Chongzhen's domineering

Chapter 297 Dismissal, Investigation, and Recruitment While Under Punishment (Part 2)

Zhu Jue issued a strange decree, giving Hou Xun a choice: either become the governor of the mountainous region of Shaanxi, responsible for suppressing the rebel Zhang Xianzhong, or become the governor of Henan, responsible for recruiting the rebel Zhang Yun!
This completely baffled Han Kuang.

The young emperor has directly checkmated him. Even if Hou Xun pretends to be sick, it's useless. People are needed in both places. Can Hou Xun keep pretending to be sick until he dies? If he can't, then he has to go!
He stared blankly at the imperial edict for a long while before loudly proclaiming, "Someone, please summon Lord Hou Xun."

The imperial edict meant that Hou Xun should choose for himself, so he naturally couldn't make the decision for Hou Xun.

This is really something Hou Xun has to choose for himself; he also needs to discuss it with Hou Xun properly.

Upon hearing that the Grand Secretary had summoned him, Hou Xun immediately rushed to the Cabinet office.

Han Kuang directly invited him to sit down in that secluded, dark corner before handing over the imperial edict.

Hou Xun took the imperial edict and glanced at it; his expression changed slightly.

Is the young emperor trying to kill him?
Hou Xun was not actually very capable. The reason he is remembered in history is not because of himself, but because of others.

For example, Yuan Chonghuan and Zuo Liangyu, whom he recommended, were both famous figures in history.

Furthermore, his son, Hou Fangyu, was known as one of the Four Great Talents of the late Ming Dynasty. The famous opera "The Peach Blossom Fan" tells the love story of Hou Fangyu and Li Xiangjun.

This guy doesn't do anything serious; all he does is talk about love all day long.

The Ming Dynasty is about to fall, and they're still talking about love!
In short, Hou Xun himself wasn't very capable.

As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. Judging from the character of the people he recommended and his son, he himself has some problems.

He had originally hoped to gain control of the military, but now that power seems to have become a hot potato, and he's hesitant to touch it.

Seeing this, Han Kuang simply asked, "Taizhen, where do you want to go, the Central Plains or Shaanxi?"

I don't want to go anywhere!

Hou Xun, somewhat flustered, said, "Your Excellency, Zhang Yun, the King of Hanzhong, is the biggest rebel. He commands at least a million soldiers and has dealt with countless princes and members of the imperial family. If I dare to go and offer him amnesty, I'm afraid my life will be in danger."

You, I don't know what you're thinking all day.

Han Kuang shook his head slightly and said, "It seems that Zhang Yun, the King of Hanzhong, is a bit problematic. He seems to be intentionally cooperating with the young emperor to deal with Gao Yingxiang and Zhang Xianzhong."

As for those princes and members of the imperial family, he only placed them under house arrest and did not kill them all. It is very likely that he was secretly supported by the young emperor.

Therefore, you don't need to be afraid; he probably wouldn't dare to do anything to you.

Ah!
It is highly likely that Zhang Yun, the King of Hanzhong, was installed by the young emperor.

Hou Xun shook his head repeatedly and said, "If he was supported by the young emperor, then for me to go and offer amnesty would be tantamount to courting death. The young emperor may very well be trying to use this guy to deal with me."

Well, that's not impossible.

The young emperor simply ordered Zhang Yun, the King of Hanzhong, to kill Hou Xun, and they couldn't do anything about it.

Han Kuang frowned, then asked, "You mean you want to go and become the governor of the three border regions of Shaanxi, right?"

The governorship of Shaanxi's three border regions was practically suicide. Unless Zhang Xianzhong stopped, my whole family might suffer the consequences of the deaths of the princes and royal family members.

Hou Xun thought for a moment, then cautiously said, "Sir, Zhang Xianzhong should be satisfied with capturing the important city of Xi'an. The Qin vassal state is one of the richest in the country. The remaining vassal states like Qing, Su, and Han don't have much money or grain."

What you said makes sense.

The problem is, Zhang Xianzhong might not listen to me anymore.

Han Kuang said with some annoyance, "This guy has probably gotten used to being a rebel king and really thinks he's a prince."

Oh, so you mean he won't stop even if you tell him to?

Upon hearing this, Hou Xun panicked and said, "If he continues to attack other vassal states, I'm doomed!"

Why are you so afraid of dying?
Han Kuang slowly shook his head and said, "If he dares to continue attacking other vassal states, won't you send troops to fight him? Right now, he only has 200,000 troops under his command, which is no match for the soldiers of the three border regions."

Moreover, Shaanxi still has 10,000 Liaodong cavalry. Putting aside everything else, he couldn't withstand even a direct attack from those 10,000 Liaodong cavalry.

Oh, so you mean if he doesn't listen, then beat him until he listens!
Hou Xun thought about it carefully before slowly nodding and saying, "Alright, I choose to go to Shaanxi."

It's good that you go to Shaanxi. If you go to Shaanxi, the troops in the three major border towns will be under our command, and we will have more things to do.

Han Kuang nodded slightly, then raised his hand to signal Hou Xun to come closer.

The next morning, around dawn, Zhu Jue had just arrived at the main hall of the Yu Xi Palace and opened the first memorial when he frowned. Hou Xun had actually chosen to go to Shaanxi without hesitation.

This means that Zhang Xianzhong is probably going to back down.

He seems to have miscalculated. If Zhang Xianzhong had stopped, not only would the Qing, Su, and Han vassal states have been left unmanageable, but the Donglin faction would have gained control of the military power in the three border regions of Shaanxi for nothing!

If these guys were to control the military power in the three border regions of Shaanxi, who knows how many absurd and bizarre things would happen in Shaanxi.

Can he really let this guy go and become the governor of the three border regions of Shaanxi?
This is a rather perplexing issue.

Fortunately, Shaanxi is currently the hardest hit by the disaster, with the land almost completely barren and unable to produce much grain.

Moreover, most of the disaster victims who were supposed to be relocated have already done so, and it's unlikely that the remaining victims would join the rebels in their uprising.

In other words, even if the rebels or even the Jurchens took control of Shaanxi, they wouldn't be able to get much money or grain.

If the rebels and Jurchens cannot obtain much money and grain, they will not be able to grow stronger. If the rebels and Jurchens cannot grow stronger, they are not worth fearing.

After thinking it over carefully, he decisively said, "Summon Yang He and his son Yang Sichang to come and pay their respects."

Yang He and his son Yang Sichang lived in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, so they arrived quite quickly.

A moment later, the two men strode in, cupped their hands, and bowed, saying, "Your humble servants pay their respects to Your Majesty."

Zhu Jue nodded slightly, then gestured for them to sit down before solemnly saying, "Hou Xun has already chosen to go to Shaanxi. Xiu Ling, you can set off today to recruit Zhang Yun, the King of Hanzhong."

I've already prepared that.

Yang He nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, I understand."

You have no idea how shameless these traitors are.

Zhu Jue thought for a moment, then carefully instructed, "Go and tell Yun Teng to be careful of Zhang Xianzhong and Hou Xun working together. Unless there are special circumstances, he should not send troops into Guanzhong, lest he fall into their trap."

Would the border troops dare to openly cooperate with the rebels?
That's actually quite possible!
This is all because Pan Yunteng is also a rebel on the surface. Hou Xun can also justify his cooperation with Zhang Xianzhong in order to use rebels to deal with other rebels.

These guys are truly shameless.

Upon hearing this, Yang He nodded solemnly and said, "Your Majesty, I understand."

Zhu Jue pondered again, "Also, I plan to send secret guards to thoroughly investigate those traitors who collude with the enemy and betray the country. This will require Yun Teng's cooperation."

"When the time comes, Jian Dou's son, Wen Wei, will lead the secret guards there. Have Yun Teng cooperate well, leading them to attack Shanxi. Have the secret guards infiltrate the fleeing crowds and into the territory of those traitors who collude with the enemy."

Secret guard?

Where did these bodyguards come from?

Forget it, let's not ask about that. Since they're called secret guards, they must be hiding in the shadows and don't want anyone to know about them.

Upon hearing this, Yang He was taken aback for a moment before nodding repeatedly and saying, "Your Majesty, I understand."

Zhu Jue thought about it carefully again, and then asked, "Have you ever read the Complete Treatise on Agricultural Administration?"

I have certainly read this.

Yang He humbly replied, "Your humble servant has read it several times."

That'll do.

Zhu Jue nodded slightly, then carefully instructed, "The most important aspect of internal affairs in Yunteng is agricultural administration. After you go there, you need to help him promote sweet potatoes and potatoes."

This natural disaster is still ongoing, and we don't know how long it will last. If the people of the Central Plains want to avoid starvation, they'll have to rely on sweet potatoes and potatoes. You must hurry up and get these.

Yang He nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, I understand."

That seems to be the end of it.

Zhu Jue thought for a moment, then decisively said, "Ruoyu, draft an imperial edict to promote Hou Xun to the position of Governor-General of the Three Border Regions, in charge of suppressing the rebel Zhang Xianzhong's forces."

Yang He was demoted to Governor of Henan, ordered to atone for his crimes by going to recruit the rebel Zhang Yun.

(End of this chapter)