How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 224 Chongzhen: I am a materialist, I don't need ancestral graves! Can you, Huang Taiji, not eat?

As dawn broke, the smell of cooking fires still lingered in the earthen enclosure at Liangfangkou.

Mao Wenlong walked through the mess to the broken warehouses. The hides and mountain products piled up inside were nothing special; the key was the two innermost warehouses, where sacks of grain were neatly stacked.

"Commander Long, we've counted them. There's mostly coarse grains, but enough for us to eat for about ten days," the sergeant replied with a happy expression.

Mao Wenlong remained silent, grabbing a handful of grain and rubbing it in his hands; the grains were coarse. His initial anxiety had finally subsided. The Emperor's secret decree clearly stated that Huang Taiji's main force was pinned down in Changping. The question now was whether Mao Wenlong dared to take a bite of Liaoshen, and whether he even had the teeth to eat it.

"Ten days or so...that should be enough." He tossed aside the grains of grain and turned to look at the generals who had gathered around him.

"Chenglu".

"Father, your son is here!" Mao Chenglu stepped forward.

"You take two thousand men and guard this pass for me. Our ships will still need to pick us up from here." Mao Wenlong's tone left no room for argument.

"Understood! As long as I'm here, I'll stay at the dock!"

Mao Wenlong nodded, his gaze sweeping over the others: "The remaining six thousand brothers, follow me. We'll split into three groups! I'll lead one group north, heading towards Liaoyang and Shenyang! The other two groups, one west, to stir up trouble in Haizhou and Gaizhou, led by Lao Chen! The other one east, to cause some trouble at Tianshui Station and Lianshan Pass, led by Lao Shen!"

He paused, lowering his voice even further, but with a hint of ruthlessness: "Listen up, everyone! This time, we won't attack cities or seize territory! We'll do three things: burn their grain supplies, destroy their farms, and release their bondservants! Make things as chaotic as possible! Let the Tartars' backyard be on fire everywhere, so that even that old dog Daishan can't save it!"

"Understood!" the generals roared in low voices, their eyes gleaming. This was the Dongjiang Army's old trick—letting loose and having a good time.

"Two hours from now, take ten days' worth of rations and set off!"

The sun rose higher, dazzling people's eyes.

Guifu Fort is located thirty li north of Haizhou City.

This fortress wasn't large, but it was strategically located beside the official road leading to Liaoyang, making it a crucial stronghold. In the past, a genuine Tartar leader from a Niru (a military unit) was stationed here, leading several hundred Han Chinese bannermen, and he was quite arrogant.

But today, the Tartars in the fortress are not laughing.

Outside the fortress, a dozen or so cannons of various sizes were lined up in an open space. The gunners, shirtless, were busy cleaning the barrels, loading powder, and reloading shells. Huang Degong, mounted on his horse, stood under the central command flag, squinting at the fortress wall.

"General, everything is ready," the lieutenant whispered as he approached.

"Boom!" Huang Degong uttered only one word.

As soon as the order was given, the first few six-pound cannons shuddered violently, spewing fire and thick smoke from their muzzles. The solid iron balls slammed into the earthen wall, causing a large section to collapse instantly.

Scattered arrows and gunfire were also fired from inside the fort, but they couldn't reach the Ming army's lines.

"Change to shotgun shells, get close and fire!" Huang Degong pointed with his whip.

The artillery advanced several dozen paces, almost reaching the edge of the fort's moat. The muzzles of the muskets and cannons were raised and loaded with iron pellets and nails.

"put!"

Bang bang bang.
A series of deafening explosions, like popping beans. Gravel swept across the fortress walls like a deluge, leaving them silent except for a few short screams.

"Musketeers, advance and suppress! Spearmen, shieldmen, charge with me!" Huang Degong drew his sword and was the first to charge forward. His commander's movement ignited a frenzy among his men, who roared and surged forward.

The fortress gate had long been tilted by cannon fire, and several strong soldiers, holding thick wooden stakes, shouted "one, two, three" and smashed it open with a "boom".

The real Tartars inside were indeed fierce, fighting to the death in the doorway. But these Ming soldiers were also really tough; they were still full of momentum, thrusting their spears wildly and the swordsmen hacking and slashing at them at close range. Before long, the resistance in the doorway had ceased.

Huang Degong trudged through the blood-stained mud into the fortress and glanced at the few remaining resistances in the corners.

"Clear them out! Plant our flag on the highest rooftop!"

"Here!"

Half an hour later, Guifu Fortress fell completely silent. The bright red flag of the Ming Dynasty fluttered above the fortress, somewhat conspicuous.

Huang Degong didn't rest. He immediately ordered, "Bring all the laborers who came with us in! Hurry up and reinforce this fort according to the blueprints. Also, build corner bastions! The moat needs to be dug in a winding pattern! Quickly!"

He walked to the fortress wall and looked north. Over there was Liaoyang, and then Shenyang.

He whispered to the two lieutenant generals beside him, "Marshal Mao must be having a good time over there. We can't just sit idly by here. Once this nail is driven in, we can forget about pulling it out!"

The Qianqing Palace in Beijing was eerily quiet.

Emperor Chongzhen sat behind his desk, his face revealing neither joy nor anger. Only Wang Chengen and Fang Zhenghua, the eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial who had just delivered the secret report, stood below him.

An urgent report from Wei Zhongxian, sent from Changping, was spread out on the table. It stated that Dorgon had already begun excavating the Deling Mausoleum!

Emperor Chongzhen's fingers tapped lightly on the imperial desk, tap, tap, tap. Each tap made the two eunuchs below him tense.

Suddenly, the tapping stopped.

Emperor Chongzhen stood up and walked to a portrait displayed in the East Warm Pavilion. It was a portrait of his elder brother, the Tianqi Emperor.

He stood quietly for a while, his back straight. He took a deep breath and began to circulate the "materialism" cultivation technique he had practiced for over forty years in his previous life. Wasn't Huang Taiji's transformation into "Grave Robber" all to sow discord in Chongzhen's mind and make him do stupid things? But "grave robbing" was nothing compared to "materialism"!

Wang Chengen and Fang Zhenghua exchanged a glance, neither daring to utter a sound.

"I understand." Chongzhen turned around, his face as dark as if he wanted to devour someone. "Tell Wei Zhongxian to stall Huang Taiji for me. Tell him that trade is negotiable and rewards are open to discussion, and make him name his price. In short, stall."

“This servant understands,” Wang Chengen quickly replied. “Furthermore,” Chongzhen said, his tone returning to normal after he sat back down at his desk, “Summon Huang Liji, Sun Chengzong, Wang Zaijin, and Qian Qianyi to see me.”

Not long after, several high-ranking cabinet ministers arrived.

Chongzhen didn't mention Changping, but went straight to the matter of the Southern Mongols: "Regarding the matter of the son of Empress Dowager Sutai of the Han tribe, proceed as I announced the day before. Order the Ministry of Rites to immediately prepare the imperial edict and seal, and the Ministry of War to allocate a batch of military equipment as a reward. Yuan Chonghuan should send a capable person to deliver it as soon as possible. The banner of the Khan of the Southern Mongols should be raised."

The veteran officials knew perfectly well that the Emperor's sudden move to support the Chahan tribe was undoubtedly related to the war in Changping. However, since the Emperor didn't say it outright, they couldn't ask and could only accept the decree.

“Your Majesty is wise. This is a long-term strategy to control the southern desert and cut off the right arm of the enemy,” Sun Chengzong said, bowing.

Emperor Chongzhen nodded and said nothing more.

After all the officials had left, he whispered to Wang Chengen, "Send a secret edict to Zu Dashou and He Kegang, using the 600-li express courier service. Ask them one thing: Liaonan and Korea are already in complete chaos, and Mao Wenlong has landed in Liaodong. Don't they really want to do something?"

Outside Changping City, in the Later Jin camp, inside the Khan's tent.

The atmosphere was solemn.

Huang Taiji sat at the head of the table, his complexion even worse than a few days ago, his eyes sunken. Below him sat Hauge, Yuetuo, Dorgon, Turg, and Fan Wencheng.

"Great Khan, urgent report from Shengjing!" Yue Tuo spoke first, his tone heavy, "Liaonan... a major incident has occurred! Mao Wenlong and Huang Degong's troops are launching a fierce offensive, having already breached several of our camps, and their advance is heading straight for Haizhou! Gaizhou is also under pressure!"

Hauge immediately exploded upon hearing this: "Father! What are we waiting for? Quickly return to the capital! Send Mao Wenlong and Huang Degong back first!"

Yue Tuo shook his head: "Your Highness, you absolutely mustn't! Losing a few forts in Liaodong is nothing. If our army returns empty-handed, this winter and next spring's famine will be dire! Besides, retreating today is easy, but advancing tomorrow will be difficult."

His words were like rubbing salt into Huang Taiji's wounds!
Losing a few forts in Liaodong would be an absolutely devastating event for the Jin Dynasty!

This shows that the Ming army had the ability to gradually seize territory in Liaodong! With the ability to seize territory in Liaodong, the Ming army naturally also had the ability to destroy the gold mine on the plains of the lower reaches of the Liao River.

If the Ming Dynasty were to become shameless and abandon its ancestral graves, what difference would it make? But could the Jin Dynasty, with its more than one million people, go without food?

impossible!
Therefore, once the Jin army retreats, it must strengthen its defenses in Liaodong and Liaonan. How many troops does the Jin army have? After setting up defenses everywhere, how many men can it spare to fight its way into the Great Wall?
"Then what can we do? Just watch Mao Wenlong and Huang Degong advance step by step in Liaodong?" Hauge, with his neck stiff, started arguing with Yue Tuo again.

Huang Taiji didn't speak, but his gaze swept over everyone before finally landing on Dorgon: "Fourteenth Prince, how is it going at Tianshou Mountain?"

Dorgon, who was staring intently at the flickering flames inside the tent, was startled when called upon. He paused for a moment, then hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, we are digging... However, the underground palace is exceptionally sturdy, and it cannot be accomplished in a day..." His tone was somewhat hesitant, "Your Majesty, I feel that digging up ancestral graves is against the natural order, isn't it...?"

"What is it?" Huang Taiji's gaze turned cold. "Those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles! The Zhu family emperors sat in Beijing not because of benevolence and morality!"

Dorgon swallowed the rest of his words and lowered his head: "Yes, sir."

Just then, Fan Wencheng hurried in, a hint of relief on his face: "Great Khan! The Ming Dynasty envoy has arrived again! Wei Zhongxian has sent word that he is willing to seriously discuss the specific terms of trade and rewards. Please instruct the Great Khan on when and where to negotiate."

The tent fell silent instantly.

Hauge and Yuetuo both looked at Huang Taiji.

Huang Taiji's expression shifted between light and shadow, his fingers fidgeting with the hem of his robe. The sudden, fierce offensive from Liaonan, the Ming envoy's well-timed "yielding," and the news from Kuku and Tun in the west... these fragments rapidly pieced together in his mind.

He laughed suddenly.

"Bluster... Zhu Youjian is afraid." Huang Taiji said slowly, his eyes sharp. "He's launching a fierce attack in Liaonan with all his might, just to distract me and force me to make concessions at the negotiating table! Supporting the Chahan tribe? Hmph, distant water can't quench immediate thirst! He's betting everything to scare me!"

He stood up abruptly, his decision made: "Tell Wei Zhongxian that I will personally speak with him tomorrow at 9:00 AM! I will make him demonstrate the sincerity of the Ming Dynasty!"

He then looked at Dorgon, his tone resolute: "Fourteenth Prince, hurry up the digging at Tianshou Mountain! I want to hear news of the underground palace being opened within three days! I want to see who loses their patience first!"

Dorgon's lips twitched slightly, and he bowed his head to accept the order: "Yes, sir..."

The people inside the tent withdrew, each with their own thoughts.

Huang Taiji walked alone to the tent entrance, lifted the curtain, and looked towards the Ming army camp to the south, where only a few lights were visible in the darkness.

"Let's see who loses their temper first!" he muttered to himself.

Night falls.

On the Liaonan Plain, several fires stood out conspicuously.

Mao Wenlong led several hundred infantry and cavalry, silently making their way north along the path.

Passing by a village, I could see it was in complete chaos; the advance troops must have just caused trouble.

He reined in his horse and asked the guide a few questions.

"Commander Long, just ten more miles ahead is Yaozhou Post Station. After Yaozhou Post Station, Haizhou Garrison won't be far away," the guide whispered.

Mao Wenlong nodded, took out a piece of dry food, and started eating.

"Tell the brothers to rest for a quarter of an hour, then we'll travel through the night. We'll set fire to Haizhou City again!"

He gazed at the dark night sky to the north, his eyes flashing with a fierce light.

Huang Taiji is still dreaming in Changping.

Mao Wenlong has already begun to undermine the Jurchens' livelihood.

(End of this chapter)