Chapter 2: Luo Yangxing

"Your subject, Luo Yangxing, Guard Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, kowtows before Your Majesty!" "Your subjects, Liu Yingxi and Qi Changguo, Vice Guard Commanders of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, kowtow before Your Majesty!" "Your humble subjects, Li Ruolian and Huang Fu, Assistant Guard Commanders of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, kowtow before Your Majesty!" Led by Luo Yangxing, the officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard knelt in turn, prostrating themselves in homage.

Zhu Zhenqing sat upright on the dragon throne, his gaze sharp as he fixed his eyes on the crowd kneeling before him, thoughts racing through his mind like lightning: Luo Yangxing came from a family with generations of service in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. His father, Luo Sigong, had served as Guard Commander from the end of the Wanli era through the second year of Tianqi, and had been replaced by Tian Ergeng for refusing to ally himself with Wei Zhongxian; he had died of illness two years prior. Yet this man, a privileged son of an impeccably loyal family, had ultimately led his men in surrender and become a mid-ranking official. Among the remaining upper echelons of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, only Li Ruolian had ultimately taken his own life in martyrdom to the state, while Huang Fu had withdrawn from the world and become a monk. All the rest had been tortured to death by Liu Zongmin, one of Li Zicheng's subordinates — none had met a good end.

He only pondered briefly, but the assembled officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard kneeling below grew deeply uneasy. Seeing that the Emperor had still not bid them rise, each of them racked their minds, wondering whether some misdeed of theirs had come to light. The Emperor had not summoned Embroidered Uniform Guard officials for a long time — could this sudden summons today mean disaster was at hand?

"Rise!"

The officers rose to their feet with pounding hearts and stood at attention, all keeping their heads lowered, not daring to look directly at the Emperor, yet able to feel his gaze upon them.

The Emperor still said nothing, only sweeping his gaze across them all, his eyes piercing, as if trying to see into each person's very heart. In the spacious hall, not a sound could be heard; the very air seemed to have frozen solid.

After another moment, the Emperor finally spoke.

"Luo Yangxing."

"Your subject is here!"

Even as Luo Yangxing bowed with clasped hands in reply, the rest of the men secretly breathed sighs of relief.

"I ask you — whose Embroidered Uniform Guard is the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Luo Yangxing's face drained of color in fright. With a thud he fell to his knees, pressing his forehead to the ground, and answered in a loud voice: "In answer to Your Majesty, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is of course Your Majesty's own Embroidered Uniform Guard. From the time the Grand Ancestor founded the Embroidered Uniform Guard to this very day, and for a hundred or a thousand years hence, the Embroidered Uniform Guard shall belong to the Imperial House!"

"Oh? Since it belongs to the Imperial House, then let Me ask you again — what was the Grand Ancestor's original purpose in founding the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

"In reply to Your Majesty, the Grand Ancestor's original purpose in founding the Embroidered Uniform Guard was to make it the Imperial House's eyes and ears, its talons and fangs, so that the Emperor would never be deceived by outside ministers!" Luo Yangxing remained kneeling, his forehead never leaving the ground, but his voice rang out clear and distinct.

"If that is so, then why is it that for nearly a year now, everything I see and hear each day has been nothing but the memorials and words of civil officials, without a single shred of intelligence from the Embroidered Uniform Guard? I have also heard that whenever the Embroidered Uniform Guard obtains reports on public sentiment from across the realm, the Grand Secretaries always manage to learn of them at once, while I remain completely in the dark?" Zhu Zhenqing's tone was grim and heavy; anyone could hear the fury simmering beneath it.

Luo Yangxing's back was already soaked through with sweat. It was summer, a time when sweating came easily, and ice basins had been placed in every corner of the hall, keeping the temperature inside quite pleasant — yet Luo Yangxing's body was sweating while his heart felt as if it had plunged into an ice cavern, a bone-piercing cold seizing him. Where before he had merely pressed his forehead to the ground, now he knocked his head desperately against the floor, and before long his brow was mottled with bruises. The other officers were stricken with terror as well, and one after another they knelt and knocked their heads in confession of guilt.

Zhu Zhenqing did not bid them rise. Instead, he stood up from his seat, walked around the imperial desk, and came before the assembled high officials kneeling on the ground. With hands clasped behind his back, he looked down upon them from above.

"Luo Yangxing, ever since I ascended the throne, I have entrusted you with the post of Guard Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Do you know why?"

Luo Yangxing dared not answer. He crouched there on his knees, no longer knocking his head, his whole body like a turtle drawing into its shell.

"I appreciate a man's ability, but what I value far more is a man's loyalty! Your father served as Guard Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and he was utterly loyal and devoted. When the traitor Wei's power reached its zenith and officials across the realm scrambled to curry favor with him, treating the Imperial House as if it were nothing, your father held a position of great rank and authority. Had he too chosen to fawn and flatter, I have no doubt he would have continued in splendor. But your father did not follow the crowd. He loathed evil as he would an enemy and disdained to stand with the rest — and the consequences were predictable. This is what I admired most about him: his loyalty to the Imperial House!"

"When I ascended the throne and purged the traitor Wei and his partisans, your father had unfortunately already passed away. Amid my grief, I thought of you. I reasoned that a man with such a loyal minister for a father could not have a son who would turn out badly! And so, disregarding the fact that you had no merit whatsoever, I elevated you to a high position. But what I never expected was that I had been blinded — utterly blinded!"

Luo Yangxing was already weeping freely, prostrating himself on the ground and wailing: "Your humble subject deserves death, your humble subject deserves death! Your humble subject's heart was clouded by greed. I have failed Your Majesty's trust and cultivation. I beg Your Majesty to grant me death — I have no face to go below and meet my late father!"

The other officers each had their own thoughts, but they remained prostrate on the ground, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Zhu Zhenqing was silent for a moment, then sighed and said: "Rise!"

Luo Yangxing remained lying on the ground, answering between sobs: "Your humble subject's heart is heavy with shame. I dare not rise and face Your Majesty!"

"Get the hell up!" Zhu Zhenqing roared in irritation.

Startled, Luo Yangxing immediately stopped crying and slowly climbed to his feet. The others rose as well, while Zhu Zhenqing, hands clasped behind his back, returned to the dragon throne and sat down.

Once everyone was standing at attention, Zhu Zhenqing spoke: "Since your heart is heavy with shame, then speak! What is it that makes you feel ashamed, and what have you done that wrongs Me and wrongs the Zhu family?!"

Luo Yangxing pondered for a moment, then replied: "These past few years, your subject's selfish thoughts have been too heavy, with the greater part of my mind fixed upon wealth. I gradually ceased to devote care to the affairs under my charge, causing the Imperial Guard to lose its fangs and claws, to lose its drive and ambition."

"Is that all? Then is My accusation that you have cultivated ties with outside ministers a false one?"

Luo Yangxing was so frightened he nearly knelt again, but Zhu Zhenqing waved his hand in irritation: "Stand and answer!"

"Your subject obeys the decree. But your humble subject feels wrongfully accused!" Luo Yangxing replied.

"Wrongfully accused how? I want to hear the truth!" Zhu Zhenqing demanded.

"Every word your humble subject speaks is absolutely true!" Luo Yangxing answered hastily.

"Then speak!" Zhu Zhenqing was growing impatient.

"Yes, yes, yes! In reply to Your Majesty, your subject would not dare to collude with those inside and outside the court even with the boldest of courage — that would be a crime punishable by the extermination of one's entire clan! What Your Majesty just said about the Grand Secretaries learning of outside affairs and deceiving Your Majesty's ears — that is indeed true. Your subject, as the chief officer, grew increasingly negligent in the affairs of the Guard, and so was exploited by petty men below, and in turn used by those with ulterior motives among the outside ministers. This is how Your Majesty came to lose his eyes and ears. This is your subject's dereliction of duty. If Your Majesty still sees fit to employ me, then from this day forward, your subject will summon every ounce of his energy and devote his full efforts to his duties, so that the Imperial Guard may once again become the most trusted hounds at Your Majesty's door!" The other officers in the hall all nodded vigorously in agreement.

"Can I still trust you?" Zhu Zhenqing fixed Luo Yangxing with a doubtful gaze.

Luo Yangxing slowly knelt, knocked his head solemnly once, then straightened his torso and met Zhu Zhenqing's eyes directly. The other officers hastily knelt as well.

"Your humble subject's family has received Imperial grace for generations. Thanks to Your Majesty's refusal to abandon me, I was elevated to my present high position, and my entire family enjoys wealth and honor. Now that the situation is critical, though your subject's abilities are mediocre, I am willing to devote my life in your service, to do my utmost in fulfilling my duty and assisting my sage sovereign! Your subject swears: if I do not exert myself wholeheartedly, may my entire family come to no good end!" Having said this, he knocked his head once more.

"Rise. I shall trust you for now," Zhu Zhenqing said in a measured tone.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Luo Yangxing and the others rose and stood at attention.

"Since you all harbor repentance, then do your work well. I listen to your words, but I will also observe your deeds! Luo Yangxing, when you return, you must quickly produce a plan for reform. I do not wish to see an Embroidered Uniform Guard that is like mud. What I want is an Imperial Guard that can fight and endure, that is loyal and dependable, that I can command as easily as I move my own arm! If you all succeed in rebuilding the Guard and render outstanding service, then titles for your wives and hereditary privileges for your sons, glory and honor for generations — that is a true promise I make to you! But if you pay lip service while acting otherwise, and remain as negligent as before — hmph, I will give you a line from the Grand Ancestor's poem: 'We drink together from the golden cup, but the naked blade shows no mercy!'" The final sentence Zhu Zhenqing delivered in a sinister voice, staring directly at them all, enunciating each word slowly and deliberately.

Luo Yangxing and the others were drenched in sweat, whether from the heat or from fright none could say. They knelt in unison and answered in loud voices: "Your subjects will not fail Your Majesty's trust. We will devote ourselves wholeheartedly to rebuilding the Imperial Guard!"

"Very well, you may withdraw. Go back and deliberate carefully. Before noon tomorrow, present a plan to Me. I also happen to have some ideas of My own, which I will share with you then!"

The assembled Embroidered Uniform Guard officers rose and bowed with clasped hands: "Your subjects take their leave!" Then they slowly retreated backward to the doors of the great hall, and only then straightened up and turned to depart.