PFC Chapter 145 The Emperor at Sea, Undercurrents in the Capital
Chapter 145 The Emperor at Sea, Undercurrents in the Capital
Chapter 145 The Emperor at Sea, Undercurrents in the Capital
Chapter 144 Tianjin Wharf. At dawn, three thousand new soldiers from Shahe marched over three hundred li (approximately 150 kilometers) from Shahe to Tianjin, yet their armor remained gleaming and their morale high. They stood in formation on both sides of the wharf. Fifteen hundred plainclothes Imperial Guards were scattered among the crowd, their eyes scanning every approaching stranger like hawks. The sea breeze fluttered, making the banners ripple. In the distance, more than ten warships of various sizes waited silently on the sea.
Emperor Tianqi, Zhu Youxiao, stood on the dock, dressed in a light blue casual outfit and wearing an ordinary six-in-one hat. If not examined closely, he looked no different from any other wealthy young man. His face was filled with barely suppressed excitement, like a young man about to embark on a journey, occasionally tiptoeing to gaze at the sea.
"Minister Chen, that largest ship... is it... the one we're going to ride on?"
The Tianqi Emperor believed he was still traveling incognito, but unbeknownst to him, Qian Qianyi had already leaked his whereabouts. Now, everyone in the capital knew, and even Empress Zhang was so angry she almost chased after him. She dared not imagine what would happen to the Ming Dynasty if something were to happen to the Tianqi Emperor.
Emperor Tianqi was actually uncertain about the future. The Donglin Party was now extremely determined to kill him. From the Donglin Party's perspective, Emperor Tianqi was like a ruthless philanderer who used them and then drove them out of the court. From the succession struggle during the Wanli era, the Donglin Party had been fighting openly and covertly for more than 20 years for Zhu Changluo and his son Zhu Youxiao. They finally managed to put Zhu Changluo on the throne, but he died suddenly after only one month. When Emperor Tianqi ascended the throne, the honeymoon period between Emperor Tianqi and the Donglin Party also ended with the defeat in Liaodong.
Now even the six gentlemen of the Donglin Party have been dealt with, greatly weakening the Donglin Party's power. Of its thirty-two core members, half have been dismissed from their posts, and a third are in prison.
The problem is that everything has two sides. From the perspective of the Donglin Party's interests, the Tianqi Emperor was an absolute villain. But from the Tianqi Emperor's perspective, the Donglin Party was just a bunch of empty talkers. It wasn't that they weren't given opportunities; they were useless. When it came to leading troops into battle, apart from Sun Chengzong, the others were all incompetent. Even Sun Chengzong, a bigwig in the Donglin Party, was a liability within the Donglin Party itself. When the Tianqi Emperor appointed Sun Chengzong, it was out of consideration for balance. Sun Chengzong, a bigwig in the Donglin Party, was appointed as the Governor-General of Jiliao and a Grand Secretary of the Ultimate Hall.
Logically, the Donglin Party should have closely united around Sun Chengzong, achieved results in the Liaodong military affairs, and used these achievements to suppress Wei Zhongxian's arrogance. However, the Donglin Party acted like madmen, spreading their influence throughout the court and feeding Wei Zhongxian. The Qi Party, led by Shandong officials, was forced to join Wei Zhongxian's camp. Even the Wu Party, which was the Donglin Party's core base, all allied with Wei Zhongxian. In fact, Wei Zhongxian's rise to the position of "Nine Thousand Years Old" was not due to his great abilities, but rather to the stupidity of his opponents.
Chen Ying stood beside him, also dressed in plain clothes, a sword at his waist, his eyes wary. He bowed slightly and lowered his voice as well: "Reporting to you, sir, that is the Zhenhai, a 4,000-400 liang warship. It was recently launched and was originally intended for sea trials at Dalu Island, but you just happened to be there."
Chen Ying originally wanted to participate in the trial voyage ceremony on Dalu Island, but the problem was that he really dared not let the Tianqi Emperor ride on a 400-liao warship. In terms of tonnage, a 400-liao warship in Tianjin Port is equivalent to about 120 tons. Such a small boat would have almost no ability to resist if it encountered a storm at sea.
His Zhenhai was 4,400 tons, or about 1,320 tons, and about 1,600 tons when fully loaded. Despite being a sailing warship, it was actually slightly larger than the steel warships of later generations.
The most distinctive feature of this warship is its enclosed gun compartments. The entire warship is equipped with twenty-four three-inch breech-loading naval guns on both sides, as well as twelve four-inch naval guns on both sides, plus nine guns at the bow and six guns at the stern, for a total of fifty-eight three-inch naval guns and seventeen four-inch naval guns.
According to the classification of Europa sailing warships, this belongs to the third-tier battleship. Of course, Chen Ying didn't actually know its specific combat capabilities; he would only know after fighting it. This was just an experimental warship.
The Tianqi Emperor murmured, "It's even bigger than what I saw on the drawings. The drawings on paper only give a superficial impression!"
Prince Xin, Zhu Youjian, stood behind the Tianqi Emperor, his face pale. He had never been to sea before, and just looking at the boundless ocean made his legs feel weak. Cao Huachun carefully supported him, whispering words of comfort.
"Brother, are we... really going to take a boat?"
The Tianqi Emperor turned and glanced at him, then laughed, "Scared? If you are, you can stay in Tianjin."
Zhu Youjian gritted his teeth: "Your subject is not afraid."
Chen Ying glanced at the sky and said in a low voice, "Master, it's time to board the boat. The tide waits for no one."
The Tianqi Emperor nodded and strode towards the dock. Chen Ying followed closely behind, his hand on the hilt of his sword, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings. Fifteen hundred Imperial Guards had already completely surrounded the dock, preventing any suspicious person from getting close.
The boarding process went smoothly. When Emperor Tianqi stepped onto the deck of the Zhenhai, he couldn't help but exclaim in amazement. The warship was even more magnificent than he had imagined. The deck was as wide as a plaza, the nine masts soared into the clouds, and the sails and cables were as dense as a spider web. On both sides of the hull, dozens of cannons peeked out from their gun ports, their dark muzzles gleaming with a cold light.
"These cannons, were they all made by Shahewei?" The Tianqi Emperor touched the cannon barrel, his eyes gleaming.
Chen Ying nodded: "Yes, each three-inch cannon weighs 620 jin and has a range of five li. There are 58 cannons in total. When fired in unison, they are enough to destroy any enemy ship that dares to approach."
The Tianqi Emperor took a deep breath and murmured, "Good—good!"
The fleet slowly departed from the port and sailed into the vast sea.
At first, the Tianqi Emperor was somewhat nervous, gripping the ship's gunwale tightly with both hands until his knuckles turned white. But as the ship gradually stabilized and the sea breeze blew on his face, carrying a salty and fishy smell, his nervousness was quickly replaced by curiosity.
"Chen Qing, what kind of bird is that?" he asked, pointing to the seagulls circling in the sky.
"Sir, those are seagulls. They eat fish from the sea."
Are there really fish in the sea?
Yes. Quite a few.
"9
The Tianqi Emperor's eyes lit up: "Can we fish for it?"
Chen Ying smiled: "Yes. I will have fishing rods prepared."
A moment later, the Tianqi Emperor sat on the gunwale, holding a simple fishing rod with the line dangling into the sea. His face was filled with childlike focus, his eyes fixed intently on the surface of the water. Zhu Youjian also took a fishing rod and sat not far away. Although his complexion was still somewhat pale, it was much better than when he had first boarded the ship.
"Brother, has the fish taken the bait?"
"Not yet. Don't make a sound, or you'll scare the fish away."
Zhu Youjian pursed his lips and said nothing more.
Chen Ying stood to one side, while Zi Guang never left the sea. He wasn't looking at the fish, but at any suspicious vessels in the distance. Three thousand new soldiers from the Shahe Army, aboard nineteen warships, protected the "Zhenhai" in the center. Fifteen hundred Imperial Guards were distributed among the ships, ready to respond to any emergencies. Chen Ying felt a vague unease.
"My lord," Su Mei, dressed in men's clothing, appeared behind him at some point and whispered, "News has come from the capital that Qian Qianyi and his gang are having a secret gathering."
Chen Ying frowned: "What did you say?"
"The specifics are unclear, but according to our informants in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, they were arguing fiercely, and it seems someone suggested something detrimental to His Majesty."
Chen Ying sneered: "They really have guts, they actually dare to—"
Su Mei lowered her voice: "My lord, should we send someone to keep an eye on things?"
"I've already got them on my radar," Chen Ying said calmly. "Xu Xianchun is keeping a close eye on them. If they dare to make a move, I'll let them taste my methods."
Chen Ying was actually fishing for a fish. He used the Tianqi Emperor as bait. In fact, by the fifth year of Tianqi's reign, the Donglin Party had been almost completely dealt with by Wei Zhongxian and had little power to fight back. If the Donglin Party wanted to turn the tide, they could only resort to underhanded tactics.
Su Mei nodded and stepped back.
Chen Ying had never imagined that these people could be so shameless. He was naive. These politicians were so corrupt, even more corrupt than a prostitute's... well, you know.
The Tianqi Emperor suddenly exclaimed with joy, "It's on the hook! Minister Chen, look, the fish has taken the bait!"
Chen Ying turned his head and saw the Tianqi Emperor struggling to pull up the fishing line. At the end of the line, a palm-sized sea fish was struggling desperately. Sunlight shone on the fish scales, making them gleam silver.
"Excellent! Excellent!" The Tianqi Emperor grinned from ear to ear. "I—I caught a fish!"
Zhu Youjian also came over, his eyes full of envy.
Chen Ying laughed and said, "You've got some good skills, sir. This fish is called yellow croaker; its flesh is tender and perfect for hot pot."
The Tianqi Emperor's eyes lit up: "Hot pot? We can eat hot pot on a ship?"
"Yes. I have had copper pots, charcoal, seafood, and mutton prepared. Whatever Your Majesty wishes to eat, we have it."
The Tianqi Emperor laughed heartily, "Excellent! We'll have hot pot on the ship tonight!"
Sunsets at sea are even more magnificent than those on land.
The setting sun painted the sea a golden hue, while the distant horizon was ablaze with crimson. Seagulls returned to their nests, their cries fading into the distance. The fleet moved slowly across the sea, leaving long contrails in its wake.
The Tianqi Emperor sat on the deck, a small copper pot in front of him, the charcoal fire burning brightly. Milky white broth bubbled within, the aroma of seafood filling the air. He picked up a freshly cooked slice of fish, dipped it in sauce, and put it in his mouth, his eyes immediately narrowing into slits.
"Delicious! Even better than the ones in the palace!"
Chen Ying sat to the side and said with a smile, "If you like it, then eat more."
Zhu Youjian, his mouth greasy with food, had long forgotten his seasickness. He took a sip of wine and suddenly asked, "Boying, what do you think those Donglin Party members are doing now?"
Chen Ying put down his chopsticks and said calmly, "I can't guess that—"
The Tianqi Emperor paused for a moment, then continued eating as if nothing had happened: "I want to see how bold they are."
Chen Ying instantly realized that the Tianqi Emperor was no fool; he was actually fishing, using himself as bait.
"Are you afraid to guess? Or can't you guess?"
"No matter what, I will protect Your Majesty!"
The Tianqi Emperor was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "Minister Chen, with you here, I am at ease."
The secret meeting place of the Donglin Party in the capital.
Qian Qianyi sat at the head of the table, his face somber. Beside him sat Huang Daozhou, Ni Yuanlu, Liu Zongzhou, and other key members of the Donglin Party. The flickering candlelight cast shifting shadows on everyone's faces.
"Gentlemen," Qian Qianyi began slowly, "His Majesty has already left the capital. Accompanying him are only Chen Boying's three thousand Shahe New Army soldiers and fifteen hundred Imperial Guards."
Huang Daozhou frowned and asked, "Lord Qian, what exactly are you trying to say?"
Qian Qianyi looked at him and said, slowly and deliberately, "You all know about the Tumu Crisis, right?"
Everyone's expression changed drastically.
Ni Yuanlu abruptly stood up: "Lord Qian, are you insane? That's treason!"
"Treason?" Qian Qianyi sneered. "His Majesty favors the eunuch faction and relies heavily on his cronies, plunging the court into chaos. The Six Gentlemen of Donglin are imprisoned by Wei Zhongxian, their fates unknown. What use is such a foolish ruler?"
Liu Zongzhou said in a deep voice, "Lord Qian, be careful what you say!"
Qian Qianyi waved his hand: "I don't want to murder the emperor, I want to purge the court of corrupt officials. Chen Boying, who serves the emperor, is a villain who brings disaster to the country and the people. As long as we get rid of him, the emperor will naturally realize his mistake."
Huang Daozhou asked, "How do we get rid of him? He's at sea, and we can't reach him from that distance."
A ruthless glint flashed in Qian Qianyi's eyes: "So, we need to ask for help."
"Who?"
"Jiannu."
Everyone gasped.
Qian Qianyi continued, "The Jurchen navy is no good, but the Dengzhou navy is. That old codger Shen Yourong has always been neglected by the court; they can't even pay the Dengzhou navy's salaries. If we send him money and get him to rebel, wouldn't he?"
Huang Daozhou shook his head: "Shen Yourong is a loyal subject and will not rebel."
"A loyal minister?" Qian Qianyi sneered. "Who is he loyal to? His Majesty. But His Majesty is now being sidelined by Chen Boying, so who is he loyal to? Besides, we're not asking him to rebel, we're asking him to purge the court of corrupt officials. As long as he transports the Jurchen troops to Dalu Island and takes down Chen Boying, His Majesty will naturally be grateful to him."
Ni Yuanlu couldn't help but say, "You're inviting a wolf into the house; the consequences will be dire!"
Qian Qianyi sighed, "Yuanlu, do you think I don't know? But right now, only the Jurchens can help us. It's not too late to deal with the Jurchens after we get rid of Chen Boying."
Everyone fell silent.
Huang Daozhou pondered for a long time before slowly saying, "Lord Qian, your plan is too risky. What if word gets out—"
"No," Qian Qianyi interrupted him. "We'll only find the most reliable people. I'll personally talk to Shen Yourong."
Huang Daozhou was about to persuade him further, but Qian Qianyi waved his hand to stop him: "It's settled then. If any of you are afraid, you don't have to participate. But don't ruin this important matter."
The crowd exchanged glances, and finally, most of them nodded silently.
Huang Daozhou sighed deeply and closed his eyes.
The interests of the Donglin Party were too numerous and complex. They had their hands on the Liaodong military pay, the salt merchants' pay, and so on. Ever since Li Sancai became the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner, the Grand Canal of the Ming Dynasty had become the Donglin Party's money bag. The imperial court alone invested tens of millions of taels of silver in this canal every year. In addition, the profits generated by the transport of grain had driven the Donglin Party to madness.
Without their influence in the imperial court, they could not protect not only Liaodong, but also the Grand Canal, and even the lucrative salt merchants. All their calculations were driven by self-interest.