MLMD -Chapter 239 Yue Yang’s Counterattack (Part 2)

Seeing Chen Xinjia stubbornly refusing to admit his fault, Yang Sichang scolded him bitterly, as if he were scolding iron that wouldn’t bend: “He’s in the right? Do you think that makes you right? Yue Yang only contradicted you once, and you already treat him as a mortal enemy, insisting on driving him to death for your own satisfaction. Do you, as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, really have such a narrow mind? And do you even know why Yue Yang announced the recruitment of troops at this particular moment? He’s signaling to the court that if they attempt to transfer him from the Shanxi Northern Route or summon him to the capital, he might even raise the banner of rebellion!”

“What? That’s impossible! How dare he be so bold!” Chen Xinjia leapt up in shock, his face full of disbelief.

“He dare not?” Yang Sichang nearly flew into a rage and wanted to slap him. “You’re already prepared to take the lives of his entire family, and you think there’s anything he won’t dare to do? Do you really think his reputation over the years was just blown out of proportion? He slaughtered the Eastern Slaves so ruthlessly—what is there he wouldn’t dare do! I tell you, if Yue Yang rebels, it will be because you drove him to it!”

“M–m–my lord… my lord, that’s a false accusation! I never thought such a thing!” Chen Xinjia was so terrified he nearly collapsed. To provoke a powerful local general into rebellion was a crime he could never bear.

Seeing Chen Xinjia’s obstinate denial, Yang Sichang waved his hand impatiently: “I have no time to bother with your petty schemes. I’m just telling you: put away your small-minded tricks. Yue Yang is no longer someone you can influence. With the hundreds of thousands of dan of grain and hundreds of thousands of taels of silver he submits to the court each year, as long as he doesn’t openly rebel, the emperor will not touch him no matter what mistakes he makes. Do you understand?”

At this, Yang Sichang’s tone hardened, and a grim, fierce expression appeared on his gaunt face. Chen Xinjia, intimidated, lowered his head meekly.

Seeing Chen Xinjia yield, Yang Sichang added a warning: “Remember, do not provoke Yue Yang again. Even the gods won’t save you if you do! Our Ming Empire today…”

“Minister Yang, someone from the palace is here to see you!” A junior official hurried in, interrupting him.

“What? Quickly, show them in!”

Soon, a young eunuch in dark attire entered. Seeing Yang Sichang, he said immediately: “Minister Yang, the emperor summons you to the palace at once!”

“The emperor wants to see me?” Yang Sichang was startled. He had just left court—why would the emperor summon him again? Could something major have happened?

Without hesitation, he followed the eunuch into the carriage. Half an hour later, Yang Sichang arrived at the Nuangxiang Pavilion.

Inside, seven or eight senior ministers were already seated. Grand Secretary Wen Tiren, Deputy Grand Secretary Zhang Zhifa, Minister of Justice Feng Ying, Minister of Revenue Hou Xun, and Left Censor Tang Shiji were all present. Each wore a grave expression. Emperor Chongzhen sat on the dragon throne, frowning deeply.

Yang Sichang quickly approached, knelt, and proclaimed loudly: “Your servant, Minister of War Yang Sichang, pays obeisance to Your Majesty! Long live the emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand blessings!”

Chongzhen nodded slightly at his arrival and murmured: “Minister Yang, you’ve come. Sit. Minister Wen, please show Yang the memorial.”

Yang Sichang sat beside Zhang Zhifa. Wen Tiren silently handed him a memorial. Yang Sichang patiently read it, and with each line, his expression darkened. Finally, he returned it to Wen Tiren. Now he understood why, right after leaving court, the emperor had summoned everyone again: indeed, something major had happened.

On May 15, 1636 (the 11th day of the 4th lunar month), Hong Taiji, Great Khan of the Later Jin, declared himself emperor, changed the era name to Chongde (thus 1636 became Chongde Year One), formally renamed the state from “Great Jin” to “Great Qing,” changed the tribal name to Manchu, established the capital at Shenyang, renamed Shengjing, and was honored by ministers as “the Broad, Gentle, Benevolent, and Sage Emperor.”

Alright, that’s historical context, but the real focus is: on May 30, Emperor Hong Taiji sent Prince Dor Wu Ying Ajige and others to lead 100,000 Eight Banner troops against the Ming.

Ajige split his forces into three routes, entering Xifengkou and Dushikou. Ming Border Inspector Wang Zhaokun resisted but was defeated and killed. The Ming army retreated to Changping. Qing forces, led by Ajige, pressed straight toward the capital. The situation was critical; the court and the populace were shaken.

Reading the memorial, Yang Sichang shouted in anger and disbelief: “How could this happen? How dare the Eastern Slaves attack our borders so recklessly!”

Wen Tiren impatiently replied: “Minister Yang, now is not the time to discuss how the Tartars crossed the pass. The urgent matter is how to drive them out!”

“That’s easy. Gather our strongest troops and expel the Tartars!” Yang Sichang said without hesitation.

“Easy to say, but where are the troops to gather? Hong Chengchou and Lu Xiangsheng are still in Henan and Hebei suppressing bandits, and the garrison at Shanhaiguan must defend the fortress. Where else do we have troops to mobilize?” Wen Tiren rolled his eyes at him.

Chongzhen also spoke: “Minister Yang, as Minister of War, you know the state of our Ming. Our forces are either stationed at the borders defending against enemies or suppressing rebels. Where are the troops we can spare?” His expression was bitter.

“Your Majesty, we have troops… Shanxi… Shanxi has troops!” Yang Sichang stood and said in a deep voice.

“Shanxi? You mean the Xuanda garrison?” Chongzhen asked cautiously. “But Xuanda only has over twenty thousand troops and bears heavy border defense duties. Even if we pull some out, it’s only a few thousand. Will that work?”

“Of course it will!” Yang Sichang declared. “Though Xuanda’s forces are insufficient, there is still a place in Shanxi where troops can be mobilized!”

“You mean…” Chongzhen hesitated, then fell silent, sensing the answer.

“The Shanxi Northern Route, Yue Yang’s command!” Yang Sichang said, finishing the sentence for him.

The Nuangxiang Pavilion fell silent. Chongzhen frowned without speaking. Wen Tiren’s face darkened. Deputy Grand Secretary Zhang Zhifa, Minister of Justice Feng Ying, Minister of Revenue Hou Xun, and Left Censor Tang Shiji exchanged glances, uneasy and silent.

After a long pause, Chongzhen spoke slowly: “A while ago, the court was in uproar, insisting on transferring Yue Yang or even punishing him. And now, we are to call him to defend the capital… this…”

Though he didn’t finish the sentence, everyone understood. Just a short while ago, they were debating how to punish him; now that the Tartars have crossed the border, they want to call him to serve them. Where in the world is such a convenient situation?

Yang Sichang quickly scanned the ministers’ faces. Seeing their displeasure, he realized someone must have already suggested Yue Yang’s mobilization to Chongzhen.

Sure enough, Chongzhen continued: “Minister Hou also proposed this suggestion, but Minister Wen said Yue Yang is scheming; if he is called to defend the capital, it may endanger it.”

“Your Majesty, I beg to disagree!” Yang Sichang spoke without hesitation, paying no mind to Wen Tiren’s darkened face.

“Oh? Minister Yang, tell me your view.” Chongzhen asked in surprise. When Minister Hou proposed it, Minister Wen had opposed it firmly, claiming Yue Yang was unreliable; if he were in the capital, any misstep could disgrace the entire Ming court.

“Your Majesty, though I have never met Yue Yang personally, judging from his deeds over the years, he remains a loyal and patriotic man. How could he possibly bring harm to Your Majesty?” Yang Sichang affirmed.

Wen Tiren sneered: “Minister Yang, though Yue Yang shows no signs of rebellion now, he stationed troops beyond the passes without permission and expanded his forces on his own. It is fair to say he values his army above all else. While I do not support punishing him, I cannot approve of his character either.”

“Minister Wen, your words are mistaken!” Yang Sichang shook his head, refuting him. “As the saying goes, the army is the state’s great matter, a matter of life and death. Now that the Tartars have raised their army and are pressing toward the capital, we have available troops, yet you refuse to use them simply because of your personal disapproval. Acting on whim in this manner—is this the way of a minister?”