Chapter 12: Discussing the Return

Just as Wang Cheng'en was returning to the capital, before he had even passed Shanhai Pass, the Guo Jing-like great hero the Chongzhen Emperor had been so anxiously thinking of — Liu Xingzuo — had already made contact with Mao Wenlong.

One side had long wished to return to the Great Ming, and the other had received the Emperor's covert instructions to receive him — so with both parties willing and eager, the two quickly got into cahoots and arranged to meet at a small mountain hollow by the seashore in Fuzhou Guard, to hash things out face to face.

For this, Mao Wenlong did not hesitate to make a detour from Dongjiang by way of Twin Islands, then travel on to Fuzhou.

It was on a night that could well be described as dark, moonless, and windy — after all, this was not a matter that could be conducted openly.

Liu Xingzuo, bringing a few trusted confidants, arrived at the small hollow that later generations would call the Meeting Hollow.

At the first sight of Mao Wenlong, Liu Xingzuo, a man who knew how to handle people and had a sharp sense of occasion, immediately lowered his posture and went up to him, saying, "This must be the great commander Mao Wenlong, whose name shakes all of Liaodong?

Your subordinate Liu Xingzuo has long looked forward to this day; it is only a pity that fate has kept us apart and I have never had the chance to meet you."

Hearing this, Mao Wenlong thought to himself that Liu Xingzuo knew how to conduct himself and understood the proper order of things, so he hurriedly caught hold of Liu Xingzuo, who was about to perform a formal salute, and said, "General Liu, you must not salute!

From now on, you and I both serve the Sage Son of Heaven together — we are brothers stirring the ladle in the same pot. Why distinguish between higher and lower?

Get up, quickly, quickly get up."

After an exchange of pleasantries that seemed warm and sincere but was in fact guarded on both sides, Mao Wenlong spoke first: "I have long heard that General Liu intended to turn back to righteousness and return to the Ming. I have been waiting for this for a long time."

As he spoke, he cupped his hands toward the direction of the capital and said, "The Sage Son of Heaven has also heard of the General's situation. A few days ago, when the imperial envoy came to my Pidao to proclaim the edict, he also mentioned General Liu.

His Majesty's own sacred instruction was that if General Liu contacted me, Mao, to return to the Great Ming, I was to make certain to entertain him well and to send men to escort General Liu to the capital for an audience with His Majesty."

Liu Xingzuo was overjoyed at these words and said, "Commander Mao, you are not just saying this to make your subordinate happy? Did the Son of Heaven of our day truly say so?"

At this moment, in Mao Wenlong's heart, the Chongzhen Emperor was a sovereign of such sagely brilliance — how could he tolerate Liu Xingzuo's doubt?

He immediately said angrily, "Even if I, Mao Wenlong, had eaten the gall of a bear and the heart of a leopard, how would I dare use the words of the Sage Son of Heaven to deceive you?

It is only that this matter is secret, lest the Tartars learn of it, so this matter is known only to the Sage Son of Heaven, the edict-bearing imperial envoy, and myself, Mao. This matter is not committed to paper, nor passed on to others.

I, Mao, am willing to stake my head on it — every word I just spoke is true, every sentence is real. If there is the slightest falsehood, I willingly accept death by ten thousand arrows through the heart!"

Liu Xingzuo hurriedly apologized, saying, "It was your subordinate who was rash and should not have harbored such thoughts. A capital offense!

A capital offense! It is only that your subordinate has long yearned to return to his native land but has been unable to do so.

Now, suddenly hearing such joyous news, I could not help losing my composure. I beg the Commander's forgiveness!"

Only then did Mao Wenlong's anger turn to pleasure, and he returned to the topic: "Let me tell you, General Liu, the Sage Son of Heaven indeed gave these instructions. The Sage Son of Heaven has also been waiting for the General for a long time!"

Setting aside the previous topic, Mao Wenlong continued, "But I wonder, how does General Liu plan to return? I have heard that the Tartars have long been wary of the General — it would not be far from the truth to say you are under house arrest, would it?

I imagine that coming here this time, General Liu has also taken on a tremendous risk?"

Liu Xingzuo said, "Commander, please set your mind at ease. Your subordinate has long had a plan.

After I return this time, I will arrange for trusted men to secretly set fire to the Liu residence and falsely claim that a fire broke out in the mansion and that your subordinate unfortunately perished in the flames. Today is the middle of the month.

If the Commander agrees, I will assemble the troops of the four guards at Fuzhou on the first day of next month for a drill. The Commander can then dispatch troops to attack Jinzhou on the second day of next month — this will also be a merit for the Commander.

Only, at that time, Fuzhou will have many troops and cannot be approached. You must also bypass Gaizhou and Haizhou, so as not to arouse the Tartars' suspicion."

Mao Wenlong was overjoyed. This Liu Xingzuo, even before returning to the Ming, was already handing him such a heaven-sent merit — he had picked up an enormous bargain.

He was getting closer and closer to being enfeoffed with a noble title. The reigning Sage Son of Heaven valued military men and glared at the world like a tiger; he likely had the ambition to swallow the world like a whale.

In the future, it would probably be like the Han and Tang dynasties — no noble titles would be granted except through military merit.

Once the two had settled their plan and discussed some minor details, they each returned. This was also to prevent Liu Xingzuo from being away too long and arousing the Tartars' suspicion.

Mao Wenlong naturally made his detour back to Dongjiang Prefecture, which need not be recounted. After Liu Xingzuo returned to the Liu residence in Fuzhou,

he dismissed his attendants and went alone to the rear hall to find his aged mother and report his plan to return to the Ming.

After hearing Liu Xingzuo relay Mao Wenlong's words and after listening to the plan for returning to the Ming that Liu Xingzuo and Mao Wenlong had settled on, Mother Liu wept and said, "My son, go back as you wish.

The Sage Son of Heaven has shown you such grace — you must serve the Sage Son of Heaven with all your might, even unto death. From now on, never harbor a second thought.

This old body will not go. If I do, the Jianzhou barbarians will certainly grow suspicious.

Take your brothers and your wife and children and go back. Serve the Sage Son of Heaven together.

If in the future the Tartars use your mother to coerce you, you must never again bend and serve the rebels. Otherwise, how could this old body have the face to meet the ancestors of the Liu family in the netherworld below?!"

By the end, her voice and expression were both stern.

These words so frightened Liu Xingzuo that he hastily knelt and struck his head on the ground, weeping, "Mother, what are you saying? If you do not go, how can your son set his mind at ease?

Your son has already discussed this thoroughly with Commander Mao. When the time comes, your son will fake a fire in the mansion, and we will all be said to have died in the flames.

Commander Mao will also simultaneously raise troops to attack Jinzhou and secretly send troops to receive us at the seashore near Fuzhou. It should be absolutely foolproof."

Hearing this, Mother Liu continued, "My son, get up. Mother is not going.

Mother is old and can no longer travel. Going with you would only be a burden.

Take your younger brothers and your wife and children and go. To break one's family for the sake of the state — this is the duty of a subject.

If things go wrong, just take your brothers and go. This time it is for the state.

Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety have been difficult to fulfill together. If that day truly comes, I imagine your wife and children will also understand you.

My son, do not grieve."

Liu Xingzuo simply knelt on the ground and would not rise. After years of habit and with a body of iron forged through military training, how could Mother Liu pull him up?

Liu Xingzuo let Mother Liu tug at him but did not get up, only weeping, "If Mother does not leave together with your child, then your child will not go either."

Mother Liu's heart ached with both pain and anger. The pain was that her son knelt on the ground and would not rise, and moreover, once he returned to the Ming, mother and son would likely never see each other again — thinking of this, sorrow welled up from her heart.

The anger was at her son's temperament, which was exactly like that of his deceased father, leaving one helpless.

Mother Liu had no choice but to say to Liu Xingzuo, "Enough. Get up. Mother agrees to go with you. But this matter still requires meticulous arrangement. Do not let any word leak out, lest the Tartars learn of it."

Only then did Liu Xingzuo rise. After helping Mother Liu sit down, he bowed and said to her, "Mother, set your mind at ease. Your son understands the gravity of this and will certainly not breathe half a word to anyone."

Liu Xingzuo stayed with his aged mother and talked for a while longer, his thoughts full of how he would serve the Emperor after returning to the Great Ming and how he would soon win a marquisate on horseback — Liu Xingzuo was quite confident in his own abilities.

Worried that his wife might notice something amiss, he stayed a while longer, and only after the tear stains on his face had faded did he return to his own room to rest.

But the next day, Liu Xingzuo, as usual, brought his wife to pay morning respects to his aged mother. They called out several times but received no answer.

When Liu Xingzuo pushed open his mother's door, he immediately collapsed limp on the ground, his three ethereal souls and seven earthly spirits all flying beyond the heavens...