Back to Ming Dynasty with Industrial Revolution System

Chapter 321
"The trespassers have conquered three cities in Shaanxi, and they have come to Xi'an. The governor of the three sides, Hong Chengchou, retreated to Tongguan and asked the court for [-] troops to wipe out the trespassers." The newly appointed minister of the Ministry of War, Xiong Mingyu, submitted a memorial from Shaanxi , Let the civil and military officials be silent for a while.

Emperor Chongzhen sat on the dragon chair, looking down at his ministers.None of the courtiers dared to look up at his face as sinking as stagnant water.

"It's been two years, just a baby in the sack, and now he can babble. Governor Hong Chengchou fought a three-sided war, asking for soldiers for soldiers, food for food, and money for money. In two years, he has not wiped out Shaanxi. The bandits in the north, instead, let them grow bigger. Now the army of bandits has swept across Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Heluo, and they are responding to the refugees in Sichuan. The country is in danger, and Hong Chengchou is really abominable." Chongzhen said.

All the officials in the palace were silent.However, they knew in their hearts that the suppression of the peasant uprising army in Shaanxi was not something that Hong Chengchou could do alone, or that he would lose even worse if he changed it to another person.It's just that now it seems that someone who takes the blame is needed.

"Your Majesty, apart from Hong Chengchou's incompetence, the root cause of the chaos is natural disasters and man-made disasters. Natural disasters are severe droughts that have not been seen for decades, and man-made disasters are also caused by corrupt officials and local gentry. The court should focus on appeasement, raise money to relieve disasters, and relieve the people. Only in this way can the burglars Gao Yingxiang and others be dismantled from the root. Otherwise, the thieves will be like weeds that will regenerate when the spring wind blows." In front of the Baiguan train, a middle-aged official said.

All the officials saw that it was Zhou Yanru, the chief assistant minister who also took office not long ago.

"No, the root cause of this chaos is Gao Yingxiang and others harboring mischievous intentions. As early as three years ago, the imperial court repeatedly sent disaster relief money to northern Shaanxi. But in the past three years, the rioters in Shaanxi have received disaster relief. After the silver, not only did they not live and work in peace, but they intensified, using the imperial court's disaster relief money to recruit troops and expand their power. They are clearly plotting to overthrow the imperial court." Another minister at the forefront said.

From the corner of the eyes of the officials, they noticed the speaking official again.But it was Wen Tiren, the newly appointed minister of the Ministry of Rites and a scholar of Dongge University.

These officials are also very tired.The civil and military officials of the imperial court will be replaced by the emperor every now and then. If you don't check carefully, you really don't know who it is.

"Wen Aiqing said, I don't know if Ling has a countermeasure?" Chongzhen asked.

Seeing the emperor ignoring him, Chief Assistant Zhou Yanru murmured inwardly.But he immediately understood the emperor's mind.It's not that Chongzhen didn't know that this was caused by natural and man-made disasters, but that the imperial court couldn't provide more relief money, and even the military pay for suppressing the peasant uprising army was difficult to provide.If there is any folk prescription at this time, the emperor will take a slant.

"Yes. I once visited the soldiers who returned from the battlefield in northern Shaanxi, and discovered the secret of the robber's victory." Wen Tiren said.

"Aiqing seriously? If there is no evidence for empty words, it is a crime of deceiving the emperor." Chongzhen said.

"Among the thieves, Gao Yingxiang, the intruder, was the most powerful, with as many as [-] troops. And one of Gao Yingxiang's troops was victorious in every battle, and Hong Chengchou suffered repeated setbacks. That army was the musketeer team led by general Li Zicheng. The musketeer team had infantry Three thousand, everyone holds firearms, which are far more powerful than our bird guns. Not only that, but in the last few battles, they have also used copper cannons to bombard our cities. The city fell and Xi'an was besieged." Wen Tiren replied.

"Why do these mud legs have muskets and bronze cannons?" All civil and military officials looked at each other in blank dismay.

"According to reliable sources, the standard of these muskets and artillery is very similar to that produced by the Ordnance Bureau of the Fu Liao Army in Liaodong. Therefore, I boldly speculate that the Fu Liao Army is supporting the intruders behind the scenes, causing us chaos in the customs." Wen Tirenyi Words become lessons, like a thunderbolt from the blue, chilling the backs of all civil and military officials.

This kind of speculation is really too appalling.It's not impossible, but if it's true, it's terrible.The intruders are in the northwest, and the Liao army is in the northeast. If both approaches are used to compete for the Central Plains, the Central Plains will be in danger.

"The Liao Army should look down on these rebels, right? Chu Yun is also the Liaodong General Soldier appointed by our imperial court. How could he lower his status and join forces with the rebels?" An official stood up and said.

"Chu Yun's behavior has always been eccentric, but there is no guarantee that he will act like this. Don't forget that the Liao Army occupied Xiamen, Kinmen, Penghu and other places two years ago, and the imperial court has not taken them back. Who would want their Liao Army to be far away?" Liaodong, how could they go to the southeast coast?" Wen Tiren said.

The officials were blocked, and they really couldn't refute.Since the Liao army conquered Xiamen Bay two years ago and established several strongholds in Xiamen Bay, the imperial court repeatedly conscripted guards from Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions to crusade, but they failed every time.With the erosion of the situation in the northwest, the imperial court no longer has the energy to retake Xiamen Bay, so it simply turned a blind eye and let the Liao army move around Xiamen Bay.As long as the Liao army does not continue to expand to the mainland, it will be fine.

"I don't know why the Liao army has so many firearms. If they secretly support the thieves and cause trouble in the northwest, our Ming Dynasty will be in danger. Do you have a good plan?" Chongzhen glanced at the ministers, but found that most of them bowed their heads in silence.

"Your Majesty can send envoys to Liaodong to spy on the reality of the Liao army. On the one hand, check the recent development of the Liao army in the past two years, and on the other hand, use Chu Yun's words to see if the Liao army is secretly supporting the intruders. It was also because of a problem with the Liao army itself that the firearms leaked out to the intruders. This is a trick to ask for directions." Wen Tiren said.

"Well, this plan is safe. Which love minister is willing to go to Liaodong and throw stones to ask for directions?" Chongzhen continued to look around at the ministers.

This time, there were more ministers with their heads down, and even Wen Tiren, who proposed the plan, had a bit of erratic eyes, so he probably didn't want to go.In recent years, there have been too many rumors that the Liao army likes to detain, bully, and drain the court envoys. There is not a single envoy who came back from Liaodong without a mournful face, or there are envoys who never come back and have never heard from them...

"There is a man who was a Jinshi in the 47th year of Wanli. He served as Ji Xun Lang in the previous dynasty. Because he was dissatisfied with Wei Zhongxian's dictatorship, he abandoned his official position and returned to his hometown. This man is resourceful and decisive, good at adapting to changes, and can take on great responsibilities." Hubu Shangshu said.

"In the 47th year of Wanli, but Sun Chuanting, Sun Boya?" Chongzhen leaned back on the dragon chair, lost in thought.

"Exactly. Now Sun Chuanting is in his hometown in Daizhou, Shanxi, and he still doesn't forget the court affairs. If His Majesty orders him to go forward, he should leave immediately." Hubu Shangshu replied.

"Since this is the case, I will call Sun Chuanting into the court, and soon I will go to Liaodong as an envoy." Chongzhen said.

(End of this chapter)