Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 66 The Debt Master
the other side.

"Good news! Great news!"

As soon as Zhou Shangwen, the General of Datong, returned home, he roared excitedly and summoned his three sons, who had accompanied him on campaigns for many years.

"I have just learned the news that the Emperor has decided to devote the entire nation's strength to the restoration of Tao. The time for us, father and sons, to make our mark has finally come!"

"really?"

All three sons were overjoyed.

Unlike the previous passive and defensive skirmishes.

The recapture of the stronghold is a momentous event that will benefit future generations. If we can achieve great merit in this battle, we might even be able to be ennobled in one fell swoop!
Which respectable military general wouldn't want to achieve unparalleled feats and be ennobled as a marquis or general?
When it came to bestowing titles and ranks, the three sons felt indignant on behalf of their aging father.

The Ming Dynasty has always adopted a system of granting titles based on a combination of "major merit" and "accumulated minor merit." According to the practice of previous dynasties, their fathers would have been qualified to be enfeoffed as marquises and generals long ago based on their previous military achievements.

However, because Zhou Shangwen refused to compromise on certain matters and had a bad relationship with those court officials, he had been suppressed all these years. His appointment as a marquis and general was blocked as soon as it reached the Ministry of War, and it was difficult to make any further progress.

If the father and son can achieve great success in this recovery mission, then even if someone tries to suppress them, they will no longer be able to do so!

“If it was something my father heard, how could it be false?”

Zhou Shangwen, full of vigor, laughed loudly.

"The Duke of Yi's visit to Datong this time is precisely on the orders of His Majesty the Emperor, to prepare for this matter in advance!"

"Junzuo, immediately write a memorial in your father's name to volunteer for the mission. List your father's past achievements in the memorial and have it sent to the capital by express courier. Your father wants to be the first to recommend himself to the Emperor!"

……

Upon returning to his office, the Governor of Datong, Long Dayou, immediately summoned several of his advisors.

"His Majesty intends to send troops to retake the Tao region. Have any of you received any related news recently?"

"Your Excellency, how dare we conceal such a momentous matter?"

The group was taken aback upon hearing this, and while clarifying, they asked curiously,

"I wonder where the governor got this news from. Could it be that someone is spreading rumors to confuse the public?"

"This court just received the Duke of Yi, and this was a slip of the tongue by the Duke of Yi's adopted son who accompanied him. How could it be a rumor?"

Long Dayou frowned, looking worried.

If the Emperor insists on restoring the system at this time, then clarifying military affairs, reviewing the military registers of the garrisons, and allocating military pay and supplies are the immediate tasks.

There are big problems here. Putting aside other issues, the military registers of the garrisons alone are a major problem.

Over the years, due to the corruption and greed of officers at all levels of the military garrison, they have seized and plundered the farmland of many military households, causing many families to be ruined and people to die. Now, a large number of military households have left their registration and fled, and many have even gone to the Tartars to seek a living.

The "Datong Mutiny" in the third year of the Jiajing reign and the "Liaodong Mutiny" in the fourteenth year of the Jiajing reign were both caused by this.

However, when the report was submitted, officials at all levels deceived the emperor by saying that "the soldiers were unwilling to be stationed far away, and the government was overly strict in its supervision."

As this situation has developed to the point that less than three out of ten military households are actually registered in each garrison, and the remaining seventy percent have been paid by officers at various levels without actually serving their jobs.

This situation is not only unpredictable even without war, but could also be exposed immediately if war breaks out.

However, in his view, this was not a particularly big deal. Over the years, officers at all levels in the nine border towns and officials in the capital had formed a chain of interests. They could always find ways to avoid responsibility and settle accounts by communicating with each other. Even if the emperor himself came to investigate, he might not be able to find any major problems.

Therefore, his biggest concern is not these things; the main problem is that he is a "debt leader".

The term "debt commander" refers to a military general who obtains a command position by bribing his superiors with huge sums of money through loans, and then exploits his soldiers to repay his debts after being promoted.

He obtained his position as governor of Datong by bribing Zhang Zan, the Minister of War, with a huge sum of money.

He has not yet paid off his debts and has not yet recouped his investment.

If the emperor insists on resuming the system, although some people will help settle the accounts in the chain of interests, he will find it difficult to reap the benefits of his loyal followers during wartime as he does now. He might even be dismissed from his post if things go badly, and it's unknown when the debts he owes will be settled.

This was certainly not the situation he wanted to see, nor was it something many other "debt commanders" in the same predicament wanted to see. "No, I can't just sit here and wait to die!"

Long Dayou immediately ordered his men to prepare a piece of calligraphy.
"We must immediately send a message to Minister Zhang and urge him to stop the Emperor from restoring the Taiping Rebellion!"

"By the way, it seems that Duke Yi came here on a secret imperial edict. There are probably not many people who know about this. I should also order someone to spread the word. Then there will be people who will join me in stopping this!"

……

Eight days later, at the Qianqing Palace.

"What do you mean by 'double-layered'?"

Why do we need to repeat the process?

"When did I say I wanted to repeat the practice?"

After reading Zhou Shangwen's memorial, Zhu Houcong looked at Huang Jin with a questioning look, and asked three questions in a row with a puzzled expression.

He's not stupid. Now he has no money, no generals, and no soldiers. What can he use to recover?

Forcing a re-implementation under these circumstances, regardless of success or failure, would be tantamount to drawing blood from a terminally ill patient like the Ming Dynasty, only making its situation more difficult.

Moreover, in his view, the chances of successfully recaptured the enemy's position were almost zero. After all, although he was not fully aware of the situation of the Ming army garrisons, he was already well aware of it.

How much combat power can such an army have? How can we talk about replicating it? Are you sure it's not just someone trying to settle scores again?

"..."

Faced with Huang Jin's silent kneeling, Zhu Houcong quickly understood the situation:
"It's Guo Xun... no, it's most likely that Yan Maoqing who's emitting blue smoke!"

"Guo Xun is going to atone for his crimes this time, so he would never dare to act recklessly. But Yan Maoqing is different; he's been causing trouble since he set off!"

"Besides, I have already given Guo Xun a secret edict, ordering him to delegate all matters to Yan Maoqing alone. He must understand my meaning!"

"So, it's Yan Maoqing, it must be Yan Maoqing!"

"I deeply regret my past actions. I should not have agreed to Guo Xun's request and allowed this man to go with me!"

"What on earth is this bastard up to now, daring to push me to the brink of despair time and time again?!"

Zhu Houcong grew angrier the more he thought about it, and tore Zhou Shangwen's petition to shreds and threw it hard on the ground.

However, just before he had finished venting his anger...

"Report——!"

A timely shout came from outside.
"Grand Secretary Xia Yan has important business to discuss with me!"

Not long after.

Zhu Houcong finally caught his breath and forced himself to calm down.

Xia Yan was granted permission to enter the hall, and immediately knelt down to present a thick memorial:

"Upon hearing of Your Majesty's determination to retake the Tao, your humble servant dared not delay in the slightest and drafted eighteen strategies to defeat the enemy overnight. I humbly request Your Majesty's review and decision!"

"???"

Zhu Houcong felt a tightness in his chest. If even Xia Yan knew about this, then who else didn't?

But before he could catch his breath...

"Report——!"

Another shout came from outside.
"Minister of War Zhang Zan has important business to discuss with me!"

"Lu Bing, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, has important business to discuss with me!"

(End of this chapter)