My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

However, don't misunderstand. Zhang Xianzhong's current disheveled and miserable appearance is not because Zhu Cilang treated him harshly or abusively. On the contrary, since Zhang Xianzhong surrendered, Zhu Cilang has been quite kind and benevolent to him in all aspects.

Zhu Cilang not only specifically ordered that no one else should mistreat Zhang Xianzhong in any way, but also ensured that Zhang Xianzhong received extremely lavish food and lodging during his journey back to the capital.

Why would Zhang Xianzhong appear in front of the public in this manner?

It turned out that after the troops entered the capital, Zhang Xianzhong began to have doubts.

He pondered that he had been a rebel before, yet now he was dressed in fine clothes to meet Chongzhen. Wasn't this clearly going to make Chongzhen unhappy?
It's like pointing your finger at Emperor Chongzhen and saying:

"Look at me, although my rebellion failed, I'm here to see you unharmed, and you even have to give me an official position."

Isn't this a slap in the face to Emperor Chongzhen?

Zhang Xianzhong then fell into deep thought.

After much deliberation, he made a bold decision.

He first got a set of tattered clothes, then made himself look disheveled and deliberately made his face dirty, as if he hadn't washed his face in a long time.

Not only that, he also stayed up all night, his eyes were bloodshot, his gaze was unfocused, and he looked tired and dejected.

The reason he tormented himself like this was simple: he wanted to make himself look pitiful so that Emperor Chongzhen and his officials would feel some sympathy for him when they saw his pathetic state.

In this way, perhaps Emperor Chongzhen would not punish him too severely.

After all, Zhu Cilang had previously promised that as long as he surrendered, he would forgive him for his past mistakes and allow him to live out the rest of his life in peace.

However, Zhu Cilang was ultimately only the crown prince, not the emperor. In matters of life and death, fate, the emperor had to make the final decision.

However, Zhang Xianzhong was overthinking things.

In fact, Zhu Cilang had already discussed the matter of how to deal with Zhang Xianzhong in depth with Emperor Chongzhen through letters.

Even yesterday at the banquet, the two sides briefly exchanged views on this matter and ultimately reached a consensus:
That was to spare Zhang Xianzhong's life, and Chongzhen even planned to give him a noble title.

Of course, this title had no real power; it was merely a nominal one.

Even so, it was enough for Zhang Xianzhong to live a wealthy and comfortable life for the rest of his days.

After all, having gone through so many ups and downs, having a stable home is something many people long for.

At this moment, the reason why Chongzhen put on a sour face in front of everyone was actually just putting on an act.

It's important to understand that the peasant army had committed countless atrocities in the three northwestern provinces, with numerous members of the Zhu family imperial clan dying in the process. Surely the emperor couldn't possibly greet Zhang Xianzhong with a forced smile?

Using both kindness and severity is an extremely necessary tactic in court politics.

And so, under the gazes of everyone—some filled with resentment, some with hatred, and some with complex emotions—Zhang Xianzhong finally trembled as he approached Emperor Chongzhen.

His legs trembled slightly from nervousness, and each step seemed to require all his strength.

Having finally reached Chongzhen, he saw Chongzhen kneel down with a thud, his voice trembling with fear as he said:

"The wicked Zhang Xianzhong pays his respects to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming! Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"

After saying this, he kowtowed three times, the "thump thump thump" sound particularly loud in the silent palace.

For a moment, the palace was completely silent. Everyone turned their gaze toward Chongzhen, seemingly waiting quietly for his decision.

At this moment, Chongzhen was also extremely good at disguising himself. His eyes were so gloomy that they seemed to drip water, and his expression was serious and angry, which made people feel awe.

After a moment, Emperor Chongzhen slowly spoke, his voice deep and authoritative:

"Zhang Xianzhong, do you know your crime?"

Zhang Xianzhong didn't even dare to raise his head, his body trembling slightly as he hurriedly said:

"Your Majesty, I, a sinner, know my crime and deserve to die!"

His voice trembled with a sob, as if he were truly remorseful for his crimes.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen immediately shouted:

"You traitor! You actually dared to rebel, causing immense suffering to the people of the three northwestern provinces. People have been displaced, and families have been torn apart. For the crimes you have committed, killing you ten thousand times would be too lenient!"

Zhang Xianzhong hurriedly said again:
"I deserve to die ten thousand times! I deserve to die ten thousand times!"

Zhang Xianzhong knew that nothing he said would make a difference at this point; the best option was to obediently admit his mistake. Therefore, he kept kowtowing and admitting his wrongdoing.

The next second, Chongzhen suddenly softened his tone and continued:
"However, considering that you surrendered voluntarily, I will still pardon your past crimes."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xianzhong finally breathed a sigh of relief. His body relaxed, and his expression softened considerably.

Because these words were spoken by Emperor Chongzhen in front of all his civil and military officials. You must know that the emperor's words are golden and cannot be lied about.

From then on, no one could use the things he had done before to make things difficult for him anymore.

Just then, Emperor Chongzhen suddenly remembered something, and his expression became somewhat hesitant.

According to the previous agreement with Zhu Cilang, he not only wanted to pardon Zhang Xianzhong's crimes, but also to grant Zhang Xianzhong a noble title, in order to demonstrate the benevolence of the court.

Of course, this was also to better win over the hearts of the peasant soldiers who had been relocated to Liaodong.

However, in Chongzhen's view, giving Zhang Xianzhong a viscount or baron would be enough. After all, he had committed such a heinous crime, and it was already a blessing that he was spared his life. Why would he dream of a high rank and position?

However, Zhu Cilang's intention was to grant him the title of Earl, which, to be honest, was somewhat difficult for Chongzhen to accept.

In his view, the title of earl was not something that could be granted casually; one had to have sufficient military achievements or outstanding contributions to be awarded it.

Zhang Xianzhong was nothing more than a surrendered rebel; to give him the rank of earl is far too high.

But considering the bigger picture and the need to better appease the peasant armies and stabilize the situation, Chongzhen ultimately agreed. He then gritted his teeth and continued:
"In addition, to demonstrate the benevolence of the court, I have decided to confer upon you the title of Earl of Anshun."

It must be said that the irony here is extremely strong.

On the surface, the name "Anshun" seems to be a commendation for Zhang Xianzhong's "contentment and submission to the court," but in reality, it is a constant reminder to him:
Your past "restlessness" and "rebellion" are original sins.

Your title did not come from military achievements, but from surrender.

This title is like an invisible shackle, nailing his "dark history" to the most conspicuous place of his identity, making him never forget the mistakes he once made.

Historically, the Ming Dynasty did indeed have precedents for bestowing titles upon surrendered generals, such as "Marquis of Submission" and "Earl of Loyalty and Bravery."

The title "Earl of Anshun" perfectly fits this naming logic. It seems to be a compliment to Zhang Xianzhong, but in reality, it is rich in connotation and is a "soft knife" commonly used in court politics.

This seemingly mild yet subtly meaningful approach not only gave Zhang Xianzhong a way out but also served as a restraint and warning to him to some extent.

However, it is clear that Zhang Xianzhong at this time did not care whether the title sounded good or bad, or whether it had any other meaning.

He felt so excited he was almost trembling.

Even if it sounds awful, he's still an earl. Even if he's imprisoned, he'll still enjoy the treatment of an earl, something he wouldn't even dare to dream of.

Compare this to Li Zicheng, who is already dead. Although Li Zicheng was once very powerful, he ultimately met a tragic end, dying and disappearing from the public eye.

Zhang Xianzhong, on the other hand, not only survived but was also granted the title of earl, a stark contrast to Zhang Xianzhong's life.

What else could he possibly have to choose from?
The next second, Zhang Xianzhong hurriedly knelt down again, and said in a loud and grateful voice:
"Your Majesty, I, the guilty subject Zhang Xianzhong, thank you! From now on, I will be loyal to my duty and serve the Ming Dynasty to the death! Long live Your Majesty! Long live His Highness the Crown Prince!"

After saying this, Zhang Xianzhong prostrated himself again, his devout appearance suggesting that he had truly reformed and was determined to serve the Ming Dynasty.

Upon hearing that the emperor had actually bestowed upon Zhang Xianzhong the title of earl, the civil and military officials present were somewhat displeased.

After all, this guy was a rebel who once led peasant armies to burn, kill, and plunder everywhere, bringing great disaster to the Ming Dynasty. Now that he has surrendered, he can actually be granted the title of earl. What about those generals who have been loyal to the Ming Dynasty for many years and risked their lives for it? It is inevitable that they will feel some imbalance and dissatisfaction.

However, they weren't fools; they knew the real reason why the emperor did this.

It's simply because they felt that they had just defeated the peasant army, and the domestic situation was still unstable. They needed to appease the peasant army and stabilize public morale.

So even though they were a little annoyed, they didn't say anything, they just stood silently by and watched it all happen.

Thus, with the granting of the title of Earl to Zhang Xianzhong, the peasant army issue was finally resolved completely.

Next, all you need to do is choose a suitable time to offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth and your ancestors, and then the matter will be completely over.

By then, the situation in the Ming Dynasty might truly stabilize and usher in a new stage of development.

After the court session, Zhu Cilang called out to Zhang Xianzhong, who had been waiting outside the palace, and then took him back to the Eastern Palace.

At this time, Zhang Xianzhong became even more obedient than before. He lowered his head and followed behind Zhu Cilang like a child who had made a mistake following an adult, cautious and timid, just like a quail.

Having been defeated by Zhu Cilang before, Zhang Xianzhong already knew Zhu Cilang's strength very well, let alone now that they were in the capital.
Under the emperor's nose, he naturally dared not act recklessly in the slightest.

Moreover, strictly speaking, he also knows whose coattails he should be clinging to right now.

He probably couldn't get close to the emperor anymore, after all, he had committed such a serious crime, and the emperor must have some resentment towards him.

Therefore, he could only cling to the crown prince's coattails, hoping to live out the rest of his life peacefully under the prince's protection.

Back in the Eastern Palace, after Zhu Cilang took his seat, he saw Zhang Xianzhong still standing in front of him, and then said with a smile:

"Alright, Marquis Anshun, there's no need for you to stand on ceremony here. Please have a seat."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xianzhong quickly bowed and said:
"In front of His Highness the Crown Prince, how can I possibly sit? I'd rather stand."

His attitude was very humble, as if he was afraid that he might accidentally offend Zhu Cilang.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Cilang no longer stood on ceremony. He picked up the teacup on the table, blew on it gently, and then took a sip of tea.

After taking a sip of tea, Zhu Cilang slowly said:
“Lord Anshun, you should understand that although the imperial court has defeated the peasant army, there are still many peasant armies in other places. These people may not be your subordinates, or the subordinates of Li Zicheng and Luo Rucai, but in the end they are all peasant armies, and they have probably heard of your name.”

"So now I'm giving you two choices: one is to stay obediently in the capital and live a life of wealth and honor."

"The second option is for you to persuade the peasant armies that are still rebelling to surrender. If you can persuade them to surrender, it will be a great achievement for you. If you cannot persuade them to surrender, the imperial army will take care of the aftermath. Choose one of these two paths."

Unlike other peasant armies, Zhang Xianzhong was seen by the imperial court as a mascot to demonstrate its control over the entire nation.

Therefore, it was impossible for someone like him to be relocated to Liaodong. After all, the situation in Liaodong was complicated, and Emperor Chongzhen and the ministers in the court would not feel at ease leaving him there.

Besides, if he goes to Liaodong and harbors rebellious thoughts, it would be a real problem.

Therefore, the best solution is actually to let him stay in the capital, where he can live a life of wealth and honor until he dies of old age.

However, Zhu Cilang had a desire to make use of the situation, and he planned to send Zhang Xianzhong with some men to persuade the peasant armies that were still rebelling all over the country to surrender.

After all, Zhang Xianzhong was the only living and famous peasant army general, so it might be more appropriate for him to persuade the peasants to surrender than for the imperial court to do so.

Once those peasant soldiers saw that Zhang Xianzhong had been persuaded to surrender and even granted the title of earl, they would most likely no longer think about rebelling, thus saving the imperial court a lot of trouble.

At the same time, after hearing Zhu Cilang's words, Zhang Xianzhong immediately knelt down and said:
"Your Highness, as I have already stated in court, I am willing to serve Your Majesty and the Ming Dynasty with utmost loyalty. Therefore, I am willing to choose the second path: to persuade other peasant armies to surrender on behalf of the court."

Zhang Xianzhong wasn't stupid; he certainly knew that choosing the first path was actually the safer option.

Living a life of luxury in the capital, free from fear and the need to fight on the battlefield, is undoubtedly a very comfortable choice.

But people always have dreams. Now that he had surrendered to the court and been granted the title of earl, he didn't want to just be a mascot and waste his days doing nothing.

On the contrary, if he could achieve some merit, the imperial court might actually assign him some tasks and treat him as a real military general. Wouldn't that be better than being kept by the imperial court? (End of Chapter)