Chapter 20: Traveling Incognito, The Shaanxi Uprising

"Major news?"

The Chongzhen Emperor's expression shifted slightly. Had it not been a matter of great importance, Fang Zhenghua would not have appeared so grave.

Amidst this exchange, a eunuch responsible for delivering imperial edicts entered the Warm Pavilion. After performing the requisite salute, he spoke: "Your Majesty, we departed the capital on the twenty-sixth day of the ninth month in the seventh year of the Tianqi reign, arriving in Zhongzhou on the third day of the tenth month to deliver the edict to General Qin. Upon receiving it, the General stated that for the sake of security, she would not commit her response to writing. She instructed us to relay to Your Majesty that the army will abandon its heavy baggage and advance toward the capital at full speed. Throughout the march, she will dispatch messengers to send daily reports to Beijing. I took the liberty of designating a mountain village outside the city as the drop-off point. I beg Your Majesty's punishment for this presumption!"

"Good, very well done!"

This was the most heartening news he had received in quite some time. Although he had secretly ordered Li Ruolian to reorganize the Embroidered Uniform Guard, their numbers remained too few, their combat effectiveness was lackluster, and their operations were constrained; they lacked the overwhelming deterrent power of a regular army.

"Fang Jia, you two have done an excellent job. Take a hundred taels of silver as an initial reward. Once the mission is accomplished, I shall grant you further honors!"

"I dare not accept such a reward, Your Majesty. Relieving your burdens is but my duty."

"Take it. From now on, you two shall remain stationed outside the palace and deliver the daily reports to this East Warm Pavilion."

Chongzhen felt a sense of relief, but then asked with a flicker of doubt, "Why have you returned alone? Where is Fang Wen?"

"Your Majesty, the next matter concerns Fang Wen." After bowing in gratitude, Fang Jia continued, "On our journey back, we encountered many refugees. Upon inquiring, we learned that rebellions have broken out across Northern Shaanxi, Guanzhong, and Weibei—scattered across more than a dozen locations. After discussing it, we decided that I should return to report, while Fang Wen remains along the route to gather intelligence. We agreed that he would return to the capital in two days. Barring any accidents, he should arrive at the palace by this time the day after tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Chongzhen stood up abruptly. "Do you know the names of the rebel leaders?"

"Returning to Your Majesty, I have heard a few: Wang Er, Wang Jiayin, Wang Zuogua, and others."

Fang Jia’s words instantly unlocked dormant memories. Chongzhen seemed to recall such records from the historical texts of the future. The most famous uprisings at the end of the Ming Dynasty were those of Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong, both of whom had been subordinates of the Ansai horse bandit Gao Yingxiang. Gao Yingxiang might not be a household name, but the title "Chuang Wang" (Dashing King) certainly was—he was the first, and Li Zicheng the second.

"You may go and rest now."

Chongzhen waved them away and turned to Wang Chengen. "Big Companion, go to the Huangji Hall and tell the ministers that I will not hold court today. Any urgent matters are to be submitted to the Grand Secretariat."

With that, he returned to reviewing his documents. This action left both Wang Chengen and Fang Zhenghua deeply perplexed.

Rebellion was, at any time, a matter of catastrophic magnitude. How could he remain in the mood to review documents instead of summoning the Grand Secretariat to discuss strategies for suppression?

In truth, Chongzhen felt a profound sense of helplessness. Transportation in this era was far too primitive. Weibei was two thousand li from Beijing; even with a six-hundred-li urgent dispatch, accounting for the time taken to gather intelligence, a round trip would take ten days. Furthermore, the relay stations for such dispatches were likely no longer functioning effectively. Thus, since time was already lost, there was no harm in waiting two days for Fang Wen to return and consolidate the information.

At the first light of the following day, as the Embroidered Uniform Guard changed shifts, Li Ruolian led a group of his men out of the palace, heading straight for his own residence. About an hour later, a dozen men dressed in plain clothes emerged from the back gate of the estate, blending into the flow of people in the alleyways.

By now, the streets were teeming with life; the air was filled with clamor and the overlapping cries of street vendors.

"Your... Young Master, where are we heading?"

"Let’s go. Today, I am treating you all. Let’s fill our stomachs first."

This group consisted of the secretly departed Chongzhen, Fang Zhenghua, and their associates. Only Wang Chengen was absent; his role today was to serve as a decoy to distract the eyes and ears of other factions within the palace.

Inside the Huangji Hall, Wang Chengen stood expressionless atop the nine-tiered platform, while the ministers of the Six Ministries and the Nine Chief Ministers stood below.

"Eunuch Wang, the Emperor..."

"Grand Secretary Huang, is it for me to decide whether His Majesty comes or not? Rest assured and wait; he could arrive at any moment."

The Senior Grand Secretary, Huang Liji, had barely finished his inquiry when he was cut off by Wang Chengen. "Of course, if you gentlemen do not wish to wait, you may return home. However, I must remind you that His Majesty has been in a rather foul temper these past two days."

Hearing this, the restless ministers instantly fell silent, eyes fixed on their own noses, standing as still as monks in meditation. They all knew that just a few days ago, the Emperor had severely disciplined his own father-in-law, and the implicated merchants and officials had been punished ruthlessly. This incident had already spread throughout the capital. If they were to offend the Emperor now, especially with Wang Chengen whispering in his ear, it would be the end of them.

With the ministers subdued, Wang Chengen felt at ease, though his mind remained entirely with the Emperor outside the palace. Chongzhen’s primary purpose for venturing out was to see for himself whether there were truly refugees within Beijing and to gauge the situation on the ground. Had it not been for the presence of Fang Zhenghua, Li Ruolian, and their most trusted men, he would never have dared to leave the palace.

Half an hour later, the group arrived at the Zhengyang Gate of the Outer City—a place where commerce, handicrafts, and all walks of life converged. If one wanted to see the true state of the common people, this was the place to be.

Having traveled from the future, Chongzhen was far more curious about the Beijing of this era than he was about the steel and concrete metropolises he once knew. Though he possessed some of the original Chongzhen’s memories, seeing it with his own eyes was truly staggering. How incredible that an ancient city could house a million people; the wisdom of the ancients was truly remarkable.

Compared to the clean, wide streets of the Inner City, the Outer City was significantly worse, yet Chongzhen did not mind.

"Young Master, please, show mercy and give us a bite to eat! My child hasn't eaten in three days!"

Suddenly, a man with a slightly hunched back rushed toward Chongzhen, but was instantly intercepted by Fang Zhenghua.

"Fang San, let him come over!"

Following Chongzhen’s command, Fang Zhenghua glared fiercely at the man before stepping aside, though his eyes remained fixed on him. Li Ruolian did the same, his right hand already resting on the hilt of his sword. If the man made any suspicious move, both would have him dismembered in an instant.

"Go buy some steamed buns and meat buns, and get some hot water!"

Chongzhen spoke, then led the middle-aged man and his child into an alleyway. "Uncle, judging by your accent, you are not a local, are you?"

"Young Master, I am a refugee from Shaanxi."

"A refugee? Why are you fleeing?"

"Young Master, you in Beijing do not know—Northern Shaanxi and Weibei have suffered from consecutive years of famine. A long drought has left the earth scorched and the crops dead. Instead of organizing relief or reducing taxes, the imperial court has only imposed even harsher levies and extortions."

"When we couldn't pay, the local officials made examples of a few of us, beating them to death in public. They forced us to sell our children to scrape together enough grain for taxes. We had no choice but to flee, hoping to come to the capital to beg for a bite to eat, so that we might not starve..."

"Wait!"

"Surround them!"

*Clang...*

Li Ruolian instantly drew his long sword, pointing it at the middle-aged man. "Who on earth are you? Speak the truth!"