How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 203 The Soft Rice Soldier, Mao Dongzhu!
No sooner had Zheng Zhilong left than Mao Wenlong followed in with the young eunuch.

The moment he entered, the atmosphere in the room changed instantly. It was as if a gust of wind had blown in from the snowy plains of Liaodong, carrying the smell of gunpowder from leather armor and a rough, untamed air. Unlike Zheng Zhilong, Mao Wenlong was not overly formal. He was tall and broad-shouldered. Although he bowed according to the rules, his eyes held little reverence, but rather a hint of scrutiny and suspicion.

Emperor Chongzhen, still dressed in his crimson robe, sat steadily on the warm couch, a freshly warmed wine pot just placed on the kang table. He raised his hand: "General Mao, please take a seat."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Mao Wenlong's voice boomed as he plopped down on the embroidered stool that Zheng Zhilong had just sat on, making the stool sink a little. Without any ceremony, he grabbed the wine cup that had just been filled for him, tilted his head back, and gulped it down, exhaling a breath of alcohol: "In this awful weather, it's much warmer here with Your Majesty!"

Chongzhen smiled but didn't respond. He tapped the edge of the kang table lightly with his fingers: "General Mao, how are things in Dongjiang Town lately? Are the men still well-fed and clothed?"

Upon hearing this, Mao Wenlong's brows furrowed immediately, and he slammed his wine cup heavily on the table: "Since Your Majesty has asked, I will tell you the truth! It's bad, very bad! The Jurchens wreaked havoc last year, and they ravaged several fortified villages in Liaonan and Korea. Now that spring is here, the granaries are almost empty, many brothers are still wearing last year's tattered coats, and arrows are also in short supply! I am burning with anxiety!"

His words were half complaint, half probing, his eyes darting to Chongzhen's expression. Dongjiang Town was now a self-sufficient military governorship, with an annual "general contract" salary of 720,000 taels of silver, which His Majesty had personally oversee with Bi Ziyan, ensuring not a single tael was shortchanged. Logically, this should be enough to support 10,000 elite troops. The other two towns, Ningyuan and Jinzhou, received similar amounts and lived quite comfortably. But Dongjiang Town faced difficulties.

Why? Because Mao Wenlong was "fiercely resisting the Jurchens." Looking only at the terrain, Jinzhou Town was the most dangerous, only 300 li from Shenyang, with the east bank and upstream of the Daling River filled with villages of the Plain White Banner and Bordered White Banner. Even more troublesome was that Jinzhou Town was over 100 li from Hulutao (jointly administered by Ningxia and Jinzhou), the main port in western Liaoning. Although there were six fortresses in between, if the Jurchens truly put in their best effort, they could still besiege Jinzhou.

The strange thing is that for over a year, the Jurchens deliberately avoided attacking Jinzhou and Ningyuan from western Liaoning, focusing instead on relentlessly attacking Dongjiang Town! The two Red Banner troops stationed around Gaizhou and Fuzhou frequently marched south to Jinzhou and Lushun, burning and killing. Even Mangultai, stationed in Korea, led tens of thousands of Later Jin soldiers and Korean puppet troops to attack Tieshan twice in the past few months…

Emperor Chongzhen listened quietly to Mao Wenlong's tearful account, his face showing concern. After he finished speaking, he slowly said, "General Mao and the soldiers of Dongjiang, you have worked hard. I know it all."

He abruptly changed the subject, his gaze suddenly sharpening: "So this time, I'm going to give Huang Taiji a real beating, and let him know how powerful the Ming Dynasty is!"

Mao Wenlong's spirits lifted, and he sat up straight involuntarily.

Emperor Chongzhen stared at him: "I will send a surprise force by sea to land in Liaodong, then strike straight into Liaoshen, to raid Huang Taiji's lair! We'll smash his jars and pots, leaving him unable to defend himself on both ends!"

Mao Wenlong's eyes lit up instantly, like two balls of fire! To fight back to Liaodong! This was something he had dreamed of! But the light only flashed for a moment before dimming again. He sighed heavily, "Your Majesty, the idea is good! It's a valiant undertaking! But... but even a skilled cook can't cook without rice! In the current state of Dongjiang Town, it's already difficult enough to hold onto the key points of Pi Island, Lushun, and Tieshan. How can we possibly have the strength to raid their stronghold? This... this is like throwing meat buns to a dog..."

Emperor Chongzhen understood that Mao Wenlong was telling the truth. Although Sun Chuanting's "train troops" were capable of engaging the Later Jin army in open battle thanks to their wagon tactics, fortified advances, and ample firearms, they were not entirely without merit.

However, that tactic was rather simplistic. The reason it succeeded in the Battle of Sanggan River, reinforcing Zhenhai Fort, was because the battlefield was very close to the Great Wall at Datong Town and not far from the Zhenhai Fort's bastion. Sun Chuanting could have easily covered ten li (approximately 5 kilometers) a day, slowly making his way there, and even after completing ten li each day, he could have built a simple fortress, leaving one or two thousand weak soldiers from Datong Town to garrison it. Although the fortress was weak and the garrison small, the Later Jin army couldn't afford to divert their forces to attack when Sun Chuanting's main force was nearby. Furthermore, Sun Chuanting's main force wasn't just the wagon corps; he also had as many as five thousand cavalry.

Once the Later Jin army concentrates its forces on attacking the wagon camp, his cavalry can move to the outskirts to look for opportunities to fight, and can also obtain supplies and rest from nearby fortresses.

But such favorable conditions are impossible on the Liaodong battlefield. The Ming army currently lacks the strength to build fortifications from Jinzhou all the way to Shenyang. Nor can it transport the cumbersome wagon corps across the sea. Chongzhen stared at Mao Wenlong and lowered his voice: "I don't want you to conquer cities and territories, nor do I want you to occupy them for long. I want you to use the Dongjiang Army's signature skills to pull off a spectacular operation! Concentrate your elite troops, sail north, find a place to land in southern Liaoning or along the Liaodong Peninsula, and then, like a swift knife, strike straight at Liaoyang and Shenyang! Don't occupy the cities, just destroy them! Burn their grain supplies, alarm their tribes, and set their backyard on fire! Even if you can't even burn and kill them, just having your troops near Shenyang and Liaoyang will keep Huang Taiji up at night!"

Mao Wenlong's eyes lit up at first; he was familiar with this tactic! The Dongjiang Army had risen to power using this method. But then, a great worry surged up. He sighed heavily: "Your Majesty, the plan is brilliant, but... the risk is too great! Dongjiang Town's resources can't withstand such a turmoil. If we're entangled by the Jurchens after landing, or if our retreat is cut off, the entire army will be wiped out! Even if it succeeds, when Huang Taiji returns, how can he not fight me to the death? How will Dongjiang Town withstand his mad dog-like retaliation? I... may die, but the tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians of Dongjiang Town will likely suffer annihilation!" This was his greatest fear; he couldn't afford the price of such a raid.

As if he had anticipated this question, Chongzhen waved his hand confidently: "How could I not know what Commander Mao is worried about? Since I have asked you to take this risky move, I will naturally not let you fight alone, much less send you to your death!"

He held up three fingers: "First, for this operation, I will not send any supervisors or set any restrictions. All participating troops, including the Imperial Guard's artillery battalion that went on the expedition with you, as well as a part of the Imperial Guard that provided support in Korea, will be under your sole command! How to fight, when to advance, and when to retreat will all be decided by you, Mao Wenlong! I only care about the results, not the process!"

Upon hearing this, Mao Wenlong's pupils contracted, and his breathing quickened. Full command, and even a portion of the Imperial Guard! For a border general who had long been distrusted by the court, this was a level of trust and power he never dared to dream of!

Chongzhen then pressed down his second finger: "Secondly, I know that your Dongjiang Town has suffered heavy losses. This time, all expenses of your Dongjiang Town, including losses, rewards, compensation, and mobilization costs, will be covered by me! After the matter is completed, I will also give you an additional 200,000 taels of silver for the aftermath! I will absolutely not let your Dongjiang Town suffer any losses!"

This is why Emperor Chongzhen wanted to take Zheng Zhilong's "futures daughter" as a concubine!
Warfare costs money! The reason we can't win is largely because we don't have enough money—a lesson he learned the hard way in his past life. If Hong Chengchou, Sun Chuanting, and Lu Xiangshan had just gotten a few million more in military funds from him, the Ming Dynasty might have been able to continue.

This campaign against Liaoshen will cost Chongzhen at least several hundred thousand taels of silver! Without taking a concubine, Consort Zheng, as a financial incentive, he won't have the confidence to continue!

Mao Wenlong's heart pounded. This battle was profitable! The expenses were all borne by the Emperor, and there would be 200,000 taels of silver for cleanup afterwards! With this 200,000 taels, Dongjiang Town could build at least ten more fortresses. Ten more fortresses meant ten more plots of land, and the larger the territory, the more money he could make in the future!
Finally, Emperor Chongzhen pressed down his third finger, his tone extremely solemn: "The third, and most important, matter. Commander Mao, you have defended the borders for the country, and your entire family is loyal and valiant. I have heard that you have a daughter who is virtuous and dignified. When you return victorious this time, I will take her into the palace and make her a Noble Consort! At that time, you and I will not only be ruler and subject, but also blood relatives! With this title, if the Jurchens dare to retaliate against you in the future, it will be a slap in my face! I will use the full strength of the country to support you! At that time, I will grant you the authority to lead expeditions, and the entire Liaonan region, and even Liaodong, will be the place where you, Commander Mao, can establish your merits!"

These words struck Mao Wenlong like three heavy blows. Absolute command, ample provisions, and the strongest protection—being related to the emperor! Especially the last one, which almost dispelled his biggest concern—once he became the emperor's father-in-law, the court would have to protect him, otherwise, where would the emperor's face be?

Overwhelmed with joy and excitement, he felt dizzy and slid off the embroidered stool, kneeling down with a thud. His voice was hoarse: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty's trust is so great, Your Majesty's grace is boundless! If I... I, Mao Wenlong, were to refuse again, would I still be human? My life now belongs to Your Majesty! I accept this mission! I will make that old scoundrel Huang Taiji know what's what!"

Emperor Chongzhen smiled with satisfaction and personally helped him up: "Good! That's exactly what I wanted to hear! Go ahead and do your work with confidence, I'll be waiting for your good news!"

As the atmosphere eased, Chongzhen casually asked, "By the way, Commander Mao, does your daughter... have a maiden name?"

Mao Wenlong bowed deeply, a kind expression on his face: "Your Majesty, my daughter's name is Dongzhu. I named her this in the hope that she would shine as brightly as a pearl in Liaodong."

Emperor Chongzhen was taken aback upon hearing this.

Mao Dongzhu!
It was Mao Dongzhu!
(End of this chapter)