Chapter 234: Lu Xiangsheng

On the fourth day of the fifth month of the tenth year of Chongzhen, a long-awaited welcome rain fell in a fine, ceaseless drizzle, bringing a glimmer of life to the parched northern lands.

Inside the Zhaoren Hall of the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Youjian was meeting with Lu Xiangsheng, a Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion who had returned from visiting his family and was heading to take up his post in Xuanfu and Datong. Apart from Wang Cheng'en, no one else was present in the hall.

Lu Xiangsheng, who had been granted leave by imperial decree to return home and look after his family, had stayed only a little over a month in his native Yixing. During that time he declined every invitation from local officials and gentry, shutting himself in his home to attend devotedly to his elderly mother.

Worried as he was about the state of the realm, and with his parents, both past sixty, now in good health and all well at home, Lu Xiangsheng bade farewell to his family along with his younger brother Lu Xiangtong, and, accompanied by his fellow townsman Wu Dading and other close retainers, took an official boat up the Grand Canal back to the capital, from whence he would travel overland to take up his post as Governor-General of Xuanfu and Datong, replacing the aged Sun Chengzong.

Zhu Youjian had issued an edict permitting Lu Xiangsheng to enter the palace for an audience before assuming his new post, and so today's meeting between sovereign and minister came to be.

For this famous minister, whom all parties in history had praised highly, Zhu Youjian likewise felt genuine and deep respect. It was precisely because of backbone of China such as Lu Xiangsheng that the Chinese nation had always stood unbowed.

After the formalities between sovereign and minister were concluded, Zhu Youjian ordered a seat and tea to be offered, then fixed his gaze upon Lu Xiangsheng with eyes full of reverence and spoke in a solemn voice: "Since we parted in the second year of Chongzhen, I and my minister Lu have not seen each other for years. At a time when the Ming realm was buffeted by storms, it was loyal ministers and righteous men headed by my minister Lu who stepped forward resolutely, heedless of their own safety, shedding blood and risking their heads, turning back the raging tide and propping up the tilting mansion, so that the Ming's already-failing fortunes were reversed! Countless millions of lives were spared from catastrophe! For this I have always been grateful in my heart, and I swear I shall never forget it!"

Having spoken, Zhu Youjian rose from the imperial seat, walked around to the front of the dais, and, bending at the waist with hands clasped in salute before Lu Xiangsheng, who sat upon the brocade stool, paid him a deep bow.

Lu Xiangsheng sprang to his feet, lifted his official robes, and fell to his knees with a thud. After knocking his head heavily against the floor, he straightened up, raised his clasped hands above his head, and said with sobs: "How dare your servant receive a bow from Your Majesty! What your servant and the others have done is merely to fulfill our duty! How could I presume to trouble Your Majesty's thoughts so!"

Having not seen the Emperor for eight years, Lu Xiangsheng's emotions surged violently, and his whole body trembled slightly. He could feel the Emperor's genuine warmth, and the many feelings accumulated in his heart over the years burst forth in that moment, pouring out as tears.

Zhu Youjian hurried several steps to stand before Lu Xiangsheng and reached out to support his arms. Lu Xiangsheng dared not resist the Emperor, so he could only rise with the motion, but he kept his head lowered, not meeting Zhu Youjian's eyes, as large tears streamed down his cheeks onto the lapels of his chest.

"My minister Lu, you deserve this bow from me! This bow is not offered for the sake of the Zhu family's realm, but for the countless common people who, over these years, have dwelt in fire and water and perished in an instant! Were it not for you and your comrades fighting in blood, who knows how many more innocents would have fallen to the bandits' blades! Were it not for you relieving my worries, I truly dare not imagine the consequences! My minister Lu, please be seated — I still have important matters to discuss with you!"

After clasping his hands and watching the Emperor return to his seat, Lu Xiangsheng wiped the tears from his face with his sleeve, drew a deep breath to suppress his agitated emotions, and only then sat down.

"Are your esteemed parents at home in good health, my minister Lu? I truly wished you would stay longer at home to reassure your wife and children; I never expected you to return to your post so soon. To ease your family's longing for you, I have prepared a residence for you in the capital and have sent men of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to Yixing to bring your entire family to live in the capital. It is expected that after next year, you will be able to reside permanently in the capital and see your family every day!"

To let Lu Xiangsheng's emotions settle, Zhu Youjian did not speak directly of the purpose of today's audience, but instead changed the subject.

"Your servant's parents are in good health — I thank Your Majesty for your concern! Your Majesty treats your humble servant with such kindness that I could die a hundred deaths and still not repay your grace!"

Lu Xiangsheng's eyes were red-rimmed, still glistening with tears, and he rose once more to bow with clasped hands.

Being a man of utmost filial piety, what he worried about most was still his aging parents at home.

Since passing the examinations during the Tianqi era, he had served as an official away from home, and after that the Ming's situation had gradually begun to deteriorate. Especially after the present sovereign ascended the throne, the times had become even more turbulent. In the second year of Chongzhen, Lu Xiangsheng had formed the Tianxiong Army in Daming Prefecture, vowing to serve his country with his life. To guard against unforeseen misfortune, he had sent his wife and children back to his native Yixing, and only this year had he been able to return home to see them.

After leaving home this time, who knew in what year or month he would see his parents again. Whenever he thought of his old mother's reluctant gaze as he departed, Lu Xiangsheng's heart grieved silently.

He had never imagined that the Emperor, busy with a thousand affairs, could be so attentive, treating his ministers with such courtesy as if they were family. Such grace from a sage sovereign — even giving his life could not repay it.

"This is what my minister Lu deserves. I know you are not a man who covets wealth, so bestowing gold and silver would only insult your great merit. After much deliberation I settled on this reward, and it seems to suit you well, hehehe!"

Zhu Youjian gazed with gentle eyes at this great man before him — small of stature, yet towering in spirit — and sighed inwardly at the fate he had suffered in a previous life.

"Your servant ventures to ask Your Majesty: why did you say just now that after next year your servant could be reunited with his family daily? Could Your Majesty's words carry some deeper meaning?"

Having calmed his emotions, Lu Xiangsheng keenly detected the implication in Zhu Youjian's words, and after bowing, asked.

"Hehe, my minister Lu is indeed a man of sharp perception — I mentioned it casually and you spotted the anomaly at once! The matter I wish to discuss with you today is closely connected to this!"

"Your servant humbly awaits Your Majesty's command!"

"My minister Lu, this time you go to Xuanfu and Datong to replace Master Sun. There is only one purpose: to consolidate the cavalry of the two frontier garrisons of Xuanfu and Datong, drill them diligently, and prepare them for use next year. I intend to launch a large-scale campaign against Jianzhou after spring begins next year, seeking to inflict maximum casualties on their effective strength, destroy their foundations, and render them powerless to contend with our Great Ming again! Of course, if we can utterly destroy them, so much the better! After this campaign, my minister Lu may naturally lay down his frontier post and return to the capital to serve!"

During Sun Chengzong's nearly two years at Xuanfu and Datong, he had verified troop numbers, eliminated the old and weak, promoted capable generals, and tightened military discipline, reviving the morale of the long-neglected Xuanfu and Datong forces. Lu Xiangsheng needed only to consolidate the cavalry of the two garrisons and spend a year forging them into a coordinated force.

"Your servant dares to ask Your Majesty: how many troops will be used in next year's campaign? Are grain and supplies already prepared? Who will command? Which units will remain to guard the capital? How is the cavalry your servant is to form to be used? And also — how is the Liaodong army to be handled? With your servant's pardon for speaking bluntly, although the Liaodong army is still serviceable, judging by its conduct over these past years, it absolutely cannot be entrusted with any major responsibility!"

After pondering for a moment, Lu Xiangsheng memorialized.

"Grain and supplies are for the most part already prepared. As for troops, after consulting with the Minister of War, I intend to make the Capital Camps and the Yongwei Camp the main force, with the Qin army on the left and the White Pole troops on the right, supplemented by the Xuanfu and Datong frontier garrisons, the Shanxi garrison, the Yansui garrison, and the forces of Zuo Liangyu, He Renlong, Zuo Guangxian, Ai Wannian, Liu Guoneng, and others — numbering roughly one hundred fifty thousand. Huang Degong's forces in Shandong will move north to guard the capital's outskirts. I intend to personally campaign against Jianzhou! As for the Liaodong army, once Minister Hong takes up his post at Jiliao, I intend to send men to verify the Liaodong troop rolls, divide their forces, and if matters turn adverse, execute the chief culprits, so that our great army's rear is free of worry!"

The reason Zhu Youjian was transferring frontier troops was that the Mongol tribes beyond the border wall had long since declined and no longer posed a major threat to the Great Ming. Moreover, since Jianzhou had begun forming the Mongol Eight Banners and drawing the young and able of the Mongol tribes into Jianzhou, the frontier garrisons had become all the more secure.

And there was an even more important point: the reason Zhu Youjian had Lu Xiangsheng form cavalry was precisely to thoroughly eliminate the hidden danger of the Mongol tribes.

"When the great army advances head-on through Shanhai Pass, my minister Lu will lead the cavalry of the Xuanfu and Datong garrisons, along with several cavalry columns including Cao Bianjiao of Lintao and Ma Ke of the Yansui garrison, out beyond the border wall, sweeping from west to east in one great drive, straight for Shengjing!"