, China would definitely lose.

But suddenly the narrative shifted to the fact that a certain country would collapse rapidly, and that the hegemonic power would perish in a single day.

Militarily, we must be realistic. The attack on the Hetao region targeted the tribes affiliated with Anda. These tribes were originally people who couldn't survive on the grasslands and came to the Hetao region to beg for food. They were far inferior to the elite cavalry of Anda's main force.

Even Qi Jiguang believed that they should rely on the Dongshengwei Fortress to weaken the strength of the Anda tribe and then launch an attack after the balance was reversed. The emperor suddenly thought he was in charge.
However, it seems that all the emperors of the Zhu family liked to play this game, and the less capable they were, the more they liked to play it. Chongzhen especially liked to mess with the military system, and in the end, he messed it up and destroyed it.

We still need to use prestige points.

[Should we use 100 prestige points to ensure the memorial is fully executed?]

[Remaining Prestige: 204 points.]

Fortunately, Emperor Longqing wasn't that arrogant; he could change his mind with just 100 points of prestige.

Su Ze decisively chose "yes".

[Ding! Prestige has been deducted. Please submit a memorial in real life. The simulated settlement will be carried out after the memorial is executed!]

[Remaining Prestige Points: 104]

(End of this chapter)