Chapter 188: Provincial Governor Chen Xinjia

Wang Dou waited at Jiming Post for Lu Xiangsheng and his party. The Jiming Post station was established in the eighteenth year of the Yongle reign; it could be said to be the largest and most fully functional post station in the Great Ming, also serving defensive purposes, used for both military post and mail post. All personnel from the garrison city entering the capital had to pass through Jiming Post, and officials and merchants heading to the garrison city and beyond the passes also had to pass through Jiming Post.

Because of its geographical importance, the Jiming Post city was solidly fortified, with a city wall over four li in circumference, leaning against mountains and girded by a river, guarded jointly by a Garrison Commander and a station officer, and its walls were faced with brick in the fourth year of the Longqing reign. Among the many postal stations of the Great Ming, only Jiming Post was called a city; during the Chongzhen years when postal stations were abolished, only the officials of Jiming Post remained unchanged, showing the importance of this place.

Although Jiming Post lay within the territory of Baoan Guard, it was directly administered by the Xuanfu garrison city. Inside the city were two main streets running east and west, with many merchant shops. Although Wang Dou was a Garrison Commander, he had no official business, nor was he delivering urgent military dispatches, and he lacked a post station travel permit. According to regulations, when staying at official post houses, the post officer would only provide a small amount of rationed rice; if he wanted to use porters within the city, he would likewise have to pay in coin and grain.

Wang Dou had no interest in taking such petty advantages, so he had Xie Yike find an inn to stay at, happy for the peace and quiet. The post officer and Garrison Commander in the city, seeing that Wang Dou held the rank of Garrison Commander, came to pay their respects that day, but there was nothing further after that, and Wang Dou thought nothing of it.

Two days after arriving at Jiming Post, hearing that Lu Xiangsheng was approaching, Wang Dou went outside the west gate to welcome him. The Jiming Post city had two city gates, east and west, each with gate towers such as the Jade Emperor Pavilion and the Longevity Star Tower, which served as the highest watchtowers of the post station; outside there was also a moat about four zhang wide.

At this moment Wang Dou was beneath the west gate; on the gate tower were written the large characters "Jiming Mountain Post." Outside the city wall, a carriage road about two zhang wide ran east to west, and by the river not far from the post road, a tall retaining dam had been built, its solid stone standing lofty.

The sky was low and clouds were dark; in the soughing north wind, the post road that once bustled with carriages and horses was now nearly deserted. The Garrison Commander and station officer of Jiming Post beside Wang Dou were stamping their feet and hands from the cold. They had just received word that officials from the three garrisons of Xuan-Da were entering the capital for an audience and would stop here to rest. With high officials like the Viceroy and Provincial Governors arriving, they naturally had to hurry out to welcome them.

At last, in the chilly wind, the desolate post road grew noisy. All manner of shouts clearing the way, calls to avoid the sedan chairs, and the sound of horse hooves came through. One after another, carriages and official sedan chairs arrived. At the very front were the official insignia and banners of the Xuan-Da Viceroy Lu Xiangsheng, followed by the carriage and retinue of the Xuanfu Garrison Provincial Governor Chen Xinjia, then the carriages of the Provincial Governors of Shanxi Garrison and Datong Garrison, and after them the carriages and attendants of the principal and assistant officials from the various garrisons, departments, and counties — a vast and mighty procession that seemed to stretch endlessly out of sight.

Such official pomp and authority, even for the widely experienced Garrison Commander and station officer of Jiming Post, left them uneasy and anxious.

Under Lu Xiangsheng's command were the Viceroy's Left Battalion and Viceroy's Right Battalion of personal troops; among them, his trusted confidant Chen An held the rank of Mobile Corps Commander and assisted in leading the Viceroy's Right Battalion. On this trip to the capital, Chen An again led a portion of the personal troops as an escort guard, all stalwart men in full helmets and armor. Seeing the Garrison Commander and station officer of Jiming Post respectfully waiting before the city gate, Chen An merely rode over, waved his hand, and signaled them to lead the way ahead, giving them no chance even to pay their respects to the Viceroy.

Disappointment showed on both men's faces. Then Chen An spotted Wang Dou, and a look of surprise appeared on his face: "Garrison Commander Wang, is that you?"

Wang Dou smiled and said, "General Chen."

The two exchanged a few pleasantries. Seeing Wang Dou so familiar with Chen An, the Garrison Commander and station officer of Jiming Post were both astonished and uncertain, never imagining that this young Garrison Commander had connections with the Viceroy's trusted favorite general. The Garrison Commander secretly regretted it deeply; had he known earlier, during the days Wang Dou was at Jiming Post, he should have properly paid his respects and cultivated the acquaintance. Now he had missed a fine opportunity.

What surprised the two even more was that Chen An then brought Wang Dou before Lu Xiangsheng's carriage. The carriage curtain opened, revealing Lu Xiangsheng's pale yet haggard face, with a sparse beard on his chin — the typical look of a scholar, one would never guess he fought so fiercely.

As soon as the curtain opened, a gust of cold wind blew into the carriage, sending Lu Xiangsheng's beard flying wildly. Seeing Wang Dou, he was also somewhat surprised: "Wang Dou, what are you doing here?"

Wang Dou said, "Viceroy, your humble subordinate is traveling to the capital to take up a new post. It is a coincidence to meet you here."

Lu Xiangsheng smiled faintly. He of course knew that Wang Dou was going to the capital to assume the post of Garrison Commander — his garrison commander position was something he himself had vigorously promoted. But Wang Dou heading to the capital should be traveling south; why had he come to Jiming Post in the north instead?

He did not expose Wang Dou's little scheme, but only stroked his beard and said, "Your position is different now; you should be all the more diligent in your duties and not fail to live up to the state's favor."

Wang Dou said, "What the Viceroy says is most true; your humble subordinate will remember it."

Lu Xiangsheng said, "Wang Dou, you shall accompany me to the capital."

He sized Wang Dou up for a moment: "The weather is freezing cold; riding on horseback like this, are you not cold? Would you like me to provide you with a carriage?"

Wang Dou said, "I am grateful for the Viceroy's concern. Your humble subordinate comes from the ranks; my body is sturdy and robust, it is no trouble."

As they spoke here, who knew how many attentive people opened their carriage curtains to steal glances toward Wang Dou.

Afterward, the various official sedan chairs and carriages slowly moved again, entering the streets of the city from the west gate of Jiming Post. As for Wang Dou, he entered the city riding beside Chen An. Wang Dou took careful note: this procession of carriages and horses was numerous; the Provincial Governors of each garrison and even the various circuit military defense intendants had all drawn troops from their own personal battalions as escorts. No wonder there were so many people in this vast procession.

Arriving outside the post station, he saw officials of every rank descending from their carriages and horses. On each man's rank badge were golden pheasants, peacocks, silver pheasants, egrets, and the like — all were the robed and armored officials of the three garrisons of Xuan-Da. Wang Dou observed carefully: the hierarchy among civil officials was indeed strict; according to rank and status, each person's standing position absolutely could not be wrong. Yet everyone wore genial smiles on their faces and tried their utmost to draw close to Lu Xiangsheng, even the three Provincial Governors being no exception.

Wang Dou also saw Ji Shiwei, the Military Defense Intendant of the Eastern Circuit of Xuanfu Garrison, quietly squeeze aside Li Zhen, the Department Magistrate of Baoan, who had been blocking his way, and with a beaming smile station himself beside Chen Xinjia, the Provincial Governor of Xuan Garrison. Li Zhen was startled; just now he had wanted to get a little closer to Lu Xiangsheng, but unwittingly committed a grave taboo of officialdom, and could not help but regret it endlessly.

The officials clustered around Lu Xiangsheng as he entered the post station. But as the officials went in, Wang Dou also sensed many gazes sweep over him. In particular, Chen Xinjia, the Provincial Governor of Xuanfu, who was chuckling as he accompanied Lu Xiangsheng, let his gaze intentionally or unintentionally turn several times upon Wang Dou.

After the officials had entered, Wang Dou was about to leave. Today was all civil officials discussing affairs; he, a military officer, would be out of place. He would pay his respects to his Xuan Garrison superiors Chen Xinjia and Ji Shiwei another day. But Chen An came out and hastily called him back, saying the Viceroy had summoned him inside.

Wang Dou entered the post station and saw a great hall full of officials large and small. Among the crowd, only Lu Xiangsheng, the three Provincial Governors, and the various circuit military defense intendants had seats; the rest, such as Department Magistrates and County Magistrates, all stood properly behind their respective superiors according to rank order. Though the weather was extremely cold, and everyone was freezing, shrinking their necks and sniffling, no one dared to move even slightly.

Seeing Wang Dou, Lu Xiangsheng set down his teacup and smiled faintly: "Wang Dou, come here."

Amid the astonished gazes of the crowd, he smiled and beckoned Wang Dou close, saying, "Come and pay your respects to your various superiors of Xuan Garrison."

Wang Dou acknowledged the order. Lu Xiangsheng was elevating him before everyone, truly with painstaking intention. He first paid his respects to Chen Xinjia, the Provincial Governor of his own Xuanfu Garrison, addressing him as "Your Excellency."

"Your Excellency" in Ming times was a form of address for Viceroys and Provincial Governors, though by the late Ming, ritual protocol was in disarray, and even various garrison Regional Commanders were sometimes addressed as "Your Excellency." Chen Xinjia had a rather refined appearance, was in his forties, and was reputed to be deeply learned and also knowledgeable in frontier affairs, hence his appointment as Provincial Governor of Xuanfu. He spoke with a thick Sichuan accent, being a native of Changshou in Sichuan. According to history, he would soon be promoted to Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War and Right Assistant Censor-in-Chief, taking overall command of Xuan-Da, and in the thirteenth year of Chongzhen would rise even further to Minister of the Ministry of War — his official career was quite fortunate.

Only his final fate was known to Wang Dou alone — this was the advantage of a transmigrator.

As Wang Dou paid his respects to him, he said warmly, "Good. I have heard that you, Wang Dou, have been drilling troops and managing military farmlands in Baoan Department with considerable success. Truly, the young are to be regarded with awe."

A mere Garrison Commander like Wang Dou, no matter how talented, would not normally have caught Chen Xinjia's eye. But since the Viceroy Lu Xiangsheng held him in such high regard, he naturally had to take him seriously. Lu Xiangsheng praised and valued Wang Dou, and Wang Dou was an officer under his own jurisdiction; his achievements were also a glory to his own garrison. As his superior, he naturally had to offer a few warm words of comfort to show his care for his subordinate.

Next, Wang Dou paid his respects to Ji Shiwei, the Military Defense Intendant of Huailong Circuit. Ji looked at Wang Dou and nodded repeatedly: "Wang Dou, your promotion to Garrison Commander of Baoan Department is the commendation and favor shown to you by Viceroy Lu, Provincial Governor Chen, and the imperial court. Bearing the high expectations of your various superiors, you should be all the more cautious and diligent in your governance."

Wang Dou said, "My lord, your instruction is correct."

Hearing Ji Shiwei speak so appropriately, Chen Xinjia and the others all nodded. Seeing that Wang Dou was sensible and tactful, Ji Shiwei was also satisfied. He had originally intended to promote Wang Dou to Garrison Commander of Yongning City, but unexpectedly, Viceroy Lu Xiangsheng's regard for Wang Dou exceeded his expectations, and he personally recommended Wang Dou as Garrison Commander of Baoan Department city. Ji Shiwei had already appreciated Wang Dou, and with Wang Dou so favored by the Viceroy, Ji Shiwei made up his mind to firmly keep this expert in military and civil administration, Wang Dou, under his own control.

Li Zhen, the Department Magistrate of Baoan standing nearby, seeing Wang Dou so appreciated by all the superiors, felt rather uncomfortable. How true it was that having friends at court made officialdom easy. Just now, in his eagerness, he had unwittingly offended Military Defense Intendant Ji of the Eastern Circuit; for the sake of his own future prospects, he had better make more use of the path through Wang Dou.

……

The next day, the party set out, passing through Baoan Guard city, Huailai Circuit city, Yanqing Department city, then through Juyong Pass, Changping, and other places. Within the territory of Xuanfu Garrison it was still all right, but once they entered the Changping area, although it was a vital region of the capital environs, the departments, counties, and countryside were ruined and broken; sometimes for a hundred li there was no sign of human habitation, and at other times there were dense, dark masses of refugees, all heading toward the capital.

The Qing troops had plundered various places around the capital several times, and coupled with persistent disasters, this had inflicted profound calamity on the once-wealthy capital environs. All the refugees they saw were in tattered clothes, sallow and emaciated; from time to time they also saw famine victims lying dead by the roadside and piles of bleached bones that no one had buried.

Seeing such a tragic sight, Wang Dou felt he could hardly bear to look. Lu Xiangsheng also sighed deeply, tears welling in his eyes: "The people's livelihood is so bitter and hard; we should be ashamed."