How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 193 Train Soldiers Reappear (Second Update, Please Subscribe)
Kuku and Tuncheng.

Huang Taiji sat high in the Khan's palace, looking down at the dark mass of newly submitted Mongol Taijis below. The aroma of wine and meat mingled with the smell of mutton filled the hall. His face was expressionless, as calm as ice.

After a few rounds of drinks, he put down his silver cup, opened his mouth, and began to speak fluent Mongolian.

"The battle in southern Mongolia has been going on for so long, it's time to take a break."

Everyone stopped eating and looked at him.

"When war breaks out, the herdsmen suffer, and the grasslands are stained with blood. This is not what the Eternal Heaven wants to see." Huang Taiji's gaze swept over the crowd. "I've been thinking that we should formally make peace with the young emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Let's take the Great Wall as the boundary, each side maintain peace, and let the people catch their breath. What do you think?"

A buzz of discussion arose from below. Seeking peace right after a victory? The Khan's thoughts were unfathomable.

Huang Taiji ignored him and directly pointed to Xifu: "Xifu!"

"Your subject is here!" Xifu quickly stepped forward.

"Choose a few Taijis from the Tumed tribe and send them in three groups," Huang Taiji instructed, as if it were a routine matter. "One group goes to the Hetao region to find Consort Nangnang. Tell her that as long as she brings her people to submit, the position of my secondary consort will be vacant."

"The other route is to go to the Ming Dynasty government office in Datong and formally convey my intention to negotiate peace."

He paused, his gaze sharpening. "The third route: go to Zhenhai Fort and see Sutai." He emphasized, "Tell her that the Great Jin and the Great Ming are about to make peace, and Emperor Chongzhen is busy with his new policies. He will never wage war against me for a Mongol woman like her. Let her see the situation clearly and stop harboring illusions!"

"Yes, Your Majesty! This servant understands!" Xifu accepted the order and withdrew to make arrangements.

After the banquet, Huang Taiji left only a few trusted confidants, including Xifu, Abatai, and Yuetuo.

Abatai, being straightforward, couldn't help but ask, "Great Khan, do you really want to make peace with the Southern Dynasty?"

Huang Taiji's lips curled into a cold smile, all traces of the peace he had shown at the banquet gone.

"Make peace? How is that possible?"

Several people looked at each other.

"I'm just dangling a carrot in front of that brat Chongzhen!" Huang Taiji tapped his fingers on the table. "Besides, that Chongzhen is treacherous and cunning. Would he really be sincere about negotiating with me? He'll definitely use this peace talks as an excuse to seize the time to reinforce the border walls of Xuanfu and Datong!"

He stood up, walked to the huge map hanging there, and traced his finger from Shanhaiguan all the way to Datong.

“Look, the Great Wall stretches for over two thousand miles from Shanhaiguan to Datong. How many soldiers does Emperor Chongzhen have? He has defenses everywhere, yet there are weaknesses everywhere! If he hears that I want to negotiate peace, he will feign compliance with me while adjusting his defenses. As long as I am stationed at Kuku and Tun, his troops will definitely focus their defenses on Datong.”

His finger suddenly jabbed towards Xuanfu and Jizhen.

"Once he has transferred all his elite troops to Datong, this place, and this place, will inevitably be vulnerable! My purpose in negotiating peace is to force him to mobilize his troops! Once he has completed his deployment and our army has rested and recuperated, we can bypass Xuanfu or Jizhou and strike directly at the capital! This is my true intention!"

Abatai and the others suddenly realized what was happening and exclaimed in unison, "The Great Khan is wise!"

Huang Taiji snorted: "That brat Chongzhen is surely making empty promises to me. Let's see whose pie will actually cook up and fill our stomachs in the end!"

Beijing, Tsinghua Garden in Xiyuan.

A thin layer of ice had formed on the water, and the garden was quiet. However, one of the warm pavilions was brightly lit, and shadowy figures moved about.

Emperor Chongzhen stood before a huge sand table, holding his huanghuali wood thermos. The mountains, rivers, cities, and passes on the sand table were rendered with exquisite detail, depicting the terrain of the Xuanfu and Datong area.

Minister of War Wang Zaijin, Vice Minister Yang Sichang, newly appointed Vice Minister of War Sun Chuanting, generals Cao Wenzhao and Sun Yingyuan, supervising eunuch Xu Qinian, and the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial Wei Zhongxian all stood solemnly to one side.

On the sand table, a small wooden block representing Zhenhai Fort is planted alone next to Angganor, surrounded by small red flags representing the Later Jin army.

"You all know Huang Taiji's peace terms," ​​Chongzhen said calmly. "This time it's not just empty talk; a Taiji from Tumed has come, bringing with him a handwritten letter from Huang Taiji. It's quite formal. Tell me, what do you think?"

Wang Zaijin spoke first, his tone heavy: "Your Majesty, the barbarian chieftain's actions are highly unusual. Having just won a great victory, he now seeks peace; there must be a trick involved. However, since he has spoken, perhaps we can send a single envoy to feign compliance and buy us time to reorganize our border defenses."

Yang Sichang added, "What Minister Wang said is absolutely right. However, even if peace is negotiated, border defenses cannot be relaxed. We must be especially wary of their feigned efforts to secretly advance their own territory."

Chongzhen nodded, then turned his gaze to Cao Wenzhao and Sun Yingyuan: "Generals, if we truly wish to relieve the siege of Zhenhai Fort, how should we deploy our troops?"

Cao Wenzhao was from Qinshui, Shanxi, and was extremely familiar with the Datong area. He stepped forward and pointed to the sand table: "Your Majesty, Zhenhai Fort is only a hundred li away from the Datong border wall. However, the plains beyond the Great Wall are advantageous for the enemy cavalry to roam freely. If our army rashly launches an attack, we may be besieged and attacked by reinforcements."

He picked up several small blue flags representing the Ming army and planted them all the way north, starting from Datong Town.

"I have discussed this with General Sun, and we believe we can adopt the 'fortress advance' method. After the spring, we will send 30,000 elite troops, marching in formation each day, advancing only ten li (approximately 5 kilometers). Upon arrival, we will immediately dig trenches, erect palisades, and build strong fortifications. The next day, we will advance another ten li and build another fortification. We will proceed step by step, like extending a fist and slowly pushing towards Zhenhai Fortress. In this way, although it will take two months, we can advance steadily and surely, leaving the enemy cavalry with nowhere to attack."

Sun Yingyuan echoed, "General Cao is absolutely right. Although this method is slow, it can ensure complete safety."

Yang Sichang frowned: "General Cao, this method is sound. However, with 30,000 troops, it will take two months, and the cost of provisions will be enormous. Moreover, Datong is a barren border town; can it really support the provisions of tens of thousands of guest troops?" Upon hearing this, Cao Wenzhao raised his voice slightly: "Minister Yang! I am from Shanxi and know the border affairs well! The Datong army is not bad; they have always been brave in battle! What they lack is only sufficient provisions and a good general! If His Majesty trusts us and gives us time to reorganize, we will surely be able to train a strong army! If we use more local Datong troops, the required provisions will naturally be less. Even if those troops do not attack, they still need to eat."

Emperor Chongzhen looked at the slow but determined route marked by blue flags on the sand table, remained silent for a moment, and asked, "Can the 30,000 troops on the Datong border be properly organized in two or three months?"

The room fell silent. This was a real problem.

At this moment, Sun Chuanting, the Vice Minister of War and Assistant Commander of the Capital Garrison, who had been deep in thought, stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said: "Your Majesty, General Cao's suggestion of 'advancing step by step' is a mature and prudent strategy. However, I believe that we can further refine this strategy to counter the strengths of the enemy cavalry."

All eyes turned to this de facto leader of the New Capital Garrison (the Imperial Guard).

Sun Chuanting pointed to the open fields north of Datong on the sand table, his voice steady: "On the plains beyond the Great Wall, enemy cavalry move back and forth like the wind. Our infantry march in formation, which is steady but slow, and they are easily harassed by their light cavalry. When I was in the local area, I thought of a method that might be worth trying."

"Please speak," Emperor Chongzhen said, a look of interest in his eyes.

“This method can be called ‘train troops’,” Sun Chuanting said clearly.

The "train troop" immediately reminded Chongzhen of what a "train" was. Of course, it wasn't the kind of train that rumbled along the tracks, but rather a wagon tactic that Sun Chuanting had used in his previous life to deal with Li Zicheng. This tactic had once overwhelmed Li Zicheng, but unfortunately, in the sixteenth year of Chongzhen's reign, when Sun Chuanting went out of Tongguan to fight Li Zicheng again, he encountered autumn rains and muddy conditions, and his efforts were in vain!

No, it wasn't a complete failure, but rather that the Ming Dynasty at that time had a very low tolerance for mistakes! That Chongzhen Emperor wouldn't accept bribes for punishment, wouldn't take land for redemption, wouldn't confiscate the property of princes, wouldn't live off the "pirate woman," wouldn't help King Yi of Korea sell out his country, and certainly wouldn't set a trap for the Duke of Yansheng.

The emperor is too kind; this will lead to the downfall of the country!

While Emperor Chongzhen was deeply reflecting on his actions, Sun Chuanting continued, "The so-called 'fire wagon' is a type of war wagon. This wagon needs to be built sturdily, with protective panels on the carriages, and can carry provisions, fodder, and weapons. When marching, the wagons are linked end to end, forming a fortress, with soldiers hidden inside the wagon formation and firearms positioned on top of it. If the enemy cavalry comes to charge, our wagon fortress is already complete, and we can fire muskets and cannons simultaneously, leaving them no way to attack."

He continued, his reasoning meticulous: "Once we set up camp, the wagons themselves will form a ready-made fortification, saving us a lot of work in erecting palisades and digging trenches. More importantly, the wagons can be used in conjunction with the improved Tiger Crouching Cannons from the Beijing Garrison Artillery Factory, making them even more powerful. Coupled with arquebusiers firing in rotation, and supported by spearmen and swordsmen with shields, the wagon camp will become a mobile fortress. Advancing ten miles a day, the wagon camp will be a fortress when we set up camp. Even if the enemy cavalry numberes one hundred thousand, they will find it difficult to budge an inch!"

When Yang Sichang heard about the "improved tiger crouching cannon" and the "specially made chariots," his brows furrowed even more. This was clearly more expensive than simply building fortifications. But the eyes of generals like Cao Wenzhao and Sun Yingyuan lit up. They were all seasoned veterans and immediately realized the enormous advantage this tactic had against cavalry in open field battles.

Emperor Chongzhen gazed at the sand table, as if he could see countless chariots forming a fortified city, slowly moving across the grasslands. He nodded slowly and asked, "If this strategy is adopted, how many days will it take to build chariots and artillery, and train soldiers?"

After a brief assessment, Sun Chuanting replied, "If Your Majesty provides full support, local artisans in Datong can quickly produce war chariots. Tiger-squatting cannons are readily available in both Datong and the capital garrison; only wheeled carriages need to be built. I believe that within three months, a chariot battalion of ten thousand men can be trained, serving as the vanguard and bulwark of the main army!"

Emperor Chongzhen's gaze slowly swept over the crowd, finally settling on Sun Chuanting, who had proposed a concrete and feasible plan, and Cao Wenzhao, who was eager to try. Without seeking further opinions, he directly issued his decision:
"An army cannot move until its supplies are ready, and weapons are of paramount importance. I think there is no need to discuss this further."

"Sun Chuanting".

“Your subject is here!” Sun Chuanting stepped forward.

"I hereby appoint you as Vice Minister of War, overseeing military affairs in Xuanfu, Datong, Shanxi, and other areas, and grant you the Imperial Sword, authorizing you to act as you see fit! I entrust you with full authority over the reorganization of the Datong border town, especially the training of this 'Wheel Battalion,' the construction of war chariots, and the improvement of firearms!"

"Cao Wenzhao".

"Your subordinate is here!" Cao Wenzhao's voice boomed like a bell.

"I hereby appoint you as the General Commander of Datong. You are to reorganize the troops and train a new army! You must fully cooperate with Vice Minister Sun to train a formidable force capable of fortifying cities and engaging in open field battles beyond the Great Wall!"

"Imperial Guards of over 10,000 men will be transferred to Datong immediately, placed under the command of Governor-General Sun, to serve as the backbone and boost morale!"

He paused, then continued, "I will allocate another 300,000 taels of silver from the imperial treasury as rewards for meritorious soldiers, of which 100,000 taels will be specifically used for the manufacture of chariots and the improvement of firearms!"

Ever since he started living off his wife, Emperor Chongzhen's power and influence have only grown!
Wei Zhongxian, who had been keeping his head down and silent, couldn't help but raise his eyelids and cautiously interject when he heard that the imperial treasury was going to be used again, and that it would be 300,000 taels of silver at once, with a huge sum of money specifically allocated for building carriages and cannons: "Your Majesty, the silver stored in the imperial treasury has been spent a lot in the past six months. The expedition to Datong will require another 300,000 taels of silver, but the income is... This old servant is afraid that we will be living off our savings."

As he spoke, Wei Zhongxian glanced at Chongzhen's kidneys with some concern—he had not been close to women for many years, but he knew that such things were harmful to his health!
Emperor Chongzhen glanced at him, a meaningful sneer playing on his lips: "Wei Daban, I know your concerns. However, this money should be spent when necessary. Money spent can always be earned back." He paused, his gaze seemingly piercing through the palace walls as he looked south. "Don't worry, someone will soon bring me a large sum of money."

Wei Zhongxian was taken aback at first, but then he saw that Chongzhen did not press his waist as usual this time, and immediately realized that the "person who delivered the silver" must be the Duke Yansheng Kong Yinzhi, who was about to come to Beijing to "show loyalty"—this was no small matter! He quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise! It was this old servant who was short-sighted."

Chongzhen stopped mentioning money and turned to look at the sand table, tapping the edge of it lightly with his fingers, as if he had suddenly remembered something: "That's right, Huang Taiji has drawn me a 'peace negotiation' pie. In return, I should give him one back. Send a clever person to talk to him. We can set the terms high, but we must be patient and take it slow."

Wang Zaijin, Bi Ziyan and other civil officials looked at each other in dismay. This kind of job, which required not only military expertise and resourcefulness but also the ability to be flexible and tactful with the enemy leader, was extremely risky, and none of them dared to recommend it lightly.

Just then, Wei Zhongxian spoke again, his voice brimming with confidence: "Your Majesty, if you are looking for a clever person, this old servant has thought of a ready candidate."

"Oh? Who?"

“Liu Yingkun, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Guards,” Wei Zhongxian said in detail. “This man has been stationed in the border towns for a long time and is familiar with the situation of the enemy. He is quick-witted, eloquent, and, more importantly, loyal to His Majesty. It would be most suitable for him to deal with the enemy chieftain. He can travel to his post with Vice Minister Sun and General Cao, so that they can look out for each other.”

After a moment's thought, Emperor Chongzhen nodded in approval: "Very well! As you have suggested. Liu Yingkun shall be appointed as the peace envoy to Datong. I will issue him a separate secret decree regarding the specifics of the operation."

He swept his gaze across the room one last time, his tone resolute: "To the outside world, make it a big fuss! Say that the westward transfer of the main force of the Beijing garrison is to support the peace negotiations! I want Huang Taiji to see clearly that the heavy troops of my Great Ming are already placed before him!"

"Your Majesty, we obey!" Sun Chuanting, Cao Wenzhao, and the others responded in unison.

(End of this chapter)