Chapter 13: Count Chengyi

A mansion in the western part of the capital, its main gate painted vermilion, with a side door on each flank.

Four household retainers stood on each side beneath the steps before the main gate, swords at their waists, powerfully built, with arrogant expressions. Above the gate hung a plaque reading "Imperially Bestowed Mansion of Count Chengyi"—these were characters personally written by Zhu Yuanzhang and bestowed upon Liu Bowen in years past.

A middle-aged man dressed like a steward sat on a stool dozing, when suddenly a dense clatter of footsteps sounded, and at the mouth of the alley in the distance appeared a large troop of Embroidered Uniform Guard officers in yellow surcoats, girded with oriole belts, black-soled white official boots, and embroidered spring sabres hanging at their waists.

While the retainers stood stunned, the Guard officers arrived before the Count Chengyi mansion. The dozing steward had long since startled awake; with a guarded expression he stepped forward, cupped his hands, and asked, "This is the Count Chengyi mansion. What business do you gentlemen have here?"

The one in the lead was a Guard Chiliarch. He paid the steward no heed at all, instead turning to give orders: "Each Centurion, seal off the surroundings—see that not a single person slips away!"

Several Centurions acknowledged and led their men to spread out in all directions, while the Chiliarch, with dozens of officers, made straight for the main gate. The mansion steward hurriedly signaled one of his underlings, who dashed into the residence.

He stepped forward to block the Chiliarch and asked, "Sir, this is the imperially bestowed Count Chengyi mansion. Unrelated persons may not enter without authorization, or else..."

Before he could finish, a burly officer behind the Chiliarch strode forward and delivered a vicious slap to the steward's face. The steward staggered back several steps, blood streaming from mouth and nose, ears ringing, his cheek swelling instantly.

The steward was stunned by the blow, but quickly recovered his wits. Clutching his cheek, he shrieked, "Are you rebelling? Men, fight them back!"

Those retainers, accustomed to arrogance, drew their sabres the moment they heard the steward's order.

The Guard Chiliarch stepped back and declared in a loud voice, "By sacred decree, we are here to seize and search the Count Chengyi mansion. Any who dare resist shall be slain without mercy!"

The words had barely left his mouth when several bowstrings twanged. Officers holding bows on the rooftops across from the mansion loosed their arrows, and the retainers standing in front fell in response. One was struck through the throat and died on the spot; the others, hit in the chest and face, collapsed to the ground with inhuman screams of agony. The steward and the remaining retainers turned deathly pale with fright; those holding sabres threw them down and, led by the steward, knelt prostrate on the ground, every one of them trembling uncontrollably.

The Chiliarch led his men up the steps. Suddenly the main gate opened, and a young man in his twenties, sallow-faced, with unsteady steps, wearing a brocade robe, walked out, followed by several stewards and retainers.

The moment the young man saw the retainers lying beneath the steps, his expression changed drastically. Pointing at the Chiliarch in charge, he shouted fiercely, "You have some nerve! Are you blind? Daring to cause trouble at a count's mansion—who gave you the audacity!"

The retainers behind him all drew their sabres, eager for a fight.

The Chiliarch gave him a contemptuous look and said, "I am Li Lie, Chiliarch of the Western City Chiliarch Station of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Who are you, to show such disrespect to an officer?"

"I am Liu Chengxian, heir of Count Chengyi. Open your dog eyes and look clearly!" Liu Chengxian bellowed.

"The young count? Heh." Li Lie gave him a smile that did not reach his eyes, then straightened his face and said, "By sacred decree, we are to seize and search the Count Chengyi mansion. I ask the young count to cooperate!"

"What? Seize the mansion?" Liu Chengxian felt the world spin around him and nearly lost his footing; the steward behind him hurriedly steadied him.

Li Lie paid him no mind, turning to bark, "Follow me!" With that he strode through the gate first, the officers behind him following with sabres drawn.

The retainers inside exchanged glances, not daring to block him. Li Lie marched boldly inward; once the officers were through the gate, several split off to disarm the retainers, then ordered the retainers and stewards to gather in one place, assigning a few officers to guard them.

Liu Chengxian recovered his wits and hurried after Li Lie, running into the mansion.

The Count Chengyi mansion was extraordinarily vast. Li Lie led his men through several courtyards of carved beams and painted rafters before reaching the inner residence. Along the way, maidservants and household servants who encountered the sword- and spear-bearing officers all wore startled expressions; a few shrieked in panic and fled toward the inner quarters.

Count Chengyi Liu Kongzhao had already come out upon hearing the news, standing grim-faced beneath the eaves of the main hall. Li Lie led his men into the inner courtyard, and Liu Chengxian stumbled in after them in a panic, having lost one shoe along the way.

Gasping for breath, he came to his father's side and was about to speak when Liu Kongzhao raised a hand to stop him, asking darkly, "Who are you, and why do you trespass upon this count's mansion?"

Li Lie halted, drew an imperial edict from his bosom, and announced, "An imperial edict is here. Liu Kongzhao, receive the edict!"

Liu Kongzhao suddenly sensed that matters had taken a bad turn, but he could only kneel to hear the edict. Everyone else in the mansion knelt to the ground as well.

"It is found that Count Chengyi Liu Kongzhao has long acted lawlessly, directing trusted members of his household to treat human lives as grass, seizing others' property by force, in amounts enormous and with effects so vile that public outrage runs high! He has spurned imperial grace, and his virtue does not match his station. His title is hereby stripped, as a warning to others. Respect this!"

The edict finished, Liu Kongzhao suddenly rose to his feet, flailing wildly, veins bulging on his face, his eyes seeming about to pop from their sockets.

He roared at the top of his lungs: "My Liu family, from our ancestors onward, has shed blood and sweat for the Zhu family, giving our all! You say I seized property—which noble house doesn't? Why single out my Liu family? It's because you covet my wealth—that Zhu emperor's eyes have turned green!"

Li Lie's expression changed at once. He barked sharply, "Men! Gag him! Kill anyone who dares resist!"

Several officers moved forward swiftly. One circled behind Liu Kongzhao and jabbed the back of his knee with a scabbard, sending him crashing to his knees with a thud; another pinned his arms back, while a third stepped close and gave a single squeeze—Liu Kongzhao's jaw came loose instantly, and he could no longer make a sound. He was then bound with rope.

The young count beside him had long since collapsed in terror, and the women of the Liu household were all weeping uncontrollably. As for the remaining maids and servants, none dared resist. Li Lie ordered that the family members not be molested, then made a circuit of inspection while the officers began the seizure.

The search proceeded smoothly. The Embroidered Uniform Guard had many experts among their ranks; not only the valuables in plain sight, but even precious items hidden in various concealed compartments and false walls were not missed. The silver "winter melons" cast from bullion that the Liu family had hidden in their cellar were also hauled up. Father and son Liu wore faces of ashen despair.

Holding the inventory list, Li Lie laughed: "A bountiful harvest indeed! I must hurry to report the good news to the Guard Commander—hahaha!" He then assigned his men to escort the Liu household to the Imperial Prison, sent the confiscated goods by cart to the palace, and returned to the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters with the list himself.

Arriving before the main hall of headquarters, Li Lie composed his expression and announced in a loud voice: "Li Lie, Chiliarch of the Western City Chiliarch Station of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, having been ordered to seize and search the Count Chengyi mansion, has completed the task and comes to report!"

Luo Yangxing sat upright in the great chair at the center of the hall, with the Vice Prefect and the Assistant Commissioner seated on either side.

Hearing Li Lie's report, he ordered him in. Li Lie entered, came before Luo Yangxing, knelt on one knee, and presented the list with both hands.

Luo Yangxing took the list and swept his eyes over it—and was immediately astonished, for the first sheet bore the total sum of the seizure, making everything clear at a glance. The Vice Prefect and Assistant Commissioner, seeing the Guard Commander's expression, grew curious as well. Vice Prefect Li Yingxi asked, "Your Excellency, what has surprised you so?"

Luo Yangxing shook his head and laughed: "This Count Chengyi truly had a knack for amassing wealth! Ready silver alone amounts to over two hundred thousand taels! A dozen or more shops in prime locations—rice shops, carriage and horse depots, cloth merchants, brothels, gambling houses, and more! Under his name are fifteen thousand qing of fine farmland, and antiques, calligraphy, and paintings beyond counting! All of us combined don't amount to a tenth of him!" (After Luo Yangxing surrendered, when Li Zicheng tortured officials for money, only a bit over ten thousand taels of silver was seized from him—by his station, nothing much in those days.)

Everyone clicked their tongues in amazement. Though these bigwigs of the Embroidered Uniform Guard had spent the past few years devoted to lining their own pockets and neglecting the Guard's proper affairs, they had all been cautious and careful, earning no ill repute. Compared to this man, their household wealth was a mere trifle before a giant.

Luo Yangxing rose and said to the assembled men, "I shall go to the palace at once to see His Majesty. Li Lie, you come with me—if His Majesty asks about the seizure, answer truthfully! As for Liu Kongzhao and the others being escorted to prison shortly, do not make things difficult for them. After all, it's only exile for the whole family; His Majesty has shown mercy and not sentenced them to death, so there's no need to offend them to the death!"

The officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard all nodded in agreement. Li Lie's heart seethed with excitement—he had seen the Emperor only from afar before; how could that compare to an audience up close, and answering His Majesty's questions besides? This was an honor beyond measure.

Luo Yangxing led Li Lie into the palace and arrived at Wuying Hall. Li Erxi went in to announce them, and after a moment the Emperor ordered them to appear.

The two entered the hall, knelt, and performed the ritual greeting. Li Lie heard a young voice bid them rise.

Luo Yangxing presented the edict and the list with both hands and reported, "Your servant, by imperial decree, seized and searched the Count Chengyi mansion. Fortunately, the mission was accomplished, and I have come to return the edict. This is Li Lie, the Western City Chiliarch who handled the matter; I have brought him to await Your Majesty's inquiries!"

Wang Cheng'en came over to receive them, then approached Zhu Zhenqing and presented them with both hands. The Chongzhen Emperor took them, set the edict upon the table, and examined the list carefully.

After reading it, the Emperor laughed: "This Liu Kongzhao truly is a master of amassing wealth. I never imagined he had accumulated so much. Li Lie, is it? Tell me how matters unfolded!"

Li Lie hurried forward a few steps and knelt to report. The Emperor waved for him to rise. After standing, he did not dare look at the Emperor, but bowed his head and recounted the entire affair from beginning to end.

When the Emperor heard the words Liu Kongzhao had spoken, his mood soured.

He rose, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked before the table, saying, "Liu Kongzhao says his ancestors shed blood and sweat to win the realm for the Zhu family—why does he not speak of the favor and reward the imperial house has shown his family for generations? More than two hundred years of imperial grace is more than enough to repay his ancestors' merits! And besides—do his ancestors' deeds become an excuse for him to seize others' property and take lives? As a count, at a time when the state is buffeted by storms, what contribution has he made to the Ming's rivers and mountains? My heavy punishment of him this time is a warning to the other nobles: do not think that relying on your ancestors' merits lets you do as you please. Past offenses I can let go, but if anyone dares defy the law and pursue only private gain, do not blame me for being ruthless!" Luo Yangxing and the other man both hung their heads, not daring to speak.

"This time the Embroidered Uniform Guard handled the matter well. I shall record a merit for you. The Vice Prefect and Assistant Commissioner each receive five hundred taels of silver; Luo Yangxing and Li Lie, you two receive one thousand taels each. Every officer who took part receives ten taels, to be paid from the confiscated silver. His shops are to be sold off; of the seized silver, one hundred thousand taels goes to the Ministry of Revenue, the rest enters the privy purse; the fields go to the imperial estates; and the Liu family is to be exiled without delay!"

The two men were overjoyed at these words. After all, their avenues for silver were narrow—civil officials kept watch on them, and they dared not overreach. Luo Yangxing was soft by nature and usually cautious; this reward was already extremely generous. The two bowed in thanks to the Emperor and departed.