Chapter 672: Cat Steward

On the winter solstice of the eighth year of Chongzhen, the Guanzhong plateau was a scene of bustling activity.

As deep winter approached, it was as if a sudden gust of wind had swept in from nowhere, bringing the cold with it, freezing the Wei River solid and plunging all of Guanzhong into an ice pit.

But the Guanzhong plateau itself was extraordinarily lively; dispatch riders galloped in all directions, weaving between the military camps, an endless stream of wagon convoys arrived from the west, and herds of cattle, sheep, and horses clogged the official roads.

Inside the Grand Marshal's residence, a solemn officer-appointment ceremony had just concluded.

Taiji Durbod Dala was formally appointed by Liu Chengzong as Vice Minister of the Military Bureau, authorized to establish the Hexi Military Affairs Office in Xining and take charge of military and civilian training affairs in Hexi.

The actual scope of this position was essentially the same as what Dala had already been doing in the Training Guard, only now the undertaking was fully legitimized.

The ceremony's gravity stemmed solely from the fact that it symbolized Taiji Dala, a surrendered general by origin, formally entering the central core of the Grand Marshal's residence by virtue of his outstanding battle merits and talent.

To be perfectly honest, the central core of the Grand Marshal's residence was rather crowded.

Because this freakish power structure was not a pyramid, but a flagpole standing on an enormous base.

Within that base, discipline was strict and hierarchy rigid, yet atop the flagpole, people began calling each other brother, and everything became negotiable.

Likewise, the key generals and ministers from the interior regions, taking advantage of the winter ceasefire, handed their defensive sectors to their deputies and rushed to the new headquarters at Xi'an Prefecture to join the grand gathering; the consecutive days of banquets never ceased.

Especially after his old father Liu Xiangyu and youngest brother Liu Chengyun arrived in Xi'an from Lanzhou, along with Gansu Governor Cao Yao leading a host of subordinate officers, Liu Chengzong threw a three-day grand feast in the Qin Prince's Palace just to welcome his elder brother.

Actually, it didn't need to last three days originally.

When Liu Chengzong and Cao Yao met again, one was a separatist warlord occupying the northwest, the other a Grand Governor ruling an entire province of Gansu.

At first, the two sat in a side hall, each still mindful of their status; Cao Yao reported on the situation in Gansu with great solemnity, while Liu Chengzong tamped tobacco into his porcelain pipe and listened intently.

But somehow, once Liu the Lion passed the pipe over and the two burst out laughing, that familiar feeling returned.

The steady dignity of Grand Marshal and Grand Governor was tossed aside; they simply linked arms and rushed to the main hall where the banquet was held, calling for strong liquor and fine cuts of meat, and when a few drunkards' wild dancing still wasn't enough, they even started wrestling right there in the hall.

In the end, they couldn't remember a thing they'd talked about the first day upon waking, only feeling that their jaws ached from laughing.

The next day, Liu Xiangyu and Chengyun arrived, and the banquet was held anew, repeating the entire process.

The only difference, of course, was that Liu Chengzong's jaw still ached from laughing, but Chengyun's entire body ached from being thrown.

It couldn't be helped; Chengyun had actually been diligently learning martial arts these past few years, but challenging the Grand Marshal's residence's big boss, Liu Chengzong, right off the bat was clearly unwise.

Later, his challenge to Cao Yao was even more unwise, for Liu Chengzong's Baoding wrestling had been taught by Cao Yao himself.

Finally, to save face, Chengyun set his sights on the Northern Yuan Crown Prince; his junior uncle, leveraging an eight-year age advantage, threw his fine eldest nephew Eje, who had just turned fifteen, to the ground.

Eje's wrestling skill was truly very mediocre.

Liu Chengzong kept his adopted son by his side to raise him into a talent, and with so much to learn while serving in the Plumed Forest Camp and as an assistant court gentleman, where was the time to bother with wrestling practice?

The family, separated for so long, was finally reunited; after two more days of boisterous revelry, their long-suppressed emotions were at last released, and things gradually quieted down.

Of course, grand banquets and reunions with old friends were certainly a delight.

But Liu the Lion's true enjoyment came afterward.

In the sleeping quarters of the Qin Prince's Palace at night, a round of pleasure.

Liu the Lion lay sprawled on the couch, his cheek resting on Bai Liuxi's lap as she knelt, comfortably enjoying Fan Sanlang's back massage, his left arm stretched out while Yun Jiaoyue kneaded his fingers.

His right hand dangled over the edge of the couch, teasing three kittens that strutted back and forth with their tails raised and swaying.

Chief Mei was already old; the Old Madam had specially made a cat room for her in the rear sleeping quarters.

These three little ones were the litter Chief Mei had this year, and the birth had been quite dangerous.

The worried and frightened Old Madam caught the culprit—a tabby servant from the Prince of Su's mansion in Lanzhou—confiscated his tools of crime, and made him into Tabby Master.

The cats in the Great Ming palace held official registry posts; by tradition, female cats were called "So-and-so Maidservant," and male cats "So-and-so Servant," but once they received that cut down below and were neutered, they were promoted to "So-and-so Master."

However, Servants, Maidservants, and Masters only held registry posts, receiving room and board but no salary.

To be granted an official title and earn the right to receive rewards alongside the inner officials during universal celebrations at festivals, one had to be exceptionally favored and called "So-and-so Steward."

These two little fellows were no exception; the Old Madam named them according to tradition.

One of them, a calico female who looked very much like Mei Dianmei, was originally called Third Maidservant, but because she was so well-behaved, she was granted the post of Cat Steward and kept by the Old Madam's side as a companion.

The other two were males; because they expanded in all directions and attacked everywhere just like Liu Chengzong, busy occupying territory all day and urinating all over the Prince of Su's mansion, exhausting the sturdy women of the household with constant cleaning, they incurred the Old Madam's displeasure and were brought to the Qin Prince's Palace and dumped on Liu the Lion.

The Old Madam could afford to be indiscriminate in reward and punishment, but Liu Chengzong always rewarded his battle-hungry officers who were keen on raiding and seizing land according to their merits; what kind of system was it for them to be ordered around and called "Servants" all day?

Therefore, on the very first day the two brother cats fell into Liu Chengzong's hands, they benefited from their mother's reflected glory and were appointed Captain and Vice-Captain of the Royal Residence Rodent Extermination Squad, never again to receive the treatment of ordinary cats, and were henceforth addressed by the honorific titles of Tabby Squad Leader and Orange Squad Leader.

Liu the Lion was just squinting his eyes in enjoyment when he suddenly remembered something and asked, "Why did my father suddenly want to take Eje under his wing?"

Just that evening during the family meal, Old Master Liu had suddenly mentioned wanting to keep Liu Chengzong's adopted son Eje by his side.

Liu the Lion hadn't taken it seriously at the time, as he was busy holding Ping'an in one arm and Ningjing in the other, teasing them; the two little ones had grown a few years older and were at a perfectly adorable age.

So he had just casually remarked that Eje was doing quite well at his duties by his side.

In the matter of escorting and handing over Lian Guoshi's coffin, Eje had indeed performed very well.

But now, mulling it over, he figured his old father might be missing his eldest brother, or perhaps hinting that it was time for him to produce a grandson.

Working on it, already working on it.

However, upon hearing this, Fan Sanlang's answer exceeded his expectations: "Actually, this was Sutai's idea; she wants Eje to follow your father, but she didn't dare tell you."

Sutai was Eje's birth mother.

"What's there to be afraid to say?"

Liu Chengzong frowned slightly; things people didn't dare tell him were usually not to his benefit.

And the more that was the case, the more he wanted to know.

He then said to Yun Jiaoyue, "Where is Sutai? Yunniang, call her over."

But just as Yun Jiaoyue acknowledged and rose, he spoke again: "Forget it, don't go. I'll find her tomorrow. Sanlang, first tell me what this is about. Why does Eje need to go to my father?"

"Sutai wants Eje to follow your father and study music."

Liu the Lion thought to himself, well, this is truly bizarre.

Setting aside for the moment whether my father even understands music, Eje is my adopted son—what career path is he planning to pursue?

Then he heard Bai Liuxi say, "Music is just an excuse. As long as it's useless, Sutai is willing to let Eje learn it. She doesn't want her son learning anything at all."

Liu Shizi asked, puzzled: "Why is that?"

"Sutai-jiejie is very clever." Yun Jiaoyue said: "She fears you'll kick her and her son aside. Even if Eje is unlearned and untalented, spending his days eating, drinking, and amusing himself, having no ambition means he can't commit any great wrong."

"But if he learns too much — mounting a horse to command troops, dismounting to govern the people — then if trouble comes, it will be great trouble."

Hearing this reasoning, Liu Chengzong couldn't help but furrow his brow.

Yet he did not grow angry; he only asked in a muffled voice: "And my father agreed, letting Eje study music with him?"

Sanlang said: "Not quite. Father-in-law said to hire a good teacher for Eje, so that once he's learned some skills he can become a prefect in the future."

Only then did Liu Chengzong's brow relax. He had promised Ligdan Khan that he would raise Eje into a man of talent — what kind of pillar of the state would he be if he spent his days studying music with his father?

But then he paused, startled: "My father wants to hire a teacher specially for Eje — why doesn't he just teach him himself?"

At these words, Fan Sanlang, Bai Liuxi, and Yun Jiaoyue all burst out laughing. Bai Liuxi said with a smile: "Father-in-law says that if he does the teaching, the omens won't be good."

"What's wrong with that... oh!"

Liu Shizi stopped mid-sentence, stunned. So Fourth Master Liu had lost confidence in his own teaching ability.

Having taught his son to rebel against sovereign and father, he was afraid that teaching his adopted grandson would lead him to rebel against the son, was that it?

"Who does he plan to hire to teach him?"

"That, I don't know." Yun Jiaoyue and Sutai often hunted together and were on good terms. Hearing Liu Chengzong ask this, she knew he had relented, and her face lit up with delight: "In the end, it will probably still be the Marshal who chooses."

Fan Sanlang, however, was far more composed. Rubbing her shoulder, she said: "Choosing a teacher isn't urgent. What matters is that Eje has grown up now. As his godparents, we ought to find him a maiden from a good and virtuous family to marry."

"Eje, marry?"

"A good and virtuous family?"

Liu Shizi patted Fan Sanlang's leg, signaling her to climb off him, then scrambled up in one motion. Sitting cross-legged on the couch, he counted on his fingers for a long while, and finally looked up and said: "Your standards are too high. Finding someone who can even manage two of those words is rarer than phoenix feathers and unicorn horns."

The Marshal's Manor was hardly some Villains' Valley, of course.

One could still find a few good people there.

There were the worthy and virtuous, there were those of high moral standing, there were those who at least resembled decent human beings, and naturally there were also plenty who had already started families.

But to find someone who combined all four of those words, and who also had a daughter waiting unmarried in her chamber?

Far too difficult.

The three ladies watched him rack his brains, all for the sake of finding a good man, and couldn't help but laugh.

But to their surprise, Liu Shizi suddenly perked up, raising a single finger: "Hey, I really have thought of one!"

"Who?"

"In Suzhou there is a handsome and distinguished old country gentleman named Yan Zhi. Seventeen years ago, his wife died in childbirth. He swore never to remarry, and raised his son and daughter alone."

"You don't know — he had no money, no servants, no land. Raising those children was bitterly hard. He is a righteous husband, respected by all in Suzhou."

"Back when I was fighting in Gansu, a close friend recommended him, and he joined our army. He should be in Suzhou now... Strange, how did I end up stuffing a man like that into the military?"

Liu Chengzong shook his head, then clapped his hands: "Tomorrow, at first light, I'll go find Grand Commandant Cao and ask about Yan Zhi. If he's alive, I'll send a letter and ask whether his daughter has married yet."

"This..."

The three ladies looked at one another.

This man had no money, no servants, no land — he sounded like some unlucky wretch swept into the army by the chaos of war.

Wasn't he far too lowly and humble a household?

Yet none of them dared say so. In the end, Fan Sanlang spoke: "With backgrounds like ours three, we have no prejudice about family status. But Sutai, after all, was once..."

"No matter. It was precisely for the sake of family status that I thought of Yan Zhi."

Liu Chengzong waved his hand: "In the end, a marriage is lived by two people. A man as deeply devoted as Yan Zhi — his daughter is sure to be the same."

He had been about to say: with a father so hopelessly devoted, the daughter was bound to be a lovestruck fool as well. But when the words reached his lips, they turned into: "Mm, the family upbringing can't be bad."

"As for official rank and family standing, what kind of problem is that? So long as Eje is happy and the other party is willing, whatever rank Sutai thinks the in-laws ought to hold — I can bestow it."

Liu Chengzong spread his hands. In the northwest, those with family standing had mostly been killed off by him. Those who hadn't been killed had been tormented by him until family standing was no longer worth mentioning.

And the high-ranking, richly-rewarded officers of the Marshal's Manor were all young, one more so than the next — where was he supposed to find a daughter's family suitable for Eje?

Eje's status was sensitive to begin with. Even if some officer under his command had a suitable daughter, Liu Chengzong would be none too willing to let him marry her.

And besides, these old brothers of his — even if one of them really did have a daughter of the right age, let's be honest, what kind of family upbringing could she possibly have?

Truly, it wouldn't compare to that of Yan Zhi.

"Unless we find a princess of the Han, Su, or Qin princely houses — there are quite a few of those."

Liu Shizi said this, then shook his own head: "I wouldn't mind. It just depends on whether Sutai dares to take one."

Bai Liuxi glanced at Yun Jiaoyue, and the two shook their heads in unison: "She probably wouldn't dare."

They had to be joking. Sutai was so fiercely protective of her son that she didn't even dare let Eje lead troops — how could she dare take a princess of the Great Ming imperial house as a daughter-in-law?

Liu Shizi could actually understand Sutai. This was a case of "the heart that guards against others cannot be absent."

Now that the Marshal's Army had established garrison brigades, each brigade fixed with over a thousand Mongol cavalry, the power of the Northern Yuan Khan's court nobility had been overturned and trampled into the ground.

If they wanted to kill the donkey the moment it finished grinding, they could frame Eje for some crime and destroy him at any time.

After all, among the Mongol tribes under the Marshal's Manor in Qinghai, there were hardly any elderly, weak, women, or children to begin with. During these two years in Qinghai, taking a wife had been a luxury.

In fact, it wasn't just the common herders — even Chahar nobles, whose tents had been left on the sea when they went to war against the Oirats, had seen many of their women remarry to the bachelors of the Marshal's Army.

Though truly, no one else was to blame for this. Who told Ligdan Khan to march so disastrously? His army scattered all across Qinghai, and many men — never mind failing to return during the battle — only came back after the Khan had passed away and Liu Chengzong had already proclaimed himself Khan.

The situation back then had been utter chaos. Outside the sea were the Oirat armies; inside Eight-Sided City was smallpox. The Chahar army was trapped in total desperation.

The Khan himself was dead, the consorts had remarried — naturally, those wives and children left on the sea thought their men were dead too. Without food or clothing, of course they remarried as well.

This led to considerable resentment among the nobles who later returned, or who were captured by the Oirats and then released.

While Liu Chengzong was in Qinghai, they dared not speak a word. But the moment Liu Shizi led his troops on the eastern campaign, they immediately stirred up trouble as horse-bandits in Qinghai.

And in truth, back then the circumstances had still been relatively good — at least there were women, it was just that the bachelors of the Marshal's Army were formidable competitors.

Now, the women in Qinghai were only so many. Those who could marry had long since married. Those who hadn't managed to get a wife could only sharpen their wits and fight tooth and nail for a soldier's slot in a Marshal's Army garrison brigade, relying on blade and arms to win wealth and rank, so they could go to Han lands and find a wife.

In a situation like this, who has time to worry about Ejei?

It was just that Liu Chengzong had no such malicious intent — if he had wanted to kill them, he would have done it back before Ligdan Khan died.

Since he had promised Ligdan Khan, he would keep his word and ensure Ejei a lifetime free from want.

Liu Chengzong shook his head slightly, then opened his arms and pulled the three of them into an embrace, saying, "The matter of an adopted son can wait. What we should do now is produce a son of our own."