How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 208 Huang Taiji, I'm waiting for you in Miyun! (Extra chapter added for the name change, originally "Chongzhen's Struggle")
As the sun began to set, a somber atmosphere pervaded Tsinghua Garden in the northwest of Beijing. The windows of Yihai Hall were wide open, letting in the early summer breeze, carrying heat, mingling with the faint sounds of commands, horses' hooves, and the crackling of muskets echoing from the distant military training grounds.

Emperor Chongzhen, Zhu Youjian, stood motionless before a huge map of the border defenses of Jizhou, Changping, and Xuanda, his hands behind his back. He wore only an ordinary blue satin robe, without a winged crown, and his hair was loosely tied up with a jade hairpin.

The soldiers, including Wang Zaijin, Yang Sichang (Vice Minister of War), Lu Xiangsheng (Governor of Shuntian), Sun Zushou (General of Jizhou), You Shiwei (General of Changping), Wei Zhongxian (Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial), and Niu Jinxing (Compiler of the Hanlin Academy), stood in two rows, not daring to breathe loudly.

Only the sound of a copper kettle dripping in the corner, tap, tap, tap, resonates in one's heart.

Emperor Chongzhen's gaze was fixed on the map, slowly moving from Xuanfu and Datong to Jizhou and Changping, finally settling on the area of ​​Miyun. His fingers unconsciously traced patterns on the map.

"Let's begin." Chongzhen spoke, his voice not loud, but carrying an unquestionable tone. He still didn't turn around. "Fat old man, you go first and tell me about the situation in each place."

Yang Sichang quickly stepped forward, holding a thick memorial in his hands.

“Your Majesty,” he cleared his throat, “I have compiled the military intelligence from all sides.”

"Firstly, the Xuanfu-Datong direction. The troops under Jiannu Beile Amin are still building up fortifications and stockpiling grain in Huangshabao. They are spreading rumors that they will use this place as a base to launch a major invasion of our Datong Town this autumn. Sun Chuanting's main force is still on high alert along the Xuanfu-Datong line according to the established strategy."

Emperor Chongzhen hummed in acknowledgment.

Yang Sichang continued, "Secondly, in the southern Mongolian region. News has come from Kukuhetun that the various Mongolian tribes in the southern Mongolian region have indeed sent troops to gather there, all under the command of Amin, and their strength is considerable. However..." He paused slightly, emphasizing his words, "After repeated verification by numerous night scouts, it has been confirmed that the false Khan Huang Taiji himself is not in Kukuhetun."

"Oh?" Chongzhen turned his head slightly.

"They claimed to the outside world that they were carrying the banner of the 'Great Khan of the Mongols' and personally leading troops to conquer the Hetao region, saying that they wanted to wipe out the rebels there."

"Hetao?" Chongzhen turned around completely this time, a strange expression on his face, as if he wanted to laugh but also found it absurd. "The place that was turned upside down by the bandit Gao Yingxiang's troops who fled from Shaanxi, and that Nangnang Fujin abandoned by Hudun Tuhan?"

He walked back to the throne but didn't sit down. He looked at Yang Sichang and asked, "Gao Yingxiang... Nangnang? How did these two get together? Is it appropriate?"

The people below wanted to laugh but dared not, and the atmosphere eased slightly.

Yang Sichang bowed and said, "Your Majesty, according to the latest report from Hong Chengchou, the Governor-General of the Three Border Regions, there is another spring drought in northern Shaanxi this year. Indeed, many disaster victims have secretly crossed the border wall and gone to the Hetao region to seek refuge with Gao Yingxiang. Gao and his wife, Nangnang Fujin, now wield considerable power in the Hetao region. Jinong Erlinchen of the Ordos tribe, who was originally there, has been driven out by them."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen snorted coldly.

"Does Hong Chengchou mean that Gao Yingxiang and the others are having a great time on the Hetao grasslands? Then wouldn't Huang Taiji, this 'Great Khan of Mongolia,' have made a wasted trip?" He glanced at the crowd, his voice deepening, "I think Huang Taiji didn't go to Hetao at all!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" the ministers echoed in unison. The air in Yihai Hall instantly tightened again. Everyone understood that Huang Taiji was neither in Xuanda nor in Hetao, so the whereabouts of him and his main army became a sword hanging over their heads.

Chongzhen's gaze shifted to Wei Zhongxian, who was still bowing: "Wei, what's going on over there?"

Wei Zhongxian quickly stepped forward and replied in a shrill voice, "Your Majesty, that lazy bum Hou Xingguo hasn't been idle these days. He's been wandering around the border counties of Shuntian Prefecture, Miyun, Huairou, and Pinggu, under the guise of doing business, inquiring about the strength and weakness of our Shuntian militia, how the various fortresses are being built, where the grain and fodder are stored, asking about the key points of defense."

Emperor Chongzhen curled his lips into a cold smile.

"As expected! I knew it, the fox's tail can't be hidden forever!" He raised his hand and pointed forcefully towards Jizhou on the map. "If he doesn't go to Hetao, or fight Sun Chuanting to the death in Xuanda, then his eyes can only be fixed on my Jizhou! He's looking for a good place to strike, looking for the softest persimmon!"

He walked back to the map after a few steps.

"Lu Xiang-sheng, how are the preparations in Shuntian Prefecture going?"

The Shuntian governor, Lu Xiang-sheng, was a capable middle-aged man. Upon hearing this, he immediately straightened his back and replied, "Your Majesty, in the border counties of Shuntian and Yongping prefectures, including Miyun, Changping, Huairou, Yanqing, Zunhua, and Yongping, local militia bureaus have been established in accordance with the imperial decree. Local gentry and wealthy families are taking advantage of the off-season to organize militia to fortify city walls and strongholds, and to stockpile grain and fodder. Furthermore…"

He paused, then raised his voice slightly: "My Shuntian Militia Office has selected the strongest and bravest men and organized them into a 'Military Army' of about five thousand men. They are currently concentrated in Tongzhou, where I personally supervise their training. They practice with muskets and swords day and night, and are ready to rush to the aid of various places at any time."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded without saying anything, then looked at Sun Zushou, who was dressed in military uniform and looked travel-worn, standing to the side. "Minister Sun, Jizhou is the foundation. I want to hear the truth from you."

Sun Zushou, the General of Jizhou Garrison, clasped his hands in salute and spoke in a booming voice: "Your Majesty, rest assured! After this reorganization, Jizhou Garrison has a full strength of 80,000 men, with absolutely no empty payrolls! Among them, there are 40,000 combat soldiers and 6,000 cavalry! Moreover..." A hint of pride appeared on his face, "Moreover, there are over 1,800 brave warriors who have been granted imperial favor, holding the waist tokens of Imperial Guards and personal soldiers, and receiving double pay directly from the Imperial Treasury!"

He walked to the map and pointed to the area along the Jizhou garrison: "Your Majesty, please look, the Great Wall passes within Jizhou garrison have all been extensively repaired. In addition, we have expanded two major military settlements further forward: the Luanhe River settlement and the Kuanhe River settlement. At the confluence of the two rivers, a brick city has been built; along the Luanhe River, a massive Western-style fortified bastion has been constructed, which is extremely sturdy! No fewer than twenty smaller fortifications have also been built along the route!"

Sun Zushou spoke with great confidence: "I dare not say that it is foolproof, but if the Jurchen army wants to break through my defenses, they will have to fill the gap with mountains of corpses and seas of blood!" After he finished speaking, he hesitated for a moment.

Chongzhen saw it clearly: "But what? Minister Sun, please speak freely."

Sun Zushou took a breath and pointed to the border between Jizhen and Changpingzhen on the map: "However, Your Majesty, no matter how well Jizhen is defended, the flank of Changpingzhen, especially the section of the border wall near Miyunwei, has not been properly repaired over the years. The wall is mostly rammed earth and is quite old. Although Luanhetun District is holding the line in front, ... if the enemy is willing to sacrifice their lives, or finds some mountain paths to outflank us, they might still be able to get around us..."

Before he could finish speaking, Emperor Chongzhen suddenly clapped his hands and burst into laughter.

"Okay! This is what I want from you!"

His laughter left the ministers exchanging bewildered glances.

Chongzhen stopped laughing, pointed heavily at the location of Miyun, and his eyes gleamed: "Minister Sun built Jizhou into an iron barrel, impenetrable to water, but he left this opening in Miyun, the side of Changping Town next door! This is not an oversight, but a door that I deliberately left for Huang Taiji!"

He surveyed the crowd, his voice resolute: "I want him to feel that he can get in from here!"

Everyone's hearts leaped into their throats, then plummeted back to normal. It turned out the Emperor had planned this all along! He was luring them into a trap!
Chongzhen's gaze finally landed on You Shiwei, the general of Changping, and his tone was particularly serious: "Minister You, Tianshou Mountain is the location of the mausoleums of our Ming Dynasty's ancestors. Is it absolutely safe?"

You Shiwei knelt down with a thud and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty! I guarantee with my life! The main force of Changping Town has been deployed around the mausoleum area, setting up checkpoints at every level and advancing step by step! If Tianshou Mountain suffers the slightest loss, I will offer my head to you!"

"Good! Get up!" Emperor Chongzhen personally helped him up. "With the mausoleum safe, we have no worries!"

He walked back to the map, remained silent for a moment, and the entire Yihai Hall was eerily quiet.

Finally, Chongzhen turned around, all the expressions on his face disappearing.

"Gentlemen, the situation is now very clear," he said, emphasizing each word. "Huang Taiji is making a show of force in Xuanfu and Datong, and his plan to go to the Hetao region is completely fabricated. His main force, his true objective, lies here."

He slapped the map of the Miyun area with a "smack"!
"He wants to find a gap in the road for a quick breakthrough, so I will give him that gap!"

He suddenly looked at Wei Zhongxian: "Wei, my companion!"

"This old servant is here!" Wei Zhongxian exclaimed, startled.

"Get that lazy bum Hou Xingguo moving!" Chongzhen ordered. "Find out to him the specific locations of the main force of the Shuntian militia, the old border walls in Tongzhou and Miyun, and the several granaries you just mentioned. Make it seem like he went through a lot of trouble to get them!"

Wei Zhongxian immediately understood: "Your Majesty means... to feed him the information so that he can pass the message back?"

"Yes!" Chongzhen's eyes sharpened. "Lead his master in through the door I left for him!"

He scanned the room again, looking at Wang Zaijin, Yang Sichang, Lu Xiangsheng, Sun Zushou, You Shiwei... one by one.

"The game is set up!" Chongzhen's voice carried a sense of composure and confidence. "If Huang Taiji dares to come, the mountains and rivers of Miyun will be the battlefield for our decisive battle! I will settle things with him here!"

"Each of you, ministers, return to their respective posts and act according to your plan!"

"Wait patiently for the enemy chief to fall into our trap!"

"Your Majesty, we obey! Your Majesty is wise!" The ministers responded in unison, their voices echoing throughout the Yihai Hall.

After everyone bowed and took their leave, the Yihai Hall suddenly became empty.

Emperor Chongzhen did not leave immediately. He walked back to the huge map and stood there silently.

His gaze was fixed on the two small characters "Miyun," as if trying to pierce through the blueprint and see the land that was about to be stained red with blood.

The entire Tsinghua University campus was shrouded in a tense atmosphere before the great battle.

(End of this chapter)