Chapter 5, Yuan Manzi is not barbaric

While Yuan Chonghuan was waiting, the main gate of the residence was wide open. A man in his sixties, with a beaming smile, entered; he was Sun Chengzong, the newly appointed Minister of War, and also Yuan Chonghuan's former superior during his time in Liaodong

He has an average build, and his complexion has not been adversely affected by the heat of the weather. A few strands of beard on his fair face add a touch of ethereal charm to him. What impresses people the most is his eyes, which are very spirited and resolute. He is Yuan Chonghuan, who has just arrived in the capital.

Then I will address the key issue directly, "In your opinion, how should Liaodong be pacified?"

In the Golden Luan Hall, the civil and military officials were in a complete uproar, stemming from Chongzhen's desire to exempt several remote provinces, such as Shanxi and Shaanxi, from various taxes and to cancel all forms of levies.

Yuan Chonghuan met the gaze of Emperor Chongzhen and, in a moment of fervor, declared: "With a wise ruler above and capable generals below, I assure Your Majesty that within five years, we will recover the territory of Liaodong"

As Yuan Chonghuan stood up, I carefully examined the person before me and felt that he indeed possessed a rare kind of spirit. A scholar with a martial soul—yes, that is the feeling. The term "Confucian general" often mentioned in books might just refer to this!

When he left his hometown, his friends, including Chen Zizhuang, advised him to retire after achieving success, fearing precisely this situation

The term "strategic vision" refers to individuals like Yuan Chonghuan! I look at him with admiration, "What you have proposed regarding the pacification of Liaodong, I am greatly pleased with each of your three strategies, and I hope you will soon bring peace to Liaodong."

The Minister of Rites, Wen Tiren, was the first to stand up and say: "Your Majesty, this matter is absolutely unacceptable. Currently, the annual revenue is decreasing, border threats are severe, and the national treasury is already unable to bear the burden. If we exempt several provinces from taxation, the nation will be in jeopardy"

Element, it really is you, I still find it hard to believe!

I know that Yuan Chonghuan arrived in Beijing yesterday, and his first stop was at Sun Chengzong's home. This is all thanks to the Jinyiwei; the court's secret agents are truly omnipresent. Unfortunately, they were not utilized in the right place, which has led me to consider reorganizing the Jinyiwei and establishing an intelligence department for the first time

Emperor Chongzhen's every word resonated deeply with Yuan Chonghuan, making him feel as though he had found a wise ruler who recognized his talents. However, there was one matter he could not refrain from mentioning: "Your Majesty, I am capable of managing the Liao region, but I am insufficient in countering slander. Once I leave Beijing, I will be separated from Your Majesty by thousands of miles. Should there be any envious or jealous individuals who spread malicious rumors, even if they cannot use their power to hinder me, they can still disrupt my strategies through their opinions."

I have a rather bad temper, which is why I am referred to as a barbarian, and I have caused the Emperor to laugh at me

Before my ascension to the throne, I often heard people say that pacifying Liao would require none other than Yuan Manzi, and this Yuan Manzi refers to you, Yuan Chonghuan

Sun Chengzong, whose family is from Hebei, was privy to much more information than Yuan Chonghuan. He smiled and said to Yuan Chonghuan, "Yuan, there is something you might not know. Before the emperor appointed the cabinet ministers, he had already promoted you, which shows how much the emperor values Liaodong. Everyone in the court knows that pacifying Liaodong cannot be done without Yuan. I suspect the emperor knows a thing or two about this as well"

Sun Chengzong was quite fond of this trusted subordinate and hurriedly said: "There is no need for that. It must have been a tough journey! Quickly go inside and have a bowl of cool tea to relieve the heat"

The emergence of a wise monarch at this time is of utmost importance! Chongzhen, who ascended the throne after the death of his elder brother, is like a gift from heaven to the Ming Empire, providing hope to the people of the world

Your Majesty, Yuan Chonghuan is already waiting outside the Meridian Gate for an audience

I, Yuan Chonghuan, humbly pay my respects to Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live for eternity

During the time when Wei Zhongxian was in power, Yuan Chonghuan suffered greatly. Despite his numerous military achievements, he not only did not receive the rewards he deserved, but also faced attacks from the eunuch faction for refusing to collude with Wei Zhongxian. After Chongzhen ascended the throne and swiftly eliminated Wei Zhongxian and his followers, Yuan felt greatly relieved and held deep admiration for the young emperor, who had not yet reached adulthood.

Yuan Chonghuan was momentarily taken aback, but soon his face lit up with joy as he said, "If Your Majesty speaks thus, I assure you that I will not disappoint Your Majesty's expectations"

The two individuals reminisced, discussing their respective experiences since their last meeting, and eventually shifted the topic to Emperor Chongzhen.

The strength of the Eight Banners soldiers and the * map * book item is field battles. Since the Battle of Sarhu, the Ming army has suffered several major defeats in field battles, so it is essential to avoid field battles when engaging with the Later Jin. Instead, one should rely on fortifications to counter the enemy, utilizing firearms to contend with the cavalry of the Later Jin.

Sitting on the dragon throne, I am certainly aware that the national treasury is empty. Exempting several provinces from taxes will indeed make the country's finances even more precarious. However, this is a decision I arrived at after careful consideration. I have already gathered sufficient information from Wang Jiazhen regarding the situation. The country's tax revenue primarily comes from regions such as Jiangnan, while provinces like Shaanxi and Shanxi can be completely excluded. After all, we have been running a deficit for years; whether we have 58 or 40, it makes little difference. Moreover, the aforementioned regions are on the brink of collapse, and once the powder keg is ignited, everything will be destroyed.

I addressed the Minister of Personnel Wang Yongguang, the Minister of War Sun Chengzong, the Acting Minister of Revenue Wang Jiazhen, and the Acting Minister of Works Zhang Weishu, saying: "The silver I just allocated must first ensure the military salaries in Liaodong. The Ministry of Personnel shall manage personnel, the Ministry of War shall deploy troops, and the Ministry of Works shall provide equipment, without any errors"

On the issue of Liaodong, the strategies of Yuan Chonghuan and Sun Chengzong were fundamentally aligned, and their shared struggles on the land of Liaodong fostered a unique bond that words cannot adequately describe

I laughed a few times and said: "There is a saying in the marketplace, the greater the ability, the greater the temper. If there were more brutes like you in this dynasty, how would the minor Jurchens dare to rebel"

Stand up!

Wen Tiren concluded his remarks on the map and the book, and many ministers echoed his sentiments. The officials in the capital were well aware that the national treasury was empty, yet Chongzhen still intended to exempt taxes. Was he expecting everyone to tighten their belts and make do with less

Yuan Chonghuan affectionately said: "Old Commander!"

The total amount in the internal treasury is merely 17 million taels, and suddenly spending 6 million taels makes me feel a bit of a headache

Sun Chengzong wore a smile and was filled with hope for tomorrow

I have long admired Yuan Chonghuan, and today I can finally see the real person. My emotions are inevitably a bit excited. Previous historical evaluations at this moment are all superfluous, for history belongs only to history; being present in the moment is the true experience, the most authentic.

Through the previous conversation, Yuan Chonghuan formed an intuitive impression of Emperor Chongzhen, whom he met for the first time, and felt emboldened to speak. "I believe that in order to stabilize Liaodong, three key points are essential: first, training the troops; second, defending the cities; and third, joint defense.

Yuan Chonghuan's words carry great weight and resonate with his fate. I immediately stood up and said, "My dear minister, there is no need for doubt. I grant you the imperial sword, commanding the troops and civil and military officials of the northern frontier. On the premise of restoring Liao, you may exercise your discretion and act as you see fit."

Since the assassination of Zhang Juzheng in the early years of the Wanli era, the Ming Empire has not experienced a single day of peace. It has consecutively faced three ineffective emperors, leading to the rise of the Jurchens, increasing border troubles, and a severely weakened internal situation, leaving the empire in a precarious state.

As July arrived, the weather became increasingly oppressive, resembling a scene from a book where one feels trapped in a steamer, making it hard to breathe. In front of the residence of the newly appointed Minister of War, Sun Chengzong, stood a person and a horse, knocking on the door knocker, requesting the servant to convey the message.

I have made my decision, and there is no need for further discussion among you, my esteemed ministers. The court will exempt several provinces from taxation, and this policy must be implemented. Any local officials who dare to act contrary to this directive will be dealt with severely according to the law. Furthermore, I will temporarily allocate five million taels from the imperial treasury to the Ministry of Revenue. Since the imperial treasury consists of the emperor's private funds, once the emperor has made this allocation, the officials will cease their objections.

The soldiers of the Later Jin Eight Banners are all brave, fierce, and skilled in archery. For the Ming army to defeat them, it is essential to train troops, particularly Liao soldiers. To defend Liao territory, it is necessary to employ Liao people, who are eager to reclaim their land and are capable of enduring harsh climatic conditions. Their combat effectiveness is significantly superior to that of soldiers from other regions

Recalling what is said in the book, Yuan Chonghuan's five years of pacifying Liaodong were merely words of comfort for Chongzhen. I smiled slightly and said: "I know you wish to comfort my heart, but stabilizing Liaodong relies on a steady and methodical approach, with the monarch, ministers, and generals united in purpose. If we can recover the land of Liaodong within ten years, I will be content."

Furthermore, it is essential for cities to coordinate with one another and for towns to do the same, acting as mutual supports; only in this way can the Later Jin be constrained in every aspect

""

Yuan Chonghuan nodded and said: "There is a rule that subjects should not discuss their sovereign, but I must express my thoughts. The Emperor is indeed a rare and wise ruler, quietly eliminating the faction of Wei Zhongxian, which truly brings great joy to the hearts of the people! The revival of the Ming Dynasty is just around the corner"