Chapter 323: Suffering Humiliation

Li Banghua showed no displeasure at Zhang Yixian's accusations. He clasped his hands slightly and said, "As for so-called official authority, I already explained it clearly yesterday — Garrison Commander Zhang may savor it at leisure! As for the discourteous conduct of the soldiers outside the door, I am powerless to restrain them. The Capital Camps claim to be directly subordinate to the palace, and this time, honored by His Majesty's regard, they were dispatched south to protect my person. I hold no command authority over them. If Garrison Commander Zhang feels aggrieved, you are welcome to report the matter to the palace! Let me introduce the two of you — the gentleman beside me is Commissioner-in-Chief Li Ruolian of the Left Commissioner-in-Chief's Office of the Five Military Commands, Assistant Guard Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Provost of the Northern Provincial Prison. Like myself, he has been sent south by imperial decree to inspect Jiangnan, investigate wrongdoing, and apprehend offenders! What brings the two of you here today? Pray step inside and speak!"

Having said this, Li Banghua turned and strode into the hall.

Li Banghua's words made Zhang Yixian even more stifled with anger, yet he could not vent it. The man before him was an imperial commissioner, a grand official of the first rank. Though he himself came from the palace, the other had come by imperial command, while he was merely a servant of the imperial house — and far from the capital, he had absolutely no means to threaten Li Banghua.

Though Zhang Yixian had met Li Ruolian several times in the palace, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had long been in decline, so he had never thought much of him. Who would have imagined that the Embroidered Uniform Guard would rise again so swiftly within a few years — that the man he had slighted yesterday had actually become a high official of formidable power? This sat most ill with him.

Zhang Yixian gave Li Ruolian an appraising look. Confident in his status as a brush-holder of the Directorate of Ceremonial, he waited for Li Ruolian to greet him first. The more tactful Zhao Zhilong, however, clasped his hands to Li Ruolian in greeting. Li Ruolian returned the courtesy with a smile, but afterward made no gesture whatsoever toward Zhang Yixian.

Having suffered one humiliation after another today, Zhang Yixian was about to flare up again in fury, but Zhao Zhilong, who knew him well, discreetly tugged at his sleeve. Zhang Yixian swallowed his anger, flicked his robe sleeve with a cold snort, and stepped forward to pass Li Ruolian into the hall.

Li Ruolian's smile did not waver. Before Zhang Yixian could pass him, he turned and entered the room, walked straight to the seat he had occupied before, and settled himself down with a flick of his robes.

As for a eunuch like Zhang Yixian — one who appeared powerful and weighty but had in truth been cut off from the true center of power — Li Ruolian paid him no mind. He knew that though a garrison eunuch might reap rich rewards in silver, in the end he would find it very difficult to return to the palace and hold an important post. In years past, the hall officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard had likewise been held in contempt, but now things were vastly different. As an imperial commissioner himself, he could hardly allow this damned eunuch to gain the upper hand.

Seeing this, Zhang Yixian was taken aback for a moment, then gave a self-deprecating laugh and unhurriedly took the seat of honor across from Li Ruolian. Zhao Zhilong sat down close beside him, while Chen Jinmin took the lower seat on Li Ruolian's side.

After all, he was a senior eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial. Though eunuchs were petty-minded and hated above all to be looked down upon, in the space of a breath Zhang Yixian had already thought things through clearly. He had come only to see what business had brought the imperial commissioner and the imperial guardsmen together in Nanjing. If he quibbled over such trifling details, it would profit neither himself nor Zhao Zhilong in the least. This sort of contest of pride was simply not worth it — better to get the matter settled first and worry about the rest later.

Once all were seated, Li Banghua looked at Zhang and Zhao and said, "Provost Li has just concluded handling the case of the market strike in the four prefectures of Yangzhou and Suzhou. My entering the city today was precisely to consult with him on how to report the matter to His Majesty and the court. The two of us had not yet exchanged a word when you both happened to arrive together. Might I ask what brings the Garrison Commander and the Earl of Xincheng here today?"

Zhang Yixian gave a slight curl of his lip, thinking to himself: He is an imperial guardsman; his mission is by imperial command — why should he need to consult you about reporting? Does one bring over a thousand men along to hold consultations? This lecherous old fool can't even tell a lie that sounds pleasant. Who does he think he's fooling?

Though such were his thoughts, on the surface he smiled and said, "Hearing that Lord Meng'an was unwell, I felt most concerned in my heart. Having nothing else to do, I invited the Earl of Xincheng to come along and pay a visit. Lord Meng'an has already passed the age of sixty, yet still labors on His Majesty's behalf — truly arduous work. I happen to know several noted physicians here in Nanjing; if Lord Meng'an has need, I shall immediately send someone to summon one to attend to you. That is the purpose of our visit, hehe! Only, as the Earl of Xincheng and I were on our way, we suddenly saw the streets and lanes filled with imperial guardsmen, and we were both greatly astonished. Now that Provost Li is present, the two of us would beg a word of explanation, so that all parties in the city may be at ease and no one errs in serving His Majesty!"

Zhao Zhilong clasped his hands to Li Ruolian with a smile: "Provost Li has graced Nanjing with his presence. When you have leisure, pray allow me to play host and fulfill the duties of a local. I do hope the Provost will not refuse, hehehehe!"

By rights, as one of the highest-ranked nobles of the Great Ming, Zhao Zhilong need not have been so courteous to Li Ruolian. But the sudden appearance of the Embroidered Uniform Guard today had stirred an inexplicable unease in his heart. While he could not yet fathom what their intentions were, lowering his posture to curry a little familiarity was only proper.

Li Ruolian smiled and returned the salute with clasped hands: "Well said, well said. I am deeply grateful for the honor! The Earl is most thoughtful!"

"Since the Garrison Commander inquires, let Provost Li answer on my behalf, to set the Garrison Commander's and the Earl of Xincheng's minds at ease!"

Li Banghua said, looking at Li Ruolian.

"Since the Governor-General instructs it, I shall speak frankly and openly! The two of you must surely have heard of the market strike in the four prefectures of Suzhou and Yangzhou. The malice of its schemers and the recklessness of their conduct are truly chilling to the bone! When the mounted agents delivered their investigative reports to the palace, His Majesty was greatly enraged. He has grown increasingly impatient with those who think only of private gain while disregarding the safety of the state. He therefore specially dispatched me south ahead of time, charging me to investigate rigorously those behind the affair. Having received the imperial command to oversee the Northern Provincial Prison, I naturally take His Majesty's concerns as my own shame at every moment! Though a sage and benevolent sovereign now sits on the throne and does not wish to implicate too many, so as to leave the outer court some measure of face, I would rather defy His Majesty's wishes this time than sit idly by and allow those who despise His Majesty to escape! To speak plainly to you both — I have brought with me the relevant confessions and witnesses. Anyone implicated in the case of inciting unrest in the four prefectures will not be let off by the imperial guardsmen! The Imperial Prison of the Northern Provincial Prison is most spacious — room enough for over a thousand prisoners! And should any among them be so foolish as to resist by force, they shall all be put to death without mercy!"

Li Ruolian wore a look of resolute, high-minded determination, as though he expected to be beheaded upon returning to the capital after completing his mission for defying His Majesty's wishes.

In truth, this performance of his was not entirely an act. As the Emperor's fangs and claws, an imperial guardsman ought to have the self-awareness that he might be made the scapegoat at any time. Though the strategy of using this opportunity to implicate and uproot the Jiangnan interest bloc had been personally decreed by Zhu Youjian, if the world were to learn how ruthless the Emperor truly was, it would do immense damage to his reputation as a sage sovereign. At such a time, someone had to step forward and bear the blame.

Li Ruolian thought very little of his own reputation. What did it matter if a thousand fingers pointed at him in accusation? Everything he had was held in the Emperor's grasp. Whether it was the outer court or the literati, even if they cursed him as a monstrous villain guilty of every conceivable crime, it would not affect his prospects or the safety of his family in the slightest. Only the Emperor was the master of his fate.

"Those behind the affair? What does Provost Li mean by that? Whether market strike or civil unrest, the cause of both lies in the imposition of the commercial tax. Even if some local officials were involved, they were merely led astray and muddled for a moment — how can you speak of schemers behind it all? I believe the Provost should take His Majesty's will as the standard, stick to the facts, and avoid implicating too many. You must know that it was precisely on the charge of 'perhaps there was' that Qin Hui of the former Song was reviled for ten thousand generations! From what I know, the senior officials of the various ministries and offices in Nanjing have for the most part kept themselves pure and enjoy excellent reputations among the people. If the Provost intends to launch a great purge of the prisons here, I fear it will provoke unforeseen disaster! And when His Majesty's wrath falls at such a time, can Provost Li bear the consequences? But if the Governor-General and Provost Li handle this matter impartially, all of Nanjing will be filled with gratitude, and you may be certain the two of you will return well satisfied!"