Chapter 96: Investiture

After getting definite word from Cui Chengxiu, Wanyan Hong finally let out a long breath of relief.

Marrying his daughter Wanyan Yuzhuo to the Great Ming Emperor was no loss. No matter how you looked at it, the Great Ming Emperor was a hundred thousand leagues better than that Jianzhou barbarian chief Hong Taiji.

From the present situation, the Chongzhen Emperor could be called young and promising, holding the Great Ming's vast realm, brilliant and martial, keen and enterprising — once the Jianzhou barbarians were pacified some day, the entire Xibe people would reap boundless benefits.

Hong Taiji, on the other hand, was already thirty-six; though in his prime, that bastard wasn't much younger than himself.

Think again — if the Great Ming Emperor, brilliant and martial, destroyed Hong Taiji, wouldn't his own daughter, and the entire Xibe people, all suffer the consequences?

No matter how you looked at it, this Hong Taiji couldn't compare to the Great Ming's Chongzhen Emperor — and he thought he could lay a finger on Yuzhuo? He was so pretty he was blowing snot bubbles!

Wanyan Hong and Cui Chengxiu each harbored their own schemes, but they had reached a unanimous goal — it was like dry kindling meeting a fierce flame, a lecher running into a wild pheasant; the two hit it off instantly.

Wanyan Hong, who had originally been considering moving further north under pressure from Hong Taiji, now had the Great Ming backing him, and at once said delightedly: "I wonder when the Sacred Son of Heaven's decree might arrive here?

For my daughter to enter the palace and serve the Sacred Son of Heaven is an unprecedented honor for our Xibe people; I should prepare a good many dowry gifts."

Cui Chengxiu heard this and noted how Wanyan Hong had gone from 'your family's emperor' to 'the Great Ming Emperor' to 'the Great Ming Son of Heaven,' and now was following his own lead in saying 'Sacred Son of Heaven' — truly shameless.

So he teased: "Could it be that Chief Wanyan is in such a hurry to become the Great Ming Imperial Father-in-Law?"

Wanyan Hong, hearing this, paid no mind to Cui Chengxiu's teasing, but straightened his expression and said: "Sir Cui, there are things you do not know. That brat Hong Taiji has truly gone too far in bullying us."

Cui Chengxiu also straightened his expression and asked: "Those are beasts in human form! What human deed could they possibly do? But how exactly have they been oppressing your noble tribe?"

Wanyan Hong gave a bitter laugh: "In truth, what I mentioned earlier about demanding our tribe submit to the Jianzhou barbarians is entirely real — and not only that, they want to conscript our men for war.

That alone might be bearable, but now they demand our tribe pay annual tribute and come to pay homage every year, acting as if he himself were the Emperor."

He paused, then continued: "And moreover, that dog of a Jianzhou barbarian Hong Taiji, already thirty-six, covets my daughter's renowned beauty and intends to force her to marry him."

I had thought to raise the tribe's great army and fight that dog of a Jianzhou barbarian to the death, but regrettably, the tribe is not of one heart — only the clans present here today stand with me.

Thus I had no real recourse against that dog of a Jianzhou barbarian, and could do nothing but move a bit further north."

Cui Chengxiu, hearing this, laughed: "Now all is well. Even with just the clans present here combined, armed and equipped by our Great Ming's endless supply of arms, we can already teach that dog of a Jianzhou barbarian how to be a proper human."

The phrase 'teach them how to be human' was something Cui Chengxiu had picked up from Chongzhen's own mouth, and he felt that saying it now was immensely satisfying.

Wanyan Hong's expression was no longer as placid as before; he laughed and said: "Indeed. Our clans originally lacked sufficient iron tools and were poorly equipped, which is why we could do nothing against that dog of a Jianzhou barbarian.

If we receive the Great Ming's aid, then as Sir Cui says, we shall properly teach that dog of a Jianzhou barbarian how to be a proper human."

Furthermore, although our Xibe tribe dwells in a remote place, we still know something of the situation between the Great Ming and the Jianzhou barbarians.

Now that the Sacred Son of Heaven has ascended the throne, it is precisely a time of restoration — for my daughter to enter the palace and serve the Sacred Son of Heaven is her good fortune."

Cui Chengxiu laughed: "Chief Wanyan — no, I must not address you so from now on. I must call you Imperial Father-in-Law Wanyan."

With that, he straightened his expression, rose, adjusted his robes and cap, and then said: "There is an imperial decree. Wanyan Hong, receive the decree."

The moment Wanyan Hong heard there was a decree, he knew the Chongzhen Emperor had planned this all along — or rather, that their own reactions had long been within the Chongzhen Emperor's expectations.

His heart gave a shiver of awe, and following what he had learned from Han storybooks, he performed the full prostration, intoning: "Wanyan Hong receives the decree."

The other clan chiefs in the room, seeing Wanyan Hong kneel to receive the decree, looked at each other, then imitated Wanyan Hong's manner and knelt — though in their haste it was somewhat awkward and rather comical.

Cui Chengxiu acted as if he saw nothing, simply opened the imperial edict and proclaimed: "The Emperor, who by the Mandate of Heaven reigns, decrees: We hold that governing the age relies on civil arts, and quelling disorder relies on the martial.

And military commanders are truly the pillars of the court, the shields of the realm. Those who are accomplished in both civil and martial affairs, who exert themselves in loyal service — how can their achievements be obscured and not commended with gracious mandate?"

You, Wanyan Hong of the Xibe, descendant of Chunwei, belong to the lineage of Yan and Huang. Now leading your tribe to pledge allegiance, Our heart is greatly pleased; to confer upon you the rank of Chuanming Duke is fitting and proper.

We hereby specially appoint you Chuanming Hulun Duke, conferring this decree in awe-inspiring display, to overawe the barbarians.

Deeply cherishing the supreme commander's illustrious feats, whose merit resounds through Huaxia, to manifest the martial glory proclaimed afar, We temporarily bestow this military rank, with further great achievements to be added. Thus decreed."

Seeing Wanyan Hong kneeling there in a daze, Cui Chengxiu guessed the man could not understand what the edict said, so he smiled and said: "Chief Wanyan, His Majesty has personally enfeoffed you as Chuanming Hulun Duke, hereditary and irrevocable.

Will you not receive the decree and express your gratitude?"

Only then did Wanyan Hong understand, and he was overjoyed — this Ming Emperor was far more generous than that dog Hong Taiji of the Jianzhou barbarians. He had done nothing at all and yet had been made a Chuanming Duke.

He immediately prostrated himself: "Your servant, Hulun Duke Wanyan Hong, receives the decree and expresses his gratitude!"

Before he could rise from the ground, Cui Chengxiu laughed and said: "Hulun Duke, do not rise just yet. There is another decree — the investiture decree for your esteemed daughter."

Once Wanyan Hong had respectfully knelt properly again, Cui Chengxiu took out another imperial edict, opened it, and proclaimed: "The Emperor, who by the Mandate of Heaven reigns, decrees: In the first year of Chongzhen, the year of Wuchen, the daughter of you, Hulun Duke Wanyan Hong — modest and prudent by nature, diligent and gentle, harmonious and pure, of temperate conduct, well-versed in inner chamber decorum, of virtuous character and refined bearing — is hereby invested as Consort Wan.

She shall enter the palace on the fifteenth day of the fourth month. Thus decreed."

When Wanyan Hong heard this, he could scarcely believe the investiture edict described his own daughter — but no matter what, the decree had been issued, and it must be received.

He immediately prostrated himself: "Your servant Wanyan Hong receives the decree and expresses his gratitude. Long live the Emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"

After Wanyan Hong rose from the ground, Cui Chengxiu laughed: "Imperial Father-in-Law Wanyan is truly blessed with good fortune."

Wanyan Hong also laughed: "Sir Cui flatters me. I am far from the capital; henceforth I shall need Sir Cui to put in a few good words for me before the Sacred Son of Heaven."

After the two had exchanged flatteries, Wanyan Hong laughed again: "Originally, my daughter entering the palace to serve the Sacred Son of Heaven is a tremendous joyous occasion, but I did not yet know what gifts to prepare and present to the Sacred Son of Heaven.

Now, however, I have one grand gift, and I beg Sir Cui to convey it to the Sacred Son of Heaven, as a token of your servant's regard."

This chapter counts as yesterday's third update. The release was delayed because a client's website had issues in between. Once again, my apologies to the esteemed readers. Updates will resume as quickly as possible soon.

(End of chapter)