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

The Grand Council was established by Chongzhen based on the Grand Council of the later Qing Dynasty.

The Grand Council was not a permanent institution but a temporary one, equivalent to the special teams often set up by our later governments.

All officials here were part-time, and their promotions and transfers were still handled by their original offices. The Grand Council lacked a formal office, but it did have a duty room outside Chongzhen's bedroom, the Hall of Mental Cultivation, where he could meet with ministers for deliberations. For confidential or urgent military and political matters, the emperor would inquire about the situation and consult with the Grand Councilors before making a ruling. The Grand Councilors would then draft documents based on the emperor's instructions. Once the imperial edict was finalized, it would be sent directly to the relevant officials by the Grand Council, bypassing the cabinet.

If the main purpose of establishing the Grand Council was to centralize military power and make military command authority highly unified, then the purpose of establishing the Grand Council was to greatly enhance the imperial power and cleverly weaken the power of the cabinet.

With the close cooperation and efficient operation of the Grand Council, Chongzhen was able to bypass the cabinet and issue orders directly when handling government affairs, thereby achieving his intention of undermining the cabinet to a certain extent, allowing the imperial power to control the country's military and political affairs more directly and effectively.

Zhang Zhengchen and three others followed Shi Kefa closely and entered the palace gate.

As officials in the capital, they were in the inner circle of power. However, due to their lowly positions, they had never had the opportunity to set foot in the mysterious and awe-inspiring imperial palace. Now, when they first entered the palace, what they saw was not the magnificent splendor and solemnity they had imagined, but a scene of devastation and decay.

Most of the palaces within the imperial complex had long lost their former splendor after two hundred years of weathering, erosion, and infestation. Many had collapsed and fallen into disrepair, with broken walls and ruins scattered throughout. Upon ascending the throne, Emperor Hongguang ordered the restoration of the palaces in an attempt to restore their former glory. However, his reign lasted only two months, and during this brief period, the restoration work on most palaces had barely begun when Emperor Chongzhen decisively halted it.

As one of the most important buildings in the imperial palace, the Hall of Mental Cultivation has been relatively well maintained and repaired due to its special status and purpose, so it is still relatively well preserved.

However, Zhang Zhengchen keenly discovered during the march that guards on duty could be seen everywhere in the palace. They were dressed in neat armor, holding weapons, and standing guard at their posts with serious expressions. However, there were no palace maids or eunuchs moving around. The entire palace seemed particularly deserted and quiet, forming a sharp and strong contrast with the busy and bustling scene of palace maids and eunuchs in the past.

"Only necessary personnel remain in the palace now. Most of the palace maids and eunuchs from the Hongguang Dynasty have been sent home." As if seeing through the doubts in Zhang Zhengchen and the others' hearts, Shi Kefa took the initiative to explain, "Apart from Wang Daban, the only people accompanying Your Majesty now are Han Zanzhou and Han Gonggong..."

As a person who traveled from the future, Chongzhen found it difficult to get used to a life where people were around to serve him all day. Moreover, at this time of national turmoil and crisis, it was obviously not the time to enjoy a restful life.

Therefore, within the palace, Chongzhen adhered to the principle of streamlining personnel, dismissing all but the most essential. He was particularly resolute regarding the eunuchs, strictly forbidding any attempt to mutilate themselves in order to gain entry into the palace, attempting to fundamentally change this unhealthy palace atmosphere and traditional customs.

Zhang Zhengchen and his companions could not help but feel a surge of deep admiration for Emperor Chongzhen's words and actions. They had not anticipated the dramatic and profound shift in his thinking and approach following the events of the capital. This clearly showed how profoundly the events of the capital had touched and affected him, a profound spiritual awakening that prompted new reflections and reforms in his governance, and also instilled in his courtiers a new understanding and expectation of the emperor.

When everyone arrived at the Military Affairs Office, they were stunned.

The Grand Council was established in a side hall outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Due to the extremely short timeframe for its establishment, thorough preparations were difficult to complete. Currently, only a small room has been cleared out, which has been simply furnished and decorated to Chongzhen's specific specifications. This arrangement, however, stands in stark contrast to the traditional layouts of the era, imbued with a sense of novelty and uniqueness.

At the innermost part of the side hall was a brocade couch, which was Chongzhen's seat.

Directly opposite the brocade couch stood a long table, two meters wide and six meters long, with armchairs neatly placed on either side. On the table lay a complete set of writing supplies, including pens, inkstones, and paper. This was the desk used by the Grand Councilors for meetings. Simple and practical, it provided a convenient place for them to discuss military and national affairs.

In the corner of the room, there are several separate tables and chairs. The officials sitting here have the same duties as secretaries in later generations. They are mainly responsible for recording the content of the meeting in detail, drafting important documents such as imperial edicts, and ensuring that every decision and decree can be recorded and conveyed accurately.

This unique layout mainly draws on the layout concept of conference rooms in later generations, aiming to create a more efficient and convenient communication environment for Chongzhen and the staff of the Grand Council, so that they can quickly and effectively solve various military and political problems.

Since the Grand Council is still in its infancy and lacks mature experience to draw upon, it can only be refined through ongoing exploration. Currently, it's impossible for everyone to work in the same conference room. Future work will require further arrangements for additional rooms based on actual conditions and development needs, as well as the establishment and gradual improvement of various levels of the Grand Council's subordinate institutions.

The Grand Council has not yet decided on the final candidate. Shi Kefa, Gao Hongtu, and Jiang Yueguang participated in the military consultation meeting on the northward march as cabinet members. Although Zhang Shenyan has been summoned, he has not yet taken up his post due to various reasons.

In addition to Zhang Zhengchen, Chen Zilong and Ma Jiazhi named by Chongzhen, Yan Yingyuan was also summoned to participate in the meeting.

The crowd didn't have to wait long before Chongzhen, accompanied by Wang Chengen, hurried over. He walked directly to the brocade couch, slowly sat down, and scanned the crowd with a dignified gaze. Then he spoke, "Sir Shi, after careful consideration of the matters discussed at court today, I believe we should adopt Sir Zhang's opinion. What do you think?"

"The reason why I proposed the strategy of borrowing the help of the enemy to quell the bandits is because the combat effectiveness of the soldiers in the four towns is worrying and they are unable to fight. If we rashly send troops and fail, we may be taken advantage of by the enemy and the situation will be disastrous. Now, each town has been completely renewed under your majesty's vigorous rectification, and the Jianghuai defense line has also been rectified. The situation has improved. In this case, we may have to try it with caution on the matter of going north!" Shi Kefa said solemnly.

In fact, both Shi Kefa and Ma Shiying lacked sufficient confidence and trust in the Southern Dynasty's army deep down in their hearts. They were deeply afraid that if the expedition went wrong, not only would they fail to achieve their strategic goals, but even the defense line of the Yangtze River would be difficult to preserve. In this way, the Southern Ming would fall into an extremely passive dilemma. Therefore, they were timid and hesitant about sending troops, and were always unable to take the key step.

"I believe we should quickly dispatch troops to seize Shandong," Ma Jiazhi continued. "According to my friend, the officials and gentry in Shandong are all loyal to the Ming Dynasty. As long as the Ming army's flag points in that direction, they will surely surrender. This is a godsend opportunity that must not be missed!"

"Master Ma is absolutely right," Zhang Zhengchen agreed, nodding. "This time, heading north to Shandong, I believe we don't need to deploy a large-scale army. Just a few thousand elite soldiers will suffice. Once we arrive in Shandong, we can begin to reorganize the local militia. In this way, we can quickly establish a powerful and combat-ready army, laying a solid foundation for the Ming Dynasty to expand its territory and stabilize its situation!"

"In that case, I will select a group of elite soldiers to go to Shandong this time!" Chongzhen nodded slightly. The opinions expressed by these people coincided with his inner thoughts. Naturally, he did not hesitate any longer and made a decisive decision immediately: "Yan Yingyuan, are you willing to accept the order and go?"

"Your Majesty, I am willing to go!" Yan Yingyuan stepped forward without hesitation and answered loudly.

"Your Majesty, I believe we should send a high-ranking official from the imperial court to accompany this general." Chen Zilong was unfamiliar with Yan Yingyuan and had some doubts in his heart. After a moment's hesitation, he slowly said, "It's not that I don't trust Lord Yan, but the local gentry is quite complex. We need a prestigious official to properly appease them. Only in this way can we achieve twice the result with half the effort and ensure everything goes smoothly!"

"Lord Chen is right." Chongzhen agreed deeply and nodded in agreement.

Yan Yingyuan was a man Chongzhen had single-handedly discovered, appreciated, and promoted. Originally, he was a minor official, his reputation and talents largely unknown within the officialdom. Sending him to Shandong proved insufficient in terms of reputation and influence, making it difficult for him to quickly gain recognition and support from the various local forces. However, the question of who to appoint to this important task posed a thorny dilemma, one that plunged Chongzhen into deep thought.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to go!" Just when Chongzhen was hesitating and thinking hard, Shi Kefa stood up resolutely and said with a firm look.

"It's against the law. Many affairs in the capital depend on you to manage carefully. Going north is certainly important, but the stability and development of the capital is more related to the overall situation. Therefore, it is better to choose someone else to go!" Chongzhen shook his head repeatedly and firmly rejected Shi Kefa's request.

Given Shi Kefa's prestige and influence within the court at this time, if he could personally travel to Shandong, the local officials and gentry would undoubtedly surrender. Even some who had already surrendered to the Qing court would likely change their ways and return to the Ming Dynasty under Shi Kefa's influence. However, the current complex situation in the capital, with its myriad affairs, truly required Shi Kefa's presence and overall planning. After all, in this period of panic and turmoil, ministers possessing exceptional leadership and extensive experience who could command Chongzhen's full trust were few and far between, and Shi Kefa was a key figure among them.

"Your Majesty, I beg you to allow me to go." Shi Kefa did not give up easily this time. He spoke passionately, "The world is in chaos now, and the country is in tatters. Every time I think of this, I can't sleep or eat well. Now I have this rare opportunity to lead the army to reclaim my homeland. I must go there in person no matter what! As for my absence from the capital, Zhang Shenyan, Gao Hongtu, Jiang Yueguang, Wang Duo and others will take care of the government affairs. They are all talented and can help Your Majesty solve problems and ensure that everything in the capital is stable and orderly!"

"This..." Chongzhen pondered for a long time, and finally sighed helplessly and said: "Well, since Xianzhi insists, then I will agree to it..."