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

Chapter 300 Zhu Youjian's Great Deception

Cao Huachun put the imperial edict into a wooden box, wrapped it in cloth and tied it to his chest, then covered it with his outer garment. He then gathered twenty elite cavalrymen from the Wuxiang Left Guard of the Imperial Guards under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Horse Administration and went out through Dongzhimen. He happened to run into Gao Hongtu, the Left Censor-in-Chief, who was inspecting the Dongzhimen Military Command.

Cao Huachun cursed his bad luck, then lowered his head and covered his face with his sleeve, pretending not to see him, and tried to pass by quickly.

However, Gao Hongtu still didn't let him go. As the head of the Censorate, he already disliked these eccentric eunuchs, and seeing Cao Huachun's evasive behavior, he was even more determined to pursue him. Gao Hongtu stepped forward and blocked Cao Huachun's horse's hooves.

"Whoa!" Cao Huachun had no choice but to tighten the reins. He really didn't have the guts to trample the Left Censor-in-Chief to death, otherwise even the emperor wouldn't be able to protect him.

"Oh, so it's the Imperial Horse Administration eunuch in person. No wonder you're so arrogant. May I ask where Eunuch Cao is headed?" Gao Hongtu said sarcastically, his hands behind his back. The old man was not only good at directly confronting people, but he was also adept at mocking others even without substantial evidence.

Cao Huachun cupped his hands in greeting to Gao Hongtu and said, "I have official business to attend to, which is none of your concern. I cannot disclose that information. Farewell!"

With that, Cao Huachun tugged at the reins, and his warhorse turned a corner to leave. Gao Hongtu didn't stop him, but watched Cao Huachun and the others gallop away, lost in thought.

"Let's go to the Ministry of War!" Gao Hongtu ordered his men.

"My lord, the imperial censor on patrol should be arriving soon. Shall we wait a little longer?!" the commander of the East City Garrison said in utmost humility.

"Screw him! Let him hand in his resignation and get out of here!" Gao Hongtu roared.

The commander of the Eastern City Garrison was sweating profusely, but he still forced a smile and said, "Sir, the appointment of censors should be approved by the Ministry of Personnel and His Majesty's consent. Isn't what you're doing inappropriate?"

"What, are you accusing me of bending the law for personal gain?!" Gao Hongtu said with a forced smile. "Letting him resign is giving him face, out of consideration for our shared jurisdiction. Can either of you withstand an investigation?!"

"My lord, the problems within the Five Cities Garrison have been accumulating for a long time, not something that arose overnight. Your humble servant and Censor Cui have tried to improve the situation, but the higher authorities have been slow to allocate funds and provisions, leaving us with no means of support. Furthermore, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has been stripped of its 'investigative' powers, forcing us to act under duress. We are of low rank and have little power; what can we do?!"

"When did you ever ask for money or grain? How come I didn't know?!" Gao Hongtu was momentarily surprised and uncertain.

"It is not you, it is Lord Cao, the former Left Censor-in-Chief."

"Cao Yubian?! I don't care how he explained things to you. Now that I've become the Left Censor-in-Chief, the rules should change. From now on, the Five Cities Garrison will only obey the orders of the Censorate. Don't bring in any more of those patrol battalions! I'll get the money for you, and you bring the people back for me. Weed out the weak and keep the strong, and train them rigorously. If you can't do that, I'll impeach your father as well!" Gao Hongtu threatened.

"You make it sound so easy, 'Don't come in,' but those are the Embroidered Uniform Guards! You're too powerful for me to mess with, but do you think the Northern Garrison Commander is someone I, a mere sixth-rank official, can afford to offend?!" The East City Patrol Commander looked at the departing figure of the Left Censor-in-Chief, feeling rather like crying.

He could only keep these complaints to himself and dared not say them out loud. It was just a pity about the imperial censor who patrolled the city. He had treated him to several rounds of wine and women before he became one of his own. He wondered who would be replaced next and whether they would be easy to deal with.

Meanwhile, Zhu Youjian was still sharpening his sword in the palace, preparing for a major undertaking, when he learned that Zhu Xieyuan and Gao Hongtu were requesting an audience together. The Minister of Defense and the Chief Prosecutor arriving together made Zhu Youjian think the sky had fallen. He didn't even have time to put on his boots, only managing to slip on some socks before rushing out in his clogs.

Upon meeting, Zhu Xieyuan immediately demanded, "Why did Your Majesty secretly mobilize troops without the Ministry of War's knowledge?!" "Ah?!" Zhu Youjian was shocked. Could there be a traitor among his men? How could the news have leaked so quickly?!

But Zhu Youjian quickly realized something was amiss! He tightened his jaw, frowned, and sneered, "You two rushed to see me in such a hurry that I assumed you had something of utmost urgency, and I would have greeted you with utmost respect and hospitality. Is this how you intend to treat me? Is this the way of a subject?"

Gao Hongtu, realizing he couldn't trick the emperor, felt a flicker of panic in his eyes. However, Zhu Xieyuan, as the lead attacker, remained fearless; he knew the emperor all too well.

Whether it was feigned or genuine, if the emperor were alright, he certainly wouldn't have spoken harshly to these veteran officials. This sudden change in behavior must be suspicious. They had long suspected the emperor's recent furtive actions, and now he had finally slipped up.

"Your Majesty, the border troubles are now at peace, and those who deserve rewards have been rewarded. It's almost the New Year, yet you've sent Eunuch Cao there. Surely he can't be there to find a three-legged toad for Your Majesty? Since Your Majesty appointed this old minister as Minister of War, why are you so suspicious? Where does this place my passionate enthusiasm?!" Zhu Xieyuan said, wiping the corner of his eye.

"Damn, isn't this my skill? You old man, you're trying to play the sentimental game with me!" Zhu Youjian didn't believe the old man's heart was so fragile.

Other old men are easier to fool, but Zhu Xieyuan, a local bigwig who rose through the ranks, has been scheming and plotting all his way up. He's become a shrewd and calculating man by now. While other old men are moved to tears by Zhu Youjian, this guy is probably secretly laughing to himself.

Seeing that the emperor didn't respond and instead stood with his hands on his hips, looking on with amusement, Zhu Xieyuan felt somewhat helpless. He glanced at Gao Hongtu, feeling a bit disgusted. Gao Hongtu was not one of his kind, but since he was the one who initiated this matter, he couldn't very well exclude him.

Gao Hongtu looked at the emperor and his advisor with suspicion, somewhat confused about their relationship. He even doubted himself, wondering if he had made a mistake. Little did he know that in just a few words, Zhu Xieyuan and the emperor had already completed several rounds of strategic maneuvering.

"Imperial Censor Gao, if you have nothing else to do, you may return now," Zhu Youjian said with a smile.

"Your Majesty, this matter hasn't been explained clearly yet!" Gao Hongtu said anxiously.

"What? Do I now even have to report to your Censorate when I send out eunuchs? Are you out of your mind? Have you also lost your mind?!" Zhu Youjian said, knocking and pounding.

"Your subject..." Gao Hongtu looked at Zhu Xieyuan for help, but Zhu Xieyuan seemed not to recognize Gao Hongtu, his face full of innocence.

Gao Hongtu felt utterly exhausted; being a censor in this dynasty was truly too difficult. Few officials were impeached and dismissed by their oversight, while those in the Censorate and the Six Ministries were frequently dismissed. He left dejectedly, but Zhu Xieyuan did not.

"Now that there's no one left, Your Majesty has mobilized border troops to the capital. You must give this old minister an explanation," Zhu Xieyuan said with an unfriendly expression.

"What's there to explain? Under heaven, all land belongs to the king; on the shores of the earth, all people are his subjects. As the emperor, am I not even allowed to mobilize my own troops?"

"Your Majesty has the Five Imperial Guards within the palace, making the inner court impenetrable; and outside, there are the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the 100,000-strong Beijing Garrison. I truly do not know what Your Majesty is worried about. Surely it cannot be just to please your favorite concubine?!" Zhu Xieyuan mocked.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian's expression also turned sour. What troubled him even more was Zhu Xieyuan's persistent and unyielding attitude.

(End of this chapter)