Your servant is slow-witted. What does Your Majesty mean?

Lu Xiangsheng's earlier words had indeed been a probe. He had not dared voice his doubts directly. His Majesty had always ruled by his own judgment; if he had truly resolved to make peace, questioning him would only provoke his anger. Lu Xiangsheng could only take a more roundabout approach, making clear his support for war and his resolve to fight the Jurchens to the death.

That way, if they still wanted peace, then as the commander overseeing the army, he would first have them let him die on the battlefield. Once the fighting was over, they could make whatever peace they pleased!

Now the emperor had told him to speak plainly. It seemed he had understood his meaning. With that, Lu Xiangsheng cast aside his misgivings and said to the emperor, "Your servant believes that peace negotiations are absolutely out of the question!"

Zhu Youjian naturally knew that peace negotiations were out of the question, but he also wanted to hear how the renowned Lu Xiangsheng would explain it.

"Leaving aside the fact that the opportunity for negotiations has long since passed, the Jurchens are now ascendant, and Huang Taiji has long harbored designs on swallowing our Central Plains. How could negotiations possibly resolve that? This time, the Jurchens have taken several of our frontier cities in succession, seized our lands, and plundered our people and livestock. If we negotiate now, we will be negotiating because we have lost the war. Our court will have neither a sound argument nor a word left to say. If peace is bought by ceding territory and paying silver, would we not lose both honor and substance?"

As he spoke, Lu Xiangsheng gestured vehemently, his emotions running high. Zhu Youjian nodded at his words, then raised the question weighing on his mind. "We know everything you have said. But the court's forces are thin, and they are occupied with suppressing the roving rebels. Let Us ask you this: if we fight, how are we to fight?"

Even after hearing the emperor's words, Lu Xiangsheng remained impassioned and continued, "Your servant believes that our present trouble is not a shortage of troops, but the court's lack of resolve!

"The reinforcements from Guanning, Xuanfu, Datong, and Shanxi number no fewer than fifty thousand. Aside from those defending the city, the Three Great Garrisons also have tens of thousands drawn up outside the walls. So long as the court resolves to fight and encourages the officers and men, even without the Three Great Garrisons, those fifty thousand troops summoned to defend the throne are enough to give battle.

"Moreover, the Jurchen light cavalry have invaded deep into the capital region. They must obtain provisions locally. Your Majesty need only decree that every locality fortify its defenses and strip the countryside bare, leaving the enemy nowhere to find food. Your servant also hopes the court will offer some encouragement and exhortation to raise morale!"

Zhu Youjian did not let Lu Xiangsheng's hot-blooded fervor go to his head. Though his words had merit, they overlooked one crucial point: the fighting strength of the Ming army as it stood.

The court's stores of grain and funds were depleted, military pay was badly in arrears, and discipline had collapsed. The troops broke at the first clash in battle. How could anyone speak of driving the enemy back?

Looking at Lu Xiangsheng, Zhu Youjian asked, "We could fight, certainly. But the Jurchen light cavalry are swift and mobile. Can the fifty thousand men you speak of defeat them? Furthermore, morale in the army is low, and fear of the enemy and reluctance to fight are common. How will you deal with that? Third, the treasury is empty. Even if both sovereign and minister wish to fight to the death, we cannot produce the soldiers' pay. How will you solve that?"

Zhu Youjian threw all these questions at Lu Xiangsheng, wanting to see how much desire to fight would remain after he heard of these difficulties.

Hearing Zhu Youjian's three points, Lu Xiangsheng felt as though a basin of cold water had been dumped over his head, instantly chilling all the hot blood in his body to the core.

So, after all that, His Majesty still favored peace negotiations?

"If we lack men, we can transfer some from Hong Chengchou and Zuo Liangyu. If morale is low, there is no shortage of people and soldiers in the capital region who share a bitter hatred of the enemy. As for silver... silver... we can call on the capital's officials and gentry to contribute military funds. Your servant is willing to give up everything he owns to fight to the death."

"Transfer troops... then what of the roving rebels?" Zhu Youjian asked again. "When We previously asked the officials and gentry to contribute silver, We received only a few tens of thousands of taels. Even Our father-in-law gave only two thousand. If you give up everything, how much does your family possess?"

As those words struck his ears, Lu Xiangsheng's straight back suddenly bowed. He looked at the white hemp mourning robes he wore, and a thought abruptly rose in his mind. Everything the emperor said came down to one thing: we cannot fight. Then why am I here? Why am I laying bare my loyal heart and spilling my very soul like this?

Watching Lu Xiangsheng's face suddenly turn pale, Zhu Youjian continued coldly, "Furthermore, do you know the Jurchens' movements? The capital region is vast. If you chase after the Jurchens to fight them, how will you drive them back? Do not end up repeating the Jisi Incident!"

At the words "Jisi Incident," Lu Xiangsheng jerked his head up. His lips trembled, and the last trace of color drained from his face.

The Jisi Incident had led to Yuan Chonghuan's execution by a thousand cuts. What did His Majesty mean by that? With all my heart set on serving my country, could I still meet the same end as Yuan Chonghuan?

Zhu Youjian kept his eyes fixed on Lu Xiangsheng. Seeing his reaction, he could not help wondering inwardly whether his words had been too harsh. But then he reconsidered: unless he clearly laid out the advantages, dangers, and obstacles before them, Lu Xiangsheng would charge ahead on hot blood alone. Even with all his knowledge of how history unfolded, he would still be unable to prevent the man's death!

Lu Xiangsheng felt all the blood in his body rush to his head, yet his limbs were bitterly cold. There were braziers burning in the hall, so why could he feel no warmth at all? Only after a long while did he recover his voice. "Then Your Majesty's intention is still... to negotiate peace?"

Not knowing quite what he was hoping for, Lu Xiangsheng looked at Zhu Youjian, longing to hear the emperor's resolve to fight. Instead, a firm "Yes" exploded beside his ears like thunder, making him stagger.

Zhu Youjian's gaze remained piercing. The test had reached its final stage. If Lu Xiangsheng still insisted on fighting, he would be the ideal man to carry out his plan!

Lost in his tangled thoughts, Lu Xiangsheng did not notice the emperor's expression. Standing in the hall, he shook his head firmly.

"No! We cannot negotiate peace! How could we negotiate peace?"

Throwing caution aside, Lu Xiangsheng raised his head and continued, "Your Majesty, peace negotiations are possible only after we fight and win, after we hurt the enemy and make them fear us. The Jurchens now hold the upper hand. Why would they agree to negotiate?"

Looking at Zhu Youjian, Lu Xiangsheng continued without waiting for a response. "Your Majesty, Huang Taiji is no mediocrity. Under his command, the Jurchens have conquered Joseon and defeated Ligdan Khan. The central and eastern steppes all acknowledge his supremacy. Why would a man like that negotiate peace with us?"

Zhu Youjian's doubts were settled, and only then did a measure of ease appear on his face. He rose, stepped forward, and patted Lu Xiangsheng's arm. "No one understands what sort of man Huang Taiji is better than We do, and no one knows better than We do how important this war is to Great Ming!"

But these words only bewildered Lu Xiangsheng. "Does Your Majesty mean to make peace, or to fight?"

"Jiandou, you were quite right about one thing. To negotiate peace, we must first hurt the enemy. Only then will we have the strength to negotiate. We should hold that initiative in our own hands!"

Jiandou was Lu Xiangsheng's courtesy name. Zhu Youjian had used it to show a measure of closeness, but it only deepened Lu Xiangsheng's confusion.

I understand every word His Majesty says, but put together, I truly cannot make sense of them. Besides, His Majesty's attitude has changed so quickly that I can scarcely keep up!

"Your servant is slow-witted. What... does Your Majesty mean?"