Chapter Seven: The Capital Garrison
At last, everyone managed to bring down Xiong Tingbi, and their morale soared. They felt they should press on. Censor Zheng Zongzhou believed the punishment of Cui Wensheng was far too lenient and called for his execution. Zheng also impeached the Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe for shielding Cui Wensheng, demanding his immediate removal from the Cabinet.
Next, Wei Yingjia from the Ministry of Justice joined in, accusing Fang Congzhe of mishandling the frontier affairs in Liaodong. He claimed the Cabinet had never addressed the real issues and that their decisions were muddled and ineffective. He further argued that the punishments of Cui Wensheng and Li Kezhuo were too light, and that all responsibility lay with Fang Congzhe, who should be dismissed.
Watching the court degenerate into what resembled a bustling marketplace, Zhu Youjiao could only force a bitter smile. Yet he was resolved to protect Fang Congzhe, because the attacks all revolved around the cases of Cui Wensheng and Li Kezhuo, for which he himself had been present and knew the blame did not lie with Fang. Thus, he kept all the memorials in his private study, issuing no decisions and letting the ministers quarrel as they wished.
Upon returning to the inner palace, Zhu Youjiao received materials sent by Luo Sigong. The Embroidered Uniform Guard had bribed a maidservant in Zhang Guoji’s household, who, citing family matters, arranged for a female spy from the Guard to temporarily replace her. Thus, the Zhang household’s activities fell completely under the Guard’s surveillance. The dossier described each member of the household; regarding Zhang Yan, it read: “Listless and despondent, she has spoken not a word for a long time.” Zhu Youjiao instructed Luo Sigong’s envoy to pay special attention to this woman, gathering as detailed information as possible, and to ensure her safety.
After receiving the imperial order, Sun Chuanting returned to the capital on the twenty-sixth day of the ninth month. Upon arrival, he reported first to the Ministry of War. He had barely finished his formalities when a summons to the palace arrived.
Sun Chuanting, a man of twenty-seven or twenty-eight, projected capable efficiency. After paying his respects, Zhu Youjiao granted him a seat. Then the emperor spoke: “I have heard that since your appointment, you, Sun Qing, have acted with decisiveness and propriety. Today, I would like to hear your assessment of the officers and soldiers of Great Ming.”
“Your Majesty, I have just arrived at the Ministry of War and dare not speak recklessly.”
“Speak freely nonetheless. I will listen. Here in Great Ming, no one is condemned for their words alone. Sun Qing, you may speak your mind without fear.”
“Then allow me to speak boldly. The soldiers of Great Ming suffer from three main flaws: first, insufficient training; second, inadequate pay; third, the ranks are filled with the old and weak, with too few able-bodied men. All three issues stem from a single problem: money. The court does provide the stipends, but no one knows whose pockets they end up in. Military households are often reduced to the status of slaves to officials and the powerful, leaving little actual fighting strength.” In truth, the domination of the military by the civil bureaucracy was another, perhaps the greatest, flaw—but as a civil official himself, he wished it so, and naturally would not mention it.
“What you say is reasonable. I wish to reform the Capital Garrison. Could you assist me in forging it into a force truly fit for battle?”
Presented with such a tremendous opportunity, Sun Chuanting seized it without hesitation: “I am willing to give my life in service to Your Majesty.”
“Good. You may rise. I appoint you Imperial Commissioner for the Purge of the Capital Garrison, and bestow upon you the Imperial Sword of Authority. Execute those who deserve death, and return to me a clean, battle-ready garrison.”
“Dismiss the useless officers and men, trace the flow of military stipends. There are currently two trustworthy officers in the garrison—Commander Lu and Adjutant Zhou—who can help you understand the situation. You three should confer and prepare well. Tomorrow, I will issue the decree.”
On the twenty-seventh day of the ninth month, the emperor’s edict was issued: Sun Chuanting, Director of the Department of Military Affairs in the Ministry of War, was appointed Imperial Commissioner for the Purge of the Capital Garrison, with the Imperial Sword of Authority. No one had ever heard of such a commissioner before, but since the task was assigned to a civil official—snatched from the hands of the eunuchs—the civil bureaucracy was naturally pleased.
Sun Chuanting did not proceed directly to the garrison. He first consulted with Lu Qin and Zhou Yujie to learn the basics. On the twenty-eighth, he entered the garrison and sounded the assembly drum. When the drumbeats faded, the hall was filled with officers lined up on either side. Sun Chuanting sat high at his desk, holding a dossier, and addressed the two men at the front: “Governor Li, Assistant Wang, are all the officers present?”
Li Xin, Governor of the Capital Garrison, immediately knelt. Wang Tao, Assistant Governor, stood at his side. Li Xin replied, “Reporting to the Imperial Commissioner, there are twenty-eight senior officers, vice-commanders, brigade commanders, mobile unit leaders, and assistant leaders, plus the governor and assistant, making thirty in all. Everyone is present and awaiting your inspection.”
Given that the imperial decree had been issued only the previous day, anyone absent today would have to be a fool. Sun Chuanting knew the officers would turn up; he had no intention of making an issue of it.
“Governor Li, how often do the soldiers train?”
“To inform the Commissioner, we drill every day.”
“How many participate in each session?”
“It varies by rotation, but at most eight thousand, and at least six thousand, per day.”
Sun Chuanting cursed inwardly: “Barely three or four hundred actually train daily, yet he’s shameless enough to exaggerate by dozens of times. Does he not worry the wind will blow his teeth out?” But he replied gently, “Very good. Governor Li, Assistant Wang, by His Majesty’s command, I am here to purge the garrison. According to the records, the Five Armies Garrison should have sixty thousand regular soldiers and sixty-six thousand six hundred reserves. The Shenji Garrison should have forty thousand. The Divine Mechanism and Divine Pivot Garrisons each have thirty thousand regulars and forty thousand reserves. Excluding the rotational troops, this totals one hundred twenty thousand regulars and one hundred forty-six thousand six hundred sixty reserves. Have I made a mistake in my calculations?”
Li Xin replied, “The Commissioner could not possibly be mistaken.” Wang Tao echoed him in agreement.
“Very well. You have received the emperor’s favor, and I trust you will serve the country loyally and diligently. Tomorrow, I will inspect the troops in the garrison parade ground. All units are to be assembled and ready at dawn for inspection. Begin your preparations.”
Li Xin immediately broke out in a cold sweat. He glanced at Wang Tao, who looked back with the same question in his eyes: “What do we do?”
After leaving the hall, the assembled officers gathered around Li Xin and Wang Tao. Everyone began to shout over one another:
“Is this Commissioner an idiot? Where did he get so many men? Inspect, inspect—inspect his grandmother!”
“I’m afraid the Commissioner already knows the truth and just wants to make a show of force tomorrow.”
“I don’t care who he is. I showed up today out of politeness. Tomorrow, I’ll be at the opera; I won’t be here.”
“Zhang Youye, you ass, going to the opera in the morning!”
The din nearly drove Li Xin mad. He shouted, “Shut the hell up, all of you!” The crowd quieted for a moment, then resumed:
“Li Xin, what are you yelling for? You’ll see where you’ll be tomorrow.”
“Governor Li, what authority! I’m so scared.”
“I don’t believe the Commissioner dares do anything to us tomorrow. If he’s so tough, let him deal with the eunuchs; they take the biggest share anyway.”
Li Xin realized this was pointless and stopped shouting. Instead, he said directly to Wang Tao, “Let’s go see the Commissioner and try to talk it over—otherwise tomorrow will be ugly.”
The two of them, each bringing two trusted officers, made six in all, and went to the hall entrance. The guard there told them, “The Commissioner orders that he is tired and needs rest. Bring your business tomorrow.” The two exchanged glances, now fully aware that the Commissioner intended to give them a show of force the next day. There was no point seeking higher backing now; after all, who could outmatch the authority of an Imperial Commissioner?