Chapter 8, Policy Formulation (Part Two)

The crux of the issue now is that, as of yet, there has been no news received here in the capital regarding the breach of Jifengkou by the invading forces.

If it were truly a simple act of plunder, why would the invaders go to such great lengths, deploying multiple troops to successively capture places such as Daan Pass and Longjing Pass?

Not correct

This caused a tremendous shock to the national dynasty and created significant commotion in the Jingdong area, while the location of Xifengkou is of crucial importance

In light of the current state of emergency, instructing them to hold the city defenses and resist the invading forces is causing widespread anxiety among the populace

Yuan Chonghuan, the commander of Liaodong, led a portion of the reinforcements from Guanjin Ning. However, in the actual combat, significant discrepancies among the various units were bound to arise

In conclusion, the points emphasized by Sun Chengzong at present indeed require special attention

In the name of the Military Machine Office, orders were issued to Tongzhou, Shunyi, Sanhe, Pinggu, Jizhou, Yutian, and other regions, commanding all military divisions to close the city and hold their positions, as it is their duty to defend the territory. Those who abandon the city, regardless of whether they are provincial governors, generals, or deputy generals, shall be executed without mercy

Sun Chengzong expressed a differing opinion, pointing at the geographical map before him, and furrowed his brow as he said: "Currently, places such as Daan Kou and Longjing Pass have already been breached by the two routes of the invading forces

Sun Chengzong stepped forward and said with a serious expression: "If there is a significant deviation in grasping the situation of the battle, then even if the Military Affairs Office issues orders.

This is not in accordance with common sense

No, no, I actually believe that what Your Majesty has said is highly likely, and may have even become a reality.

Your Majesty, what you are currently stating is merely a conjecture

I truly cannot understand why the invaders would add unnecessary embellishments, thereby increasing their own threats

If one were to hastily make such a move, and if Xifengkou were not breached at that time, how great a stir would this cause if it were to spread!

Although there are large troops stationed in Zhuohua and Santunying, most of them are new recruits

There is absolutely no need for that

Emperor Chongzhen sternly shouted: "I summoned you to the Grand Council not for you to argue here, but to resolve practical issues."

Emperor Chongzhen let out a faint sigh and slightly shook his head, clearly indicating that Wang Qia's words reflected the thoughts of many ministers in the current court

I never expected that the Emperor's attitude towards Yuan Chonghuan would undergo such a significant reversal

Your Majesty, the urgent priority at present is to discern whether the invading forces are advancing westward towards the capital or eastward towards the Shanhaiguan Pass.

Sun Chengzong, Wang Qia, Li Banghua, and Zhou Yanru were all taken aback upon hearing these words, their faces displaying a variety of expressions.

Moreover, I have been contemplating this issue over the past two days

Violation of orders shall be treated as treason

They did not expect the Son of Heaven to display such dominance

After all, the location of Xifengkou is closer to the area of Shanhaiguan, and Yuan Chonghuan must have been aware of this urgent situation before the capital.

can

The invaders only need to find a suitable region, lie in ambush, wait for the enemy to tire, and quietly await the vanguard reinforcements coming from Shanhaiguan.

Looking at the four men who were bowing in greeting, Emperor Chongzhen let out a soft sigh. Although the Grand Council had been established, it would still require some time to reach a level of functionality that he could fully utilize.

The invading forces should advance with the might of thunder, rushing to Zunhua or Santunying, so as to take advantage of the chaos and seize either of the two strategic locations.

This ... ...

To safeguard one's own power and to secure the position of the Governor of Liaodong

Now go and complete these instructions

At present, your Military Affairs Office is to immediately issue a decree, with the utmost speed, to dispatch the edict for suppressing the rebellion and saving the nation, instructing the dispatch of reinforcements to Tianjin, Denglai, Dongjiang, and other regions.

If one were to rashly make a decision based on this, issuing orders for troop deployments in various regions in the name of the military commission, any resulting discrepancies could potentially undermine your authority

This ... ...

Observing the three individuals, Wang Qia, Li Banghua, and Zhou Yanru, each with their distinct expressions, Emperor Chongzhen spoke with a serious demeanor: "What you, Sun Qing, have articulated, I find to be very reasonable

At this moment, each of them furrowed their brows, their eyes sparkling with brilliance, clearly indicating that they had not previously considered such a novel perspective

At this moment, Zhou Yanru stepped forward and said: "Minister Wang, have you perhaps forgotten that just now, during the discussion on the platform, what Lord Sun mentioned was that Yuan Chonghuan emphasized the importance of the defense line outside the pass while downplaying the significance of the three alliances inside the pass?"

Listen carefully to what I say, even if the areas of Zunhua and Santunying are captured by the invading army, without an order issued by the Military Affairs Office, no one is allowed to take action on their own

I believe that after the Jurchens breach Xifengkou, they will not advance directly west into the capital region, but will instead seek to exploit the current situation to lure the troops stationed at Shanhaiguan to reinforce the exposed areas of Zunhua and Santunying.

but chose to have the troops rest at a distance of just over 20 miles from Xifengkou, while the other units of the enemy also halted their advance.

As long as they reach the ambush site of the enemy, they can take advantage of the situation to launch a surprise attack, inflicting heavy damage on the vanguard of that division

Enough

Otherwise, in my opinion, the enemy will surely capture Xifengkou, seek to deal a heavy blow to our Ming army, and then advance westward to attack the very heart of our Ming dynasty

By now, have you not yet understood the ambitions harbored by this construction of bandits?

Unless the invaders come to raid the borders, it is merely a simple act of plunder

What appears to be a bizarre scene is, in fact, a strategic maneuver by the high-ranking officials of the Jianlu, specifically aimed at ambushing the vanguard army of Guan Jinning that was returning to aid Zunhua and Santunying due to the urgent wartime situation initiated by Emperor Taiji

Li Banghua frowned and stepped forward, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect, and said: "At present, has the garrison at Xifengkou been attacked by the enemy's detachment? We have not received any news here in the capital."

After the Jurchens breached Xifengkou, they did not choose to march hastily, but instead advanced steadily towards Zunhua City and the strategic location of Santunying.

Upon hearing what Emperor Chongzhen had said, whether it was Sun Chengzong, Wang Qia, Li Banghua, or Zhou Yanru, they all instinctively looked up to gaze at the geographical map

Li Banghua extended his hand, intending to refute what Sun Chengzong had said. After all, such a situation had not yet arisen, and no one could predict the true purpose of the establishment of the invaders this time.

To win this battle against the enemy, if there is no consensus within the Military Commission, how can the decisions be executed when conveyed to the troops in various regions? Fortunately, he still has some time to strategize and arrange these matters

Yuan Chonghuan must dispatch his subordinate, the Guanning Iron Cavalry, to swiftly race from Shanhaiguan, killing their way to the areas of Zunhua and Santunying, in order to prevent the Jianlu from breaching the aforementioned two locations

Prior to this, the Son of Heaven had placed great trust in Yuan Chonghuan

Your Majesty's words, I must respectfully disagree. Wang Qia stepped forward and cupped his hands in salute to Emperor Chongzhen, saying: If the strategic pass at Qifengkou were truly breached by the enemy.

Do you really think that the stationed troops in the aforementioned two locations would easily leave the city to assist the reinforcements that might come to their aid and encircle the ambushing forces?

At the same time, with utmost urgency, it was ordered that Yuan Chonghuan personally lead the reinforcements from Guan Jinning to garrison Qian'an City, and he was to emphasize to Yuan Chonghuan that without orders from the Military Affairs Office, no rash actions should be taken, and no unauthorized movements should occur

We shall obey your command

Wang Qia's heart was secretly filled with shock, clearly not having anticipated this factor. If this is indeed the case, then what the Emperor just spoke of has a very high likelihood of occurring

Are the troops stationed in Zhuanhua and Santunying merely for show

Once such an incident occurs, the advantages gained by the enemy will, in turn, increase invisibly, thereby having an adverse impact on our Ming Dynasty