Chapter 124: The Story of the Xiliu Camp (Repaying a Debt to Alliance Leader Changkong Feixue)

Compared to Zhang Weixian's somewhat pessimistic, even helplessly furious mood, Chongzhen actually felt things were all right. It's always been this crappy — how much worse could it get?

After all, in some ways, that brain-damaged Tianqi carpenter, though he ended up croaking after falling into the water just like that universally reviled Zhengde, still left him a fair bit — at least the Depot and the Guard are still in decent shape.

With a clear picture in mind, Chongzhen simply stopped dwelling on those rotten matters and said bluntly to Zhang Weixian, "What state Great Ming is in right now — you, Duke of Ying, know it in your heart as well. Otherwise, presumably you wouldn't have spoken to Us about this?"

Zhang Weixian bowed and offered his guilt: "In reply to Your Majesty, your subject is guilty."

Chongzhen, however, dropped the stone-faced mask he'd worn just moments before and laughed: "What is there to be guilty of? Protecting oneself is simply human nature; We can hardly blame you for that.

Besides, among all the nobles and civil and military officials filling the court, you, Duke of Ying, are the one noble We trust most at present. As for the rest — better not to speak of them."

Zhang Weixian secretly felt grateful for Chongzhen's trust, unaware that Chongzhen was also mulling over the record of the Duke of Ying's line.

Compared to Zhu Neng, who shut his gates and refused to enter the fight before surrendering to the barbarians, the Zhang Weixian family, who died on the field of battle, were clearly more worthy of Chongzhen's trust — just like that man Ni Yuanlu.

If you can't trust a man whose whole family went to their deaths for the nation, then who can you trust? The one whose water was too cool?

The one whose scalp itched?

From the very start of his transmigration, Chongzhen had sketched a mind map inside his head. No matter how he looked at it, if he didn't solve the problems of domestic land annexation and commercial taxation, he was bound to end up dead sooner or later.

But to solve those problems, the southeast was a giant hornet's nest.

With the power he currently held still insufficient to crush them outright, he couldn't just charge the southeast in one wave — he'd have to chip away slowly, hacking off a piece in the east, carving off a piece in the west, and bleed them to death bit by bit.

With his calculations long since made, Chongzhen continued questioning Zhang Weixian: "Let the Duke of Ying put these messy affairs out of his mind.

Better to think on how to whip the Capital Camps back into shape, to make them once more that mighty army which chased the fleeing and pursued the routed — so that one day, the Capital Camps may again show the mettle they had in the Yongle years."

After Zhang Weixian bowed and assented, Chongzhen went on: "Speaking of the Capital Camps, We just recalled that earlier We ordered Liu Xingzuo to raise the New Army. We wonder how it's coming along by now. Minister Zhang, would you care to accompany Us and go take a look?"

How could Zhang Weixian fail to catch the meaning in Chongzhen's words? He immediately bowed and replied, "I shall follow wherever Your Majesty's horse's head points."

Having confirmed Zhang Weixian's intent to pledge loyalty, Chongzhen was very pleased.

He simply rose, ordered Wang Cheng'en to summon attendants, changed into a suit of golden armor, and, bringing Fang Zhenghua and Wang Cheng'en along with the Duke of Ying, Zhang Weixian, exited the palace gates and headed straight for the south of the city.

The main camp of Liu Xingzuo's New Army unit was built, as it happened, not far from the Royal Academy. According to Chongzhen's arrangements, for now they were only training next to the Royal Academy; later they would gradually be relocated elsewhere.

When they reached the New Army's main camp, Chongzhen saw from a distance two soldiers in battle-padded coats, holding firelocks, standing guard to the left and right of the camp gate.

Wanting to test the soldiers' military discipline, Chongzhen reined in his horse and stopped, then signaled to Wang Cheng'en. Wang Cheng'en grasped Chongzhen's intent at once, spurred his horse, and galloped toward the camp gate.

Before Wang Cheng'en could get within fifty meters of the camp gate, the soldiers had already raised their firelocks and aimed them at Wang Cheng'en. A man dressed as a squad leader stepped forward and waved for Wang Cheng'en to stop.

Wang Cheng'en, who was only probing, slowed his horse at this sight. When he was still fifty meters from the squad leader, the squad leader shouted, "Dismount, rider!"

Wang Cheng'en deliberately bellowed, "We are a eunuch of the inner palace! His Majesty will arrive shortly — are you not going to open the gate and receive the imperial presence?"

The squad leader, seeing this, had no idea what to do — he had already spotted these several riders approaching from the distance moments before. The one who'd come ahead now, by the sound of his voice, was indeed a damned eunuch.

Then the ones following behind must be the Son of Heaven? What was he supposed to do?

If he opened the camp gate, he'd be violating military regulations. If he didn't open it — with the Son of Heaven right before his eyes, he was going to keep the gate shut? Was he courting death?

Though many thoughts whirled through his mind, it was all over in an instant. The squad leader figured he was just a squad leader — no point thinking about it so much. He might as well kick the matter up to the camp and let the higher-ups have the headache!

Having settled on his plan, the squad leader said to Wang Cheng'en very straightforwardly, "Please wait here a moment, Eunuch. This humble officer will go into the camp and report at once."

Wang Cheng'en said, "And what if we wish to enter right now?"

That one sentence completely stumped the squad leader, who had just been trying to pass the buck to his superior. Whether he let them in or not, he feared he'd come out the worse for it.

He agonized for a long while, not knowing how to answer. Seeing the several horses in the distance begin to move as well — the Emperor was surely heading this way — the squad leader's heart pounded all the harder, and cold sweat began beading on his forehead.

Then, in a sudden flash of inspiration, the squad leader recalled the story of the Xiliu Camp from the mighty Han, a tale he'd often heard people tell.

And thinking further that the Chongzhen Emperor had once personally led a campaign, he steeled himself and shouted at Wang Cheng'en, "Eunuch, hold! Wait until this humble officer has gone into the camp and reported, and then you may enter, Eunuch.

Otherwise, military law will not spare this humble officer."

Wang Cheng'en, however, looked at the squad leader with meaningful amusement and laughed: "And if we insist on entering? Are you planning to reenact the story of the Xiliu Camp?

You must realize, this is the Great Ming, not the Former Han. Beware of trying to draw a tiger and ending up with a dog.

Heh."

Wang Cheng'en, who normally showed no effeminate softness, now deliberately put on a sinister and vicious air. His voice even carried a thread of venomous menace, scaring the squad leader half to death.

But things had already reached this point — it was simply a choice between military law and offending Wang Cheng'en.

If he let Wang Cheng'en in now, military law was right in front of him. If he didn't, offending Wang Cheng'en was a problem for later.

As for the Emperor — since he understood military matters, he surely wouldn't be angered by someone strictly upholding military discipline. Having made his calculation, the squad leader raised a hand.

The several soldiers behind him raised their firelocks — whereas before they had only aimed at Wang Cheng'en's horse, now they were aiming at Wang Cheng'en himself.

Even Wang Cheng'en, who had seen his share of storms and life-and-death situations, couldn't help his scalp tingling at being targeted by four or five firelocks.

Before Wang Cheng'en could say anything more, the squad leader spoke first: "Please wait here, Eunuch! Otherwise — this humble officer may recognize the Eunuch, but Great Ming's military law, and the firelocks behind this humble officer, do not recognize the Eunuch!"

Wang Cheng'en, seeing this, had a fair idea of the situation and stopped pressuring the squad leader. Instead, he smiled and said, "Then go and report. His Majesty will arrive shortly — notify General Liu to come and receive the imperial presence."

The squad leader, hearing this, let out a long breath of relief and said in a tone tinged with gratitude, "Many thanks for the Eunuch's understanding. This humble officer is deeply grateful."

With that, without waiting for Wang Cheng'en to reply, he hurriedly ran into the camp, leaving Wang Cheng'en alone, held at gunpoint by several firelocks, not daring to relax in the slightest.

This is the fifth update of the day, and also counts as the first chapter We owe to the debt owed to Alliance Leader Changkong Feixue among the many debts previously accumulated. After all, he is Our first Alliance Leader — he deserves a little preferential treatment.

We'll see in a bit if We can churn out another chapter. If not, then there will be another update at midnight.

(End of chapter)