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

Chapter 347 Establishing a Foreign Intelligence Department
After the development plan for the next three years was finalized, the officials left Chengyun Hall in turn.

Upon arriving at the spacious square in front of the Prince's Mansion, a biting wind mixed with snowflakes rushed towards us, stinging our faces.

The group gathered in small groups, discussing the grand plan they had just decided on in hushed tones, their expressions varied.

The civil service was naturally led by Zhao Sheng, with Li Xinghuai, Wang Chengbi, and several other officials surrounding him.

Zhao Sheng tightened his official robes and spoke first:

"The task assigned by His Majesty this time is arduous, and all colleagues must work together with one heart and one mind."

"Expanding the army involves a lot of money, food, weapons, and talent reserves. We must not hold it back."

Looking at the gray sky, Li Xinghuai sighed with worry:

"They say a timely snowfall promises a good harvest, so let's hope that the heavens will be kind to us and that the next few years will be blessed with favorable weather."

"Otherwise, if grain production decreases, let alone expanding the army, we may not even be able to cope with the famine among the people."

He shrank his neck and exhaled a large breath of white air.

"This awful weather is getting colder and colder, I wonder how long it will last."

"The amount of arable land in Sichuan has almost reached its limit."

"Drought-resistant corn has been planted on the slopes and in the nooks and crannies of the mountains, wherever a hoe can be used."

"If we want to further increase the total grain output, we will probably have to pin our hopes on Guizhou and Yunnan."

"Although the area is mostly mountainous, corn is not picky about the land, and some small, scattered plots of land can still produce some corn, enough to feed a few people."

"However... these scattered reclaimed lands are generally not counted in the tax register."

"Even if a large area of ​​land is reclaimed, according to policy, there is a three-year grace period during which taxes will not be levied, which will not help the national treasury."

Zhao Sheng, however, was more optimistic, offering words of comfort:

"Always try to think positively."

"Although these fields are not taxed, the people have actually gained more income, which is a good thing overall."

"With grain reserves, the people's ability to withstand risks will naturally be stronger."

"In addition, with the Ever-Normal Granaries we set up in various places last year, as long as we manage them properly, we will always be able to overcome the difficulties."

"Of course, the premise is that there won't be consecutive years of severe drought like in Shaanxi and Henan."

Wang Chengbi smoothly took over the conversation, his tone tinged with weariness and helplessness:
"At least you guys work in the fields, so you can go out and catch your breath."

"Unlike my department, which is now busy setting exam questions and grading papers every day, one exam after another, we can't even find time to drink a cup of tea."

"Now we are going to expand the scale of official schools and set up schools in several major prefectures and counties."

"There are so many things to deal with, such as teachers, teaching materials, and site selection. I don't know if I can manage them all."

He sighed and said with a wry smile,
"Speaking of which, these students are lucky."

"As long as you pass the imperial examination, you will be assigned a real post immediately, and you will not have to worry about not having a place to go."

"Unlike in the Ming court, even if you passed the imperial examination, you still had to wait anxiously for the Ministry of Personnel to select you."

"If you don't have the money to bribe officials, then be prepared to sit on the sidelines for years and waste your time."

Unlike the sullen and sighing civil officials, the military officers' side was much more lively, with a group of them gathered together and raising their voices.

Cao Er looked excited and rubbed his hands together, eager to get started.

"Great, we're finally going to expand our army."

"When I get back, I'll have to give those brats a good talking to!"

"You wouldn't believe it, but those militiamen down there have been eyeing the soldiers' monthly pay for quite some time now."

"This will give them a good lesson: getting paid isn't so easy."

Hearing this, Li Laowai rolled his eyes at him in annoyance:
"You're really getting ahead of yourself in Sichuan these days!"

"His Majesty has not only entrusted you with the command of the elite troops in the central army, but the majority of the troop expansion this time has also fallen on your shoulders."

"Unlike me, I can only go to Kuizhou Prefecture to be a boat captain, staring blankly at mountains of timber all day long!"

"And Shao Yong and Chuang Jiang are going to those barbarian lands like Yunnan and Guizhou to suppress bandits and pacify the people, while also reclaiming wasteland and training troops. It will be very hard work!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Er scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed:
"Not at all, I'm just a steward, temporarily keeping an eye on the central army for His Majesty."

"If we really go to the battlefield and conquer cities and fortresses, won't we still need you veterans to step up?"

After hearing this flattery, Li Laowai nodded in satisfaction, which was considered as acknowledging the statement.

Li Zicheng, who was standing nearby, chimed in at the opportune moment, remarking with emotion:

"Leading tens of thousands of troops may be glorious, but it is by no means an easy task."

"Not only must we take into account the camp setup, food, drink and other necessities of the troops, but we must also adjust the deployment of troops according to the enemy situation."

"There are countless things to deal with, and every single one of them takes a lot of mental effort."

"I've only been in Yunnan for a little over half a year, and the gray hairs at my temples are already visibly popping out..."

Everyone chatted and joked, sharing anecdotes from the military and their experiences leading troops, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.

However, one person stood out from the crowd, silently following along without ever saying a word.

It was Hei Zi, who had just returned from Qujing, Yunnan.

Although he had traveled a long way to attend the meeting, he remained silent throughout the entire event.

It wasn't that he was unwilling to speak, but rather that he genuinely didn't know what to say.

Since ending his long-term undercover mission, Kuroko has felt out of place, unsure of what to do and quite lost.

He should be transferred to an administrative position; he felt he lacked the necessary knowledge and definitely couldn't handle it.
However, he felt that he was not up to the task of leading troops back into the army.

If he were to lead hundreds or thousands of men into battle, he would not hesitate at all.

But nowadays, the Han army often sends out tens of thousands of troops on expeditions, and he is indeed not up to the task of commanding an army and making strategic plans.

He sighed silently, a sense of loss welling up inside him.

Hei Zi shook his head, wrapped his cotton robe tighter around himself, and prepared to make an excuse to leave so he could go back and think about his next move.

But just then, a sharp, urgent voice suddenly came from behind:
"General Fang! General Fang! Please wait!"

Hei Zi turned around at the sound and saw a palace eunuch panting as he jogged from the direction of Chengyun Hall.

He was somewhat surprised and stopped to ask:

"What are your orders, sir?"

The eunuch rushed forward, bowed first, and respectfully replied:
"Don't dare to take it seriously."

"His Majesty sent me to invite you, saying that he has important matters to discuss."

Hei Zi's heart skipped a beat, he nodded, and then cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Cao Er, Li Zicheng, and the others who were still chatting beside him:

"Brothers, the king summons you. You should head back now."

Watching his hurried departure, Shao Yong sighed softly and murmured:
"General Fang seemed to be preoccupied when he returned this time, and he was much quieter."

"do not know"

Dong Erzhu, standing to the side, seemed quite confident, patting Shao Yong on the shoulder:

"Do not worry."

"After all, they are the old guard who started the rebellion. The king will certainly not treat our own people unfairly."

"Judging from this, the king must have already made arrangements for a private meeting afterward, perhaps to entrust him with some important task."

"Let's go, this damn snow is getting heavier and heavier, let's hurry back and warm ourselves up."

"Come to my house, everyone. It's been so long since we last met. Let's have a good drink and catch up!"

At his invitation, the generals temporarily put aside their worries, surrounded each other, and walked out of the palace amidst laughter and conversation.

At this moment, Hei Zi did not return to Chengyun Hall, but instead bypassed the many palaces and pavilions and arrived at the East Pond of the Prince's Mansion.

This is a large-scale water garden, covering an area of ​​three or four acres.

The East Pond was transformed into a lake by drawing fresh water, and pavilions, towers, waterside terraces, and winding corridors dotted the landscape, creating a stunning scene.

Successive Shu kings often entertained guests here, composing poems and essays.

Upon reaching the outer entrance of the waterside garden, the eunuch suddenly stopped and stepped aside to make way for him.

"General Fang, His Majesty is waiting for you at Songfeng Pavilion ahead."

“Just keep walking along this corridor, and you’ll see it in no time.”

"We cannot go inside, so we will have to wait here."

He nodded upon hearing this, then straightened his clothes, took a deep breath, and walked quickly along the winding waterfront corridor.

After several twists and turns, a delicate pavilion appeared before him, with the words "Songfeng Pavilion" written on the plaque.

Inside the pavilion, Jiang Han, wearing a thick silver fox fur coat, was sitting by a glowing red stove, brewing tea.

Outside, snow was falling heavily, while inside the pavilion, the aroma of tea wafted through the air, creating a unique and enchanting atmosphere.

Hearing footsteps, Jiang Han turned around and waved to him:
"Coming?"

"Come in quickly, it's cold outside, sit down and warm up."

Hei Zi responded and quickly stepped onto the stairs, then strode into the pavilion.

As soon as he stepped inside, he discovered that there was a hidden world outside Songfeng Pavilion, with a wide waterfront platform in front of it, offering an extremely open view.

Looking out from the railing, one sees a pure and tranquil scene between heaven and earth, like a traditional Chinese ink painting.

The lake surface was already covered with a thin layer of ice, and large, feathery snowflakes fell silently onto the ice, only to melt away instantly.

What a tranquil winter garden scene in the snow.

Jiang Han followed his gaze and smiled:
"How about it?"

"The Zhu family, generation after generation of Shu kings, have certainly had a knack for enjoying life and a keen eye for garden design, haven't they?"

"This platform is called the Moon-Viewing Terrace. I heard that the King of Shu often held banquets here."

"There are also literati who wrote poems, such as 'The water is green from where the Dragon Pool is divided, and the flowers are red from where the fish blood is dyed.'"

Hei Zi nodded honestly:

"That's pretty good, those damned princes really know how to enjoy themselves..."

He suddenly realized halfway through his sentence that Jiang Han, who was sitting in front of him, was now a powerful figure, and that what he had said was inappropriate.

He immediately shut his mouth, his face filled with embarrassment.

Jiang Han smiled nonchalantly, picked up the copper kettle from the heater, poured a cup of hot tea, and handed it over.
"relax."

"You and I started from humble beginnings, you're family with impeccable roots, don't be so nervous."

His tone was casual, as if he had returned to his days in the army.
"Here, have some hot tea to warm yourself up."

"How did you feel about your trip to Yunnan? What are your thoughts?" Hei Zi quickly took the hot tea with both hands, not caring that it was too hot, and gulped down two big mouthfuls.

"I...I was just ordered to lead the delegation there and infiltrate Qujing City as an inside agent."

"The specific deployment of troops and the capture of cities and strongholds were all thanks to General Chuang."

"To be honest, this is for the best."

"If I were to lead troops in a major battle, I certainly wouldn't be as good as General Chuang in commanding them."

Jiang Han nodded and sighed softly:
"When I sent you and Deng Yang to infiltrate the Ming army as spies, you were gone for several years. You did miss many opportunities to stand on your own at the front."

"The military is growing larger and larger, often involving tens of thousands of troops, and also involves infantry, cavalry and artillery coordination, as well as logistics and strategic maneuvering."

"The complexity involved is far greater than it was back then with just a few hundred or a few thousand people."

He solemnly said,

"We're brothers, so I'll be frank with you."

"If you were to return to the front lines and lead a large army into battle on your own, it would indeed be quite difficult."

Upon hearing this, Kuroko nodded silently, holding the slightly hot teacup in both hands, his gaze lowered.

He certainly knew this principle.

It was precisely because he understood this that he hesitated and did not take the initiative to ask to return to the army.

Despite being mentally prepared, a hint of disappointment and dejection still flashed across his face when Jiang Han pointed it out to him.

However, Jiang Han suddenly changed the subject, looking intently at him:

"However, I have a new idea that might be more suitable for you."

"Listen to it first."

He looked up at her, somewhat puzzled.

Jiang Han said in a deep voice:

"I plan to have you take the lead in establishing a brand new department, primarily responsible for the collection and transmission of external intelligence."

"After all, you have been infiltrating the Ming army for many years and have experience in how to hide your identity, pass on messages, and observe enemy situations."

Kuroko paused for a moment, then subconsciously asked:

"Your Majesty means... the night siege?"

Jiang Han took a sip of tea and said slowly:
"Yes and no."

Hearing this, Hei Zi was even more confused:

"This humble general is dull-witted, please enlighten me, Your Majesty."

Jiang Han put down his teacup and patiently explained:
"In terms of function, this new department does have similarities to the night watchman."

"They were all required to go deep behind enemy lines to gather intelligence."

"But its scale, architecture, scope of tasks, and technical means all need to be significantly adjusted and upgraded."

"What you need to do is systematize it, professionalize it, and give it broader functions."

Night Scouts were not a regular unit in the Ming army, but rather a general term for elite scouts who carried out reconnaissance and intelligence gathering behind enemy lines.

Its name comes from its modus operandi—it never enters the camp at night and never returns after collecting supplies.

Many people easily confuse night scouts with cavalry, but in fact the two are quite different.

The Tangqi were essentially the outposts and eyes and ears of the main army. They were mainly responsible for battlefield cover, patrol and guard, and reconnaissance of the enemy's general movements. Their range of activity was usually not too far from the main army.

Night raiders, on the other hand, are more inclined towards strategic reconnaissance and intelligence gathering, requiring them to penetrate deep into enemy territory, operate for longer periods, and face greater risks.

To some extent, it can be considered espionage.

The earliest night watchmen can be traced back to the early Ming Dynasty during the Northern Expedition.

At that time, the Ming army often selected surrendered Mongols, taking advantage of their familiarity with the grasslands, to conduct reconnaissance deep behind enemy lines in southern and northern Mongolia.

There's a custom on the grasslands of setting up camp and lighting fires at night because of wolves, and horses can't see at night, making nighttime travel very dangerous.

These Mongol scouts would then splatter wolf urine on the ground or even on their bodies, and would camp without lighting a campfire, or continue their journey at night while leading their horses.

Because of their characteristic of not returning to camp to rest, they are also called "night scavengers".

Since the Tumu Crisis, night scouts have mainly been active in Xuanfu, Datong and other places, still engaging in high-risk activities such as going beyond the border walls and venturing deep into the grasslands for reconnaissance.

Later, the Jurchens rose to power in Liaodong, and in order to conduct reconnaissance, the Liaodong army also began to set up a large number of night watchmen.

They often impersonated Han Chinese from outside the Great Wall and infiltrated the Jurchen-controlled areas to conduct field reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.

Ordinary scouts are usually only responsible for patrolling and reconnaissance for dozens of miles, while night scouts often need to penetrate hundreds of miles deep and operate for several months.

In modern terms, the Night Scouts were like ancient special forces.

Yang Yiqing, the Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty, gave a vivid description in his "Miscellaneous Records of the Governor":
"...riding the wind, the horse charged straight into the camp, its stench unbearable, its momentum fierce, which my horse was accustomed to, so it was naturally undisturbed by bandits. It was not only accustomed to people, but also to horses..."

In summary, these people need to be swift and agile, bold yet meticulous, quick on their feet, and have exceptional eyesight.

They even need to know some tricks like pretending to be supernatural and spreading rumors, specializing in spying on core military intelligence.

The best among them are required to be able to observe stars and determine direction, read maps and remember routes, write and do arithmetic, and also know battlefield first aid, wilderness survival and other skills.

He's practically an all-rounder on the grasslands, a wilderness survival expert.

On weekdays, when they were out gathering intelligence, they had to disguise themselves at night, wearing non-Han clothing and speaking non-Han language. They didn't bring any of the Han pots and pans. After killing someone, they had to wipe it clean and leave no trace.

Hearing this, Hei Zi scratched his head, looking somewhat embarrassed:

"Your Majesty, it is not that I am declining."

"The problem is that there aren't many people in our army who actually come from a legitimate background as night scouts."

"It's not just that we don't have any in our army, there are very few night watchmen in the entire Shaanxi border region."

"Think about it, when we were soldiers, we couldn't even get the most basic pay."

"And the salaries of night watchmen are equivalent to those of three or four people, which the imperial court simply cannot afford to support."

"Without pay, who would be willing to risk their life?"

Jiang Han waved his hand and said in a deep voice:

"I'm not asking you to find ready-made ones. I'm asking you to take the lead, select soldiers from the army, and reorganize the unit."

"I'll give you three years, plus ample supplies and pay. Don't you think you can't build a capable intelligence force?"

"Within the three provinces, you can choose any registered soldier or militia member!"

"Now that the army is undergoing a major expansion, we can take this opportunity to hold a nationwide military skills competition."

“Select those elite talents who are agile, quick-witted, and have impeccable backgrounds, and allocate a portion of them to you.”

Upon hearing this, Hei Zi's eyes lit up.

This method is good. As long as we have manpower and supplies, we can train any elite force.

He slapped his thigh excitedly and exclaimed:
"I think it works!"

"As long as you select the best soldiers in the army, I will definitely find a way to train them!"

Jiang Han nodded with satisfaction after hearing this, and then began to assign specific task directions:
"Since you have no objections, then it's settled."

"Currently, there are several key areas that require our attention."

"You don't need to worry about Shaanxi for now. Deng Yang is still infiltrating the Ming army. I will let him be in charge of the intelligence network in the Hanzhong and Shaanxi directions."

"You should focus your main efforts on the Hubei and Hunan regions."

"This is the key area for the next phase of military operations, and it's also a place where various forces are intertwined, requiring a large amount of reliable intelligence."

"In addition, we can try to infiltrate the capital and see if we can use money to open some channels."

"Even if we start with lower- or mid-level officials, we should be able to obtain a lot of valuable intelligence."

He paused and continued:

"Also, you should send a capable team to Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian."

"Especially in Fujian, there is a maritime merchant armed group called Zheng Family, whose leader is Zheng Zhilong. They are now a maritime tyrant, controlling trade along the southeast coast. Their power should not be underestimated."

"In the future, whether it is foreign trade or military operations in the southeast, we will not be able to bypass them."

“Previously, Zheng Zhifeng had visited Sichuan on behalf of the Zheng family and had contact with us, and we discussed many cooperation matters.”

"You can use this as a pretext to send people there under the guise of trade and communication, and try to establish a long-term and stable liaison station."

"His main responsibility was to collect intelligence along the coast and establish connections with the Zheng family."

Jiang Han looked at Hei Zi, his tone becoming extremely solemn:
"I expect you to do more than just send a few people out to gather information."

"It is a vast intelligence network that covers major adversaries, has a clear hierarchy, transmits information rapidly, and reacts quickly."

"This intelligence network will not only be responsible for collecting battlefield intelligence in the future, but also for a series of tasks such as turning enemy generals to defect, organizing uprisings behind enemy lines, and planning civilian riots."

"These tasks require you to plan ahead and lay the groundwork."

Hei Zi was shocked when he heard this. He never expected that the burden on his shoulders would be so heavy.

He originally thought it would just be some trivial work of spying on military intelligence and passing on messages.

But now it seems that this is equivalent to secretly opening up a second battlefield.

He immediately stood up, straightened his back, and excitedly swore:
"This humble general will do his utmost and will never fail His Majesty's trust!"

Jiang Han smiled and gestured for him to sit down again:
"Don't be too happy yet."

"This job may seem to require no frontline combat, but its danger is probably no less than that of the main battlefield."

"Pay special attention to the safety of the intelligence personnel sent behind enemy lines. They are all elites, handpicked from the best, and also your brothers."

"Remember, we must do everything we can to minimize their casualties."

Jiang Han's concerns were not unfounded; intelligence personnel behind enemy lines have always faced extremely dangerous situations.

Take the night watchmen of the Ming Dynasty for example; their mortality rate was alarmingly high, and once they were arrested, their fate was often extremely tragic.

Historical records clearly document this, and it is shocking:
Hao Shu: Gouge out an eye, cut a knife into the heart; Shi Gang: Disembowel.

Liu Bao: Gouged out two eyes; Zhang Zi: Gouged out one eye, and pierced by seven arrows.

Wu Zhenguan: After disembowelment, he still gouged out two eyes; Luo Shiqing: He gouged out one eye, was hit by three arrows, and had his head chopped off.

As for those who disappeared without a trace, and whose remains could not even be found, they are countless.

A poem laments, "In this lonely city, all the people are white-haired, all are Han Chinese," which perfectly captures the desolation and heroism of the frontier where night watchmen never come.

Jiang Han gave his final instructions:

"Go back first and think carefully about the basic structure and organizational system of this department, and bring me a detailed charter."

"After I revise and confirm, I will officially issue the order to have them conduct a competition in their respective armies to help you select elite troops."

(End of this chapter)