Chapter 415: Martial Law

"During the autumn defense season, the Tartars will certainly be on alert, but in my foolish estimation, they came once this spring and are unlikely to mount a major offensive at this time…"

Inside the Platform Warm Pavilion at the Middle Left Gate of the Forbidden City, the Chongzhen Emperor sat high upon the imperial throne. Only seven or eight high ministers were present in the pavilion, and the low voice of Minister of War Yang Sichang was delivering his report in reply.

"As for the matter of transporting cannon, I have only seen soldiers besieging the Beating the Bell River pick up a few wrought-iron cannonballs. Since then, whenever there has been an alarm, or if our troops have lost cannon on the battlefield and they fell into enemy hands, they have likely been unable to transport them away. Even if the enemy enters this autumn, this is probably still the case. Moreover, the terrain beyond the passes is treacherous, and wheeled cannon are likely unsuitable for use there."

The room fell silent for a moment. The Chongzhen Emperor, dressed in plain clothes, paused in thought before saying, "There are repeated reports that the Tartars forge cannon every year. We cannot afford to be unprepared."

"When Liaoyang fell, all our divine weapons were seized by the Slaves, but the heavy and large pieces could not be transported away, while the light and small ones they did carry off are no match for our Chinese divine weapons. This is why, in their many incursions across the border, the Tartars have never brought cannon with them."

Having finished, Yang Sichang waited for the Emperor's instructions. As he lowered his head, he glanced to the side. To his right stood Huang Daozhou, Junior Supervisor of the Supervisorate of Imperial Instruction, a key operative of the Restoration Society, who had lately been incessantly impeaching Yang Sichang. Yang Sichang did not much care, for Huang Daozhou had impeached many people. Since becoming Minister of War, Yang Sichang himself had grown nearly immune to impeachment.

But today was somewhat different. Huang Daozhou had come together with him to the Platform to participate in the imperial summons, and Yang Sichang could not yet divine the Emperor's intent. Earlier, during the audience, Huang Daozhou had seemed eager to spring into action, so Yang Sichang had chosen his words with extreme care, leaving as few openings as possible.

Although the Emperor was not absolutely satisfied with Yang Sichang, the roving bandit chaos in the Central Plains had somewhat subsided this year. Zhang Xianzhong and Liu Guoneng had been recruited to surrender, the bandits' morale was crumbling, and the destructive power of Luo Rucai's camp and others had greatly diminished. They had recently suffered another defeat near Nanyang and were currently negotiating pacification with Xiong Wencan. In Shaanxi, although Hong Chengchou had been punished, his pursuit and extermination campaign was showing considerable results. Li Inner City was nearly at a dead end, hiding in the mountain region. For the better part of this year, there had rarely been bad news of some city falling, and smiles had often appeared on the Emperor's face. It was the best the situation had been in several years.

But Yang Sichang himself understood that the Pacification Company for the roving bandits was extremely fragile, relying entirely on the deterrence of the various government troops. Once those troops were transferred away, the Pacification Company could collapse at any moment. Mid-year, he had repeatedly proposed opening border markets, but the impeachment in court had been incessant. Yang Sichang could only take an oblique route, even dragging out astrological theory to explain the necessity of mutually opening border markets. In the end, it still did not come to pass. Thus, the Qing army's threat had not been eliminated. Once the Qing army crossed the border, all these illusions would come to an end.

Yang Sichang was not the only one estimating the timing of a Qing incursion. Those serving as officials in the court were all shrewd individuals. From time to time, someone would submit a memorial reminding them to strengthen the Ji Garrison and strictly guard against a Qing incursion. The Emperor had also been paying attention to a potential Qing invasion since June. With little time left in the 11th year of Chongzhen, every imperial summons would touch upon the border defense of the Ji Garrison.

As expected, the Emperor spoke: "How goes the inspection of the various border passes by the officials dispatched by your ministry?"

The decay of the Ji Garrison was not a matter of one or two years; it could not suddenly be made impregnable merely by the Ministry of War's urging. Moreover, Wu Aheng, the Superintendent of Ji and Liao, was the Defense Zone Commander. Yang Sichang could not take this matter entirely upon the Ministry of War, especially with Huang Daozhou present. After further considering his wording, he said, "The officials dispatched by my ministry are limited to delivering official documents. There are many places along the borders they have not reached, and even what they have seen and heard where they did go is insufficient to rely upon."

The Emperor seemed not entirely satisfied. His voice came slowly: "Not relying on dispatched officials, then, what is the general state of affairs on the frontier?"

From the corner of his eye, Yang Sichang saw Huang Daozhou's feet shift twice, as if he could barely restrain himself from leaping out to refute. Yang Sichang's heart, however, grew calm. He resolved to draw a clear line between the Ministry of War and the Ji Garrison. "The consolidation of the various frontiers depends entirely on having the right men as Supreme Commanders, Grand Coordinators, and Defense Commanders. Then they will naturally devote themselves to organization. Today, every soldier recruited and every weapon manufactured is reported to the throne without fail. For instance, Xuan-Da has recently opened military farms. The Three Frontier Passes lacked provisions, so the troops there were starving, weary, and difficult to reorganize. Recently, the Supreme Commander Lu Xiangsheng has been vigorously opening military farms. This depends first on the year's rains, and second on the Tartars not coming to trample them. If they can be preserved for two years, that will be a fundamental long-term strategy…"

The Emperor had originally asked about the Ji Garrison, merely using the word 'frontier' in his phrasing. Yang Sichang first clarified the responsibilities of the Supreme Commanders, Grand Coordinators, and Defense Commanders, then directly skipped over the Ji Garrison and the Liao Garrison. Though this was evading the main issue, Yang Sichang still mentioned a two-year timeframe in his remarks about Xuan-Da, hinting at the stalling tactic of opening markets. But since he dared not state it openly, the men in the Warm Pavilion pretended not to hear.

From Xuan-Da, he went all the way west, passing through Shanxi to Shaanxi, praising Hong Chengchou and Sun Chuanting as well.

"Grand Coordinator Sun Chuanting — I have long known his talent. Because of the Lantian Mutiny, there was talk that he would not take a single step beyond the provincial seat. When I first arrived at the ministry, I submitted a memorial stating that this might constrain a mediocre man, but it could not constrain a hero. Now, as expected, he has been able to deploy his abilities. After several great slaughters, the enemy surrenders at the sight of his horse's head. His extermination is true extermination, his pacification is true pacification. The remaining bandits are few, and there seems to be hope of sweeping them clean…"

The Emperor gave no sign, and everyone in the room listened patiently. When Yang Sichang praised Sun Chuanting, saying his pacification was true pacification and his extermination true extermination, he was hinting that the Pacification Company in Huguang was neither true extermination nor true pacification. Though he still could not say it openly, everyone in this room understood.

Zhao Guangbian, Director of the Company of Operations in the Ministry of War, who had come with him, secretly wiped away sweat. He looked up at Yang Sichang's back ahead; his robes were trembling slightly with the cadence of his report.

At this point, Yang Sichang noted the Emperor's reaction, unsure whether the Emperor had taken it in. Gritting his teeth, he continued, "Fortunate to rely on His Majesty's awe-inspiring spirit, the Tartars did not understand last autumn. I then dared to request the dispatch of crack troops and the transfer of border forces. After several great slaughters, the bandit momentum gradually weakened. However, their morale is scattered and disunited, and the Supreme Commander's coordination… has also not been meticulous. The bandits are in the mountains, but our troops cannot enter the mountains. When the bandits emerge from the mountains, our troops are not seen intercepting and killing them. As for the old bandits of the Cao Cao Camp and others, their request for pacification cannot be lightly trusted, nor can we allow these old bandits to perfunctorily delay. We must be prepared in every respect. I request an imperial decree to strictly reprimand them; then there may be hope of success."

Previously, Xiong Wencan had presided over the Pacification Company, and the situation in Huguang and Henan had improved. One could say his imperial favor was at its peak. Yang Sichang had first used Sun Chuanting to hint, and now directly criticized Xiong Wencan's lack of thorough coordination. Especially with Huang Daozhou present today, if the Emperor was displeased, he could now use Huang Daozhou as a knife. Yang Sichang was taking considerable risk.

But Platform Summons did not happen all the time. Yang Sichang still spoke these words. Whether they would have any effect, he did not know.

The Warm Pavilion fell silent for a moment. The Emperor said in a calm tone, "Beloved minister, since assuming your post at the Ministry of War, you have exhausted your mind and planned thoroughly, your coordination effective, which has gradually weakened the bandit momentum. This is truly a merit unseen in several years."

Zhao Guangbian breathed a sigh of relief. The Emperor approved of the Ministry of War overall. It remained to be seen whether he could take in some of the opinions Yang Sichang had expressed today.

But the Emperor showed no intention of discussing Yang Sichang's suggestion. He turned directly to the next person.

"Huang Daozhou."

Huang Daozhou, who had been waiting beside them for half the day, stepped forward and said, "Your servant has a memorial to present."

"Your memorial need not be presented." The Emperor's tone, previously gentle, instantly turned icy. Huang Daozhou took a blunt blow head-on and stood in the hall, utterly humiliated.

The Emperor's cold voice continued, "We have heard that acting without ulterior motive is called the Heavenly Principle; acting with ulterior motive is called Human Desire. You said Yang Sichang should not have seized office. If so, you should have submitted your memorial when he was summoned to the Ministry of War. Why did you delay until the selection of officials? Was this without ulterior motive, or with ulterior motive?"

Yang Sichang stood quietly in his place. It seemed the Emperor intended to set his mind at ease today. Previously, Yang Sichang had been shifted to Minister of Rites while still managing the Ministry of War, and was additionally appointed Grand Secretary of the East Pavilion. Huang Daozhou had come out to vehemently oppose this, claiming one could not seize office, but in reality, he was blocking Yang Sichang from entering the pavilion. Huang Daozhou had close ties with the Restoration Society. The Restoration Society's maneuvering in court this time, blocking Yang Sichang, was in the hope that someone from the Restoration Society could take his place.

What the Emperor spoke of was precisely this matter, implicitly rebuking Huang Daozhou for having selfish motives. For men like Yang Sichang or Pang Yu, such a rebuke would be minor, but for Huang Daozhou, it was different.

As expected, Huang Daozhou immediately replied loudly, "Your servant acted for the sake of the eternal moral order, not out of any selfishness."

Yang Sichang had been impeached by Huang Daozhou many times recently, not only over entering the pavilion but also over matters like opening border markets. Thinking of this, Yang Sichang stepped forward and said, "I will not speak of other matters. Seizing office and returning to service is inherently against the constant order. I received sacred favor and submitted a memorial firmly declining. As the Ministry of War is a critical post, I did not dare decline thrice. What Daozhou says is indeed correct. But when he says I have obscured my conscience, lost my heart, and schemed and lobbied for promotion, I truly cannot accept it. When I was recalled to service, I was four thousand li away. How could I know there was a vacancy for Minister of War in the capital to scheme for?"

Huang Daozhou did not answer him, but raised his head to the Emperor and said, "The sage sovereign has toiled in anxiety for ten years, yet in the end wishes to polish an inauspicious man and charge him with achieving success. This must absolutely not be done. Moreover, regarding the proposed reward, the Ministry of War says the Yizhou Horse Market can be opened. Does Your Majesty think among the various ministers there is truly no one capable of offering a fixed strategy or effective plan? Yet we break extraordinary norms to serve an inauspicious man."

Yang Sichang did not yield an inch: "I was not born from a hollow mulberry tree; how could I not know my parents? Huang Daozhou is a paragon of learning and conduct, yet he claims he is not as good as Zheng Man. I can only sigh in despair. The ancients said: beasts know their mother but not their father. Zheng Man beat his mother, sinking below even beasts. Since Huang Daozhou is not as good as Zheng Man, how dare he speak of moral order?"

Zhao Guangbian cheered inwardly. Previously, Huang Daozhou had pleaded for Zheng Man, saying he himself was not as good as Zheng Man. Now, using moral order as a weapon, he indeed had no legitimacy whatsoever.

Chongzhen looked at Huang Daozhou and said coldly, "Huang Daozhou, how are you not as good as Zheng Man?"

Huang Daozhou's face flushed bright red. After holding it in for a long time, he finally said, "Your servant's literary essays are not as good as Zheng Man's."

The Emperor deliberately said nothing, leaving Huang Daozhou standing there in humiliation. Only after a long while did he say, "You have studied for many years, yet have only become a glib tongue."

Yang Sichang said no more. Huang Daozhou argued with the Emperor several times, but the Zheng Man affair had ruined his persona. The Emperor gave him no face at all, bluntly accusing him of factionalism.

In Chongzhen's eyes, factionalism was the gravest rebuke. Huang Daozhou was left utterly disgraced, and naturally, no one brought up his impeachment of Yang Sichang again.

It was already past noon when they emerged from the Middle Left Gate. Yang Sichang was still with Zhao Guangbian. They stopped only after passing the Gate of Imperial Supremacy. Zhao Guangbian said to Yang Sichang, "My lord Minister, since you believe the Tartars are about to come, why did you not speak directly during the audience just now?"

"If the Tartars are about to come, from where will they cross the border? How many troops and horses? Which units can the Ministry of War deploy? If the troops are deployed, and they do not come after all, who will bear the responsibility?"

Zhao Guangbian was instantly speechless. Yang Sichang sighed. "Some words, once spoken, the Emperor will ask a single question in return, and you'll find yourself backed into a corner. Such words cannot be said."

"Then we can only wait here stupidly for the Tartars to cross the border?"

"I do not wish it either, but there is no plan to be made." Yang Sichang looked up at the magnificent Gate of Imperial Supremacy. "What we should worry about more is still Gucheng. If the Eight Bandits are not eliminated, the realm will never be at peace."

Zhao Guangbian was about to speak when he suddenly looked behind Yang Sichang. Several men were running hurriedly from the direction of the Gate of Assembly, where the Wenyuan Pavilion was located. The one in the lead had a flustered expression and seemed to be holding a dispatch report in his hand. Yang Sichang's brow furrowed slightly, then after a moment, it smoothed out again as he slowly closed his eyes.

……

Outside the East Glorious Gate, not far from the Gate of Assembly, Lin Dengwan stood among a team of eunuchs, carefully watching the two inner court officials before him. His heart was truly somewhat stirred. After his castration, he had recuperated for several months and had finally entered the imperial palace he had longed for.

The shorter inner court official addressed them: "This is Overseer Wang Laogong of the Fuel Office. From now on, you will all follow Wang Laogong's assignments. The palace is not like the outside; it is a place that most stresses rules. Carefully remember everything Wang Laogong teaches. If you are not diligent, when trouble comes, you will be the ones to suffer."

After speaking, he exchanged a few words with Wang Laogong and then left directly. Wang Laogong sized up the team of over ten people. When he opened his mouth, his voice was somewhat shrill.

"In our palace's Twenty-Four Yamen, the Fuel Office is one of the Four Offices. What does 'Fuel' mean? In plain terms, it's the yamen that manages firewood and charcoal. But whether firewood or charcoal, none is produced in our palace. It is all provided by the hard toil of the common people. Therefore, we must cherish fuel."

As Wang Laogong spoke, he walked along the line, his eyes constantly scrutinizing these new eunuchs. "Our Fuel Office is solely responsible for the firewood and charcoal used in the palace, as well as the firewood and charcoal for the inner officials of the Twenty-Four Yamen, the mountain mausoleums, and other places. You are not permitted to handle the Red Basket Charcoal. There are six places in the palace for storing firewood: one depot each in the northeast, and two depots each in the southwest. Your job is only to transport long firewood and split firewood to various places in the palace. Remember the crucial rules yourselves. When you encounter laogong or senior serving women on the road, yield the way. Do not raise your heads to look. Whether any office or room is occupied or not, you are not permitted to enter. If you enter and are caught, there's no need to wait for anyone else; I will personally have you beaten to death."

He spoke as he walked, his tone flat, without the slightest hint of threat, but Lin Dengwan knew it was no joke.

"In the palace grounds, you will first deliver to one or two places. You must remember the routes yourselves. No fewer than three people may deliver fuel. If you deliver to the wrong place, all three will be punished under the mutual responsibility system." Wang Laogong seemed to have little patience. After hastily finishing, he waved his hand and said, "The nights grow long in October, and the palace needs to heat the floor beds. We happen to be short-handed these few days. After you pay your respects to the Charcoal Beast, go to the Northern Depot to deliver firewood."

With that, he headed north. The team followed him. Lin Dengwan carefully turned his head to glance at the walls of the Imperial City, an indescribable feeling in his heart.

After walking for quite a while, they arrived at a small courtyard in the north. Wang Laogong had them enter. Inside was a spirit shrine, so blackened one could not make out what beast it was. It must have been that so-called Charcoal Beast.

Lin Dengwan knelt on the ground with the others. Just as they had kowtowed once, a sudden urgent clanging of brass gongs erupted outside. Instantly, a clamor rose everywhere.

Wang Laogong stood at the doorway and asked someone outside, "What's happened?"

"Martial law! The Tartars have crossed the border! The Imperial City is under martial law!"

Lin Dengwan's mind was a tangled mess of hemp; he had not expected that on his very first day entering the palace, the Imperial City would be placed under martial law.

Wang Laogong said urgently, "What do we do?"

"Go to the Various Families' general headquarters and await orders!"

"My team hasn't even settled in yet, what a predicament."

That man gave no answer, and seemed to have already run far off. Outside, shouting men and neighing horses mingled into a din. Wang Laogong paced in two circles, then called toward the inner room, "You will all stay right here and are forbidden to come out."

With that, he yanked the door shut, hung the lock on it, and promptly ran off himself.

The team of new Eunuch Officials looked at each other in dismay. By now, the sound of gongs was rising everywhere inside and outside the Imperial City.