MLMD -Chapter 238 Yue Yang’s Counterattack (Part 1)

While rumors of Yue Yang being transferred spread throughout the court, another piece of news came from the Shanxi Northern Route: Deputy General Yue Yang of the Shaanxi Northern Route had launched a new round of recruitment, aiming to raise ten thousand men. The news sent shockwaves through both the court and the public.

“Utterly lawless! What on earth is this Yue Yang trying to do?”

In the signatory office of the Ministry of War, Chen Xinjia stared at the latest courier dispatch, his face turning an ashen iron gray. His hand trembled as he held the dispatch—it was all because Yue Yang had angered him so deeply.

“To raise troops privately without imperial edict or Ministry approval is tantamount to rebellion! Yue Yang’s audacity is outrageous. Is he trying to stage a revolt?” a clerk standing beside him shouted indignantly.

At that moment, in the signatory office, Yang Sichang, wearing a black official hat and a red round-collared robe embroidered with a lifelike golden pheasant on the chest, with thick-soled black official boots on his feet, sat expressionless, silently observing Chen Xinjia and the other officials before him.

The signatory office, as the name suggests, was the place where ancient officials conducted paperwork. In both county and provincial offices, as well as in the six central ministries, all official drafts and documents had to pass through multiple layers of approval. Every official handling the document would sign their name—or in some cases, a surname or given name—to indicate shared responsibility, before the head of the office marked it with a red seal.

In essence, the office functioned like a collaborative workspace. Today, Yang Sichang, who normally would have worked alone in his study, had unusually come to the signatory office. The reason: the sudden dispatch from the Shanxi Northern Route.

The dispatch was written by Yue Yang. It stated that bandit activity had grown increasingly severe in the region, and that due to the scarcity of troops in the Shanxi Northern Route and the ever-watchful threat of the Jurchens, he had no choice but to recruit again to ensure self-defense, and requested the Ministry’s understanding and approval.

What should have been an ordinary dispatch infuriated the Ministry officials: Yue Yang had exaggerated the bandit threat tenfold, and without Ministry approval, had issued recruitment orders. Normally, only the Ministry had the authority to issue such orders. Now a mere deputy general had flouted protocol, acting first and reporting later. Did Yue Yang not fear the Emperor’s wrath?

To Chen Xinjia, Yue Yang’s unilateral recruitment was a profoundly rebellious act, deserving severe punishment. Sending imperial riders to arrest him and bring him to the capital for trial would not have been excessive.

As the Ministry’s second-in-command, Chen naturally had those who eagerly flattered him. The moment he spoke, others quickly chimed in to denounce Yue Yang.

“Minister Chen, Yue Yang’s audacity cannot go unchecked. We should immediately petition the Emperor, have him dismissed, investigated, and sent to the capital for trial!” Wang Yahe, a clerk of the Military Selection and Oversight Division, echoed beside him.

“Exactly—this is only proper!”

“Minister Chen is right!”

One after another, officials voiced agreement. In their eyes, raising troops without Ministry approval was already a serious crime—and Yue Yang was Minister Chen’s personal enemy. How could they not seize the chance to push for punishment?

Once everyone had voiced their opinions, they turned their gaze toward Yang Sichang, who sat in the main seat in silence. But Yang still lowered his eyes and said nothing. Their hearts went cold, and they straightened immediately.

Chen Xinjia was secretly alarmed. Though he had been actively encouraging petitions and accusations against Yue Yang, his superior had never publicly commented on him. Chen had assumed Yang’s silence was due to his status; after all, as head of the Ministry, he rarely made his opinions public. But today, something seemed off.

As the room fell silent, the signatory office was filled with an uneasy stillness.

After a long while, Yang Sichang finally opened his eyes. They appeared slightly cloudy at first, but a sharp light flashed across them as he surveyed the officials. Then, with a cold laugh, he slowly said:

“What’s this… no one dares to speak? Weren’t you all arguing so passionately just now? Why so silent now? Speak up, continue! I don’t think we even need to send imperial riders to arrest him—if you talk enough, you might just ‘kill’ him with words yourselves.”

“Uh…”

The officials exchanged glances. It seemed His Excellency Yang was intending to protect Yue Yang. Had they all flattered the wrong person?

Chen Xinjia sensed danger and cautiously said: “Your Excellency, this subordinate is of limited knowledge. If there was anything inappropriate in my previous words, I hope you will correct me.”

“Limited knowledge?” Yang Sichang sneered. “Each of you is a scholar who passed the imperial examinations—at worst, from the same batch as the others. If even you are ‘limited in knowledge,’ then who in all of Ming has insight? Every word you spoke was genuine wisdom! In my opinion, you could even serve as the Emperor’s tutor!”

“I—I dare not,” Chen stammered.

The officials were stunned. Every one of them, including Chen Xinjia, immediately rose and kowtowed to Yang Sichang. Some even broke into a cold sweat. Yang’s presence and authority now eclipsed Chen’s by far.

Chen Xinjia said nervously: “Your Excellency, this subordinate’s knowledge is limited. If I misspoke just now, I humbly request your guidance.”

“Hmph!”

Yang Sichang glanced at Chen Xinjia. Since Chen was his deputy, he could not overly humiliate him, so he waved his hand, suppressing his irritation: “Everyone else, except Minister Chen, withdraw.”

“Yes, Your Excellency!”

The officials hurriedly left, like fleeing from a pardon. The large office now held only Chen Xinjia and Yang Sichang.

Yang Sichang looked Chen over carefully, causing Chen to shiver. He nervously asked: “Your Excellency, why do you scrutinize this subordinate so?”

Yang Sichang snorted, glancing sideways: “These past days, you’ve been running around—inciting the six judicial offices and conspiring with the Censorate—constantly submitting memorials to the Emperor. Did you really think yourself a Grand Secretary? Or did you fancy yourself capable of managing the empire in the Emperor’s stead? Elder Wen said yesterday that he plans to retire and recommend you as head of the Grand Secretariat. What do you think?”

As soon as Yang finished speaking, there was a “plop” as Chen Xinjia collapsed to the ground, face pale, sweat pouring from his forehead, stammering: “I dare not… I know my mistake!”

Yang Sichang, however, showed no mercy. Rising to his full height, he roared: “Mistake? What mistake!”

Chen nearly fainted. In all the years he had known Yang Sichang, he had never heard him speak so crudely. It was a clear sign of Yang’s fury.

“Do you know how much trouble your ignorance and folly have caused the Emperor and the court? After this morning’s session, the Emperor specifically summoned me, along with Grand Secretary Wen, Lord Hou, Lord Tang, and the other ministers, to discuss handling this matter. Wen even rebuked me in court, telling me to manage the Ministry properly. He was mocking me for failing to control my subordinates. Do you know what a mess you’ve caused?”

“I… I truly didn’t know!” Chen Xinjia’s heart pounded, but his face remained blank. He could not understand how merely encouraging people to impeach Yue Yang had led to this.

Seeing Chen’s continued confusion, Yang sighed and took a memorial from his sleeve, handing it to Chen. Chen took it puzzledly and almost jumped when he read it.

“What… Yue Yang deliberately halted the seed supply across Shanxi? He even stopped paying grain taxes and providing supplies to the Xuan-Da frontier? How dare he act so boldly?”

Chen Xinjia’s heart sank. He realized Yue Yang was not only the largest salt and grain merchant in Shanxi but also controlled nearly 80% of the province’s seed supply.

Thanks to Yue Yang’s efforts over the past two years, Shanxi avoided the famine that should have struck, becoming, like Jiangnan, one of the Ming dynasty’s largest grain suppliers. Just last year, Hunyuan and Wulizhai alone provided 700,000 dan of grain, accounting for 20% of the empire’s grain revenue.

Moreover, with the spread of high-yield seeds, Yue Yang controlled most of Shanxi and nearly half of Hebei and Henan’s seed market. Landlords and farmers, having tasted the benefits, were unknowingly tied to his “wagon.”

Even worse, Hunyuan and Wulizhai remained key granaries for the northwest. Any disruption in supply would be disastrous. The thought of Yue Yang cutting off supplies to tens of thousands of soldiers at the Xuan-Da frontier made Chen shiver in terror.

Sweat soaked his back, the crimson official robe sticking to his skin. Yet he was oblivious. The memorial in his hand was a confidential report from Marshal Luo Yangxing of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to the Chongzhen Emperor. Its authenticity was beyond doubt.

Seeing Chen stupefied, Yang Sichang snatched back the memorial and sneered: “So? Do you still want the Emperor to arrest Yue Yang and send him to the Ministry of Justice for trial?”

“I… I…” Chen Xinjia gaped, unable to speak a complete sentence. Finally, he murmured in reluctant awe: “Could it be… Yue Yang’s private recruitment has justification?”