Chapter 984: How Could We Possibly Let Dodo Go? (Please Subscribe)

"My Emperor, you look rather troubled today! Has something been bothering you?"

When Mary Mancini saw the frowning Emperor Zhu dismounting from his horse at the Old Mountain horse farm, she first lifted her skirt and curtsied, then asked with concern.

She was now a girl in the throes of love, for she had fallen for that terribly dull great Emperor of the East — because the great Emperor was the most handsome monarch she had ever seen, bar none!

There were plenty of men better-looking than Zhu Cilang, but none of them were emperors, kings, or grand dukes — not even princes or dukes! Nor did they have that much money.

Inbreeding really did devastating damage to the looks of the top European nobility in the seventeenth century — it practically ruined several generations of kings and queens!

In any case, among the top European nobility Mary Mancini had access to, no one was better-looking than Zhu Cilang.

And the power and wealth of those top nobles couldn't compare with Zhu Cilang's either. Zhu Cilang was the richest man in the Great Ming!

What's more, to this Italian girl's delight, Zhu Cilang was still very young — only twenty-eight this year, in the very prime of life, full of vigor and vitality.

And years of disciplined living and physical exercise, plus the inheritance from the Chongzhen Retired Emperor, had given Zhu Cilang a tall yet robust physique; add to that his neatly trimmed full beard, and he was absolutely the standard of a handsome man in the seventeenth century.

The number one tall, rich, and handsome man in the entire seventeenth-century world was undoubtedly Zhu Cilang!

Though this tall, rich, handsome man was a bit dull, overly serious, had no taste for the arts, was a bit money-obsessed, and a bit ruthless — none of that was enough to stop Mary Mancini from falling in love.

And Zhu Cilang, for his part, had little resistance to a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old Italian beauty of stunning looks and exotic charm.

Falling in love was out of the question — a man who had held the power of the realm in his hands for twelve or thirteen years had long since forged a heart of iron. But he was still quite willing to date Mary Mancini and pretend to be having a romance. The affair delighted him, and it also relaxed his spirits.

However, there weren't many places around Old Mountain Palace suitable for a date — just riding horses together at the horse farm, or climbing a mountain together, or rowing a boat on the Chu River.

Oh, and there was a rather nice hot spring, but Zhu Cilang and Mary hadn't progressed to that stage yet. The two of them had only held hands — nothing more, truly nothing!

"An old acquaintance is about to die!" Zhu Cilang said, then tossed the reins to a guard and stepped forward to kiss Mary on the cheek — he would not kiss Mary's hand in front of others, because an emperor could not easily bend down.

Mary, having been kissed by Zhu Cilang, felt her cheeks flush, then broke into a blissful smile and took the initiative to link her arm through his. The two of them walked together toward an exquisitely crafted pavilion — the French cook Mary had brought along had already prepared a seventeenth-century French feast for them there. The two would have lunch there, and then go riding together again. It still seemed rather romantic!

"Who is going to die?" Mary asked.

"The Grand Protector of Andong, Dodo!" Zhu Cilang's tone held not a trace of sorrow. "We have never actually met him in person, because he is Our enemy!"

"Isn't an enemy's death supposed to be a good thing?" Mary looked at Zhu Cilang in surprise, blinked her big eyes, and suddenly said, "Oh, I understand. He must be a truly vile man who has committed countless crimes, so you want him to receive righteous punishment, rather than die without facing justice."

After hearing Mary's words, Zhu Cilang suddenly stopped in his tracks, turned his head to look at her, rolled his eyes thoughtfully, and then laughed: "Excellent! Mary, you have helped Us solve a tremendous problem. Tell me, what reward would you like?"

Solved a problem? What on earth did that mean? Mary Mancini widened her already large eyes and stared blankly at the great Emperor Zhu, seemingly considering what to ask of this man who held the power of the world in his grasp.

Mary thought to herself: This man has everything. Still, better not seem too greedy at first — I'll just ask for a property in Tangquan Town!

Property in Tangquan Town was not cheap, but Emperor Zhu happened to be the largest real estate developer in the Great Ming. Those expensive properties were all developed and built by the real estate firm under the Royal Chamber of Commerce, so Zhu Cilang, having given away a Western-style detached house with its own courtyard in a somewhat secluded location, felt not the slightest pang of regret. The next day, in even better spirits, he convened a joint imperial conference of the two offices in the Hall of Imperial Supremacy.

The civil and military officials attending the conference, however, looked rather worried. The Great Ming had quite a lot of troubles lately!

Although the Great Ming's national strength and financial resources had reached their zenith, its enemies seemed to be growing right along with its strength and wealth!

Originally there had just been the roving bandits and the eastern barbarians. Now the roving bandits had become the Shun state, and the eastern barbarians had become the Andong garrison. The Andong garrison was temporarily suppressed, but it had not yet been destroyed!

And the Shun state was stirring up trouble in the south — after finishing with Burma, it attacked Siam. The Great Ming could no longer ignore this, or the hard-won Celestial Empire system would collapse.

Then came the three Khalkha Mongol tribes, and then Spain and Russia from ten thousand li away — one coming from the sea, the other from the land of ice and snow, both making trouble for the Great Ming!

Next, trouble broke out in Japan — the Satsuma domain actually opposed the shogunate's submission to the Great Ming, and colluded with Spain to overthrow the shogunate!

So the wars the Great Ming absolutely had to fight now numbered four — one against Russia and the three Mongol tribes in Khalkha Mongolia, one against Spain at sea, one in support of the Japanese shogunate against Kagoshima, and one in aid of Siam.

And now the Andong garrison looked set to erupt again over Dodo's death.

The Great Ming's military and financial strength were formidable, but with so many wars coming all at once, it seemed it couldn't cope!

The Great Ming Emperor Zhu Cilang suddenly cleared his throat, interrupting the gloomy thoughts of the assembled officials. Everyone looked up at the great Emperor.

Zhu Cilang's expression was terrifyingly grim, as if he were about to erupt in fury — and no one knew upon whose head the Son of Heaven's wrath would fall.

"We have received a secret memorial from the Embroidered Uniform Guard stating that the red-coated Russian soldiers appearing on the Khalkha Mongol battlefield were all hired at great expense by the Grand Protector of Andong, Prince Dodo. Dodo's past crimes are monstrous — he slaughtered countless of Our soldiers and civilians and repeatedly offended the majesty of Our Great Ming. If, after receiving clemency, he still refuses to repent, colludes with Russia, violates Our borders, and sells out his country for personal gain, then his crimes are beyond pardon!"

What did that mean?

What did the Emperor intend to do?

Was he going to take advantage of Dodo's not being dead yet to send troops to punish him?

But the territory beyond the passes was so vast — it couldn't be pacified in less than three to five years!

"Your Majesty," Wu Sanfu, military advisor of the Grand Marshal's Office, hurriedly submitted, "the matters in the Embroidered Uniform Guard's secret memorial may not be true. The court cannot convict a high official on the word of one side alone!"

"That is also reasonable!" Zhu Cilang snorted. "We will not deny Dodo the chance to speak. We shall issue an edict summoning Dodo to court to confront the charges!"

Confront the charges?

Dodo was on the verge of death — how could he come to court? Delivered in a coffin?

"Your Majesty," said Li Ruolian, Minister of the Ministry of War, "Dodo has been gravely ill for several months now. The court sent imperial physicians to examine him, and they too said his condition was critical and difficult to treat. I fear he will be unable to come to court."

"That imperial physician is a quack!" Zhu Cilang snorted. "He couldn't even say what illness Dodo has! So his words are not credible."

In fact, Zhu Cilang knew at once what illness Dodo had — most likely cancer! In this day and age, getting cancer meant waiting to die. There was no cure!

But Zhu Cilang would not let Dodo off just because he was beyond saving!

He was Dodo — the Great Ming's most dangerous, most vicious enemy! How could Zhu Cilang possibly let Dodo go?

"Dodo must be harboring sinister intentions, afraid to come to court for an audience, and therefore feigning illness! Such petty tricks cannot deceive Us!" Zhu Cilang said sternly. "Transmit Our edict: summon Dodo to court!"

(End of Chapter)