The four Grand Secretaries presented four thorny issues. Emperor Chongzhen stood up without a hint of panic, a smile playing on his lips. Perhaps the Chongzhen of history could not solve these problems, but he could. He understood mathematics, science, history, geography, politics, and even foreign languages!
"Grand Secretary Li, draft an imperial edict: three or five days from now, Tang Tong is to seize an opportunity to withdraw to the Capital. Before he returns, he must bring everything with him; not even a single grain of rice is to be left for the rebel bandits!"
"Your Majesty... the imperial edict... the Cabinet has no objections, but I fear the Censorate will refuse to sign off on it."
Chapter 59