Chapter 420: Worrisome

On the twenty-third day of the tenth month of the Chongzhen 11th Year, snowflakes drifted through the inner city of the Capital.

A two-man sedan chair stopped below the steps of the Dong Residence. An attendant in a padded jacket waited by the gate for his arrival to be announced. When the side gate leaf opened, the attendant hurried back to the sedan chair.

"master, we may enter now."

A grunt of acknowledgment came from inside the sedan. As the attendant reached to pull aside the curtain, a hand stretched out from within and flung it open.

Zhang Mazi stepped down from the sedan, exhaled a puff of white breath, and looked around. On both sides of the street knelt common folk holding up bowls and begging. Behind them lay even more people sprawled on the ground — all Capital outskirts residents who had fled into the city to escape disaster after the Qing army struck the border.

"Damn, it's way colder than Anqing."

Zhang Mazi cursed, shook the snowflakes from his shoulders, and followed the gate servant into the Dong Residence. Just as he turned into the rear courtyard, he saw Dong Xinkui already waiting in the open atrium. He immediately clasped his hands in salute. "I dare not trouble Mr. Dong to come out and greet me."

Dong Xinkui was not tall, and his red gold-threaded thick padded jacket made his figure appear even more stout. Seeing Zhang Mazi, his face broke into a broad smile as he came over warmly and took Zhang Mazi's arm. "Brother Zhang, you must not treat me as an outsider. It is Dong Mou who has been discourteous. Blame it on the Tartars. The moment these Tartars crossed the border, every household master in the Capital grew anxious. They all insisted on speaking with me to find some peace of mind, or else wanted to send their families out of the city. But tell me, Brother Zhang, with the Tartars besieging the entire Capital, what method could I possibly have? Everywhere is chaos and turmoil. Whether it's people or silver, I can only guarantee delivery out of the city. Beyond the Capital, I can't look after anything. In the end, it's all just frantic busywork. Beyond that, I had to go pay respects at the homes of those masters I'm familiar with. These masters are all from other provinces. With the city under martial law, goods are scarce everywhere. These masters are all scholars who care deeply about face. If I happen to have what's needed, it's a simple favor — whoever's household lacks something, I send it over quickly. Every day I've been so busy it's dizzying. Only today did it occur to me that Brother Zhang is also from out of town, so I quickly sent someone to your esteemed establishment to pay respects."

Zhang Mazi found this quite gratifying. He had come twice before without finding him in. Today, Dong Xinkui had taken the initiative to send someone with meat, vegetables, and tea leaves, which was why Zhang Mazi had hurried to the Dong Residence. Dong Xinkui remained as courteous and warm as ever.

"At present, the Capital is full of people and affairs, and you, sir, are someone the various masters trust. Naturally, you are busy. For such minor matters of mine, I've troubled Mr. Dong to keep me in his thoughts."

Dong Xinkui lifted Zhang Mazi's hand and ushered him into the Study. "Never say the words 'trouble.' Brother Zhang, while you are in the Capital, if anything at all comes up — whether your own family's business or matters of friends and relatives — you must come to Dong Mou first. Dong Mou will certainly handle it properly, so you can avoid having to read other people's expressions. If it is truly something I cannot manage, then it won't be too late to seek out someone more capable. Brother Zhang, please sit."

Zhang Mazi took the guest seat. After the servants served tea, Dong Xinkui spoke to him again. "In these extraordinary times, the silver house your esteemed master is establishing is all the more vital. The North has been in turmoil for a long while. Even the Capital is not absolutely safe. It is always good to leave a path of retreat. Silver coin is fine, but it's just too heavy. When trouble strikes, carrying a few Silver Notes on one's person is the most convenient. Taking the opportunity while speaking with the various masters, Dong Mou brought up this silver house matter privately with each of them. Your esteemed establishment should still open its shopfront as soon as possible, just like the silver house in Nanjing."

"I have also been urging them. The personnel from the South Side have already arrived. It's just that the initial shopfront won't be as large as the one in Nanjing. Opening first is what matters; we can find a larger location later." Having said this, Zhang Mazi looked up at Dong Xinkui. "My purpose in coming this time is, first, to pay respects to Mr. Dong, and second, the situation with the Eastern Slaves is pressing. My humble master is a military commander who leads troops into battle. He may be on his way to the Capital for rally to the king. The more detailed his knowledge of the situation here, the better. Does Mr. Dong know where exactly the Tartars are now, where the Relief Troops are, and how the Battle is actually going?"

"The Tartars' western column entered through Wall Ridge, striking the border on the twenty-second day of the ninth month. They fought for six or seven days before breaking through Wall Ridge. Supreme Commander Wu died in that city. Then they reached the walls of Mi, and there are also Camps near Shunyi. The eastern column entered through Qingshan Pass. I hear they are moving faster than the western column and are currently encamped in the Nearby Area of Tongzhou. It seems these two columns are about to merge into one. On our side, Governor-General Lu is at Changping. Some Xuan-Da Relief Troops are separately stationed outside Desheng Gate, Stability Gate, Xizhi Gate, and Dongzhi Gate, guarding the Capital's North Wall. The Guan-Ning Army is outside Tongzhou, facing off against that eastern Tartar column. I don't know about troops from other places, but I hear that soldiers from Shandong and Shaanxi are also on their way. As for engagements, there haven't been any major battles."

"It's still here, with Mr. Dong, that things are explained clearly. These days, rumors are swirling everywhere outside. This humble one doesn't know which word to believe. Fortunately, I can come to Mr. Dong for guidance."

Dong Xinkui let out two hearty laughs. "What rumors has Brother Zhang been hearing?"

"There are many rumors in the city. The one heard most often is that the Tartars have been inside the pass for nearly thirty-some days, yet to this day there has not been a single major battle, and to this day they have not breached a single city — completely different from the second year. It's as if the Slave horde is waiting for Pacification, having made a pact with the government troops not to fight. Only if the peace talks fail will they strike camp and march south. Today, in the outer city, another rumor spread that Gao Qiqian delivered a foreign-language Letter, that the Guan-Ning Army is unwilling to commit to a death struggle, and that Yang Sichang, Gao Qiqian, and Fang Yizao together sent the Eastern Invaders eighty thousand taels of gold and one hundred thousand of silver. The Ministry of War and the Liao Garrison are both vigorously advocating peace talks. I don't know if this is true. If they really intend to negotiate peace, then my master need not have traveled a thousand li to rush here."

Dong Xinkui looked at the tabletop and paused for a moment. "As for matters of war, I can't claim to understand them. But regarding the things circulating back and forth within the Capital, I can perhaps analyze them with Brother Zhang. This so-called delivery of a foreign letter by Gao Qiqian — absolutely no such thing happened. Back then, Yuan Chonghuan also led the Guan-Ning troops and wanted to negotiate peace beneath the city walls. His fate is well known to all. Gao Qiqian is a mere Eunuch; how would he dare commit such a grave transgression?"

Zhang Mazi leaned his body sideways, looking respectfully at Dong Xinkui. "Mr. Dong knows that my master is also a military commander. Whether the court intends war or peace is the most critical matter."

"As for whether it is war or peace — Yang Sichang advocates peace. Since the fifth month, there is no one at court who does not know this. The story of sending eighty thousand taels of gold and one hundred thousand of silver to negotiate peace has also been discussed in court. Yang Sichang submitted a Memorial defending himself, demanding that the Censor clarify from which treasury these 200,000 taels were drawn, by which route they left, and by whom they were transported out of the city. After that, there was no further word. With the Tartar troops at the city gates, the mere fact that there is no fighting already has Impeachment Memorials flying all over the sky. In Dong Mou's view, this talk of sending silver to negotiate peace is also baseless. If there are to be peace talks, it can only happen after the Tartars leave the border. As for whether the court intends war or peace, Dong Mou cannot say for sure." Dong Xinkui paused thoughtfully, then continued. "Yang Sichang is the Minister of War. He is, admittedly, a high official, but before entering the cabinet, that was about all it amounted to. Peace talks were not first proposed this year; they were proposed last year as well. In the end, he still entered the cabinet. Impeachment Memorials at court denouncing his peace advocacy fly all over the sky, yet nothing has happened to him. From this, one can see he is not the only one advocating peace. As for who else, Dong Mou cannot guess."

Zhang Mazi's eyes shifted twice. Although Dong Xinkui did not say it, he could guess who it was. "In the past, when Tartars crossed the border, the Minister of War would be arrested and thrown into prison. Minister Yang has also been impeached so heavily — not only over the peace talks, but also on charges of being a remnant of the Eunuch Faction and the ill omen of Seizing Office. I wonder if the same will happen this time, and whether it might jeopardize the great cause of rally to the king?"

"Yang Sichang originally had no real connection to the Eunuch Faction. Speaking of the Tartar incursion in the second year of Chongzhen, at that time the Tartars besieged Mace'an. Living in the city was a Vice Minister of War named Guo Gong, who had retired to his hometown and was listed in the Reverse Case. During the Siege, he was lowered from the city walls by rope to seek reinforcements. Later, Yang Sichang spoke a few good words on his behalf. Speaking up for someone from the Eunuch Faction naturally made him a remnant of the Eunuch Faction. The Donglin and Restoration Society factions found him an eyesore. Last year, when he was merely Minister of War, it was still tolerable. This year, Yang Sichang entered the cabinet. Once the Roving Bandits are pacified, with imperial favor at its peak, it could well turn into another situation like Wen Tiren — a Lone Minister. This year, the impeachments have grown more numerous and more intense. Although Huang Daozhou was dismissed because of this, his Pure reputation has been greatly enhanced, and Yang Sichang has become the number one great enemy of the Censorate Purists. With the whole court his enemy, he has no choice but to become a Lone Minister. But as Dong Mou said earlier, his imperial favor is at its peak. When Wu Aheng died, Yang Sichang submitted a Memorial volunteering to personally command the Ji Garrison, with Lu Xiangsheng acting as Minister of War. The Emperor did not grant permission and kept him in the Central Hub to coordinate from the center. This shows he will not be replaced."

"Military Commander Lu is Commander-in-Chief of Relief Troops. I hear from people in the city that he is often at odds with the Ministry of War. I wonder if this is true?"

Dong Xinkui rubbed his hands together. "It still comes back to the peace talks. Governor-General Lu is a man different from Yang Sichang. He cares most deeply about what is called a lifetime of Pure reputation. This year, the Tartars first arrived outside the Xuan-Da border. Using the name of the former Haracin tribe beyond the border, they demanded to open markets. Yang Sichang requested an edict. The Emperor declared at court that it must be conducted by old hands of the Chahar tribe, and that it must have proper name and status. Yang Sichang repeatedly requested further edicts, and in the end received eight characters: 'Authorize rewards to Westerners (Chahar tribe), act covertly as opportunity allows.'"

Zhang Mazi's eyes narrowed. Dong Xinkui continued, "Yang Sichang sent a letter to Lu Xiangsheng, hoping Lu Xiangsheng would grasp the implication on his own. However, those eight characters said about as much as if nothing had been said. Everyone knew the Haracin people had long since surrendered to the Tartars. Those who came clamoring to open markets all came from Shenyang. On the surface they were Westerners, but in reality they were Eastern Invaders. Yang Sichang did not want to bear the responsibility himself; he only wanted Lu Xiangsheng to shoulder this monumental crime. No one could agree to that. Lu Xiangsheng firmly refused to open the border with the Tartars in Xuan-Da, nor would he relay any messages for the Tartars. Instead, he declared that the Eastern Invaders absolutely could not be appeased and insisted on raising troops to exterminate them, thus offending Yang Sichang's Face and Sentiment. Later, Yang Sichang wanted to open markets at Yizhou. Lu Xiangsheng did not oppose it. His meaning was that his Xuan-Da command only managed the Chahar and Buryat tribes. The Tartars were in Liaodong. Whether markets opened at Yizhou or not was entirely a matter for the Liao Garrison. Xuan-Da would neither support nor oppose it. Yang Sichang did not receive Lu Xiangsheng's full support, so naturally the relationship became discordant. In the fifth month, Lu Xiangsheng's father passed away on the journey back to his hometown. The Emperor's intention was for Lu Xiangsheng to also Seize Office, but Lu Xiangsheng firmly declined, submitting five consecutive Memorials. In the end, the Emperor agreed to let him return home for observing mourning, replacing Lu Xiangsheng as Supreme Commander of Xuan-Da with Chen Xinjia. This made Yang Sichang's Seizing Office and entry into the cabinet all the more conspicuous. In the impeachments after the sixth month, he has already been denounced by the Pure Stream as an unfilial and disloyal wretch. So this relationship could only grow more discordant."

"However, Governor-General Lu is a man of face, and quite capable of grasping the subtleties involved. As a high frontier official, he also couldn't afford to make an enemy of the Minister of War. So he asked Yang Sichang to inscribe the spirit-way tombstone for his father, which could be seen as acknowledging that Yang Sichang's Seizing Office did not violate filial piety — the Seizing Office implicitly carrying a sense of Protection for him — thereby easing the relationship. One is the Central Hub, the other a Supreme Commander. Presumably, Yang Sichang could also understand Governor-General Lu's deeper meaning, and it wouldn't go so far as to ruin the overall situation of rally to the king." "I hear Governor-General Lu advocates war."

"With the Tartars having invaded, at this moment everyone can only advocate war. Governor-General Lu has always said the Eastern Invaders absolutely cannot be appeased, but he still cannot escape this chaotic situation of peace talks. As for those Purists at court now... Previously, Huang Daozhou impeached Yang Sichang and also impeached Chen Xinjia. One of the charges was that frontier officials colluded with the Central Hub, fabricating border alerts to promote peace talks, explicitly stating that the border alert was the matter of the Tartars encamped at Horse Lung Mountain beyond the border. This was something Governor-General Lu reported in the third month. Although Governor-General Lu's name wasn't mentioned, to shift it onto Governor-General Lu would be the blink of an eye." Dong Xinkui shook his head and sighed. "Lu Xiangsheng commands all the Relief Troops of the realm. Though it's only a title, he has been hoisted up there. When cities fall and territory is lost, the blame will all rest on his shoulders, yet Authority may not necessarily be in his hands. The court discussions on Yang Sichang's peace advocacy are raging, and Lu Xiangsheng is also caught in this game. When the Tartars reached the outskirts of Xuanfu in the third month, he forwarded a foreign letter to the Ministry of War. Afterward, his Secret Memorial was made public by the Emperor, causing everyone to know about it. Originally, it was just a report to the Ministry of War, but in the eyes of the Censors, it implied an intention to appease the Slaves. As it happens, now the Tartars have come, and he commands the Relief Troops. The precedent of a disgraced Supreme Commander is not far off. The Censors are all watching his effectiveness in battle and defense — men like Guo Jingchang and Yang Tinglin. At present, they only impeach Yang Sichang and Gao Qiqian. Who knows if, in a few more days, they will also impeach Lu Xiangsheng? This Governor-General Lu has only one path: to fight with all his might. But Yang Sichang believes the elite troops of the Nine Borders cannot be lightly thrown away in reckless Battle. The two men's views are again contradictory. Those at court who know the situation all say that Lu Xiangsheng's fate is Worrisome. So you may relay to your master that the situation of this rally to the king is also Worrisome."