Chapter Thirty-Four: The Course of the Battle in Jiaozhi

Chapter Thirty-Four: The Course of the Jiaozhi Campaign

All the myriad emotions stirring in Zhu Qizhen’s heart showed only the faintest trace on his face; he quickly concealed his thoughts and smiled slightly. “Let us put aside matters of the Southern Seas for now. Tell me, what is the situation in Jiaozhi?”

“Why has our dynasty, holding Jiaozhi for over twenty years, lost it so suddenly? What is the cause?” Zhang Zhong coughed, his cheeks flushed; it was a sore spot for the Duke of England’s household. Most of Zhang Fu’s lifetime achievements were tied to Jiaozhi, and when it was abandoned, he alone stood firm against it.

As Zhang Fu’s son, Zhang Zhong had analyzed that campaign countless times. He never expected he would one day recount it in such an audience with the Emperor. He steeled himself and spoke: “My father was able to pacify Jiaozhi because he inherited the virtue of the late Emperor Taizong, while the Hu father and son in Jiaozhi committed unspeakable atrocities, incurring the wrath of Heaven and the people.”

“The Tran clan of Annam ruled long, but their governance was chaotic, with uncles and nephews turning on each other, allowing outsiders a foothold. The pretender Hu Emperor, the Li father and son, schemed to seize power, usurped the throne, moved the capital, slaughtered the Tran royal line, and even insulted the revered sage. The hearts of the Annamese utterly fragmented.”

He then detailed the actions of the Hu father and son, one by one. Hearing this, Zhu Qizhen could not help but admire them somewhat.

The so-called Hu father and son were not actually surnamed Hu, but claimed descent from Hu Gongman, a supposed descendant of Shun; their true surname was Li.

To usurp the throne, they first attacked the Tran loyalists—the court ministers. They imposed land restrictions based on rank, limiting each official’s holdings, a measure against land consolidation. The late Tran dynasty had left the people destitute; reform was sorely needed.

Yet their measures were laced with politics, and countless noble families of long standing were eradicated. They showed no mercy to the Tran bloodline; one could scarcely find a single Tran descendant within Annam.

As for their insult to Confucius, it was almost comical. This was what Zhu Qizhen admired most. They elevated Duke Zhou above Confucius in the pantheon, which was one thing, but even composed the ‘Twelve Chapters of Enlightened Doctrine’ to replace Confucianism, seeking to merge ruler and teacher into one.

Zhu Qizhen was at a loss for words. Though Annam was not China, it belonged to the Confucian cultural sphere; such actions met internal opposition. Yet the scholars’ power in Annam was weak, perhaps why the Hu father and son felt emboldened.

“If that were all,” Zhang Zhong continued, “Emperor Taizong would not have been so enraged. It was the matter of Tran Tianping that was intolerable!”

Zhu Qizhen needed no reminder; he knew the story of Tran Tianping.

Because of persecution by the Hu father and son, a Tran heir fled to the capital, seeking protection. Later, Emperor Taizong demanded justice from Annam; for reasons unknown, Annam agreed to restore the Tran line and let Tran Tianping return as king. Taizong dispatched soldiers to escort him to Jiaozhi.

Yet, upon arrival, the Hu father and son ambushed them, killing the escorting officials and soldiers. Such treachery left Taizong no choice but to wage war.

Zhu Qizhen said, “Those Hu father and son are truly arrogant and ignorant.”

Zhang Zhong coughed and replied, “Your Majesty is wise. The Hu father and son knew not the might of the Celestial Empire. Emperor Taizong ordered twenty-three thousand auxiliary troops, thirty thousand Guangxi native soldiers, eighty thousand capital troops, claiming an army of eight hundred thousand. The late Duke of Cheng led them, but fell before the campaign was won. My father assumed command, marched south to Jiaozhi, fought three great battles over seven months, and finally destroyed Jiaozhi. Taizong ordered its counties and prefectures established.”

Zhu Qizhen thought privately, “At that time, Zhang Fu was only thirty-two.”

A most enviable age—what do most accomplish at thirty-two? Yet Zhang Fu, at thirty-two, led three hundred thousand men and destroyed a nation.

One must admit that the differences between men can be more profound than those between beasts.

Jiaozhi, a nation of centuries-old legacy, for all its flaws, fell in just seven months. Zhang Fu’s talent was undeniable. Though he held no specific office at court, and even as Commander of the Five Armies received only salary without duty, he was seen as the foremost warrior among the nobility, regarded by the Empress Dowager as a pillar of state security.

Thus, even though Zhang Zhong’s health was poor, and he knew he could not attend the Palace for many days, he was still summoned to serve as commander of the guards. A general with such achievements is, by his very presence, a deterrent.

Zhu Qizhen said, “The Duke of England’s accomplishments surpass even Ma Yuan of the Han. Please, Zhang Qing, recount the campaign in Annam in detail.”

Zhang Zhong coughed twice and answered, “As Your Majesty commands.” He paused, then continued, “Upon entering Annam, my father proclaimed the twelve crimes of the Hu father and son, declaring he would punish only the chief offenders, sparing those coerced.”

“He ordered the army: outside of battle, not a single person was to be killed unjustly.”

“The people of Annam rallied to him in droves.”

“In a single day, the army advanced a thousand li. In December that year, they reached the walls of Mubang. The local leaders refused to surrender. My father and the Duke of Qian feigned a pause in the assault, struck unexpectedly at the weak points, took the city in one blow, then broke through two passes in succession, and executed the Hu father and son.”

Seeing Zhang Zhong’s uneasy expression, Zhu Qizhen did not press further. For a son to boast of his father’s feats before the Emperor could seem arrogant at best, or unfilial at worst. He changed the subject: “The Duke of England campaigned four times in Annam, quelling its chaos. Why has Jiaozhi rebelled again and again?”

Zhang Zhong was silent for some time, then said, “I believe there are two causes. First, the hearts of the Jiaozhi people were never won. My father said the first campaign was easiest, for the people hated the Hu regime. They expected the court to restore the Tran line. But the court instead made it a province. Jiaozhi, separated from the Central Plains for four centuries, had become its own nation. Though they disliked the Tran, they despised losing their independence even more.”

“Second, the court was too lenient with the Jiaozhi people.”

“My father recommended over nine thousand Jiaozhi natives for office and sought to comfort the populace, but the people no longer considered themselves Chinese.”

“The court sought to pacify them, but they had no affinity for the court’s intentions.”

“It is like the grievance between Qin and Zhao: the people of Qin wished to extend their benevolence to Zhao, but could it ever be accepted?”

Zhu Qizhen was greatly surprised; he had never expected Zhang Zhong to speak thus. There was a subtle hint of criticism toward Zhang Fu. Zhu Qizhen asked, “So, when outsiders claim that court officials caused unrest in Jiaozhi, is that incorrect?”

Zhang Zhong replied, “There may have been some officials who misunderstood the court’s intentions and acted recklessly, but that was not the main cause.” He glanced sidelong at Wang Zhen.

He had much to say but swallowed it.

He had long heard about the conduct of eunuchs sent abroad; few failed to abuse their power. A handful may have been exceptions, but most were hopeless cases. It was not only those sent to Annam who were troublemakers.

Very rarely did the people of the Central Plains rise in such disorder. That was because, when eunuchs caused trouble at home, ministers would speak out, and word would reach the Emperor; such men met bad ends. At least until now, none of the Ming emperors had been incompetent.

Moreover, the eunuchs did not treat the Jiaozhi people as Chinese, and the Jiaozhi had no allies at court—no one to defend them, so there were no limits to their treatment.

With nowhere to appeal, the Jiaozhi resorted to arms. The eunuchs played a role in the unrest, but they were not the main reason, for even the civil officials sent to Jiaozhi were not exemplary.

After all, truly capable officials would not go to Jiaozhi; even Guangxi was considered a place of exile, much less distant Jiaozhi.

Yet such words could not be spoken openly before Zhu Qizhen.

Zhu Qizhen asked, “Does the Duke of England agree?”

Zhang Zhong said, “My father somewhat disagrees.”

Zhu Qizhen said, “Oh? Aren’t you afraid your father will reproach you when you return?”

Zhang Zhong replied, “I am Your Majesty’s servant. When Your Majesty questions me, I speak honestly; even if my father hears, he will only be gratified.”