Chapter 20: The Second Impeachment

Bi Maokang arrived at the Fu residence by carriage, and looking at the modest, low-key gate, he was filled with suspicion. "I wonder what this imperial relative wants with me, a man who has already resigned from office."

Still, he suppressed his doubts and walked into the Fu residence.

"Your... this commoner pays respects to Lord Fu." Bi Maokang clasped his hands and bowed respectfully to Fu Changzong.

Fu Changzong waved his hand with a smile and said, "Brother Bi, why be so formal? This official has come to see you on serious business."

Though full of doubts, Bi Maokang held his patience and asked, "May I ask what Lord Fu wishes to discuss with Bi?"

Fu Changzong gestured for Bi Maokang to sit, and said with a smile, "Brother Bi, please sit first. Someone, bring tea."

Bi Maokang frowned slightly and sat down to Fu Changzong's lower right.

Zhu Xu sat behind the two of them on the other side of a wall, eating pastries and reading a book, utterly at ease. He had brought only two guards out of the palace this time, so he paid no heed to appearances, casually wiping his greasy hands on his clothes.

A servant brought tea and was quickly waved away by Fu Changzong. After both men took a sip, Fu Changzong smiled and said, "Brother Bi, how is this tea? This was bestowed upon His Highness Prince Hui by Her Majesty the Empress, and His Highness had someone send it to me."

Bi Maokang nodded and said, "Fine Longjing tea — truly tribute quality."

"Brother Bi is indeed a true connoisseur of tea." Fu Changzong added in agreement.

Zhu Xu listened from behind and shook his head, silently grumbling to himself that these ancients loved to engage in tedious foreplay.

The two chatted back and forth for quite a while longer, until Fu Changzong finally looked up at Bi Maokang and said with deep meaning, "Brother Bi, what do you make of the recent affairs at court?"

Though Bi Maokang was not one of those involved, with such a major matter, who in the entire capital would not know of it? He smiled bitterly and shook his head, saying, "How could I not know? I count myself among the fish caught in the pond."

Fu Changzong shook his head with a genial smile and said, "Brother Bi, do you truly believe His Majesty approved your resignation in a fit of rage?"

Bi Maokang was startled, and looked at Fu Changzong, saying, "Was it not so?"

With a calm expression carrying a deep smile, Fu Changzong pulled a sheet of yellow rice paper from his bosom and handed it to Bi Maokang, saying, "Brother Bi, why not take a look at this first."

Bi Maokang frowned slightly, his doubts undiminished, but when he took it and opened it to read, his expression suddenly changed drastically.

'The Manchus number fewer than ten thousand, yet when they reach ten thousand, none can stand against them. This weighs heavily on My mind.'

'I have heard that you are especially skilled with firearms, being the bane of cavalry.'

'I wish to establish a Firearms Battalion, and rely on your aid.'

Seeing the bright red imperial seal at the end, Bi Maokang shot to his feet, eyes wide, his face a mix of shock and joy, trembling hands held out toward Fu Changzong.

Fu Changzong also stood up, smiling with composure.

Bi Maokang's heart surged with emotion. He had been disheartened, and with Wei Zhongxian causing chaos, his mind had been filled with worry and fear, which was why he had thought to resign. Yet now, unexpectedly, His Majesty had long since taken notice of him and wished to entrust him with such an important matter.

"Lord Fu, is this... is this really true?" Bi Maokang's lips trembled as he looked at Fu Changzong in utter disbelief.

Fu Changzong let out a laugh and said, "Does Lord Fu think this subordinate would dare to make such a joke?"

Bi Maokang fell to his knees with a thud and cried out toward the north, "Your servant Bi Maokang shall not fail His Majesty's trust — I would dash my liver and brains on the ground without regret!"

In truth, Fu Changzong's own heart was uneasy. This matter was undertaken at the risk of losing one's head, and what's more, it involved forging an imperial edict.

After Bi Maokang performed the three kneelings and nine prostrations, he rose, still trembling with excitement. Ten years of hard study at a cold window, all to sell one's wares to the imperial house — the most important thing was an enlightened sovereign. Bi Maokang had already been disheartened, yet he never expected that His Majesty was a truly enlightened ruler, toiling ceaselessly for the Great Ming in secret, having noticed even a minor Censor like himself — a testament to how diligent and devoted His Majesty was.

Fu Changzong looked at Bi Maokang and was suddenly struck by an idea. He walked before the trembling Bi Maokang, drew the rice paper from his hands, and said with a grave expression, "Brother Bi, do you recall what Fu said earlier?"

Bi Maokang was still in the throes of excitement, with no capacity for thought left, and asked directly, "What did Brother Fu say?"

Fu Changzong hesitated briefly, then said, "Brother Bi is also aware of the recent situation at court. By all rights, such a matter should not have been given to me, but now the inner court officials are regarded as thorns in the eyes of the outer court ministers, and even His Majesty cannot control them. If this matter were to leak out, the Censorate, which views firearms as mere tricks and crafty contrivances, along with all the pure-stream officials at court, would likely stir up trouble once more."

Bi Maokang's expression changed, and he opened his mouth to argue, but then furrowed his brow, a great conflict arising in his heart. His Majesty was indeed exerting himself for the nation, and his colleagues at court were not wrong to drive out the likes of Wei the eunuch — but their view of firearms as tricks and crafty contrivances, their deep abhorrence of them, was truly improper.

Bi Maokang's heart was now in turmoil, his mind a muddle. After thinking for a long while, he still looked at Fu Changzong and asked, "Then what does Brother Fu intend?"

Fu Changzong tore the rice paper in his hand to shreds as he said solemnly, "This matter must never be traced back to His Majesty. If it is ever discovered, Brother Bi may say that I had you do it. Furthermore, other than myself, you must not mention this matter to anyone — not even your wife!"

Bi Maokang suddenly came to his senses. He clasped his fists sharply and said to Fu Changzong in a deep voice, "There is no need to implicate Brother Fu. If it is ever discovered, Bi will bear everything himself, and will never implicate anyone, still less His Majesty, or cause His Majesty any difficulty."

This was precisely the result Fu Changzong wanted, yet he shook his head with an air of righteousness and said, "Brother Bi need not go so far. Sharing His Majesty's burdens is what we both ought to do. The nation's affairs are now dire, the court is in decay, and His Majesty is trapped and unable to break free, able only to work from the side. I hope Brother Bi will understand."

Bi Maokang no longer harbored any resentment or fear — he was nearly patting his own chest in assurance. He bowed with clasped hands and said, "Bi now places himself entirely at Lord Fu's disposal. Whatever you command, I shall obey without exception!"

Fu Changzong breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. He had finally managed to hoodwink this Bi Maokang, and had done so beyond expectations.

"Brother Bi, come with me, and I will explain the details." Fu Changzong took Bi Maokang by the arm and led him out toward the study.

"Very well."

Bi Maokang was now so excited he was dizzy, and nodded repeatedly at the words.

Once the two had left, Zhu Xu emerged from behind, wiped his mouth, and murmured with sparkling eyes, "I never expected my maternal uncle to have such quick wit. This prince is quite surprised."

"Your Highness, Your Highness." Suddenly, a palace guard rushed in hurriedly.

Seeing that this was not one of those who had accompanied him out of the palace, Zhu Xu asked with slight surprise, "Were you sent by Cao Wenzhao?"

"Yes, Your Highness." The guard knelt on one knee before Zhu Xu and handed over a sealed envelope, saying, "This is what Lord Cao ordered me to deliver to you."

Cao Wenzhao knew he was at the Fu residence; he would not send someone with a letter unless it was important. Zhu Xu's expression turned slightly grave as he tore it open and read it, then could not help but sigh.

"Those who court death shall die." Zhu Xu was deeply helpless.

Xu Yuqing, Supervising Secretary of the Office of Scrutiny for Personnel, had just submitted a memorial to the Emperor Zhu Youxiao, stating that since the beginning of the Tianqi reign, noble titles and hereditary privileges had been granted indiscriminately — that wet nurses and eunuch officials alike could receive hereditary ennoblement, which was truly a perversion of governance — and requesting that His Majesty revoke the decrees.

The wet nurse referred to Madam Ke, and the eunuch official referred to Wei Zhongxian.