Chapter 77: Turmoil in the Court

After the disastrous defeat at Tumubao, turmoil gripped the court and unrest spread among the people. Thanks to the efforts of Prince Cheng, Yu Qian, Wang Zhi, and other officials, the situation within the court gradually stabilized, and order in the capital began to return. Only then did the censors and remonstrators finally have the energy to begin investigating responsibility for the defeat at Tumubao.

At today’s grand audience, as was customary, all officials of sixth rank or above in the capital were required to attend court. Because the number of civil and military officials was so great, it was too crowded to hold the audience in a side hall. Therefore, Prince Cheng Zhu Qiyu decreed the assembly be held at the Left Shun Gate beside the Meridian Gate.

As the audience began, the officials paid their respects to Prince Cheng, followed by the commencement of court discussions. Minister of War Yu Qian was preparing to step forward to present his memorial, when suddenly a man emerged from the ranks of the Censorate.

“Your Highness, I have a memorial to present!”

This man wore the bright scarlet attire of a second-rank official, with the image of the xiezhi—symbol of discerning right from wrong and unyielding justice—embroidered on his chest and back. He was none other than Chen Yi, the Right Metropolitan Censor.

Zhu Qiyu responded gently, “What matter does Lord Chen wish to present?”

Chen Yi raised his memorial high, bowed, and declared, “I impeach Wang Zhen, the Chief Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial Attendants, and his clique, for forming factions for selfish gain, usurping power, autocratic rule, misleading the sovereign and endangering the nation—over thirty heinous and unforgivable crimes!”

“Wang Zhen, Chief Eunuch of the Directorate, rose from the ranks of convicted criminals, was fortunate enough to enter palace service, and never acquired any scholarly learning, let alone the talents needed for statecraft. Yet he was unduly favored by His Majesty, honored above all others, trusted more than the greatest ministers... His nine generations should be executed, his property confiscated, treasures and wealth distributed to the families of those who fell in battle, his ancestral tombs exhumed, their bones cast aside... Only thus can the state be restored to peace. Otherwise, there will be no warning for the future, and discipline will collapse.”

Chen Yi did not give Prince Cheng a chance to interject, reading aloud the lengthy memorial of over a thousand words in one breath.

As Chen Yi finished, other censors, officials of the Six Boards, and the thirteen regional censors—all of whom had long harbored deep hatred toward Wang Zhen and his faction—rose in turn to impeach the traitorous clique, demanding the harshest possible punishment.

“It has come as expected!” Zhu Qiyu, seeing the sea of bowed heads before him, felt a cold fear grip his heart.

The Ming army had suffered a crushing defeat, the Emperor himself was lost; inevitably, responsibility would be sought. Since assuming the regency, Zhu Qiyu had felt immense pressure, handling state affairs with the utmost caution, fearful of making even the slightest mistake and blemishing his record.

He knew well that the greatest blame for this defeat lay with his imperial elder brother, Zhu Qizhen, but the censors dared not attack the Emperor directly; the blame could only be shifted onto Wang Zhen. Yet Wang Zhen held a place of utmost importance in his brother’s heart—if he now ordered a purge of Wang Zhen’s faction, how would he explain himself when his brother returned? Furthermore, Wang Zhen’s followers were scattered throughout the court and government; if he followed the officials’ advice and purged them all, rivers of blood would flow.

As regent, Zhu Qiyu felt his confidence waver in the face of such a crisis. After all, he had held power for only a few days, and could be dismissed by the Empress Dowager at any time. It was best to avoid making enemies if at all possible.

Thus, Zhu Qiyu had no desire to take a stand on this matter.

After Chen Yi fired the first shot, a commotion arose in the plaza before the Left Shun Gate. Wang Zhen’s usurpation of power had long bred resentment among the officials; previously, with the emperor’s favor, they had no choice but to swallow their anger. Now, with the emperor captured and Wang Zhen dead, this was the perfect opportunity for reckoning.

Seeing the censors take the lead, ministers like Yu Qian also submitted their memorials:

“Your Highness, Wang Zhen brought ruin to our armies and disgrace to our nation. Though dead, his crimes remain unatoned; only by exterminating his household and clan can we bring solace to the spirits of the fallen officials and soldiers!”

“Wang Zhen and his cronies have committed countless outrages. Nothing short of their execution will appease the people’s fury!”

“Your Highness, hesitation is no longer an option. With the nation in crisis, only by severely punishing the traitorous faction can we inspire morale and reassure the people!”

On this day, the officials waited a long time. Seeing Prince Cheng hesitate and waver, they all fell to their knees, beseeching him to punish Wang Zhen’s faction. The officials were fierce and intimidating, like a pride of enraged lions. Zhu Qiyu had never seen such a spectacle before; his throat went dry, and cold sweat soaked his inner garments.

Cheng Jing, seeing this, stepped behind Zhu Qiyu and whispered a few words in his ear.

Of the thirty-six stratagems, retreat is the best!

Reminded, Zhu Qiyu forced down his panic, and with a trembling voice addressed the assembly:

“Honorable sirs, your arguments are sound. As for Wang Zhen’s factionalism and abuse of power, the court will deal with it in due course. I must now go to see the Empress Dowager. Let us end today’s discussion here.”

With that, and supported by Cheng Jing, he prepared to enter the palace through the Left Shun Gate.

“Your Highness, the Emperor is now captive among the northern barbarians, all due to Wang Zhen’s actions. If Your Highness does not act decisively, how can the people be reassured?”

The officials, unwilling to let Zhu Qiyu leave, rushed to block his path, kneeling and weeping in supplication.

When Chen Yi first launched his impeachment, Ma Shun, commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, was filled with dread. After all, he owed his position to currying favor with Wang Zhen, serving as his loyal lackey. If Wang Zhen were purged, Ma Shun would not escape unscathed. So he tried to blend into the background, quietly watching the situation unfold.

Ma Shun knew that his fate did not rest with the officials, but in the hands of Prince Cheng. Now, hearing the Prince’s evasive remarks and seeing no intention to punish the traitors, Ma Shun felt a glimmer of hope amid despair.

When the officials blocked the way, Ma Shun, relying on his duty to protect the Prince, stepped forward and shouted at the ministers:

“Wang Zhen is already dead at Tumubao. Why must you continue this incessant clamor? Step aside at once and make way for His Highness!”

With that, he ordered his men to clear a path.

The Embroidered Guards obeyed at once, pushing the kneeling officials aside, sending them sprawling in the mud.

Having bottled up their fury for days, the officials exploded in rage as the traitor Ma Shun dared to threaten them. Among them, a blue-robed official closest to Ma Shun—Wang Hong, a censor of the Ministry of Revenue—was particularly incensed.

Clenching his fists, eyes bloodshot, teeth bared, Wang Hong shouted angrily and rushed forward, seizing Ma Shun by the hair and roaring:

“You wretched cur! All these years, you’ve committed countless atrocities under Wang Zhen’s shadow. Now the Emperor is lost, and you cannot escape your due. Even now you dare to act out—I’ll see you pay for this with your life!”

With that, he slapped Ma Shun’s face hard, again and again.

Ma Shun, caught off guard, saw stars before his eyes. Instinct for survival finally made him shield his face, and he gradually recovered his senses.

Seeing Wang Hong assaulting a superior, the surrounding Embroidered Guards rushed to pull him away. As a scholar-official, Wang Hong was no match for the burly guards. As they tried to drag him off, in desperation he bit hard into Ma Shun’s wrist.

“Aaah!” Ma Shun screamed, swinging wildly at Wang Hong’s head.

The guards joined in, pummeling and kicking, and only with difficulty did they pry Wang Hong off.

Everyone was shocked at the sight of Wang Hong, blood streaming from his mouth, still holding something between his teeth.

A moment later, they realized: he had bitten a chunk of flesh from Ma Shun’s arm!

“Strike him! Beat him to death!” Ma Shun, beside himself with pain and fear, retreated several steps, howling in hysteria.

The Embroidered Guards attacked again, surrounding Wang Hong and beating him mercilessly.

Seeing their colleague so abused, the officials’ blood boiled. One after another, they clenched their fists and charged at the dozen or so guards.

Thus began a shocking, unprecedented brawl that would reverberate throughout the court.

...

Meanwhile, Xue Rui and Li Qingyun, commander of the Duke of England’s household guards, arrived at the Imperial Prison with twelve fully armed retainers.

At the gate stood five sentries. Besides four low-ranking Embroidered Guards, their leader was Yu Xing, a company commander of about thirty years, both brave and shrewd, highly trusted by his superiors, and thus assigned to guard the prison.

Seeing a group of armed men approaching with murderous intent, Yu Xing drew his embroidered saber in a flash and shouted, “This is the Imperial Prison! Unauthorized persons will be killed without mercy!”

The soldiers opposite were undaunted, hands on their hilts, ready to draw at any moment.

Tension crackled at the prison gate, swords on edge, the atmosphere oppressive in the extreme.

At that moment, a boy of about fourteen or fifteen stepped forward, blade in hand, and shouted at the Embroidered Guards, “You lot from the Embroidered Guard, your end is near! Release my father at once!”