Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 78 Ruler and Subject as One, Facing National Crisis Together
Man Gui finally understood what kind of emperor he was facing.

This is not an emperor who is kept in the deep palace and learns about what is happening outside the Forbidden City through memorials and rumors, nor is he a puppet who is manipulated by the civil official group and floats in the political arena of the court!
Man Gui's mind flashed through the emperor's actions over the past few days. Every move he made was well-thought-out, and every step he took was precisely timed to the right moment.

Such an emperor, such vision. Man Gui suddenly realized clearly why those well-read civil officials suddenly seemed so dull in front of this young emperor!

All his previous confusion, humiliation, and anxiety seemed so ridiculous and ignorant at this moment. He was still bothered by the wording of the imperial edict and indignant about the court's cold treatment of him!
How could he not have imagined that an emperor who could see through the general trend of the world would really turn a blind eye to a fierce general like him?
Those seemingly indifferent attitudes were actually just waiting!
Waiting for the most opportune moment, a stage where he can play his best!

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty..." Man Gui's lips trembled as he tried to say something, but found that something was blocking his throat.

I am ashamed, deeply ashamed!

For my own shallowness, for my own narrow-mindedness, for my own shortsightedness!

I was terrified, absolutely terrified!
If he really acts impulsively, if he really leaves in a huff, the consequences will be unimaginable!
An unprecedented surge of passion welled up in his chest like magma.

With a "plop," Man Gui knelt down on one knee again. He raised his head, and tears welled up in his tiger-like eyes.

"Your Majesty...why are you telling me this?"

His voice was trembling.

“Because,” Zhu Youjian looked at him and said, word by word, “my game of chess needs someone who can understand it and make the crucial moves for me.”

His voice was calm, yet carried an unquestionable authority.

"Among my nine border generals, Zhao Shuaijiao and He Kegang are no less brave than you, but in terms of familiarity with Xuanda and the southern desert, in terms of tenacity, and in terms of the ability to grit your teeth and fight to the death even in dire straits, no one can surpass you."

Man Gui's heart pounded violently. Every word the emperor spoke struck him like a heavy hammer. It turned out that the emperor had been observing him, evaluating him, and waiting for a suitable opportunity to make good use of him!

"I need a sword, a sword that can hold back the first wave of floods for the Ming Dynasty on the western front."

Zhu Youjian's gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, staring directly into Man Gui's eyes.

"Man Gui, are you willing to be my weapon?"

are you willing?
This is no longer a problem.

When a commander reveals his deepest strategies to you without reservation, when a monarch entrusts the safety of his entire empire to you, when an emperor uses his complete trust to illuminate the most glorious chapter of your life.

What else can you do besides repay this trust with your life?
Man Gui slammed his head against the ground with a loud thud.

He raised his head, his forehead already streaked with blood, but he didn't care. His voice was choked with emotion, yet it carried a resolute determination.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to defend the nation's borders to the death!"

Every word was roared from the depths of his soul; it was not a simple statement, but a vow made by a man of steel with all his dignity and life!

"Even if we are shattered to pieces, we will never let the Jurchens...step over Xuanda!"

Zhu Youjian looked at him quietly, and finally a hint of approval appeared in his eyes. He saw what he wanted to see—that pure and unadulterated spirit of courage.

"Good. With you saying that, I am relieved."

His voice remained calm, but Man Gui could sense the satisfaction within it, a satisfaction that made him feel more honored than any reward.

Zhu Youjian turned around and picked up a pre-prepared imperial edict from the other end of the stone table. The handwriting on the edict was neat and tidy, clearly indicating that it had been carefully prepared.

"I hereby promote you to Governor-General of Xuanfu and Datong, and grant you the seal of General Zhenshuo."

Man Gui was startled!
Governor-General of Xuanda!

This...this is a high-ranking official in the governor's region! From a lowly general to a high-ranking official, this step directly crosses an insurmountable chasm that countless people cannot reach in their entire lives!
Zhu Youjian handed the imperial edict to him, his tone still calm, "From this day forward, all military and political affairs of Xuanfu and Datong will be under your command. The generals of the two towns will be under your control."

He will have complete control over both military and political affairs! He will be in charge of the entire Western Front theater, wielding absolute power of life and death, and his orders will be obeyed without question!
"I will grant you another privilege: to ensure military supplies, all taxes, salt, iron, horse market and other funds within the two towns will be allocated by your governor-general's office for the next two years, without needing to be handed over to the Ministry of Revenue."

Man Gui's mind went blank.

The Ministry of Revenue was the imperial purse; every border general had to be mindful of its whims!

The emperor actually allowed him to establish his own finances, which was tantamount to giving him a powerful sword, eliminating any worries he might have!
"To prevent any obstruction, you may appoint or dismiss all military officers under the Governor-General's Office, from the rank of Lieutenant General downwards, and report back afterwards."

Personnel autonomy!

Man Gui felt like her heart was about to jump out of her chest.

He can appoint and dismiss military officers, select people he trusts, and build a truly disciplined army that belongs to him!

He held the thin imperial edict, yet it felt as heavy as Mount Tai, so hot that he could barely hold it. His hands trembled, not from fear, but from excitement, from this favor that exceeded all his imagination!

Commander-in-Chief of the military and political affairs of the two towns! Control of the General! Also in charge of finances and provisions! Personnel appointments and removals!

This means that the emperor has handed over the most crucial western defense zone of the Ming Dynasty to him completely and without reservation!

Since its founding, the Ming Dynasty had a deeply ingrained system of civil officials supervising the military to prevent military generals from seizing power. Countless generals were not defeated by the enemy, but by the endless infighting and distrust among their own people!

And now, the emperor himself has severed all the shackles binding him! This trust…

This unprecedented trust is more exhilarating and utterly worthwhile for a military general than any gold or title!
Just as Man Gui was overwhelmed with emotion, thinking that this was all there was to it, Zhu Youjian suddenly changed the subject.

“Man Gui,” Zhu Youjian’s gaze sharpened, as if it could pierce through his heart, “I gave you power, money, and soldiers so that you could be the sharpest knife, not a general.” Man Gui was startled.

“You are brave and skilled in battle and familiar with the enemy’s situation, I trust you. But Huang Taiji is no ordinary barbarian. His cunning and treacherous methods far surpass those of your father.” Zhu Youjian’s voice became extremely solemn. “To send you to deal with him alone is to send you to your death.”

These words did not make Man Gui feel slighted; on the contrary, they warmed his heart.

If someone were to say that he is a fierce general charging into battle but not a strategist and commander-in-chief, Man Gui would definitely turn on them!
But if the one who says this is the new ruler before us.
Zhu Youjian suddenly took a step forward. His voice remained steady, yet carried an undeniable penetrating power: "Therefore, I will not grant you the power of 'acting arbitrarily on the spot.' Because your commander-in-chief is neither the Ministry of War nor the Cabinet."

He paused slightly, his gaze sharp as a sword, and spoke each word with a voice as firm as metal and stone: "Yes—I am the Emperor!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Youjian turned around and slowly walked to the edge of the platform. He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the outline of the Western Hills in the distance, which was the direction of the Ming Dynasty's border defense.

His voice carried on the wind, tinged with the chill of the battlefield: "You only need to be like a nail, firmly driven into the thin line of defense! Defend me against all attacks, and train the strongest army for me!"

At this point, Zhu Youjian's voice carried a chilling, almost murderous tone, "If one day, Huang Taiji truly dares to mobilize the entire nation's army and bypass the Mongol route..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Youjian suddenly turned around!

The hem of his dragon robe fluttered in the wind, and his eyes shone with an unprecedented light.

"I will personally lead the capital garrison and mobilize pillars of the nation like Duke Zhang Weixian of Yingguo to serve as your support!"

Zhu Youjian stepped forward again, this time almost standing in front of Man Gui. His eyes were bright as he looked directly into Man Gui's trembling eyes, his voice filled with resolute determination and supreme authority.

"At that time, the battle strategy can be discussed by all the generals, but the final decision rests with me! I will sit in the central army with my three-foot sword, and meet you all... at the border wall!"

Boom!

This statement shocked Man Gui more than all the previous authorizations combined!
The Emperor personally led the expedition!

This is not just empty talk, but a promise!
The emperor did not want him to fight against Huang Taiji alone, but rather to become his most trusted vanguard, sharpen the tip of his sword, and be ready to meet the final battle at any time!

This is true unity between ruler and subject, facing national crisis together!

Man Gui's eyes were completely red.

This man, who had always lived a life of constant danger, this iron-blooded general who had been humiliated by the imperial edict and wanted to retire to his hometown, could no longer control his emotions.

The excitement and gratitude, the ecstasy of being completely understood and entrusted with something, overwhelmed him like a tidal wave.

He knelt down again, this time on both knees, performing the grand ceremony of paying homage to his sovereign father!
Man Gui didn't say anything more grand or ambitious.

He simply held the imperial edict high above his head and then kowtowed three times.

Zhu Youjian turned around and looked again at the distant Western Hills.

The wind is still blowing.

Zhu Youjian did not immediately tell Man Gui to get up, but instead walked to the white marble railing at the edge of the platform.

"Man Gui, you are stationed in Xuanda. Do you know what is most important to the Ming Dynasty outside of Xuanda?"

Man Gui paused for a moment, then respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, it is to guard against the Mongol tribes and prevent them from being used by the Jurchens."

"You're half right." Zhu Youjian's voice carried a hint of amusement, but more so a calm, strategic composure. "It's not about defense, it's about winning them over. It's not about refusing to be used by the Jurchens, it's about using them for the Great Ming!"

Man Gui suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with shock.

Zhu Youjian turned around, his gaze fixed intently on him: "Past national policies always focused on building walls and fortresses to isolate the Mongols. This is passive defense! What I want is proactive offense! I ask you, what do the Mongols need most?"

“Salt, iron, tea, cloth…” Man Gui answered without hesitation.

"Yes!" Zhu Youjian nodded heavily. "The Later Jin cannot provide these things; only our Great Ming can! I have already issued an edict to reopen and expand the Xuanfu trade market, but we must set the rules!"

He stretched out his finger, as if sketching a grand blueprint: "What you need to do is not to defend the border wall to the death, but to reach out! Use the goods of my Great Ming to soothe and win over those who are willing to be close to us, such as the Khorchin and the Shubudi tribe, give them the most favorable prices, and even reward them with official titles and ranks; suppress those who are devoted to following the Jurchens, cut off their trade, and let their people see that following the Great Ming brings them meat to eat, while following the Jurchens means they can only starve!"

"This...this is using commerce to fund war, to divide and conquer!" Man Gui, who had fought for many years, instantly understood the essence of this strategy, and his heart was filled with shock.

"That's not enough." Zhu Youjian took a step closer, his voice lower but full of strength.
"Guan Ning is the one who holds back the Jurchen's fist head-on, Dongjiang is the knife that stabs them in the back. And you, Man Gui," the emperor's gaze sharpened, "you are the most crucial nail I'm driving into the Mongolian steppe! I want you to use the trade markets to contact all the tribes you can reach, to tell them about the goodwill and strength of the Ming Dynasty. I want you to build a defensive line composed of countless Mongolian tribes on the Jurchen's flank! Let them become our eyes and ears, even our swords!"

Every word the emperor spoke was like a heavy hammer, shattering all the humiliation and confusion in Man Gui's heart.

He originally thought he was just being exiled to guard a section of the border wall, a place devoid of any interest, but he never expected that the emperor would plan such a grand stage for him!

A calculated move to undermine the enemy's strength!
The emperor not only gave him direction, but even the specific details of implementation—the rules of the trade, the targets to be won over and suppressed—were all clearly planned out!
"Go." Zhu Youjian's voice returned to calm. He turned around again, leaving Man Gui with only his tall and straight back. "I am in the capital, waiting for your good news."

Man Gui understood the deeper meaning in the emperor's words, and the last bit of doubt in his heart vanished. He stood up and bowed deeply to that back view, a bow that was far more sincere and solemn than any other bow he had ever given before.

Then, he turned around and strode down the platform.

When he arrived, his steps were heavy, and his heart was filled with humiliation and confusion.

As he left, his steps were firm and resounding, each step echoing firmly on the ground!

　There are still six or seven days until the end of the new book chart, but the word count has already reached 20 words.

　　If I don't give him a few votes for this update, wouldn't it be fair to punish him with a beating?
　　
　
(End of this chapter)