The defeat was reported to the Ming court on military strategy, and the cabinet was replaced by the first assistant during the preparatory period

The report of the defeat of the Liaodong Army in Pyongyang was transmitted to the Beijing Division, and for a time all the Yamen of the Beijing Division were known, and there were different opinions, but the Liaodong Army was impeached by hundreds of officials for its unauthorized defeat in the battle, and on the other hand, Emperor Wanli also received a secret report from Dongchang and Jinyiwei, and was also quite surprised by the defeat of Zu Chengxun, and urgently ordered to summon the cabinet Zhao Zhigao, Zhang Wei, Shangshu Shi Xing, and Jinyiwei to command the Tongzhi Xu Maolu and Li Ruzhen into the palace.

In the face of Emperor Wanli's questioning, Zhao Zhigao, the first assistant of the cabinet, replied: "The Liaodong Army went to war without authorization, but suffered a big defeat, which damaged the national prestige, and hundreds of officials were indignant, and they all asked for the dismissal of Jiliao Governor Jian Da, Liaodong Governor Hao Jie, General Yang Shaoxun, and defeated General Zu Chengxun. The cabinet thought that there was still a lot to discuss about the defeat of the Liaodong Army, and the unauthorized transfer of the Liaodong Army, 2,000 soldiers and horses to probe the enemy, Kou Xushi, was also within the authority of the local governor, and how to discuss the matter was also requested by the emperor to judge. ”

Emperor Wanli did not agree with the impeachment of Liaodong by hundreds of officials, so he said: "The border situation is frequent, and the fighters are changing rapidly, so the imperial court gave the governor the title of the right to transfer troops. If the officials of the feudal territory can't respond to the situation, please play everything, and the border defense area has already fallen into the hands of the enemy! These officials don't understand this truth, and only 2,000 soldiers and horses are impeached and go to war without authorization, and I don't want to pay attention to the corrupt Confucian opinions, but Yang Shaoxun's Pyongyang defeat is inconsistent with the secret report of Dongchang Jinyiwei, Zhao Ge Lao, what do you say is going on? ”

Zhao Zhigao saw that the emperor mentioned the secret report, and thought that what Zu Chengxun said should be untrue, so he replied to the emperor: "The old minister thinks that Yang Shaoxun's performance should be Zu Chengxun's words of shirk. And Yang Shaoxun relies heavily on Zu Chengxun, and it is inevitable that he will be partial to North Korea. ”

Then Shi Xing also said: "The minister agrees with Zhao Ge Lao's opinion, and the untruthfulness of the military situation is also very related to the defeat of Zu Chengxun, it is reported that there are many Japanese soldiers and sentry posts in various parts of North Korea, and the Japanese are mostly concentrated in the city, and the flying cavalry exploration is limited, and most of them are detected and expelled by the Japanese invaders. Even if the emperor once again ordered Zu Chengxun to lead the troops to rescue, forgive the ministers, I am afraid that it will be impossible to escape defeat. ”

Since the matter of transferring troops without authorization is not investigated, but there must be a discussion about the defeat of Pyongyang, otherwise it will be difficult for the cabinet to deal with itself, and the cabinet Zhang Wei on the side of this said: "The emperor is a saint, he can understand the cause of Pyongyang's defeat, and can argue the responsibility of the superintendent to deal with the situation, but in detail, Liaodong can hardly escape the blame, and the hundred officials continue to play, if Liaodong is not punished by the hundred officials, it will inevitably be criticized, please ask the emperor to investigate." ”

Emperor Wanli thought to himself, and his brows tightened: "In this case, let Ji Liao, the governor of Jiliao, no longer have to serve in Liaodong, dismiss the official and return to Beijing, and in the future, he will be transferred to the military department to assist in military affairs." The governor, the chief soldier and other cadres were punished and reprimanded, and Zu Chengxun was ordered to lead 5,000 soldiers to garrison the border and send guards to defend Yiju to deter the enemy. "All are in order. Emperor Wanli also said: "According to the report of Jinyiwei, the Japanese have conveyed a letter of state to Korea, which clearly contains the intention of invading the Ming Dynasty, can Xu Maohu have such a thing?" ”

Xu Maoyu replied: "This is indeed the case, when Luo Sigong of Jinyi Wei interrogated the Korean envoy Li Dexin in Liaodong, Li Dexin once took out this national letter, and at that time the authenticity was indeed used by the Japanese Kou, and the content of the comparison was no different from what Li Dexin said. The minister thought that the original intention of the Japanese was to annex Korea and the Ming Dynasty, and whether North Korea borrowed or not, the Japanese would capture Korea and then attack Liaodong. Li Ruzhen also believed that the Japanese were rampant, and implored Wanli to allow the Liaodong soldiers to make meritorious contributions.

Zhang Wei didn't know what he meant: "If the Japanese invaders divide into two routes to attack our Ming soldiers, and the sea route to Tianjin is not closer to the Beijing Division, why don't they have to swallow Korea first?" Shi Xing explained: "If you don't go straight to Tianjin through North Korea, the sea route is dangerous, the coastal defense of the Celestial Empire is far from being comparable to North Korea, and the Tianjin to Beijing divisions are heavily guarded, wouldn't the Japanese invaders come here to find a desperate way?" However, it is reported that in the waters of Jeolla Province, Korea, the Japanese navy was repeatedly defeated by the Korean navy, and it was difficult to advance lightly and was at a loss. ”

Emperor Wanli said: "From this point of view, the meaning of the Japanese invaders really refers to the Ming Dynasty, and the Japanese invaders harassed the southeast for a wide range of harm, and the imperial court ordered Hu Zongxian, Qi Jiguang, Yu Dayou and others to lead the troops to conquer and suppress many times, and finally all of them were exterminated in the Jiajing Dynasty, and the sea route was cleared. After 30 years, I still thought that the Japanese had repented and reformed, and they were centripetal kings, and they didn't want to be so mad. This time, a large army will be sent to conquer and suppress it once and for all. Fulfill the responsibility of the kingdom and the righteousness of the whole clan. Beat the thieves and cut off their thoughts. Help North Korea to restore the country, and don't leave your children and grandchildren in trouble. It's just that the truth of the Japanese is unknown, and the rebellion in the northwest has not yet ended, who should be appointed as the chief official this time? How many troops and horses should I send to go?"

Shi Xing saw that Emperor Wanli was determined to send troops, but there were still many difficulties in the comprehensive domestic situation, Shi Xing replied: "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that although the military strength of the Japanese is unknown, but there must be not a few, and before the investigation is clear, the requisition of troops should not be too much, and the rebellion in the northwest has not been settled and then the war will be started, and the treasury is overburdened, it is better to wait for the pacification of the worship, so that Li Rusong is the commander-in-chief of the army, and lead his Xuan and the big elite soldiers to join the Liaodong Iron Cavalry to rescue Korea, and the early ministers thought that the number of 40,000 combined with the remaining officers and troops of Korea was enough to meet the enemy, When it was discovered that the Japanese were false and real, they sent another army, and annihilated them in one fell swoop. ”

Emperor Wanli asked: "Now that the siege of Ningxia will be broken, and the Korean royal family is in danger of being persecuted by the Japanese invaders, how can we wait for the northwest to be pacified before aiding Korea?" ”

Shi Xing replied: "The minister used to be the head of the household, and what the minister thought was also for the sake of the treasury. It takes a lot of time to prepare for the military quarters, select the generals, and assemble the divisions, and it still needs to rest and recuperate after the pacification of the northwest. It has been reported that the Japanese are now stagnant on the front line of Pyongyang, and on the one hand, they are suffering from water and soil diseases and harassment from the rear, and they are in urgent need of stability. On the other hand, I also have deep scruples about our Ming Dynasty and dare not speak of war easily, according to this estimate, North Korea will not be worried about perdition for another 100 days, and then order an envoy to go to Korea to intimidate the enemy, so that he will not dare to act rashly, but the Japanese are lowly and wolf ambitions, there is no need to formally send envoys, if the faction is making Yu Li discord also have life worries, the ministers want to choose a person who argues among the people, as long as they can deter the enemy. Wanli agreed.

Zhang Wei was born in the south, and knew that the southern soldiers were good at fighting the Japanese army, and thought that it was imperative to recruit the southern soldiers at this time, so he immediately said: "Your Majesty, in addition to the requisition of Liaodong, Xuanfu, and Datong elite soldiers, the minister thinks that it is extremely necessary to recruit and transfer the Jiangsu and Zhejiang infantry. The people of the southeast deeply hated the Japanese invaders, and the people's hearts were available, and they would enthusiastically join the conscription and dispatch to aid the DPRK. Wanli agreed.

Zhao Zhigao said: "Your Majesty, the minister recommended Song Yingchang, the squire of the military department, as the strategy to preside over military affairs. Song Yingchang was resourceful, good at using the art of war, thoughtful and steady, loyal and diligent, able to trust important things, and ordered the governor of the world to recommend the generals to listen to the use. Wanli agreed. Li Ruzhen also asked for a decree to fight: "Your Majesty, the minister is willing to personally lead the elite of Jinyi Wei to conquer Korea, investigate the military situation, and kill the enemy. ”

Emperor Wanli was quite surprised by Li Ruzhen's initiative to ask for battle, and he had the intention of retaining: "Jinyiwei is very relieved to have this loyalty, usually brocade clothes and jade food, it is rare to go to the battlefield, this experience represents the Son of Heaven pro-army, do not lose the royal face, but you don't have to go in person, you and Xu Maohu, who has a lot of responsibilities and many affairs, let Luo Sigong who went to Liaodong last time go." Li Ruzhen commanded. Emperor Wanli also said: "After the rebellion is pacified, we can also expand the territory, and if we can do this, it will not be worth our army's trip." ”

When Zhao Zhigao heard this, he was shocked, and he didn't know why Emperor Wanli also coveted the territory of North Korea. Hurriedly asked: "Your Majesty, why do you want to seize territory in order to rescue Korea and regain lost territory and expel the Japanese invaders?" ”

Emperor Wanli smiled indifferently: "Zhao Ge Lao, the war should be rewarded, Korea is withering everywhere, soldiers and horses are difficult to count on, money and grain cannot be supplied, I have sent troops and horses and money and food, and I have done my best to rescue North Korea, what is wrong with dividing the country afterwards?" If there is no immortality, there is no hope for the restoration of North Korea, so what face will there be to bargain with me again. Naturally, this is just a thought of mine, but the king of Joseon cowardly fled, wagging his tail and begging for mercy, I was very dissatisfied, and I had previously requested that he be moved to Kwandian Fort for temporary refuge, has the king of Joseon already left? ”

Shi Xing replied: "The king of Joseon has repeatedly thanked the Holy Grace, but he still wants to stay in Korea and wait for help. Kuandian Fort is a small area, dilapidated and simple, close to the Jurchen barbarians, and very dangerous. It was not a place where the king of a country could live, and the king of Joseon might decide to stay in Korea because of this. I don't know why the emperor ordered him to move to Kuandianbao to live? ”

Emperor Wanli showed disdain for this, but seeing that Shi Xing was puzzled, he had to answer him: "What I mean is to let the king of Korea not be attached, if there is still some dignity of the king of a country, he will not agree to this, people always have to go through humiliation to become stronger, I am helping the king of Korea." The king should fight with his people until the last moment to be worthy of the society. Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, no matter how dangerous the capital is, the Son of Heaven will remain immovable and defend the capital, and the king of a country should be like this. ”

Shi Xing played again: "Your Majesty, it is reported that the Wa Kingdom has widely lobbied and coerced the overseas vassals of the Ming Dynasty to defect and judge it, and the vassals have deeply remembered the great kindness of the Heavenly Empire, but they have all refused. Cheng Peng, a native of Huizhou, is the thirty-sixth grandson of Cheng Lingxi, a famous general in Southern Chen, and is good at martial arts. The people of Huizhou are more familiar with overseas, Cheng Peng once proposed to borrow troops from Siam, the channel from Siam to the Japanese is shorter, and there are elite sailors. The minister thought that he could send his ministers to join forces with Siam, Luzon, Ryukyu, Manchuria and other countries to jointly send troops, and proclaim to the maritime countries to form a joint army, join forces to make trouble, and suppress this fierce rebellion, in order to clear up. Hao Jie, the governor of Liaodong, also has this intention, and hereby asks the emperor for his will. Wanli thought it was feasible, and the ministers ordered to leave the palace.

Afterwards, Zhao Zhigao found Song Yingchang, a squire in the military department, and said: "Shao Sima is usually silent, and there is little communication with his colleagues, and he is dedicated to studying military affairs. ”

Song Yingchang replied: "Thank you for the help of the elder Ge, it's not that I don't want to associate with my colleagues, but I see that most of them are people who deceive the world and steal their reputations, and people who have no real knowledge to stabilize the country are not my friends, so they have the name of loneliness." Compared with the Japanese pirates, each is good at winning the battlefield in terms of military equipment, and the polemic heart should be equally divided at the moment, and the Japanese are insidious and cunning, tenacious and ruthless, and it is not a war that can be decided. This military aid to the DPRK may last for a long time. Moreover, the enemy's situation is not clear, and we do not yet know how to make arrangements, and we still need to investigate more; if we take advantage of the opportunity, our army will definitely take the lead and concentrate all our strength like lightning to recover the three capitals of Korea, which will arouse the fighting spirit of the Korean army and people for our use, and will also shock the enemy. ”

After Zhao Zhigao said goodbye to Song Yingchang, he asked Yang Junmin, the secretary of the household department, to discuss the money and grain, and Yang Junmin, the secretary of the household department, immediately complained to Zhao Zhigao as soon as he came: "The old cabinet, the imperial court has huge expenditures, and the cabinet's various expenditures this year have also been drafted by a ticket to the eye, plus the war in the northwest has spent part, it is not that our courtiers do not know the importance of military affairs, but it is also the duty of the household department to allocate money and food prudently and frugally, and the people's livelihood in the world is also waiting to be fed, which is really difficult." In addition to the large and small warehouses such as the Household Warehouse, the Twelve Prisons of the Inner Prefecture, Kagurado, Taichang Temple, Guanglu Temple, and Guozijian all have their own warehouses, plus the Changying Warehouse of Taifu Temple, the Ministry of Industry and the Shoshen Warehouse, and the Household Department have no right to manage. In this preparation, the household department can allocate one million taels, and the rest of the insufficient amount will be asked to allocate internal funds. ”

Zhao Zhigao didn't dare to ask Emperor Wanli for internal money again, so he also complained to Yang Junmin: "The internal money is the private wealth of the Son of Heaven, how can it be easily taken, the northwest rebellion has so far the emperor has two internal funds, it is already a great grace of heaven, which shows that the emperor is sympathetic to the feelings of his subordinates, and feels the meaning of the difficult state affairs, how can he ask for internal funds as a courtier?" Whenever there is a major event, I don't think about how to open up the source of fundraising, I must first ask for internal funds, which is not the work of the courtiers. ”

Yang Junmin replied: "The old man does not know, the emperor has two internal funds, but the ten libraries of the inner government have not moved, the household department has always had the responsibility of registering the income and expenditure of the inner treasury, only to find that there are discrepancies between the two allocations, the emperor allocated the internal funds are from the Taifu Temple Changying Library, the Taifu Temple is responsible for the national horse administration, the foal is converted into silver, ranch rent, pile shed silver and other incomes are numerous, the expenditure is only to buy horses, for a long time the accumulation is huge, the emperor is unwilling to use the internal funds to borrow from the Taifu Temple, so the cabinet elders do not have to worry, the household department does have difficulties, please allocate the internal funds as a last resort, I hope that the emperor will grant permission. The emperor is sympathetic to his subjects, and will eventually allocate internal funds. ”

Zhao Zhigao asked Yang Junmin about the details of the inner treasury after a little thought, and Yang Junmin replied: "This is the details of the ten warehouses of the inner government, and the inner carrier warehouse stores satin, gold and silver, precious jade, tooth horns, and feathers; storage of sulfur and saltpeter; Jiazi warehouse stores cloth and pigments; The B word warehouse stores padded jackets, combat shoes, and sergeant's fur hats; C-shaped warehouse storage cotton, silk expansion; T-shaped warehouse stores copper and iron, animal skins, and sumac; E-word library storage armor battle; dirty penalty vault to store fines and confiscated official property; Guanghui Treasury stores money; Guangying warehouse stores silk brocade, leno, silk silk, etc.; According to the needs of the actual situation, the cabinet elders requested the allocation, and the household department also did its best to prepare military supplies. Zhao Zhigao agreed.

Shi Xing, the secretary of the Ministry of War, was thinking hard about the candidate for the messenger, and sent people around to find it for many days, and finally was introduced to an old man, who was more than sixty years old and named Shen Weijing. Shi Xing listened to his resume and ordered a summons. When Shen Weijing arrived, Shi Xing saw that although this person was already in his sixtieth year, his steps were steady and his demeanor was good, which could be described as a crane with a childish face. Shen Wei knelt down to worship Shi Xing, and Shi Xing invited him to take a seat and said: "I heard that Mr. Shen was more involved in overseas trade in his early years, proficient in Japanese and Korean, and had no obstacles to communication. ”

Shen Weijing replied: "Da Sima knows everything, and he admires it in Xia, and he has served under Hu Zongxian's superintendent and knows a lot about the Japanese Kou, but how dare he get an axe in front of Da Sima when it comes to the art of war." Engaged in trading only to support his family, although he has no fame, but he has the heart to serve the country, I heard that Da Sima intends to recommend himself. Shi Xingxiang tested Shen Weijing first, and then asked with a smile: "North Korea is thousands of miles away, the Japanese are rampant, and the day is not safe, if you are an envoy, only a few guards will accompany you after entering North Korea, it is very dangerous, I am afraid that you will be killed, do you have the guts?" ”

Shen Weijing said: "At the beginning of the hard study in the cold window, collecting medicine in the mountains, displacing in the market, serving in front of the army, going overseas, going south and north for nearly 50 years, and encountering countless hardships and dangers, please rest assured that if you can serve the country, you will be like a god in the next courage, and you will not have to worry about your life when you go to North Korea." But I don't know what reward the imperial court has for completing the mission? ”

Shi Xing replied: "Mr. Shen is a businessman after all, and he does not forget to calculate the cost gains and losses. Those who successfully complete the mission of this mission will be rewarded with 10,000 taels of silver, made an earl, given a house and land to enjoy wealth and wealth, and leave a name in history. Shen Weijing got up and swore after hearing this: "Great Sima Mingjian, this mission is none other than me, and I will definitely be able to complete the mission of the imperial court." ”

Shi Xing asked again: "The purpose of this mission is to delay time, and the preparation of the army will take several months, and if the Japanese invaders occupy Uiju during this period, Korea will be destroyed and the imperial court will lose face." This time, it is necessary to stabilize the Japanese and make them cease fighting, but it must not damage the prestige of the great tomorrow, and at the same time, it is also necessary to appease the Korean monarchs and ministers, the heavenly soldiers are about to arrive, and the restoration of the country is just around the corner. How do you plan to proceed? ”

Shen Weijing replied: "North Korea is a Ming vassal state, and looking forward to the rescue of the kingdom is like a long drought and looking forward to the rain, so I will go down here to visit the king of Korea first, and convey to him the court's sincere care, and the words of a million heavenly soldiers are coming, which will boost the morale of North Korea, and also enable North Korea to persist in the future battle." As for the Japanese Invaders, according to what we can see, the land and goods that the Japanese are asking for are actually asking for fame and fortune and rewards, and Korea has been occupied, but the Japanese have deep scruples about our Ming Dynasty, and if they are expected to be able to obtain fame and fortune without spending soldiers, they will be moved, and then threaten, and repeatedly discuss the details, and the Japanese will be convinced, so that the delay plan can be effective, and the details can only be dealt with on the spot. Shi Xing was more satisfied after hearing this, so he ordered Shen Weijing to take the position of guerrilla general, and the imperial court was responsible for the preparation of the envoy, and sent Shen Weijing to the court when he was ready.

Emperor Wanli was extremely depressed when he received a request from the cabinet, the household department and more than a dozen officials to allocate internal funds. Zhang Cheng, the eunuch of the master of ceremonies, saw that Wanli was bored, so he comforted him: "The palm print of the inner carrier warehouse also complained to the slaves and maids, and the expenses of the inner treasury are also not small, and the courtiers can't understand the difficulties of the master, and the master refuses." ”

Emperor Wanli said: "I want to refuse, and then it will be a song to cover the sky, quote scriptures, talk endlessly, the household is in difficulty, the people's livelihood is in difficulty, I am not difficult, my inner library is inexhaustible?" It's as if this battle is hot-headed and must be fought. I want me to pay for it, but I can't get rid of it, and I don't refuse them, and I'm too lazy to be angry with these people. The decree of the Emperor ordered the Taifu Temple to allocate two million taels as internal funds and debit it. ”

Zhang Cheng replied: "Master, Taifu Temple has borrowed it twice, and I haven't seen the holy will to say when it will be returned." Before the words fell, Emperor Wanli said angrily: "What? There are complaints in Taifu Temple?. Taifu Temple earns more than one million per year, and Changying Treasury always has more than 10 million taels of silver, and now it is an eventful autumn, and the military plan is to reward soldiers, repair military equipment, and levy food and salary, but only millions, why is it reluctant? After the war, I returned it from Angelica, even if I don't return, what can I do? Does Taifu Temple still dare to resist and disobey? Then Emperor Wanli ordered the celebrant to send a decree to the Taifu Temple.

Later, the celebrant Chen Ju reported that Wang Xijue had entered Beijing to be summoned, and Emperor Wanli summoned Wang Xijue to the palace to meet him. Although Wang Xijue is nearly 60 years old, he is still extremely tough and heroic. His style of acting is efficient and fair, and he is deeply holy, and he is deeply respected and loved by the Wanli Emperor. Emperor Wanli saw Wang Xijue and shook his hand urgently and invited him to eat together, Wang Xijue repeatedly refused, and Emperor Wanli gave him tea and asked Wang Xijue: "The Japanese invaded and occupied Korea, and Qing must have known about it, what is your opinion on the court's countermeasures?" ”

Wang Xijue said: "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that there is nothing wrong with the court's policy. Since ancient times, the Japanese have been watching the Celestial Empire for a long time, and the Sui and Tang dynasties were defeated by me before they sent them to study, reform the locality, and after 700 years, they attacked and plundered the southeast coast of our Ming Dynasty. That's because it's a war at home and there's no time to look overseas. Now that it has completed its unification, the original form has been revealed before today's capture of Korea has occurred, and the heart of the Japanese is in Korea, the Ming Dynasty and many surrounding vassal states. If the wolf's ambition is not contained, it will suffer.

The two fronts of the war are taboo, and the minister also deeply agrees with the first to wait for the pacification of the worship before entering Korea, the minister heard that the Japanese army is good at using firearms, such as the bird gun is called the iron cannon, and the exquisite production is on the bird gun, but our army's bird gun and firearms are by no means inferior to the Japanese army, and our army is good at making artillery chariots, and the good use of them will definitely discourage the enemy. Song Yingchang's wisdom is far-reaching, Li Rusong is brave and good at fighting, before Qi Jiguang beat the Japanese Kou trained by the strength of the southern army's combat strength is incomparable, Qi Jiguang went north after the northern border defense took on a new look, so Liaodong, Xuanfu, Datong, Baoding, Jiangsu and Zhejiang soldiers are all elite, plus the good selection of generals from all over the country, there is no problem in recovering Korea.

North Korea has fallen into the hands of the enemy, food and military needs have to rely on their own supplies, Liaodong is close at hand, the allocation of military food should not be allowed, and the treasury funds to purchase and escort Liaodong to North Korea again, the minister has heard of the Japanese attack on North Korea before coming here, there are many people in Jiangsu and Zhejiang who want to join the army to annihilate the Japanese and then avenge their families, and the merchants of Nanzhili also intend to help, if the emperor is willing to allocate the internal funds again, then the minister admires the saint more.

However, most of the officials in the DPRK and China are people who are noisy and fighting for fame, and they have no experience in military affairs, but they are often unashamed to speak out and make wanton comments, which have a lot of influence on the war situation, and I hope that the emperor can be good at discerning advice and trusting the generals, and he will be invincible. After hearing this, Emperor Wanli sighed with emotion, praised Wang Xijue's talent, and ordered him to be appointed as the first assistant of the cabinet tomorrow. Lord Wang Xi gave thanks to him.