Chapter 830: Familiar

In the first month of the seventeenth year of the Chongzhen reign.

On New Year's Day, the first day of the month, a great dust storm suddenly arose in the capital, shaking houses and whipping up sand so that one could not see an inch ahead. Moreover, an unprecedented incident of civil and military officials disrupting the court ranks occurred that day.

The civil officials of the capital generally resided in the western part of the city, but their court ranks were arrayed to the east; the military officials resided in the eastern part of the city, but their court ranks were arrayed to the west. On New Year's Day, the Chongzhen Emperor held court very early, yet only a single Grand Imperial Guard stood in formation. By then the bell had ceased to sound, and none of the assembled officials could be seen. The Guard reported that perhaps the officials had not heard the bell and drum, and thinking His Majesty had not yet emerged, they had therefore not come.

The Chongzhen Emperor ordered the bell to be sounded again. He also wished first to pay homage at the Imperial Ancestral Temple and then receive the court salutations, but not a single horse prepared for the ceremonial procession was ready, so they had to use the riding horses of the court officials outside the Chang'an Gate. After paying homage at the temple, he ascended the throne again and waited, and only then did the hundred officials arrive in a flurry.

When they entered through the eastern and western Chang'an Gates, because the imperial countenance was watching directly, they dared not pass through the central gate. Civil officials ran to the military ranks, and military officials ran to the civil ranks. Every one of them sneaked furtively, all bending and crouching as they entered from below the chi-head carvings, utterly devoid of decorum. Even Zong Zhisheng, the newly selected second-place Metropolitan Graduate who had been favored with an appointment as Staff Adviser for Military Affairs after being summoned and answering to the Emperor's satisfaction, also passed through the military ranks in a turtle-like crouch.

With the windstorm and the disordered ranks, the Chongzhen Emperor considered these to be ill omens. He bathed and burned incense, his face full of worry, and prayed silently to Heaven: "Now the realm is in great chaos. I wish to seek a true immortal to descend and speak plainly of the gains and losses of my rule over these rivers and mountains; there is no need for concealment."

He obtained a spirit-writing divination, which read: "The Emperor asks of the realm's affairs; officials are greedy and clerks want money. In all eight directions and seven places there is chaos; of ten cooking fires, nine are without smoke. The common people suffer bitterness within bitterness; Heaven and Earth are toppled and overturned. From this, shields and spears shall arise; think not of years of peace."

The Chongzhen Emperor, seeing the divination poem, remained silent and displeased in his heart.

On the third day of the first month, the Chongzhen Emperor summoned Li Mingrui, the Left Assistant Instructor, for an audience. While in the Dezheng Hall, the Chongzhen Emperor routinely asked Li Mingrui if he had any strategies for resisting the bandits. At this, Li Mingrui requested that those attending be dismissed so he could report secretly.

The Chongzhen Emperor was somewhat startled and suspicious, but he dismissed those attending nonetheless. He then saw Li Mingrui advance on his knees, moving all the way to the imperial desk. With a solemn expression, he said: "Since I was summoned, I have been probing the bandits' signals, which are very dire. Now they are pressing close to the metropolitan region. This truly is a moment of critical danger and survival. Only the strategy of relocating the capital southward can alleviate the immediate crisis!"

The Chongzhen Emperor hesitated for a long while and sighed: "I only fear the various ministers will not agree."

Li Mingrui said urgently: "The Mandate of Heaven is subtle and secret. Your Majesty must decide within your sage heart, so as not to bring about the regret of being unable to reach one's own navel."

He prostrated himself on the ground and kowtowed heavily, the thudding audible, until the skin on his forehead broke and bled. He said urgently: "I beg Your Majesty not to hesitate. Make a swift decision!"

The Chongzhen Emperor sighed: "The ruler of a state dies for the altars of soil and grain. Where would I go?"

He added: "This matter is of great importance. Allow me to ponder it deeply."

After returning to the palace, he bestowed a banquet upon Li Mingrui in the Wenzhao Pavilion.

On the eleventh day of the first month, He Gang, a Provincial Graduate from Shanghai, submitted a memorial stating: "Loyal, righteous, wise, and brave men — in Zhejiang there are Dongyang and Yiwu. In former times, famous generals and crack troops often came from these places. I am well acquainted with the Licentiate of Dongyang, Xu Du, who is by nature loyal and filial, and has long been well-versed in military strategy. At a single glance he can judge a man, and he can share weal and woe with the common soldiers. I beg that Xu Du be employed to lead them. As for the extraordinary talents from the two regions of Dongyang, Yiwu, Huizhou, and Shexian, I am willing to travel as a commoner, to contact and organize them all in accordance with the methods of Qi Jiguang, to explain in detail the regulations, and to enlighten them on the path of loyalty and righteousness. In just over a year, they can be made to go through fire and water. I have observed the Metropolitan Graduate Yao Qiyun, Xia Gongyou, the Licentiate of Tongcheng Zhou Qi, the Licentiate of Shaanxi Liu Xiangke, and the Provincial Graduate of Shanxi Han Lin — all are concerned for the times and have the heart for it. I beg that an imperial handwritten edict be issued to assemble the heroes of the realm, so that the loyal, righteous, wise, and brave will rise up in droves to assist Your Majesty in establishing your great enterprise."

The Chongzhen Emperor was very pleased upon seeing the memorial and issued an edict to the Ministries of Personnel, War, and Justice: "The Provincial Graduate He Gang's memorial and proposals are largely adoptable. He is hereby appointed as a Secretary in the Bureau of Operations and ordered to proceed immediately to Dongyang and Yiwu to contact the righteous braves, train them into a crack brigade, and use them to assist in suppressing the bandits. Also, approve He Gang's proposal. How Xu Du and Yao Qiyun are to be employed, let the relevant ministries deliberate swiftly."

On the twelfth day of the first month, Grand Secretary Chen Yan, having completed three years of evaluation, was promoted to Junior Guardian, and in the Ministry of Personnel's Jianji Hall, his son was granted the privilege of entering the National University as a student.

On the fifteenth day of the first month, in the capital, it was the Lantern Festival.

Every year in the capital, from the eighth day of the first month until the eighteenth, lanterns were lit to celebrate the Lantern Festival. During this period, the nine gates were not closed, and golden drums shook the heavens. At each gate, tens of thousands entered from outside the city, all coming into the city to joyfully and noisily watch the Lantern Festival celebrations.

This year was no exception. Although it was heard that the roving bandits, after capturing Xuzhou, had crossed the Yellow River to besiege Yanzhou, people still had to live their lives.

Deshengmen had always been known as the "Military Gate," an important portal for armies and horses marching north and for the capital's connection to the lands beyond the northern frontier. In recent years, with the absence of warfare, this most critical defensive stronghold of the capital had also become bustling. Especially today, on the Lantern Festival, the flow of people entering the city was endless, and children holding up floral lanterns hopped and skipped along.

Among the crowd, one could see quite a few individuals with shrewd, capable expressions and considerable family wealth. Their money belts were bulging, and they formed groups, entering the city by the hundreds and thousands.

Watching their figures enter the city, a junior officer muttered: "How come every year we only see these people enter, but never see them leave?"

"The capital is full of bandits everywhere; its defenses are as good as nonexistent."

In the crowd, a middle-aged couple also chatted and laughed as they entered the city. The woman was happily carrying a floral lantern in her hand, looking left and right, seemingly very interested in the capital's bustle.

Behind this couple followed two men dressed as personal attendants. One was sturdily built and unremarkable in appearance. The other was thin and small, with a physique like a nimble fox.

Seeming to have heard the junior officer's muttering, after entering Deshengmen, the sturdily built attendant said to the thin and small one beside him: "Generally, the fall of cities and strongholds is mostly due to traitors acting as internal collaborators. Our department has long known that the bandits, several years ago, opened pawnshops and sold goods in the capital. Later, taking advantage of the state's decree selling noble ranks, they carted gold to exchange for credentials and documents, using them as protective talismans. It is further heard that among the troops recruited by the capital garrison, many are planted with their agents."

He gave a cold laugh: "Under the pretext of celebrating the Lantern Festival, the bandits enter in separate groups through the nine gates. Now within the city, who knows how many thousands there are. They lie hidden in the city, with several hundred taels of gold wrapped around their waists. The bigger ones buy generals, the smaller ones buy soldiers. The relevant departments, greedy for their lavish bribes, do not even vet them. This capital city..."

At this point, he shook his head repeatedly.

The thin and small man beside him also sighed: "I've heard that in Wuxi, the silver at Wang's waist was cut away by someone. Even within the court there are thieves. One can tell the state of current affairs."

The sturdily built man was Cui Qi, a member of the Intelligence Department. The thin and small one was Gu Yue. The man of the couple ahead was He Jian from the Rescue Team, and the woman was his wife, née Chen. She was a native of the capital and had also been recruited into the Intelligence Department.

The Intelligence Department had deep and extensive networks in the capital. Even some brothel courtesans had been developed into spies and agents, serving the Protectorate.

As they spoke, they followed the flow of people toward the core area of the capital. The most exquisite part of the capital was, of course, around the Chessboard Street area.

Here were gathered not only the court pavilions and the Six Ministries, the Chief Military Commission of the Five Armies, various princely residences, and the offices of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but also all kinds of shops gathering the finest commercial goods of the Great Ming. Going toward Wangfu Street and Chongwen Street at either end of Chessboard Street, there were countless teahouses, wineshops, and stores of jewels, jade, and precious objects.

During the Lantern Festival, this place was everywhere hung with lanterns and festooned with colored decorations. The flow of people was like a tide, shoulder to shoulder, hub to hub, all gathered here.

Commercial buildings were densely packed here. In recent years, a rather famous one was a commercial building called Chonggao Lou, which specialized in selling goods from Xuanfu Garrison and the Protectorate. The goods were fine, the prices excellent, fashionable and stylish, and it was quite sought after by the capital's residents. However, although they earned a fortune daily, making others envious, no one with a lack of discernment dared to cause trouble there.

Because the backer of this commercial building was the capital's man of the hour, Regional Commander Fu. Not only that, but many other powerful figures also held shares in it, so the building enjoyed its wealth in peace and never encountered a single person lacking discernment.

Not far from Chonggao Lou, in a slightly more secluded spot, there was another shop. This shop specialized in a boutique route; every item sold was exquisite and beautiful. For example, in furs, they only sold black fox pelts; in eyeglasses, they only sold fine goods from Xuanfu, absolutely no shoddy imitations. It was deeply favored by the capital's high-end clientele.

At this moment, it was precisely this shop that He Jian and the others entered. They saw a shopkeeper, exuding the aura of a highly successful man, come forward to greet them, then smilingly introduce the goods in the shop to the guests.

He Jian listened indifferently, and when the people around were not paying attention, he softly said a line: "On the mountain peak, one temple, one pot of wine."

The shopkeeper's smile faded, and his expression turned serious: "Your joy, bitterness, and suffering slay me."

The two exchanged a glance, as if a myriad of emotions flowed within. Then the shopkeeper turned his head away and summoned a steady-looking assistant, saying: "Ah Fu, escort the honored guests to the rear hall."

Ah Fu nodded and gave He Jian and the others a deep look, saying: "Honored guests, please!"

"Has the person been selected?"

"Selected. A qingyi performer from an opera troupe. Her appearance and figure both meet the requirements quite well."

"Bring her for me to see."

"Yes!"

"My lord, Eunuch Wang has arrived."

"Good. Grab hold of this thread. Let's go."

Outside the shop, Wang Desheng, thin and small with a round face and pale skin, constantly sniffling in the bitter cold, was watching at the shop entrance. Beside him followed a timid and shrinking young eunuch.

"Xiao Dezi, I heard in the palace that this shop's goods are very expensive, and they only accept silver dollars. I... I'm afraid I don't have enough silver money on me..."

Wang Desheng waved his hand grandly, and from his seemingly frail body emanated a certain imposing air: "Xiao Dongzi, it's rare to run into you, my little fellow townsman. Today, it's my treat, don't worry about silver money... Besides, I'm very familiar with this shop's keeper, he'll definitely give me a discount."

Just as he was speaking, they heard the sound of "Honored guests, take care on your way" from inside the shop, and saw several guests of distinguished bearing emerge, both men and women, each with an extraordinary presence.

The timid, shrinking young eunuch looked at the black fox fur collar around the woman's neck, his eyes revealing an expression of envy.

Wang Desheng was slightly taken aback — why did one of the people inside have a somewhat familiar figure?

But he had no time to dwell on it, because the shopkeeper had already spotted him and came over with a smile to greet him: "Yo, Eunuch Wang has arrived?"