Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 359 Utter Nonsense
Several hours later, Zhu Youjian had finished processing two reports concerning the ice conditions in the lower reaches of the Yellow River and the repair of river works. His voice was steady, and his tone revealed an increasingly confident control over government affairs.

"The river governors of Henan and Shandong should be conscientious in their duties and ensure that the dangerous sections of the dikes are reinforced before the ice freezes. I do not want to see the money and grain allocated by the Ministry of Revenue not used where they should be."

Over the past two years, the imperial court has become accustomed to the emperor's decisiveness and efficiency.

Dissenting voices were becoming fewer and fewer, and everyone felt an almost oppressive sense of obedience.

The emperor's will is silent, yet omnipresent.

Just when everyone thought that today's court meeting would end in an orderly manner as usual.

Among the civil officials, an official dressed in a scarlet robe, holding an ivory tablet, resolutely stepped forward.

His movements were not large, but in the vast hall where one could hear a pin drop, the soft rustling of his clothes and the sound of his footsteps on the imperial path were like a thunderclap, exploding in everyone's ears.

Duke Zhang Weixian of England frowned slightly and swept his sharp gaze over.

The one stepping forward is Li Changgeng, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works.

Li Changgeng was nearly fifty years old, with a lean face, slightly graying temples, and eyes that revealed the stubbornness and integrity unique to scholars.

At this moment, his fingers, gripping the tablet tightly, turned white from the force, his knuckles protruding, as if he were holding not a piece of ivory, but all his beliefs and courage.

He hadn't slept a wink for days.

As the Vice Minister of Works, he was in charge of the accounts of all money, grain, and equipment in the country.

Over the past two months, a series of alarming figures have flowed from his pen, eventually forming a chilling torrent. The amount of military supplies allocated—armor, provisions, clothing, medicine—has far exceeded the scope of routine troop rotations or winter resupply.

The bright red seals on the allocation documents resembled bleeding wounds, and without exception, the final destination of these supplies all pointed to Shanhaiguan and Xuanfu.

Accounts don't lie.

Having served in the Ministry of Works for a long time, he had spent half his life immersed in matters of finance and expenditure, and his understanding was more thorough than that of any other official in the court.

This is not some kind of border defense and supply operation; it is clearly an attempt to squander the national treasury and carry out an act of national annihilation!
Li Changgeng seemed to see the nearly empty silver reserves in the imperial warehouse being drained away bit by bit, like the lifeblood of a frail and sick person being poured into the bottomless abyss of war.

He knew that the emperor was diligent in governing the country and disliked empty talk.

But he knew even more that if he didn't speak up now, the Ming Dynasty might truly never have another spring.

The victory in Liaodong was certainly exhilarating, but it was a miracle achieved under specific circumstances, thanks to the combined efforts of Xuanfu-Datong Governor-General Man Gui and the Mongol Khan Ligdan. To replicate that miracle now, to launch a preemptive strike against the Later Jin's long-established stronghold… he dared not even imagine the cost.

Li Changgeng firmly believed that as long as he was loyal to the country and spoke out for the people, this young emperor would not punish him for his words as the previous dynasty had.

"His Majesty!"

Li Changgeng knelt on the ground, his forehead touching the hard gold brick.

"Your subject, Li Changgeng, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, has a memorial to present!"

All the officials suddenly raised their heads, staring in astonishment at Li Changgeng lying on the ground, and then glancing fearfully at the emperor on the dragon throne.

The emperor's previously indifferent gaze instantly sharpened as he stared at the prostrate minister. The momentary silence increased the pressure in the entire hall several times over.

Then, Zhu Youjian slowly spoke, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger: "Minister Li, rise. Speak."

Despite receiving permission, Li Changgeng did not get up.

He remained in the bowing posture, as if it could give him a tiny bit of strength.

Li Changgeng took a deep breath and poured out the words that had been swirling in his mind all night, like a flood bursting its banks:
"Your Majesty! Since August, the military supplies transferred to Jiliao and Xuanda have exceeded twelve million taels of silver! This includes seven million shi of grain, three hundred thousand sets of cotton armor, five hundred thousand jin of gunpowder, and over ten million arrows! I dare to ask Your Majesty, is this scale intended for the Eastern Expedition?"

He raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, staring directly at the throne, his voice trembling slightly with excitement:
"Your Majesty knows that you work tirelessly day and night, striving to cleanse the world and reclaim the lost lands of Liaodong for the sake of Emperor Taizu Gao. However, Your Majesty, please listen to the lament of the national treasury! This year, Shaanxi suffered a severe drought, leaving the land parched and the land filled with refugees; Henan was plagued by locusts, which blotted out the sun and resulted in a complete crop failure!"

"The annual revenue of our dynasty is less than ten million taels. If war breaks out and drags on for a long time, the daily cost will be more than one hundred thousand taels. I have done the math. To support a war that would destroy a nation, even if everything goes smoothly, it would require at least tens of millions of taels of silver! Tens of millions of taels, Your Majesty! This is tantamount to pulling the marrow out of the Ming Dynasty!"

His voice grew louder and louder, echoing throughout the empty hall, each word dripping with anguish:

"To win a corner of Liaodong at the cost of losing the hearts of the people; to win a national war at the cost of plunging the people into misery. This is tantamount to cutting out a piece of flesh from one's heart to mend a wounded arm! By the time news of victory in Liaodong arrives, the Ming Dynasty will likely be engulfed in resentment and war! I implore Your Majesty to reconsider your decision, rescind your order, and allow the people to rest!" With that, he kowtowed heavily to the ground with a thud, and remained kneeling there.

The entire hall was deathly silent.

……

Li Changgeng's impassioned speech was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up not ripples, but raging waves.

All eyes were instinctively drawn to the emperor on the dragon throne, awaiting the pronouncement that would decide his fate.

Chongzhen's face remained expressionless, but his once clear eyes now seemed to be churning with unfathomable darkness.

The suffocating silence was broken by an old and steady voice.

Qian Shizhen, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, slowly stepped forward.

He first bowed deeply to the throne, then turned to look at Li Changgeng, who was prostrate on the ground, and said slowly, "Minister Li's loyalty is commendable, but his words were too extreme and unbecoming of a subject. His Majesty works tirelessly day and night, and his thoughts are far beyond the comprehension of us subjects. His Majesty has his own divine judgment, how can you be allowed to threaten him here?"

His words, seemingly a mild reprimand of Li Changgeng, actually cleverly pulled the topic out of the dead end of criticizing the emperor and onto the right track of discussing national policies.

This not only preserved the emperor's face but also laid a solid foundation for the subsequent collective voice of the pro-peace faction.

Sure enough, as soon as Qian Shizhen finished speaking, a censor from the Censorate stepped forward and bowed in agreement: "What Lord Qian said is absolutely right. Although Vice Minister Li's words are loyal advice, they are also dangerous. However, we deeply sympathize with his concern for the country. This matter concerns the fate of the nation, and we must not fail to discuss it and be cautious."

Immediately afterwards, Qian Shizhen took over the conversation, his gaze turning to the emperor, his voice carrying just the right amount of worry and solemnity.

"Your Majesty, I am not ignorant of military affairs; I have thoroughly studied military strategies and historical records throughout history. I only ask one question: Does our Great Ming have a sure chance of victory against the Jianzhou Jurchens?"

He paused, and without waiting for the emperor's reply, continued speaking to himself, his tone growing increasingly sorrowful:

"In the 47th year of the Wanli reign, in the Battle of Sarhu, four armies, totaling 100,000 elite troops, were wiped out in one fell swoop. Kaiyuan and Tieling were lost, and the three generals Du Song, Ma Lin, and Liu Ting sacrificed their lives for the country. This defeat was not due to the lack of courage of the soldiers, but rather to the lack of understanding of the enemy situation and improper command."

"In the second year of the Tianqi reign, during the Battle of Guangning, Governor Wang Huazhen underestimated the enemy and advanced recklessly. His army of over 100,000 collapsed at the mere sight of them, and the important town of Guangning and more than 40 forts in western Liaoning all fell. This defeat was not due to insufficient military strength, but rather to a lack of unity among the troops and the arrogance of the generals and the laziness of the soldiers."

"Past experience serves as a guide for the future. Can our Ming generals truly guarantee unity of purpose and perfect coordination? The military families in Liaodong are deeply entrenched, with figures like Zu Dashou, nominally generals of the court, but in reality, regional warlords whose intentions are unfathomable. Although the Governor-General of Xuanfu and Datong, Man Gui, is brave, he has a long-standing feud with the generals of Liaoxi. Your Majesty's intention to use such uncooperative generals to command arrogant troops in a war of annihilation is a cardinal sin in military strategy!"

"Although the Jurchens are confined to a corner of the country, their entire population is soldiers, their horsemanship and archery are unparalleled, and their ability in field battles is known throughout the world. The strength of our Great Ming lies in its fortified cities and powerful cannons; the weakness of our Great Ming lies in its field battles."

If we launch a preemptive strike deep into enemy territory, we will be attacking the enemy's strengths with our weaknesses. If the battle goes against us even slightly, our army could be surrounded, our supply lines cut off, and the defeats at Sarhu and Guangning could be repeated! At that point, it won't just be Liaodong that will be shaken, but the very foundation of the nation!

After he finished speaking, he bowed deeply to the emperor: "Therefore, I believe that the best course of action is to revisit Grand Secretary Sun's strategy, to hold Ningjin firmly, and to advance step by step, slowly and surely. Although this method is slow, it is the most prudent. Only when the nation's strength is abundant and the people's hearts are at peace should we plan a major campaign, which would be the best course of action!"

These words immediately resonated deeply with many.

Most of the civil servants, especially those from the south, nodded in agreement.

In their view, this is the most prudent approach that aligns with the Confucian doctrine of the mean.

"What Lord Qian said is indeed the wisdom of a seasoned strategist!"

"Yes, rather than rushing into things and seeking quick success, it's better to hold the line and wait for the right opportunity!"

However, to another group of people, these remarks were nothing short of a disgrace.

"What nonsense!"

A loud shout interrupted the whispers of the civil officials.

Duke Zhang Weixian of England stepped forward from the crowd. He was a burly man with a booming voice. He glared at Qian Shizhen, his eyes wide open as if he were about to spit fire.

"Our Ming soldiers are ready for battle, awaiting only Your Majesty's command to reclaim our lost territories! The Governors-General of Xuanfu, Datong, Manchuria, and Guilin have just annihilated the Khorchin, and their forces are at their peak; Zu Dashou and others in Liaodong are also seasoned generals. We have the advantage of timing, terrain, and popular support! You weak scholars, instead of thinking about how to raise provisions for our army, are here wagging your tongues, boosting the morale of others while diminishing our own! What are your intentions!"

In an instant, the court was divided between civil and military officials, and the sounds of arguing suddenly became deafening.

"enough!"

(End of this chapter)