Chapter Thirty-One: The Situation in Liaodong

Everyone knelt to receive the imperial decree, after which a meeting was convened for officers at the command level and above to discuss the reorganization of the Imperial Guards. Earlier, Yang Guanggao and others had detailed the course of the recent battle in a memorial to the Emperor, highlighting the main issues facing the army: first, the need to strengthen hand-to-hand combat, especially tactics for multiple soldiers against one, and the tendency for troops to scatter when faced with strong enemy attacks; second, the improvement of command methods; and third, the shortage of medical officers. Zhu Youxiao emphasized that all officers should pool their wisdom and collectively offer suggestions, to be compiled and reported back. Now, the proposal had been submitted, and thus this reorganization was essentially the collective opinion of officers at all levels of the Imperial Guards.

Zhu Youxiao announced, "The Imperial Guards will be completely restructured, ensuring each veteran who fought in the Liaohe campaign leads one or two new recruits who have not seen battle. Five hundred soldiers skilled in water operations will be selected to form a naval battalion to assist Zhang Qianfang in Quanzhou. Some combat troops will be reassigned to the logistics corps. Each flag will be assigned a signal soldier, and officers at battalion level and above will be equipped with multiple signal soldiers. All officers and signal soldiers will undergo unified training in signal command regulations. The Imperial Guards will be reorganized into five infantry battalions, three cavalry battalions, and two artillery battalions. Each combat unit will have two medical officers, with each battalion assigned two additional medical officers. After reorganization, the troops will conduct field exercises near the capital and undergo training in hand-to-hand combat."

After the main meeting dispersed, Zhu Youxiao held a smaller session with battalion commanders and higher-ranking officers of the Imperial Guards. He first produced a pocket watch and said, "This is a Western device for keeping time, called a pocket watch. It divides the twelve hours of the day into twenty-four hours, each hour into sixty minutes, and each minute into sixty seconds. I have a box of these; you may take some. All officers at command level and above must be equipped with them. As for usage, I will have Sun Langzhong’s subordinates instruct you." The officers were overjoyed. Accurate timekeeping would greatly enrich their tactical options; previously, timekeeping had been complicated and imprecise. The use of these pocket watches would significantly enhance the army’s combat effectiveness.

Zhu Youxiao then brought out a telescope, allowing the officers to examine it, and looked with satisfaction at their amazed expressions. He said, "This is called a telescope; it allows you to see distant objects and is invaluable for reconnaissance and operations. Officers at battalion level and above will be issued these, as will flag leaders of scouting units. The Bureau of Weapons will explain their usage. Both these devices are of great benefit in combat, but remember—the most important factor is the men themselves. Flintlock infantry equipped with bayonets are unbeatable against equal or even greater numbers, provided their formation remains intact. Therefore, train hard to maintain formation and practice changing formations during marches and battles. As for the soldiers who ran during the last campaign, give them another chance; do not punish them under military regulations. Instead, assemble them for a meeting, criticize them thoroughly, and have them reflect on their actions. Never again should there be routs. If flintlock troops flee, the battlefield will be left at the enemy's mercy."

With these matters concluded, Zhu Youxiao began seeking opinions on the situation in the northeast.

Yang Guanggao spoke first: "Governor Wang said that if we cross the river, we can obtain provisions from Haizhou, and the people east of the river will welcome our troops with food and drink. He also claims the Mongols can muster four hundred thousand to attack the enemy together. In my view, the Guangning army is poorly equipped and inadequately trained; if we cross the river, defeat is certain. As for the people tying up enemy generals to greet our army, I fear that is unlikely; I have heard that the Han people of Shenyang actually dressed up to welcome the enemy into the city. Where would the Mongols find four hundred thousand elite soldiers? Besides, they are extremely cunning and only seek imperial rewards, not to be trusted."

Cao Wenzhao added, "The governor is bent on crossing the river to attack the enemy, having sent five forces across already, all of which were utterly defeated; barely one in a hundred returned. Now, only the governor believes the enemy can be broken soon; all other officers fear open battle and prefer to defend the city. The Guangning army can hold the city, but is unlikely to succeed in offensive operations."

Zhou Yuji's opinion was similar: he judged the Guangning army weak and thought Wang Huazhen’s optimism unfounded.

Cao Wenzhao originally served in the Guangning army, so his words likely represented the views of most officers there. Zhu Youxiao naturally took this seriously, though the imperial ministers did not share this perspective. Zhu Youxiao therefore instructed them to jointly draft a memorial detailing the situation in Guangning and offering their own suggestions.

After Wang Huazhen’s previous proposal was rejected by Xiong Tingbi, he bore a deep grudge against Xiong, pushing all military responsibility onto him. Xiong Tingbi then requested the court to warn Wang Huazhen not to use the excuse of being under another’s command to let opportunities slip away. Previously, all armies supporting Liaodong had their names changed by Wang Huazhen to "Pacification Army of Liaodong," which displeased the people of Liaodong. Xiong Tingbi said, "The people of Liaodong have not rebelled; please change it to 'Pacification of the East' or 'Campaign in the East' to comfort their hearts." From then on, the conflict between Wang Huazhen and Xiong Tingbi deepened.

On the first day of August, Xiong Tingbi memorialized, saying: "To implement the three-pronged strategy, we must establish contact with Korea. Please urgently dispatch an imperial envoy to visit the Korean monarch and ministers, requesting the mobilization of all their forces from the eight provinces and the establishment of camps along the river to augment our army’s prestige." He also recommended Deputy Military Commissioner Liang Zhiyuan, noting his upbringing on the coast and familiarity with Korean affairs, as suitable for the role of imperial envoy. Zhu Youxiao immediately agreed, bestowing a first-rank official title to show favor, as was customary for envoys. Liang Zhiyuan then submitted eight requests to strengthen his authority and clarify his responsibilities, all of which Zhu Youxiao approved. While Liang Zhiyuan was discussing military funding with relevant departments, Mao Wenlong, a commander sent by Wang Huazhen, successfully raided Zhenjiang and reported the victory. The entire court rejoiced, promptly ordering Deng, Lai, and Tianjin to dispatch twenty thousand naval troops to support Mao Wenlong. Wang Huazhen led forty thousand Guangning soldiers to occupy the riverbanks, advancing with the Mongol army, while Xiong Tingbi coordinated from the center. Once the orders were issued, the troops under the Governor and Commissioner watched each other warily; Xiong Tingbi was unable to command Wang Huazhen, so in the end neither side moved.

Because Mao Wenlong reported his success directly, bypassing Xiong Tingbi, Xiong complained, "The three armies have yet to assemble, and Wenlong acted prematurely, provoking the enemy to massacre the Four Garrisons (referring to Jin, Fu, Hai, and Gai), causing military and civilian losses, extinguishing the spirit of the Dongshan rebels, chilling Korea’s resolve, weakening the morale west of the river, disrupting the plan for a three-pronged advance, and ruining the strategy for allied coordination. If this is considered a 'remarkable achievement,' it is in fact a remarkable calamity." Such reasoning was somewhat strained. Most ministers in the court found his complaints unconvincing, and Wang Huazhen, particularly dissatisfied, repeatedly refuted Xiong Tingbi’s critiques.

Wang Huazhen promised the court, "In the month of mid-autumn, you may rest easy and await news of victory!"—meaning that by the following March, success would be achieved. Meanwhile, Xiong Tingbi advised the Emperor, "Clearly instruct the Governor to act prudently and not give the enemy cause for ridicule." The relationship between the two grew increasingly tense.