Chapter 252: A Bond of Tigers and Wolves

"To answer Your Majesty, Liu Yingbin is a fairly decent man. If he is to be dealt with, his reputation must first be ruined. Such matters are best handled by the Depots and Guard—after all, is this not precisely what I am here to do for the Imperial House?"

Though the Eastern Depot's affairs were numerous and complex, upon hearing that the Chongzhen Emperor had summoned him, Wang Cheng'en immediately set aside all matters at hand and came to the Winter Warm Pavilion without a second word. Hearing the Emperor's question, he thought for a moment before speaking:

"This man earned his juren in the thirty-first year of Wanli. He first served as county magistrate in Zanhuang for two years, and due to his commendable performance, he was jointly recommended by the then Governor and Prefect. He was subsequently transferred to Nangong, and remained there until the Tianqi years, when a vacancy arose for a Ceremonial Officer in the Ministry of Rites, which he filled. He does possess some ability."

As Director of the Eastern Depot, Wang Cheng'en naturally knew that when the Emperor asked his opinion of an official, it was never merely a simple request for advice. After all, the Emperor now held the dossiers of nearly all officials in his hands—such matters he could analyze himself with little effort. Why would he come to Wang Cheng'en for such a redundant exercise?

In truth, Wang Cheng'en's thinking was not far off. The Chongzhen Emperor had indeed summoned him this time with the intention of seeking his opinion—but beyond that, the greater purpose was to test whether this fellow had grown too complacent sitting in Wei Zhongxian's old seat.

One must understand—when he himself had first transmigrated into the body of an Emperor, that supreme status of the Nine-Five, he too had been complacent for a time. No matter how deep Wang Cheng'en's scheming ran, whether he could withstand the temptations of power and gold remained an open question.

After hearing Wang Cheng'en speak, the Chongzhen Emperor nodded inwardly, thinking that this fellow truly lived up to his reputation as a trusted old servant from the days of the Prince Xin Residence. Though he concealed many matters privately, on the whole he remained fairly honest.

Thereupon, the Chongzhen Emperor put on a weary expression, waved his hand, and said: "I am tired. You may withdraw for now. As for Liu Yingbin's matter, order the Eastern Depot to keep him under strict surveillance."

"Your Majesty is wise and enlightened. This old servant takes his leave."

Wang Cheng'en said not a single word more, bowed directly, and withdrew.

By the time he returned to the Eastern Depot headquarters outside Donghua Gate, darkness had already fallen. Wang Cheng'en summoned a Torture Chiliarch who had recently been transferred over from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and said coldly:

"Li Youde, your elder brother is currently developing the Eastern Depot's earthly branches in Nanjing. You have only recently been transferred from the Northern Bastille—by all rights, I should not be assigning you matters of grave importance."

The moment he finished speaking, Li Youde hurried forward to declare his position:

"Rest assured, Director. Whatever the matter, this subordinate will carry it out with utmost diligence—no hesitation, no half-measures! May I ask what His Majesty has commanded this time—whose life is to be taken among the nobles and high officials, or whose reputation among the Grand Secretaries is to be ruined?"

"It is Liu Yingbin of the Grand Secretariat. This man has vigorously opposed the Imperial Party during deliberations in the Grand Secretariat, and His Majesty has grown displeased." Seeing Li Youde's face already betraying murderous intent, Wang Cheng'en knew the man had misunderstood, and continued:

"But you must remember—this time is neither to take his life nor to ruin his reputation. His Majesty wants our Eastern Depot to keep a tight watch on every move of that Liu fellow. Should anything out of the ordinary occur, report immediately to His Majesty."

"Then... what about you, Director?" Li Youde thought of a question and asked cautiously.

"Hmph." Wang Cheng'en gave a cold snort and said: "You simply report Liu Yingbin's every move to His Majesty. As for me, I naturally have other matters to attend to!"

"This subordinate understands—I shall see to it at once!" Li Youde said with clasped fists.

"Go."

Watching Li Youde stride out, Wang Cheng'en picked up a swift letter that had arrived earlier from the Denglai region of Shandong, his expression complicated as he said: "Imperial Son-in-law Gong, oh Imperial Son-in-law Gong, tell me—how did you end up in such a mess?"

"You have put me in a difficult position. What am I to do?"

The next morning, Wang Cheng'en had just risen in his own residence and was washing and dressing when a Depot agent came rushing frantically through the gate, shouting "Disaster!" as he ran.

Seeing this, Wang Cheng'en was somewhat displeased, and frowned without turning his head:

"What has you so frightened? Centurion Wang, ease your heart—I am still firmly alive, and His Majesty still sleeps in the inner palace. The sky of the Great Ming will not fall."

The Centurion named Wang An's face was flushed red. Hearing Wang Cheng'en's words, he gasped a few breaths before speaking: "Reporting to the Director—Li, the Seal-Holder of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, has been waiting outside the gate for some time. He says he has important matters to discuss!"

"Could it be that he has also received that news?" Wang Cheng'en's heart sank. He muttered a few words to himself, his expression unchanged, then turned and said: "Go and escort Master Li to the main hall. Receive him with the finest tea. I shall be there shortly."

"At once!"

Li Ruolian gestured for his two accompanying Chiliarchs to wait outside the gate, then followed Wang An to the main hall. Glancing around at the decorations, he clicked his tongue in wonder: "Who would have thought that the Eight Thousand Years, first of the Inner Court's Three Tigers, would live so frugally? Not a single famous painting, calligraphy scroll, or antique vessel in the entire main hall?"

The Embroidered Uniform Guard of today was different from before. In the past, when the Luo family held the position of Seal-Holder, they had fawned upon the eunuch faction—and even toward the Donglin, they openly suppressed while secretly fraternizing. The Guard's status had plummeted, no longer receiving imperial favor, gradually reduced to a position beneath the Inner Court.

In a certain sense, as a man of humble origins, Li Ruolian becoming the Seal-Holding Guard Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard broke the Luo family's long monopoly on the position. In a deeper sense, it brought new life to the Guard itself.

Li Ruolian enjoyed great favor from the Emperor, and with it, the standing of all Embroidered Uniform Guards rose dramatically. The wholesale reassignment of all Guard personnel under the Northern and Southern Bastilles was unprecedented—and a major factor in the Guard's rapid acquisition of power and influence.

To this day, when people mention the Depots and Guard, the first things that come to mind are the Embroidered Uniform Guard under Li Ruolian's command and the Eastern Depot under Wang Cheng'en's directorship. As for the Inner Depot and Western Depot, due to their short history and various other reasons, they could only be ranked behind.

Had the question come from Luo Yangxing, Wang An would have had two possible responses—ignoring him entirely being the first, and politely answering that he did not know being the second. But now that Li Ruolian was the one asking, he had only one instinctive response: to answer with utmost respect, and to say everything he knew without reservation.

"To answer Master Li's question—the Director still has some matters to finish. He instructed me to prepare some fine tea for Master Li, and said you must not be treated with neglect—you are to be received as family of the Eastern Depot."

"Hahaha, this young brother jokes. The Eastern Depot is the Eastern Depot, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard is the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Though both serve the Imperial House, the inner distinctions must still be maintained—they cannot be muddled together."

Having now spent a year in his high position, Li Ruolian had witnessed all manner of affairs both great and small, and understood the Emperor's intent in having the Embroidered Uniform Guard secretly check the Eastern Depot's power. Thus, his words carried not a trace of deference.

"Master Li speaks truly—the Eastern Depot is the Eastern Depot, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard is the Embroidered Uniform Guard." Just as Wang An was flustered and at a loss for how to respond, a laugh came from beyond the door, and Wang Cheng'en walked in, saying:

"The affairs of the Northern Bastille must surely be no fewer than those of my Eastern Depot. This early in the morning, why has Master Li not gone to sit his post at the office, but instead come to my residence? What business brings you here?"

Li Ruolian narrowed his eyes slightly, took a small sip of tea, and said with a smile:

"Director Wang, this matter is of no small importance. It would be best for the two of us to speak privately."