Chapter 14 You Go to Supervise the Army

Cui Cheng's delicate beard was trembling as he retorted, "Since you say that I am a Minister of War but I am just sitting there doing nothing, then tell me how the Ming Dynasty will win if we go to war with Ligdan Khan!"

After hearing this, Chongzhen couldn't help but become interested.

Although Chongzhen had made up his mind after talking with Wang An yesterday, he still wanted to see what countermeasures Cheng Jiming, the representative of the Donglin Party, could come up with.

Cheng Jiming snorted coldly and said, "Of course, we should urgently dispatch Xuanda General You Shilu to defend the border. With the elite troops of Xuanda, can't they deal with a Tartar?"

Chongzhen was immediately disappointed. The countermeasures proposed by the so-called innocent husband were the same as if he had said nothing.

What will happen to Xingshan if You Shilu is transferred?
Moreover, the two places are hundreds of miles apart, and the military situation in Datong is urgent.

Let’s not talk about whether You Shilu would have time to return to defend. Even if he did, I’m afraid that when You Shilu hurriedly led his troops there, he might encounter Ligdan Khan directly outside the city.

With only a few thousand tired soldiers of You Shilu, wouldn't they be sending themselves to death if they encountered tens of thousands of troops of Ligdan Khan outside the city?
By that time, not only would Datong not be saved, but one of our own generals would be lost.

By then, the Datong soldiers would see with their own eyes that their commander had died outside the city, and they would be doomed to collapse. They originally had some morale to fight to defend the city, but now they would be unable to fight on.

Obviously, except for Cheng Jiming, Cui Chengxiu's old ministers of the eunuch party all understood this truth. Upon hearing this, they just sneered and then looked at Emperor Chongzhen.

Although the emperor is young, it is impossible for him not to understand this principle.

In their view, Chongzhen would definitely reject Cheng Jiming's words.

However, when they looked at Chongzhen, they felt a pang in their hearts.

Chongzhen's face was full of admiration, and he seemed to agree with Cheng Jiming's words. He said, "What Cheng Aiqing said makes sense, but we should not mention the transfer of You Shilu. First, Liaodong is in the process of deploying troops, and withdrawing You Shilu at this time may give the Jiannu an opportunity to take advantage of it. Second, the battle in Datong is imminent, and it may be too late to send You Shilu back to defend the city."

All the ministers couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, fortunately the young emperor still knew the importance of the matter.

Cheng Jiming said casually: "It doesn't matter if You Shilu is not transferred. I have 80,000 soldiers in Xuanda, which is more than enough to defeat Lin Danhan."

Cui Chengxiu frowned when he heard this. Although Xuanda Prefecture had 80,000 soldiers, there were only about 10,000 old and weak ones left.

Adding to the thousands of soldiers and horses transferred away by General You Shilu, there are probably only a few thousand old and weak people left in Datong Prefecture now.

This is not only the case with Xuanda Prefecture, but also with the entire Ming Dynasty.

As the Minister of War, Cui Chengxiu knew the situation but did not dare to stand up and tell the truth. Who knows whether Emperor Chongzhen would make an example of him and execute him.

Chongzhen, who was sitting on the dragon throne, clapped his hands and exclaimed: "If all the officials of my Ming Dynasty could be like Cheng Aiqing, there would be no need to worry about injustice on the border!"

Cui Chengxiu shook his head secretly, thinking that the young emperor was really naive. The future of the Ming Dynasty was really uncertain in his hands.

Cheng Jiming couldn't help but smile when he was praised by Chongzhen. However, before he could say a few humble words, he heard Emperor Chongzhen issue an order:

"My dear Minister Cheng, listen to my order. I order you to be the Minister of Military Supervision and to oversee the war. Set off immediately without delay!"

Cheng Jiming was stunned for a moment, and the smile on his face froze before he could even retract it.

Just now...what did the emperor say?
Let me go to Xuanda to supervise the army?
Tens of thousands of troops from Lin Danhan besieged Xuanda Prefecture. You asked me, a civil official, to go to the front line. Isn't this asking me to die? Cheng Jiming almost jumped up, and the words of disobedience were on the tip of his tongue, but he almost blocked them back.

"Your Majesty... I am not familiar with military affairs. I am afraid that I will be of no use to the war if I go to Xuanda..."

However, Emperor Chongzhen, who was sitting on the dragon throne, seemed to be determined. He raised his hand to appease him, "Hey, my dear Cheng, you are wrong! The battle will be led by the generals defending the city. You just need to boost the morale of the army!"

"But...but..."

Cheng Jiming wanted to say more, but was interrupted by Emperor Chongzhen: "My dear minister, you can't shirk your responsibility. Whether this battle can show the momentum of our Ming Dynasty depends entirely on you, my dear minister!"

Cheng Jiming opened his mouth, wanting to say something but not knowing where to start, which was quite funny to watch.

Cui Chengxiu and other eunuch party officials are all gloating over the misfortune, aren't you righteous and awe-inspiring? Why are you silent now?

However, Cui Chengxiu and the others did not remain happy for long. Emperor Chongzhen waved his hand and issued an order: "Immediately send a message to the two prefectures of Xuancheng and Dacheng. It is imperative that the people outside the city be relocated into the city as soon as possible. All food and supplies should be taken away if they can be taken away, and those that cannot be taken away should be destroyed on the spot!"

"Start from now on, fortify the walls and clear the fields, and don't let Ligdan Khan get a single grain of food!"

All the officials shook their heads secretly upon hearing this. Although Chongzhen's strategy of clearing the countryside was a good tactic in terms of military strategy, it was based on a protracted war with the enemy, which would prevent the enemy from obtaining a continuous supply of food and grass.

This requires the defenders in Xuanfu and Datong to be able to turn the battle into a protracted war.

Otherwise, once Ligdan Khan attacked the city, Chongzhen's strategy of clearing the countryside would not only fail to cause trouble to Ligdan Khan, but would instead be equivalent to concentrating food, fodder and population together for Ligdan Khan to use.

It also saved Ligdan Khan the trouble of looting everywhere!
But can the old, weak and sick people left behind in Xuan Da do it?
No one in the court, whether civil or military, was optimistic.

Since Lin Danhan rose to power in the late Wanli period, he has repeatedly invaded the border, but has never suffered any loss at the hands of the Ming army.

Cheng Jiming had been an official for decades, and although he was only a civil official, he still understood this principle.

Therefore, Chongzhen appointed him as the Minister of Military Supervision, and immediately made him feel as sad as if he had lost his parents.

Sitting firmly in the capital and commanding the troops is one thing, while going to the front line to face the enemy directly is another.

If he was defeated in the war, even if Ligdan Khan did not kill him, he would still be in danger of losing his life if the imperial court held him accountable for the defeat.

Cheng Jiming opened his mouth and began to regret why he jumped out to attack Cui Chengxiu.

If I had known earlier, I would have let this eunuch party be proud for a while, rather than putting myself in danger.

But Cheng Jiming could not refuse, because Chongzhen appointed him as the Minister of Military Supervision, which was seen by outsiders as a sign of the trend of reusing the Donglin Party. If he refused, it might make Chongzhen disgusted with the entire Donglin Party, and he, Cheng Jiming, would become the sinner of the Donglin Party in the court.
After gloating over the misfortune, Cui Chengxiu and others also believed that Emperor Chongzhen's move was a prelude to re-employing Donglin Party members, and they could not help but feel that their future was bleak.

After all, strictly speaking, the attack on Xuanda was the first foreign war after Emperor Chongzhen ascended the throne, and its symbolic significance is of great significance.

Although everyone is pessimistic about the war on the front line, if they win, Cheng Jiming and the Donglin Party behind him will undoubtedly gain a great reputation.

(End of this chapter)