Chapter 588: Where Is the Imperial Dignity?

Such scenes were visible everywhere in the capital. Compared to the common folk, who still carried a bit of a spectator's curiosity, the hundred officials and cabinet ministers were all terrified and panic-stricken. They had never imagined that Wang Dou's reaction would be so intense, so swift, so decisive!

And so many people supported him — nearly all the great generals of the border garrisons stood with Wang Dou. Just thinking about it made one's hair stand on end.

Even as their hearts trembled at the thought, they also felt caught between a rock and a hard place. If they did not comply with Wang Dou's wishes, did they really intend to tear away all pretense and openly fall out with each other? Setting aside Wang Dou's future threat, right now, if the hundred-thousand-strong border army became uncontrollable, the consequences were unimaginable. No one could shoulder that responsibility.

Yet if they yielded to the coercion of Wang Dou and his faction, where would the court's authority be? Where would the face of the Emperor and his ministers be?

The various Excellencies of the Cabinet: sj131netb

First of all, the deliberations on bestowing rewards upon each garrison — especially the deliberations on granting marquisates to Wang Dou, Yang Guozhu, and the others — would continue, and moreover be accelerated and expedited, in hopes of dissipating the anger of Wang Dou and his men.

Originally, had there been no rumors, although the Excellencies harbored some resistance to the proposals of granting marquisates and countships to the various generals, the matter was still within controllable bounds — at most a dispute between the Cabinet and the Emperor.

Moreover, this conferment of noble titles was entirely justified. The Battle of Jinzhou — what a brilliant victory! Ten thousand heads taken, even the false crown prince Huanzi beheaded. In the wake of such an unprecedented great triumph, rewards were only to be expected. Those detestable rumors!

The Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Luo Yangxing was ordered to thoroughly investigate the origin and cause of the rumors, and a joint investigation by the three judicial offices was also launched with great fanfare.

At this time, the great armies of the various border garrisons were encamped near Zhangjiawan. The Cabinet swiftly instructed the local government offices of Tongzhou to supply grain and provisions in abundance, and also to procure pigs, sheep, and the like to feast the three armies, striving to satisfy the garrison soldiers and dispel their anger.

The court officials had inquired and learned that although the border army was encamped not far from the capital, their military discipline was ironclad: they did not plunder, they did not harass the people, and they paid no heed to the vast, surging crowds of onlookers outside their camp. They even reinforced patrols with the Jingbian Army and the Xuanzhen New Army, suppressing any possible breaches of discipline. While everyone felt a measure of relief, pondering this made their hearts grow even colder.

The high officials implemented some divisive stratagems, secretly sending word to Yang Guozhu, Wang Pu, Fu Yingchong, and others, explaining that it was only because of the rumors that the deliberations on promoting the Loyal and Brave Count to marquis had been temporarily halted, and that the ennoblement of the Loyal and Steadfast Count and others had consequently been forced to a standstill — it was not deliberate obstruction.

But Yang Guozhu and the others were unmoved, resolutely standing by Wang Dou's side. The various officials had no choice but to give up in frustration.

Over the following days, the Cabinet ministers and the officials of the Six Ministries launched a massive wave of persuasion, intending to appeal to Wang Dou and his faction with reason and emotion, to dissuade them from such treasonous actions and thoughts.

Cabinet member and Minister of War Chen Xinjia, because of his friendly relations with Wang Dou, was duty-bound to be pushed by everyone to the front line, in the first wave.

Helpless and apprehensive, he arrived at Wang Dou's main camp and command tent. The imagined scene of swords at his neck and axes poised to strike did not occur. Wang Dou received him warmly, even serving tea and pastries, a cozy charcoal brazier, and personally draped a warm Donglu-style greatcloak over his shoulders.

Seeing Wang Dou, Chen Xinjia wore an awkward expression. He had walked into the command tent through the freezing wind, his beard blown into disarray by the wind and snow, which somewhat concealed his refined yet haggard features.

Chen Xinjia still felt some self-reproach. Having formed a faction with Wang Dou, he should have stepped forward vigorously to support him when Wang Dou was in trouble, but faced with the surging censors and the implicit alliance of high officials, he had shrunk back.

Alas, what was past was past, and could no longer be pursued. Perhaps a deep chasm had already opened between him and Wang Dou.

Like the principle that a broken mirror is hard to mend, repairing this chasm was no easy matter.

In fact, after they met, Chen Xinjia found he had no words to say. He also understood Wang Dou's character — he was not a man who would easily give up.

As he had expected, the talks between the two sides were bland yet polite. Chen Xinjia dryly conveyed the court's concern, and Wang Dou reiterated his own position. Before a single cup of hot tea was finished, Chen Xinjia took his leave, staggering away into the freezing wind.

Next, braving the biting cold wind, the visitor was Fu Shuxun, the Minister of Rites. The old gentleman was very aged, over seventy and nearing eighty. He traveled with light carriage and few attendants — one old horse, one old servant, driving a dilapidated cart.

Fu Shuxun was a man who strictly upheld his moral integrity. In governance, he was incorruptible, pitying the poor and feeding the hungry. His seniority was great; he had served in the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Rites, bustling about, leaving behind only a reputation for purity and self-discipline.

Wang Dou held great respect for the old gentleman. He personally went out of the main camp to welcome him, supported Fu Shuxun into the warm great tent, ordered his attendants to serve tea, and politely kept him company in conversation, listening to him pour out a bellyful of grievances about his decades of experience in governance.

Fu Shuxun rambled on for a long while. Realizing he could not persuade Wang Dou, he departed with a sigh — one old horse, one old servant, fading into the distance amidst the wind and snow.

The Minister of Personnel, Li Rixuan, was placed in the third wave of the persuasion campaign. Li Rixuan had always been known for his stern dignity and incorruptible clarity. Having served as a censor, his every move was rigidly proper. Moreover, with his high rank and great authority, his tone and expression unconsciously carried an aggressive, overbearing air.

After exchanging a few polite pleasantries with Wang Dou, he got straight to the point. He looked at Wang Dou, his brow furrowed: "This old minister knows the Loyal and Brave Count has suffered some grievances. But being in the imperial court, to act autocratically for one's own convenience without informing one's sovereign and father — is this not plunging one's sovereign and father into unrighteousness? Is this the conduct of a subject? Does the Loyal and Brave Count feel no shame?"

He prodded him with high-minded righteousness, his words carrying a clear tone of reproach.

Wang Dou said flatly, "This count has a clear conscience and feels no shame!"

He continued, "The soldiers at the front fight bloody battles, while rumors run rampant in the rear. Does this not chill the heart? If we do not seek justice, how can the soldiers be convinced?"

Li Rixuan looked at Wang Dou for a moment, stroked his beard, and said, "Hmm, the Loyal and Brave Count's words are not without reason. When this old minister returns to court, I will certainly pursue this matter in detail."

He mused, "According to informants, the various dangerous rumors targeting the Loyal and Brave Count were the work of someone colluding with treacherous elements in the court. But the rumors are tangled and chaotic as hemp; to get to the bottom of this in a short time — how easy is that?"

Wang Dou's gaze, sharp as a hawk's, stabbed straight at Li Rixuan's face. He said bluntly, "As for who spread the rumors and who directed them, I imagine His Excellency Li the Grand Secretary knows very well in his heart?"

Li Rixuan's face instantly turned ashen, then flushed red, then paled again. Finally returning to normal, he declared with righteous solemnity, "The Loyal and Brave Count speaks too severely. If this old minister knew who was responsible, I would certainly not let such treacherous scoundrels go!"

He left without drinking a single sip of tea. Amidst the flurries of snow, his back remained ramrod straight.

Wave after wave of persuaders came, and each returned with broken wings. They felt that facing Wang Dou was either like a dog trying to bite a hedgehog — nowhere to sink its teeth — or that Wang Dou was like a stone in a latrine pit, both foul and hard, impervious to both soft and hard tactics. Truly difficult to handle.

Finally, the Senior Grand Secretary Zhou Yanru personally took the field. He was fond of pomp, so even as an envoy, his procession was grand. Yet when it came to dealing with people and discoursing on principles, Zhou Yanru was undeniably skilled. After he entered the command tent, Wang Dou felt as if the season had shifted from harsh winter to warm spring.

He expressed praise and solicitude to Wang Dou, empathizing deeply with his plight. He stated that he himself had suffered similar misfortune — back then, the treacherous Chancellor Wen Tiren had caused him acute pain — and therefore he especially understood the Loyal and Brave Count's suffering.

At the deepest point of his speech, he could not help but sigh and lament.

Zhou Yanru listened very carefully to Wang Dou's words and demands, occasionally nodding, sometimes chiming in with a few words, giving one the feeling of being bathed in a spring breeze, like a kindly elder.

After the time it took to drink five cups of hot tea, Zhou Yanru sighed and said, "Indeed, the Loyal and Brave Count's words are entirely reasonable."

His palm slowly pressed forward, firm and forceful, and his expression was equally stern: "You must trust the court. It will certainly give you justice!"

When taking his leave, Zhou Yanru was somewhat distracted, perhaps because even his personal intervention had failed to persuade Wang Dou. In a moment of inattention, he stumbled and nearly tripped to the ground. The attendants beside him hurriedly supported the Senior Grand Secretary Zhou...

Seeing that the Grand Secretaries and various high officials were visiting Wang Dou in wave after wave and all returning safe and sound, the people of the capital set their minds at ease. Those who felt qualified to make the trip came one after another — on one hand, to show the court and the public that they too had exerted themselves for the court; on the other, if they could persuade the Loyal and Brave Count, that would be an unparalleled merit.

Some officials who had never met Wang Dou saw that he was not the domineering, ferocious fiend of legend, and that the various military camps were in perfect order with ironclad discipline. They could not help but sigh, all feeling: "A fine man — why must it be so?"

Li Guozhen, the Count of Xiangcheng, also organized the capital's nobles — counts, marquises, and the like — to make a trip, casually visiting Fu Yingchong along the way. In his words, he also very subtly expressed support for Wang Dou.

Cabinet members Wei Zaode and Chen Yan, who participated in cabinet deliberations, also came for a polite persuasion attempt. But Wang Dou could see that they were purely going through the motions. Perhaps they harbored a mindset of watching a good show regarding this matter.

The hundred officials returned one after another with broken wings, and the atmosphere in the capital grew heavier by the day. At their wits' end, the Chongzhen Emperor and the hundred officials all thought of the Army Supervisor Wang Chengen, who had once fought side by side with Wang Dou, and the Imperial Envoy Wang Dehua. They were sent over at last.

Upon meeting Wang Dou, Wang Chengen was composed enough, intending to earnestly persuade him, but Wang Dehua burst out with a loud "Wah!" and began wailing, giving Wang Dou a great start.

Sobbing, he said, "Loyal and Brave Count, for the sake of our shared bloodshed in battle, save your younger brother, so that your younger brother can go back and report on his mission."

Wang Dehua, honored as the Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial and much older than Wang Dou, actually referred to himself as "younger brother."

Even as his hair stood on end, Wang Dou could only shake his head helplessly: "Why must Eunuch Wang distress himself so?"

After thinking for a moment, he took out a list and placed it in Wang Dehua's hands: "Here is a partial list of the rumor fabricators and instigators. What is to be done — that depends on His Majesty's will."

The second day of the eleventh month, in the fourteenth year of the Chongzhen reign.

It had already been three days since the border army's aggrieved clamor began. Watching the great army massed in the vital region of the capital environs, the Chongzhen Emperor was deeply worried. He had never imagined that the army's triumphant return would lead to such an outcome.

Court deliberations had been held again and again, yet the investigation into the rumors progressed slowly, as if a vast network of power was shielding the perpetrators. Meanwhile, Wang Dou was impervious to both soft and hard tactics, his stance unyielding. One misstep in how the situation developed, and it would be a state of utter ruin beyond redemption.

After leaving court, the Chongzhen Emperor furrowed his brow tightly. The matter could not be dragged on any longer. Setting aside the crisis of the border army going out of control and the confrontation with Wang Dou, even the prolonged indecision itself would become a laughingstock in the history books — something the Chongzhen Emperor absolutely could not tolerate!

Everything had started with the censors. Then let those jabbering crows who still stubbornly refused to shut their beaks be the first to face the blade. In this way, it could also serve as a small explanation to the armies of the various garrisons, and an explanation to Wang Dou.

It was just that, in our dynasty, speech does not bring guilt; if a remonstrance official were punished, how would the court and the provinces view it, how would the gentry and commoners view it, and how would the annals of history record it in the future?

The Chongzhen Emperor only felt his heart tangled like hemp, his head aching as if splitting.

Thinking of Wang Dou, a feeling of anger again surged in his heart.

In his mind, Wang Dou had always been both loyal and righteous, striking wherever the court pointed; in the Liaodong campaign, his Jingbian Army had suffered heavy casualties. True, the court had treated Wang Dou unfairly this time, but had his reaction not been excessive? Had he considered His Majesty's feelings, or the court's face?

Then thinking of the hundred thousand border troops from various garrisons led by Wang Dou, he could not help but shudder. In his vexation and confusion, he came to the Kunning Palace. Empress Zhou had always been virtuous; arriving here, the Chongzhen Emperor's restless mood could finally calm a little.

Seeing the Emperor arrive, Empress Zhou was indeed delighted. Adhering to the precept that the inner palace must not interfere in politics, she did not discuss state affairs with the Chongzhen Emperor, speaking only of trivial family matters, such as whether the two little children, the Crown Prince and Prince Ding, had been well-behaved, whether they had been studying, and so on.

A smile appeared on the Chongzhen Emperor's face; distancing himself from the tangled topics of politics indeed made his mood much better.

But women do tend to talk at length; without realizing it, Empress Zhou again brought the conversation around to their daughter, Zhu Meichuo. She sighed, "That child Meichuo came looking for me again this afternoon, weeping and sobbing, doing nothing but pleading Wang Dou's case. Ah, a daughter's heart turns outward; why is she so interested in that Wang Dou?"

Speaking of this matter, the Chongzhen Emperor was equally vexed: "What is the matter with that girl? She is a woman of the imperial clan, destined to marry; how can she keep bringing up a man from another family? What kind of decorum is this?"

Empress Zhou frowned and said, "Let us never speak of that Zhou Shixian again, so sordid... Our Meichuo is an honorable princess, pure and noble; how could she be matched with such a base and vile person?"

The rumors in the capital had also reached the palace. Because they involved the prospective imperial son-in-law Zhou Shixian, Empress Zhou had also ordered someone to find some illustrated books about Zhou Shixian. Upon seeing them, her anger was incomparable, and her revulsion toward Zhou Shixian reached its peak; she was no longer willing to take such a person as imperial son-in-law.

She furrowed her long, elegant brows and sighed, "Foolish child..."

How could she not know her daughter's thoughts? Pondering back and forth, her eyes suddenly lit up, and she said to the Chongzhen Emperor, "Is Your Majesty not troubled by the matter of Wang Dou? Now Wang Dou is about to be ennobled as a Marquis, and he holds a heavy army, victorious in every battle. Were it not for this matter, he is also loyal to the court. Why not have Your Majesty betroth Meichuo to him? Meichuo would obtain her wish, and Your Majesty would also gain a powerful ally."

The Chongzhen Emperor was stunned for a moment, then rebuked her: "A woman's shallow view. That Wang Dou already has a wife; how could an honorable princess like Chuor become a concubine? Where would Our face be? Where would the imperial family's face be?"

He continued, "Furthermore, by ancestral custom, imperial sons-in-law may not command troops. Would Wang Dou be willing to give up his military power and retire to the capital to be kept in idleness?"

Empress Zhou said in a low voice, "In urgent matters, one may bend the rules. Let Wang Dou continue to lead his troops. Your servant has also investigated; that Wang Dou only has Ji Junjiao as one equal wife, and he may still take a second wife."

Regarding Wang Dou's affairs, because of her daughter Zhu Meichuo, Empress Zhou had also carefully studied them. Several years ago, she had also met Wang Dou; at that time she thought him rough and boorish, but now she felt he was spirited and heroic, imposing and dashing—a good match for her daughter.

The Chongzhen Emperor shouted in rebuke: "Nonsense! What equal wife? That is purely a trick concocted by foolish men and women, by merchant types. Does the Great Ming Code have such a law? Do the ancestral rites and institutions have such a system? You, esteemed as Empress, a model for all under Heaven, yet you speak such absurd words like a foolish village woman. What kind of decorum is this?"

He rarely used such harsh words with Empress Zhou, and she was brought to the point of tears. The Chongzhen Emperor continued: "That Ji Shiwei could brazenly let his daughter become a concubine; We do not have his shamelessness... Oh, Wang Dou already has one cheap father-in-law; does he want Us to become a second one? Hmph!"

With a flick of his sleeve, he stormed out in a rage.

Empress Zhou called out several times: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty."

Behind him, she silently shed tears: "Your Majesty, you are simply too stubborn. For the sake of the realm and the altars of state, what does losing a little face matter?"