Chapter 152: The Edict of Rewards and Honors

On the second day of the twelfth month in the first year of Tianqi, after the Battle of Macao concluded, the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi personally wrote a merit report for Ma Chenglie, but tallying the results and the roster of meritorious officers took considerable time.

Add to that the time for the report to travel from Guangzhou to the Office of Transmission in the capital, plus the time for the ministry review process.

By the time the report reached the Directorate of Ceremonial, it was already near the year's end, and soon the New Year's Day grand court assembly occurred, along with the Donglin Faction's impeachment of the eunuch faction.

Wei Zhongxian was exhausted dealing with that, so this report was shelved.

By the time the New Year's Day grand court assembly matter was settled and Wei Zhongxian had freed up his hands, the Battle of Guangning had broken out.

Wei Zhongxian keenly realized that reporting a great defeat to Tianqi first, then reporting a great victory afterward, could effectively quell the Emperor's anger, divert the Emperor's attention away from Liaodong affairs, and give Wei Zhongxian more authority.

At the same time, the one who had rendered meritorious service was the Vice Regional Commander of Nan'ao, who had been inclined to pledge allegiance to the eunuch faction.

If the Emperor granted rewards, Wei Zhongxian could also use his methods to make Regional Commander Ma understand that the credit belonged to Wei Zhongxian—a case of returning a favor with a favor.

Everything fell into place naturally—it was simply heaven's will!

That was why he submitted the memorial only today.

Tianqi's eyes lit up with delighted surprise: "Truly? Show me the memorial."

Wei Zhongxian took out another memorial from his bosom and reported orally: "In this battle, the red-haired barbarians plundered Qiongzhou and pressed toward Macao.

The red barbarians came in great force, with twelve cannon ships; the Macao water forces collapsed at the first engagement—the entire force was wiped out.

At the moment of crisis, Regional Commander Ma led the Nan'ao water forces to the rescue, fighting fiercely through the night.

They sank four red barbarian cannon ships, burned two, and captured two.

Your Majesty, this is our Great Ming's greatest naval victory since the Battle of Noryang!"

"Excellent!" Tianqi slapped his thigh and stood up, "Look! This is the kind of achievement our Great Ming officers and soldiers ought to have!

In the north there's Mao Wenlong, in the south there's Ma Chenglie—our Great Ming navy truly does us proud! Take this memorial and show it to the Grand Secretariat."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After Wei Zhongxian finished with official matters, the conversation as usual drifted to the Emperor's favorite subject—carpentry.

He picked up that sandboat and said: "Your Majesty, this servant also has one more matter to dare report."

Tianqi was in an excellent mood: "Speak freely."

"Your Majesty, the sandboat has a flat bottom, suited only for canal navigation. Our Great Ming's seagoing vessels are all Fujian junks and Guangdong ships. If Your Majesty wishes to see them, this servant will have Ma Chenglie transfer a few from Nan'ao."

"Oh?" When it came to carpentry, Tianqi was meticulous and perfection-seeking. He bore no anger at Wei Zhongxian for pointing out his flaws—on the contrary, he felt a thrill at learning the direction for improvement.

But after thinking it over, Tianqi ultimately sighed and said: "Forget it. Warships are so vital to the navy—how could I, for my own private desires, have warships travel thousands of li north?"

Wei Zhongxian: "Your Majesty, if the warships can't be sent, then send the drawings and wax models." Wax models meant wooden replicas.

Tianqi clapped his hands, joy spreading across his brow: "Exactly right! Zhongxian, you always handle things properly. If you were an official outside the palace, it would be wonderful if you could join the Grand Secretariat."

Wei Zhongxian smiled: "Your Majesty, hear what you're saying. If this servant were an official outside the palace and couldn't serve at Your Majesty's side every day, then even if I reached the pinnacle of ministerial power, life would hold no flavor."

Tianqi laughed heartily: "Zhongxian, I know your loyalty, it's just that your words are sickeningly sweet. Go carry out your duties."

"Yes! This servant is off." Wei Zhongxian bowed and hurriedly withdrew from the warm chamber.

Just as he reached the door, Tianqi called him back: "Zhongxian——"

"Your Majesty, do you have further instructions?"

"No hurry—walk slowly." The Emperor's care was sincere and heartfelt.

"Yes." Wei Zhongxian was genuinely moved by what he heard; turning his back, tears welled in his eyes.

Cradling the sandboat Tianqi had made, with the memorial tucked in his bosom, he walked toward the corridor rooms by the Imperial Extreme Gate.

Before he even reached the door, he heard Liu Yibao shouting at the top of his lungs from afar.

"With Liaodong affairs pressing, we grand secretaries must see the Emperor face to face—on what grounds do you block us?

Is it that the Emperor won't see us, or that you won't let us see the Emperor! Today this Grand Secretary demands you explain yourselves! Where's Wei Zhongxian? Tell that eunuch to come out!"

Wei Zhongxian's face darkened as he walked up close.

Wang Tiqian stepped forward to greet him: "Ancestor Master, you've returned."

Wei Zhongxian jerked his chin toward the corridor rooms: "What's going on?"

Wang Tiqian said with a bitter face: "The grand secretaries have waited too long and lost their patience. Grand Secretary Liu is making a scene."

For this audience with Tianqi, Wei Zhongxian had waited four whole hours just for him to finish his carpentry, and counting the journey there and back plus the memorial audience, that took another hour or more.

The grand secretaries had arrived in the middle of the night, and before that had already waited four hours in the corridor rooms.

All told, they had waited nearly ten full hours!

These men were all grand secretaries, with awe-inspiring power and influence.

But in the imperial palace, no one attended to their food and lodging; having a corridor room to shelter them from wind and snow was already a vast imperial grace.

The frailer ones, like Shen Hong and Sun Ruyou, were already dizzy with hunger, their limbs weak, slumped over their seats in dejection.

Even the younger Han Kuang saw stars before his eyes and could only drink cup after cup of plain water to stave off hunger.

Among the Grand Secretariat, Liu Yibao was the youngest and had the fiercest temper. On ordinary days when awaiting an imperial audience, waiting longer was tolerable—it was a subject's duty.

But today, with such a major event in Liaodong, they still had to wait!

Did they still care about the state? Did they still care about the altars of the realm?

Today, even if he had to tear face with the powerful eunuch, he would fight for this breath of dignity! Thus, disregarding ministerial decorum, he shouted at the top of his lungs.

Wei Zhongxian listened, then gave a cold smile: "Bring me a chair. I want to see how long Grand Secretary Liu can keep shouting.

The young eunuchs obeyed, bringing a chair, a brazier, and serving hot tea; since they were outdoors, they also brought screens to block the wind.

Wei Zhongxian had been busy all morning and was hungry in the belly, so he ordered food brought over.

Before long, the food arrived—a serving of white rice, four small dishes, and five or six kinds of finely crafted pickled vegetables.

Though the spread looked simple, the food was piping hot, all freshly made, with small candle flames beneath the trays keeping them warm.

Being able to eat freshly cooked hot meals outside of regular mealtimes was entirely thanks to Wei Zhongxian's far-reaching influence.

In the cold wind, Wei Zhongxian ate heartily to the accompaniment of Liu Yibao's cursing, eating with tremendous relish.

He ate until his whole body was warm, and at the end had someone bring him another bowl of soup.

Gradually Liu Yibao could no longer curse either, his voice growing weaker and weaker until finally he fell silent.

Only then did Wei Zhongxian stand up, had someone clear away the arrangements, straightened his clothes, took a damp cloth to wipe the thin sweat from his forehead after eating, and walked slowly into the corridor hall.

The corridor hall was bitterly cold, the temperature not much higher than outside.

After ten hours of waiting, the red charcoal had long since burned out—after all, these were all Wei Zhongxian's opponents, so the eunuchs hadn't replaced the coals.

The Grand Secretaries were cold and hungry, each looking listless, wrapping their clothes tightly and curling up in their seats.

Seeing Wei Zhongxian enter, they only lifted their eyelids slightly.

Liu Yibao asked weakly: "Where is His Majesty?"

Wei Zhongxian did not answer. He glanced at the extinguished charcoal fire in the hall and scolded the young eunuch beside him: "Idiot! Why haven't you replaced the coals for the Grand Secretaries!"

"This slave—this slave was careless for a moment and forgot—" The young eunuch's body trembled, and he immediately knelt to beg forgiveness.

Wei Zhongxian frowned and said: "Go accept your punishment yourself, then have someone replace the coals."

Liu Yibao raised his voice: "I'm asking you, where is His Majesty?"

But he had been shouting for a long while, and his voice was now hoarse, carrying no authority at all.

Having suffered hunger and cold for so long for nothing, Han was already disheartened. He stood up and said flatly: "Enough. Since Eunuch Wei has come out in person, it seems His Majesty still does not wish to see us. Let us go back—back to the Grand Secretariat, and work out a proper solution ourselves."

Liu Yibao was shocked: "Matters of such military and national importance, how can we—"

Wei Zhongxian smiled: "Wait a moment. His Majesty has an edict to convey."

The Grand Secretaries exchanged glances, all seeing hope in each other's eyes.

Liu Yibao urged repeatedly: "Speak quickly."

Wei Zhongxian's expression was grave, and he did not speak.

Han on the side reminded Liu Yibao to mind his ministerial decorum, whereupon the six Grand Secretaries knelt trembling before Wei Zhongxian to receive the edict.

Wei Zhongxian: "His Majesty says: Put Xiong Tingbi and Wang Huazhen in prison and have their crimes deliberated. For the new Governor and Military Commissioner, let the Grand Secretariat recommend candidates. That is all—tell them to go back."

Liu Yibao looked shocked and puzzled: "That's all? What else?"

Wei Zhongxian smiled and took out from his bosom the merit-report memorial from the Governor-General of the Two Guangs, saying: "His Majesty has more edicts, Grand Secretary Liu need not be anxious.

His Majesty also said: Look! This is the kind of battle result our Ming soldiers ought to have! In the north there is Mao Wenlong, in the south there is Ma Chenglie—our Ming navy truly does us proud! Take this memorial and show it to the Grand Secretariat.""

Both of these edicts were things Tianqi had said offhandedly; Wei Zhongxian had committed them to memory, not changing a single word.

But the amount of speech could be adjusted—he could have simply said "show the memorial to the Grand Secretariat"—yet Wei Zhongxian deliberately added Tianqi's praise of Mao Wenlong and Ma Chenglie, precisely to remind the Grand Secretariat to take note of the Emperor's attitude.

As for what the Emperor's original intention was—whether he was using this memorial to rap the Grand Secretariat's knuckles, or was dissatisfied with the rewards the Grand Secretariat had drafted in its rescript—

Tianqi had not said clearly, and Wei Zhongxian would not say either.

Weren't the Grand Secretaries so good at guessing? Let them guess.

"That is all. All of you, receive the edict."

"Your ministers receive the edict." The Grand Secretaries kowtowed and accepted the edict.

After rising, Han took the memorial with a puzzled expression, and the other Grand Secretaries gathered around, studying the memorial closely.

They had all seen this memorial before—the draft rescript on it was still there—

What did the Emperor mean by this? Was he dissatisfied with the draft rescript and wanted it revised?

Indeed, the rewards in the draft rescript were not much. First, the treasury was already depleted—the limited arms and funds all had to support Liaodong, and the rest had to be sent to the southwest. Where was there any reward to give the southeastern navy?

Second, defeating twelve red barbarian ships was hardly a great achievement. The Grand Secretaries had no clear understanding of the red barbarians' fighting strength—after all, since their name contained the word "barbarian," they must be nothing but chickens and dogs of straw.

Third, the Governor-General of the Two Guangs' report was vague about the battle results, especially regarding the enemy ships' size, the number of cannons, and the number of personnel—all stated very obscurely.

Yet it described in detail Ma Chenglie's warships, personnel, and battle tactics, seemingly hinting that his force was growing too large, and reminding the Grand Secretariat to be wary.

But the Emperor had given the order, and the Grand Secretaries dared not disobey—and even if they did not revise it, the power of the red endorsement was still clenched in Wei Zhongxian's hands.

If the red endorsement were carelessly altered all over, and the ministries approved and executed it below, it would be better for the Grand Secretariat to obediently revise the draft rescript itself.

Han said: "Allow us to return to the Secretariat to deliberate. We will revise the rescript as soon as possible and report back to His Majesty."

"Go on." Wei Zhongxian said flatly.

The Grand Secretaries dispersed, but only Shi Jijie remained behind.

This man was cautious and steady, scrupulously observing the statutes, and not enthusiastic about factional politics—therefore Wei Zhongxian was still fairly courteous to him: "Grand Secretary Shi, is there something else?"

Shi Jijie took out a memorial from his bosom and handed it to Wei Zhongxian: "The Chief Grand Secretary asked me to deliver this to the Directorate of Ceremonial."

Wei Zhongxian accepted it but did not open it—because the dignified brush-holding eunuch could not read.

After Shi Jijie left, Wei Zhongxian called for Wang Tiqian: "See what the Chief Grand Secretary's memorial says—so secretive about it."

Wang Tiqian opened the memorial and revealed a surprised expression: "The Chief Grand Secretary wants to retire!"

Wei Zhongxian was startled at first, but soon felt relieved—after all, Wang Huazhen had been recommended by the Chief Grand Secretary.

Within the Grand Secretariat, the Chief Grand Secretary had also been of the faction advocating war.

Now that Wang Huazhen had suffered a great defeat, Wei Zhongxian could push all the blame onto Xiong Tingbi—but a man of conscience like the Chief Grand Secretary could not do such a thing.

Strictly speaking, Ye Xianggao was also without a faction. Though he was close to the Donglin Faction, when he encountered good governance, he would not hesitate to support the eunuch faction either.

He truly considered the nation's interests, wishing to break the habit of scholar-officials forming partisan cliques.

Even Wei Zhongxian secretly held some respect for Ye Xianggao in his heart.

And this time, Ye Xianggao's memorial of resignation had not gone through the Office of Transmission, nor had it been submitted to the memorial-receiving office at Huiji Gate, but was delivered directly to the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Clearly he did not want to be delayed by procedure—his resolve to leave was truly firm.

Wei Zhongxian sighed: "Enough. If the Chief Grand Secretary wishes to go, then grant him his peace."

Wang Tiqian said: "Rest assured, Ancestor. This slave knows what to do."

The Chief Grand Secretary had labored with great merit; to display the Emperor's boundless grace, it would not do to grant his request on the first asking—this memorial had to be rejected.

If Ye Xianggao truly wished to retire, he would continue submitting memorials, going back and forth a dozen or more times, before the red endorsement would permit it.

This was the rule, and also the face that ought to be preserved for Ye Xianggao.

As for the Tianqi Emperor, Wei Zhongxian would handle that himself.

The Grand Secretaries returned to the Wenyuan Pavilion.

There they saw Chief Grand Secretary Ye Xianggao sitting in the pavilion, reviewing official documents.

Han said in surprise: "The Chief Grand Secretary is actually in the pavilion? With such a great matter arising in Liaodong, why did you not come with us to seek an audience with the Emperor?"

Ye Xianggao looked up, his face weary, wrinkles spreading across it, as if he had aged greatly overnight. Seeing the dejected appearance of the assembled men, he smiled bitterly: "Gentlemen must be hungry. I have had noodles and hot tea prepared. Please have some first, to warm yourselves."

With that, Ye Xianggao gestured to a servant.

The servant quickly brought up bowls of plain noodle soup, cold dishes, and hot Maojian tea.

When Grand Secretaries worked in the Grand Secretariat, meals were provided, and the fare was quite sumptuous—but this was not a mealtime, and the rules within the Imperial City were many; one could not light a stove at will. They could only boil water on the existing stove and cook noodles to stave off hunger.

Fortunately, the Grand Secretaries were not men who pursued comfort, and they were truly famished, so without ceremony they each took bowls and chopsticks and served themselves noodles.

The Grand Secretaries had no mind for conversation, only wolfing down bowl after bowl of plain noodle soup with loud slurps.

Ye Xianggao also served himself a bowl of noodles and sat at the table to eat.

Seeing this, Liu Yibao picked up his bowl and moved to another table, making clear he was unwilling to dine at the same table as Ye Xianggao.

The other Grand Secretaries found the scene awkward. Though they harbored resentment that Ye Xianggao had not come with them to seek the audience, they would not go so far as he had.

Han broke the awkward silence, asking: "Has the Chief Grand Secretary not eaten either?"

Ye Xianggao smiled and said: "I merely watched you all eating so heartily, and it made me hungry."

A servant nearby could not bear to hear this and spoke up in defense: "The Chief Grand Secretary arrived at the third quarter of the Zi hour last night and has been reviewing documents until now, without eating a single bite."

Ye Xianggao shot him a glare: "Meddlesome!"

The surrounding Grand Secretaries all wore astonished expressions. They too had gone to the Huangji Gate at the Zi hour to await the audience. Was Ye Xianggao's action not precisely showing that although he had not come in person, he still shared the hardships of his colleagues in the Grand Secretariat?

Truly the conduct of a gentleman!

Liu Yibao's face turned red. Carrying his rice bowl, he squeezed back over: "Since the Chief Grand Secretary came, why did you not seek the audience together with us?"

Ye Xianggao let out a sigh: "Did any of you gentlemen actually see the Emperor's face?"

The assembled men shook their heads.

Ye Xianggao said dejectedly: "The eunuch faction now holds great power, and matters are already beyond remedy. All I can do is manage the Grand Secretariat well. As for seeking an audience with the Emperor to critique the ills of the times—I dare not hope for it."

These words carried a strong sense of passive resignation and desire to withdraw. All the Grand Secretaries understood Ye Xianggao's implication and urged him in turn.

But Ye Xianggao's mind was made up, and persuasion was useless. The Grand Secretaries fell silent with chagrin, and the conversation returned to the Emperor's decree.

The first matter was the appointment of the new Military Commissioner for Liaodong.

With such a great disaster having occurred in Liaodong, Xiong Tingbi and Wang Huazhen were soon to be escorted back to the capital for execution.

Who could take over this mess? Who would dare take over this mess?

The Grand Secretaries deliberated for a long while and drew up a list of five or six men, but none was entirely suitable.

This matter was discussed for a long time without reaching a conclusion.

They decided to first discuss the second matter—the rewards for the great victory at Macao.

Everyone had eaten their fill, and the servants cleared away the noodle soup.

Han took a memorial from his bosom and spread it on the table.

Ye Xianggao spoke first: "Before the new year, I asked someone to make inquiries in my hometown, and I have just received the reply. Every red barbarian cannon ship is a vessel of a thousand liao, carrying over twenty cannons each, of tremendous power.

For the Nan'ao naval forces to have routed them in one stroke is indeed a great victory. The rewards drafted previously were indeed somewhat low."

Han nearly scalded himself on the Maojian tea. Wiping his mouth, he said: "So you mean this report not only did not exaggerate the military merit, but actually understated it?"

Liu Yibao gave a cold snort: "Could it be that some envious person, jealous of worthy men, suppressed the military merit? If not for the Emperor's keen discernment, the soldiers would nearly have been disheartened."

"But the state treasury is empty now, and there is no more money or grain to send rewards to the southeast. Moreover, Regional Commander Ma has already reached the rank of Vice Regional Commander—there is no vacancy to promote him further."

"Why not add an honorary rank, and also extend favor to his descendants?"

"That method is proper. We can also promote and reward the officers and men under Regional Commander Ma's command. This saves money and grain while satisfying the soldiers."

A look of contemplation appeared on Ye Xianggao's face.

"Does the Chief Grand Secretary have any doubts?"

Ye Xianggao shook his head: "I was merely wondering—if the red barbarians truly are so formidable, how did Regional Commander Ma defeat them?"

"The report says fire ships were used under cover of darkness."

"Let us hope so." Ye Xianggao murmured.

The Grand Secretariat was highly efficient. That very afternoon, the newly drafted merit report arrived on the desk of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

The final result of the rewards was to promote Ma Chenglie to the honorary rank of Agile Cavalry General, confer upon him the meritorious title of Supreme Protector of the Army, and grant one of his sons a hereditary Centurion post.

All those beneath him who had rendered merit received various rewards as well.

Adding honorary rank, conferring meritorious titles, granting hereditary favor—this reward could already be called top-tier.

But Wei Zhongxian was still dissatisfied. Men like Regional Commander Ma—capable, holding real power, and having proactively pledged allegiance early—were rare within the eunuch faction. More favors were needed to keep him close.

Unfortunately, there were no vacancies for Regional Commander of Guangdong or Regional Commander of Fujian, and transferring him to the Capital Camps would be too sensitive.

Wang Tiqian, seeing the old master's worry, offered a plan: "Old Master, if we cannot promote Regional Commander Ma in rank, we can expand his authority instead.

Since Regional Commander Ma's mandate is to jointly defend the Zhangzhou-Chaozhou region, it would be most fitting to place the naval stockade of Zhangzhou Prefecture under his command!

Zhangzhou Prefecture also has a Tongshan naval stockade.

This way, it neither exceeds the regulations, nor lets the capable do more work, and further displays the Old Master's benevolence—three birds with one stone."

A smile appeared on Wei Zhongxian's face: "Approve it with the red endorsement and seal. Send it to the ministry quickly. Once the procedures are complete, pick a loyal man and send the good news to him by fast horse."

Vice Regional Commander Ma Chenglie of Nan'ao had been riding high lately.

The great victory at Macao was spreading far and wide, already known throughout Fujian and Guangdong. Whether Circuit Intendant, Regional Commander, or Prefect, all regarded him with newfound respect.

Banquet after banquet he attended, and beautiful concubine after beautiful concubine he accepted.

Ma Chenglie's family all lived on Nan'ao Island, so with no one to restrain him alone in Chaozhou Prefecture, accepting beautiful concubines was all the more convenient.

Fortunately, someone in Chaozhou Prefecture had recently been selling a family-inherited deer-antler medicinal wine, and Ma Chenglie drank it daily, his vigor surging, which was the only way he could hold up.

That day, someone sent Ma Chenglie another woman, just sixteen years old, tender and lovely.

With every smile and frown of the beauty, Ma Chenglie's eyes burned and his heart ached with urgency, and he hurriedly urged his servant to fetch the medicinal wine.

A moment later, the servant returned with a mournful face and reported: "Master, the medicinal wine we bought before is all used up."

"Then why not go buy more?" Ma Chenglie said urgently.

The servant said: "The medicinal wine comes in ten-tael, twenty-tael, and fifty-tael grades — which kind would you like, Master?"

"There are that many distinctions?" Ma Chenglie was extremely surprised. "How much silver is the most expensive?"

The servant said mysteriously: "The ones displayed on the counter — the most expensive is fifty taels, but I've heard people say that if you build a connection with the pharmacy, there's even better stock kept at the bottom of the chest, some costing two or three hundred taels."

Ma Chenglie was dumbfounded, feeling that this medicinal wine business was even more ruthless than robbing silver at sea — it struck him as utterly absurd.

Fifty taels it was, then — Ma Chenglie pinched his nose and accepted it.

Half an hour later, the servant came through the door carrying a wine jar.

Entering together with the servant was another group of men — Ma Chenglie's own household soldiers — who gasped breathlessly as they came through the door: "Regional Commander, hurry to Zhelin Bay — there's an imperial edict!"

Hearing this, Ma Chenglie shot up from his chair and immediately ordered men to prepare fast horses to gallop at full speed toward Zhelin Bay.

In less than two hours, Ma Chenglie had arrived at Zhelin Bay.

As soon as he entered the camp quarters, he saw a group of people sitting and drinking tea.

The one at their head wore a beam cap, a flying-fish robe, and a jade belt, his bearing extraordinary; seeing him, the man said with a smile: "Regional Commander Ma, prepare the incense table to receive the edict."

Ma Chenglie was startled and looked toward the man, seeing that his chin was smooth and beardless and his features were soft and feminine — clearly a eunuch.

He trembled all over, unable to stop himself from shaking with excitement.

One should know that for ordinary rewards, the Ministry of War would simply issue a dispatch and the Governor would inform the recipient, and that was the end of it.

But for his great victory at Macao — an imperial edict had actually, actually been issued, with an imperial envoy eunuch sent to proclaim it — this was already an immense honor!

Ma Chenglie dared not even imagine the contents of the edict — just how great must the reward be!

Although the post of Vice Regional Commander of Nan'ao was high in rank, it carried little real power — a typical military title of high position but low authority, high grade but humble duty.

Add to that the camp soldiers' severe problem of padded payrolls, and the fact that there were no maritime threats in the southeast.

Ma Chenglie had originally thought his official career was at an end, but he never imagined that barely a year after throwing in his lot with the Helmsman, he would even receive an imperial edict.

At this moment he kept asking himself: "Could a man like me really have a day when I receive an imperial edict?"

To think that a year ago, he had twice tried to cut his own throat after losing a naval battle — and now, with a single transformation, a carp had become a dragon!

What fortune was this? Had green smoke started rising from his ancestral graves?

So it turned out that following the right person truly mattered far more than having real ability.

Looking at the scene before him, wave after wave of hot blood surged through Ma Chenglie, and his vision went dark several times.

The eunuch proclaiming the edict had been coached by Wei Zhongxian, so he was not annoyed at the sight; he merely reminded him with a smile: "Regional Commander Ma, why not receive the edict first, and be excited afterward?"

Ma Chenglie nodded frantically and ordered his men to make the arrangements.

Once the ceremonial preparations were complete, on the drill ground, the eunuch unrolled the imperial edict and read it aloud in a clear voice.

Yahei

Fenyuan

Pen