Ming Dynasty: Starting from Liaodong Jiangmen

Chapter 18 The “deep” relationship between master and apprentice

Li Shunzu still had some understanding of Sun Chengzong's strategy of advancing the barrier in later generations.

To put it bluntly, it is Sun Chengzong’s strategic proposition to defend Liaodong.

Strengthen the in-depth defense of Liaodong and build a series of fortresses along the western Liaoning Corridor, using strong cities and fortresses one by one.

This proposition is also the main strategy used in Liaodong now and in the future until the end of the Ming Dynasty.

In history, Sun Chengzong had no objection to this strategic proposition and insisted on his idea from beginning to end. Now he suddenly asked what the gains and losses were. To be honest, Li Shunzu felt that the old man was trying to trick him.

Is a mere admiral of Guangqumen, even if his ancestors have produced several generations of famous generals, worthy of being waited for and consulted by a majestic imperial master?

Li Shunzu came through time, so many of his views on major events follow those of later generations, and he views issues from a God's perspective, especially since he has not actually spent a day in Liaodong.

If you want to go in the future, that is not the problem now.

"I have heard a little bit about the dispute between the governor and the Wangge Department over Liao affairs."

"I believe that the Supervisor is right, and the Ministry of Cabinet is also right."

When Sun Chengzong heard this, his eyes moved slightly and he chuckled.

"I have been arguing with Gu Yun about Liao affairs for several years, but this is the first time I have heard this statement."

"Tell me, what are the rights and wrongs between the two of us?"

Guyun is the character of Wang Zaijin.

Li Shunzu scolded his mother in his heart, it seemed that this matter could not be avoided.

"Xiaoguan is a small-time admiral of Guangqumen. Why would the supervisor come to ask for his opinion?"

Sun Chengzong seemed to have heard some joke, laughed and patted Li Shunzu on the shoulder.

"You, Li Shi, have been in control of Liaodong for more than [-] years, and the DPRK has been debating on appointing you, Li Shi, as a general and then guarding Liaodong."

"I intend to accept you as my disciple. We are both teachers and friends. Are you willing?"

This question directly revealed a bombshell!
Sun Chengzong wants to accept me as his disciple?

These words were so shocking that even Li Shunzu was not prepared at all.

What did he see in himself?

"Why, you don't want to?"

"Then I won't force anyone to do anything difficult, so I will go to the palace to meet the saint."

After Sun Chengzong finished speaking, he turned to leave.

"Supervisor, stay!"

"Xiaguan is temporarily absent-minded, but Xiaguan is willing!"

Li Shunzu was indeed as he said. He didn't react for a moment and knelt on the ground with a thud. "Master, please be as sincere as you want."

"My teacher is here, please bow to me as a student!"

Sun Chengzong also laughed and quickly helped Li Shunzu up.

"I have to obey my ancestors, just like when Taiyue was able to lead the city!"

"Now that you and I are master and apprentice, can we talk now?"

Taiyue and Yincheng are talking about Zhang Juzheng and Li Chengliang. It is widely rumored in the government and the public that when Li Chengliang came to Beijing, he worshiped Zhang Juzheng, who was the chief assistant, as his disciple, and thus became famous. However, they do not know whether it is true or not, and the Li family members also keep this secret.

In Li Shunzu's view, whether it is true or not, Sun Chengzong does have some intention of comparing himself to Zhang Juzheng. The hint is already obvious, and he would be a fool not to continue.

Having said that, Li Shunzu had no reason to delay any longer.

My heart skipped a beat and I had no choice but to say.

"Xiaguan, this is indeed what the student is thinking."

"The methods of guarding Liao mentioned by my mentor and Zhang Gebu are all insightful, and they were also applied to Tianqi and Wanli dynasties, but now it is Chongzhen of the new dynasty. After the Battle of Dingmao, Mongolia and Korea have no containment effect, and Dongjiang has also A plate of loose sand.”

"The Western Liaoning Corridor has become a bottomless pit of food and salary expenditures. It is useless to keep one's responsibilities. We need to give up immediately and retreat to Guan Ningjin before planning for the funeral!"

These two sentences are Li Shunzu's true words.In fact, Li Shunzu said this as euphemistically as possible, meaning that Sun Chengzong's strategy could be used before, but now it is useless and drags down the court's annual supply of millions of Liao's wages, so it needs to be abandoned as soon as possible.

Sun Chengzong's face was uncertain, but he didn't speak.

Seeing this, Li Shunzu continued.

"Just looking at the Guan Ning Army, the imperial court has a fixed monthly salary of one tael or four cents per soldier. In addition, there are monthly rations, war rations, daily war horses, equipment and other military supplies, and the transportation of materials for building cities and fortresses."

"Just for this example, the annual salary consumption of a Guanning soldier is more than 20 taels, which is enough to feed an ordinary person for several years. The new salary is 400 million taels a year, which is even less than half of the Liao salary."

"What the Superintendent has seen is that the official just provided enough food to thousands of Liao troops and the Beijing army in Guangqumen. If the imperial court can completely abandon the Liaoxi Corridor, the saved supplies will be distributed to the Liao army and the towns in Jiubian." .”

"Our army is fully paid and rationed. How can slave soldiers be our opponents?"

"The Western Liaoning Corridor is nothing more than a false line of defense now!"

Sun Chengzong did not comment, but sighed.

"Shun Zu, how can Liao affairs be so easy? The Western Liao Corridor must not be abandoned!"

Li Shunzu took a step forward: "Why?"

"Why do we continue to increase troops and pay to defend Western Liaoning when we know it is useless?"

Sun Chengzong patted Li Shunzu on the shoulder without saying anything clearly.

"You have such insight, your journey as a teacher is not in vain."

"Liaoxi now knows that it cannot be defended, but it must continue to be defended."

"The size of the ancestral land cannot be abandoned. Not to mention you, even I cannot bear this heinous crime."

Li Shunzu suddenly realized what he said and sighed.

"The current situation is such that it is difficult for my mentor to mediate."

Sun Chengzong waved his hand and suddenly asked: "Does Shun Zu have any idea of ​​practicing martial arts?"

"Your great-grandfather became a member of the Liang Dynasty, and your great-grandfather Rusong served as a military official."

"It's not that Your Majesty doesn't want to use the Li family as a general, it's just that you, the Li family, have offended too many people. Not only are the Jianlu family worried about your Li family's reputation, there are also people in the court who are plotting against your Li family, so that your Li family will never be able to succeed."

"If your Majesty wants to re-appoint you to the Li family, you must have a justifiable name to reopen the military examination."

"Shun Ancestor, if you can make a contribution in this battle, as a teacher, I would like to report to Your Majesty to ask for credit on your behalf. It is easy to persuade you to resume martial arts."

Martial arts people?
Didn’t the martial arts competitions stop during the Chongzhen period?

If Sun Chengzong could really convince Chongzhen to start martial arts competitions in advance, this would be a good opportunity to get ahead.

Becoming a military officer means that the imperial court has no reason not to give him a formal military position, instead of being the admiral of the Beijing camp who may be dismissed at any time like he is now.

By then, Li Shunzu would have a troop of his own.

Thirty years after Li Rusong's death, the Li family of Liaodong returned to the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty!
Li Shunzu was fed up with the feeling of being plotted by people like Feng Liangzu and Song Fu. If he wanted to control his own destiny, he had to rely on all the power he could get to become stronger.

No matter what Sun Chengzong's plans are, Li Shunzu can at least use each other with him!
Li Shunzu was full of excitement and even danced. Sun Chengzong saw this scene.

Li Shunzu knew in his heart that it was not that simple for Sun Chengzong to accept him as his disciple.

Historically, he had been a commander in Nansi for many years without any achievements. Why didn't Sun Chengzong come?

After putting down a Liao army mutiny and being summoned by Emperor Chongzhen, this guy showed up and was very attentive and offered to recruit disciples.

Li Shunzu didn't believe in such a good thing as pie falling from the sky, and would rather believe that Sun Chengzong was trying to order something for himself!
But the problem is that Li Shunzu was more interested in Sun Chengzong.

After all, Sun Chengzong was the emperor's master, with high prestige in Liaodong, and he was also the leader of Donglin Civil Service. Yuan Chonghuan also relied on this big tree to rise to the top.

After Yuan Chonghuan was arrested, this guy became the legitimate next generation governor of Ji Liao.

Climbing this big tree was an opportunity for Li Shunzu to establish a foundation in the court.

"Students are willing to give it a try!"

(End of this chapter)