Traveling through the late Ming Dynasty to promote Chinese civilization

Chapter 485 The First Noble Rank of Military Generals in This Dynasty

Faced with the questions from the emperor and the Minister of War, Wen Tiren calmly replied, "Does Your Majesty still remember Zheng Zhilong from Fujian two years ago?"

Emperor Chongzhen nodded: "How could I not remember? I still remember that he was recruited by Xiong Wencan and appointed as a coastal defense guerrilla. He was very good at training the navy, and later he was promoted for his meritorious service in repelling the British..."

This was within Zhang Fengyi's duties, he reminded him: "He has been promoted to Governor of Fuzhou."

"Yes, the Governor of Fuzhou. Later, he was inexplicably attacked by the Red Hairs, died, and even the Zhongzuo Garrison was captured. I remember that at the time, the responsibility of officials throughout Fujian was investigated..."

Wen Tiren said, “Your Majesty’s extensive knowledge and remarkable memory are truly admirable. However, I would like to say that Zheng Zhilong was not a loyal subject during his lifetime. He was also recruited from a pirate leader. Yet, before his death, he was a pillar of the Fujian coast. His fleet far surpassed any of the imperial navy. He was credited with suppressing pirates, clearing the seas, and repelling the Japanese. Such a person could have been recruited with just the title of guerrilla commander. Even after the great victory over the Japanese at Kinmen, he was only granted the title of Governor of Fuzhou… And Liu Ye is essentially no different from Zheng Zhilong…”

Chongzhen seemed to be deep in thought: "You mean to use fame and fortune to drive Liu Ye to serve the court?"

"Your Majesty is wise. The Japanese have returned with a vengeance and were able to inflict a major defeat on Zhongzuo, while Liu Ye was able to easily drive them away. This shows that their navy is stronger than Zheng Zhilong's was back then, and the court is no longer capable of competing with them at sea. The fact that they repelled the Japanese pirates in Zhejiang and captured Gao Yingxiang alive in Anhui demonstrates that their land forces are also among the strongest in the Ming Dynasty. Wang Lin repeatedly mentioned this point in his secret report. However, he also said that if Liu Ye is used well, he will be a pillar of the country. Such a person should either be completely eliminated to prevent future troubles, or we should try to recruit him. As long as we can win him over to serve the court, he can deal with the Tartars and quell the bandits. As for whether he is truly loyal, does it really matter?"

Emperor Chongzhen fell silent. He understood Wen Tiren's meaning: it doesn't matter if a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice, it's a good cat. Perhaps Liu Ye didn't study the classics and didn't understand the principles of Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, and Teacher, but if used properly, he could be a sharp weapon in his hands, capable of cutting down the Tartars above and the bandits below. If he wasn't at ease, he could simply eliminate him completely to avoid future troubles. But the problem was, the Ming Dynasty was riddled with problems, and it was already struggling to suppress the bandits. Hong Chengchou's plea for help was still fresh in people's minds. Where would they find an army to deal with the Qionghai Army? Were they going to impose an additional "Qionghai tax" just to deal with Liu Ye?

To be fair, as someone with a slightly fastidious nature, Emperor Chongzhen found it difficult to tolerate the existence and growing power of a figure who straddled the line between right and wrong. He admired ministers who were loyal to the court and the emperor. Back then, Zheng Zhilong was far away in Fujian, and his sphere of influence was entirely at sea. The Ming Dynasty had historically neglected coastal defense, so out of sight, out of mind, he simply tolerated it. However, Liu Ye's activities had already extended into the Central Plains, making him incomparable to Zheng Zhilong.

However, as the emperor, Chongzhen had to set aside his personal likes and dislikes and consider the overall situation. The Tartars had only withdrawn from beyond the Great Wall at the end of the year and could return at any time. Meanwhile, bandits were causing trouble in Shaanxi and Gansu. The question was whether the Qionghai Army would become a powerful weapon against the Tartars and bandits, or a third major scourge. The choice was self-evident.

Emperor Chongzhen glanced at Hong Chengchou's urgent letter and sighed deeply. The bandit threat in Shaanxi urgently needed to be addressed; the Ming Dynasty could not afford any more turmoil. Even if Liu Ye had his own selfish motives, he was still an official of the court, and the Qionghai Army was still the court's army, which he could mobilize. He said, "Changqing is right. Since Liu Ye was willing to accept the pacification offer and obey the Ministry of War's dispatch to Anhui to suppress the bandits, it shows that he still had a sense of awe for the court. Even if he had moral shortcomings, they did not outweigh his merits, and he could be given important responsibilities. However, he is now a garrison commander; how can he be won over?"

Wen Tiren smiled without saying a word, only glancing at Zhang Fengyi. If he said everything, the emperor would suspect that he was colluding with the Qionghai Army in secret. The following words had been discussed before but rejected by the emperor. It would be more appropriate for Zhang Fengyi to say them. It would depend on whether he was quick-witted enough to handle the conversation.

Although Zhang Fengyi was unremarkable and incompetent in his position as Minister of War, and was considered a dull and mediocre person in the emperor's eyes, his ability to read the political landscape and adapt to changing circumstances was undeniable. Seeing that the emperor was leaning towards the Grand Secretary's position, how could he possibly oppose him? He immediately abandoned his previous view that excessive rewards were inappropriate and made a complete 180-degree turn: "Your Majesty, I believe that Liu Ye's merit in suppressing the bandits warrants a title! Although there has been no precedent for bestowing titles upon military generals since the late emperor, the capture of Gao Yingxiang is a victory unprecedented in the last ten years. We can use this opportunity to encourage all the military generals of the Ming Dynasty with titles, letting them know that as long as they serve the court loyally, Your Majesty will not fail them."

Originally, it was just about winning over a local military leader, but Zhang Fengyi's words elevated it to the level of inspiring all the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty, instantly elevating its tone. Incidentally, it also allowed them to widely publicize the victory of capturing Gao Yingxiang, boosting morale. Wen Tiren's eyes lit up. Despite the Minister of War's usual submissive demeanor and lack of military expertise, he was a master of propaganda.

Emperor Chongzhen was delighted to hear this, feeling much better after hearing it. Establishing a positive role model versus being forced to appease a military leader—the same event, presented in a different way, evoked completely different feelings. He immediately approved: "Well said! It's settled then. Liu Ye is hereby granted the title of Earl of Pingnan, commanding the troops of Guangdong and Guangxi. This matter, along with the Gao Yingxiang affair, will be proclaimed to the world to inspire the soldiers!" Thus, the first military title bestowed upon a general during the Chongzhen reign was established.

Seeing that the emperor was in a good mood, Zhang Fengyi took the opportunity to throw out the difficult question: "Your Majesty, Hong Chengchou has sent an urgent message, but there are no troops available to mobilize. Should we send the Qionghai Army instead?"

Emperor Chongzhen was taken aback. This was a problem that had to be solved, so he asked Wen Tiren, "What does Changqing think?"

Wen Tiren thought for a moment and suggested, "The Qionghai Army has just fought a major battle with the bandits and has also clashed with the Nanjing Shenji Battalion under Chang Kun's scheme. If they are immediately transferred to Shaanxi, it will be a long and arduous expedition. Even if they are sent to work, they may not be able to contribute much. Instead, it will affect Hong Chengchou's command. It would be better to transfer troops elsewhere."

Zhang Fengyi was deeply troubled: "Your Majesty, what the Grand Secretary said is true, but how easy is it to mobilize troops? We have neither manpower nor money. Even if we were to draw troops from nearby Datong and Xuanfu, the two towns alone owe 100,000 taels of silver in wages. Including the cost of mobilization, it would take at least 200,000 to 300,000 taels. Even if we managed to mobilize the troops, they would still mutini."