xymnovel Chapter 92 Chen Boying is my lucky general
Chapter 92 Chen Boying is my lucky general
Chapter 93 Chen Boying is my lucky general
Chapter 092, November of the fourth year of the Tianqi reign.
Beijing had already experienced its third blizzard. The weather was freezing cold, and breath turned to ice. As the procession presenting prisoners arrived in the capital, the Ministry of War still had time to carefully inspect the heads. However, news of the great victory at Changbai Mountain finally spread like snowflakes throughout the streets and alleys of the capital.
"Hey, have you heard? The imperial army has won a great victory outside the Great Wall!"
"Actually, the good news was sent to the capital a month ago, but those officials didn't believe it!"
"What great victory? It was a crushing defeat!"
"You don't know anything!"
At first, it was just a few well-informed merchants quietly discussing it in teahouses and taverns. Later, it was the idle men who often went to Qipan Street to listen to the news who began to vividly tell the story of how Commander Chen of Shahe Guard defeated 30,000 with 8,000 and killed the slave chieftain Yue in battle.
The rumors spread far and wide, starting with 8,000 breaking 30,000, then 5,000 breaking 50,000, and later 3,000 breaking 8,000. The most outrageous rumor ever was that it was 800 breaking 100,000.
"Chen Boying? Isn't that the guy who invented the Apocalyptic Plow?"
"He was the one who made the plow, and he was also the one who fought the Jurchens. You haven't heard, but in that battle, the Jurchens' right wing of four banners was almost completely wiped out!"
"Is that just bragging? What kind of battle can someone from a poor military family fight?"
"Oh, you don't understand. I've heard that Chen Boying is the reincarnation of Huo Qubing!"
"Yes, yes, I also saw the procession presenting the prisoners. Yue Xu's head was even sent to the capital. The Ministry of War examined it seven or eight times to confirm it was genuine. The head was even preserved with lime, and according to those who saw it, you could still recognize the features!"
"I told you long ago, Chen Boying is no ordinary man!"
"That's right, that's right! Look at the Tianqi plow he made, it saves 40% of the effort; the Huimin seed drill he made can yield two more bushels per mu. Can such a person be an ordinary person?"
"That's right, that's right—"
For a time, Chen Ying's name became the hottest topic in the capital. Even the Hanlin scholars who usually looked down on military officers had to admit that this battle was indeed fought brilliantly.
On the 17th day of the 11th month of the fourth year of the Tianqi reign, the morning court session was held.
Emperor Tianqi, Zhu Youxiao, sat on the dragon throne with a calm expression, but his slightly trembling fingers betrayed his inner excitement.
The Ministry of War official loudly read aloud the Ministry's verification report: "—After seven verifications by the Ministry of War, together with the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Ministry of Justice, the reported number of heads taken, the list of spoils, and the roster of prisoners in the Battle of Changbai Mountain are all consistent with the facts. The head of Yue, the leader of the false Bordered Red Banner, has been confirmed by the prisoners and through comparison with the official seal. This battle is truly the first great victory in over a decade!"
An uproar erupted in the imperial court.
However, the courtiers suddenly noticed that the Tianqi Emperor on the throne was frozen in place, not moving for the duration of an incense stick burning. The courtiers were at a loss, wondering what was wrong with their lord today.
The officials dared not raise their voices or express their opinions quickly; they still needed to see what the Tianqi Emperor meant.
Emperor Tianqi was so excited he wanted to cry. No one could understand how difficult it was for him to be emperor. Four years ago, his grandfather died and his father died. This was incredibly cruel for a fifteen-year-old boy who was hastily placed on the throne amidst extreme political turmoil.
This hasty handover greatly diminished the majesty and stability of imperial power. With the support of the Donglin Party, he ascended the throne. However, the problem was that he was facing a mess left by his grandfather, Emperor Fangli, and his father, Zhu Changluo.
Because Emperor Wanli did not attend court for thirty years, internal contradictions within the bureaucracy accumulated to an extreme point. Around the "Succession Crisis" and the "Tingji Case," the Donglin Party engaged in a brutal political struggle with the Zhejiang Party, Qi Party, Chu Party, Xuan Party, and other forces.
Due to severe land annexation, a large amount of farmland was concealed by nobles, officials, and landlords who did not pay taxes, leading to a sharp decline in the state's regular tax (land tax) revenue. Coupled with the huge expenses of the three major campaigns (Ningxia, Korea, and Bozhou) and the Battle of Sarhu, the Ministry of Revenue's treasury was almost empty.
At the end of the Wanli era, the Liaodong tax was levied with an additional nine li of silver per mu, totaling 5.2 million taels. However, this money was directly collected from farmers, which meant that the cost of the war was completely transferred to the lower class, sowing the seeds of social unrest.
What angered the Tianqi Emperor the most was that Nurhaci, taking advantage of his lack of prestige after his ascension to the throne, mobilized the Jurchen army to capture Shenyang. Subsequently, in the Battle of Hunhe, 50,000 elite field troops were completely annihilated, and Liaoyang, Guangning Right Garrison, and Liaodong, including the four prefectures in southern Liaoning, all fell.
Although Nurhaci rebelled against the Ming Dynasty in the 46th year of the Wanli reign, he conquered the entire Liaodong region in the first year of the Tianqi Emperor's reign, which was tantamount to tearing the Tianqi Emperor's face off and rubbing it in the ground.
He also wanted to recover the lost territory in Liaodong and suppress Nurhaci, the number one enemy of the Ming Dynasty.
The problem is that the imperial court is short of money. Without money, the army cannot win battles. This is inevitable. The essence of war is actually economic warfare.
From the moment he ascended the throne, Emperor Tianqi did a lot of work in Liaodong. Of course, Emperor Tianqi did not really understand military affairs. Through the establishment of the Jurchen Affairs Office, he basically understood that the Jurchen problem in Liaodong was not a simple military issue, but a continuation of the internal strife within the Ming Dynasty.
Both Xiong Tingbi and Yuan Yingtai were sabotaged by their own people, resulting in serious internal strife and leaving Emperor Tianqi feeling helpless. In desperation, he appointed Sun Chengzong, a veteran official who had served three emperors and who was also his mentor, and established a strategy of defense as the means of attack. At the same time, he also set up the Dengzhou-Laizhou Governorate, first Tao Langxian, then Yuan Keli, and now Wu Zhiwang, to coordinate the coastal defense of the Shandong Peninsula and provide maritime support to Liaodong.
Support Mao Wenlong in establishing an anti-Jin base on Pi Island (present-day Korea Island). Mao Wenlong's troops frequently harassed the enemy behind enemy lines, tying down a large number of Jurchen troops and preventing them from fully advancing westward to Shanhaiguan.
The problem is that he promoted Chen Boying to the position of commander of Shahe Guard because he valued Chen's technical skills and ability to supervise construction. He also entrusted him with the Xingzhou Zhongtun Guard so that he could support the tens of thousands of military households.
What is this?
Shahewei received almost no financial support from the imperial court. They manufactured their own equipment, produced their own gunpowder, and trained their own soldiers. However, Emperor Tianqi only gave Chen Boying a title and ordered him to train 7,000 new troops. Chen Boying not only won the battle, but also achieved the greatest victory since Nurhaci raised his army.
What's wrong with this world?
Are all the civil and military officials in the court not as good as a foreman?
"Well done! Well done! You've finally avenged me! Hahaha—"
The young emperor, who had never truly smiled since ascending the throne, jumped up and burst into laughter, his expression bordering on madness.
The happiest person at this time was not Emperor Tianqi, but Grand Secretary Han. Due to the discord between Wei Zhongxian and the former Grand Secretary Ye Xianggao, Ye Xianggao was forced to resign by Wei Zhongxian in Bafen. Various forces fought for power, and Han eventually became the Grand Secretary.
He was actually forced into the position of Grand Secretary, but during his tenure, Chen Boying, the commander of Shahe Guard, bypassed Liaodong and achieved a great victory at Sanhe in the Sanjiang Plain within the territory of Nurgan Commandery.
This is also a credit he gained for being the chief minister without any effort. No matter how history records it, his contribution as chief minister will never be erased.
Han was very disgusted with the eunuch faction members, but he couldn't bring himself to dislike Chen Boying, a member of the eunuch faction, because Chen Boying never got involved in the court's struggles.
Chen Boying was a model military officer, who only cared about making various tools behind closed doors. He was also a large landowner with more than 200,000 mu of fertile land. He purchased more than 1,600 Tianqi plows and Huimin seed drills made by Chen Boying alone.
I never expected that Chen Boying would be such a ruthless killer, actually leading the Shahe New Army to a great victory that hadn't been seen in decades.
He remembered that Chen Boying was not old, about twenty-two years old. Could he really be the reincarnation of Wu Qi or Huo Qubing? He was so good at fighting!
While filled with surprise and uncertainty, he also felt a sense of relief. This time, the Jurchens had truly been dealt a severe blow, and they should be quiet for a few years, right? He, as the chief minister, could finally relax a bit.
Han bowed and said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Thanks to Your Majesty's great fortune and the valiant efforts of the three armies, our army achieved a great victory at Sanhe, annihilating the Jurchens and killing over ten thousand of them, including the Jurchen prince Yue Ji. This glorious achievement is unprecedented in decades, and the shame of Sarhu has been wiped away!"
The Battle of Sarhu was a real worry for the Tianqi Emperor. This battle marked the shift in the balance of power between the Ming Dynasty and the Jurchens. He dreamed that the Ming army outside the Great Wall could win a great victory and wash away this great humiliation.
It seemed that even God felt he had tormented him too much and deserved some compensation, as Chen Boying unexpectedly achieved a huge victory. Thinking of this, he was overjoyed and could no longer hide his smile.
All the civil and military officials knelt down in unison and shouted, "We congratulate Your Majesty, we congratulate the Great Ming Dynasty! Long live the Emperor!"
"Congratulations! Congratulations! Hahaha—"
The Tianqi Emperor laughed and said, "Minister Chen truly lives up to his reputation as a pillar of our Great Ming Dynasty. With him here, how can we not hope for the Ming Dynasty's revival? — How wonderful! How wonderful! This is the most wonderful day I've felt in all the years since I ascended the throne!"
Wei Zhongxian was also very happy, because Chen Boying was his man, and who didn't know that Chen Boying was his man? Although Chen Boying did not recognize him as his father like Tian Ergeng and Xu Xianchun, the problem was that Chen Boying had always referred to himself as his disciple.
No matter what, Chen Boying is still his man, and he'll fight anyone who dares to disagree.
Thinking of this, Wei Zhongxian became even angrier at Sun Chengzong. "We kindly sent you grain, warhorses, and armor, and you actually despise us? This is outrageous!"
And what about that Liaodong General Ma Shilong? Sun Chengzong was the teacher of the Tianqi Emperor, so he had the right to look down on Wei Zhongxian. He even complained to the emperor. Sun Chengzong also carried a lot of weight. How dare you, Ma Shilong, a mere general, act so arrogantly in front of us?
Why not send Chen Boying to serve as the General Commander of Liaodong and replace Ma Shilong?
At this moment, the entire court was as happy as if it were New Year's Day. This great victory came at the perfect time, and it could revitalize the Ming Dynasty's demoralized morale.
At this moment, the Tianqi Emperor suddenly asked, "Wei Banban, how heavy were the casualties of the Shahe New Army?"
Wei Zhongxian's eyelids fluttered open and closed, tears instantly streaming down his face: "Your Majesty, you know that Chen Boying has always been utterly loyal. He has worked tirelessly, day and night, to forge the Tianqi Plow and develop the Huimin Seedling. Now, Your Majesty has promoted him, appointing him as the Commander of the Shahe Guard, to train the Shahe New Army. From the very beginning of the Shahe New Army's formation, its soldiers have had a motto: 'Use me in the first battle, and victory is assured! When Shahe attacks, we are invincible!' They fight with all their might, and once the battle begins, they fight to the death. Such fierce fighting inevitably results in heavy casualties!"
The Tianqi Emperor felt even more guilty towards Chen Boying. Even Han felt somewhat embarrassed. While the Shahe Guard's provisions could be procured, the officers of the Shahe Guard needed to be paid by the court, and he had specifically instructed that their salaries be temporarily suspended.
Wei Zhongxian choked back tears, saying, "Your Majesty, the tragedy is too great. The Shahe New Army has suffered more than half its casualties; I'm afraid there are hardly any left!"
The officials were also discussing the matter and began attacking each other, saying that the Ministry of War was not doing its job, that the Ministry of Revenue was wasting money, and that some officials were impeaching someone for occupying a position without doing their job.
"quiet!"
Once everyone had quieted down, the Tianqi Emperor slowly began to speak: "For four years since I ascended the throne, I have been constantly worried about Liaodong. The Jurchens have been rampant, repeatedly invading our borders, causing me to lose my appetite and sleep. Now, Chen Ying, with the troops of Shahe Guard, has penetrated deep into the barren lands, decisively defeating the rebellious enemy and beheading their chieftain. This is truly a blessing from Heaven and the protection of our ancestors!"
The Tianqi Emperor stood up, his voice suddenly rising: "Issue my decree—"
All the civil and military officials knelt down in unison.
"Chen Boying, the hereditary commander of Shahe Guard, is commendable for his loyalty and bravery and has made outstanding military achievements. He is hereby promoted to Vice Commander of the Rear Army and Commander of Da Ning, in charge of Shahe Guard, and will be the hereditary commander. He is bestowed with a python robe, a jade belt, and a reward of eight thousand taels of silver. The meritorious officers and soldiers under his command will be given preferential treatment and rewards by the Ministry of War, and those who died in battle will be given preferential treatment."
Chen Ying is currently the hereditary commander of Shahe Guard, under the dual jurisdiction of the Rear Army Commandery and the Da Ning Commandery. Of course, in fact, due to the influence of Wei Zhongxian, both the Rear Army Commandery and the Da Ning Commandery have almost forgotten the existence of Commander Chen Ying.
Now, things are much better. Emperor Tianqi directly promoted Chen Ying to the position of Deputy Commander of the Rear Army Commandery, a second-rank official, based on the existing position of Shahe Guard. He was also the Commander of the Daming Commandery, a second-rank official. At the age of 22, he was a second-rank official, which was almost the ceiling of a military officer's power.
However, the problem was that no one objected to the Tianqi Emperor's words; the Ming Dynasty desperately needed such a victory.
"Furthermore, order the Hanlin Academy to draft an imperial edict to proclaim this victory to the world. Let everyone know that the Jurchens are not invincible! Our Ming soldiers can rout them!"
"Your Majesty, we obey!"
Amidst the cheers, the Tianqi Emperor raised his head, his eyes slightly red.
four years ago.
From the day he ascended the throne, he was overwhelmed by the Donglin Party, the eunuch faction, border troubles, and popular uprisings. Everyone was telling him: "The Jurchens are too strong, we can't fight them; Liaodong is too far away, we can't help them; the court is too poor, we can't afford to waste time."
But today, someone finally told him: We can fight! And we won!
"May Heaven bless the Ming Dynasty!" Emperor Tianqi exclaimed with joy. "Chen Boying, you are truly my lucky general!"
He subconsciously wondered what miracles Chen Boying could bring him if he handed over the Da Ning Commandery to Chen Boying.
The news caused a sensation in the capital.
That afternoon, merchants began snapping up swords and armor made by Shahewei, and even at three times the price, they still couldn't buy them.
All the major opera troupes worked through the night to put together a new play called "Commander Chen's Snowy Night Victory over the Jiannu." In teahouses and taverns, storytellers described the battle in great detail, and the audience was so large that they broke down the door.
In an instant, Chen Boying became a famous general of the Ming Dynasty, and he went from being a "lackey of the eunuch faction" to a "pillar of the court." Even those upright officials who looked down on military officers had to admit, with a heavy heart, that this battle had indeed brought honor to the Ming Dynasty.