Chapter 8: The Embroidered Uniform Guard

Back in the palace, Zhu Cilang quickly summoned Luo Yangxing, the Guard Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Luo Yangxing was the son of Luo Sigong, the former Guard Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and inherited his father's position. Because his old man had refused to align with Wei Zhongxian, he basked in the reflected glory and won the Chongzhen Emperor's trust and appreciation, being promoted over the ranks to become the top man of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Zhu Cilang gave Luo Yangxing no friendly look—this man was too greedy, and after the fall of the Ming, he had even surrendered to the Manchu Qing.

"There was once a man in the Embroidered Uniform Guard named Li Tingbiao. Why wasn't he restored to his original post after being exonerated?" Zhu Cilang got straight to the point, unwilling to waste words with him.

"This..." Luo Yangxing had no idea why His Highness the Crown Prince suddenly asked this question. That man named Li Tingbiao had long been forgotten, cast to the far corners of his mind.

Zhu Cilang looked at him, furrowing his brow: "This man, like your father, was persecuted by the Wei eunuch. Now that things are as they are, how can your conscience bear it? Restore him to his original post."

Luo Yangxing's mind spun at lightning speed upon hearing this. In the blink of an eye, he figured out many things, then said readily: "Rest assured, Your Highness. This humble officer will restore him to his post today!"

Luo Yangxing, being someone who could surrender to the Qing, was naturally a weathervane. The Crown Prince was the heir apparent of the Great Ming and the future Emperor—there was no need to offend him. Far from offending him, he should cozy up and curry favor, and this was now his opportunity.

"Alright, nothing more. You may go now!" Zhu Cilang waved his hand, cutting off Luo Yangxing's protestations of loyalty.

Toward traitors, he couldn't be bothered to say a single extra word.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Northern Provost Office headquarters.

In the empty main hall, beneath a painting of a fierce tiger descending the mountain, Luo Yangxing, Guard Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, sat sideways in a large chair draped with a white tiger skin, leisurely crossing his legs and taking a light sip of fine Longjing tea.

Li Tingbiao stood before him, wearing a brand-new flying-fish robe with a gleaming new embroidered saber at his waist, feeling as though he had returned to the old days.

Luo Yangxing, seated in the hall, looked at Li Tingbiao standing before him and squeezed out a faint smile: "Brother Li, my apologies. I've been so busy these years that I forgot about your matter."

Li Tingbiao looked at Luo Yangxing—who ten years ago had been a mere Chiliarch under his command but now outranked him by three grades—and felt no ripple in his heart. These years had taught him composure and forbearance.

"Sir, what words are these? That this subordinate can be restored to his post today is entirely thanks to your promotion." Li Tingbiao clasped his fists and said.

Luo Yangxing raised an eyebrow at this and said: "Lord Li is too courteous. It is His Highness the Crown Prince who favors you. I dare not claim credit for His Highness's deeds."

Luo Yangxing rose from the white tiger chair, walked over to his side, and said in a low voice: "How did you manage to board His Highness the Crown Prince's ship?"

"While in the Imperial Prison, this humble officer came to know a Centurion who guarded the prison. We got along well and became friends. It was he who put in a few good words for this humble officer before His Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Tingbiao did not conceal it—even if he didn't say, Luo Yangxing, as the top man of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, could find out anyway. Better to speak up than let him investigate.

Of course, he would never reveal a single word about his other matters with His Highness the Crown Prince.

Luo Yangxing gave Li Tingbiao a serious look, then nodded: "Mm, I never expected that Xu Sheng would be so capable. Back then he was just a minor Centurion of the Imperial Prison. When he said he was going to Liaodong, everyone thought he was going to his death, yet he fought his way to a future, and even caught the eye of His Highness the Crown Prince. Truly remarkable luck."

It seemed Luo Yangxing had also looked into Li Tingbiao's affairs—otherwise he wouldn't have been able to name Xu Sheng.

Li Tingbiao nodded slightly, saying nothing, appearing as one listening to instruction.

Luo Yangxing shot Li Tingbiao a surprised glance. He felt that his former superior had changed too much. This man had once been a real hard man, and fiercely proud too—how was he so docile now?

Then he sneered inwardly. Coming out of the Imperial Prison alive was already a miracle. No matter how proud the bones, they'd file you down square and proper.

Looking at the expressionless, silent Li Tingbiao, Luo Yangxing continued: "Brother Li, you're one of His Highness's men now. In the future, when you have the merit of supporting the new sovereign, don't forget your big brother here."

Li Tingbiao repeatedly said he wouldn't dare, appearing very humble.

Luo Yangxing smiled, said no more, exchanged a few pleasantries of instruction, and left. He had only come to exchange a few polite words with Li Tingbiao anyway.

Now that he was the top man of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, there was no need for him to fawn over Li Tingbiao, who was three grades below him.

Even if he was one of His Highness the Crown Prince's men, so what? He, Luo Yangxing, was His Majesty's man. Besides, His Highness was still a mere child—who knew how long it would be before he ascended the throne.

Li Tingbiao watched Luo Yangxing walk away, a contemptuous smile curling at his lips, his gaze growing ever sharper.

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A few days later, Zhu Cilang received a secret letter from Li Tingbiao, saying that he had already gathered a group of highly trustworthy Embroidered Uniform Guard officers under his command and was preparing to begin investigating certain ministers. He asked His Highness to first assign him a few targets.

Zhu Cilang was very satisfied. That Li Tingbiao had built himself a reliable core team in just a few short days was ample proof of his ability.

Zhu Cilang was not worried about whether Li Tingbiao's men were reliable. Li Tingbiao had experienced a great fall, spent time in the Imperial Prison, and languished unemployed at home for years—those years were enough for him to see clearly the true character of the men who had once served under him.

Then, he noticed Xu Sheng seemed to want to speak but hesitated. Under Zhu Cilang's prompting, Xu Sheng finally said: "Your Highness, Lord Li once told this humble officer in private that developing intelligence personnel requires funds. His family is poor and cannot bear the expense."

Zhu Cilang nodded, indicating understanding. Although Li Tingbiao was in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, all his intelligence functions were carried out secretly on his own, and he also needed to hire people at the outermost fringes to gather information—this required considerable funds.

"How much silver does the Eastern Palace have now?" Zhu Cilang suddenly asked Wu Zhong.

"Reporting to the young master, the Eastern Palace currently has only one thousand taels of silver available for use."

"That poor?" Zhu Cilang was somewhat dumbfounded. Without money, how the hell could he get anything done!

No, he had to find a way to get silver. Intelligence was the top priority—if it couldn't be developed, there would be no playing the game later.

Zhu Cilang thought of Empress Zhou. She was the person closest to him in the Great Ming. Zhu Cilang planned to go get a few thousand taels from her to tide things over and get the work started.

"First go to the Qianqing Palace to request an audience with His Majesty my father, then go to the Kunning Palace." Zhu Cilang ordered, and Wu Zhong immediately went to arrange the procession.

Although the Kunning Palace and the Zhongcui Palace were separated by only two palace walls, less than a hundred paces apart, Zhu Cilang still had to obtain the Chongzhen Emperor's permission before he could see his birth mother, Empress Zhou—this was an ancestral rule of the Great Ming.

Zhu Cilang first returned to the Zhongcui Palace to change into a bright red formal robe, then went to the Qianqing Palace to pay respects to the Chongzhen Emperor and state his purpose.

The Chongzhen Emperor was busy every day, so he casually acknowledged the request and let him leave.

Zhu Cilang came out of the Qianqing Palace, passed through the Jiaotai Hall, and arrived at the Kunning Palace where Empress Zhou resided.