Chapter 62: Discussing the Momentum that Moves People's Hearts

  It is a pleasure to translate for you. Here is the translation:

  To put it in grandiose terms, especially when speaking to these literary officials who have read extensively, they love this kind of talk - righteous and forthright, with eloquent words, leaving a good name in history as loyal ministers and martyrs, which is exactly what they were educated from a young age. Although many people did not do so when the great house collapsed, what Zhu Yongxing said still resonates with them and sounds pleasant to their ears.

  "Your Highness, the current situation is precarious and uncertain. I don't know what method to use to reverse the trend." asked Hu Wan Shun, a secretary in the Ministry of Personnel, with clasped hands.

  Zhu Yongxing hesitated for a moment, then slowly said: "The danger is indeed like piling eggs, but it's not impossible to turn things around. The Qing army came with great momentum, occupying most of Yunnan, but solidifying their position will take time. Moreover, the Qing army has been burning, killing, and looting, losing the hearts of the people, and the masses are resentful, this is one reason; the Qing army is mostly composed of northerners, who are not adapted to the warm and humid climate of Yunnan, and are vulnerable to diseases, which reduces their combat effectiveness, this is another reason; thirdly, there are still tens of thousands of Ming troops scattered around the borders of Yunnan, I have sent people to contact them in all directions, if they can come together with us, our military strength will be even greater; if the Qing army occupies Yunnan, they will have to divide their forces to garrison it, which will split their strength, and our army can unite to take a strategy of defeating them one by one; there are many local chieftains in Yunnan who are loyal to the Ming dynasty, and they can also be a great help..."

  Exaggerating the favorable conditions and downplaying the unfavorable factors, Zhu Yongxing spoke eloquently, trying to boost everyone's morale and lift their spirits. His analysis was well-reasoned and logical, although somewhat suspicious of exaggeration, but not entirely unfounded.

  "...When the Eight Banners of Manchu entered the pass, the total military strength was about 100,000, including Han and Mongolian soldiers. The real number of Manchu warriors who could put on armor and go to battle was only a few tens of thousands. After entering the Central Plains, they went through many battles, and the number of people who died in battle or from illness had already exceeded the natural population growth; after entering the rich areas of the Central Plains, a trend of pursuing a comfortable life had grown, far from being as brave and willing to sacrifice as before..."

  When Zhu Yongxing analyzed the decline of Manchu Eight Banners' combat effectiveness and the small number of soldiers, even Bai Wensheng and others in front of the sand table next to him perked up their ears and listened carefully.

  In history, every rising dynasty has a process of decline in military affairs, and the Qing Dynasty is no exception. It's just that the process of decline from prosperity to decline of the orthodox army regarded by the ruling class as competing for the world and consolidating the world is particularly rapid.

  It should be after the fourth year of Shunzhi, the scene where the Manchu Eight Banners were invincible has never appeared again like a fleeting flower. It was only because the Qing dynasty finally unified the country, and its ruling group had always been taboo to discuss its own weaknesses, so later historians rarely noticed this important change and did not see the arrogance of the early Qing court and the later weakness. Therefore, there is also no in-depth discussion of the policy changes of the Qing court from relying mainly on Manchu Eight Banners troops in the early period to Han controlling Han.

  The scarcity of Manchu Eight Banners troops was one reason, and the leading generals who were full of momentum at the beginning of the entry into the pass, due to contracting smallpox, being infatuated with women, indulging in pleasure, and internal strife, also withered away. By the ninth year of Shunzhi, the Qing dynasty's founding generals, who had been through many battles and had outstanding merits, basically no longer existed. Their sons and younger brothers, even if they inherited their titles, were inexperienced, lacked combat experience, and could not replace their fathers' roles on the battlefield. The nobles and generals below the rank of prince and duke still left a batch, but they also lost their former heroic spirit.

  This harsh fact was very clear within the Qing ruling group. Although they kept it secret and did not speak of it, from their strategic deployment and tactical arrangements against the various Southern Ming anti-Qing forces, it is evident that they increasingly adopted a policy of using Han to control Han. Strategically, this manifested in relying more on winning over Han Chinese who had surrendered to the Qing, while tactically, Manchu troops were not deployed until crucial moments. Even in key battles, it was generally the case that Green Standard Army and other Han Chinese troops would fight at the front lines, with Manchu troops held in reserve. This approach served to minimize casualties while also allowing for surveillance of Han troops and seizing victory at the last moment.

  "Since ancient times, we have been drinking tea and eating yogurt, but now we are sipping tea and burning incense. Our heroic hearts are all turned towards the old eyebrows, who would dare to sacrifice their lives on the battlefield?" Under the gaze of the crowd's increasing shock and admiration, Zhu Yongxing picked up his teacup and drank a sip with a calm expression, coldly saying: "Who is the current great enemy? Hong Cheng Chou, Wu San Gui, Shang Ke Kong, three vassals' soldiers, plus the Green Camps from all over the place, are all the defeated remnants of the Han people, the slaves and dogs of the Manchu people, what's there to fear?"

  It's true, the rumors are not false! Including Bai Wenselect, almost everyone has come up with this idea. If it weren't for divine inspiration, how could a member of the royal family like Min Shizong, who is so short-sighted, come up with such an astute analysis? A complete transformation, indeed, there's no better phrase to describe the change in their impression of Min Shizong before and after.

  Actually, I'm also pretending to be strong and fierce, but it's just to belittle the enemy, boost my own morale, and give you all a shot in the arm. Zhu Yongxing of course knows that even if the Manchu Eight Banners' military strength has declined, he also knows how many slaves like Cheng Chou and San Gui there are, and how vicious they can be. The road ahead is bumpy and difficult, and the future may be tragic and helpless, but I have to hold on!

  Or I can go to the Mekong Delta and be a Ming dynasty villager, or go to Siam and be a Ming dynasty descendant... Zhu Yongxing quickly shook off such thoughts, his face still with that confident calm expression. He had to pretend, it seemed heaven didn't give him any room for choice.

  "Cheng Chou, three ghosts, the words of Your Highness are apt and interesting." Bai Wense smiled and sat back down, saying: "Your Highness's military deployment is also very solid, even if the Qing army has many soldiers, it will be difficult for them to pass through in a short time. However, if they launch a large-scale attack, taking Tongchuan by separate routes, our army may find it hard to divide its forces to defend against the enemy."

  "When the land is lost, people are preserved; when people are lost, both land and people are lost. If the enemy comes in full force, I will not put all my troops on the line in Tengchong. Now our army is located in a remote area, but we are not afraid of sudden attacks, only worried about being besieged."

  Bai Wenzong's gaze condensed on this, these sixteen words are concise but contain extremely rich and complex military strategic theories, and can be interpreted in many ways, it is indeed very ingenious.

  "Your Highness has also made arrangements for this. Even if the Qing army comes from another route, it will be difficult to arrive in Tengchong in a short period of time." Zhang Wenci explained beside him.

  "Guangchang Marquis is after all outnumbered, and can only delay and hinder, unable to truly stop the Qing army." Zhu Yongxing lowered his eyelids, gently fiddling with the tea lid in his hand, and said quietly: "Moreover, setting up defenses everywhere, passively waiting for the enemy, is not my intention!"

  Upon hearing this, Bai Wensheng knew that Zhu Yongxing had just spoken casually and confidently, but the situation was not very optimistic. He was actually eager to have fresh troops join in order to continue confronting the Qing army.

  "Your Highness, our army is exhausted, but we still have soldiers who can fight." Bai Wenselect calculated and said with a sigh: "In one or two days, 3,000 troops can be deployed, in three to five days, 2,000 troops can be deployed, and more than ten days later, another 1,000 troops will be added."

  ……

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