Chapter 592: Marquis of Eternal Peace (Part 2)

Wang Dou pulled out his own handkerchief and handed it to Wang Desheng. "Your nose is about to run. Wipe it."

Wang Desheng was quite moved, but he stole a glance left and right and whispered, "Better not. If the protocol officer sees, I'll likely be impeached for improper conduct before the hall. It would affect the Loyal and Brave Earl."

Wang Dou smiled faintly. "It's fine. Wipe."

Wang Desheng glanced left and right once more, then snatched the handkerchief from Wang Dou's hand with lightning speed. With one hand he wiped his nose; with the other he supported the heavy redwood and gold-thread tray. In the biting, gusting wind, the tray was as steady as Mount Tai, utterly motionless — a stark contrast to his frail, slight frame that looked as if a breeze could knock him over.

Wang Dou gave Wang Desheng a meaningful look, then turned his head back.

Beside him, Hong Chengchou, Yang Guozhu, Wang Pu, Wang Tingchen, and the others all pretended not to see. Many of the civil and military officials paying attention to Wang Dou's side, as well as the ceremonial ushers, also pretended not to see. Many of the various duty officers, guard commandants, and escort generals in front of the hall responsible for protocol also pretended not to see.

As for Wang Dou, many people already did not want to provoke him, at least not openly. And that Wang Desheng was also the trusted young eunuch beside the grand eunuch Wang Chengen — was Wang Chengen someone easy to provoke? Better to let one more matter slide than stir up unnecessary trouble.

One protocol officer stiffened his face and made to come over, but Wang Dou's eyes, sharp as lightning, swept over him, making his steps falter. He smoothly turned in a circle and walked off to the side.

At the exact hour of wei, the drums sounded. The Emperor's procession and carriage arrived. The civil and military attendants entered to welcome the imperial carriage. The drums beat three solemn rolls. The official of the Imperial Household Department petitioned the Emperor to don his imperial robes and crown in the Jinshen Hall. The Crown Prince and the various princes donned their ceremonial robes in the front Fengtian Hall gate and the eastern side room.

An usher led the civil and military officials to take their places standing in the cinnabar courtyard, and led the officers to be honored to stand in order in the cinnabar courtyard. Before long, the music of the Imperial Music Bureau swelled. The Emperor's palanquin emerged; the whip cracked to mark his ascension to the throne. The Master of the Morning led the Crown Prince, Prince Yong, and Prince Ding in through the east gate of Fengtian Gate, led the hundred officials in, and led the various officers to be honored in.

Wang Dou entered the Hall of Imperial Supremacy and swept his gaze around. He saw the Minister of Personnel and the Minister of Rites standing to the east of the cases holding the imperial patents and gifts. The Crown Prince, Prince Yong, and Prince Ding stood beside the imperial throne. The three little ones looked curiously at the various generals being honored, their gazes resting especially on Wang Dou.

To them, Wang Dou's great name was like thunder piercing the ear.

The civil and military officials were densely packed, and the guard honor guards were spread everywhere. He had read the Collected Statutes of the Great Ming; the scene before him matched the text in his memory.

They entered and took their bowing positions. The duty officer sang out that the ranks were assembled. At this moment, the master of ceremonies sang out to bow, and the music of the Imperial Music Bureau swelled.

"Bow."

Amid the music, Wang Dou and everyone else all prostrated themselves.

"Rise."

Wang Dou stood up again.

"Bow..."

Wang Dou lay prostrate again.

"Rise..."

"Bow."

Finally, Wang Dou heard: "... Stand upright."

Wang Dou stood up straight, somewhat dizzy.

But very quickly, the master of ceremonies sang out again: "Officers receiving honors, kneel!"

Wang Dou and the various officers receiving honors all knelt.

At this moment, the music stopped. The master of ceremonies sang out: "Confer the rewards!"

He glanced at his jade tablet and shouted: "Summon the first officer to receive honors. The Loyal and Brave Earl, Grand Guardian of the Crown Prince, General Who Guards the North, Wang Dou, step forward to receive your enfeoffment!"

At this moment, the Imperial Music Bureau struck up the 'Song of Pacifying the Four Barbarians.' The grand movement seemed to rise from the very depths of the soul: "Little general, Great Ming lord. Pacifying the realm, sacred grace wide, holding Jiangshan. Eastern caitiffs, Western Rong, Northern Di, Southern Man. Hands raised high, treasure trays, joy before the hall. Five-cloud palace towers link the firmament, golden light shining bright to the eyes. Jade gutters, golden waters murmur and flow, bowing heads to observe, hastening steps to gaze. Ceremonial regalia solemn in a hundred thousand forms, striking awe and terror into hearts. Our Emperor ten thousand years in peace, passing through the gate, pacifying the realm, pacifying the realm. Holding Jiangshan, soothing the hundred barbarians, singing praises, dancing, gazing up in blessing and praise, for ten thousand times ten thousand years, the imperial enterprise secure!"

Amid the magnificent music, Wang Dou rose. Under the gaze of ten thousand eyes, guided by an usher, he came before the cases of imperial patents and gifts, directly facing the throne of the Chongzhen Emperor.

And the young eunuch Wang Desheng also followed behind Wang Dou. After Wang Dou stood firm, he stood in attendance to Wang Dou's left rear.

Under the gaze of the Chongzhen Emperor, the Crown Prince, the various princes, and the civil and military officials, an edict-bearing official stepped out from the ranks.

Amid the music, he proclaimed the decree: "We commend the Loyal and Brave Earl Wang Dou, who has rendered meritorious service to the state. It is fitting to bestow rank and reward. We now appoint Wang Dou to the post of Chief Military Commander of Xuanfu Garrison, and confer upon him the title of Marquis of Eternal Peace, with a stipend of three thousand shi, an iron certificate inscribed in cinnabar, hereditary and perpetually enfeoffed. We hope you, minister, will together receive Our command and not fail Our expectations."

Wang Dou's heart stirred. Marquis of Eternal Peace? He was stationed in the Eastern Circuit, so that meant Yongning City in the Eastern Circuit was his stipend fief.

He declined modestly, saying: "Your minister is fearful and tremulous. Your minister's talent is meager and learning shallow; I fear I may fail the sacred grace."

The Chongzhen Emperor said: "Beloved minister, do not be overly modest. In the Liaodong campaign, you took ten thousand heads; your merit is outstanding and brilliant. You deserve this enfeoffment."

Wang Dou declined again, and the Chongzhen Emperor urged again. Finally, Wang Dou bowed and said: "Your minister, sincerely fearful and apprehensive, respectfully accepts the command."

The civil and military grand ministers in the hall watched all this, their eyes not free of envy.

From the start of the Chongzhen reign, at first only Zhou Kui was enfeoffed as Earl of Jiading. Of course, later Wang Dou and Yang Guozhu were also enfeoffed as Loyal and Brave Earl and Loyal and Upright Earl. Now Wang Dou was further enfeoffed as Marquis of Eternal Peace, and hereditary at that. Later, a whole crowd of earls and marquises would appear. Alas, the power of military men was flourishing greatly — a great misfortune for the dynasty.

And at this moment, the newly appointed Minister of Personnel, Zheng Sanjun, took the enfeoffment patent in his hands. His bearing and movements were quite similar to those of his predecessor, Li Rixuan. He squeezed a trace of a smile onto his face and said to Wang Dou: "Marquis of Eternal Peace, congratulations."

He handed the patent to Wang Dou. Wang Dou received it and passed it to the young eunuch Wang Desheng beside him.

At this moment, the master of ceremonies sang out again: "There is an enfeoffment. The principal wife of the Marquis of Eternal Peace, Lady Wang née Xie, is virtuous, good, and proper, and may be the Marchioness. His mother, Lady Wang née Zhong, may be the Grand Marchioness. His eldest son, Wang Zheng, is granted the hereditary privilege of Brocade Guard Commander."

"There are rewards..."

"His Majesty the Emperor rewards the Marquis of Eternal Peace Wang Dou with canopies, banners, and a marquis's ceremonial regalia..."

"Rewards of caps, robes, and other items: one gauze cap, one gold-mounted rhinoceros-horn belt, one set of regular attire of gauze, one crimson round-collared robe woven with gold chest-and-back qilin..."

"Rewards: one green inner garment, one leather cap and crown set, one seven-tassel black crepe silk leather cap, one jade tablet, one crimson plain leather cap robe..."

"Rewards: one brocade sash with gold hooks and jade pendants, one large belt of red and white plain silk, four red alum red plain gauze gold-threaded wrapping cloths."

"Rewards: one bolt of black-green patterned silk, one bolt of deep blue plain silk, ten bolts of white woolen cloth, ten bolts of white woolen cloth..."

Besides the marquis's ceremonial regalia, the rewarded pearls, jades, caps, and robes were handed to Wang Dou on the spot by the aged and frail Minister of Rites, Fu Shuxun, whose every movement was trembling and tottering, leaving him panting and out of breath. Wang Dou received the gifts brought out by the rites officials and handed them one by one to the young eunuch Wang Desheng behind him.

Watching the pile of gifts Wang Dou received grow higher and higher, the civil and military officials in the hall uniformly wore expressions of neither envy nor jealousy.

The master of ceremonies called out for a long time, and finally said: "The rewards are complete. The Marquis of Eternal Peace shall express his gratitude."

He sang out: "Prostrate yourself."

Wang Dou lay prostrate again.

"Rise... Bow... Rise... Bow... Rise... Stand upright."

Wang Dou had just risen to catch his breath when the master of ceremonies sang out again: "Kneel."

He shouted: "Cry out the mountain call."

Wang Dou knelt facing the imperial throne and bowed, saying: "Ten thousand years."

"... Cry out the mountain call."

Wang Dou rose, then bowed down again: "Ten thousand years."

"Cry out the mountain call."

Wang Dou bowed again: "Long live the Emperor."

"Long live the Emperor."

The musicians and military officers in the hall shouted in unison.

"Long live the Emperor."

The civil and military officials in the hall then shouted in unison.

"Long live the Emperor."

Finally, the garrison guards, guard commanders, Great Han Generals, and others outside the hall echoed in unison.

The music of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices swelled, and the master of ceremonies at last finished the rites. Another attendant came out and guided Wang Dou back to his original place. Congratulations surged like a tide along the way. The young eunuch Wang Desheng followed closely behind Wang Dou, a tray in his hands piled high with gifts.

Wang Dou returned to his original spot and saw the people beside him looking his way. He exhaled and said to Yang Guozhu beside him, "So exhausting — more tiring than a great battle."

A faint smile appeared on Yang Guozhu's face. "Exhaustion well worth it."

Wang Pu, not far away, also said, "Indeed, indeed. To be enfeoffed as an earl or marquis — the exhaustion is worth it."

Cao Bianjiao, Wang Tingchen, and the others chuckled. Their expressions were full of anticipation. Tang Tong was so nervous his whole body trembled. Even Wu Sangui, usually so composed, and Hong Chengchou, for all his profound shrewdness, were both uneasy at heart, uncertain what title they might receive.

They heard the master of ceremonies again call out loudly: "The second officer to receive reward — Loyal and Chaste Earl, Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, General Who Guards the North, Yang Guozhu — step forward to receive your enfeoffment!"

Yang Guozhu's face instantly filled with intense emotion. To the music of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, he straightened his robes and cap and strode forward...

The enfeoffment ceremony on the day of Yiyou was of enormous scale. Not only were Wang Dou and Yang Guozhu enfeoffed as Marquis of Eternal Peace and Marquis of Jibei, but all the other reinforcement army commanders received titles and rewards. Among them, Wang Pu was enfeoffed as Earl of Dingxing, Wu Sangui as Earl Who Pacifies the West, Cao Bianjiao as Earl Who Pacifies the South, Wang Tingchen as Earl Who Guards the South, Liu Zhaoji as Earl of Dongping, and even Tang Tong was enfeoffed as Earl of Dingxi.

Although apart from Wang Dou, Yang Guozhu, Wang Pu, and Wu Sangui, the rest all received non-hereditary floating titles, they were already fully satisfied. Fu Yingchong also obtained a Regional Commander post, finally putting him on equal footing with his sworn brother Chen Jiugao.

The great generals who had fallen in battle — Zu Dashou, Ma Ke, Bai Guang'en, Zuo Guangxian, Li Fuming, and others — were likewise posthumously enfeoffed as earls and marquises.

As for the civil officials, led by Hong Chengchou — his military achievements in the Liaodong campaign were evident. He was appointed Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, Pillar of State, and Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, and was likewise enfeoffed as an earl: the Earl of Nan'an. His hometown was Nan'an County in Quanzhou Prefecture, Fujian, and naming the title after his hometown carried profound significance.

Moreover, since the Hongzhi reign of the Great Ming, aside from Wang Shouren, all others who received noble titles were either imperial clansmen, imperial in-laws, or men of distinguished military lineage. To be enfeoffed as an earl as a civil official was an exceedingly rare sight.

Thus Hong Chengchou was overcome with emotion. Coughing violently even as he wept and gave thanks for the imperial grace, his physical condition filled the Chongzhen Emperor with deep worry. The Liaodong affairs were temporarily settled, and Hong Chengchou, seasoned and experienced, handled matters with sincere diligence — he would be the best choice to oversee the campaign to exterminate the roving bandits. But his health, it seemed, would not permit it...

After the conferrals and their return to their original places, Wang Dou looked toward Wang Pu, Yang Guozhu, Wu Sangui, and the others. Every one of them was brimming with excitement, their steps unsteady, as though walking through clouds and mist.

He mused inwardly: "Cao Bianjiao is enfeoffed as Earl Who Pacifies the South, and Wang Tingchen as Earl Who Guards the South. It seems the Emperor's intention to transfer Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen southward is quite clear."

That day's conferral ceremony concluded. The merits of the remaining garrison officers were to be deliberated by the Ministry of War before rewards were decided. Amid the series of procedures, there were still victory proclamations and sacrifices to perform. To the Chongzhen Emperor and the Grand Secretariat ministers, these were not the most urgent matters. The pressing issue at hand was the garrison and duty assignments for each force, and which border troops to transfer to the Central Plains to exterminate the roving bandits.

By now it was already the shen hour. The Emperor ordered a grand banquet. Throughout the feast, Wang Dou, Yang Guozhu, and the others received an unending stream of congratulations. The Chongzhen Emperor, the Crown Prince, and the various princes also looked toward Wang Dou and the others again and again. When it came to the ninth cup of wine, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices played the tune of the Nine Carriages and Six Dragons, and the officials of the Court of Imperial Entertainments removed the imperial table.

Before taking his leave, the Chongzhen Emperor issued a decree summoning the Grand Secretariat ministers, Supreme Commander Hong Chengchou, and the newly enfeoffed earls and marquises to a small banquet and discussion in the Western Garden.