Chapter Forty-Nine: Granting Qi Jiguang the Title of Earl

Zhang Juzheng had You Qi convey his message to Qi Jiguang, who was already aware that Wang Chonggu was coming with those garrison officers and soldiers who had clashed with him.

Qi Jiguang felt it was unnecessary. It was merely a war of words, so why make such a fuss?

Qi Jiguang said quite decisively, "It is merely a minor matter. Friction often arises between the border troops and the capital garrison. The military commissioners, regional commanders, and viceroys should simply deal with it according to military law through flogging."

Qi Jiguang's intention was to spare their lives. The capital garrison would handle the punishment—the severity of the strokes, the thickness of the padding—all of that was the capital garrison's responsibility, and he would not interfere.

The capital garrison was filled with nobles and relatives of the imperial family. If someone were actually beaten to death, Qi Jiguang, a border defense general, feared he would make a few more enemies in the imperial court. He would immediately offend Duke Cheng Zhu Xizhong and Viceroy Wang Chonggu, as these men were under their protection.

Zhu Xizhong wore a faint smile. Face was something people gave to one another; since Qi Jiguang was willing to grant this courtesy, everyone would maintain their dignity in the future.

"General Qi is truly a gentleman," Wang Chonggu could not help sighing. He looked at the company commander and the squad leaders, gave them a forceful kick, and said sternly, "Why don't you hurry up and thank General Qi for sparing your dog lives!"

"Thank you, Grandpa Qi, for sparing our lives! Thank you, Grandpa Qi, for sparing our lives!" The company commander knelt on the ground, kowtowing incessantly. Although his arms were tightly bound, making movement difficult, he still completed the kowtows, completely losing the unbridled arrogance he had displayed before the city gate.

They had never expected to cause such a huge disaster. In the past, when border troops entered the capital, they had bullied them plenty of times.

Chen Dacheng, a southern troop general who had accompanied Qi Jiguang back to the capital, felt it was unfair for his commander. How could he let these men off so easily? If they entered the capital again in the future, these petty fellows would continue to harass them.

However, the Qi Family Army maintained strict military discipline, and a soldier's primary duty was obedience. He did not oppose Qi Jiguang's approach.

Qi Jiguang chose to forgive the company commander, the two squad leaders, and the three privates. He was magnanimous; he did not want soldiers to slaughter one another, as that would be unfavorable to the Great Ming and contrary to his aspirations.

By the time the curfew arrived, Qi Jiguang received the news.

Wang Chonggu had beaten the men to death.

For insubordination, the punishment was one hundred strokes of the heavy staff. Executed with real force and without any padding, a mere dozen strokes could beat a person to death. However, by using skilled leverage and thick padding, the noise would be loud, yet it wouldn't kill anyone.

"The men are dead?" Chen Dacheng, Qi Jiguang's deputy commander, clenched his fists tightly upon hearing the news.

Wang Chonggu, a civil official, had no desire to see harmony between the capital garrison and the border troops; he had simply beaten the men to death. In the eyes of the entire capital garrison, this made Qi Jiguang look spineless!

"Sigh." Hearing the news, Qi Jiguang felt a lingering sorrow for a moment. All kinds of emotions melted into a heavy sigh, filled with an unresolvable melancholy.

He was indeed the revered General Qi across the Three Frontiers; at his command, none dared disobey. His military discipline was extremely strict, capable of fighting and winning.

Yet the army was fraught with internal conflicts between the north and the south.

He had brought six thousand southern troops with him, who served as his right hand. However, Jizhou, Shanhai, and Yongping were garrisoned by northern troops. The northern troops viewed the southern troops as General Qi's executioners, battle supervisors, and hangmen.

Meanwhile, the southern troops regarded the northern troops as lazy, undisciplined, and lax in military preparedness. The northern-southern friction also involved numerous differences in customs, accents, habits, and daily life, leading to extremely fierce conflicts.

The army was also plagued by severe internal strife between the regular soldiers and the volunteer militia.

In the Great Ming, "soldiers" specifically referred to the volunteer militias—namely the three thousand righteous volunteers Qi Jiguang had recruited back then to suppress the Japanese pirates, which were a mercenary force. Meanwhile, "garrison troops" referred to the hereditary military households of the卫所 (weisuo) garrisons, who held hereditary farming plots.

The military pay for Qi Jiguang's recruited soldiers was a daily grain allowance converted to three candareens and three cash of silver; during marches, the field ration converted to one candareen and two cash of silver, totaling about eighteen taels of silver per year. Qi Jiguang personally monitored this portion, as it was the foundation of his guaranteed military discipline: provide sufficient pay, and they would win battles.

The pay for hereditary military households followed the garrison system, which was the path to wealth where everyone from deputy commanders down to small squad leaders drank the blood of the soldiers. Qi Jiguang had tried several times to investigate corruption, but every time it fizzled out into nothing. Cutting off someone's path to wealth was akin to murdering their parents.

The hereditary military households watched the southern volunteer soldiers eating good food and drinking fine wine, receiving a solid eighteen taels of silver into their hands every year, and naturally felt resentment. People do not worry about scarcity, but rather about inequality. Previously, everyone suffered together and nothing showed, but once they suddenly realized soldiers could be maintained this way, conflicts erupted instantly. The contradictions between the regular troops and the volunteer soldiers were complex and difficult to resolve.

The army was further filled with conflicts over military equipment. Because the southern troops had accumulated vast amounts of bounty silver from suppressing Japanese pirates, and due to their frequent combat, a portion of this silver had been converted into advanced military gear. While the military equipment across the Three Frontiers was dilapidated—still using muskets manufactured during the Yongle era—the southern troops were entirely equipped with matchlock guns. Naturally, daily drills between the northern and southern soldiers would spark friction.

These multiple contradictions influenced, checked, balanced, and reinforced one another, ultimately rendering the discord irreconcilable. Thus, even within the army, Qi Jiguang was regarded as a useless growth, a redundant tumor.

And now, Wang Chonggu had beaten a company commander, two squad leaders, and three privates of the capital garrison to death with the staff. This feud was now thoroughly cemented, adding yet another layer of conflict between the capital garrison and the border troops in the future.

Under such conflicting circumstances, could Qi Jiguang still win battles? This was the hallmark of someone with true military talent; on the battlefield, he could truly do as he pleased.

Qi Jiguang believed that none of these contradictions were problems—as long as they won battles, as long as they kept winning battles, all contradictions would be directed outward toward the enemy rather than inward at themselves.

Early the next morning, the lingering haze of consecutive days was swept away. The sun leaped from the east, spilling its morning light across the earth and bathing the capital and the Northern Inner City in brilliant radiance as they awoke from slumber.

Commoners in the outskirts of the capital began carrying hoes on their shoulders and shoulder poles on their backs to labor in the fields. The city gates slowly opened, and the streets grew bustling with life, with vendors' cries rising one after another.

Steam billowed from the steamer baskets of breakfast shops, and food vendors bustled about frying and boiling tea-soups, their agile movements weaving smoothly to prevent the liquid from spilling.

Storytellers in the teahouses recounted legendary tales with twists and turns. Occasionally, the snapping of the gavel drew rounds of applause from the audience below. Just as the tale reached its climax, the storyteller would abruptly say, "To be continued in the next installment," prompting a chorus of boos.

Qi Jiguang changed into his court robes early in the morning, rode his horse alongside Deputy Commander Chen Dacheng, and arrived before Desheng Gate. Desheng Gate was a military thoroughfare, and upon returning to the capital, Qi Jiguang was required to enter through it.

Minister of War Tan Lun, Junior Vice Minister of War and Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate Liu Yingjie, and Assistant Minister of War and Right Assistant Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate Wang Daokun—surrounded by an entourage of court officials—came out to welcome him.

Tan Lun and Qi Jiguang were old acquaintances who had fought together against the Japanese pirates in the south. In the north, Tan Lun served as the Viceroy of Military Affairs in Jizhou while Qi Jiguang served as the Regional Commander of Jizhou, and the two cooperated with exceptional tacit understanding.

Qi Jiguang dismounted to exchange pleasantries, after which the group transferred to carriages, proceeding along the imperial road from Desheng Gate to Western Chang'an Street, and finally arriving before Chengtian Gate. Qi Jiguang stepped out of his carriage, entered the imperial city, and walked through the gateway.

A vast and open expanse suddenly met the eyes.

Civil officials stood to the left, military nobles to the right. The plaza on both sides was packed with capital officials and military aristocrats. Imperial guards clad in fish-scale uniforms, wearing embroidered spring sabers and holding hooked sickles, stood straight along the pathways in solemn and majestic silence.

Melodious bugle calls drifted over, and the sound of battle drums resounded before Fengtian Hall. The musicians of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices began to play music and dance.

Qi Jiguang walked step by step beneath the Nine-Dragon imperial terrace, awaiting the emperor's summons.

For the first time, Zhu Yijun was to attend the early morning court session at Fengtian Hall. He had risen at the fourth watch, spending a full half-hour simply putting on his attire—the crown robes specially custom-made for the ten-year-old sovereign, the twelve-symbol imperial robe bearing the sun and moon on its shoulders, and the crown with twelve hanging bead-strings, which served as the emperor's formal ceremonial attire.

This ceremonial outfit was cumbersome both to put on and to take off. Whether performing sacrifices to heaven or at the imperial ancestral temple, it had to be worn. Zhu Yijun could not dress himself in this complete set of garments; he had to rely on the careful ministration of palace maids, as there were over a dozen fragmented accessories hanging from his person alone.

Fortunately, Zhu Yijun usually walked with measured, steady strides, balanced and secure; otherwise, as he walked, these hanging ornaments would strike against one another and make noise.

Morning bells and evening drums—at the fifth watch, the bronze bell of Jingyang Tower was struck by the stoker to awaken the entire capital, while across from Jingyang Tower, the drums began to beat to stir people's spirits and minds.

Following the customs of the Tang Dynasty, in the morning the bell was struck first followed by the drum, whereas during curfew the drum was beaten first followed by the bell.

Zhu Yijun arrived at Fengtian Hall, and the dragon throne was carried onto the raised moon-platform. Zhu Xixhow cracked the ceremonial whip, and the officials began filing into the hall. Just as they finished shouting "Long live the emperor" thrice and stood firmly in place, Qi Jiguang arrived right beneath the Nine-Dragon imperial terrace of Fengtian Hall.

The timing was immaculate.

Minister of Rites Lu Shusheng did not create trouble regarding ritual propriety. Since the court deliberation had already passed, stirring up trouble anew would simply be asking for unnecessary misery.

Zhu Yijun straightened his posture and said calmly, "Summon General Qi."

"Summon the Regional Commander of the Three Frontiers, Qi Jiguang, to audience!" Hearing the emperor speak, Feng Bao, the Director of Ceremonial in Fengtian Hall, immediately stood straight and called out in a shrill, piercing voice.

The two lines of young eunuchs standing before the doors of Fengtian Hall repeatedly shouted out the emperor's imperial decree in loud voices—two passing it to four, four to eight, and then sixteen and thirty-two voices echoing one after another to proclaim the sovereign's words.

Qi Jiguang adjusted his cuffs, lifted his hem, ascended the stone steps, and stepped into Fengtian Hall one step at a time.

"Qi Jiguang, Regional Commander of Shanhai Pass, Yongping, and Jizhou, pays respects to Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live Your Majesty!" Upon entering the hall, Qi Jiguang performed the grand ceremony of five kowtows and three prostrations, shouting "long live" three times.

"General Qi Jiguang of the Three Frontiers, receive the imperial decree." Feng Bao flicked his whisk, took two steps forward, and two young eunuchs unfurled an imperial edict that was one zhang long and one chi wide, made of patterned damask brocade featuring auspicious clouds and cranes, with black rhinoceros horn rollers.

"By mandate of heaven, the emperor decrees:"

"We, possessing scant virtue, have ascended the grand throne at a tender age, constantly fearing that we might fail the trust of our ancestors and the support of the myriad people. Treating the continuation of the dynastic lineage as paramount and securing the ancestral temples and the state as our foundation, the heritage of our ancestors is of utmost weight. Day and night we remain vigilant and fearful of our inability to sustain it, relying entirely upon our civil and military officials and wise counselors to jointly plan governance, spreading peace to all lands, so that the common people may share in auspicious blessings and make a fresh start with the populace."

"Ever since the *renyin* year, the northern captives have sought tribute and markets without a single year of rest. Our nation desired to cease warfare and grant respite to the people, and our intentions were quite sincere. Yet, without solidifying the realities of combat and defense while making preparations, the barbarian troops would water their horses in our suburbs, and the stench of slaughter would be heard at our city gates. If they coerce us with military force to make demands, and we respond out of exhausted stratagems, submitting to terms under the city walls while accepting peace—is that not humiliating?"

"Our late imperial father heard that Qi Jiguang possessed literary and martial genius, strategic planning, and exceptional courage; that he knew how to win people over, understand people, cherish people, and control people. Discussing with his court ministers, he issued an imperial decree appointing Your Lordship as Commander-in-Chief of Jiliao to specially train the border soldiers."

"Today we hear that Dong Huli came knocking at the gates demanding rewards, and Your Lordship set up ambushes at four locations—Gubeikou, General Tower, Sister Towers, and Xifengkou—repelling the chieftain of the Uriankhai Guard, Dong Huli, with merit-worthy heads exceeding two thousand five hundred. You further repelled the enemy troops and captured Dong Huli's nephew, Buha Chu, alive, putting him in cangue and shackles to be escorted back to the capital. We are exceedingly gratified."

"Acknowledging your merit in defeating the northern captives, you are hereby specially promoted to Right Director-in-Chief of the Chief Military Commission and Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent. In recognition of your merit in suppressing the pirates and resisting the enemy, you are ennobled as the Earl of Qian'an, with an annual stipend of eight hundred shi. Your thread-by-thread loyalty can be witnessed by heaven alone!"

"According to the established laws of successive dynasties, we spread virtue and bestow favor, proclaiming this to the entire realm so that all may hear and know."

"Respect this."

Zhu Yijun smiled and said, "Beloved minister, rise."

Qi Jiguang kowtowed once more and said in a ringing voice, "We thank Your Majesty for your boundless grace."

Fengtian Hall fell into an eerie silence, because His Majesty had caught everyone off guard by abruptly ennobling Qi Jiguang as the Earl of Qian'an. Although no hereditary iron certificate of amnesty had been bestowed, it was already enough to make people's hearts pound with trepidation.

Who had instigated this? Could Zhang Juzheng have done this for his own partisan flunky?

What was His Majesty trying to do?

Was His Majesty attempting rebellion?!

"If there are matters to present, step forward early; if none, roll up the bamboo curtains and dismiss court." Feng Bao flicked his whisk and shouted in his shrill, elongated voice.

Minister of War Tan Lun took half a step forward, then pulled his foot back. Whoever wanted to oppose it could oppose it; anyway, Tan Lun had no intention of objecting.

Minister of Personnel Yang Bo looked left and right, his expression complex. In the end, he shook his head, stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, this minister has a memorial to present."