Chapter 116: Settling the Strategy for the Southwest

Chapter 116: Strategy for the Southwest

Following the morning court session, the ministers gathered in the Wenhua Hall. Since Zhu Qizhen began using this hall for his daily lectures, its frequency of use had increased significantly, as if it were becoming the regular venue for the Emperor to summon his officials. After all, the Qianqing Palace was the Emperor’s private residence and, logically, not a place for conducting formal audiences—much like one would not entertain guests in a bedroom. Previously, Zhu Qizhen had not yet assumed personal rule, so he had held audiences in the Qianqing Palace; henceforth, however, the venue for summoning ministers would likely transition to the Wenhua Hall.

At this moment, the five grand secretaries of the Cabinet—Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong, Yang Pu, Zhang Fu, and Hu Ying—had all arrived. Among the civil officials were the ministers of the Six Ministries: in addition to Hu Ying, who concurrently held the post of Minister of Rites, there were Wang Zhi of the Ministry of Personnel, Liu Zhongfu of the Ministry of Revenue, Wang Ji of the Ministry of War, Wei Yuan of the Ministry of Justice, Li Cheng of the Ministry of Works, as well as Wang Wen and Chen Rui, the Left and Right Censors-in-Chief of the Censorate. Beyond them were various attendants, such as Vice Minister of War Chai Che and Vice Minister of Justice He Wenyuan. On the side of the military, the nobles, led by the Duke of Cheng, were all present.

Suddenly, the shrill, duck-like voice of a eunuch announced, "His Majesty has arrived." Zhu Qizhen emerged from the rear hall, and the twenty-odd officials bowed in unison.

Zhu Qizhen scanned the crowd. The cabinet members went without saying. Wang Zhi, still sporting his signature thick beard, had been the one to find Zhu Qizhen’s teacher, marking him as a rising star among the civil officials. Liu Zhongfu, the Minister of Revenue, was a true veteran official from the era of the Renzong Emperor. His seniority was such that he had been a follower of the Emperor during the defense of Beijing, earning merit for managing logistics and becoming one of the heroes of the Jingnan campaign. By length of service, he even outranked Yang Shiqi, who had still been serving in the Nanjing court during the defense of Beijing. Since the national treasury’s incomings and outgoings were in Liu’s hands, the Grand Empress Dowager trusted him above all others. While Liu was not as prominent as Yang Shiqi, he was frugal, experienced, and impartial. In the Ministry of Revenue, he did not need brilliant schemes; he only needed to faithfully guard the treasury and balance national expenditures. In this, it was clear that the Grand Empress Dowager had checks in place against the "Three Yangs" of the Cabinet. Liu Zhongfu seemed like a silent vessel, loyal only to the Cining Palace.

Regardless of what the Three Yangs did, they required money. With military power on one side and financial power on the other, the Grand Empress Dowager’s principle of "halting all non-urgent affairs" meant that the upper echelons of the court remained comprised of veterans from the Xuande era, with no major reshuffling. Consequently, the Three Yangs did not hold absolute dominance. As for Wang Ji, one had to take special note of the Vice Minister of War he had brought along: Chai Che. Chai was a seasoned veteran of the Ministry of War. Having earned his status as a provincial graduate in the second year of the Yongle reign, he had been assigned to the Ministry, and despite his long career and occasional postings as a local official, he always returned to the Ministry upon coming back to the capital. One could say that Chai Che’s qualifications were even older than Wang Ji’s. Yet, his seniority was both an advantage and a liability due to his advanced age.

It was widely known that Wang Ji was to oversee the campaign in Yunnan. With Wang Ji leaving the capital, the Ministry of War could not be left without leadership. Wang Ji had his own considerations in bringing Chai Che forward. A Minister of War typically looked toward the Cabinet, but Wang Ji was not sure he would be admitted. The fact that the Grand Empress Dowager had not added anyone to the Cabinet in recent years was a clear sign. If Wang Ji returned from a great victory only to find his position as Minister of War gone, he would be in a difficult spot. After all, there were only about eight such high-ranking positions—the Six Ministers plus the two Censors-in-Chief. They were like pegs in holes; no one ever vacated a post without cause. Wang Ji intended to promote Chai Che, allowing him to enjoy the prestige of being the Minister of War during the final chapter of his political life. Once Wang Ji returned from his command, Chai Che could simply retire to his hometown. Even if Chai were reluctant at that time, he would be easier to handle than others.

Then there was Wei Yuan of the Ministry of Justice. This was not the Wei Yuan of the Qing Dynasty who wrote the *Illustrated Treatise on the Maritime Kingdoms*; they merely shared a name. This Wei Yuan had been a child prodigy who earned his degree at twenty. The Taizong Emperor had even allowed him to return home for several years before calling him back into service. He possessed a rich background in local government, had been a patron who promoted Yu Qian, and was on good terms with Yang Shiqi. He performed exceptionally well in the Ministry of Justice. Of course, one could not label him a mere "man of Yang Shiqi"; officials who reached such heights all possessed their own convictions.

As for Li Cheng of the Ministry of Works, he was the "softest persimmon" among the Six Ministers. As an Annamese, he had been recommended by Zhang Fu to the Taizong Emperor, who sought to pacify the hearts of the Annamese people by promoting them. Zhang Fu had recommended 1,400 Annamese officials in one go, and Li Cheng was among them. It would be unfair to say he lacked talent—one could not stand out among so many to become a Minister without ability—but compared to the other ministers, he lacked a solid foundation. His only support came from Annamese eunuchs within the palace. As for Wang Wen, he was known alongside Wang Zhi as one of the "Two Wangs," famous throughout the realm.

Zhu Qizhen mentally reviewed their backgrounds, knowing these men were both his most capable assistants and his greatest obstacles in the coming years.

As Zhu Qizhen ruminated, Yang Shiqi stepped forward and asked, "Your Majesty, where is the Grand Empress Dowager?"

Zhu Qizhen sat upon his dragon throne and replied, "The Grand Empress Dowager is slightly indisposed and will not be attending today."

As soon as these words left his lips, the officials understood: it was not necessarily that she was ill, but that the young Emperor was truly preparing to take the reins of power. Previously, during major discussions, the Grand Empress Dowager had attended alongside him, ready to anchor the proceedings. Today, Zhu Qizhen had to handle it alone. No one dared to press the issue. Observing them standing, Zhu Qizhen said, "Wang Zhen, bring some stools for the ministers."

Wang Zhen complied, and a group of young eunuchs brought in embroidered stools. Their wooden frames resembled drums, though instead of skin, the tops were solid wood covered in silk embroidered with auspicious patterns, mostly cloud and longevity motifs—exquisite work typical of the palace.

Once everyone was seated, the discussion turned to the main agenda. Zhang Fu immediately stepped forward: "Luchuan has provoked the majesty of the Celestial Empire. This must not be tolerated; otherwise, petty elements will grow emboldened, and our great army will be forced to exhaust itself in the mountains of the southwest. We must let these petty elements know that the iron cavalry of the Great Ming is as formidable as it ever was."

With Zhang Fu’s declaration, the nobles led by the Duke of Cheng chimed in. The hall was filled with fervor, many pleading for the honor of joining the campaign. Zhu Qizhen understood the mindset of the nobility well. At the very least, the Ming nobility had not yet declined; they still possessed a degree of martial spirit and a desire for war, as, for them, military achievement was everything.

Zhu Qizhen glanced at Wang Zhen, who immediately understood and scolded, "In the presence of His Majesty, how dare you be so unruly!"

The hall fell silent. Zhu Qizhen then said, "Grand Secretary Yang, you are a veteran of three reigns and a trusted official of the late Emperor. In the current situation, what is your counsel?"

Yang Shiqi replied, "I would not dare claim such wisdom, but in my humble opinion, we cannot indulge Luchuan. To do so would only damage our national prestige and leave our borders in turmoil. With the Oirat growing powerful and Annam defying the court's orders, the government can no longer afford to retreat."

Zhu Qizhen felt a jolt in his heart. He had finally heard it from Yang Shiqi: the strategic contraction the country had undergone for over a decade since the Renzong Emperor. By abandoning the surveillance and interference in the northern deserts, they had allowed the Oirat to unify the grasslands; they had also abandoned Annam. While this strategic retreat was born of a desire for rest and recovery—a corrective measure after the frequent campaigns and massive construction projects of the Yongle era had burdened the people—the policy had been appropriate at the time. Yet, more than a decade later, its flaws were becoming increasingly apparent, and border threats were escalating. As the head of the Ming civil bureaucracy, how could Yang Shiqi not realize this?

As for the thoughts of the young Emperor, Yang Shiqi understood them perfectly as well.