The Ming Dynasty 1626 Enlightenment

Chapter 33 I Will Control the Armies of the Realm

"My beloved ministers."

After a long silence, Zhu Ming finally spoke.

He slowly walked to the center of the hall and stood with his hands behind his back.

His black outfit accentuated his tall and slender figure, and the dark gold dragon pattern subtly shimmered in the candlelight.

"Grand Secretary Sun's policy is approved by me!"

Then, his voice was unhurried, yet carried an unquestionable tone.

"I desire a revival of the dynasty. Can you gentlemen pave a path for this revival for me?"

"I wish to control all the armies in the land. Are you, my generals, ready to go through fire and water for me?"

The moment the words fell, it seemed as if something in the hall shattered.

Yes, that was the sound of a heart breaking...

That was a kind of wishful thinking in everyone's hearts, believing that the Tianqi Emperor was just a young emperor who liked to cause trouble, that he would stop after he had made enough of a fuss, and that the cabinet could still use wrangling and delays to relieve all the pressure from the imperial power, just like before.

But what Zhu Ming told them today was something else entirely.

I have troops.

The Tianqi Grand Military Parade, which reorganized the three major battalions, was not just for show!

The new Ming Dynasty banknotes issued during the Tianqi era were not made for aesthetic purposes.

The Six Divine Guardians of Tianqi were not there to deplete the national treasury.

The names of Shen Yourong, Qin Liangyu, and the masked commanders sitting here today all shine brightly in the border army's military register.

I have troops, therefore I have the final say.

"Where are the Six Guardians?!"

Zhu Ming didn't turn around, but simply called out softly.

The White Tiger in the corner was the first to stand up, his right fist clenched against his chest, his eyes shining like stars beneath his mask: "Yes! Your subject, White Tiger, is willing to serve Your Majesty!"

Zhuque slowly stood up, his tone calm and firm: "Yes! Zhuque is willing to serve as Your Majesty's vanguard."

Xuanwu abruptly stood up, his entire body radiating a chilling aura: "Here! Xuanwu is willing to serve as Your Majesty's vanguard!"

Tengshe stood up last, his voice clear and resolute: "Yes! Tengshe is willing to serve as Your Majesty's vanguard!"

Then, seeing this commotion, Zhu Youjian, the Azure Dragon, who was in the corner, hurriedly put down the chicken leg in his hand, "Your subject...brother...Azure Dragon, is willing to serve as the vanguard for Your Majesty!"

Five voices, five divine beast masks, and five pairs of eyes burning with flames.

"I am willing to serve as Your Majesty's vanguard!"

Shen Yourong gripped the armrest of the seat tightly.

He looked at the five people, at the eyes beneath those mythical beast masks, and suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

It wasn't fear, it was shock.

He suddenly understood.

Today's banquet is not for eating, nor for discussing matters.

It's to make everyone see one thing clearly.

The emperor has troops.

An emperor with an army and an emperor without an army are two completely different beings.

Historically, Emperor Wanli had soldiers, but his soldiers were hereditary military households.

Emperor Chongzhen in history did not have any troops, nor could he mobilize them.

The Tianqi Emperor had soldiers, and his soldiers stood behind him, neatly arranged, sharpening their swords.

Commercial taxes? So what if the gentry of Jiangnan oppose them?

Salt laws? So what if the salt merchants of Lianghuai were furious?

An emperor with an army at his disposal doesn't even need a court.

Anyone who dares to defy them will be crushed to their doorstep by the Six Divine Guards' iron cavalry.

At that time, it won't be commercial taxes anymore.

Qin Liangyu slowly stood up.

On her resolute face, there was an expression he had never seen before. It was not fear, nor surprise, but a longing that had been suppressed for too long and was finally bursting forth.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to die for you."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clear and distinct.

Shen Yourong took a deep breath.

He straightened up, clasped his hands, bowed deeply.

"Your subject, Shen Yourong, is willing to die for Your Majesty."

Sun Chengzong's eyes suddenly stung as he watched this scene.

He recalled the young emperor's appearance when he first ascended the throne in the early years of the Tianqi reign, the infighting and scheming in the court over the years, the flames of war in Liaodong, the rebellions in the southwest, the pirates in the southeast, and how the behemoth that was the Ming Dynasty gradually rotted away before his eyes.

Then he looked at the black figure standing in the hall.

It is not the Jiajing Emperor, not the Wanli Emperor, and not the Taichang Emperor.

That was Zhu Ming, the Tianqi Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, a true emperor who wielded the sword.

"Your Majesty, we are your humble servants!" Sun Chengzong bowed deeply, his aged voice hoarse, "We are willing to die for Your Majesty, and we are willing to implement Your Majesty's new policies!"

Inside the hall stood the cabinet ministers, the commander of the Six Divine Guards, a veteran general of the border army, and Wei Zhongxian, who kept his head down, seemingly lost in thought.

Everyone realized one thing.

After today, this day will truly be different.

Zhu Ming watched this scene with a surge of emotions, but only smiled faintly on his face.

"From this day forward, I hereby declare the Cabinet to be a Military Cabinet."

"The military affairs of various regions shall be of paramount importance. All border military affairs, troop deployments, and the allocation of provisions shall be coordinated by the Military Affairs Department of the Cabinet. The Six Divine Guards shall be directly subordinate to me and not subject to the control of the Cabinet."

As soon as he finished speaking, the courtiers were shocked once again.

New banknotes, new policies, new soldiers, and a reformed cabinet?

Today, the Tianqi Emperor is determined to tear a hole in the old heavens of the Ming Dynasty!

"Your Majesty..." Ding Shaoshi raised his head tremblingly, his face full of surprise and doubt. His voice was hoarse. "If I may be so bold as to ask, what does Your Majesty mean by saying that the Cabinet will be changed to a Military Cabinet? The Cabinet has always been in charge of all government affairs and oversees the Six Ministries. When has there ever been such a thing as a 'Military Cabinet'? This is against the ancestral system..."

"Ancestral rules?" Zhu Ming turned his head, looking at him with a half-smile. "Grand Secretary Ding has reminded me. Emperor Taizu abolished the position of Chancellor, and Emperor Taizong established the Grand Secretariat, precisely to serve as advisors to the Emperor!"

Ding Shaoshi was speechless.

Zhu Ming gave him no chance to catch his breath, pacing back and forth in the hall, his voice calm and unhurried: "Moreover, I am referring to the 'Military Cabinet,' not to have the Cabinet manage the affairs that the Ministry of Revenue should handle. The procurement of provisions and salaries, the deployment of troops, border military reports, and the manufacture of weapons will henceforth be coordinated by the Military Department of the Military Cabinet, and will be directly responsible to me."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over each of the cabinet ministers present: "From this day forward, the focus of the cabinet will shift to military affairs. You ministers have spent most of your lives studying the classics, so you should know the meaning of the fourteen characters: 'War is a matter of vital importance to the state; a matter of life and death; a road to survival or ruin.'"

Sun Chengzong nodded slightly and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty's move is feasible in my opinion. The world is currently in turmoil, with troops being deployed in Liaodong, the southwest, and the southeast. Without unified command, each side will act independently, which could lead to serious consequences."

Ding Shaoshi frowned and said carefully, "Your Majesty, this old minister is not against the reform. However... if the cabinet is solely responsible for military affairs, then who will manage the administrative affairs of the six ministries? How should the powers and responsibilities between the cabinet and the six ministries be divided? These key points must be carefully considered and cannot be taken lightly."

Zhu Ming nodded: "What the Grand Secretary said makes sense. So I am not going to abolish the Six Ministries, but to clarify their powers and responsibilities. The ministers of the Six Ministries will still be in charge of the general affairs of their respective ministries, while the Military Affairs Department of the Grand Secretariat will only be responsible for overall coordination related to military affairs. The amount of food and pay, the mobilization of troops, and the deployment of border defenses will be decided by the Military Affairs Department, reported to me for approval, and then implemented directly."

"As for civil affairs, criminal matters, and taxes in various regions, these remain the responsibilities of the Six Ministries, and the Cabinet will continue with its usual procedures."

Ding Shaoshi pondered for a moment, then cautiously asked, "Then... the candidates for Grand Secretary and Second Grand Secretary..."

"No change. Grand Secretary Sun will remain the chief minister." Zhu Ming said decisively. "I intend to establish a Military Department under the Military Cabinet. The members of the department will be personally selected by me, without the need for court recommendation."

Upon hearing this, the cabinet ministers exchanged glances, each seeing a complex expression in the other's eyes.

The military cabinet was restructured, and a military department was established, with its members selected personally and without the need for court recommendation.

This is not a "new addition" at all; it is clearly an attempt to create a separate entity between the emperor and the court.

It was called a cabinet reform, but in reality, it was the emperor consolidating all power in his own hands.

This marked the beginning of controlling all the armies in the land!

But who dares to object?

Ding Shaoshi's lips moved a few times, but he ultimately didn't dare to make a sound.

In the first five cabinet meetings, one person was ousted each time.

He doesn't want to be the sixth one, so it seems like he has no choice but to stay out of it now!

Seeing that no one else spoke, Zhu Ming nodded slightly: "Since none of you ministers have any objections, then this matter is settled. Grand Secretary Sun will draft the detailed rules for the Military Cabinet and the Military Department after the meeting and report them to me within three days."

"Your subject obeys the decree," Sun Chengzong replied.

Zhu Ming returned to the main seat, picked up his teacup and took a sip, but his gaze never left the faces of the people present.

He knew clearly that the reform could not be rushed, nor could it be accomplished in one step.

The concept of a "military cabinet" was proposed today, allowing cabinet ministers time to digest it.

Once the military command is operational, more authority can be gradually consolidated.

Boiling a frog in lukewarm water, or swiftly cutting through the mess all at once, is a safer approach.

However, restructuring is merely a means, not an end.

What he really had to face was a huge, urgent mess.

Zhu Ming put down his teacup and rubbed his temples.

June of the sixth year of the Tianqi reign.

He silently calculated in his mind that, if he remembered correctly, several major events were about to happen in the Tianqi Dynasty this month.

First, there was a drought in the area surrounding the capital.

In previous years, the area around Beijing would have been experiencing abundant rainfall by this time, but this year there has been a severe drought.

Since March, not a drop of rain has fallen, and crops in Tongzhou, Changping, and Shunyi have withered and died.

In two months, the autumn harvest will fail, and starving people will flood into the capital.

Secondly, the Yellow River breached its banks.

This happens every year, but it's particularly severe this year.

In early April, the Yellow River breached its banks in the Xuzhou area, flooding more than a dozen counties and leaving hundreds of thousands of people displaced.

The local officials had already submitted their reports, but the Ministry of Revenue kept delaying, saying that they had no money for disaster relief.

Thirdly, and this was what he was most worried about, was the Jin army marching south.

Although Nurhaci was only severely wounded by cannon fire and his fate was sealed in Liaodong, the four great princes were still reorganizing internally and integrating the Eight Banners, so there would be no large-scale invasion to the south for the time being.

But what about small-scale raids? Or probing incursions?

Intelligence from Liaodong indicates that the Jurchens have amassed over three thousand cavalry and are tempted to invade and plunder the borders from the south!

Three thousand cavalrymen may not seem like much, but they were enough to burn, kill, and plunder in the Jibei area, enough to shake the capital, and enough to scare the officials in the court so much they wet their pants.

This was the sixth year of the Tianqi reign.

Natural disasters, war, and unrest among the people.

He has so much to do.

Reforming the cabinet, implementing new policies, preparing for war against the Jin army, and providing relief to disaster victims—none of these tasks could be accomplished overnight.