Chapter 57: The Mass Killer at the Meridian Gate (Seeking Recommendation Votes)

When Zhu Cilang led troops escorting the rebels Zhang Jinyan, Xiang Yu and the others through the Great Ming Gate, the morning court session had already begun, but late-arriving officials were still drifting unhurriedly toward the Meridian Gate. The various government offices inside the Great Ming Gate were likewise operating listlessly — their doors were open, and officials and clerks were trickling in one after another.

The scene was almost no different from before Li Zicheng's army had reached the walls of Beijing!

Officials and clerks great and small all looked perfectly at ease. Some chatted idly as they walked, their topics mostly having nothing to do with the war in progress, and quite a few were simply discussing last night's gambling and drinking parties.

Last night, the sound of gunfire had echoed around the outer city all night long!

Yet hardly any of these capital officials and courtiers of the Great Ming seemed to care... Most of them, clearly, were thinking the same thing as Zhang Jinyan and Xiang Yu — nothing more than surrender! If they could not remain officials of the Ming, they would become officials of the Shun; if that failed, they could always go home and retire.

Of course, there were some who were anxious and agitated. But such people had mostly been swept up by Zhu Cilang — either they had joined the Endurance Camp or the Capital Camps, or they had paid for a flight permit and already fled to Tianjin, or they were at home packing, waiting to flee with Zhu Cilang and the Chongzhen Emperor.

There were also a few dozen ministers who had already reached the Gate of Imperial Supremacy to discuss strategy against the enemy with the Chongzhen Emperor, who was like an ant on a hot pan.

And when Zhu Cilang, armored from head to foot, led a fully armed force escorting more than ten officials — including the former Minister of War and the Junior Supervisor of the Household of the Heir Apparent — along with twenty or thirty men dressed as household retainers, surged through the Great Ming Gate, the air inside the gate instantly froze!

Those strolling along at leisure, those chatting with relish, those calculating how to flee or how to surrender — all the officials of the Great Ming seemed struck by a paralysis spell as they stared at this unbelievable sight.

What on earth had happened?

Why had the Crown Prince led troops through the Great Ming Gate? And arrested so many officials... Was this a palace coup? Had the Crown Prince finally had enough of that dynasty-ruining tyrant?

But with the roving bandits already at the city walls, wasn't a coup a bit late now?

Besides, hadn't Zhang Jinyan already been dismissed? Why was the Crown Prince still arresting him? Could it be that Zhang Jinyan, stripped of office and under investigation, had tried to stop the Crown Prince's coup? Was he really that loyal?

While everyone was letting their imaginations run wild, a loud-voiced Eastern Palace guard had already begun shouting: "Listen well, everyone! Zhang Jinyan, Xiang Yu and the others openly rebelled outside Zhengyang Gate this morning, acting as agents of the roving bandits. They were suppressed by His Highness the Thousand Years leading troops in person, captured on the spot, and more than a dozen letters of surrender and congratulatory memorials were seized, along with several dozen weapons... The evidence is irrefutable!

Therefore His Highness the Thousand Years has issued an order: these rebels are to be escorted to outside the Meridian Gate and beheaded!"

What?

Zhang Jinyan and Xiang Yu had become rebels? They moved fast!

But how had they been so careless as to be caught red-handed by the Crown Prince? What rotten luck!

And now they were to be beheaded outside the Meridian Gate... But was outside the Meridian Gate a place for executions? This was still court session time — the Emperor was right inside the Meridian Gate, and you, the Crown Prince, were going to kill several dozen people at once outside it. Who was this killing meant for?!

The officials outside the Meridian Gate were all stunned by Zhu Cilang's actions, simply staring blankly as over a thousand Eastern Palace guards and Endurance Camp soldiers escorted several dozen condemned prisoners toward the Meridian Gate, and then set up an execution ground outside it!

He really meant to kill people!

Seeing that Zhu Cilang was in earnest, Xiang Yu and several Hanlin Bachelors were already weeping so hard they were nearly fainting. Zhang Jinyan, having served as Minister of War after all, was made of sterner stuff, but even his face had lost all color. The household retainers who had followed Zhang Jinyan in welcoming the enemy had not been gagged, and one after another they wailed and begged for mercy.

Many officials and clerks gathered around to watch. Zhu Cilang dismounted, placed his hand on his sword hilt, and stood erect, his eyes gleaming with ferocity, coldly watching the rebels about to face the blade.

His lead guard Wang Qi was arranging the executioners... Not just anyone was qualified to kill! Those qualified to serve as executioners were the sons of noble houses in the Eastern Palace guard battalion. None of them had ever killed before — today would be their first kill!

In less than the time it takes an incense stick to burn, behind the vast majority of the rebels kneeling outside the Meridian Gate awaiting the blade stood a pale-faced young noble.

The killing had to be done! This was the fate of their generation of Ming nobility!

But behind one rebel there was no executioner — that rebel was Junior Supervisor Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu looked at Zhu Cilang with pleading eyes. He was, after all, Zhu Cilang's own lecturer! Surely he deserved some consideration? Could he not first be locked up in the Imperial Prison?

At that moment Zhu Cilang, a smile already on his face, walked up to Xiang Yu and solemnly bowed to him with clasped hands: "Master Xiang, you were Our lecturer and taught Us many of the sages' principles. We have always deeply respected your learning. We also understand the principle that knowledge is easy but action is hard, and We know that you yourself could not possibly follow the sages' way perfectly in all things. But We never imagined that you would be so impatient to welcome the enemy and surrender!"

As he spoke, his gaze turned cold and sharp, slowly sweeping over every person in the crowd, and his tone suddenly dropped to an icy extreme.

"... Even if Master Xiang was unwilling to die for the Great Ming and sacrifice himself for honor, that would not matter. Even if you had surrendered to the Roving Bandit under truly desperate circumstances, We would not blame you. But was what happened today done under desperate circumstances? The Roving Bandit has not yet entered the city, and the inner city of the capital is as solid as a golden fortress! Yet you could not wait to go over to the enemy and welcome them in! You have disappointed Us too greatly!

But We did, after all, study the sages' principles under you! There is the bond of teacher and student between us... So We cannot watch you die under the executioner's blade."

Spared?

Xiang Yu let out a huge breath of relief.

But at that moment Zhu Cilang began to pace slowly, circling around behind Xiang Yu. Suddenly he shot out his left hand and grabbed Xiang Yu's topknot, while his right hand drew his sword, and then he drew the blade hard across Xiang Yu's throat. Warm blood sprayed out, staining the blade red and splashing onto the back of Zhu Cilang's hand and the plates of his armor.

The sudden turn of events completely defied Xiang Yu's expectations. His eyes bulged desperately, as if he could not believe he was already dead, and a gurgling sound came from his throat.

Zhu Cilang, killing for the second time, was considerably calmer. He supported Xiang Yu's body with one hand, an apologetic smile surfacing on his face, and said in a gentle voice: "Master Xiang, We are seeing you off... May your journey be smooth!"

This Crown Prince was too savage! The officials outside the Meridian Gate were terrified out of their wits.

His father was fierce enough — over the years he had killed quite a few ministers — but that was merely moving his lips. This Crown Prince liked to do the killing himself! And such deft efficiency... This was not his first kill, was it?

He was only sixteen, and already killing like this? What would he be like when he grew up?

And come to think of it, this Crown Prince was also very cunning! Cunning, savage, and especially skilled at buying the army's loyalty and amassing wealth... He really was no good man!

Xiang Yu had collapsed. Zhu Cilang wiped his sword and hand on Xiang Yu's official robe, then sheathed his blade and turned to look at the several dozen pale-faced executioners. With a smile he said: "Your turn now! Get to it... The first kill is always unpleasant. Kill enough and you'll get used to it!"

...

"Your Majesty, please climb..."

"Climb... How is it that We are climbing into Beijing?"

At the moment of Zhu Cilang's second kill, Li Zicheng had already arrived outside Yongding Gate. Yongding Gate and the nearby walls were occupied by troops under Chen Yongfu's command.

Li Zicheng, who had been listening for good news at Diaoyutai, had not asked many questions upon hearing that Yongding Gate had been taken — he had simply set out eagerly with his imperial guard.

On the way there he had already made up his mind: he would ride into Beijing on a tall, fine horse!

He had been dreaming of this for many years!

But who could have known that Chen Yongfu had not even managed to get the gates of Yongding Gate open — he had simply found a ladder, wrapped it in yellow cloth, and invited the Shun Emperor to climb into Beijing...

Chen Yongfu smiled bitterly and said: "Your Majesty, this subject had no choice... Zhu's troops have blocked the gates — not only Yongding Gate, but also You'an Gate, Guangning Gate, and Xibian Gate. The troops who entered first are clearing them now. At the earliest, the gates can probably be opened tonight. Would you perhaps wait a little longer?"

(End of Chapter)