Chapter 86: Chapter 86

Because the Chongzhen Emperor had arranged two pretty little sixteen-year-olds for Crown Prince Zhu, the Crown Prince's speech and reward distribution to the Tianjin troops was delayed a bit.

After all, meetings between the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess always involved some ceremony to get through. The Chongzhen Emperor's sister-in-law, Empress Dowager Yi'an Zhang, had also spent some days with these two girls and grown fond of them, so of course she had to give them instructions and see them off properly. She also called Zhu Cilang over for a talk, and took the opportunity to lecture the Crown Prince — about the incident at the Gate of Supreme Harmony, the old aunt did not dare mention a word. Bringing that up would be the harem meddling in politics, and it would be poking a hornet's nest. What if she ended up dead of food poisoning later?

But the matter of Zhu Cilang "snatching" Wu Sanmei could be used to scold him. The old aunt was also a chatterbox, and once she started lecturing, it went on for ages. She even called Wu Sanmei over to listen to the scolding together — the one being scolded was of course Zhu Cilang. She slapped the label of "lecherous and shameless" right on him, and said the Crown Prince had ruined a good girl's purity! This was something that could not be washed clean even by jumping into the Tianjin Wei River! Actually, after Zhu Cilang snatched Wu Sanmei, he had been so busy he was flying around — where would he have had the time to lay a finger on her? Wu Sanmei was still pure right now!

After the scolding, Empress Dowager Yi'an Zhang even took the initiative to stand up for Wu Sanmei, saying she should not be made a palace maid — that would be too unfair to the girl. Of course, the position of principal consort could not be given to Wu Sanmei either. Ning Fei was a principal consort selected through layer after layer of screening, and could not just be replaced on a whim. But a Crown Prince's Cairen, that had to be given... This matter was decided by Empress Zhang! Wu Sanmei was naturally overjoyed and gave thanks for the favor.

Beside them, the plump, fair, dignified and lovely little beauty Ning Shi was also all smiles — her position as principal consort was now secure!

There was also a Fei Zhen'e, another rare beauty, whose looks were even more outstanding than Ning Shi's. She had originally been one of the candidates for Crown Princess, but at the final moment she lost the principal consort position precisely because she was too beautiful, and was only selected as a secondary consort. Originally, the Ming dynasty's crown prince consort selection was "choose three" — meaning one principal and two secondary, three people selected. But the Chongzhen Emperor feared his son would sink into lust, so he cut two and left Zhu Cilang only Ning Shi. So Fei Zhen'e ended up with nothing at all. But she was not sent home either; instead, Empress Zhang took a liking to her and kept her by her side as a palace maid.

Who would have thought that now, after all this waiting, she had finally made it out and was being sent to Zhu Cilang's side. Although it was only the status of a palace maid, the Crown Prince had no other women around him — weren't there plenty of chances to rise? Right now she was certainly laughing secretly in her heart...

It seemed this Empress Dowager Yi'an Zhang was only stern and rigid on the surface; underneath, she really knew how to handle people! In name it was a scolding, but in reality everyone was happy!

While Empress Dowager Yi'an Zhang was going on and on with her instructions, Jin Bin and Lou Guangxian, the two Vice Regional Commanders of the Tianjin garrison, were not idle either. They had already moved the 3,000 elite troops under their command out of the west gate of Tianjin Wei city, and formed them up on the west bank of the moat, on both sides of the main road into the city.

When the Chongzhen Emperor's carriage passed between them, these 3,000 elite troops knelt on one knee in perfect unison and roared "Long live His Majesty!" It let the Chongzhen Emperor savor once again the thrill of ruling all under heaven!

Cao Youyi's 1,500 central army soldiers, plus 1,500 men Cao Huachun had selected from his own braves, together escorted the Chongzhen Emperor into Tianjin Wei city.

Watching his Imperial Father and Imperial Mother enter the city, Zhu Cilang slowly shifted his gaze to the 3,000 Tianjin soldiers arrayed before him, and his brow furrowed.

What elite troops? Most of them were gaunt and sallow, looking as if they had no food to eat! The Tianjin garrison central army that Cao Youyi led was about the same as them... It seemed Cao Youyi, Jin Bin, and Lou Guangxian — all three of them — had been drinking plenty of soldiers' blood! But the hard days of these "skinny soldiers" were over. Now that they followed him, they were guaranteed food and drink!

Thinking this, Zhu Cilang summoned all his strength and roared: "Men! Bring out the silver for Us!"

Jin Bin and Lou Guangxian were standing not too far from Zhu Cilang at this moment, less than twenty paces away. Both were squinting, staring hard at this Crown Prince in full armor, mounted on a tall, fine horse — why did this Crown Prince's appearance not match what they had imagined?

Shouldn't the Ming Crown Prince be debauched and dissolute, his body hollowed out? How was he wearing a full suit of long armor, a phoenix-wing helmet, and riding a big horse? He did not look easy to catch! He was on horseback, while they only had two legs — could they even grab him?

Also, why were so many boxes of silver being carried out? There were only 3,000 men to reward. One tael of silver per man would only be 3,000 taels. But there were one, two, three, four... twenty boxes! Judging by the size of those boxes, each one should hold 1,500 taels. Twenty boxes would be 30,000 taels!

Ten taels per man?

How could it possibly be that much? Who ever gave rewards like that? The two of them had been preparing to lead their troops in rebellion, and had only put up 3,000 taels in rewards. How could the Crown Prince possibly start with 30,000 taels?

Could it be that he also wanted to buy the army's hearts and rebel against the Emperor?

While the two Vice Regional Commanders were still pondering, the twenty large boxes had already been opened one by one — a blaze of silver light!

It really was silver! Twenty boxes full to the brim with silver!

Jin Bin and Lou Guangxian were both stunned. Was the Crown Prince mad, or was he about to rebel? Who ever handed out silver like this?

"Brothers! Here are 30,000 taels of silver, all as a reward for you! Officers and men alike, ten taels per man!" Zhu Cilang shouted at the top of his lungs.

Beside him were several loud-voiced men selected from among the Han Generals. He said one sentence, and those loud voices repeated it, so that all 3,000 men present heard it.

Ten taels of silver per man... they were really giving it! This was no Crown Prince — this was everyone's own father!

Zhu Cilang continued: "Led by your banner commanders, come up one by one to take the silver, right in front of Us! Officers above banner commander will be rewarded by Us personally!

The ten taels per man is your settling-in allowance... Once you have escorted the imperial procession to Jiangnan, each man gets another ten taels, plus fifty mu of paddy land! In a moment we will register your names and issue Our decree of land grants and rewards! Once you reach Jiangnan, you will be meritorious subjects of Us and the Great Ming! You shall be called the Meritorious Survivors!"

What? What? Another 10 taels of silver upon reaching Jiangnan, plus 50 mu of paddy land... was that real or not? 50 mu of paddy land was worth at least 500 taels of silver!

Jin Bin and Lou Guangxian were already stunned! The reward terms Zhu Cilang had announced completely exceeded their expectations. The Tianjin garrison troops' pay was very low — a soldier's monthly wage was only a few mace of silver, and it was often in arrears. 500 taels of silver might not be earned in a hundred years! Now, just by following Zhu Cilang to Jiangnan, they would have it immediately. And it was paddy land, too... paddy land had high rents — one mu could bring in at least one tael of silver a year. 50 mu was 50 taels, roughly five or six years of military pay!

Zhu Cilang swept his hand grandly and roared: "Distribute the rewards!"

The moment his words fell, without even waiting for Jin Bin and Lou Guangxian to give the order, the banner commanders below led their men on their own to get the silver... With silver and land on offer, what use was a Vice Regional Commander? And these two Vice Regional Commanders were no good birds either — always skimming off everyone's pay, rotten to the core!

Seeing their men all scurrying eagerly to get the silver, Jin Bin and Lou Guangxian knew things had gone wrong.

They had already told the banner commanders and above about the rebellion! If even one man betrayed them, their two old lives would be forfeit... As for leading their men in rebellion, that was not even worth thinking about. Did they not know their own men were a bunch of soldiers who loved only silver and cared nothing for loyalty?

Whoever had silver was their own father! Now Crown Prince Zhu was their own father! No — even dearer than their own father!

The two exchanged a glance. They had to run, and fast! Wait around to be betrayed? These two Vice Regional Commanders were decisive enough. Once they made up their minds, they immediately took their most trusted personal guards, turned, and ran toward the west gate of Tianjin Wei.

While they were running, Zhu Cilang was right there proclaiming the simplest truths of the human world, shouting loudly: "Follow Us to Jiangnan, and silver there will be, land there will be, wives there will be too..."

Halfway through, he saw Jin Bin and Lou Guangxian leading a group of personal guards running toward the city gate, and he was momentarily stunned.

What was this? He was handing out silver, not beatings — why run? Could it be they found the silver too hot to handle?

Just then, a Battalion Commander under Jin Bin suddenly dashed to the front of Zhu Cilang's horse, dropped to his knees with a thud, and reported loudly: "Reporting to the Crown Prince: Jin Bin, Lou Guangxian, Yang Weihan, and Yuan Yuzong — all four have rebelled! They are traitors and villains! They have already welcomed several hundred roving bandit cavalry into Tianjin Wei city, and have laid an ambush to harm Your Majesty and Your Highness!"

(End of Chapter)