Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

"You are talking about Qin Liangyu, the envoy of Shizhu, right? I have always known her talent, a woman is as good as a man!

I am grateful for his contribution and even wrote four poems for him." Emperor Chongzhen murmured.

Zhang Shikang frowned when he heard this.

"Since you know this, why doesn't Your Majesty want to use him?"

Although Qin Liangyu was a woman, her family was full of loyal and brave people. Even when her husband was framed and killed by eunuchs, she was still grateful for the emperor's grace and served the Ming Dynasty.

Her elder brothers Qin Bangping and Qin Minhan died in the Battle of Hunhe, and her younger brother Qin Minping died in the suppression of She'an Rebellion.

Later, her son Ma Xianglin died in Xiangyang, her daughter-in-law Zhang Fengyi died in Houjiazhuang, Henan, and her nephew Qin Gongming died in suppressing the Shapu Rebellion...

What does it mean to have a family of loyal heroes? This is what it means.

Qin Liangyu was not only loyal to the court, but also a martial artist, well-versed in military tactics, and proficient in both civil and military affairs.

The White Spear Soldiers that she and her husband Ma Qiancheng formed had gone out of Sichuan many times to defend the emperor. In the Battle of Hunhe, the White Spear Soldiers fought hard against the elite troops of the Jiannu Army and were not at a disadvantage, but ultimately failed due to the defeat of their friendly forces.

The reason why Zhang Shikang praised Qin Liangyu so much was mainly because of this famous army.

The Baigan soldiers got their name because of the special long spears they carried, which were made of white wood. They were an armed force of ethnic minorities, mainly the Tujia people, and were particularly good at mountain warfare.

Because the terrain was mountainous, the head of the white-spear soldiers' spears was a hook with a blade, and the tail was equipped with an iron ring. During combat, the blade hook could be used for chopping and pulling, and the iron ring could also be used as a hammer.

More importantly, when fighting in the mountains, if you encounter a ravine, you can connect the spears end to end and climb the cliffs in an instant.

Qin Liangyu led this mountain special operations brigade and participated in many wars, including the suppression of Bo, the suppression of She, the aid to Liaoning, the resistance against the Qing, the support for the king, and the suppression of bandits.

Such a loyal minister with outstanding contributions should be entrusted with important tasks.

However, Zhang Shikang knew that Qin Liangyu's position had always been just a chieftain. She always wanted to serve her country, but she ended up dying with regret in the small mountain town of Shiqu in Sichuan.

"Alas, General Qin is old. How can I bear to see her go to the battlefield again and let them laugh at the Ming Dynasty for being powerless?" Emperor Chongzhen sighed.

Then he got a cold eye from Zhang Shikang.

"If they laugh, let them laugh. One day, we will make them cry, right?

Your Majesty, I am not saying anything bad, but face is not something given by others, it is something you earn yourself.

If you ignore the overall situation because of this, you will be burdened by face." Zhang Shikang complained.

His complaints were well-founded. This Chongzhen brother was a typical example of someone who was too obsessed with face to suffer in the end.

When Li Zicheng was about to reach Beijing, an official suggested to my brother that the capital be moved to Nanjing, and my brother agreed at the time.

But he was worried that if he told others about it, all the civil and military officials in the court would laugh at him for being afraid of death, so he hoped that all the court officials would take the initiative to propose it and do the three-refusal and three-acceptance thing.

But his group of so-called "right limbs" ignored him at all and finally gave him a rope.

This is just a microcosm of Brother Chongzhen's love of face. Even though this brother said that women are as good as men, deep down, doesn't he still look down on Qin Liangyu because she is a woman?

You also say that they are old. Haha, brother, you probably don’t know that even if you die, they are still alive, right?

Qin Liangyu died of illness in the fifth year of Shunzhi in the Qing Dynasty, which was the fifth year after Chongzhen hanged himself.

"Well, I understand. Since I want you to control the troops of the world, I will naturally give priority to your opinions on military matters."

Emperor Chongzhen said in a muffled voice.

He felt somewhat humiliated to be criticized to his face by a minister, especially since the minister was a young man eight or nine years younger than him.

Fortunately, there were not many people around, and he had been making fun of himself quite often recently, so of course he wasn't really angry.

"If it is up to me, Qin Liangyu should be appointed as the commander-in-chief of the suppression of the bandits, and it would be best if she were made a governor or something.

Isn't Xiong Wencan the governor of several provinces?"

What Zhang Shikang meant was, look at you, those who are capable and loyal are all living in poverty, but important military positions are always given to incompetent people.

How can we revive the Ming Dynasty with such a group of insects?

"It's all up to you. But if we make such an arrangement, I'm afraid that Earl Ningnan will be dissatisfied." Emperor Chongzhen said with some concern.

The White Spear Soldiers have gone through many bloody and bitter battles, and now there are not many of them left. The imperial court cannot even afford to support the border troops, let alone have extra money and food to supply the chieftains' armed forces in the interior.

However, Ningnanbo Zuo Liangyu had an army of 40,000 to 50,000 under his command. After Xiong Wencan's death, Zuo Liangyu became the main force and highest-ranking general in the fight against the bandits.

Zuo Liangyu himself must have been waiting for the official appointment from the court. Now, a person who had been unemployed for many years was parachuted in to be the governor, and a woman at that. Zuo Liangyu must have been dissatisfied.

"No matter whether he accepts it or not, if he doesn't accept it, then go die!

Your Majesty, shouldn't you be concerned about General Qin?

Your Majesty will write a letter when the time comes. Forget it, I'll just write it myself."

Zhang Shikang now doesn't dare to have any expectations for this old man. He is stubborn and cares too much about his reputation. He is even worried that the letter written by this old man will have the opposite effect.

Fortunately, Emperor Chongzhen had long been accustomed to Zhang Shikang's rudeness, and he was not annoyed when he was looked down upon by Zhang Shikang.

"It's all up to you. I just said that I have entrusted the military affairs to you."

Emperor Chongzhen was not annoyed. Instead, he felt a lot more relaxed. After all, doing something he was not good at was too exhausting. He was even a little glad that Zhang Shikang did not refuse.

"Then Your Majesty, are there any Imperial Swords left in this palace? There can't be only one, right?" Zhang Shikang asked tentatively.

If you don't have money, you have to be willing to delegate power. If you don't give money and are still unwilling to delegate power, and you still care about this and that, it won't work. Even Li Shizhen would say three things in a row if he came.

"If yes, send it together with the imperial edict and your letter." Emperor Chongzhen thought for a moment and said.

He naturally understood what Zhang Shikang meant. The Imperial Sword meant the power of life and death. He did not hesitate much. After all, Qin Liangyu was old and would think twice before killing someone.

Unlike someone who doesn't play by the rules at all and wants to use his sword to chop anyone he doesn't like.

"Oh, then give me a new one. The previous one has faded." Zhang Shikang grinned.

The dyeing technology was not very advanced at that time, but this was just an excuse of Zhang Shikang.

Anyone who was given the Emperor's Sword would protect it like a treasure. Unlike Zhang Shikang, he hung it on his waist every day and occasionally chopped trees, flowers and plants, so bumps and bruises were inevitable.

"You!" Emperor Chongzhen said helplessly, but did not refuse.

Zhang Shikang was so shameless that he just grinned. The two chatted for another half an hour. It was getting late, so Zhang Shikang planned to leave.

Before leaving, he suddenly thought of the fat man Yang Sichang, who seemed to be still kneeling outside the hall, so he asked casually.

"How does your majesty intend to deal with the Yangge tribe?"

……