Chapter Twenty-Six: Drills of the Capital Garrison

On the first day of June, Xiong Tingbi was summoned back from his hometown, and the emperor granted him the title of Right Vice Minister of War. Upon his return to court, Xiong’s first request was to halt the demotion of the censors who had criticized him, but Zhu Youjiao paid him no heed. He then presented his famed three-pronged strategic plan: stationing heavy troops at Shanhai Pass, reinforcing Denglai and Tianjin, sending forces from Guangning to tie down the enemy, and launching attacks by sea to strike the Jianzhou Jurchens from the rear.

After reading the plan, Zhu Youjiao summoned Xiong Tingbi for a private audience and asked him directly, “Xiong, your strategy raises some questions for me. The most important is this: are we to focus on defense or offense?”

Cold sweat broke out on Xiong Tingbi’s brow. Though his plan was couched in ambiguous terms, the emperor had seen through his intent. Gritting his teeth, Xiong replied, “Your Majesty, my plan is to strengthen our defenses first, and then wait for the right opportunity to attack.” This notion was unacceptable to the other ministers, who were eager to reclaim lost territory, while he preferred to hold fast, shunning aggression—just as the censors had once accused him. In his plan, he proposed to station heavy troops at Shanhai Pass and reinforce Tianjin and Denglai, which was in truth a tortoise-shell strategy of solid defense before seeking future gains. Although his memorial stated, “Let Guangning’s cavalry and infantry array themselves along the river to tie down the enemy’s full strength,” this was merely to disguise his real intention.

“I am no expert in military affairs,” the emperor remarked, “but if you concentrate troops within Shanhai Pass, there will be fewer outside, and should the Jianzhou Jurchens attack, how will you respond?”

Seeing that the emperor did not intend to rebuke him, Xiong Tingbi felt reassured. “I am at fault, Your Majesty. If the enemy attacks, we can adapt to the situation. If they come in force and with ferocity, we can withdraw and, once they retreat, reclaim our positions. If they come in small numbers, we can attack; if reinforcements arrive, we can withdraw again.” With these words, he knelt and kowtowed repeatedly.

Zhu Youjiao reflected that, under any other emperor, such a plan would never be accepted—nor by his ministers—for it was a blatant admission of fearing the enemy. Yet he knew how difficult it was for Ming forces to defeat the Jurchens in open battle. In such circumstances, it was best to avoid direct confrontation. Guerrilla tactics, he thought, might be the key.

“I once heard a saying,” the emperor continued, “that if territory is preserved but the people are lost, both are lost; but if the people are preserved and the territory lost, both can be regained. Xiong, it seems you understand this well, and that puts my mind at ease. The court has already purchased a large number of Western cannons from Macau, which are peerless for city defense. Once they arrive, choose a stronghold and mount these cannons in numbers to secure it.”

“Your Majesty is wise. I thank you for your gracious favor,” Xiong Tingbi replied, realizing that the emperor meant to silence the opposition of the court with this move.

“I promote you to Minister of War and place you in charge of military affairs in Liaodong, based at Guangning, which must not be lost. As for Tianjin and Denglai, I will make other arrangements. You may recommend whomever you wish to assist you. I grant you the imperial sword, giving you full authority in all matters. Do not disappoint me.”

Xiong Tingbi requested Gao Chu and Hu Jiadong as military supervisors, and that Assistant Director Fu Guozhao, who had been dismissed, be reinstated to handle financial matters. He recommended Liu Guojin, a native of Liaodong, as Deputy Commander for recruitment in Denglai; Tong Bonian, Assistant Prefect of Kuizhou, as Military Supervisor in Denglai; and Hong Fujiao, former magistrate of Lintao, as an official in the War Ministry, to help rally the people of Liaodong. Zhu Youjiao approved all these requests, and issued an edict appointing Xiong Tingbi as Minister of War and Right Deputy Censor-in-Chief, stationed at Shanhai Pass to direct military affairs in Liaodong.

Furthermore, he appointed Bi Ziyan, Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, as Inspector of Tianjin, promoted Tao Langxian, Circuit Inspector of Dengzhou, to Right Vice Censor-in-Chief to oversee Denglai, and promoted Shen Yourong to Commander-in-Chief and Vice Commander, making him responsible for Denglai’s coastal defenses.

On the third day of the seventh month of the first year of Tianqi, Xiong Tingbi set out on his mission. Zhu Youjiao bestowed upon him a robe embroidered with a qilin, four colored tokens, and hosted a banquet outside the city, sending civil and military officials to accompany him, and assigned Yang Guanggao and Zhou Yuji to escort him to his post with two infantry battalions, one cavalry battalion, and one artillery battalion.

After instructing Xiong Tingbi, Zhu Youjiao summoned Yang Guanggao again. “Remember what we discussed earlier. Observe carefully the quality of the troops in Liaodong—are they capable of facing the Jurchens in battle? This field maneuver should resemble actual combat as much as possible, to acclimate the soldiers to Liaodong’s climate and terrain, and to test command, marching, and coordination between arms. Stay as close to the front as possible, but do not cross the river to engage the enemy.” Yang Guanggao nodded enthusiastically.

On the fifth day of the eighth month, Qin Liangyu, accompanied only by two female guards and her wounded son Ma Xianglin, returned to the capital from Shanhai Pass. Zhu Youjiao received her again and bestowed many gifts of gold, silver, and silk, and awarded Ma Xianglin a number of colored tokens. The Empress, as well as Consort Chun and Consort Liang, presented her with further gifts. Zhu Youjiao ordered Lu Qin to escort her back to the southwest with two infantry battalions and one cavalry battalion.

Besides the three regular battalions, Lu Qin also commanded a supply battalion. Zhu Youjiao instructed that at each stop, provisions should be drawn from the local authorities according to the number of troops. Anticipating reluctance from local officials, he granted Lu Qin the imperial sword and required him to issue receipts upon receiving supplies, which could later be used as proof for tax payments. This method had been devised in consultation with Xu Guangqi, as a trial before deciding whether to implement it nationwide.

Xiong Tingbi had barely departed when Wang Huazhen’s memorial arrived. He had stationed commanding officers along the Liao River, establishing six camps, each under the charge of a battalion commander and a garrison commander, each guarding their own sector. Outposts had been set up at key locations such as Xiping, Zhenwu, Liuhe, and Panshan. The memorial was published in the official gazette. Xiong Tingbi, unimpressed, submitted a letter stating, “The river is too narrow and unreliable, the fortresses too small to accommodate troops. For now, we should steadfastly hold Guangning. If we divide our forces along the river, our strength will be diluted. Should the enemy’s light cavalry cross the river in secret to assault one camp, our troops will not hold. If one camp falls, the others will follow, and the outposts at Xiping and elsewhere will be lost as well. The riverbanks are only suited for guerrilla detachments, rotating in and out so the enemy cannot gauge our strength. We should not mass troops in one place, giving the enemy the chance to strike.”

Zhu Youjiao agreed with Xiong Tingbi’s assessment, but also issued an edict to Wang Huazhen, promoting him to Inspector of Liaodong, and ordering that the regular and auxiliary troops of Liaodong focus their efforts on defending Guangning.

On the twelfth of the seventh month, Xiong Tingbi arrived at Shanhai Pass. Yang Guanggao and his men took leave of the Commissioner and began their march toward Guangning. At the emperor’s request, they were to march thirty li per day, but on the first day managed only fifteen before nightfall.

That evening, the Beijing Garrison convened a meeting for all officers of division rank and above. Several dozen packed the command tent, greeting one another in a lively atmosphere. Yang Guanggao slapped the table, and silence fell.

“Brothers, as you know, His Majesty places great trust in the Beijing Garrison. Today marks our first field maneuver. The emperor has said thirty li a day, which would see us reach Guangning in ten days. Yet today we managed only half that. Why did this happen? If you have any ideas for speeding up the march, speak up.”