Chapter 31: The Roving King's Army Arrives (Bonus Chapter for the Alliance Leader's Steady Progress — Seeking Subscriptions)

"Your Majesty, according to this subject's investigation, there is no hidden master guiding the Crown Prince. Wu Xiang was only brought to the inner drill ground yesterday by Eunuch Director Wang to pay his respects to His Highness…"

The man currently tattling to the Chongzhen Emperor was none other than Luo Yangxing, Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard — the elder brother of Luo Xiushen, who guarded Fucheng Gate. Though the two were brothers and bore some resemblance, the age gap was considerable; Luo Yangxing was old enough to be Luo Xiushen's father.

As Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, keeping watch over important ministers and imperial kinsmen was part of his duties. He had therefore planted informants around both Zhu Cilang and Wu Xiang. Zhu Cilang's unusual behavior, which began on the fifteenth, was reported to Luo Yangxing by the morning of the sixteenth.

But Luo Yangxing did not immediately relay the report to the Chongzhen Emperor, because it was simply too bizarre — it seemed Zhu Cilang had been "enlightened" in a dream by the Great Ancestor, the Exalted Emperor, and had suddenly come to his senses, transforming from an honest boy into a master bamboozler who had actually managed to hoodwink men like Wang Cheng'en and Wu Xiang.

Just as Luo Yangxing was ordering his agents to investigate thoroughly, the Chongzhen Emperor had already handed over full authority for the capital's defense to Zhu Cilang.

This turn of events was utterly beyond Luo Yangxing's expectations. Had Li Zicheng's great army not been bearing down on them, he would have suspected a coup had taken place inside the Forbidden City!

A coup, of course, was impossible. At least on the sixteenth day of the third month, the Chongzhen Emperor still commanded sufficient authority. Even if he had wanted to place Zhu Cilang under confinement, it would have been a matter of a single word.

But he could not act so recklessly, because Wang Cheng'en, the man he trusted most, was simply too honest. So honest that he had frightened the Chongzhen Emperor out of his wits… Li Zicheng was about to fight his way into Beijing, and this honest Wang had not even made preparations to flee!

Fortunately, Crown Prince Zhu Cilang had reacted in time and worked with sufficient efficiency, and so the Chongzhen Emperor's grand plan had not been ruined.

Thus, after his anger at his son had passed, the Chongzhen Emperor went along with the flow and handed the defense of Beijing to his son — in truth, Chongzhen had no one else to turn to. Trusting Wang Cheng'en any further would be suicide! And Zhang Jinyan, the Minister of War, was utterly useless; faced with Li Zicheng's army bearing down, he had no plan at all and had already been dismissed and placed under investigation. As for Zhu Chunchen — Pillar of State of the Left, Grand Tutor, Duke of Chengguo, and Regional Commander of the Capital Camps…

The Chongzhen Emperor glanced at the noble he trusted most. Better not. The man was reliable enough, but he had no idea how to fight a war, could not discipline troops, and could not produce a single strategy for defense.

Besides, he had no capable men around him — unlike Zhu Cilang, who had latched onto Wu Xiang. Wu Xiang had a band of household retainers, plus Wu Sanfu and Zu Zepu. At the very least, they had spent years fighting the Tartar caitiffs in Liaodong, and could be counted as veteran generals.

Moreover, Zhu Cilang really did have a great many crafty ideas!

Just moments ago, Luo Yangxing had reported something that left the Chongzhen Emperor not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Zhu Cilang, by some means or other, had actually raised a huge sum of military funds from Wang Zhixin and Cao Huachun!

It was said there were more than ten cartloads of silver…

Chongzhen sighed. How was it that this son of his was so good at getting money?

If he had known earlier, he should have sent him out to solicit donations — perhaps he might have raised several million… And if Wu Xiang's daughter were brought into the palace as the Crown Prince's Cairen, Wu Sangui's great army would probably already be in Beijing.

With several million taels of silver for military funds, plus Wu Sangui's great army, Beijing would be utterly secure!

How was it that an emperor as wise as himself could not match the child Cilang when it came to raising money?

The Chongzhen Emperor sighed softly and thought: Could it be that We are too upright, and not as cunning as Cilang? In this age, there are too many treacherous ministers; a sovereign and father must be more treacherous than the treacherous! But how did Cilang become so cunning? Who did he learn it from?

"Zhu Chunchen," the Chongzhen Emperor said, collecting his thoughts and addressing the noble he trusted most, "although the Crown Prince now commands the military affairs of Zhili, you remain Regional Commander of the Capital Camps. Go to the inner drill ground tomorrow and take part in military affairs… keep an eye on the Crown Prince for Us. Do you understand?"

"This subject understands…" Zhu Chunchen paused. "The edict Your Majesty issued was a direct decree. Tomorrow, should the Grand Secretariat be asked to supply the formal endorsement?"

"Furthermore, the Crown Prince's taking of Wu Sanmei as a Cairen also lacks an imperial decree; it amounts to Wu Xiang offering his daughter to curry favor… I fear the censors will impeach him!"

"Impeach Wu Xiang?" The Chongzhen Emperor did not know whether to laugh or cry. "At a time like this? Those censors are counting on the man's son Wu Sangui to save their lives! As for the Cairen matter, We will issue a direct decree to the Ministry of Rites later… it is only a Cairen, after all. We will simply make an exception."

"Your Majesty is sagacious." Zhu Chunchen now understood the Chongzhen Emperor's intent.

Although he was no good at fighting wars or commanding troops, he was better than anyone at reading the imperial will. Chongzhen had only mentioned issuing a direct decree for Zhu Cilang's taking of a consort, but had said nothing about having the Grand Secretariat supply the formal endorsement for Zhu Cilang's military command.

This meant that Zhu Cilang's military command and his appointment over Zhili military affairs were both hollow, unrecognized by the Grand Secretariat and the Six Ministries. The Governor of Shuntian, the Governor of Tianjin, and the Governor-General of Jiliao would not necessarily obey his orders.

Once Wu Sangui's great army arrived, as long as the court officials raised objections, Chongzhen could smoothly confine the Crown Prince back in the palace… Of course, deposing him was out of the question. The Crown Prince had rendered great service no matter what; if the Son of Heaven wished to change the heir, he would surely meet unanimous opposition from the officials. A struggle over the foundation of the state would be unbearable.

But if the Crown Prince were to contract some illness and die young, well, that would be another matter…

Just as the Chongzhen Emperor was about to end the conversation between sovereign and subject and go to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility to discuss the matter of fleeing south with Empress Zhou, the voice of Gao Yushun, the seal-holding eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, suddenly came from outside the Eastern Warm Pavilion: "Imperial Master, outside Fucheng Gate the sky is ablaze — a great army has arrived…"

Fucheng Gate was one of the two gates opening westward from Beijing's inner city, little more than three li from the western wall of the imperial city.

If Fucheng Gate fell, the Chongzhen Emperor would have to go hang himself at Coal Hill that very night.

At this news, Chongzhen started, terror flashing in his eyes. He turned his gaze to Zhu Chunchen: "Duke of Chengguo, go at once to the inner drill ground and assist the Crown Prince in laying out the defense! Under no circumstances may the Roving Bandit be allowed to break through the gates and enter the capital!"

…

"Huang Dabao, We are somewhat weary. We will rest tonight in the Hall of Auspicious Joy. Go make the arrangements. Also, arrange quarters in the Palace of Jade Splendor for the several gentlemen, Commander Wu, and Commander Li."

When Zhu Cilang learned that the vanguard of Li Zicheng's great army had appeared outside Fucheng Gate and set fire to a temple outside the city, sending flames towering into the sky, he remained extraordinarily composed. He merely ordered Luo Xiushen to return at once to Fucheng Gate to steady the troops' morale, and instructed Zhu Chunjie and Li Ruolian, who had just finished inspecting the "gate-blocking works," to take turns keeping watch through the night. Then he declared the military conference over and prepared to go to sleep. As soon as he stepped out of the Leopard House, Wu Xiang hurried after him. Zhu Cilang knew Wu Xiang wanted a private word, so he dismissed his attendants and walked behind a corridor pillar; Wu Xiang followed.

"Your Highness, are you truly not leaving tonight?" Wu Xiang seemed somewhat nervous, his voice lowered.

"If Imperial Father and Imperial Mother are not leaving, how can We flee alone?" Zhu Cilang's tone was resolute, though inwardly his heart was in turmoil.

Of course he wanted to leave. But abandoning Chongzhen, Empress Zhou, and all the ministers to flee with only a small retinue and Wu Xiang would truly mean throwing himself into Wu Sangui's camp… If it were Sun Chuanting or Zhou Yuji holding Shanhai Pass — even if it were Hong Chengchou, Supreme Commander and Grand Secretary of the Ming — he would have considered fleeing alone to join them.

But Wu Sangui… just thinking about him made Zhu Cilang uneasy!

Still, he could not let Wu Xiang see these thoughts. He still needed to make use of the old man!

"Venerable Father-in-Law," Zhu Cilang said, once again addressing Wu Xiang warmly by that title, "if we do not leave tonight, and the city falls, how much confidence is there that we can still get away?"

"That…" Wu Xiang drew a breath. "Your Highness, if you let this old man make the arrangements, the confidence is still considerable. However…"

"However what?"

"However, it will be difficult to withdraw with the entire force intact," Wu Xiang said, looking at Zhu Cilang. "Your Highness will have to make some choices. Moreover, we still do not have enough men; it will be hard to disperse them."

"We understand," Zhu Cilang nodded. "Fight well in tomorrow's first battle. We must not let the roving bandits look down on us. As for money, We have plenty of ways. With money, there will be men."

As the two were speaking, Zhu Chunjie's voice suddenly came from nearby: "Thousand Years, the Duke of Chengguo has arrived. He says he has come by imperial order to assist Your Highness in laying out the defense."

At this, Zhu Cilang's drowsiness vanished completely. The Duke of Chengguo, Zhu Chunchen! The richest man among the nobility — he had been looking for him! And Chongzhen had delivered him right to his door… So it turned out that his father Chongzhen could be reliable sometimes.

(End of Chapter)