The Ming Dynasty: Starting with the border troops, it was overthrown and the Qing Dynasty was destro

Chapter 267 Chongzhen's Sky Has Collapsed
The express courier, traveling 800 li at an urgent pace, set off overnight from Suzhou, splitting into two routes, one by land and one by water, both heading towards the capital simultaneously.

Finally, the post horse arrived at the gates of Beijing on the third day of the second lunar month.

At this time, the capital of the Ming Dynasty was still immersed in the afterglow of the Lantern Festival. The streets were decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, creating a joyous atmosphere.

But a sudden messenger arrived with bad news, galloping all the way from outside Xuanwu Gate, shattering the peace in the city.

Pedestrians and merchants along the way scattered in panic, their baskets overturned, and before their curses could even finish, the fast horse had already disappeared from sight, heading straight for the imperial city.

The first person to receive the urgent report from Lou Jiaze, the prefect of Suzhou, was Wang Chengen, the chief eunuch in the palace.

"What happened that caused such panic?"

He frowned, took the light document from the courier, unfolded it, and only glanced at a few lines before his expression suddenly changed drastically.

The fall of Zhongdu, the burning of the imperial tombs, and the rise of a bandit emperor—these three pieces of news were all shocking.

Wang Chengen's fingers, which were holding the memorial, trembled uncontrollably, and even his voice changed tone:

"The...news...is the news true?!"

The courier collapsed to his knees, panting heavily, his chest heaving violently.
"Father-in-law, it's absolutely true!"

"This was sent by Governor Yang Yipeng of Fengyang."

"When the city fell, he...he escaped through a secret passage and later fled to Suzhou when the bandits were off guard."

"He told Prefect Lou about this himself."

"According to Governor Yang, the bandits were incredibly arrogant. They not only burned down the imperial tombs, but even stepped on the grave of the Madam's great-grandfather and declared themselves emperors!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Chengen felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, and his vision blurred.

After a long while, he finally calmed down, let out a long sigh, and Wang Chengen nodded silently, waving for the courier to leave.

The memorial in his hand, which seemed light as a feather, felt incredibly heavy and burning hot. He didn't know how to inform the Emperor about this matter.

He couldn't imagine how the usually diligent Emperor would react to this news.

However, Wang Chengen dared not conceal matters of national importance.

He took two deep breaths, suppressing the shock in his heart, and forced a calm expression onto his face before turning and walking towards the Qianqing Palace where Chongzhen was.

Inside the warm pavilion, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

The young Emperor Chongzhen had just finished reviewing a stack of memorials and was rubbing his throbbing temples.

Inside the room, the palace lanterns for the Lantern Festival emitted a faint red glow, illuminating his slightly gaunt face.

Wang Chengen, carrying the memorial to the emperor, approached quietly.

"Your Majesty..."

His voice was dry and trembling slightly.

"Urgent dispatch from Suzhou..."

Emperor Chongzhen looked up, his brows furrowed with displeasure at being disturbed, but when he saw Wang Chengen's pale face and the large beads of sweat on his forehead, his heart skipped a beat.

"Otomo, what happened?"

Wang Chengen knelt down with a thud, raising the memorial above his head with both hands:

"Your Majesty, Fengyang... Fengyang has been captured by bandits!"

"Those damned bandits not only burned down the imperial tombs, but... they even declared themselves emperors on the burial mounds of Emperor Chun and Empress Chun!"

He practically screamed the last few words with a sob in his voice.

The devastating news struck Emperor Chongzhen like a thunderbolt!

He suddenly sprang up from behind his desk, the movement so forceful that it overturned the teacups on the table, spilling tea everywhere.

Chongzhen rushed forward and roughly snatched the memorial from Wang Chengen's hands, then unfolded it and began to read it quickly.

The color drained from his face quickly, and his fingers, gripping the memorial tightly, squeezed through the paper, making a creaking sound as he struggled to keep up with the weight.

Fengyang... Imperial Mausoleum... Emperor's Ascension!
Every word on the memorial was like a red-hot branding iron, burning fiercely onto Zhu Youjian's face.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger..."

Wang Chengen was about to offer some words of comfort.

puff--!
Suddenly, a mouthful of blood spurted from Chongzhen's mouth, splattering onto his bright yellow dragon robe and memorials.

Zhu Youjian swayed, his vision went black, and he fell straight backward.

Seeing this, Wang Chengen was terrified and scrambled over to catch Chongzhen's limp body.

"Your Majesty—!"

He screamed in terror.

"Help! The Emperor has fainted!"

"Send to the imperial doctor! Send to the imperial doctor quickly!"

Chaos erupted instantly inside the Qianqing Palace. The palace maids and eunuchs standing there were terrified and fled in all directions.

Soon, the imperial physician stumbled in carrying his medicine chest and frantically began to try to save the emperor.

Pinching the philtrum, administering ginseng soup, acupuncture...

It is unknown how much time passed before Emperor Chongzhen finally regained consciousness thanks to the best efforts of the imperial physicians.

What came into view was Wang Chengen's old face, with tears streaming down his face.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, are you alright?!"

"The traitor is only acting arrogantly for a moment. Your Majesty, please take good care of your health. The entire Ming Dynasty, with its millions of people, is still waiting for your arrival."

Before Wang Chengen could finish speaking, a great sense of humiliation and indignation welled up in Zhu Youjian's heart again.

"Ancestors above... Your unworthy descendant Zhu Youjian... I have failed you all!!"

He shoved the imperial physician away, struggled to sit up, beat his chest and stamped his feet, and burst into tears.

His tearful appearance showed no trace of imperial majesty.

The entire Qianqing Palace fell silent instantly, with only Zhu Youjian's heart-wrenching cries remaining.

The palace maids and eunuchs all stopped playing and stared wide-eyed at the emperor's loss of composure.

"Zhang the thief! Gao the thief!"

"I will never share the same sky with you!!"

Overwhelmed with grief, Chongzhen abruptly pushed away Wang Chengen, who was supporting him, and staggered toward the sword hanging on the wall behind him, drawing the blade with a clang!
"Traitors! A bunch of traitors!"

"How dare you! How dare you insult my Zhu family ancestors like this!!"

Chongzhen's roar was like that of a wounded beast, shaking the palace with a humming sound.

His eyes were bloodshot, as if he had gone mad, and he began to brandish his sword at the air:
"Kill! I will kill you all! I will grind your bones to dust!!"

The sword flashed, as if slashing at an invisible enemy, appearing almost frenzied.

Wang Chengen and his palace servants were terrified, kneeling on the ground trembling, not daring to even breathe.

After venting his anger for a long time, Chongzhen finally stopped, exhausted.

He leaned on his sword, his chest heaving violently.

"Issue an imperial decree! Court is suspended for three days, music is discontinued, and meals are reduced!"

"I must dress in plain clothes and avoid the palace!"

"Ready to go!"

"I must go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple immediately to apologize to my ancestors!"

……

The shocking news of the fall of Fengyang, the burning of the imperial tombs, and the bandit's claim to the throne quickly spread throughout the capital, causing an uproar in the entire city.

The entire capital was instantly abuzz with discussion and panic.

What kind of place is Fengyang? It is the place where the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty rose to power and the root of the Ming Dynasty!
The burning of the ancestral tombs was far more serious than the loss of a few cities; it was clearly a blow to the very lifeblood of the Ming Dynasty.

This is an ominous sign of national ruin, indicating that the "dragon vein has been severed" and the "mandate of heaven has been lost"!
Panic spread rapidly through the government and the public like a plague. Although officials dared not say anything, their ashen faces said it all.

In the bustling city, all sorts of discussions filled the teahouses and taverns:

"Something terrible has happened! The royal ancestral tombs have been dug up; the sky is about to fall!"

"I heard that the bandit leader planted a flag on the imperial tomb and declared himself emperor. He was called something like the Ancient Yuan True Dragon Emperor."

"That's nothing! There's another traitor who even changed the era name and established a new reign title, calling it the first year of Xingwu!"

"Hiss—are the government troops made of paper? Tens of thousands of troops from Huguang couldn't even defend a small city like Zhongdu?"

"Hmph, isn't it all because those officials in the court are incompetent and lazy, unable to effectively suppress or appease the enemy, thus harming the country and its people!"

"That's not true. I heard that the emperor transferred a large army to Sichuan, which gave the bandits an opportunity to take advantage of the situation."

Various rumors and gossip spread like wildfire.

Some people condemned the bandits for their ferocity and inhumanity, while others criticized the chief ministers and cabinet ministers for their incompetence and failure to govern the country.

Some even pointed the finger at the inner palace, saying that if the emperor had not been morally flawed, how could the ancestors have suffered such a great humiliation?
Rumors spread like wildfire, and the imperial court itself became a battlefield.

Factional strife, a chronic problem in the late Ming Dynasty officialdom, not only failed to subside at this moment, but instead erupted even more violently.

"Your Majesty, I impeach Zhang Fengyi, the Minister of War!"

"Minister Zhang's incompetence in suppressing bandits and his mismanagement have resulted in the Zhongdu, a crucial city, being left unguarded. His crimes are unforgivable!"

"What nonsense!"

"This is clearly a case of local officials neglecting their duties! Governor Yang Yipeng of Fengyang is the primary culpable one!"

"The cabinet ministers have failed in their duties as commanders and cannot escape blame! Premier Wen, what else do you have to say?!"

"You officials who only know how to talk nonsense and ruin the country! Who was it that insisted on transferring Sichuan troops to Shaanxi in the first place, leaving the capital city vulnerable?!"

Inside the imperial palace, the once impeccably dressed ministers were like shrewish women in the marketplace, spitting as they accused each other and shirked responsibility.

The heated arguments nearly lifted the roof off, and impeachment memorials flew towards the emperor like snowflakes.

Amidst the uproar, few could offer any practical solutions for the aftermath.

The entire central government of the Ming Dynasty was completely paralyzed by endless internal strife.

In the midst of this chaotic moment of mutual accusations in the court, Grand Secretary Wen Tiren finally stepped forward.

"Fellow colleagues! At this critical juncture when the nation is in peril and the country is in grave danger, what good will quarreling and attacking do?!"

He looked around with a pained expression, taking in everyone, especially the indignant officials and the unfortunate Minister of War, Zhang Fengyi.

"The disaster in Fengyang is an unprecedented humiliation in the history of our dynasty!"

"As the Prime Minister, I failed to foresee the situation and bear responsibility for this oversight. I should apologize to His Majesty!"

Wen Tiren initially adopted a humble stance, but then quickly changed his tone and began shifting blame:
"But where exactly does the root of the problem lie?!"

"I believe the problem lies not with the central government, but with the incompetence and dereliction of duty of local officials!"

He pointed sharply to the newspaper from Suzhou, as if he held irrefutable evidence:
"Gentlemen, you are all wise enough to see this!"

"What were Yang Yipeng, the governor of Fengyang, and Yang Ze, the eunuch in charge of the imperial tombs, doing before the bandits besieged the city? Were they actively deploying defenses? Were they organizing the military? Were they trying to appease the people?"

"no!"

"On the contrary, they spend their days indulging in a life of debauchery and revelry."

"Even worse, when faced with accusations from the people against the eunuch Yang Ze, the Imperial Censor Wu Zhenying actually closed his doors for three days and refused to accept the case!" "Wu Zhenying sat idly by as public resentment boiled over, ultimately leading to the disastrous defection of the imperial tomb guards!"

"These three villains are truly the chief culprits behind the fall of Zhongdu and the destruction of the imperial tombs!"

"As for the Ministry of War's deployment..."

Wen Tiren's voice suddenly lowered, and his gaze swept over Zhang Fengyi almost imperceptibly.
"Minister Zhang may have made some oversights, but the root cause is still that Yang, Wu, and a few others failed to fulfill their duties in their local areas, which allowed the bandits to grow stronger and eventually become a prairie fire!"

"Even though our central government has countless good strategies, it still requires local officials to do their best to implement them."

Wen Tiren's words seemed to be well-organized and logically sound.

But in reality, it was just a way of shirking responsibility. After his persuasive maneuvering, he successfully pinned the blame precisely on the local officials in Fengyang.

He cleverly absolved himself of the central cabinet leadership, especially his leadership responsibilities as Grand Secretary.

At the same time, it also gave Zhang Fengyi, the Minister of War, a way out, and he tried his best to win over the ministers in the ministry.

Upon hearing this, many officials, especially Wen Tiren's protégés and old friends, immediately understood and echoed his sentiments:

"Grand Secretary, please be wise! It is the likes of Yang Yipeng, Yang Ze, and Wu Zhenying who have ruined the country!"

"With the local areas so corrupt, even if the central government has a thousand policies, they will be difficult to implement!"

"The most urgent task is to severely punish the ringleaders as a warning to others!"

However, at the same time, many censors who disapproved of Wen Tiren also stood up and voiced their opposition:
"Prime Minister Wen is mistaken!"

"Yang Yipeng and Wu Zhenying deserve to die, that's for sure; but how can the central command and the court make decisions remain uninvolved?!"

"The decision to mobilize elite troops from Shanxi, Shaanxi, Hubei, and Hunan to suppress the bandits in Sichuan was personally drafted by the cabinet!"

"Now that Fengyang has fallen and the imperial tombs are covered in dust, does the Grand Secretary think he can simply dismiss the blame for the central government's mismanagement with a casual remark like 'local incompetence'?"

"Is this even possible?!"

Upon hearing this, Wen Tiren gritted his teeth in hatred.

Yes, it's true that he drafted the plan to transfer troops to Sichuan, but what about the official approval?

That was a red seal personally approved by the emperor; Wen Tiren was merely going through the motions. Now, these officials dared not direct their criticism at the emperor, but instead turned their attention to him.

This is simply unreasonable!
Just as the court and the public were in uproar and people were filled with anxiety, an imperial edict bearing the emperor's jade seal was sent out from the capital.

An edict of self-reproach!
After dressing in mourning clothes, avoiding the palace, canceling music and reducing meals, and weeping bitterly at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, Zhu Youjian finally "confessed" his mistakes to his subjects.

In the imperial edict, Emperor Chongzhen wrote in a deeply sorrowful tone:

"...I, with my meager virtue, inherited this great foundation, but unexpectedly, bandits ran rampant, wreaking havoc in the Central Plains, leading to the fall of Fengyang and the destruction of the imperial mausoleum."

"...This is all due to my misrule and lack of sincerity and respect, which has led to my offending Heaven and my ancestors."

"...From this day forward, we must earnestly reflect and reform...and all officials, high and low, should also cleanse their hearts and minds, and work together to achieve practical results..."

The edict of self-reproach was filled with tears and sorrow, each word dripping with grief.

The image of a wise ruler who was heartbroken and courageous in taking responsibility leaps off the page.

Upon hearing the imperial edict, many people in the capital were moved to tears, feeling that the emperor was wise and responsible.

However, deep within the palace, Zhu Youjian, who had just finished a grand performance of "repenting and turning over a new leaf," secretly smiled with a barely perceptible curve.

He straightened his plain clothes in front of the bronze mirror, and a faint sense of pride welled up inside him.
"How many monarchs throughout history have dared to issue an edict of self-reproach and confront their mistakes like I have?"

"I... am ultimately wise and sagacious!"

Throughout Chinese history, many monarchs and emperors have issued edicts of self-reproach, including some wise and virtuous rulers.

Zhu Youjian's move was an attempt to emulate the ancients.

He attempted to demonstrate his responsibility as the emperor and cultivate an image of a wise and virtuous monarch who dared to admit his mistakes by issuing an edict of self-reproach.

Throughout the 276 years of the Ming Dynasty, eleven out of the sixteen emperors issued edicts of self-reproach.

The edicts of self-reproach issued by the Zhu family were different from those of others. Most of them were merely general self-blame without any corresponding substantive reform measures.

For example, although Zhu Yuanzhang issued edicts many times, he did not change his style of governing the country with harsh punishments.

Emperor Chongzhen's promise to abolish the three taxes became nothing more than a dead letter.

At this time, Zhu Youjian was still complacent, never imagining that he would have many more opportunities to issue an edict of self-reproach in the future.

Deep down, he never truly believed he was wrong.

This edict of self-reproach was nothing more than a political tool he used to silence public opinion and divert public anger.

Before the ink on the imperial edicts was even dry, a series of menacing decrees flew out from the Qianqing Palace:

"Yang Yipeng, the governor of Fengyang, failed in his duty to defend the territory, resulting in the fall of the city and the disgrace to the nation. His crimes are unforgivable!"

"Order the Imperial Guards to immediately arrest him and bring him to the capital, publicly execute him, and dump his body in the West Market as a warning to others!"

"Imperial Inspector Wu Zhenying, fearing the bandits like tigers, shut his doors to accept the people's complaints, and sat idly by as the people's resentment boiled over. He shall be dismissed from his post and exiled three thousand miles away, with no possibility of pardon!"

"All officials in Fengyang Prefecture and surrounding counties shall be demoted and fined, but shall remain in their posts while still under investigation, to be observed for future conduct."

Zhu Youjian's judgment seemed fair and just, but he made no mention of the fact that he had recklessly deployed troops, leaving the defenses of the Central Plains vulnerable, as if it had never happened.

Furthermore, thanks to Wen Tiren's skillful manipulation and cover-up, the cabinet ministers and high-ranking officials in the Ministry of War who were truly responsible for the coordination remained unharmed.

Only a few scapegoats were dismissed and imprisoned.

Following this, in an attempt to "turn the tide," Chongzhen made even more astonishing personnel appointments and military deployments.

He removed Lu Xiang-sheng from his position as Governor of Huguang and promoted him to Vice Minister of War.

Furthermore, he added Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces to Lu Xiang-sheng's list of five provincial premiers.

He directly appointed Lu Xiang-sheng as the prime minister of military affairs in seven provinces, specifically to suppress the bandits.

In order to completely wipe out Zhang Xianzhong and Gao Yingxiang, Zhu Youjian also urgently ordered the Guan Ning cavalry on the Liaodong front to enter the pass.

He transferred Zu Kuan's troops, a close confidant of Zu Dashou, to Southern Zhili and placed them under the command of Lu Xiang-sheng.

Even after arranging everything, Zhu Youjian was still not satisfied.

He even secretly summoned Luo Yangxing, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Li Chengfang, the chief eunuch of the Eastern Depot.

Emperor Chongzhen ordered the two men to send capable agents from the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot to Shaanxi to search for the ancestral tombs of Zhang Xianzhong and Gao Yingxiang.

He would repay them in kind, and he would make those two traitors taste the bitterness of having their ancestral graves destroyed.

Zhu Youjian even reminded Luo Yangxing and Li Chengfang to bring talismans so that he could use them to suppress and destroy the dragon veins and fortune of these two traitors.

When Emperor Chongzhen's heartfelt edict of self-reproach and appointment documents traveled thousands of miles to reach Lu Xiang-sheng, who was on the front lines in Badong, this Confucian general, known for his loyalty, bravery, and integrity, was studying maps in his simple camp.

When Lu Xiang-sheng unfolded the imperial edict and saw the devastating news of the fall of Fengyang and the burning of the imperial tombs, he was struck dumb.

A surge of heart-wrenching grief and humiliation welled up in my heart.

He threw down the map, stood up abruptly, and kowtowed three times heavily in the direction of the northern capital.

"His Majesty!"

"Your Majesty... I am guilty beyond redemption, even if I were to die ten thousand times!"

Lu Xiang-sheng's voice choked with sobs, filled with immense pain.

Without needing any imperial decree, he immediately ordered his personal guards to bring him mourning clothes and change into them as a sign of his grief.

When he read that the emperor had promoted him to Vice Minister of War and bestowed upon him the title of Governor of Seven Provinces, he felt an indescribable surge of excitement and a heavy sense of responsibility.

The Emperor's grace is boundless; His Majesty entrusted half of the country to me in a time of crisis!

"Your subject Lu Xiang Sheng will certainly not fail the Emperor's grace!"

"I swear I will not rest until the bandits are destroyed!"

Lu Xiang-sheng drew his sword from his waist, resolutely cut off a lock of his hair, and clenched it tightly in his hand, as if he were holding onto a vow to the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

"Give the order to the entire army!"

"Break camp immediately, target Southern Zhili, and rush to the aid of Fengyang!"

He planned to first receive Zu Kuan's troops who were coming from Liaodong, and then lay a trap in Southern Zhili to wipe out the bandits there.

However, Hong Chengchou of Hanzhong reacted very differently from Lu Xiangshan after receiving the imperial edict and news.

He silently read the imperial edict, his face expressionless, though a barely perceptible hint of weariness flashed in his eyes.

Hong Chengchou put down the imperial edict, walked outside the tent, looked at the vast mountains in the southwest, and sighed deeply.

"Premieres of seven provinces..."

Hong Chengchou muttered to himself, a bitter smile playing on his lips.

"At this critical juncture, why is Your Majesty still so deeply immersed in the art of imperial control and unable to extricate yourself?"

He saw very clearly that Chongzhen's move had a deeper meaning besides suppressing bandits.

The Ming Dynasty consisted of two capitals and thirteen provinces.

He, Hong Chengchou, served as the Governor-General of five provinces: Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Huguang, and Sichuan.

Lu Xiang-sheng served as the Premier of seven provinces: Southern Zhili, Henan, Shandong, Huguang, Sichuan, Shanxi, and Shaanxi.

The two men's jurisdictions overlapped significantly, encompassing as many as five provinces simultaneously under their control.

What's going on?

Moreover, the emperor was very "thoughtful" in giving them both imperial swords to control military affairs in various provinces.

It has to be said that the imperial sword of the Ming Dynasty was almost as valuable as the cabbages sold at the Caishikou wholesale market.

The last two people who simultaneously held imperial swords and "restrained" each other were Yuan Chonghuan in Liaodong and Mao Wenlong on Pi Island.

The results of it?
One was executed by a false summons, and the other was torn to pieces.

Their fates had already spread throughout the officialdom of the entire Ming Dynasty.

But now, His Majesty the Emperor has placed these deadly double swords over his and Lu Xiang-sheng's heads again. What does this mean?
Could it be that the emperor in the Forbidden City was illiterate? Did he not know the dangers of doing so?
No! Hong Chengchou knew perfectly well.

This is not foolishness; it is clearly the emperor's tactic of checks and balances.

Lu Xiang-sheng was young and ambitious in the southeast, and he was supported by the relatively wealthy Huguang and Southern Zhili regions.
Hong Chengchou, on the other hand, was in the Northwest, where he was experienced and prudent, and commanded the Qin soldiers on the three borders who were capable of fighting.

One has money, the other has soldiers.

Given the current emperor's stubborn and suspicious nature, how could he possibly trust either side to truly unleash their full potential?

The two men's spheres of influence overlapped significantly, inevitably leading to disputes and sordid conflicts. These were merely tactics employed by the emperor to guard against powerful ministers.

Throughout the entire Ming Dynasty, only one person could command the wind and rain, and that was Emperor Chongzhen.

Having navigated the ups and downs of officialdom for decades, Hong Chengchou had long seen through all of this.

Politically, he was far more mature than Lu Xiang-sheng, who was full of passion and only knew how to be loyal to the emperor and serve the country.

Therefore, when Lu Xiang-sheng returned to Southern Zhili in high spirits and great enthusiasm, ready to make great strides, Hong Chengchou simply put away the imperial edict in despair.

He gazed at the continuous mountain ranges in the southwest and gave a self-deprecating laugh.

Without strong central coordination and sufficient supplies, Hong Chengchou alone would have no chance of breaking through Jianmen Pass and entering Sichuan to suppress the bandits.

It seems that the emperor's haphazard and incoherent commands will only allow the bandits in Sichuan to grow stronger.

Left with no other option, Hong Chengchou could only order his army to break camp and return to Guanzhong, preparing to march to Shanxi to suppress the bandits.

A massive operation to encircle and suppress bandits in Sichuan was thus abandoned without any resolution.

The rift in the Ming Empire widened further along the opposing marching routes of the two commanders.

(End of this chapter)