Chapter 486: Where the Emperor Points His Sword, the Great Ming Army

Zhu Zhu Yijun waited until the silver rewards were fully distributed and the Embroidered Uniform Guard had conducted widespread visits to confirm delivery before preparing to summon the General Who Subdues the Enemy; should there be any unrest over pay demands from the Capital Garrison, it would be the height of absurdity—he had expected some mischief, for in Great Ming, distributing rewards was as ripe for embezzlement as construction projects.

Who ever heard of a cook who didn't steal a bite?

Don't think that just because Qi Qi Jiguang returned victorious from battle, you can strut around like a conqueror—affairs in the capital are decided by capital officials!

But this time, the Capital Garrison's reward distribution went flawlessly: boxes of silver coins were simply opened on the parade ground, and under the joint supervision of civil, military, and eunuch officials, it was all distributed in a single day—with not a single officer embezzling, for this was the Capital Garrison returning home straight from war.

If a pay riot actually broke out, there'd be quite the spectacle to watch!

Zhu Zhu Yijun wasn't afraid of the Capital Garrison, for every elite soldier there knew the Emperor personally—this emperor who rode horses daily across the parade ground was a rarity unseen in 170 years.

On the fourth day of the sixth month of the tenth year of Emperor Wanli, Emperor Zhu Zhu Yijun reopened the Hall of Supreme Harmony and held a grand court assembly to welcome the General Who Subdues the Enemy home in triumph.

Qi Qi Jiguang had envisioned a simple ceremony at Beigucheng: reading the imperial edict, changing his insignia, and returning the General Who Subdues the Enemy seal—sufficient, since the title of duke was already secured.

"The workshop windows now display the Engineer Corps—Qi Shuai has surely seen them. After completing the Five Dragon Expressway, the Engineer Corps moved to Suiyuan; Minister Ling requested their use, along with the official factory system, to rein in the local gentry of Henan—three coal and iron state factories have already been established there. I plan to build the Ten Princes' City in a few days to relocate the imperial princes back to the capital before granting them outer fiefs."

Only Chen Juan, crying to heaven and earth for help, received no answer—she threw herself into the river, ending it all.

But by the Emperor Wanli era, this had become a symbol of hereditary nobility, for it truly could not grant immunity from death—it was more like a death sentence. Military meritocrats didn't believe in it, and the Emperor wouldn't use it.

The three-tiered terrace was filled with Han Generals and Red-Helmeted Generals, solemn and dignified; below, on either side, officials without entry privileges to the Hall of Supreme Harmony stood rigidly in court robes, holding their ceremonial tablets, gazing straight ahead; flanking the path stood Embroidered Uniform Guards in bright yellow robes, forming a crimson corridor paved with carpets leading straight to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Zhu Zhu Yijun frowned—he felt Qi Qi Jiguang's aura was heavy with weariness, as if his spirit had drained. He shook his head and said, "Qi Shuai isn't old at all. If Minister Ling can't hold out in Henan, it'll be Qi Shuai's turn again."

The day the shadow of war finally lifted from the heart of Great Ming after Altan Khan's invasion of the capital region in Emperor Jiajing twenty-nine was worth celebrating.

"Your servant humbly thanks the imperial grace." Qi Qi Jiguang finally changed all his ducal insignia—seals, sashes, and crown—before kowtowing in gratitude.

"When necessary, Qi Shuai will again be called upon. You've just returned, and I already have another task for you." Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Qi Qi Jiguang, adding yet another burden upon his return to the capital.

Henan's local officials were fully activated, taking initiative: whatever Minister Ling ordered, they did; whatever he didn't order, they did too—working as if their lives depended on it.

Originally, Zhu Zhu Yijun had considered taking Qi Qi Jiguang straight to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to inform the ancestors, but the Ministry of Rites stopped him: announcing it during the year-end ancestral rites would suffice. The Hall of Supreme Harmony's dignity was already high enough—after all, when the founding Emperor ascended the throne, he only sacrificed to Heaven and Earth.

Then came the replacement of the ivory credential tablet: Qi Qi Jiguang's Fuguo Duke credential was carved from ivory, inscribed with his rank and partial service record, serving as proof of identity—this was his official status. Should he ever be stripped of office, this tablet would be reclaimed, his name erased from the Ministry of Personnel's records, and his career forever ended.

It wasn't that Henan's officials didn't want to survey land—they simply couldn't. All the land belonged to the names of countless princely, commandery, and general households; local authorities had no power to act, and no one dared to intimidate them. Ling Ling Yunyi's approach left Henan's officials with no means to comply.

"I suppose I am truly old. Seeing these things, I find them strange, yet I no longer seek to understand their principles. If they exist, they must be reasonable." Qi Qi Jiguang finally shook his head, no longer curious.

"By the established precedents of past dynasties, we bestow virtue and grace, proclaiming to all under heaven, that all may know."

Why should Chen the Good Man die? Did Ling Ling Yunyi kill without reason? Ling Ling Yunyi was a scholar—he understood reason. After arresting Chen the Good Man, he began surveying his landholdings.

"Imperial decree."

"Qi Shuai, rise." Zhu Zhu Yijun smiled warmly. "Welcome home, Qi Shuai."

Zhao Juan's father stole something, was caught on the spot, and beaten to death. Her two brothers tried to flee, but their indenture papers were held by the Good Man—they had no travel permits. Where could they go? So they turned to banditry.

Why didn't Zhao Juan just marry the Good Man? She'd have food, clothes, and comfort—no more days of hunger!

Thus, for the Emperor, Zhang Zhang Juzheng, and the court, Henan's land issue must be resolved—thoroughly—to intimidate the Guanwang and obstinate.

Zhu Zhu Yijun suppressed his laughter—keep jumping! Everyone's gone silent now!

Qi Qi Jiguang's back stopped aching, his legs stopped hurting, his whole body brimmed with energy—where were the enemies?! Where?!

"Minister Ling submitted a memorial concerning affairs in Shaizhou, Henan." Zhu Zhu Yijun pulled out a memorial—this one, submitted by Ling Ling Yunyi after his appointment to Henan, was neither a request nor a disaster report, but about a tragic woman from Shaizhou named Zhao Juan.

"The Emperor is wise!" Someone in the court shouted first; all ministers bowed in unison: "The Emperor is wise!"

Zhu Zhu Yijun went to the side hall of the Zhao Wenhua Palace—mainly to show off.

"If there are no further matters, the court is dismissed. Master, Qi Shuai, follow me." Zhu Zhu Yijun scanned the court, waiting for someone to oppose Qi Qi Jiguang's ducal enfeoffment—but no one stepped forward.

"We humbly bid farewell to His Majesty." The ministers bowed as the Emperor departed. Today was a day of triumph—no one dared to spoil it. To turn joy into mourning would be to invite the Emperor's sharp blade.

Today's grand ceremony accomplished only one thing: enfeoffing Qi Qi Jiguang. Nothing else.

But the red carpet was laid atop the Xue Xue Yunlong stone steps.

The sun blazed high, the sky clear and bright. Qi Qi Jiguang rode his tall steed slowly to the Jin Shuiqiao, dismounted at the dismounting stone, clad in a crimson silk robe with embroidered qilin patches, wearing a seven-beam dragon-hat with sable fur, holding a silver seal three inches square and nine-tenths of an inch thick, and walked step by step up the Jin Shuiqiao.

The Emperor's intent was now clear: he still needed Qi Qi Jiguang to fight. As for rewards, let the Emperor worry about them.

"For your achievements in pacifying the Japanese pirates and subduing the northern barbarians, I hereby appoint you: Fuguo Duke, a loyal and meritorious minister of the Heavenly Mandate, Special Grade Ronglu Doctor, Right Pillar of State, Left Commander of the Left Military Command, still commanding the Capital Garrison, with an annual stipend of three thousand shi. Bound by kinship, sharing joy and sorrow, your unwavering loyalty is witnessed by Heaven!"

Feng Bao finished reading the edict and, with several young eunuchs, began preparations: first, replacing Qi Qi Jiguang's seven-beam hat with an eight-beam one, swapping the marquis's silver plaque for a duke's gold plaque, inscribed by the Emperor's own hand: "Heaven protects the people; I lead and govern. My might extends over Huaxia, through the valor of my tiger-like ministers. I bestow this golden token, to be passed to your descendants."

Qi Qi Jiguang was old, his temples gray. Not everyone was like Tan Sima Yi—driven by boundless ambition and greed. When he reclaimed Danning Garrison and built the Rehe military forts, he had already felt it was enough.

Qi Qi Jiguang watched and asked questions, curious about the fast sailboats—could such swift vessels really not fall apart?

Feng Bao quickened his pace, stepping beside Qi Qi Jiguang. The general knelt before the Son of Heaven, before Great Ming—not before him, a eunuch. He knew propriety. He retrieved the silver seal and sword from the tray, handed them to the Seal and Sash Supervisor eunuch for storage, then hurried back to the terrace.

Servants competed to expose each other; after repeated interrogations and cross-verification, 140 households were found to have concealed 400,000 mu of land—all fraudulently registered under princely, commandery, and general households, yet none of this land ever paid tribute to those households.

These 140 gentry families were already en route to the capital. Ling Ling Yunyi's intention: don't execute them yet—wait and see.

Qi Qi Jiguang's voice rang strong and clear through the court.

Ling Ling Yunyi's intent was clear: turn Henan from the most difficult province for land surveys into the vanguard of land restitution.

On this day, the Western Mountain Coal Bureau took a holiday. Though seasonal winds had shifted and summer coal smoke no longer drifted toward the capital, Wang Wang Chonggu, for safety's sake, halted coal mining and coking operations, ordering a full inspection to prevent major accidents.

Zhu Zhu Yijun chattered at length, detailing Great Ming's recent affairs during Qi Qi Jiguang's absence—nothing hidden. The plan to enfeoff princes overseas had already been discussed with Zhang Zhang Juzheng: first, move out the distant imperial clans, then the Prince of Lu, then the heir apparent.

This sword was no treasure—just an ordinary military blade. Its only distinction: it was the Emperor's own, used since childhood.

Later, everyone avoided mentioning immunity from death.

"I know. I've never blamed you—otherwise, past performance reviews wouldn't have spared Henan." Zhu Zhu Yijun smiled. "Didn't I send Minister Ling there? Now everyone's scrambling to survey land, terrified of being labeled his accomplice if they lag behind."

"Wang Wang Daoqin returned to the capital and presented a model of the Youlong. Here is the Feiyun, sent recently. Youlong and Feiyun are fast sailboats. If all goes well, circumnavigation can be shortened to six to nine months—true maritime treasures! Time is money!"

Even children with parents could be seized by the mistress, scolded as "lowly seedlings dreaming of climbing their master's bed," then sold off.

Generals die in a hundred battles; their bodies wrapped in horsehide, returned home.

"I govern the realm through culture, quell chaos through martial force. Since the Gengxu barbarian rebellion, when the barbarian king mobilized his entire army and came roaring forth, our state has known no day of peace, our people no day of safety. A state without virtue cannot flourish; a man without virtue cannot stand. Now, Qi Shuai leads a mighty army, crushing the barbarian lairs—truly the pillar of court and bulwark of the nation. How can we ignore such service? Must we not reward it with imperial favor?"

Qi Qi Jiguang's ducal title was a first-class duke. Great Ming's dukes were divided into two classes, marquises into three, earls into two—mainly differing in stipends. Three thousand shi annual stipend meant first-class duke; the iron charter was one foot high and one foot six and a half inches wide. Second-class dukes had iron charters nine and a half inches high and one foot six inches wide—five inches shorter than the first-class.

"It's not that Henan's officials are negligent. Minister Ling is Governor-General of Henan and Shandong, favored by the Emperor, with fifteen hundred elite troops under him, his name feared far and wide." Zhang Zhang Juzheng still spoke up for Henan's local officials.

Qi Qi Jiguang's Fuguo Duke title was first-class; beyond that, no non-imperial clansman could be made a king.

Not at all. Not even close.

This gold plaque was to be passed down through generations: two inches wide, one foot long, inlaid with twin dragons on top and two crouching tigers below, symbolizing subduing dragons and taming tigers.

A general who cannot fight is as dull as a cook who can no longer toss a wok. He disliked turning weapons inward, disliked meaningless court infighting—he loved the clang of swords and spears, the roar of a tiger devouring ten thousand miles.

Finally came the most important: the vermilion-written iron charter—the hereditary, non-revocable grant. Without it, the title was merely temporary. The charter resembled a tile, inscribed with service record and military exploits; in the center, the number of times guilt could be pardoned or stipend reduced. Two copies existed: one held by the military meritocrat, one kept in the palace. When reducing punishment, the appropriate entry was crossed out.

Qi Qi Jiguang declared firmly: "Where the Emperor points his sword, the Great Ming army's blade follows! If all under heaven are guilty, then all under heaven are guilty."

"With Minister Ling's first batch of land and people, he can now implement the Engineer Corps system." Zhu Zhu Yijun sighed. "Ling Ling Yunyi acts swiftly. These 140 families had nearly three thousand servants, thirty thousand tenant farmers, plus the fifteen hundred elite troops—more than enough to form three Engineer Corps."

Zhao Juan's father had been a prosperous farmer with twelve mu of self-cultivated land—comfortable, if not wealthy. It was fate: a fellow villager made a fortune at a gambling den and persuaded Zhao Juan's father to join. At first, stakes were small, but grew larger until he lost all his land, two sons, and one daughter to the local Chen the Good Man.

"The Great Ming army's splendor shines with heavenly majesty!"

Then came the escort gold plaque: two inches wide, three inches long, inscribed on the front: "Fuguo Duke Escort," on the back: "All guards and soldiers bearing this plaque." At the top, on both sides, a single character: "Ren," adorned with coiled dragon and cloud motifs. This was the Ren-character escort plaque—only with it could one enter the Tonghemen to meet the Emperor.

Qi Qi Jiguang carried a weapon: the Emperor's own ceremonial sword.

Zhao Juan had witnessed firsthand the life of a servant. When she lost her protection, without hesitation, she threw herself into the river—such a life was better ended than endured.

Looking closely, during Qi Qi Jiguang's campaign, the censors hadn't been overly disruptive. Only attacks on Wang Wang Chonggu had been fierce, but even those had quieted. No one had staged a petition at the palace gates, no one had blocked imperial edicts. In scholarly circles, aside from the radical free-thinkers whose views provoked fists, there was no outright transgression.

Zhao Meng did not remove his sword—allowed passage.

"Pingbo" naturally referred to Qi Qi Jiguang's pacification of the Japanese pirates; "Anbian" meant the complete recovery of Danning Garrison to the Ordos. This was a composition by Zhu Zhu Zaiyu, specifically for Qi Qi Jiguang—its melody brimmed with grimness; even the musicians' movements lacked grace, radiating martial vigor.

Chen the Good Man was the owner of the gambling den.

In Japan, the Shogun was the fixed title of the shogunate ruler—the de facto king. State affairs rested on sacrifice and war—especially the Capital Garrison. One misstep could plunge the realm into catastrophe. The risks of building merit, expanding territory, were inevitable.

Qi Qi Jiguang blinked. Hearing the Emperor say so, he bowed his head: "If Your Majesty says it didn't happen, then it didn't happen."

Great Ming's vermilion iron charter was modeled after Tang's, but uniquely added one clause: treason was not pardonable. With this non-immunity clause, it became flexible. For example, in the Lan Yu case of Emperor Hongwu twenty-six, fifteen military merit families—one duke, thirteen marquises, two earls—all held iron charters.

If Henan's gentry cooperated with land surveys, they'd be exiled to Nagasaki, Jiugang, or Java. If they refused, make an example of them.

"Your Majesty, mighty!" Qi Qi Jiguang cried again: "Please reclaim the seal and sash, and the imperial sword."

According to ritual, Qi Qi Jiguang, still clad in the qilin robe, should have ascended the terrace via the side path.

Qi Qi Jiguang strode with imperial bearing across the Outer Jin Shuiqiao, passed through the Meridian Gate, crossed the Inner Jin Shuiqiao, and arrived before the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Long unseen, Qi Qi Jiguang seemed burdened with weariness.

"The Princess Shengping No. 1 steam engine—seven and a half horsepower—is smaller, stronger, more stable, with lower failure rates. The Imperial Academy of Natural Philosophy now has the Princess Shengping No. 2—sixteen horsepower—only half a room in size. If we sacrifice some power, it can run on rails."

Dukes could claim immunity from death three times: twice for themselves, once for their descendants.

Even if age prevented him from leading troops into battle, as long as Qi Qi Jiguang lived, he was the anchor of stability, the guarantee of morale. Reopening the Western Regions awaited the expressway reaching Jiayu Pass; eliminating the Japanese pirates might happen within these two years.

Zhu Zhu Yijun extended his hand, calmly saying: "Qi Shuai, you've worked hard. The Great Ming army has worked hard! Qi Shuai, mighty! The Great Ming army, mighty!"

"Reopening the Western Regions and eliminating the Japanese pirates will surely rely on Qi Shuai's might."

Whether the master visited or not made no difference—they could be sold at any moment. Serve carefully, or be "taken out and paired with a young servant." 【Note 1】

The young servant would gladly accept it, for he had no hope of ever marrying—even if he knew the master had taken her, he'd be overjoyed.

The gentry wouldn't confess, but their families couldn't endure. After three days of hunger, people began to talk. Especially the servants whose indenture papers were held by the master—initially fearful, then starved beyond endurance, and with Ling Ling Yunyi promising food and annulment of their indentures if they confessed.

Ling Ling Yunyi didn't beat, shout, or torture—just one word: hunger. When starving, the only worry was food. If you wouldn't confess your landholdings, then starve to death.

Not a single mu of land!

Henan's local officials lacked Ling Ling Yunyi's imperial favor and elite troops.

"The sun, moon, mountains, and rivers endure; the Great Ming's realm shall stand forever!"

"Your Majesty has suffered hardship. While I was away, many have whispered in your ear, troubling you endlessly!" Qi Qi Jiguang rose, his tone sharp.

Marriage? That meant becoming a servant—not a lady.

Qi Qi Jiguang read official gazettes, unofficial reports, and the Emperor's letters. After the elite troops departed, the base scholars in the capital had caused no end of trouble. If their arguments were reasonable, fine—but the Emperor, so mild-mannered, had exiled them to the frontier? Clearly, they were fanatical!

Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony's gate lay its courtyard. Ascending the steps, one stood before the gate, gazing at the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng glanced left and right: "I think Minister Ling's idea is sound—transport these 140 gentry families to the capital for gradual interrogation."

After Zhao Juan was pulled out, the county Southern Yamen was notified. Ling Ling Yunyi, newly arrived in Henan, immediately took notice of this murder case; Chen the Good Man was promptly arrested, for Ling Ling Yunyi had come to Henan to solve problems, and he naturally began with Chen the Good Man.

"I was still young and often received instruction from General Qi; as I grew into manhood, General Qi donned armor and wielded weapons, discerning the timing of heaven, understanding the essentials of geography, aligning with the will of the people, and carefully assessing the balance of safety and peril—defeating enemies a thousand li away, his merit proclaimed throughout Huaxia, his fame resounding."

Ling Ling Yunyi's current calmness was a wait—he waited for the Ten Kings City to be completed and for the imperial clansmen to return to the capital; otherwise, unrest would make the Ming imperial relatives the key players in the game, complicating land survey and redistribution. He also waited for the Engineer Corps to gradually grow stronger.

When Qi Qi Jiguang's figure appeared at the Huangji Gate, drumbeats and horn calls began—starting slow, then accelerating, shaking the heavens. On the moon terraces flanking the Huangji Hall, the music troupe followed the horns and began to play; elegantly dressed musicians danced gracefully, performing the "Pingbo Anbian Grandmaster Yue," composed by Prince De Zhu Zhu Zaiyu.

Ling Ling Yunyi did not hesitate: he divided his twenty foreign troops into squads, scattering them everywhere to specifically arrest wealthy local gentry who lent money at exorbitant interest in gambling dens—he caught them every time, and every household he investigated had the same situation: not an acre of land!

Yet Qi Qi Jiguang thought the scene the Emperor had arranged was simply too grand…

Then replace the seals: Hou Jue Yin of An was to exchange his silver seal for a Duke's silver seal—silver was already the highest rank; gold seals were reserved only for the Empress Dowager, Empress, Crown Prince, and Prince of the Blood, while the Emperor used a jade seal.

Chen the Good Man was not in a hurry, for these peasants had endless strength; if truly provoked, blood might splash five paces. Chen the Good Man did not immediately demand repayment—he merely kept pressing for debt, pressing for debt. Debt must be repaid—it was natural law. You borrowed gambling debts, signed and sealed in black ink on white paper; you cannot evade them.

The Emperor's ceremonial dagger must not be lightly granted; it is given for one task only and must be reclaimed upon completion.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng had previously said that once Qi Qi Jiguang was enfeoffed as a Duke, it meant he would be shelved, never again granted command—since there was no higher title to bestow.

The rumors about Ling Ling Yunyi were simply too brutal; in truth, Ling Ling Yunyi was not as bloodthirsty as described, but three men can make a tiger—the more it spread, the more exaggerated it became.

"Announce the edict," Zhu Zhu Yijun said again, waving his hand.

Chopping wood, stoking fires, serving tea, attending to people, warming the bedding at night, breaking ice for water in winter—if you moved too slowly, you got slaps or whippings; stripped of robes and forced to kneel. On days when the Master felt amorous and took you to his bed, you would never gain any title—your indenture made you lowborn; how could a lowborn woman have status?

"So be it." Qi Qi Jiguang paused, then realized: in the Emperor Wanli era, under the Emperor's rule, one must work until collapse—never idle, never let talent sit unused. Retirement? Dream on. Instantly, he straightened up, brimming with vigor.

"The Ancestral Instructions of the Ming stipulate: noble titles shall not be granted to ministers unless they have rendered great service to the state and military. Now, I dispatch this general with imperial edict into the wild; he burns firewood through the night, conquers nations across the land, wages war on all fronts; he captures enemy chieftains before the throne, his military merit renowned far and wide; even today, the enemy trembles at the mere mention of his name."

Two young eunuchs brought forth the four-clawed python dragon robe of the Duke of Duke Fengguo and helped Qi Qi Jiguang don it. There was now no ritual issue: Qi Qi Jiguang's enfeoffment as Duke entitled him to the four-clawed python dragon, and walking the ascending dragon path was entirely appropriate—how could Zhu Zhu Yijun allow Qi Qi Jiguang to be trapped in ritual dilemmas?

Qi Qi Jiguang ascended the steps and halted before the moon terrace; Commandant Zhao Meng checked whether Qi Qi Jiguang carried any weapons.

The failure to fully implement land survey in Henan had finally exhausted the Emperor's patience—this was inevitable. Without resolving this long-standing problem, the Ming's new policies would face widespread skepticism.

Qi Qi Jiguang stood at the Huangji Gate, gazing at the distant Huangji Hall, at the scene before him—calm, unruffled—but his hand holding the silver seal trembled slightly.

Concealing land was defiance of the Emperor's explicit decree—an act of true treason, a crime even the iron-clad oath of the Dan Shu Tie Quan could not protect against.

This smile was heartfelt joy, pure and unadulterated, radiant as sunlight. All prior enfeoffments and edicts had been carefully prepared—as the Emperor's formal acknowledgment to the General who had returned from campaign. But this final phrase, "Welcome home," was Zhu Zhu Yijun's personal emotion.

The goal was total land consolidation—no land could be bought or sold, only reclaimed. Ling Ling Yunyi planned to complete it in three to five years.

All arrested gentry were charged with defying imperial decree by concealing landholdings; all were imprisoned and starved.

Qi Qi Jiguang stepped forward, striding with the bearing of a dragon and tiger to the front of the Huangji Hall.

This seal was the Seal of the Pacifying Expeditionary General. Returning the general's seal meant surrendering military authority; any troop movement beyond one hundred men, without imperial order, must now go through the Ministry of War. This meant that during the time Qi Qi Jiguang traveled from the Northern Camp to the palace, he was vulnerable to mutiny.

Even the soot on the walls seemed to write loyalty.

…

People do not fear scarcity but inequality. If other regions saw Henan's slow land survey met with no consequence, they would imitate it.

"To be enfeoffed as Hou Jue is not my wish; I only hope the sea waves calm"? That was merely self-consolation when one knew enfeoffment was impossible—its true meaning: even if I cannot be made Hou Jue, I will forever fight to safeguard the Ming's borders; as long as breath remains, this resolve will not waver.

When the state loses its credibility, the people begin to doubt.

Children born to servants are also slaves, generation after generation, forever servants of Chen the Good Man's household—these are called "home-born slaves."

Thus Qi Qi Jiguang believed that accepting the Duke title meant de facto retirement—he thought he would never command troops again, confined to paper strategy, and suddenly, he felt a heavy, weary gloom.

It was dyed with brazilwood, though folk tales claimed it was stained by the blood of heads rolling from executions at the Wumen.

Now the charge of concealing landholdings was confirmed.

Under Ming law, Chen the Good Man seemed to have violated no statute: the gambling den was not his—it was built by villagers themselves; Chen merely lent money. Zhao Juan's father entered the den of his own accord and was beaten to death after being caught stealing; Zhao Juan herself drowned by her own choice.

Feng Bao flicked his fly whisk, stepped forward two paces, and two young eunuchs unfurled the imperial edict. Feng Bao raised his voice, intoning in rhythmic cadence: "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"

If, after making an example, they still refuse to cooperate with land survey and redistribution? Then apply the Engineer Corps method: total land consolidation.

Zhu Zhu Yijun glanced around and chuckled; several officials had sweat gleaming on their foreheads. He waved his hand and said: "No, no—this is normal discussion of state affairs. The Court established the Censorate and Remonstrance Officials precisely to find faults. Picking bones out of eggs is their duty. No court official has acted disrespectfully. General Qi, you overthink it."

Qi Qi Jiguang stepped out of the Huangji Hall, holding the Seal of the Pacifying Expeditionary General and his ceremonial dagger above his head, and knelt five times, bowing thrice, crying aloud: "Your servant Qi Qi Jiguang, unashamed of the Emperor's mandate, led the capital's elite troops, returned from subduing Bansheng—the northern barbarians now submit!"

"Summon the Pacifying Expeditionary General to court!" The young eunuchs, in pairs, proclaimed the imperial decree. At that moment, every eye turned to the Xue Xue Yunlong stone path—the imperial causeway, also called the Xue Xue Yunlong Stone Steps, symbolizing the dragon's ascent.

The Emperor cannot be wrong—even if the whole world says he is wrong, the world is wrong!

To report to the Emperor and save the common people—that was the pledge made when the Capital Camp was formed. A gentleman honors his word.

(End of Chapter)