Late Ming Dynasty: So what if Emperor Chongzhen was inactive?!

Chapter 135 Huang Taiji: I will make that brat Chongzhen kneel under the Plain White Banner and repent!!!

The world is a giant boomerang.

During the Zhengde era, after Dayan Khan unified Mongolia, he divided Mongolia into six wanhu (ten thousand households) on the left and right wings: the left wing consisted of the Chahar, Khalkha, and Uriyangkhai tribes, with the Chahar being the main tribe of the Great Khan of Mongolia; the right wing included the Ordos, Tümed, and Yongsheb tribes.

The Ordos tribe liked to carry Genghis Khan's tomb around, calling themselves "Darhad," meaning those who bear a sacred mission. In other words, they were the ones who suffered a great injustice, using 1,200 sheep to buy a 400-year-old, patina-covered, original portrait of Genghis Khan from Zhu Youjian.

These six major tribes were further divided into several smaller tribes. The predecessor of the Khorchin tribe was the "Khorchin" during the Mongol Empire, which means guard army.

During the Jiajing era, Altan Khan of the Right Wing Tumed tribe rose to power. At the time, the Ming people commented on him: "Among the chieftains of the Northern Barbarians, Altan is the most ferocious." He not only harassed the Ming Dynasty, but also forced the Left Wing Mongols, where the Great Khan of the Mongols was located, to migrate eastward.

From then on, the Left Wing Mongols moved to the Liaodong region and annexed the Three Guards of Doyan under the Ming Dynasty. For a long time after they seized the Three Guards of Doyan, the Ming Dynasty was completely unaware and continued to maintain the tributary relationship between the two sides.

During the Tianqi era, Ligdan Khan of the Chahar tribe ascended to the throne. He launched a western expedition, decisively defeating the Kharachin and Tumed tribes, thus regaining control of the right wing from the left and completing the revenge of the Mongol Khan. Then he felt invincible and wanted to lead the Mongols to a great revival. However, he was soon beaten by the Jurchens and the Ming Dynasty, and his illusions were shattered.

After Altan Khan paid tribute, the Ming Dynasty and the Right Wing Mongols maintained peace for half a century, resulting in the strange situation where "the nine border towns were at peace, while Liaodong was the only place fighting."

While the Ming Dynasty was locked in fierce battles with the Left Wing Mongols in Liaodong, the Jianzhou Jurchens, who had been in decline, gained valuable experience in united front work and began to develop.

Those who love war will perish, and those who forget war will be in danger. Liaodong has been at war for a long time, which has greatly boosted its combat effectiveness; other towns have been stable for many years, and their military equipment has fallen into disrepair. Even the Right Wing Mongols have declined. This is also the historical reason why the military families in Liaodong have become too powerful to be controlled.

It can be said that the chaos in Liaodong was caused by the internal strife and eastward migration of the Mongols. The Ming Dynasty was ultimately dragged down by the war in Liaodong, and it was directly destroyed by peasant uprisings. However, the peasant uprisings were also affected by the Jurchens' holding back the Ming Dynasty and the collection of taxes from Liaodong.

Even Zhu Youjian, the current emperor, dared not stop collecting the Liaodong tax, which was a huge burden on the people. But there was no other way. It was already quite an achievement that he was able to withstand the pressure and not impose the other two taxes, "suppression tax" and "training tax".

The Ming Dynasty was established by expelling the Tartars and launching a northern expedition against the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, but the Mongols ultimately led to the demise of the Ming Dynasty. This is what is meant by "what brings prosperity will inevitably lead to ruin."

Mongolia was not a monolithic entity. The various tribes of the Right Wing Mongols had a love-hate relationship with the Ming Dynasty for decades, and the two sides had even achieved a certain degree of ethnic integration. For example, Man Gui resolutely refused to admit that he was a Mongol and insisted that he was a Han Chinese from Xuanfu!

Currently, there are approximately 20,000 Mongols among the border troops, most of whom are cavalry. For the Ming Dynasty, which lacks cavalry, this is an indispensable and vital force.

As for the Left Wing Mongols under Ligdan Khan, it was more difficult. Having fought the Ming Dynasty for so many years, people tend to rely on established patterns and habits. It was very difficult for the Ming Dynasty and the Left Wing Mongols to establish good relations and mutual trust. Most of the goods sold between the Ming Dynasty and the Left Wing Mongols were immediately resold to the Jurchens.

Therefore, when Zhu Youjian decided to open border trade with the Mongol tribes, the economic blockade on Liaodong had already been loosened, although it was not very strict to begin with.

The border trade didn't generate much profit; the Mongols were too poor, at most exchanging for some horses. The border trade wasn't economically significant for the Ming Dynasty, but it was crucial for the Mongols. While it couldn't help the Ming Dynasty earn much money, it could significantly reduce their losses.

The fact that the Right Wing Mongols were able to maintain a long-term peace with the Ming Dynasty shows that both sides were willing to live peacefully. If they could live well, why would they risk death to rob the Ming? The border was poor, and the Mongols couldn't plunder much even if they entered the pass, and it was difficult for them to penetrate deep into the Ming territory.

Border trade was divided 50/50 between the imperial court and the border garrisons. This system lasted for about half a year, with the imperial court receiving 200,000 taels of silver and 7,000 horses. More importantly, the Mongol tribes temporarily stabilized, reducing the pressure on the Ming Dynasty's border defenses and allowing the Ming to deploy troops to guard Jizhou.

The Chahar tribe and Ligdan Khan were troublemakers, just like the Jurchens, constantly raiding the borders and causing immense disgust. Now that the Chahar have been weakened, the Mongol tribes have achieved a fragile balance. The Shunyi King Bushitu of the Tumed tribe, who had originally fled to the Ordos region, has shamelessly returned, while Ligdan Khan has moved westward. The two sides have thus swapped positions.

The Ming Dynasty was stretched thin, surrounded by enemies on all sides, so it needed to turn enemies into allies to free up resources to seize one and crush it. Allying with the Mongols against the Jurchens was Zhu Youjian's strategy. It seemed no different from the original plan.

The difference is that the Ming Dynasty originally intended to unite with Ligdan Khan to deal with Huang Taiji, but was ultimately misled. Now, the situation has changed. Ligdan Khan and the Prince of Shunyi should be sidelined. The Ming Dynasty should unite with the atomized Mongols and the lower-class Mongols. These Mongol nobles are too well-fed.

To deal with the Mongols, we used both kindness and force, coercion through military force, and trade to win them over and recruit barbarian cavalry. To deal with Liaodong, we sold grain at high prices, encouraged smugglers to travel the route, leaving criminals with nowhere to go, and then recruited Liaodong refugees, providing them with food once they returned to the embrace of the Ming Dynasty.

Dongjiang Town needs to replenish its manpower and troops. If Mao Wenlong cannot handle it, he can have the Dengzhou-Laizhou navy transport the refugees back, thus depleting the population of Liaodong and hollowing out Huang Taiji's foundation.

In the imperial court, when faced with Huang Taiji's request for peace, the ministers expressed their opinions, with the majority advocating for war. However, the final outcome depended on the emperor's decision.

Aside from those who stepped forward to express their opinions, most people were actually observing. Whether it was to protect the emperor or for opportunism, changing their stance according to the prevailing winds and trying to guess the emperor's intentions was the choice of most. There really weren't that many people who had nothing better to do than contradict the emperor.

However, given the emperor's consistently negative attitude towards the Liaodong issue, people were uncertain about the situation, and many had already begun to devise their arguments for persuading the emperor if he were to actually negotiate peace.

"Your Majesty, the officials are offering conflicting opinions, and the decision to fight or make peace remains uncertain. We are filled with anxiety and humbly request Your Majesty to issue a wise judgment as soon as possible to determine the course of the nation." Zhu Xieyuan saw that the emperor was ignoring the officials' discussions and was deep in thought, clearly having a plan in mind. So he decided to play the straight man.

Zhu Youjian came to his senses, nodded to Zhu Xieyuan, and then said: "The reason I brought up the matter of peace talks in court this time is not because I am hesitant, but because I want to set the tone for this matter as soon as possible, so that the ministers and the generals on the border will not be at a loss or confused in the future."

With all my ministers as witnesses, with Heaven as my witness, and with the sagacity of my ancestors as my witness, I swear that I will never negotiate peace with the Jurchens. I hope that all my ministers and the people of my Great Ming will know this! From now on, you only need to consider how to resist the Jurchens, and need not even think about negotiating peace!

"Your Majesty is wise!!!" the ministers shouted in unison. Zhu Youjian's face twitched. He hadn't heard these words in a long time, and they sounded somewhat unfamiliar.

But this is only because the situation is currently favorable; these people are acting this way. When the time comes for a beating, they'll start predicting the worst. To avoid this, Zhu Youjian decided to explain to his subordinates in detail why peace negotiations were not possible. After all, the oaths of the Ming emperors weren't entirely trustworthy. The Wanli Emperor dismissed Liu Ting, vowing never to employ him again, yet he still forced that sixty-year-old man to the Liaodong battlefield!
Zhu Youjian cleared his throat and continued, "I made this vow not on a whim, but as the result of my careful consideration."

I know that some of you may have doubts: why was it that when Anda was paying tribute, our Great Ming could negotiate peace with the Mongol tribes, but not with the Jurchens? Some of you may also think that "to repel external aggression, we must first pacify the internal situation," and may want to feign peace talks in order to repair fortresses, advance step by step, and prepare a large army before engaging the Jurchens in a decisive battle.

The Jurchens are powerful, and Liaodong has always been a crucial area that "protects the capital." It is common knowledge in the court and among the people that the Jurchens can easily threaten the capital. I will not repeat it here.

The fundamental reason why the Ming Dynasty and the Jurchens are irreconcilable enemies is that attacking the Ming Dynasty is the very foundation of the Jurchens' survival. Huang Taiji would never genuinely negotiate peace with the Ming Dynasty. His so-called peace talks are nothing but a deceptive act intended to confuse the public, disrupt the morale of the Ming army, and cloud the judgment of the emperor and his ministers.

I foresee that Huang Taiji will soon invade Korea again, plunder the Mongol tribes, and may even bypass Mongolia, breaking through the border wall at Longjing Pass, Hongshan Pass, and Da'an Pass in Jizhou, and heading straight for the capital!
In the past, Nurhaci rebelled against the Ming Dynasty, fabricating the "Seven Grievances" to incite hatred between the two ethnic groups and unite various Jurchen tribes to cause chaos. The Jurchens committed atrocities against the people of our Great Ming without any mercy or remorse. Their reason for uniting was to attack the Great Ming. If they were to negotiate peace with our dynasty, they would inevitably fall apart internally. This is the internal cause.

The fundamental reason lies in the fact that the Jurchens, modeled after the Ming Dynasty's garrison system, established the Eight Banners, using military discipline to control their tribes. Each tribe functioned like a giant military camp. They comprised eight divisions, each with over ten thousand cavalry, totaling over one hundred thousand cavalry. Such a massive force was difficult for the Ming Dynasty to maintain, let alone for those occupying only Liaodong.
If they had settled down and focused on farming, the land and water of Liaodong would have been suitable for cultivation, potentially supporting tens of thousands of soldiers. However, Nurhaci had previously ordered the use of rice paddies for horse breeding, forcing slaves to work the land, showing no regard for their lives, and ruthlessly exploiting them, even carrying out massacres during years of famine. They had no intention of farming; the Jurchens were not a normal tribe, but rather a massive band of bandits!
They rely solely on constant plundering for survival; once they cease their plundering, they will inevitably bring about their own collapse. In the past, Liaodong had millions of Han Chinese; now, after the Jurchens occupied it, less than one in a hundred survived, and nine out of ten cities are empty. They completely disregard the lives of the people under their rule; for the Jurchens, only their hundreds of thousands of soldiers are their foundation.

My lords! The court has suffered repeated defeats in its battles against the Jurchens. The Jurchens possess 100,000 cavalry, a formidable and powerful force. Although our dynasty gained a slight advantage in two defensive battles, it was merely a scorched-earth policy to defend the cities, not a decisive victory, and the casualties inflicted on them were limited. The losses suffered in the previous battles must not be forgotten; the ferocity of the battle at Hunhe must not be forgotten either!
Now and for the next few years or even decades, the Jurchens will undoubtedly be the number one enemy of our Great Ming Dynasty. The struggle between our dynasty and the Jurchens is a life-or-death struggle, with absolutely no room for compromise.

We must consider the national situation and neither underestimate the enemy nor act rashly, nor be passive and complacent. What we should be concerned about is not merely the gain or loss of a single city or town, but also the utmost effort to inflict casualties on the Jurchen tribes.

In war, victory and defeat are common occurrences. In the past, our Great Ming could not tolerate defeat. Whenever we lost a battle, we would imprison the generals and the ministers in charge, only knowing how to waste huge sums of money training soldiers and generals. I believe this is not a good strategy.

"A new broom sweeps clean," and now that I have taken office, I must seek new things and change. From now on, the Ministry of War shall conduct a detailed review of the gains and losses of generals who have suffered defeats. If the defeat was due to uncontrollable factors such as being outnumbered or exhausted in battle, they shall be allowed to make amends for their crimes and shall not be severely punished. Even if territory is lost, if they have made contributions in killing or wounding the Jurchens or rescuing the people, they shall also be rewarded according to their merits.

However, rewards and punishments must be clearly distinguished, and military regulations must be strictly enforced; there can be no leniency whatsoever. Anyone who retreats in the face of battle, betrays the Ming and surrenders to the enemy, or abandons their comrades to the brink of death and fails to do so when possible, shall be executed!

"Your Majesty, we respectfully obey your decree!!!"

Zhu Xieyuan looked at the emperor with a surprised expression, then couldn't help but show a look of great relief. He habitually stroked his beard with his right hand. Fortunately, the Right Censor-in-Chief did not see his actions, but even if he had, he would not have dared to interfere. At most, he would have secretly made a note of it, and he figured the emperor would not have taken any action against him.

A clear look appeared in Bi Ziyan's eyes. He was a bit dull and was not a suitable candidate for Grand Secretary. He had excellent execution skills but was not good at making decisions. He was more likely to follow the emperor's instructions. According to his economic calculations, negotiating peace would definitely be more cost-effective.

Huang Taiji's demands were outrageous, but peace negotiations are never easy. Wouldn't it take dozens of rounds of talks and a year or two? Perhaps this was what the emperor meant by the Jurchens' delaying tactic.

After hearing the emperor's words, the other ministers also felt a sense of relief.

I'm not afraid of my boss assigning me tasks; I'm afraid of them being vague or ambiguous. They might say things like:
"We must take this matter very seriously." "In principle, it's possible, but it must comply with relevant regulations." "We need both...and also..."

The usual platitudes include phrases like "The overall situation is improving, but some problems need to be rectified" and "Everyone should raise their political awareness and take initiative."

Once the goal is clearly defined, a vast court and an enormous empire can always achieve it with effort. Zhu Youjian's move was aimed at unifying thought and avoiding internal strife. He clarified three things:

First, the Ming Dynasty was determined to eliminate the Jurchens and would not negotiate peace, so the soldiers below could fight with peace of mind.

The second thing was to cool down the fanatical court officials, emphasize the strength of the Jurchens, and make it clear that the Ming Dynasty should focus on maintaining a strategic defensive posture, preparing for a protracted war, strengthening its military, but not launching an offensive.
Third, it changed the previous unspoken rule of "defeat and loss of territory means death," reducing the importance of territory and increasing the importance of people.

"So, the Emperor wants to exonerate Xiong Tingbi?!" A court official immediately sensed the Emperor's subtext.

Never underestimate the reading comprehension ability of a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination)! Because according to the rules announced by the emperor, Xiong Tingbi lost territory, but this did not meet the principle of the "three major executions," which meant that his merits could offset his crimes.

Sure enough, the emperor spoke calmly, saying, "Order the Ministry of War and the Three Departments to re-examine the cases of Xiong Tingbi, Ma Lin, Yang Hao, and Wang Huazhen."

Zhu Youjian remained silent for a moment before saying, "Li Chengen, son of Li Rubai, is permitted to inherit the position of Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard; his younger brother, Li Ruzhen, is to be reinstated and appointed as the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Liaodong!"

After the temporary court session ended, Zhu Youjian tore up Huang Taiji's peace letter in court and ordered that in the future, whenever Huang Taiji sent an envoy, he should simply be beheaded or tortured before beheading him. Although it is said that envoys should not be killed in war, and Zhu Youjian did not even kill the envoy of Ligdan Khan, the Jurchens did not fall into this category.

He is cutting off both sides' escape routes. In the future, neither side will be able to send envoys. Every one sent will die. He refuses to talk, refuses to negotiate, and will fight to the death!

Half a month later, Huang Taiji did not receive a reply from the Ming Dynasty. Instead, the contents of the Ming court's deliberations were recorded in their entirety and sent to him.

Bang! Huang Taiji slammed the letter onto the table, cursing in a mix of Mandarin and Jurchen profanities: "Ule bastard! You little Zhu Ming brat! Do you really think the hilt of our Great Jin sword is dull?"
Back then, your ancestors lost 200,000 troops at Sarhu, but they still didn't dare to say "never to negotiate peace"!
You little bastard, you've only been on the throne for a few days, and you dare to spout such nonsense?! You're truly courting death!!!

"Guards! I, the Khan, am about to launch a campaign against the Ming Dynasty!!!" Huang Taiji roared. "I will make that Chongzhen brat kneel before my own white banner and repent!!"

(End of this chapter)