Chapter 308: The Ancestors

In the seventh year of Wanli, it was destined to be a year of uproar.

That year, the phrase "chaos reigned supreme" swept across the land—from streets to scholarly circles, from localities to the court, from civil officials to military commanders, from the imperial palace to the training grounds.

Today in Beijing, the most shocking event was unquestionably a group of soldiers gathering to rebel, assassinating the Emperor on the street during his outing.

As soon as the incident occurred, news surged outward like a whirlpool centered on the Gao Mansion, engulfed by a storm of panic.

Power acted like a dam, filtering the speed and precision of information, effortlessly channeling it down the ranks.

The Commanders of each Guard, their Deputy Commanders, and the Mobile and Assistant Generals of each camp—those who ought to have reacted first—actually heard the news much later.

Some had barely just scrambled into armor and formed ranks, anxiously awaiting orders to rush to the Emperor's rescue.

The next moment, an imperial decree arrived: the Earl of Chengyi, Liu Shiyan, had been personally apprehended by the Emperor, and all officers of rank and above were ordered to the Grand Training Ground to witness the execution.

All the Commanders, Deputy Commanders, and Generals, regardless of their private thoughts, immediately disbanded their troops and hastened to the Grand Training Ground.

…

The Grand Training Grounds of Beijing's Three Great Camps were all located outside Desheng Gate and Anding Gate (today's Xiaochangkou Street and Xiyingfang Hutong), but the term "Grand Training Ground" referred to the general training ground established by the Emperor in the fifth year of Wanli at Xuanyuemen in the southern city, upon Gu Huan's request.

Major events—such as troop rotations and officer appointments in the Beijing Garrison's Military Government, distribution of rewards, testing of new firearms, the Emperor's planned imperial inspection next month, or judicial punishment of high-ranking military officers—were all carried out here.

Such a place was familiar ground to generals and commanders alike.

Yet today, after the Emperor's assassination attempt, the atmosphere was utterly unlike ordinary times.

The wind and thunder had subsided, but the sky remained gloomy; the torrential rain had poured itself out, and at its final moments, raindrops mingled with snowflakes fell upon the open-air Grand Training Ground.

The Imperial Guards stood rigid, faces solemn, stationed at key positions around the ground, forming an impenetrable cordon.

Perhaps due to the recent battle, their eyes still held traces of killing intent; their bloodied weapons remained unsheathed, planted firmly on the ground, gleaming coldly.

A faint scent of blood hung in the air, deepening the oppressive stillness.

Some civil official had rushed ahead to claim a position near the commander's platform; after the Emperor's close attendants rearranged the civil-military formations, he now watched the arriving commanders and generals with wary, scrutinizing eyes.

To either side of the platform stood two large oxhide drums; the two warriors who had slain the most rebels during the suppression were chosen to beat them.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

The rhythmic sound seemed to strike at everyone's chest.

Grand Secretaries like Shen Shixing and ministers from the Six Ministries like Wang Xijue and Wang Zongyi hurried to the ground, anxious for the Emperor's safety, only to be dismissed with a few words and ordered back to their offices.

Only Wang Chonggu of the Grand Secretariat and Vice Minister Chen Jingbang were retained by the Emperor.

After refusing the Emperor's offer of an umbrella, the two silently walked beneath the platform and took their places at the head of the eastern line of civil officials.

The arriving military officers kept casting anxious, questioning glances toward the head of the western line, Xu Wenbi and Gu Huan, seeking to discern whether this summons was merely a spontaneous order to witness the execution—or if the Emperor intended to use it as an excuse to implicate those connected to Liu Shiyan—the scope of "connected" being so vast, no one dared be certain they wouldn't be swept up.

Unfortunately, no one responded.

After the dull drumming ceased, only the patter of rain remained.

Rain best accentuated silence.

Especially now.

What unsettled them further was the figure standing atop the commander's platform—throughout, he had not moved once.

The Emperor had arrived in a frenzy, cursing the tardy Commanders of the Twenty-Six Imperial Guards, berating the sluggish Generals of the Three Great Camps; his steed neighed incessantly beneath him, while the rebel he dragged behind him howled without ceasing.

But the moment he mounted the platform, the scene froze.

The stallion, tied carelessly to his side, stood alone, glancing around, occasionally shaking off the rain soaking its coat.

Liu Shiyan lay motionless before the Emperor, his bandages long gone, blood streaming from wounds everywhere; at first his body had trembled faintly, now he was utterly still.

The Emperor, clad in armor, stood with both hands gripping his sword, resting it between his thighs, seated silently upon the commander's seat.

The armor was not the usual yesa robe, but the first time in sixty years a Zhu emperor had donned a phoenix-winged helmet, a fish-scale lamellar cuirass, a longbow slung across his back, and arrows at his waist.

All present stole glances at the armored Emperor.

He resembles Wu Zong…

Though the young Emperor in armor and sword was imposing, it only deepened the oppressive atmosphere.

Finally.

"Your Majesty, the Grand Secretariat, the Ministry of War, the Commanders and Deputy Commanders of the Twenty-Six Imperial Guards, the Deputy, Assistant, Mobile, and Assistant Generals of the Beijing Garrison, the Director, Staff Officers, and Inspection Officers of the Military Government, the Five Military Commissions—all are present."

Zheng Zongxue's voice was not deep, but it rang clearly to every ear in the training ground.

From the Grand Secretariat to the Ministry of War, from the Imperial Guards to the Beijing Garrison—all civil and military officials in Beijing tied to military affairs were now gathered here.

All held their breath, awaiting the Son of Heaven's words.

Yet the Emperor said nothing; he merely raised his hand and dismissed the Beijing Garrison's Staff Officer.

Long moments passed.

Still, the Emperor made no move.

The crowd exchanged uneasy glances, then collectively bowed and implored: "Your Majesty."

At that cry, movement finally stirred upon the platform.

The figure atop the platform slowly rose, lifted his head, and revealed his face beneath the phoenix-winged helmet to the civil and military officials.

As he moved, the lamellar plates clanked sharply.

Immediately after, a gaze descended from above, revealing little emotion.

Gradually, heads bowed; the curious glances were quietly withdrawn.

The Emperor still spoke no word, merely scanning silently over the civil and military officers on the ground.

From civil officials to military commanders, from Imperial Guards to Beijing Garrison—he passed his gaze over each one.

Silence.

Prolonged silence.

After the assassination attempt, what terrified officials most was the Emperor's uncontrollable rage—this was what all military officers had expected before arriving; now, they suddenly understood: a silent volcano was far more unsettling.

Unease spread; swallowing and lip-biting became frequent among the crowd.

Clank.

The sound of the Emperor dragging his sword broke the silence.

Silence seemed to gather strength.

Thus, even the slightest movement on the platform drew every eye.

"Today, someone again tried to kill me. My Right Regional Commander, a hereditary marquis, gathered hundreds of soldiers and came within ten paces of me."

Zhu Yijun finally spoke.

Logically, upon hearing such words, someone would immediately prostrate and beg for forgiveness.

But after prolonged silence, the first utterance was never interrupted; instead, a chorus of sighs rose—no matter what the Emperor said, it now sounded like celestial music.

As for the assassination attempt…

Everyone instinctively glanced at Liu Shiyan.

Xu Wenbi and Gu Huan exchanged a look, their expressions complex—how could a noble family of generations of wealth and status end up here?

Chen Jingbang let out a contemptuous snort toward Liu Shiyan's direction, as if declaring his stance to his colleagues.

Xia Kai, Deputy Commander of the Feathered Forest Vanguard Guard, cautiously wiped sweat from his cheek with his shoulder.

Zheng Zongxue and the Emperor's close attendants observed the crowd's reactions with calm, impassive faces.

In the vast training ground, apart from the patter of rain, only the Emperor's voice echoed.

"The reasons need not be elaborated—it was simply because he colluded with Shi Mao to betray the state, sabotaged the horse administration, embezzled the Nine Borders, knew he could not escape death, and sought to drag me down with him."

As he spoke, Zhu Yijun drew his blade, walked slowly to Liu Shiyan's side, seized one leg, and dragged him like a dead pig toward the edge of the platform.

Everyone clearly saw Liu Shiyan remained utterly motionless—he appeared dead.

His body was already riddled with sword cuts and arrow wounds; dragged this far by the Emperor, death was unsurprising.

Yet subjectively he may have died, objectively he must still live—for before the Emperor declared the execution, Liu Shiyan could not be allowed to die.

After all, one slaughters a chicken to frighten the monkeys; everyone understood this.

"Fortunately, since ascending the throne, I have trained in martial arts for eight years—I did not flee in panic and lose face, but instead shot this traitor through the throat on the spot."

He had, in truth, missed his target and struck only the neck, but outsiders would never know.

Hearing this, the military officers glanced sideways.

The dramatic changes of a single day had come too abruptly; only now, from the Emperor's own mouth, did they learn the truth, and their faces betrayed faint surprise.

The Emperor stood tall, clad in armor, radiating the aura of a mighty general; he dragged Liu Shiyan's leg across the platform, leaving a long trail of blood.

"Legally speaking, such a treasonous case should have been handed over to the judicial authorities for interrogation."

He reached the platform's edge, dropped Liu Shiyan, then kicked him twice, forcing his upper body to lie prone on the platform while his head hung suspended over the edge.

Zhu Yijun raised his right foot and pressed it firmly onto Liu Shiyan's back.

The civil and military officials instantly understood what the Emperor intended to do.

The military officers clenched their fists, staring in stunned excitement, awaiting the Emperor's next move.

The civil officials all turned their eyes toward Wang Chonggu—but he remained expressionless, calm as ever.

The censor who had moments ago rushed to rescue the Emperor now stepped forward, lips parted, then fell silent.

How could the Emperor personally carry out such an act!?

"But since this was effectively a battlefield encounter, and Liu Shiyan, as a military officer, was captured by my own hand, whether I consider it killing an enemy in combat or executing him under military law… after careful thought…"

Zhu Yijun lifted his sword, brushed aside Liu Shiyan's matted hair, revealing his unclean neck.

Civil and military officials stared wide-eyed, utterly transfixed.

As everyone held their breath, awaiting the Emperor's next action—

The Emperor pressed down hard on Liu Shiyan and swung with all his might!

Thud!

Blood sprayed, and a head flew through the air!

The Emperor, as if slaughtering a chicken, cleanly severed Liu Shiyan's head with one sword stroke—the blood spurted over ten feet!

Xu Wenbi instinctively sidestepped, staring dumbfounded as the head landed before him.

Wang Chonggu and Gu Huan stood motionless, eyes fixed on the Emperor's sword, still dripping blood.

Chen Jingbang wiped the blood splashed onto his face, took a deep breath, and forced himself not to vomit.

Qi Jiguang paused, stepped forward, picked up the fallen head, and placed it directly beneath the command platform, facing the crowd.

Only then did the Emperor's voice drift out.

"I have personally severed this traitor's head here, to serve as a warning to you all—lest such unbearable acts recur."

Zhu Yijun sheathed his sword, his gaze piercing the assembled civil and military officials, his voice cold: "Do you all agree?"

Coincidentally, the rain and wind ceased at that moment.

The grand parade ground fell utterly silent.

Faced with the Emperor's display, no one could tell whether this was a casual warning after venting rage—or a menacing move to implicate others.

One after another, they knelt and begged for forgiveness: "Liu Shiyan conspired in rebellion and startled His Majesty—this is entirely our failure. We are ashamed and swear such a thing will never happen again!"

Led by Wang Chonggu, civil and military officials quickly voiced their allegiance.

Zhu Yijun's expression finally softened slightly, and he explained patiently: "I am not making things difficult for you."

"Two days ago, Shi Mao hired foreign monks to assassinate me; today, Liu Shiyan gathered troops in broad daylight to rebel." "Such relentless succession..."

"Just now, I wondered—tonight, might someone follow the example of the Marquis Zhao Wu and lead the Capital Garrison and Imperial Guard straight to my palace?"

The Emperor spoke with a gentle smile, yet his words were full of tiger and wolf threats.

At his first utterance, civil and military officials alike turned pale.

The next moment, someone could no longer hold back and collapsed to the ground, begging for mercy.

"Your Majesty! Liu Shiyan's rebellion has nothing to do with us!"

"Your Majesty! We are utterly loyal—our hearts are as clear as sun and moon!"

"Your Majesty, please see clearly!"

More and more people knelt, crying out their innocence.

Zhu Yijun, unmoved, replied: "Just 'nothing to do with you'?"

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His face betrayed unmistakable disappointment: "The ancient saying is: 'When the ruler is humiliated, the minister must die...'"

"My Minister of War colludes with the enemy and betrays the state; my Right Regional Commander gathers troops to rebel. Today, my guards have been killed and wounded beyond count; my elderly tutor was terrified by weapons; Liu Shiyan openly cursed my family."

"After such profound humiliation to your sovereign, you merely wish to tell me 'it has nothing to do with us'?"

"Is this my Ministry of War!?"

"Is this my Imperial Guard!?"

"Is this my Capital Garrison!?"

"Have the several million taels I took from my private treasury been fed to dogs!?"

The Emperor's voice grew increasingly uncontrollable; by the end, he was nearly roaring, his armor rattling violently, his fury sweeping across the parade ground like a storm.

Everyone present turned pale.

Wang Chonggu immediately moved to speak.

But the Emperor gave no sign he would allow interruption.

"Where is the Commander of the Feathered Forest Forward Guard?"

At the Emperor's low command, Xia Kai shuddered violently.

Almost instinctively, he collapsed to his knees, stammering: "Your Majesty! I—"

Zhu Yijun cut him off brutally: "You will no longer call yourself ' Chen.' Answer me: two days ago, your Feathered Forest Guard failed to search the foreign monks; afterward, you failed to intercept Shi Maohua; today, you failed to detect Liu Shiyan's rebellion."

"Again and again, and now a third time."

"Are you incompetent—or do you harbor treacherous intent!?"

Xia Kai's face turned ashen; he banged his head repeatedly: "Your Majesty! I am incompetent! I am incompetent!"

Zhu Yijun's expression remained blank: "Incompetent? Then what were you doing these past days, forcibly conscripting seventy soldiers?"

This was uncovered by Lu Weizhen yesterday—not empty words from Zhu Yijun to frighten them.

Hearing this, Xia Kai banged his head harder and faster, the thuds unceasing: "Your Majesty! I am guilty! I conscripted soldiers to repair my mother's house!"

Hmph.

A cold laugh.

It came from the Emperor—smiling without warmth.

"Good. Since you mentioned your mother, I pardon you for embezzling military funds, releasing Shi Maohua illegally, and forcibly conscripting soldiers—all crimes punishable by extermination of three clans."

He unfastened his sword and threw it toward him: "Kill yourself."

The sword arced through the air; Xia Kai froze, staring dumbly as the Emperor's blade landed before him.

Everyone frowned, glancing sideways.

Zhu Yijun refused to look at him again, turning and barking: "Where is Li Chengen, Assistant Regional Commander of the Second Battalion of the Divine Engine Camp?"

Li Chengen had been watching Xia Kai's drama; suddenly hearing the Emperor call his name, he felt as if struck by lightning!

He whirled around, meeting the Emperor's gaze in terror: "Your Majesty! I had nothing to do with this!"

The Imperial Guard was the Imperial Guard; the Capital Garrison was the Capital Garrison.

The former consisted of twenty-six guards—including the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Feathered Forest Guard—directly under the Emperor, stationed in Beijing, with constant deployments.

The latter—Divine Engine Camp, Five Armies Camp, Divine Pivot Camp—fell under the Military Commission, governed by the Viceroy and Vice Minister of War. Aside from daily drills, they remained quietly in their barracks. Li Chengen had neither the ability nor the opportunity to be involved!

Yet the Emperor's voice turned cold: "The Capital Garrison's Fifth Army, Seventh Battalion, Assistant Regional Commander Liu Zhi, merely received a reprimand from me seven years ago—and has held a grudge ever since. Now he has conspired with the White Lotus Sect and Liu Shiyan to rebel and assassinate me."

"I hear you, Assistant Regional Commander Li, also hold a grudge. When do you plan to follow Liu Zhi's path?"

Only then did Li Chengen realize what the Emperor meant.

Seven years ago, when Gu Huan took command of the Capital Garrison, he cracked down on several offenders—including Li Chengen and Liu Zhi!

But Liu Zhi's rebellion had nothing to do with him! Back then, others like Hou Zhi of the Divine Pivot Camp were also punished—why single him out?

Li Chengen immediately prostrated himself: "Your Majesty! Since then, I have reformed myself, fulfilled my duties faithfully, and harbored not a single ounce of resentment!"

No sooner had he finished than the Emperor's chilling voice spoke again.

"Is that so? Didn't you constantly complain that I 'waste time measuring fields'?"

Li Chengen snapped his head up, face filled with horror.

At that moment, a wet thud echoed—the scent of blood suddenly intensified.

He turned with difficulty and saw Commander Xia Kai of the Feathered Forest Guard, throat slit, collapsing lifelessly.

Li Chengen's throat convulsed; his mouth grew dry: "Your Majesty, I am merely a distant relative—I am uneducated, ignorant of state affairs, and only made jests in private..."

With the Emperor holding life and death in his hands, Li Chengen felt death's shadow looming—he could only invoke the Grand Princess, claiming kinship to save himself.

"Remove your armor and resign."

The Emperor's voice sounded like celestial music; Li Chengen bowed his head repeatedly.

He stumbled awkwardly to Gu Huan, trembling as he unfastened his rank token and returned it.

The civil and military officials watched this scene unfold, a chill rising uncontrollably from their spines to their crowns.

Life and death—truly, life and death rested in his hands!

"Marquis Zhenyuan, you oversee the Capital Garrison—how could you have failed to notice this?"

Gu Huan had just taken Li Chengen's rank token when the Emperor's voice came again.

His heart instantly eased—he had served seven years as commander of the Capital Garrison; now he could retire with honor, avoiding Zhu Xizhong's fate.

Gu Huan bowed his head: "I am guilty. I request dismissal."

He removed his helmet and placed it before him.

But no direct response came from the Emperor.

"Vice Minister Chen, Director Jia—what do the Ministry of War and the Censorate have to say to me?"

Chen Jingbang and Jia San heard this and fell silent together.

After a moment, they exchanged glances and bowed deeply: "Your Majesty, Shi Maohua and Liu Shiyan conspired in rebellion—this is our inescapable responsibility!"

Only after these two spoke did the Emperor's expression lighten, and he slowly nodded.

Zhu Yijun turned his head toward Wang Chonggu at the head of the line and said gently: "Grand Secretary Wang, the Ministry of War, the Five Military Commissions, the Capital Garrison, the twenty-six Imperial Guards—all have decayed to this state. What shall we do?"

The Emperor had said enough. The military officers might still be confused, thinking only how terrifyingly powerful he was—but the civil officials all fell into stunned silence.

Wang Chonggu slowly turned his stiff neck, raising his gaze to meet the Emperor's.

They locked eyes.

Silent, unblinking.

Neither knew how long they stared.

Finally, Wang Chonggu opened his dry lips, bowed, and replied: "Our dynasty's military ills are grave. Your Majesty must act decisively!"

No sooner had he spoken than the Emperor smiled broadly.

A few military officers finally understood; the civil officials grew even quieter.

Zhu Yijun took a deep breath, stepped forward, walked beneath the command platform, clasped Wang Chonggu's clasped hands in his own, and personally lifted him up.

The latter stiffened for a moment, then slowly straightened.

Zhu Yijun gently patted Wang Chonggu's shoulder, then turned and climbed back up the steps to the command platform.

He stood alone on the commander's platform, tall and straight, facing the ministers: "I now issue the following deployments."

The civil and military officials spontaneously bowed lower, leaning forward to listen respectfully.

The attending Secretariat secretaries had rushed here without paper or brush, so they committed the words to memory.

"Remove Gu Huan, Marquis of Zhenyuan, from his post as Commander of the Capital Troops; appoint Left Grand Marshal Qi Jiguang as his successor."

This was only to be expected; Gu Huan accepted the decree calmly and bowed in thanks.

Though Qi Jiguang felt profound emotion within, his expression remained utterly composed, bowing with meticulous reverence.

"Demote Jia Sanjin from Chief Censor of the Military Censorate to Left Censor of the Military Censorate, and assign him oversight of the Capital Troops Military Government, solely responsible for its military administration."

Jia Sanjin looked up in shock, glancing at Chen Jingbang beside him.

Before Chen could respond, the Emperor's voice rang out again.

"Relieve Vice Minister of War Chen Jingbang of his additional duty overseeing the Capital Troops' military administration; assign him solely to his duties within the Ministry of War."

Chen Jingbang was likewise rendered speechless, staring blankly at the Emperor.

The Emperor's distrust of the Ministry of War had long been common knowledge, but stripping it outright of command over the Capital Troops was utterly unexpected!

"Transfer the Flag Guard under the Ministry of Rites, reduce its strength to three hundred; retain only military artisans in the Three Martial Guards, placing them under the Ministry of Works; reduce the Four Soaring Guards by twelve hundred, placing them under the Imperial Household; reduce the seven guards at Tongzhou, Jizhou, Daxing, Yanshan, and others to eighteen hundred, placing them under the jurisdiction of Shuntian Prefecture, the Five City Military Commissions, the Ministry of War, and the Military Censorate, solely responsible for city defense; the remaining eleven elite guards — Embroidered Uniform, Feathered Forest, Golden Tiger, and Tiger's Fierce — remain directly under my command."

The commanders of the elite guards exchanged glances.

Xu Wenbi, Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Li Jin, Commander of the Tiger's Fierce Guard, showed no change in expression — they had always answered directly to the Emperor; this merely brought them closer to him.

Yet the commanders of the Flag Guard and the Three Martial Guards wore expressions of resentment — they had been expelled from the elite guard structure!

"Transfer from the Ministry of War its authority over military organization, campaigns, expeditions, and troop deployments to the Five Military Commissions; retain its responsibilities for recruitment, maps, city walls, weapons, credentials, muster rolls, military academies, pay and rations, training, postal relay, and stables."

"Soon, the court will recommend a new Minister of War."

Everyone present from the Ministry of War was stunned!

Was the Ministry of War now reduced to nothing more than a household manager for national defense?

"Transfer from the Five Military Commissions their authority over military registers, garrisons, guard posts, and armories to the Ministry of War; retain their command over all military affairs inside and outside the capital; establish a Military Advisory Bureau, recruiting from Jinshi graduates of the military examinations, Hanlin officials with battlefield command experience, and seasoned soldiers with meritorious service, to advise on military matters, study military treatises, and conduct lectures."

"Due to Liu Shiyan, Right Grand Marshal, plotting treason, all officials of the Five Military Commissions ranked fifth rank and above are suspended from duty pending investigation."

"Appoint Right Censor Mei Yousong, Military Inspector Liu Zhizhong of Shanxi, Deputy Commissioner Lu Wanzhong of Zhejiang, Left Grand Marshal Yu Dayou, and Right Grand Marshal Jiao Ze to the Five Military Commissions."

The parade ground erupted in clamor.

Li Wengui, Left Grand Marshal of the Central Military Commission, and Zhang Yuanxun, Right Grand Marshal of the Rear Military Commission, stared in disbelief, brows furrowed — though the Five Military Commissions had gained immense authority, the current arrangement clearly had nothing to do with them.

"Reinstate the position of Grand Commander of the Five Military Commissions."

The moment the words were spoken, the crowd exploded.

All eyes turned to the Emperor!

Zhu Yijun's gaze swept over the buzzing parade ground, and he spoke slowly, each word deliberate: "I follow the precedent of the Taizu Emperor…"

"Appoint myself Grand Commander of All Military Forces, overseeing the Five Military Commissions, and deciding all military affairs within and beyond the realm."

(End of Chapter)