Chapter 17: The Embroidered Uniform Guard at Work; the White-Staff Troops Enter the Capital

That evening Chongzhen went to Empress Zhou's quarters. What exactly he discussed with her is unknown, but according to Empress Zhou's own account: "From ancient times a woman follows her husband when she marries.

I have married into the imperial household, so I must naturally put the imperial household's interests first. If my maiden family causes trouble that puts the Emperor in a difficult position, the Emperor need not hesitate to deal with them harshly!"

What subsequently transpired between the overjoyed Chongzhen Emperor and the Empress Zhou, who was wholly devoted to the state, is here omitted by many words — it belongs to the indescribable category…

As for the several inner- and outer-court ministers who received the decree and left the palace, they were troubled from head to toe.

This time, whether it was the several ministers of the Grand Secretariat and the Six Ministries or the pack of eunuch slaves around Wei Zhongxian, the Chongzhen Emperor's conduct showed them the shadow of the dynasty's founder Zhu Yuanzhang and the Chengzu Emperor Zhu Di.

Zhu Yuanzhang was ruthless and merciless, prone to exterminating nine degrees of kinship; the corrupt were often flayed and their skins stuffed with straw.

Zhu Di was vindictive and championed the offensive, launching round after round of attacks and purges against the steppe throughout his lifetime.

Now this Chongzhen Emperor was so recklessly audacious as to want to let the Jianzhou barbarians into the capital and then shut the gates to beat the dogs. The slightest misstep would mean death for himself and annihilation for the state.

Since their opposition was futile, the various officials could only honestly carry out the Chongzhen Emperor's wishes.

The Grand Secretariat nowadays increasingly resembled the Grand Secretariat of the dynasty's founding years — its role was more about filling gaps and supplementing omissions for the emperor.

As for powers such as sealing and returning edicts, those had long since been reclaimed by the emperor.

As far as the Chongzhen Emperor was concerned, the Great Ming did not need democracy, still less a figurehead monarch as in a constitutional monarchy. What the Great Ming needed most was an autocratic emperor who held all power in his own hands.

As for whoever dared oppose him, the Depot and the Guard would tear them to shreds like mad dogs.

As for collusion between inner and outer courts leading to Chongzhen dying as mysteriously as several previous emperors?

On the very second day after his ascension, Chongzhen had Wang Cheng'en and Fang Zhenghua secretly reorganize the Inner Guard Depot, and he could state that everything within the palace was firmly under his control.

Whoever dared stir up trouble would have their entire family put to death!

In the capital and its environs, the Depot and the Guard and the Grand Secretariat were in constant motion — it could even be described as utter chaos.

As the relocation of areas near the capital proceeded, the Depot and the Guard also gradually pushed outward, striving to ensure that the relocation of all undefended open areas around Beijing — apart from places protected by city walls — was carried out in secret at night, all organized by village.

When the Jianzhou barbarians arrived, everything would be burned to the ground, denying the Jianzhou barbarians the ability to obtain supplies locally.

Given the Depot and the Guard's terrifying and notorious reputation, even if there were those unwilling, after a bout of smashing and trashing, those who would not move had to move anyway.

However, walk too often in the dark and you will eventually meet a ghost. When relocating a village outside the city called Zhanggezhuang, a landlord was unwilling to move, so the Embroidered Uniform Guard carried out a "forced relocation."

Amid the crying of adults and children, someone finally leaped out and blocked the Embroidered Uniform Guard party.

The man who blocked the Embroidered Uniform Guard, though he had only one eye, was of dignified and imposing appearance, with a full beard, mighty and extraordinary.

He wore silver armor and held a white-wax staff fitted with a bladed hook, its base an iron ring — a sight that inspired dread.

Behind him was clearly a marching column; at a single glance it stretched on without end, roughly tens of thousands of men, all wearing battle jackets and bearing white-wax staff weapons.

Seeing the Embroidered Uniform Guard relocating commoners at night, the man assumed it was another case of the Depot and the Guard harming the people.

He angrily addressed the squad leader in charge: "You of the Depot and the Guard are outrageously bold — to be so brazen right under the Son of Heaven's feet! Have you any regard for the law?!"

The squad leader sized him up and replied: "Would you not be of the White-Staff Troops, sir? Do not misunderstand.

Our mission here is by order, to move all the inhabitants of this area into the capital. You must not bring trouble on yourself.

If you have any questions, I will take you to find our platoon commander, and you may ask him directly."

The man pondered briefly, then said to the squad leader: "That will do very well. Please lead the way."

The local squad leader did so, taking the man to find the platoon commander; the platoon commander in turn brought them up the chain of command, until at last they sought out the Embroidered Uniform Guard Assistant Regional Regional Commander who was overseeing the area.

This Assistant Regional Regional Commander was in the know. He and the man mutually verified their identification tallies and clarified each other's identities.

After exchanging courtesies, he said: "This matter comes from higher orders. Recently the Tartars intend to breach the passes, so we are moving all commoners into the city.

Any losses will be duly registered and compensated afterward. So General Ma need not be concerned."

"

The one-eyed man was none other than Qin Liangyu's son, the young general of the White-Staff Troops, Ma Xianglin. Hearing this, he clasped his fists and saluted: "In that case, Ma was rash. I ask that my presence here be kept strictly confidential."

The Assistant Regional Regional Commander said: "General Ma, set your mind at ease. Have your column follow behind our relocation column.

Along the entire route, I will arrange for men to clear the streets, and we will head directly to the Capital Camps. Once you are encamped, I will take General Ma to see the Guard Commander."

Ma Xianglin said happily: "That is excellent. I am much obliged to you, Assistant Regional Regional Commander." He immediately returned to report to Qin Liangyu.

When those villagers and gentry being relocated saw Ma Xianglin return and join forces with the Embroidered Uniform Guard, even helping the Guard transport grain and other goods, they knew in their hearts that this relocation could not be avoided.

They all resigned themselves to fate and obeyed the Embroidered Uniform Guard's arrangements for the move.

Once the grain and valuable possessions had been packed up, the squad leader in command shouted: "Move out!" and the column headed straight for the capital.

After merging with several other relocation columns, a long dragon-like procession headed directly for where the Capital Camps were stationed. Along the way, the Embroidered Uniform Guard put on their customary show of might.

If anyone in the city dared to look, they immediately bellowed: "Embroidered Uniform Guard business — get lost!" If anyone peeped through a crack in their door, the Guard would mostly go and smash the door as a warning.

Though Qin Liangyu and Ma Xianglin were displeased by the Embroidered Uniform Guard's conduct, they also understood it was to prevent Jianzhou barbarian spies from observing, so they made no further comment and simply pressed on with the march.

By the time they were settled in the Capital Camps, it was nearly midnight.

The Assistant Regional Regional Commander, aware of the gravity of the matter, did not allow Qin Liangyu and the others to rest, but took Qin Liangyu and Ma Xianglin straight to the Northern Provost's Office of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Upon arriving at the Northern Provost's Office, Qin Liangyu and Ma Xianglin finally realized the scale of this relocation.

Inside the Provost's Office, clerks, Chiliarchs, Centurions, and others were all coming and going in an endless stream; reports on the relocation from various places were constantly being compiled.

The entire Provost's Office was brilliantly lit, bustling with activity all through the night.

Entering the main hall of the Northern Provost's Office, they saw one man seated in the center — it was none other than the Embroidered Uniform Guard Regional Commander, Tian Ergeng.

Two Embroidered Uniform Guard Vice Commanders were also seated below, and the three were in the midst of discussing something.

The Assistant Regional Regional Commander who had brought Qin Liangyu and Ma Xianglin announced them, then led the two inside. They saw Tian Ergeng already rising from the main seat and coming forward to greet Qin Liangyu.

After an exchange of pleasantries, Tian Ergeng waved a hand to dismiss the Vice Commanders, the Assistant Regional Regional Commander, and the others. The entire main hall was left with only three people: Tian Ergeng, Qin Liangyu, and Ma Xianglin.

Tian Ergeng knew well how highly the Chongzhen Emperor regarded the White-Staff Troops, so he struck the right posture from the very start.

He said to Qin Liangyu: "This time, His Majesty has summoned you two generals and the White-Staff Troops to the capital because our Embroidered Uniform Guard agents in Liaodong sent back top-secret intelligence: the Jianzhou barbarians intend to bypass the Mongols and breach the passes at the start of next month.

As for the strategy His Majesty has decided upon to annihilate the Jianzhou barbarians, it is not Tian's place to speak of it in detail. I will simply take you both to the palace for an audience with His Majesty after court is dismissed tomorrow.

At that time, you two generals will understand everything."