Late Ming Dynasty: So what if Emperor Chongzhen was inactive?!

Chapter 253 (Daily Life) - Skip to subscription recommended.
Zhu Xieyuan looked at the emperor and suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity. The scene of harmonious relations between the ruler and his ministers was still vivid in his mind. The Analects, Book 8, says: "The ruler treats his ministers with propriety, and the ministers serve their ruler with loyalty."

He had originally thought he could create a beautiful story of ruler and minister together with the emperor, but unexpectedly, he had ended up being suspected. Zhu Xieyuan suddenly felt that he was really old, and that he should probably retire and return to his hometown to enjoy his grandchildren.

"Your Majesty, I am guilty!" Zhu Xieyuan said in a low voice.

Zhu Youjian gritted his teeth and continued, "I want to get to the bottom of this matter now. Don't try to fool me. I don't want to hold you accountable right now!"

"As I said, this was just a misunderstanding and did not cause any major disaster. Your Majesty is overthinking it!" Zhu Xieyuan looked into the emperor's eyes and said frankly.

Zhu Youjian slowly shifted his gaze, reached out and poured out the tea that Zhu Xieyuan had let cool, as well as the tea that he himself hadn't drunk a drop of, and then poured out a fresh one.

Zhu Xieyuan looked at the emperor's actions with some confusion: Did the emperor do this because he was embarrassed to admit his mistake and wanted to replace the old tea with new tea to show that the matter was over?

Zhu Youjian picked up his teacup and drank it all in one gulp, then said, "I believe you, but is it possible that you and I have both been deceived by those below us? We must be vigilant about the matter of deceiving our superiors and subordinates."

The old man wasn't sure if the emperor was telling the truth, but he had a clear conscience and didn't believe he had done anything to deceive the emperor. However, he needed to soothe the emperor's anxiety and unease, not engage in debate with him.

He nodded and said, "Your Majesty is right. I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly when I return and give Your Majesty an explanation."

This was not the answer Zhu Youjian wanted, and he was slightly disappointed. In his mind, the court officials should have thought:

Qin Liangyu and her White-Spear Soldiers are now staunch supporters of the emperor, more like his private army than his own, but in short, not part of the imperial army. Given this, why should the imperial court fund the emperor's army?
As for Zhu Xieyuan's statement that he "thought the emperor had other plans," he may have indeed considered that, but his cold-hearted observation from beginning to end was more of a gloating: if someone wanted a private army, the emperor would have to support it with his own private funds.

According to the emperor's extravagant spending habits, the expenses of several thousand personal guards were equivalent to the military pay of tens of thousands of ordinary troops, and it might not even be enough to cover a million taels a year.

The emperor was also buying up large quantities of grain, bribing civil and military officials with money from the imperial treasury from time to time, and there were thousands of people in the inner court who needed to be fed. Where did all that money come from to squander? Procedurally speaking, it was correct for them not to pay the White-Spear Soldiers. The emperor didn't ask, and they didn't say anything, so there was nothing wrong with that.

But legal procedures don't necessarily equate to fairness. Since they couldn't directly confront the emperor, resorting to underhanded tactics was quite normal, wasn't it? After all, stripping the emperor of his military power started with controlling his finances. If the emperor couldn't support those few thousand troops, he would naturally have to back down.

These were all Zhu Youjian's guesses, which he felt were reasonable. He shared his thoughts with Zhu Xieyuan, who was speechless for a moment after hearing them.

No wonder the emperor summoned him to this remote place for a talk, even sending away Wang Chengen, who was always by his side. The scope of their conversation was completely unrefined!

Zhu Xieyuan didn't know whether having such an emperor was a blessing or a curse: if he was naive, how could he think so badly of all the court officials? If he was deep-thinking, how could he bring up such sensitive matters in front of his ministers? Was such a matter of suspicion between the emperor and his ministers something that could be discussed openly?
Zhu Youjian had no choice. He didn't want to go on a killing spree and maintain a reign of terror with the army he controlled, nor did he want to be a naive fool who would be sold out and end up dying an unexplained death.

Zhu Xieyuan was also in a dilemma. He didn't know how to persuade the emperor. In fact, he didn't completely trust his colleagues, after all, he had just assumed the emperor's death.

But he was only a warrior, not an investigator, and like the emperor, he didn't know where the enemy was. This was why Zhu Xieyuan always wanted to leave: he had spent most of his life serving as an official in the provinces, had no roots in the capital, and didn't want to get involved in the murky waters of the capital.

In the end, they couldn't reach a conclusion, and the old man could only advise him not to overthink it, to relax, and to have the spirit of Emperor Gaozu. But did Liu Bang ultimately let Han Xin go?
The enemy is lurking in the shadows, hidden among pots and pans, just like viruses and cancer cells, concealed within normal human tissue cells. It is almost impossible to find them one by one.

But if a purge were to begin, who knows how many people would be mistakenly killed? Zhu Youjian was not such a cruel person; he felt the loneliness and pain of Comrade Stalin.

Emperors call themselves lonely and isolated, and no one has ever escaped such a fate. Could it be that he could not ultimately escape the alienation that the imperial throne brings to people?
Coincidence? There can't be that many coincidences. Of the 200,000 houses in the capital, why did Bi Ziyan's house catch fire? Why did it happen precisely when he was presiding over the reform?

Safety is a person's primary need. Sometimes Zhu Youjian really wanted to quit: how come other time travelers could catch corrupt officials, assassins, and traitors so easily, while he didn't even know where his enemies were!
Sometimes he would wonder if he had a mental problem and was suffering from paranoia, but those who despise conspiracy theories are often proven wrong by reality.

Zhu Youjian only had one life, and he couldn't use his own death to prove that there were indeed treacherous subjects plotting against him. He could only nip all dangers in the bud. A skilled warrior doesn't achieve great feats; such people are always difficult for others to understand.

The rain gradually stopped, and a pair of spotted doves perched on the crabapple tree outside the window, cooing softly.

This thing looks a lot like a gray pigeon. Zhu Youjian's gaze wandered back and forth across the branches of this old crabapple tree, which was probably planted during the Yongle era.

This bird looks to have a smaller head than a pigeon, but it has a very intelligent eye. It just doesn't like to build nests and always lays its eggs on tree branches.

Seeing the emperor's reaction, Zhu Xieyuan knew it was time for him to take his leave. As he stood up, he realized that his undergarment beneath his official robes was soaked with sweat and stuck to his back.

The old man arrived alone, without even a eunuch to guide him. On his return, the emperor personally saw him off, stopping only in front of the Qianqing Gate.

Zhu Youjian leaned against the doorframe, watching the old man's slightly hunched back grow longer and then further away. The White-Armed Guards were the most numerous near the Qianqing Gate; after saluting, they wore stiff expressions, looking like they wanted to laugh but dared not.

"Alright, stop pretending. I could hear you two chatting under the eaves from afar. What were you talking about?" Zhu Youjian asked irritably.

After marrying Han Chinese wives and staying in the capital for several years, these Tujia-origin soldiers have all learned to speak Mandarin; previously, they could only understand it.

Faced with the emperor's question, they were sweating profusely. After exchanging bewildered glances for a moment, their squad leader craned his neck and said, "Your Majesty, we were just talking about Your Majesty and our commander's......"

"What is it? Hurry up and say it!" Zhu Youjian was so eager to urinate that he could hear them talking.

"We say Your Majesty and our general's wife are both incredibly fierce. To dare marry such a woman into the family, Your Majesty is truly the greatest warrior of all time!" The sergeant finished speaking with his eyes closed, then his legs gave way and he knelt down with a thud. Zhu Youjian, upon hearing this, was speechless and angrily cursed, "Damn it, you're really idle! From now on, you're not allowed to gossip about my family affairs!"

After saying that, he angrily kicked the white-pole soldier's sentry leader and turned to leave.

"Your Majesty, aren't you going to punish us?" the sergeant asked in astonishment.

"How dare I punish you!" Zhu Youjian's voice came from afar.

"What are you looking at? Stand up straight now!" the sergeant roared as he got up from the ground.

According to the rules of the guard post, they are not allowed to chat among themselves. However, they had just taken shelter from the rain under the eaves and were all huddled together. Once the topic was brought up, they easily started chatting.

Standing guard is a very tedious job. In the beginning, they received full wages and enjoyed generous benefits such as free meals and accommodation, housing, land, and wives. They were also able to perform their duties diligently.

As time went on, it was inevitable that some slackness would set in. The fact that they were chatting wasn't a big problem, but the problem was being caught red-handed by the emperor – just thinking about it made me feel utterly hopeless.

Although the emperor did not punish them, they were in great distress: it seemed that the emperor was angry, so what did the emperor mean by what he said next?

They would rather be arrested and flogged by the emperor, but fortunately their ordeal ended soon, as it was noon and they could change shifts.

"Squad leader, why did the emperor say he dared not punish us?" Xiang Galu, who had been promoted to junior officer and had ten subordinates, asked with a puzzled look.

“That’s right, the commander didn’t hold back when he punished us. The squad leader is higher than the flag commander and the captain, the commander is higher than the battalion commander and squad leader, and the emperor is the highest.” Peng Ali, who had been a lowly soldier for several years, counted on his fingers.

"How should I know why!" the sergeant said anxiously. "Everyone, assemble at the drill ground first. Don't go back to your rooms. Those of captain rank and above, come with me to see the general."

The White-Clad Soldiers, numbering 114 men per outpost, were divided into three teams. The three team leaders, growing increasingly anxious, pleaded pitifully, "Boss, why do we have to go together? Can we not go?"

The sergeant's face flushed red, and after a long pause, he finally said, "Because I'm too scared to go by myself! You all have to come with me!"

The three captains had no choice but to follow dejectedly. The four of them dawdled until they arrived at Commander Ma Xianglin's hut.

Ma Xianglin's residence was the same as that of the other White-Spear Soldiers: a single-story hut with a small courtyard. What soldier would live in a single room? This was nothing to him, the son of a local chieftain, but for ordinary soldiers it was far too luxurious—a luxury they would repay with their lives!

Ma Xianglin hasn't had a good time these past few days either. He and his wife had a fight and were giving each other the silent treatment; both had said some very hurtful things. He blamed his wife for launching a surprise attack without consulting him, embarrassing the emperor, and thus being unfaithful.
Zhang Fengyi felt that it was perfectly legitimate for her to ask for pay for her subordinates. She had submitted applications to the court, but because her position as acting commander was not officially recognized by the court, they simply ignored her. In a fit of anger, she came to the emperor to file a complaint.

She wanted more than just their military pay; she was quite vengeful and wanted to see the court officials who had made things difficult for her punished by the emperor.

If the message were relayed through Ma Xianglin, it obviously wouldn't have the same effect. On the contrary, Ma Xianglin had been by the emperor's side for a long time and didn't side with his own people, which was a betrayal of his own people!
Infidelity and betrayal—these are the most severe accusations. Even Zhu Youjian dared not say such things directly, only expressing similar meanings indirectly, which almost angered the old man to death. This couple, however, made no attempt to hide it, using the sharpest knife to hurt their closest relatives.

In fact, they regretted their words as soon as they left their mouths. In the past, when the couple had conflicts, they would always settle them with a fight, and Ma Xianglin would usually give in. But this time, both of them were disheartened and didn't even have the energy to fight.

Zhang Fengyi left with a flick of her sleeve, and Ma Xianglin couldn't sleep all night. But he was also a stubborn man. He really wanted to leave the palace to find his wife, but he could never get over the hurdle in his heart.

He felt he was right, and he thought it was a mistake for the emperor to grant Zhang Fengyi an official position: this stupid woman was nothing like his mother, okay? How could someone so reckless and impulsive lead troops?

With thousands or tens of thousands of lives in her hands, every decision should be made after careful consideration. Does this spendthrift woman think that knowing a little martial arts makes her a general leading troops?

When the platoon leader and the three captains saw their general, they were utterly shocked. Remembering the rumors they'd heard—that the general had fought with their wives—and recalling their own teasing of him, they realized they'd really stepped on a landmine. They felt like they wanted to die: "You've got a death wish!"
Before they surrendered, Ma Xianglin already knew what had happened at Qianqing Gate. When he first heard it, he also thought it was utterly absurd: how could he have raised such a bunch of good-for-nothings? They must have been too full and couldn't distinguish between superiors and inferiors!
“I know everything about what you’ve done. I’m going to see His Majesty now. Anyone who has been talking nonsense, go and receive ten strokes of the military rod, and the squad leader twenty!” Ma Xianglin roared.

"Yes, General!" the four replied in unison. They were quite happy to accept their punishment, as if a huge weight had finally been lifted from their chests.

Ma Xianglin had free access to the inner palace, but men and women were separated, and he generally wouldn't go into the Forbidden City unless there were special circumstances. When the emperor needed to travel, he would summon Ma Xianglin to act as a bodyguard.

When Zhu Youjian saw Ma Xianglin, he thought he had been possessed by a panda spirit!
"Ma Qing, what's wrong with you? Did you not sleep well, or did your wife beat you up?!" Zhu Youjian said half-jokingly.

Ma Xianglin blushed and knelt down with a thud, saying, "Your Majesty, I am guilty!"

Zhu Youjian's head was buzzing. How could another person claim he was guilty? What was wrong with the world?! After figuring out the situation, he was somewhat amused and exasperated. The White-Spear Soldiers incident was actually nothing to him, so he didn't take it to heart.

The decline in the White-Clad Soldiers' combat effectiveness was within his expectations, and there were solutions. Loyalty and ability are not so easy to reconcile. One solution was to rotate them with front-line combat troops, but at present, it was not appropriate to make such a major adjustment. He no longer had the resources to win over another unit, and what he had now was sufficient.

As for Ma Xianglin's matter, that was a sin. As the saying goes, it's better to tear down ten temples than to destroy one marriage. So Zhu Youjian ordered Ma Xianglin to go out of the city to appease his wife.

Ma Xianglin, still harboring treacherous intentions, claimed that his wife was unsuitable to be a commander and tried to persuade the emperor by citing the story of Zhao Kuo. He did not say that Zhang Fengyi was only good at theoretical warfare, but rather cited the story of Zhao Kuo's mother telling the emperor that her son was useless, which the emperor did not believe and ultimately led to a disaster, to prove that if he thought his wife was not good enough, then she really was not good enough!
After listening, Zhu Youjian nodded and then shook his head, saying, "I understand what you mean. I will not let General Zhang lead troops into battle in the future. However, a ruler's word is law. Since the official position has already been appointed, it is not appropriate to change it in the short term."

(End of this chapter)