Chapter Five: Physical Exercise

In the study, Zhu Xiaoqi opened the “New Book of Military Efficiency.” Inside was a slip of paper on which the numbers “47, 48, 7, 17” were written in Arabic numerals. This was what Manager Number One from the Parallel Worlds Administration Bureau had told him last time: in the forty-eighth year of the Wanli era, he would become emperor, and then die seven years later. His current body was fifteen years old by traditional reckoning, so he would die at twenty-two? Why would he die? It could only be illness—he certainly didn’t want to meet his end so soon. If that was the case, his only option was to improve his health.

His previous attempt at using martial force against the scholar had failed and nearly turned into a fiasco, making Zhu Xiaoqi realize his own lack of skill. In truth, for a fifteen-year-old boy, “skill” was beside the point—the issue was physical fitness. So, he closed the book, left the study, and instructed Lady Ke, “While I’m away, no one is allowed in the study—not even Master Liu.” Then he went in search of Li Jinzhong.

“Li Companion, you seem quite capable.”

“I dare not accept such praise, Your Highness. Before I entered the palace, I learned a little rudimentary martial arts and am somewhat familiar with archery and horsemanship.”

“You can ride and shoot, Li Companion? Impressive. Let’s talk about hand-to-hand combat—how many ordinary men could you handle at once?”

“If they’re just common folk, three or four would not be difficult. Any more, and I’d have to concede defeat.”

“If I wanted to be as skilled as you, how long would it take to train?”

“Your Highness’s status is exalted—such lowly arts are beneath you. If you wish to deal with someone, you have me! I’ll beat him so badly not even his mother would recognize him. If there are too many rogues, just call for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to arrest them and wipe out their clans. All that’s needed is a word from you.”

“I want to learn martial arts not to fight others, but to strengthen my body. Besides, look at yesterday—as things were, if I’d been able to kick that Xu fellow down like you did, wouldn’t the situation have been far less embarrassing? I wouldn’t have needed your help, right? And if you hadn’t managed to rescue me in time, I could at least have protected myself, don’t you think?”

These repeated “don’t you thinks” made Li Jinzhong realize that His Highness simply wanted to show off in front of Miss Baozhu. Since that was the case, teaching him some basics was acceptable. However, Li Jinzhong himself had learned only haphazardly and dared not instruct the heir apparent. So he reported the matter to Lady Li, who ordered him to select a skilled officer from the Capital Garrison to train Zhu Xiaoqi, along with two younger officers to serve as companions during training. At this time, the Capital Garrison was almost entirely under eunuch command. Lady Li’s request was easily fulfilled.

On the second day of the fifth month in the forty-seventh year of Wanli, after breakfast, Zhu Xiaoqi and Li Jinzhong headed to the Western Garden. Because the garrison officers could not remain in the palace for long, a drill ground in the Western Garden was chosen as the heir apparent’s training field. Upon entering, they found three officers already kneeling on the ground. Zhu Xiaoqi hurried forward, helping up the one in the center as he said, “Please rise, you three heroes of the military.”

The officer in the middle still kowtowed once and said, “Lu Qin, Assistant Colonel of the Left Battalion, and Company Commanders Zhou Yuji and Zhang Qianfang, pay respects to Your Highness.” Only after two more bows did they rise.

All three were burly men. Lu Qin, in his thirties, bore a scar that ran from the corner of his left eye up across his right cheek, lending him a fierce appearance. Zhang Qianfang, in his twenties, also had an air of menace—like Lu, it was obvious at a glance that he belonged to the military. Zhou Yuji appeared to be only eighteen or nineteen and had a calm, simple look, like a country bumpkin.

“Colonel Lu will serve as my martial instructor and may be addressed as ‘sir.’ The two company commanders will be my training partners; in the army, you would be brothers-in-arms. In future, there’s no need for such elaborate ceremony.” The three protested, insisting on the proprieties and the distinctions of rank.

“I have always believed that soldiers should have backbone, courage, and a killer’s spirit. With these three qualities, one gains the valor to fight to the death and the loyalty to serve the nation. Yet now, even generals are hemmed in by civil officials at every turn, both inside and outside the court, reduced to little more than errand boys. Where is their backbone? Whence their courage? How can a killer’s spirit be born? Can an army like this produce sudden acts of loyalty and bravery in wartime?” He took a breath, then continued, “For two centuries our dynasty has emphasized civil over military power to prevent the rise of warlords, and it has worked. But everything has limits, and now it has gone too far. If the civil treat the military as servants, the military will see the civil as enemies. If this continues, soldiers will be unable to fight, the people will not be at peace, and the nation cannot be secure. I am deeply troubled by this. Though I cannot change the regulations of the military, at least here on the training ground, I do not want to see you kneeling to me.”

Hearing the heir apparent speak so passionately on behalf of military men and elevate the issue to such heights, all three were deeply moved. They had become used to being looked down upon by civil officials, and His Highness’s words resonated with them deeply. The three bowed again; Lu Qin, choking up, said, “Thank you for Your Highness’s great kindness. We shall remember your words, serve the country loyally, and give our lives for you!” The other two were equally moved, their eyes red with gratitude.

“There you go again—just said no more kneeling! This is the last time!” Zhu Xiaoqi said as he helped them up. “As for the training, I must trouble you three to put in the effort.”

Lu Qin first had Zhu Xiaoqi run a lap and then lift a stone lock. Satisfied, he said, “Your Highness is in good health. Since you wish only to strengthen your body, I suggest you run for thirty minutes every morning, split into two sessions of fifteen minutes each. When you have spare time, I will teach you some basic self-defense techniques. Commanders Zhou and Zhang will accompany you, both as contacts and attendants.”

Zhu Xiaoqi actually wanted to learn offensive techniques but knew that haste would be counterproductive. Though his body was better than most in this era, it was only so because of good nutrition. To practice martial arts, he would first need to improve his physical condition, and running was clearly the best way. Since Lu Qin tactfully directed him toward running, it must be for that reason—so he agreed.

In the days that followed, Zhu Xiaoqi entered a rigorous training regimen. Of course, the hardship was self-imposed; Lu Qin dared not push the heir apparent too hard. But Zhu increased the intensity on his own, eventually tripling the original amount, running three times a day, each session lasting half an hour whenever he found the time. Later generations would say that the Tianqi Emperor’s robust health and longevity owed much to his daily running, sparking a nationwide running craze—but that is a story for another time.

After some time, Lu Qin taught him a set of Wudang internal boxing—namely, Taijiquan. This style emphasizes health, though, mastered at a high level, it can be used for combat as well. Since Zhu Xiaoqi could not master it quickly, he also learned Taizu Long Boxing from Zhou Yuji and Shaolin Boxing from Zhang Qianfang. The three officers, tasked with instructing the heir apparent, spared no effort or secrecy. Zhu Xiaoqi, knowing that physical strength was the foundation of all, trained with exceptional diligence and made rapid progress.

Lu Qin repeatedly praised the heir apparent’s intelligence and talent, declaring him capable of anything. Zhu Xiaoqi knew some of it was flattery, but after a period of training, he felt much stronger and found running easier and easier. Surely, he thought, he would not die in his early twenties in this life. The thought brought a faint smile to his lips and a quiet pride to his heart. Though he could not change the fact that he had been transported to another era, at least he could change an emperor’s body and thus his fate, perhaps even the fate of a dynasty. He, too, had become one of those legendary movers of history.