Chapter 13: Zhou Yuji Vows to Fight Li to the Death

Seeing the newcomer's clothing and accessories, Zhai Tang staggered back several steps in shock.

A brush-holding eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial was usually an attendant close to the Emperor himself, far higher in status than the imperial envoy who had delivered the decree last time. Zhai Tang never imagined that someone of such standing would actually back a mere military man like Zhou Yuji.

Moreover, this Li Fengxiang before him was said to be a disciple of Wang Cheng'en, the chief brush-holder — and that man was the most favored figure before the current Chongzhen Emperor, not someone to be lightly provoked.

At this thought, Zhai Tang's expression softened, and he smiled:

"So it is Eunuch Li who has arrived. Why did you not send word ahead? I would have joined Regional Commander Zhou this morning in going ten li outside the city to welcome you."

Zhai Tang was already ready to apologize to Li Fengxiang, so the squire Zhou and the other three wealthy households needed no mention — all wore faces full of fawning flattery. But Li Fengxiang clearly was not buying it. He gave an "Aiya!" and said:

"Master Zhai is said to have some trade dealings with the Qing bandits beyond the pass. This trip of mine, I wanted to find out whether that is true or false."

Hearing these words, Zhai Tang's expression first tightened, then quickly brightened. Eunuchs, regardless of their status or position, were all greedy for wealth — cater to their tastes, and matters might take a turn for the better.

Zhai Tang hurriedly had his steward bring a ten-tael silver ingot and pressed it into Li Fengxiang's arms, flattering him with a smile:

"Consider this silver my apology to you, Eunuch. Later this evening, more will be delivered to your lodging. Please rest easy, Eunuch."

"Oh~?" Li Fengxiang chuckled gleefully and casually accepted the silver.

Seeing this, the Mobile Corps Commander behind him tightened his expression and was about to step forward to warn him, but Zhou Yuji reached out and stopped him. Only then did the man nod and withdraw, though his face still did not look too good.

"Master Zhai, you are trying to bribe me." Though Li Fengxiang had accepted the silver, his tone shifted abruptly. He took out a sheet of paper and said:

"This — I imagine Master Zhai should be quite familiar with it?"

"This this this..."

One glance was all Zhai Tang needed to know that what Li Fengxiang held in his hand was the ledger of his own transactions with the Qing army beyond the pass. But that ledger had been lying by his bedside just a few days ago — how could it have fallen into the hands of this damned eunuch?

At this thought, Zhai Tang's heart sank. He suddenly felt that even the steward he trusted most in daily life might be a spy. Cold sweat gradually appeared on his forehead, and for a moment he could not speak.

"Regional Commander Zhou, what are you waiting for?"

"Wait!"

Zhou Yuji was about to give the order, but Zhai Tang slapped the table and rose again, pointing with a trembling finger:

"To seize and search my property — is this the Emperor's decree?"

"The Son of Heaven attends to a myriad of affairs daily; how could he trouble himself over such a trivial matter? I have found evidence of your secret dealings with the Qing bandits — written in black and white, clear as day. What, you still intend to deny it?"

Li Fengxiang had spent so long in the imperial palace that if he could not see through whatever petty schemes Zhai Tang was plotting at death's door, then all those years would truly have been wasted. Naturally, he took the entire burden onto his own shoulders.

"Take him!"

Zhou Yuji's gaze toward Li Fengxiang changed entirely — his impression of the man was thoroughly revised. He nodded to himself. Waiting any longer would only invite trouble with the long night ahead. At his command, the officers and soldiers surged forward in a circle.

"Pay is being distributed! Pay is being distributed!"

Early the next morning, officers and soldiers all over Daizhou city were shouting about the distribution of pay. They ran about excitedly spreading the news, and those who heard it wept tears of joy without exception, embracing one another and laughing.

"What, they're actually paying us? Hurry and grab a spot, or there won't be any left!"

"Don't rush — haven't you heard what happened last night?"

"What happened?"

"You really don't know anything! Last night, the Commander took the Governor's Direct Command Camp and seized the estate of that old bastard Zhai Tang. Word is the newly arrived Eunuch Li found evidence that the Zhai family was secretly in league with the Tartars — just in silver alone there was over six million taels!"

"What, over six million taels! That means several years' worth of back pay could all be distributed at once. Let's go — I want to tell my mother this good news!"

"Slow down!"

At the drill ground outside Daizhou city, the officers and soldiers who had already received their pay all wore fresh faces and high spirits, gazing at Zhou Yuji and Li Fengxiang with looks of great respect.

After the mounted riders lined up in a row and prepared to make the announcement, Li Fengxiang ascended the review platform and called out loudly:

"Shanxi Regional Commander, Left Commissioner-in-Chief of the Five Military Commissions, Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent Zhou Yuji — receive the decree!"

"Your subordinate receives the decree!"

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The battle at Daizhou draws near. Learning that the officers and soldiers have long gone unpaid, I am deeply remorseful. It is hereby ordered: Shanxi Regional Commander Zhou Yuji shall bear the seal of Bandit-Suppressing General, and a Ningwu Army shall be specially established, to act at its own discretion, directly under the Ministry of War. Furthermore, Zhou Yuji has rendered repeated merit in battle, and is specially promoted to Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent. Respect this!"

Zhou Yuji stood frozen on the spot, and the soldiers of the Ningwu Army around him were all deeply shaken — this decree had already shown the Chongzhen Emperor's boundless trust in them.

A regional commander like Zhou Yuji, though he guarded a locality and led troops, appearing imposing and mighty to hear and behold, was in fact still subject to the restraint of the local governors-general and grand coordinators — his status was not high.

But what did this decree say? "To act at its own discretion, directly under the Ministry of War" — those words sounded nice, but in reality they meant the army was to take orders directly from the Emperor. The local governors-general and grand coordinators were from now on reduced to nothing, no longer able to issue arbitrary commands to them.

It was not hard to see that the Chongzhen Emperor intended to entrust the entirety of frontline resistance against the Dashun army to him. The eunuch Li Fengxiang had presented him and the entire army with a great gift the moment he arrived — without the Emperor backing him from behind, he would never have dared to do such a thing.

Zhou Yuji connected all of this together, sensing the efforts the Chongzhen Emperor had made to support him. He was so overcome with emotion that he could not contain himself, kneeling on the ground and unwilling to rise.

After a long while, Zhou Yuji raised his head, and even his voice carried a hint of tears:

"His Majesty trusts me so deeply — your minister wishes only that he could immediately die on the battlefield, giving his life for the nation! I trouble you, Eunuch, to convey to His Majesty that your minister vows to defend home and country to the death, and to fight the bandit Li to the very end!"

"Your minister Zhou Yuji receives the decree — long live the Emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"

Seeing the glistening tears in Zhou Yuji's eyes, Li Fengxiang quickly descended from the review platform to help him up, speaking with deep sincerity:

"Bandit-Suppressing General, please rise at once! His Majesty has said more than once that General Zhou is a pillar of the court — and seeing you today, it is indeed true!"

Zhou Yuji nodded, his gaze even more resolute. He suddenly drew his blade and turned around to ask:

"Soldiers! His Majesty trusts us all so deeply — if the bandit Li comes, what do we do?"

The soldiers below were silent for a moment, then suddenly raised their blades and spears, erupting in a shout that shook heaven and earth:

"We vow to die for our country!"

"We vow to die for our country!"

"We vow to die for our country!"

The night had grown deep. In the lodging, an oil lamp burned with dim light. Li Fengxiang sat in the corner, finished writing his memorial, and summoned the Centurion of the mounted riders. Sealing the memorial and handing it to him, he instructed:

"Leave the city tonight without stopping. You must deliver this to the capital within five days! Remember — no matter what happens on the road, you must not be delayed!"

"Rest assured, Eunuch. This subordinate guarantees it with his life!"

The Centurion nodded, tucked the memorial securely against his person, ran out of the lodging, and without looking back, spurred his horse into a gallop toward the northeast.