Chapter Three: Prelude to Deployment

Zhu Cilang had long been aware of the content of the imperial decree that Si En had come to proclaim. Within two or three days of the decree’s issuance, he had received the urgent news via an eight-hundred-li express dispatch. However, the time between the decree’s release and its physical arrival in his hands would inevitably take seven or eight days; the standard administrative procedures from the Cabinet’s drafting to the final dispatch required a certain level of legal legitimacy. Consequently, when Zhu Cilang moved to assert his authority over the Shandong Garrison, he had not yet formally received the appointment document.

Yet, driven by the fear that delays would invite complications and pressed by the urgency of mobilizing, Zhu Cilang had brazenly acted upon the earlier, preliminary decree to announce his authority. In doing so, he had naturally reached into the affairs of the Shandong Garrison and swiftly initiated the process of deploying them to Henan to suppress the rebellion. This was the source of Si En’s anxiety. To put it mildly, such premature action was decisive; to put it harshly, it was an act of forging an imperial mandate.

"Big Companion, in times of urgency, one must act with flexibility," Zhu Cilang said, his expression calm. "Compared to the war in Henan, such trivial matters are not worth mentioning."

Hearing this, what more could Si En say? He could only offer a soft sigh to signal the end of the conversation. Shortly after, Si En briefed Zhu Cilang on the recent developments in the capital—the reshuffling of the Cabinet, the central government’s stance on the Henan campaign, and the military situation in Liaodong. More importantly, he touched upon the power behind Liu Zeqing.

"Your Highness, Minister Zhou holds Liu Zeqing in high regard... I hear that the Minister intends to task Your Highness with the burden of procuring military supplies. This is a thankless, grueling job! Your rank in Linqing is not high, and as an official of the Tax Bureau, such a role would be both exhausting and unrewarding. Once the news of your actions in Linqing reaches the capital, I fear Minister Zhou will have even more schemes in store," Si En whispered, carefully explaining the risks.

Zhou Yanru’s maneuvering did indeed cause Zhu Cilang to frown. It was not that he feared the central government itself; with his status as Crown Prince, he had a layer of protection that made him unafraid of Zhou’s underhanded tactics. What he feared were the "overt schemes"—the upright, formal political moves that even the Chongzhen Emperor would be unable to shield him from.

Zhu Cilang shifted his focus to another person. "Has Hou Xun been released from prison yet?"

At the mention of the name, the image of an elegant, middle-aged scholar flashed through Si En’s mind. He replied quickly, "Your Highness, the Emperor is already inclined toward leniency, and the Three Judicial Offices have begun submitting memorials testifying to Hou Xun's innocence. He should be out soon."

Zhu Cilang nodded, saying nothing more. Hou Xun was a member of the Donglin faction and a former Minister of Revenue. That, in itself, was not the problem. The trouble was the personal friction between himself and Hou Xun’s son. In Linqing, Hou Fangyu had mistaken him for a local official who could be stepped upon to bolster his own reputation, only to be left in disgrace and utterly crushed.

Of course, that was merely a minor annoyance. A mature politician would not lose his composure over personal grudges. The crux of the matter was interest. Hou Xun was the key figure who had promoted Zuo Liangyu and held a debt of gratitude from him. To pacify Henan, the court had to rely on Zuo Liangyu, and to move Zuo Liangyu, they had to employ Hou Xun.

One could easily imagine the anxiety of the current commander, Ding Qirui, the Governor-General of the Five Provinces. His position would soon be untenable; he knew he had failed to achieve the merits required for his rank, and the court’s patience was reaching its limit. If Ding Qirui remained mediocre, the court would replace him with Hou Xun to lead the Central Plains coalition at any moment. If Hou Xun took command, how could Zhu Cilang play his game in Henan? Zhu Cilang would not tolerate anyone hindering his control over the theater of war. This fundamental conflict of interest was, to him, the core issue. Should public and private grievances collide, his situation would become precarious.

"Sigh... fortunately, Hou Xun is still in prison. I still have some time... Human hearts are truly complex, even harder to fathom than this war," Zhu Cilang muttered, shaking his head to dismiss the thought.

Moments later, seeing the increase in gray hair on Si En’s head, he said, "Big Companion, Si Qi has been doing well by my side. With the recent establishment of the Tax Bureau, he has been both studying and teaching; he is clever and perceptive. Lately, I have been having him serve as my secretary, and he has been quite steady."

Hearing his son praised, Si En’s face filled with gratification. "It is the boy’s greatest fortune to serve Your Highness. If he performs poorly, Your Highness must not hesitate to discipline him. Do not let him become complacent."

Zhu Cilang nodded with a smile. "I understand. Big Companion, I must trouble you with matters in the capital. I need to see news from the central government and the rest of the empire as soon as it arrives. You and Zhang Zhen will have much to do."

"Serving Your Highness is this old servant's duty. I understand your ambitions, and these hardships are worth it," Si En replied solemnly.

Zhu Cilang nodded slowly. "Return to the capital soon, Big Companion. Do not forget that matter... Father should be understanding this time. Now, it is time for me to... march into Henan."

Hearing this, Si En trembled slightly, looking at Zhu Cilang with deep concern. "Take care, Your Highness. I stake my life that there will be no problems in the capital!"

Meanwhile, at another pier, a group of agile men swarmed forward. They did not cause any destruction; they simply occupied and cleared the area. Seeing this, the other boatmen and commoners realized that a person of high status had arrived and quickly dispersed.

Before long, a cavalier whispered a few words to the person inside the carriage, gesturing toward the cleared pier. The man inside then stepped out, his gaze lingering on the large ship ahead with a complex expression. This man, with a protruding belly and the fierce features of a leopard, was Liu Zeqing, the Regional Commander of the Shandong Garrison. Behind him stood Yang Chuan and Sheng Zhongquan, who had come to see him off.

Perhaps because they had been handled by Zhu Cilang and had long shared the same trenches, the three men, who previously held their own private agendas, had become unusually united over the past few days. As Liu Zeqing prepared to depart for Henan, the two had come to bid him farewell.

Seeing his men clear the pier, Liu Zeqing showed a rare smile. "Swift work! Extra wine and meat for everyone tonight!"

Hearing this, Yang Chuan laughed and teased, "Giving extra rations to five hundred soldiers? I fear the report will have to go to Master Qin Xia."

Liu Zeqing snorted, his previous fear vanishing without a trace. "Humph, who cares about him? I’ll pay for it myself! Does he really think the commander of the Shandong Garrison is named Qin?"

Sheng Zhongquan chuckled as well. "It seems Commander Liu is no longer afraid of those three thousand elite troops."