Chapter 248: The Tumult Within the Palace Walls, the Memorials Open and Secret

That Assistant Regional Commander's thinking wasn't bad, and he had a fair bit of self-awareness too.

Even if the Qi troops' Mandarin Duck Formation was newly formed and its combat power not yet very strong, it still wasn't something his own demoralized routed soldiers could break through — he would have to strike from the flank. In fact, even as he was moving earlier, he had already been silently lamenting his plight.

Who could have known that these Qi troops, fewer than five hundred in number, would prove so tenaciously formidable? His own force of nearly a thousand men simply could not push through or defeat them. He truly had no idea how these few young whelps had trained their soldiers.

But what he hadn't considered was — if he could think of it, how could Qi Yuangong not think of it too?

No sooner had he led his men around to the flank than the Assistant Regional Commander heard a fierce burst of battle cries. Several dozen Qi troops surged in to surround them, and before he could even shout anything, he felt a fierce gust of wind strike from his side.

This Assistant Regional Commander had followed Liu Liangzuo in causing chaos far and wide, and the fact that he had climbed to his current position — aside from the pack of soldier-ruffians under his command — naturally meant he had some real skill in his hands and feet. His reactions were quick, and with a practiced dodge he slipped out of the way.

Turning back to look, he saw it was Qi Yuangong clad in the armor of a Mobile Corps Commander. Immediately the Assistant Regional Commander's heart filled with contempt and scorn. He burst into loud laughter and said arrogantly:

"I thought who it might be — turns out it's just a brat whose hair hasn't even grown in yet. Best go call your father! I, this commander, am a man of great magnanimity who won't hold a grudge against a lesser person. If you run now, I won't kill you!"

"Death is at your very door, and still you spout such arrogance! It seems you don't know how precious life is!"

Qi Yuangong had been eyeing this head for a long time. If he could take this Assistant Regional Commander's head and present it as tribute, and with a bit of persuasive advocacy from Chen Qiyu, he was certain to make a name for himself before the Emperor. That way, he could also restore the Qi family's renown.

Therefore, the foremost merit of this battle was something Qi Yuangong absolutely had to seize.

As for the weapon in Qi Yuangong's hand — though the Assistant Regional Commander prided himself on having roamed north and south, he had never seen anything like it.

Having barely dodged a few moves, the Assistant Regional Commander saw Qi Yuangong coming at him again and cried out urgently: "That's not a Qi family saber! Do the Qi family not use the Qi family saber? No, wait — what kind of technique is this of yours?"

"Hmph, what kind of technique? You can go ask Old Man Yama down in the underworld!" Qi Yuangong, having gained the advantage, gave no quarter — it was entirely the style of striking while your enemy is down and pressing for the kill.

The Assistant Regional Commander discovered with astonishment that despite Qi Yuangong's youth, his sword-hand technique and speed were both far beyond his own. And more importantly, there was that treasured heirloom blade in his hand, which bore fine little hooks along its entire length.

Though he didn't understand what kind of weapon this was, the Assistant Regional Commander did understand that if he were struck by this thing a few times, the damage would be far more severe than wounds taken in ordinary combat.

The battle between the rebel Assistant Regional Commander and Qi Yuangong turned out far differently than anyone expected. The young Qi Yuangong completely dominated him — from every angle, he had the other man reduced to nothing but parrying and blocking, with not the slightest strength to strike back.

Before long, the Assistant Regional Commander was already somewhat exhausted. Qi Yuangong sneered coldly in his heart and made a feint with his hand.

The Assistant Regional Commander instinctively stepped back a pace, then raised his saber to parry — but the very next moment he regretted it. Qi Yuangong's blade twirled nimbly in midair, then abruptly changed course and came straight for his face.

Immediately, without a second thought, the Assistant Regional Commander kicked out.

But the speed of his foot was still no match for the speed of Qi Yuangong's blade. Before the big kick could land, Qi Yuangong's strangely shaped saber had already cut into the Assistant Regional Commander's body.

The old iron armor the Assistant Regional Commander had worn year-round was like paper before this blade — in a flash of lightning it was breached, and the blade's edge drove straight into his chest. One stroke, and the battle was over.

"Clang——"

The steel saber the Assistant Regional Commander had raised mid-swing lost all its strength and clattered to the ground. As Qi Yuangong mercilessly withdrew the blade from his body, the Assistant Regional Commander sprayed blood with a "puh" and collapsed to the ground.

In days past, this Assistant Regional Commander, following Liu Liangzuo through the Fengyang and Linhuai territories, had been vicious and fearsome — a veritable local tyrant, relying on these so-called elite government troops before him. But now, these men were truly not worth a glance before the well-drilled Qi troops.

Not long after this Assistant Regional Commander fell, the remaining Assistant Regional Commanders were also cut down one after another by Qi Yuanbi, Wu Chengye, and the others.

Somewhat comically, that last Mobile Corps Commander — still shaken and utterly without will to fight — jumped down into a ditch hoping to flee along the path. But in his panic he forgot to check what was below, and the moment he landed he was run straight through by a trap that had been prepared in advance.

Seeing this, the morale the routed soldiers had barely managed to muster scattered completely in an instant. With a roar they fled in all directions — though of course, everyone on the battlefield showed their true colors. Aside from those who scattered and ran, a considerable number knelt and surrendered, gambling on a stroke of luck.

After the battle, Wu Chengye frowned at these men and asked: "Brother Qi, by the old marshal's judgment, these men are all ruffians who can neither serve as soldiers nor be useful as common folk. Keeping them is nothing but trouble — we might as well cut them all down and report their heads as merit."

Qi Yuangong also understood that in these times, rising step by step as one did in peacetime was simply impossible. To serve one's country, sometimes one had to compromise, sometimes one needed other means.

Moreover, in this day and age, there was no shortage of warfare — Liaodong, the Nine Borders, even within the country itself, the flames of war raged everywhere. Only by establishing great merit this time would there be a chance to earn even greater military achievements in the future.

As for the next opportunity — even if his Qi family could afford to wait, the Great Ming Dynasty probably could not.

Thinking this far, Qi Yuangong nodded and said:

"All these routed rebels present — whether they surrendered or fled — cut them all down and report them as military merit. The more the better. This time, my Qi family will make a stunning debut!"

"As commanded!"

In Beijing, the Chongzhen Emperor was reviewing memorials, and as he reviewed, he began to sigh.

"Damn it all — I'm an emperor, after all. How can I not even handle one little Mongol wench? No question about it — tonight I'll make her beg for mercy. I refuse to believe otherwise."

"Your Majesty!"

Just as he was thinking this, the Chongzhen Emperor heard a shout and was thoroughly startled. He looked up — sure enough, it was that little wench Tuoya. He frowned inwardly, cold sweat forming on his brow, and forced calm as he said:

"I... I'm reviewing memorials. Go find Noble Consort Yuan and the others to play with."

"No!"

Tuoya was rather lacking in proper deference, which in this deep palace where rules governed everything was indeed a refreshing sight. No wonder those idiotic emperors in those idiotic Qing-palace dramas from later generations all loved women who lacked deference and time-traveled into the palace — the Chongzhen Emperor finally understood.

Just as he thought this, the Chongzhen Emperor suddenly realized — no, this won't do. If I keep going like this, won't I end up just like those idiotic emperors in the idiotic Qing-palace dramas?

"No sense of propriety." A displeased expression suddenly appeared on the Chongzhen Emperor's face, and he said in a deep voice: "The war in the Central Plains is urgent, and I still have many memorials left to process. What time do I have to go hunting with you?"

"If you have this much free time, go to Noble Consort Yuan and study the palace rules properly, so you won't be punished by the Empress again next time. When that happens, I won't be sticking my neck out for you."

Seeing the Chongzhen Emperor displeased, Tuoya's expression dimmed as well. Before she could say anything, however, Fang Zhenghua came running in with ecstatic joy, clutching a report of victory.

"Your Majesty! A report of victory!"

"Ningnan Earl Zuo Liangyu and Changde Regional Commander Ma Kuang have joined forces — four battles, four victories! They have now recovered the four prefectures of Hanyang, De'an, Chengtian, and Xiangyang!"

Hearing this news, the Chongzhen Emperor's expression did not change. The Embroidered Uniform Guard and Eastern Depot had already reported this matter days ago. Zuo Liangyu had actually lost the battle — and now he had the nerve to report a victory to me with a shameless face. This kind of useless, merit-grabbing trash would be dealt with sooner or later.

That said, Ma Kuang and Ma Shixiu had turned the tide — they were promising talents.

"Anything else?" The Chongzhen Emperor didn't even raise his head — neither paying attention to Tuoya standing there stewing in silence, nor casting a glance at Fang Zhenghua.

"These are the secret memorial and the open memorial from Chen Qiyu, Governor-General of the Five Provinces. Which would Your Majesty like to see first?"

The Chongzhen Emperor took both documents, gave them a brief once-over, then handed the open memorial to Li Chun, the seal-holding eunuch of the Palace of Direct Attendance who was serving at his side, and said:

"Take this to the Grand Secretariat and let Wei Zaode and Jiang Dejing and the others take a look. Also summon those ministers from the various ministries and courts to the Grand Secretariat to deliberate."

Having said this, the Chongzhen Emperor finally opened the secret memorial. After reading it, he smiled and muttered to himself:

"This Chen Qiyu — he really does have some real skill after all."