Other Plans

Sun Chengzong's heart pounded. He had a feeling that His Majesty had summoned him to the palace for more than merely asking what they should do next.

He gazed intently at the emperor, his fists clenched and his body leaning forward, already impatient to hear the answer.

Seeing Sun Chengzong like this, Zhu Youjian smiled. "Well, don't we still have a great general right here? However..."

Sun Chengzong was just about to rise when he heard "however" and sat heavily back down. "Your Majesty, however what?"

"However, Grand Tutor Sun, you are getting on in years, after all. I worry..."

"Rest assured, Your Majesty! Though old, your servant is still strong and can still eat three bowls of rice!" Sun Chengzong hurriedly answered in a loud voice.

During the Warring States period, King Daoxiang of Zhao had dismissed Lian Po from office. Later, he wanted to employ him again, but worried that he was too old, so he sent someone to visit him and see how he was doing.

To prove that he was still in good health, Lian Po ate a dou of rice and ten jin of meat in front of the envoy.

By comparing himself to Lian Po, Sun Chengzong was naturally proving his abilities to the emperor. At the same time, he was reminding Zhu Youjian that while he could be Lian Po, the emperor had better not be King Daoxiang of Zhao.

"Good. I trust you. Grand Tutor Sun, I entrust the defense of my capital and all its people to you!"

Sun Chengzong had led the Sun Family in defending Gaoyang, fighting street by street even after the city fell. His defeat at the hands of the Jurchens did not mean he lacked ability.

At these words, Sun Chengzong was overcome with excitement. Raising a hand, he pretended to casually wipe the tears from the corners of his eyes, then rose and knelt on the floor. "Your Majesty, this old servant thanks you for your grace! I will not fail the trust you have placed in me!"

Zhu Youjian had Sun Chengzong rise, a hundred emotions mingling in his own heart. "You may also promote any capable sons and grandsons of the Sun Family, Grand Tutor Sun. I will not interfere."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Sun Chengzong kowtowed again, then suddenly remembered that the emperor had previously asked about the scholarly qualifications of his sons and grandsons. Had His Majesty already had this plan in mind back then?

Seated beside him, Sun Chuanting was thinking of nothing but the plans for this war. Unable to hold back, he asked, "Your Majesty, what comes next?"

Zhu Youjian turned to Sun Chuanting and said, "Dorgon and his men are trapped in Jinan. Without reinforcements, their only option will be to find a way to break out. You must coordinate with Lu Xiangsheng and make absolutely certain they cannot escape!"

Turning to matters of consequence, Zhu Youjian's expression grew solemn as he looked at the two men. "After that, we wait. We wait to see what Huang Taiji does. If he refuses to come and plead with me, keep them besieged until they die. Even if Dorgon surrenders, I will not accept it. If he does not, let them live or die on their own inside the city!"

Zhu Youjian's cold, stern words echoed through the hall. Sun Chengzong and Sun Chuanting repeatedly answered, "Yes," thinking that this was how their Great Ming emperor ought to be!

Wuying-martial valor and glory. Only through valor could there be glory!

"If Huang Taiji sends men to negotiate peace..."

"What then?"

"I will take the Brave Guard Battalion to the frontier myself. Grand Tutor Sun will guard the capital. I have other arrangements for Lu Xiangsheng's Heavenly Hero Army. Sun Chuanting, the siege of Jinan will then depend on you!"

The emperor's words contained so much information that neither man could take it all in at once.

His Majesty would take the Brave Guard Battalion to the peace talks, so naturally, they would be there to protect him. But what would Lu Xiangsheng be doing?

Though Sun Chuanting had his misgivings, he accepted the command without the slightest hesitation. "Your servant obeys! I will not fail the trust Your Majesty has placed in me!"

"Your Majesty, I still feel this is ill-advised," Sun Chengzong said with a sigh. "Your person is worth ten thousand pieces of gold. How can you place yourself in danger? Great Ming still needs you!"

Wealth and honor were won amid danger. If he would not take even a little risk, worrying about this and that, how could he walk the road ahead?

If he succeeded, he would have his hands free to truly get things done.

And if he failed...

After some thought, Zhu Youjian said, "I will leave an imperial edict when the time comes. You need only act according to it!"

Sun Chengzong and Sun Chuanting exchanged a glance. Seeing how adamant the emperor was, they knew further persuasion would be useless and could only rise and answer, "Yes."

"Oh, right," Zhu Youjian added to Sun Chuanting. "Take Wu Youguang with you as well."

"Director Wu is Your Majesty's personal imperial physician. How could he accompany your servant onto the battlefield?" Sun Chuanting did not dare take Wu Youguang along. "Perhaps another imperial physician instead?"

Zhu Youjian snorted. "I fear anyone else would be useless. Take him with you. Once you see Lu Xiangsheng, you will understand why. All right, you may leave. I still have plenty to do!"

Sun Chuanting could only agree, then turned and withdrew from Wuying Hall.

After everyone had left, Zhu Youjian sat alone on the imperial throne. Bringing the plan this far had not been easy, and what came next would be its most crucial part.

Fortunately, he now had enough silver. With money in hand, more than half the problems were solved!

Looking at the memorials on his desk, Zhu Youjian felt that he had overlooked something very important. But what was it?

He reached for a memorial, opened it, and began reviewing it. It was from the Ministry of Works: the shelters for displaced people had been built, and the ministry was requesting funds to buy supplies to keep them warm.

"Isn't Liu Zongzhou handling this? Why has the Ministry of Works submitted the memorial... wait..." Zhu Youjian suddenly remembered what he had forgotten.

The men locked in prison-he had forgotten to tell Luo Yangxing to release them!

Luo Yangxing had found it strange as well. He had gone to the palace, only for His Majesty to send him away without giving him any instructions.

Now that he had received the decree, he realized His Majesty must have been so busy that he had forgotten about him.

Luo Yangxing went to the Imperial Prison in person. He ordered men to fetch clean water and teacups, then entered the prison carrying them.

Bored with nothing to do, Fan Fucui and Huang Daozhou were sitting together in lofty conversation. Catching sight of Luo Yangxing at the cell door out of the corners of their eyes, they gave him a sidelong glance and ignored him.

He was probably bringing food or supplies again. Every time, he said nothing, merely looked them over and left. Was he afraid they would break out and escape, or what?

Hmph, they were two old men, not masters of the roof-running, wall-scaling arts found in popular tales. How were they supposed to escape?

What needless worrying!

Seeing that neither man in the cell was paying him any attention, Luo Yangxing coughed and told the jailer to hurry up and open the door. Once inside, he said, "My lords, you may leave."

Fan Fucui and Huang Daozhou exchanged a glance. They could leave, which meant...

Both their faces suddenly went pale. Huang Daozhou rose and asked, "What has happened to Lu Xiangsheng? How... how is the war outside going?"

"Well... it's a long story... ah-"

Luo Yangxing was thinking that explaining the matter would indeed take some time. He had not expected that, after he had spoken only a few words, Huang Daozhou would shove him aside and stride out.

Fan Fucui followed close behind. Both wore solemn expressions, but they were heading not toward the prison exit, but toward the cell where Lu Xiangsheng had once been held.

"My lords, you're going the wrong way!" Luo Yangxing turned and followed them out, calling after them.

Huang Daozhou and Fan Fucui turned deaf ears to him, peering into one cell after another. Yet they found no sign of Lu Xiangsheng. They exchanged a glance, disappointment, grief, and indignation rising on their faces.

"Lu Xiangsheng... has he... has he..." Fan Fucui abruptly turned to look at Luo Yangxing.

Luo Yangxing hurriedly beckoned forward the attendants behind him carrying the basin and teacups. He personally took a cup of tea and offered it to them. "Please don't worry, my lords. Governor Lu is fine. He's doing very well! He's now leading the Heavenly Hero Army in a siege of Jinan... Would you care for some tea?"

"No, what do you mean? When was the man His Majesty ordered you to arrest released?"

"Exactly! We were out here the whole time. If he had left, we would have seen him!"

Luo Yangxing chuckled twice and set the teacup back on the tray, grumbling inwardly, When Lu Xiangsheng left, you two were off visiting the Duke of Zhou in your dreams!