Chapter Forty-Eight: Sentenced to Dismemberment-Iron-Blooded Ming Dynasty(The Lonely Swordsman)

The Chongzhen Emperor remained silent, though inwardly he disagreed with Liu Zongzhou and the Pure Stream faction. Yet as emperor, he could not openly oppose his ministers' advice; he had to wait for others to voice dissenting opinions and reasons, so he could then stand as an impartial judge between them.

Zhou Yanru quickly sensed the emperor's intention and stepped forward to refute, “Lord Liu, your words are mistaken. How can today’s Huang Taiji be compared to Xieli of the Tang Dynasty?”

Liu Zongzhou retorted, “And why not? Do you presume that His Majesty is less talented and resourceful than Emperor Taizong of Tang?”

“Lord Liu, please do not confuse the issue with irrelevant comparisons,” Zhou Yanru’s expression darkened as he replied, “When Emperor Taizong captured Xieli, the four hundred thousand Turkic cavalry had already been annihilated by the Tang army, and the entire desert was under Tang control. Thus, returning Xieli made no impact on the situation. Today, though we have captured Huang Taiji and General Wang has destroyed the Manchu stronghold in Shengjing, their tens of thousands of cavalry remain unbroken, and all of Liaodong is still in their hands. To release Huang Taiji now would be nothing short of letting a tiger return to the mountain.”

Liu Zongzhou spoke loudly, “Our Great Ming has hundreds of millions of people and millions of elite soldiers. Why should we fear a mere handful of barbarian Manchus? Even with Huang Taiji, they cannot overturn the heavens. But if we kill him, that would damage our nation’s dignity and the moral spirit of the Middle Kingdom.”

“To hell with dignity and moral spirit!” Wang Pu could no longer restrain himself and cursed, “Do you even realize how many border soldiers will die on the battlefield because of your so-called dignity and moral spirit? How many passionate young men will never return home? How many wives will become widows, and how many children will be left orphans?”

“Insolence! Wang Pu, you are too arrogant!” The Right Censor-in-Chief Li Banghua’s beard quivered with fury as he pointed and shouted, “You are but a mere regional general at Datong. How dare you rebuke Lord Liu in the hall? Lord Liu is the Left Censor-in-Chief, a senior official of the second rank. Do you know nothing of propriety, honor, and shame?”

“Your talk of propriety and shame is nonsense!” Wang Pu roared, “If you have the guts, take up arms and go to Liaodong to lecture the Manchus about propriety and shame! It's easy to sound noble and talk big here since it's not you who dies on the battlefield—it’s our border troops! Let me ask you: are the lives of our soldiers worth so little, to be thrown away by the thousands for the sake of your empty words?”

“You—you…”

Li Banghua trembled with rage, unable to utter another word.

On the jade steps, the Chongzhen Emperor and the assembled civil and military officials stared, dumbfounded. Although the Ming dynasty’s court sessions were known for their openness—and it was not uncommon for ministers to argue bitterly in the golden hall, sometimes even resorting to blows—the venom with which Wang Pu cursed had never been seen before.

Wang Pu was truly incensed. How could such people exist in every era? If Ming were weaker than the Manchus and forced to release Huang Taiji under duress, that would be understandable, a matter of necessity. But now, when Ming clearly held overwhelming superiority and the Manchus were but a barbarian tribe in Liaodong, why should Huang Taiji be released?

If the Chongzhen Emperor truly heeded Liu Zongzhou and the others and returned Huang Taiji to Liaodong, the Ming troops at the Songshan front would be in grave peril. No one knew better than Wang Pu how formidable and cunning Huang Taiji was. If he’d known things would come to this, he would have killed Huang Taiji on the way here.

“Your Majesty, we support General Wang—Huang Taiji must not be released!”

“Your Majesty, Huang Taiji must be put to death.”

“Please, Your Majesty, value the lives of the front-line soldiers and do not let the tiger return to the mountain.”

As the two factions of civil officials remained deadlocked, the high-ranking military commanders—Left and Right Commanders of the Five Armies, Deputy Commanders, Associate Commanders, and the thirteen regional Commanders—stepped forward to support Wang Pu. These military men, long suffering the disdain of the civil officials, found Wang Pu’s bold words satisfying, and his argument was reasonable. Their support was only natural.

Ming’s policy of civilian control over the military meant that these officers, despite their ranks, were usually little more than decorations in the court, with no say in state affairs. But today, because the civil officials were divided, their opinions became crucial.

Still, the emperor needed weightier counsel than that of the military.

Chongzhen’s gaze fell upon Cheng Jiming, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. “What is your opinion, Lord Cheng?”

Cheng Jiming hurriedly stepped out and knelt on the vermilion steps, a fine sheen of sweat upon his brow. He wished neither to oppose Zhou Yanru nor to fall out with Liu Zongzhou and the Pure Stream faction. Though Zhou Yanru was only Assistant Grand Secretary now, he had previously served as Grand Secretary eight years ago and wielded deep influence at court—not a man to offend. Liu Zongzhou and Li Banghua, as paragons of virtue in the eyes of the world, were even more difficult.

Cautious by nature, Cheng Jiming wished to offend neither side.

“Your Majesty, I am old and weary and no longer able to serve the realm. I beg leave to retire to my native place.”

To everyone’s astonishment, Cheng Jiming, cornered, chose the most passive course—he simply abdicated his responsibility. If he no longer served as Grand Secretary, he need not take a side.

The court was stunned.

Chongzhen was even more astonished—and, beneath the shock, furious.

A Grand Secretary, the pillar of the nation, yet lacking the courage even to state his opinion! What use was such a mediocre official in the court?

In a fit of rage, the emperor spoke coldly, “Granted.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Cheng Jiming solemnly removed his court hat, knelt, bowed three times and nine times knocked his head to the floor, then rose and left the hall alone. Thus ended his career, in the most inglorious fashion.

The Chongzhen Emperor turned to Zhou Yanru and proclaimed in a clear voice, “Lord Zhou, as of this day you are appointed Grand Academician of the Imperial Supreme Hall.”

During the Ming dynasty, the academicians of the various halls were ranked thus: Supreme Hall, Palace of Established Virtue, Hall of Literary Splendor, Palace of Martial Valor, Pavilion of Profound Learning, and East Pavilion. Entry to the Cabinet began with the East Pavilion, but only those of the Pavilion of Profound Learning and above could serve as Grand Secretaries.

By appointing Zhou Yanru to the Supreme Hall, the emperor was in effect making him Grand Secretary.

Zhou Yanru immediately stepped forward, knelt, and with a thud of his head to the floor, cried, “Your servant Zhou Yanru… thanks Your Majesty for your boundless grace!”

In an unmistakable tone, the emperor declared, “I find the arguments of Lord Zhou and Lord Wang not without merit. To release Huang Taiji would be to let the tiger return to the mountain. For now, parade Huang Taiji through the streets in shackles to inspire the people of the capital and the soldiers’ morale. Three days hence, execute him by dismemberment at the Vegetable Market!”

“Long live the emperor!”

Zhou Yanru, Wang Pu, the military officials, and the civil officials aligned with Zhou Yanru all knelt in jubilation. Liu Zongzhou, Li Banghua, and the Pure Stream faction were dissatisfied, but since the emperor had decreed it, there was nothing more to say—they would not risk the emperor’s wrath for Huang Taiji’s sake.

Noting the time, the Chongzhen Emperor turned to Wang Cheng’en and said, “Cheng’en, go and instruct the Imperial Kitchen to prepare the banquet.”

Though the antics of Liu Zongzhou and his faction had displeased the emperor, the victory feast must go on—not only to honor Wang Pu, but to celebrate the return of the Imperial Seal and the resurgence of the Ming dynasty.

Of course, during the banquet, the Chongzhen Emperor had another major, joyous announcement to make.