weaving

Chapter 1469 A reward is necessary!

The memorial jointly submitted by Gao Mingheng, the Governor of Henan, Liang Bing, the Provincial Treasurer, Ren Jun, the Imperial Inspector, and Wu Shijiang, the Prefect of Kaifeng, arrived many days later than the letters from the gentry of the Central Plains.

News of the great victory at Zhuxian Town had already spread throughout the streets and alleys of the capital. Although people did not have the experience of being there in person, it did not diminish their joy. Everyone was spreading the news, and the topic was being discussed everywhere.

Although Emperor Chongzhen lived deep within the palace, he was not much slower than the court officials in knowing the various rumors circulating in the streets and alleys. After all, with the change in Emperor Chongzhen's thinking, the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard were no longer what they were when Chongzhen first ascended the throne.

However, Emperor Chongzhen could not simply believe rumors from the common people about such a major military and national event as the victory at Zhuxian Town.

He had been anxiously awaiting Bian Yongqing's secret report and the Earl of Yongning's victory report, and had even been secretly cursing the Earl of Yongning, Zhang Cheng, and the military supervisor, Bian Yongqing, in his heart...

Especially this Bian Yongqing, he's even worse. Didn't I tell him that if there's any wind blowing across the grasslands at the front, he should immediately send a secret report so I wouldn't have to worry about it?

Just as Emperor Chongzhen was growing impatient, Wang Dehua, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Director of the Eastern Depot, rushed over in a hurry. He slowed down when he reached the gate of the Qianqing Palace, afraid of startling Emperor Chongzhen.

"Your Majesty, this servant has come to bring you good news." Wang Dehua said softly as he stood outside the east gate of the Qianqing Palace.

Emperor Chongzhen, preoccupied with the rumors circulating in the streets, only heard the words "good news" and hurriedly inquired, "What good news is there? Has the memorial from Kaifeng arrived?"

"Yes, Master. Bian Yongqing's urgent report." Wang Dehua entered the East Pavilion with light, quick steps, his face beaming as he said, "Great victory! The Marquis of Yongning has achieved a great victory at Zhuxian Town. The rebels have been defeated and are no longer in danger. Kaifeng is safe."

Emperor Chongzhen abruptly stood up from his throne, completely disregarding imperial decorum, and strode forward, urgently asking, "Quickly, where is the urgent report?"

Wang Dehua immediately presented Bian Yongqing's urgent report. Emperor Chongzhen forgot to return to his throne and stood there opening Bian Yongqing's report and reading it on the spot.

The more Emperor Chongzhen read, the more excited he became, and the letter in his hand trembled: "We've won...we've won...we've really won!"

"Wang Dehua, is this...is this true?" Emperor Chongzhen's face was filled with excitement.

He already had a clear judgment in his heart. The reason he asked this question was simply to amplify his joy by getting Wang Dehua's affirmation.

"Yes, Your Majesty! A great victory! A great victory!"

"A great victory...a great victory...is it really a great victory?" Two lines of clear tears streamed down Emperor Chongzhen's face, and he choked up, unable to speak.

It's been so many years since I've felt so triumphant.

In recent years, the situation had improved slightly, but then the Jurchen invaded, and the imperial army rushed to defend the capital, allowing the bandits to resurge. Later, Grand Secretary Yang Sichang personally led the troops to suppress the bandits, and things started to look promising, but then the bandits launched a surprise attack on Xiangyang, which led to the death of Grand Secretary Yang Sichang.

After that, the rebel leader Li Zicheng entered the Central Plains of Henan, first capturing Luoyang, then besieging Kaifeng twice. Two governors of Shaanxi died in the Central Plains. Li Zicheng's rampage in the Central Plains reached a point where no one could stop him.

Meanwhile, the Jurchen army invaded Jinzhou again, and the imperial court had to mobilize 200,000 troops to meet the enemy. Although a great victory was achieved in Jinzhou, the national treasury was completely depleted as a result, and there was a serious overspending.

At this critical moment, the rebel army once again besieged Kaifeng. Even the armies of the commanders Ding Qirui and Zuo Liangyu collapsed at the first touch, and it seemed that the city of Kaifeng was on the verge of collapse.

Emperor Chongzhen had no troops left to deploy. Zuo Liangyu had just suffered a defeat and was no longer able to fight. Huang Degong, Liu Liangzuo, and others had to deal with the traitor Xian and the five traitors under Zuo, and the troops in Liaodong also had to guard against the Jurchens. Although Sun Chuanting had been sent to Shaanxi to reorganize military affairs, he could not be relied upon for the time being.

Now, Emperor Chongzhen's only hope lay in the 50,000 to 60,000 troops led by Zhang Cheng, the Earl of Yongning. This was the reason why Hou Xun was not appointed as the commander-in-chief of the bandit suppression campaign, but Zhang Cheng was promoted to the position.

"Zhang Cheng... Zhang Cheng... Zhang Cheng..." Emperor Chongzhen repeated the name of the Earl of Yongning three times: "Good... good... truly excellent!"

Just then, a clear and high-pitched voice came from outside the Qianqing Palace: "Your Majesty, this servant has come to bring you good news!"

Emperor Chongzhen was startled, wondering what good news had arrived. In high spirits, he hurriedly went out to greet them, completely abandoning his usual imperial demeanor.

"Your Majesty, a report of victory has arrived from Zhang Cheng, the Earl of Yongning! A great victory has been achieved in the Central Plains! The rebel Li was defeated in the Battle of Zhuxian Town, and the entire territory of Kaifeng Prefecture has now been recovered. The Earl of Yongning's army has entered Henan Prefecture to wipe out the remaining bandits!" It turned out that Wang Chengen, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Commander of the Brave Guards, had come to report the good news.

Wang Dehua was on duty at the Eastern Depot today. He received Bian Yongqing's urgent report first and rushed to inform Emperor Chongzhen of the good news, thus taking the lead.

Wang Chengen was on duty in the cabinet today. Upon learning of the arrival of the victory report from the Earl of Yongning, he rushed to report the good news to Emperor Chongzhen without waiting for the approval of the Directorate of Ceremonial. Unexpectedly, he was still a step behind.

Emperor Chongzhen went straight to the door, grabbed the victory report, unfolded it, and began to read it aloud, even reading the parts aloud with great excitement…

"Zhang Cheng...good...good indeed!" Emperor Chongzhen once again affirmed the merits of the Earl of Yongning.

He said to Wang Dehua and Wang Chengen with a slight excitement, "If our dynasty had more talents like the Earl of Yongning, why would we worry about not eliminating the bandit threat or destroying the Jurchens?"

Wang Dehua glanced sideways at Wang Chengen and saw him lying prostrate on the ground, not saying a word. He felt a sense of relief, thinking that this kid had no intention of surpassing him for the time being.

He raised his head slightly and said cautiously, "The Earl of Yongning is loyal to His Majesty. What is most commendable is his willingness to serve wholeheartedly. He has never shown any intention of backing down in suppressing bandits in the Central Plains and fighting against the slaves in Liaodong."

Emperor Chongzhen was in a great mood at the moment, and he said loudly, "Reward! He must be rewarded!"

"The Earl of Yongning repelled the rebel Li, relieved the crisis in Kaifeng, and even recovered the entire territory of Kaifeng Prefecture. Now he is doing his best to pursue the remaining bandits. He truly deserves a reward, as this will inspire the soldiers on the front lines to fight the bandits." Wang Dehua chimed in, flattering him.

"Ah."

Emperor Chongzhen had never been in such a good mood. He blurted out, "A marquisate! Zhang Cheng has pacified the Central Plains, so he should be granted the title of 'Marquis of Dingyu'!"

Wang Dehua and Wang Chengen were both taken aback; neither of them had expected that Emperor Chongzhen would bestow a marquisate upon Zhang Cheng.

It should be noted that Zhang Cheng was not yet thirty years old at this time, and he was already the youngest earl in the Ming Dynasty. If he were to be granted the title of marquis at this time, he would probably be the first person in the Ming Dynasty to be granted the title of marquis for military merit. It would be inevitable that he would be granted the title of duke in the future, and he might even have the opportunity to be granted the title of king!

At that moment, a junior eunuch on duty came to report that the cabinet members, including Grand Secretary Chen Yan, Minister of Revenue and Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall, Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Dongge Pavilion Wu Sheng, Grand Master of Ceremonies and Director of the Hanlin Academy Huang Jingfang, Minister of Works and Grand Secretary of the Dongge Pavilion Jiang Dejing, as well as court officials such as Minister of Personnel Zheng Sanjun and Left Vice Censor-in-Chief Fang Yuegong, requested an audience with the Emperor.

Not only were Wang Dehua and Wang Chengen puzzled, but even the Chongzhen Emperor wondered what they wanted to do by requesting an audience at this moment.
If it was only for the victory at Zhuxian Town, why send so many people?

Despite his doubts, Emperor Chongzhen had no choice but to summon them. He immediately issued an edict: "Order Chen Yan and the others to wait at the Qianqing Palace."