Chapter 284: The Princedom Is Not for You!

Under Zhu Cilang's control, the Ming court's efficiency was sometimes astonishingly high! The edict ordering a punitive expedition against the eastern barbarians and the decree that the first to enter Yan would be made a king were drafted in just one hour, then proclaimed to the realm.

By the way, the first to enter Yan would not be enfeoffed as Prince of Yan — that was the princely title once used by Zhu Di, and it could not be granted again. So the title the first to enter Yan would receive was "Prince of Beiping."

Issued at the same time was an edict changing Beijing to Beiping and the Northern Metropolitan Region to Beiping Province — Beiping Province was the original name of the Northern Metropolitan Region before Zhu Di moved the capital to Beijing. Now that "the first to enter Yan shall be king" was in effect, Beijing could no longer be treated as the capital.

The speed of this decision-making left the Chongzhen Emperor, seated on the imperial throne learning how to be an emperor, utterly dumbfounded.

Even a matter as weighty as enfeoffing a prince could be decided by this rebellious son with a single word. If this rebellious son wanted to usurp the throne, would the assembled ministers all agree to it too?

Moreover, if this rebellious son really did recover Beiping, would he then have accumulated enough prestige to usurp the throne? Would We after all still end up as the Retired Emperor?

But at this moment the Chongzhen Emperor did not know that this so-called "first to enter Yan shall be king" was nothing but a swindle.

Relying on the likes of Huang Degong, Gao Jie, Liu Liangzuo, Liu Zeqing, and Xu Dingguo — how could they possibly be the first to enter Yan? If they could avoid being entered themselves, they would be burning incense in gratitude. So with only an empty promise of "first to enter Yan shall be king," they would never send out troops.

Even though the situation north of the Yellow River looked decent right now, with the Shun army continuing to win victory after victory, those men would still not consider sending out troops.

"Duke Cheng, just look at this old man — do I look like someone fit to be a prince? Besides, the troops under my command are few, my equipment incomplete, and my provisions and pay even more inadequate. I cannot send out troops."

In the city of Suizhou, seat of Guide Prefecture, inside the residence of Minister Yuan — the former home of the late Minister of War Yuan Keli — the man pouring out his grievances to Zhu Chunchen, who had come to deliver the imperial decree, was a tall, burly old man with a white beard.

This old man was named Xu Dingguo. He had once served as Regional Commander of Shanxi, but during the third battle of Kaifeng his entire army had been routed by Li Zicheng, and he himself had been arrested on the Chongzhen Emperor's orders for the defeat, nearly executed to uphold military law. Later, however, he had pulled strings and been pardoned from the death penalty, sent back to Henan to reassemble his old troops, and even given the post of Regional Commander for the Relief of Henan.

When Beijing fell to Li Zicheng, Xu Dingguo was stationed at Suizhou and for a time submitted to Li Zicheng, but he quickly switched back and returned to the Ming fold, and was even appointed by Zhu Cilang as Regional Commander for the Defense of Guide. His territory, however, was still just Suizhou alone, and the troops under his command numbered only a few thousand. A title like Prince of Beiping was indeed not something he could lay a finger on.

Zhu Chunchen smiled and nodded, then turned his gaze to another Regional Commander in the main hall of Minister Yuan's residence — Liu Liangzuo, who had just been appointed by Zhu Cilang as Regional Commander of Henan.

Liu Liangzuo occupied half of Guide Prefecture and half of Kaifeng Prefecture, with his Regional Command headquarters set up in Shangqiu, the seat of Guide Prefecture.

This time he had left his home base of Shangqiu and come to Suizhou only because of the invitation of Zhu Chunchen and the Governor of Henan, Lü Daqi.

As for the Prince of Beiping business, he likewise had not the slightest interest. He had come merely to go through the motions for the Crown Prince, Zhu Cilang.

Zhu Cilang was no Hongguang Emperor from history. With his land forces and naval forces combined, he could field a full hundred thousand troops.

This was a solid hundred thousand, with no empty rolls. It was not something a figure like Liu Liangzuo could confront head-on.

And right now the Tartars and the roving bandits were fighting each other with great enthusiasm — you strike Shanxi, I come to Hebei, all busy as could be, with no one having the leisure to meddle in the affairs of Henan and Shandong. Even if Liu Liangzuo and Xu Dingguo wanted to defect to the Tartars, there was no channel for it at the moment. Their territory was in Henan; if they were to defect, they could only go over to Li Zicheng.

"Duke Cheng," Liu Liangzuo said with a perfunctory smile, "this humble official is not the stuff of a prince either. And my troops are not prepared. As for sending out troops, I say we should just forget it."

Governor Lü Daqi, standing to the side, could only sigh repeatedly at the words of the two warlords.

People say the Crown Prince is crafty, but seeing him today, that reputation is overblown. A bait like "first to enter Yan shall be king" could never hook fellows like Liu Liangzuo and Xu Dingguo, who are craftier than monkeys. Better to just give them some silver — that would be more reliable.

Zhu Chunchen, however, chuckled — and his laughter left Liu Liangzuo and Xu Dingguo somewhat stunned. What did Duke Cheng mean by that? Was he angered, or what?

"This duke will speak plainly!" Zhu Chunchen said with a smile, producing two envelopes. "The Prince of Beiping title was never meant for you two. You don't have the strength for it!"

The words were unpleasant, but they were also the truth.

Zhu Chunchen paused and looked left and right.

Old Xu Dingguo understood the meaning and waved his hand for all the attendants in the hall to withdraw.

Zhu Chunchen said, "I will not hide it from you two — the Prince of Beiping already has someone set to take the title!"

Someone already?

How is that possible?

Who has that kind of ability?

This time it was not only Liu Liangzuo and Xu Dingguo who were startled; even Lü Daqi had not expected it, and he stared blankly at Zhu Chunchen.

Zhu Chunchen merely smiled. "Who that person is — if you two think about it, you will understand. Who right now can deliver the fatal blow to the Tartars at the critical moment? Whoever can deliver the fatal blow to the Tartars is the one qualified to be this king. Tell me, who is this person?"

"Wu Sangui!"

"The Count Who Pacifies the West!"

Liu Liangzuo and Xu Dingguo understood at once, and both cried out in surprise.

Lü Daqi was also greatly startled. He looked at Zhu Chunchen and asked, "Duke Cheng, this matter—"

Zhu Chunchen said, "This matter is only natural! His Highness the Thousand Years is the brother-in-law of the Count Who Pacifies the West, and previously wanted to enfeoff him as Duke of Jin. And the Count Who Pacifies the West was trapped by the Tartars and had no choice but to shave his head and surrender to them, but in his heart he is still loyal to the Great Ming! Now that he has a chance to turn and strike back, he will naturally seize it. And His Highness the Thousand Years will not treat him shabbily — why could a prince of a different surname not be enfeoffed?"

Lü Daqi nodded. "If he truly rendered such a service, then he could indeed be made a prince."

Zhu Chunchen stroked his great beard. "Indeed. The roving bandits were defeated because he brought the eastern barbarians in. If the eastern barbarians are then driven out by him, he would truly be the greatest meritorious official since the founding of the Ming. He ought to be made a prince."

He glanced at Liu Liangzuo and Xu Dingguo and handed over the two envelopes. "These are handwritten edicts from His Highness the Thousand Years to you two Regional Commanders."

Liu Liangzuo and Xu Dingguo hurried forward, knelt to receive the edicts, then opened the envelopes on the spot, took out the letters inside, and began to read. As they read, their expressions shifted rapidly — first shock, then joy, then doubt.

It turned out that in the letter Zhu Cilang had informed Liu Liangzuo and Xu Dingguo that Wu Sangui was about to turn and strike back, and demanded that they send troops to coordinate. He also promised that after the deed was done, he would enfeoff each of them as a duke.

At the same time, Zhu Cilang in the letter bluntly threatened them: if they did not cooperate, he would strip them of their military authority and throw them in prison to be punished. He also said he would soon lead a hundred thousand troops north to the Central Capital, Fengyang Prefecture. The two of you can decide for yourselves what to do.

This matter, it seemed, could not be false.

Liu Liangzuo and Xu Dingguo actually believed it — the matter was of course false. Wu Sangui was being watched closely by Ajige; how could he dare turn and strike back? If such a thing were real, Zhu Cilang would not have told Liu Liangzuo and Xu Dingguo about it.

Those two were no good men; both were suspected of having dealings with the Tartars. What if they leaked the news to Dorgon? Would that not ruin Wu Sangui's great undertaking?

Zhu Chunchen looked at Liu Liangzuo and Xu Dingguo with a smile and said, "You have read His Highness the Thousand Years' handwritten edicts. Whether you will send troops, and when — give this duke a definite answer."

Old Xu Dingguo put away Zhu Cilang's handwritten edict and said to Zhu Chunchen with a smile, "My Lord Duke, this old man has few troops — only 10,000 (in truth only 8,000) — and cannot take all of them away from Suizhou. At most I can send out 5,000, and they can set out within three days."

As he spoke, old Xu cast an ingratiating glance at Liu Liangzuo.

Liu Liangzuo also put away the letter and said with a smile, "My Lord Duke, this humble official will send out 15,000 troops, and they can set out from Shangqiu within three days."

Zhu Chunchen looked at Lü Daqi. Lü Daqi said, "With your two armies of twenty thousand marching north to draw the Tartars' attention, the Count Who Pacifies the West's great undertaking can succeed, and the Ming's restoration is in sight. You two will then both be meritorious officials of the Ming restoration. This official has few troops at hand and cannot march with you, but I have stored fifty thousand shi of grain in Bozhou, which I can give you for army provisions. I will have it transported over shortly."

"Then many thanks to Your Excellency the Governor!"

"This old man also thanks Your Excellency the Governor."

The two warlords did not realize that behind these fifty thousand shi of army provisions, there was also a scheme.

Zhu Chunchen said with a smile, "Although Regional Commander Huang of Fengyang and Regional Commander Gao of Xuzhou are occupied and cannot leave, they will both send subordinate generals north, and Regional Commander Liu of Shandong will also send troops. With the five great Regional Commanders acting together, we can certainly give the Tartars something to remember!"

(End of Chapter)