Wanli Emperor Chapter 89 Part 1 (Patreon)

Chapter 89 Part 1: Sowing Discord, a Vessel of Admonition

Wang Chonggu, a jinshi of the twentieth year of the Jiajing reign, was a man of great complexity.

In terms of experience, he had served from Yingtian Prefecture to Fujian, from Shaanxi to Ningxia, rising from Vice Commissioner for Military Affairs to the high office of Governor-General. He had personally commanded troops in the field and was well-versed in military strategy and border affairs; his credentials as a military talent were, it could be said, impeccable.

In terms of merit, from pursuing Wokou pirates out to sea and routing the forces of Jineng, to reorganizing the defenses of Xuan-Da and, above all, pacifying the border through the Altan Khan Agreement, his achievements were such that they could be proclaimed in the ancestral temple, his descendants ennobled and his deeds celebrated. In the present day, only Yin Zhengmao could be mentioned in the same breath.

In terms of intellect and learning, he lacked neither a grand strategic vision nor the refined background of a civil official. To say nothing of his memorials, he had authored a great number of manuscripts and literary collections. He was, by all accounts, a man accomplished in both civil and military arts.

Yet this same capable minister and brilliant general was also a petty man of a partisan clique, driven by profound self-interest and insatiable greed.

Relying on his status and the prestige gained from the Altan Khan Agreement, Wang Chonggu worked in concert with his fellow provincials in the capital to protect their mutual interests.

Within the court, he had men like Yang Bo, Huo Ji, Shi Maohua, and Zhang Siwei to promote officials from Shanxi while concealing their transgressions and embellishing their records.

Outside the court, Wang Chonggu himself, leveraging his command of the border garrisons, colluded with the nominally submissive Altan Khan, using the threat of foreign invasion to enhance his own importance.

His summons to the capital had been met with endless delays, and he did not arrive until after the new reign era had begun.

Then the previous day, having just assumed his post at the Ministry of War, he immediately organized a ministry deliberation, approving a proposal to increase the provisions and fodder for the main forces in Xuan-Da and Shanxi and sending it on to the Grand Secretariat.

The increase amounted to roughly one tael of silver per horse. With a total of more than seventy-six thousand four hundred horses and mules in the three garrisons, the additional silver came to sixty or seventy thousand taels.

This was already the second increase in fodder this year. It was difficult to say whether it was the horses that were not receiving enough to eat, or Minister Wang.

In short, he was a capable minister and general of genuine talent and learning, but one who was not easily commanded.

During the current court conference, Wang Chonggu's presence was minimal; he stood in a seeming trance, not uttering a single word.

He was a tall man with a refined countenance, possessing the air of a scholar-general.

His beard was neatly trimmed, yet it could not conceal the wind-beaten wear of long years on the frontier. His wrinkles were deep, as if filled with the dust of the northern plains and the flesh and blood of his enemies.

Simply by standing there quietly, he projected both the gentle bearing of a civil official and the shrewd, decisive competence of a commander who could direct a great army from his command tent.

Now, abruptly called upon by the emperor, Wang Chonggu subconsciously raised his head and met the emperor's gaze.

Zhu Yijun spoke in a gentle tone, "Minister Wang, you have been entrusted with command of our rugged frontiers and are thoroughly versed in military preparedness. Having engaged with the Tatars for many years, you must surely possess your own unique insights."

"These rewards—should the court grant them, or not?"

Hearing this, Wang Chonggu slowly bowed. "This subject believes the matter could be decided either way. It rests entirely upon Your Majesty's sacred judgment."

He stole a glance at the young emperor upon the throne.

A moment ago, he had been lost in other thoughts and had not taken the opportunity to observe this young sovereign.

Before coming to the capital, he had heard a great many rumors about the emperor.

Innate wisdom, brilliant and decisive from a young age—he had heard such praises until his ears had grown weary of them.

It was not a question of whether he believed them, but he was, at the very least, curious.

Now, seeing him in person, his bearing and speech were indeed beyond reproach.

Zhu Yijun pressed on, "We reside deep within the palace and do not know the affairs of the border. It is precisely for this reason that We must ask Minister Wang."

Regardless of Wang Chonggu's character, he was an expert on northern border affairs. An expert who was also the Minister of War—if he could not offer some sound advice, it would be a true loss of face.

Wang Chonggu deliberated for a moment before finally speaking. "Your Majesty, in this subject's humble opinion, if a few minor rewards can spare the common people from the calamities of war and prevent our soldiers from having to sacrifice their lives, then they are worth granting."

"However... the prerequisite is that they must be given to the right person."

Before coming to the capital, Wang Chonggu's greatest fear had been that the emperor harbored a prejudice against him and intended to lure him to the capital for execution.

It was only after observing the emperor's style of conduct for nearly half a year that he had dared to make the journey.

Now, facing the emperor in person, he chose his words with even greater care.

Hearing this, Zhu Yijun gave Wang Chonggu a deep look.

Was the man speaking of the matter at hand, or was he defending himself?

Was he saying that although he had embezzled some silver over the years, he had also handled matters beautifully?

Seated behind the imperial desk, Zhu Yijun instructed Zhang Hong to retrieve the relevant memorials. He then took up Wang Chonggu's line of thought and asked, "When Minister Wang speaks of giving to the right person, to whom does he refer?"

The civil and military officials in the great hall did not interject.

In the current court conference, on this particular matter, Wang Chonggu held the most authority to speak. The rest listened with rapt attention.

Wang Chonggu glanced at the emperor, who had grown up deep within the palace, then slowly surveyed the several Grand Secretaries, all of whom had come from the Hanlin Academy and had never served in a local post.

He knew he could not speak in overly complex terms. He organized his thoughts for a long moment before explaining to the uninitiated, "Your Majesty, esteemed colleagues."

"The ones who have invaded the Ji border this time are the Doen Guard, led by the chieftain Chang'ang and his uncle, Dong Huli."

"In the first year of the Longqing reign, the Doen Guard also invaded our court's Jielingkou Pass. At that time, the leader was Chang'ang's father, who was also Dong Huli's elder brother."

"After this man was killed by our army, Chang'ang succeeded his father's position."

"Although that is the case, the Doen Guard today is still controlled by his uncle, Dong Huli."

Those present were all sharp-witted men. With the matter explained to this extent, they all had a sudden realization.

The Great Ming lacked for nothing, except perhaps stories from previous dynasties—a successor whose power was usurped by an uncle. This was a drama with which they were all too familiar.

Zhu Yijun understood at once. He said with a look of appreciation, "So, we should reward Chang'ang?"

This was an expert. This level of familiarity with the various Mongol tribes was truly beyond reproach.

On these matters, he truly was no match for Wang Chonggu.

Wang Chonggu held his ceremonial tablet and bowed, adding, "Your Majesty, Chang'ang has married the eldest daughter of the Kharachin tribe's leader. If he also receives the recognition and support of our court, although he will still be in a weaker position, it will cause the Doen Guard to have two sources of command. It may very well lead to internal strife."

"As for the exchange of prisoners…"

"This subject believes we should still strive to inflict as many casualties on the Doen Guard as possible."

"This tribe is different from the others. They have been at war with our court for many years, and the blood feuds are beyond counting. They are not a people who can be easily pacified."

If Xu Jie could perceive what kind of man the emperor favored, Wang Chonggu could naturally do the same.

This was a case of the top setting an example for the bottom.

It was an age-old truth: when those in power show preference, their subordinates will strain themselves to match it, just as courtiers had once starved themselves to achieve the slender figures their king admired. Now that the emperor favored ministers who spoke with substance, everyone naturally began to retrieve their own knowledge and logic.

Wang Chonggu knew the emperor was somewhat displeased with his actions in Xuan-Da. By offering this counsel now, he intended to display his abilities to the emperor and ease the situation.

After hearing him, Zhu Yijun was already persuaded.

What Minister Wang said was indeed reasonable.

The matter of sowing discord was an effortless boon; it was naturally something to be done at once.

As for the exchange of prisoners, though he approved of it in his heart, he still felt some aversion to such a thing.

He considered for a moment and came to a decision.

Zhu Yijun spoke, "Regarding the matter of rewards, we shall follow Minister Wang's counsel. Under the pretext of bestowing grace for the new reign era, grant the Doen Guard's commander, Chang'ang, a reward of silver."

"And tell those two envoys who have come to the capital that the commander of the Doen Guard whom our Great Ming court has ennobled is Chang'ang alone, not some Dong Huli. If they wish to purchase grain with silver, or even to trade at the markets, our court will recognize only Commander Chang'ang."

He paused, then continued, "As for the matter of exchanging prisoners, issue a document to Liu Yingjie and Qi Jiguang. Let them act as they see fit."

"This matter is not to be taken as a precedent."

He wished to exchange the prisoners; after all, his own soldiers were among them.

However, what Wang Chonggu had said was also reasonable—inflicting as many casualties as possible might not be a bad thing.

Since he was not well-versed in military affairs, it was better to simply delegate the authority to his border generals.

This was both a delegation of power and an avoidance of responsibility.

The court ministers, for their part, cared little for such a minor affair.

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