Chapter 18: Yuan Chonghuan and his Deception

  Chongzhen 1st Year

  February 12th

  Yang Reform finally summoned Yuan Chonghuan, a historically controversial figure who had been waiting for Yang Reform's call for a long time. Yang Reform used the platform to summon this famous historical figure with high specifications. The platform summons that were originally scheduled to take place several months later were brought forward due to Yang Reform's intervention.

  The platform was roughly located behind the Baohe Hall of today's Palace Museum in Beijing, which is two small rear doors.

  Present at the scene were several officials including Yang Reform, this emperor, as well as a few other high-ranking ministers and imperial relatives such as Sun Chengzong.

  "Long live my Emperor, long live for ten thousand years! I, Yuan Chonghuan, knock to ask for your holy blessing." Kneeling on the ground was the legendary Yuan Chonghuan.

  Yang reform studied this Yuan Chonghuan and the "photo" he saw on Baidu pictures, and found that Yuan Chonghuan really had some qualifications to be a "house man", with a gentle and elegant appearance, white and clean, but in reality, due to his long military career, his face was full of wind and frost, and his small white face had a few dark spots.

  "......Are you Yuan Chonghuan?......Alas......" Yang Gaofeng sighed, having mixed feelings of good and bad towards such a controversial historical figure.

  He's at least got some guts, daring to fight and not afraid of death. In terms of fighting, he's considered a tall figure among the Ming dynasty officials. The bad thing is that he doesn't know his place, and his strategic vision and thinking are inversely proportional to his bravery, extremely muddled, even to the point of being chaotic, without any rules or principles.

  To put it simply, Wu Sangui was a big scammer for five years in Liaodong, killing Mao Wenlong was inexplicable, and what's more, he even talked about making peace, without Sun Chengzong to supervise him, steer the ship, and guide him from a strategic height, he would just be a young whippersnapper running wild.

  Of course, there is no worst, only more rotten. If you say that someone is even more rotten than Rotten, then it's Chongzhen, who was actually deceived by Yuan Chonghuan.

  Yuan Chonghuan and all the other officials did not understand why the emperor sighed. Had he done something wrong again?

  In the midst of everyone's puzzled gaze, Yang Reform said: "Yuan Ai, you used to be the governor of Liaodong, and you can say that you are familiar with the affairs of Liaodong. I have reinstated you as the governor of Liaodong, tell me about your views on the affairs of Liaodong and your plans?" This summons was several months earlier than in history, Yang Reform did not know whether Yuan Chonghuan would propose his famous "Five-Year Plan to Pacify Liaodong". Yang Reform decided to ask anyway.

  "I memorialize to Your Majesty... I have received your special favor, and I am willing to take advantage of the opportunity. In five years, all of Liaodong can be recovered..." Yuan Chonghuan finally spoke out his famous historical nonsense - "Five Years to Pacify Liaodong".

  Yang Reform couldn't help but smile wryly in his heart, knowing that history is indeed just history! Although he had anticipated the platform's summons a few months ago, it was still Yuan Chonghuan who spoke out about the five years of peace in Liaodong. It seems that this butterfly stirring up history wants to create a storm, but its abilities are still somewhat lacking!

  "Hmm, five years of pacifying Liaodong... now speak your demands." Yang Reform temporarily did not veto Yuan Chonghuan's plan, but rather let him finish speaking.

  "...Within five years, the Ministry of Revenue will transfer military rations, the Ministry of Works will provide equipment, the Ministry of Personnel will appoint personnel, and the Ministry of War will deploy troops and dispatch generals. All internal and external matters must be in harmony, only then can we achieve success..." Yuan Chonghuan's voice was loud and clear, his words rising and falling as they floated under the eaves of the platform, swirling above the heads of the crowd.

  Yang thought to himself, this is a matter of giving money for money, things for things, people for people, in short, giving whatever is asked for.

  Yang thought to himself: Should I send you a few atomic bombs? This way, with one cannon, you can wipe out dozens of miles and also get a few B-52s to air-drop them onto the Wild Boar's head. That way, you won't need five years to conquer Liaodong, maybe just a few days will do.

  "Is that all?" Yang asked with a poker face, thinking to himself: If it were the original Chongzhen, he would probably be overjoyed, thinking he had obtained an invincible commander and could immediately pacify the Wild Boar Skin, and would likely agree to all of Yuan Chonghuan's demands.

  "I humbly report to Your Majesty, I think that with my strength, conquering the entire Liao region is more than enough, and there's no need to worry about the mouths of the people. Once we leave the country, it becomes a matter of thousands of miles; how can we be jealous of achievements, when there are no people to start with?! Even if you don't use your power to restrain me, you can still disrupt my plans with your opinions." Yuan Chonghuan's voice was very loud and clear, and the entire house only had his voice echoing.

  Yang Gaofei was speechless, what does this mean? Is it asking for full authority? His heart skipped a beat, could it be that he wants the " Imperial Sword"? Yang Gaofei's impression of Yuan Chonghuan also included using the "Imperial Sword" to behead Mao Wenshan. What kind of thing is this?

  Yang's reform is not worth mourning for Mao Wenlong, and Mao Wenlong is not a good guy either. He has done many dirty things that are not worth Yang's regret. The problem is that once Mao Wenlong dies, the nail stuck in the wild boar skin on his waist will be gone, and the wild boar skin will probably celebrate and enter the pass soon.

  There are also the three "Three Obedient Kings" of the Qing Dynasty under his command, who will be the ones to bury the Ming Dynasty in the future. This is the reason why Yang's reform is a headache and a worry.

  "Alas... let's continue." Yang Reform fell silent for a moment, thinking to himself and plotting his own plan, thinking that he had to change the course of history, otherwise, it was certain that wild boar skin would be smuggled into the country next year.

  "The plan to recover the lost territory is nothing but... letting Liaodong people defend their homeland, and using the land of Liaodong to nourish its people; defense is the main strategy, war is the secondary one... this is what I think as a border minister... However, there is something that worries me deeply, so I dare not keep it from you..." Yuan Chonghuan's words were full of loyalty, sincerity, and sadness, which moved Yang Reform to some extent.

  Other ministers on the side also had some who were actually wiping away tears, it can be seen that this speech by Yuan Chonghuan was indeed moving.

  If it were still the unlucky Chongzhen of history, I reckon this would be moving to tears and giving Yuan Chonghuan full authority. Implementing Yuan Chonghuan's big scam "Five-Year Plan to Pacify Liaodong".

  The originally strained finances were further exacerbated, and as a result, the taxes were increased again. The increased taxes inevitably fell on the ordinary people who were already on the verge of bankruptcy, leading to their bankruptcy and rebellion. As a result, the interior was in chaos. In 1644, the Ming dynasty was besieged by Li Zicheng and collapsed completely.

  It's often said that the foolish have no limits, but these Ming dynasty scholar-officials not only brought about their own downfall, they also destroyed the entire Ming dynasty. After changing bosses, they discovered that this new boss wasn't as great as they had imagined, and his IQ wasn't very high either. In order to curry favor with this new boss, they couldn't help but make themselves a bit more foolish.

  Yang thought about the direction of the Ming dynasty's history for a moment and immediately negated Yuan Chonghuan's words. This is the strong point of the crossers.

  Some of the ministers below thought that this remark should also move the emperor, and the emperor might give Yuan Chonghuan an official position, special privileges, or perhaps a "magic sword", hmm, after the meeting is over, I'll have to find Yuan Chonghuan for a drink to celebrate this victory.

  "Yuan Ai Qing, to be honest, I have high regards for your ability to command and mobilize troops. However, as for the Five-Year Plan to Pacify Liaodong that you proposed, I... reject it..."

  "Your Majesty......this......" Yuan Chonghuan was very disappointed, anxious and surprised.

  "Alright, hear me out. Rejecting your plan isn't a matter of distrust, but rather the circumstances don't permit it. Master Sun, you may begin now?" Yang asked, turning his head to ask Sun Chengzong again.

  "Reporting to Your Majesty, I have almost made preparations." Sun Chengzong said expressionlessly. To be honest, although Sun Chengzong was not bad to Yuan Chonghuan and was still Yuan Chonghuan's old superior, he did not support Yuan Chonghuan's five-year plan to conquer Liao.

  "Alright, thank you Master Sun." After saying that, he turned his head and said to Yuan Chonghuan: "Lord Yuan, please sit across from Master Sun..."

  Yuan Chonghuan sat down opposite Sun Chengzong, with a large table in between them. The table was covered with silk, and he had no idea what it was for.

  "Alright, let's begin." Yang said to Wang Chengen.

  Wang Cheng'en lifted the silk covering the table.

  Yuan Chonghuan, along with the other officials, all gasped in shock and took a deep breath. This was simply a miniature version of the capital city and Liaodong! The mountains, rivers, Great Wall, oceans, and cities inside and outside the passes were all so vivid and lifelike that one glance told all.

  This is the war sand table that Yang reform "racked his brains" to make. Yang reform is a house man, has also read several military books, knows this sandbox is a good thing, so he called people to do it.

  The benefits of being an emperor are that countless people serve you, and the top talents in the country serve you. Look at Yang Reform, this otaku only said a few words: Inside and outside the pass, everything must be true. With just these few words, the top talents in the country worked on this "sand table", regardless of cost and manpower. In the imperial city, there is also a special institution dedicated to serving the emperor, which is the Ministry of War.

  This "sand table" was specially prepared by Yang Reform to "anti-hype" Yuan Chonghuan. Yang Reform is ready to use the "sand table" to refute Yuan Chonghuan's article as worthless.

  Under the gaze of everyone's astonishment, Yang Reform said: "Gentlemen, this is called a sandbox, it is used to simulate changes in war. Today, we will use this sandbox to replace the situation inside and outside Guan, and simulate the future situation. Yuan Ai, on this sandbox, you are now the Minister of War and Right Vice-Director of the Imperial Censorate, commanding the Jizhou-Liaodong army, and concurrently commanding the Tianjin military affairs. Sun Shifu, opposite you, will temporarily take on the role of Houjin, with full authority to command the battle. Your personnel, equipment, rations, terrain, etc., all follow actual conditions. After the simulation begins, you can make decisions freely... Hmm, Yuan Ai, you can think for a while first, after the simulation starts, according to your words, people, power, materials, rations, and supplies will all be decided by you... I and the other ministers will act as judges... Do you understand?"

  Minister of War and Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, Commander-in-Chief of the Ji-Liao region, concurrently in charge of military affairs in Deng-Lai-Tianjin. This was originally the official position that Chongzhen awarded to Yuan Chongyuan in history, and also came with the "Jade Sword". This circuit includes the entire Shandong Peninsula from the current Jiaodong Peninsula to Tianjin Municipality, then to the northeastern part of Hebei Province, plus the coastal areas of Liaoning, in short, all military affairs surrounding the Bohai Bay were under his jurisdiction. The goal was only one: Wild Boar Skin.

  Yuan Chonghuan was scared silly, sitting stupidly in his chair, unable to utter a word for a long time. Originally, it was just a "bluff" to fool the emperor and make him happy, but he didn't expect the emperor to come up with this move, which made him feel like a mute eating bitter melon, with a bitter taste that couldn't be expressed. The reason behind it was only known to himself.

  Yuan Chonghuan's past "achievements" were all based on relying on the city, using cannons and firearms to consume the enemy's strength, waiting for them to become exhausted before charging out and killing a batch, or simply retreating would be considered a victory. To "conquer Liaodong in five years", they had to launch an attack, attacking meant field battles, and fighting against the enemy in the wilderness, Yuan Chonghuan felt that today's weather was really gloomy.

  "Yuan Ai Qing? Did you hear that clearly?" Yang reform called out to Yuan Chonghuan again, and only then did Yuan Chonghuan suddenly come to his senses. He was in the imperial palace, on the platform, and couldn't help but be stunned. Immediately, he jumped up, knelt down on the ground, and knocked his head: "I was rude, I should die, I am guilty."

  "Uh-huh, get up, it's nothing, got it?" Yang Gaizhi asked again.

  "I understand." Yuan Chonghuan replied with utmost respect.

  All the ministers were still amazed at this "Minister of War and Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, Commander-in-Chief of Ji and Liao, concurrently in charge of military affairs in Deng, Lai, Tianjin." What a great job it is, I'm afraid the title of "King of Liaodong" would not be excessive. The emperor really holds Yuan Chonghuan in high esteem.

  He looked at the sand table again and felt that this emperor was really muddle-headed, doing some lowly things for no reason, either a carpenter or a bricklayer. The old Zhu family is full of "freaks". Is this what an emperor should be doing? An emperor should sit on a high dragon chair, listen to the reports of us ministers, and then make "holy decisions", which is in line with the image of a wise king... He also felt that the sand table was indeed very realistic and detailed, even these civil officials were all clear at a glance. The city, mountains, rivers, roads, Great Wall, and sea were all there, and small flags were inserted on top, presumably representing the number of troops. Hehe, with this thing, we civil officials would also dare to go to war, some ministers thought so in their hearts.

  The preparatory work was done, and Yuan Chonghuan was given some time to think and adapt. The "sand table" simulation finally began.

  Yuan Chonghuan to Sun Chengzong.

  Note: Originally, Yuan Chonghuan was still a commoner in his hometown at this time. Here, it is assumed that he is already in the capital city.