Chapter 281: Arranging the Aftermath

When the Chongzhen Emperor personally led the campaign last time, the Ming army won a great victory the likes of which they had not seen in a long while, and it was precisely this victory that let the many battle-hungry generals and soldiers still loyal to the court see that the enemy was not invincible.

When the Chongzhen Emperor had crossed over, the Ming's family fortune had basically been squandered by his predecessor — no soldiers to be had, no money to be had, no grain to be had.

The enormous wealth obtained from the confiscation of the Eight Great Shanxi Merchants last year had still not been spent even now, and the Chongzhen Emperor also understood the principle that one who sits idle will eat through his resources. Recently he had frequently been asking Wang Cheng'en about the imperial estates and the various draft banks around the realm, pondering ways to find other avenues for making money, and had already begun to entertain the idea of levying commercial taxes.

Of course, all of this would have to wait until he had weathered the furious revenge of the underpaid courier Xiao Li.

Before the personal campaign, Chongzhen was, in the eyes of the world, an emperor high above all others. Had anyone said he possessed any martial skill, even an ordinary soldier would not have believed it — the emperor, fighting and killing on the battlefield just like themselves?

Yet the matter came so abruptly. The success at the military pay and provisions Victory was Chongzhen personally telling every soldier and general: though the bandits are many, they are not unbeatable — they too are men, they too can be routed, can be defeated, and can even bow their heads and beg for mercy!

Though he was the emperor, the Son of Heaven, he had always stood with them!

This time, the Chongzhen Emperor was again setting out on a personal campaign, yet among the civil and military officials below, few tried to dissuade him as vigorously as last time, because from his performance on the previous battlefield they had seen that this emperor was no peacetime sovereign, nor one who was weak and easily bullied.

In fact, the historical Chongzhen Emperor, while well-versed in the classics of every sort, had also been very interested in archery and horsemanship. Though years of toil meant the body he had crossed into was not what it once had been, the foundation was still there.

"Wei Zaode, once you leave, gather the grand secretaries to deliberate. Fill the vacant seat among the grand secretaries as soon as possible, and have a plan for the troop deployment and the aftermath matters drawn up before sunset. After I leave the capital, the patrols of the city and the various ministries and courts must not fall into chaos — this matter cannot be delayed." The Chongzhen Emperor turned his head and said.

Wei Zaode quickly stepped forward and said: "Your servant obeys the edict. The moment I leave the Warm Chamber I will summon all the grand secretaries to the signing room to deliberate, and I will certainly present a memorial to Your Majesty before sunset."

"Mm."

The Chongzhen Emperor nodded, looking quite satisfied, then turned his gaze toward Feng Quan and Ni Yuanlu and said:

"For this personal campaign, the Ministry of Works must send some capable artisan households to accompany the army, and the Ministry of Revenue must register clearly the native places and family circumstances of every soldier of the Forbidden Army. The maintenance of weapons is a great matter, and the future pensions for the families of fallen soldiers are equally a great matter. The burden on the two of you is heavy — you must not be careless."

Feng Quan naturally knew the importance of this matter and naturally dared not take it lightly. He quickly slapped his chest and said: "Rest assured, Your Majesty — the moment I return I will personally oversee it."

Ni Yuanlu had always been utterly loyal to the Chongzhen Emperor. Last year, to guard against Li Zicheng besieging Beijing, the Chongzhen Emperor had even specially tasked him with raising grain and fodder from the capital region.

Originally the Chongzhen Emperor had not thought much of it — the capital region had been plundered back and forth by the Jianzhou barbarians in every conceivable way, and by now he figured there was hardly anything left.

But who knew where Ni Yuanlu had transported the grain from — even now the capital's granaries were not yet full, but at least there was enough to eat for half a month. All of that was his doing.

Of course, Ni Yuanlu did not say much, and the Chongzhen Emperor did not ask much either — whatever its source, as long as it was his own, that was fine.

Hearing the Chongzhen Emperor entrust him with this task at a critical moment, Ni Yuanlu felt greatly honored. He too stepped forward and said: "The Forbidden Army's muster registers already have copies on file with the Ministry of Revenue and could be drafted directly, but since Your Majesty wishes for a fresh count, your servant will return and lead his subordinate clerks in tallying them through the night."

"With my minister handling it personally, I am at ease." The Chongzhen Emperor smiled at him, then added:

"This Gu Pass business is nothing major. After I leave, the defense of the capital will still be the responsibility of the city defense forces. Jiang Dejing, tonight you will send dispatches to the Shuntian Prefecture office and the Five Wards Troops and Horses Office, ordering them to triple their constable patrols."

"If anyone stirs up trouble after the army has departed — regardless of their status, regardless of their connections — arrest them all and throw them into the great prison. For the thorny ones, have Wang Cheng'en and the others take the depot and guard to handle it! Better to arrest the wrong person than let one slip — even if they are imperial relatives or nobles, arrest them and place them under house arrest. Not the slightest disorder may break out!"

The newly enfeoffed Earl Wang Xiantong, the Marquis of Xinle Liu Wenbing, the Earl of Hui'an Zhang Qingzhen, and several other meritorious nobles responsible for the city defense forces and the Forbidden Army exchanged glances, then stepped forward in unison, clasped their fists and called out:

"Your servants obey the edict!"

These meritorious nobles were different from ordinary ones — all of them were men who, in history, had died fighting when Beijing fell. Last year they had also contributed greatly, and their loyalty and ability were beyond question. Only then was the Chongzhen Emperor reassured. He turned his head and continued:

"After the army sets out, the work of the Armory Bureau, the Works Bureau, and the Firearms Bureau must not stop either."

Bi Maokang, Song Yingxing, Jiao Xu and the others had assumed that the work of their bureaus would be halted by this mobilization for battle. Hearing the emperor's words, they were finally put at ease.

"Let me go, let me in! Aiya, why are you so annoying — if you keep following me, I'll have the emperor punish you!"

Just as the discussion was drawing to a close, a burst of shouting suddenly came from outside the door. The Chongzhen Emperor was about to ask what was happening when Tuoya ran into the Warm Chamber under everyone's gaze.

"Your Majesty, let Tuoya go with you! Tuoya can ride horses and shoot eagles — my riding and archery skills are no worse than those Jianzhou barbarian brutes beyond the pass!" By now Tuoya had changed into a proper set of red-and-yellow armor, a bow and arrows slung diagonally across her body — fully armed from head to toe.

This armor had also been commissioned by the Chongzhen Emperor from the artisans of the Works Bureau for her. She looked dashing and spirited, and it fit her perfectly.

The moment Chongzhen saw that it was this girl again, his face immediately darkened. On ordinary occasions, no matter how you carried on, I would endure it — after all, that was behind closed doors at home, and besides, who told me to dote on you.

But right now I am convening all the civil and military officials to discuss affairs of state — bursting in at a time like this, isn't that a bit too much?

"Utter nonsense!" The Chongzhen Emperor flew into a rage, slammed the table, and rose, bellowing: "Where are the people of the inner depot? Where are the people of the harem? How did she get out? Can't even keep watch over a single woman — are you all useless?"

The Chongzhen Emperor had truly been angered by this girl at that moment, but on second thought, she was only worried about his safety — she was thinking of him after all. Looking again at Tuoya's pitiful, pleading little eyes, his anger dissipated.

Though the anger had dissipated, the fury still hung on his face. Chongzhen deliberately spoke in a cold voice:

"When you return to the palace, have this armor of hers removed. She is forbidden to wear it from now on. I must have lost my mind to have outfitted you with such a kit! From today, you are confined to the palace for one month — copy the 'Three Obediences and Four Virtues' one hundred times each. It's time you properly studied the virtuous conduct of a Han woman!"

"And also — tell Noble Consort Yuan that if there is a next time, she will be the one I punish!"

This scene today was truly something none of the civil and military officials present had expected, but everyone present was of the emperor's faction, so they merely enjoyed the spectacle inwardly and naturally had nothing to say.

In truth, anyone who was not a fool could see that the emperor's affection and fondness for this Soft Consort was out of the ordinary. Had any ordinary consort committed such a grave error, the punishment would never have been so light as house arrest and copying texts — being cast into the cold palace or expelled from the palace outright would have been entirely within reason.

The harem, which had always been lifeless and dreary, had suddenly gained such a willful and headstrong mistress since the start of this year. The ministers also found it amusing — since the emperor was willing to act as the Soft Consort's backing, there was no need for those of the emperor's faction to go against him.

After all, in times past, this sort of matter was usually the Donglin Faction's business.