Chapter 40: Monarch and Minister in Dialogue, Plotting Military Affairs

"It is of no consequence!"

The Chongzhen Emperor did not mind. If Li Banghua stood on ceremony at this moment, he would no longer be the iron-willed Li Banghua.

A man who dared to directly confront the Wanli and Tianqi Emperors, and who even had the audacity to face Wei Zhongxian head-on in open conflict—it would have been nothing short of a miracle if such a man were to observe empty courtesies now.

Seated behind the dragon desk, the Emperor pretended to peruse a memorial while secretly sizing up Li Banghua.

Li Banghua was truly a formidable figure. According to historical records, this man was a veteran official who had served across three reigns—Wanli, Tianqi, and Chongzhen—and had accomplished genuine deeds under all of them. His personality was upright and unyielding, completely devoid of fear toward entrenched power.

During the Wanli era, because of the Gu Xiancheng case, he had been branded as a member of the Donglin Party. In the second year of the Tianqi reign, he had urged the Grand Secretary Sun Chengze to purge the evil elements surrounding the Emperor, thereby incurring the wrath of the Tianqi Emperor. Consequently, he was dismissed from office, and the Eunuch Faction had his official status stripped away entirely.

Upon ascending the throne, the Chongzhen Emperor had appointed him as the Junior Vice Minister of War, tasking him with assisting in military administration. Rectifying military affairs, defending the capital, improving the military system, and setting things right—every single action he took was legendary.

It could be said without exaggeration that the Chongzhen Emperor's ability to struggle on for seventeen years was due in no small part to the absolute contributions of this formidable statesman.

More importantly, Li Banghua’s father, Li Tingjian, and his younger brother, Li Bangmei, were both capable ministers fiercely loyal to the Ming Dynasty. Utilizing Li Banghua well was effectively getting a three-for-one deal.

Three outstanding talents from a single family: Li Banghua would eventually commit suicide in martyrdom for his country, and Li Bangmei would be slain by the Qing army after cursing them to their faces when the city fell. They were figures of absolute and unshakeable trustworthiness.

While the Emperor was covertly appraising Li Banghua, Li Banghua was likewise secretly observing the extraordinary demeanor of the new sovereign.

A quarter of an hour later, Li Banghua finished his meal, wiped his mouth, and said, "Your Majesty, this humble commoner has finished eating."

"Minister Li, I found your memorial outlining the ten proposals for emulating ancestral methods of selecting officials to be of great interest. If the task were entrusted to you, do you believe it could be successfully implemented?"

"I do!"

Li Banghua’s instantaneous reply left the Emperor somewhat dazed.

Before the Emperor could retort, Li Banghua continued, "Unless Your Majesty has every single minister from the Eunuch Faction and the Donglin Party completely executed."

*Damn it...*

Inside the Eastern Warm Pavilion, all three men, including the Emperor, cursed inwardly at the exact same moment.

Fang Zhenghua looked at Li Banghua with newfound intrigue. He had never expected such a murderous disposition to lurk beneath the exterior of this scholarly gentleman.

Wang Chengen was filled with bewilderment. Zou Yuanbiao, one of the leaders of the Donglin Party, was a close friend of his—could this man truly be so utterly devoid of sentiment?

While the three of them were still stunned into silence, Li Banghua said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, you know my temperament. If you have something to say, speak plainly; there is no need to beat around the bush or test me with indirect probes."

"Truly a man of character!"

Praising him inwardly, the Emperor immediately declared, "I am promoting you to Senior Vice Minister of War to rectify the military administration of the Great Ming on my behalf. What are your thoughts on this?"

Upon hearing this, Li Banghua remained silent for a long time, his brows furrowed tightly, his face a mask of bitter hesitation.

"What? Are you afraid of death?"

Li Banghua shook his head. "If this humble commoner feared death, I would never have dared to stand up to Wei Zhongxian. It is simply that..."

"This does not sound like your usual disposition. Speak your mind freely; I absolve you of any guilt!"

Hearing the Emperor grant such an amnesty, Li Banghua let out a long breath and said in a grave tone, "The reason this humble commoner did not immediately respond is because what Your Majesty speaks of is entirely unrealistic."

"Given the current state of the court, whether it is the nine major border garrisons, the twenty-six imperial guards, or the regional garrison forces, their combat effectiveness is hollowed out, false muster rolls are rampant, and corruption is deeply entrenched.

"The Eunuch Faction will obstruct it, the Donglin Party will obstruct it, and the hereditary nobility will obstruct it all the more, because it touches directly upon their vested interests.

"Added to the severe financial stringency of the state treasury, how can rectifying military administration be an easy task?"

"You only spoke of how difficult it is, yet you never said it was impossible. I trust that you have a way. Let us hear it!"

"Execute those who obstruct it!"

"That can certainly be arranged!"

As soon as Li Banghua finished speaking, the Emperor gave his reply: "Whoever dares to obstruct, I shall execute."

Hearing the murderous intent ringing in the Emperor’s response, it was now Li Banghua’s turn to be dumbfounded.

The young Emperor appeared majestic, but in reality, he possessed very little military power. Where on earth did he find the audacity to utter such words?

"Your Majesty, you..."

"How it shall be done is my concern; you need not worry yourself over it. Right now, I require your answer."

Li Banghua stared at the Emperor, attempting to glean some hint of hesitation from the young ruler's face, only to be met with disappointment.

The Emperor's expression was utterly tranquil, as though he were discussing nothing more than a trivial matter.

After a moment of deep contemplation, Li Banghua gritted his teeth and declared resolutely, "This minister accepts!"

Rather than letting others make a perfunctory mockery of the task, he would rather take it upon himself. Even if it meant offending others, even if it meant death, at least some tangible results would be achieved. That alone would be enough.

"Very well, that is the exact reply I was waiting for."

The Emperor slammed his hand down on the desk. "However, this undertaking cannot commence until half a month has passed. During these two weeks, you will draft your plans and await my imperial decree.

"Furthermore, you may write to your father and your younger brother, summoning them both to Beijing. I shall bestow new official posts upon them."

After Li Banghua had received the decree and expressed his gratitude, the Emperor turned to Fang Zhenghua, who was waiting quietly to the side. "Grand Tutor, issue Minister Li an imperial palace access token so he may seek an audience with me at any time.

"Fang Zhenghua, instruct Li Ruolian to arrange suitable lodgings for Minister Li and ensure his absolute protection."

Following Li Banghua’s departure, the pressure weighing upon the Emperor’s heart lifted considerably.

Historical records showed that even when factional strife was at its peak and the Chongzhen Emperor lacked substantial military power, he had still managed to reorganize the capital garrisons and imbue them with renewed vitality.

Now that he had laid down so much groundwork beforehand, he found himself truly eager to witness the effects of the impending reform.

Li Banghua was accommodated in a familiar guesthouse designated by Li Ruolian. Instructions were given to the innkeeper to cater to his every need with fine food and wine, while four skilled martial artists were assigned to keep watch over him and ensure his safety.

Li Banghua naturally raised no objections to these arrangements. Once settled, and after the four bodyguards had disguised themselves, the five of them slipped quietly out through the back door of the inn, slowly blending into the bustling crowds of the capital’s streets.

Returning to Beijing after an absence of three years, Li Banghua felt a profound wave of emotion wash over him.

He could clearly perceive a distinct luster in the eyes of the common people—the radiance of hope.

Filled with curiosity, he wandered through the winding alleys, occasionally pausing within knots of people to quietly listen to their discussions.

Two hours later, he seemed to have found the answer.

The execution and confiscation of Chen Derun’s entire clan; the execution and confiscation of Madame Ke’s entire clan; the downfall and asset seizure of the Shaanxi Governor and the Three Frontiers Viceroy; the execution of Donglin partisans such as Qian Qianyi; the disciplining of the Imperial Father-in-law Zhou Kui; the severe punishment of rioting scholars and the abolition of certain ancestral precedents; the disbursement of imperial inner-court silver for disaster relief; the permanent ban on additional taxes coupled with a three-year tax exemption for Shaanxi; the elevation of Yuan Keli into the Grand Secretariat; the subjugation of Huang Liji and his assignment to supervise the Censorate...

Every single event, each piece of news that reached Li Banghua’s ears, struck him like a thunderclap.

He had never imagined that the youthful new emperor would possess such astonishing audacity, yet this only deepened his bewilderment.

*Why did the Emperor execute Madame Ke yet leave Wei Zhongxian untouched, resorting instead to various appeasement measures? Could it be that he intends to heavily employ Wei Zhongxian?*

*That doesn't make sense either. The Emperor wants me to rectify the military administration and told me he would kill anyone who stands in my way. Could that simply have been meant to comfort me? But there was no need for such a falsehood...*

*If he truly means to execute anyone who obstructs the path, where on earth does his confidence stem from?*

...

*Never mind, I shall dwell on it no longer. Regardless of the Emperor's ultimate intentions, since I have accepted the mandate to reform the military administration, I shall fulfill it to the absolute limit of my abilities.*

Back in his guesthouse room, Li Banghua muttered to himself for a long time before taking up his brush to write a letter to his father and brother, entrusting his guards to have it delivered safely.

Over the next few days, Li Banghua spent the majority of his time drafting his military reform proposal within his room, occasionally donning a disguise to stroll through the streets and observe the sentiments of the common folk. The days passed quite comfortably.

His return seemed to have caused no ripples whatsoever, while the Emperor remained daily consumed with pressing matters regarding the disaster relief efforts in Shaanxi.

On a certain day, while the Emperor was fast asleep in the Kunning Palace, he was abruptly awakened by Wang Chengen's urgent voice. The very first sentence Wang Chengen uttered caused the still-drowsy Emperor to leap instantly to his feet.