How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 77 Wei Zhongxian, the God of Gamblers of the Ming Dynasty! (Available for purchase tomorrow, three chapters today, please add to your favorites and follow along)

Xuanfu Town, General's Office, Hall of Honor.

You Shiwei sat in the main seat, with Hou Shilu and Zhu Zhifeng on either side. Next to the main seat, another seat was set up, where Wei Zhongxian, the eunuch in charge of the Directorate of Ceremonial and the commander of the Xuanfu Army's provisions, sat calmly, holding a newly arrived imperial edict delivered by a messenger from 600 li away.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, You Shiwei said, "Eunuch Wei, Governor Zhu, Commander Hou, His Majesty's decree has arrived. The three battalions of the Imperial Guard will arrive soon and be placed under the command of their respective garrisons. His Majesty's intention is that this battle must be won decisively."

His gaze swept over the huge map hanging on the wall, his finger emphasizing the three characters "Dushikou".

"There are two difficulties in advancing into Dushikou."

"Firstly, Dushikou City itself. This fort was built during the Yongle period. Although the city is only a little over three li in circumference, it has high walls and deep moats. It is a strong city with brick-encased rammed earth, which is incomparable to ordinary wooden forts. The city has wells and granaries. If the enemy holds the city and defends it to the death, even if our army has the Hongyi cannons, it will take a long time and the casualties will be heavy."

"Secondly, there's the advantage of location." He pointed to the two curves to the north and south of the castle. "South of Dushikou is the Qinglong River, and to the north is the Huanglong River. According to the latest intelligence report from the night watchmen, Hudun Tu Khan's main force is not entirely confined within the castle. Most of his cavalry, about 30,000 men, are relying on the castle and have set up a series of camps along the Huanglong River to the north of the city, forming a pincer movement with the castle."

“Although the river is currently frozen, it is passable for men and horses. However, if our army were to cross the river on the ice, we would need to maintain a long formation to avoid breaking the ice, which would make us vulnerable to being attacked by Mongol cavalry while they are crossing. Once we engage in battle on the ice, our infantry will be in disarray and will suffer heavy losses. Moreover…” You Shiwei’s tone turned serious, “The weather is gradually warming up, and the river may thaw at any time. At that time, the Qinglong and Huanglong Rivers will become insurmountable barriers, cutting off our supply lines and reinforcements, making Dushikou even more difficult to capture!”

Upon hearing this, Hou Shilu stood up abruptly, clasped his hands in a fist and said, “General You! Eunuch Wei! Governor Zhu! This humble general is willing to personally lead the vanguard across the frozen river, fight to the death to capture a beachhead, and cover the detachment wagon battalion’s forced crossing of the Qinglong River! As long as the wagon battalion crosses the river, they can immediately form ranks, advance step by step, and move northward! Even if there are casualties, we will not hesitate!”

Zhu Zhifeng pondered for a moment before speaking: "General Hou's bravery and strategy are commendable. However, in my opinion, Hu Dun Tu Khan has suffered repeated defeats, his old camp was attacked, and his wife was captured. He is already terrified. His troops are disloyal and may not be willing to fight to the death. Our army only needs to make a great show of force, advance step by step, and approach the city, showing our determination to take it. When he sees our army's strength, he may be afraid that his retreat will be cut off and abandon the city. It is not impossible."

You Shiwei nodded emphatically: "What Governor Zhu said is the best strategy. However, a general must consider victory before defeat. We must be fully prepared to launch a fierce attack and fight to the death to capture the city!"

Just as a governor and two generals were seriously discussing how to launch a fierce attack and fight a bloody battle, Wei Zhongxian, who had been listening quietly, suddenly laughed.

“Governor Zhu, Commander You, Commander Hou,” Wei Zhongxian’s voice was not loud, but it carried a confident certainty, “What you’re talking about is a righteous army, a head-on confrontation. It’s good, but… it’s too exhausting.”

He paused, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes, like an old gambler seeing a chance to win big with a small investment: "I think this battle is worth a gamble!"

"Gambling?" You Shiwei, Zhu Zhifeng, and Hou Shilu were all taken aback, not understanding what he meant.

Wei Zhongxian turned his gaze to Hou Shilu: "General Hou, those two under your command... Wang Shiqin and Wang Tong, are they behaving themselves?"

Hou Shilu's heart tightened, and he hurriedly replied, "Reporting to Eunuch Wei, since receiving the secret decree, I have followed the order to relieve him of his military command and placed him under separate guard in a camp with his family servants and confidants. They are under surveillance day and night, and there has been no unusual activity."

"Hmm." Wei Zhongxian nodded in satisfaction, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. "We have a bet here that's small to win big, worth a shot!"

All three eyes were fixed on him.

Wei Zhongxian said slowly and deliberately, "In my hands, we have Su Tai, the favorite concubine of Hudun Tu Khan, as a hostage. In General Hou's hands, we have Wang Shiqin and Wang Tong as our bargaining chips... What do you think we should do if we let these two kings, along with Lady Su Tai, 'escape' back to Dushikou to surrender to Hudun Tu Khan... We'll just have to bet whether those Tartars will believe us or open the gates?"

Zhu Zhifeng, You Shiwei, and Hou Shilu looked at each other, speechless for a moment. This idea... it was truly gambling with their lives, gambling with the lives of others, sacrificing their own loyalty—truly unspeakable loyalty!
Wei Zhongxian seemed to see through the three men's thoughts, and chuckled sharply: "War, in my opinion, is not much different from gambling. If there's a chance to win big with a small investment, you should take the plunge!"

He analyzed, "Our bet is on the lives of the two kings, plus Su Tai as our 'big capital'! If we win, the fortified city of Dushikou will be within our grasp, saving the lives of thousands of soldiers! If we lose, it's just the loss of Wang Shiqin, Wang Tong, their few retainers, and a Mongolian woman! Is this a worthwhile gamble?!"

From a financial perspective, this deal is definitely worthwhile!

But that Su Tai's wife is an important bargaining chip for future peace negotiations, and Emperor Chongzhen has already issued an edict to keep a close eye on her... Zhu Zhifeng, You Shiwei, and Hou Shilu looked at each other, all feeling that the matter was too serious and they couldn't bear the consequences.

Wei Zhongxian stared intently at the three men, then sneered, "I've calculated everything! I'll take this gamble! I'll hold the sky up if it falls! Commander Hou, please bring over those two 'small stakes'? I'll personally explain this 'fortune favors the bold' scheme to them!"

……

Inside a signing room next to the General's Office, the charcoal fire burned brightly, but it couldn't warm the hearts of Wang Shiqin and Wang Tong, who were feeling utterly desolate.

The two men, dressed only in ordinary cotton robes, sat on stools, feeling extremely uncomfortable. Outside the door stood Hou Shilu's personal guards, their hands constantly resting on the hilts of their swords.

The door creaked open, and Wei Zhongxian strolled in slowly, followed only by two meek servants. Wang Shiqin and Wang Tong, like startled birds, jumped to their feet, bowing deeply and not daring to raise their heads.

Wei Zhongxian walked to the main seat and sat down. He picked up the hot tea offered by the servant, blew on it, but didn't drink it. After a long while, he slowly spoke: "Generals, how have you been lately?"

Wang Tong, being younger and more impetuous, knelt down with a thud: "Eunuch Wei, please see the truth! This humble general... this humble general is innocent! It was all Zhu Chunchen's coercion and enticement..."

"Shut up!" Wei Zhongxian's voice wasn't loud, but it was like an ice needle pricking someone.

Wang Tong immediately fell silent, his whole body trembling.

Wang Shiqin took a deep breath, then knelt down, his voice hoarse: "Eunuch Wei, this guilty general... knows his crime. I beg you, Your Excellency and the Emperor, to consider our years of service on the frontier, for which we have endured hardship even without merit, and to allow us to pay the penalty money and redeem land, so that our families may have a way to survive..."

"A fine for crimes? A land for redemption?" Wei Zhongxian laughed as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. "General Wang, are you really confused, or are you pretending?"

He put down his teacup, leaned forward slightly, and stared at the two men with eyes as sharp as a venomous snake: "Embezzling military pay and seizing farmland, that's called greed! Paying money to atone for your sins, Your Majesty, may grant your mercy, it's not impossible."

"But what have you done? Colluding with the enemy! Aiding the enemy! Inciting mutiny! Helping the Mongols conquer our Great Ming Dynasty! This is uprooting the Great Ming! It is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of your family!"

His voice suddenly turned stern: "Wang Dengku, the merchant from Shanxi, has been arrested and brought to the capital! He will face the excruciating punishment of three thousand six hundred cuts! All his property will be confiscated! His male relatives will be exiled, and his female relatives will be sent to the brothels! This is your fate!"

Every word was like a hammer, striking Wang Shiqin and Wang Tong's hearts, leaving them pale and limp.

"Your Wang family of Yulin, your Wang family of Xuanfu... you're all big trees. Your branches are lush, your population numerous." Wei Zhongxian's tone softened again, as if he were chatting casually. "How much silver and how much land would it take to redeem such a heinous crime? Hmm? Your Wang family, even if you sold everything you own, you still couldn't fill this hole!"

"Or..." he drawled, "do you expect to drag your entire clan down to meet your ancestors? Do you think you're worthy of the legacy and reputation left by your forefathers?!"

"Father-in-law! Spare me! Father-in-law, have mercy!" Wang Shiqin could no longer hold back and banged his head on the ground with a loud thud. Wang Tong was also in tears, unable to speak.

Wei Zhongxian coldly watched them kowtow until blood appeared on their foreheads, then slowly said, "Here in my family, there is a chance to turn things around, for you and for your families."

The two looked up abruptly, their eyes flashing with the light of desperate clinging to the last straw.

"His Majesty, in His Majesty's grace, considering your long service in the border towns, or perhaps a moment of confusion," Wei Zhongxian said slowly and methodically, "has given you... a chance to sit at the gambling table."

"I'm not asking you to become strikers and earn your place through brute force. That's too difficult and too slow."

“We want you to go and gamble big! If you win, you’ll be rewarded with immense merit, enough to atone for your mistakes, preserve the family, and bring wealth and glory! If you lose…”

He paused deliberately, watching the fear rise in their eyes, before saying, word by word, "If you lose, you will die at Dushikou! Die like loyal martyrs! I will put in a good word for you before His Majesty, saying that you fought bravely and died for your country! His Majesty will know that you are loyal, and naturally he will not pursue your families! Your clans will at least be spared!"

Hope and doubt rose in Wang Shiqin and Wang Tong's eyes. What exactly did Wei Zhongxian want to do?
"What? You dare not?" Wei Zhongxian leaned back, his tone contemptuous. "It's good that you dare not. Then I will issue the order to execute both of you and your entire clans, according to the law... those who will be executed by slow slicing, those who will be exiled, and those who will be sent to the brothels! Not one of you will escape!"

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming seductive: "Or... have you really surrendered to Hudun Tu Khan? Ha, do you think Hudun Tu Khan would believe two generals who betrayed even their own emperor? Even if he believes you for a moment and spares your lives, what about your families? In His Majesty's wrath, not a single one of your nine generations will survive! You yourselves will be nothing more than stray dogs, barely clinging to life!"

"To gamble or not?" Wei Zhongxian said quietly. "If you gamble, you still have a sliver of hope, and your families can be saved! If you don't gamble, or if you really surrender, you might live a few more days, but your entire family will be wiped out! You can calculate this yourselves!"

"I dare!" Wang Shiqin roared, his eyes bloodshot, like a gambler who had lost everything and bet his entire fortune. "This sinner dares! This sinner is willing to gamble this time! I beg you, Your Majesty, give my Wang family a way out!"

Wang Tong finally realized what was happening and kowtowed frantically, saying, "Even a sinner like me is willing to go! I'm willing to gamble!"

"Good!" Wei Zhongxian slammed his hand on the table, as if the dealer had settled the matter. "You still have some backbone, and you haven't disgraced your military ancestors! Remember, once you're at the gambling table, there's no turning back! Either you win big or you lose everything and die a glorious death!"

He stood up: "The detailed tactics will be explained to you by someone. You... just have a good meal and risk your lives!"

(End of this chapter)