Chapter 235: The Entire Army Shall Take Him as Their Model

Not long after the eunuch departed with the decree, the Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary Yang Sichang hurried in.

He entered the warm chamber and announced, "Your subject Yang Sichang comes before Your Majesty. May my Emperor live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years."

He knelt and kowtowed with the utmost reverence to the Chongzhen Emperor. Favored as he was, he always showed extreme deference in every audience, meticulous to the last detail of protocol. This was one reason the Chongzhen Emperor cherished and trusted Yang Sichang — a capable man, utterly loyal to him. If he did not favor such a worthy minister, whom else could he favor?

After completing the rites, Yang Sichang remained prostrate on the square-brick floor, awaiting the Emperor's words.

The Chongzhen Emperor's voice rang out, brimming with delight: "Minister Yang, rise quickly."

Yang Sichang again expressed his thanks with deep respect, then rose to his feet.

Nearly fifty, he was still robust and vigorous, his beard and hair jet-black, his eyes bright and alert — the very picture of shrewd competence. The scarlet official robe he wore only enhanced his extraordinary bearing. Compared to the prematurely aged, haggard Chongzhen Emperor, his physical upkeep was beyond reproach.

He stole a glance at the Emperor's expression and, seeing boundless joy, understood the situation well. Still, he maintained a look of perfect deference, waiting for the Emperor to speak.

The Chongzhen Emperor said delightedly, "Minister Yang, take a look at these two memorials."

Yang Sichang stood even more properly and received the two memorials handed over by a eunuch with both hands — one was Lu Xiangsheng's victory report, the other Chen Xinjia's victory report. He began reading them with meticulous care.

The Chongzhen Emperor, brimming with satisfaction, took a sip of tea and watched Yang Sichang's expression with some anticipation.

He saw Yang Sichang read for a long while, his eyes growing redder and redder, until tears nearly rolled down. Yang Sichang solemnly adjusted his robes and cap, then once again performed the grand rite before the Chongzhen Emperor, exclaiming loudly, "By the vast fortune of our ancestors and the awe-inspiring might of His Majesty, Vice Minister Lu and Viceroy Chen have achieved such a great victory. Your humble minister respectfully congratulates His Majesty, and congratulates the Great Ming!"

At this, he prostrated himself on the floor, already sobbing uncontrollably. The Chongzhen Emperor laughed heartily. Moved by Yang Sichang's demeanor, he personally stepped forward to help him up and said gently, "My dear minister, there is no need for this. Rise quickly."

He then called to his attendants, "Someone, bring a chair for Minister Yang."

Immediately, a duty eunuch brought over a brocade stool and said respectfully to Yang Sichang, "Please be seated, venerable sir."

Yang Sichang cautiously perched on half the seat, then addressed the Chongzhen Emperor with a solemn expression: "Your Majesty, for such a great victory by Vice Minister Lu and Viceroy Chen, an edict of commendation should be issued at once to boost the morale and fighting spirit of our Great Ming armies."

He continued, "That Mobile Corps Commander Wang Dou of Baoanzhou, who cut down enemy commanders and seized their banners, achieving great slaughter, must also be well commended, to encourage him to slay more rebels for the state and win new merits for Your Majesty."

"General Wang was originally an officer of the Xuan Garrison. The Regional Commander of the Xuan Garrison, Yang Guozhu, should also be well encouraged!"

The Chongzhen Emperor nodded repeatedly. There were rumors that Yang Sichang and Lu Xiangsheng were at odds, and that Yang Tinglin had even impeached Yang Sichang over it. Yet now, seeing Minister Yang's sincere attitude and hearing his words, everything came purely from a selfless public spirit. He had even personally requested honors for Lu Xiangsheng. Such a capable and upright minister was truly rare.

The Emperor said slowly, "Both Lu Xiangsheng and Chen Xinjia are pillars of the state. I shall naturally commend them well."

A smile appeared on his face: "However, Chen Xinjia clearly possesses greater talent. Under his command, General Wang has again taken over six hundred and seventy heads. Truly remarkable."

He clasped his hands behind his back and paced a few steps inside the chamber, then raised his voice: "As for Wang Dou, I shall issue a general order to all three armies, proclaiming General Wang's successive great victories. Let all officers and soldiers of my Great Ming take General Wang as their model, their exemplar and paragon for slaying the enemy."

Yang Sichang bowed again: "Your Majesty is brilliant."

In a cheerful mood, the Chongzhen Emperor said to Yang Sichang, "I have already considered when to announce the victory at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. As Minister of Rites, you shall oversee this matter."

Yang Sichang replied, "This is my humble duty. Your Majesty may rest assured that I shall arrange everything flawlessly, so that all Great Ming officers, and all the common people of the capital, shall know of this great victory, and the barbarians beyond the frontier shall not dare to look down upon our Celestial Great Ming."

The Chongzhen Emperor nodded with satisfaction. As the two were speaking, a eunuch came to report: "The Viceroy of Xuan-Da, Chen Xinjia, has arrived."

Being granted an audience once again, Chen Xinjia was also nervous. Upon entering the warm chamber, he stole a glance at Yang Sichang and saw him nod slowly in his direction. Overjoyed, he felt reassured.

He likewise knelt and kowtowed to the Chongzhen Emperor with the utmost reverence. The Emperor bade him rise and said warmly, "That you could achieve such a great victory brings me deep comfort."

Chen Xinjia knelt again: "It was entirely by Your Majesty's vast fortune that such a great victory was possible. Your humble minister dares not claim credit."

The Chongzhen Emperor nodded slowly. He also granted Chen Xinjia a chair and told him to sit while speaking. Although the memorials described the course of the victory, the Emperor still wished to hear Chen Xinjia's account in person. This, of course, posed no difficulty for Chen Xinjia. Glib of tongue, he recounted a battle he had never even witnessed with thrilling suspense, adding many literary embellishments, until the Chongzhen Emperor repeatedly slapped the table in amazement.

After Chen Xinjia finished, the Chongzhen Emperor sighed, "It must have been truly hard for you, Minister Chen, to personally oversee the battle and venture into perilous ground. To have a loyal minister like you, who risks his life for the state, is truly a blessing for my Great Ming."

Chen Xinjia's emotions surged. With such words from the Emperor, a brilliantly bright future lay ahead. His eyes reddened, and he rose from his chair again to kowtow. He choked out, "Even if I were crushed to powder and my bones shattered, it would be difficult to repay one ten-thousandth of His Majesty's grace."

The Chongzhen Emperor sat down with satisfaction. He looked to his left at Yang Sichang, and to his right at Chen Xinjia. Though the nation faced many hardships, with these two loyal and capable ministers assisting him, perhaps the day was not far off when the declining trend could be reversed.

He suddenly recalled something and said teasingly to Chen Xinjia, "Is General Wang currently in your camp? I wish to summon him here to personally comfort and encourage him."

Chen Xinjia and Yang Sichang exchanged a glance. Chen Xinjia smiled wryly: "In reply to Your Majesty, the timing is truly unfortunate. The military situation in Baoding is urgent, and Viceroy Lu has also sent someone to request reinforcements. I had no choice but to reluctantly send General Wang with his troops to provide aid. Early this morning, General Wang led his troops away." The Chongzhen Emperor was somewhat disappointed and sighed, "What a pity indeed."

He glanced at Chen Xinjia: "Originally, with General Wang under your command, it would have been like adding wings to a tiger, winning new merits for the state. But no matter — all are subjects of the Great Ming, with no distinction between one and another. Whichever commander General Wang serves under, he slays rebels just the same."

He looked at Chen Xinjia and nodded repeatedly: "That you could consider the military situation, reluctantly part with a valued asset, and place state affairs first — I am very pleased."

Chen Xinjia kowtowed again: "As Your Majesty says, both I and Vice Minister Lu are subjects of the Great Ming. Though I am dull-witted, I know this is no time for timidity or avoiding battle. As for General Wang, although I greatly admire him — and under my command, he is the bravest and most skilled in battle — when the military situation became urgent, he was the first I thought of to dispatch with his troops."

The Chongzhen Emperor nodded and bade Chen Xinjia rise, then said to him, "Just now, Minister Yang and I were discussing the matter of announcing the victory at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. I have heard that in this great victory, General Wang seized many banners, armor, and helmets from the slave rebels?"

Chen Xinjia replied respectfully, "Precisely. In this great victory, General Wang took over six hundred and seventy heads. Among them were many slave-rebel officers such as jiala zhangjing and fende bocuku, as well as other chieftains and leaders. Moreover, we captured the rebel jiala zhangjing's great banner and armor, along with countless other banners. I have already had them all properly preserved."

When Wang Dou had Wen Daxing transport the heads, the various captured banners were also delivered. As for the slain jiala zhangjing Hu Da — his banner and his armor — Wang Dou, knowing their great significance, did not keep them for his own stores but sent them along with the carts. After Chen Xinjia received this jiala zhangjing's great banner and armor, he treasured them as priceless acquisitions. Finding the great banner not tattered enough, he even tore it up a bit himself.

Hearing Chen Xinjia's words, the Chongzhen Emperor's dragon countenance grew even more delighted. In past battles, it had been difficult even to capture the banners, helmets, and armor of Qing officers like the fende bocuku, let alone the great banner, helmet, and armor of a jiala zhangjing. He said excitedly, "With this batch of slave-rebel heads and banners, when we announce the victory at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, it will boost military morale and fighting spirit all the more."

Emerging from the warm chamber, Chen Xinjia still felt light and buoyant all over, though he kept stealing glances at Yang Sichang's expression beside him. On his face, however, he maintained a look of utter deference.

Before Chen Xinjia, Yang Sichang naturally did not act as he did before the Chongzhen Emperor, but wore an expression of haughty pride.

He seemed lost in thought along the way. After a long while, he smiled slightly at Chen Xinjia and said, "Brother Fangyuan, His Majesty's impression of you is excellent. With this batch of military merits in hand, after a few years of tempering in Xuan-Da, entering the Grand Secretariat in the future will not be difficult."

Chen Xinjia was overjoyed and bowed deeply to Yang Sichang: "It all depends on Senior Grand Secretary Yang's cultivation and patronage."

Yang Sichang nodded slowly, then suddenly added, "You had best secure more military merits. And that Wang Dou — you must keep him well in hand."

Chen Xinjia said bitterly, "Grand Secretary, though Wang Dou fights bravely, he is far too arrogant and domineering. Leaving without a word like that — he does not take me, his student, seriously at all."

Yang Sichang said coolly, "Wang Dou is but a military man, not worth worrying about. You need only win him over. The key is that Lu Xiangsheng."