Chapter 1039: Greetings, Imperial Mother (Please Subscribe)

"This is impossible!"

The one who broke the silence was the old man Ubai, a founding hero of the Manchu who had served under Nurhaci. How could he tolerate a descendant of the Zhu Emperor becoming his superior?

"Impossible, absolutely impossible. Princess, stop this nonsense!"

Ubai's younger brother Subai shook his head just as vigorously, like a rattle-drum.

Borhui, who had once served as Dorgon's Bayara Banner Commander, still remembered his old master's kindness. Looking at Donggo, who seemed to have lost her head in the heat of the moment, he shook his head and said, "Princess, is this the Great Emperor's will?"

Donggo smiled. "The Son of Heaven's will is that if Doni does not behave himself, I may take his place!"

"But Doni has not yet shown any sign of misbehaving."

Donggo smiled. "But I wish to take his place! And whether he behaves or not is no more than a single word from me. With great power in hand, why not use it to the full? And the four of you will surely help me!"

This princess was without a doubt Dorgon's own flesh and blood! What courage and daring!

Borhui thought to himself: But what makes her think the few of us will necessarily help her?

Just as he was turning it over in his mind, Holohoi spoke in a deep voice: "Princess, how do you know that the few of us have deposited several hundred thousand taels of silver in the Jiale Market Bank?"

The moment these words came out, the faces of Borhui, Ubai, and Subai all changed at once, and they all stared wide-eyed at Princess Donggo.

Donggo giggled. "Let me ask you — how many days has it been since you last saw Jabusi?"

It had been a very long time since they had seen him.

The faces of Holohoi, Borhui, Ubai, and Subai turned deathly pale.

All four of them knew, in fact, that the Kingdom of Joseon could not be relied upon, and that Manchuria beyond the pass was no safer. So each had prepared a way out for himself. That way out had been laid through Jabusi.

But the fellow had now been missing for nearly a year, as if he had evaporated from the face of the earth.

Although the Jiale Market Bank in Joseon still operated as usual and paid them interest on time, the four of them remained on edge. In times of chaos, preparing a retreat for oneself was not excessive. Now that their retreat was in jeopardy, their hearts were naturally in jeopardy too.

Donggo said, "Holohoi, you deposited 338,000 taels with Jabusi and draw 3,300 taels in interest each month. Borhui, you deposited 185,000 taels with Jabusi and draw 1,800 taels in interest each month. Ubai and Subai, you two each deposited 225,000 taels with Jabusi and draw 2,200 taels in interest each month. Am I correct?"

Correct!

Sweat was already beading on the foreheads of the four old fellows. They had taken bribes and embezzled for so many years to amass these savings — they had not come easily!

Donggo continued, "As for Jabusi, he now lives in the town of Versailles, outside the capital of the Kingdom of France, Paris. You will never see him again!"

"What do you mean, 'never see him again'?" Holohoi asked.

"I mean," Donggo said with a smile, "that the Jiale Market Bank is now under my management! For the silver you have deposited there, you need only ask me for it. Are you reassured?"

Well, this was just wonderful. The gold and silver they had toiled decades to obtain was now all squeezed in someone else's hand!

"Reassured, of course we're reassured." Ubai, who had just been glaring coldly at Jin Dongzhu, was the first to change his tune. "You are the Ama's only bloodline. Since the Ama is gone, you are our Imperial Mother. How could we not be reassured?"

So now she was the Imperial Mother.

His younger brother Subai shot him a sideways glare: for the sake of a couple hundred thousand taels of silver, he was calling a little woman in her early twenties "Imperial Mother" — had he no shame? How could a real man behave like this?

"Princess," Subai said with a solemn face, "I have thought it through. You are the Ama's only bloodline, so naturally you should inherit the Ama's followers. This King of Joseon should also be yours to hold!"

Borhui thumped his chest. "The 5,000 troops outside were all trained by this slave. They all obey this slave's orders. This slave will lead them to help the Princess attack Hanyang!"

Princess Donggo turned her gaze to Holohoi, who had not yet spoken. Holohoi sighed. "The Princess is indeed a heroine among women. Duolbo is no match for you! But you are, after all, a consort of the Son of Heaven, and cannot personally hold court in Joseon. Once you leave, who is to govern the Kingdom of Joseon?"

Donggo smiled. "The Great Ming Son of Heaven governs the realm through the Grand Secretariat and the Marshal's Office. Joseon is the same — with a State Council and a Regional Commander's Office, that is enough. The ruler of a country need not hold court in person. And I will not serve long as Queen of Joseon, because I have a son. The throne of a king should still be held by a man.

My holding the throne as a woman is merely a transition. From the Aisin Gioro house, transitioning to the Zhu house, smooth and steady, acceptable to all sides.

Besides, my mother was a princess of the Yi dynasty (actually not quite that high in rank), so my son combines the bloodlines of the Zhu Ming, the Aisin Gioro, and the Yi dynasty — he is the ideal candidate for King of Joseon!

Until my son comes of age, the great affairs of the Kingdom of Joseon will be in your capable hands!"

This was yet another benefit!

Zhu Hese was far younger than Duolbo — only three years old this year. If he returned to Joseon to take power at eighteen, there were still fifteen years for the four old fellows to enjoy themselves. In fifteen years, they would most likely have departed this world; even if not dead, they would be too old to do anything.

"Then will the Son of Heaven order Joseon to send troops against the Andong Army?" Holohoi asked again.

"No." Princess Donggo's answer was very clear. "For the Son of Heaven to destroy Andong is as easy as turning over his hand — why would he need Joseon to send troops? Moreover, the Son of Heaven never uses people for nothing. If he used Joseon's troops, he would have to grant commensurate rewards. And Joseon's troops are weak and its country poor; sending troops would be of little use, and he would still have to hand out rewards. It would be far too uneconomical."

"In that case," Holohoi sighed, "let us devise a way to seize Duolbo."

Duolbo had no idea that someone was planning to seize him. This was his Kingdom of Joseon, where he was king — how could anyone seize him here?

And Princess Donggo had come with only 100 musketeers. Even if they were made of iron, what use could they be?

So after the four regent ministers left, Duolbo divided the tasks with his two elder brothers: Bakdu would escort him to Incheon with 1,000 cavalry, while Cani would remain behind to guard Hanyang.

Once all preparations were complete, he set out grandly for Incheon with 1,000 cavalry, the civil and military officials of Joseon, and the full set of court regalia.

After arriving at Incheon, Duolbo and Bakdu discovered that the city was already firmly controlled by 5,000 Joseon New Army troops. The Guard Command residence where Princess Donggo was staying was surrounded three layers deep, all under the control of the Joseon New Army. And the 100 Ming musketeers Donggo had brought with her, just as Duolbo was preparing to enter Incheon, "received orders" to leave. Under the supervision of the Joseon New Army, they filed out of Incheon one by one, heads hanging dejectedly, muskets on their shoulders.

"It seems there is no problem!" Duolbo let out a breath and said to Bakdu, "Everything is under control!"

"Fifth Brother," Bakdu said with a furrowed brow, "my heart is still uneasy. This matter is best settled as quickly as possible."

"Of course!" Duolbo said. "Come, let us enter the city and see Donggo, and hear what she has to say."

"Very well," Bakdu nodded. "Let us go in together."

The two brothers reached an agreement, and then rode side by side into Incheon. Incheon was a small city, and now it was nearly packed full with Joseon New Army troops. Around the Guard Command residence in particular, they were packed three layers deep inside and out, blocking the roads so thoroughly that the 1,000 cavalry Duolbo and Bakdu had brought had almost nowhere to stand.

Holohoi and Ubai came out together to greet them. Seeing the traffic jam outside, Holohoi could only smile wryly and say, "Great King, you see how cramped it is here. Perhaps I should first move the Joseon New Army out of the city to make room for the cavalry you have brought."

Ubai added, "The Princess is furious. Borhui and Subai are both being scolded. Great King, you had better go in quickly and calm her down!"

Duolbo smiled. "All right, all right, I'll go in now. Ubai, have the Joseon soldiers clear a path!"

"Zha!" Ubai responded, then shouted, "Quickly, quickly — the King has arrived! Move to both sides and clear a path for the King!"

(End of Chapter)