My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 206 Offending the Grand Silver Terrace and Still Trying to Run Away?
Liaodong?

Xu Zi, the Korean scribe, was somewhat puzzled. He didn't understand why Su Ze would care about things in Liaodong.

However, Xu Zi honestly recounted his experiences on his trip to the capital.

"Su Hanlin, when I was in Liaodong, I encountered a rebellion by the Jianzhou Three Guards, and the post roads were cut off for a time."

"This rebellion was defeated by General Li Chengliang of Liaoyang, and the post road was quickly restored to normal, allowing the students to continue their missions."

Su Ze asked:

Which branch of the Jianzhou Jurchens rebelled this time?

Xu Zi said, "It's Wang Gao of Jianzhou Right Guard."

"Wang Gao?"

Su Ze had expected to hear a more familiar name. Who was this Wang Gao?

Xu Zi said:

"Wang Gao was once appointed by the imperial court as the commander of the Jianzhou Right Guard. He controlled the Liaodong water crossing and became the leader of the Jianzhou Jurchens."

"Ever since General Li Chengliang of Liaoyang moved his post to Jizhou a few years ago, the Jurchens in Liaodong have frequently rebelled. Wang Gao has also frequently rebelled. Once defeated, he would flee to the Yalu River. Our Korea has suffered greatly because of this."

Sure enough, compared to the military intelligence reports from the Ming Dynasty in Liaodong, the Koreans were actually more concerned about the rise of the Jianzhou Jurchens.

The reason is simple: after the Jurchens rose to power, they frequently raided the northern border of Korea. Korea sent envoys to the Ming Dynasty for help on several occasions, but the Ming Dynasty ignored them.

Su Ze noted down the name Wang Gao, intending to inquire about the Jianzhou Jurchens from the Ministry of War later.

It turns out that the Jianzhou Jurchens began to rise during this period.

The rise of the Jurchens was actually the result of the Ming Dynasty's repeated indulgence.

It originated from the relocation of Jianzhou Guard in the fifth year of the Zhengtong era.

Jianzhou Guard was originally a tributary guard post set up by the Ming Dynasty on the frontier, and its members were Jurchen tribes who had been incorporated into the Ming Dynasty.

During the Zhengtong era, Cao Yi, the General Commander of Liaodong, petitioned to relocate the Jianzhou Three Guards inland, stating that "the Jianzhou Three Guards are in ruins and should be moved to Dongshan in Liaoyang and Suzihe to strengthen the defenses."

As a result, the Jianzhou Three Guards occupied the strategic mountains of Liaodong and frequently plundered Fushun and Qinghebao during the Chenghua era.

The constant defections and surrenders of the three guards have greatly increased the military pressure on Liaodong.

During the Chenghua era, the Ming court adopted a policy of "suppression and appeasement," which helped to stabilize the situation in Liaodong.

During the Chenghua era, several "plowing and sweeping" campaigns destroyed more than 500 villages in Jianzhou and forcibly relocated the Jianzhou Jurchens to places like Liaoyang.

However, this relocation also encountered the same problem. The land conflict in Liaodong was already very serious. The Liaodong Military Command only allocated barren land to the relocated people. These Jurchens who moved in did not only fail to become a bulwark for the Ming Dynasty in Liaodong, but instead became an unstable factor in Liaodong.

What was originally intended as a stopgap measure to "use barbarians to control barbarians" through relocation to the interior ultimately turned the Liaodong Jurchens into a major threat.

Su Ze's concern for the Korean delegation stemmed from the fact that Korea, facing the threat of Jurchen raids, paid even more attention to Jurchen intelligence than the Ming Dynasty.

One important reason why the Ming Dynasty was unable to deal with the Jianzhou Jurchens' repeated rebellions was that once these Jurchens failed in their rebellions, they would flee to the Yalu River region bordering Korea.

At this point, the Ming army was unable to continue the pursuit and could only resort to appeasement to appease the Jurchen rebellion.

If we can strengthen relations with North Korea and attack the Jurchens from two directions, or simply use the fleet to build outposts near the Yalu River, could we completely eliminate the Jurchen threat?
Su Ze had considered this plan, but he quickly realized that the rise of the Jurchens was actually due to the Ming Dynasty's lack of control over Liaodong.

From the moment Jianzhou Guard was relocated inland, it marked the beginning of the Ming Dynasty's loss of control over Liaodong.

As the influence of the Ming Dynasty declined, new forces naturally filled the void.

Because of its short-sighted policies, the Ming Dynasty deliberately gave up its influence in Liaodong. Even if it wasn't the Jianzhou Jurchens, other tribes would have risen to power.

Therefore, while eliminating the Jurchen tribes, it was necessary to fill the power vacuum in Liaodong.

Only in this way can Liaodong achieve long-term stability.

Fortunately, there is still time.

The current Governor-General of Jiliao is Tan Lun, who once assisted Hu Zongxian in quelling the Japanese pirate raids in the southeast.

The Jianzhou Jurchens now only dare to plunder trade routes; they flee whenever they encounter the regular Ming army.

Moreover, the rise of the Jurchens was closely related to the resistance against Japanese pirates and aid to Korea. The resistance against Japanese pirates and aid to Korea destroyed the elite troops of the Ming Dynasty in the north, giving the Jurchens an opportunity to rise.

Currently, these conditions have not yet been met, and the Liaodong Jurchens are not considered a major threat by the imperial court.

This is also why Su Ze rarely saw memorials from Liaodong.

After seeing off Xu Jian, the Korean scribe, Su Ze began to consider ways to further strengthen ties with North Korea.

Su Ze picked up his pen and wrote down his previous suggestion in a memorial. While Shen Yiguan and the others went to lunch, he slipped it into the "Portable Ming Dynasty" app.

——[Simulation Start]——

The memorial entitled "On the Affairs of the Korean Domain" was sent to the cabinet. Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng voted to approve it, but Zhao Zhenji was worried that the establishment of the Korean Tongzheng Office would affect relations with Korea, so he wrote down his objections.

A day later, after reading the memorial, the Longqing Emperor sent it to the Ministry of Rites for discussion.

Officials from the Ministry of Rites reported back that some officials believed that establishing the Korean Tongzhengsi (Comprehensive Administration Office) was contrary to ancestral rules.

Officials from the Ministry of Rites brought up the story of how, during the Jiajing reign, the Jiajing Emperor's request to establish a branch office of the Annam Administration Commission was met with opposition from his ministers.

The Longqing Emperor accepted your memorial.

——[Simulation End]——

[Should I spend 50 reputation points to ensure the memorial is fully executed?]

[Remaining Prestige Points: 130]

Su Ze was speechless after reading it. The Ministry of Rites officials brought out the "ancestral rules" of the Jiajing era, and the emperor backed down?

Forget it, I'll just spend some reputation points.

[Prestige points have been deducted, remaining prestige points: 80.]

Please complete the letter in real life.
-
August 10, in the General Affairs Department.

The newly appointed Right Vice Minister Feng Xueyan is discussing recent news from the capital with his colleagues.

The young official from the Ministry of Justice said:
"Lord Feng, have you heard? The Korean delegation is selling paper at the market next to the Huitong Hall. They're selling cheap bamboo paper, but Korean merchants are buying it up at exorbitant prices. Are these Koreans fools?"

Having been in officialdom for many years, Feng Xueyan certainly didn't think North Korean businessmen were fools.

It can only be said that Su Ze's memorial was so brilliant that it immediately prevented the Korean delegation from continuing to swindle rewards and forced them to raise tribute silver in this way.

Feng Xueyan explained the cause and effect to his subordinates, and the young official from the Ministry of Justice remarked with emotion:
"Su Ze's memorial is truly impressive!"

Feng Xueyan quickly said:
"Don't mention Su Ze's name in the Ministry of Justice!"

The young official said:
"Lord Feng, why is that?"

As a Right Vice Minister, Feng Xueyan naturally knew some of the secrets of the upper echelons, and said:
“Our Commissioner of the Court of Judicial Review can’t stand the name Su Ze. The Commissioner of the Court of Judicial Review is petty. Do you know why the Deputy Commissioner was sent to the capital region to handle post station affairs?”

The young official knew that Pei Qing, the Vice Commissioner of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, had recently taken on a difficult task: to be dispatched to the vicinity of the capital to oversee the reform of the post stations.

Hearing that Vice Envoy Pei had been living a life of hardship these past few days, and that he had been tanned to a crisp when he returned to the Office of Transmission to report on his duties last time, the young official shuddered. He quickly asked:
"Could it be because the Vice Envoy mentioned Su Ze's name?"

Feng Xueyan nodded and said:
"So you understand now? Don't discuss Su Ze's affairs in the yamen from now on."

"Thank you for the reminder, Lord Feng!"

Feng Xueyan nodded in satisfaction, but he didn't notice the figure that flashed past the door while he was talking to his subordinate.

Yang Sizhong returned to his official residence and opened Su Zexin's "Memorial on the Affairs of the Korean Domain".

Just two days ago, Su Ze submitted a memorial requesting a change in the tribute system, and today he submitted another memorial discussing the affairs of the Korean vassal state. Has Su Ze, who used to submit two memorials a month, now started submitting one every two days?
Yang Sizhong rubbed his temples. If Su Ze continued to submit memorials at this rate, he feared he would die in office as the Commissioner of the Court of State Ceremonies.

What troubled Yang Sizhong even more was that Su Ze's memorial, in addition to requesting the court to allow Korean scholars to study at the Imperial Academy of the Ming Dynasty, also mentioned a matter concerning the Office of Transmission.

Su Ze proposed establishing the Korean Tongzheng Office in Korea and sending Ming Dynasty officials to be stationed there permanently, "to facilitate communication and strengthen the borders."

Su Ze wrote in his memorial:
"When three problems arise simultaneously, one must be vigilant."

“The Japanese pirates are unpredictable, which is the first problem; the Jurchens are invading, which is the second problem; and the border people are fleeing, which is the third problem.”

"I request that the Joseon State Administration be established in the capital of Joseon, which will have four advantages."

"Military intelligence is delivered rapidly, allowing the imperial court to learn about the Japanese situation from afar."

"Mediate border disputes, such as land disputes between Liaodong and Xian people, and conduct on-site investigations to prevent border conflicts."

“Guide the tribute mission and correct the tribute documents.”

"Propagate virtue and civilization, publish the imperial gazette annually, and bestow gifts upon the prefectures and counties of Xianguo."

In his memorial, Su Ze also explained that the Tongzheng Bureau was only responsible for transmitting messages and would absolutely not interfere in the internal affairs of North Korea.

Yang Sizhong had to admit that Su Ze's method was indeed good.

Once the Korean Tongzheng Office is established, the Ming Dynasty court will be able to clearly understand the situation in Korea.

But who is in charge of the Office of Transmission?
This job requires being stationed in Korea. Which official in the capital would be willing to leave the prosperous capital of the Ming Dynasty and go to the godforsaken capital of Korea?
But Yang Sizhong thought of Feng Xueyan, who had just spoken ill of him, and he walked toward the cabinet with his memorial.

Since this matter concerns the Office of Transmission, if I were to submit the memorial myself, the Grand Secretaries would certainly ask for my opinion.

I'll recommend Feng Xueyan then.
-
Yang Sizhong arrived at the cabinet, only to find that only two senior ministers, Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng, were there.

Yang Sizhong inquired with the Imperial Secretary and learned that the artillery workshop outside the city had produced a new type of cannonball, and the Ministry of War had invited Zhao Zhenji to observe the test firing.

The Imperial Secretary said that the new cannonballs were not the solid iron balls of the past, but iron pellets tied to wooden trays.

Officials from the Ministry of Works who manufactured the cannons said that these cannons were specifically designed to deal with soldiers charging at close range.

Once fired, the shells would fly out like flowers scattered by a fairy, injuring people and animals within the range of the cannon's muzzle, with astonishing destructive power.

Yang Sizhong was not knowledgeable about military affairs, but after listening to the description by the Imperial Secretary, he knew that it was a powerful firearm.

It is said that once the Ministry of War approves the shells, they will be sent to Datong and then to the bastion of Dongshengwei.

Yang Sizhong, carrying Su Ze's memorial, entered the cabinet and handed it to the second-in-command, Gao Gong.

After reading the memorial, Gao Gong picked up his pen and wrote down his agreement.

After reading it, Zhang Juzheng also wrote down his agreement.

Both men were political savvy and understood that Su Ze's memorial was intended to better control North Korea.

As the Ming Dynasty gradually opened up its seas, insightful figures like Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng recognized the importance of the ocean.

As a maritime and land barrier for the Ming Dynasty, Joseon indeed needed to be more closely controlled.

After the two Grand Secretaries finished their approvals, Gao Gong asked Yang Sizhong:

"Lord Yang, are there any capable individuals within the Office of Transmission who can fulfill the important responsibilities mentioned in Su Zilin's memorial?"

Yang Sizhong immediately said:

“Right Assistant Feng Xueyan is quick-witted and cautious, and familiar with the affairs of the Office of Transmission. He can be sent to Korea.”

Gao Gong stroked his beard, recalling the newly promoted Right Vice Minister, and memorized his name.

According to Su Ze's memorial, the chief of the Korean Tongzheng Office only needed to be a fifth-rank official. Officials of this rank did not need to be recommended by the court; the Ministry of Personnel's Selection Office only needed to determine the candidates.

Gao Gong then said, "I'll trouble Lord Yang to escort it into the palace."

Yang Sizhong then personally delivered the drafted memorial to the Directorate of Ceremonial.

The atmosphere at the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs has been somewhat tense lately.

As a well-informed official, Yang Sizhong knew that the three heads of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs were engaged in a series of open and covert struggles to win the position of chief envoy for the Western Expeditionary Fleet.

Anyone with eyes to see would know that if someone could make a name for themselves in this voyage to the West, the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs would need to appoint another Grand Secretary.

Regardless of who this new Grand Secretary is, the balance of power among the three leaders of the Directorate of Ceremonial is about to be broken, and the inner court is about to undergo a new reshuffle.

So when Yang Sizhong delivered Su Ze's memorial, the three heads of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs put down their official duties and led Yang Sizhong to the Imperial Study.

After the emperor carefully read Su Ze's memorial, he turned to look at everyone present.

"Is there any precedent for Su Zilin's report?"

In the past, the three heads of the Directorate of Ceremonial would try to avoid giving biased answers in order to avoid being accused of interfering in politics by eunuchs in the outer court.

But now that the battle for the position of chief eunuch has reached a crucial moment, Feng Bao can no longer afford to hide his talents in order to increase his influence in front of the emperor.

“Your Majesty, Emperor Chengzu once established the Annam Administration Office to oversee the administration of Annam. The report submitted by Hanlin Su is based on precedent.”

Upon hearing Feng Bao's words, the Longqing Emperor recalled that Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di had once conquered Annam.

Remembering the great achievements of Emperor Chengzu, he no longer hesitated and approved Su Ze's memorial with imperial approval.
-
Just as the emperor was apprehending the memorial, Su Ze also saw the system report.

[Using 50 prestige points, the memorial was forcibly approved.]

[The Court of State Affairs was established in North Korea, with Right Vice Minister Pyong Hak-yeon appointed as its first chief official.]

Feng Xueyan served in North Korea for many years and enjoyed high prestige; the North Korean ruler and his ministers repeatedly requested that he remain.

Fifteen years later, Japan was unified, and its ambitions resurfaced, leading it to invade Korea.

[Feng Xueyan, the chief of the Tongzheng Bureau, promptly sent back intelligence, enabling the Ming Dynasty to deploy its troops ahead of time and win the war against the Japanese pirates and aid Korea.]

[Ming Dynasty +5]

Wow, this simulation has a lot of information too.

First of all, this Right Vice Minister Feng Xueyan is truly a talented individual; the personal charisma of a diplomat is extremely important.

Secondly, did the unification of Japan occur more quickly?
Historically, the Korean War occurred 22 years later, but simulations show it broke out 15 years later.
That makes sense. Su Ze has been advancing technology in the Ming Dynasty and has also started full-scale trade ahead of schedule. As a neighboring country of the Ming Dynasty, Japan will inevitably absorb the new technologies of the Ming Dynasty and accelerate the process of unification.

Of course, this result was simulated by the system under the premise that the Ming Dynasty would not intervene in Japan.

If we could have intervened in Japanese affairs earlier, could we have avoided the Korean War?

(End of this chapter)