Zhu Youjian was quite pleased with Lu Xiangsheng's expression. "I have received word that Dorgon and Yoto have joined forces. They will go to Gaoyang first, then Jinan!"
According to the historical records, Great Ming lost more than the general Lu Xiangsheng in this campaign. Sun Chengzong, the former minister of war, led his entire family in defending Gaoyang. When the city fell, he was captured, but, iron-boned and unyielding, he refused to surrender and hanged himself. His five sons, six grandsons, two nephews, and eight grandnephews all died in battle!
With an entire household so loyal and heroic, Zhu Youjian swore to save them and let the Sun family's descendants continue serving Great Ming!
Meanwhile, Zhu Youshu, the Prince of De, who lived in Jinan, was captured by the Jurchens. As a descendant of the imperial Zhu family, he had not chosen death to prove his resolve. Zhu Youjian had no particular criticism of that, but he did find it humiliating. If the Jurchens brought the man to bargain with him, should he agree... or refuse?
That possibility had to be eliminated!
The news the emperor suddenly revealed left Lu Xiangsheng even more dumbfounded. Even the camp's Night Patrol had failed to discover the enemy's movements. How did His Majesty know?
Was it the Embroidered Uniform Guard? Or had His Majesty planted spies in the Jurchen army?
Lu Xiangsheng suppressed his urge to get to the bottom of it. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Gaoyang... Master Sun is in Gaoyang. And Jinan... the Prince of De is in Jinan!"
Sun Chengzong had retired, and his entire household, young and old, lived in Gaoyang. The city had few defenders. Without government troops to defend it, how could it withstand the Jurchens?
As for Jinan, it was easy to attack and hard to defend in the first place. Zhu Youshu, the Prince of De, had been granted his fief there. His life was in grave danger!
"I will dispatch troops there at once. Please rest assured, Your Majesty!"
"Wait." Seeing this, Zhu Youjian hurriedly stopped him. "I did not tell you this so you could take troops to defend those cities."
"Then why?"
"Don't the Jurchens love reading Romance of the Three Kingdoms? I want you to evacuate every soldier and civilian from Gaoyang and Jinan. We'll stage an empty-city stratagem for them!"
Wang Cheng'en waited outside the hall with a group of palace servants, straining his ears to catch the sounds within.
The commotion earlier had truly made him fear His Majesty would fly into a rage. Really, this Governor Lu! Whatever he had to say, couldn't he say it properly to His Majesty? His Majesty had only just recovered and could not withstand any agitation!
Still, it was strange. His Majesty seemed to be in quite a good temper today. All this time, there had been neither angry reprimands nor the sound of porcelain smashing. Now he could hear nothing at all from inside, as though no one were there.
"Master, it's already noon. Shall we have the meal served?" A young eunuch beside him pointed at the sky and asked quietly.
Wang Cheng'en shook his head. "You blind fool. His Majesty is still attending to affairs of state. Who would you be serving that meal to?"
The young eunuch hunched his shoulders, hastily answered, "Yes," and withdrew.
Wang Cheng'en glanced again at the tightly shut doors, but he was worried too. His Majesty had been meeting with officials since last night, forgetting sleep and food. He must not fall ill again. Should I summon an imperial physician to stand by first?
While Wang Cheng'en was still hesitating, the doors creaked open from within. Then Lu Xiangsheng emerged on unsteady feet, bewilderment radiating from him, as though he had suffered some tremendous shock.
"Governor Lu?" Wang Cheng'en called tentatively. Seeing that Lu Xiangsheng seemed entirely oblivious and simply continued toward the palace exit, he hurriedly gestured to a young eunuch in the distance. Only after watching the eunuch escort him through the palace gates did he sigh. "What shocked him so badly? His Majesty didn't lose his temper!"
Lu Xiangsheng's head was full of the plan the emperor had revealed to him. The more he thought about it, the more thrilled he became. He felt excitement coursing through him from head to toe, right down to every strand of hair.
He had no idea how he made it back to camp. When he came to his senses, Yang Sichang's puzzled old face was before him.
"What's wrong? Have you lost your soul?"
After seeing Lu Xiangsheng outside the Meridian Gate, Yang Sichang had still felt uneasy. He had simply waited in the camp for Lu Xiangsheng to return, determined to learn His Majesty's strategy.
Now, seeing him looking so distracted, Yang Sichang formed a rough guess. Lu Xiangsheng belonged to the pro-war faction. If he was this dazed, it must be because His Majesty's words had left him deeply unsettled.
Lu Xiangsheng gave an "Ah," then cupped his hands. "I did not realize it was you, Grand Secretary Yang. Forgive my discourtesy."
Yang Sichang waved his hand and said, "Never mind," then asked, "Did His Majesty give you any instructions when he received you, Governor Lu?"
"Hmm?" At the question, Lu Xiangsheng's expression suggested something difficult to explain. Then he said hesitantly, "His Majesty ordered me... not to engage in Reckless Warfare!"
Hearing the words "Reckless Warfare" from Lu Xiangsheng's mouth confirmed Zhu Youjian's intentions for Yang Sichang. It seemed His Majesty still favored peace. If a suitable opportunity arose during this campaign, he would certainly reopen peace negotiations with the Jurchens.
That meant his Ten-Sided Net strategy still had a chance to catch all the roving rebels in one sweep.
Having learned the emperor's intentions from Lu Xiangsheng, and seeing how utterly lost he looked, Yang Sichang felt satisfied. He promptly took his leave.
After Yang Sichang left, Lu Xiangsheng stood pondering for another moment. Something in his robes pressed painfully against his ribs. He reached in and took it out. The Golden Token dazzled his eyes-it embodied His Majesty's trust in him!
"Someone, summon Yang Tinglin and Lu Xuan!" Lu Xiangsheng called outside. Once his two trusted subordinates arrived, he discussed matters with them in detail and repeatedly gave strict orders not to reveal a single word. Only then did he order each to lead a force of over a thousand men and race toward Gaoyang and Jinan respectively.
Inside the hall, Zhu Youjian hummed a little tune in high spirits, showing none of the fatigue of a night's work.
When the emperor was happy, those serving him had an easier time too. Wang Cheng'en approached with a smile. "What good fortune has Your Majesty received? Let this servant share in your happiness!"
Zhu Youjian gave a chuckle, picked up a piece of cake from a plate on the desk, and ate it. Casting him a sidelong glance, he said, "Stop prying. There's nothing in it for you!"
Wang Cheng'en hurriedly replied in alarm, "This servant knows his fault. I would never dare again!"
Zhu Youjian snorted. He did not believe Wang Cheng'en was truly afraid. Having served Chongzhen for years, the man was accustomed to tending an emperor of mercurial moods. How could such a casually delivered remark frighten him?
"Your Majesty, noon has already passed. Shall we have the meal served?"
Only when Wang Cheng'en said this did Zhu Youjian feel hungry. As the excitement of meeting Lu Xiangsheng gradually subsided, physical exhaustion and hunger surged over him together.
"Have it served. Also," Zhu Youjian added, "summon Li Daiwen and Zhang Yixian!"
Even the cleverest cook could not make a meal without rice. If Lu Xiangsheng was to fight the Jurchens, provisions and military pay were paramount. Li Daiwen was the current minister of revenue, while Zhang Yixian was the eunuch in charge of the imperial treasury. How much grain and pay could be allocated to Lu Xiangsheng depended on how much remained in the coffers.
The imperial meal was soon laid out on the table. Preoccupied, Zhu Youjian barely tasted any of it. By the time he finished eating, Li Daiwen and Zhang Yixian had arrived in the hall.
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