Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 217 Party Struggle
After Lu Chunru's death, the position of right minister of the Ministry of War became vacant, and candidates needed to be temporarily determined.

The Donglin Party has a great advantage in this regard, because the Ministry of War is the area hardest hit by the Eunuch Party. When Zhu Youjian wanted to take action against the eunuch party, he first chose Yuan Keli to serve as Minister of War to stabilize this department.

Nowadays, the upper management of the Ministry of War has almost been replaced. Those who were dismissed because of rebellion can naturally not be used again.

Many local governors had titles from the Ministry of War, and they were theoretically eligible to become candidates. However, too many local governors left by the eunuchs were involved in the temple, and many of them were dismissed because of their rebellion. The rest cannot be transferred to the imperial court in order to stabilize the place.

In this way, the Ministry of War officials and local governors who had been dismissed by the eunuch party because they belonged to the Donglin Party would naturally have an advantage.

Li Jin, Sun Juxiang, Wang Qia, Xiong Mingyu and other Donglin Party members were successively put forward as candidates for the right minister of the Ministry of War.

However, Zhu Youjian did not want to eliminate the Eunuch Party from the Ministry of War, but used the Donglin Party in the Ministry of War. Although the Eunuch Party is unbearable, the Donglin Party does not have much talent in the military.

In the few years after Emperor Tianqi came to power, the Donglin Party occupied the court and the court was full of people. However, not to mention the successive defeats in Liaodong, the She'an Rebellion in Southwest China and the White Lotus Sect Rebellion in Shandong broke out one after another——

If the Donglin Party had managed the country well or had any great talent in the military, they would not have caused so many troubles.

Sun Chengzong, the Grand Scholar Superintendent, was the most capable military person in the Donglin Party.

However, in Zhu Youjian's view, Sun Chengzong's military capabilities were actually very limited. This person is more of a strong political person. If it were not for sorting out the situation in Liaodong, he would not let Sun Chengzong supervise the division.

Therefore, Zhu Youjian was not satisfied with these candidates and said to the ministers:
"Min Meng, the left minister of the Ministry of War, is familiar with southwest affairs. The right minister recommends someone who is familiar with Liaodong affairs. It is best to have experience in Liaodong."

After this request was made, Yang Jingchen, who was responsible for the promotion, was very embarrassed.

Because after the Liaodong War started, not many governors died well. Yang Jingchen could only mention the few people who were still alive one by one.

Zhu Youjian frowned when he heard these names:

"Yan Mingtai and Zhang Fengyi are the main culprits in building the temple. They have been designated as the fifth class of people who have reduced their status to the people. They have no significant achievements and should not be mentioned again in the future."

"Yuan Chonghuan is the main culprit in building the temple. It is a mercy to rehabilitate him based on his past achievements. Let him work hard in the southwest and show his ability."

"Yu Anxing has been transferred from the governor of Shanxi to the naval escort. It is not appropriate to transfer again."

"Is there no one available except them?"

Yang Jingchen thought about it, suggested a few more names, and said:
"There are also the Great Wall Guards Envoy Wang Zhichen and the Nanjing Official Affairs Minister Wang Zhichen who lived in Jin Dynasty and had experience in Liaodong."

"Gao Di, who served as the governor of Liaodong, and Zhou Yongchun and Li Weihan, the criminal ministers who served as governor of Liaodong, also had experience in Liaodong."

The appointment of Wang Zhichen and Wang Zaijin has just been issued, so it is also not appropriate to transfer them.

Gao Di, Zhu Youjian, knew that it was he who changed the strategy randomly after replacing Sun Chengzong and triggered the Battle of Ningyuan.

This person's role in the battle of Ningyuan was completely negative. Therefore, after the imperial court designated the Battle of Ningyuan as a great victory, Gaudi, the Liaodong manager who presided over the war, was quickly dismissed.

How could Zhu Youjian use such a mediocre official who could only do bad things?

On the other hand, Zhou Yongchun, Li Weihan, and Zhu Youjian were a little interested. He has already tasted the benefits, and if the fault of these two people is small, he can consider retaliating. So he asked:
"What's going on with Zhou Yongchun and Li Weihan?"

"What's their crime?"

Yang Jingchen replied:

"Zhou Yongchun discussed the garrison based on the loss of Kaiyuan."

"Li Weihan appointed Li Yongfang as a general. If he lost his troops and lost his territory, he would be killed." Li Yongfang, whom Li Weihan appointed, was the first general in the Ming Dynasty to surrender to Hou Jin, and he also surrendered many people, resulting in the loss of Guangning. This person had a close relationship with Nurhaci before the Liaodong War, and is now responsible for planting spies into the Ming Dynasty. Li Weihan was beheaded for appointing him, and it would not be a pity to die.

Zhou Yongchun could still use it reluctantly. The fall of Kaiyuan and Tieling was the consequence of Yang Hao's defeat. Zhou Yongchun is not on the front line and does not bear the main responsibility. Otherwise, he would not just discuss garrison, but would discuss killing like Yang Hao and others.

After Zhu Youjian ascended to power, Yang Hao was sentenced to canonical punishment and made Yang Hao bear the responsibility for the defeat of Liaodong. He didn't even intend to execute Li Ruzhen, and Zhou Yongchun could be spared.

So he ordered:
"The fall of Kaiyuan is mainly the responsibility of Yang Hao and others."

"Zhou Yongchun's crimes are pardoned and he is included as a candidate."

Others thought this decree was nothing, but the Donglin Party in the DPRK was extremely dissatisfied.

In addition to serving as governor of Liaodong, Zhou Yongchun's most important identity is that he, Qi Shijiao and others organized the Qi Party.

After people like Qi Shijiao attached themselves to the Eunuch Party, Zhou Yongchun, who did not attach himself to the Eunuch Party because of his criticism of crimes, became the only remaining leader of the party.

The Qi Party can be said to have disappeared amid the strife between the Eun Party and the Donglin Party. But the Donglin Party is not so easy to forget this old opponent.

It can even be said that Zhou Yongchun’s previous accusations were their work.

When Yang Hao's strategy was defeated, Zhou Yongchun, as governor, was not actually charged and was still cleaning up the mess in Liaodong. However, under the continuous attacks, Zhou Yongchun could not bear it. He found the reason that his grandmother was dying and asked to leave office and return to his hometown.

Emperor Wanli did not agree, but he died later. After Emperor Taichang ascended to the throne, the Donglin Party won a complete victory and the people were in full power. Zhou Yongchun, a member of the Qi Party, soon resigned in the name of Ding You and was replaced by Yuan Yingtai, who was elected by the ministers.

At this time, Zhou Yongchun still had not been convicted. He was convicted more than a year later. At that time, Yuan Yingtai, Wang Huazhen and others were either killed or executed. Compared with Zhou Yongchun, these people did worse.

Therefore, Huo Shoudian, a member of the Donglin Party, came to the court to impeach Zhou Yongchun, saying that Zhou Yongchun should be tried for his crimes and that he should not be allowed to "travel home freely".

Zhou Yongchun was subsequently arrested and eventually interrogated and convicted on the grounds that Kaiyuan's withdrawal was related to his handwriting. In fact, he was fined a little and kept at home.

Zhu Youjian was not completely clear about these matters. He just felt that Zhou Yongchun was in the rear at the time, and the fall of Kaiyuan had little to do with this person. He wanted to pardon Zhou Yongchun so that there would be someone in the court who was familiar with Liaodong affairs.

However, the Donglin Party was unwilling and launched a vigorous attack on Zhou Yongchun, the Qi Party. This made Zhu Youjian feel baffled, thinking that they wanted to appoint the right minister of the Ministry of War.

This kind of forming cliques to control official positions for personal gain is not allowed by Zhu Youjian.

However, Zhu Youjian could not ignore Zhou Yongchun's confession document, so he ordered:
"The Zhou Yongchun case is retried and the responsibility for Kaiyuan's fall is clarified."

"For the position of Right Minister of the Ministry of War, if there is a suitable candidate, we will recommend him later."

I postponed this matter because I didn’t want the Donglin Party to get their wish.

　"Records of Ming Xi Zong":
　　September of the first year of Taichang:

　　○ Zhou Yongchun, the governor of Liaodong, left because of his worries, and was promoted to Yongping Road Inspector Yuan Yingtai as the governor.

　　April of the second year of Tianqi:

　　○In the case of the right hand of the criminal department, Huo Shoudian joined Zhou Yongchun, the governor of the old Liao Dynasty, and said: Previously, Li Weihan lost the power of the Qing Dynasty and planned to establish a new empire. Later, Wang Huazhen lost Guangning and surrendered. The withdrawal of defense was different from the two ministers. Youyoujiayuan argued eloquently and begged the judicial department to arrest him quickly and correct him for the crime of sinking the city and losing the land. Pay the Ministry of Justice to see the discussion.

　　In June of the third year of Tianqi:

　　○The governor of Liaodong, Zhou Yongchun, discussed the garrison because Kaiyuan was lost.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)