Chapter 32: Taking Command of the Troops!

Dong!

The morning bell tolled solemnly as newly appointed officials from each bureau and department filed into the Hall of Supreme Harmony and bowed deeply in unison.

“We pay homage to Your Majesty! May the Emperor live ten thousand years!”

“Be at ease, gentlemen.”

Zhu Youjian, resplendent in a brand-new golden robe adorned with five-clawed dragons, sat upright on the dragon throne—regal, dignified, and imposing.

“Your Majesty, the Lords of Pacification, Southern Tranquility, and Eastern Peace are waiting outside,” whispered Wang Cheng’en.

“Summon them.”

“Let the Lords of Pacification, Southern Tranquility, and Eastern Peace enter the hall!”

Outside the hall.

“Those two old scoundrels, utterly shameless!” Liu Zeqing, clad in a flamboyant qilin robe, cursed loudly. He had thought the two would be bold enough to enter armored, and had already considered it brazen of himself to sneak into court in official garb. Yet, unexpectedly, they had bested him in cunning at the last moment.

Wu Sangui, dressed in plain blue and white cloth, carried a large bundle of thorn branches on his back. His face was gaunt, his eyes rimmed red, bearing an expression of deep concern for the nation and its people. He paid no heed to the agitated Liu Zeqing.

Zuo Liangyu was much the same. Though dressed in a qilin brocade, he too bore thorns on his back, his complexion waxen. He chuckled softly, “Wasn’t it the same with you, Lord of Eastern Peace? You didn’t keep your word either. We’re all the same… Say, your legs don’t seem injured at all, given how high you’re jumping.”

“Scoundrel! The height of shamelessness! I shall certainly impeach you both before His Majesty!” Liu Zeqing fumed, cursing them while rubbing his leg unconvincingly, wincing in pain.

“The Lords of Pacification, Southern Tranquility, and Eastern Peace, enter the hall!”

The three hastily composed themselves, followed the eunuch’s lead, and entered the Hall of Supreme Harmony, immediately bowing.

“Your servants pay homage to Your Majesty. May your sacred person enjoy peace!”

“Why do the Lords of Pacification and Southern Tranquility enter the hall bearing thorns on their backs? I know of no crime you have committed,” Zhu Youjian remarked in surprise from his lofty throne.

“We failed in our duty to assist the throne. In fear and trepidation, we come bearing thorns to beg for punishment, beseeching Your Majesty’s chastisement!”

With that, Wu Sangui and Zuo Liangyu pressed their heads to the floor, adopting the humblest posture, not daring any impropriety.

“Oh? Bearing thorns to beg forgiveness!” Zhu Youjian gave a short laugh. “Since that is so, I grant your wish.”

Ah?

Zuo Liangyu cast a sidelong, anxious glance at Wu Sangui, cursing him in his heart for cleverness gone awry.

“Drag the Lords of Pacification and Southern Tranquility out and give them twenty strokes each!” Wang Cheng’en announced loudly at the emperor’s command.

The two finally breathed sighs of relief, knowing they had escaped a true calamity. If it were a matter of execution, such formalities would be unnecessary; their heads would have rolled already.

Outside, a chorus of anguished cries broke out. Even in corporal punishment, the court had its own gradations: perfunctory beatings, earnest beatings, and the most severe, which were intended to cripple or kill.

A perfunctory beating was mere formality, not to be taken seriously. An earnest beating, however, was genuine—twenty strokes that would leave a man bedridden for weeks; the guards dared not slacken, for results were expected. The most severe was with malice, guaranteeing lasting injury or likely death.

These twenty strokes would see the two lords of the realm convalescing for at least half a month.

“How fares your injury, Lord of Eastern Peace? Has the journey further aggravated it?” Zhu Youjian inquired.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your gracious concern. My pain has eased for over a month now; I am no longer in serious danger,” Liu Zeqing replied, barely suppressing his glee at the misfortune of others, kneeling to answer.

Zhu Youjian waved his hand. “Physician Xu, step forward and examine the Lord of Eastern Peace. See that no lasting ailment remains.”

“As you command!” Physician Xu shuffled forward, conducted a thorough examination, leaving Liu Zeqing ill at ease, and finally reported, “Your Majesty, Lord of Eastern Peace’s right leg is swollen but not gravely injured. With rest for several months, he will recover.”

Liu Zeqing felt a surge of relief. Had it not been for Zuo Liangyu’s warning the previous day, he might not have steeled himself to break his own leg that night. Without it, an examination today could have proved fatal.

Zhu Youjian cast a sidelong glance at the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who broke out in a cold sweat, cursing inwardly: “Damn Liu Zeqing. Broke his own leg and made not a sound. Are you a turtle or what?” He had lurked by the wall all night and heard nothing, leaving the emperor to suffer a silent loss.

In truth, Liu Zeqing had struck too hard the previous night and fainted from the pain on the spot.

“Lord of Eastern Peace, it is said you led your troops in a rampage through Linqing. Is this true?” Zhu Youjian asked directly.

“Your Majesty, I am guilty,” Liu Zeqing exhaled deeply, knowing the truth could not be concealed and had no intention of hiding it.

“My men, in their zeal for suppressing bandits, mistakenly killed seventeen households of Linqing gentry. Those responsible have already been punished under military law. I failed in supervision and willingly accept punishment!” Liu Zeqing bowed his head to the floor.

“Strip him of his title and command,” Zhu Youjian said coolly.

“I obey, Your Majesty,” Liu Zeqing replied, swallowing dryly, unwilling but resigned.

The imperial guards dragged Wu Sangui and Zuo Liangyu back into the hall, where they collapsed to their knees, enduring the pain.

“Wu Sangui, you will garrison Shandong, take over Liu Zeqing’s former troops, and be responsible for eradicating the rebel forces in Hebei. Swear a military oath: if you fail to accomplish this within a year, not only will you lose your office—I will have your head,” Zhu Youjian declared.

Wu Sangui, though destined to become a notorious traitor, was undeniably capable. Zhu Youjian needed talent and did not intend to execute him. After all, Wu only defected to the Manchus after the emperor’s death, and among the Five Garrisons, only he and Tang Tong had actually moved to aid the throne, however delayed. Compared to the utter inaction of the others, this was commendable.

“I obey, Your Majesty!” Wu Sangui replied, barely containing his joy despite the pain.

“Zuo Liangyu,” Zhu Youjian continued, “for failure to maintain your troops, you are stripped of title and command. You will serve as an overseer under Wu Sangui.”

“I obey, Your Majesty,” Zuo Liangyu sighed inwardly. There was nothing for it but to accept this outcome. It was a pity to lose command, but with the emperor’s power and the tide turning, holding on to troops for one’s own gain was no longer possible.

[The fortunes of the Chongzhen era rise. The timeline ‘First Year of Hongxi’ is now accessible.]

Zhu Youjian raised his eyebrows and mused in secret: The Hongxi Emperor only lived ten months. Other reigns are counted by years, but this one by months. He wondered which month it would be. If it were early, perhaps he could urge the Emperor to lose weight and prolong his life; if it were the final months, he could only prepare for the accession of the illustrious imperial grandson.

Turning to Lan Yu, Zhu Youjian asked, “What of the Shun army near the capital?”

Although Li Zicheng had been ambushed and hanged himself, the two hundred thousand Shun troops remained a real threat, roaming the outskirts of the capital like a sharp blade, spawning countless smaller bandit bands. Before traveling to the Hongxi era, he had to eliminate any hidden dangers in the capital to prevent a Shun resurgence.

Lan Yu stepped forward and reported, “Your Majesty, the Shun forces around the capital have scattered and been thoroughly crushed. Liu Fangliang and Liu Zongmin, each with over ten thousand troops, have fled south. I request permission to lead thirty thousand men in pursuit, to utterly annihilate the Shun and restore order!”

“Granted!” Zhu Youjian considered briefly and said, “Deploy thirty thousand soldiers from the Three Grand Camps, with rations and supplies provided by Minister Xia. As Shaanxi is still stricken by disaster, allocate an additional half a million taels of silver, escorted by the Hongwu Guard, for disaster relief—depart at once.”

“We obey, Your Majesty!”

…