Chapter 1350: Li Dingguo Is a Traitor! (Please Subscribe)

Chongqing Prefecture, Chaotian Palace City.

This fortress, which from the air looked like a triangle, had always been desolate and cold, with very few permanent residents inside. Now it was so quiet it was frightening, so much so that Li Laiheng kept thinking of the four words "dead and lifeless."

Sitting in Chaotian Palace's Hall of Golden Chimes, which was so crude it could compare to a mountain bandit king's assembly hall, Li Laiheng looked down at the twenty or thirty dejected ministers below and couldn't help thinking of Kunming City and Wuhua Palace. Kunming was better—spring-like all year round, and bustling and lively too. Inside and outside Kunming there were also many imperial estates and detached palaces. If one grew tired of staying in Wuhua Palace, one could go out and stroll around. How could it compare to Chaotian Palace here in Chongqing? It was practically like being a prisoner, with nowhere to go at all.

Li Laiheng sighed and was just about to announce the dismissal of court and return to the rear palace to amuse himself with the Hu dancer his son had sent him, when he saw Gu Junen, the Prefect of Chongqing, come in panting for breath.

This Gu Junen could be counted as a three-reign elder of the Shun. From the time of Li Zicheng he had been the Second Military Advisor, and later he followed Li Guo into Sichuan, where he also had the merit of supporting Li Guo's accession—that is, he found Li Guo an Ada two years younger than himself! Li Guo did not particularly appreciate him, but Li Laiheng regarded him as a trusted confidant and had always let him firmly control the Ministry of Revenue. This time when Li Laiheng went north to Chongqing, he brought Gu Junen along too and made him Prefect of Chongqing. After Tian Jianxiu was posted to Luzhou, the defense of Chongqing Prefecture's city proper (not including Chaotian Palace City) was also organized under his responsibility.

Seeing Gu Junen rushing over in a hurry, Li Laiheng grew a little nervous. Could it be that the remnant Ming's great army had come attacking? Was there still time to flee now?

"Your Majesty—Your Majesty, bad news!"

Riding horses was forbidden inside Chaotian Palace, so Gu Junen had jogged the whole way over. Upon seeing Li Laiheng, he began reporting while still gasping for breath.

How is this emperor of mine "not good"? Li Laiheng's heart was hanging in suspense, his mouth half open, waiting for Gu Junen to continue. But Gu Junen was getting on in years; after rushing over in a hurry, he dropped to his knees with a thud and then began panting heavily.

Li Laiheng was getting a little impatient and simply asked, "Minister Gu, have you caught your breath yet?"

Niu Jinxing, standing to the side, was also anxious and urged him on: "Marquis of Qi, what exactly are you trying to say?"

Gu Junen had almost caught his breath by now. Hearing Niu Jinxing's question, he replied, "Left Assistant, your son has come to Chongqing!"

"My son? Quan'er?" Niu Jinxing was taken aback. "Could it be Kunming—"

The atmosphere in the great hall grew even more tense. Li Laiheng's face turned pale, his brows knitted into a knot as he stared at Gu Junen, unable to say a single word.

"No, it's Niu Jie!" Gu Junen had finally gotten his breathing under control.

Niu Jinxing's mouth hung open, his expression one of utter astonishment. "He—wasn't he killed in action at Niulan Pass?"

The officials in the great hall all looked at Niu Jinxing with strange expressions. Right, he had already died for the country! He'd even been given a grand funeral, and everyone had contributed funeral money. How could he be alive again?

"He didn't die for the country. The news was wrong—he was captured alive by the remnant Ming's troops!" Gu Junen said. "And he was captured as Li Dingguo's adopted son!"

At these words, Niu Jinxing's expression changed again.

Li Dingguo's name could not be spoken casually. He was the Prince of Jin in the Deliberative Council! Gu Junen was not the sort of person who spoke carelessly, and he would not make a mistake in forms of address.

"Marquis of Qi, what exactly is going on?" Niu Jinxing pressed.

Gu Junen said, "After your son Niu Jie was captured as Li Dingguo's adopted son, the remnant Ming did not take his life, but instead held him in the Embroidered Uniform Guard prison at the temporary imperial residence. It was only five days ago that he was brought out, with the claim that Li Dingguo and Ai Nengqi had already defected to the remnant Ming and been enfeoffed as Military Governor and Vice Military Governor of U-Tsang, and that therefore he was to be released to Li Dingguo's army in Long'an Prefecture. Your son then turned their scheme to his own advantage, set out carrying the remnant Ming emperor's personal letter to Li Dingguo, and when he reached Guang'an Department he seized the chance to escape, shaking off the remnant Ming escort troops. Together with a Trade Office steward named Liu Yishi, he fled to Chongqing Prefecture, where they were encountered by patrolling soldiers last night. Now he and Liu Yishi have entered Chaotian Palace and are awaiting summons!"

Hearing Gu Junen's words, Li Laiheng already felt as though he had fallen into an icy abyss.

Li Dingguo was the Shun dynasty's most capable prince in battle! If he had turned traitor, then there was nothing left worth defending in Chongqing Prefecture—they had better flee for their lives to Yunnan! And they shouldn't count on staying long in Yunnan either; they would probably have to flee onward to Burma as quickly as possible.

"Is—is this true?" Niu Jinxing still found it hard to believe.

Gu Junen smiled bitterly. "Whether it's true or not, just summon your son and ask him."

Before Niu Jinxing could speak, Li Laiheng had already opened his mouth. "Summon Niu Jie and Liu Yishi at once!"

Niu Jie and Liu Yishi were quickly brought into the great hall of Chaotian Palace, while Gu Junen handed Li Laiheng the personal letter Zhu Cilang had written to Li Dingguo.

The letter's contents were mainly three points. First, concerning the gold medal of immunity from death: Zhu Cilang explained to Li Dingguo that the present Great Ming dynasty had no gold medals of immunity from death, only edicts of pardon. The edict had already been promulgated, and the crimes of rebellion previously committed by Li Dingguo, Ai Nengqi, and their subordinates were thus pardoned. But if they committed new crimes in the future, those would still be prosecuted as they should be—there was no such thing as immunity from death or immunity from punishment.

Second, concerning the Grand Lama: Zhu Cilang told Li Dingguo that the Grand Lama's status in U-Tsang was extremely exalted and must not be violated. At present the Grand Lama had gone to Anxi Garrison and would not be able to return to U-Tsang for some time, but the Grand Lama's temples, lands, and serfs in U-Tsang must all be fully protected by the U-Tsang Military Governor's office.

Third, concerning some country called Nepal: Zhu Cilang told Li Dingguo that south of U-Tsang, beyond the Himalayas, there was a small country called Nepal, originally a tributary of U-Tsang, which also believed in Lamaism. Because it lay on the southern slopes of the Himalayas, its climate was warm, and it bordered India, so it was relatively wealthy. If U-Tsang proved difficult to sustain, they could send troops into Nepal—and if that truly wouldn't do, they could even send troops into India to scoop up a little something!

Wonderful—he'd even mapped out a money-grabbing route for Li Dingguo. This Zhu Emperor really did know how to win people over!

Li Laiheng handed the letter to Niu Jinxing for him to read as well, then personally asked Niu Jie, "Niu Jie, you told them you were Li Dingguo's son, and they just believed it?"

Niu Jie said, "Your Majesty, I moved about within the remnant Ming's territory under the identity of Young Master Li. Everyone above and below only knew that I was a noble of the Li surname. In the Shun, Li is the imperial surname, but there are only two families of Li nobles—either the imperial house or Li Dingguo's family."

Li Laiheng asked again, "Was there truly no one who knew your name was Niu Jie?"

Actually, there was one—Liu Yishi, who had come back together with Niu Jie.

"No one!" Niu Jie said decisively. "The Trade Office's rules are set that way. If I had leaked my identity, that would have been a capital offense!"

Li Laiheng thought to himself: Because of your blunder we lost Niulan Pass, lost Wu Ruyi as well, and let the remnant Ming fight their way into Dongchuan. Your crime doesn't deserve beheading? Beheading would be too light for you!

Seeing Li Laiheng's dark expression, Niu Jinxing knew that His Majesty was moved to kill, and quickly changed the subject: "Your Majesty, the remnant Ming's dog emperor is full of tricks. We must guard against his deceit!"

Li Laiheng indeed shifted his attention and asked Niu Jinxing, "Left Assistant, do you think the remnant Ming's dog emperor is using a stratagem to sow discord?"

"Extremely likely!" Niu Jinxing said. "The Shun dynasty is now tottering in the wind and rain. It cannot afford to be split in two again."

Li Laiheng asked, "What if Li Dingguo really has betrayed the Shun—what then?"

Niu Jinxing said, "If Li Dingguo has truly betrayed the Shun, then we must strictly guard against him entering Yunnan through the Western Sichuan Military Command! Everyone in the Western Sichuan Military Command, from top to bottom, is Li Dingguo's and Ai Nengqi's old subordinate!"

After saying this, Niu Jinxing shot Gu Junen a meaningful glance—this was a matter of life and death now! Whether they could leave Chongqing Prefecture depended on whether this Li Dingguo had rebelled or not!

"Your Majesty," Gu Junen, clever as ever, immediately picked up where Niu Jinxing left off, "only if you personally go to the Western Sichuan Military Command to take charge can you guarantee that all units of the Western Sichuan Military Command will continue to remain loyal to our Shun dynasty!"

Li Laiheng's eyes lit up at these words, and he asked further, "Then how are we to determine whether Li Dingguo and Ai Nengqi have defected to the remnant Ming or not?"

Niu Jinxing said, "We can send Liu Wenxiu to Long'an Prefecture to relieve Li Dingguo. If Li Dingguo is willing to obey the edict and come to Chongqing Prefecture, then he is loyal to the Shun. If he is unwilling..."

(End of Chapter)