The Ming Dynasty: Starting with Emperor Chongzhen's crackdown on factionalism

"Your talk of traveling light and simply is, in my view, nothing but wishful thinking!"

Zhu Youjian's anger had reached a certain point.

He disliked ministers who talked a lot and officials who made alarmist claims.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I truly lack practical experience, and what I said may be naive."

"But I would like to ask Your Majesty a question: why is the Yuan Chonghuan case so thorny?"

Zhu Youjian's breath hitched.

"Among the court officials, some said Yuan Chonghuan was a traitor, some said he was a loyal minister, some said he should be killed, and some said he should be spared."

"Memorials poured in like snowflakes, their words like swords; but was there even one that was truly an analysis based on the realities of Liaodong?"

"But there was one minister who personally went to Ningyuan, Jinzhou, and Shanhaiguan to inspect the defenses, questioned the soldiers, and checked the provisions, before returning to tell His Majesty whether Yuan Chonghuan was loyal or treacherous?"

The platform was deathly silent.

Even the wind stopped.

Chen Zhiyuan raised his head, meeting Zhu Youjian's cold gaze.

"No. Because nobody dares to go. If they do, they might be labeled as 'Yuan Shikai's faction'."

"Because staying in the capital to participate in factional struggles and mutual attacks is much safer and easier than going to the border to investigate the facts in the wind and snow."

He paused, then continued.

"Your Majesty, last autumn, I needed to research the geography of Liaodong for the purpose of compiling history, so I took a month's leave and went to Shanhaiguan at my own expense."

This statement is like a stone thrown into stagnant water.

Zhu Youjian narrowed his eyes.

At this moment, Zhu Youjian wanted to hear what this person had said about seeing Shanhaiguan.

"Have you been to Shanhaiguan?"

"Yes," Chen Zhiyuan said.

"I went there in a private capacity, without disturbing the local authorities, and simply observed the route."

"What I saw is still fresh in my memory."

"Many sections of the Great Wall in the Jizhou area have fallen into disrepair over the years, and there are few soldiers stationed there."

"When I asked the local veterans, they said that the army's pay had been in arrears for nearly a year, many had deserted, and the rest were living hand to mouth."

"The Ningjin defense line is indeed strong, but it is too long and the troops are scattered. More importantly—"

He took a deep breath.

"From Jibei to the capital, the terrain is flat and there are no natural defenses."

"If the enemy breaks through the Great Wall, their cavalry can reach the capital in a few days."

"At the time, I only made a geographical observation and did not expect it to actually happen."

"It wasn't until last October, when the Later Jin indeed broke through the Gubeikou Pass, that I was horrified to realize what had happened."

Zhu Youjian stared at him without saying a word.

Chen Zhiyuan continued, "When I was in Shanhaiguan, I heard some rumors."

"The local people said that Commander Yuan was extremely strict in disciplining his troops, hated Jianzhou to the bone, and had vowed to recover Liaodong territory."

"But some people say that Governor Yuan was at odds with certain ministers in the court and often hindered him."

"At the time, I thought it was just casual conversation and didn't dare to investigate further."

"But now that I think about it, the reason why the Yuan Chonghuan case was so complicated was precisely because the truth was shrouded in layers of fog of factional struggle."

"You said Huang Taiji was wary of Yuan Chonghuan?" Zhu Youjian suddenly asked.

"Yes," Chen Zhiyuan affirmed.

"Although I did not witness it myself, judging from information from various sources, Huang Taiji indeed regarded Yuan Chonghuan as a major threat."

"In the battles of Ningyuan and Ningjin, Yuan Chonghuan inflicted heavy losses on the Later Jin."

"The reason why Huang Taiji bypassed Mongolia to break through the pass was because the cost of attacking the Ningjin defense line head-on was too high."

"The fact that this plan succeeded precisely exposed the weakness of our defenses in Jizhou."

"Yuan Chonghuan bears responsibility for this, but who in the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, or even the entire court doesn't bear responsibility?"

He raised his head, his gaze resolute.

"Your Majesty, if you truly want to clarify the Yuan case, you will never get a result by relying on debates in the court."

"Someone must go to Liaodong to check military equipment, question the soldiers, verify rations and pay, and even... interrogate prisoners to understand the situation of the Later Jin."

"Instead of sitting in the capital and concluding that a border commander is a traitor based on a few vague secret reports."

Zhu Youjian, with his hands behind his back, began to pace on the platform.

One step, two steps, three steps.

Chen Zhiyuan could see the emperor's inner struggle.

On the one hand, Chen Zhiyuan's words touched him—indeed, the Yuan Chonghuan case remains shrouded in mystery, with conflicting accounts from all sides, and even he, as the emperor, was unsure of the truth.

On the other hand, Chen Zhiyuan's remarks were too sharp, almost questioning the entire way the court operated, which touched the very foundation of imperial power.

More importantly, the saying "The more diligent the ruler is, the more the people will suffer if the direction is wrong" was like a thorn stuck in Zhu Youjian's heart.

Has he not been diligent in these three years?

He would get up at four in the morning every day, review memorials until late at night, live frugally, and severely punish corruption. But why was the situation of the Ming Dynasty still deteriorating day by day?

Since ascending the throne, he has eradicated the eunuch faction, reduced palace expenses, worked diligently without ceasing, and personally attended to every matter, believing himself to be more responsible than previous emperors.

But the result?

The Liaodong region suffered heavy losses, bandits rose up in the interior, the national treasury became increasingly empty, and incessant disputes occurred in the imperial court.

The more he urged the Ministry of War to suppress the bandits, the stronger the bandits became.

The stricter the imperial edicts were imposed on the collection of taxes, the more local authorities resorted to extortion and levies under the guise of tax suppression and training, leading to more peasant uprisings.

This sense of powerlessness and frustration tormented him day and night.

Could it be... could it be that I've also fallen into that vicious cycle of "the more diligent you are, the more dangerous it becomes"?

Is it really as this junior editor said, that the more diligent one is, the further one gets from the truth?

Zhu Youjian stopped and looked at Chen Zhiyuan.

"You just said that if you had reported the weakness in Jizhou's defenses earlier, perhaps last year's disaster could have been avoided?"

"Your subject dares not speak presumptuously," Chen Zhiyuan said. "At that time, I was only conducting a geographical survey and did not consider the military aspect."

"I say this only to illustrate one point: going to the field to see things in person is completely different from sitting in the yamen looking at maps and reading battle reports."

Zhu Youjian remained silent for a long time.

Cheng Jiming finally couldn't help but speak up.

"Your Majesty, what Editor Chen said makes some sense, but it is too idealistic."

"When the emperor goes on tours, it is a waste of resources and manpower, and when officials frequently go to the countryside, it can also lead to problems."

"The imperial court has censors and provincial governors, which are precisely for the purpose of conveying the people's opinions to the emperor."

"If the existing system is working properly, why create a new one?"

Zhou Yanru also said.

"Your Majesty, the most urgent task is to resolve the Yuan case and stabilize Liaodong, not to discuss any research methods."

"The 'responsibility system for speech' mentioned in Chen Zhiyuan's memorial is still worth considering. However, this research and discussion is nothing but empty talk from a scholar. I urge Your Majesty to take a clear look."

Zhu Youjian ignored them.

He walked to the edge of the platform and gazed at the layers of glazed tiles of the Forbidden City.

In the distance are the streets and alleys of Beijing, and further away are unseen farmlands, border posts, refugees, and battlefields.

This is a world he has never truly set foot in.

After a long while, Zhu Youjian turned around and his gaze fell on Chen Zhiyuan.

The murderous intent in his eyes was gone, but so was the trust; there was only a complex scrutiny.

"Chen Zhiyuan, I have remembered what you said today," Zhu Youjian's voice returned to calm.

"The matter of the investigation can be discussed later. As for the Yuan case—"

He paused, as if making a difficult decision.

"Since you have been to Liaodong and have some knowledge of its geography and military affairs, I will give you a task."

"Within three days, you shall write a detailed report, detailing what you have seen and heard in Liaodong, especially the geographical situation and the strengths and weaknesses of the defenses in the area from Jizhou to the capital."

"If you have any analysis of the Yuan case, please attach it."

Chen Zhiyuan's heart skipped a beat: "Your subject obeys the decree."

"Remember," Zhu Youjian said, staring at him.