Chapter 270: Master Ma's Patriotic Spirit

"Smack!"

The Chongzhen Emperor set the manuscript on his imperial desk and said, "I recall that in the seventh year of Tianqi, I once ordered the Censorate and all ministries to compile this. Thinking on it now, I wronged Zhongxian."

As he spoke, the Chongzhen Emperor glanced at Wei Zaode and added, "Grand Secretary, issue the order: from this day forward, all records and documents of this book are to be destroyed. I do not wish to see any further talk of the eunuch faction. The eunuch faction is the emperor's faction."

Wang Cheng'en and the others were overjoyed at these words, especially Grand Secretary Feng Quan of the Eastern Pavilion, Minister of Personnel Wang Shaowei, and the rest of the old eunuch faction members — hearing this news was like receiving a pardon from heaven.

For so long, the world had been deeply harmed by the slanderous words of the Donglin Faction, believing the eunuch faction to be nothing but vicious, ruthless men who squeezed the people dry. In truth, it was not so. Wang Shaowei and Feng Quan understood right and wrong perfectly well — compared to graft, bribery, and factional scheming, what they themselves had done did not amount to even half of what those so-called pure-stream officials had done.

"Your Majesty is sagacious!"

"Order the Censorate and all ministries to compile a new edition. Investigate thoroughly those mentioned within and include them at your discretion. Men like Fan Wencheng and Ning Wanwo need not be included — they were never ministers of our Great Ming."

"When the compilation is complete, the Imperial Gazette must publish it simultaneously. It is time for the world to see how these pure-stream officials under my command have truly served their sovereign and their country!"

"Oh, and also — hire skilled painters to add matching illustrations to the book, so the people may copy and understand it. This matter I entrust to Grand Secretary Feng to oversee, with all ministries, the Censorate, and the Court of Judicial Review coordinating."

Feng Quan hurried forward, bowed deeply, and declared, "Your Majesty is martial and sagacious! Your minister will surely handle this matter well — I shall leave the warm chamber at once and contact the Censorate and the Court of Judicial Review."

"Mm, I trust Grand Secretary Feng." The Chongzhen Emperor smiled at him, then asked, "It suddenly occurs to me — has the military academy been completed?"

"To answer Your Majesty, the military academy was fully completed several months ago. All preparations are in place to this day. Quite a number of military officers and sons of noble houses have already moved in. We may recruit students at any time. What does Your Majesty intend?"

"You have handled this matter well. The recruitment of students must proceed quickly. After you return today, have the Grand Secretariat deliberate on a set of regulations and submit them to me." So said the Chongzhen Emperor.

Wei Zaode said, "Your minister obeys the decree."

"Hmph. Wang Cheng'en, dispatch your Eastern Depot men at once to the residences of Liu Zhengzong, Lin Ruzhu, Jin Zhijun, and Song Zhipu. Arrest them and throw them into the Eastern Depot prison for interrogation under torture." As he spoke, the Chongzhen Emperor gave a cold laugh and continued:

"As for this Ning Wanwo — Wang Xiantong!"

The moment the words left his mouth, Wang Xiantong stepped forward two paces and shouted in a deep, resonant voice, "Your minister is here!"

"I order you to lead your capital defense battalion to Ning Wanwo's lodgings. Apart from Ning Wanwo himself, leave no one alive — execute them on the spot, and hang their heads from the city wall!"

"Orders received!"

Wang Xiantong gave a great shout, turned, and strode out of the warm chamber with two noble companions to muster the troops.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry!"

"If any of these bastards get away, I'll take it out on your hides!"

"Rear ranks, keep up! How do you drill on normal days? Can't keep pace, then get lost — don't call yourselves men of the city defense force!" Wang Xiantong shouted as he ran, showing not the slightest mercy to these new recruits' pride.

That night, the left city camp of the capital defense force suddenly erupted with shouting men and neighing horses. Before long, squad after squad of city defense soldiers filed out, marching in neat steps straight toward an inn in the city.

Big Foot Inn was located on Qipai Street, one of the more prosperous areas of the capital — a place frequented almost exclusively by wealthy households and sons of noble families. Besides the various shops and brothels operating in plain sight, there were also countless gambling dens and pleasure houses that could never be fully stamped out.

Scholars and officials came and went, while in the shadows countless thugs and ruffians prowled the streets. Even though the constables of the Five Wards Troops and Horses Office and the Shuntian Prefecture yamen had stepped up their patrols, there was still a small case every three days and a major case every five.

In this capital of Great Ming, where dragons and fish swam together, criminals could never be wiped out entirely.

That evening, a few thugs were eyeing a pleasure house tucked in a corner, watching the prostitutes come and go, all of them instinctively swallowing their saliva. One with a sharp face and a monkey-like mouth said:

"Master Ma, why hasn't that little slut come out yet at this hour?"

Master Ma gave a few cold snorts and said, "That bitch is nothing but a street hen, yet she insists on playing the phoenix on the branch. Brothers offer silver and she still won't do it. Tonight we'll give her a rough lesson — teach her the power of the rods we brothers carry below!"

"Heh heh, I'm afraid that little slut can't take Master Ma's assault — she'd be done for before we brothers even get our turn."

"Hahaha, Master Ma, I hear that little slut has been kept by some big official surnamed Liu. If we do this, won't that official come after us for revenge?"

"You're worrying over nothing, boy." The others around him were all a bit scared, but the bearded Master Ma was unperturbed, preening smugly: "These big officials come to filthy places like this for thrills — how could there be any real feeling involved?"

"Every time that official comes here, he's wrapped up head to toe, terrified of being recognized. Why would he move against us brothers over some little slut? And even if — say, ten thousand steps back — he did want revenge, the world is wide. Move somewhere else and it's still our brothers' territory, isn't it?"

"Master Ma speaks the truth."

"Master Ma, Master Ma! That little lady's come out — when do we make our move?"

"Wait a bit longer — looks like there's someone with her." Master Ma waved his hand to signal calm. The other thugs forced themselves to suppress their surging excitement, and sure enough, following the prostitute out was none other than the big official they had just been discussing.

The thugs all felt a mix of relief and regret, but Master Ma found it somewhat strange — didn't this official usually come once every three days? Why had he come after only one day this time?

"Quiet!"

Master Ma furrowed his brow, sensing that something was not simple. He barked in a low voice, and the thugs immediately shut their mouths. Master Ma listened carefully, and his eyes suddenly went wide as saucers, pupils darting wildly.

"This bastard's planning to defect to the Tartars — and he's talking about waiting for some Prince Regent to enter the pass, then taking this hen along with him to rise to glory!" Master Ma's fierce, heavily stubbled face looked even more terrifying now. He slammed his fist hard against the wall and said grimly:

"Tomorrow at dawn, we go to the Troops and Horses Office and report to Constable Wang!"

Though Master Ma was a hardened scoundrel, he harbored a burning hatred for the Tartar barbarians. As he saw it, this man did not look like a minor official, and now he was discussing defecting to the Qing — and the so-called date of the Qing army's southward advance he mentioned was utterly shocking, something one would not even dare imagine on ordinary days.

Master Ma felt that as a Han man, no matter what, he should at least report this matter up the chain and do his part for the Han court — far better than suffering oppression after the Tartars came through the pass.

The other thugs felt the same way. Just as they were about to say more, one of them suddenly went pale, sharply catching a sound coming from outside the alley, and immediately shouted:

"Master Ma, a lot of people are coming down the alley — all wearing armor, and they might be carrying blades and spears!"

If only two or three yamen runners had come, Master Ma would have simply fled. But with this many people arriving, it was clearly for some other purpose — not aimed at these few small-time thugs.

After hesitating only briefly, Master Ma led the others cautiously to the mouth of the alley, just in time to see Wang Xiantong leading a squad of soldiers charging swiftly into Big Foot Inn.

"Master Ma, they're city defense troops. Judging by the formation, there must be at least three to five hundred men!"

Master Ma nodded, his curiosity growing even stronger. Who was it that warranted the court mobilizing such a massive force?