Chapter 304: White Hair

"Liu Zeqing, originally under the Shandong Regional Military Commission, fought in the Four Cities battle alongside the reinforcing Regional Commander Yang Zhaoji. When Ma Shilong's royal relief army attacked Zunhua, the two of them led troops straight to Santunying, scattered the small Jianzhou Bandit force there, and held Santunying for several months, becoming a thorn lodged in the Jianzhou Bandits' territory. At the time, Santunying was under siege from Zunhua and Qian'an — their willingness to hold it shows considerable courage." Zhou Shifa found some brief records from his assistant.

Chen Xin had no good impression of this future Dongping Count, one of the Four Northern Jiangbei Garrisons, nor did he take him very seriously. After all, Geng Zhongming's fate had already been changed — this not-so-famous Liu Zeqing couldn't stir up much trouble. In truth, Liu Zeqing was also someone swept by the wings of Chen Xin's butterfly, becoming a man who had muddled through in vain like Wu Xiang. His military ability among late Ming officers was passable; originally, he should have soared to prominence during the pacification of Kong Youde and the others' rebellion. Now, he could only go to Wang Tingshi to wrangle an official post — which at least showed he had an eye for opportunity, promptly noticing that many posts in Dengzhou and Laizhou would be vacated.

After hearing Zhou Shifa's report, Chen Xin set the matter aside and asked Zhou Shifa, "On this visit to the palace, will the imperial court move against Geng Zhongming?"

"There is not the slightest trace of anything like that. By all reason, the court should be rewarding him. His Majesty likewise needs to 'buy horse bones with a thousand gold' to win over the men of Dongjiang Garrison. Geng Zhongming should be safe."

Chen Xin nodded. Just then, a guard outside announced that the protocol officer from the Ministry of Rites had arrived, summoning everyone to be trained in the audience ceremony. Chen Xin said helplessly to Zhou Shifa, "While we're in the capital, go inspect the Jingshi intelligence station later, but don't reveal your tracks — take a couple more men as cover."

Having given Zhou Shifa his instructions, Chen Xin went out, leading Lu Chuanzong, Dai Zhenggang, and the others to learn the ceremony. They had studied it once before when presenting their previous victory, so this counted as a review. The protocol officer was skilled in his work; after explaining the procedure, he drilled them a few times, and it was considered done.

To Chen Xin and the others' surprise, just as the rehearsal finished, the protocol officer was about to lead them into the palace. Chen Xin had originally thought they would need to wait several days — it was clear that Chongzhen truly was an impatient man.

Qipanjie was quite close to Damingmen, but this city gate, resembling an oversized mountain god temple, was normally kept shut. Ministers went through Xihuamen for official business and Donghuamen for morning court. Chen Xin's group, not daring to ride horses, followed the protocol officer all the way to Xihuamen, preparing to enter the imperial city through the side gate. At the horse-dismounting stone by the Xihuamen entrance, they saw Cao Huachun and Wang Tingshi waiting. Cao Huachun was also an old acquaintance of Chen Xin's.

Seeing Chen Xin, Cao Huachun's eyes crinkled in a smile. He knew Chen Xin was both a favorite of the Emperor and a favorite of Wen Tiren, and through Lu Zhi, he also had a connection with Cao Huachun himself — there was no conflict of interest between them whatsoever. They had collaborated quite often, and both were extremely courteous, exchanging warm pleasantries. The protocol officer from the Ministry of Rites, though inwardly impatient, dared not show the slightest trace of irritation on his face; instead, he had to put on a smiling face. Wang Tingshi, long aware of Chen Xin's formidable influence, showed no change in expression at being neglected by Cao Huachun, and even occasionally chimed in with a well-timed remark. Because none of them could afford to offend Cao Huachun in the slightest.

Cao Huachun was not only Chongzhen's trusted confidant but also the Supervising Secretary of the Directorate of Ceremonial, a eunuch of immense power in the Great Ming. In the past, when Cao Huachun served under Wang An, he had refused to attach himself to Wei Zhongxian and was sent away to Nanjing. Had his old master, the Prince of Xin, not ascended the throne, Eunuch Cao would have grown old and died inside the Nanjing Forbidden City. After returning to Beijing, he was put in charge of redressing the unjust cases of the Tianqi reign, reaping both silver and immense popularity. Now his power had reached its peak in the Great Ming — his full title was Supervising Secretary and Attendant Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

The twelve directorates, plus the four offices and eight bureaus of the inner court, were collectively called the Twenty-Four Government Offices, and the Directorate of Ceremonial ranked first among them. The Directorate of Ceremonial held, first of all, the power of rescript approval. Of the memorials drafted by the Grand Secretariat, the Emperor personally reviewed only the most important few; all others could only be implemented after rescript approval by the Directorate of Ceremonial. Generally speaking, when the Grand Secretariat drafted a rescript and wrote its opinion, these eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial could only write "follow the Secretariat draft" or "follow the wording of the Secretariat draft." If they truly found something unsuitable, they sent it back to the Grand Secretariat for rewriting. When the Supervising Eunuch was mild-mannered, it was tolerable; when they encountered those with twisted mindsets, they would find countless excuses to send drafts back, and the Grand Secretariat could not function. In times when eunuchs ran rampant, whatever the Grand Secretariat drafted was useless — the Directorate of Ceremonial simply changed it directly.

Furthermore, the Directorate of Ceremonial held the power to transmit oral edicts. Most Ming dynasty emperors were rather indolent, disliking writing and preferring to have eunuchs relay their words. The very same sentence — if the eunuch was on good terms with a Grand Secretary, he would deliver it gently; if relations were poor, he would deliver it huffily, and that Grand Secretary would go home unable to sleep. Even more maliciously, some would deliberately alter parts of the content. Even a man as formidable as Sun Chengzong had moments he could not bear it, and submitted a memorial specifically to the Tianqi Emperor, saying he still requested His Majesty to be more diligent and write more often.

With these two powers, they in fact maintained checks and balances with the Grand Secretaries, and even held a slight advantage. By the late Ming, when a Grand Secretary took office, he first had to pay respects to the Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial before he could be considered formally in office.

Beyond its external authority, the Directorate of Ceremonial's internal power was also overwhelming. It had a Superintendent Eunuch under it, who controlled the appointment and dismissal of all eunuchs, great and small, within the palace — including externally posted army supervisors like Lu Zhi, all were proposed by this Superintendent and submitted to the Emperor for final decision. In practice, the Emperor rarely overruled.

Even more formidable was that the Director of the Eastern Depot was generally concurrently held by one of the Supervising Secretaries of the Directorate of Ceremonial. The Eastern Depot, in turn, oversaw the Embroidered Uniform Guard, extending the Directorate of Ceremonial's power into an even broader sphere. As it happened, Cao Huachun was precisely the one doing this job — how could Wang Tingshi dare offend him?

Chen Xin was extremely cautious before this grand eunuch. Although he sent Cao Huachun tribute every year, his paltry offerings counted for nothing significant in the capital, at best ranking as middling. It was said that the Seal-Holder of the Directorate of Ceremonial annually received tribute from the Twenty-Four Government Offices alone — roughly thirty thousand taels from each department, totaling six to seven hundred thousand taels.

With Lu Chuanzong and the others following, Chen Xin could not appear too craven. Fortunately, Cao Huachun was very genial toward him, not putting on the slightest airs, and let Chen Xin walk beside him as they chatted along the way. After entering Xihuamen, they had to circle around to Wumen to enter the Forbidden City — no short distance. Cao Huachun deliberately walked slowly so he could speak more with Chen Xin, asking all the way about the battles of Dengzhou and Jinzhou. Chen Xin was an eloquent speaker, describing them as extraordinarily perilous, occasionally exaggerating slightly. When Cao Huachun heard that one soldier had single-handedly chased down over a thousand rebels, he clapped his hands and laughed aloud.

Chen Xin also catered to his interests by specifically lavishing praise on Lu Zhi. Lu Zhi was a trusted man Cao Huachun had taken under his wing. Cao Huachun was a man who greatly cherished old ties — Wang Chengen had also been placed into the Document Office by him. This Document Office within the inner palace was like the Hanlin Academy's probationers in relation to the Grand Secretariat: those who did not come out of the Document Office were not qualified to enter the Directorate of Ceremonial.

So when he heard of Lu Zhi's martial valor, he felt a strong sense of personal identification, as if he himself had gone to Dengzhou and fought a battle — so satisfying. Chen Xin's silver tongue was worth tens of thousands of taels at this moment. By the time they reached Wumen, he had also finished recounting the Battle of Jinzhou. Cao Huachun listened with great delight — Director Chen need not worry about retaliation from the secret police anymore.

Among the military officers following behind, some had no idea of a Supervising Secretary's power at all and were looking around in all directions along the way; others were so frightened they dared not speak, keeping their heads down and following in silence.

After passing Wumen, they were in the Forbidden City. Geng Zhongming had never been here before and was utterly awed by the majestic grandeur of the architecture within, feeling rather tremulous. The buildings were not only towering but also numerous; without a guide, an ordinary person could never find their way. Seeing how familiar Chen Xin was even with the people of the Directorate of Ceremonial, he grew even more resolute in his intention to attach himself to Chen Xin.

Chen Xin, unaware of Geng Zhongming's thoughts, was quietly asking Cao Huachun, "May I trouble you, Eunuch Cao — will we still be having our audience with His Majesty at the Qianqing Palace?"

Cao Huachun chuckled. "No need for Qianqing Palace. Today it will be at the Platform. His Majesty likes it there."

Although Chen Xin knew full well that Chongzhen would not move against him, hearing the words "the Platform" still made his heart thump. This was precisely where Yuan Chonghuan had been arrested. Lord Yuan had come only three times in total. The first time, he proposed pacifying Liaodong in five years. The second time, only a year and a half later, the Later Jin troops came to pacify Beijing's third ring road. The Emperor summoned him into the city and met him here as well, even giving him a fur cloak. The third time, just a few days later, Lord Yuan was seized here by the Embroidered Uniform Guard riders.

The Platform was situated directly behind the Jianji Hall, atop three-tiered white jade balustrades, positioned opposite the Qianqing Gate — it was also called Yuntaimen. Chongzhen liked to receive certain ministers here, and many important matters were handled at this spot.

When Chen Xin's party reached the Platform, the Emperor was already waiting there, with only a simple honor guard beside him, wearing the blue regular imperial attire.

Chen Xin dared not raise his head to look. The protocol officer beside them began chanting the ritual, and he led the group in kneeling together...

Amid a stretch of green shade, Chen Xin and the others accompanied the Emperor in conversation beside the lotus pond in the Imperial Garden. Lu Chuanzong and the rest sat at some distance, with several eunuchs attending them there. Beside Chongzhen sat only Wen Tiren, Liang Tingdong, Wang Tingshi, and Chen Xin. This sort of reception did not count as an imperial banquet and lacked elaborate ceremony. The formal audience had already concluded, and the atmosphere here was far more relaxed.

Chongzhen had the Palace Catering Bureau prepare many pastries unique to the palace — sweet dew cakes, sounding sugar, jeweled tea delicacies, and so on — which in truth were not much different from the finest goods outside. What specially honored them was a bowl of bird's nest soup for each person. This was Chongzhen's favorite snack; every time this soup was prepared, five or six people would take turns tasting and adjusting the seasoning, constantly refining it until it achieved the effect that best suited the Emperor's palate.

During the audience just now, Liang Tingdong had read aloud the edict of appointment. Chen Xin, unsurprisingly, was appointed Regional Commander of Dengzhou, with an acting post as Vice Commissioner-in-Chief of the Left Chief Military Commission — a military official of the upper first rank, a true high-ranking cadre. His military prestige rank, following the upper first rank grade, was initially conferred as Grand Master for Glorious Happiness, skipping over the Dragon-Tiger General rank that Nurhaci had once held. His military merit title was not promoted, remaining Protector of the Army. Additionally, there was a great honor: he was given the honorary title of Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent. This title was common to both civil and military officials and was usually a symbol of status.

Apart from Regional Commander of Dengzhou Garrison, the rest were all nominal titles. These nominal titles seemed useless in themselves, but they were very useful to the imperial court. For an ordinary Minister of the Six Ministries to obtain a Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent was a laborious affair — only after six years of merit evaluation could one reach Junior Guardian, and nine years for Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent. Even the Minister of Personnel, the most powerful head of the Six Ministries, needed at least six years to reach Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent.

Adding Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent already made him upper second rank, but there were still eight more steps to climb from there: Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent, Junior Mentor of the Heir Apparent, and above those, Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent, Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent — the Three Solitaries — and Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent. Finally, the Three Dukes: Grand Preceptor, Grand Mentor, and Grand Guardian. Eight more promotions could be added on top before reaching the pinnacle. These were common to both civil and military officials. In theory, having these allowed one to sit as equals with civil officials; in practice, it was useless, merely sounding impressive. But having this system allowed them to avoid the situation where there was eventually no reward left to bestow.

Even if Chen Xin were truly formidable and rose all the way to Grand Preceptor, there were still military merit titles to promote. So this time they did not grant him a higher military merit title — his remained Protector of the Army, with four more ranks to go, which could be used to muddle through a few more times. Medals were Chen Xin's little red flowers; these nominal titles were the imperial court's little red flowers. They were extremely handy for dealing with those who had accumulated much merit, and cost no silver either.

When the time came and he rendered meritorious service, he would be promoted one rank. The later Three Dukes ranks were even slower. Chen Xin's fair-weather friend, Wu Zimian, Regional Commander of Yansui, was a Vice Commissioner-in-Chief, a military official of the upper first rank, who only managed to scrape together a nominal title of Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, an upper second rank, by the time he retired.

On the whole, Chen Xin's status was now comparable to Zu Dashou's. Zu Dashou had lost his Junior Mentor title, lost his Left Commissioner-in-Chief post, and his acting post had been demoted to Vice Commissioner-in-Chief of the Left Chief Military Commission, the same as Chen Xin's. All that remained was the military post of Vanguard Regional Commander for Pacifying Liaodong — which was, of course, the most important post of all, one the Emperor dared not take away.

Lu Chuanzong and the others were also promoted to Vice Regional Commander or Assistant Regional Commander, with acting posts reaching Assistant Commissioner of the Left Military Commission. Their prestige ranks reached Cavalry General or General Who Guards the State. At this moment, they were all sitting to the side, beaming with delight.

As for the promotions of ordinary soldiers, they numbered as many as two to three hundred. Chen Xin had originally been unwilling to have too many people receive imperial court promotions, lest it increase the court's influence within the army, but Song Wenxian advised him to follow the usual practice, and in the end he submitted the list. In the Ming army, promotions were all calculated by heads, divided into extraordinary merit, first-class merit, second-class merit, and so on. Although Chen Xin found this highly unreasonable, it was an unavoidable reality in the Ming dynasty. In the early Ming, promotions were determined by combat performance — for instance, during the Yongle reign, extraordinary merit meant breaking the enemy formation, seizing the banner, slaying the general, leading the charge, and so on, which was relatively fairer. Later, everyone gradually discovered loopholes, and things slowly became more and more distorted. A battle might kill a few or a dozen men, but two or three hundred would be reported for merit — first strike, banner seizure, rescue, capturing spies, everything was fully allocated. The power to report merit all rested in the hands of the commanding officers, and the great merits were all taken by their trusted men. Later, they had no choice but to switch to counting heads.

The head-count system had many abuses as well — killing civilians to claim merit and scrambling for heads on the battlefield were the two greatest, and controversy never ceased. But the court could find no better method and had to make do with it. In actual practice, however, the generals of each garrison had a certain degree of autonomy in distributing rewards. Both He Liangchen and Qi Jiguang made improvements to the head-count system. He Liangchen advocated dividing rewards equally afterward. In Qi's army, combat soldiers were not allowed to cut heads; the fire soldiers cut them, and afterward everyone shared — those in front took more, those behind took less. Roughly calculated, those in front wielding wolf-brush spears, long spears, swords, and shields could get about three taels, arquebusiers two taels, and fire soldiers only five mace.

Wendeng's merit system emphasized combat performance and did not record merit by heads. The final combat reward was calculated based on the degree of mission completion. Each merit report limited the number of people rewarded according to the scale of the operation, and with the addition of an independent military judge system, Chen Xin believed it was the best military merit system currently feasible.

As Chen Xin ate his pastries, he had already mentally run through all the promotion matters, even thinking of the cooks and fire soldiers. Chongzhen finished his bird's nest soup and seemed rather satisfied. With a placid expression, he began telling the few men about the origins of the pastries. Wen Tiren very obligingly played along with the Emperor's lead, making the atmosphere even more harmonious.

Chen Xin could tell the Emperor was in a very good mood today. He had not only granted Chen Xin the head rewards for the battles of Dengzhou and Jinzhou, but even the head rewards still owed from the Battle of Shenmi Island were granted. Chen Xin took in another fifty to sixty thousand taels of silver.

Having tallied his own gains, Chen Xin felt somewhat pleased with himself and let his mind wander slightly. Chongzhen happened to look his way and said to him, "General Chen looks much more haggard than last time. In the days to come, you must devote yourself to training the troops, but you must also look after yourself."

Chen Xin came back to his senses and also glanced hastily at Chongzhen. He suddenly noticed that this youth, eleven years his junior, already had wrinkles on his forehead and between his brows, and at his temples, there was even white hair.

He sighed inwardly, bowed, and replied, "Your humble servant thanks Your Majesty for your concern. On behalf of the people of Dengzhou and Laizhou, your humble servant also begs Your Majesty to cherish your dragon body and restore the Great Ming to glory." (To be continued.)

PS: Seeking monthly tickets.