Emperor Chongzhen was too extreme.

Chapter 10 The Great Victory at Ningyuan? Yuan Chonghuan?

Upon hearing the name Guo Xun, Zhang Weixian was startled.

As a representative figure in today's elite group, how could he not have heard of Guo Xun?

The reason is simple: Guo Xun, like him, belongs to a powerful and influential group.

Not only that, the two were also roughly of the same social standing.

Both men were dukes of the rank of Grand Duke, and both had served as commanders of the Beijing Garrison.

However, there is a difference.

Guo Xun was a figure from the reign of the Jiajing Emperor.

Zhang Weixian had heard many stories about this kind of person from his elders since he was a child:
Guo Xun was one of the most trusted ministers of the Jiajing Emperor at that time, and he had also considered reforming the Beijing Garrison.

However, as soon as the idea began to emerge, it was met with a collective attack from the civil officials of the court.

Under pressure, the Jiajing Emperor had no choice but to temporarily imprison him.

After being imprisoned in the imperial prison, the Jiajing Emperor repeatedly ordered that no punishment be used on him and that his safety be guaranteed.

As a result, Guo Xun died mysteriously in prison a few months later.

After Guo Xun's death, the power of the Beijing Garrison was divided into three parts.

A few months after his death, the Renyin Palace Coup broke out.

Now, when Zhang Weixian heard the Emperor mention Guo Xun, he was deeply moved.

He understood that the emperor was concerned for his safety.

However, he had already made preparations before he said those words at the morning court session.

Moreover, he had a thought that most people would have: if I were to handle this matter, the outcome would be different.

After a moment of silence, Zhang Weixian replied solemnly, "Of course I remember Guo Xun's matter! But as long as it can share Your Majesty's burdens and benefit the country, I will not hesitate to die for it."

Zhu Youjian waved his hand, not wanting to discuss the matter further.

It wasn't that Zhu Youjian sympathized with Guo Xun or anything like that; political struggles are inherently a matter of life and death.

He had seen the name in a book recently.

Mentioning him now is only to make Zhang Weixian understand that some things are not so easy to do.

However, judging from Zhang Weixian's reaction, he doesn't seem to realize the seriousness of the problem.

Seeing this, Zhu Youjian asked, "So how do you plan to reform the Beijing Garrison?"

"Your Majesty, I believe the first priority is to find out exactly how many soldiers in the Beijing Garrison are receiving salaries without working. Then, we should dismiss all those who do not meet the basic requirements, including the elderly, the weak, the sick, and the disabled, and then recruit and train new soldiers. With these measures, we will surely be able to revitalize the Beijing Garrison."

"Where will the soldiers be recruited? Where will the military pay come from? And how should we deal with those who try to sabotage us when checking the number of troops in the Beijing garrison?"

"Your Majesty, this."

Faced with the Emperor's question, Zhang Weixian was speechless for a moment.

To be honest, Zhang Weixian had considered these issues before submitting his memorial to the emperor at the morning court session; otherwise, he wouldn't have submitted it.

His original idea was to first provide these examples, and then, after obtaining His Majesty's permission, proceed with the work.

These problems will be addressed one-on-one during the actual implementation process.

Therefore, when faced with Zhu Youjian's question, Zhang Weixian did not know how to answer specifically.

Just as Zhang Weixian was hesitating about whether to directly express his opinion of "doing the work first and then solving the problem," Zhu Youjian spoke up again.

"Also, with your method, how long would it take to see results under ideal circumstances?"

"Your Majesty, please give me three to five years, and I will be able to completely reorganize the Beijing Garrison!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Weixian lowered his head.

There's no way around it; before preparing to do something, people will always consider all sorts of favorable conditions.

But when you actually try it out, you find that it's not like that at all.

Even under ideal circumstances, it would take three to five years to see any results.

But what does three to five years mean?
If someone stirs up trouble in the middle, the reform will inevitably come to nothing.

Zhu Youjian looked at Zhang Weixian, who had his head down, and walked over to pat him on the shoulder to encourage him.

The reform of the Beijing Garrison is beyond the capabilities of a mere admiral like himself. Only by taking decisive action from his own perspective can it be effective. Therefore, Zhang Weixian's enthusiasm must not be dampened.

This gesture naturally moved Zhang Weixian deeply.

Before he could speak, Zhu Youjian asked again, "How many soldiers can you mobilize from the Beijing garrison right now?"

Zhang Weixian hesitated for a moment, then said, "Less than 1,500 people."

"What about the elite among them?"

Zhang Weixian spoke with some difficulty: "Less than eight hundred."

Zhu Youjian nodded, not surprised by the number.

See this situation.

Zhang Weixian tentatively asked, "Your Majesty, do you already have a plan in mind? Whatever Your Majesty needs me to do, please just give the order, and I will do my best to comply!"

Zhu Youjian's expression softened: "Go back and continue to be as listless as you were today. When the time comes, I will send someone to tell you what you need to do."

"The minister obeys the order!"

Zhang Weixian understood His Majesty's meaning.

If a ruler is not discreet, he will lose his ministers; if a minister is not discreet, he will lose his ruler.

Your Majesty must already have a plan, but you cannot say it for the time being.

Simultaneously.

Although tonight's visit to the palace was kept secret, it was bound to reach the ears of some people.

What he had to do was pretend to be dejected to temporarily lull everyone into a false sense of security.

Just as Zhang Weixian couldn't read His Majesty's expression, he also couldn't predict what His Majesty would do next.

But he still handled these small matters well.

Having received the instructions, Zhang Weixian did not linger any longer. He knelt down to bid farewell to Zhu Youjian and was then led out of the palace.

After Zhang Weixian left, Wang Chengen approached him and asked, "Your Majesty, are you scheduled to attend the morning court session tomorrow?"

"No need. Tomorrow, gather all the memorials concerning the Liaodong war from the past three years."

For Zhu Youjian, the two things that were currently of high priority were the disaster and peasant uprising in Shaanxi and the war in Liaodong.

Because both places are quite far from him, he cannot directly extend the reach of imperial power there for the time being.

In contrast.

The reform of the Beijing Garrison, which was the most crucial matter in Zhang Weixian's eyes, seemed insignificant.

"The slaves obey the order."

After giving his orders, Zhu Youjian fell into a deep sleep under the protection of two hundred guards in the Qianqing Palace.

The next day.

After waking up, Zhu Youjian first practiced archery on horseback in the drill ground, and then after having breakfast, he began to review the memorials concerning the Liaodong war.

After reading through dozens of memorials concerning the Ming Dynasty's disastrous defeat, Zhu Youjian was not surprised.

In the final years of a dynasty, losing is a perfectly normal occurrence.

soon.

A memorial that stood out among a group of defeated reports caught Zhu Youjian's eye.

The contents of this memorial are about the "Great Victory at Ningyuan".

The chief officer in charge of this great victory was Yuan Chonghuan.

Judging from this memorial, Yuan Chonghuan seems to be a capable person.

However, Zhu Youjian did not experience any emotional fluctuation as a result.

He knew all too well that the biggest use of battle reports was to deceive people.

Those who lose will surely conceal something, and those who win will surely exaggerate something.

(End of this chapter)