The New Destiny of the Ming Dynasty

Since Fang Yizao took office in Liaodong, he did not have his own military team and had not originally intended to send Yang Zhenbei, the only deputy general of Ningyuan under his command.

His original choice was Wu Sangui, who was serving as a cavalry deputy general under Zu Dashou at the time.

Firstly, Wu Sangui's reputation for bravery was well-known in the capital and Liaodong, and he had known about it for a long time.

Secondly, in order to win over Wu Sangui and curry favor with Wu Sangui's uncle Zu Dashou, he also intended to have Wu Sangui take the lead. After returning, he recommended Wu Sangui to serve as the commander-in-chief of Ningyuan.

However, he did not realize that he had underestimated the enormous risks of this trip, while overestimating the allure of a ragtag general to Wu Sangui.

As a result, they didn't appreciate it at all; no matter what you said, they just wouldn't go.

In the end, Governor Fang Yizao had no choice but to send out his only military advisor, Yang Zhen.

After Fang Yizao finished speaking, he looked at Zu Dashou. Seeing that Fang Yizao agreed with his opinion, Zu Dashou didn't press the matter further and immediately echoed Fang Yizao's words, looking at Yang Zhen and saying:

"Lord Fang is right! If this mission succeeds and Jinzhou and Songshan remain intact, this garrison and Lord Fang will jointly recommend you for the position of Regional Commander-in-Chief! All other attendants will be promoted three ranks and put to service! Yang Zhen, are you ready to obey?!"

When Zu Dashou asked this question, Yang Zhen had no choice but to immediately give his opinion.

As soon as Zu Dashou finished speaking, Yang Zhen immediately stepped forward, walked between the two rows of civil and military officials, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in greeting, and said:

"I have received the nation's favor for generations, and at this time, I only know to repay the country with my life!"

Given the current situation, Yang Zhen knew very well that he had no choice but to agree.

His only reliable backer, Governor Fang Yizao, had already given his consent. If he didn't agree, his life would be in immediate danger.

Sure enough, as soon as Yang Zhen said this, everyone except Fang Yizao breathed a sigh of relief, and Zu Dashou even had a slight smile on his face.

Just when everyone thought the matter was settled, Yang Zhen said again:

"I have embarked on this journey prepared to die! However, life and death are minor matters compared to the mission! Having decided to head north to provide aid, I am determined to succeed! If I fail, I will die for my country!"

Yang Zhen's words moved all the civil officials in the hall.

Even Wu Sangui, who had always kept his eyes down and remained unmoved, turned to stare at Yang Zhen.

Amidst the sighs of the civil officials, Yang Zhen spoke again:

"However, for this mission to succeed, I have three more requests!"

After saying this, Yang Zhen looked at Zu Dashou, waiting for Zu Dashou's attitude.

Zu Dashou did not have any prejudice against Yang Zhen. The reason he suggested that Yang Zhen go was firstly because Yang Zhen was indeed known for his bravery; secondly because the mission was extremely dangerous and he was reluctant to send his own trusted subordinate.

Hearing Yang Zhen's words, Zu Dashou knew that Yang Zhen had also fully realized the danger of heading north to rescue Songshan, and felt a little reluctant. He then said:

"Tell me your request! This town will do everything in its power to grant it!"

"Firstly, I request that Your Excellency the Governor and Commander-in-Chief grant me full authority to lead the troops heading north for rescue, to command and control them, and to decide their life and death. I shall have full authority!"

After Yang Zhen finished speaking, he didn't look at Fang Yizao, but just stared at Zu Dashou.

Zu Dashou understood Yang Zhen's meaning. The Mongol soldiers under Sanggarsai's command had always been undisciplined, and when they encountered the Jurchen troops, they would likely flee without a fight.

Thinking of this, Zu Dashou said, "Alright! Although the three hundred Mongol soldiers are under the command of Guerrilla General Xu Changyong, once they leave Ningyuan, they will be on the battlefield. Their orders, command, and life and death decisions will all be decided by you, from Xu Changyong down!"

"Your humble servant thanks you, sir! Secondly, I request that the Governor and the Commander-in-Chief immediately grant permission to march north to relieve Songshan. Since this is my responsibility, the strategy and route for the northward advance will be entirely determined by me. The officials of Ningyuan must not remotely control or interfere!"

After saying this, Yang Zhen looked at Fang Yizao, then at Zu Dashou. The two exchanged a glance and remained silent in contemplation.

At this moment, Yuan Shu, the supervisor of grain supplies who was sitting at the end of the civil official's row, suddenly said:

"Lord Fang! Commander Zu! I believe that Vice Minister Yang's words are of utmost importance! There is a saying that a general in the field may disobey the emperor's orders, and there is also the proverb that one should not use those one doubts, and should not doubt those one uses!"

"Since Yang Zhen has accepted the order with such composure, the gentlemen of Ningyuan should indeed relinquish it without hesitation! If anyone interferes, and the order is not in their area of ​​expertise, then the matter will surely be difficult to accomplish!"

In fact, most of the people present were people who got things done, and they all knew what Yuan Shu meant.

The generals, in particular, were most afraid of the civil officials in the room giving inappropriate orders.

Therefore, after Yuan Shu finished speaking, no one stood up to object. All the civil officials, including Governor Fang Yizao, said:

"That's how it should be!"

Just then, Zu Dashou suddenly asked:

"Yang Zhen, do you plan to go to rescue Jinzhou or Songshan, and how do you intend to head north?"

Upon hearing Zu Dashou's question, Yang Zhen remained silent at first, but after a while, he said:

"This is why I demand full authority and no interference! If General, you cannot agree to the second condition, I dare to request that you select someone else to go north!"

As soon as Yang Zhen said this, the hall erupted in uproar.

Zu Dashou's expression also changed, and he thought to himself:

"So you're already demanding the elimination of distractions, huh!"

Yang Zhen looked up and saw the angry expression on Zu Dashou's face, and quickly added:

"This humble servant is not refusing! Once the strategy for the north is finalized, I will report it to the Governor and the Commander-in-Chief!"

That means that once I've decided on the strategy, I can just tell you; there's no need for you to discuss it back and forth.

Regardless of the circumstances, given the realities of the late Ming Dynasty, he himself knew that what he was doing violated a major taboo in both the military and officialdom.

However, this time when he went north, he might never return, just like in history.

Moreover, if he had followed the route that Zu Dashou had designated for him in history, there was a 99.99% chance he would have died.

Since that's the case, why care about official taboos? The most important thing is to save your life!

The atmosphere in the second hall of the Jiliao Governor's Office suddenly became tense.

Yang Zhen did not take back his words, Zu Dashou remained silent with a gloomy face, and the others also remained silent.

After a long silence, Governor Fang Yizao spoke.

He said, "Whether it's rescuing Jinzhou or Songshan, Yang Zhen and his men are facing a life-or-death situation! Since we've chosen Yang Zhen, we'll leave everything to his discretion! Commander Zu is stationed in Ningyuan and should be focusing on reorganizing his troops in preparation for the great battle. How could he possibly have the time to supervise and command Yang Zhen's few hundred men? I, the Governor, will fully support you in Ningyuan and will not interfere!"

Fang Yizao's words made his meaning quite clear, implicitly containing his dissatisfaction with Zu Dashou.

Yang Zhen's group currently numbers over five hundred, and they are on a mission with a slim chance of survival, or even no return. If you decide which route they take, where they go first, and where they go last, don't they have any autonomy?

They're about to die, so why should you decide how they die?!

Zu Dashou understood this meaning as well, and after a moment, he sighed silently and said to Yang Zhen:

"Lord Fang is right. This town agrees! The strategy for the north is entirely up to you; this town will not interfere!"

"This humble servant thanks Your Excellency the Governor and the Commander-in-Chief for your understanding!"

Yang Zhen then clasped his hands in thanks to Fang Yizao and Zu Dashou, and continued, "Thirdly, I have learned that Commander Zu's army possesses dozens of Lumi muskets manufactured under the supervision of the imperial court during the Wanli era. On this journey north to Songshan, besides the soldiers' unwavering resolve, our only remaining hope is firearms! I request that the Commander lend me these Lumi muskets!"

General Zu was a traditional military commander who relied most on the Guan Ning cavalry under his command. However, he had participated in the so-called "Great Victory of Ningyuan" and had some knowledge of firearms. He just valued artillery more and did not attach much importance to muskets and firearms.

He also knew that the Rumi musket was rare and precious, and that its range and accuracy were higher than those of ordinary muskets, but it was actually rarely used in his army.

He was reluctant to lend the money to Yang Zhen, who might never return it, so he said to a young general standing at the gate:

"Zuke Yong! Does this garrison truly possess 1560-era Lumi guns?!"

Zu Keyong was also a fierce cavalry general in Liaodong during the late Ming Dynasty. Under the command of Zu Dashou, he always prided himself on archery and horsemanship, did not value firearms, and rarely used muskets.

Zu Dashou specifically asked him, because he actually had his own thoughts:

Firstly, he was a general in Zu Dashou's central army. If Zu Keyong said he didn't know, the matter could be pushed aside.

Secondly, Zukeyong is proficient in archery and horsemanship but not in firearms. If you ask him, he would likely say he doesn't know either.

However, what Zu Dashou didn't know was that just this morning, Li Lu, one of Yang Zhen's subordinates, had gone to see Zu Keyong.

Zu Keyong, who was unaware of the situation of the Lumi Gun, sought out many veteran soldiers to repay Li Lu for saving his life. They even managed to find the long-unused Lumi Gun and lent one to Li Lu.

Therefore, when Zu Dashou asked Zu Keyong, his meaning was quite obvious; Zu Keyong only needed to say that he knew nothing about it and that would have been the end of it.

However, upon being suddenly asked this question, Zukeyong immediately replied, "Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief! Whether it is the Wanli era system or not, I do not know, but the army does indeed have dozens of unopened Lumi guns in its stockpile!"