Sending a Great Duke Against Petty Pirates

Zhu Yunwen's words instantly left the ministers of the Grand Secretariat dumbfounded, staring at one another.

Yu Xin, Zhang Zhen, and Xie Jin had read that memorial. Its contents seemed-probably, surely-not quite as serious as the emperor made them sound, did they?

What it plainly said was:

Pirates frequently appeared along the coast, in bands ranging from a few men to several hundred, causing incessant disturbances. The Guangzhou Regional Military Commission had led three thousand soldiers through Yangjiang, Guanghai, Xinning, Wuchuan, Suixi, and other places, eliminating five hundred Sea Pirates at the cost of thirty dead and fifty wounded.

This should have been a report of military accomplishments. How had it become a plea for reinforcements in the emperor's mouth?

Could there be some hidden meaning?

Quick-witted as he was, Xie Jin rolled his eyes thoughtfully and understood the emperor's intention. He declared loudly, "Your Majesty, Guangzhou is Great Ming's southern gateway. We cannot afford to lose it. In my opinion, only a senior minister could shoulder this duty."

"Oh?"

Zhu Yunwen looked at Xie Jin with satisfaction. One of the three great literary talents, he certainly lived up to his reputation.

"Minister Xie, who do you believe could shoulder this great responsibility?"

Zhu Yunwen asked with a smile.

Xie Jin opened his mouth to answer, then suddenly realized that speaking this name himself would very likely invite trouble.

Although he had already entered the Grand Secretariat, his foundations were still shallow. Compared with those powerful hereditary nobles, he plainly lacked clout.

Xie Jin bowed. "Your Majesty, you could consult the Ministry of Personnel on this matter."

Zhu Yunwen smiled calmly. He knew Xie Jin had seen through his intentions, and he also knew Xie Jin was being slippery, but he did not mind. Turning his gaze to Qi Tai, he asked, "Minister Qi, who do you believe could shoulder this great responsibility?"

Recommending suitable men was one of the Ministry of Personnel's duties.

Qi Tai, the minister of personnel, stepped out of the ranks and declared, "I believe Wu Jie, the Marquis of Anlu, could undertake this duty."

Zhu Yunwen frowned. "The Marquis of Anlu is training troops in Zhejiang while also overseeing coastal defense. I fear he cannot leave."

"Then Wu Gao, the Marquis of Jiangyin..."

"Wu Gao has been in poor health lately..."

"Regional Military Commissioner Gu Cheng..."

"I have other arrangements for Gu Cheng. He would not be suitable..."

Qi Tai recommended several men in succession, only for Zhu Yunwen to reject them all.

Qi Tai was no fool. If he still could not recognize the twists and turns at this point, all his years in officialdom would have been wasted.

Clearly, the emperor already had someone in mind, but his position prevented him from naming that person himself. That was why he wanted his ministers to recommend someone. Xie Jin had not wanted to say it, so he had kicked the ball over to Qi Tai.

But Qi Tai was bewildered. He had no idea whom the emperor wanted to trap. Surely he could not mean to send the Prince of Yan?

Shivering, Qi Tai watched Zhu Yunwen cautiously. Zhu Yunwen inclined his head slightly toward the military officers and hereditary nobles. Qi Tai turned to look. The emperor seemed to be looking at Xu Huizu, the Duke of Wei.

No!

Xu Huizu was currently training the Capital Garrison's new troops. He definitely could not leave.

Who else could it be?

Qi Tai's eyes suddenly widened. He swallowed, steadied himself, and declared loudly, "I believe this matter concerns the peace of the realm and the security of its people. We must send an army with the might of thunder to utterly annihilate the Sea Pirates. Only the Duke of Cao can undertake this great task and bring peace through Great Ming's southern campaign."

Li Jinglong, who had been dozing, jolted when he heard himself named.

He had drunk too much the night before and had not slept well.

Was I hearing things just now?

While Li Jinglong was still struggling to get his bearings, Zhu Yunwen nodded in satisfaction. "Minister Qi speaks wisely. This will be the first battle since my accession, and we must ensure complete success: first, to display Great Ming's military might; second, to defend Great Ming's territory; and third, to secure the safety of Great Ming's people! We must send a senior minister! In that case, Duke of Cao!"

"Your servant is here!"

Li Jinglong hurried out of the ranks and bowed.

"I appoint you General Who Guards the South, with Li Zengzhi as commander-in-chief and Xu Zengshou as deputy commander-in-chief. Li You, Xu Hong, Chen Yue... eight men in all shall serve as assistant commanders. Tomorrow, you will depart for Guangzhou and join the Guangzhou Regional Military Commission in wiping out the Sea Pirates and defending our Great Ming!"

Zhu Yunwen rose and proclaimed the order with imperial authority.

There would be no discussion!

There would be no questioning!

Zhu Yunwen's command struck Li Jinglong like five thunderbolts crashing onto his head. Numbly, he thanked the emperor and accepted the decree.

Throughout the hall, officials whispered to one another, their discussions buzzing.

Sending a great duke against petty Sea Pirates?

How serious was the Sea Pirates problem in Guangzhou?

Wasn't this force giving those Sea Pirates far too much credit?

Could Guangzhou have fallen completely?

We haven't heard anything about that!

"Your Majesty, I believe a duke is a pillar of the empire, a rock standing firm in the current, and should not be deployed lightly. Though Sea Pirates trouble Guangzhou, dispatching a regional military commission or a single marquis would suffice to quell the unrest."

Wang Zuo, an assistant commissioner of the Capital Guard Military Commission, stepped forward to object.

"We second the motion."

Several inconspicuous officials emerged.

Zhu Yunwen coldly surveyed the officials opposing him and said sternly, "The people of Guangzhou are trapped amid fire and flood, yet you are still quibbling over whom to send? Wang Zuo, if I sent you, could you guarantee victory? I understand full well that unless the Sea Pirates are eliminated, Guangzhou will know no peace, and neither will the empire! As an assistant commissioner, can you not even see that?"

"The Duke of Cao is a man I trust. He is also a descendant of the Prince of Qiyang and well versed in military affairs. Once he takes the field, he will surely achieve remarkable results! He will utterly sweep away the Sea Pirates and restore peace to my southern gateway. Yet you oppose this. What are your intentions?"

Wang Zuo stared in alarm at the furious Zhu Yunwen, then hurriedly dropped to his knees and kowtowed.

If he did not yield now, he had no idea whether the pirates would lose their heads, but his own would certainly be taken.

Zhu Yunwen said sternly, "By appointing the Duke of Cao, I intend to tell everyone under heaven that, for the safety of the empire's people, I will not hesitate to deploy a duke! Should the need arise one day, I can step forward myself, don armor, and take the field to slay the enemy! Duke of Cao, do you have the courage to sweep away the Sea Pirates and share my burdens?"

Li Jinglong, the Duke of Cao, hurriedly knelt and declared loudly, "I have the courage, and I am willing to share Your Majesty's burdens!"

If he did not bow his head now, he would be finished.

The emperor had made himself clear: If you won't go, I'll damn well go myself. Decide what you're going to do.

What choice did Li Jinglong have?

Who would dare let the newly enthroned emperor lead a campaign in person?

As a subject, if he could not ease the emperor's burdens, how could he continue to hold his place at court?

Besides, Zhu Yunwen had spoken of his "trust" and his willingness to "deploy a duke," then delivered a speech bristling with murderous resolve and stirring the blood. It was enough to make Li Jinglong set off willingly.

Having settled Li Jinglong, Zhu Yunwen glanced at the ministers who had opposed him. "Wang Zuo and the others shall accompany the army. Use your own eyes and hearts to witness the suffering of those people, then return and tell me whether my decision was right!"

The entire court was stunned.

A single objection, and they were sent into the army?

Wasn't that far too ruthless?

Although they would not be serving as ordinary foot soldiers, they would still be accompanying an army into battle. A battlefield cared nothing for rank. If the Sea Pirates attacked, they might just die a heroic death there.

In truth, Wang Zuo was more worried about dying a heroic death on the road.

Nanjing was a good three thousand li from Guangzhou. Bumping and jolting southward, it would take at least two or three months to arrive. If he failed to adapt to the local climate, he might leave his life somewhere amid Great Ming's mountains and rivers.

Unfortunately, Wang Zuo's pleas accomplished nothing.

Zhu Yunwen gave him no opportunity.

The court session ended, and Zhu Yunwen left. The ministers looked at Li Jinglong with smiles.

The three Grand Secretariat ministers, Yu Xin, Zhang Zhen, and Xie Jin, cupped their hands in congratulations. "The new emperor has chosen to entrust his very first campaign to you, Duke of Cao. Clearly, you enjoy profound imperial favor."

Li Jinglong's smile looked distinctly unnatural.

Profound imperial favor?

Why don't I feel any of it?

Now that I think about it, why does this feel like being banished to Guangzhou?

After accepting the ministers' sincere and insincere congratulations, Li Jinglong returned to the Prince of Qiyang's Residence in some bewilderment. Looking at his younger brother, Li Zengzhi, he suddenly asked, "The men His Majesty assigned this time seem to be our people, don't they?"

Li Zengzhi frowned and thought carefully. "Apart from Xu Zengshou, most of them are our people! Elder brother, could His Majesty have noticed something?"

Li Jinglong sighed. "That explains it. His Majesty never made a move and turned a blind eye to our dealings with the Prince of Yan. Heh, I thought he was weak, but it turns out he was concealing his strength! This emperor of ours is no simple man!"

"Then what should we do? Should we go to Guangzhou?"

Li Zengzhi felt rather frustrated.

Li Jinglong sank into thought.

Lately, the Li family had been cultivating ties with the Prince of Yan and building a relationship with the Prince of Ning. The initial mourning period was nearly over, and these princes would soon depart. He could still have staged a reluctant farewell, bidding them goodbye until they met again.

Instead, before they could leave, he was being sent away first.

Once he went to Guangzhou, the Li family would no longer be able to assist the Prince of Yan, the Prince of Ning, or the others.

Li Jinglong understood well enough that even the longest whip could not reach everywhere.

Li Zengzhi had not thought that far. Instead, he said, "Elder brother, we have always wanted to become foremost among the hereditary nobles and surpass Xu Huizu. Perhaps this is an opportunity."

"An opportunity? Don't you think this is a pitfall?"

Li Jinglong's expression was cold.

Traveling somewhere as distant as Guangzhou would take at least half a year for the round trip, perhaps even a full year.

If he performed poorly, he might be left there indefinitely, spending every day at sea.

If he performed well and pleased Zhu Yunwen, the emperor might bestow some title like chief pirate-suppression commander and station him permanently in Guangzhou to fight Sea Pirates. Then his whole life would be over.

This was a truly enormous pit, one that could swallow a man alive without paying for his death.

Li Zengzhi smiled. "Rest assured, elder brother. His Majesty cannot possibly keep us in Guangzhou for long. Even if he wanted to, he wouldn't be able to."

"Why?"

Li Jinglong looked at his younger brother in surprise.

Li Zengzhi smiled. "First, once we finish clearing out the Sea Pirates, returning with the army would be perfectly reasonable. Second, if His Majesty refuses, we can still ask the empress dowager to intercede, can't we? Third, don't we have the Xu family's third son with us? Even if we don't return, could he stay away forever? If he returns, we must return too, mustn't we?"

"Most importantly, we only need to employ a little stratagem, and His Majesty will certainly need us to go and return quickly. By the time we come back, Xu Huizu, the Duke of Wei, will have no choice but to stand beneath you."

Li Jinglong looked at Li Zengzhi curiously. "What stratagem?"

Li Zengzhi leaned close to Li Jinglong's ear and said softly, "Send His Majesty a secret report saying that the Prince of Ning and the Prince of Yan harbor disloyal intentions."

Li Jinglong sprang to his feet, pointed at Li Zengzhi, and said indignantly, "How could we do such a thing!"

"Elder brother, calm down for a moment. The key point of what we tell His Majesty won't be the two princes' disloyalty, but Xu Huizu's close relationship with the Prince of Yan. Remember, they are related by marriage. If the Prince of Yan rises in rebellion, could His Majesty trust Xu Huizu, the prince's elder brother-in-law? Could he entrust command of the empire's armies to him? Absolutely not!"

Li Zengzhi looked confidently at the contemplative Li Jinglong and added, "Elder brother, you must understand that when the imperial family employs a man, loyalty comes first and ability second. Our abilities may fall short of Xu Huizu's, but if we make loyalty our selling point, heh..."