Chapter 612: River of Blood (Part One)

In the warm main hall, Wang Dou sat steadily in the host's seat, observing Zhu Zhifeng and Du Xun. A Grand Ming grand coordinator was generally a Vice Minister of War concurrently holding the titles of Left or Right Assistant Censor-in-Chief, roughly rank two or three, so Zhu Zhifeng wore a bright red official robe with a golden pheasant rank badge.

He was around fifty-some years old; whether pleased or angered, his face remained stern, his lips pressed tightly together, like a stubborn old man.

He sipped his tea, constantly sizing Wang Dou up.

That Du Xun, on the other hand, was in his forties, wearing a Sanshan hat and a bright red robe embroidered with a winged, fish-tailed flying dragon — the famous flying fish robe. He had the same round, pudgy frame as Wang Dehua, but his expression lacked Wang Dehua's geniality, faintly betraying an air of arrogance.

He had started out as the seal-holder of the Directorate of Palace Delicacies, and being able to serve as a garrison eunuch for an entire frontier town showed the Chongzhen Emperor's high regard for him. Setting aside formal status, in terms of actual assignment, Du Xun faintly loomed over Wang Dou — no wonder he was arrogant.

The authority of a Grand Ming garrison eunuch was immense; an imperial edict from the Xuande era spelled this out in detail: "... All military and civil officials, banner troops, village elders, as well as local strongmen and great households, long-term deserters, escaped convicts, absconded clerks, and long-serving government runners who, relying on power and force, coerce government offices, embezzle grain and funds, monopolize official goods, exploit the common people, or harbor fugitives, kill and wound, or forcibly seize land and population, or defile people's wives, concubines, and children, or instigate and quash lawsuits, frame the innocent, or gather lawless gangs to plunder the countryside and harm soldiers and civilians — you shall jointly investigate the facts with the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Hu Gai. Those who should be arrested, regardless of whether they are soldiers, civilians, or officials, shall be seized at once, and together with their families, escorted by government troops to the capital. Should any resist, dispatch troops from the local guard post to capture them, and still submit a memorial reporting the matter..."

In other words, the garrison eunuch held the authority to supervise civil and military officials, to dispatch guard-post troops to suppress popular uprisings, to rein in powerful local households, to arrest fugitives, to recommend to the central government the addition or reduction of administrative and military installations as local security required, to coordinate the official business of provincial civil and military officials as well as prefectural, sub-prefectural, and county offices, and to resettle displaced populations.

By the late Chongzhen period, eunuchs were dispatched en masse to oversee the various frontiers and strategic points near the capital. These eunuchs further held military command tallies, with unprecedented powers to make all expedient decisions on troop movements, to reward and punish officials for merit or fault entirely at their own discretion — it was clear the Chongzhen Emperor placed his greatest hopes in them. Yet in the face of Li Zicheng and the Manchu iron cavalry, the garrison eunuchs surrendered one after another, leaving only the Brush-holding Eunuch Wang Chengen to die alongside the Chongzhen Emperor.

As castrated slaves of the imperial household, when catastrophe struck, each fled for himself — there was no loyalty to speak of.

At this moment, Du Xun's mouth was opening and closing, talking incessantly; his lips were very thin, giving one a sense of sharp-tongued harshness.

"Marquis of Eternal Peace, since your esteemed army is returning in triumph, let the officers and men go back to their camps and reunite with their families. Setting up fortified encampments like this — under which military regulation does this fall..."

"His Majesty has shown great favor, appointing the Marquis of Eternal Peace as Chief Commandant of Xuanfu Garrison. You should proceed at once to the town seat, hand over military affairs with the previous commander, and promptly attend to defense — that is the proper course. What is the meaning of all this dilly-dallying?"

"And Yang Guozhu, where has he gone..."

"... The Marquis of Eternal Peace has always prided himself on loyalty and righteousness, yet from what I see before me, what is all this meant to accomplish?"

"Marquis of Eternal Peace..."

"Marquis..."

Wang Dou felt as if ten thousand flies were buzzing in his ears. He rose and began pacing, but Du Xun followed at his side and kept on nagging, his tone even carrying a note of exasperation at Wang Dou's failure to do the right thing!

Wang Dou's nose caught a faint whiff of urine odor from Du Xun's body — a physiological issue no eunuch could avoid — and he felt somewhat nauseated.

Wang Dou pondered.

Then he heard Du Xun continue: "... When this eunuch was in the town seat, quite a number of soldiers and civilians came to weep and complain, saying that the Marquis of Eternal Peace vies with the people for profit and embezzles merchants' and civilians' grain and funds. Entrusted by His Majesty to inspect the welfare and ills of Xuan Town's soldiers and civilians, to root out the vicious and evil and bring peace to the good and virtuous, I wonder what defense the Marquis of Eternal Peace has to offer? This servant might then memorialize His Majesty and plead your case somewhat."

Wang Dou looked at Du Xun, noting his solemn expression, his righteous and awe-inspiring air, the very image of Judge Bao reborn. Someone who did not know better would think some incorruptible official had wandered in from somewhere.

Wang Dou could not help but find it a little amusing — this eunuch was putting on such a sanctimonious act right in front of him.

He knew perfectly well what sort of creature Du Xun was: corrupt and lawless, to say nothing of the fact that, historically, when Li Zicheng took Xuanfu, Du Xun and Commander Wang Chengyin rode thirty li out of the city to welcome him, then volunteered to serve as Li Zicheng's envoy, being hauled up the city wall in a basket to meet the Chongzhen Emperor and lavish praise on Zicheng. Later, he was lowered back out and said with a laugh to the various garrison eunuchs, "Our wealth and rank are secure."

Hmph. These eunuchs, every one of them psychologically twisted. From the moment he had arrived in Great Ming, among the eunuchs Wang Dou had encountered, few were decent sorts — Gao Qiqian, Liu Yuanbin, Du Xun... how many were good goods? Perhaps because they represented imperial authority, they had grown accustomed to throwing their weight around in the provinces, and no matter how resentful civil officials or military officers were, none dared show them disrespect to their faces.

Although Wang Dou commanded a powerful army, enjoyed fame across the realm, and held deep noble rank, that sense of superiority within Du Xun still lingered, and now he was even scolding Wang Dou.

Wang Dou eyed Du Xun coldly, watching his mouth open and close in an endless torrent, then suddenly reached out and shoved him aside: "Enough noise. Go cool off somewhere."

Caught off guard, Du Xun stumbled and nearly fell sideways. He let out a loud cry, and several young eunuchs standing in attendance hurried over to steady him.

In the hall, the attendants of Zhu Zhifeng and Du Xun were all dumbstruck. Some Jingbian Army guards and shogunate officials, though every one of them kept their eyes fixed straight ahead, could not help but snicker.

Du Xun had been so overbearing earlier, glaring and scowling at the Grand General, and they had all been burning with fury watching it. Wang Dou's action now was immensely satisfying to witness.

Zhu Zhifeng was also astonished. He then set down his teacup with a clack and said coldly, "Marquis of Eternal Peace, how can you treat the Garrison Overseer so rudely? Have you no regard for official decorum and propriety?"

By now Du Xun had recovered himself. His face flushed red, he shook off the hands supporting him and pointed at Wang Dou, shrieking: "... Fine, fine... fine, very fine, you Wang Dou, treating this servant like this — this servant will impeach you before His Majesty!"

Wang Dou cast him a faint glance, too lazy to bother with this chief eunuch whose intelligence had not reached the age of three, and merely said to Zhu Zhifeng, "Sir Zhu has come to the Eastern Circuit — may I ask what guidance you have to offer?"

Zhu Zhifeng indeed shifted his attention.

Setting aside his reproach of Wang Dou, he said with a solemn expression, "By His Majesty's generous favor, I have been appointed Provincial Governor of Xuan Town, and I have also heard that the Marquis of Eternal Peace has returned in great victory and been appointed Chief Commandant of Xuan Town. Henceforth, this old man shall serve alongside the Marquis of Eternal Peace in this town, shepherding the people on Heaven's behalf and protecting the common folk. I have therefore come to pay a visit, in the hope that the Garrison Overseer, the Provincial Governor, and the Chief Commandant may be as one body, jointly serving the imperial court."

As he spoke, he carried a strong metropolitan accent — he was from Daxing, on the outskirts of the capital.

This stubborn old man was already old enough to be Wang Dou's father. The travel-worn dust on his person showed he had clearly hurried the whole way; at his advanced age, in such weather, that was no small feat.

Wang Dou said, "Sir Zhu has been most considerate, and the journey must have been exhausting."

Du Xun, standing to the side, saw that he was being ignored by Wang Dou, and that Wang Dou's earlier action had utterly humiliated him. Yet after thinking it over, he suddenly realized that, apart from impeachment, he had no way to do anything about Wang Dou. He ground his teeth, let out a loud snort, and sat down angrily to the side, fixing Wang Dou with a furious glare.

Still, from their exchange, Zhu Zhifeng was satisfied with Wang Dou's bearing and manner. He stroked his long beard, and his hard, iron-like face rarely showed a smile: "I have long heard of the Marquis of Eternal Peace's great name. Meeting you today, indeed the reality surpasses the reputation. With the Marquis of Eternal Peace here, the dynasty is most fortunate, and the Son of Heaven is blessed."

Wang Dou smiled faintly: "Sir Zhu overpraises me. I am unworthy of such honor."

After the pleasantries, Zhu Zhifeng sat even more upright. Looking at Wang Dou, he said with a serious expression, "Some days ago, when treacherous merchants brought harm to the Eastern Circuit, this grand coordinator was filled with righteous indignation. Such lawless scoundrels — this old man will certainly deal with them severely and give the Marquis of Eternal Peace an accounting."

Wang Dou inclined his body: "I am grateful for Sir Zhu's concern, and even more grateful for Sir Zhu's timely assistance in transporting salt and tea. I am deeply thankful."

Zhu Zhifeng waved his hand: "This is merely this grand coordinator's bounden duty."

He looked at Wang Dou: "Now that the Marquis of Eternal Peace has returned with his army, may I ask what your next step will be?"

Wang Dou glanced at the people around him. At once, the shogunate and Jingbian Army personnel all took their leave and withdrew from the hall. Seeing this, Zhu Zhifeng's and Du Xun's attendants also retreated.

Du Xun snorted again: "Mysterious mummery."

Wang Dou's sharp gaze swept over. Du Xun jumped up again, retreating from his seat, and shrieked: "You... what are you going to do now?"

Wang Dou shook his head, then spoke a few sentences.

"What?"

"Impossible."

"Impossible!"

Du Xun bounced back to his seat, shrieking: "Outrageous, utterly outrageous! Wang Dou, you are arrogant and domineering to the extreme — this servant will impeach you before His Majesty!"

Wang Dou looked at Du Xun for a long moment. Just as Du Xun's hair began to stand on end, Wang Dou suddenly said, "After the matter is done, this marquis will give Garrison Overseer Du fifty thousand taels of silver as a token of goodwill."

Du Xun's eyes widened, his expression furious: "Marquis of Eternal Peace, are you insulting me?"

Wang Dou's expression remained unchanged. He said flatly, "One hundred thousand taels."

Du Xun's expression shifted slightly, but he was still angry.

He declared with impassioned fervor, "This servant, favored by His Majesty, left the dazzling world of the capital for this godforsaken, poverty-stricken place — for what? One word: loyalty! I, Du Xun, with a heart of pure devotion, for country and for people, how could I stoop to such collusion and petty scheming? Marquis of Eternal Peace, do you want me to betray my principles as a man?"

Wang Dou said, "Two hundred thousand taels. Take it or leave it."

Du Xun's mouth gaped wide. Stammering, he said, "Wha... what? Are you serious?"

He lowered his head, his expression flickering uncertainly, and muttered to himself, "Two hundred thousand taels... let me calculate..."

Zhu Zhifeng, standing nearby, had been listening to the exchange between Wang Dou and Du Xun, and was already so furious his nose was practically crooked.

His whole body trembling, he suddenly slammed the table beside him, rattling the teacups with a clatter.

He stood up, pointed at Wang Dou and Du Xun, and shouted sternly: "A garrison eunuch and a garrison regional commander — look at the two of you! Have you no sense of decorum left? One openly offering bribes, the other openly accepting them — in your eyes, is there no law or discipline? Are the sacred instruments of state to be toyed with by you so wantonly? I would sooner cast aside this official's hat than not memorialize the imperial court to impeach the both of you!"

Du Xun was still bent over his calculations, head down. Wang Dou looked at the old man, inwardly impressed.

He said, "Sir Zhu, calm your anger for a moment, and take a look at these first."

He handed over the intelligence he had once shown Yang Guozhu. The two men exchanged a glance, then both began reading with puzzled expressions.

The more Du Xun read, the more astonished he became, until finally he relaxed, as if having made a decision. He slapped the table with loud smacks and declared righteously: "Shocking — truly shocking... Outrageous, utterly outrageous. These treacherous merchants, these villains — if we do not kill them, we cannot quell the people's fury; if we do not root them out, we cannot restore discipline!"

He turned to Wang Dou, his expression already softened to one of warmth, and sighed: "Earlier, this eunuch misunderstood the Marquis of Yongning. Where I was improper, I beg the Marquis of Yongning to be magnanimous."

Wang Dou smiled faintly: "Garrison Overseer Du is too harsh on himself. The garrison overseer is of lofty virtue and high prestige. Hereafter in the garrison city, I shall still need the garrison overseer's much guidance and support."

As the two exchanged mutual flattery, faintly forming an alliance, Zhu Zhifeng on the other side was both furious beyond control and deeply heartbroken. He had long known that Xuan-Da was rotten, but never imagined it was so outrageous. His own efforts to rectify governance and military affairs in the garrison city now seemed to have touched only the surface, mostly futile labor. With the state of the nation like this, how could his heart not break?

Watching Zhu Zhifeng's hands tremble, his expression one of grief and indignation as if on the verge of despair, Wang Dou sighed as well.

Shanxi and the three garrisons of Xuan-Da were essentially the heartland of the eunuch-faction officials and generals. Zhu Zhifeng, as a man of no faction, had never been able to gain much support in a place like Xuan-Da. His determined drive for reform inevitably offended a great many people by disturbing local interest groups.

The more upright he was, the more people he offended. A man like him could hardly survive in the late Ming, where murky currents flowed everywhere. In history, after Li Zicheng advanced on Xuanfu, Du Xun surrendered, Regional Commander Wang Chengyin surrendered, and the entire city surrendered. Zhu Zhifeng personally tried to fire the cannons, only to be pulled away by those around him. In the end, Zhu Zhifeng hanged himself, and his body was dumped in the moat by the rebel soldiers.

"The Supreme Commander of Xuan-Da, Grand Commandant Ji, has already approved this marquis's action. Garrison Overseer Du, Military Commandant Zhu — these maggots have already eaten away the very foundation of the Great Ming. They have read the sages' books to the full, yet instead of thinking how to repay the nation, they undermine this state's walls at every turn. They watch, utterly unmoved, as the common people lose all means of livelihood. They are parasites upon the nation. If we do not root them out, how can state affairs ever improve?"

"Of course."

Wang Dou said, "Grand Commandant Ji's directive already bears this marquis's countersignature. This matter is of grave importance. If you two gentlemen do not approve of countersigning, this marquis will fully understand and will bear no grudge against either of you."

Zhu Zhifeng's face, already iron-gray, had now turned black. Finally, he heaved a deep sigh: "The Marquis of Yongning speaks rightly. The dynasty has reached a point of manifold maladies, rotten from top to bottom. Without applying thunderous measures, how can we restore a clear, bright sky to the Great Ming?"

He declared resolutely: "Confucius said, 'Achieve benevolence'; Mencius said, 'Choose righteousness.' Though I face ten thousand men, I shall go forward. This governor will also countersign the directive to arrest the treacherous merchants of Xuan Garrison!"

Watching the old man's determined expression, Wang Dou nodded. Knowing full well that once action was taken, a storm of impeachment and attack would follow — open spears and hidden arrows, emerging endlessly — Zhu Zhifeng still went forward without looking back. One could not help but admire him. Though the Great Ming was now shrouded in layer upon layer of gloom, it was not without points of light, and that was precisely because of men like Zhu Zhifeng.

Not only Zhu Zhifeng, but also Cai Maode, Wei Jingyuan, and many, many others. Among these men were those of no faction, those of the Donglin faction, and those of the eunuch faction. Wei Jingyuan, for instance, was of the eunuch faction; Cai Maode was of the Donglin faction. Lu Xiangsheng and Sun Chengzong were also Donglin. It was because of these loyal, righteous heroes that the Great Ming was remembered with such longing in history.

Of course, each of them had its scum — such as the high Donglin official Qian Qianyi, "the water is too cold," and the eunuch-faction backbone Sun Zhixie, who was first to advocate shaving the head and first to lead the change of dress.

Yet those who could overcome the conflict between family and country — these orthodox Confucian sons — commanded deep respect. After the Ming fell, the number of Great Ming officials and officers who died in battle, by suicide, or in other ways, and whose posthumous names are verifiable, exceeds eight thousand. Compare this to the lament of the remnant loyalists when the Manchu Qing fell: "... The state nourished scholars for two hundred years, and this is the outcome — what more is there to say?"

The Great Song and the Great Ming — in nourishing scholars, the state had indeed succeeded.

Wang Dou's principle was this: whether Donglin faction, eunuch faction, or no faction — whatever the faction, if a man was loyal and righteous for the nation's sake, he admired him; if not, he despised him.

Hearing Zhu Zhifeng's words, Wang Dou said happily: "Excellent. I shall advance and retreat together with Sir Zhu, working with one heart in Xuan Garrison to make it a land of peace and refuge for the Great Ming."

Du Xun, however, was somewhat hesitant, unsure whether he should countersign his own name. He wanted that two hundred thousand taels of silver, yet worried about all manner of consequences.

But Zhu Zhifeng's next words made Wang Dou's face darken.

Zhu Zhifeng turned to Wang Dou with a solemn expression and said: "After the treacherous merchants are investigated and banned, all silver, valuables, and goods seized should be turned over in full to the state treasury. As ministers of the realm, how can we privately hide or embezzle, taking even a single cent or a fraction of an ounce, and commit such disloyal and unrighteous acts?"

"As Regional Commander of Xuan Garrison, the Marquis of Yongning is perfectly justified in arresting the treacherous merchants of Xuan Garrison. However, if he crosses the border and the river to go to Datong and Shanxi Garrisons, even with Grand Commandant Ji's documents, it is ultimately improper. In this governor's opinion, we should request an imperial decree for judgment, and let the three judicial offices deliberate and decide..."

On the twenty-fourth day, at the hour of the rabbit.

The twelfth month was already near, and the weather was bitterly cold. The north wind of the previous night had frozen the remaining snow into hard ice. Now the wind swept the lingering clouds, and banners and pennants rustled and snapped. "Woo... woo... woo..." The long, drawn-out horn calls sounded. One dense, dark military formation after another assembled, stretching endlessly into the distance.

Seeing the army's overwhelming might, Du Xun could not help but change color. He could clearly hear his own heavy breathing and that of his attendants.

In yesterday's haste, he had paid little attention to the Jingbian Army's troops. Now, observing them carefully, such a formidable force made one's heart tremble with fear just to behold. He was secretly alarmed — yesterday he had actually roared at Wang Dou. It was fortunate that Wang Dou had restrained himself; otherwise...

Then his heart eased. With Wang Dou commanding such a powerful army, it seemed his cooperation with the Marquis of Yongning was a wise choice after all. Even if censors and supervising secretaries attacked him afterward, he might perhaps be able to slip through unscathed and enjoy his money with a clear conscience.

Two hundred thousand taels of silver! Since arriving at Xuan Garrison, he had desperately scraped for money, and what did he have to show for it? It was entirely worth the gamble.

Unlike other parts of the Great Ming, every piece of land in the Eastern Circuit that could be reclaimed had already been reclaimed. Winter wheat fields were everywhere, and naturally they could not be trampled by warhorses. So the army formations all avoided the farmlands and assembled on some wild ground and hills.

At this moment, on a hilltop several li from Yulin Fort, banners were planted thickly. Wang Dou's central-army commander's standard, even higher, billowed and unfurled in the wind. Here, Yang Guozhu, Wang Pu, and the others all stood beside Wang Dou. And next to Wang Dou and the others, Zhu Zhifeng's iron-black face had relaxed somewhat.

After he had spoken those words yesterday, he and Wang Dou had quarreled fiercely again. He demanded that after the treacherous merchants were investigated and banned, all silver, valuables, and goods seized be turned over in full to the state treasury. How could Wang Dou possibly agree? Even if he conceded ten thousand steps, once this money was turned over, apart from being embezzled by others, how many taels of silver would actually be used for proper purposes? So it was absolutely out of the question.

Furthermore, Zhu Zhifeng also believed the army should not be deployed, and that the arrests should be carried out by yamen runners and archer-militia, and so on and so forth — an endless nagging that finally made Wang Dou too tired to pay him any more attention.

This, in turn, made Zhu Zhifeng's face darken again, and he gave Wang Dou no pleasant looks. Yet, seeing the military formations before him now, his spirit refreshed and his mind at ease, he still stroked his beard with satisfaction and praised: "The Marquis of Yongning has trained his troops well. With such a powerful army in the Great Ming, why worry that restoration is not in sight?"

Wang Dou smiled faintly: "Sir Zhu flatters me beyond my deserts."

Zhu Zhifeng suddenly lowered his beard-stroking hand: "The general has fought for the nation, toiling hard and achieving great merit. This governor should go before them and offer words of encouragement and comfort to the officers and men..."

In the bitter cold, all the Jingbian Army soldiers on this operation sat mounted on their horses in strict formation, awaiting orders. Though they had just returned from the Liaodong campaign and had not been able to return to their barracks or see their families, none of them complained. The treacherous merchants had brought disaster upon their homeland — how could they be lightly forgiven? They would use the force of a thunderbolt to let them taste what it meant to be an enemy of the Eastern Circuit.

Not only that, but crowds of soldiers and civilians from the Eastern Circuit had also come pressing in, watching and discussing excitedly from the sidelines. The Grand General was indeed going to show those treacherous merchants something formidable — this action truly gratified the hearts of the people.

Those with better information even knew that the treacherous merchant Fan Sanba and the others had all been arrested — which was even more gratifying.

Not only that, but even among the troops under Yang Guozhu, many wanted to join the Jingbian Army and the others in this operation. However, Yang Guozhu had strictly forbidden it, and no one dared to move without authorization. Like Wang Dou, Yang Guozhu commanded high prestige in the regular-soldier battalions and the several new-army battalions.

"Ten thousand victories! Ten thousand victories! Ten thousand victories!"

A heaven-covering, earth-sweeping roar of cheers rose. Riding through the midst of ten thousand troops, seeing the banners and pennants like a sea, Wang Dou felt an overwhelming surge of boundless heroic pride.

This was his army — and his capital for breaking through these layer upon layer of gloomy clouds and days. With this powerful army before him, he could freely unfold all the learning in his heart. First of all, he would use those treacherous merchants to whet the blade.

He raised his horsewhip and shouted: "Move out!"

"Move out!"

"Move out!"

"Seize every last one of those treacherous merchants — leave none behind!"

Hoofbeats rumbled like thunder. Countless sturdy riders surged forward, merging into a rolling, mighty torrent.