Di Ming

Chapter 264 Zhihu, you are the most arrogant person in the world!

Finally, under the insistence of the pro-war faction led by Wang Xijue and Shen Yiguan, the court adopted a strategy of forcing peace through war and saving Korea from Japanese pirates.

On the one hand, the imperial court selected elite soldiers and generals to form an army of 100,000 to enter the capital. On the other hand, it requisitioned and transported provisions.

The army and supplies must be gathered in Liaodong within two months.

On the other hand, envoys were sent to the Japanese military camp and Japan to negotiate. If negotiations were possible, they would proceed; if not, they would try to delay as much as possible, employing delaying tactics to buy time for the imperial court to mobilize troops.

In addition, coastal defenses must be strengthened to resist Japanese pirates from landing and invading.

Zhu Yin knew that although it was still the Imjin War, it was different from the historical Imjin War because of the butterfly effect.

In the Imjin War, the Ming Dynasty sent only a few thousand men to Korea for the first time, under the leadership of Zu Chengxun, as a symbolic aid to Korea. The entire army was wiped out, and Zu Chengxun barely escaped with his life.

The second time, Li Rusong was sent to the capital with 50,000 troops.

For the third time, a civil official was sent to supervise the army, and the troop strength was increased to 80,000.

And now? The plan is to send 100,000 troops into North Korea!

This was mainly because the great victory in the Northwest and the recapture of the Hetao region had given Wang Xijue and other pro-war factions some advantages, which boosted their confidence. The emperor, who had been presented with gifts by Zhu Yinyong after the war, also changed his attitude towards entering the war in Korea.

Of course, whether or not to send such troops to Korea to participate in the war depended on Emperor Wanli's approval. Ultimately, the decision rested with Emperor Baijin.

Furthermore, the civil and military commanders of the army also needed to be decided by Emperor Baijin.

Wang Xijue said, "Let's submit this memorial. The Directorate of Ceremonial will most likely agree."

Zhu Yin smiled slightly upon hearing this, knowing that the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs would certainly agree.

Shi Xing was greatly disappointed. However, the Grand Secretary and Shen Yiguan insisted on fighting, and many people changed their attitudes to advocate for peace, leaving him with no other choice.

He could only suggest to the cabinet that he be in charge of sending representatives to Korea and Japan for negotiations.

Wang Xijue agreed to Shi Xing's request. Since he wanted to negotiate peace, let him lead the negotiations; if they could actually get Japan to withdraw its troops, that would be a great thing.

Zhu Yin did not mention the topic of counterattacking the Japanese mainland, because he knew very well that it would not pass.

Even Wang Xijue and Shen Shi, who were staunch advocates of war, would not agree to a cross-sea expedition to the Japanese mainland.

Even Zhu Yin himself believed that the first phase should focus on Korea as the main battlefield, aiming to annihilate the main force of the Japanese army there.

Only with a great victory in the first phase could he persuade the emperor and his ministers to launch a long-distance expedition to Japan.

Without a decisive victory, even if he convinced the emperor that Japan possessed vast wealth, the emperor wouldn't dare issue an edict for a distant expedition. He couldn't win; even with mountains of gold and silver, he couldn't obtain them. It's true that the money-worshipping emperor loved money, but he wasn't stupid.

At this point, the court had reached a "consensus" and was about to adjourn and leave the palace. But Shen Yiguan suddenly asked:
"Zhu Yin, you quelled the rebellion in the Northwest, killing tens of thousands of people. You are considered a skilled military strategist in the court, and you are also the Vice Minister of War. Tell me, how should we fight this great war in Korea?"

This was a deliberate attempt to give Zhu Yin a chance to shine.

Zhu Yin secretly gave Shen Shi a thumbs up, and calmly and eloquently said:
"In response to Your Excellency Shen, I believe there are three strategies for the Korean War: the best, the middle, and the worst. The best strategy is to coordinate land and sea operations, mobilize the navy to participate in the war, cut off the Japanese army's communication with Japan, and isolate the Japanese army in Korea."

Many people nodded in agreement. The Japanese pirates had crossed the sea; using a combination of land and sea tactics to deal with them was indeed the best strategy.

Minister of War Shi Xing sneered and shook his head, saying:
"Naval participation? Our Great Ming has no decent navy. Even if we have warships, they are merely land forces that sail on ships. How can we compete with the Japanese pirates who traverse the waves on flat land? That would be using our weaknesses to attack their strengths, which is the best strategy?"

Zhu Yin looked at his superior with a serious expression and said patiently:

"Grand Marshal, although the Ming Dynasty does not have a dedicated navy, the Korean navy is still capable of fighting. Besides, the coastal patrol garrisons of the Ming Dynasty can be considered a navy to some extent. Although they are not good at going to sea, they can still fight in the near sea. If we organize the elite troops of these garrisons and temporarily form a navy, and combine it with the Korean navy, it will be enough to counter the Japanese navy."

Zhu Yin was speechless at this point.

Because after the Yongle Emperor, the Ming Dynasty truly lacked a navy. The so-called Ming navy after the Yongle Emperor was essentially an army force with warships.

In terms of organization, tactics, and independence, it was not a true navy. For the Ming army, warships were primarily a means of water transportation.

Even when fighting naval battles against Japanese pirates and foreign barbarians, they would temporarily gather the army with warships by piecing together resources from various places, and they dared not go too far from the shore. They relied on the coast to fight. This was the true navy.

Historically, the more than 10,000 Guangdong naval troops that Chen Lin and Deng Zilong commanded to fight in Korea were only temporarily assembled, and their naval strength was questionable. They were disbanded after the war.

Of course, Zhu Yin's purpose in mentioning the navy was to have a deeper meaning; it was merely a foreshadowing and he did not really expect anything from those coastal garrisons with impressive combat capabilities.

Upon hearing Zhu Yin's words, Shi Xing sneered and said, "You're sending them to their deaths. If they were truly useful, would we have needed Qi Jiguang to train the new army back then?"

“This strategy sounds like the best one,” Wang Xijue shook his head, “but it’s actually not feasible.”

"Don't count on the soldiers of the coastal patrol station. Although they have military status, they are not much better than fishermen."

"Expecting them to organize themselves and fight the Japanese pirates? You're overestimating them; you're sending them to their deaths."

Shen Yiguan also shook his head and said, "Coordinating land and sea operations is indeed the best strategy, but unfortunately, without a decent navy, it is impossible to implement this strategy. Although Korea has an independent navy, its numbers are not very large. Tell me about your middle-ground strategy."

Zhu Yin continued, "My middle strategy is to conscript obedient Jurchen and Mongol soldiers to the court to help the imperial army fight against the Japanese pirates. In this way, the court will have strong reinforcements and a better chance of winning."

Wang Xijue nodded and said, "It's a good idea. It kills two birds with one stone. But Korea might not agree. Korea and the Jurchens are mortal enemies. How could they agree to the court using Jurchen troops? If the King of Korea disagrees, he can petition the Emperor, but the Emperor will still not agree."

"What's the next best option?"

Zhu Yin cupped his hands and said, "Reporting to the Prime Minister, the worst option is that we have neither a navy to cut off the Japanese pirates' sea route nor the ability to conscript Jurchen and Mongol troops to assist in the battle. In that case, we can only rely on the advantages of cavalry and artillery to fight the Japanese army to the death. The Japanese pirates' cavalry is no good, their archers are no good either, but their muskets are very sharp, and their soldiers are fierce and barbaric, and they are not afraid of hand-to-hand combat."

"At that time, we'll see whose fist is stronger."

Shen Yiguan pondered for a moment: "We shouldn't expect the navy to cut off the Japanese pirates' sea routes. As for conscripting Jurchen and Mongol troops into Korea, that's something we can try."

Although Zhu Yin's three strategies all have merit, they are actually very simple and only general, without touching on specific strategies and tactics.

He certainly wouldn't say too much in public.

Because he might not be the commander-in-chief. If he isn't the commander-in-chief and can't lead this important matter, then it's better not to say anything.

"Let's adjourn the meeting then," Wang Xijue said. "Today's court discussion ends here. Everyone, please return to your respective offices."

After saying that, he stood up first, bowed to the empty throne, and then turned and left.

The crowd bowed to the throne and filed out.

It was just past noon, and the autumn sun shone lazily on us.

Upon exiting the Wenhua Hall, Zhu Yin immediately caught up with Shi Xing and said:

"Grand Marshal, I need to request a leave of absence for half a month to handle some family matters, but I will not leave the capital."

"Hmm?" Shi Xing stopped in his tracks, his brows furrowing slightly. "Although Junior Commander Zhu has just returned to the capital from the Northwest and does need a few days off, there's no need for him to take up his new post immediately. But isn't half a month too long? What requires him to take half a month off?"

There are established rules for court officials to request leave. Without a valid reason, how can one request leave for as long as half a month?

Zhu Yin smiled slightly and said calmly and confidently, "Wedding leave. I am getting married on the 12th of this month. I am really unable to go to the Ministry of War to take up my new post due to various matters before the wedding."

"So it's a wedding leave, congratulations." Shi Xing's brows relaxed, and his expression became somewhat sarcastic. "In our Great Ming Dynasty, very few officials take wedding leave. The vast majority of officials are already married when they enter officialdom, and very few are unmarried."

"You're doing well, entering officialdom at such a young age, you'll inevitably have to take a wedding leave."

"Since it is a wedding leave, I will grant you half a month. Write a leave request, and I will approve it and then forward it to the Ministry of Personnel."

"Well, it's good that you've gotten married. It will save you from the covetousness of many noble ladies in the capital. It will put an end to their hopes. Consider it a good deed you've done, hehe."

Although he disliked Zhu Yin, he naturally agreed to Zhu Yin's request for leave to get married.

Zhu Yin smiled and said, "This humble official thanks the Grand Marshal. I would like to invite the Grand Marshal to my humble abode for a cup of wedding wine when the time comes."

Zhu Yin certainly didn't like his boss either, but he still had to be polite to him verbally.

"I will certainly visit your residence that day to ask for a cup of wedding wine," Shi Xing said with a smile, stroking his beard.

"Young Marshal, although you are the Right Vice Minister of this Ministry, you are still a young man full of passion. The Ministry of War is of great importance. As ministers, we should not have a warlike heart. If we can be cautious in military affairs, it will be a blessing for the country. Do it well, do it well."

Zhu Yin disagreed, but could only cup his hands and say, "I will remember your great teachings, Master Shi."

Shi Xing knew that Zhu Yin wouldn't listen, so he nodded and walked away.

Zhu Yin looked at Shi Xing's back, his smile cold and aloof.

……

Just as Zhu Yin was attending the court meeting at the Wenhua Hall, in the most secluded Jingyang Palace in the entire palace, a young boy was climbing a ladder, leaning over the wall, parting the autumn grass, and gazing at the towering palaces to the south. But even with the ladder, the towering palaces seemed like towering mountains, obscuring his view.

His eyes were filled with expectation and melancholy.

"Alas, I can't see you, sir."

"I heard from the palace servants outside that the master has returned victorious from a great battle. Thank goodness, the master has finally returned safely. All the worries I've had these past few days can finally be put to rest."

"Sir, you presented the captives at the Meridian Gate yesterday, so you must be attending the grand court assembly today. You should have gone to the Wenhua Hall for the court discussion, right?"

"Unfortunately, I cannot meet with you, sir. My father will not agree."

"My father hates me so much, and he hates my mother. So, will my father also hate my teacher because of me?"

“Father, I don’t care about being the crown prince, I don’t care about competing with your favorite third brother for anything, all I want is freedom.”

"I heard that the day after tomorrow is the Linde Hall Banquet to celebrate the great victory. It's a celebratory banquet held by the imperial court for your victory, and it's prepared for you, sir. May I go to Linde Hall to see you on the day of the banquet? But how can I get to Linde Hall? I can't get out..."

Zhu Changluo had just finished speaking to himself when a reprimanding voice suddenly came from outside:
"Youhai! Who gave you permission to lie on the wall? Are you trying to spy on the palace? Get down here right now!"

He looked down and saw a eunuch of the rank of Junior Supervisor outside Jingyang Palace, looking up at him with a haughty and arrogant air.

Zhu Changluo suddenly remembered his teacher's previous teachings, and a surge of courage welled up within him. He immediately straightened his face and said condescendingly:
“I am the eldest son of the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty. I miss my father, so I leaned against the palace wall and looked in the direction of the Qianqing Palace. This is filial piety. Is there anything wrong with it?”

"How dare you, a mere servant, reprimand me? Who gave you the audacity?"

The eunuch never expected that the usually weak and easily bullied eldest prince would suddenly become a completely different person.

He was stunned for a moment, then quickly put on a smile and slapped himself apologetically, "Oh dear, I deserve to die! It turns out that Youhai is just being filial. Youhai is a magnanimous child, please don't hold it against me."

After saying this, he bowed and quickly slunk away.

Zhu Changluo watched the eunuch's retreating figure, a coward who bullied the weak, and couldn't help but snort.

“The master is right. Kindness is often taken advantage of. These palace servants are just looking down on people. I can’t be afraid of them anymore. The more afraid I am, the bolder they become. The master said that as long as I become strong, someone in the palace will take care of me, and that woman will be less likely to go too far.”

"The next time I see you, sir, I will make sure you see how much I've improved."

Zhu Changluo looked up and saw a flock of wild geese flying south, and the empty swallow nests under the eaves of Jingyang Palace. His little face was full of longing and melancholy.

……

Holding the imperial edict in his hands, Zhu Yin greeted the officials he encountered along the way, and amidst the congratulations from his colleagues on his promotion, he left the Meridian Gate with a beaming smile.

Standing beneath the towering and majestic Five Phoenix Tower, Zhu Yin gazed back at the magnificent, awe-inspiring, and supreme Forbidden City, his eyes filled with a profound sense of awe.

This imposing imperial palace, which inspired awe and reverence, never truly instilled fear in him. And the person high above him within the ninefold depths of the palace never earned his respect.

But within this deep palace, there was still someone he cared about.

Luo'er, the master wants to see you, but he can't see you.

Your father is too cruel; he's a scoundrel and a scumbag. The palace is too cold; I hope you can fly out of the palace as soon as possible.

You wait here, the master will definitely take you out to see the scenery outside the palace.

...

Zhu Yin had just stepped out of Duanmen and hadn't even gotten into his sedan chair when he saw a seventh-rank official sitting dejectedly on a stone bench in the outer corridor of Duanmen.

This seventh-rank official wore a hat adorned with the mythical beast Xie Zhi, and a patch on his chest with Xie Zhi motifs, a unique official uniform of the Censor-in-Chief. Who else could it be but Hao Yunlai?
"My lord, please get into the sedan chair," Kangxi said as he stepped forward. "It's noon, and you must be hungry."

Lancha and the others who were guarding the sedan chair immediately crowded around.

"No rush." ​​Zhu Yin chuckled. He didn't get into the sedan chair immediately, but walked towards Hao Yunlai.

Hao Yunlai heard footsteps, turned around, and was stunned.

Zhu Yin walked leisurely to Hao Yunlai, sat down on his own, gently placed the silk imperial edict on the white marble table, and then looked at Hao Yunlai with a half-smile.

"Young Tiger, Junior Marshal," Hao Yunlai said dryly, his expression bitter. "You've come here to laugh at me?"

"Laughing at you?" Zhu Yin's smile was even more nonchalant than the autumn wind. "It's really not that bad. Whether you're triumphant or dejected, successful or unsuccessful, I don't care at all. Why would I laugh at you?"

"Haha." Hao Yun laughed self-deprecatingly, glancing at Zhu Yin's promotion edict. "I understand now. You've never taken me seriously, never considered me a rival, so that's why you don't care?"

"Chikatsu, do you know what I hate most about you?"

"Oh?" Zhu Yin raised his long eyebrows and leisurely tucked the ivory jade tablet into his waistband. "I would like to hear the details."

Hao Yunlai said, "What I hate most is your arrogance. You look down on me, you've always looked down on me, haven't you? I knew you looked down on me from the moment you rejected me from joining the Propaganda Society."

“You had money, power, and connections from the start, while I had nothing. That’s why you looked down on me and always looked down on me from a high position.”

"Child Tiger, you are both adorable and hateful."

"I admit that impeaching you was wrong, but I had no choice! Now you've been promoted and made a fortune, gaining both fame and wealth, but what about me?"

"In front of others, I feel successful and proud. But when I'm in front of you, I feel dejected, worthless and useless."

"Chihko, tell me, aren't you annoying?"

“My wife told me not to oppose you and to sincerely befriend you, but when I think of how you look down on me, I want to oppose you and want to see you suffer. I admit, I am jealous of you and resent you.”

"Are you done talking?" Zhu Yin smiled slightly, without any anger. "Don't take it to heart. It's okay if you hate me, but don't disappoint your wife."

Hao Yunlai felt a deep sense of powerlessness when he saw that Zhu Yin wasn't angry at all after he had said so much.

The young tiger wasn't angry at all!
"Forget it." Hao Yunlai shook his head with a wry smile. "Anyway, you don't take me seriously. Even if I curse you, you'll probably just think it's like a dog barking. Zhihu, you are probably the most arrogant person in the world. Your arrogance is not overbearing, but rather indescribable, as if... as if you really are a god, not belonging to this mortal world."

Zhu Yin's eyes flashed, and he smiled, "Brother Huaji, now that you say that, I'm starting to look at you in a new light."

He patted Hao Yunlai on the shoulder and said, "Although you failed to impeach me, you have the Zheng family protecting you, and the Emperor will not punish you. However, you may not be able to stay in Beijing any longer."

Hao Yunlai sighed, "I originally thought I would be rewarded for my merits and promoted to a position in the Ministry of Personnel. Who knew... Zhihu, where will I probably end up?"

Zhu Yin said, "The will of Heaven is unpredictable. How would I know where you are going? I estimate that you might become a prefect, and it will be difficult for you to return to the capital within five years."

“Prefect…” Hao Yunlai was extremely disappointed, his face full of desolation.

He trusted Zhu Yin's judgment. Since Zhu Yin said it was probably a prefect, then it was most likely that he would be going to a local area to serve as a prefect.

According to court custom, after a circuit inspector returned to the capital, as long as he had performed meritorious service and made no mistakes, his next official position would often be promoted by several ranks. If he was transferred to another region, he would usually become a provincial judge, provincial governor, or governor.

I have military merits, and I am really unwilling to just be a prefect.

This is demotion.

"You should be content. At least you won't be dismissed from your post or imprisoned. The prefect should be grateful," Zhu Yin said with a smile. "It's good to have a powerful backer. Without the Zheng family's support, you would have been stripped of your official rank and reduced to a commoner. You wouldn't even be a county magistrate."

“I’m not here to comfort you,” Zhu Yin said bluntly. “You impeached me, and in the end, you’ll be implicated yourself. That’s your own fault.”

Hao Yunlai chuckled, "You said you weren't here to laugh at me, nor to comfort me out of kindness, so what brought you here?"

Zhu Yin said, "I need you to act as matchmaker and go to Qin Liangyu's mansion to be my matchmaker with Caiwei. What do you say? Will you take this job?"

"You want me to be the ice man?" Hao Yunlai was taken aback, but then he understood.

Young Tiger, you're something else!

I'm about to be demoted and banished from the capital, and you still want to use me one more time to enhance your reputation for being magnanimous and forgiving!

You're no teenager! You're a cunning old fox!
Alright, I, Hao Yunlai, will help you with this. Since you are magnanimous and forgiving, I can also use this opportunity to mislead the officials.

"I'll help you with this!" Hao Yunlai's mood suddenly improved a lot. "I'll go see Qin Liangyu this afternoon!"

"I hope to drink your and Caiwei's wedding wine before getting out of the capital!"

P.S.: Regarding the relationship between Hao Yunlai and Little Tiger, some readers should understand that the relationships between enemies and allies in officialdom are often unpredictable; there's nothing strange about it. Fang Yilun is finally playing the male lead! I'm happy for him. Thank you, and goodnight!

(End of this chapter)