Chapter 62: Loyal Ministers Can Surrender Too (Frantically Begging for Favorites and Recommendations)

"Chief Censor Luo, Guang Shiheng, Companion Gao — all of you, come forward and speak."

Having been busy from last night until now, still wearing armor heavy as death, Crown Prince Zhu was truly a bit tired, so he simply plopped down onto the dragon throne placed beneath the gate tower of the Gate of Imperial Supremacy, and with a smile beckoned the two loyal ministers and one good eunuch to come forward and speak.

These three were all trusted confidants of the Chongzhen Emperor! Guang Shiheng in particular seemed to have once offended the Crown Prince!

This couldn't be the time for settling old scores, could it?

Though their hearts were drumming, the three did not dare openly fall out with Zhu Cilang. Dozens had just been killed outside the Meridian Gate! So they had no choice but to shuffle forward until they stood before Zhu Cilang.

Zhu Cilang did not speak to them, but instead said to his bodyguard Wang Qi: "Old Seven, leave a few men to stand guard. Take some men and incorporate those Han Generals. Those willing to follow, enroll them all into the Guard Battalion. Those unwilling to stay, give them money and send them off. Remember to collect all their armor and hand it over to Wu Xiang and Li Ruolian for distribution."

"Yes!" Wang Qi received the order, left four guards behind, and went off himself to arrange the incorporation of the Han Generals.

The so-called Han Generals were in fact just a bunch of big-bodied ceremonial guards, goods for show, though one could not rule out a few who could fight. But their armor was quite excellent! By regulation, each Han General was issued two suits of armor, one of iron and one of gold. Of course, the gold armor was not actually made of gold, but painted with gold lacquer — in reality it too was iron armor. The Han Generals had a full establishment of 1,507 men, meaning there should be at most 3,014 suits of armor! These were not the shoddy pieces forged in the Tianqi and Chongzhen years, but "antiques" handed down from the Yongle era. Though old, they were all solidly made and very well maintained. For Zhu Cilang, who had hastily raised a force, this armor was wealth more precious than gold!

Seeing Wang Qi lead his men away, Zhu Cilang at last turned a smiling face to the three who had drawn near, and said with a laugh: "You three are all loyal ministers of our Great Ming, are you not?"

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, this subject's loyalty to Great Ming is undivided!"

"This subject's family has been loyal to Great Ming for generations..."

"This old slave was born a man of Great Ming and will die a ghost of Great Ming!"

Luo Yangxing, Guang Shiheng, and Gao Yushun knew trouble was coming the moment they saw Zhu Cilang's harmless smiling face, but they still had to stiffen their scalps and declare their loyalty!

"Good, good, good. You are loyal ministers — We knew you were all very loyal!" Zhu Cilang smiled. "But loyal ministers can surrender too... won't you consider it?"

What? Surrender?

The three men shuddered and all dropped to their knees before Zhu Cilang.

"Thousand Years, this subject's loyalty is as plain as the sun and moon!" The one who said this was Luo Yangxing. Historically, he first surrendered to Li Zicheng, then submitted to the Great Qing — a proper slave of three masters.

"Thousand Years, this old slave swears he will never surrender even in death!" Gao Yushun was nearly crying from urgency. He was sincerely loyal to the Great Ming; historically he was one of the few eunuchs who followed Chongzhen in suicide for the dynasty.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, this subject — this subject knows his error, but this subject is loyal to Great Ming! Even if his body is ground to dust, he will never surrender to the roving bandits!" Guang Shiheng was the very picture of heartbroken remorse! Historically, he first surrendered to Li Zicheng, then later went to the Southern Ming seeking office, and in the end was beheaded by Ma Shiying on the charge of "obstructing the southern relocation."

But Zhu Cilang would not kill him for "obstructing the southern relocation" and "surrendering to the roving bandits." Because "obstructing the southern relocation" had been a court debate, and court debates exist so people may speak — one cannot kill a man for speaking wrongly. And the matter of "surrendering to the roving bandits" had not yet happened. So Zhu Cilang would not kill Guang Shiheng, and would even entrust him with a heavy responsibility — covering everyone's escape!

Zhu Cilang looked at the three loyal ministers with a face full of difficulty, and shook his head: "But We need someone to surrender! We know you are loyal, but for the sake of the Great Ming realm, and so that Imperial Father and We may escape safely, someone must stay behind and hold on, and then endure humiliation and bear the heavy burden of surrendering to Li Zicheng!

We have thought it over and over, and feel that among all the civil and military officials of the court, you three are the most loyal. So We can only do what must be done and ask you to remain as three surrendering ministers."

"Thousand Years, why three ministers?" Luo Yangxing was confused and raised his head to ask.

Zhu Cilang sighed and smiled bitterly: "Because Li Zicheng will not stay in Beijing long. The caitiff scum beyond the passes will surely fight their way in! When that time comes, you three will have to surrender once again!"

"We must surrender to the caitiff scum as well?" Gao Yushun's eunuch face twisted up entirely.

Luo Yangxing shook his head repeatedly: "Your Highness, this subject is utterly loyal to Great Ming..."

Guang Shiheng wore an even more righteous expression: "If Your Highness commands this subject to remain behind and cover the retreat, this subject can only die! How could he become a slave of three masters?"

"Don't die — whatever you do, don't die!" Zhu Cilang waved his hands repeatedly, smiling. "We do not want you dead, nor will We send Great Ming's loyal ministers on a mission of certain death... You are to surrender — first to the roving bandits. After the roving bandits leave, if you can find ways to delay for some days, then surrender to the caitiff scum, you will be great meritorious ministers of Great Ming's restoration. After We recover the Central Plains in the future, We will surely cleanse your bad names and make your names resound through history!"

This would make their names resound through history?

When the roving bandits come, surrender to the roving bandits; when the roving bandits leave, surrender back to Great Ming; when the caitiff scum come, surrender to the caitiff scum... surrendering this way and that — that is being a slave of three masters! Has there ever been such a figure whose name resounded through history?

Guang Shiheng and Gao Yushun had not figured it out; both their faces were about as pleasant as bitter gourds.

It was Luo Yangxing whose mind was more nimble. He looked at Zhu Cilang and asked: "Does Your Highness the Crown Prince wish us to feign surrender?"

Zhu Cilang smiled: "Feigned surrender or true surrender — decide for yourselves. But as long as you surrender according to Our arrangements, in Our book of merits, the three of you will all be loyal and meritorious ministers of Great Ming!

Companion Gao, you are the inner attendant Imperial Father trusts most... Now half of Beijing has already fallen. If no one remains to hold the situation together, it will be very hard for Us, father and son, to escape. Great Ming will most likely perish because of it! Can you save Great Ming?"

At these words, tears welled up in Gao Yushun's eyes. "This old slave — this old slave will stay. At worst it is but a death..."

"Never speak of death!" Zhu Cilang bent down, personally helped Gao Yushun to his feet, took his hand, and said warmly: "Live well, so that you may see Us fight Our way back into Beijing!"

"Yes, yes, this old slave will surely live!" Gao Yushun nodded, tears already streaming uncontrollably down his face.

"Chief Censor Luo!" Zhu Cilang then helped Luo Yangxing up. "You are the meritorious minister Imperial Father trusts most. You and your father held the Embroidered Uniform Guard for over fifty years and rendered countless meritorious services to Great Ming... If there were anyone else who could do this, We would surely be reluctant to leave you behind."

"This subject — this subject is willing to die for Great Ming..." Luo Yangxing was already choking with sobs, but in his heart he was clear as a mirror.

How could Zhu Cilang be reluctant to leave him? Clearly he simply did not want him remaining at the Chongzhen Emperor's side... He and his father had held the Embroidered Uniform Guard for over fifty years, planting trusted men everywhere high and low. Who knew when they might help Chongzhen seize power?

But though he understood in his heart, the play still had to be performed well!

Look at how good Zhu Cilang's acting was — the man was a born actor of a Crown Prince... Could he, Luo Yangxing, not be a method-acting Chief Censor of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?

"Good, good." Zhu Cilang held Luo Yangxing's hand with the greatest warmth. "We have a heavy responsibility to entrust to you... The survival of Great Ming rests upon the Chief Censor! If there comes a day We meet again, We will surely reward you with the rank of Duke!"

The historically three-mastered slave Luo Yangxing now wore a face of perfect righteousness, as if he were some extraordinary martyr, and said solemnly: "Whatever command Your Highness gives, though this subject die a hundred deaths, he will not fail the mission!"

With Luo Yangxing settled, Zhu Cilang smiled and beckoned to Guang Shiheng, who was kneeling a little farther away: "Minister Guang, come forward and speak."

Guang Shiheng understood too that there was truly nothing good to be said between himself and Zhu Cilang... He had already screwed over Zhu Cilang twice! Now that Zhu Cilang held power, could he possibly get anything good?

But he did not dare stage a death-remonstrance or anything of the sort. A fine life was still worth keeping — if he had not been caught by Zhu Cilang today, he would have hidden himself the moment he left the palace and surrendered as soon as Li Zicheng arrived.

But now there was no way out, so he had to stiffen his scalp and sidle over toward Zhu Cilang.

"Minister Guang, here is a chance for you to make your name resound through history!" Zhu Cilang still wore that smile as warm as spring breeze. "Do the job well, and your name will surely resound through history!"

"What does Your Highness the Crown Prince wish this subject to do?" Guang Shiheng knew he could not escape, so he gritted his teeth and asked. "This subject swears he will not fail the mission!"

Zhu Cilang did not answer, but said to Gao Yushun: "Companion Gao, go find a dragon robe of Imperial Father's, and a winged-silk crown... Oh, bring Imperial Father's armor as well!"

(End of Chapter)