Chapter 245: The Dragon Moves Without Form, Beyond All Naming

Zheng Shiyi sat on horseback, wrapped in a thick sable cloak, gazing into the distance at the capital.

The thousand-li journey had left his whole body exhausted, yet it had not dampened the ambition in his heart one bit.

—Finally back! The wind has clearly shifted; it is time to place my bet!

Still, I must tidy up the loose ends first.

Zheng Shiyi narrowed his eyes slightly and turned his head to shoot a meaningful glance at the Embroidered Uniform Guard Centurion beside him.

The Centurion immediately grasped his intent. He unhooked the leather whip from his waist, flicked his wrist, and lashed it against the empty air with a sharp crack.

Crack!

The utterly exhausted "Li Zichengs," worn out from days of forced marching, huddled together in fright and looked over in terror.

The Centurion smiled faintly, but the words that came out of his mouth cut colder than the winter wind.

"Gentlemen, now that we have entered the capital, the journey is complete. But there are certain matters you had best think through clearly in advance."

He paused, his gaze scraping across every face.

"What should be said and what should not be said — you would do well to keep it straight in your minds. Every last one of you may well be heading back to your old homes in northern Shaanxi. Do not bring ruin upon yourselves!" The crowd of "Li Zichengs" trembled, too terrified to even breathe loudly, let alone flare up or defy orders.

Seeing that the warning had struck home, Zheng Shiyi finally spoke up with a rebuke.

"What are you saying! No more of this reckless talk!"

With that, he raised his riding crop and said,

"I will enter the city first to report back to Eunuch Gao. Take them to find a post station, have them wash up properly, change into clean clothes, and quietly await Eunuch Gao's summons."

Without waiting for the Centurion to reply, he clamped his legs against the horse's flanks and shot toward the city gate like an arrow leaving the bowstring, leaving the entire party far behind.

Those left behind looked at one another in bewilderment. The Centurion's face darkened, and he roared, "What are you staring at! Get moving! Once you meet Eunuch Gao, there will be plenty of glory and riches waiting for you!"

And so this strange procession, made up of a dozen or so "Li Zichengs," finally lurched into sluggish motion again, merging into the stream of travelers flowing north and south before the gates of the capital.

Entering the city, washing up, tidying themselves, and receiving a set of reasonably clean coarse cloth garments.

By the time everything was settled, the sky had already dimmed to the yellow dusk of the shen hour.

Li Hongji — one of the many "Li Zichengs" — at last ate an evening meal that, while hardly delicious, at least filled his belly. When he threw his utterly exhausted body onto the post station's communal sleeping platform, the comfort that seeped out from the very marrow of his bones made him groan with satisfaction.

With nowhere else to go and no courage to wander about at the feet of the Son of Heaven, the men all gathered on the communal platform, shooting the breeze about everything under the sun, spittle flying as they fantasized about those far-off, unreachable tales of wealth and honor.

One said that from now on, he would eat white-flour steamed buns every day, until he was sick of them.

Another said that once inside the palace, he might find a palace maid to be his dining partner — he had heard that palace maids were all handpicked by the Emperor, their skin as smooth as silk.

One over there said he had heard that eunuchs even got paid, something like a hundred taels a year.

Their fantasies were wildly varied and utterly absurd, yet no matter how they bragged, they could not conceal the deep-seated fear and unease about the unknown lurking in their hearts. After a while of clamor, each man finally ran out of words, and the room gradually fell silent.

Before long, a chorus of snoring rose and fell in waves.

But Li Hongji tossed and turned, utterly unable to sleep no matter what.

His mind was a jumbled mess — one moment he imagined rising to glory and wealth inside the palace;

the next he worried about his uncle's affairs and his two younger sworn brothers.

But what he thought about most was Han Jin'er's fair, naked body.

The more he thought, the hotter he grew. He twisted and turned in the cold bedding like a pancake on a griddle.

He listened carefully to his surroundings — the snoring was like thunder. At last he made up his mind and slowly reached his hand downward.

—While it's still here, might as well use it once more while I can.

A moment later, accompanied by a faint shudder, Li Hongji's taut body finally went completely slack.

This time, he fell asleep very quickly.

"Is this information reliable?"

Tian Ergeng leaned back in his chair, turning two gleaming, oil-slicked walnuts in his hands.

He did not open his eyes, and his voice was flat and unruffled.

A man in the uniform of a Centurion stood bent at the waist before him and said in a low voice,

"Reporting to the Left Commissioner-in-Chief, there is a brother in Commander Zheng's squad who has always been close to me. Today I invited him out for drinks. At the table he had a few cups too many, and only let it slip after he was drunk."

"Mm." Tian Ergeng responded through his nose, his expression still as unperturbed as an ancient well. "I have noted this matter. You may withdraw for now." The Centurion, having received these words, was beside himself with joy, knowing that this merit was securely in his pocket.

Not daring to say another word, he simply knelt, gave one solid kowtow, and withdrew as silently as he had come.

The quiet room returned to stillness, with only the soft "click-click" of the two walnuts rotating in Tian Ergeng's palm. After a long while, he finally stopped the motion of his hand, opened his eyes, and turned to his son, who stood waiting at his side.

"Yuanyin, what do you make of this?"

Tian Yuanyin's spirits lifted. He quickly stepped forward, his face showing a trace of irrepressible excitement and contempt.

"Father, this Zheng Shiyi is simply courting death! At a time like this, he still dares to carry on with the same old ways!"

Tian Ergeng nodded, his expression unchanged. "Go on."

"Now is precisely when His Majesty, roused by Grandfather's legacy, wants you, Father, to restore our Embroidered Uniform Guard's prestige and wash away its stains. And here is Zheng Shiyi, openly lining his own pockets under the pretext of an imperial assignment, daring to play these games of concealment and deception right under His Majesty's nose. This is defiance of the New Policies! This is the blackest crow among black crows! Acting like this, how can he possibly escape death!"

Tian Yuanyin grew more and more agitated as he spoke. He leaned closer and lowered his voice:

"Father, this is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity! That scoundrel Zheng Shiyi has never been one of our people."

"Now that the Donglin Faction is gradually being restored to office, what if he picks up his old connections and gets those moral gentlemen to start submitting impeachment memorials every day? Our days would become very difficult indeed."

"We should seize this chance to add fuel to the fire before His Majesty and crush him once and for all!"

The walnuts in Tian Ergeng's hand stopped abruptly.

He remained silent for so long that the excitement on Tian Yuanyin's face gradually froze, turning into unease.

At last, Tian Ergeng let out a sigh so faint it was barely audible.

Next door, Luo Sigong's son Luo Yangxing had already become one of the "Five Sons of Statecraft" — a man destined to leave his name in the annals of history.

And now he was even leading special discussions on the capital's banditry problem. In another month or two, he would likely be sent down to take up a substantive post.

Yet his own son, Tian Ergeng's son, was such a fool...

Tian Ergeng's heart was tangled with a thousand strands of worry, yet he could do nothing about it.

He tried hard to imitate the way His Majesty usually asked questions, attempting to become what one might call a "guided-question facilitator."

"Yuanyin, what do you think, in His Majesty's eyes, is the most serious, most unforgivable matter?"

Tian Yuanyin answered without a moment's thought.

"Is there even a need to ask? Naturally, it is corruption, dereliction of duty, oppressing the common people — anything that harms the foundation of the dynasty!"

"Isn't that precisely why His Majesty created the distinction between the New Policies and the Old Policies, dividing people into white crows and black crows?"

The veins at Tian Ergeng's temples throbbed uncontrollably.

He forcibly suppressed the anger rising in his chest and changed his approach. "Then let me ask you another way: in His Majesty's eyes, what is the most unforgivable crime for us in the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

This was bad!

The hairs on Tian Yuanyin's body stood on end. He realized almost instantly that his father's mood at this moment was extremely foul.

He immediately bowed, assuming a posture of listening with the utmost deference.

"Your son is dull-witted. I beg Father to instruct me."

Tian Ergeng's breath caught in his chest.

Call him stupid, and yet he seemed not entirely stupid — he could always save himself at the critical moment.

But call him clever, and he was merely a man of mediocre talent.

This was what pained Tian Ergeng the most.

Tian Ergeng stood despondent for a long while before he finally spoke.

"It is deception."

He turned around and looked at his only son.

"Deception. Do you understand?"

"In His Majesty's mind, the gravest matter is when those below deceive him. Even if you are corrupt — so long as you are not among the very worst offenders — at this critical juncture, there is still a chance to reform."

"But if you dare deceive the sovereign, then you will not have even a single chance."

"Now, do you understand?"

Tian Yuanyin was jolted with terror, his back instantly soaked with cold sweat.

He acknowledged his error, corrected it, and drew broader inferences. Bowing, he said, "Father, your son was dull-witted and nearly committed a grave mistake. Then... in this matter, should we simply stand by and observe? Not intervene?"

"Smack!"

Tian Ergeng finally could not hold back. He no longer tried to maintain the dignity of a "guided-question facilitator." Fury surged from his heart, and he landed a solid slap squarely on Tian Yuanyin's head.

"I told you — no deception! No deception!"

"Did those words go in one ear and out the other?"

"Zheng Shiyi hiring an impostor is deception. If we know about it and conceal it without reporting, is that not deception as well?"

"You don't report it — what if the Eastern Depot reports it first? You don't report it — what if that Centurion from earlier, seeking to curry favor, brings it directly before His Majesty himself?"

Tian Yuanyin cried out in pain from the beating but dared not dodge. He could only shield his head, turn his body aside, and endure it.

Tian Ergeng struck him a few more times before the anger in his heart subsided slightly. He lowered his hand and, seeing his son's aggrieved yet silent expression, could not help but curse again.

"The Tian family estate will sooner or later be ruined by your hands!"

Tian Yuanyin gave an awkward, sheepish grin — clearly accustomed to such scolding since childhood. He did not argue, but simply drew closer again. "I beg Father to show me the way." Tian Ergeng let out a long sigh.

The difficulties of this mortal world are, more or less, just like this.

To say his son lacked ability — he truly lacked ability. But to say he was unfilial — he was truly filial.

What more could he himself do?

After catching his breath, Tian Ergeng ultimately had no other recourse. Imitating His Majesty's manner, he raised two fingers. "Two matters. I am assigning them to you."

Tian Yuanyin's expression immediately sharpened, and he listened with full attention.

"First: regarding this matter of Zheng Shiyi, you will personally draft a memorial. Tomorrow when I enter the palace, I will submit it to His Majesty under your name. Remember — do not bring any personal emotion or stance into it. Whatever you know, say it. Stick to the facts, and be thoroughly detailed."

"Second: the day after tomorrow, pack your things, take a squad of men — do not wear the flying-fish robes, change into plain clothes — pick any county in the capital region, and go do a solid, thorough investigation for me. Aren't you always saying you can write official documents? Then produce a proper 'Five-Circle' document for me!" At this point, Tian Ergeng's eyes suddenly narrowed, and his tone turned dark and icy.

"If I find out that you dared to cut corners during this investigation — that you did not personally go into the fields to make inquiries, or even dared to stir up public outrage..." "Heh..."

Tian Ergeng gave a cold laugh. He said nothing more, but it sent a shiver from head to toe through Tian Yuanyin.

"Yes! Father! Your son will go draft the memorial at once!"

Tian Yuanyin could not even bother with proper formalities — he practically fled in panic.

Inside the quiet room, the cold severity on Tian Ergeng's face gradually faded. His entire frame seemed to collapse, as if all strength had been drained from him.

He walked slowly to the desk and picked up a thin booklet.

On the cover of the booklet, strikingly, were three strange horizontal characters — "The Biography of Tian Le."

This was written in His Majesty's own hand, excerpted from the Veritable Records of the Ming, concerning the deeds of his grandfather, Tian Le, and later bestowed upon him.

As for calligraphy, it could only be described as passable.

As for literary quality, it was barely readable.

And as for the completeness of the deeds recorded, it was a pitiful sight — far inferior to the detailed and thorough biographical account their Tian family had commissioned someone to write.

Even the entire booklet was written from left to right, with punctuation added — a bizarre format.

But none of this mattered.

What mattered was the passage that accompanied this booklet when it was delivered.

"Tian Ergeng, We generally give most people two chances. One before the Feast of the Severed Tassels, and one after."

"Because of past matters, you have, in truth, already used up one. But for the sake of your grandfather, We are willing to add that chance back for you."

"Work diligently. Work earnestly. We hope that under the New Policies, the Great Ming may surpass all previous dynasties, and that you may surpass your grandfather."

Yet — did the Tian family truly have two chances?

Tian Ergeng would not dare gamble on it in the slightest.

When the Emperor truly means to move against you, what difference is there between two chances, ten chances, or a hundred chances, and just one?

Even an iron-plated writ could not stop him, let alone a mere verbal promise like this.

Tian Ergeng held the thin booklet, silent and wordless.

Only after a long while did he let out a faint, desolate sigh.

Before the true dragon appears, men carve dragons with hooks and chisels.

But once the true dragon manifests, they lose their souls, and all color drains from their faces.

Everyone in this world claims to love dragons — yet when the true dragon appears, who is not Lord Ye?

"Your Majesty, that is the full picture. The intelligence gathered by the Eastern Depot and the information received by the Embroidered Uniform Guard are virtually identical." Within the Hall of Earnest Reflection, Tian Ergeng finished reporting every detail and withdrew back into the ranks.

Behind the imperial desk, Zhu Youjian furrowed his brows slightly.

To be honest, he had almost forgotten this trifling matter entirely.

After all, it was never some great affair of state.

Sending men to find Li Zicheng followed the same logic as his original choice of "Yongchang" as an era name.

When he had first transmigrated, driven by fear and anxiety before the unknown, he had wanted to intervene in reality in crude, direct ways, to prove that the historical trajectory of this time and space could be altered.

Now, that newcomer's fear had long since vanished like smoke, replaced by the fear that the court was filled with upright ministers and everything was trending for the better. And this matter of Zheng Shiyi happened to be a concentrated manifestation of two overlapping traits: "the Emperor is far away" and "the old regime's black crows." After all, when Zheng Shiyi set out at the end of the eighth month, he himself had only just ascended the throne; the new policies' various ideas, methods, and rules had yet to take shape. This team, untouched by the baptism of new thought, was purely and entirely composed of "old men."

In their conduct, they naturally bore the vivid stamp of "traditional character."

A single trip to northern Shaanxi, and pocketing over a thousand taels of silver was one thing — but to actually bring him back seventeen "Li Zichengs," what in the hell was he planning to do? Kill one a year starting next year, perfectly timed to last until the seventeenth year of Chongzhen, the year he hanged himself?

Zhu Youjian did not know whether to laugh or cry.

He swept his eyes over the list, and in a single glance understood where the problem lay. Li Zicheng was still called Li Hongji at this time; he had been too tense and anxious back then and had never once recalled this detail. Later, one more important matter after another came crashing in, and this trifle was utterly forgotten, cast beyond the highest clouds.

The logic of the matter was simple, but handling it would require some finesse.

At last, Zhu Youjian spoke.

"This matter seems not so simple."

"We shall state Our misgivings, then hear your thoughts, and then decide."

He raised one finger.

"First, Zheng Shiyi, under the name of an imperial errand, went to the provinces and embezzled money, besmirching the reputation of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"This matter must be dealt with severely and strictly, punished harshly according to the Guard's current regulations."

"Only thus can we intimidate the petty villains within the Depot and Guard, and preserve the purity of the ranks. On this point, there is no doubt whatsoever." Zhu Youjian paused, raised a second finger, and continued.

"However, we must also see that when Zheng Shiyi left the capital, the Banquet of Severed Tassels had yet to be held, and the atmosphere of the new policies had yet to form. He spent only a few days in the capital before departing. Committing such an error, though inexcusable, is nonetheless understandable."

"If we judge him on this matter alone by the strictures of the new policies, then what will the officials in Henan, Shandong, and even farther afield think?"

"From this angle, the punishment dealt to him seems, in turn, to require some discretion; it would be unwise to make a great fanfare of it, lest it provoke unnecessary panic. This is for the sake of overall stability."

Finally, Zhu Youjian raised a third finger, and a trace of mild amusement even appeared on his face — but the words he spoke sent a chill through Tian Ergeng's heart. "Lastly, and most importantly. Deception can never be forgiven."

"We, a mere few hundred men, seek to begin from a single corner of the realm and save this vast, imperiled empire."

"What we rely upon is the single word 'sincerity,' and nothing more. If we cannot be united in purpose and entrust one another with sincerity, then these new policies, in the end, will be nothing but a broad road to official rank and riches, a carnival of revelry before the nation's fall."

"A man without sincerity absolutely cannot remain within the ranks of the new policies. This is an eternal baseline."

When he finished speaking, his gaze swept across the three men: Gao Shiming, Wang Tiqian, and Tian Ergeng.

"Our meaning is roughly this. There must be punishment, yet also reassurance, and the baseline must be upheld. What do you think?"

The great hall seemed even quieter than before.

His Majesty's attitude was indeed open and forthright, but upon careful listening, the core idea was in fact "this, and that, and that as well!"

Principles, pros and cons, and baselines all intertwined — this was truly a hot potato.

After a moment, it was still Gao Shiming who stepped forward from the ranks.

"Your Majesty, this subject will attempt to speak."

"First, the new policies now have established regulations; all matters must be argued on solid evidence. The reports from the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard may serve as sources of information, but cannot stand as proof of guilt. This matter should be handled according to the new policy methods: handed over to a joint trial by the Three Judicial Offices, with the Depot, Guard, and the Directorate of Ceremonial observing, so that the case is made solid and irrefutable." Zhu Youjian nodded slightly. "That is only right and proper."

Gao Shiming continued, "Second, how to pass judgment is the key."

"Namely, whether to judge strictly by the new policies, or leniently by the old statutes."

"This subject believes the key does not lie in determining whether Zheng Shiyi belongs to 'after the Banquet of Severed Tassels' or 'before the Banquet of Severed Tassels.' That boundary cannot be debated."

"If today Zheng Shiyi's five days out of the capital do not count, then tomorrow, should officials in Shandong be counted from fifteen days after the banquet, based on when the official dispatch arrived? And what of Guangdong? Receiving the dispatch would likely take two months."

"It is best not to draw this line clearly. Once it is drawn clearly, matters become harder to handle."

Zhu Youjian nodded approvingly; these words had articulated his concerns even more clearly.

To put it more bluntly, it was "the contradiction between a firm resolve to punish corruption and the insufficient efficacy of the existing Ming bureaucratic system."

This meant that, across the vast scope of the old regime, many matters could only be handled vaguely and transitionally for now; there was no way to make a clean cut across the board, nor did one dare to make an open, absolute cut across the board.

Gao Shiming shifted his tone and put forward his core proposal.

"This subject believes he should be expelled from the new policy ranks on the grounds of 'deception' and 'lack of sincerity.' Thereafter, his crime of corruption should be judged according to the old Ming statutes."

At this point, Gao Shiming paused, then added with careful deliberation.

"However, this subject's method also has its drawbacks."

"In this way, certain persons who have committed grave crimes, if they have also committed the crime of deception, could instead be judged under the old statutes. This appears to be leniency. But... to be expelled from the new policy ranks is no different from severing one's own future prospects, no different from being a living dead man. Judged by this, it seems strict again. This subject has been hasty and his thoughts incomplete; he merely presents a shallow view for Your Majesty's consideration."

When this speech was finished, Wang Tiqian and Tian Ergeng savored it carefully for a moment; both their eyes lit up, and they nodded in unison, indicating they had nothing to add. But Zhu Youjian was truly somewhat stunned.

This method...

Why did it sound so familiar?

Expel from the ranks, then handle according to the old laws?

In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Zhu Youjian's mind like lightning.

"Odd changes, even unchanged..."

"Palace jade-liquor wine..."

"Old Gao, could it be that you too are..."

In the end, Zhu Youjian said nothing at all, only laughing with unrestrained delight.

"Good Companion! This scheme of yours deserves to be called the talent of a chief minister!"

"But though the matter seems small, its implications are vast. Do this: go presently to the four Grand Secretaries, and we shall schedule a closed-door meeting tomorrow to discuss it together before making a final decision."

"Oh, and..." Zhu Youjian winked at him, smiling. "On this matter, remember to avoid Scribe Zhang. After all, though the scheme is excellent, it is, in the end, not entirely aboveboard."

Gao Shiming took the hint at once and smiled. "This subject understands. Once the memorials are reviewed, this subject will go make the arrangements."

Zhu Youjian nodded, then added, "As for those seventeen Li Zichengs — adjust Our afternoon schedule. Clear two quarter-hours so that We may receive them."

Gao Shiming acknowledged the order once more.

With that, the day's Depot and Guard morning report session concluded, and Zhu Youjian began his daily routine of reviewing and annotating memorials.

Memorial after memorial was turned over and annotated; matter after matter was decided and dispatched.

The fate of the Great Ming dynasty, within this small hall, was being nudged forward, bit by bit.

The situation was not merely good — it was excellent across the board.

Yet... within this excellent situation across the board.

From beginning to end.

Not a single person asked the question that everyone shared.

— Your Majesty, why send men to search for Li Zicheng?