Chapter 34: What Is There Left You Would Not Dare to Do?

It turned out that Hong Taiji's central army had originally planned to withdraw directly beyond the passes and return to relieve Shenyang, but they never expected that Dorgon's side would run into trouble first.

No matter how much Hong Taiji now wished Dorgon would drop dead on the spot, this force of ten thousand Jianzhou barbarian troops still had to be rescued. So they simply altered their route slightly and came straight for Xuanfu.

Gazing at the walls of Xuanfu, now so close at hand, Hong Taiji recalled the earlier plea for reinforcements from Dorgon and said through gritted teeth: "Pass down the order — bypass Xuanfu. We go to link up with Dorgon."

Just as Hong Taiji and the Jianzhou barbarian army crossed past Xuanfu to rendezvous with Dorgon, the Chongzhen Emperor's great army was also nearing Xuanfu.

Lu Xiangsheng and the others hurriedly prepared to receive the imperial presence, but palace eunuch attendants arrived ahead of them to proclaim the Chongzhen Emperor's verbal decree.

After seeing off the eunuch attendant who had proclaimed the decree, Lu Xiangsheng and his two companions looked at each other in blank dismay.

In the end, it was Lu Xiangsheng who spoke first: "It seems His Majesty also intends to use this opportunity to root out those eight families once and for all."

Chiliarch Gao said: "Those eight families are a malignant tumor — they should have died long ago. Since that's the case, Old Gao here will send men to keep an eye on them first."

As the three men discussed the arrangements for receiving the imperial presence, inside the Fan residence in Xuanfu city, someone was pacing restlessly.

In the Fan residence study, Fan Yongdou, Wang Dengku, Jin Liangyu, Wang Dayu, Liang Jiabin, Tian Shenglan, Zhai Tang, and Huang Yunfa — these eight grave-diggers of the Great Ming dynasty — were all conspicuously present.

Wang Dengku, unable to restrain his impatience, spoke first: "The men sent to deliver the goods have not yet returned — could something have gone wrong?"

Fan Yongdou, however, said: "What is there to panic about? They are merely a little late, that is all.

Even if something truly has gone wrong, aside from that Prefect, which one of them is not one of our people? Unless the Son of Heaven himself comes in person, if we wish to leave, who could possibly stop us?"

Jin Liangyu agreed: "Well said. In this whole Xuanfu and Datong region, from top to bottom, where is there anyone who is not our man? What is there to fear?"

Wang Dengku, however, said: "Be that as it may, this Prefect of Xuanfu is, after all, not one of us. And according to news from the capital, although the Great Jin pressed their troops to the city walls this time, they gained not the slightest advantage.

The supplies we have prepared this time are somewhat more than usual — I wonder whether the Great Jin State can even afford the price."

Fan Yongdou merely gave a cold laugh and said: "The Great Jin State is now strong in soldiers and sturdy in horses. Even if they cannot pay for the moment, there is no harm in extending them credit. Sooner or later, we will earn it back from them, principal and interest both.

As for that Prefect's attempt last night to raise grain and fodder — just agree to it. Give him a little, and later we can slowly drag him into the mire."

At these words, the others all voiced their agreement. Just as they were exchanging mutual flattery, the Fan residence steward came to report that the Prefect had sent someone over.

Fan Yongdou said: "Ha. This Prefect of ours really cannot hold his nerve. As expected, he is still far too young."

Huang Yunfa said: "Indeed. Since we agreed to it last night, we naturally will provide him with some grain and fodder."

After another round of discussion, the several traitors went to the front hall to receive the visitor.

But upon meeting him, they discovered it was the young servant who had attended upon Lu Xiangsheng the night before — a household-born servant of the Lu family, and arguably the person outside Xuanfu whom Lu Xiangsheng trusted most at present.

The moment Fan Yongdou saw this young servant, his face was wreathed in smiles: "Young sir, instead of attending upon Lord Lu, you grace our humble dwelling with your presence — truly, you make our humble dwelling shine!

Might I ask, young sir, if you have come regarding the matter of grain and fodder? Fan has already ordered men to prepare it. In a short while, young sir can take it back with you."

The young servant, however, said: "Master Fan jests. My master ordered me to come and inform you gentlemen that the Jianzhou barbarian chieftain Hong Taiji has suffered a crushing defeat at the capital and is now fleeing back beyond the passes.

His Sacred Majesty is personally leading the campaign, and the imperial presence will arrive at Xuanfu shortly.

My master says that among the gentry of Xuanfu, you eight masters are the leading figures, and therefore wishes you to organize the local gentry to go outside the city gate to welcome the imperial presence."

Fan Yongdou said: "Please, young sir, convey to His Honor the Prefect on Fan's behalf that Fan will certainly arrange everything properly and will by no means let our Xuanfu lose face."

After seeing off the young servant, the several traitors sent men to notify the other leading figures in Xuanfu, while they themselves returned to Fan Yongdou's study to confer.

As soon as they were seated, Fan Yongdou spoke first: "These Jianzhou barbarians are truly useless. But no matter — from now on, they will have to rely on us all the more. We should stockpile more ironware and grain and fodder in the future."

Wang Dengku said: "What time do you think this is? Still thinking of money? The Emperor himself is about to arrive — we should first think about how to get through this."

Fan Yongdou, however, said with a dark expression: "It is of no consequence. We will simply contribute a bit more grain and fodder, and that will be the end of it.

The little Emperor leads the campaign in person — does he think he is the Hongwu Emperor or the Yongle Emperor? Let him just hope he does not end up like the Yingzong Emperor!"

The Eight Great Locust Merchants, their treasonous schemes thrown into disarray by the Chongzhen Emperor's arrival, were extremely displeased, and even secretly hoped for a second Tumu Crisis.

Yet however displeased they were, the imperial presence still had to be welcomed, preparations still had to be made, and they promptly hurried to the Xuanfu city gate, where by now the Chongzhen Emperor's imperial procession could be seen in the distance.

After a little less than an hour had passed, the Chongzhen Emperor's imperial procession finally arrived before the gates of Xuanfu. Yet it was not the scene people had imagined — a few horses pulling a carriage, with the Chongzhen Emperor seated upon the imperial palanquin.

The Chongzhen Emperor, clad in golden armor, rode at the very front upon a battle steed of pure white.

Behind him, half a horse-length back, to the left was the Eastern Depot Director Fang Zhenghua, and to the right was a towering, robust man in battle armor — none other than Man Gui. Further behind them stretched the vast, dark mass of the great army, extending as if linking heaven and earth.

Looking again at the Chongzhen Emperor, he held a fangtian huaji halberd in one hand and wore a vermilion cape. His bearing was dragon-like and radiant, his features fine and fair-complexioned.

He should have been a peerless young gentleman of a degenerate age, yet clad in that suit of armor, he outshone Zhao Zilong of the white horse and silver spear, and put Lü Fengxian, Marquis of Wen, to shame.

Everyone present, seeing this, could not help but silently exclaim in their hearts: "What a heroic and martial Son of Heaven! I fear he is not inferior even to the Yongle Emperor!"

Seeing that the Chongzhen Emperor had arrived, Lu Xiangsheng, as the highest-ranking person among the Xuanfu contingent, immediately stepped forward from the crowd, came before the Chongzhen Emperor's horse, and knelt: "Your servant Lu Xiangsheng humbly welcomes His Majesty — ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand of ten thousand years!"

The Chongzhen Emperor, seated upright on his horse, said: "Minister Lu, rise. We have come in pursuit of the Jianzhou barbarians — why must you trouble the people of the city?"

He then urged his horse forward and declared in a clear voice: "People, on behalf of the various lords of the court and the armies at the frontier passes, We apologize to you! We have made you suffer!" So saying, he inclined his body slightly in a bow.

When had anyone present ever witnessed such a gesture? Instantly, with a great rustling sound, another swath of people fell to their knees.

"Minister Lu, introduce the people of Xuanfu to Us." Looking at the several men kneeling beside Lu Xiangsheng, the Chongzhen Emperor said with a beaming smile.

Lu Xiangsheng immediately rose and said: "Your servant obeys the decree." He then pointed at the Eight Great Locust Merchants and said: "Your Majesty, these eight men are, respectively, Fan Yongdou, Wang Dengku, and the others. These eight are prominent gentry of the Xuanfu-Datong region."

The Chongzhen Emperor looked toward these Eight Great Locust Merchants and said with a beaming smile: "Oh? We have heard the names of you gentlemen even in the capital. Very good."

Fan Yongdou and the others immediately said with delight: "We commoners dare not presume. Our lowly names, we fear, may offend the imperial ear."

They thought to themselves that even the Chongzhen Emperor had heard of their great names — what a story to tell in the future.

In three hundred years of the dynasty, aside from that fool Shen Wansan who did not know when to die, who else had ever had his great name reach the Emperor's ears? No one but us gentlemen!

The Chongzhen Emperor, however, said: "What is there you dare not do? You have privately sold weapons and provisions to the Jianzhou barbarians, letting the Jianzhou barbarians use them to kill the people of our Great Ming — what is there left that you would not dare to do?!"

His voice and expression now fierce and stern, the Chongzhen Emperor said to Man Gui behind him: "Arrest these eight men! Seal off Xuanfu — allow entry, but no exit!"

There will be one more update later tonight.

(End of Chapter)