Chapter 105: Promoting Feng Quan to Minister of Works

Night fell, and a cold wind blew outside the windows as a fine rain gradually began to fall. Inside Kunning Palace, the Chongzhen Emperor was likewise drenched in sweat, anything but idle.

Though the Chongzhen Emperor and Empress Zhou were an "old married couple," they clung together like newlyweds in their honeymoon phase, entwined all night long, utterly delighted.

For the Chongzhen Emperor, had he not developed a good temperament from being poor in his later life, he would have long been infuriated to death by these Donglin partisans after transmigrating into the role of emperor.

Now the realm was in ruin everywhere; hardly a single piece of good news could be heard each day—if it wasn't a shortage of money here, it was a lost city or fallen territory there, with princes and nobles dying off in wave after wave of calamity.

If the former Chongzhen Emperor had managed to hold out for seventeen years, it was nothing short of a miracle. For the current one, the only pleasure might be this matter of the bedchamber.

If the civil officials heard that the Emperor had been "laboring" all night in the harem, they would surely seize the opportunity to make a big fuss. But the Chongzhen Emperor, whose face was thicker than a city wall, paid no heed to however they slandered him and continued doing as he pleased.

In truth, being driven to distraction by all sorts of major and minor affairs and thus needing enjoyment and relaxation was only part of it. The main reason was that the Chongzhen Emperor had summoned his so-called cheap son Zhu Cilang several times over the past few days.

No matter how he comforted himself, someone else's son would never look right to him—there wasn't the slightest feeling of it being his own flesh and blood.

So the Chongzhen Emperor had recently been laboring frequently upon Empress Zhou's person, mainly hoping to sire a "true son" of his own. Whether to establish a crown prince later was another matter—after all, one couldn't treat another man's son as one's own, could one?

Early the next morning, Empress Zhou was just about to help the Chongzhen Emperor into his court robes when, after only a few motions, her small hand was caught. She thought the Chongzhen Emperor wanted to demand more of her and was about to feign shyness and reproach him, when the Chongzhen Emperor said on his own:

"Empress, bring me my armor!"

Just as court convened, Chief Grand Secretary Wei Zaode led the assembled civil and military officials through the two sides into Huangji Hall. After the customary kowtows and shouts of "Long live the Emperor," they once again offered congratulations on the two great victories of the state.

Phrases like "Heaven protects the Great Ming" and "Restoration is in sight"—these utterly useless bits of nonsense the Chongzhen Emperor had learned to automatically ignore. Skipping the stage of trading pleasantries with his ministers, he said directly:

"My ministers, do you see anything different about me today?"

Hearing this, the assembled ministers raised their eyes to look carefully. Unexpectedly, this look startled quite a few of them badly—the Chongzhen Emperor was not wearing the usual court robes, but was properly arrayed in that suit of armor meant for an imperial campaign.

Supervising Secretary of the Bureau of Military Affairs Gu Guobao jumped out and said: "Your Majesty, this violates ancestral regulations! How can an emperor wear armor when holding court?"

"Armor is what crude soldiers wear upon their persons. This defiles the sacred hall. Please, Your Majesty, remove the armor before holding court!"

Well now—he hadn't attended court for quite some time, and before three sentences were out, this fellow was already trying to give him a show of force? It seemed these people truly needed a lesson.

"So you know I am the emperor!" Though the Chongzhen Emperor's words were dripping with sarcasm, his face was perfectly calm, showing no reaction at all.

Before long, the Chongzhen Emperor rose and deliberately shook his armor, then said:

"I come to court today precisely to wear this armor. I have never been on a battlefield, but I know that the Founding Ancestor fought campaigns his entire life and knew the hardship of pacifying all directions!"

"Since I ascended the throne, the affairs of state have worsened day by day. The Dashing King's bandits press west toward Ningwu, the Jianzhou barbarians invade, yet I have accomplished nothing. All of this is due to my own lack of virtue—it has nothing to do with the soldiers and generals!"

As the saying goes, "When the sovereign grieves, the minister is shamed; when the sovereign is humiliated, the minister dies." Whether intentional or not, the Chongzhen Emperor's words were openly taking blame upon himself before everyone. Even if merely for appearances, someone had to step forward and say something.

The current Chongzhen Emperor was not as before—he could slaughter people in court without even a reason, let alone when given one. That would surely not end well.

Chief Grand Secretary Wei Zaode saw things as clearly as a mirror. This thick-skinned sovereign certainly harbored no genuine self-reproach—he was plainly picking a quarrel to execute people and confiscate their property. With no choice, Wei Zaode could only step forward, cup his hands, and say:

"Your servant, as Chief Grand Secretary, has accomplished nothing—all of this is due to your servant's incompetence! Your Majesty is sagely through the ages, versed in both letters and martial arts, of surpassing brilliance. This is truly not Your Majesty's fault."

Wei Zaode lavished a torrent of flattery upon the Chongzhen Emperor before the assembled officials. The Chongzhen Emperor was rather satisfied with this, nodding to him, thinking to himself that this fellow was at least honest enough—only then did he speak:

"Half a year has just passed, and the state has achieved two great victories. This is by no means Heaven protecting the Great Ming! It is because our soldiers and generals were of one mind, single-hearted, and fought desperately. On the battlefield, what they relied upon, besides the blade in their hands, was only this suit of armor on their bodies!"

Hearing this, even the slower ones in court understood—so the Emperor had deliberately worn armor to remind them of the arduous journey by which the founding ancestors had built their enterprise.

Seeing the assembled ministers all nodding thoughtfully, the Chongzhen Emperor turned his gaze to Supervising Secretary Gu Guobao, whose face alone was flushed red, and asked with a smile:

"Minister Gu, does what I have said meet with your approval?"

"Uh—" Seeing the Chongzhen Emperor's expression, Gu Guobao immediately knelt on the ground in terror, thumped several loud kowtows, and said in rapid succession:

"Your Majesty is sagely, Your Majesty is brilliant. Your servant has no objections."

The Chongzhen Emperor gave a cold snort at this. This fellow knew to yield and submit quickly enough—otherwise, his next words would have had the Eastern Depot and Embroidered Uniform Guard confiscate his entire household.

No matter what he thought inwardly, the Chongzhen Emperor still nodded with a smile on his face, putting on a gentle demeanor as he said:

"Summon Gao Jie to the capital to report the victory. Have him carry Abatai's head and present himself before me outside the Chengtian Gate! On the day he arrives, there will be further rewards!"

With that, the Chongzhen Emperor looked toward Minister of Works Xue Fengxiang and asked:

"How is the construction of the Loyal Martyr Shrine progressing?"

Xue Fengxiang was somewhat flustered, nearly tripping as he came out. He hurriedly said: "To answer Your Majesty, it... it is nearly complete."

Hearing this, the Chongzhen Emperor said: "Wang Cheng'en, what have the depot agents uncovered?"

Wang Cheng'en raised his head and stepped forward a few paces, announcing in a loud voice:

"To answer Your Majesty, the Ministry of Works used shoddy materials and cut corners, failing to pay the laborers' wages, so that the conscripted workers were full of complaints. When they later demanded the back pay owed them, the Ministry directed its thuggish servants to beat three laborers and kill one."

"I gave your Ministry of Works three months. Yet to this day, the Loyal Martyr Shrine is still not built! For such a mediocre and useless lot, what use have I for you?!" The Chongzhen Emperor slammed the table and rose, waving his hand:

"Throw him into the Imperial Prison and confiscate his property for the state. Where is Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion Feng Quan?"

Xue Fengxiang collapsed limply to the ground, casting pleading looks toward the Donglin ministers behind him. But at a time like this, who would risk having their own households confiscated to speak up for him? They all watched helplessly as the Minister of Works was dragged out by the grand guards.

Though Feng Quan had returned to the Grand Secretariat, he merely held the title of Grand Secretary in name. At court assemblies nothing ever concerned him, and without any substantive post, his words carried no weight whatsoever—no one would listen to him anyway.

Hearing the Chongzhen Emperor call his name, he quickly stepped out from the ranks and shouted:

"Your servant is here!"

"The Directorate of Ceremonial shall draft the edict: Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion Feng Quan, since returning to the capital, has been diligent and conscientious, rendering merit to the state. From this day forth, he shall be promoted from Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion to Minister of Works, additionally granted the title of Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent concurrently serving as Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent. May you continue to bring blessings to the state and its people in the days to come."

Feng Quan seemed to have found a second spring in life, trembling all over with excitement as he cried out repeatedly:

"Your Majesty is sagely! Your servant thanks you for this great favor!"

The Chongzhen Emperor gave an "mm" of acknowledgment, then turned to Minister of Revenue Ni Yuanlu and said:

"Order the Ministry of Revenue to ascertain the names and native places of all soldiers who fell in this campaign, compile the registers and enter them into the rolls. Once the Loyal Martyr Shrine is completed, inscribe them upon it immediately, to give proper recognition to the loyal souls and heroic martyrs of the Great Ming!"