Chuanting died, and Ming fell

Sun Chuanting had yet to figure out why Hong Chengchou was "unsuitable," where he himself surpassed the man, or why His Majesty insisted on him alone, when he heard that Lu Xiangsheng was not merely being dismissed-he was to be sent to the Imperial Prison for trial.

What sort of place was the Imperial Prison? Anyone who entered it, even if they lived to come out, would still have a layer of skin stripped away. The methods of the Embroidered Uniform Guard were no joke.

Why would His Majesty go this far!

Sun Chuanting suddenly felt the fox's grief at the rabbit's death. But His Majesty had already issued his decree. If he defied it before the throne, he would probably have to wait for Lu Xiangsheng inside the Imperial Prison first.

"Your servant accepts the decree!" Sun Chuanting lowered his eyes, concealing the helplessness in them.

Yang Sichang was also astonished. He had only intended for Lu Xiangsheng to be removed from his post, demoted, and made to assist Sun Chuanting in relieving the capital. This decree was far too harsh.

"Minister Sun, remember: no reckless warfare!" Zhu Youjian instructed, then waved the two men away, signaling their dismissal.

The two bowed and left the hall. Looking up, they saw Luo Yangxing waiting outside and knew that His Majesty's decision to send Lu Xiangsheng to the Imperial Prison was as firmly fixed as a nail driven into iron. Each lost in his own thoughts, they headed toward the Thousand-Step Corridor.

Sun Chuanting's appointment had to go through the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Personnel, with a report also submitted to the Grand Secretariat. Yang Sichang was both Minister of War and a grand secretary. With him personally handling the matter, the letter of appointment soon reached Sun Chuanting's hands, along with the Imperial Sword bestowed by His Majesty.

Looking at the sword before him and listening to the congratulations and flattery around him, Sun Chuanting could not bring himself to smile.

Yuan Chonghuan had received an Imperial Sword back then, used it to behead Mao Wenlong, and been killed by His Majesty upon his return.

Lu Xiangsheng had received an imperially bestowed Golden Token and used it to reclaim the Heavenly Hero Army from Gao Qiqian. He had fought the Jurchens until both sides suffered grievous losses, and now His Majesty had sent him to the Imperial Prison.

This was no Imperial Sword-it was a talisman hastening his death!

While waiting outside the hall, Luo Yangxing had naturally heard the emperor's decree. Sure enough, once he entered, the emperor ordered him to take men and bring Lu Xiangsheng back.

"Your servant obeys!" Luo Yangxing accepted the order, then asked, "Should I bring only Commander Lu... Lu Xiangsheng?"

Zhu Youjian raised his eyes and thought for a moment. The Heavenly Hero Army was united, and Lu Xiangsheng commanded immense loyalty. If any of his trusted followers desperately tried to stop them...

"Bring back anyone who causes trouble as well. Be measured in how you handle them, and do not injure anyone. Once they are in the Imperial Prison, no torture is permitted. I will question them personally."

Luo Yangxing's mind was shrouded in fog. His Majesty was angry, and sending someone to the Imperial Prison was already a severe punishment, yet he had also instructed him not to hurt anyone. That meant His Majesty still intended to use Lu Xiangsheng!

It was probably because that stubborn fool Lu Xiangsheng had ignored His Majesty's commands and fought the Jurchens regardless, obstructing the vital peace negotiations. Once this affair settled down, Lu Xiangsheng would surely command troops again. After all, the rebel bandits in the Central Plains had yet to be pacified, and he was still needed!

Believing he had found the answer, Luo Yangxing replied, "Yes," with an expression that said, "Your servant understands everything." Looking at that self-assured, inexplicably confident face, Zhu Youjian sighed again.

Wearing brocade in the dark, unseen by anyone, was an unpleasant feeling. This plan weighed on his heart. Sometimes Zhu Youjian truly wanted to find someone to discuss it with, to analyze it and see whether there were any flaws or omissions.

After all, three cobblers could rival Zhuge Liang-and he was no Zhuge Liang himself!

But whether in the inner palace or at court, Zhu Youjian truly dared not trust others lightly. He could always find a few loyal people, but even loyal people might let something slip.

Drunk, talking in their sleep, or unable to resist sharing it with someone, just as he was-if word reached the Jurchens, would that not ruin everything?

So he still had to endure!

Zhu Youjian settled his emotions. Fortunately, his former self had spent years buried in piles of old books and documents, so he could at least bear solitude.

As for Sun Chuanting's puzzlement over why it had to be him rather than Hong Chengchou, Zhu Youjian had his reasons.

Most importantly, Hong Chengchou was already at Shanhai Pass. Summoning him back now would take too long on the road. Zhu Youjian could not afford to wait.

On the other hand, Zhu Youjian was more interested in Sun Chuanting. Once he had assessed him, he would also need his assistance with the plans that followed.

Sun Chuanting was a formidable man. Historical records even lamented, "Chuanting died, and Ming fell."

His most famous feat was killing Gao Yingxiang. Before killing Gao Yingxiang, he had never even commanded troops or fought a battle.

Sun Chuanting had passed the metropolitan examinations in the forty-seventh year of Wanli's reign. By the early Tianqi years, he was already Director of the Ministry of Personnel, with a future as splendid as brocade. Yet less than two years later, he resigned of his own accord.

Why?

Because he could not stand Wei Zhongxian!

After Chongzhen ascended the throne and dealt with Wei Zhongxian, Wei's faction scattered like monkeys when their tree fell. Even then, Sun Chuanting did not seize the opportunity to ask for another official post.

Eight years later, perhaps feeling that idling away his days was wasting the finest years of his life, and that he was still young enough to give his light and warmth to the court, he went to the capital and requested reinstatement.

To be fair, Chongzhen treated him quite decently. He actually approved Sun Chuanting's request and sent him back to the Ministry of Personnel.

But gold would always shine. Even when covered in dust, a wind would come to brush it clean.

A year later, that wind... arrived!

A post had opened up in Shaanxi: provincial governor. But what sort of place was Shaanxi? It was where the rebel bandits ran most rampant. Zhang Xianzhong was there, and Gao Yingxiang had also headed there with his troops.

None of them were fools. No matter how high the office, what use was it if you died?

Sun Chuanting was not afraid. He volunteered, took the sixty thousand taels of silver Chongzhen gave him, and went to assume office in Shaanxi. Sixty thousand taels was enough to maintain an army of ten thousand for half a year. How could that possibly suffice?

If it was not enough, he would recruit troops himself and raise provisions and pay himself. He handled everything personally!

And so, four months after Sun Chuanting took office-well, he annihilated Gao Yingxiang's army!

How could Gao Yingxiang have imagined that he, Dashing King Gao, had bought himself a one-way ticket to Shaanxi? He would go, but never return!

Was Sun Chuanting a badass or what!

Anyone reading that stretch of history would be unable to keep a "Holy shit!" from slipping out!

Of course, Zhu Youjian was a cultured man. He would not say such things, and he also knew how much hardship Sun Chuanting had endured behind those four months.

Later, because of this Jurchen incursion through the passes and Lu Xiangsheng's death, Chongzhen appointed Sun Chuanting supreme commander of all the armies. He won several minor victories, but not only did he resist being controlled, he was not particularly well-liked either.

Sun Chuanting was at odds with Gao Qiqian, while Yang Sichang repeatedly obstructed him out of fear that he would take his position as Minister of War. In the end, amid a series of covert schemes and overt maneuvers, Chongzhen dismissed him.

Gao Qiqian and Yang Sichang apparently remained dissatisfied. Under their influence, Chongzhen ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to arrest and imprison Sun Chuanting. Only three years later, when Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong rose again and the court failed to suppress them, did Chongzhen think of reinstating him.

Yet in the end, Sun Chuanting still died in the sixteenth year of Chongzhen's reign. Five months after his death, Li Zicheng stormed into Beijing!

That was how the saying "Chuanting died, and Ming fell" came about.

But Zhu Youjian knew that the fall of Great Ming could hardly have hinged on a single man.

As he was thinking, a startled cry suddenly came from outside.

"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!" A young eunuch barged in recklessly, shouting.

Seeing this, Wang Cheng'en immediately stepped forward and kicked him hard. "You ill-mannered wretch! No matter how grave the matter, could you not spare a moment to have yourself announced?"

"This slave knows his crime! Forgive me, Your Majesty! Forgive me, Your Majesty!" The young eunuch knelt and kowtowed repeatedly, his face deathly pale. He had truly been frantic; only now did fear suddenly seize him.

Zhu Youjian gathered his wandering thoughts and looked at the young eunuch in the hall. "What happened?"

Even if the Jurchens had reached the walls of Beijing City, surely there was no need for this? The relief armies were still here, there were plenty of government troops inside the city, and several Red-Clad Cannons stood atop the gate towers!