Chapter 42: Assassinating the King

Ever since Chongzhen ascended the throne, he had first had a Chief Grand Secretary and a Censor flayed and stuffed with straw, then had Hong Taiji's eldest son Hooge executed by slow slicing — the Jianzhou barbarian chieftain's own heir.

He had even personally led the army, pursuing the Jianzhou barbarians for a hundred li, slaughtering as he went. The killing aura and imperial majesty upon him had grown ever deeper.

Now, when his fury suddenly erupted, it struck such terror into the Censors and government students that they trembled uncontrollably.

Jia Jichun, the Censor Inspecting the Metropolitan Region, steeled his nerve and memorialized: "Your Majesty, have you forgotten the affair of the Xizong Emperor?

Now Your Majesty, instead of taking that as a warning, has instead become addicted to these clever tricks and frivolous crafts. Out of every ten-odd days, court is canceled on two or three.

As a Censor, it is my duty to remonstrate with my sovereign."

Chongzhen grunted an expressionless "Oh," then said to the other Censors, "Have you all come for the same matter?"

Seeing that someone had stepped forward, another Censor memorialized: "Your Majesty, this subject has heard that Your Majesty is producing an item called 'cement' within the palace. This subject is dull-witted and cannot discern the pros and cons of it.

However, what this subject memorializes is an impeachment of the eunuch traitor Wei Zhongxian and the various craftsmen, who have deceived and enticed Your Majesty into practicing the base trade of artisans. That is their crime.

This subject begs Your Majesty to execute this traitor to the nation."

Yet another had just memorialized: "Your Majesty, this subject has heard that he who is the ruler of men should dwell high in the imperial court, governing with robes hanging down and hands folded, and all under Heaven will be at peace.

Now that Your Majesty engages in the work of an artisan, where does that leave the dynasty? This subject begs Your Majesty to think thrice."

Chongzhen said, "The thing We have made is of great use in military and state affairs. It is a confidential matter, and has nothing to do with Wei Zhongxian and the craftsmen.

If you wish to know what We have made, you may go before the Gate of Heavenly Succession tomorrow and observe the construction of the Loyal Martyrs' Shrine. For now, withdraw for the time being."

Seeing that the Censors still wished to speak, Chongzhen said angrily, "If you wish to offer counsel on state affairs, you ought to submit memorials to the Grand Secretariat. Now you kneel at the palace gate, weeping and wailing — what kind of decorum is this?

It is a sheer loss of face for the dynasty!"

Jia Jichun, however, said, "Your Majesty does not heed your subjects' remonstrance, but instead rebukes us with harsh words — is this the conduct of an enlightened sovereign?

This subject begs Your Majesty to reflect upon yourself, to execute the national traitor at once, and thereby rectify the court's discipline. If Your Majesty does not comply, we subjects would rather kneel here until we die outside the Donghua Gate!"

Chongzhen, whose heart was filled with an ever-thickening killing intent, merely said, "Fine. You may kneel for now." He turned his head and addressed the many government students: "Have you come here for the same reason as these Censors?"

The Wang-surnamed Imperial Academy student who had been so impassioned in the crowd moments before replied, "Your Majesty is sagely and wise. We students beg Your Majesty to execute the national traitor at once, and thereby rectify the court's discipline!"

Looking at these government students, who by rights should have been studying at the Imperial Academy and the Institute for the Advancement of Literature, now being incited by someone to come wail at the palace, Chongzhen understood more and more Zhu Yuanzhang's edict that "only government students are not permitted."

Chongzhen said, "Do you know that the Great Ancestor, the Hongwu Emperor, once issued an edict stating that all military and civilian matters, whether beneficial or harmful, may be brought forth by any man under Heaven — only government students are not permitted?

Now, as government students, you kneel and wail at the palace gate. Do you still have any regard for the Great Ancestor's edict?

Do you wish to make Us unrighteous?"

These words struck straight at the heart.

The crowd of government students had been about to retreat, but unexpectedly, that Student Wang suddenly said, "Your Majesty, this student has heard it said: 'Affairs of the family, affairs of the state, affairs of the world — all affairs are to be cared for.' Though this student is not a Donglin scholar, I still wish to emulate them.

Now that a national traitor runs rampant, this is precisely the time for us students to speak out for righteousness. We beg Your Majesty to see clearly."

Chongzhen was actually angered into laughter by such bullshit. He immediately asked, "Then let Us ask you.

When the Jianzhou barbarians besieged the city before, where were you? When We dispatched the Depot and the Guard to solicit silver donations to resist the Jianzhou barbarians, how much did you donate?

After the Jianzhou barbarians retreated, when the soldiers of the Capital Camps were gathering the city's populace to rebuild their homes, where were you?

We issued an edict that the production of cement within the palace was to be kept confidential. From whom, then, did you learn of it?"

His anger mounting with every word, Chongzhen roared, "Do you wish to test whether Our blade is sharp?!"

That Wang-surnamed Imperial Academy student, however, was a bold one. He steeled himself and said, "In reply to Your Majesty, the Depot and the Guard are agencies that harm the people.

This student's parents were framed and persecuted by the eunuch Wei. Though the family still has some remaining wealth, on what grounds should we donate it to the Depot and the Guard?

As for the matter of cement, this student naturally heard it from others."

Hearing the ringleader speak thus, Chongzhen laughed in extreme fury and said, "We have issued edicts time and again strictly forbidding private communication with the palace and association with the inner attendants. We never imagined there were still people so audacious.

You Censors, you government students — today you wail at the palace; tomorrow, will you not be forcing Our abdication?!"

At this moment, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, mobilized by a single edict from Chongzhen, had already surrounded the Donghua Gate area. Not far off, the shadowy ranks of the Capital Camps soldiers also came into view.

Seeing this, the Imperial Academy students panicked and huddled together in a tight mass. Only that Student Wang, possessed of remarkable nerve, raged, "When the sovereign regards his ministers as weeds, the ministers regard their sovereign as a foe!

Your Majesty is a fatuous ruler! Unfit to serve the ancestral temple!"

As he finished speaking, a dagger about a foot long suddenly slipped from his sleeve, and he lunged with all his might to stab Chongzhen.

The attire that Student Wang wore was the standard Imperial Academy student's robe — wide-sleeved and loose-gowned. No one had ever imagined that someone would have hidden a dagger within it.

All that was heard was a sharp "Riiip!" The Chongzhen Emperor, who had twisted aside in panic, had his sleeve slashed open, and even his arm was cut with a gash.

Only then did Director Fang, who was positioned behind Chongzhen, react. One kick sent Student Wang sprawling to the ground.

The nearby Embroidered Uniform Guards immediately seized and restrained him. Then came the ringing clatter of drawn blades as the Embroidered Uniform Guard swiftly encircled the Censors and the crowd of government students, roaring furiously, "Protect the Emperor!

Let no one escape! Anyone who moves rashly dies!"

Although Student Wang was subdued, he paid no heed to the wails, curses, and shouts of the encircled Censors and Imperial Academy students. He simply kept cursing furiously: "Chongzhen!

You fatuous ruler! You favor the eunuch slaves and restore the Depot and the Guard — the Great Ming's three-hundred-year realm will surely perish by your hand!

Fatuous ruler! Fatuous ruler!"

Clutching his stabbed right arm, Chongzhen kicked over Wei Zhongxian, who had scrambled up only to be scared half to death and was now shouting "Summon the imperial physician!" Chongzhen roared, "Shut your mouth!"

He then glared furiously at the Censors and government students and bellowed, "Fine! The dynasty has nurtured scholars for three hundred years, and this is what it gets in return — men who would assassinate their sovereign!"

He then shouted at Tian Ergeng and Xu Xianchun, who had hurried forward, "Arrest them all! Throw them into the Imperial Prison and interrogate them harshly! Find out whether there is a mastermind behind this!"

Next, he said to Director Fang Zhenghua, "Seal the palace gates! Order the Inner Depot, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Eastern and Western Depots to jointly investigate everyone within the palace!

We want to see which dog-slave with the gall of a bear and the heart of a leopard dares to communicate privately with those outside the palace!"

Having arranged the palace security matters, he then said to Wang Cheng'en, "Send an edict to the Duke of Ying — tell him he need not come. Order him to lead the Capital Camps to seal the city gates: entry is permitted, exit is not!

Order Man Gui to lead troops to patrol the streets. Anyone making suspicious movements is to be seized on the spot; any who resist are to be killed without exception!

A curfew begins at sunset today! Any civil or military official who dares to go out on the streets after the curfew is to be seized and thrown into the Imperial Prison!"

Wei Zhongxian, who had been kicked down, only now got back up. He sent men to summon the imperial physician on one hand, and on the other sent men to notify Cao Huachun, the Superintendent of the Eastern Depot.

Having finished issuing a rapid succession of orders, Chongzhen then returned to the inner palace and went to the Empress's palace to rest.

But upon seeing Zhang Yan, the Tianqi Emperor's Empress, who had hurried over, Chongzhen suddenly recalled a matter. He immediately summoned Wei Zhongxian and gave him some instructions.

Dear ministers who have book lists, you must bookmark this book. We shall not be stingy with the reward of enfeoffment.

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(End of Chapter)