Chapter 134: Rewards and Celebration

On the thirtieth day of the ninth month, the Chongzhen Emperor held a grand court assembly in the Huangji Hall, where all those who had rendered meritorious service in this campaign received rewards and honors from the Emperor one by one.

Huang Degong was promoted to Regional Commander of the Capital Camps, granted the title of Swift Cavalry General, and one of his sons was given a hereditary post as Chiliarch of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Sun Yingyuan was promoted to Regional Commander of the Capital Camps, granted the title of Golden Guard General, and one of his sons was given a hereditary post as Chiliarch of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Zhang Shize was granted the title of Left Commissioner-in-Chief, placed in charge of the Central Military Commission, and appointed to oversee the Capital Camps.

Wang Wannian was promoted to Vice Regional Commander of the Capital Camps and granted the title of Right Commissioner-in-Chief.

Li Tingbiao was promoted to Vice Guard Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Xu Sheng was promoted to Vice Guard Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Zhu Cilang had originally assumed that with Minister of War Zhang Fengyi dead, Lu Xiangsheng would succeed him as Minister of War. However, Chongzhen instead recalled Yang Sichang, who had been at home observing mourning, to take up the post of Minister of War.

Yang Sichang had once served as Governor-General of Xuanfu and Datong. In recent years, when the peasant armies had been making trouble, he had repeatedly submitted memorials offering plans and strategies, leaving a deep impression on Chongzhen, who considered him a man of talent worthy of entering the Grand Secretariat.

Yang Sichang's father, Yang He, understood nothing of military affairs. When he encountered the roving bandits back then, all he did was talk endlessly about offering amnesty, and he did achieve a measure of success — the rebel armies of nearly every faction in Shaanxi accepted his amnesty.

But good times did not last. After spending all the amnesty silver Yang He had distributed, the roving bandits surrendered only to rebel again. Yang He was held accountable by the court and arrested. It was only out of appreciation for his son Yang Sichang that Chongzhen spared Yang He's life.

In the end, Chongzhen issued an edict promoting Lu Xiangsheng to Vice Minister of War, granting him the title of Grand Preceptor to the Crown Prince, and appointing him Governor-General of military affairs for Xuanfu, Datong, and Shanxi.

As for the other Regional Commanders who had led their troops to the capital to defend the throne, the Chongzhen Emperor merely bestowed a few symbolic honorary titles such as Grand Guardian to the Crown Prince, issued some grain and pay, and sent them back to their respective garrisons.

Zhu Cilang felt great regret over Lu Xiangsheng's situation. Through half a month of association, from their conversations, Zhu Cilang could see that Lu Xiangsheng was an official eager to carry out reforms.

If Lu Xiangsheng had become Minister of War, Zhu Cilang could have worked together with him to reform the Ministry of War. This was also why he had originally submitted a memorial requesting that Lu Xiangsheng lead the Tianxiong Army north.

Still, it was just as well that Lu Xiangsheng was going to Xuanfu and Datong. Of all the defenses along the Nine Borders, the Xuanfu-Datong sector was the weakest. Having a capable man like Lu Xiangsheng go patch things up there was also a very good choice.

……

Outside Desheng Gate, Zhu Cilang personally saw Lu Xiangsheng off as he departed for his post at Xuanfu and Datong.

"Master Lu, take care on your journey!"

"Your Highness, I dare not trouble you to see me off so far." Lu Xiangsheng bowed slightly, then led the Tianxiong Army northward.

Zhu Cilang and his party watched from afar as Lu Xiangsheng and his men rode away, wondering whether this parting might be their last meeting.

In history, two years later the Qing soldiers would once again cross the border. Lu Xiangsheng and five thousand Tianxiong troops would be caught in an encirclement by tens of thousands of main-force Qing soldiers. The Tianxiong Army, unafraid of the powerful enemy, would engage in a fierce bloody battle with the Eight Banners forces.

Under the indifferent gaze of their allied troops, the five thousand Tianxiong soldiers, isolated and without support, would fight to the last man, spilling their blood across the northern lands, and be buried amid the cold wind and winter snow.

After seeing Lu Xiangsheng off, Zhu Cilang led his generals to Dezhuang Hotpot, reserved the entire third floor, and held a victory celebration banquet.

All officers of Company Commander rank and above from the Yongwei Camp, the New Camp, the Shenji Camp, and the Shenshu Camp attended the celebration, gathering together in one hall.

The officers of the several camps first raised their cups in a collective toast to Zhu Cilang. Zhu Cilang returned the toast with tea in place of wine, and instructed everyone to eat and drink as they pleased, without restraint.

This kind of banquet without distinction of rank made the generals feel extremely relaxed and joyful — everyone was chatting and laughing, each face beaming with delight.

The Shenji Camp and the Shenshu Camp had ridden on the Yongwei Camp's coattails considerably in this campaign. Wang Wannian, Zhang Shize, and their officers had not only received promotions and pay raises but had also privately shared in no small amount of the spoils. As a result, they treated Huang Degong and the other officers of the Yongwei Camp with great respect, constantly coming over to offer return toasts and such. For a time, the atmosphere was extremely harmonious.

Pot after pot of spicy hotpot was brought out in succession, along with various signature dishes rarely available on ordinary days, and everyone ate until they cried out in sheer satisfaction.

Huang Degong picked up a slice of mutton from the bubbling red-oil broth and put it in his mouth, chewing vigorously a few times. His face flushed red from the spice as he shouted how exhilarating it was. Between mouthfuls he exclaimed in admiration: "I wonder who opened this hotpot shop — it's absolutely brilliant!"

Zhu Cilang and Li Tingbiao, seated nearby, merely smiled without saying a word, not bothering to show off about the matter to their faces.

During the feast, an officer of the Yongwei Camp brought over a newspaper and said with a grin: "Your Highness, the latest issue of the Imperial Ming Times has just been published. It even has a special feature section introducing our Yongwei Camp."

Zhu Cilang was in the middle of eating with great gusto. He casually handed the newspaper to Huang Degong beside him, telling him — as the man in charge of the Yongwei Camp — to read it aloud to everyone and sing his own praises.

Huang Degong took the military newspaper and began reading it slowly, with great difficulty. In many places he actually skipped over characters entirely, completely unable to read it through.

Zhu Cilang frowned and asked: "You don't know how to read?"

Huang Degong nodded, then shook his head: "Your Highness, this officer only recognizes half the characters."

"What the hell!" Zhu Cilang was shocked. He stood up, swept his gaze across the assembled officers, and said: "All of you who can't read — stand up!"

More than half the officers in the entire hall stood up. Some recognized only a few characters; others did not know a single one, unable even to write their own names.

"A bunch of illiterates!" Zhu Cilang was speechless. The literacy rate in the army was actually this low — and these were officers. It was truly terrifying.

Most of the officers from the Shenji Camp and the Shenshu Camp were sons of noble families and nearly all of them were literate. Seeing that the Yongwei Camp and the New Camp, which had always fought so fiercely, contained so many illiterates, they felt considerably better about themselves. "We may not match you in battle, but when it comes to culture, we crush you."

Zhu Cilang waved his hand, signaling everyone to continue eating and drinking. The assembled men did not understand why the Crown Prince had suddenly asked such a question, but they did not dwell on it and went back to enjoying themselves.

Zhu Cilang suddenly felt that army building still had a long way to go. At the very least, the cultural level of military officers had to be raised. They did not need to compose poetry like civil officials, but they ought at least to be literate, surely? He could not keep relying on subordinates to read out orders and battle reports for him!

Especially the Longxiang Night Scouts — they absolutely had to be fully literate. A good intelligence operative — you did not fear him being clever; you feared him being clever AND educated.

Zhu Cilang suddenly asked Huang Degong: "Weren't there some Imperial Academy students who came to the Yongwei Camp a few days ago wanting to enlist? How is that going now?"

Huang Degong let out a long sigh and said: "Your Highness, don't even mention those cultured types. With their skinny little arms and legs, they still want to go to the battlefield? This officer kindly refused to take them, but they insisted on staying and wouldn't leave! Cultured people are just stubborn!"

Zhu Cilang beamed with delight: "Scholars setting down the brush to take up arms — this is a good thing! No matter their physical condition, accept them all!"

Zhu Cilang had originally planned to hire some tutors to teach the soldiers to read in camp. He never expected Imperial Academy students to come knocking on his door instead — could there be anything better than that?

After the celebration banquet, Zhu Cilang promulgated several complete study regulations within the Yongwei Camp and the New Camp, carrying out an illiteracy-elimination education program for the entire army. He also made literacy a criterion for officer promotion examinations, stimulating the whole army's enthusiasm for learning to read.

Subsequently, Zhu Cilang submitted a memorial to the Chongzhen Emperor, requesting that the New Camp and Zhou Yuji's Zhou Banner Camp be merged into the Yongwei Camp, with Zhou Yuji serving as Assistant Regional Commander of the Yongwei Camp.

Chongzhen approved without a second word. Zhu Cilang had rendered such great merit yet could not be rewarded, and the Emperor always felt he had treated him somewhat shabbily, so he told him he could continue to raise any needs he had.

Zhu Cilang did not push his luck by making many requests. He only asked that one hundred thousand taels of silver be allocated from the war spoils for the repair of Deling. The repair of Deling was a matter of time in any case, but the process would require the ministers to wrangle back and forth. Zhu Cilang might as well open his mouth first and sell everyone a favor.