Chapter 168: Summoning Song Yingxing

Having finished discussing the reorganization of the Capital troops, an urgent report from Pidao arrived right on its heels. This was one of the downsides of being emperor—apart from that business at night, there was almost never a moment to rest.

Why was the urgent report from Pidao a mixture of joy and worry? The joy was that after the Dongjiang garrison was re-established, it had actually managed to produce the same effect it had in history. Though the effect was subtle, it was still better than nothing.

The worry was about soldiers and generals like Zhou Sizhao who had returned to the court and died in battle. Though these men had surrendered to the Qing in history for various reasons, Chongzhen had given them another chance to choose their own fate.

This time they had made a different choice, and they deserved at least the most basic respect.

"Why hasn't Song Yingxing arrived yet?" The Chongzhen Emperor was discussing the recent situation of the Capital troops with Zhang Shize when he suddenly turned his head and asked.

Upon hearing this, the eunuch Wang Dehua of the Directorate of Ceremonial replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, this servant has already sent someone to urge him along. Surely—"

Mid-sentence, Wang Dehua noticed a shadow before the door of the warm chamber, smiled, and continued, "Your Majesty, Minister Song has arrived."

The Chongzhen Emperor said with pleasant surprise, "Oh? Quickly, invite him in!"

"Your servant Song Yingxing pays respects to His Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!" Song Yingxing had barely set one foot past the threshold when he knelt and kowtowed, calling out.

"My minister need not stand on ceremony!" The Chongzhen Emperor's face was full of delight as he stepped down to help Song Yingxing up, saying earnestly, "Old sir, please rise quickly. Are you finding the affairs of the Crafts Bureau to your liking?"

As he spoke, the Chongzhen Emperor deliberately took a good look at this old man already in his fifties.

Though Song Yingxing's hair and beard were both white, his eyes still sparkled with vigor. As he walked over, he gave one a sense of an immortal's bearing—not far at all from what the Chongzhen Emperor had pictured in his mind.

In fact, the moment he had stepped one foot into the Eastern Warm Chamber, Song Yingxing had already taken a very quick measure of this Chongzhen Emperor whom the Donglin Faction called a Xia Jie or Shang Zhou.

In previous years, Song Yingxing had once had a brief encounter with the Chongzhen Emperor. At that time, the feeling he had gotten could be summed up in a single word—exhausted.

Anyone with discerning eyes could see that the Chongzhen Emperor of those days had gray hair at a young age, his face written all over with a weariness that should not have belonged to someone of his years.

It was rather amusing to say, but back then, although the Chongzhen Emperor had not been called an enlightened ruler or sage sovereign by the Donglin Faction, his reputation had still been fairly decent—yet the Great Ming had been sliding downhill year after year.

Now the Chongzhen Emperor looked far more spirited. Last year he had personally led the campaign at the Battle of military pay and provisions, and his energy and demeanor had improved greatly.

In corresponding contrast, talk of him being a tyrant now flew everywhere. The Fushe had even produced a book about it, and thanks to the scholars' tireless promotion, the common folk of Jiangnan knew it down to their women and children.

Yet it was precisely in this year that the Great Ming had won three great victories in succession, with bandits and barbarians retreating on both fronts, ushering in a faint glimmer of dawn. At the very least, no one would dare spout that nonsense about a change of dynasty anymore.

Song Yingxing had more than once angrily resigned his post and returned home before his term was complete, and many Donglin partisans therefore held some criticism of him. But as one who had been through it himself, the Chongzhen Emperor understood Song Yingxing.

The reason he had resigned was that he felt he could not put his learning to use in the positions he held, could not make sufficient contribution to the Great Ming—it was not the laziness and love of ease that many censors claimed.

Song Yingxing replied in a measured manner, "Your Majesty has brought together many of this old minister's former friends and acquaintances, and this old minister has been at his post for several days now, so he finds it fairly agreeable."

The Chongzhen Emperor gave an "mm," walked back to his imperial desk, sat down, and said, "Old sir, have you done any research on firearms?"

"To answer Your Majesty, it is Bi Maokang and his younger brother Bi Maoliang who may truly be called experts on firearms. This old minister has only a slight acquaintance with the methods of manufacturing weapons and firearms." After thinking briefly, Song Yingxing spoke.

By all rights, when the Chongzhen Emperor asked such a question, most people, in order to gain favor, would boast extravagantly. And even those who did not boast would know that recommending someone more capable than oneself before the emperor was taboo in officialdom.

After all, everyone knew that if you recommended someone more capable than yourself for a major post, you would likely gradually disappear from the central leadership. No matter who it was, this was not something they would welcome.

But Song Yingxing clearly had no such worry, and his words carried a quite modest air.

Hearing this, the Chongzhen Emperor only then remembered these two great masters of firearms from the late Ming, and asked the attendant at his side:

"Where are these two men now?"

When Wang Dehua heard Song Yingxing speak these two names, he had already guessed in his heart what the emperor's next question would be, and answered without hesitation:

"To answer Your Majesty, Bi Maokang and Bi Maoliang oversaw the Bureau of Military Equipment last year and were renowned for a time. It is only unknown for what reason they retired from office."

"Because of the military disturbances last year, the capital was placed under martial law for a time. They did not return to their hometowns but remain in the capital awaiting Your Majesty's summons."

"You slave, you do know how to say pleasant things." The Chongzhen Emperor breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself that this would make things much more convenient, and said with a smile, "Issue the decree—have the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Eastern Depot invite Messrs. Bi Maokang and Bi Maoliang to the warm chamber to see me."

"Your servant obeys the decree. This servant will make the arrangements at once." Wang Dehua said with a beaming smile.

"I wish to pave the capital with crushed-stone roads. Old Minister Song, do you think we should start with the few streets around the Imperial City and implement it gradually from there?"

"Your Majesty is wise." Song Yingxing thought for a moment and said, "At present, most roads within the capital are uneven dirt-and-stone paths, which are still passable. But in the countryside it is not so—whenever there is a light rain, the roads become utterly muddy and impassable for both people and livestock. The same holds true for the army."

"If Your Majesty issues a decree allocating funds for the construction of crushed-stone roads, the silver required is not great. Work can begin on the civilian alleys within the city first, then gradually extend outward to the villages beyond. This is truly a measure that improves the people's livelihood and shares benefits with the populace. This old minister admires it deeply."

"Mm." The Chongzhen Emperor nodded and said with a smile, "If that is so, then I am reassured. If the crushed-stone roads within the capital are completed, roughly how long will it take? Also, my minister, if you have any needs, speak freely—you may raise anything with me."

"This project is not large. If the silver is in place, this old minister guarantees completion within three months." Having said this, Song Yingxing thought a moment and continued:

"This old minister also has a presumptuous request. To guard against ruffians making trouble and picking fights during road construction, I ask that Your Majesty send the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Eastern Depot to supervise the work. In this way, both matters are settled."

"I approve my minister's memorial. Wang Dehua, send word to Li Ruolian to have the Embroidered Uniform Guard accompany them, so as to avoid any further incidents." The Chongzhen Emperor waved his hand.

Wang Dehua hurriedly said, "This servant understands."

After seeing Song Yingxing off, the Chongzhen Emperor chatted about this and that with the others, then headed straight for the Eastern Depot headquarters.

Originally, the street outside the Donghua Gate had been fairly bustling, with no small number of peddlers hawking their wares along the roadside on ordinary days. But ever since the Eastern Depot headquarters had been rebuilt, the crowds had dwindled day by day.

And that made sense—who did not know of the Eastern Depot's fearsome reputation, and who would dare loiter on the Eastern Depot's turf? Would that not be asking for trouble?

Even now, the Chongzhen Emperor could only sparsely see a few passersby hurrying along the roadside, and from the look of them, they all seemed desperate to avoid the place.

Upon hearing that the Chongzhen Emperor was arriving at the Eastern Depot, the agents inside were thrown into a flurry, hurriedly setting aside their current affairs and following the eunuch director Wang Cheng'en out to receive him.

"We pay our respects to His Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"

"I have come today to discuss important matters—no need for ceremony." The Chongzhen Emperor waved his hand without the slightest pretense of modesty and, leading his retinue directly, stepped straight through the Eastern Depot's main gate.