Late Ming Dynasty: Starting with the overthrow of the county magistrate, a rebellion was launched to

With a single imperial edict, all power was bestowed.

Even though he knew the general content, and even though Zhang Da had already used this power beforehand, upon hearing the contents of the edict, he still trembled with excitement and even shed tears.

It wasn't all for nothing.

Zhang Da knelt on both knees, kowtowed, and received the imperial edict: "Your subject, Zhang Da, thanks you for your grace! I will obey your imperial decree!"

Eunuch Liu helped him up with his own hands, his smile becoming even more earnest.

"Zhang Qianshi, you are now the rightful ruler of Xiangzhong! You have supreme authority over military and political affairs, and can act as you see fit. Such favor is rare even for a general on the frontier!"

Zhang Da received the imperial edict, touched it, looked at it again, and finally reluctantly handed it to his personal guard to put away. Then he raised his hand to invite...

"Father-in-law, you must be tired from your journey. Please come into the inner hall and take a seat. I, Zhang, will certainly prepare a small feast to welcome you back."

Eunuch Liu readily agreed.

"That is indeed my wish, but I dare not ask."

Inside the room, there were several plates of delicate side dishes and two jugs of aged rice wine. The two men sat facing each other, their manners less formal, and began to chat casually.

"I have reached this point entirely thanks to His Majesty's wisdom, Eunuch Liu. May I ask how His Majesty's health is now?"

"It's difficult!"

Eunuch Liu took a sip of his cup and sighed.

"Recently, the country has been facing difficulties. The Qing army is pressing in from beyond the Great Wall, and Jinzhou has been besieged for a long time. General Zu Dashou has requested reinforcements, and Governor-General Hong is stationed in Ningyuan, caught in a dilemma. The national treasury is empty, and the food and pay are insufficient. In addition, the officials are all self-serving and factional infighting is endless. His Majesty is working day and night, rising early and retiring late, eating simple meals, and his figure is getting thinner and thinner. It is really heartbreaking to see. Fortunately, the vice commissioner's good news has arrived in the capital, and His Majesty's frown has eased a little after days of worry."

In the twelfth year of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign, the Qing army had already besieged Jinzhou, and the Battle of Songjin was about to begin. The battle ended with the complete annihilation of 130,000 elite Ming troops outside the Great Wall, the capture of Hong Chengchou, the surrender of Zu Dashou to the Qing, and the collapse of the defense line outside the Great Wall.

By then, the Ming Dynasty would be powerless to reverse its fate.

"Your Majesty works tirelessly day and night, worrying about the nation. I am far away in Hunan, and I feel the same way." Zhang Da said solemnly, "I only regret that my power is not yet strong enough and my military strength is limited, so I cannot immediately lead troops north to protect the capital and share Your Majesty's worries."

Eunuch Liu was deeply moved by these words, and then shook his head repeatedly.

"Commander, there's no need to blame yourself too much. We're all just guarding the country. By the way, before I left Beijing this time, His Majesty specifically instructed me that you are knowledgeable in military affairs and skilled in battle, and that I should ask you in person for your opinion on the Qing army's war outside the Great Wall."

What else can I do? Will Chongzhen listen to me? If he really listened to his ministers' advice, would the war have come to this? Besides, if I could win the Battle of Songjin just by talking, then Huang Taiji would be a complete waste.

Zhang Da couldn't reveal his true thoughts, so he put down his wine glass and pondered for a moment.

"Your Excellency, I speak frankly without reservation. The situation beyond the Great Wall is far more troublesome than that of the bandits. Huang Taiji is far more capable and resourceful than his father Nurhaci. He has organized the Mongol and Han Eight Banners, and his military strength is far greater than before."

Eunuch Liu was obviously not there to listen to Zhang Da's ramblings, so he nodded, signaling him to continue.

"The Qing army's siege of Jinzhou is probably not for looting, but rather to break through our Guan-Ning-Jin defense line, open a passage into the pass, and ultimately target the entire country!"

"How should we deal with this? What can we do?"

Faced with Eunuch Liu's urgent question, Zhang Da slowly shook his head.

"This is not something that can be resolved overnight."

"In the past, Sun Chengzong and Yuan Chonghuan built the Guan-Ning-Jin defense line, relying on strong cities and cannons to hold off the Qing army for more than ten years. Now, Huang Taiji has changed his tactics, besieging without attacking, cutting off food supplies and attacking reinforcements, and garrisoning land in Yizhou, gradually encroaching on the city. Although Jinzhou is a strong city, its food supplies are running low and external reinforcements are difficult to obtain. In the long run, I am afraid that its fate is more likely to be grim."

Eunuch Liu's expression tightened: "Then, in your opinion, Vice Commissioner, the imperial court should quickly dispatch a large force to relieve the siege of Jinzhou?"

Zhang Da was very anxious this time and quickly shook his head.

"No! Absolutely not! The eight border troops under Governor Hong's command are already the elite of the nine border regions, but they are short of food and pay and their morale is unstable. If we rashly advance, we will fall right into the Qing army's trap of besieging the enemy and attacking their reinforcements."

Now that the mainland has been initially pacified, Li Zicheng is lying low in western Henan, and Zhang Xianzhong is trapped in eastern Sichuan. This is a crucial opportunity for them to regroup. If we were to send all our elite troops north, the bandits would reignite, leaving us vulnerable to attacks from both sides, and the overall situation would collapse. It would be too late for regrets then!

Zhang Da spoke these words with utmost sincerity. Perhaps he was not very loyal to the Ming Dynasty, but he absolutely could not allow the Tartars from beyond the Great Wall to rule the Central Plains!

Zhang Da then paused briefly before beginning to offer suggestions to Chongzhen.

"The best course of action now is to remain cautious and hold firm, using delaying tactics to overcome urgent situations."

"Firstly, Governor Hong should be ordered to hold Ningyuan, Songshan, Xingshan, and Tashan, fortifying them with deep trenches and high walls, advancing step by step, avoiding unnecessary battles with the Qing army. Prioritize securing supply lines, then seek opportunities for attack. Do not rush into a decisive battle; defense is the best offense. Although the Qing cavalry is fierce, they will find it difficult to breach our strongholds. Trading space for time, and wearing down their morale with fortified cities, is the superior strategy!"

"Secondly, quickly reorganize the border troops, pay the back wages, and appease the morale of the troops. As for rations and wages... perhaps silver and rice can be allocated from the imperial treasury and the grain transported from Jiangnan. In any case, first appease the morale of the troops, then enforce military discipline. Those who desert in battle will be executed, those who withhold rations and wages will be executed, and those who avoid battle out of fear of the enemy will be executed."

"Thirdly, mobilize troops from Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Henan to wipe out the remaining bandits within the territory, quickly pacify the interior, and eliminate any worries about internal affairs. Once the interior is completely stable, then send elite troops north to join forces outside the pass."

"Fourth, the court could also liaise with the various tribes of Southern Mongolia, offering them substantial benefits to contain the Qing army's flank. Huang Taiji has repeatedly campaigned against Mongolia, and many of the Mongolian tribes have long been dissatisfied with him!"

For example, the Chahar and Khorchin tribes, though outwardly submissive, harbor resentment. The court could send envoys with imperial credentials, bestowing official titles and ranks, ordering them to harass the Liaodong rear, thus deterring Huang Taiji from launching a full-scale siege of Jinzhou.

"Fifth, urge the Dongjiang Island naval force to harass southern Liaoning and divide the Qing army's forces. If the Qing army's rear is disturbed, they will have to send troops back to defend, and the siege of Jinzhou can be somewhat relieved."

After saying all this, Zhang Da thought about it again and again, still feeling uneasy, so he emphasized it once more, fearing that Chongzhen would fall ill again.

"The war outside the Great Wall cannot be decided quickly; it must be waged over time! Although the Qing army is strong, the country's strength is limited, its population is insufficient, and its food supplies are running low. If they are stationed for a long time under the walls of fortified cities, their troops will be exhausted, and the people will surely resent them. If we are impatient for quick results and act rashly, we may repeat the mistakes of Songjin and suffer a complete defeat."

After Zhang Da finished speaking, he felt both thirsty and relieved.

Having already gone this far, if I lose again, I can't blame myself.

After listening, Eunuch Liu on the other side nodded repeatedly. Of course, judging from his expression, he probably didn't understand much, but as a good listener, he still didn't forget to praise Zhang Da.

"Your Excellency's insight is truly remarkable. While I was in the capital, I listened to the officials' arguments every day, and I always felt that whether they advocated war or peace, they were all just talking nonsense and harming the country. No one has ever been as insightful as you, Your Excellency, in understanding the enemy and ourselves, and in planning so far ahead. This time when I return to the capital, I will present Your Excellency's plan to His Majesty in person, word for word! If His Majesty hears this plan, he will surely be relieved, and the arguments in the court may also be calmed down."

Whether what Eunuch Liu said was true or not, Zhang Da was overjoyed, clasped his hands in a humble manner, and then said a few more words to express his loyalty.

Eunuch Liu sighed, "You are being too modest, Vice Commissioner. With a loyal, brave, and resourceful man like you, you will surely be ennobled and appointed as a general, reaching the highest ranks of officialdom."

The two drank a few more cups and chatted about the local customs of central Hunan and the current situation in the capital.

It is said that even cabinet ministers such as Xue Guoguan and Fan Fucui praised Zhang Da highly, regarding him as a bulwark of the southwest, and even wanted to marry their daughters to him.

Zhang Da heard this and didn't think it was a good thing; in fact, he was somewhat wary.

A tall tree catches the wind, and great achievements threaten the master.

So he simply responded calmly, attributing the credit to His Majesty's wisdom.

The two stayed for quite a while amidst a chorus of compliments.

After several rounds of drinks, the sun had already begun to set.

Eunuch Liu got up and straightened his robes.

time to go

"I am carrying out the Emperor's orders and dare not stay long. As the Vice Commissioner, you are stationed in Hunan. I hope you will take care of your health and focus on military training. While I am in the capital, I will certainly put in a good word for you so that His Majesty can be more at ease."

You're so sensible! Finally, it's your turn to be sensible.