Chapter Sixty-One: Truth and Illusion

Liu Zeqing felt a sudden jolt, a sense of ominous foreboding sprouting within him like wild weeds.

Yang Chuan and Sheng Zhongquan were less concerned; following protocol, they quickly set up an incense table and knelt, saying, "We await your decree."

Seeing this, Zhu Cilang unfurled the imperial edict and read aloud: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The proposal by Qin Xia and Liu Zeqing to merge forces and enter Henan to quell the unrest is hereby granted. Qin Xia, currently serving as the official in charge of the Linqing Tax Division of the Ministry of Revenue, is now appointed concurrently as the Assistant Commissioner for Military Preparedness of the Shandong Surveillance Commission. He shall serve specifically as the Inspecting Commissioner for the Shandong Garrison, overseeing civil affairs and directing the transport of funds, provisions, and military supplies. Both Minister Qin and General Liu are pillars of the Great Ming; as this campaign begins, I hope for your full cooperation, so as not to fail my expectations. Respect this!"

Yang Chuan and Sheng Zhongquan both wore expressions of mock sympathy as they kowtowed, "We accept the decree and thank the Emperor for his great grace."

Liu Zeqing felt as if he had been struck by lightning, momentarily dazed. Only when he heard Yang Chuan and Sheng Zhongquan acknowledging the order did he snap out of his stupor. Catching Zhu Cilang’s enigmatic, half-smiling expression, he forced a bitter smile and bowed to the ground: "Your servant accepts the decree and thanks the Emperor for his great grace."

"Very well, colleagues, please rise. Now, as the Inspecting Commissioner of the Shandong Garrison, let us discuss the supply and transport of military provisions," Zhu Cilang said, smiling as he helped Liu Zeqing up.

Yang Chuan and Sheng Zhongquan could not help but step back as Zhu Cilang approached. Liu Zeqing, still somewhat distracted, replied, "Please instruct us, Commissioner."

The Great Ming had long prioritized civil officials over military officers. Ten years ago, a seventh-rank magistrate could challenge a first-rank regional commander. A fifth-rank prefect could reprimand a general without a second thought. But times had changed. The imperial court was forced to lower its stance and appease military commanders; as long as they remained loyal, their excesses were overlooked. A prefect would no longer dream of scolding a general, and even a provincial governor had to be conciliatory to keep his generals in check.

Ten years ago, the greatest fear for any general was the presence of a civilian inspector. It was the hallmark of Ming policy. No general could command an army independently; without a civil inspector by his side, the court would be in an uproar, fearing an immediate rebellion. If the Emperor lost faith in civil officials, he would send a eunuch to oversee the troops. It was the eunuch Gao Qiqian who had watched from a dozen miles away as Lu Xiangsheng perished in battle, refusing to lift a finger.

Of course, it was now the fifteenth year of the Chongzhen reign. The Guanning Army stationed at Ningyuan no longer feared inspectors. Zuo Liangyu, the General Pacifying the Rebels in Huguang, did not even fear his superior, Ding Qirui, let alone some meddling inspector. Liu Zeqing, recently reinstated, had been free of such oversight—a sign that the Ming court was losing its grip on the warlord-like commanders across the land.

But now, a commissioner had arrived at the Shandong Garrison!

Liu Zeqing did not care how Zhu Cilang had been promoted two ranks from a tax official to a fifth-rank Assistant Commissioner of the Surveillance Commission. He only knew that with an inspector in his camp backed by three thousand elite troops, his own survival was in jeopardy.

Taking a deep breath, Liu Zeqing composed himself and listened to Zhu Cilang’s directives on logistics.

"First, I will issue military pay based on the head count. My own three thousand men will be paid first. Afterward, I will register every soldier in the Shandong Garrison receiving pay. Henceforth, pay will be distributed in person, bypassing the officers."

"Second, along with pay, new uniforms will be issued, and the names of those who receive them will be registered. Each soldier will receive one set for now, to be worn at all times when not in battle. Loss of a uniform must be reported and accounted for."

"Third, I will strictly enforce military law. Those who refuse to train, as well as the old, weak, sick, and disabled, will be purged."

"Fourth, regarding logistics, I will arrange for transport via ships into Henan..."

As they listened to Zhu Cilang outline the logistics, Yang Chuan and Sheng Zhongquan exchanged glances, their eyes filled with shock. Qin Xia’s capabilities were truly formidable. With three thousand elite troops as a foundation, the authority of an inspector, and this series of calculated moves, he had not only laid bare the state of the Shandong Garrison but had also established immense prestige through his control of funds. Once the Henan campaign concluded, the master of the Shandong Garrison would surely be replaced.

Liu Zeqing, however, had reached a strange state of calm, as if he were no longer concerned that his garrison was being infiltrated. "Yes, I accept your orders," he replied.

"Finally... the army shall depart," Zhu Cilang said, his energy surging as if he hadn't noticed Liu Zeqing's turmoil. "March to the Central Plains!"

"Victory!"
"Victory!"
"Victory!"

As the crowd dispersed, Chang Zhilang looked at Zhu Cilang’s back with deep reverence. This time, he was truly impressed. His opponents had been formidable: Liu Zeqing, the head of the Shandong military with five thousand troops; Yang Chuan, the brilliant strategist from Linqing who had tried to trap him; and Prefect Sheng Zhongquan, whose rank was equal to Zhu Cilang’s, holding the resources of the local administration. Any one of them would have been a headache, yet Zhu Cilang had neutralized all three simultaneously.

"That was a satisfying victory," Chang Zhilang remarked. "Your speed in expanding the army and your skill in training them are miraculous. Three thousand elite soldiers, trained with such ease."

"Hmm... so even you were fooled, Zihao," Zhu Cilang said with a sly glint in his eyes. "In truth, I only have five hundred effective soldiers. I put them at the front to make a show. The other twenty-five hundred in the back were just window dressing. It worked only because Liu, Yang, and Sheng are ignorant of military reality."

Chang Zhilang was stunned. "So it was a ruse? But they are local snakes; they will surely notice the cracks eventually and revolt!"

Zhu Cilang nodded slowly, squinting at the hundred ships ahead. "Indeed. That is why we will leak the news that the three thousand are all raw recruits, and only one hundred cavalry are truly combat-ready. Soon, they will discover I have recruited three or four thousand more."

"When the false is taken for the true, the true becomes false. Who can tell the difference?"

"Ha ha ha, Zihao. Let us go. There is much more excitement to be had in the Central Plains!"