How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 100 Yuan Chonghuan, you were no good at pacifying Liaodong, but you were good at bragging! (20th update)

Sun Chuanting took a deep breath, held up the written memorial with both hands, and spoke in a steady and powerful voice:

"Your subject, Sun Chuanting, respectfully reports."

"Your Majesty, Niu Huiyuan's 'Policy on Establishing Three Feudatories in Liaodong to Secure the Border' uses the Tang dynasty's feudal system as a metaphor for the current situation in Liaodong, drawing lessons from the past to guide the present. His intention is commendable, and his policy... is a powerful remedy for the current predicament in western Liaodong, and may be effective in the short term."

He gave some initial affirmation, but his words betrayed a sense of unease.

“Indeed!” Sun Chuanting’s tone shifted sharply, his gaze becoming intense. “I was born in a border town, and my family has served in the military for generations. I know firsthand the hardships of warfare, which cannot be compared to mere theoretical calculations. This strategy may have a thousand reasons, but it has three major hidden dangers. If handled improperly, it may not only trap the enemy, but also nurture a tiger and leave behind a future threat!”

"The first hidden worry lies in the reality. The Liaoxi region has been ravaged by war for years, leaving nine out of ten houses empty and the fields barren. The three cities occupied by the Three Feudatories are essentially three isolated islands! Where will their troops come from? If they are still conscripted from within the Great Wall, what difference is there between them and today? It's nothing more than old wine in new bottles! Where will their provisions come from? The 760,000 taels of silver for military pay seems like a huge sum, but the cost of transporting the Liaodong military pay is less than 70%! If the Three Feudatories want to survive, they will inevitably return to their old ways, secretly colluding with Shanxi merchants and even the Jianzhou Jurchens to exchange military pay for horses and ginseng. This strategy will not only fail to trap the enemy but will also become a shortcut to aiding the enemy! This is a dangerous situation where the power of the regional military governors is solidified, but it will backfire on them!"

"The second hidden worry lies in 'control.' Your Majesty, when the Tang dynasty first established its regional military governorships, the court also believed it could control them. However, after the An Lushan Rebellion, when did the various military governorships in Hebei truly obey the court? Today's Liaoxi is closer to the capital than Hebei in the Tang dynasty, but can the passes of Shanhaiguan truly keep the three vassal states locked in forever? If the three vassal states and the Jurchens form a tacit agreement, each taking what they need, wouldn't our Great Ming be spending money to raise three vicious guard dogs for the Jurchens? At that time, if the court makes any urging, the three vassal states will use the excuse that 'the Jurchens are too powerful and need more pay' to coerce them; if the court is even slightly late in paying the money, they can let their troops enter the pass to 'eat'! This is not an exaggeration; the old story of the late Tang dynasty is a stark warning! This is the danger of losing control!"

"The third hidden worry lies in 'change.' Niu Huiyuan is pinning his hopes on internal strife within the Jurchens, leading to the surrender of their chieftains. This would mean putting his own life in the enemy's hands! The Jurchens are not just bandits; they are an established enemy state! Huang Taiji is not Shi Chaoyi; he is cunning and ruthless, and is currently vigorously integrating the Eight Banners and implementing new policies. How can we sit idly by and wait for them to fall into chaos? If they do not fall into chaos but instead become even stronger, then the Three Feudatories, under their military might, will only have two outcomes to protect themselves: either they will perish in battle, or... surrender to the enemy! At that time, the court will not only lose territory but will also needlessly send tens of thousands of elite troops and a large number of firearms to the enemy! This is a danger that could aid the enemy in their transformation!"

Sun Chuanting paused, his breathing slightly rapid, and after regaining his composure, continued:
"Therefore, I believe that the policy of establishing the Three Feudatories may be temporarily implemented in Lushun (which is relatively easy to control across the sea), but Ningyuan and Jinzhou must be handled with utmost caution! Under no circumstances should they be allowed to become states within a state!"

"Your Majesty! The fundamental issue of the Liaodong affair lies not in Liaoxi, but in the overall situation of the world!" Sun Chuanting's voice suddenly rose. "Although the Jurchens are fierce, their population is only a million, and their fighting force is only tens of thousands. The reason they have been able to succeed time and again is not because they are truly invincible, but because our Great Ming is plagued by many problems and is unable to devote the entire nation to the cause!"

"The number of refugees from Shaanxi and Shanxi is increasing daily, and famine is becoming increasingly apparent in the Central Plains. This is a serious threat! If the world is in turmoil and war breaks out everywhere, how will the court be able to take care of Liaodong? Therefore, in my humble opinion, the most important task at present is not to fight with the Jurchens for a single city or territory in Liaoxi, but to swiftly and decisively quell the She-An rebellion and stabilize Sichuan and Guizhou! At the same time, we should devote all our efforts to providing relief to Shanxi and Shaanxi, appeasing the refugees, investigating land ownership, rectifying official corruption, increasing revenue and reducing expenditure, so that the heartland of the Central Plains can recover its vitality!"

"Once the country is relatively stable and the treasury is full, we will train another 100,000 elite troops, and with overwhelming force, march out of the pass and sweep away all obstacles! At that time, what need will there be for any regional warlords? The mighty royal army can easily recover the entire Liaodong region!"

"Your Majesty, governing a large country is like cooking a small fish; one must not be hasty, much less take risks! The policy of establishing vassal states is extremely risky! I urge Your Majesty to reconsider!"

After speaking, Sun Chuanting bowed deeply and raised the memorial in his hand above his head. His meaning was somewhat similar to Yang Sichang's "five-year plan," both emphasizing the need to first secure the internal situation, but he almost entirely rejected the feasibility of establishing a fiefdom in Ningjin, believing that the risks were too great and that it must be carefully considered before proceeding.

After listening, Emperor Chongzhen's face showed no emotion, and his gaze slowly turned to the last person—Yuan Chonghuan.

“Minister Yuan,” Chongzhen said in a flat voice, “it’s your turn.”

Yuan Chonghuan took a deep breath. He knew that his words were of paramount importance, not only concerning his views on the Liaodong Peninsula, but also his future, and even his life.

He had finished writing by then, so he stood up, held the memorial in both hands, and said in a loud and steady voice: "Your subject Yuan Chonghuan respectfully submits this memorial."

"Your Majesty's wisdom is profound. Niu Huiyuan's strategy is novel and insightful, using the Tang Dynasty as a metaphor for the present. After reading it, I also found it refreshing. Its key points of 'gathering troops and cities' and 'economically weakening the enemy' are similar to my past strategy of defending Ningyuan and relying on strong cities and cannons. On this point alone, this strategy is indeed a way to alleviate the current crisis in western Liaoning."

He first offered some compliments, adopting a humble posture as if he genuinely agreed with the idea.

“However,” he changed his tone, his voice becoming extremely grave, “Your Majesty, whether this strategy can be implemented depends on ‘the court holding its throat and controlling its financial lifeline.’ I have been in Liaodong for several years and know the intricate nature of the Liaodong affairs well; it cannot be fully described in written plans. What I worry about is not the flaws of the strategy, but that the timing, circumstances, and people have not yet fully met the requirements of this strategy.”

He began to elaborate on his "concerns," and every word he spoke seemed reasonable:

"Firstly, there is the issue of the 'generals.' The generals of the Three Feudatories are like three fierce tigers released by the court. They must be able to bite the Tartars, but they must also be loyal enough not to turn against their lord. Generals like Zu Dashou and Zhao Shuaijiao are brave enough, but their troops are mostly from their clans and hometowns, deeply entrenched in their own factions. If they are given the authority to lead special campaigns and promised heavy pay, after a few years, their soldiers will only know their generals and not the court. Wouldn't this be repeating the mistakes of the Youzhou Garrison at the end of the Tang Dynasty? How will the court control them then? Relying solely on the Shanhaiguan Pass may not be enough to restrain three hearts that have already harbored rebellious intentions. This is the difficulty in selecting the right people."

"Secondly, there is the issue of 'military pay.' The annual military pay of 760,000 taels of silver seems sufficient, but the Liaodong military pay is transported over thousands of miles, and there are losses and deductions. How much of it will actually reach the soldiers' bowls? If the Three Feudatories, due to insufficient military pay, either falsely report troop numbers, embezzle grain, or even... secretly trade with the barbarians to enrich themselves, then this policy will not only fail to restrain the barbarians, but will instead open up a source of wealth for them. How will the court investigate this? This is the difficulty of supervision."

"Thirdly, there is the issue of 'land.' Ningyuan, Jinzhou, and Lushun are indeed vital strategic locations. However, large tracts of land outside these three cities have been abandoned by the enemy. What have the people of Liaodong done wrong? What is their heart set on? They may be forced to submit to the enemy or flee into the interior of China, all of which are losses for the court. What's worse, if the Jurchens consolidate their rule over western and southern Liaodong, gaining both people and land, their power may grow stronger rather than gradually decline. This is a loss of the people's hearts and the land."

"Fourthly, there is the issue of 'change.' Niu Huiyuan is pinning his hopes on internal strife within the Jurchens, which is a gamble on the affairs of state. If Huang Taiji not only does not cause chaos but also takes this opportunity to either lure one of the three feudatories with great rewards or to besiege it with a large army to force it to submit, the loss of any one city will shake the entire situation. Shanhaiguan will be directly facing the enemy's advance, and the capital will be shaken! This strategy puts the safety of the Liaoxi defense line entirely on the loyalty of the three generals. Is this a foolproof strategy? This is a dangerous situation with unpredictable consequences."

At this point, Yuan Chonghuan's tone became increasingly sorrowful, his deep concern for the country evident in his words:
"Your Majesty, I am not unaware of the current predicament in Liaodong, nor am I entirely opposed to this strategy. However, I believe that if this strategy is to be implemented, it must be supported by foolproof contingency plans and absolute control! Otherwise, it would be tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst!"

Finally, he revealed what he truly wanted:
"Therefore, I humbly beg Your Majesty: if this policy is adopted, the Three Feudatories must not be allowed to truly become independent. A highly respected and powerful governor must be appointed at Shanhaiguan to oversee the Three Feudatories' provisions, coordination, and defense. This governor must be absolutely trusted by Your Majesty, granted the Imperial Sword, and given the authority to make decisions on the spot. Only when the Three Feudatories are as close to the governor as their own arms can they achieve effective cooperation and prevent the danger of separatism."

"However, I still believe that the safest course of action is not to decentralize power to the regional military governors, but to centralize power in the court! I beseech Your Majesty to grant me full authority to reorganize the existing Liaodong army, weed out the weak and retain the strong, and strengthen the Ningjin defense line. At the same time, I earnestly request Your Majesty to follow the advice of Vice Minister Sun Yuanhua and vigorously manufacture cannons and train troops! I am willing to sign a military pledge: if provisions and weapons are sufficient, and the soldiers fight bravely, relying on strong fortifications and powerful weapons, we can advance step by step and surely crush the Jurchens within five years, trapping them in the mountains of Liaodong! At that time, what need will there be for regional military governors? With the mighty imperial army, we can naturally recover all of Liaodong!"

"Your Majesty, the Liao situation has been in a state of disarray for a long time, and cannot be resolved quickly with any clever scheme. I am willing to use a steady and methodical approach to build an impregnable border wall for Your Majesty! Although this method is slow, it has a solid foundation and will not cause any problems if the problem becomes unmanageable! I humbly request Your Majesty's decision!"

Five more years to pacify Liaodong
Emperor Chongzhen dared not believe Yuan Chonghuan's big mouth!

Yang Sichang, Sun Yuanhua, and even Sun Chuanting, who also opposed Niu Jinxing's strategy, are all capable of being put to great use!
And Yuan Chonghuan can be in charge of bragging! He can brag to that Hudun Tuhan, who also likes to brag, and the two of them will definitely get along well.

(End of this chapter)