Chapter 174: The Matchmaker Chongzhen

None of these men would do. After considering those around him one by one, the Chongzhen Emperor found that they were either too old or had flaws in character — none were ideal candidates for Imperial Son-in-law.

Naturally, the Chongzhen Emperor then turned his gaze toward the ministers of the Southern Ming in history.

The Southern Ming of history had produced many heroic figures and deeds worthy of song and tears. The first thing Chongzhen thought of was Jiangyin in history.

This was truly a blessed place producing outstanding people. When the Ming realm was sinking into ruin, everywhere else surrendered at the first sight of the enemy, with few putting up desperate resistance — but here, a succession of three "outstanding men" devoted to resisting the Qing emerged.

Led by these three men, a hundred thousand righteous people of Jiangyin stood united in purpose, and under the relentless siege and ceaseless cannon fire of over two hundred thousand Jianzhou barbarians, they held Jiangyin for a full eighty-one days. It must be said, this was a miracle.

"Eighty days of keeping their hair in loyal service, worthy of the men of seventeen reigns under Grand Ancestor; a hundred thousand dying together for righteousness, leaving behind three hundred li of Ming rivers and mountains."

These words, widely celebrated in later generations, speak of the tragic ferocity of the eighty-one-day defense of Jiangyin, and of the Ming army and people's unrelenting sacrifice.

After breaching the city, the Jianzhou barbarians immediately began an appalling massacre within Jiangyin. Of the hundred thousand-plus people of Jiangyin — old and young, soldiers and civilians — counting those who died in the defense, only fifty-three survived in the end. This number is shocking whether seen in later ages or today.

Whenever he thought of this matter, the Chongzhen Emperor felt deeply shaken — if every place in the Ming had been like this, how could the Qing slaves ever have entered the passes?

In history, these Three Worthies of Jiangyin were at this time still nobodies. Even Yan Yingyuan, renowned in later ages, was at this moment merely a minor clerk.

As for the other two, Chen Mingyu and Feng Houdun, at present they were not even clerks. Moreover, these two already had families and were both well into their teens — they could not possibly satisfy the conditions the Chongzhen Emperor held for an ideal Imperial Son-in-law.

The Three Worthies of Jiangyin would not do either. The Chongzhen Emperor grew even more helpless and could only sit there racking his brains. Under Li Chun's watchful gaze, Chongzhen paced back and forth, his expression sometimes excited, sometimes dejected — quite a spectacle.

Du Yinxi, He Tengjiao, Zhang Jiayu...

Anyone with even a trace of mention in Southern Ming history had virtually all passed through the Chongzhen Emperor's mind. Even Li Dingguo had been considered at one point, but in the end all these men were abandoned by the Chongzhen Emperor for various reasons.

Just as the Chongzhen Emperor shook his head and planned to think about it again in a few days, a name suddenly surfaced in his mind — "Zhang Huangyan."

Unwilling to let go of any hope of finding the perfect Imperial Son-in-law, the Chongzhen Emperor hurriedly ordered Li Chun to bring up his records. After flipping through them for a long while, he finally let out a hearty laugh.

Seeing that the Emperor's expression had finally improved, Li Chun, the seal-holding eunuch of the Palace Maintenance Directorate attending at his side, also felt a weight lift from his heart. He plucked up his courage and asked: "Your Majesty, what has made You so happy? Tell me so this servant can share in the joy!"

"This man truly is a talent versed in both letters and arms!" The Chongzhen Emperor was in excellent spirits and did not think too much about it, pointing at the records as he said: "This Zhang Huangyan placed first in the county examination at sixteen, and when tested on horsemanship and archery, he was also first — remarkable!"

"Three years ago, this man came to the capital and passed the juren examination. I remember that at the time I also had the military preparedness of those same-year juren and xiucai examined, and again it was this Zhang Huangyan — three shots, three hits. First in both letters and arms among his cohort!"

Li Chun nodded. He could naturally hear the deep appreciation in the Emperor's words for this man, and said with a smile:

"Your Majesty is wise. To have such a talent versed in both letters and arms is a blessing for the Ming state. Surely the Princess will also take a liking to this Imperial Son-in-law."

The Chongzhen Emperor looked over Zhang Huangyan's records again — the more he looked, the more he liked him. This man in history had been loyal to the Ming, spending his entire life struggling to oppose the Qing and restore the Ming. From this aspect alone, Zhang Huangyan's character was comparable to Shi Kefa's — beyond reproach.

Judging from Zhang Huangyan's records, this man was also a complete talent in both letters and arms, with abilities far surpassing Shi Kefa's. For such a man to emerge was truly rare and precious.

Beyond that, Zhang Huangyan was born on the ninth day of the sixth month in the forty-eighth year of Wanli — now a passionate youth in his early twenties, an excellent match in age for the Princess Changping!

Moreover, Zhang Huangyan would not die as he had in history, unable to hold the line alone against the Qing. Under his own deliberate cultivation, this man still had many possibilities ahead.

Thinking of this, the Chongzhen Emperor asked: "Li Chun, where is this man now?"

"To answer Your Majesty." Li Chun hastily turned back to confer with several eunuchs before speaking with utmost respect: "This man currently resides at Wulong Lane in the capital. After passing the juren examination a few years ago, he has remained idle in the capital ever since."

"Good — Heaven aids me." The Chongzhen Emperor was overjoyed and waved his hand: "Issue the edict: order Zhang Huangyan to come to the capital immediately to see me — no delay!"

"Your servant obeys the decree!"

Having said this, the Chongzhen Emperor turned and added:

"Also, go personally to the Princess's residence and bring Changping to the side hall. When I summon Zhang Huangyan shortly, let her watch from the side."

"This servant understands — I'll go at once!" Li Chun's whole body gave a start, and he hurried out to deliver the decree.

Following the trajectory of history, Zhang Huangyan would have gone south to Ningbo after the fall of Beijing, beginning the anti-Qing struggle of the latter half of his life.

But at present, Beijing had not fallen, the Chongzhen Emperor was still alive and well, and the Ming had instead repelled the combined encirclement of the Dashun army and the Qing army in the seventeenth year of Chongzhen, winning three great victories.

Due to the fluttering effect of butterfly wings, Zhang Huangyan now still continued to remain within Beijing.

On the one hand, Zhang Huangyan studied books and practiced martial arts; on the other, he frequented the markets, inquiring everywhere about matters of state and military affairs, and liked to write down his views on paper. In this back-and-forth, he had written quite a lot.

That evening, on a corner of Zhang Huangyan's desk lay stacked the previous two issues of the Imperial Gazette, while in his hand he continuously wrote something on blank paper.

"Bang—"

Suddenly, the courtyard gate was kicked open violently by someone, and a squad of the Embroidered Uniform Guard strode in wearing official boots.

Zhang Huangyan was greatly alarmed, thinking that his reckless discussion of state affairs on paper had been discovered by the agents. Without time to think further, he hastily crumpled the paper into a ball, intending to throw it all out the window.

"Which one of you is Zhang Huangyan?" The Embroidered Uniform Guard Centurion at the lead glared with round, bell-like eyes — his voice arrived before he did.

After entering, seeing only one person in the room, he waved his hand and said: "So you're Zhang Huangyan? Come along with us!"

Poor Zhang Huangyan — not even sure what crime he had committed, he was about to be taken away by the overbearing agents of the depots and guards. Having long heard of the fearsome reputation of the Imperial Prison and the Eastern Depot dungeons, Zhang Huangyan immediately wailed to the heavens:

"Mother! Your son is unfilial — I failed to serve the state with loyalty, and failed to be at your side to see you to your final rest!"

"Mother, your son is unfilial — I've made you, white-haired, see off your black-haired child!"

"What are you howling about?" One of the Embroidered Uniform Guard dealt him a punch without mercy, saying impatiently: "His Imperial Majesty the Emperor has summoned you — you lucky bastard! Don't be one of those who doesn't know when fortune has smiled on him!"

"Fortune? The Emperor summons me?" Zhang Huangyan was dumbfounded.

This truly was a case of ice and fire, of a dark path suddenly leading to a village in bloom. Zhang Huangyan had thought he was being taken away by the agents for reckless discussion of state affairs to be tortured, but now hearing that it was the Emperor summoning him, he became excited beyond measure.

Who was that? That was the current Son of Heaven, the Emperor of the Ming!

Why had he studied books and practiced martial arts? It was to repay the state's kindness of nurture and salary, to serve the Emperor loyally. Now that he could meet the very Son of Heaven he had longed for day and night, how could he not be stirred with excitement and joy?