Chapter 41 Section 4 The Age of Power Imbalance

On the third day of May in the eleventh year of Chongzhen, Chongzhen held an open-book examination for senior civil servants in Beijing. Chongzhen's title is very lyrical and sad.He said that the sky has changed a lot since the beginning of this year. In April, it snowed heavily in Shanxi, but Venus can be seen in broad daylight. It’s a hell of a thing. Could it be that God is punishing me?Please answer.And now that the frontier pays so much, but the Manchurian iron cavalry is eyeing them, and a Qing Dynasty has been established. It seems that the country is still in danger. What if one day war comes, what should we do?Do we have tomorrow?Please answer.

The two questions seem simple but have hidden wit.Because it is not difficult to see the emperor's state of mind from its lyricism and sadness: anxiety, fear, anger, and sadness.This is a question that the two emperors themselves do not know the answer to.Whether the answer is good or not depends entirely on the emperor's momentary state of mind.But no one knows what the emperor wants or doesn't want. If the answer is not good, the consequences will be very serious. But he couldn't help but answer.As a provincial and ministerial senior official, if he cannot answer the emperor's questions, then he is not worthy of this position.

Yang Sichang also took the exam. In fact, Chongzhen mainly tested him.Because he is the minister of the Ministry of War, and because his ten-sided net plan has achieved great success.Chongzhen wanted to know what Yang Shangshu thought about the Manchurian cavalry. Yang Sichang first told Chongzhen categorically that he should believe in materialism and not idealism.The celestial phenomena are the celestial phenomena, and the affairs of the world have to be controlled by the emperor.In order to dispel the emperor's doubts, Yang Sichang also cited three examples. Example 1: During the period of Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a lunar eclipse of Mars in one year. The Shanyu of the Huns was afraid of some problems, so he resolutely proposed to make peace with Emperor Guangwu, and Emperor Guangwu happily accepted Shanyu's peace request.Therefore, despite the abnormal celestial phenomena this year, the world is a peaceful society.

Example 2: In the seventh year of Emperor Xianzong of Tang Dynasty, a lunar eclipse also occurred. Tian Xing of Weibo Township surrendered to Emperor Xianzong of Tang Dynasty. Tang Xianzong also ignored Weibo Township for the sake of benefiting the people of the world, and the world was peaceful from then on. Example 3: Three years after Song Taiping rejuvenated the country, a lunar eclipse also occurred. However, the Song Dynasty sent troops to attack Khitan at that time, resulting in consecutive defeats. With Yang Sichang's three examples in one fell swoop, Chongzhen immediately understood his thoughts: Yang Sichang is persuading me to be more important to the Qing Dynasty!What happened to the always tough Yang Sichang?Is he afraid that the Manchurian cavalry has really reached such a point? !

Chongzhen couldn't understand it after a lot of thinking.Baiguan is also puzzled.In order to express their patriotism and national integrity, the officials who took the exam accused Yang Sichang of blatantly surrendering to the Qing Dynasty in order to give him the position of Minister of the Ministry of War. How can such a person be Minister of the Ministry of War? Yang Sichang's silence is golden.But Chongzhen could not bear this silence.He wanted to know the reason behind Yang Sichang's silence. This is tactics, not strategy. When they were two, Yang Sichang said this to Chongzhen.

tactics?strategy?is there any difference? Of course, tactics are the means and strategy is the end.Sooner or later, the Ming Dynasty will destroy the Qing Dynasty, but not now. What if I can't accept such a tactic? Why?emperor! I am dignified and dignified, how can I make peace with that Qing country? Your Majesty, this is just a tactical peace, it is to completely wipe out the "rogue bandits" in exchange for a few years of peace in Liaodong! Completely wipe out the "bandits"?What's the meaning?Are there any "traffic bandits" now? Your Majesty, Huguang includes the Central Plains area, the "rogue bandits" have not really surrendered!Whenever there is trouble, they will rise to make trouble at any time.

nonsense!They have all surrendered.Besides, isn't Xiong Wencan already sitting in five provinces? Can the "rogue bandits" make trouble again? I'm afraid... even he, Xiong Wencan, will be helpless at that time. When Chongzhen heard this, he was shocked: how can this be possible?How can this be?Isn't Xiong Wencan the right man you recommend?How could he not be able to defend Huguang? Yang Sichang didn't know how to answer, so he thought for a while: Your Majesty, if we compare the current "rogue bandits" to a trapped tiger or a sleeping tiger, then Xiong Wencan is looking after such a tiger right now.But a sleeping tiger will wake up one day, and the tiger after waking up will always eat people...

Chongzhen gave him a resentful look: Stop talking, I understand, you still think in your heart that it was wrong for me to let Xiong Wencan take care of you! ! Yang Sichang knelt down: Your majesty, I definitely don't have such an idea now!Maybe at the beginning, the minister had the idea or idea to suppress it forcefully, but the emperor thinks about it, if there is no tranquility and peace in Liaodong, even if it is a short period of tranquility and peace, it is impossible for us to gather the strength of the whole country to deal with the "rogue bandits". The so-called suppression of bandits is more than enough.

Chongzhen: So, do you also agree to use Fu instead of suppression? Yang Sichang shook his head: Your majesty, no matter whether you want to appease or suppress, you must use strength as your backing.Without strong strength, there will be no opponent's convincing appeasement.Therefore, appeasement is a higher level of conquest than suppression. The strength is quite comparable to suppression, and the strength greatly exceeds the opponent. The opponent is willing to be appeased only when he knows he is invincible... Chongzhen understood: Do you mean that we gather the strength of the whole country to deal with one head first, and then free up our hands to kill Huang Taiji?

Your Majesty! Chongzhen shook his head: I am not wise, and your idea is not wise either.Not to mention whether Huang Taiji will give you a precious period of peace, even if he can wait until you and the "rogue bandits" are seriously injured before fighting with them, you can guarantee that our officers and soldiers of Ming Dynasty will be able to secure victory ?Don't you forget that the offensive power of the Qing Dynasty is already higher than that of my Ming Dynasty. Since I took the throne, how many times have the Great Wall been breached by them?How many times?Every time I want to come and go, I want to go!Which time was it really driven away by the strength of my Ming officers and soldiers?No!Not once!I see, sooner or later the Forbidden City will be theirs, it's theirs...

Yang Sichang was at a loss for words. It turns out that the emperor sees everything clearly.It is precisely because he has seen everything through that the emperor understands that this is a historical knot that no one can untangle.Iron cavalry and "traffic bandits" attacked from north to south, and you came and went, which made Daming tired of coping, and the national strength declined day by day.He set up questions for everyone to test. If anyone can untie the knot of history, it would be a surprise and a blessing to Ming Dynasty.But if it can't be solved, it is also reasonable, it is Daming's fate. But Yang Sichang could only think of this level.He can't recreate the universe, he can only do his best and know the destiny.If Huang Taiji is willing to make peace with Da Ming, how will he know if he doesn't try?Maybe they really just want a title, and only need Ming to recognize Qing? Chongzhen shook his head again: I don't think this matter is appropriate.The land occupied by the so-called Qing Kingdom originally belonged to me, Daming. If they want to make peace, they will have to admit that the land belongs to them... How, how is this possible? Chongzhen is a person with mental cleanliness, and he feels mentally raped when he thinks about it, which is not happy. Yang Sichang had a sad face: Your Majesty, that area has been ruled by them for a long time. In fact, we don't recognize it or... Chongzhen roared: that's impossible!Why!They are simply robbers, forcibly grabbing a place and forcing us to admit it. What's more annoying is that we have to rush to admit it!Why!To make peace, Huang Taiji has to take the initiative to find us to make peace!I am dignified and dignified, when did I fall to such a point? !As soon as this example is opened, the land is lost, how can I be worthy of my ancestors, my country and society of the Ming Dynasty? The more Chongzhen talked, the more sad he felt, he felt that he was really a prodigal son, and couldn't help but burst into tears: There is no one in the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty to relieve my worries, or just sit on the sidelines, or make peace... Chongzhen glanced at Yang Sichang at this point.Yang Sichang looked indifferent, Chongzhen simply said: You Yang Sichang, the majestic Minister of the Ministry of War, can't you think of a good way to come out?Words and peace, what kind of peace is this, this is using my hot face to stick to Huang Taiji's cold ass, people may not be happy? !Shame, the shame of Ming Dynasty, the shame of Chongzhen, the emperor humiliated his ministers to death, Yang Sichang, what are you still doing here? ! Yang Sichang: This is just a tactical peace, Your Majesty. Tactics don't work either!As soon as the reconciliation is made, everyone in the world will know that I am a soft-hearted Chongzhen.No, absolutely not! Yang Sichang slowly took off the black gauze cap on his head: Your Majesty, if you don't even open such an opening, then there is nothing you can do. Yang Sichang handed the black hat to Chongzhen, and Chongzhen's face immediately darkened: Yang Sichang, are you threatening me? Yang Sichang: I dare not. Then why did you walk away? The minister couldn't do it anymore. Chongzhen suddenly became nervous: Who said that?Who says you can't do it anymore?Did I say that? The emperor never said that the minister could not go on.But the emperor said that the emperor humiliated the minister to death, the emperor's meaning is very clear, the minister is going to die... Chongzhen snatched Yang Sichang's black hat, and then slammed it on his face: You bastard Yang Sichang, you are still threatening me.That's right, I said that the emperor humiliated his ministers to death, but what I mean is to advise you to work hard and share the worries of your father.Not to be Minister of the Ministry of War?If you don't want to be the Minister of the Ministry of War, who will be worthy of the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty?Yang Sichang, don't forget to be ungrateful, I have unconscionably restored your father's position, is it easy for me?How many nights of fierce ideological struggles, I have survived me, if you quit today, you are crossing the river and tearing down the bridge, you! Yang Sichang couldn't laugh or cry: Your Majesty, I, I don't have... Chongzhen suddenly widened his small eyes with single eyelids, trying to make them look aggressive: still say no?If not, put on the black hat! Yang Sichang picked up the black gauze hat that fell on the ground, and thought about it: Your Majesty, you can continue to do it, but I have only one way to do it... Chongzhen: Still want to make peace with Huang Taiji? Yang Sichang corrected: make peace tactically. Chongzhen: Don't make it so complicated.one thing. Yang Sichang said solemnly: Your Majesty, it is definitely not the same thing.I swear that sooner or later I will lead my troops to defeat the Qing Dynasty, and it is just a tactical peace at the moment. Chongzhen was silent. Yang Sichang was in an urgent mood: Your Majesty, back then King Gou Jian of Yue was able to endure the unbearable shame in the world, and only then did he have the feat of swallowing Wu with three thousand Yue Jia. Your Majesty, for the sake of my Ming Dynasty, I might as well endure the shame in front of me! Chongzhen thought for a while: It is okay to make peace, but it must be proposed by Huang Taiji first.He must pay tribute and be a subject. When Yang Sichang saw Chongzhen acting like a boss, he felt that it was a big trouble: Your Majesty, since it is a tactical peace, it doesn't matter who takes the initiative.Furthermore, if we take the initiative, we can show the bearing of a big country. fart!What kind of greatness can this show?Weakness of a big country?Surrender?Yang Sichang, don't deceive yourself and others.This reconciliation is not so righteous in the first place, and the dignity that should be there is still there! Yang Sichang despaired: Your Majesty, this is just a tactical peace. Chongzhen's eyes widened again, and this time they were surprisingly big. From Yang Sichang's sight, they were already about the size of a cow's egg: Tactical peace must have dignity, without dignity, I would rather not make peace! Did the emperor agree to have a talk with Huang Taiji? Yang Sichang wanted to confirm. Chongzhen had a very hurt expression: You should find someone to contact him first, and see what he thinks... Sigh, make peace, shame on me, am I easy? I, can I do such a thing?How many nights of intense ideological struggle will it take...