Font Size:
Chapter 154: Establishing the Bao’en Temple, Erecting the Monument of Heroes
Only by looking at the handwriting on the envelope, Zhu Yunwen could sense a surging and unrestrained heroic spirit.
“Minister Xie, read it to me!”
Zhu Yunwen opened the envelope and walked towards Xie Jin.
Xie Jin nodded with a smile, took the letter, scanned it, and his expression became solemn as he read: “I, Zheng He, humbly report from Quanzhou Prefecture. On the night of May 10th, leading a fleet of twenty ships through the Penghu channel, we reached the sea area near Penghu City. Chen Zuyi led over two hundred pirate ships, feigning surrender with five thousand pirates. The plan was exposed, and I personally beheaded his brother Chen Zongcheng.”
“Collaborating with General Li Jinglong’s navy, we engaged in a fierce battle on a moonlit night. After six hours, the battle concluded. We beheaded over 2700 pirates, destroyed and sank 56 pirate ships, and captured 79 pirate ships.”
“38 pirate ships fled to the north, but all the ships left behind were sunk in the Penghu channel. We beheaded 921 pirates. The total number of pirates beheaded is over 3600.”
As he read this, Xie Jin looked excitedly at Zhu Yunwen, raising his hand and saying, “Your Majesty, a great victory, a great victory!”
Zhu Yunwen nodded slightly, his eyes revealing a sense of satisfaction.
In total, there were over 5000 pirates, and more than 3600 were eliminated, truly a great victory.
“Continue,” said Zhu Yunwen, pacing.
Xie Jin lowered his head and continued reading, “However, due to the unpredictable weather on the moonlit night and unfavorable pursuit, the leader of the pirates, Chen Zuyi, and his son Chen Shiliang, along with more than a thousand others, managed to escape without a trace. This is my personal failure, and I am willing to bear the blame…”
Chen Zuyi escaped?
Xie Jin frowned slightly, looking at Zhu Yunwen, but there was no visible reaction from Zhu Yunwen, who continued to pace back and forth.
The escape of the pirate leader left a significant hidden danger.
While individual pirates might not pose a threat, when organized, they could become a force threatening coastal towns.
Chen Zuyi possessed such formidable leadership and strength. Failing to kill him meant that the entire Penghu naval battle, despite being a great victory, might not be considered complete.
Xie Jin regretted this, continuing to read, “In this naval battle, our navy suffered 326 killed and 728 wounded, and General Li’s navy lost 79 soldiers with 215 wounded.”
Zhu Yunwen stopped in his tracks and looked at Xie Jin.
Xie Jin carefully checked the numbers, confirmed there was no mistake, and said, “Your Majesty, the pirate forces are fierce and desperate, so casualties in our navy are unavoidable. However, Vice Admiral Zheng commanded skillfully, handling the situation appropriately.”
Expanding the territory and defending the country inevitably came with sacrifices. However, Zhu Yunwen couldn’t take it lightly.
Over four hundred people had died, meaning more than four hundred families lost sons, fathers, and husbands. Their suffering—who would bear it? Who would care about it? No amount of compensation could replace the fact that these people were still alive.
Seeing Zhu Yunwen in silence, Xie Jin continued, “Your Majesty, the pirates are often ruthless desperados. Considering the casualties suffered by our navy, Vice Admiral Zheng’s command was proper and effective.”
Expanding borders and protecting the country invariably involved sacrifices. It was just that Zhu Yunwen couldn’t treat it lightly.
Over four hundred people had died, meaning more than four hundred families lost sons, fathers, and husbands. Their suffering—who would bear it? Who would care about it? No amount of compensation could replace the fact that these people were still alive.
Xie Jin saw that Zhu Yunwen was silent, so he continued to read: “This victory is due to the soldiers’ selfless sacrifice, disregarding their lives; the generals leading from the front, setting an example with their own actions; and Liang Daoming’s covert support, assisting the navy in safely passing through the Penghu Channel and informing about the pirates’ deployment.”
“I, Zheng He bear the guilt of not fully accomplishing the heavenly favor. All the myriad faults lie on Zheng alone. I hope Your Majesty will not be harsh on the soldiers. If I die, I will die with a smile…”
After finishing the letter, Xie Jin folded it and handed it to a nearby eunuch. He looked at Zhu Yunwen, who was sitting silently, and cautiously asked, “Your Majesty, how should this battle be evaluated?”
Zhu Yunwen looked at the letter again and solemnly said, “There is no doubt that this is a great victory. At dawn, announce it to the world to showcase the might of our Ming navy!”
Xie Jin breathed a sigh of relief.
Defining it as a great victory meant that the emperor would not overly investigate the escape of the pirate leader Chen Zuyi. It also meant rewards for the soldiers and no shortage of them.
Zhu Yunwen tapped on the letter and asked, “Who is Liang Daoming?”
Xie Jin smiled and said, “Your Majesty, I have heard about this person. He originally hailed from Nanhai in Guangdong and later lived in Srivijaya. In Srivijaya, there were over a thousand Chinese residents, and Liang Daoming, due to his fairness, righteousness, and considerable ability and influence, was chosen as their leader.”
“In the thirtieth year of Hongwu, the Javanese king of Majapahit destroyed the old regime in Srivijaya, leading to chaos. To survive, the Chinese people elected Liang Daoming as the king of Srivijaya. He formed an army to resist the Majapahit.”
“From some reports from Guangdong and other places, it can be understood that Liang Daoming is a person who abides by rules and poses no threat to our Ming. There seems to be some conflict between him and Chen Zuyi.”
Zhu Yunwen, upon hearing Xie Jin’s words, shook his head slightly and said, “Intelligence cannot afford the word ‘seems.’ We don’t know what Liang Daoming is thinking, but since he has assisted Ming, let’s consider him a friend for now.”
“I remember that Tan Shengshou from the Messenger office is from Nanhai in Guangdong. Arrange for him to bring rewards to Quanzhou and let him contact Liang Daoming to see how this person is and whether he can be useful to Ming. If so, let Zheng He lead the soldiers south and warn Majapahit not to invade Srivijaya again. The sea routes to the South and West must be opened!”
Xie Jin quickly agreed.
Zhu Yunwen waved his hand and said, “Tomorrow, hold an early morning court. You may retire for now.”
Xie Jin bowed and exited the hall.
After carefully reading Zheng He’s report, Zhu Yunwen sighed and returned to the harem. He rested for less than two hours, and the day had already brightened.
Fengtian Hall.
Upon hearing the news of the great victory in Penghu, the courtiers were all smiling, congratulating the emperor and celebrating the glory of Ming.
Zhu Yunwen said solemnly, “Generals fight a hundred battles and soldiers return after ten years. Our Ming’s prosperity and the peace of the people rely on the soldiers who sacrifice themselves outside our borders. The soldiers repay the country by shedding blood outside the country’s borders! It’s regrettable if the bodies are not properly taken care of. If not handled properly, I cannot rest!”
“Now, I command the Ministry of Works to build the Bao’en Temple on the original site of the Jianchu Temple. It will house the remains of heroes who fought for the country. They will repay their debt to the country while alive and to the heavens and earth in death! In the name of repaying kindness, we will erect a monument to commemorate these heroes for future generations! What do you all think?”
“Bao’en Temple?”
The officials were secretly surprised. The emperor seemed to be planning major construction.
Minister of Works Zheng Ci stepped forward and said solemnly, “Your Majesty, building the Bao’en Temple to commemorate the heroes of a hundred battles and inscribing their names on a monument, I have no objections. However, the tax from various regions has not yet been sent to the capital this year. The internal treasury is empty, and it is not advisable to undertake such a large construction.”
Zheng Ci kept his head low, and his attitude was clear.
Your Majesty, you can do whatever you want, but you need to provide the money. Without money, nothing can be done…
Zhu Yunwen looked at Minister of Revenue Huang Zicheng. Huang Zicheng stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, the current internal treasury can only allocate thirty thousand taels. More than that, it may shake the foundation.”
Huang Zicheng also felt helpless. Although the emperor’s series of policies had won the hearts of the people, there had been no returns from either the whip method or the new commercial policies until now.
The money had not arrived yet, and it was not possible to play on credit, was it?
If you overdraft, you will suffer. If the country overdrafts, everyone in the Ministry of Revenue will suffer…
Zhu Yunwen looked at Huang Zicheng and said slowly, “Thirty thousand taels? Hehe, the Bao’en Temple I want to build is a grand one. Thirty thousand taels, isn’t it a bit…”
Huang Zicheng wiped his sweat, prepared to grit his teeth, and was about to shout “fifty thousand taels” when he heard a sentence that was beyond imagination, plunging the court into silence:
“Too much…”
Dear Readers, Sproutling here translating Ming Dynasty: Reborn as Zhu Yunwen, If you have enjoyed my translation and would like to show your support. Please consider donate to my Ko-Fi (Click here) page. Your help mean so much to me, Thank you in advance!