Chapter Summaries

Zhu Zheyu, a museum researcher from the future, awoke in the body of the Chongzhen Emperor and vowed to save Great Ming from collapse. As the Jurchen invasion threatened the capital region, he focused on preventing the loyal commander Lu Xiangsheng from dying as he had in history.

• Zhu Youjian recalled the Jurchen forces’ devastating advance through the capital region and the Ming army’s scattered responses.
• He resolved to rule diligently and restore Great Ming rather than die on Coal Hill as Chongzhen had in history.
• Zhu Youjian reviewed the court’s military deployments and recognized that the Jurchen cavalry could outmaneuver the Ming armies.
• He recalled how Yang Sichang and Gao Qiqian had undermined Lu Xiangsheng’s command, leading to his death at Julu.
• Zhu Youjian asked Wang Cheng'en whether Lu Xiangsheng had arrived.

Zhu Youjian prepared to resume handling state affairs as Yang Sichang requested a late-night audience. Yang Sichang confessed that he felt guilty over the rebels and the Jurchen invasion, but his urgent reason for coming remained unrevealed.

• Wang Cheng'en told Zhu Youjian that Governor-General Lu would reach the capital early the next morning.
• A young eunuch reported that Yang Sichang, the minister of war, was requesting an audience after staying in the palace duty room during Zhu Youjian’s illness.
• Zhu Youjian recalled Yang Sichang’s strategy of quelling internal strife before repelling foreign foes and the court’s failed peace negotiations with the Jurchens.
• Zhu Youjian received Yang Sichang in the eastern warm chamber and questioned why he had come at such a late hour.
• Yang Sichang knelt before Zhu Youjian and declared himself guilty because the roving rebels remained unsubdued and the Jurchens had again attacked the passes.

Zhu Youjian rejected Yang Sichang’s proposal to seek peace with Huang Taiji, warning that negotiations could demand humiliating concessions and endanger Yang’s clan. After an idea struck him, he reconsidered, saying peace talks might be possible if the Jianzhou barbarians only wanted silver.

• Yang Sichang urged Zhu Youjian not to recall Hong Chengchou and Zu Dashou and proposed sending an envoy to Huang Taiji to seek peace.
• Zhu Youjian angrily rejected the proposal, arguing that negotiations would not solve the threat from the Jianzhou barbarians or the court’s lack of resources.
• Yang Sichang continued advocating peace, warning that a direct clash could let the roving rebels rise again.
• Zhu Youjian challenged Yang Sichang to consider the cost of peace and threatened him with responsibility for his clan if the Jianzhou barbarians broke an agreement.
• Zhu Youjian fell silent as a bold idea occurred to him, then said peace talks were possible if the Jianzhou barbarians only wanted silver.

Zhu Youjian approved peace negotiations while privately considering a risky plan and reflecting on the reforms Great Ming needed. Lu Xiangsheng arrived at the palace, uncertain whether peace talks reflected the emperor’s wishes or Yang Sichang’s maneuvering.

• Yang Sichang left the audience relieved that Zhu Youjian had agreed to peace negotiations, then told Gao Qiqian the emperor had approved them.
• Yang Sichang said he would warn King Yama Lu not to offend Zhu Youjian when he entered the palace.
• Zhu Youjian considered a risky plan and reviewed the memorials, recognizing how corruption, unfair taxes, and poor weapons threatened Great Ming.
• Zhu Youjian considered tax reform, limiting the imperial clan, and opening overseas trade, while resolving to proceed gradually.
• Lu Xiangsheng reached the Palace of Heavenly Purity, troubled by the possibility that peace negotiations were being used to draw him into a political camp.

Lu Xiangsheng met with Zhu Youjian after learning that peace negotiations might be underway, torn between his duty to mourn his father and his obligation to defend the Great Ming. He declared that he would fight or obey the emperor’s orders, and Zhu Youjian invited him to speak freely about the negotiations.

• Lu Xiangsheng reflected on his father’s death and the rejected memorials that had kept him from observing the mourning period.
• After the young eunuch let slip that Yang Sichang had seen the emperor the previous night, Lu Xiangsheng suspected the peace negotiations came from imperial will.
• Zhu Youjian considered Lu Xiangsheng’s record and appearance, then asked whether he had a strategy against the Jurchen.
• Lu Xiangsheng offered to lead the army against the enemy or obey other imperial orders, asking only to die in battle rather than disgrace his duty.
• Zhu Youjian realized Lu Xiangsheng knew about the peace negotiations and invited him to report his views freely.

Zhu Youjian tested Lu Xiangsheng’s resolve by laying out the Ming army’s weaknesses and declaring that he intended to negotiate peace. Lu Xiangsheng rejected negotiations, and Zhu revealed that the court would fight first to gain leverage, leaving Lu confused by the emperor’s shifting stance.

• Lu Xiangsheng argued that peace negotiations with the Jurchens were impossible and urged Zhu Youjian to fight, citing available troops, local resistance, and possible military contributions.
• Zhu Youjian challenged Lu with the army’s poor morale, empty treasury, roving rebels, and the difficulty of pursuing Jurchen cavalry, then warned him not to repeat the Jisi Incident.
• Lu Xiangsheng feared that Zhu’s words meant he might suffer Yuan Chonghuan’s fate, then asked whether the emperor still intended to negotiate peace.
• Zhu Youjian answered yes, prompting Lu Xiangsheng to insist that peace was impossible while the Jurchens held the advantage.
• Zhu Youjian explained that the Ming must first hurt the enemy and secure the initiative before negotiating, leaving Lu Xiangsheng asking what the emperor meant.

Zhu Youjian ordered Lu Xiangsheng to evacuate Gaoyang and Jinan and use an empty-city stratagem against the Jurchens. Lu Xiangsheng sent trusted officers toward the cities while Zhu Youjian summoned officials to discuss funding the campaign.

• Zhu Youjian told Lu Xiangsheng that Dorgon and Yoto planned to attack Gaoyang and then Jinan, and ordered him to evacuate both cities for an empty-city stratagem.
• Lu Xiangsheng left the palace stunned, then told Yang Sichang that Zhu Youjian had ordered him not to fight recklessly.
• Lu Xiangsheng summoned Yang Tinglin and Lu Xuan, instructed them to keep the plan secret, and sent them with troops toward Gaoyang and Jinan.
• Zhu Youjian ordered a meal and summoned Li Daiwen and Zhang Yixian to discuss provisions and military pay for Lu Xiangsheng's campaign.

Zhu Youjian found the Imperial Treasury nearly empty but ordered silver sent to fund Governor Lu’s campaign and rewarded the retiring Li Daiwen. He then asked Zhang Yixian whether the Imperial Treasury had a cellar.

• Li Daiwen told Zhu Youjian that the Taicang Treasury had no silver to spare, while Zhang Yixian reported that the Imperial Treasury held four hundred thousand taels.
• Zhu Youjian examined the account book, noticed the large stores of tribute spices, and ordered Zhang Yixian to send two hundred thousand taels of silver to Governor Lu as initial military funds.
• Zhu Youjian approved Li Daiwen’s retirement petition and granted him five hundred taels to recover at home.
• After Li Daiwen left, Zhu Youjian asked Zhang Yixian whether there was a cellar beneath the Imperial Treasury.

Zhu Youjian ordered Zhang Yixian to search the Imperial Treasury for a rumored cellar of gold, then summoned Luo Yangxing and Cao Huachun as he sought money for the war. He left the heads of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Eastern Depot waiting until dusk, ending the chapter as he finally acknowledged their presence.

• Zhu Youjian ordered Zhang Yixian to search the Imperial Treasury for a cellar said to contain gold.
• Zhu Youjian considered having Wang Cheng'en search the Hall of Mental Cultivation if the cellar was not found in the treasury.
• Zhu Youjian summoned Luo Yangxing and Cao Huachun, hoping to find funds for the war among the ministers and their institutions.
• Luo Yangxing and Cao Huachun arrived at the Palace of Heavenly Purity and waited while Zhu Youjian reviewed memorials.
• Zhu Youjian finally looked up and told Luo Yangxing and Cao Huachun that they were there.

Zhu Youjian confronted Luo Yangxing and Cao Huachun over their mistreatment of refugees and the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s failure to warn him about Jurchen incursions. He accused both men of colluding with court officials and demanded they name their punishment, while they continued to plead that they were wronged.

• Zhu Youjian asked Luo Yangxing and Cao Huachun what they had been doing, and they claimed they were investigating and interrogating refugees for Jurchen spies.
• Zhu Youjian angrily rebuked the two men for exploiting refugees and neglecting their duties, and Luo Yangxing pleaded that he had acted to protect the emperor.
• Zhu Youjian accused Luo Yangxing of failing to report on the Jurchen and questioned why their incursions repeatedly coincided with campaigns against the Rebel Bandits.
• Cao Huachun realized that the Eastern Depot would share blame for the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s failures, and both men denied colluding with court officials.
• Zhu Youjian demanded to know what punishment Luo Yangxing and Cao Huachun deserved, and they again insisted they had been wronged.

Zhu Youjian reprimanded Cao Huachun and Luo Yangxing, then ordered them to investigate Jurchen incursions and the money hidden by corrupt officials in the capital. The two men feared that the emperor suspected their own corruption as he turned their attention to officials’ wealth.

• Cao Huachun and Luo Yangxing pleaded that they had not colluded with officials and promised to perform their duties faithfully.
• Zhu Youjian warned the two men to report everything and ordered Luo Yangxing to find where the Jurchen were breaching the passes.
• Zhu Youjian asked where the court’s money had gone, and Cao Huachun cited military spending and the imperial clan’s expenses.
• Zhu Youjian accused corrupt officials and unscrupulous merchants of taking Great Ming’s money, causing Cao Huachun and Luo Yangxing to kneel and beg for mercy.
• Zhu Youjian told the two men to investigate how much silver corrupt officials kept in their capital residences.

Zhu Youjian ordered Cao Huachun and Luo Yangxing to investigate wealthy officials and merchants, revealing that he already knew where some officials hid their silver. He also tasked Luo Yangxing with secretly gathering evidence against Shanxi merchants and spreading word of his planned peace talks to Huang Taiji.

• Zhu Youjian ordered Cao Huachun and Luo Yangxing to investigate officials with at least five hundred thousand taels, promising rewards if they carried out the task and warning them not to shield anyone.
• Zhu Youjian named Count of Jiading Zhou Kui, Chen Yan, and Xue Guoguan, and revealed where they hid their silver for the investigators to seize and deliver to the Imperial Treasury.
• Zhu Youjian ordered Cao Huachun and Luo Yangxing to use the imperial examination bribery of Qian Qianyi and Han Jing as grounds for punishment.
• Zhu Youjian directed Luo Yangxing to secretly investigate the Shanxi merchants' prohibited trade with the Jurchens, including their warehouses, hidden silver, protectors, and court connections.
• Zhu Youjian ordered Luo Yangxing to select men from the guards and spread news of his planned peace talks to Huang Taiji.

Cao Huachun and Luo Yangxing left the palace after Zhu Youjian warned them to do their duties and stop meddling in matters beyond their authority. As Zhu Youjian rested, Sun Chengzong prepared his family for the Jurchen invasion and chose to defend Gaoyang.

• Cao Huachun rebuked Luo Yangxing for asking about Zhu Youjian’s sources and told him to stop taking illicit silver and regain the emperor’s trust.
• Zhu Youjian ordered Wang Cheng'en to admit no one for the night, then fell asleep and dreamed of victory over the Jurchens.
• Sun Chengzong told his family that the Jurchens had invaded and warned them that Gaoyang might be attacked.
• Sun Chengzong refused to flee, and Sun Yue, Sun Qian, and Sun Chengzong’s grandson declared that they would stay and fight.

Sun Chengzong prepared to defend Gaoyang after its magistrate fled, but Yang Tinglin arrived with Governor Lu’s order to evacuate the city within three days. Sun Chengzong sought news from the capital and began to suspect the withdrawal was intended to leave Gaoyang as a gift to the Jurchens.

• Sun Chengzong’s grandson Sun Zhili recited one of his poems, and Sun Chengzong asked Sun Yue to send the boy’s mother and child to safety, but Sun Yue refused.
• Sun Chengzong planned Gaoyang’s defense with his family, then learned that the magistrate had fled and ordered residents to gather at the government offices.
• Sun Zhijie reported troops entering through the open gate, and Sun Chengzong recognized them as Ming soldiers.
• Yang Tinglin told Sun Chengzong that Governor Lu had ordered the entire city and Sun’s household to withdraw within three days and escort Sun to the capital.
• Sun Chengzong asked Sun Qian to investigate events in the capital, then suspected that abandoning Gaoyang would offer the city to the Jurchens.

At morning court, Huang Daozhou challenged Yang Sichang’s recall from mourning and condemned peace negotiations with the Jurchen. Zhu Youjian shut down the debate by declaring that whoever called for war would have to go fight.

• Huang Daozhou impeached Yang Sichang for accepting office before completing his mourning and condemned his proposals, especially making peace with the Jurchen.
• Fang Fengnian defended Yang Sichang, arguing that he had sacrificed filial duty to serve the state in a crisis.
• Yang Sichang cited historical examples to support peace negotiations, while Huang Daozhou insisted on resistance and urged Zhu Youjian not to negotiate.
• Yang Sichang asked Huang Daozhou who would defend against the Rebel Bandits if the commanders fought the Jurchen, and Huang replied that Yang should lead the campaign against the rebels.
• Zhu Youjian declared that the decision to negotiate peace was final, then ordered that whoever called for war should go fight; Huang Daozhou fell silent and returned to his place.

After court, Xue Guoguan concealed the theft of a hundred thousand taels, fearing that an investigation would expose the source of his wealth. Zhu Youjian visited Empress Yi'an, Zhang Yan, and was struck by her beauty as he apologized for missing his usual respects.

• After court, Xue Guoguan told Yang Sichang that a thief had taken some silver, while privately lamenting the loss of a hundred thousand taels he could not report.
• Zhu Youjian planned to review memorials and prepare reforms, but a eunuch from Ciqing Palace interrupted his procession.
• Zhu Youjian recalled how Zhang Yan had helped secure his succession and decided to visit her after missing several days of paying his respects.
• Zhu Youjian arrived at Ciqing Palace, greeted Empress Yi'an, and was overwhelmed by her beauty.
• Zhu Youjian apologized to Zhang Yan for failing to visit while he had been unwell.

Zhang Yan warned Zhu Youjian against negotiating peace through a veiled story about a dream, while he kept his plans to himself. He moved his state business to Wuying Hall for an auspicious omen and wondered how the campaign against the Jurchen was progressing.

• Zhang Yan urged Zhu Youjian to protect his health and relayed her supposed dream of the late emperor warning him to think carefully before acting.
• Zhu Youjian realized Zhang Yan had heard of his plan to negotiate peace, but withheld an explanation because attendants were present and the plan had not yet succeeded.
• After Zhu Youjian left, Zhang Yan prayed before Guanyin and grieved over his husband's death and the danger that peace negotiations posed to Great Ming.
• Zhu Youjian ordered his memorials moved from Wenhua Hall to Wuying Hall, explaining that he wanted an auspicious omen for the war.
• Wang Cheng'en praised Zhu Youjian's leadership, and Zhu Youjian wondered how far the troops had advanced against the Jurchen.

Yang Tinglin arranged Gaoyang's evacuation despite Sun Chengzong's refusal to leave, while Lu Xuanxi's forces secured the evacuation of Jinan, including Prince of De Zhu Youshu. The chapter ended with Zhu Youshu leaving behind his residence and something hidden beneath the lake.

• Sun Qian told Sun Chengzong that the emperor had ordered peace negotiations with Huang Taiji and urged the Sun family to evacuate, but Sun Chengzong vowed to remain in Gaoyang.
• Yang Tinglin learned that Sun Chengzong would not leave and went to the Sun Residence to persuade him, but Sun Chengzong refused.
• Yang Tinglin's men secretly drugged the Sun family and servants, and Yang led them out of the city once they had fallen asleep.
• Lu Xuanxi's force arranged for Jinan's residents and Prince of De Zhu Youshu to evacuate, and Zhu Youshu reluctantly left his residence and the lake behind.

As peace negotiations divided opinion in the capital, Zhu Youjian arranged relief for the refugees by allocating silver to build shelters and buy food and supplies. After the officials left, he praised Luo Yangxing’s handling of the hidden silver and asked whether he had come to seek a reward.

• A guard reported to Luo Yangxing that a man from Chen Zhiguo’s household had visited the Fan residence, and Luo Yangxing ordered him watched.
• In Wuying Hall, Fan Fucui told Zhu Youjian that Xue Guoguan and Zhou Kui had reported missing silver without knowing how much was gone.
• Luo Yangxing recalled that the Embroidered Uniform Guard had found and carried more than a million taels of hidden silver from officials’ homes into the palace.
• Fan Fucui proposed increasing relief for the hungry refugees, and Liu Zongzhou said Shuntian Prefecture lacked grain and funds to help them.
• Zhu Youjian gave Liu Zongzhou one hundred thousand taels to build shelters and buy clothing, bedding, and grain for the refugees.
• After Fan Fucui, Liu Zongzhou, Xue Guoguan, and Zhou Kui left, Zhu Youjian praised Luo Yangxing and asked if he had come for a reward.

Zhu Youjian learned that a servant in Chen Zhiguo’s household had dealings with the Fan family and ordered Luo Yangxing to keep him under surveillance while the peace-negotiation rumor spread. At the Jurchen camp, Dorgon rejected plans to bypass Lu Xiangsheng and ordered a night attack to surround and annihilate his army.

• Luo Yangxing reported that Chen Zhiguo’s servant had dealings with the Fan family, and Zhu Youjian ordered him watched rather than arrested.
• Luo Yangxing told Zhu Youjian that word of peace negotiations had spread through Datong, Baoding, Hejian, and nearby prefectures.
• Hao Ge urged Dorgon to attack Lu Xiangsheng, while Yoto suggested splitting the Jurchen forces and heading south.
• Dorgon insisted that Lu Xiangsheng had to be defeated and said the Jurchens would follow their orders to fight.
• Dorgon ordered his army to divide into three columns after dark, surround Lu Xiangsheng’s army, and annihilate it.