Chapter Fifty-Three: Confrontation in the Hall

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Dongzhimen.

Wang Pu had yet to leave the city when he was blocked by the officers of the Five City Patrol. Wang Pu, Scarface, the Bearded Man, Xiao Qi, and more than fifty of their household guards were all arrested. Wang Pu was thrown straight into the Imperial Prison, while Scarface and the other fifty household guards were sent to the Ministry of Justice’s prison.

The following day, at the morning court.

The grand hall was filled with a clamor of officials: some calling for blood, some beating their chests and stomping their feet, and some weeping bitterly. It was impossible to tell whether their excitement was truly for the heinous crimes Wang Pu had committed, or if it was merely a performance of their loyalty and uprightness before His Majesty and the assembled officials.

No matter how the court officials raged, the Chongzhen Emperor sat steady upon the dragon throne, betraying no hint of his own opinion.

In fact, since the second year of his reign, the Emperor had seldom expressed direct opinions in court. Though lacking a systematic royal education, he possessed a natural talent for mastering men. Otherwise, he would never have managed to bring down the powerful eunuch Wei Zhongxian so early in his reign.

Yet, withholding his opinion did not mean the Emperor was without thoughts. As ever, he waited—for a clever minister to voice what he himself wished to say. Truth be told, the Emperor was greatly displeased with Wang Pu’s reckless actions, but not to the extent of wishing him dead.

Zhou Yanru was a shrewd man. He quickly discerned the Emperor’s intentions from his unperturbed expression. Stepping forward, Zhou knelt on the vermillion steps and declared in a clear voice, “Your Majesty, this humble servant, Zhou Yanru, begs leave to speak.”

“Speak, Minister Zhou,” the Emperor replied, his tone cool but exuding an undeniable authority. Instantly, the murmurs in the hall ceased, as if sliced away by a knife. Silence fell, so deep one could hear a pin drop.

Zhou Yanru said, “Though Wang Pu’s actions were gravely insubordinate, he has rendered the court outstanding service—indeed, feats unequaled since the troubles in Liaodong began. For such a meritorious servant, I believe, even if he is to be judged, he should at least be granted the chance to defend himself.”

“Your Majesty,” interjected Minister of War Chen Xinjia, hastening to support Zhou, “I find Minister Zhou’s words most fitting. Commander Wang’s disobedience and his rescue at the execution ground may well have had their reasons. If we execute him without hearing his defense, would that not chill the hearts of our border troops and all the people?”

At this point, regardless of Chen Xinjia’s own wishes, he and Wang Pu were now tied to the same fate. If Wang Pu fell, Chen Xinjia would not escape unscathed. To protect Wang Pu was to protect himself.

“Nonsense!” The Left Censor-in-Chief Liu Zongzhou could contain himself no longer and stepped out to rebuke, “Whatever the reason, he cannot defy a royal order or storm the execution ground! That is rebellion! Does Wang Pu have no respect for law and order? To defy an imperial command is to disregard His Majesty—does he still acknowledge the throne at all? For such a traitor, is there any need to grant a defense?”

“Minister Zhou is entirely correct,” chimed in the Right Censor-in-Chief Li Banghua. “The execution of a traitor such as Wang Pu would delight our border soldiers and the people alike. Why would it dishearten them?”

“Your Majesty, Wang Pu’s crimes are monstrous. He must be executed by law!”

“Your Majesty, Wang Pu’s treason is unforgivable!”

Before Liu Zongzhou and Li Banghua had finished, the censors from the Censorate and the Six Boards, along with thirteen regional censors, all voiced their agreement. For a time, the hall was filled with denunciations. The voices of Zhou Yanru and Chen Xinjia were quickly drowned out by the righteous fury of the reformist faction. The Emperor said not a word, though his frown grew ever deeper.

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“Your Majesty!” Chen Xinjia cried out in desperation, “No matter what, Wang Pu still holds an imperial pardon medallion!”

The indignant censors turned to look at him. Only now did they recall that, in the joy of yesterday’s afternoon audience, the Emperor had bestowed upon Wang Pu an imperial pardon medallion. With it, Wang Pu could be spared from death no matter his crime, at worst facing dismissal and investigation.

Zhou Yanru seized the opportunity to add, “There is merit in Minister Chen’s words. Commander Wang’s defiance and his rescue at the execution ground may indeed have had special cause. Why not summon him to court to explain himself before Your Majesty?”

Seeing no further objection to Zhou Yanru’s proposal, the Emperor finally nodded. “Let it be as you suggest. Wang Cheng’en.”

Wang Cheng’en hurried forward and replied, “This servant is present.”

“Bring Wang Pu to the hall,” commanded the Emperor.

“As you command,” Wang Cheng’en answered, raising his voice, “By order of His Majesty, bring Wang Pu to the hall!”

■■■

Ministry of Justice Prison.

Xiao Qi murmured, “I wonder how the general is faring now?”

Scarface replied, “Whatever happens, they can’t execute him, can they? The general has an imperial pardon.”

Xiao Qi sighed, “Even if he survives, I fear he’ll be stripped of his rank.”

“It’s all my fault. If he hadn’t tried to save me, he wouldn’t have defied the order or stormed the execution ground. I’m the cause of all this—I’ve ruined the general!” The Bearded Man suddenly burst into tears, beating his head against the wall in anguish.

“Get a hold of yourself!” Scarface rushed to restrain him, cursing, “Don’t act like a woman! The general isn’t dead yet, so stop wailing and bringing bad luck!”

“If I’d known it’d come to this, I’d rather have died in Liaodong,” the Bearded Man groaned. “What’s the point of living now?”

■■■

Wang Pu was soon brought before the grand hall.

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“Wang Pu.”

Before the reformists could attack, Chen Xinjia seized the initiative and demanded, “Why did you defy the imperial order, and why did you storm the execution ground?”

Chen Xinjia’s quick thinking shifted the focus of the inquiry: instead of debating the severity of Wang Pu’s crimes, the question was now why Wang Pu had acted as he did. Had Liu Zongzhou or Li Banghua spoken first, the discussion would surely have centered on how severely Wang Pu should be punished.

“Your Majesty, esteemed ministers,” Wang Pu declared loudly, “I did defy the order, but only to save a life.”

“Nonsense!” Liu Zongzhou shouted, “You dare argue your defiance was justified?”

“Wang Pu,” Zhou Yanru stepped forward, “You claim you defied the order to save someone. Was storming the execution ground for the same reason?”

“Indeed,” Wang Pu answered proudly, “I did it to save a life.”

“Outrageous!” Li Banghua thundered, “You stormed the execution ground in the name of saving someone—was the condemned criminal the one you sought to save?”

“Exactly,” Wang Pu replied, his voice ringing out, “The man sentenced to death by the Ministry of Justice was the one I had to save!”

“And what kind of man was he?” Chen Xinjia, seeking to steer the discussion in Wang Pu’s favor, pressed further. “What made him worth defying imperial orders and storming the execution ground?”

“He was my savior,” Wang Pu replied. “In Shengjing, he once saved my life. A true man must repay kindness and seek justice. So, even at the risk of my own life, I had to save him. What’s more, this man was a veteran hero of the Ming Empire, wholly innocent of any crime! In saving him, I was preserving the loyalty of our border troops to the court and to Your Majesty!”

Zhou Yanru asked, “You mean this veteran had fought with you in Liaodong?”

“More than that,” Wang Pu replied, “He was the very first Ming soldier to break into Shengjing. If not for him and fifty brothers luring away the Manchu cavalry, not one of my thousand-strong elite would have survived to return to the Empire. The enemy chieftain Huang Taiji would not have been captured, nor would the Imperial Seal have been restored to the Ming.”

“So this old soldier served the court with distinction. Why, then, was he sentenced to death?” Zhou Yanru’s gaze turned abruptly to Minister of Justice Liu Zesheng. “Minister Liu, what exactly is the meaning of this?”

The Minister of Justice, Liu Zesheng—close friend to Liu Zongzhou and a pillar of the reformist faction—now found himself the focus of Zhou Yanru’s pointed inquiry, the latter all too pleased to seize the chance to undermine a rival.