Late Ming Dynasty: From the Defeated Soldiers at Daling River to Ascending the Throne

The fifth day of the eleventh month of the fourth year of the Chongzhen reign.

Chen Feng was in the courtyard leading Meng Changgeng and the others in practicing thrusting with long spears.

This is an improved version by Chen Feng, combining later bayonet techniques with the spear.

There were more than a dozen straw figures in the courtyard, and a group of people were stabbing them with long spears.

Chen Feng gave commands while correcting their tactical errors.

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from the end of the alley, and a rider galloped in.

The Imperial Guard on horseback jumped off before the horse had even come to a complete stop, rushing into the courtyard, panting heavily, "Commander Chen... Commander Chen!"

Chen Feng looked up. "What's wrong?"

The imperial guard swallowed hard. "Quick! Quickly bathe and change! The angel will arrive in three hours!"

Chen Feng was taken aback. "An angel?"

"Yes! It's an imperial edict!" The Imperial Guard stamped his feet anxiously. "Hurry! Change into your official robes and go to the pavilion five miles outside Xiluo City to greet them! Commander Li and the others have already gone ahead!"

Chen Feng's mind went blank.

An imperial edict? So fast?

The inspectors left only a few days ago? And they've already come down?

Seeing him still standing there in a daze, the Imperial Guard stepped forward and grabbed his arm. "Commander Chen, don't just stand there! This is a momentous occasion! Eunuch Deng from the Imperial Horse Administration has come in person! With full ceremonial regalia! Hurry up!"

Chen Feng was dragged into the house by him, and he turned back and shouted into the yard, "Stop practicing! Wash up! Change your clothes!"

The dozen or so people in the courtyard looked at each other in bewilderment.

Meng Changgeng was the first to react, throwing down his gun and running towards the well.

Hao Dadao was still standing there dumbfounded when Zhao Sheng slapped him on the back of the head: "What are you standing there for? Go wash up!"

The yard was thrown into chaos.

........................

One hour later.

Chen Feng stood in front of the bronze mirror, looking at the person in the mirror, feeling somewhat dazed.

He was wearing the uniform of a sixth-rank military officer, with a gold-buckled leather belt around his waist and a black gauze hat on his head.

She looks exactly like a character straight out of an ancient costume drama.

Several maids sent by Gao Qiqian surrounded him, one pulling out his sleeves, another tugging at his clothes, and the last one hanging a ivory token on his waist.

"Lord Chen, that's enough." The head maid stepped back, looked him up and down, and nodded.

Chen Feng looked down at his outfit, took a deep breath, and walked out.

The courtyard had been cleaned up. Hao Dadao and the others had all changed into brand-new uniforms and stood ramrod straight, like soldiers waiting for inspection.

Meng Changgeng leaned closer and lowered his voice, "Commander, shall we go along too?"

Chen Feng glanced at him and said, "Go and see what's going on. Just stand at the back of the line and don't make a sound."

"yes!"

........................

Outside Xiluo City, at Wuliting.

When Chen Feng arrived, a large crowd had already gathered outside the pavilion.

Gao Qiqian stood at the front, wearing a bright red silk python robe and a jade belt around his waist. His chubby face glistened in the sunlight.

Li Ruolian stood beside him, having changed into a flying fish robe and with an embroidered spring knife hanging at her waist.

Zhang Lan stood a little further back, not wearing official robes, but only a blue Taoist robe, but his expression was calm and neither humble nor arrogant.

Behind them were dozens of officials of varying ranks, some wearing blue robes and others green robes, arranged neatly according to their grade.

An incense table had been set up in the pavilion, with a vermilion and gilded dragon pavilion placed in the center, gleaming in the sunlight.

On both sides of the incense table, the Imperial Guards were set up with full ceremonial guards.

Outside the pavilion, the music troupe of the Imperial Music Bureau was already in place, with bells, drums, sheng, and xiao all playing.

Chen Feng glanced around, found his spot, and obediently stood in the back.

The men he brought, led by Zhao Sheng, stood at the end of the line a hundred paces away, each one standing ramrod straight.

Hundreds of people waited around Wuliting for half a day until the sun began to set.

Around 3 PM, a group of people appeared on the official road in the distance.

Banners fluttered and parasols filled the air.

Cavalry led the way, their hooves rolling by like muffled thunder.

Behind them followed a band of musicians, their music audible from two miles away.

Behind that was a large sedan chair carried by eight people.

A long procession followed behind the sedan chair, carrying golden gourds, axes, and stools facing the sky, which gleamed in the setting sun.

The sheer scale of the event left Chen Feng somewhat stunned.

When he served in the army in his later life, he witnessed the welcoming of leaders and participated in medal awarding ceremonies.

But that scene is completely different from what's happening now.

This spectacle is comparable to a military parade.

The group is getting closer.

Gao Qiqian's voice was shrill as he shouted, "Kneel!"

All the officials knelt down in unison.

Because Zhang Lan had anticipated that this conferment might be an imperial edict, she had already instructed Chen Feng on the relevant etiquette and procedures.

Chen Feng knelt down with the other officials, feeling his palms sweating.

He wasn't intimidated by the scene, but rather afraid of making a mistake in the procedure and being accused of disrespecting the emperor.

Having just escaped the clutches of several powerful forces, he didn't want to cause any more trouble over such a trivial matter.

The procession stopped in front of Wuliting.

The eunuch who delivered the imperial decree was Deng Liangfu, who was the chief eunuch of the Imperial Horse Administration.

He appeared to be in his fifties, with a thin, clean-shaven face, and dressed in a bright red python robe.

Deng Liangfu dismounted, held the imperial edict wrapped in yellow silk in both hands, and respectfully placed it into the dragon pavilion.

The accompanying master of ceremonies chanted loudly, "Kneel!"

Everyone faced west and bowed down.

"Your Majesty, we respectfully welcome your arrival! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Dozens of people shouted in unison, their voices echoing across the open field.

The ceremony is over.

Deng Liangfu stood to the east of Longting, facing west.

The officials rose and stood to the west of the Dragon Pavilion, facing east.

This is the relationship between ruler and subject.

The master of ceremonies raised his hand: "Sound the whip!"

"Slap—slap—slap!"

Three whips cracked, and drums and music resounded.

Colorful flags led the way, with the Dragon Pavilion in the center, and Deng Liangfu riding behind the Dragon Pavilion on horseback.

The procession slowly started moving, heading towards Xiluo City.

Chen Feng followed the group forward. He saw that both sides of the road were filled with kneeling soldiers and civilians, all with their heads down, not daring to look up.

A child secretly looked up, but was immediately pressed down by the woman next to him.

As the procession passed through the city gate, three more whips cracked, and the drums and music began to play again.

The procession moved very slowly, and by the time they reached the General's Mansion, an hour had passed, and it was already completely dark.

An incense table had been set up in the center of the General's Mansion, and the Dragon Pavilion was placed in front of it. The eunuch in charge of delivering the imperial edict stood to the east of the Dragon Pavilion.

The master of ceremonies announced: "Form ranks!"

The officials were arranged in order of rank, one in the east and one in the west.

Gao Qiqian and Li Ruolian stood at the front, while Zhang Lan and a guard who stayed behind stood in the next position.

Standing at the sixth-rank position, Chen Feng could clearly see the imperial edict wrapped in yellow silk on the incense table.

The master of ceremonies announced: "Bow! Music begins!"

The drums and music started again.

All the officials bowed, leaned forward, and held their tablets in both hands.

Chen Feng had no official tablet in his hand, so he could only fold his hands and bow in greeting.

The master of ceremonies announced: "Four bows! Music cease!"

The drumming stopped.

Everyone knelt down, kowtowed four times, and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"

The master of ceremonies announced, "Raise the table!"

Deng Liangfu walked to the Dragon Pavilion and knelt down, bowing his head and not daring to look directly at the imperial edict.

The master of ceremonies announced, "By order! All officials shall kneel!"

Everyone knelt down, placed their hands on the ground, and touched their heads to the ground.

The master of ceremonies announced: "Read it!"

Deng Liangfu knelt to receive the imperial edict, then rose to unfold it, his voice booming: "Chen Feng, Commander of the Shanhai Guard, receive this edict!"

Chen Feng stood up, bowed his head, stepped out of the queue, and knelt in the very center of the queue.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Chen Feng, a commander of the Shanhaiguan Guard, led a small force deep behind enemy lines in Yizhou, destroying the Eastern Jurchen's grain supply camp, ruining 100,000 shi of grain and 50,000 jin of gunpowder, and killing or wounding over 5,000 elite Eastern Jurchen soldiers. He also killed Gultai, the head of the Zhenglan Banner, and Orosechen, the head of the Jiala Banner, in battle, thus displaying the might of the nation beyond the Great Wall and chilling the enemy's courage in Liaodong. I have read the memorial and am greatly pleased..."

Chen Feng's ears were ringing.

"However, considering your young age, it is not appropriate to promote you too much. Therefore, you are hereby granted the hereditary title of Commander of a Thousand Households, and the title of General of Martial Virtue. You are also bestowed with a flying fish robe and a jade belt. You are also rewarded with one hundred bolts of brocade and one thousand taels of gold. This is the imperial decree!!"

The imperial edict was read aloud.

The master of ceremonies chanted: "Prostrate! Rise!"

Chen Feng stood up with the others.

The master of ceremonies announced: "Four bows! Music, begin!"

The drums and music started again.

Chen Feng knelt down again, bowed four times, and cried out, "Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"

The master of ceremonies announced, "Rise!"

Everyone stand up straight.

Only Chen Feng remained kneeling in the center, maintaining this kneeling posture.

Hereditary commander of a thousand households, a fifth-rank official.

General of Martial Virtue, a sinecure of the fourth rank.

Flying fish robe, jade belt, and a thousand taels of gold.

This reward was incredibly generous; even after the credit was divided among various powerful figures, he was still able to be promoted three ranks.

He was also bestowed with a flying fish robe, something that even high-ranking officials of the second or third rank might not receive.

Although he had previously stated to Gao Qiqian that he did not want this military merit, he was the one who deserved the greatest credit this time, and there was no way to avoid it.

He thought that this achievement must be his credit, as it was one of the few things he could boast about in the Battle of Dalinghe. The Ministry of War and the Emperor both wanted to promote him and set him up as a role model to boost morale.

Who am I? Captain Da Ming?

The officials all looked at Chen Feng, their eyes filled with envy, jealousy, and disdain.

Deng Liangfu held the imperial edict and walked up to Chen Feng, speaking in a low voice, "General Chen, please accept the edict."

Chen Feng pressed his forehead to the ground, raised both hands to receive the imperial edict, and exclaimed, "Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"

Chen Feng stood up, and when he held the yellow silk in his hand, it felt heavy.

Deng Liangfu then took the tray from the eunuch behind him and handed it to him.

A flying fish robe lay stacked on the tray, gleaming softly in the candlelight.

Beside it is a jade belt, white jade inlaid with gold, warm and radiant.

Chen Feng took the tray with both hands, which were trembling slightly.

Although he appeared excited, Chen Feng was actually quite calm inside.

After more than a month in the past, he finally settled down in the Ming Dynasty.

Countless images flashed through my mind—Xiaoling River, the Later Jin cavalry, He Mingxiao, Qin Shouyi, the Yizhou garrison, the refugees on the road, Gao Qiqian, Zhang Lan, He Kegang…

Wait a little longer...

He kept telling himself that he had to wait, that he was still too weak.

Chen Feng held the flying fish robe and jade belt in his hands, about to kowtow again to express his gratitude.

"General Chen," Deng Liangfu suddenly leaned forward and said in a shrill voice, "His Majesty has another imperial edict."

Chen Feng paused as he bent down.

He looked up and met Deng Liangfu's eyes, which revealed neither joy nor anger.

There was no expression on that fair face; Chen Feng couldn't glean any information from it.

Chen Feng glanced around.

Gao Qiqian stood not far away, his face solemn.

Li Ruolian lowered her eyes, seemingly lost in thought.

Zhang Lan stood with his hands behind his back, the smile on his face gone.

Chen Feng's heart sank.

I need to figure out where things went wrong. Was my unregistered residency status discovered? Or did someone say something inappropriate in the memorial?

But in just a moment, he rejected all of these ideas.

If any part of the process goes wrong, the reward probably won't be given.

He froze in mid-air for a moment before realizing his rudeness.

He immediately bowed, his forehead touching the ground, and said in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft: "Your subject Chen Feng respectfully listens to Your Majesty's decree."

Deng Liangfu cleared his throat and changed his tone: "Summon Chen Feng: You are young and strong, and you have achieved such an unparalleled feat, which greatly pleases me. Since I ascended the throne, I have never seen such a young hero. I wish to meet you in person and reward you. You shall immediately accompany Eunuch Deng of the Imperial Horse Administration to the capital without delay."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the room was astonished.

Chen Feng lay prostrate on the ground, momentarily forgetting to respond.

To go to Beijing to meet the emperor?

Although he didn't know much about the history of the Ming Dynasty, he knew what kind of emperor Chongzhen was—diligent, suspicious, stubborn, and harsh.

Since ascending the throne, the number of military generals who have been granted an audience with the emperor for their military achievements can be counted on one hand.

Now, is it his turn?

Zhang Lan's smile froze for a moment before returning to normal, but something flickered in her eyes.

Gao Qiqian's smile paused for a moment, then deepened, but with a different meaning in it, as he began to reassess Chen Feng.

Chen Feng didn't see any of this, but he knew how he should react.

"Your Majesty…" His face flushed with ecstasy, and his voice was hoarse, "Your Majesty, I kowtow in gratitude! Long live the Emperor!"

Deng Liangfu looked at him and nodded slightly.

This young man has reverence for imperial power, without any deliberate affectation or ecstatic madness; he knows his limits.

........................

The welcoming banquet was held in the back hall of the General's Mansion.

Bright red lanterns hung high, and candlelight illuminated the room.

The table was laden with food and wine, steaming hot.

Deng Liangfu sat in the main seat, flanked by Gao Qiqian and Zhang Lan. Li Ruolian sat at the lower end, with Chen Feng opposite him.

Deng Liangfu raised his glass, first toasting everyone, and then his gaze fell on Chen Feng.

"General Chen," he said with a smile, a stark contrast to his solemn demeanor when he announced the imperial decree, "I heard back in the capital that you handled this mission brilliantly. Our Imperial Horse Stables has benefited from General Chen's success and received His Majesty's commendation."

Chen Feng quickly raised his glass: "You flatter me, Your Excellency. I was just lucky; it was Eunuch Wang who managed things so well."

Hearing Chen Feng's words, Deng Liangfu's smile deepened. "General Chen is too modest. Although I have never fought on the battlefield, I know how dangerous it is. Not to mention that Erosaichen is a famous general, just the fact that he killed three white-armored Tartars in battle is a rare feat in the army."

Gao Qiqian chimed in from the side, "More than that! If General Chen hadn't risked his life to infiltrate the Jurchen camp and burn their supplies, causing chaos in the Tartar army, even Commander Zu might not have been able to break through."

Zhang Lan also raised his glass and said, "General Chen, you are a young hero. Your journey to the capital to meet the Emperor will surely lead to a bright future. Come, let me toast you."

Chen Feng quickly stood up, held the cup with both hands, and drank it all in one gulp.

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

Deng Liangfu put down his chopsticks and looked at Chen Feng: "General Chen, we will set off early tomorrow morning. Get ready and come with me to the capital."

Chen Feng paused, his hand holding the wine glass still.

He looked up and saw Deng Liangfu staring at him, his gaze leaving no room for negotiation.

"This..." He put down his wine cup, a troubled look on his face. "Eunuch Deng, before heading to the capital... could I possibly take care of a personal matter?"

Upon hearing this, the room fell silent.

Gao Qiqian's smile froze on his face.

Zhang Lan's hand, holding the wine glass, froze in mid-air.

The two men stared at Chen Feng as if he were an ungrateful fool.

Deng Liangfu's face also darkened.

"Give me a few more days?" His voice turned colder. "General Chen, do you know His Majesty is waiting to see you in the palace? To make His Majesty wait for you... you have quite the nerve!"

The moment he finished speaking, the atmosphere at the table changed drastically!

Chen Feng quickly stood up and knelt down, "Eunuch Deng, please calm down! That's not what I meant!"

Deng Liangfu didn't let him get up, only coldly saying, "Then what do you mean? Do you think you can disregard the emperor just because you've made great contributions?!"

Chen Feng lay prostrate on the ground, trembling like a leaf. "Reporting to Your Excellency, many brothers died in Yizhou. Those who followed me back to the Ming Dynasty... only a handful..."

He paused, then continued, "Two brothers... I promised to take them home, but they caught a cold outside the pass and died at Xifengkou. Their bodies are still lying in the wilderness, and we're almost home..."

As he spoke, Chen Feng burst into tears. "This humble servant wishes... wishes to ask Your Excellency to grant me a few more days. Allow me to go beyond the border and collect their remains, lest they be carried away by wild dogs... These soldiers who sacrificed their lives to defend the country... should not be treated like this!"

Chen Feng's voice was heavy with sorrow as he kowtowed several times, "I promised them... I would take them home. But I assure you, I will go as fast as I can and will not be late!"

The room fell silent.

Deng Liangfu looked at him, his face still not looking good, but his gaze was somewhat complicated.

Zhang Lan lowered his eyelids and remained silent. He recalled the scene at the dinner table when Chen Feng was vying for credit for those dead people, and his doubts lessened somewhat.

Gao Qiqian frowned slightly.

The remains of a group of soldiers are more important than an audience with the emperor? Is this kid out of his mind?

He didn't say anything, but his opinion of Chen Feng quietly dropped a few points.

Deng Liangfu spoke, his tone slightly softened but still icy: "Chen Feng, do you know what you're saying? Even if you ride at top speed, what if you delay His Majesty and keep him waiting? Are the corpses of a group of soldiers more important than an audience with the Emperor?"

Chen Feng lay on the ground, his body trembling upon hearing Deng Liangfu's words.

He knew he was taking a risk, but he had to.

One reason was to retrieve the silver notes and dragon notes he had hidden outside the pass before entering the pass, which were his capital for future survival.

Secondly, it's for the sake of public image.

In front of Zhang Lan and Gao Qiqian, he presented himself as someone who "loved his soldiers like his own children."

This action is merely to solidify this persona in their minds.

But if Deng Liangfu said another word, he would have to give in, after all, his life was more important.

Just then, Zhang Lan spoke up.

"Please calm down, Eunuch Deng." He stood up with a smile, walked to Deng Liangfu's side, and personally poured him a cup of wine. "This Chen Feng is just a rough man who doesn't know the rules. Please don't take it to heart."

Deng Liangfu snorted coldly and didn't reply.

Zhang Lan continued, "Your Excellency, think about it. Chen Feng's concern for collecting the remains of fallen soldiers, though somewhat reckless, also shows he values ​​loyalty and righteousness. If he weren't this kind of person, how could he have caught His Majesty's eye?"

Deng Liangfu glanced at him, his expression softening slightly.

Zhang Lan then turned to Chen Feng, her face hardening, and said, "Chen Feng, you're being incredibly inconsiderate! If you wanted to do this, you would have told me long ago. Would I have refused to give you the permit to leave seclusion?!"

Chen Feng knelt on the ground and nodded repeatedly: "Uncle Zhang is right, I was confused."

Zhang Lan said, "Alright, the most important thing right now is to go to the capital to meet the Emperor. You can leave your personal matters to your men. Have someone come to the General's Mansion tomorrow to pick up the slips."

Chen Feng's face lit up with joy, and he respectfully kowtowed three times to Deng Liangfu: "Eunuch Deng, I was confused for a moment and spoke nonsense. Please forgive me."

Deng Liangfu looked at him, and the coldness on his face finally subsided a little.

"Alright, get up." He waved his hand. "Considering you're young and don't know the rules, I'll let it go this time. Tomorrow morning, come with me to the capital. Don't be late."

Chen Feng kowtowed again: "Yes! Thank you, sir!"

Then, he kowtowed to Zhang Lan again, saying, "Thank you, Uncle Zhang! Thank you, Uncle Zhang!"

………………

When the banquet ended, it was already late afternoon.

When Chen Feng saw Deng Liangfu come out of the back room, he quickly went to greet him, "Eunuch Deng."

Deng Liangfu stopped and looked at him.

Chen Feng took out a cloth bag from his sleeve and handed it over discreetly, saying, "Father-in-law, you must be tired from your journey. Here's a small token to buy you a cup of tea."

Deng Liangfu took the cloth bag, squeezed it in his hand, and found it contained about one hundred taels of silver.

The coldness on his face finally dissipated.

"General Chen," he said, tucking the cloth bundle into his sleeve, "let's just let this matter go tonight. But don't be so foolish in the future."

Chen Feng said with a smile, "Father-in-law is right. I will need your guidance in the future."

Deng Liangfu nodded, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "We'll set off early tomorrow morning at Chenshi (7-9 AM). Hurry up and arrange your things. Don't be late."

"yes!"