Chapter 247: Fix Bayonets — Charge!

In this era, within the hundred-and-eighty-li outer wall of Nanjing there perhaps lived a million people — a great many at a glance, yet compared to the urban population of Nanjing in later ages, it was hardly worth mentioning. And this million people mainly lived in the western half of Nanjing city; roughly speaking, the area from the imperial city and Xuanwu Lake westward to the banks of the Qinhuai River in the western part of the outer wall was the essence of Nanjing — densely populated, with bustling markets and every trade flourishing.

But east of the imperial city and Xuanwu Lake, it was a different scene entirely.

Not far east of the imperial city lay the Chaoyang Gate. Between the city wall north and south of Chaoyang Gate and the eastern wall of the imperial city, space was limited and transport inconvenient. Apart from some abandoned storehouses and barracks, there was nothing much there.

And once outside the eastern wall of Nanjing's inner city, there were the Zhongshan hills where the Xiaoling Mausoleum lay, along with the Xiaoling Guard and the Great Sacrificial Altar — none of them places where one could do business.

Moreover, in this era Nanjing's external trade traveled mainly by water: one entered the Yangtze via the Qinhuai River, and then by that golden waterway of the Yangtze one could reach a great many places, and transport costs were low. Overland, the official road from Chaoyang Gate out through Xianhe Gate and Qilin Gate to the outer wall was rather quiet. On either side of this great road, apart from the towering Zhongshan hills, there was only land belonging to the Xiaoling Guard, the dilapidated Great Sacrificial Altar, and the villas of certain high officials and nobles. It was basically very open — open enough, in fact, to serve as a battlefield.

And this comparatively open stretch, where most of the land was farmland, was split into an eastern and a western half by the north-south upper course of the Qinhuai River, thus forming a natural dividing line across the battlefield.

The armored cavalry that entered the city through Qilin Gate did not, as Xu Hongji and the others had expected, head straight for Chaoyang Gate. Instead, they deployed by battalion and banner inside Qilin Gate, east of the Qinhuai River.

One part dismounted and climbed the walls, seizing Qilin Gate, Xianhe Gate, and Cangbo Gate. The remaining troops began seizing the bridges over the Qinhuai or patrolling its eastern bank. Very quickly they occupied all the ground east of the Qinhuai, south of the Xiaoling Mausoleum's outer wall, and north of Cangbo Gate.

On this ground there were also several manors — either villas of the city's ennobled merit families, or residences of the Mei and Xiao commander families of the Xiaoling Guard.

Both commander families were quite illustrious. The Xiao family's ancestor, Xiao Xun, was a second-generation merit noble from Zhu Yuanzhang's time: his father was one of Zhu Yuanzhang's generals, and his younger sister was one of Zhu Yuanzhang's consorts. The Mei family's ancestor, Mei Yongzhen, was even more formidable — he was a descendant of Mei Yin, who married Zhu Yuanzhang's daughter, Princess Ningguo.

With both commander families having such distinguished origins, what was there to be polite about? Naturally they treated the Xiaoling Guard as private property. This Xiaoling Guard had five battalions under it, a full 5,600 military households. Yet by the Jiajing era it could at most mobilize a little over 1,700 men. By the last years of Chongzhen, it could not even produce 1,000 guard soldiers.

Still, both families had built their residences quite well — great five-courtyard compounds, high walls and grand houses, fronting the Qinhuai River, each with its own private dock. Whether it was for trade or for mooring pleasure boats, one could not tell.

When Zhu Cilang arrived, the heads of both families were absent — presumably both were inside the Xiaoling Guard rallying to the throne!

Those who came out to greet him were two collateral-line sons bearing the xiucai degree. One was called Mei Youwen; the other was something else — he was actually named Xiao Yuanshan! Who knew whether he knew martial arts? He looked spirited enough, with sideburns and a beard, and sharply defined features.

The two xiucai were both greatly astonished that Zhu Cilang had arrived with a great army, and when the Eastern Palace guards brought them before His Highness the Crown Prince, they were somewhat alarmed.

Clearly they knew quite a bit already! But Zhu Cilang could not be bothered to speak with them; the Embroidered Uniform Guard Chiliarchs Ren Yizhou and Zhang Tao would handle the questioning.

Zhu Cilang, beaming with satisfaction, simply led his Eastern Palace guards, escorting the three men Zhang Shenyan, Zhao Zhilong, and Han Zanzhou, and accompanied by the commanders Wu Xiang, Cao Youyi, Huang Binqing, Wang Zhiren, Zhu Chunchen, Li Guozhen, and others, into the main hall of the Mei family residence.

"Sit, all of you sit! Master Miaoshan, the Count of Xincheng, Han Zanzhou — the rest of you sit too, don't stand on ceremony."

Zhu Cilang took his seat cheerfully, then waved the others who had entered with him to take their seats as well, while casually surveying the hall they were in. For a hereditary commander family like the Mei, the size of this place was absurdly large. The decoration was sumptuous, the furnishings and utensils extremely luxurious; even the candles used for lighting were of a superior grade blended with some unknown fragrance — once lit, the whole room was filled with perfume.

This air of wealth and honor truly pressed hard upon the Chongzhen Emperor's miserable court!

Zhu Cilang withdrew his gaze and let it rest on Zhao Zhilong, Zhang Shenyan, and Han Zanzhou, looking them over one after another.

All three men were ashen-faced.

They had never imagined that Zhu Cilang had been intent on war from the very start! So much so that he would not even let them see the Chongzhen Emperor, but directly set the Embroidered Uniform Guard to arresting them!

The three of them had simply walked into a trap.

Now Zhang Shenyan and Han Zanzhou both wore the look of men who had thrown caution to the wind, caring for nothing at all!

Zhao Zhilong, however, was full of confidence, a faint smile on his face. Zhu Cilang was somewhat baffled by the sight — how did this fellow have such nerve? Historically he had knelt to the Tartars with great alacrity! Could it be that the history books were talking nonsense? Was Zhao Zhilong some fearless loyal martyr?

"Zhao Zhilong, what is the meaning of this?" Zhu Cilang pointed at Zhao Zhilong and barked angrily, "In this affair, you ought to be the chief plotter! Why did you come here to throw your life away?"

What did he mean? Zhao Zhilong was stunned for a moment: How am I the chief plotter? I'm an undercover agent!

"Th-Thousand Years," Zhao Zhilong stammered, "this subject's intentions were long since made clear in the secret memorial sent to you — this subject even exposed the traitorous faction in Nanjing—"

What? You're a traitor?! The Crown Prince was taken aback.

Zhang Shenyan and Han Zanzhou, hearing this, both glared furiously at Zhao Zhilong.

"Your secret memorial?" Zhu Cilang was baffled. "When was this? How is it We know nothing of it?"

He doesn't know? Now Zhao Zhilong was truly terrified! Trembling, he said: "This subject entrusted it to Zuo Maodi to deliver to Thousand Years—"

"Oh." Zhu Cilang nodded. "But Zuo Maodi did not present your memorial, nor did he mention any such matter."

What? Zuo Maodi, you faithless wretch! Zhao Zhilong could hear his own heart breaking.

"Thousand Years, Thousand Years—" Zhao Zhilong dropped to his knees before Zhu Cilang with a thud. "You must believe this subject! This subject truly is an undercover agent — this subject is loyal to Thousand Years!"

Zhu Cilang smiled, and took from Huang Xiaobao — who had slipped in at some unknown moment — an oil pancake rolled with salted meat and pickled vegetables, along with a wine gourd, and began eating and drinking.

At the same time, the commanders under Zhu Cilang present also took identical rolled pancakes and wine gourds from the Eastern Palace guards and began eating and drinking.

Zhang Shenyan and Han Zanzhou stared blankly at the sight.

Were these people really the Crown Prince, the Duke of Chengguo, the Count of Xiangcheng, and the rest? Eating and drinking like this — truly without the slightest refinement! They did not even seem to have washed their hands, and they ate so crudely — how did they look just like roving bandits and Tartars?

Zhu Cilang seemed to read the two men's astonishment, and chuckled: "Our journey here was no easy one — had we not been of such rough appearance, we would long since have lost our lives! These hard-won meritorious officers are no longer what they once were!

Zhao Zhilong, confess quickly — We are about to take the field, and time is pressing!"

"T-take the field?" Zhao Zhilong was stunned. "It's almost dark—"

Zhu Cilang smiled. "Dark is good for a night battle!"

"A night battle—" Zhao Zhilong drew a sharp breath. "Thousand Years' great army has been on the march all day—"

"No matter, not tired at all!" Zhu Cilang smiled. "Enough of your nonsense — confess!"

Zhao Zhilong asked in a trembling voice: "Confess what?"

"Confess your dispositions! You are the Commander of Nanjing — surely you took part in drawing up the battle array? Confess honestly, and We may just spare your life!"