Transmigrating to the Chongzhen era, I started by confiscating the Donglin Party.

Chapter 51 Wuchang Undercurrents - New

On the 20th day of the fifth month of the sixteenth year of Chongzhen's reign, in Wuchang.

The Yangtze River makes a sharp bend here, its surface wide and its waters muddy and yellow. It is the flood season, and the river has overflowed the stone steps on the bank, submerging half of the city wall. The steam mixed with the summer heat rises up, making the entire city of Wuchang feel like it's in a steamer.

In the pavilion in the back garden of the General's Mansion, Zuo Liangyu, dressed in a linen shirt, was fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan, but his eyes were fixed on the three documents spread out on the stone table.

The first document was an imperial edict framed in gold thread, which read, "Promoted to Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, and granted an additional 1,000 shi of rice."

The second document was from the Ministry of War, demanding that "Zuo Menggeng's troops immediately march north to assist in the defense of Xuanfu."

The third letter, unsealed, was a secret letter sent by Jin Shenghuan overnight from Jiangxi. The corners of the paper were wrinkled from sweat: "The Yangzhou affair has failed, Wang Youcai has been executed; the Shanxi merchants' trade routes have been severed, Jiang Xiang has been captured; the court's methods in Jiangnan are ruthless, unlike before..."

Zuo Liangyu read the letter three times, then burned it on the lantern by the pavilion. The ashes fell into the river breeze, swirled, and disappeared into the night.

"Father, Commander."

The eldest son, Zuo Menggeng, walked over from the corridor. He was in his early thirties, with a fair complexion and dressed in a brocade robe. He looked more like a wealthy young master than a military general. He carried a bowl of chilled plum juice and gently placed it on the stone table.

"Is everything settled in Jiujiang?" Zuo Liangyu didn't look at Tang; his eyes remained fixed on the river.

"Thirty thousand troops have been assembled, along with two hundred warships and enough provisions for two months," Zuo Menggeng said in a low voice. "But... are we really going to advance eastward?"

Zuo Liangyu finally turned his head and stared at his son: "What do you think?"

Zuo Menggeng shrank back, stung by his father's gaze, and carefully chose his words: "The imperial court has just seized the Shanxi merchants in Jiangnan and captured Jiang Xiang in the border town; they are riding high. If we confront them head-on now, I'm afraid..."

"Afraid of what?" Zuo Liangyu sneered, "Afraid I can't beat you?"

"I dare not," Zuo Menggeng hurriedly bowed. "It's just that His Majesty in Nanjing is ruthless and is using the new policies to win over the people. If we act without a legitimate reason, we might lose our moral standing."

"Morality?" Zuo Liangyu laughed even louder, his laughter somewhat eerie in the night. "In this world, military strength equals morality! In the fourteenth year of Chongzhen's reign, I commanded 100,000 troops, and the court dared to utter a single word of dissent? Now that someone else has taken the throne, do you really think you're the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty?"

He stood up, walked to the pavilion, and tapped his fingers on the railing: "Zhu Youjian... a once indecisive emperor, now I don't know what's gotten into him. He's used some ruthless methods to deal with a few corrupt officials, and now he dares to boss me around. Does he think he's the reincarnation of Emperor Taizu?"

Zuo Menggeng dared not respond.

After a long silence, Zuo Liangyu suddenly said, "Go and call Mr. Lu, as well as Jin Shenghuan and Xu Wenjue, to the study."

"Now?"

"Now."

In the study of the General's Mansion, four tallow lamps were lit brightly.

Zuo Liangyu changed into a crimson-purple embroidered robe and sat on a grand chair. To his lower left sat his strategist Lu Ding, a man in his fifties with a thin, long face, a goatee, and calm eyes—his most important strategist in history. To his lower right stood two men: one was Jin Shenghuan, who had just returned from Jiangxi, still in his armor and covered in dust; the other was Xu Wenjue, dressed as a scholar, in his mid-thirties with a fair complexion, a trusted confidant in Zuo Liangyu's staff who was in charge of documents and confidential matters.

"Have you seen them all?" Zuo Liangyu pointed to the two official documents on the table.

The three nodded.

"Tell me about it," Zuo Liangyu said, closing his eyes and rubbing his temples with his fingers.

Lu Ding spoke first, his voice calm: "General, this move by the court is ostensibly a promotion and transfer, but in reality it is a disguised transfer to weaken power and divide troops."

The title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince was merely a nominal one; the additional stipend was a real benefit. The true intention, however, was to transfer Meng Geng north—both to remove him from the Generalissimo's wing and to dismantle the Zuo family army, relocating them to border towns.

Jin Shenghuan immediately chimed in, "Sir, you're right! The court is trying to discard us after we've served our purpose! Commander, we've been operating in Huguang for years, with well-trained troops and ample supplies. Why should we be beholden to Nanjing? If Zhu Youjian can establish his authority by killing people in Jiangnan, why can't we establish our own power in Wuchang?"

"Self-reliance?" Zuo Liangyu opened his eyes, glanced at Jin Shenghuan, and said, "What do you have to rely on for self-reliance? The money and provisions of Jiangnan? The troops of the nine border regions? Or the little silver you plundered from Jiangxi?"

Jin Shenghuan choked.

Xu Wenjue coughed lightly and said gently, "General, General Jin is also very loyal. However... I believe that given the current situation, it is not advisable to openly break with the court."

"Oh?" Zuo Liangyu looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"Firstly, the imperial court has already taken control of the finances of Jiangnan. Last year, the grain transport system was reformed, and this year the salt administration was reorganized. The Wang family in Yangzhou alone had three million taels of silver confiscated."

"With money in his hands, the Emperor can maintain an army, manufacture weapons, and win over the people. Although our Huguang region is wealthy, it has been plagued by war for years, making tax collection difficult and unsustainable."

Xu Wenjue paused, and seeing that Zuo Liangyu did not interrupt, continued, "Secondly, the court's military and political efforts have begun to show results. Sun Chuanting blocked Li Zicheng at Tongguan, Zheng Sen successfully transported grain by sea, Li Ruolian established the Anti-Corruption Bureau in Huai'an, and the Jiangnan New Army is said to have trained tens of thousands of soldiers. At this time, a head-on confrontation would not be very likely to succeed."

"Thirdly," he said in an even lower voice, "the court has long been on guard against us. Huang Degong's troops are stationed in Anqing, Zheng Sen's navy controls the Yangtze River, and the governor of Jiangxi is also reorganizing his troops. If we make a move, we will be attacked from all sides."

The study fell silent, save for the crackling sound of the lamp wick popping.

After a long silence, Zuo Liangyu asked Lu Ding, "What does Mr. Lu think?"

Lu Ding stroked his beard: "What Wenjue said is all reasonable. But General Jin's worries are not unfounded. The court is pressing us step by step. Today they transferred Meng Geng to the north, and tomorrow they may transfer the Grand Marshal to the capital. If we hand over military power, we will be at their mercy."

He stood up, walked to the map hanging on the wall, and pointed to the Yangtze River: "In my opinion, we can adopt the strategy of 'advancing as a retreat to observe their strengths and weaknesses'."

"Explain in detail."

"On the surface, he was ordered by imperial decree to lead his army 'northward.' But the marching route—"

Lu Ding drew a line along the east bank of the Yangtze River with his finger. "Advance along the river, no more than thirty li per day. If the court asks, we will say, 'The transport of grain and fodder needs to be replenished along the river.' This is a test: if the court tolerates us, we can gradually expand eastward and control key areas along the river; if the court turns against us, we have Wuchang as our backing and can retreat at any time."

He then pointed to Nanjing: "At the same time, send a capable person with generous gifts to Nanjing, ostensibly to express gratitude, but in reality to gather intelligence. First, to assess the strength of the defenses in Jiangnan; second, to ascertain the court's true attitude towards us; and third..." He looked at Xu Wenjue, "to contact old friends in Jiangnan and see how many still remember the Commander-in-Chief."

Zuo Liangyu stared at the map, remaining silent for a long time.

Jin Shenghuan said anxiously, "General, this is too slow! The court changes every day. By the time we figure things out, they might already have a knife to our throats!"

"Then what do you intend to do?" Zuo Liangyu asked coldly.

"Advance directly east!" Jin Shenghuan gritted his teeth. "I will lead the vanguard of 20,000 men out of Wuchang, capture Jiujiang and Anqing, and march straight towards Nanjing! The commander-in-chief will oversee the central army, while Meng Geng will lead the navy to control the Yangtze River. Those pampered soldiers in Nanjing have never fought a battle before; they'll crumble at the first charge!"

"And then?" Zuo Liangyu asked again, "After taking Nanjing, will you sit on the dragon throne?"

Jin Shenghuan's expression changed: "This humble general wouldn't dare!"

"I doubt you'd dare." Zuo Liangyu stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the dark river outside. "The emperor of today is not the same as the emperor of the past. Zhou Yanru, Chen Yan, Wang Pu, Wang Youcai, Jiang Xiang... weren't they all powerful figures? They could be killed without a second thought."

He turned around, a complex light flashing in his eyes: "Jin Shenghuan, if you want to fight, fine. But tell me: if we lose, what will happen to the parents, wives, and children of our 100,000 brothers in Wuchang? Will they die with us?"

Jin Shenghuan opened his mouth, but no words came out.

"Mr. Lu is right." Zuo Liangyu walked back to the table, tapping the imperial edict with his fingers. "First obey the decree, then test the waters. Xu Wenjue—"

"The students are here."

"Prepare a generous gift and go to Nanjing in person. Express my gratitude on my behalf, and also see what kind of person the Emperor really is."

"Yes."

"Jin Shenghuan".

"Your subordinate is here!"

"You shall secretly reorganize the navy and control the river. Without my order, not a single soldier shall move."

"...Yes, ma'am."

"Meng Geng".

Zuo Menggeng quickly bowed: "Father General."

"You will lead 30,000 troops and set off tomorrow to 'head north to assist in the defense.' Remember—go along the river, slowly. Stop at Jiujiang to see just how formidable Zheng Sen's navy really is."

Zuo Menggeng hesitated: "What if Zheng Sen interferes..."

"He wouldn't dare," Zuo Liangyu said calmly. "The imperial court hasn't issued an edict to suppress them yet; they're still 'friendly forces.' Just walk away openly and see if they dare to fire."

He glanced at the three men, his gaze finally settling on Lu Ding: "Mr. Lu, Wuchang is now in your hands. Send me daily military reports from each prefecture. Report to me immediately any news from Jiangnan."

"The student understands."

The four people left the study.

Zuo Liangyu remained alone in the room, picked up the imperial edict again, and examined it under the lamplight. The gold thread gleamed coldly in the candlelight, and the four characters "Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince" were glaringly obvious.

He suddenly recalled that in the fourteenth year of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign, when he had amassed a powerful army, the court sent envoys to appease him and bestowed upon him the title of "Earl of Ningnan." At that time, he sat in this very position, looking at the imperial edict in the same way, thinking to himself: "The emperor? He's nothing but a puppet sitting in Beijing."

The person on the dragon throne is still the same, but the feeling of receiving an imperial edict is different now.

"Zhu Youjian..." he murmured the name, his fingers unconsciously tracing the edge of the imperial edict. "What exactly do you want?"

Outside the window, the Yangtze River roars on and on, never ceasing.

On the same night, at the Wenhua Hall in Nanjing.

Li Ce didn't sleep either.

Three reports lay before him: one from Sun Chuanting in Tongguan, saying that twelve fortified villages had been built and the defense line was solid; another from Li Ruolian in Huai'an, saying that the new grain transport policy was being implemented smoothly and that the monthly wages of the grain transport workers had been paid directly; and the third was a private letter from Empress Zhou in Yangzhou, which discussed the salt merchants' tax arrears and the establishment of the Chamber of Commerce.

All good news.

But Li Ce frowned.

Ni Yuanlu stood below and asked softly, "Your Majesty, are you worried about Wuchang?"

"Zuo Liangyu received the imperial decree five days ago," Li Ce said, tapping his fingers on the table. "There's been no movement at all. This is abnormal."

"Perhaps they're preparing to move north..."

"Five days to prepare?" Li Ce shook his head. "He is a general with 100,000 troops. It would only take him a day to send 30,000 troops north. Five days without any movement can only mean one thing: he is hesitating, weighing his options, and discussing with his subordinates whether or not to listen to me."

Ni Yuanlu pondered: "Zuo Liangyu has been domineering for many years. It would be difficult to suddenly order him to obey the imperial edict."

"I didn't expect him to genuinely obey the imperial edict anyway." Li Ce stood up, walked to the map, and pointed to Wuchang. "What I want is his stance. Whether it's war or peace, give me a straight answer. Dragging it out like this is the most draining thing on people's morale."

Li Jizhen entered from the outer hall, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, the prefect of Jiujiang has sent an urgent report: Zuo Menggeng's 30,000 troops have been assembled, along with 200 warships and ample provisions. However... their direction does not seem to be north, but rather they are deploying defenses along the east bank of the river."

Li Ce's eyes turned cold: "As expected."

"Furthermore," Li Jizhen lowered his voice, "information from Wuchang indicates that Zuo Liangyu's advisor, Xu Wenjue, purchased a large quantity of Jiangnan specialties today, filling three entire ships, seemingly intending to sail east."

"Coming to Nanjing?"

"It should be."

Li Ce laughed, a cold laugh: "Thank you? Just spying. Li Ruolian—"

"Your subject is here." Li Ruolian stepped out of the shadows. He had only recently returned to Nanjing, and his face still bore the marks of travel.

"After Xu Wenjue arrived in Nanjing, he was 'warmly received.' He was arranged to stay in the best inns, eat at the best restaurants, and meet the most respectable merchants." Li Ce paused, "Let him see what Jiangnan is like now, how the new policies are being implemented, and whether the people are living well."

"I understand," Li Ruolian nodded. "The goal is to make him back down."

"No," Li Ce shook his head, "I want him to go back and tell Zuo Liangyu: Jiangnan is already in my hands. If he knows what's good for him, I'll give him a dignified exit; if he doesn't..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone in the hall understood.

"Where are Huang Degong's troops?" Li Ce asked.

"We have arrived in Anqing and are undergoing training," Li Jizhen said. "As His Majesty instructed, we have not made a fuss about it and have only said that it is a routine troop rotation."

"Let him train well in Anqing, but keep his eyes on the west. If Zuo Menggeng dares to advance eastward, there's no need to ask for permission; just strike him head-on."

"Yes."

Li Ce then looked at Sun Chuanting's report, his finger pausing on the words "Tunbao Joint Defense": "Mr. Ni, draft an edict for Sun Chuanting: I have entrusted the Tongguan defense line to him. He has full authority to decide when Li Zicheng will come, how many he will come, and how to fight him. I only want one result—Tongguan cannot be breached."

"I obey your decree."

"Also," Li Ce suddenly remembered something, "tell Zheng Sen that the navy must prepare immediately and arrive in Jiujiang within five days to control the river. If Zuo Liangyu makes a move, the first thing he will control is the Yangtze River."

"Yes."

The officials withdrew.

Li Ce stood alone in front of the map, his gaze shifting from Wuchang to Nanjing, and then from Nanjing to Beijing.

The shadow of the north was growing heavier—outside Shanhaiguan, Wu Sangui's requests for supplies were becoming increasingly urgent and forceful, clearly indicating a wait-and-see approach followed by coercion. Meanwhile, the threat from the south had not yet been completely eliminated.

Time, that's what he lacks most.

"Zuo Liangyu..." he muttered to himself, "Don't force me to draw my sword at this time."

The sound of a night watchman's drum came from outside the window; it was the third watch of the night.

On the Yangtze River, an official ship was quietly leaving port. Xu Wenjue stood at the bow, gazing at the eastern night sky with a solemn expression.

Meanwhile, at the Wuchang dock, Zuo Menggeng's 30,000-strong army was boarding ships, with torches stretching across half the river, turning it red.

The night is still long.

Undercurrents have begun to stir.