Chapter 52: Gathering, Swearing the Oath, Setting Forth (Please Add to Collection!)

After the Chongzhen Emperor finished reading the self-blame edict, the next step was the formal proclamation of the imperial decree. The newly appointed Datong Regional Commander Bai Guangen, Governor Wei Jingyuan, and the Prince of Dai Zhu Chuanji all knelt in terror to receive the decree.

After hearing the self-blame edict, the soldiers already understood the Emperor's earnest intentions. Combined with the fact that all the arrears of military pay accumulated over the years were paid out at once, many people gained new hope and motivation, and were filled with gratitude.

The Chongzhen Emperor had issued a total of five self-blame edicts before, but none of them had ever achieved such an effect as this one. In fact, many soldiers did not even know that previous emperors had issued self-blame edicts at all.

After all, for most people, even if they knew about such things, it had not a single copper coin's worth of connection to their own lives.

This self-blame edict was different. Written in a form close to plain vernacular speech, it reached directly into the army camps and among the common people. Especially the first sentence, in which the Chongzhen Emperor lowered his proud head to apologize to all his subjects under heaven, played a decisive role.

This self-blame edict was not too crude for the literati to hear, yet the soldiers could just barely understand its meaning. Combined with the full mobilization of the Three Depots and One Guard, the effect was naturally incomparable to the previous five.

Of course, the changes brought by this self-blame edict were also obvious.

First, the corrupt figures mentioned in the self-blame edict had all been executed. The current Chief Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat was Wei Zaode. The former Embroidered Uniform Guard Regional Military Commissioner Luo Yangxing had his entire clan exterminated to the tenth degree of kinship. Even the memorial archway bestowed upon the Luo family by the late emperor was demolished by imperial order. Jiang Xiang was killed right before the soldiers' eyes, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard subsequently slaughtered Jiang's entire household.

Beyond that, the more than twenty cartloads of military pay played an additional role in pushing things forward. None of these circumstances resembled the style of the former emperor, demonstrating the current Chongzhen Emperor's determination to reform the Ming Dynasty.

This sixth self-blame edict was by no means mere words.

The heads and blood of the Jiang family served precisely to consecrate the banners and establish authority. With these men as a warning from precedent, the soldiers gripped the heavy silver in their hands and quickly fell silent.

Bai Guangen struck while the iron was hot, striding quickly to the commander's platform. Raising his saber, he shouted loudly:

"Standard bearers, immediately transmit my commander's orders throughout the town: All officers of every locality shall complete the inventory of all troops, funds, grain, and equipment. Within five days, all Assistant Regional Commanders, brigade commanders, Fort Commanders, defense officers, and garrison officers shall bring their troops to the town fortress. Any who violate this order shall be dealt with according to military law!"

"We subordinates obey the Grand Commander's orders!"

The several dozen standard bearers under the standard-bearer company nodded and shouted in unison, then mounted their horses and galloped out of the town fortress to deliver the orders to every locality.

At nightfall, Bai Guangen and Li Fengxiang arrived at the main tent. The two sat down in the positions of host and guest. After a round of polite deference, Bai Guangen personally stepped forward to pour tea, smiling as he said:

"That I could gain His Majesty's trust and lead troops against the bandits — I must thank Eunuch Li for his kind words!"

The implication was clear: Bai Guangen evidently attributed the greatest credit for this blessing in disguise to Li Fengxiang, the brush-holding eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial. His shouting in front of Li Fengxiang and the mounted guards earlier had most likely been a deliberate performance.

"Not at all, not at all~"

Li Fengxiang was shameless in his own way. Though he knew full well that this matter had nothing to do with him, he still brazenly claimed the credit for himself.

Li Fengxiang knew he was lying through his teeth with open eyes. He knew perfectly well that upon returning to the capital, he had not even stayed a single day — he had been sent out to deliver the decree before his backside had even warmed a seat.

That Bai Guangen had received this important appointment this time was entirely due to the Chongzhen Emperor's foresight, and had not a half copper's worth of connection to Li Fengxiang. But then again, a eunuch was after all still a eunuch — no matter how loyal, the nature etched deep into one's bones could never be changed.

Li Fengxiang gave a shrill laugh, took the tea and sipped a little, then said:

"I didn't say much of anything — this is all due to His Majesty's sagely wisdom. But Regional Commander Bai, the matter of reinforcing Ningwu Pass must be put on the agenda immediately. Regional Commander Zhou has several tens of thousands of troops over there, but the bandit Li has several hundred thousand. If by some chance..."

Li Fengxiang did not continue. Bai Guangen's expression darkened, and he nodded with a sigh:

"What the Eunuch says is right. Ningwu Pass is in dire peril — every day of delay adds another measure of danger that it will fall. At this point, there is little this humble one can do. The only path is to gather the full strength of the Datong border troops and fight Li the bandit to the death."

Li Yan had been bound and taken to the capital by him some time ago with no news since. He presumed that by now the Emperor had ordered his execution. After this affair, Bai Guangen and Dashun had become mortal enemies, and there was no choice but to follow the court with complete devotion.

As for the Tartar Qing beyond the passes, Bai Guangen felt it was too far away from him and had not yet considered it. Besides, Tartars were after all Tartars — unless one had reached a point of absolute desperation, who would be willing to lower their status and go serve as a slave to the barbarians in that bitter cold land?

If even Zhou Yuji's Ningwu army could not stop Li Zicheng, then Datong was even less worth mentioning.

Bai Guangen was now a grasshopper tied to the same rope as the court. Li Zicheng appeared magnanimous on the surface, but was in truth petty and narrow-minded. If the Great Ming court fell, his own end would also have arrived.

Li Fengxiang nodded, rose, and said with an air of casualness:

"My journey here was long and difficult, with constant jostling along the way. This old body of mine simply cannot bear it."

Bai Guangen was extremely shrewd and understood at once that this eunuch was angling for a bribe. He quickly stepped forward with a fawning smile, took out several ingots of silver, and placed them in Li Fengxiang's hands, saying:

"That this humble one has come so far is entirely thanks to the Eunuch's words before His Majesty. This small amount of silver is but a token of respect. The Eunuch's journey back to the capital will be tiring — I humbly beg you to take good care of your health."

Li Fengxiang could not care less about the tiring journey. He chuckled gleefully and quickly tucked the silver into his sleeve, then furtively glanced toward the door. Finding nothing unusual, he let out a relieved breath and said while walking:

"In that case, I shall return to the capital. Regional Commander Bai, once you reach Ningwu, you must obey General Zhou's orders in all matters. Do not repeat that sort of incident at Miyun, or else even I will not be able to protect you before His Majesty!"

Hearing these words, sweat immediately broke out on Bai Guangen's forehead. He wiped it as he said:

"Why does the Eunuch bring up that old affair? Times are different now. Even if this humble one were ever so muddle-headed, I would never go so far as to ruin my own future."

Hearing this, Li Fengxiang was reassured. He nodded and left the commander's residence.

At this point, matters in Datong had essentially been settled. Li Fengxiang had done all he could — he had satisfactorily completed the task the Emperor had entrusted to him.

And to be honest, on these two trips he had also collected some bribes, so at least the journey had not been wasted. As for whether the rest succeeded or not — that would depend on the fortunes of the Great Ming Dynasty.

This time, Li Fengxiang's return to the capital was no longer a frantic rush. He began to take his time enjoying the scenery along the way. After four or five days, he still had not even left Datong, having only slowly reached the borders of Weizhou.

The Fort Commander of Weizhou had already led his troops to the town fortress several days earlier to rendezvous with the various units, just missing Li Fengxiang's party. But the prefect of Weizhou was still there. Upon hearing that the imperial envoy had arrived, he hurriedly led the officials out of the city to welcome him.

Li Fengxiang rested at Weizhou. Along the way, whenever he entered a city, the local officials would inevitably lay on grand banquets and lavish him with hospitality. He was thoroughly enjoying the pleasures of being an imperial envoy.

Of course, bearing the dual identities of Eastern Depot Director, disciple of Chief Brush-Holder Wang Cheng'en, and imperial envoy, Li Fengxiang had collected no small amount of bribes along the way. At the banquets, he smiled so wide he could barely close his mouth.

At this time, in the Datong town fortress, troops from all directions were gathering, presenting a scene of tense war preparation. The newly arrived Regional Commander Bai Guangen was holding a swearing-in and departure ceremony at the large drill ground outside the city.

The north wind blew, war drums thundered, and banners filled the sky.

Bai Guangen stood atop the commander's platform, looking at the dense sea of heads below. He was genuinely somewhat surprised.

He had originally thought that not many troops would come to the Datong garrison — at most around ten thousand would be the ceiling. But this time, perhaps because of the Emperor's self-blame edict and the million in military pay from the capital, several tens of thousands of troops had actually arrived.