Chapter Seventy-Nine: Interrogating Xiong Tingbi (With Gratitude to the First Protector, Zhen Gong, for His Support in State Affairs)

Soon, driven either by the interests of their respective factions or by personal grievances, the ministers began calling for Xiong Tingbi and Wang Huazhen to be held responsible for the loss of the frontier. Cai Siyun, Supervising Secretary of the Military Branch, was the first to raise the matter, submitting a memorial requesting punishment for Xiong, Wang, Gao Chu, Hu Jiadong, and the others.

Zhu Youxiao had already spared Xiong Tingbi and Wang Huazhen, ordering them to “await disposition while bearing their guilt.” Gao and Hu had fled during the Battle of Liaoshen and had fled again this time, so the Embroidered Uniform Guard was ordered to seize them and bring them to the capital.

Then, on the eleventh day of the second month, Feng Congwu, Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review; Dong Yingju, Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices; and He Qiaoyuan, Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Studs, jointly submitted a memorial demanding that Xiong and Wang be arrested “so that the laws of the state may be upheld.”

Although Zhu Youxiao knew that Xiong Tingbi’s strategy had probably been sound, he deeply resented Xiong for failing to live up to his high hopes and abandoning the lands beyond the passes without putting up even the slightest resistance. Thus, on the thirteenth, he approved Wang Huazhen’s arrest, while merely dismissing Xiong Tingbi from office and ordering him to return home and await further judgment.

Xiong Tingbi, however, was unwilling to leave the capital. He feared that once he was gone, his political enemies in the Eastern Forest faction would attack him and add further charges to his name. Remaining in the capital would allow him to refute any false or slanderous accusations as they arose.

That day, Wang Cheng’en arrived at Xiong’s residence with two young eunuchs. It was called the Xiong residence, but in truth it was merely a small house Xiong Tingbi had rented. There was not even a gatekeeper at the entrance. One of the young eunuchs stepped forward and knocked. Xiong Tingbi’s eldest son, Xiong Zhaogui, opened the door.

“May I ask what brings you here, Eunuch?” he said.

“I bear His Majesty’s command,” Wang Cheng’en replied. “I have been ordered to ask Xiong Tingbi a few questions.”

“Please come in.”

Xiong Zhaogui led Wang Cheng’en to his father’s study. At the door, he announced softly, “Father, Eunuch Wang has come by imperial order to question you.”

The study door creaked open. Xiong Tingbi, his face filled with sorrow, folded his hands and said, “Please come in, Eunuch.”

Wang Cheng’en entered the study and stood above him. Xiong Tingbi brushed down the front of his robe and was about to kneel when Wang Cheng’en said, “There is no need. Answer standing.”

Only then did Xiong Tingbi straighten and lower his head to listen.

“Xiong Tingbi,” Wang Cheng’en said, “when His Majesty sent you to Liaodong, the earnest words he spoke to you remain fresh in your ears even now. Considering everything that has happened in Liaodong, do you feel no shame?”

With a heavy thud, Xiong Tingbi fell to his knees and cried out hoarsely, “Your Majesty, I am ashamed! My crimes deserve ten thousand deaths. I beg Your Majesty to have me executed and my head displayed along the Nine Frontiers, so that others may take warning!”

Wang Cheng’en cleared his throat. “I knew you would say you were ashamed. But what use is saying so now? Why did you not go to Guangning at the time? Did you not have five thousand soldiers?”

Xiong Tingbi repeatedly struck his forehead against the floor. “The main army had already been defeated at Shaling. I had only five thousand men. If I had gone to Guangning, the fall of the city would have been a minor matter; the innocent people of Liaodong, however, would all have fallen into the hands of the enemy and been enslaved. After weighing everything carefully, I could only protect the people and bring them inside the passes first.”

“You will certainly say that you merely wished to escort the people of Liaodong into safety. Then touch your conscience and answer me: Were you afraid at the time? When Wang Huazhen was defeated, were you pleased?”

Xiong Tingbi paused before answering. “Your Majesty, at the time I had few soldiers and a shortage of capable commanders. The Jianzhou forces had defeated the main army at Shaling, and I was afraid; therefore, I did not dare advance. As for Governor Wang’s defeat, I felt only anguish and lamented the many difficulties facing the state. I never entertained the slightest thought of rejoicing at another’s misfortune. These words come from my heart. If there is any falsehood in them, may all my descendants be enslaved.”

“Luo Yangxing says that he once warned you not to trust Sun Degong. Is that true?”

“It is true.”

“Then why did you not suspect Sun Degong? Who made you believe he could be trusted?”

Xiong Tingbi pondered for a long while before replying, “After receiving a report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, I sent my subordinate Tong Punian to investigate Sun Degong. He reported that Sun Degong was loyal to the emperor and devoted to the state, and that everything was normal. I therefore assumed that the intelligence from the Embroidered Uniform Guard was mistaken, which led to this terrible disaster. I have failed Your Majesty.”

Wang Cheng’en turned and left. Xiong Tingbi followed behind him and said in a low voice, “Please inform His Majesty that I am guilty and willing to accept punishment under the laws of the state.”

As he finished speaking, he exchanged a glance with Xiong Zhaogui. Xiong Zhaogui brought out a tray piled high with silver coins and held it before Wang Cheng’en.

Wang Cheng’en glanced at the tray and smiled. “His Majesty said that taking nothing at all would seem false, while taking too much would amount to greed. One silver coin is enough for the trouble of making the journey.”

He took a coin, weighed it twice in his hand, then threw back his head and laughed as he walked out.

Xiong Tingbi stared in stunned silence. Then he asked Xiong Zhaogui, “Is this how the palace eunuchs in the capital accept money these days?”

Xiong Zhaogui shook his head. “Father, I have only recently arrived and do not know whether that is the usual practice. But the matter involving Eunuch Tu was reported in the Weekly News several times and made quite a stir.”

When Wang Cheng’en returned, he repeated Xiong Tingbi’s answers to Zhu Youxiao and then asked, “Why did Your Majesty order this servant to accept only one coin?”

Zhu Youxiao laughed. “I could hardly let you make the trip for nothing. Accepting one coin will make you feel more at ease, while paying it will not pain him. Is that not better for both sides? But I have already said that if you accept more than one coin, you are to go and see Tu Wenfu. Keep an eye on this in your daily work as well, especially at the Eastern Depot. One cannot place too much faith in people’s self-restraint. Someone is bound to step onto the blade.”

Wang Cheng’en now had a group of subordinates devoted specifically to gathering information within the palace. It was one of Zhu Youxiao’s measures for preventing the Eastern Depot from concealing the truth from him.

“Your Majesty may rest assured,” Wang Cheng’en replied. “I will keep a close watch. Your Majesty truly possesses innate wisdom—even Xiong Tingbi’s answer was exactly as you predicted.”

“Enough with the flattery. What else could he have said? I already knew the reasons. He did have his own private concerns, and he was genuinely worried about the people of Liaodong. Have that Tong Punian arrested and order the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate him thoroughly. I suspect there is something wrong with the man.”

Zhu Youxiao’s decision to arrest Wang Huazhen while sparing Xiong Tingbi left the Eastern Forest faction unable to sit still. Zhang Heming was the first to fire a shot, openly declaring, “Huazhen’s merits and crimes are evenly balanced, while Tingbi has committed crimes without rendering any service.”

Zuo Guangdou and the others, meanwhile, seized upon Zhu Youxiao’s earlier assertion that merit and guilt should be considered together. They argued that Wang Huazhen should not be arrested while Xiong Tingbi was merely dismissed from office; instead, both men should be imprisoned and tried for their crimes.

This time, Zhu Youxiao had resolved not to be swayed by these ministers. Yet since he had already declared that merit and guilt must be judged together, he decided to let them have their way. He issued an edict ordering the Three Judicial Offices to conduct a full reinvestigation of the Guangning affair, with Xiong Tingbi and Wang Huazhen to be questioned before them.

He then summoned Wei Zhongxian and instructed him that the Eastern Depot was to monitor the entire case from beginning to end. No information was to be overlooked, and reports were to be submitted every day.

The immediate problem was finding someone to clean up the chaos in Liaodong. Minister of War Zhang Heming, fearful that the emperor might hold him responsible, volunteered to go there himself, and the emperor approved his request.

Sun Chengzong had already become Vice Minister of Rites. In the third month, Liu Yizhu was attacked by others and requested permission to resign. Zhu Youxiao had never liked him, so he readily approved the request. The Grand Secretariat was thus left with only three members.

Several ministers submitted memorials recommending that more men be appointed to the Grand Secretariat. After the emperor agreed, the ministers conducted a collective recommendation. Sun Chengzong’s name ranked first, while Xu Guangqi’s ranked fifth.

Zhu Youxiao asked Fang Congzhe about the matter. Fang replied that, according to precedent, the selections should be made from the top of the list downward. In other words, if Xu Guangqi were to be chosen, the four men ranked above him would have to be appointed first.

The emperor therefore had no choice but to issue an edict: Sun Chengzong was promoted to Minister of War and concurrently appointed Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion, entering the Grand Secretariat to handle affairs. Zhang Heming was additionally granted the title of Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent, bestowed with the Imperial Sword, and appointed military commissioner of Liaodong.