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

"...The situation in Jiangzuo today is far more difficult and arduous than during the Jin and Song dynasties. We are attacked from three sides, our backs, our abdomens, and our very core. We cannot rely on our brave generals and arrogant soldiers. Is this a time when we can sit back and build great undertakings and remain at ease? Yet those in power are complacent and content, dwelling on their own affairs. Why is this? Gazing at the old capital from afar, we see only the heartbreaking sight of the land. Do they not care for the place where our ancestors' bows and swords were hidden? Do they not care that the people of Qian, who have lived and nurtured for three hundred years, will be reduced to living in poverty, their hair loose and their clothes lapel on the left?..."

For the past two months, I have heard only of high-ranking officials attacking one another, but not of them offering sound advice; of military officials engaging in private quarrels and internal disputes, but not of them fighting for the public good; of experienced officials fleeing, but not of them bravely resisting the enemy. I have heard of students withdrawing from school, but not of them volunteering to serve their country. Given this situation, yet you claim this is the sign of a prosperous dynasty. Even though I am a dull-witted official, I know it is not true.

The strategy I have outlined previously has a clear scope. The primary priority should be to advance aggressively. Without audacity and courage, defense will be difficult to maintain. Furthermore, opportunities arise rapidly, leaving little time to maneuver. Recently, in Hebei and the Shanzuo region, loyal and righteous men have responded, establishing camps and strongholds to protect themselves and unite. Many have also executed corrupt officials, all willing to die for the court. If we fail to act swiftly at this moment, advocating justice and vindication, we will only dampen the morale of the nation and miss a golden opportunity.

Chongzhen's expression brightened upon hearing this! He thought to himself, "This boy is so upright and fearless. He's even willing to offend all the officials in the court to persuade me to send troops. I was originally thinking about how to promote this matter, but I didn't expect Zhang Zhengchen to take the initiative to bring it up. It's exactly what I want."

"...Recently, word has it that Chuang Qu surrendered, but this news is not to be taken lightly. The bandits are cunning and cunning. They will surely flee westward into Qin territory, and after the summer heat has passed, they will mobilize their best forces to join forces with the bandits and gaze down upon the Yangtze River. We should quickly order the various garrisons north of the Yangtze River to divide their forces and cross the Yellow River and the Huai River, cooperating with the troops in Hebei and the Shanzuo region to support each other and maintain a common bloodline between the two capitals. Then, block the Jingdao Pass, cut off Mengjin, hold Wuguan Pass, and attack Longyou. This will strike fear into the bones of the bandits, and heroes will rise up, making their annihilation easy. Your Majesty, why not lead the Sixth Division in person on the Huai River? But if Your Majesty leads the expedition in person, will you necessarily brave arrows and stones and personally participate in the battle? Wherever Your Majesty's prestige and influence reach, the people will surely unite against the enemy. Even the bravest warriors will be a hundred times more courageous and indignant..."

Chongzhen understood that this was an invitation to him to lead the army in person. Previously, he was still hesitating whether to command from Nanjing or lead the army in person. Now Zhang Zhengchen's words provided him with a choice.

"...I have also heard that the enemy has occupied the imperial palace and is wantonly disturbing the Shandong region. The ministers in power are in a state of panic, only able to perpetuate vulgar theories, undermining their authority and servile themselves, thus discouraging the spirit of loyal officials and righteous men throughout the country. I am deeply ashamed and heartbroken by this.

If Your Majesty is deeply enraged and wishes to be the leader of a revival, you should strictly instruct all ministers to quickly review your chariots and troops. Some are old numbers, some are new additions. How many are the naval troops, how many are the land troops? Quickly prepare your fodder and food supplies, how much for the base, how much for the reserve, how much for the main army, how much for the auxiliary forces. Select your generals, some are capable of being clever, some are capable of being discerning. Carefully assess your situation: some will build important towns, some will manage the enemy, some will set ambushes, some will launch surprise attacks. Repair your spears and daggers, and strengthen your moats. Every inch of advance is an inch of ground gained, every foot of advance is an inch of victory. By seizing strategic points, you can control the overall situation. The world is vast, and it is not without its people. I have never seen heroes like Zhang, Han, Liu, and Yue emerge untimely. If we fail to take action now, in the blink of an eye, when autumn is high and the horses are fat, the enemy will surely draw their bows and point south, drinking water from the Chang and Huai rivers, while the enemy will also rush into Jing and Xiang, and go east along the river. By then, the situation will have collapsed, and it will be too late to regret! I am sincere and unpretentious, and I hope Your Majesty will pay attention to my advice and accept it..."

"My dear ministers, I am deeply gratified by Lord Zhang's sincere patriotism." After Zhang Zhengchen finished his speech, Chongzhen nodded and spoke impatiently, "The words in your memorial are quite consistent with what I have been thinking about these days. However, I wonder what you, my dear ministers, think about it."

"Your Majesty, the northward advance has been discussed before," Shi Kefa said, stepping forward. "Most court officials believe that under the current circumstances, we should use the strategy of using the enemy to suppress the bandits. We should send envoys to unite the Qing court and urge them to join forces with our dynasty to eliminate the rebels!"

"I second the motion!" When Jiang Yueguang heard Shi Kefa speak, he hurried out to respond.

"Oh? Borrowing the enemy to suppress the bandits!" Chongzhen was secretly angry in his heart, but did not show it on his face.

I am well aware of the policy of using the enemy to suppress the invaders. Although the northern envoys were blocked due to my ascension to power, Shi Kefa and Ma Shiying were of the same mind on this matter and both supported this policy.

"Your Majesty, a friend of mine came south recently and told me what he saw and heard on his way south." At this moment, Ma Jiazhi, the Minister of Personnel, came out and made a report.

"As he passed through the borders of Dezhou, he witnessed the local militia united in a united effort, all united under the banner of destroying the bandits and supporting the Ming dynasty. This was the case all along the route. Upon reaching Jinan, thousands of Hui soldiers had gathered on their own, their ranks in orderly formation, well-equipped. They had dredged the river and established checkpoints, requiring inspection before any boats could pass. The excavated earth was piled on both sides, barely wide enough for pedestrians to pass, making it difficult for horses to pass. The houses along the river had barricaded their doors and windows, leaving only a small opening for entry and exit, forcing them to guard the city with utmost security. They longed for troops from Nanjing, like a drought awaiting rain. Whenever they encountered travelers from the south, they would inquire about the whereabouts of the governor-general's headquarters. If they had seized their vigor and recruited them now, hundreds of thousands of righteous men could have shared their provisions, each fighting on their own, and great success would have been achieved. But now, day after day, opportunities for battle have been wasted, their loyalty has grown cold, their morale to serve the court has waned, their strategy has failed, and their situation is crumbling. Whose fault is this?"

"Since the people's hearts can be won, our dynasty can simply send officials to pacify them." Shi Kefa remained stubborn and said, "The Qing court is just a minor problem. Sooner or later, they will be driven out of the border. The rebels are the real threat. If our dynasty rashly marches north and angers the Qing court, won't we be attacked from both sides?"

Chongzhen finally understood that Shi Kefa believed the Qing army entered the pass merely to seek profit and would leave once satisfied, and that Li Zicheng was the one who truly wanted to change the dynasty. This view was not unique to Shi Kefa; officials like Liu Zongzhou, Jiang Yueguang, and most of the court officials shared the same view.

"Mr. Shi is wrong." Chen Zilong, the military official among the court officials, came out and said.

"I believe that, since ancient times, expanding territory has always required military force. I have never heard of it being obtained simply by request. For example, the Jin people once returned Henan and Shaanxi to the Song Dynasty, but the Song Dynasty ultimately failed to hold on to them, demonstrating the futility of this strategy.

As for the proposal to ally with the enemy to suppress the bandits, such as the Tang Dynasty's use of the Uighur army, there are indeed such proposals. However, China would have needed loyal ministers and elite soldiers, generals like Li Guangbi and Guo Ziyi, and armies like those in Shuofang and Longyou. Relying solely on others, as the Song Dynasty did with the Jin to subdue the Liao and the Yuan to subdue the Jin, would only exacerbate the problem. Yesterday, the Emperor issued a warning regarding the urgency of military preparations, which demonstrates the court's strategic vision. I also hope that you will secretly order all generals to strengthen their collective hatred of the enemy and vigorously strengthen the army. In the winter or spring, if the enemy's cavalry is pinned down by the Three Jins, we can mobilize the Huaishui divisions towards Yaogu, dispatch all Chu forces to Wuguan, and direct the Sichuan and Han generals to liaise with the volunteer armies in Zhuanglang, Gansu, and Ningxia. We can attack the enemy from the flank or rear, forcing the enemy to face us from one side while we attack from three. In this way, not only can the rebels be wiped out in one fell swoop, but the great achievement will not be entirely due to the enemy. Then China's majesty will be able to deter all parties, and friendly relations can be maintained for a long time."

"Good!" Chongzhen looked delighted and nodded in praise.

I have been worrying about having no one to use my subordinates these days, but today's court meeting has yielded such an unexpected gain. It shows that there are many kind-hearted and ambitious people in the Southern Ming Dynasty. It's just that the upper-level officials are too mediocre and incompetent, and the military generals are self-reliant and have no desire to make progress, which led to the rapid collapse of the Southern Ming Dynasty.

"Your Majesty." Shi Kefa wanted to say something more, but Chongzhen raised his hand to stop him.

"Alright, let's end the court meeting here today." Chongzhen waved his hand and said, "Master Shi, take Zhang Zhengchen, Ma Jiazhi, and Chen Zilong to the Grand Council to wait..."