Chapter 592: Marquis of Yongning (Part 2)

Wang Dou took 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 secretly glanced left and right and whispered, "Better not. If the protocol officer sees, I'm afraid I'll be impeached for disrespect before the hall. It would affect the Loyal and Brave Count."

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, while the other hand supported the heavy redwood and gold-threaded tray. In the howling, biting wind, the tray was as steady as Mount Tai, utterly motionless — a stark contrast to his frail, thin body that looked as if a gust of wind 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 watching Wang Dou, as well as the ceremonial ushers and protocol attendants, also pretended not to see. Among the various duty clerks, garrison superintendents, and guard commanders in front of the hall responsible for protocol enforcement, many also pretended not to see.

As for Wang Dou, many people already did not wish to provoke him — at least not openly. And that Wang Desheng was also the trusted personal eunuch of the grand eunuch Wang Chengen. Was Wang Chengen easy to provoke? Better to let one more matter pass than stir up one more trouble.

One protocol officer stiffened his face and made to approach, but Wang Dou's eyes flashed like lightning and swept over him, making his steps falter. The officer smoothly turned in a circle and walked off to one side.

At the exact hour of wei, the drums sounded. The imperial procession and carriage arrived. The civil and military attendant officials entered to welcome the imperial carriage. The drums struck three solemn rolls. The official of the Imperial Household Department petitioned the Emperor to don his ceremonial robes and crown in the Golden Body Hall. The Crown Prince and the various princes, for their part, donned their crown and robes in the eastern side chamber before the gate of the Fengtian Hall.

The usher led the civil and military officials in to take their standing positions on the crimson steps, and led the officers receiving awards in to stand in order on the crimson steps. Before long, the music of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices swelled. The Emperor's palanquin emerged; the whip cracked to signal his ascension to the throne. The Master of the Morning led the Crown Prince, Prince Yong, and Prince Ding in through the eastern gate of the Fengtian Gate, then led the hundred officials in, and then led each of the officers receiving awards in.

Wang Dou entered the Huangji Hall and swept his gaze around. He saw the Minister of Personnel and the Minister of Rites standing to the east of the cases bearing the patents of nobility and gifts. The Crown Prince, Prince Yong, and Prince Ding stood beside the imperial throne. The three little ones looked curiously at each of the generals receiving awards, their gazes lingering especially on Wang Dou.

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

The hall was densely packed with civil and military officials, and imperial guards and ceremonial attendants were everywhere. He had read the Collected Statutes of the Great Ming; the scene before his eyes matched the words in his memory.

They entered and took their kneeling positions. The duty clerk sang out that the ranks were aligned. At this, the master of ceremonies sang out "Bow," and the music of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices swelled.

"Prostrate."

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

"Rise."

Wang Dou stood up again.

"Prostrate..."

Wang Dou lay prostrate again.

"Rise..."

"Prostrate."

At last, Wang Dou heard: "...Stand upright."

Wang Dou stood straight, somewhat dizzy.

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

Wang Dou and all the officers and generals receiving awards knelt.

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

He swept his gaze over his jade tablet and shouted: "Let the first of the officers receiving awards be summoned. The Loyal and Brave Count, Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent, General Who Guards the North, Wang Dou, step forward to receive your enfeoffment!"

At this, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices struck up the "Song of Pacifying the Four Barbarians." The grand music seemed to rise from the very depths of the soul: "Little general, Great Ming lord. Pacifying the realm, sagely grace wide, holding firm the rivers and mountains. Eastern caitiffs, western barbarians, northern Di, southern Man. Hands raised high, treasure trays, joy before the hall. Five-cloud palace towers touch the heavens, golden light shining bright upon the eyes. Jade gutters, golden waters murmur softly; bowing heads to gaze, hastening steps to look. Ceremonial regalia solemn in a hundred thousand forms, striking awe and chilling hearts. Our Emperor ten thousand years in peace. Passing through the gate, pacifying the realm, pacifying the realm. Holding firm the rivers and mountains, soothing the hundred barbarians. Singing praises, dancing in worship, gazing up in blessing: for ten thousand times ten thousand years, the imperial enterprise secure!"

Amid the magnificent music, Wang Dou rose. Under the gaze of all, guided by an usher, he arrived before the cases bearing the patents of nobility and gifts. Directly opposite him was the throne of the Chongzhen Emperor.

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

Under the watchful eyes of the Chongzhen Emperor, the Crown Prince and the princes, and the civil and military officials, a drafting official stepped out from the ranks.

Amid the music, he proclaimed: "We commend the Loyal and Brave Count Wang Dou, who has rendered meritorious service to the state and is fit for increased noble rank and reward. We hereby appoint Wang Dou to the post of Regional Commander of Xuanfu Garrison, and confer upon him the title of Marquis of Yongning, with a stipend of three thousand shi, an iron certificate inscribed in cinnabar, and hereditary perpetual enfeoffment. May you receive Our command together and not disappoint Our hopes."

Wang Dou's heart stirred. Marquis of Yongning? He was stationed on the Eastern Circuit, so they were using Yongning City on the Eastern Circuit as his stipend fief.

He declined modestly, saying: "Your subject is fearful and trembling. Your subject's talent is shallow and learning meager; I fear I may fail to live up to the sacred grace."

The Chongzhen Emperor said: "My beloved minister need not be overly modest. In the Liaodong campaign, you took ten thousand heads, your merit outstanding. You deserve this enfeoffment."

Wang Dou declined again, and the Chongzhen Emperor again insisted. Finally, Wang Dou prostrated himself and said: "Your subject is sincerely fearful and apprehensive, and reverently accepts the command."

The civil and military grand ministers in the hall watched all this, and in their eyes there was no envy.

From the beginning of the Chongzhen reign, at first only Zhou Kui had been enfeoffed as Count of Retainer. Of course, later Wang Dou and Yang Guozhu were also enfeoffed as Loyal and Brave Count and Loyal and Upright Count. Now Wang Dou was further enfeoffed as Marquis of Yongning, and hereditary at that. In a while, a great crowd of counts and marquises would appear. Alas, the power of military men was flourishing greatly — a great misfortune for the dynasty.

At this moment, the newly appointed Minister of Personnel, Zheng Sanjun, took the patent of enfeoffment in his hands. His bearing and movements were quite similar to those of his predecessor, Li Rixuan. He squeezed out a smile on his face and said to Wang Dou: "Marquis of Yongning, 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, the master of ceremonies again sang out: "There is an enfeoffment. The principal wife of the Marquis of Yongning, Lady Wang née Xie, is virtuous, good, and proper, and may be made the Marchioness. His mother, Lady Wang née Zhong, may be made the Grand Marchioness. His eldest son, Wang Zheng, is shadowed as a Guard Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"There are rewards..."

"His Imperial Majesty rewards the Marquis of Yongning Wang Dou with parasols, canopies, banners, and the full ceremonial regalia of a marquis..."

"Rewards of caps and garments and such items: one gauze cap, one gold-inlaid rhinoceros-horn girdle, one set of regular court robes, one large red woven-gold chest-and-back qilin round-collared robe..."

"Rewards: one green inner garment, one leather cap, one seven-tasseled black crepe silk leather cap, one jade tablet, one large red plain leather cap robe..."

"Rewards: one gold-hook jade-and-gem brocade sash, one large red-and-white plain belt, four red vitriol red plain-gold-wrapped silk wrapping cloths."

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

Aside from the marquis's ceremonial regalia, the rewarded pearls, jades, caps, and garments were handed on the spot to Wang Dou by the aged and frail Minister of Rites, Fu Shuxun, whose every movement was trembling and tottering. It left 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 showed no expression of envy or jealousy.

The master of ceremonies called out for a long while, and finally said: "The rewards are complete. The Marquis of Yongning gives thanks for the grace."

He sang out loudly: "Prostrate yourself."

Wang Dou lay prostrate again.

"Rise... Prostrate... Rise... Prostrate... Rise... Stand upright."

Wang Dou had just stood up to catch his breath. The master of ceremonies again sang out: "Kneel."

He shouted: "Cry out 'Long live.'"

Wang Dou knelt facing the imperial throne, prostrated himself, and said: "Long live."

"...Cry out 'Long live.'"

Wang Dou rose, prostrated himself again: "Long live."

"Cry out 'Long live.'"

Wang Dou bowed again: "Long live Your Majesty."

"Long live Your Majesty."

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

"Long live Your Majesty."

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

"Long live Your Majesty."

Finally, the palace guard commanders, guard battalion commanders, and Grand Han Generals outside the hall echoed in unison.

The music from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices swelled, and the master of ceremonies at last sang the end of the rites. Another attendant came out and guided Wang Dou back to his original place. Along the way, congratulations surged like a tide. 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 looked at the people beside him, who were all gazing at him. He exhaled and said to Yang Guozhu beside him, "So exhausting — more tiring than fighting a great battle."

A smile appeared on Yang Guozhu's face: "No matter how tiring, it was worth it."

Wang Pu, not far away, also said, "Indeed, indeed. To be enfeoffed as a count or marquis, even exhaustion is worth it."

Cao Bianjiao, Wang Tingchen, and the others smiled, their expressions 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 self-possession, were uneasy at heart, uncertain what title they might receive.

They heard the master of ceremonies shout again: "The second recipient of honors, the Loyal and Upright Count, Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, General Who Guards the North — Yang Guozhu, step forward to receive your enfeoffment!"

Yang Guozhu's face immediately 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 vast scale. Not only were Wang Dou and Yang Guozhu enfeoffed as Marquis of Yongning and Marquis of Jibei, but all the other reinforcement commanders also received honors. Among them, Wang Pu was enfeoffed as Count of Dingxing, Wu Sangui as Count of Pingxi, Cao Bianjiao as Count of Jingnan, Wang Tingchen as Count of Ningnan, Liu Zhaoji as Count of Dongping, and even Tang Tong was enfeoffed as Count of Dingxi.

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

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

As for the civil officials, led by Hong Chengchou, his achievements in the Liaodong campaign were conspicuous. He was appointed Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, Pillar of State, and Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, and was likewise enfeoffed as a count — Count of Nan'an. His hometown was Nan'an County in Quanzhou Prefecture, Fujian, and to name his title after his native place carried profound significance.

Moreover, since the Hongzhi reign of the Great Ming, aside from Wang Shouren, all those enfeoffed were either imperial clansmen, imperial in-laws, or men of hereditary military noble origin. To be enfeoffed as a count while of civil official status was a rare sight indeed.

Thus Hong Chengchou was overcome with emotion. Coughing violently even as he wept aloud to express his gratitude, his physical condition caused the Chongzhen Emperor no small worry. The Liaodong affairs were temporarily settled, and Hong Chengchou, seasoned and experienced, handled matters with sincere dedication — he would have been the best choice to oversee the campaign to exterminate the roving bandits. But his health, it seemed, would not permit it...

After the conferment ceremony, when they had returned to their original places, Wang Dou looked toward Wang Pu, Yang Guozhu, Wu Sangui, and the others. Every one of them wore an expression of intense excitement, their steps unsteady, as though walking through clouds and mist.

He mused inwardly: "Cao Bianjiao is enfeoffed as Count of Jingnan, and Wang Tingchen as Count of Ningnan. It seems the Emperor's intention to transfer Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen south is very clear."

That day's conferment ceremony concluded. The merits of the remaining garrison officers from each defense zone were to be deliberated by the Ministry of War before rewards were decided. In the series of procedures that followed, there were still victory proclamations and sacrifices to be performed. To the Chongzhen Emperor and the Grand Secretaries, however, these were not urgent matters. The pressing business at hand was the garrison duties of each defense zone, and which frontier troops to transfer to the Central Plains to exterminate the roving bandits.

By now it was the hour of Shen. The Emperor ordered a grand banquet. During 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 again and again at Wang Dou and his companions. When the ninth cup of wine was reached, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices played the tune of the Nine Carriages and Six Dragons, and the officials of the Court of Imperial Entertainments withdrew the imperial table.

Before departing, the Chongzhen Emperor issued a decree summoning the Grand Secretaries, Viceroy Hong Chengchou, and the newly enfeoffed counts and marquises to a small banquet and discussion in the Western Garden.