Chapter 0004: What Can Save You, Emperor Chongzhen
The military household system that was implemented at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty has long since become a mere formality, and the lands of the garrisons have seemingly disappeared. The upper class of military households has become landlords, while the lower class has become tenants, making it impossible for them to bear military service.
Thus, the Crown Prince Zhu could only settle for a secondary option, using the pretext of fleeing with Chongzhen to seek to gain some military power, and then act according to the circumstances.
Wang Cheng'en truly believed!
Zhu Cilang suddenly shouted loudly: "Wang Banban! Have you never prepared for the possibility of the capital being breached by rebels?"
The military strength of the capital garrison appears considerable on paper, yet in reality, there are many vacancies. In recent years, conflicts have been intense in various regions, and battles frequently occur around Beijing. The troops in the capital garrison, which are meant for medium-scale warfare, have either been dispatched to various locations or have gradually been depleted in the battles against the invading forces. Last year, a major epidemic also claimed many lives. Currently, the available forces for defense amount to only a few thousand, and their morale is low, lacking fighting spirit and resolve.
At this point, it is no longer the time to discuss fleeing with the civil and military officials. The rebellious army is about to surround the city of Beijing!
However, during the conversation with Wang Cheng'en, Zhu Cilang had already realized that this fellow was fiercely loyal to Chongzhen. ... It is highly unlikely that he would leave the city without Chongzhen's orders ... . ... Moreover, Chongzhen was indecisive, which would certainly cause delays
This was said by the founding emperor during a dream! Zhu Cilang neither stops nor rests, continuing to use Zhu Yuanzhang as an excuse
There is no time to discuss the matter of the southern migration with the ministers!" Zhu Cilang said, enunciating each word clearly.
What is most terrifying is that the court is unable to provide sufficient silver to recruit soldiers and reward the troops
And the book "And Wu Sangui's Great Soldiers!" Wang Cheng'en said, "As long as the Guanning Iron Cavalry arrives, the capital will be safe and sound."
This is indeed a good excuse
"Your Highness, please allow this humble servant to accompany you to the Qianqing Palace to present the dream entrusted by our ancestors to the Emperor," Wang Cheng'en said. "It is said that the late Emperor Taizu has sent a dream, and I believe the court officials will also support the matter of the southern relocation."
"How could it be too late?" Wang Cheng'en said, but his heart sank.
However, Chongzhen lacked such wisdom; he only knew how to shift the blame onto those below him to preserve his own reputation. Unfortunately, the people beneath him were not foolish
Zhu Cilang said: "Wang Banban, we will know today whether Juyong Pass will fall. Once Juyong Pass is lost, the rebels will surround Beijing. Whether this city can be defended, you should understand better than I do."
Thus, Wang Cheng'en truly suffocated for the dream of a peaceful Jiangnan
Zhu Cilang looked at Wang Cheng'en, who was eagerly about to go outside, and coldly said: "There is no time!"
Zhu Cilang said: "Tang Tong and Du Zhizhi have already opened the gates to the rebels!" He paused, "It is now past the hour of Zi, it is already 15... The report of the fall of Juyong Pass should arrive by tonight at the latest. Tomorrow, the rebel army will be at the gates of the capital, and within a few days, the capital will fall!"
In fact, Zhu Cilang originally intended for Wang Cheng'en to send him to Tongzhou, where the Governor of Shuntian, Song Quan, was located. This person was considered relatively reliable. As long as he had his protection, Zhu Cilang could seek refuge with the Governor of Tianjin, Feng Yuanyang. The Governor of Tianjin also managed maritime transport and had access to sea vessels, which could take Zhu Cilang to Dengzhou and Tushuguan. Dengzhou was under the control of Su Guansheng, who commanded the Tianjin Navy of the Denglai Maritime Defense Circuit. With Su Guansheng, Feng Yuanyang, Song Quan, and the Tianjin Navy, Zhu Cilang could at least safely reach Nanjing. The Governor of Tianjin also managed maritime transport and had access to sea vessels, which could take Zhu Cilang to Dengzhou and Tushuguan. Dengzhou was under the control of Su Guansheng, who commanded the Tianjin Navy of the Denglai Maritime Defense Circuit. With Su Guansheng, Feng Yuanyang, Song Quan, and the Tianjin Navy, Zhu Cilang could at least safely reach Nanjing
As for the defense of Beijing, Wang Cheng'en is more aware than anyone else, as he currently holds the position of the chief supervisor of the eunuchs in charge of the Beijing garrison, overseeing the city's defenses. On March 13, Wang Cheng'en was busy deploying defenses throughout both the inner and outer cities of Beijing, fully aware of how weak the city's defenses were.
Zhu Cilang sighed inwardly: Emperor Chongzhen should have taken the excuse of a dream from Emperor Taizu earlier; by now, he would have been living freely in Nanjing. The blame would have fallen entirely on Zhu Yuanzhang. Naturally, the ministers would no longer stop Chongzhen from fleeing. Otherwise, it would be slandering Emperor Chongzhen for lying, which is treason and punishable by death! Or it would be opposing the wise decisions of Emperor Taizu, which is a betrayal of the ancestors and could lead to extermination of the family!
"At this point, what is still inappropriate?" Zhu Cilang glared at Wang Cheng'en and said, "If Father Emperor wishes to blame someone, I will take full responsibility! However, you must remember that this matter absolutely cannot be known to Father Emperor; otherwise, you, Wang Cheng'en, will be the sinner responsible for the downfall of our Ming Dynasty! You deserve to die a thousand deaths and to be infamous for eternity! Do you understand?"
This, this, this...
It is truly hard to believe that the current city of Beijing is in such a precarious state, with no proper garrison within the city and reinforcements from outside unable to arrive in time. Meanwhile, Li Zicheng's army is on the verge of besieging the city!
In recent years, the northern regions have been both dry and cold, with agriculture suffering from consecutive poor harvests. If the political situation were clear and stable, and land was not excessively concentrated, it might have been possible to cope with the past; however, life would still not be easy
At such a time, everyone knew that things had gone awry; Emperor Chongzhen and his most trusted chief eunuch had surprisingly not made adequate preparations for their escape
Zhu Cilang looked at Wang Cheng'en, who appeared flustered and was sweating profusely, and couldn't help but find it amusing
He says this on the surface, but deep down he knows very well that it is absolutely possible! Datong has fallen, Xuanfusi has fallen, what else could possibly withstand the fall of Juyong Pass?
Wang Cheng'en was trembling all over, "How is this possible? How is this possible?"
What edict do you wish for Father Emperor to issue? Are you not aware of Father Emperor's stubbornness regarding his dignity?" Zhu Cilang said, "Very well, I shall now issue an edict as the Crown Prince, commanding you to immediately gather a thousand brave warriors in the inner training ground, and prepare sufficient weapons and provisions, as well as to draw out thirty thousand taels of silver from the inner treasury for use!"
However, the Emperor has not issued a decree...
This is Emperor Chongzhen and the people he employed ... ? ... Do you think it is urgent for people?
He stamped his foot and said angrily: "Since there is no money, do not expect Wu Sangui's thirty thousand troops to fight desperately against the rebel! Even if he himself does not want money, the soldiers under him still need to be bribed with money!"
If the Ming Dynasty withdraws, the rebel will take over. Natural disasters will still come! The Eastern barbarians beyond the pass will not refrain from invading just because Beijing has a new master; they may even launch a large-scale incursion to vie for the world!
Because once one enters the capital, it is equivalent to taking on the immense burden of defending against the Manchu Eastern invaders for the Ming Dynasty, while also needing to address the food issues for tens of millions of people in the Central Plains and Northwest
Zhu Cilang firmly believes that as long as he can run out, there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome. Even if there is, he must first run out!
Moreover, Zhu Cilang even compared the situation after the southward migration with the circumstances when Emperor Taizu Gao established the imperial foundation in Jiangnan, and surprisingly, they were quite similar
However, in Wang Cheng'en's dream, Zhu Cilang is still the crown prince, and Chongzhen is not the late emperor
Although Chongzhen and Wang Cheng'en both understood that migrating south was a viable option, they did not, nor could they, view the Ming Dynasty as a mere business venture, nor did they possess any economic acumen; otherwise, how could they have fallen into such poverty? Thus, they failed to recognize that only by migrating south and abandoning the loss-making markets of the Central Plains and Liaodong could they overcome the financial crisis. Only by overcoming the financial crisis, with the court having surplus funds, could they rebuild the army and strive to regain their territory. Therefore, they failed to see that only by migrating south and abandoning the loss-making markets of the Central Plains and Liaodong could they overcome the financial crisis. Only by overcoming the financial crisis, with the court having surplus funds, could they rebuild the army and strive to regain their territory
He indeed did not prepare for the invasion and breach of Beijing
Even if you want to shift the blame for the southward migration, you still cannot neglect to make preparations for your escape
The emergence of numerous bandits in the Central Plains and Northwest is not only due to corruption, mergers, and the increase in military taxes, but also significantly attributed to natural disasters
The Emperor Taizu truly appeared in a dream to the Crown Prince, Your Highness.
Otherwise, with empty pockets and no money to pay the troops, how can we expect the soldiers, who rely on their rations, to defend the great Ming dynasty while starving?
How old is the Crown Prince? How could it be possible to find the key to reversing the situation in the world solely through fiscal revenue and expenditure?
Zhu Cilang's young and handsome face suddenly filled with anger, gritting his teeth, he pointed at Wang Cheng'en's nose and asked: "Wang Cheng'en! You, the eunuch who holds the pen, the commander of the Eastern Depot eunuchs, the leader of the internal and external military camps, how did you become the commander of the Nine Gates? Do you really want to put my father, my mother, and me to death?"
"How is it possible..." Wang Cheng'en's voice trembled slightly, "Tang Tong has thousands of troops, and there were originally some garrison soldiers at Juyong Pass. Moreover, Juyong is strategically important; as long as we hold our ground firmly, the bandits will not be able to break through at all"
Wang Cheng'en was also taken aback by Zhu Cilang's question
Thus, the court must spend money to maintain the army; without money, there can be no soldiers...! ... Even if there are many brave men within the city of Beijing, they will not be utilized by the court!
Zhu Cilang snorted, "Are you still counting on Wu Sangui? When Father Emperor summoned his father, Wu Xiang, on February 12, what did he say? He demanded a million in supplies! If Father Emperor could come up with a million, Wu Sangui's army of thirty thousand would have arrived long ago. Father Emperor issued the order to abandon Ningyuan on March 6, summoning Wu Sangui to lead his troops for defense. Today is already the 15th, and where is Wu Sangui's army? They haven't even crossed Shanhaiguan yet! Are you still counting on him?"
"What is too late?" Wang Cheng'en stopped in his tracks
Because today the Juyong Pass has been lost! Zhu Cilang said through clenched teeth
Will there be good days to come for the rebels? The officials and soldiers of the Ming Dynasty require payment, while the troops under the rebels are expected to bring their own rations and work for free? That is impossible! The hard days for the rebels are yet to come!
"Your Highness, this is not appropriate, is it?" Wang Cheng'en was taken aback by Zhu Cilang's words
The turmoil has been arduous, and naturally, the court in Jiangnan has become stable. With an annual income of over ten million, is there any fear of not being able to train a strong army? Even if we cannot launch a northern expedition to the Central Plains, we can still guard the Huanghuai and the Yangtze River and live a good life. The Emperor has been on the throne for seventeen years; it has truly been too difficult. Not only has he toiled day in and day out, but his life is not much better than that of an ordinary wealthy man.