Travel back in time and become Chongzhen, watch me turn the tide

For Chongzhen, besides the vexing financial crisis, the most crucial and crucial issue was the control of military power. How to skillfully and effectively keep those arrogant and powerful generals firmly under his control, turning them into a solid force to consolidate the Ming dynasty rather than a destabilizing factor threatening his rule, was a task Chongzhen racked his brains and devoted considerable thought.

In order to more smoothly grasp the military power in his hands, Chongzhen resolutely ordered a drastic reform of the Five Military Governors' Office, which had long been in name only, and transformed it into the Grand Governors' Office, hoping to use this as an opportunity to reshape the military command system and strengthen the imperial power's absolute control over the army.

At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, the Five Military Commanderies held considerable power. Each commander not only managed the training and production of the garrisons but also participated in the central military decision-making of the Ming Dynasty. However, the Five Military Commanderies lacked the authority to dispatch troops; this authority rested directly with the emperor. While the Ministry of War had the power to appoint, dismiss, promote, and train officers within the military, it did not command them. This ensured imperial control over military authority.

However, things happen unexpectedly. The Battle of Tumu, a major historical event, was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, which completely broke the original military power structure and gradually brought about fundamental changes.

During the defense of the capital, Minister of War Yu Qian bravely stepped forward and single-handedly turned the tide, successfully repelling the enemy and safeguarding the capital. This remarkable feat remains etched in the minds of the people and leaves a profound and powerful impression: the wisdom and strength of civil officials are paramount in critical moments. Consequently, upon ascending the throne, Emperor Jingtai appointed Yu Qian as Commander-in-Chief of the Beijing Camp. From then on, the Ministry of War rose to prominence, while the power of the Five Military Commanderies gradually declined and waned.

As time went on, the situation became increasingly dire. Even key matters like the selection and replacement of garrison commanders and the training of garrison soldiers were gradually transferred to the Ministry of War. The Five Military Governor's Office's purview shrank dramatically, ultimately remaining limited to managing limited matters like household registration and military farms. Its former glory was long gone, and its status plummeted. Later, even these remaining powers were ruthlessly transferred to the Ministry of War, leaving the Five Military Governor's Office a hollow department with only a name and no substance.

Of course, the primary cause of this situation was the Ming dynasty's radical shift from a policy of prioritizing both civil and military officials to a governing philosophy that prioritized civil over military. While this shift maintained the stability of imperial power to a certain extent, it inevitably gave rise to a series of new and thorny problems: civil officials, due to their elevated status, began to look down on military commanders, while military commanders, oppressed by their oppression, began to feign obedience to civil officials. The deepening conflict between these two sides, like a deep rift, gradually ripped apart the Ming dynasty's military management system and severely weakened the army's combat effectiveness and cohesion.

In this complex and delicate situation, the military proficiency of civil officials largely determined the course of the military situation. Civil officials viewed war more from a macro-political perspective, focusing on the political considerations behind war, diplomatic influence, and domestic stability. Military commanders, on the other hand, viewed war from a more professional military perspective, focusing on the application of tactics, the deployment of troops, and the actual battlefield situation. Therefore, when highly skilled civil officials such as Lu Xiangsheng, Hong Chengchou, and Sun Chuanting were active on the military stage, the military situation in the late Ming Dynasty remained relatively stable, and the army under their command maintained its fighting capacity. However, when these officials successively withdrew from the historical stage, either due to death on the battlefield or defeat and capture, the military situation in the late Ming Dynasty deteriorated rapidly, like a ship without its helmsman, and soon fell into the abyss of destruction, a matter of great regret.

From the perspective of later generations, Chongzhen's keen vision and profound insights reveal that he deeply yearned for a cadre of generals who were both civil and military, both wise and courageous. These generals must not only possess exceptional military command skills, capable of charging into battle and defeating the enemy, but also possess political wisdom and strategic foresight, able to grasp the war situation from a macro perspective, coordinate relations between various parties, and closely integrate military operations with political goals, ensuring that they complement each other. This was precisely the direction and goal he would focus on cultivating.

To this end, Chongzhen planned to open a royal military academy in the next step. Through systematic and professional military education, he would cultivate a large number of outstanding military talents with profound military qualities, inject fresh blood into the Ming army, and reshape its military strength.

However, he also knew that cultivating military talents was not something that could be accomplished overnight. Just like cultivating a towering tree, it required years of baptism and patient watering. It was by no means something that could be achieved overnight. It still required long-term planning, careful planning, and steady progress.

The establishment of the Grand Military Governor's Office was merely a stopgap measure for Chongzhen to deal with the current situation. He intended to use this new military institutional structure to carry out comprehensive and in-depth military centralization reforms, in order to achieve the ultimate goal of fully controlling military power in his own hands.

The Grand Marshal's Office had important positions such as the Central, Left, Right, Front and Rear Marshals, as well as auxiliary positions such as the Vice-Marshal, in order to build a strict and efficient military command system.

Huang Degong, for his outstanding military achievements, was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Central Army, granted the title of Duke of Jingguo, and given the title of Left Pillar of the State. Huang Degong played an invaluable role in Chongzhen's difficult journey to the throne. Leveraging his prestige and strength, he fully supported Chongzhen in the swift consolidation of the four Jiangbei military prefectures, laying a solid military foundation for his restoration. His contributions were well-deserved, making him the undisputed choice for the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Central Army.

Li Laiheng was appointed as the co-director of the central army, Yan Yingyuan as the deputy commander, and the Zhongwei Camp was under the jurisdiction of the central army governor. It took over the defense of Nanjing from the Nanjing garrison, shouldered the heavy responsibility of protecting the safety of the capital, and guarded the heart of the Ming Dynasty.

Huang Fei, for his outstanding contributions during Chongzhen's southern campaign, was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Left Army, granted the title of Earl of Zhenhai, and appointed Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. Huang Fei played a crucial role in Chongzhen's smooth journey south and successful contact with Huang Degong, making significant contributions. Feng Kaizhang, who accompanied Chongzhen on his voyage from Tianjin, was appointed Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Left Army, succeeding Liu Kongzhao in command of Nanjing's river defenses. This served as a solid aquatic defense, safeguarding the safety of the Nanjing riverfront.

Li Chengdong's surrender provided strong support for Chongzhen to incorporate Gao Jie's troops, enabling Chongzhen to further intimidate Liu Liangzuo and finally successfully march to the city of Nanjing. Therefore, he was appointed as the governor of the right army and the earl of Wukang, becoming the commander of the right army and shouldering important military missions.

Li Ruolian was appointed commander-in-chief of the front army, garrisoning Fengyang and Shouzhou, responsible for further integrating Liu Liangzuo's forces. He was like a sharp wedge inserted into the local forces to stabilize the situation and ensure the Ming Dynasty's ruling order in the region.

Zhao Zhilong, the Earl of Biancheng, who had repented and secretly defected, was promoted to marquis for his strategic decision and appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Rear Army. Zhao Meng was appointed Associate Commander of the Rear Army, responsible for reorganizing the Beijing Camp, removing the old and weak, selecting the best and strongest, and rebuilding the Yongwei Camp, striving to create an elite division and restore the former glory of the Beijing Camp.

In addition, Chongzhen also set up a personal guard and appointed Gao Wencai as the commander-in-chief. The core function of the personal guard was to be responsible for the personal safety of Emperor Chongzhen. They were like a loyal shield beside the emperor, protecting him at all times and ensuring the emperor's safety.

Zhu Ge remained in charge of the Secret Guard. The combined Imperial Guard and Secret Guard inherited some of the functions of the former Imperial Guard, but their power had been significantly reduced, no longer possessing the overwhelming authority it once held. This was to avoid the drawbacks of excessive concentration of power and ensure that it operated within a reasonable framework.

After careful consideration, Chongzhen ultimately granted Liu Liangzuo a nominal title, elevating him from the rank of Earl of Guangchang to Marquis of Guangchang, and confining him to Nanjing, where he would be kept away from the center of military power. This was like caged animals: while they were afforded adequate treatment, they were deprived of their ability to stir up trouble. As for Gao Jie, for various reasons, Chongzhen demoted him from office, never to be reappointed, as a warning to others.

Liu Zeqing's 10,000-plus troops had already laid down their arms and submitted to reorganization. However, some loyal followers remained within the Huaiyang region, a remnant of power that, like an undercurrent, could trigger local unrest and threaten the stability of the Ming Dynasty. To prevent this, Chongzhen reached an agreement with Liu Zeqing: if he actively cooperated in the transfer of military power, he would be pardoned. This peaceful and stable resolution of this potential crisis was like defusing a bomb that could explode at any moment, ensuring a smooth transition.

Besides these generals, Zuo Liangyu undoubtedly commanded the most significant military force. However, Chongzhen had no regard for him. He was arrogant and self-important, completely disobeying the imperial court's orders and becoming a warlord with his own army, separatist, and independent character. He acted recklessly within his jurisdiction, abusing the people and exploiting their wealth, leaving them destitute. However, when faced with a real battle, he proved timid and fearful, completely daunting the enemy, lacking the courage and commitment of a soldier.

Historically, when faced with Li Zicheng's southward-moving Dashun Army, he dared not engage them head-on. Instead, under the guise of a secret decree from the crown prince, he dispatched troops to Nanjing to suppress Ma Shiying, under the pretext of purging the imperial court. Furthermore, before departing, he ruthlessly ordered the massacre of the entire population of Wuchang, declaring, "Leave nothing for the thieves." His brutality was appalling and beyond the reach of justice. His southward advance drew troops from the three Jiangbei towns to resist, allowing the Manchu Prince of Yu, Duoduo, to seize Nanjing, dealing a heavy blow to the Ming Dynasty and accelerating its demise.

Chongzhen knew that no matter how much he rewarded Zuo Liangyu with official titles, it would be difficult to gain his loyalty and service. Moreover, Wuchang, now occupied by Zuo Liangyu, was a crucial strategic node in the Ming Dynasty's defense system. This place was related to the survival of the Ming Dynasty and must be controlled by someone he could trust.

Chongzhen's plan, after arranging the defenses along the Nanjing River, was to deal with the thorny problem of Zuo Liangyu. Therefore, there was no mention of Zuo Liangyu in the list of rewards, as if Chongzhen had temporarily forgotten him from the Ming Dynasty's military landscape. In fact, he was secretly plotting, waiting for the right moment to take action against him and completely eliminate this major threat.

At court, Chongzhen's actions were relatively cautious and minor. The court was relatively clean and honest. With the exception of a few individuals like Ma Shiying, most of the officials currently holding important positions were relatively honest and capable ministers, such as Gao Hongtu, Jiang Yueguang, and Wang Duo. Regarding personnel arrangements, Chongzhen only made minor adjustments to the existing personnel.

Because of his outstanding achievements, Shi Kefa was promoted to the rank of Grand Secretary of Wenhua Palace, Shao Bao, and Grand Commander, and was appointed to work in the cabinet. His status and power were further enhanced, and he became Chongzhen's right-hand man in the court, shouldering greater responsibilities and missions.

Although Gao Hongtu, Jiang Yueguang, Wang Duo, and Liu Zongzhou had not been dismissed from office, they had been marginalized and removed from the center of power in the previous political landscape. This time, Chongzhen decided to recall them and reuse them, fully utilizing their talents and wisdom to contribute to the revival of the Ming Dynasty.

At the same time, Chongzhen also recalled Zhang Shenyan, who had retired and returned home, and appointed him as the Grand Secretary of the Dongge and Minister of War, to work in the cabinet, enrich the court's think tank team, and inject fresh blood into the decision-making level of the Ming Dynasty.

Feng Yuanyang, the former Tianjin governor who had single-handedly escorted Chongzhen back from Tianjin, had been in poor health and plagued by illness since arriving at the Miaowan military camp. Now, he retired to his hometown to recuperate. Chongzhen, mindful of his service in protecting the emperor, treated him with great courtesy and granted his request, allowing him to rest and recuperate.

Jin Xuan, the head of the Ministry of War who followed Chongzhen to escape from the capital, was appreciated by Chongzhen for his loyalty and ability and was promoted to the right vice minister of the Ministry of War.

Ma Shiying, the former Grand Secretary of the Dongke Academy and Minister of War; Ruan Dacheng, the Right Vice Minister of War and Right Censor-in-Chief; Liu Kongzhao, the Right Admiral of Nanjing and the Patrol Officer of the Jiang River; and Tang Guozuo, the noble and honorable Marquis of Lingbi, were all imprisoned for treason, their property confiscated, and awaited the final judgment of Emperor Chongzhen. Their downfall, like a timely rain, cleansed the filth and haze from the court, clearing the way for a clear political order in the Ming Dynasty.

Of the remaining officials, with the exception of a few who had clung to the Hongguang Emperor and were expelled from the court, the rest remained in their original state, with no fuss or complaints. This meticulous arrangement resulted in some discontent, like ripples on a calm lake, but overall, the court situation stabilized, like a ship that, after a tossing and turning in the wind and waves, finally found a safe haven, temporarily restoring peace and tranquility.

However, for Chongzhen, this was just a new beginning. He knew that there were still countless difficulties and obstacles waiting for him to overcome, and many problems waiting for him to solve.

But Chongzhen was not afraid. He had great ambitions and was determined to lead the Ming Dynasty forward in this turbulent and chaotic world with firm belief and tenacious perseverance, striving to achieve the revival and prosperity of the Ming Dynasty and restore its former glory.