The royal physician, practically dragged in by the eunuchs, hurriedly examined Emperor Xuande’s condition and took out needles from his acupuncture case.
“Whew~!”
When the physician inserted needles of various thicknesses into the Emperor’s head, hands, and various other points, Emperor Xuande regained consciousness with a deep breath.
“Oh! His Majesty has awakened!”
“Ten thousand years! Ten thousand years! Ten thousand years!”
“Truly a divine physician!”
Seeing the Emperor regain consciousness, the ministers shouted congratulations and praised the physician.
“The physician has done well indeed.”
Emperor Xuande, sitting up, praised the physician and looked at his ministers.
“I apologize for showing such unseemly behavior. The nation’s situation is urgent, so let us resume our meeting.”
However, the physician blocked Emperor Xuande with a serious expression.
“You have barely passed one crisis. You must rest.”
At the physician’s words, the Cabinet Assistant Counselor stepped forward to address Emperor Xuande.
“We will do our utmost to find answers. Your Majesty’s recovery of strength must come first.”
“But the nation is in a crisis like a candle in the wind…”
“Our Ming is like a great tree at the center of the world. We can surely overcome such storms. However, if Your Majesty collapses, it would be like the sky falling. Please take rest.”
“But…”
As Emperor Xuande continued to hesitate, all the officials in the main hall, starting with the Cabinet Assistant Counselor, prostrated themselves and cried out.
“Please trust in your servants!”
“We will stake our lives on finding countermeasures!”
At his ministers’ earnest plea, Emperor Xuande relented.
“Then I shall trust in you all.”
***
After Emperor Xuande disappeared into his bedchamber supported by eunuchs, the Cabinet Assistant Counselor and ministers began earnestly discussing countermeasures.
“Minister of War.”
“Speak.”
“When can the additional mobilization of 3 million that His Majesty ordered last time be completed?”
To the Cabinet Assistant Counselor’s question, the Minister of War answered with a gloomy expression.
“It’s impossible.”
At the Minister of War’s answer, the Cabinet Assistant Counselor asked urgently with a pale face.
“Why do you say it’s impossible!”
As he asked the reason, the Cabinet Assistant Counselor remembered the argument between Emperor Xuande and the Minister of War last time, and his expression became one of disbelief.
“Surely not! Did you deceive Heaven?”
To the Cabinet Assistant Counselor’s question, the Minister of War shook his head with a gloomy expression.
“I would never commit such an act of disloyalty.”
“Then why?”
Looking at the Cabinet Assistant Counselor asking for the reason, the Minister of War asked back, still with a gloomy expression.
“Do you think creating soldiers is something that can be done overnight?”
“The military registers are already prepared, so what’s the problem?”
“Have you considered the time needed to gather those in the registers, the time needed to train them?”
“Isn’t it just training common soldiers?”
“Do you think it ends with just handing them armor, helmets, and spears? At minimum, shouldn’t they be taught how to move in response to commands? That alone takes at least a month.”
At the Minister of War’s words, the Cabinet Assistant Counselor looked at the Left and Right Commanders. To the Cabinet Assistant Counselor’s silent question, the commanders answered by silently nodding.
Confirming that the Minister of War was correct, the Cabinet Assistant Counselor let out a long sigh.
“Haah~. At this rate…”
Whether aware of the Cabinet Assistant Counselor’s feelings or not, the Minister of War pointed out the bitter reality.
“If we had known the Eastern King would do such a reckless thing, and that Joseon’s military power was stronger than expected, we would have prepared in advance. If we had moved even three months earlier… Then though five million might have been impossible, at least two million would have been possible. Of course, they would barely be able to move in response to commands.”
“Ah…”
At the Minister of War’s point, the Cabinet Assistant Counselor placed his hand on his forehead. After pondering for a while with his hand on his forehead, he asked the Minister of War again.
“So we must resolve this crisis with the current 3 million?”
“2.75 million. Have you forgotten our navy was annihilated in the recent Yellow Sea battle? And now Qingzhou naval base has been attacked by the Japanese.”
“Oh no…”
At the Minister of War’s point, the Cabinet Assistant Counselor again placed his hand on his forehead.
Watching the Cabinet Assistant Counselor, the Minister of War revealed the harsh reality.
“The current situation is this. We estimate naval losses of 20,000 from the recent Yellow Sea battle and this Japanese pirate attack. The remaining naval force of 150,000 is barely enough to defend the Jiangnan coastal region. That leaves only 2.6 million troops defending various cities and border regions. The problem is those northern Tartars. They have ears too and won’t stay quiet, so we can’t pull forces from that direction because we must defend against them.”
“Then we must pull up forces from the south?”
“While that’s the best option, it’s not easy. Two major problems have arisen because of where the Japanese pirates invaded this time.”
After saying this far, the Minister of War turned to the Left and Right Commanders.
“The commanders should know this part well.”
“Ahem!”
“Hem!”
When the Minister of War suddenly mentioned them, the commanders repeatedly cleared their throats with uncomfortable expressions. Seeing the commanders’ reactions, the Cabinet Assistant Counselor spoke.
“What are these two major problems?”
To the Cabinet Assistant Counselor’s question, the Left Commander spoke.
“Traditionally, Japanese pirates mainly raided the Jiangnan region. But this time they’ve come up to the central region. The problem is we don’t know if these pirates will only raid the central region, or if they’ll raid Jiangnan again like before. Considering this, we can’t pull all forces from Jiangnan.”
“I understand. Then what’s the other problem?”
“With no spare troops, His Majesty’s ordered reinforcement of 3 million to Liaodong is impossible.”
“Oh my… We’re surrounded by mountains of problems.”
Having heard the Left Commander’s explanation, the Cabinet Assistant Counselor again placed his hand on his forehead.
Suffering with his hand on his forehead, the Cabinet Assistant Counselor unconsciously shouted.
“Eastern King! Why has this incompetent person created such a situation by starting something he can’t take responsibility for!”
After bursting out shouting, the Cabinet Assistant Counselor nervously looked around, but no one criticized him. Even the eunuchs from the Eastern Palace showed expressions of agreement.
Honestly speaking, the words the Cabinet Assistant Counselor had just blurted out represented everyone’s feelings.
Moreover, since it wasn’t criticizing the Emperor but cursing Zhu Qizhen who had been removed for lack of ability, it wasn’t problematic.
At least not yet.
***
Having vented what had been bottled up inside, the Cabinet Assistant Counselor continued the meeting with a somewhat lighter expression.
“Well then, let’s start by prioritizing our tasks.”
The Cabinet Assistant Counselor organized their upcoming tasks one by one.
-First, the conflict with Joseon in Liaodong.
The 800,000 troops already decided to be sent will be sent as planned. However, knowing Joseon’s military power is stronger than expected, unnecessary battles will be avoided.
Full-scale battle with Joseon will proceed after reinforcements arrive.
-About 800,000 troops are stationed in the Jiangnan region, of which 300,000 will be moved up. These 300,000 troops will repel the Japanese pirates who have invaded the central region.
-After dealing with the pirates, large-scale conscription will be implemented nationwide. At least 3 million will be gathered to attack Liaodong and Joseon.
“I’d like to proceed this way, what do you all think?”
To the Cabinet Assistant Counselor’s question, the Minister of War and both commanders all nodded.
“I think it’s most appropriate.”
“I think it’s the best answer in this situation.”
“Then let’s submit this to His Majesty. Haah~.”
Having completed the countermeasures to submit to Emperor Xuande, the Cabinet Assistant Counselor let out a long sigh.
“It’s fortunate that at least the Crown Prince is in Nanjing. We can move quickly.”
At the Cabinet Assistant Counselor’s words, the Minister of War and commanders also nodded.
***
Zhu Qiyu, who had become Crown Prince after Zhu Qizhen, was receiving his crown prince education in Nanjing.
This wasn’t simply learning the way of emperors. In Nanjing, a court almost identical to the one in Beijing had been established. The Crown Prince was learning how to run the nation through this court.
This wasn’t mere practice. It was a method for efficiently managing Ming’s vast territory in a situation with poor transportation and communication.
***
“Urgent report!”
Just as the ministers thought they had overcome one crisis and were catching their breath, a young general rushed in with an urgent expression and shouted.
“What is it?”
To the Right Commander’s question, the general held out a memorial and shouted:
“A memorial from Dezhou! Jinan has been attacked!”
Crash!
At the general’s shout, the Minister of War unknowingly dropped the teacup he was holding.
The Right Commander quickly received the memorial and after reading its contents, looked at the others with a bewildered expression.
“The canal has been cut…”
At the Right Commander’s words, all the other ministers became bewildered. Especially the Minister of War, who muttered with a completely dejected expression:
“So it was ‘shout east but strike west’…”
At the Minister of War’s words, both commanders nodded with similar expressions.
Hearing the words of the Minister of War and commanders, the Cabinet Assistant Counselor showed an expression of disbelief.
“Are you saying Joseon is behind the Japanese pirates’ attack?”
“Indeed. Ah… now everything fits together. Everything fits.”
The Left Commander, muttering to himself like this, turned to the others.
“Now I understand why the pirates struck the central region. Joseon is trying to cut our waist.”
At the Left Commander’s words, the Minister of War added in a gloomy voice:
“Not trying to cut – they’ve already cut more than half.”
As soon as the Minister of War finished speaking, the Cabinet Assistant Counselor shouted:
“Why were there no reports until things got this bad!”
“They probably didn’t have time to report because of the pirates’ attack…”
It was exactly as the Minister of War said.
The Ming forces that engaged with the Joseon and Ouchi fleet coming up the Yellow River were so thoroughly destroyed they didn’t even have time to send reports, and their garrisons were also turned into wasteland by Ouchi soldiers.
And the areas where the Japanese main force had landed were struggling just to assess the damage inflicted by the Japanese.
***
In this bewildering situation, the Minister of War was the first to regain his composure.
“In the end, we’re in a situation where we must review everything from the beginning. First, let’s consider how to send messengers to Nanjing.”
At the Minister of War’s words, the officials regained their senses and put their heads together again.
“Given the situation, let’s change the order of priorities.”
The first to make a suggestion was the Minister of Rites.
“What do you mean by changing the order of priorities?”
“We must gather all troops that can move immediately and send them to Liaodong to strike Joseon.”
At the Minister of Rites’ words, the Cabinet Assistant Counselor shouted angrily:
“Are you mad! Haven’t we already discussed why we can’t do that!”
“I’m not mad. But this talk might cost me my head.”
“Just why… Haah!”
The Cabinet Assistant Counselor sighed and continued.
“Well, let’s hear your reasons.”
The Minister of Rites took a breath and began speaking.
“The biggest reason is that His Majesty is now very ill. If something happens to His Majesty, how will we bring up the Crown Prince from Nanjing? If Beijing’s throne becomes empty, can you guarantee there won’t be those who covet that position?”
“…”
While no one could easily speak up at the Minister of Rites’ point, he continued.
“The fastest way for the Crown Prince to reach Beijing is by sea. But now the sea is in Joseon’s hands. Then we must negotiate, but in our current state, we can only be led by Joseon. However, if we win in Liaodong, we can meet them at eye level.”