Chapter 33: Arrangements

Since the Chongzhen Emperor's new policies were implemented in the Ordnance Directorate, the craftsmen had erupted with tremendous productive enthusiasm—all of them worked like their lives depended on it, and the former lazy, passive attitude was swept clean away.

Two full meals a day filled the artisans with energy, and the piece-rate system had even the usual slackers running to the latrine, afraid that taking too long would cost them money. The old habit of sneaking off before the end of shift had completely disappeared.

Because the Ordnance Directorate was staffed around the clock, some craftsmen refused to leave when their shift ended. The supervising clerks and soldiers tried to persuade them several times to no avail, and could only drag them out by force, then shut the gates. The expelled craftsmen stood outside cursing at the top of their lungs, angry that they were being kept from earning money, while those inside could only exchange wry smiles, helpless to do anything about it.

This tremendous drive brought a surge in output. Combined with strict management measures, production of all military supplies had multiplied severalfold, and quality was worlds apart from what it had been before.

The Chongzhen Emperor was in a side hall of Wuying Hall, leafing through Bi Maokang's report. Between the lines was nothing but excitement, praising the various measures the Emperor had instituted to no end.

The fire lances the Emperor was most concerned about had already been forged in numbers exceeding a hundred, and all had been delivered to the Yongwei Camp. Sun Yingyuan had selected men skilled with firearms to form a five-hundred-man fire lance company, mixing old and new weapons, to be replaced with new ones as they came off the production line. After the Yongwei Camp's acceptance trials, every single piece proved to be of fine quality, with absolutely no risk of barrel explosion.

Since Zhu Zhenqing had discussed and improved the gunpowder formula with them, range and power had greatly increased. The old gunpowder, being full of impurities, could only penetrate cotton armor at fifty paces and iron armor at thirty. After the improvement, it could pierce mail at fifty paces and cotton armor at seventy—a full twenty paces of added range, giving the gunners ample time to continue firing or retreat safely.

The thunderclap bomb the Emperor had proposed was also successfully developed. Made of fired clay, shaped like a small wine jar, it was packed with iron filings, crushed stone, porcelain shards, and gunpowder, weighing about three jin. After testing, the fuse used evenly burning cotton paper, taking roughly ten breaths from ignition to landing and detonation. Its power was formidable, with clear lethal effect within a one-zhang radius.

In fact, thunderclap bombs had existed since the Song Dynasty, but the gunpowder back then was of low purity, so their killing power was limited—they were mostly noise, which is how they got the name "thunderclap bomb." Now they had merely improved the gunpowder formula to make them far more deadly.

Wang Cheng'en entered the hall carrying a red wooden box, came to Zhu Zhenqing's side, and presented it. Seeing the seals were intact, the Emperor gestured for Wang Cheng'en to open it. Wang Cheng'en opened the box, took out the letter inside, and handed it to him.

Sun Chuanting's secret memorial had just arrived by six-hundred-li express relay. The first half reported victory, briefly describing the extermination of the fierce bandit chieftain Qi Zheng Wang, and listing the names of those who had rendered merit for the court to reward. The second half detailed in full what he had done since arriving in Shaanxi, expressing fury at the suffering of the common people and the greed of the officials and gentry. The letter also laid out his plan to make an example of the guard station commanders, stating plainly that this might cause an uproar across the realm—after all, the guard stations were part of the official-gentry class, and such an action would likely draw the finger-pointing of a thousand critics, make him intolerable to the court, and perhaps cost him a good end. But for the sake of the Ming dynasty's rivers and mountains, he would not begrudge his own life, to repay the Chongzhen Emperor's kindness in recognizing his talent.

After reading Sun Chuanting's secret memorial, the Chongzhen Emperor fell into deep thought.

Later generations held Sun Chuanting in very high regard, believing that if the Chongzhen Emperor had trusted him without suspicion and kept giving him important posts, the Ming dynasty might not have fallen. But the Emperor, long confined to the deep palace, had little real knowledge of the outside world and was easily swayed by the words of the ministers around him. Add to that his own suspicious and changeable nature, and Sun Chuanting was never given his due. He was even framed by Yang Sichang and imprisoned for as long as two years, only released to lead troops against the bandits when there was truly no one else—but by then it was too late. He later died in battle at Weinan, and the Emperor, believing he had faked his death, did not even grant him posthumous honors. What a tragedy. Later generations judged: "When Chuanting died, the Ming died with him."

After pondering for a long while, the Emperor picked up his brush and wrote a reply to Sun Chuanting. In the letter he fully affirmed and praised Sun for dispatching generals to behead the bandit chief within barely a month of taking office, expressed deep approval of his concern for the people's suffering, and stated that he would fully support everything Sun did in Shaanxi, once again expressing his complete trust.

As for Sun's pessimistic view of his own future, the Emperor criticized him without mincing words, saying that as long as he was still the Emperor and the Ming remained the Zhu family's realm, no slander from any grand secretary or other high minister could damage the imperial family's trust in Sun Chuanting. At the end of the letter he indicated that he understood Sun's plan, would arrange for capable men to go assist him, and hoped Sun would not stand on ceremony in Shaanxi but boldly employ talent regardless of background.

After the reply was written, Wang Cheng'en took it to be sealed and stamped. The Emperor issued a decree: Luo Shifang was promoted to Mobile Corps Commander with a reward of fifty taels of silver; Shanyang County Magistrate Xun Wenli, having rendered merit in suppressing bandits, was raised from the seventh rank to the sixth rank (subgrade), remaining temporarily as Shanyang County Magistrate with priority for the next available post; Constable Mou Dayong, who had died fighting bravely, was posthumously granted the seventh rank, with one hundred taels of silver and twenty mu of perpetual farmland for his family; all other meritorious officers were each promoted one grade with twenty taels of silver, and soldiers received five taels each. After the Grand Secretariat drafted the edict, it was to be sent together with Zhu Zhenqing's secret letter by six-hundred-li express relay to Xi'an.

Wang Cheng'en received his orders and went to the Grand Secretariat, while the Emperor ordered that Luo Yangxing be summoned to an audience. Half a quarter-hour later, Luo Yangxing arrived in haste.

After Luo Yangxing performed the ritual salute, the Emperor spoke with a smile: "Luo Yangxing, how goes the reorganization of the Embroidered Uniform Guard? I called you here because I have matters to entrust to you. I want to see whether the Guard is, as the outside world claims, a tiger that has lost its claws and fangs."

Luo Yangxing bowed and reported: "I beg to report to Your Majesty: in these past months, following Your Majesty's will, your servant has vigorously rectified the Guard's affairs—cutting the old and weak, recruiting able-bodied and sharp young officers, and expanding the number of covert agents to gather more intelligence for Your Majesty's decisions. The five hundred mounted riders also drill daily; the several instructors Your Majesty selected from the Capital Camps are truly elite, and the riders' combat power has been greatly enhanced. The gathering of intelligence on several wealthy merchants of Zhangjiakou that Your Majesty ordered is essentially complete. As for what to do next, we await only Your Majesty's decree. Your Majesty's allocation of silver from the privy purse to pay the Guard's wages has inspired everyone from top to bottom—their loyalty to Your Majesty goes without saying. At this rate, the revival of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is well within sight!"

The Emperor said: "I have heard a little of what you've done lately. These past months you have indeed expended considerable effort, and the Guard's appearance has greatly improved. I am crediting you with a merit, but you must not grow arrogant or complacent—maintain this good momentum. The Embroidered Uniform Guard is my eyes and ears, and one of my pillars of support. The Guard's affairs must never be neglected. The Zhangjiakou matter is known only to me, to you, and to those involved—you must not tell anyone else. The time to act has not yet come!"

The Emperor took a sip of tea, set down the cup, and continued: "Select fifty men from the Guard. I will send the imperial bodyguard Cheng Qianli to lead them to Sun Chuanting in Shaanxi. Once there, they are to follow his arrangements. These fifty must be skilled in close combat and in ambush and reconnaissance. I will notify the Ordnance Directorate that these men may select suitable weapons before they leave the capital. With these men assisting him, Sun Chuanting will have more room to maneuver. Go back to the Guard and see to this immediately. Additionally, I feel that the Guard's strength in the Jiangnan region may have slipped beyond your control. When you return, discuss with the other senior officers—the Nanjing Chiliarch of the Guard must be replaced. Select loyal and capable men from the capital's guard stations to take up the post in Nanjing. I want to understand the movements of the officials and gentry in Jiangnan. Jiangnan is the heart of the Ming's wealth, and in recent years it has shown signs of slipping out of control—this must be reversed. Gathering intelligence of all kinds is a crucial part of that. You must take this seriously. Now, go and carry it out!"

Luo Yangxing saluted and withdrew. The Emperor then ordered a young eunuch to go to the imperial estates and convey a decree to Liu Chao: select several estate stewards well-versed in affairs to lead several well-digging teams to report to the Shaanxi Governor. The thousand military cotton-padded coats produced over these past months were to be sent along as well, escorted by government troops.

Ever since the more than one hundred thousand mu of the Earl of Chengyi's fields had been taken into imperial hands, Liu Chao's workload had suddenly grown enormously. Previously he and a few stewards had managed several thousand people, which was already a strain. Now, with several times the population and land added at once, Liu Chao was so busy he had no time even to eat or sleep.

All day long he shuttled back and forth between the two estates. The hardship went without saying, but it was precisely this state of frantic busyness that made Liu Chao feel more fulfilled than ever before.

He transplanted the measures he had implemented at the original imperial estate to the new one as well. Under these various policies, the tenant farmers at both estates felt as though heaven and earth had been turned upside down, and their productive enthusiasm soared.

Regardless of age or sex, every farmer who could move joined in the various productive activities. After several months, the tenants who had previously never had enough to eat and wore sallow, malnourished faces gradually began to look healthier. The eggs from the chickens and ducks they raised at home were all purchased at market prices by designated buyers, sparing them the hardship of trekking to the capital to sell—and they gradually accumulated a little silver. Not only could they eat their fill, but their family tables saw meat several times a month.

Some women even sported cheap new hair ornaments. More importantly, people's very spirit had transformed—every face radiated happiness and contentment, and their gait no longer had that listless, misery-laden quality of before. Seeing all this, Liu Chao felt an immense sense of accomplishment. Every farmer who saw him would bow respectfully and address him as Eunuch Liu. Liu Chao could tell this was genuine, from the heart—not fear of his power, but gratitude for the enormous benefits he had brought them.

The Emperor naturally knew that with so much new land added, along with the production of clothing and military grain, Liu Chao was stretched beyond his limits, and the current structure needed to change. So he dispatched several dozen literate eunuchs from the palace to the imperial estates to assist Liu Chao in management.

An Imperial Estates Administration Bureau was established, with Liu Chao as its Director at the fifth rank (principal grade), and one left and one right Deputy Director each at the fifth rank (subgrade). Liu Chao's standing was now on par with the mid-ranking eunuchs of the palace, and he was privately immensely pleased—his gratitude to Zhu Zhenqing for the appointment deepened, and he worked even harder than before.

After the young eunuch the Emperor had sent to the imperial estates conveyed the decree, Liu Chao set about making arrangements at once. He assigned Wang Er and Zhao Wu, the two stewards who had been with him from the very beginning, each to lead two well-digging teams to Shaanxi. These two were already thoroughly versed in estate affairs, and Liu Chao knew this summons of men to Shaanxi by His Majesty was an opportunity to earn merit—naturally he would give it to those he trusted. Over three thousand cotton-padded coats had already been produced; he selected a thousand and prepared them, to be sent to Shaanxi together with the government escort.

In the study of Liu Fuguo of Xi'an Left Guard, the invited Zhang Runda and Sun Zuowang were in secret conversation with him. All personnel were barred from approaching within several dozen paces of the study.

Inside the study, Liu Fuguo, seated in the host's position, looked at the two with a gloomy expression and said: "More than half of the one-month deadline has passed. What plans do the two of you have?"

The two, seated in the guest positions below, exchanged a glance, then Sun Zuowang said: "To be honest, Sun here is naturally unwilling to accept this. But I've racked my brains for days and found no countermeasure. The reason I've come is to hear what Brother Liu thinks. If Brother Liu has a good plan, we'll follow it. On this matter, the three guards must advance and retreat together—otherwise, the family property we've accumulated over several generations will suffer enormous losses!"

Zhang Runda nodded in agreement from the side. Liu Fuguo let out a long sigh and said: "Don't I wish I had a foolproof plan! But alas, we are only guard stations—virtually no civil or military official looks highly upon us. Not to mention the court, even the local civil officials with whom we have some private friendship are helpless in this matter. Who in Shaanxi now outranks that fool Sun?"

Sun Zuowang's face was full of chagrin as well. He said: "Those dog officials—when they're accepting our tribute they're all smiles, but when a major matter arises, they shut their doors and won't see us, as if they've never known us. A few days ago I went to call on several provincial civil officials, and not one would receive me—even my gifts were thrown back out. It's enough to make a man both furious and chilled to the bone!"

Zhang Runda spoke up: "I have some connection with the Xuanfu Regional Commander. A few days ago I sent a trusted man with heavy gifts to Xuanfu, hoping that a great general with troops at his command might write a letter to that fool Sun to see if he could mediate. But the moment he heard what it was about, he refused the gifts and sent my man away. He also had him bring back a message: Sun Chuanting has long enjoyed a fine reputation among court officials, and having been sent to Shaanxi with such favor from His Majesty, if his first fire doesn't catch, where would His Majesty's face be? This time it's best not to resist him head-on—wait a few years until he leaves, then slowly find ways to reclaim the surrendered fields. Ah, don't I know this is the safest course? But I just can't swallow this anger! Isn't this plainly a case of picking the softest persimmon to squeeze? They bully us guard stations because we have no troops and no blades—like a fat pig with no power to resist."

Liu Fuguo said with a dark face: "What is the attitude of the officers under your command? This knife falls on more than just the three of us—others won't have it easy either!"

Sun Zuowang said: "Do you even need to ask? Who is willing to spit out meat they've already swallowed? The brothers are all gnashing their teeth in hatred—they just can't think of a way to fight back!"

Zhang Runda expressed the same sentiment. Liu Fuguo said through gritted teeth: "This is officials forcing the people to rebel!"

Sun Zuowang also said: "This dog official really is trying to force everyone to revolt!"

At the word "revolt," Zhang Runda's heart jumped. He did not chime in, but fell silent.

Liu Fuguo looked at the expressions of the two men, knowing well what was in their minds. He said without changing his expression: "We're just talking. We wouldn't dare actually rebel—that's a crime punishable by extermination of one's entire clan. But we can't let that dog official take our family property so easily either. At the very least, we should stir up some trouble for him!"

Sun Zuowang said hurriedly: "Brother Liu, do you have a good plan?"

Zhang Runda also looked at him with expectation. Liu Fuguo pondered a moment, then said: "I have thought of one plan, but I'm not sure whether the two of you would be willing to take part!"

Sun Zuowang said impatiently: "What time is this? If you have a plan, speak quickly! As long as it can wreck this matter, whatever it takes, I, Sun, will not hesitate!"

Zhang Runda thought it over, then also said: "As long as it's not rebellion, I too will follow Brother Liu!"

Liu Fuguo had originally intended to lay out his whole plan, but seeing Zhang Runda's attitude, he naturally did not dare reveal his full scheme. He thought for a moment, then said: "Here's what I'm thinking: when the one-month deadline draws near, we each gather those among our men who are unwilling to accept this—the more the better. After all these years as officials, who doesn't have a few men they can trust? Adding the three guards together, I estimate we can muster a thousand or more—perhaps even more. When the time comes, everyone gathers at my Left Guard, and we report to the Governor that some people, unhappy over the land matter, are gathering to make trouble and look about to mutiny. We ask the Governor to come in person to preside and suppress it. Once he arrives—heh heh!"

Zhang Runda was greatly alarmed and said: "Brother Liu, you're not planning to kill an official and rebel, are you? That's a death crime punishable by extermination of nine generations! We are all Ming officials—under no circumstances can we become rebels!"

Sun Zuowang gave him a contemptuous look and said: "Rebel, then rebel! Those mud-legged peasants with nothing at all rebelled, and now they've become a real force. Even if we rebel, we have grain and money in hand—raising troops would be simple! The court has bullied us to this point. If we yield this time, who knows what tricks they'll have waiting to harm us next!"

Zhang Runda's face turned pale, and he hung his head in silence.

Liu Fuguo glanced at him and said: "We won't rebel—but killing an official isn't necessarily rebellion! If the Governor happens to be killed by enraged hereditary military households, what does that have to do with us? We have no troops and no blades—it's not our fault we couldn't protect him, wouldn't you say?"

Sun Zuowang was stunned for a moment, then understood and said with great delight: "Brother Liu's plan is brilliant! The Governor dies at the hands of the mob, and afterward we cut down the mob to avenge him—not only are we blameless, we have merit! Hahaha! By then the dead can't testify, and even if the court has suspicions, they can only believe our account!"

Zhang Runda raised his head to look at the two and said: "Have the two of you forgotten the Governor's personal guard battalion? That's the elite force that slew even a fierce bandit like Qi Zheng Wang! If the Governor comes to the guard station, how could he not bring his guard battalion for protection?"

At these words, Sun Zuowang's expression immediately turned grim. At the last meeting at the Governor's yamen, those dozen or so guard battalion soldiers had strode straight into the main hall and drawn their blades in intimidation—their bearing clearly showed they were battle-hardened veterans who had seen blood. If the Governor went out, his guard battalion would certainly accompany him. When the time came, never mind a mob—even regular government troops might not be their match.

Seeing that matters had reached this point, Liu Fuguo had no choice but to lay out his full plan, lest the two waver. He said: "I've already thought of that. When the time comes, the men we gather will assemble in front of my official residence. When that fool Sun arrives and sees the crowd, he'll surely spread his guards around the perimeter, so that if trouble breaks out he can suppress it. We'll have agreed in advance to leave a path open for him to reach the front gate of my residence. By then he won't have many guards at his side. Once he reaches the gate of the official residence, we immediately surround them, and chaos breaks out in the square. Even if he orders his men to suppress it, his guards will all be on the perimeter. At that point, under the pretext of protecting the Governor, we persuade him to step inside the official residence, then shut the gates. Inside, trusted household retainers will be lying in ambush—they swarm forward and cut him down. This is what's called the 'luring the prey into the jar' stratagem. What do the two of you think?"

Sun Zuowang mulled it over carefully, then slapped his thigh, raised his thumb at Liu Fuguo, and cried out loudly: "Brother Liu is a genius! This plan is truly brilliant! It's a waste that Brother Liu isn't a Regional Commander! Sun is full of admiration! I'll follow Brother Liu's plan!"

After a moment of silence, Zhang Runda said: "Since the two of you have made up your minds, I have nothing more to say. The three guards are truly one body—I will certainly not stand aside. I will follow wherever the two of you lead!"

Liu Fuguo slapped the armrest of his chair and declared loudly: "Excellent! Refreshing! As long as we smoothly eliminate that fool Sun this time, our family fortunes will be preserved, and our descendants will continue to enjoy wealth and honor!"

Sun Zuowang was beside himself with excitement, as if he could already see Sun Chuanting's head hitting the ground. Zhang Runda forced a smile.

Liu Fuguo was about to arrange a banquet for the two when Zhang Runda excused himself, saying he needed to return to his guard station to make urgent preparations. Sun Zuowang stayed behind.

After seeing Zhang Runda off and returning, Sun Zuowang frowned and said, "Brother Liu, I always feel that Zhang Runda has ulterior motives and cannot be trusted. What if he turns us in and reports us? What would we do then?"

Liu Fuguo sneered and said, "I've seen it too—that surnamed Zhang isn't of one mind with us. But rest assured, he has always been timid and fearful of trouble. Call it kind-hearted, but really it's just cowardice. When it comes to a matter of such importance as the survival of our three guards, he would never dare to report us. Otherwise, it wouldn't just be us—even his own trusted subordinates wouldn't stand for it! He usually never offends anyone, so he certainly wouldn't dare to do something that offends everyone at once. I figure that this time he'll end up bowing out on the pretext of poor health. As for whether his men participate in this affair, he'll surely turn a blind eye. To guard against any contingency, I'll arrange for trusted household retainers to keep an eye on him. As long as we brothers are of one heart and act according to the plan, we'll surely chop off that fool Sun's dog head!"

Sun Zuowang nodded in agreement, and the two drank to their hearts' content, no more to be said.