Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 100 To talk about Liaodong, one cannot only talk about Liaodong.
Zhu Youjian's statement, "Today I have obtained Master Sun, just as Emperor Gaozu obtained Zhang Liang and Emperor Guangwu obtained Deng Yu," was like a boulder crashing into Sun Chengzong's heart, which had long been calm and undisturbed by storms.

For a moment, the 64-year-old minister was somewhat lost in thought.

His face, which was as red as a jujube, seemed to have turned slightly red.

Astonishment, doubt, realization, and confusion—ultimately, all these complex emotions converged into an indescribable surge, causing even his long, bushy beard to tremble slightly.

He had been living in seclusion in Gaoyang for a long time, and the official reports he received were mostly from ten days or a month ago. This time, he rushed to the capital and quickly entered the palace. He knew almost nothing about the new emperor's character and style.

This overwhelming "Han Emperor's style" was truly overwhelming for him.

But in the end, when he saw Zhu Youjian's hands gripping his tightly, felt that undeniable strength, and looked into those eyes full of sincerity and trust, all his surprise and doubt vanished.

A warm current called "enlightenment" washed over his gray hair, making the eyes of this old man, who had lived a life of hardship and had long since become indifferent to honor and disgrace, feel a little hot.

"His Majesty……"

Sun Chengzong's voice was slightly hoarse. He immediately tried to break free of his hands and bow down, saying, "Your Majesty's praise is too much. I... am unworthy of it!"

"Master Sun, there's no need for such formalities!"

Zhu Youjian tightened his grip, firmly supporting him and preventing him from bowing down.

This unwavering strength startled Sun Chengzong once again.

Zhu Youjian said sincerely, "I have just ascended the throne, and the various memorials and reports present conflicting opinions, making it difficult to reach a consensus. Although I am willing to discern the truth, I also find it hard to distinguish between loyalty and treachery."

"Therefore, I had no choice but to test Master Sun with three questions just now, and I hope Master Sun will forgive me."

After saying that, he actually bowed slightly to Sun Chengzong.

This simple bow, though seemingly insignificant, carried a weight heavier than Mount Tai in Sun Chengzong's eyes.

The emperor apologized to his subjects!
Sun Chengzong's last trace of doubt vanished completely. He quickly stepped aside and solemnly returned the greeting: "Your Majesty is too kind! It is only natural for a ruler and his subject to respond to each other. Your Majesty is a man of great wisdom and strategy, and I have learned a great deal from you."

He understood completely.

The new king, who was only seventeen years old, was completely different from his elder brother, who had also ascended the throne at a young age.

Both ascended the throne before reaching adulthood; could this one be a born emperor?
Zhu Youjian laughed heartily, took Sun Chengzong's arm, and kindly led him to the huge sand table in the hall.

"Since I ascended the throne, I have been thinking about the Liaodong affairs day and night. However, my thoughts and ideas are quite different from the mainstream views in the court. Today is the perfect opportunity for me to ask Master Sun to correct me."

"Your subject is all ears," Sun Chengzong said solemnly, his gaze fixed on the sand table.

After that series of courtesies, tests, and apologies, he had placed Zhu Youjian in a position he had never seen before.

Zhu Youjian paced in front of the sand table, picking up the long wooden stick in his hand.

He lowered his wrist, and the wooden stick pointed to the east side of the sand table.

"In the past, the Liaodong affairs were all based on the deployment of the three regions: Ningjin in the left of Liaodong, Lushun in the south of Liaodong, and Dongjiang in the right of Liaodong."

"Further outwards, Liaoxi is backed by Jizhou, Yongping, Tianjin and the Western Barbarians; Lushun is backed by Dengzhou and Laizhou in Shandong; and Dongjiang is backed by Korea."

Is this statement true?

Sun Chengzong nodded silently.

Although the Ming Dynasty's strategic deployment against the Later Jin Dynasty has changed over the years, the core idea has remained the same.

Zhu Youjian slowly moved his long staff to the left on the sand table, pointing to the area representing the various Mongol tribes.

"However, the westward migration of Hudun and Tuhan has already taken shape. Therefore, we can no longer consider the matter of the Western Barbarians together with Liaoxi."

"We must guard against the Tiger Chieftain's forces moving westward together, and also guard against the Slave Chieftain using this opportunity to spy on us from the west. Therefore, the so-called three-way arrangement needs to be supplemented by another party, the 'Mongols,' turning it into a four-way arrangement. Is this not true?"

Sun Chengzong's gaze sharpened, and he stroked his beard and nodded, saying, "Your Majesty's previous analysis was spot on. It is indeed necessary to propose a separate approach as a countermeasure."

Zhu Youjian smiled slightly, but suddenly withdrew the long stick from the sand table and gently tapped it in his palm.

"However, I do not intend to discuss the arrangements in all directions today, such as how to increase troops and how to transfer generals."

Sun Chengzong was taken aback.

Zhu Youjian turned around, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

“When I was in the Prince’s Palace, I read Sun Tzu’s Art of War and saw that it said: ‘The best strategy is to attack the enemy’s plans; the next best is to disrupt their alliances; the next best is to attack their army; and the worst is to besiege their cities.’”

"These words were indeed a wake-up call when I first read them."

"However, after I ascended the throne, upon rereading this discourse, I realized that it was merely the words of a general, not the words of an emperor!"

Sun Chengzong was startled and remained silent, listening even more attentively.

Zhu Youjian spoke in a clear voice, which echoed in the empty hall, carrying an unquestionable determination.

"In my opinion, to resolve the issue of Liaodong, we should not only look at Liaodong!"

He suddenly thrust out the wooden stick in his hand, striking the sand table with great force, which represented the location of Ligdan Khan.

"But to determine the nine borders, we can't just look at the nine borders!"

The wooden stick moved swiftly across the sand table, following the winding Great Wall defense line, and finally landed heavily and steadily on the small mound representing the capital!
"The nation's troubles lie not only in the strength of foreign invaders, but even more so in the corruption of its internal affairs. If the skin is gone, where will the hair attach itself?"

He turned abruptly, staring intently at Sun Chengzong, and said, word by word:

"Therefore, how to fight in Liaodong ultimately depends on... how our Great Ming Dynasty needs Liaodong to fight now!"

"Master Sun, do you agree?"

These words struck Sun Chengzong like a thunderbolt!

In his hazy state, he seemed to have a premonition of something, an ominous yet strangely exciting feeling that made his heart beat faster. But he still steadily cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty's words are indeed as the imperial decree is, and they are thought-provoking."

Zhu Youjian smiled and turned to signal Gao Shiming.

Gao Shiming, who had been standing by for a long time, understood and bowed to take out a thin booklet from his sleeve, presenting it with both hands.

"Master Sun, take a look at this first."

Sun Chengzong was puzzled, but he still solemnly accepted it.

The booklet had no cover and felt very light; he slowly unfolded it.

His pupils contracted slightly after just one glance.

[...I passed the imperial examination in the fifth year of the Tianqi reign and passed through Zhenyang, Henan...]

"...When I passed through Liaodong, I saw the residence of a certain general..."

[...Your subject has met with the Central City Military Command...]

"...While I was in the region, bandits rose up everywhere..."

One by one, one by one, in all sorts of ways.

The author did not mention any specific names, yet the story felt incredibly real, as if it happened just yesterday, right before my eyes.

Sun Chengzong's breathing gradually became rapid.

He flipped through the pages faster and faster, and even his battle-hardened, rock-solid hands couldn't help but tremble slightly.

He got it!

He finally understood what the young emperor meant!
This new emperor is different from the Tianqi Emperor!
He no longer intends to prioritize Liaodong!

His real priority was to bring order to the world, rectify official corruption, and repair this empire that had begun to rot from the root!
The booklet was thin, and Sun Chengzong finished reading it quickly.

He slowly and gently closed the booklet, and for a moment, he remained silent.

Zhu Youjian's voice rang out at this moment, carrying a hint of questioning.

"Master Sun, what do you think is the most urgent matter for the entire Ming Dynasty right now?"

Sun Chengzong remained silent.

A fierce internal struggle was brewing within him.

He is 64 years old this year, and his hearing is gradually failing him. He is also experiencing various health problems.

He didn't know how many more years he had to live.

He suffered hardship in the first half of his life, and his talents went unrecognized.

He passed the imperial examination at the age of forty-one, but then the Wanli Emperor became negligent in his duties, and he remained in the Hanlin Academy for sixteen years.

It wasn't until he was fifty-seven years old, when the late emperor ascended the throne, that he truly stepped onto the stage of history as the emperor's tutor.

And the first thing he did upon his arrival was to deal with the Liao Dynasty!
Now, more than six years later, everything he thinks about, everything he dreams about, is about Liaodong!

In the previous conversation with His Majesty, I mentioned the Battle of Liuhe, where I was defeated due to impatience.

But wasn't Sun Chengzong's own anxiety also present in that anxious state?

If it weren't for this eagerness to make a name for himself, why would he have disregarded his advanced age and rushed to the capital the moment he received the imperial edict to reinstate him?
Throughout history, if we were to truly discuss his achievements, he never even served as a county magistrate.

The only thing he could be proud of in his life, and that would make him go down in history, was his work with the Liao Dynasty!

Can……

The words and phrases from that booklet resurfaced in his mind.

Those displaced people, those corrupt officials, those rotten military equipment, those decaying foundations...

Sun Chengzong's expression shifted between light and dark, and in the end, all his struggles turned into a long sigh from his chest.

He raised his head, his gaze clear, as if all personal gains and losses had been washed away, leaving only a deep love for the country.

He bowed deeply to Zhu Youjian.

"Your Majesty, the most important task for the Ming Dynasty today is to improve its internal affairs."

"Although the situation in Liaodong is urgent, it cannot be rushed as much as... the internal decay and corruption!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian clapped his hands and sighed, his eyes filled with satisfaction and admiration.

"Master Sun truly has the world in his heart and a long-term vision. I am very pleased!"

—Sun Chengzong, you also passed this additional question!

He turned to Gao Shiming and said loudly, "Bring the screen up!"

"According to the order."

Sun Chengzong turned his head and saw several eunuchs carefully carrying an enormous screen into the hall.

Zhu Youjian smiled slightly, gestured to Sun Chengzong, and made a "please" gesture.

"Master Sun, please come to my door."

"And observe...my strategy for Liaodong!"

(End of this chapter)