Huangming

Chapter 315 The Emperor's Grace is Boundless, Don't Do Any Foolish Things

July 28th, the first year of the Tianqi reign.

The autumn sky is clear and crisp, and the air is crisp and clear.

Outside Deshengmen in Beijing, banners were already fluttering and drums were beating.

A temporary altar stood majestically, several meters high, covered with bright yellow silk, and surrounded by large flags bearing the character "Ming" and white tiger flags symbolizing victory.

Around the altar, two rows of burly generals from the Imperial Guard stood like an iron wall, their armor gleaming coldly in the autumn sunlight, their eyes sharp as eagles, vigilantly scanning their surroundings.

Further away, the Ming emperor's ceremonial procession stretched for miles, with golden maces, axes, and ceremonial stirrups lined up in succession, and bright yellow dragon flags fluttering in the wind, displaying the majesty of the imperial family.

Zhu Youxiao, dressed in a dragon robe with twelve imperial symbols, stood under a huge feathered canopy, gazing at the end of the official road in the distance.

The canopy, woven from peacock feathers and adorned with five-colored tassels, could not completely conceal his young and upright figure.

He personally waited there, just to welcome the victorious soldiers who had launched a surprise attack on Hetu Ala.

Behind the emperor, civil and military officials stood in a dense, dark mass on the yellow earth, arranged according to rank. Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe and Second Grand Secretary Liu Yijing led the way, followed by the ministers and vice ministers of the six ministries, then the compilers of the Hanlin Academy, the censors of the Censorate, and the supervising secretaries of the Six Ministries…

Almost all the officials in the capital came out, and even many nobles who usually kept to themselves came.

Such a lineup is enough to show how much the emperor valued this triumphant return.

Although the autumn sun was warm, standing for a long time was unbearable. Fang Congzhe was over seventy years old. After standing for half an hour, his legs were already numb and his body swayed slightly. He had to be quietly supported by the clerk next to him to sit up.

Several senior and virtuous censors also turned pale, with fine beads of sweat on their foreheads, but due to etiquette, they dared not slacken in the slightest.

Zhu Youxiao had been standing for nearly a quarter of an hour; his dragon robe was heavy, and there were sweat marks on his forehead.

Wei Chao watched with alarm and stepped forward several times to whisper his advice: "Your Majesty, although it is not hot, it is still scorching. Why don't you return to the imperial carriage to rest for a while? I will report to you immediately when the army arrives."

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand, his gaze still fixed on the distance: "No need. The soldiers have endured wind and rain in Liaodong, facing death at every turn. What does it matter if I stand here a little longer?"

His tone was calm, yet firm.

"I want them to know that the court remembers their contributions, and that I am also waiting for them to come home."

Upon seeing this, Wei Chao had no choice but to bow and retreat, but inwardly he admired him greatly.

Your Majesty's methods of winning over your subjects are truly terrifying.

This personal waiting, though seemingly just a gesture, allowed the returning soldiers to feel grateful for the emperor's grace and showed the world how much the emperor valued military achievements.

soon.

The silence outside Deshengmen was broken by a sudden commotion.

First, a cloud of dust rose from the end of the official road in the distance, followed by the faint sound of horses' hooves and bugles, like rolling thunder approaching from afar.

The onlookers stood on tiptoe to get a better look, and the Imperial Guards quietly tensed up.

The triumphant army has arrived!
At first it was just a blurry black dot, but in an instant it transformed into a long, winding dragon.

At the forefront was a large banner with the character "Ming" fluttering in the wind, beneath which were four general flags, each embroidered with one of the four characters "Mao," "Zu," "Zhao," and "Huang," which were particularly eye-catching in the sunlight.

It was the banner of the four generals: Mao Wenlong, Zu Dashou, Zhao Shuaijiao, and Huang Degong.

As the army drew closer, the gleam of armor, the neighing of warhorses, and the crisp clash of weapons became increasingly clear.

Although the soldiers were covered in dust, their eyes burned with the flames of victory, and most of them had an irrepressible smile on their lips.

The soldiers, especially those carrying their spoils, held their heads high, as if they wanted to show the people of the capital the glory they had brought back from Hetu Ala.

However, amidst this jubilant procession, one person stood out with a somber expression, completely out of place with the festive atmosphere around him.

It was Zu Dashou's birthday.

He was clad in gleaming silver armor, with a sword at his waist, and rode a magnificent white horse. His posture was as upright as a pine tree, but a knot was furrowed between his brows, and his face was full of worry.

With each step his horse took, his regret deepened.

Back in Hetu Ala, in order to help Tong Guoyao gain Abahai's trust and become a spy planted by Nurhaci's side, he did not hesitate to arrange for Tong Guoyao to "rescue the beauty," while he himself humiliated the Jurchen consort, staging a self-inflicted injury scheme.

At that time, I was only thinking about the situation in Liaodong, but I did not expect that this matter would be reported back to the capital and cause such a great uproar.

"He secretly took the concubine of an enemy chieftain."

"Desecrating the female relatives of the enemy chieftain."

……

Impeachment memorials poured into the palace like snowflakes, each word like a knife, not only piercing his heart but also putting His Majesty, who had defied public opinion to appoint him to a high position, in a difficult position.

He looked up at the bright yellow ceremonial guard inside Desheng Gate, recalling the emperor's trust in him when he promoted him exceptionally, and the emperor's words before his departure, "I will wait for your triumphant return in the capital," and felt as if a huge rock was pressing on his heart.

Despite the emperor's high regard for him, his eagerness for quick success gave his political enemies ammunition to attack him, hindering the emperor's ability to govern in court and creating obstacles to the implementation of the new policies...

"I deserve to die!"

Zu Dashou muttered to himself and tightened his grip on the reins.

If he could do it all over again, he would rather choose a safer method, even if it takes more time, than let His Majesty fall into such a predicament.

The procession gradually approached Deshengmen, getting closer and closer to the figure under the feathered canopy.

Zu Dashou took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the guilt in his heart, dismounted, and walked towards the throne with Mao Wenlong and the others.

In any case, I will report back to His Majesty first.

As for the storms behind him, he would bear them all.

I just wonder how His Majesty will treat him?

Zu Dashou's steps became somewhat heavy.

Zhu Youxiao gazed at the four generals bowing below the steps, his eyes sweeping over the mottled bloodstains on their armor and the dust on their faces. He slowly nodded, his voice filled with undisguised approval:
"Very good. You have not let me down, nor have you let down the people and the land of the Ming Dynasty. Well done."

After saying that, he personally stepped forward and patted Mao Wenlong, Zhao Shuaijiao, and Huang Degong on the shoulder in turn, finally stopping in front of Zu Dashou.

As his palm fell, he deliberately increased the force, his gaze calm and resolute.

This rough, fearless man on the battlefield had his eyes redden with tears after being struck by this slap. Hot tears rolled down his dark cheeks as he choked out, "Your Majesty, this humble general..."

"It's in the past."

Zhu Youxiao interrupted him, giving him a reassuring look, and then turned to Wei Chao and nodded slightly.

Wei Chao understood immediately and shouted at the top of his lungs: "The ceremony for the triumphant soldiers of the Great Ming Dynasty to be held in the suburbs shall now begin!"

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

Three crisp cracks of whips echoed outside Desheng Gate. The long whip in the hand of the Imperial Guard captain sliced ​​through the air, instantly silencing the surrounding discussions.

The Minister of War and the Minister of Rites hurriedly stepped forward, each performing their duties to preside over the ceremony of presenting the captives. The drums and music on the altar then began to play, solemn and majestic.

As the master of ceremonies announced the order, a series of orderly footsteps echoed from the triumphant army.

First, dozens of armored soldiers carried forward a wooden tray containing heads that had been treated with lime for preservation, each head labeled with a name on a wooden tag.

Tabai, Dodo, Haug...

These were all names of members of the Jurchen royal family. Although their hideous faces were withered, one could still see the terror they had felt before their deaths.

Upon seeing this, the civil and military officials and common people present erupted in thunderous cheers, and many were even moved to tears.

Behind the head were dozens of Jurchen women bound with ropes.

Most of them were dressed in rags and looked frightened. They were Nurhaci's concubines in Hetu Ala, as well as the families of Huang Taiji, Daišan, and Mangultai.

A murmur of discussion gradually arose from the crowd:
"These barbarian women look quite ordinary."

"I've heard that the Jurchens don't farm or weave, and spend their days exposed to the wind and sun on the grasslands. How can they be as delicate as our Han women?"

"But that one... she seems to be the wife of Fourth Prince Huang Taiji; she's quite pretty." ...

All eyes turned to Zhe Zhe at the back of the line.

Although she was imprisoned, she still stood tall, her eyes and brows displaying the unique spirit of a Mongolian woman. Even though she looked haggard, she could not hide her extraordinary demeanor.

Zhu Youxiao's gaze swept over her, but paused slightly.

It wasn't because of her beauty that he was attracted to her, but because he remembered that she was a woman sent by the Khorchin tribe for a marriage alliance, and that she was connected to the power of various Mongol tribes.

Such a person, if handled properly, might become a pawn to restrain the Jurchens.

His fleeting change in expression was precisely captured by Wei Chao, who was standing to the side.

A knowing glint flashed in the old eunuch's eyes, and he secretly began to calculate: This Consort Zhe Zhe has a special status. She is not only Huang Taiji's principal wife, but also has deep ties with the Mongol tribes. Since His Majesty has taken a second look at her, she must be of use.

We must make proper arrangements and absolutely not make the slightest mistake.

At this point, the ceremony of presenting prisoners of war had reached its climax.

An official from the Ministry of Rites stood in the center of the altar, unfurled a yellow silk eulogy, and began to recite it in a voice as loud as a bell.

The sacrificial text was written with resounding force, first recounting the Mandate of Heaven and the might and virtue of the Ming Dynasty, then enumerating the crimes of the Jurchens in harassing the borders, and finally detailing the victory at Hetu Ala.
"Burn their palaces, sever their dragon veins, kill their descendants, and seize their treasures," thus appeasing the gods, spirits, sun, moon, mountains, and rivers with the achievements of this battle.

Before the eulogy had even finished, the Ministry of War official stepped forward with the account book, loudly announcing the list of spoils: "The spoils of war obtained from Hetu Ala have been determined as follows:"
Two thousand three hundred taels of gold, sixty-seven thousand taels of silver, more than eight hundred bolts of silk of various colors, and more than one hundred thousand shi of grain...

"More than 100 volumes of counterfeit Jin dynasty documents, 1,500 sets of iron armor, 2,800 warhorses, and more than 10,000 head of cattle and sheep..."

One by one, the reports came in, the figures so detailed they sent shivers down one's spine.

The people watching the ceremony were filled with excitement. At first, there were scattered cheers, but they gradually turned into thunderous applause. Even the old ministers with gray hair and beards couldn't help but stroke their beards and nod, with tears glistening in their eyes.

Since the defeat at Sarhu, there has been no such triumphant victory on the Liaodong battlefield. Today, we can finally sweep away the pent-up frustration of many years.

After the count was completed, Zhu Youxiao personally picked up a wine cup and poured the wine three times onto the yellow earth in front of the altar to comfort the spirits of the fallen soldiers.

Then, he announced loudly, "By imperial decree, bestow wine and meat upon the soldiers, let them revel in this day!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than eunuchs and camp cooks brought forward a food table.

Large chunks of cooked beef and whole roasted lambs were distributed to the soldiers. When the jars of liquor were opened, their aroma filled the air. The soldiers sat on the ground, raised their cups, and drank heartily. The sounds of clashing armor, laughter, and distant drums and music mingled together, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

This ceremony to honor the troops in the suburbs has now come to a close.

dusk.

Zhu Youxiao ascended the imperial carriage, and the ceremonial guards slowly made their way towards the Forbidden City.

As the carriage curtain fluttered slightly, he looked out the window at the people spreading the news, a slight smile playing on his lips.

This victory had already spread throughout the capital through the Huangming Daily, and the sight of the grand occasion witnessed by the people now further boosted their morale.

Meanwhile, meritorious generals such as Mao Wenlong and Zu Dashou, following the emperor's special decree, mounted their warhorses and slowly rode into Beijing under the protection of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The streets were already packed with people, waving small flags and their faces filled with respect and excitement.

"It was General Mao! The Huangming Daily reported that it was he who devised the surprise attack plan!"

"And General Zu, I heard he beheaded the Jurchen Beile Tabai with a single stroke!"

"General Zhao and General Huang are also formidable. They burned 100,000 shi of grain and fodder of the Jurchens. Let's see if they dare to invade again!"

……

The people were talking amongst themselves, children were chasing after the horse team, and the old people were bowing and saluting the soldiers.

Those names I had seen countless times in the Huangming Daily now transformed into living heroes, riding past on warhorses. The bloodstains on their armor and the frost on their faces became the most moving medals.

The soldiers reined in their horses, bowing respectfully from time to time, their weariness replaced by unprecedented pride.

The procession traveled from the Meridian Gate to the Xuanwu Gate, then through streets and alleys, touring all nine gates of the capital, until the setting sun painted the corner towers of Beijing golden red, at which point the cavalry slowly drove out of the city gate.

As evening fell, the soldiers who had been parading through the streets finally returned to their camp in Fengtai.

Hot water and clean uniforms were already prepared in the camp, and the aroma of food wafted from the kitchen, gradually dispelling the dust and fatigue of the past few days.

The soldiers had all rested, but Zu Dashou had not.

He went straight to the Beijing Garrison Office.

He wanted to meet Yuan Keli, the Vice Minister of War who was now in charge of the military affairs of the Beijing Garrison.

Since Yuan Keli took command of the Beijing Garrison, he has practically lived in the garrison.

During the day, he ate coarse rice and drank the same water as his soldiers, and at night he slept in the barracks wrapped in armor, rarely even returning home.

It was precisely because of this sincere dedication to sharing weal and woe with his soldiers that, in just one or two months, he not only trained the newly recruited soldiers to be disciplined and capable of fighting, but also earned them a very high reputation in the army.

Even the most unruly veterans had to bow respectfully to this general who came from a civil service background.

At this moment, in the main hall of the Beijing Garrison Office, Yuan Keli, wearing a worn-out single garment, was bent over his desk reviewing military reports.

On the desk were piles of training records from various battalions, inventory books of military equipment, and the latest military intelligence sent from Liaodong. He frowned slightly, and with a red pen in his hand, he circled a red circle on the entry for "insufficient ammunition for the firearms battalion," clearly having already immersed himself in it.

He didn't even raise his head when he heard footsteps, as if he already knew who it was.

Just as Zu Dashou was about to bow, Yuan Keli raised his head, waved his hand at him, and said in a calm but all-knowingly sharp voice, "Are you here about the impeachment?"

Zu Dashou was taken aback, then nodded heavily, his tone filled with undisguised guilt: "This humble general was exceptionally promoted by His Majesty, but the Hetu Ala matter has drawn criticism and put His Majesty in a difficult position in court... Lord Yuan, what do you think I should do to relieve His Majesty's burden?"

Yuan Keli put down his vermilion brush and pointed to the chair opposite him: "Sit."

After Zu Dashou sat down, he slowly said, "Your scheme against Abahai in Hetu Ala was indeed inappropriate. The family members of an enemy chieftain should be dealt with according to the rules. Such a risky move is easy to give others a handle to use against you."

Upon hearing this, Zu Dashou looked even more ashamed. He was about to apologize when Yuan Keli raised his hand to stop him.

"However, you have ultimately performed a great service. In the battle of Hetu Ala, you severed the dragon vein of the Jurchens and exterminated their descendants. This achievement is enough to outweigh any mistakes you may have made."

Yuan Keli looked at him with a solemn expression.

"At this time, you should do nothing."

"do nothing?"

Zu Dashou suddenly looked up and said urgently, "How can a subject stand by and watch his emperor be trapped in court because of him? What if those censors use this matter to attack His Majesty..."

“If you confess to the crime of ‘privately taking in an enemy concubine’ now, or ask for punishment, that would truly put His Majesty in a difficult position.”

Yuan Keli interrupted him, his tone becoming more serious.

"You think they're impeaching you? You're wrong. They're targeting the people His Majesty has promoted and the new policies His Majesty is about to implement. If you step down, you'll be telling everyone that His Majesty can't protect his own people, and those opponents will only become more arrogant."

He paused, then softened his tone: "Don't worry, His Majesty's control over the court is much stronger than you think. Since he dared to promote you beyond the usual ranks, he must have the confidence to protect you. You just need to stay put and focus on military affairs; that is the best way to repay His Majesty."

Zu Dashou remained silent for a long time.

Yuan Keli looked at his tense profile, his face also showing a hint of seriousness.

“Remember this: His Majesty can protect you once, but he can’t protect you next time. If you act impulsively again, there’s no need to wait for His Majesty to punish you; just stretch out your neck and cut your own throat to atone for your sins, so as not to soil His Majesty’s blade.”

These words, though heavy, carried a hint of expectation.

Upon hearing this, Zu Dashou was not angry at all. Instead, he nodded emphatically, a resolute look flashing in his eyes: "Don't worry, Lord Yuan! This humble general has remembered this. If I ever again take risks for personal reasons and cause His Majesty trouble, there's no need for His Majesty to take action. This humble general will handle it himself!"

After saying this, he stood up, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed deeply: "Thank you for your guidance, Lord Yuan. I will take my leave now."

Yuan Keli waved and watched him stride out of the yamen. Zu Dashou's back was much straighter than when he arrived, clearly indicating that he had let go of his worries.

Yuan Keli chuckled.

These civil officials always thought that by finding fault with the border generals, they could sway the emperor's heart, but they did not realize that the current emperor was no longer someone they could manipulate at will.

(End of this chapter)