Chapter 61: Splitting Forces Again? Let's Talk Terms!

Imperial Censor and Viceroy Lu Xiangsheng was inside his temporary headquarters within the military camp in the southeastern suburbs of the capital, busy summoning and addressing various generals from Xuanfu and Datong. Upon hearing that Grand Secretary Yang Sichang had come to visit, he hurriedly concluded his address.

By the time Lu Xiangsheng walked out of the headquarters, Grand Secretary Yang Sichang had already entered the camp. Lu Xiangsheng promptly welcomed Yang Sichang inside.

Once the two were seated and his servant Gu Xian had served tea, Lu Xiangsheng got straight to the point and asked, "Has Your Excellency already learned of the matter regarding my previous division of forces with Grand Supervisor Gao?"

Yang Sichang picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then smiled unhurriedly as he said, "I was already aware of the division of forces between the venerable elder and Grand Supervisor Gao. My visit today is precisely to inform you of one matter: Your Excellency will likely have to divide your forces once more."

"What?!"

Viceroy Lu Xiangsheng could not conceal his inner shock, and his tone was filled with astonishment.

He suddenly stood up so abruptly that the teacup on the small table beside his chair shook violently, sending ripples through the tea.

At the same time, a trace of chill suddenly pierced from his spine straight into his heart.

His astonishment stemmed from the fact that a division of forces was indeed happening yet again.

The chill, however, came from the realization that this very division of forces had actually been foreseen by that person. Lu Xiangsheng could not help but ponder inwardly: "That young man is truly perceptive to the finest detail and possesses profound foresight!"

Regaining his composure from the initial shock, Viceroy Lu Xiangsheng slowly sat back down in his chair and, feigning calmness, softly pursued the inquiry: "This student dares to ask Your Excellency, why must the forces be divided once again?"

Grand Secretary Yang Sichang spoke in a gentle tone: "The venerable elder may not be aware of this, but the newly appointed Viceroy of Xuanfu and Datong, Chen Fangyuan, has already returned to the capital. The Emperor's will is for him to take command of the imperial relief troops from Shanxi to assist the venerable elder in fighting the Eastern Captives, which can also relieve the venerable elder of some of your burdens.

He will likely come to the headquarters to pay his respects to Your Excellency within a day or two. My visit today is, firstly, to convey the court's sentiment of consolation and encouragement to the venerable elder, and secondly, to inform Your Excellency of this imperial decree from our reigning Emperor."

***

As it turned out, in May of the eleventh year of Chongzhen, Lu Xiangsheng was devastated to hear that his father had passed away due to illness on the road back to their ancestral home in Yixing. Overwhelmed with grief, he submitted ten consecutive memorials imploring the Chongzhen Emperor to grant him permission to return home to mourn and observe the traditional three-year mourning period for his late father.

After Lu Xiangsheng's memorials were submitted, the Chongzhen Emperor repeatedly rejected his requests and ignored the objections of the censorate officials. Instead, he forced Lu Xiangsheng to retain his post while in mourning, denying him permission to return home for the funeral and requiring him to fulfill his duties while observing mourning for his late father.

***

Around the eleventh year of Chongzhen, situations like Lu Xiangsheng's were not isolated cases. At that time, Yang Sichang was also serving in the Ministry of War while exempt from leaving office for mourning, and Chen Xinjia had likewise been appointed to office during his mourning period.

Not only that, but acting on Yang Sichang's recommendation, the Chongzhen Emperor also transferred Lu Xiangsheng to the position of Minister of War, while appointing the former Surveillance Commissioner of Xuanfu, Chen Xinjia, to succeed Lu Xiangsheng as the Viceroy of Xuanfu and Datong.

Because Chen Xinjia had returned to his ancestral home in Sichuan earlier in the year to mourn his father and could not arrive in time to assume the post of Viceroy of Xuanfu and Datong, Lu Xiangsheng had continued to concurrently hold the office of Viceroy of Xuanfu and Datong.

Being unable to return home to mourn his father weighed heavily on Lu Xiangsheng's heart, causing him profound sorrow. However, recognizing that the nation was in a time of great turmoil, he could only suppress his inner grief and continue offering his physical strength in service to the country. It was precisely for this reason that he ordinarily wore coarse hemp mourning garments as a symbol of mourning for his father.

***

At this moment, upon hearing Yang Sichang mention the division of forces, Viceroy Lu Xiangsheng did not answer immediately. He simply sat quietly where he was, his heart turning icy cold, scarcely knowing what to say.

His former overflowing passion and soaring enthusiasm vanished into thin air in an instant.

A vague intuition stirred in his heart that all of this was the handiwork of Grand Secretary Yang Sichang in collusion with Grand Supervisor of the Army Gao Qiqian behind the scenes. They were exhausting all their efforts and employing every trick in the book to twice divide his troops precisely to find a way to prevent him from engaging the Qing cavalry in battle, lest he obstruct their clandestine peace negotiations with the Eastern Captives.

At that moment, deep resentment and reluctance filled Lu Xiangsheng's heart.

Yet, since this matter had already received the personal sanction of the reigning Emperor, it was not fitting for him to voice any further complaints. In his heart, the grace of the sovereign was like the heavens, and obedience was his only recourse.

Grief, indignation, disappointment, oppression, and frustration flooded his chest. These negative emotions intertwined like a massive, heavy net, completely trapping his heart.

Viceroy Lu Xiangsheng even said to himself inwardly: "It would truly be better to die on the battlefield to repay the sovereign's grace, sparing myself from being constrained by a group of petty individuals and suffering needless anger!"

He sat in his chair with a cold expression and a vacant gaze for quite a while before finally forcing himself to calm his agitated feelings.

Once his emotions had settled, he suddenly recalled what that person had told him the day before. He could not help but turn it over and over in his mind. After a long while, Lu Xiangsheng seemed to have made a significant decision.

Regaining a modicum of composure, he offered a faint, detached smile and spoke in a tone that was peaceful yet bone-chilling:

"Since the proposal to divide the forces originates from the imperial will, this student naturally ought to obey the decree. Actually, this is also for the best; carrying heavy mourning as I do, this student is inherently unsuited to serve as the commander-in-chief of the three armies.

Now, thanks to the vast and boundless grace of the Emperor, the heavy burden upon this student's shoulders is suddenly lightened. By commanding only the relief troops of Xuanfu and Datong, I am spared the peril of a total military collapse, and my mind feels much more at ease.

However, this student has one request, and I beg Your Excellency to present it to the Emperor on my behalf."

Grand Secretary Yang Sichang had not expected Lu Xiangsheng to agree to the division of forces so readily.

Yet, some doubt lingered in his heart at that moment. Lu Xiangsheng had always been exceptionally resolute and straightforward; how was it that today he seemed like a completely different person? Having already agreed to the division, he was now apparently about to attach certain conditions.

With a trace of suspicion, Yang Sichang softly inquired, "Viceroy, what further matter requires this student to report back to the Emperor on your behalf?"

Viceroy Lu Xiangsheng pondered for a moment, as if deliberating over something, before finally saying to Yang Sichang: "I have no objection to the division of forces. However, the three towns are currently garrisoning the eastern suburbs, and their primary duty is to guard against the incursions of the enemy cavalry into the capital region. Most of the garrison commanders and regional vice-commanders of the various towns are stationed at critical strategic locations, where moving a single part affects the entire body.

You, Grand Secretary, also bear the renown of someone well-versed in military affairs, and you must know the perils of changing commanders on the eve of battle. If this is not considered with the utmost thoroughness, I fear it could trigger the collapse of the entire army, which would truly be no blessing for the court, nor is it the desire of either you or me.

Therefore, this student believes: might we request that Viceroy Chen be given separate command solely over the various guerrilla forces of the three towns of Xuanfu, Datong, and Shanxi that have entered the region for imperial relief?"

Yang Sichang's heart finally settled. In his view, as long as Lu Xiangsheng agreed to divide the forces, the specific method of division was secondary. Their primary objective was simply to divide his troops, thereby weakening his army and rendering him incapable of fighting.

Before coming to Lu Xiangsheng's headquarters, he had already entered the palace to have an audience with the Emperor, disclosed his thoughts to the Chongzhen Emperor, and obtained the Emperor's prior approval before coming to inform Lu Xiangsheng of the division. Originally, he had anticipated that Lu Xiangsheng would ultimately not dare to defy the Emperor's decree.

However, had Lu Xiangsheng stubbornly refused the division and memorialized the Emperor to request battle instead, such a back-and-forth wrangling would have stalled the division for a time, introducing numerous variables into the situation.

Now that Lu Xiangsheng had already agreed to the division, Yang Sichang's mind was completely at ease. He therefore spoke to Lu Xiangsheng in a warm tone: "The venerable elder's request demonstrates a deep consideration for the state. This student will naturally strive to argue this case for you before the Emperor, so the venerable elder may set your mind completely at rest."

Lu Xiangsheng fixed his gaze on Yang Sichang and softly replied, "In that case, I must trouble Wenruo to speak on my behalf before the Emperor."