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

Chapter 357 Struggle for Merit and Power
The capture of the traitor sparked jubilation throughout the imperial court.

The capture of the notorious bandit who had plagued the Northwest and Central Plains for more than a decade was undoubtedly a shot in the arm for the waning Ming Dynasty.

Officials sent memorials to the palace one after another, almost overwhelming Zhu Youjian's desk.

These memorials were full of flattery, praising the emperor as "wise and mighty, with awe-inspiring power," almost comparable to the reigns of Emperor Taizu and Emperor Chengzu.

Everyone asserted that the eradication of the bandits was imminent and the revival of the Ming Dynasty was in sight!

Under such intense praise, Zhu Youjian's usually gloomy face showed a rare glimmer of light, and he even started visiting the inner palace more often.

However, amidst this harmonious atmosphere of good news, a few memorials stood out as particularly jarring and attention-grabbing.

The leader was none other than Minister Yang, who was deeply favored by the emperor.

When they first learned that Hong Chengchou had captured Gao Yingxiang alive, only Yang Sichang was extremely agitated.

That guy surnamed Hong is really capable. I was on guard against him so many times, but he still managed to find a loophole and do such a great job.

If Hong Chengchou were to single-handedly wipe out the bandits, he would surely be transferred to the capital for his merits, and might even be promoted to a cabinet position.

Yang Sichang would never allow his father's killer to advance any further, so he planned to sow discord between Hong Chengchou and the central government.

His memorials were written with great skill, demonstrating a deep understanding of official writing techniques.

He began by praising Hong Chengchou and Sun Chuanting, acknowledging their "effective command and commendable loyalty and courage."

Subsequently, Yang Sichang flattered Zhu Youjian, claiming that the suppression of the rebels was "entirely due to Your Majesty's mighty power and profound wisdom, which enabled you to achieve this great feat of quelling the rebellion and stabilizing the dynasty."

After flattering the emperor to his satisfaction, Yang Sichang subtly shifted his tone, revealing his true ruthlessness.

He first took a step back and escalated the issue, placing it at the level of discipline and imperial power:

"Although Governor Hong has performed a great feat this time, there are some things that are worth considering."

"Your Majesty is wise. There was already a decree that ordered Governor Hong to be in charge of the Northwest border affairs and the gateway between Shaanxi and Henan; the matters of suppressing and pacifying the Central Plains were to be coordinated by Xiong Wencan, the Premier of the Six Provinces."

"This is His Majesty's intention to unify authority and avoid obstacles."

“As the commander-in-chief, Hong Chengchou should have been conscientious in his duties and obeyed the emperor’s orders; but he disregarded his duties, overstepped his authority to mobilize troops, and took dangerous actions to set up ambushes.”

"Although the ringleader was eventually captured alive, his actions were in fact contrary to previous orders and disregarded the central command's instructions."

"As the old saying goes, 'When a general is in the field, he may disobey the emperor's orders.' Although this is a matter of expediency, if everyone uses 'expediency' as an excuse to actually disobey the emperor's orders, where is the dignity of the court?"

"If one can disobey orders today for the sake of merit, can one also disobey orders tomorrow for personal gain?"

"If local governors and generals follow suit, disregarding the central government as if it didn't exist, where would the laws and regulations be? Where would His Majesty's authority be?"

"This truly concerns the foundation of the nation, and I have no choice but to speak frankly and frankly!"

Yang Sichang never mentioned his personal grievances with Hong Chengchou; every word he spoke was from the perspective of upholding imperial power and ensuring the unity of political and military orders.

He knew that the emperor, who had experienced the Yuan Chonghuan incident, was extremely sensitive to and deeply abhorred the abuse of power by military governors and the disobedience of officials.

These words indeed caused Emperor Chongzhen, who was still immersed in joy, to frown and his face darken.

But it's not over.

Yang Sichang then resorted to a trick of shifting the focus in his memorial, attempting to dilute and share Hong Chengchou's credit.

He wrote the following in his memorial:
"Upon closer examination, it is possible that Governor Hong's ability to capture the rebel leader alive was not without merit in pacifying the front lines."

"It was precisely because Premier Xiong spread benevolence and implemented the policy of pacification on the front lines that the major bandits such as Xian and Cao hesitated and were unable to join forces with the rebel Li Zicheng."

"Therefore, Governor Sun was able to concentrate his elite troops and set up an ambush at Zijing Pass."

"This is clear evidence of the combination of suppression and appeasement. It shows that His Majesty's original intention in establishing the two ministers, the Supervisor and the Judge, was indeed far-sighted."

Yang Sichang's meaning was very clear: he pointed out that Hong Chengchou's success was built on the favorable situation created by Xiong Wencan.

In this way, Hong Chengchou's achievements could be re-linked with the overall situation, forcibly taking a share of the spoils.

Unlike Yang Sichang's seemingly gentle yet sharp criticism, the memorials submitted by the other officials and censors were far more vehement.

They showed no mercy, directly impeaching Hong Chengchou for disobeying orders, being arrogant and domineering, and disregarding the emperor's decrees, demanding that the emperor severely punish him to set things right.

After reading these memorials, Zhu Youjian fell into deep thought for a long time.

Yang Sichang's words made sense to him.

Hong Chengchou was suspected of disobeying the imperial order, which indeed violated Zhu Youjian's greatest taboo.

Under normal circumstances, he would have dealt with such behavior severely to serve as a warning to others.

However, on the other hand, Hong Chengchou and Sun Chuanting did indeed annihilate the rebel army and even captured the rebel leader alive, which is an undeniable great achievement.

It should be noted that, according to reports from officials in various regions, the rebel army was frequently inflicted heavy losses and annihilated, and Gao Yingxiang had "died" at least seven or eight times.

This time, however, it was a genuine capture, alive and well; there was no faking it.

After careful consideration, Zhu Youjian decided not to reprimand or punish the man, since he had just made a great contribution and the soldiers on the front lines should not be discouraged.

As for Sun Chuanting, who directly commanded the battle, he issued an edict to promote his official rank by one level, increase his salary, and give him the treatment of a third-rank official.

As for Hong Chengchou, he was given the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, a first-rank official position, to acknowledge his achievements in overall planning.

However, at the end of the imperial edict, Emperor Chongzhen abruptly added a sentence:
"Order Sun Chuanting's troops to be transferred back to Shaanxi immediately to guard the Tongguan line, and not to go out to fight lightly."

This decree may seem like a very ordinary defense adjustment, but in fact it kills two birds with one stone.

Sun Chuanting, who had just made great contributions and was showing his talent, was transferred away from the rear to prevent him from getting too close to Hong Chengchou and forming a faction.

At the same time, it can also strip away the Qin soldiers that Hong Chengchou relied on to achieve his success.

This effectively clipped Hong Chengchou's wings, preventing him from launching another large-scale operation.

Apparently promote someone but actually demote them; divide and rule.

Despite his great achievements, Hong Chengchou's military power was weakened once again, and he could only stop there, unable to make any further progress.

At the same time, Yang Sichang was also in his study, writing furiously by candlelight.

He needed to quickly inform Xiong Wencan and instruct him to act swiftly, either to annihilate or capture the remaining forces of Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai.

He wrote the following in the letter:

"Brother Tai Meng, the capture of the rebel Li Zicheng has brought jubilation throughout the court and the country, which is truly a cause for celebration."

"Although the rebel leader Li Zicheng has been eliminated, the two chieftains, Li Xian and Cao, are still alive. The overall situation in the Central Plains is not yet settled, so we must not be complacent for even a moment!"

"Whether to appease or suppress, a swift decision must be made; delays must not be allowed to lest further unforeseen circumstances arise."

"Remember this: never let the Hong family reap all the rewards. The credit for suppressing and pacifying them should rightfully go to your brother, then you can secure a position in the central government."

Xiong Wencan was able to become premier because of Yang Sichang's strong recommendation.

The person who acted as a bridge between them was Yao Minggong, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.

Yao Minggong and Yang Sichang were both from the same hometown in Huguang (Hubei and Hunan provinces). They both claimed to be "non-partisan" in the imperial court, so the two had a close relationship.

Xiong Wencan is Yao Minggong's in-law.

It was precisely because of this relationship that Xiong Wencan came into Yang Sichang's sights.

There is no such thing as a truly non-partisan person in the world. When someone is in a high position, all sorts of connections will naturally come to curry favor with them.

Yang Sichang disregarded numerous skilled generals and commanders, instead recommending Xiong Wencan, who was renowned for pacifying pirates in Guangdong and Guangxi. His ulterior motives were self-evident.

After sealing the secret letter with sealing wax, Yang Sichang immediately summoned his confidant and ordered him to send it to the Premier's headquarters in Anqing as soon as possible, to be personally opened by Xiong Wencan.

Although Xiong Wencan was not good at military or political affairs, he was shrewd and had already sensed the crisis without Yang Sichang's reminder.

The news of Hong Chengchou's capture and killing of Gao Yingxiang was nothing short of a resounding slap in the face to him.

If Hong Hengjiu were to press on and wipe out Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai as well, wouldn't his position as the head of the suppression force become meaningless?

Where should he put his pride?
We must not let Hong Chengchou take all the credit for suppressing the rebels!
With this mindset, Xiong Wencan quickly launched a counterattack.

He immediately dispatched two teams of messengers, each carrying a personal letter, to the camps of Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai respectively.

"As Your Majesty the Eighth Prince knows, the rebel leader Gao Yingxiang is stubborn and refuses to listen to reason. He has been captured alive by the imperial army in the Danshui River Valley, and his elite troops have been annihilated."

"A few days ago, the prison cart carrying the rebel king was transported to the capital, and he will soon be executed by slow slicing."

"what?!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xianzhong was greatly alarmed. He jumped up from the tiger-skin chair, grabbed the messenger by the shoulder, and questioned him:

"Are you fucking bluffing me?"

"Was the rebel leader really captured alive? And is he going to be taken to the capital and executed by being cut into a thousand pieces?"

Upon hearing this news, Zhang Xianzhong's first reaction was that he suspected a trap.

Although there was some discord between him and Gao Yingxiang, they were both leaders of the rebel army from Shaanxi, and they had fought side by side for many years and cooperated quite well.

More importantly, although Gao Yingxiang's troops were not as strong as before, they still had 50,000 men. How could they be easily annihilated?
The messenger, feeling the pain from the iron grip of the large hand, quickly took two steps back and said seriously:

"Absolutely true!"

"This was a plan personally devised by Governor Hong and Governor Sun, who painstakingly lured the rebel Li Zicheng into a desperate situation, thus achieving great success."

"Heaven cherishes life, and Prime Minister Xiong could not bear to see more killing, so he specially sent me here to show the Eighth King a clear path."

"If you realize your mistakes and return to the court as soon as possible, you can not only save the lives of your brothers, but also secure a future for yourself."

"Does Your Majesty also wish to follow in the footsteps of the traitor and experience the taste of three thousand six hundred cuts?"

"I'm sure you don't want to fall into Governor Hong's hands either, do you?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xianzhong seemed deflated, slowly sitting back in his chair, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

These rebels, operating on the move, often heard news of who was surrounded or who was annihilated.

But it won't be long before these "dead men" reappear before the world.

Therefore, when he first heard about Gao Yingxiang's downfall, he simply thought it was a rumor.

To this end, he had previously sent out several scouts to Dengzhou in an attempt to contact Gao Yingxiang's troops.

But half a month passed, and the news brought back by the scouts was getting worse with each passing day. In addition, the government messenger spoke with absolute certainty today, leaving him no choice but to believe it.

He remained silent for a long time, then waved to the messenger, his voice hoarse:
"You go out first."

"This matter is of great importance; please allow me to consider it further."

The messenger wanted to persuade him further, but was stopped by Zhang Xianzhong's adopted sons, who persuaded and pushed him out of the tent.

Seeing that only a few trusted confidants remained in the tent, Sun Kewang immediately asked:
"Father, what are you still considering?"

"The rebel leader has already fallen, and the government army is gaining momentum. We are trapped in this small area and cannot advance or retreat."

"Is there any other way out besides surrendering right now?"

Zhang Xianzhong stroked his beard, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes:
"We have to lower our guard. In the current situation, fighting head-on will only lead to our death."

“But you made a point just now. Since we are already surrounded by government troops, why doesn’t Xiong Wencan simply send his troops to suppress us instead of going through the trouble of trying to persuade us to surrender?”

Sun Kewang was taken aback upon hearing this:
"What does Father mean?"

Zhang Xianzhong sneered:
"This Premier Xiong reminds me of an old friend—Yang He, the former Governor-General of the Three Border Regions."

"They're cut from the same cloth."

Sun Kewang was a veteran, and naturally he had heard the story of Yang He's failed attempt to win him over, so he blurted out:

"Father, are you saying that this man surnamed Xiong is a proponent of appeasement?"

Zhang Xianzhong nodded and said in a deep voice:

"Nine times out of ten!"

"Otherwise, it's hard to explain why the government troops didn't take advantage of their great victory and wipe us out in one fell swoop."

"Since he wants to appease us, then we have room to negotiate!"

He turned to look at Sun Kewang.

"The most vulnerable are the ones who are easy to manipulate."

"Kewang, tonight take gold and silver, along with fine wine and meat, and go to the envoy to sound him out."

"Let's see if we can negotiate some terms."

"Just say that Old Zhang is willing to accept the offer of amnesty, but the troops cannot be scattered."

"The refugees trapped on the outskirts can be dispersed, but our old guard in the Western Camp, our elite troops who are good at fighting, must be preserved!"

This time, Zhang Xianzhong was smarter and tried to gain the most leverage for himself before surrendering.

On the other hand, Luo Rucai, despite being known for his wisdom and resourcefulness, didn't have time to think things through when he learned that Gao Yingxiang's troops had been annihilated.

The army of tens of thousands was wiped out in an instant, and Gao Yingxiang himself was sent to the capital to be executed by being cut into a thousand pieces.

In his fear, he accepted Xiong Wencan's terms of surrender without hesitation and led his troops to surrender.

With Luo Rucai's surrender, Zhang Xianzhong became the only remaining major force of resistance in the Central Plains.

The pressure immediately fell on Xiong Wencan, who hesitated greatly when Zhang Xianzhong proposed that he retain the troops.

There are far too many examples of bandits in the Central Plains who surrendered and then rebelled again. Zhang Xianzhong's refusal to disband his core forces has always been a huge hidden danger.

If we agree, it would be tantamount to raising a tiger to cause trouble.

Just as Xiong Wencan was hesitating, Yang Sichang's letter arrived "timely" on his desk.

Looking at the urgent and pressing words in the letter, Xiong Wencan scratched his head in frustration:
"That's it!"

“In extraordinary times, do extraordinary things!”

He steeled himself and began trying to convince himself.

Zheng Zhilong from Fujian, after being granted amnesty, lived a peaceful life and even served the court by killing traitors.
Perhaps this time Zhang Xianzhong will finally settle down.

Besides, these bandits are all seasoned and ruthless bandits who have followed Zhang Xianzhong through thick and thin for many years. If they are forcibly incorporated into the army, it may corrupt military discipline.

If they are dispersed, they will have nowhere to go and may well regroup in the mountains, causing even more trouble.

It would be better to let them stay under Zhang Xianzhong's command, and then find a way to keep them under strict control and gradually take action.
Under this self-deceptive mental construct, Xiong Wencan finally made up his mind and gritted his teeth to agree to Zhang Xianzhong's conditions.

Soon, Zhang Xianzhong was formally pacified in Gucheng, presented a letter of surrender, and expressed his willingness to submit to the imperial court.

Xiong Wencan, representing the imperial court, granted him the rank of Assistant General and ordered him to garrison troops in Gucheng, ready to be dispatched at any time.

With Zhang Xianzhong's formal surrender, the campaign to suppress bandits was finally declared a "complete victory," and the Central Plains returned to a state of apparent peace.

When the good news reached the capital, the entire court and the public were once again filled with jubilation.

The long-standing problem that had plagued the Ming Dynasty for more than a decade seemed to have been eliminated in one fell swoop. Countless officials celebrated their success, believing that peace could be expected throughout the country and the revival of the Ming Dynasty was in sight!
Various memorials praising the emperor flooded the palace again, piling up on Emperor Chongzhen's desk.

Normally, Zhu Youjian might have been excited about this.

But at this moment, holding the book "Details of Zhang Xianzhong's Reception of Compassion" that Xiong Wencan had brought him, he couldn't feel happy at all.

"That damned traitor... how did he end up being appeased?!"

Zhu Youjian threw down the memorial, got up, and paced back and forth in the hall, appearing extremely agitated.

"How did Xiong Wencan manage to recruit him?!"

He could never forget the humiliation of Zhang Xianzhong, Gao Yingxiang and other troops capturing Fengyang and burning down the imperial tombs.

How can such heinous culprits who destroyed the Zhu family's ancestral graves be wiped out simply because they surrendered?

In Zhu Youjian's view, only by executing Zhang Xianzhong in the marketplace could he alleviate his hatred and appease the spirits of his ancestors in heaven.

As he pondered, a thought slowly rose in his mind:
"Why don't we have Xiong Wencan find an excuse to lure Zhang Xianzhong into a trap, then escort him to the capital and execute him by slow slicing!"

Zhu Youjian then revealed this idea to his confidant Yang Sichang, wanting to hear his opinion;
Or rather, he hoped that Yang Sichang could find a way for him to get revenge without losing face.

Unexpectedly, Yang Sichang strongly opposed this.

"Your Majesty, it is absolutely impossible!"

"Now that the flames of war have just subsided in the Central Plains and people yearn for stability, it is the perfect time to appease the local communities and allow the people to rest. We must not create any unnecessary trouble!"

"If we execute those who have surrendered now, what will become of the court's credibility? How will the people view Your Majesty?"

“Indeed, I can step forward and take full responsibility for this matter to protect Your Majesty from slander.”

"But if this matter gets out, not only will Zhang Xianzhong's troops surely rebel, but Luo Rucai, who has already surrendered, and even other bandits who are watching from the sidelines, will all be in danger!"

"At that time, the bandits will surrender and then rebel again, and war will break out everywhere. The situation will be out of control!"

Zhu Youjian was refuted by his confidant, and his face turned very ugly. He said angrily:

"Are we just going to give up like this?!"

"I will not rest in peace until this grudge is avenged! Even in death, I will have no face to face my ancestors!"

Yang Sichang knew the emperor's inner conflict and had already devised a plan. He immediately stepped forward and whispered:
"Your Majesty, I have a plan that may satisfy both sides."

"In my opinion, it would be better to be patient for the time being, grant these bandits who have been appeased official titles, and transfer them to other battlefields to serve the country by killing the bandits."

"Nowadays, the Jurchens in Liaodong are a major threat, and the rebels in the southwest also urgently need to be eliminated."

"Your Majesty, please consider the greater good and endure what ordinary people cannot."

"As for the bandits who have been appeased, they may be ordered to leave the pass and fight a bloody battle with the Eastern barbarians, or they may be sent to Sichuan to suppress the rebels on the Yangtze River."

"Regardless of victory or defeat, both sides can weaken each other. If the bandits die on the battlefield, it will be exactly what Your Majesty desires."

"If the bandits disobey orders and fail to advance, they can be dealt with according to military law in a justifiable manner."

"In this way, we can both eliminate this great traitor without damaging the court's reputation, which is far better than killing surrendered people and damaging the court's reputation."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian remained silent for a long time.

Although he was unwilling, he knew that what Yang Sichang said was indeed the wise and insightful advice of a seasoned politician.

The Ming Dynasty is now far from being able to withstand another attack by bandits.

He kept convincing himself that a small act of impatience could ruin a great plan... and that they were still facing internal and external troubles, so he could not act rashly.

I have spared no effort in increasing pay and training troops, and in laying a tight net, all to completely eliminate the two biggest hidden dangers in Liaodong and the southwest.
Especially the thieves in the southwest!

The thought of Sichuan made Zhu Youjian's heart tighten.

Compared to the Gao, Zhang, and Luo tribes that were causing chaos in the Central Plains, the giant bandit who occupied the three southwestern provinces had been unusually quiet lately.

In this war in the Central Plains, he did not take the opportunity to send troops to stir up trouble. This calm made Chongzhen feel even more uneasy.

"No war has broken out, and the land is silent..."

A thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

"If that little thief surnamed Jiang is allowed to recuperate for a few more years, I'm afraid the three southwestern provinces will truly be beyond our control!"

A strong sense of urgency welled up in my heart. There was no other way but to make my ancestors suffer a little longer.

Zhu Youjian suddenly raised his head, stared at Yang Sichang, and gave the order.

"What Minister Yang said makes sense, I... approve it."

"Now that the war in the Central Plains is over, the court can free up its resources to launch a major offensive."

"Next, our top priority is to send troops to Sichuan and recover the lost territories in the southwest!"

"You need to discuss with the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue as soon as possible and come up with a comprehensive and feasible plan for advancing troops. The provisions, troops, and commanders all need to be carefully planned."

As he spoke, he suddenly remembered something and lowered his voice to say:
"Furthermore, how is the peace negotiation with the Eastern barbarians outside the pass progressing?"

"I'm really worried because we haven't heard from you for so long."

"We must not wait until the imperial army is in the midst of its campaign in the southwest, and then something happens in Liaodong, allowing the Tartars to break in."

"Only by ensuring the safety of the capital region and the stability of the northern defense line can the imperial court act freely and launch a full-scale attack on Sichuan!"

(End of this chapter)