Chapter 333: Appointment as Assistant Regional Commander

As for how to handle Zheng Guan, the Chongzhen Emperor was in fact somewhat at a loss.

Judging from all the signs, this Zheng Guan was indeed the sole surviving descendant of the Qi family army, and he might know things that even the three young Qi family members—Qi Yuangong, Qi Chief Grand Secretary, and Qi Yuanbi—did not know.

To kill him just like that? What a waste.

But on the other hand, Zheng Guan had fled in fear of death during wartime. No matter how well he justified it, a deserter was a deserter—that scarlet label could never be washed clean in a lifetime.

If one sent such a man out to lead troops, who could guarantee he would not once again "wait to see how the wind blows" and decide whether to send reinforcements based on the situation? If he paid lip service while acting otherwise, just like that scoundrel Gao Qiqian, and proved unreliable at the critical moment, then no matter how capable he was, keeping him would only burden oneself.

Before coming here, Zheng Guan did not know he was going to see the Emperor. He thought the court was summoning him to be sentenced for deserting at the Battle of Hun River, so he had come out with the resolve of a man facing death.

But the further he walked, the more something felt wrong. He had been led out of the cold, damp cell by two Imperial Guard soldiers and a eunuch, yet they were heading down a broad thoroughfare. It was not until he stepped through the gate of the Forbidden City that Zheng Guan finally understood—the Emperor did not intend to kill him, but to see him.

At that moment, he had no mind to take in the palace halls and decorations around him. He hurriedly prostrated himself on the ground and called out loudly: "Your guilty subject Zheng Guan pays respects to Your Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"

The Chongzhen Emperor did not utter a single word, but Dong Qi, the Commissioner-in-Chief of the City Defense Army standing at the lower left, glared at Zheng Guan with fury and rebuked: "Zheng Guan, do you know what crime you have committed!?"

"Your guilty subject... your guilty subject is a deserter. I have failed General Qi, and failed Your Majesty." Dong Qi's anger was justified, and Zheng Guan knew it well in his heart. Without the slightest thought of defiance, he lowered his head and admitted his fault directly, then continued:

"But your guilty subject has already repented. This time I entered the martial examinations, not to win fame and rank, but to beg Your Majesty to give your guilty subject another chance—to atone for my crimes with merit, and to avenge General Qi and my brothers!"

As he spoke these words, Zheng Guan's eyes gradually turned bloodshot. His hands, tightly bound by iron chains, trembled slightly. Overcome with emotion, his whole body shook uncontrollably, making the display rather dramatic.

The Chongzhen Emperor set down the document in his hand and asked: "You did not place on the palace examination roster. Do you bear any resentment?"

Hearing the Emperor speak to him for the first time, Zheng Guan was already deeply moved. He knocked his head several times on the ground and said earnestly: "Your Majesty, your subject bears no resentment! I only beg Your Majesty to give your subject a chance to reform and start anew!"

"No resentment, hm, easy to say." The Chongzhen Emperor let out a cold laugh and muttered to himself: "A grown man comes to the martial examinations, wins the championship in the mounted spear category, and is contending with Xu Yanqi for the championship in the unarmed combat category—how could he possibly have no other thoughts in his head?"

"When I ask you something, you had better answer truthfully, or else I fear you will not be able to avenge this grievance even in your next life!"

"Your subject accepts the punishment, and thanks Your Majesty for the grace of not killing me!" Zheng Guan's heart jolted with alarm. He was even more awed at that moment, and assumed an attentive posture of listening.

"A deserter—the Shuntian Military Academy does not accept deserters." The first half of the Chongzhen Emperor's sentence plunged Zheng Guan into an icy abyss, his face changing drastically. But the second half turned around as the Emperor said leisurely: "However, there are other ways, after all."

Before Zheng Guan could ask further, the Chongzhen Emperor suddenly cleared his throat twice with a serious expression, glanced at Wang Xiantong, then lowered his head and said no more, picking up a memorial and pretending to read it.

Wang Xiantong was quick-witted. He immediately stepped forward a few paces to stand before Zheng Guan and said in a deep voice:

"Zheng Guan, in this time of national crisis when the dynasty needs men of ability, His Majesty takes into account that your martial skill is passable and your heart of reform is genuine. After you leave, go to the Western Camp and find Vice Regional Commander Niu. He has a post and commission to hand over to you. Go take up your duties directly."

"Remember well—not everyone gets to see the Son of Heaven's countenance, and not everyone gets a chance to reform and start anew. Walk this path with care and cherish it. Do not make Commissioner Dong and me regret having pleaded on your behalf!"

Hearing these words, the great stone in Zheng Guan's heart finally fell. He wept tears of joy and called out repeatedly:

"Thank you, Commissioner Dong! Thank you, Count Xi'an! Thank Your Majesty for giving your guilty subject a chance to reform and start anew. Your guilty subject shall devote himself utterly to the Great Ming, toiling to the end of his days, fighting until he dies in battle!!"

As Zheng Guan walked out, turning back at every step, the Chongzhen Emperor silently set down the memorial that was blank of any writing and asked: "What do the two of you make of this Zheng Guan?"

"To answer Your Majesty, speaking plainly, this man's temperament is far beyond that of ordinary people. His mounted spear work is superb, and even against Xu Yanqi's great blade he was a match."

As Dong Qi spoke, the Chongzhen Emperor nodded continuously. But then Dong Qi suddenly shifted his tone and shook his head: "Your Majesty's words just now were but a test, and this man fell into it without a moment's thought. This shows he always acts with a gambler's hope of luck, and I fear he will be hard-pressed to become a commander of men."

After he finished, Wang Xiantong expressed agreement, then raised a point of doubt:

"Your subject rather thinks—this Zheng Guan is now over thirty years of age. If what he says is true, that he was a deserter from the Battle of Hun River, then could it be that the troops Commissioner Qi led over back then were all boys of ten-some years?"

The Chongzhen Emperor had not considered this angle. He nodded immediately and said: "Send word down—have Wang Cheng'en carefully investigate Zheng Guan's true age and record of service. Also, the roster of Qi family army troops sent to the Battle of Hun River that year—bring it to me as well."

"Your will be done."

At the Western Camp of the city defense forces, Vice Regional Commander Niu Dazhuang of the City Defense Army looked up and down at the lean young man before him whose eyes were nevertheless extremely sharp. Suddenly he smiled, pointed to a seat, and asked:

"Come, sit! How old are you this year?"

When Zheng Guan had passed by the army camp on his way to the main tent, he had recalled hearing earlier that the Emperor was determined to emphasize military affairs and had reorganized the original Capital Camps and garrison troops into the City Defense Army and the Imperial Guard. He had always dismissed this as nothing special—but seeing it today, he was filled with newfound respect.

The army camp at present was orderly in every respect. The soldiers wore new-style armor and carried freshly forged blades and spears. With full pay and full rations issued, every man was brimming with spirit and vigor, giving Zheng Guan a feeling utterly different from local troops.

At this moment, Zheng Guan's mind was in turmoil. Hearing this Vice Regional Commander ask such a question, he was momentarily stunned, but still smiled awkwardly, rose, and clasped his fists:

"To answer the Vice Regional Commander, this humble one is from Jin Prefecture in Liaodong. I once served as a squad leader under General Qi. I am twenty-eight this year, and I will not hide it—I am a deserter from the Battle of Hun River."

Hearing this, Niu Dazhuang was startled once again. He looked Zheng Guan over once more, gestured for him not to stand on ceremony, and said with a simple grin:

"No wonder—a scion of a famed army. I said it! You're different from this old country bumpkin of mine, promoted up from the dirt!" As he spoke, Niu Dazhuang rose and took down a suit of armor and an official seal from the rack behind him, brought them before Zheng Guan, and said solemnly:

"I don't care whether you're a descendant of the Qi family army, and I don't care whether you're a deserter. Since the Emperor said you're to take this post, then I've nothing more to say! We all serve the Son of Heaven. If the Son of Heaven says you can do it, then for now I'll take it that you can!"

"But you remember this—if you betray the Son of Heaven's trust, never mind that I won't let you off; I fear the thousands upon thousands of officers and men of the realm would tear you apart alive!"

Seeing such a solemn expression appear on Niu Dazhuang's honest, simple face, Zheng Guan immediately rose with a serious look of his own and received the items. He ran his right hand over the armor and the seal, narrowed his eyes slightly, and asked:

"May I ask, Vice Regional Commander Niu, what post is this?"

Niu Dazhuang pointed at the documents and letters within the armor, let out a chuckle, sat back down, and spread his hands: "I don't know. It's all in there. Take it and be on your way to assume the post—read it on the road. But I'll give you fair warning first—this post won't be easy!"

Hearing this, Zheng Guan nodded. He glanced in the direction of the Winter Warm Pavilion in the Forbidden City, felt even greater reverence in his heart, then turned and clasped his fists with a smile:

"In that case, I shall take my leave. Vice Regional Commander Niu, if this Zheng Guan ever returns, I will surely invite you for a hearty drink!"

"If this old life of mine is still around by then, we'll drink till we're both dead drunk! On your way, brother!" Niu Dazhuang felt his temperament matched Zheng Guan's, and so he rose and clasped his fists to see him off.

Zheng Guan nodded, changed into the armor, held the official seal in hand, and walked off without looking back. On the seal of his official documents were lightly written a few small characters—"By Imperial Decree, Assistant Regional Commander of the Western Route, Pingyang Prefecture, Shanxi."