Chapter 63: Veritable Record of the Loyal and the Treacherous

Ni Yuanlu, who had read the confessions of Zhou Yanru and Chen Renzhong, cried out, "Your Majesty!" His face was already flushed crimson with fury, and he nearly fainted.

Coming back to his senses, Ni Yuanlu fell to his knees and implored Chongzhen, "Your subject begs Your Majesty to exterminate every last one of those Donglin curs! Otherwise, with everyone following their example, the audacious and reckless will never cease!"

Chongzhen, however, gave a bitter laugh. "Killing them all is simple, of course. The Embroidered Uniform Guard could do it with ease.

But after we've killed them all — then what? Who will govern this realm for Us?

Ourselves, alone?

The Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern and Western Depots?

How many men like you, my dear minister, who serve the state with a single heart, truly exist?"

This string of questions was directed at Ni Yuanlu, but also a cross-examination of himself.

Chongzhen suddenly felt a wave of dejection and said slowly, "The Great Ming is now what you would call an aged empire, like a decrepit, senile old man — how can it withstand such violent upheaval?

We will certainly demand an accounting for the late Emperor's affairs, but not now."

Hearing this, Ni Yuanlu could hardly continue to insist that the Chongzhen Emperor slaughter all the Donglin Faction members, yet from that moment on, he harbored a deep hatred for the Donglin Faction in his heart, and when targeting Donglin men, he became even more radical than those in the eunuch faction.

Without waiting for Ni Yuanlu to say anything further, Chongzhen continued, "This matter will be discussed another time. The reason We summoned you here today is the matter of the *Veritable Record of the Loyal and the Treacherous*."

Ni Yuanlu, upon hearing this, said, "Your subject is all ears."

Chongzhen said, "During the recent siege by the Jianzhou barbarians, there was one man among them named Fan Wencheng. A Han by birth, yet he willingly serves as a running dog for the Jianzhou barbarians.

Moved by this, We have resolved to compile the *Veritable Record of the Loyal and the Treacherous*, listing upon its pages the many loyal ministers who died for the state and the many Han traitors from the Qin and Han dynasties onward.

By loyal ministers who died for their principles, We mean men like Wen Tianxiang and Lu Xiufu;

by Han traitors, We take the meaning of 'spies who betray the Han,' such as Zhonghang Yue of the Han, Gao Hui of the Tang, and Qin Hui of the former Song.

Whether loyal or treacherous, all shall have their names written and their stories recorded, to be passed down through the ages. The loyal ministers shall leave a good name for a hundred generations; the Han traitors shall stink for ten thousand years — serving as a warning to those who come after!"

Ni Yuanlu immediately prostrated himself in admiration. "Your Majesty is brilliantly wise. Although there have been some storybooks and illustrated volumes before, most were compiled by common folk and contain much that is unreliable.

Now that Your Majesty commands your subject to compile this book, your subject will devote every effort to it."

Chongzhen, however, smiled. "Does Minister Ni think that is all?"

Ni Yuanlu said in surprise, "Beyond this, your subject truly cannot fathom what other brilliant plan Your Majesty might have."

Chongzhen said, "After you have finished the compilation, We shall order the Directorate for Imperial Workshops to select from the book twelve loyal ministers and good generals, such as Wen Tianxiang and Yue Wumu, and cast their sacred images to be enshrined in the Shrine of the Loyal Martyrs, where they shall receive incense and offerings for all generations.

For the likes of Zhonghang Yue and Fan Wencheng, We shall likewise select a number of twelve, and cast their kneeling figures from raw iron, to kneel outside the Shrine of the Loyal Martyrs for the people to revile and spit upon!"

Though astonished, Ni Yuanlu also felt an extraordinary sense of vindication. But hearing Chongzhen repeatedly bring up the name Fan Wencheng, he asked, "Your Majesty, who exactly is this Fan Wencheng?

If his name is to be listed in the record of Han traitors, your subject must know the details of his life. Otherwise, I would have to fabricate it from thin air, and I fear we would become a laughingstock."

Chongzhen said, "This Fan Wencheng is a nineteenth-generation descendant of Fan Wenzheng, Duke of Wenzheng, of the former Song dynasty, and a government student of Shenyang County.

He repeatedly failed the civil examinations in Liaodong, and thus harbored much resentment, often speaking words of bitter discontent.

When the Old Slave took Fushun, Fan Wencheng, a mere xiucai, together with his elder brother Fan Wencai, surrendered to the Old Slave.

Afterwards, he gained considerable trust and employment from the Old Slave, and schemed extensively in the campaigns against the Great Ming. Now that the Old Slave is dead, this cur has become a man upon whom Hong Taiji and the Jianzhou barbarians heavily rely."

Ni Yuanlu, hearing this, said, "This traitor deserves to have nine degrees of his kin exterminated! Even Duke Wenzheng in his grave would find no peace."

Chongzhen said, "This wretch certainly deserves to die. After the Shrine of the Loyal Martyrs is built, We still intend to make him kneel before it."

After Ni Yuanlu left the palace to begin arranging the compilation of the *Veritable Record of the Loyal and the Treacherous*, Chongzhen gazed in the direction of Liaodong and murmured to himself, "Fan Wencheng, don't you go dying on me. Wait for Us."

The sinister chill in his words lingered and would not dissipate, startling the nearby Wang Cheng'en into a shiver.

Wang Cheng'en chimed in to please him, "Rest assured, Imperial Lord, that Fan Wencheng will certainly be captured alive."

Chongzhen smiled at these words but said nothing. Seeing that there was nothing else at hand, he returned to the rear palace to seek out Empress Zhou for a chat.

Meanwhile, in Liaodong, Wang Xuanji was also having a headache. The hardships of the journey need not be recounted; even when several family members of the disgraced officials died from acclimatization issues, Wang Xuanji paid it no mind — in the end, they all arrived safely at Pidao.

After handing over Zhou Yanru and the other disgraced officials' families to Mao Wenlong, Wang Xuanji also met Liu Xingzuo.

Having relayed the Son of Heaven's order for Liu Xingzuo to proceed to the capital for an imperial audience, Wang Xuanji hurriedly rushed back to Shenyang with a Centurion-station's worth of Embroidered Uniform Guard troops.

Once the men of that Centurion-station had infiltrated Shenyang in separate batches, Wang Xuanji gathered the several Platoon Commanders and Squad Commanders together to discuss a major undertaking.

Wang Xuanji said, "The reason I've called everyone here today is that there's a neck-risking job to be done. Let me state upfront: once this thing is done, it's basically nine deaths and one life — or rather, ten deaths and no life wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Only sons of a family are not permitted to take part; those with elderly parents or young children at home are also not permitted. Only those with no elderly parents above and no wife or children below are eligible."

As Wang Xuanji's words ended, a voice came from among the two Centurions: "Aiyo, Commander Wang, sir, that means you're out of the running first — all the credit will belong to the brothers."

Hearing the teasing in this voice, Wang Xuanji did not get angry, but only laughed and cursed, "Screw you, you son of a bitch, Liu Laosi. I've just been promoted to Chiliarch, and you still dare talk to me like that — aren't you afraid I'll make things difficult for you?"

As it turned out, no matter what Liu Laosi had said at the time about not coming, in the end he had still followed Wang Xuanji to Liaodong.

The crowd below were all men who had known Wang Xuanji or caroused with him in the old days, and unafraid of him, they all began to chime in with their own jests.

Wang Xuanji, however, put on a stern face and said, "This matter is no joke. Half of you must remain behind and lie low. From now on, you must continuously gather intelligence and send it back to the homeland."

Hearing this, the men knew that this mission was of extraordinary importance, so they fell silent, all pricking up their ears to hear what Wang Xuanji would say.

Seeing that everyone had quieted down, Wang Xuanji then said, "Before we brothers came to Liaodong this time, I had the good fortune to be granted an audience by the Son of Heaven."

At these words, the crowd once again showed looks of envy.

After all, as the Embroidered Uniform Guard served as the Emperor's personal army, their training had deified the Son of Heaven, teaching the men of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to dedicate everything to the Emperor, and that they should not hesitate even to sacrifice their lives!

Now that this son of a bitch Wang Xuanji had stepped in dog shit and gotten lucky, not only being promoted to Chiliarch but also having met the Son of Heaven, how could the men not be envious?

They then heard Wang Xuanji continue, "When I was granted an audience by the Son of Heaven, I was entrusted with an extremely secret mission. What I speak of today is precisely this mission."

Brothers, my apologies. There may only be this one update today; it's very likely I won't manage a second. My toothache is killing me. I've already taken medicine, and I've still got Sichuan peppercorns in my mouth, but it doesn't seem to be helping much.

(End of Chapter)