Chapter Fifty-One: Merit Acknowledgment

At this moment, Ma Shaoyu, Director of the Ministry of War’s Personnel Department, who had witnessed the entire scene, spoke up: “Soldiers, calm yourselves. Qiao Boshen died for your sake. Such a grave crime as inciting mutiny within the Imperial Academy cannot be simply absolved by surrender. We can petition His Majesty, stating that to pacify the ranks, only the true ringleaders and those who coerced others will face punishment, while those who were merely followers will be spared. Qiao Boshen seized the sword and took his own life to shoulder all the blame, seeking to exchange his death for the innocence of the rest of you.”

Zhu Cilang whispered softly, “Rest assured, I will see to it that the Right Guard receives a just outcome.”

As Zhu Cilang finished speaking, Qiao Boshen, at some unknown moment, closed his eyes, as if finally able to rest in peace.

Outside the Imperial Academy.

Xue Lian came galloping in, drenched in sweat, shouting anxiously as he led a disordered band of troops from the Divine Machine Battalion. These soldiers, unaccustomed to such turmoil, had marched from the northwest of the city to quell the unrest—though few had died, the chaos had been quelled. No sooner had they caught their breath than they were rushed by their commander to Chongjiaofang in the eastern city. The constant back-and-forth left them all grumbling with discontent.

Yet Marquis Yangwu, Xue Lian, urged them on even more, lashing out with his whip.

At last, the gate plaque of the Imperial Academy came into view. Xue Lian’s heart swelled with joy, and he spurred his men on: “Sons of mine, hurry! Follow me to claim great merit in quelling the rebellion!”

Before he could finish, a man stepped out slowly before the Academy’s gates: Ma Shaoyu, Director of the Ministry of War’s Personnel Department, clad in the robe of a fifth-rank civil official.

Ma Shaoyu swept a cold gaze over the scene, fixing his eyes on Xue Lian: “I am Ma Shaoyu, Director of the Ministry of War’s Personnel Department. So, it is Marquis Yangwu, Lord Xue? It seems there’s been no shortage of rebellions to suppress today. However, the Right Guard of the Five Armies Camp has already been pacified by us. There’s no further need for Lord Xue’s efforts.”

Xue Lian, barely able to catch his breath, felt a surge of blood rise in his chest, nearly causing him to fall from his horse.

He understood then—the suppression of the rebellion was over.

Their troubles were only just beginning.

...

In the days that followed, the entire capital spent the early days of April in a jubilant frenzy of house raids. With the Ministry of Revenue’s audit group, the Ministry of War’s City Garrison Command, and the Censorate’s patrol censors working together, a pile of ironclad evidence allowed the Ministry of Revenue’s purge to proceed with unprecedented intensity. What’s more, many clerks, noble officers, and military commanders were found to have been complicit during the mutiny, causing the downfall of the nobility to accelerate.

Those at the forefront, such as Marquis Yangwu, Xue Lian, and Baron Xiangcheng, Li Guozhen, scrambled to cast off blame, sacrificing the clerks and implicated civil officials without hesitation.

The Zhejiang faction of clerks within the Ministry of Revenue—especially those at the supervisory level—were almost completely wiped out. The most severe case was Chen Gaowen: after his property was confiscated, his male kin were exiled to Ningxia, and the women were all sold to the Bureau of Entertainment. Those slightly more fortunate, like Zhou Junliang, Wen Nanguo, and Fei Jizong, were themselves executed, their assets seized, and their families ruined. As for others whose corruption, while present, only slightly exceeded the threshold, they were exiled a thousand miles after their property was confiscated, but their families were left with a chance to survive.

These were families who had entrenched themselves in the Ministry of Revenue for generations, amassing hidden fortunes. In a single sweep, the state treasury was enriched by over 1,290,000 taels of silver.

Among the officials of the Ministry, Wang Zhengzhi, Nan Yunji, and Yu Qing were found guilty and executed, their families left in misery. Others implicated, such as You Xiangyang, Director of the War Arsenal Department in the Ministry of War, were swiftly and thoroughly investigated, with no opportunity to escape.

Yet, apart from Wang Zhengzhi, these civil officials’ family fortunes paled in comparison to those of the clerks and need not be dwelled upon.

Ironically, those who fared best were the noble commanders who, in a panic, rushed into Dayongfang’s grand registers within the palace—Baron Xiangcheng Li Guozhen, Marquis Yangwu Xue Lian, and Deputy General Li Qibo among them. For them, the most they lost was 200,000 taels of silver, the least 50,000, and they emerged otherwise unscathed.

The Imperial Treasury of Chongzhen was suddenly augmented by 300,000 taels, leaving the emperor delighted and oblivious to how much more had been funneled into the palace’s private registers.

...

On March 30th, fifteenth year of Chongzhen's reign, before the Gate of Heavenly Purity, a grand court assembly.

Chongzhen recited, “The rising sun brings great light to the world. The river bursts forth and surges unrestrained. The hidden dragon soars from the depths, its scales and claws resplendent. The young tiger roars in the valley, all beasts tremble in fear. Eagles and falcons test their wings, the winds stir the dust. Rare flowers bloom, splendid and magnificent. The sword is whetted, and its edge shines. Heaven bears its azure vault, earth treads its yellow soil—though a thousand ages may pass, and the eight directions span the world. The road ahead is as vast as the sea, the future stretches long. How splendid are our young men of the Great Ming, as enduring as the heavens; how mighty our youth, as boundless as the nation itself!”

“Our Great Ming has true sons! True sons! They ventured into the tiger’s den and uncovered a nest of fat rats! The past three years’ ledgers—all of the Capital Garrison have been feeding off the army’s blood, embezzling funds, seizing pay, the Ministry of Revenue’s hands everywhere. You Xiangyang, Director of the War Arsenal Department in the Ministry of War; Wang Zhengzhi, Vice Minister of Revenue; Nan Yunji, Director of the Yunnan Department in the Ministry; Yu Qing, Assistant Minister; Zhang Shuchi, Deputy General of the Right Guard of the Capital Garrison—such civil and military officials, their guilt is clear, their crimes plain to see. Do you not find this shocking?” For once, Chongzhen was thoroughly exultant. Dispensing with the usual stilted officialese, he laughed freely at the great court assembly. “And as for certain scholars, who have stooped to collude with the very clerks you claim to despise most. Censors and Remonstrators, where is your duty to report what you hear? Did you detect this level of corruption? Did you investigate? Speak up, let the court see where your responsibilities truly lie!”

Upon the hall, both civil and military officials wore grave expressions and remained silent. Even Zhou Yanru, the Chief Grand Secretary at the head of the civil officials, felt nothing but stifled frustration and helplessness. As the chief minister of the Ming court, he had only learned of this major case at its conclusion—a feeling of inexplicable exclusion that made him both wary and powerless. The situation was slipping beyond his control.

Yet, seeing his colleague Wei Zhaocheng’s darkened expression brought Zhou Yanru a secret satisfaction. This time, no one came out ahead.

With such thoughts, Zhou Yanru’s mood improved considerably. He stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, I congratulate you. The court has been cleansed, and upright ministers are at hand. I ask Your Majesty to bestow rewards and encourage the meritorious...”

“Haha, well said, Yixing. Minister Fu has already submitted a memorial, recording the achievements. I have marked it in red; now it awaits the cabinet’s decision. As chief secretary, Yixing, you may decide on the spot.”

“The wise sovereign is without fault. Grace flows from above; may Your Majesty issue the edict…”

As procedure was followed, the eunuch Wang Cheng’en began to read the list of rewards aloud.

“Fu Shuxun, Minister of Revenue: for reorganizing the Ministry, raising funds for provisions, diligent and meritorious service, promoted to Junior Tutor of the Crown Prince… granted five thousand taels of silver… his son, Fu Rugui, ennobled as hereditary commander in the Embroidered Guard…”

“Wang Tingmei, Prefect of Shuntian: for diligent service, promoted to Vice Minister of Revenue…”

“Luo Danren, Rector of the Imperial Academy: for his acumen in assisting the Ministry’s reorganization, promoted to Prefect of Shuntian…”

“Ma Shaoyu, Director of the Ministry of War’s Personnel Department: for merit in pacifying the mutiny, promoted to Censorate Inspector of the Capital Garrison…”

“Xie Yi, Assistant in the Yunnan Department of Revenue: for faithful service in the Ministry’s reorganization, promoted to Assistant Director, temporarily overseeing Yunnan Department affairs…”

…

Among the assembled ministers, many were puzzled.

One name was missing.