Chapter 586: Something Terrible Has Happened

Lao Bai Niu: Good, average subscriptions have reached six thousand, and peak subscriptions are over ten thousand. The results are making me more and more satisfied. I'll post another chapter tonight, though I can't say exactly when — around midnight. Friends who are used to staying up late can read it tomorrow.

The rumors in the capital were in fact known to those heading there, since they too had eyes and ears in the city and their own sources of intelligence.

Yang Guozhu, Wang Pu, Cao Bianjiao, Wang Tingchen, Fu Yingchong, and the others were both furious and worried. Yang Guozhu was purely indignant on Wang Dou's behalf, while the rest, besides feeling the same indignation, were also angry that their own rewards might fall through.

When it came to being enfeoffed as marquis or count and receiving military merit rewards, the interests of all the commanders were aligned. Once the news spread, the officers and soldiers of every garrison were equally outraged — even Fu Yingchong cursed and grumbled when he heard it.

In truth, while in the capital Fu Yingchong had also received gifts from the Shanxi merchants, but compared to his friendship with Wang Dou, those personal benefits were so trivial they barely counted. If he had to choose, he would sell out those treacherous merchants without the slightest hesitation.

After getting the news, Tang Tong said to his subordinate officers with the wisdom of hindsight, "Alas, the Loyal and Brave Count — this is what happens when merit overshadows the sovereign. I always knew this day would come. A man who is too good at war suffers for it. In fact, being like us is not so bad — we invite no suspicion, yet no one looks down on us either."

The officers of Miyun Garrison flattered him profusely, praising their grand commander for his far-sighted vision and foresight, for knowing the principles of keeping a low profile and preserving oneself through prudence.

Over on the Liaodong officers' side, Zu Dale and Zu Dabi were somewhat gloating; the death of Zu Zerun still rankled in their hearts.

Seeing their expressions, Wu Sangui frowned and said, "My two uncles, the Loyal and Brave Count shed blood for the nation, and the court treats him so — this cannot but chill the hearts of the soldiers in every garrison who fight and bleed for the country. On this point, we should stand with the Loyal and Brave Count."

He continued, "Setting aside the dozens of red-barbarian cannons the Loyal and Brave Count left in Liaodong, even our eldest uncle on his deathbed urged us to befriend the Loyal and Brave Count and befriend the Border-Pacifying Army. Now is the perfect opportunity."

Of the over one hundred Han Eight-Banner red-barbarian heavy cannons captured by the Border-Pacifying Army, the court, after consulting Wang Dou, kept several dozen to defend the cities of Liaodong. The rest remained with Fu Yingchong's Divine Machine Battalion and were gradually being transported back to the capital. Everyone in the capital was intensely curious about those four-wheeled grinding-disc cannons of the Tatars.

A portion of these cannons was also to be shipped to Jizhen.

Upon hearing this news, Hong Chengchou, Wang Chengen, Zhang Ruoqi, and the others turned pale with shock.

Zhang Ruoqi sighed, "The censors again. Alas, Lord Chen is also muddled — at a moment like this, he should be stepping forward to give his strongest support."

He himself had suffered bitterly at the hands of those censors and supervising secretaries. Back when he represented the Ministry of War in purchasing a batch of fine-crafted arquebuses from the Eastern Route, merely for wanting a bit of commission money, he was besieged and interrogated by the censors. Fortunately, his eloquence was exceptional, and he ultimately argued them all into silence and extricated himself — but even afterward, the fear still lingered.

If Wang Dou were surrounded and attacked by censors at the court conference, he would truly have a hundred mouths but be unable to defend himself. Those crows were the best at twisting logic and pestering relentlessly — even if Wang Dou grew a hundred more mouths, he could never explain himself clearly. And more than that, it was utterly disheartening.

Throughout the journey, Hong Chengchou had been worrying about another matter. The court's suspicion of the Border-Pacifying Army was growing heavier by the day. Perhaps from now on, the Loyal and Brave Count and his invincible Border-Pacifying Army would never again be seen on the battlefield. With the bulk of the Tatar enemy still present and roving bandits rampaging within, what would become of the nation's affairs?

He had been fretting over this incessantly, and when he heard the rumor, he cursed bitterly: "These fools — they angle for fame and parade their rectitude, chasing shadows and catching the wind, convinced of their own loyalty and service to the nation, yet they are pushing His Majesty into injustice. How can the lords at court be so muddled?"

As he cursed, he coughed violently, even coughing up blood, which filled the aides beside him with both worry and fear.

Hong Chengchou knew that the censors of this age were mostly fame-seekers who flaunted their outspokenness, caring only about leaving their names in the history books. They paid no heed to what consequences might follow. But to delay the deliberations on enfeoffing marquises and counts like this — that would provoke the resentment of all the frontier armies, perhaps even unrest, and would plunge the nation into peril!

What did the frontier armies fight for? Hong Chengchou, who had served as Viceroy for many years, knew it deeply: nothing more than to win titles for their wives and children, to bring glory to their ancestors. The common soldiers fought only for some military merit reward silver. Cut off their path to rewards, and the consequences would be unthinkable!

Yet, to actually submit a memorial to the court, to argue this matter, and to make enemies of the censors and high officials? At this thought, Hong Chengchou hesitated again.

Like Hong Chengchou, although Zhang Ruoqi also sighed and lamented, for him to make enemies of the court officials and censors was impossible. He could only hope that Chen Xinjia would step forward and speak loudly on Wang Dou's behalf. But Chen Xinjia's performance made Zhang Ruoqi resent his incapacity and rage at his failure to fight.

In the end, both men went to find Wang Chengen. Just as they were about to discuss the matter, a piece of news arrived that shook everyone, including Wang Chengen, to the core, leaving them soul-scattered and faces pale.

It seemed that, enraged by the rumors in the capital and the attitude of the court and public officials, the Loyal and Brave Count had ordered the Border-Pacifying Army to turn toward Changping and would not return to the capital to receive his rewards.

What did this signify?

Wang Dou intended to cast aside the court and no longer play within the bounds of the system. At the slightest misstep, both sides would tear off all pretense and stand in naked opposition, all warmth between them gone. The formidable Border-Pacifying Army would henceforth stand on the opposing side — this was a calamity of heaven-shaking proportions, a crisis far graver than the roving bandits and the Tatar foe combined.

If it truly came to that, even setting aside the peril to the nation, the final fate of the three of them would be equally dire. Losing their posts would be the least of it — they might even risk losing their heads.

Fortunately, there was still room to salvage the situation. Upon hearing the news, Yang Guozhu and the others had already rushed to Wang Dou's tent, pleading bitterly to make Wang Dou change his mind. The three men, bringing their aides and attendants, also hurried to Wang Dou's tent.

By now, Wang Dou's command tent was already packed with a dark mass of people. Officers below the rank of Mobile Corps Commander could only wait outside the tent. Wang Dou's prestige across all the frontier garrisons was long established, and his connections were broad, so every Regional Commander and senior general who got the news had come. Even Wu Sangui brought Zu Dale and Zu Dabi and rushed over to plead with him.

The moment he saw Wang Dou, Zhang Ruoqi said in alarm, "Let us talk this over properly. The Loyal and Brave Count must not do this. This humble official understands the Count's grievances and deeply detests the misconduct of those censors. I will certainly submit a memorial to argue on the Count's behalf."

He looked at Hong Chengchou, who was coughing into a silk handkerchief while nodding: "This old man will submit a memorial at once to argue on the Loyal and Brave Count's behalf, and will certainly not let the hearts of the loyal and brave officers and soldiers grow cold."

Tears streamed from Wang Chengen's eyes. He stepped forward and said earnestly, "As Viceroy Hong and Army Supervisor Zhang have said, His Majesty and the lords at court have been deceived by treacherous men. I shall return to the capital at once and argue before His Majesty on the Loyal and Brave Count's behalf. I only beg the Count on no account to withdraw the army, lest we fall into the villains' treacherous trap and do that which grieves our friends and gladdens our foes."

Wang Dou merely sat there with a cold expression.

Yang Guozhu was extremely anxious and nearly shed tears himself. The old general stepped forward, seized Wang Dou's hand, and said urgently, "Guoqin, listen to your older brother's advice: hold still for now. There will be a way to weather this storm in the capital — only, whatever you do, do not break with the court!"

He swept his gaze around the tent at everyone present and said sternly, "Treacherous ministers hold sway at court, and petty men spread rumors unchecked — this is taking a sharp knife and gouging out the hearts of us frontier generals. The loyalty and righteousness of the Loyal and Brave Count are witnessed by heaven and sun. How can we sit by and let rumors harm him? If the court does not handle this properly, I, too, shall not enter the capital to receive my rewards!"

Wang Pu gritted his teeth and shouted, "Count me in."

Fu Yingchong hesitated a moment, then likewise shouted, "Count me in."

Wang Tingchen laughed heartily: "Back in Pinggu, I fought shoulder to shoulder with the Loyal and Brave Count in bloody battle. How could this matter not count me in?"

Cao Bianjiao nodded forcefully: "Count me in."

Wu Sangui ignored the meaningful looks from Zu Dale and Zu Dabi and said with equal gravity, "I shall share the same hatred as the Loyal and Brave Count and the Loyal and Upright Count, and advance or retreat together with them!"

Liaodong Regional Commander Liu Zhaoji nodded: "I shall advance or retreat together with the Loyal and Brave Count!"

Tang Tong looked around, then said hastily, "Count me in too."

Wang Dou raised his head and looked sharply at Yang Guozhu and the others: "Commander Yang, you all..."

Yang Guozhu waved his hand, his face filled with resolve. Scenes from his acquaintance with Wang Dou surged through his mind, especially the Battle of Julu and the bloody battles in Liaodong. Suddenly his throat tightened with emotion, his face flushed crimson, and he raised his hand and roared: "Injustice!"

"Injustice!"

Inside the command tent, the generals' furious shouts spread, and their voices carried beyond the tent, drawing answering cries, and traveled onward to one frontier army encampment after another. Through the wind and snow, like winter thunder rolling across the land, over a hundred thousand soldiers roared: "Injustice, injustice, injustice!"

Hong Chengchou, Zhang Ruoqi, Wang Chengen, and the others all changed color. Something terrible had happened.

South of the eastern side of the capital was Zhaoyangmen, and north of the eastern side was Dongzhimen. With the great victory in Liaodong, the capital was seething with excitement. Because in this great battle the relief army had also suffered heavy casualties and lost five senior commanders — one of them the widely revered Left Chief Commissioner Zu Dashou — the Great Ming court had taken great pains to welcome the returning army and had prepared all manner of ceremonies.

When the army arrived, and when the coffins of the senior commanders arrived, the entire Grand Secretariat was to go out of the city to receive them. At that time, the sovereign and ministers of the Great Ming would also hold three sacrificial rites for the fallen commanders, and the whole city would wail in mourning to grieve for the fallen officers and soldiers.

It was already the you hour by reckoning, and according to reports from ahead, the returning army would reach the capital the next day. Officials from the Ministry of Rites were making a final inspection tour inside and outside Zhaoyangmen, aiming to ensure that every ceremonial detail on all sides would be perfect and beyond reproach, so that the returning officers and soldiers would be moved to tears of gratitude and their resolve to fight for the nation would be further strengthened.

A secretary from the Ministry of Rites took one last look around the Zhaoyangmen area and nodded to himself — there should be no oversights. Suddenly he frowned. Faintly through the wind and snow, he heard the urgent sound of hoofbeats ahead, as if several dozen riders were galloping swiftly toward them. In the vital precincts of the capital, who would spur their horses at such a mad gallop?

An officer guarding the gate cursed under his breath and was about to step forward to investigate when suddenly his eyes widened and his jaw dropped. That pack of arrogant riders was drawing closer. In the approaching dusk and the unceasing flurry of snowflakes, he made out the clothing and features of the man at their head.

He wore a gold-inlaid three-peaked hat and a python robe. His face, originally sharp and harsh, bore an expression of utter arrogance.

That face of the man at their head — this officer had once been fortunate enough to see it. It was none other than Wang Chengen, the greatly favored eunuch of His Majesty, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, Lord Wang. It was said he had gone to Liaodong as army supervisor and was returning with the victorious army. How could...

And this usually steady and somber Lord Wang now wore a flustered expression and seemed in a frantic hurry. The officer was about to step forward and ingratiate himself — perhaps he could help run an errand.

Just as a smile spread across his face, he heard Lord Wang shriek, "Out of the way!"

Without the slightest mercy, he spurred his horse straight forward, charging through the city gate and nearly knocking both the officer and the Ministry of Rites secretary to the ground. The rest of his retinue likewise whipped their horses on, not uttering a sound, and with cries of "hya hya," they galloped off into the distance.

At last, after they had all passed, the officer and the Ministry of Rites secretary stared at each other in bewilderment, both thinking: "What on earth has happened?"