Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 97 A skilled strategist seeks advantage from the situation, not from blaming others.

"Your Majesty, Sun Chengzong has arrived at Chengtian Gate."

Gao Shiming, the Grand Master of Ceremonial, bowed deeply and spoke very softly, as if afraid of disturbing the young emperor on the throne.

Zhu Youjian slowly opened his eyes, pulling himself out of his chaotic thoughts.

He nodded, his voice devoid of any discernible emotion.

"Master Sun is advanced in years and has been busy with state affairs recently. By imperial decree, a sedan chair shall be specially dispatched to bring him to the palace."

"Sir, obey the order."

Gao Shiming responded and bowed as he withdrew.

Zhu Youjian tapped his fingers lightly on the imperial desk and closed his eyes again.

He went through the upcoming "interview" in his mind again, carefully.

Yes, an interview.

An interview that was even more important than selecting cabinet ministers or appointing ministers.

In this feudal era, communication was primitive and backward, making the selection of distant officials more important than that of close officials!
If the cabinet ministers and ministers in the capital are incompetent, they can be replaced within three days with a single imperial edict, and there will be no worries about politics, as the handover will be natural.

The position of Governor-General of Jiliao covered Jiyong, Liaozuo, Denglai, Tianjin, Lushun, Dongjiang, and Korea, which was hundreds of miles away from the capital.

All matters concerning finance, border affairs, personnel, military affairs, intelligence, military equipment, and city construction were handled by one person.

If the wrong person is appointed, it will have far-reaching consequences, leading to widespread and irreversible damage.

From this perspective, the selection of the Liaodong military governor was, for Zhu Youjian, a truly vital national asset that should not be lightly bestowed.

You will be outside, and your orders will not be accepted.

However, if they were not truly outstanding talents, how could anyone dare to place such great trust in them?
Moreover, interviews for top talent are always a two-way street.

Zhu Youjian was interviewing Sun Chengzong, but wasn't Sun Chengzong also interviewing him, the new emperor?
A wise bird chooses a tree to roost in, and a wise minister chooses a master to serve.

For a top talent like Sun Chengzong, it's never just about official position and salary.

He is sixty-four years old this year. He has experienced the ups and downs of officialdom and has long since reached the pinnacle of power. Power and position are nothing more than fleeting glory to him.

If the methods used on Wang, Tian, ​​Li, Yang, and others were used again, they would not only be useless, but would also invite contempt.

To truly unleash his full potential and ignite his inner fire, a thoroughly satisfying and comprehensive conquest is needed.

Zhu Youjian took a deep breath. His mind, which had been working all night, was not only not sleepy, but even slightly excited.

"Your Majesty, Sun Chengzong has arrived outside the palace."

Gao Shiming returned, his voice pulling Zhu Youjian back to reality.

coming!

Zhu Youjian suddenly opened his eyes, and his young eyes instantly radiated a high-spirited fighting spirit!

He suddenly stood up, took a step forward, and walked towards the outside of the hall.

Before the people arrive, the sound comes first.

"Master Sun, I have been waiting for you for a long time!"

His voice was clear and bright, carrying the unique vigor of a young man, echoing in the empty hall.

Sun Chengzong, led by Gao Shiming, had just stood in the shadow of the pillars outside the hall, preparing to tidy his clothes and await his summons.

Hearing this call out unexpectedly, he was taken aback.

He looked up and saw a young emperor dressed in bright yellow robes striding out from the deep shadows inside the palace gates.

The autumn sunlight suddenly poured down from his side, outlining his young figure with a golden contour.

The light was somewhat dazzling, and Sun Chengzong didn't have time to examine the face closely before he quickly bowed and shouted, "Your subject, Sun Chengzong, pays respects to Your Majesty!"

His voice was as loud as a bell, resounding throughout the palace corridors, which startled Zhu Youjian.

He had assumed that a 64-year-old man, who had traveled a long way, would be somewhat haggard and tired, but he was surprised to find that his voice was so strong.

Just as Sun Chengzong was about to kneel down to perform the grand ceremony of a subject to his ruler, a pair of strong arms steadily supported him.

"Master Sun, there's no need for such formalities. Please come in with me quickly."

Zhu Youjian's voice carried an undeniable gentleness.

Sun Chengzong straightened up with the help of the force, which allowed him to take a closer look at the new emperor before him.

too young.

This was his first impression.

But on that young face were eyes that didn't belong to that age—deep, calm, yet burning with fire.

There are still some traces of blood... I'm afraid he's been restless since suddenly taking the throne.

As those eyes gazed upon him, Sun Chengzong felt as if he were seeing the same young emperor who had ascended the throne seven years earlier.

That... was also the boy who once called him Master Sun.

Although their eyes and eyebrows are similar, their overall demeanor is ultimately quite different...

"Master Sun?"

Seeing that he was somewhat lost in thought, Zhu Youjian called out softly.

Sun Chengzong suddenly came to his senses, composed himself, and followed Zhu Youjian into the hall.

Inside the main hall, there was only a huge, somewhat crude-looking sand table, with two simple tables next to it.

Apart from that, there is nothing else.

Zhu Youjian did not sit on the throne, but walked directly to the sand table, picked up one of the thin wooden sticks, and handed it to Sun Chengzong.

He looked at the old man in front of him with a slight smile on his face.

"Master Sun, the country is in grave danger, so I will not waste time with pleasantries and let's get straight to the point."

Sun Chengzong felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that the real show was about to begin.

Zhu Youjian lightly tapped a spot on the sand table with the wooden stick in his hand.

He raised his head, staring intently at Sun Chengzong, and asked:
"The first matter today is for Master Sun to explain to me in detail the Battle of Liuhe in the fifth year of the Tianqi reign."

……

In an instant, the air inside the hall seemed to freeze.

As Sun Chengzong twirled the wooden stick in his hand, a tremendous pressure suddenly arose.

He had imagined countless ways to start.

They might ask about the general strategy for Liaodong, or about money, provisions, and troops, or about policies for Dongjiang and Korea.

He had prepared for all the problems before he went to Beijing.

But what no one expected was that the young emperor's first question was about the crushing defeat two years ago that had led to his resignation.

Zhu Youjian smiled inwardly, quietly waiting for Sun Chengzong's performance.
Don't ask about merits, ask about demerits first.

This became his usual opening line for job interviews in later generations.

Rather than asking about successful experiences, reviewing a failed battle reveals a person's character, sense of responsibility, and true nature more clearly.

They can also gain an absolute psychological advantage immediately.

However, Sun Chengzong is, after all, Sun Chengzong.

The defeat at Liuhe was the thing he regretted most in recent years.

Two years after returning home, he often pondered and reviewed the battle while facing the sandy ground. Every detail of that battle was deeply engraved in his mind.

He had suffered pain and regretted his actions, but he was not afraid of being questioned.

Sun Chengzong steadied himself, and his previously slightly cloudy eyes suddenly sharpened.

The wooden stick in his hand accurately struck a mound of earth on the sand table; judging from the terrain, this was Yaozhou Fort.

"On the 14th day of the eighth month of the fifth year of the Tianqi reign, Liu Boqiang, a student from Liaodong, fled back to Liaozuo and reported that Huang Taiji, the fourth prince of the slave chieftain, had entered Yaozhou with fewer than three hundred soldiers around him."

"He said that if our army crosses the river, the people of Liao will surely rise up in response, and we can kill the fourth prince in one battle and annihilate his people before returning home."

His voice was steady and clear, devoid of any emotion, as if he were recounting an old story that had nothing to do with him.

"The then-General Ma Shilong trusted him and on the 20th of that month, he sent Lu Zhijia and Li Chengxian with 800 cavalrymen ahead."

"To prevent the news from leaking out, they falsely claimed to the outside world that they were 'patrolling the river in the east to provide relief to refugees'."

"At the same time, Jin Guan and Yao Yuxian, naval guerrillas of Tiaojuehuang Island, went to the Sancha River Estuary to assist the army in crossing the river and then covered the area by waterway."

Sun Chengzong slowly moved his wooden stick across the sand table, outlining the route of that lone army's advance back then. In his tone, a hint of barely perceptible regret finally crept in.

"However, the 800 cavalrymen arrived at the Niangniang Palace ferry on the 22nd, but the navy still did not arrive by the 25th."

"Generals Lu and Li, fearing that military intelligence would be leaked and the opportunity to fight would be lost, requisitioned seven fishing boats and forced their way across the Sancha River."

"However, with few boats and many soldiers, the commotion lasted for four days and nights, yet they still could not cross the river completely."

"By this time, the military situation had been exposed, and the slave chieftain raised a large army to attack them. All the soldiers and generals who had crossed the river were killed here."

Even though two years have passed, Sun Chengzong's voice still trembled slightly as he spoke.

Zhu Youjian listened quietly without disturbing him. Only after Sun Chengzong finished speaking did he let out a soft sigh.

"This fourth prince is none other than Huang Taiji, the current ruler of the Later Jin Dynasty, is that right?"

Sun Chengzong also sighed deeply, his voice filled with frustration and resentment.

"Exactly this person."

Zhu Youjian's eyes became somewhat deep.

He even unconsciously began to doubt whether the Manchu Qing dynasty truly possessed any so-called "Mandate of Heaven."

If he hadn't traveled through time and read through all the memorials and petitions from Liaodong during the Tianqi Dynasty...

Little did they know that Huang Taiji, the destined restorer of the Later Jin dynasty, had almost died in such a sudden attack two years earlier.

The contingency of history is now clearly revealed.

If the navy from Juehua Island can arrive as scheduled that night.

If only Lu Zhijia and Li Chengxian had been a little more patient that night.

If Huang Taiji's head had been cut off that night.

So, who will hold the Khanate of the Later Jin?

Is it the brutal Amin, or the wavering Daishan?

Without Huang Taiji, could the Later Jin dynasty still seize upon the mistakes made by the Ming dynasty time and time again, ultimately allowing a small ethnic group to overthrow a large one and stage an impossible conquest?
Do heroes create history, or do the times create heroes?
Standing amidst the tides of this era, he ultimately could not answer this question.

Zhu Youjian suppressed this untimely sentiment; he knew that now was not the time to dwell on such things.

He raised his head, looked at Sun Chengzong again, and continued to press for answers.

"So, Master Sun, where do you think the defeat in this battle came from?"

Just as Sun Chengzong was about to speak, Zhu Youjian raised his hand to interrupt him.

The young emperor then revealed an amused smile.

"How about we follow the example of the ancients, write our answers down on paper, and then decide the outcome?"

Sun Chengzong was taken aback upon hearing this, then stroked his long beard and burst into laughter.

"Very well! Your Majesty's boldness is beyond my ability to refuse!"

Soon, the eunuchs brought out paper, brushes, ink, and inkstones, and also brought over two tables.

The two sat separately, each picking up a brush and writing down their answers on the snow-white Xuan paper.

Soon, the two finished writing almost simultaneously.

They exchanged a glance, and then simultaneously raised the papers in their hands.

Inside the hall, all was silent.

On Sun Chengzong's paper, there was only one word—

"urgent".

But on Zhu Youjian's paper were two words—

"Too hasty."

In an instant, Sun Chengzong's pupils contracted sharply, and his heart was filled with shock!

He looked at Zhu Youjian, his eyes filled with disbelief and shock.

When Zhu Youjian saw the word "urgent" on Sun Chengzong's paper, his eyes also lit up with an unusual light.

really!

He truly deserves to be called the Ming Dynasty's top strategist!

The word "urgent" seems simple, but it reveals the fundamental problem of the Ming Dynasty's border affairs and even the entire court situation!
Zhu Youjian spoke first, breaking the silence.

There was a hint of appreciation in his voice.

"On the surface, this battle is a matter of urgency for both soldiers and generals."

"Generals Lu and Li were eager for merit. Even though the navy missed the deadline, they still took this gamble and crossed the river rashly. In the end, they were attacked while the ship was halfway across. This was the first reason for their haste."

Sun Chengzong spoke next, his voice had returned to calm, but his heart was far from as composed as he appeared.

"Your Majesty is wise. However, the root of the soldiers' urgent needs lies in the urgent needs of their commanders."

At that time, General Ma Shilong was being frequently impeached by officials in the court, who said that he had trained troops for many years but had not achieved anything, and that his memorials contained many accusations of his arrogance and corruption.

"Therefore, faced with such a heaven-sent achievement, he was eager to succeed in order to silence the criticism, and he was pressing hard from behind. This was his second urgency."

Zhu Youjian's gaze became even more profound.

"And the general's urgent concern is, in fact, the urgent concern of the entire court."

"After the great defeat at Sarhu, the court and the people were ashamed of the Liao affair. After years of preparation, they wanted to settle the score in one battle, but they could not hold out for long."

"From the officials in the imperial court to the common people in the city, everyone is hoping for a great victory. This urgency permeates the court and the country; this is the third urgent need."

At this point, Sun Chengzong let out a long sigh, a bitter smile appearing on his face.

He bowed deeply to Zhu Youjian.

"Your Majesty is truly wise and insightful, with penetrating vision."

"I... also after returning to my hometown, I pondered for several years before I finally understood the layers of connection between them."

"But I never expected that His Majesty, before even reaching adulthood, would already have such a clear understanding of the ways of the world and the hearts of men."

Zhu Youjian couldn't help but shake his head inwardly.

He can hardly be considered wise.

He was merely standing on the shoulders of later generations, an "outsider," searching for evidence with the answers in mind.

With the Ming Dynasty's repeated hasty gamblers' actions as evidence, the underlying human relationships in the Liaodong memorials naturally become clear.

The defeat at Liuhe appears to have been caused by countless coincidences.

The intelligence might have been false; the so-called tip might have been a trap from the very beginning.

It's possible that the generals were out of their minds, and without the navy's arrival, they thought they could get eight hundred cavalrymen across the natural barrier with only seven fishing boats, falling into the predicament of trying to find a lost sword by marking the boat.

Perhaps it was due to the incompetence of the navy, that the journey from Juehua Island to the confluence of the three rivers, a mere hundred li of waterway, was delayed.

This may also be due to the fact that Ma Shilong, a northern general, was not very familiar with naval operations, as well as the complex sea conditions in autumn and the difficulty of sailing against the wind.

But at its core, if we peel back these layers of appearances, the most fundamental problem boils down to one word—impatience.

From the emperor to officials in the capital, to generals, and to border commanders, everyone from top to bottom was gripped by a sense of anxiety and agitation.

Anyone who seeks credit, acts rashly, pressures others, or criticizes others will not last long.

It is said that fifty cabinet ministers were replaced in the seventeenth year of Chongzhen's reign, and the Ming Dynasty court was no different.

From the initial Battle of Sarhu to the final Battle of Songshan, the reason for their defeats was surprisingly the same: being pressured into reckless advances.

This is, undeniably, a tremendous irony.

Zhu Youjian looked at Sun Chengzong and slowly spoke, giving his final conclusion.

"A skilled strategist seeks advantage from the situation, not from individuals. If the situation is unfavorable, even the bravest and most valiant soldiers will only become prey."

"The Battle of Liuhe may seem to have been lost due to the generals' arrogance and the soldiers' laziness, but in reality, it was lost because of the top-down, impatient, and unsustainable 'general trend.' Do you agree, Master Sun?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Chengzong let out a long sigh.

An indescribable surge of excitement and...relief welled up within me.

A skilled strategist seeks advantage from the situation, not from blaming others!
Your Majesty, how could you say such a thing!

For the past two years, he has borne all the blame for the defeat at Liuhe, the impeachment by censors, the criticism from his colleagues, and even his own harsh criticism.

He had thought countless times whether this tragedy could have been avoided if he had been more assertive and restrained Ma Shilong's recklessness.

But only now, upon hearing the young emperor's words, did he finally feel a sense of relief.

Yes, things aren't going well!

When the entire court and the entire country are caught up in a frenzied, short-sighted "momentum," how much can a military commander in Liaodong salvage the situation?
At this moment, looking at the young emperor before him, he felt that the emperor was no longer a monarch he needed to read carefully and deal with cautiously.

But it was someone who truly understood him, understood military affairs, and understood the general trend of the world—

confidant!

Zhu Youjian looked at Sun Chengzong's slightly excited expression and smiled inwardly.

Tactics are easy to learn, and strategies are easy to determine. You can't really see an individual's abilities just by looking at the so-called three-way deployment or the ten policies for governing the country.

Only the ability to see into people's hearts and understand the invisible "momentum" beneath the surface can be the foundation of a true leader.

This is why some people succeed at the same thing, while others fail and perish.

—But don't rush.

Teacher Sun, you've only passed the first of the three interview questions!

(End of this chapter)