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

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Deng Liangfu's team set off from Tongzhou.

After passing Tongzhou, the official road became noticeably wider and smoother, and the villages gradually became more densely packed.

But Chen Feng noticed that in these villages, one could see ruins from time to time, which were the marks of time left by the Jisi Incident.

The forty-mile journey could be completed in half a day.

From a great distance, Chen Feng could see the city.

The gray city walls stretch across the sky and earth, endless and seemingly without end.

The city gate towers were majestic, and the arrow towers were imposing, their surfaces gleaming with a bluish-gray light under the winter sun.

This is the capital of the Ming Dynasty, the most virtuous city in the land.

Sun Ergou's eyes widened in disbelief, and his mouth gaped open wide enough to fit an egg. Hao Dadao was also dumbfounded, reining in his horse and standing there motionless, as if frozen in place.

"My goodness..." Hao Dadao murmured, "How big is this city wall?"

The guard next to him let out a sneer.

Chen Feng heard it but ignored it.

He later visited Beijing, saw the Forbidden City, climbed the Great Wall, and visited the Bird's Nest.

Back then, Beijing was much bigger, much taller, and had a much larger population.

But the city before him felt different.

The city walls were gray and the bricks were mottled. The people coming and going at the city gate were dressed in silk and satin, as well as in coarse cloth and short tunics.

There were also people dressed in tattered clothes, shivering in the cold wind.

People were queuing at the city gate, waiting to pay taxes and enter the city.

Some people were stopped outside and were arguing with the guards.

A child was squatting against the wall, huddled up in a ball, with a broken bowl in front of him.

Chen Feng's gaze swept over the child, then returned to the bowl.

The bowl is empty.

"General Chen." Deng Liangfu's voice came from inside the carriage.

Chen Feng rode forward and approached the car window.

Deng Liangfu lifted the carriage curtain, revealing half of his fair face.

"We're almost in town," he said. "There are a few important things to say about our family, so remember them."

Chen Feng clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Please speak, sir."

Deng Liangfu lowered his voice: "This is the capital, the most virtuous place in the land. There are many rules and many important people. If you throw a brick anywhere, you might hit the steward of some prince's mansion or a relative of some minister. Keep your men in check and don't let them cause trouble."

Chen Feng nodded. "Understood."

Deng Liangfu added, "This time you are summoned by His Majesty, not a regular visit to the capital to report on your duties. Say what you should say, and don't say what you shouldn't say. When you see His Majesty, kowtow more and speak less."

Chen Feng nodded again: "Thank you for your guidance, Father-in-law."

Deng Liangfu glanced at him, waved his hand, and the carriage curtain fell.

Chen Feng turned his horse around and came to the back of the group.

Hao Dadao and the others were still staring blankly at the city wall, their mouths agape.

"Listen up, everyone." Chen Feng gathered his men together. "Once we enter the city, speak less and keep your heads down. Don't look at what you shouldn't look at, and don't ask what you shouldn't ask. If you cause trouble, I can't protect you."

The group nodded in agreement.

The group entered the city through Chaoyang Gate.

Entering the city with Deng Liangfu, we didn't need to be searched or pay any money; the journey was very smooth.

Chen Feng led his horse along the streets of the capital. The road was paved with smooth bluestone, and the sound of hooves echoed as he walked on it.

Shops and residences lined both sides of the road, one next to the other, densely packed together.

People were coming and going on the street.

There were peddlers carrying loads, vendors pushing carts, gentlemen riding in sedan chairs, and young masters on horseback.

There were also stalls set up along the roadside, with shouts of vendors rising and falling.

Sun Ergou and Aji couldn't keep up with their eyes, constantly looking left and right, their necks turning like rattles.

Hao Dadao and his group weren't much better off; they kept looking around as they walked, and almost bumped into people several times.

Chen Feng pricked up his ears to listen to the conversations of the people passing by.

"...Have you heard? Grain prices have gone up again, now it's two ounces per shi!"

"Two ounces? Wasn't it only one and a half ounces last month?"

"Who says otherwise! Salt prices have gone up too. This winter, I'm afraid we won't even be able to afford salt."

"Sigh, I guess I'll just have to make do..."

"Have you heard? A great victory was won at Dalinghe! Forty to fifty thousand enemies were killed! The slave chieftain Huang Taiji was utterly humiliated!"

"Really? I heard that more than 20,000 people died, including Lord Zhang Chun?"

"What do you know? That's just a rumor! The imperial court has already issued a decree announcing a great victory! A great victory, don't you understand?"

"Yes, yes, I've heard about it too. There's a general named Chen Feng, nine feet tall, with enough space on his shoulders to ride a horse. He charged into the enemy ranks alone and killed over three thousand Tartars! He scared the Jurchen chieftain so much he wet his pants!"

"Three thousand? I heard it was five thousand!"

"Five thousand? That's like being able to fight ten thousand men!"

"Hehe, you guys don't know this, do you? This General Chen is a former member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and his skills are inherited from his family..."

Chen Feng's lips twitched.

Meng Changgeng approached at some point, a sly smile on his face.

"Lord Commander," he said in a low voice, "you are truly awe-inspiring! You single-handedly slew three thousand enemy soldiers. I am utterly in awe!"

Chen Feng glanced at him sideways.

Meng Changgeng's smile grew even more smug: "How about... five thousand?"

Chen Feng ignored him.

Deng Liangfu arranged for Chen Feng and his group to stay at Longfu Temple.

Longfu Temple is located in the east of the city and is a core temple of Tantric Buddhism. Most of the monks and lamas who frequent the temple come and go.

The temple has several guest rooms specifically for officials traveling to the capital.

After settling Chen Feng in, Deng Liangfu went to the palace to report back.

Before leaving, he told him that someone would be sent that evening to inform him of the time to enter the palace.

As soon as Deng Liangfu left, Hao Dadao approached him. "Boss, can we go out for a walk?"

Chen Feng glanced at him: "Where do you want to go?"

Hao Dadao scratched his head. "I want to buy some tobacco leaves and a few jiao of liquor. I've heard that the liquor in the capital is different from other places, and I want to try it."

Old Pu Tou chimed in, "I'll go too, we're out of tobacco leaves."

Zhao Sheng didn't say anything, but judging from his eyes, he also wanted to leave.

Chen Feng said, "Go if you want. Don't cause trouble, don't fight, and come back before dark."

Hao Dadao grinned: "Alright!"

He pulled Zhao Sheng, Lao Pu Tou, and Sun Er Gou outside.

After taking a few steps, he turned back and called out to Meng Changgeng, "Old Meng, are you coming or not?"

Meng Changgeng shook his head: "You guys go ahead, I have something to do."

Hao Dadao didn't ask any more questions and ran off in a flash.

Chen Feng looked at Meng Changgeng.

Meng Changgeng felt a little uneasy under his gaze and said with an awkward laugh, "Boss, I... I'd like to go out for a stroll too?"

Chen Feng nodded: "Go ahead."

Meng Changgeng felt as if he had been granted a pardon and turned to leave.

After everyone dispersed, Chen Feng took Aji for a stroll around Longfu Temple.

Aji followed closely behind him.

Aji was a Mongolian, and although he believed in the Eternal Heaven, Taiji seemed to have great respect for these lamas.

He felt a sense of fear every time he walked past the lama.

Chen Feng walked to a side hall, looked at the incense burning inside, and smelled the sandalwood fragrance. Suddenly, he remembered something, "Aji."

Aji looked up at him.

Chen Feng pulled a small cloth bag from his pocket. "Here's some loose silver. Take it. If you get separated from your family, you can buy food and find a place to stay."

Aji took the cloth bag, held it in his hand, and nodded.

Chen Feng continued walking forward.

Aji followed behind, carefully tucking the cloth bag into his bosom, close to his heart.

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

Meng Changgeng inquired along the way and arrived at the Imperial College.

The Imperial College is not far from Longfu Temple; it's just two or three miles to the north.

The gate was vermilion, with a hipped roof and a plaque above the door that read "Guozijian" (Imperial College).

Meng Changgeng stood at the entrance of the Imperial College, momentarily dazed.

He recalled that when he was studying at a private school, his teacher said that the Imperial Academy was the highest institution of learning for scholars in the country.

He thought at that time that if he could enter the Imperial College even once in his life, it would be a life well-lived.

Later, he passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, thinking he was one step closer to that place.

But only a year later, the Tartars came, and Guangning Guard was lost.

He fled to Jinzhou and was inexplicably arrested and forced into military service, where he later met Chen Feng.

As he journeyed along, he seemed to drift further and further away from that dream.

But now, he's standing right in front of this door.

Once you step inside and donate to become a tribute student, you can become a scholar again.

You can participate in the provincial examination, become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination), become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the imperial examination), and so on...

Suddenly, Chen Feng flashed through his mind.

I thought of that man whose origins were unknown, but who was now a fifth-rank commander.

I remember Hao Dadao's silly smile, Zhao Sheng's steady gaze, and Aji's silly grin.

He stood at the doorway, unable to move an inch.

The wind blew into my neck, feeling cool.

He subconsciously raised his hand to steady the mink hat on his head.

The hat was given to him by Chen Feng, who said that his hair hadn't grown out properly and that he might offend important people in the capital.

He touched the furry brim of the hat and suddenly remembered why he had shaved his head.

Isn't it all just for the purpose of donating tribute?

He tugged at his earlobe, took a deep breath, and stepped into the gate of the Imperial College.

The gatekeeper was an old man dressed in a servant's uniform, his face was covered with wrinkles, but his eyes were very shrewd.

He looked Meng Changgeng up and down, his gaze moving from the mink hat on his head to his clothes, and then from his clothes to the skin on his face.

He had dark skin, was in his thirties, and didn't look like a scholar, but rather like... a businessman.

"What are you doing?" the old man asked indifferently.

Meng Changgeng clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute. "My lord, I am a scholar from Guangning Guard, and I passed the imperial examination in the first year of the Tianqi reign. I am thinking of... I would like to donate a tribute to the Imperial Academy."

"Guangningwei?" The old man frowned. "Guangningwei has been occupied by the Tartars for so many years. Where would a scholar come from? Does he even have an academic certificate?"

Meng Changgeng hurriedly replied, "When I escaped from Guangning Guard, I lost my school certificate."

"Lost?" the old man scoffed. "What proof do you have?"

Meng Changgeng took out a plaque from his pocket. "This is a reward plaque issued by the Ministry of War. It states that I am a scholar. Please take a look, sir."

The old man glanced at it but didn't even reach out.

"We don't recognize this stuff here." He waved his hand. "The Imperial Academy only recognizes entry certificates. Don't try to smear my eyes with your filthy military crap."

Meng Changgeng grew anxious. "My lord, I am indeed a scholar who passed the imperial examinations. The provincial education commissioner that year was Lord Mei Zhihuan. You can check..."

"Investigate?" The old man laughed. "You think you can just investigate whenever you want? Do you think this is your village entrance?"

Meng Changgeng suddenly thought of something, took out a small silver ingot from his sleeve, and said, "Sir, please do me a favor."

The old man took the silver, weighed it in his hand, and his expression softened. "Not having a degree doesn't mean you can't donate. But you can't donate for a degree; you can only donate for a degree in the Imperial Academy."

Meng Changgeng was taken aback: "Donating to prison?"

His heart skipped a beat. Donating one's official rank was something only merchants would do. What respectable scholar would do that?

Seeing that Meng Changgeng was hesitant, as if he had no money, the old gatekeeper made a move to kick him out.

"Donate it!" Meng Changgeng said quickly upon seeing this. "Donate it to prison."

"Two thousand taels. Once you've paid the silver, I'll take you to see the academic official."

Meng Changgeng nearly bit his tongue. "Two...two thousand?"

The old man glanced at him sideways. "You think it's too expensive? If you think it's too expensive, then don't donate! There are so many people lining up to donate."

Meng Changgeng took a deep breath, tugged at his earlobe, took out a silver note from his pocket, and slowly handed it to the old man.

The old man took the silver note, his eyes blazing with fury.

Then he threw the silver note directly at Meng Changgeng's face, yelling, "Get out!"

Meng Changgeng was stunned. "My lord, this..."

"I told you to get out!" the old man pointed outside the door. "What do you take the Imperial Academy for? Do you expect the officials to go to Zhangjiakou to exchange silver?"

Meng Changgeng was pushed and shoved, staggering out of the door.

Meng Changgeng looked up at the plaque of the Imperial College, then at the silver note in his hand, completely bewildered.

He looked down at the three characters "Yong Sheng Qing" printed on the banknote and stared blankly for a long time.

The wind blew into my neck, feeling cool.

He subconsciously raised his hand to steady the mink hat on his head.

He turned and left.