“Your Majesty, great news!”
Han Kuang, so excited that he nearly tripped over his own feet, ran all the way to the Imperial Study in the palace, personally reporting the news to Chongzhen.
Chongzhen was seated in the Imperial Study, reviewing memorials, when he heard Han Kuang’s excited call. He raised his head.
With the Ming Dynasty facing internal strife, external threats, and an empty treasury, what news could possibly be so joyous?
Since ascending the throne, all I’ve experienced is fear!
Only when you’re the emperor do you realize that even with vast territory spanning thousands of miles and a population of tens of millions, the Ming treasury doesn’t even have enough silver for a war.
Only when you’re the emperor do you realize that the affairs of the court aren’t solely in the hands of the emperor, but are controlled by figures like Wei Zhongxian, the Donglin Party…
Only when you’re the emperor do you realize that a simple egg for breakfast in the palace costs over a dozen taels of silver, with most of it pocketed by the eunuchs in the inner court!
“My Lord, what news is so joyous?”
Han Kuang couldn’t contain his excitement, his eyebrows nearly reaching his hairline:
“Great news, Your Majesty!”
“Chen Ran, the acting commander of the North Garrison of the Imperial Guard, has killed the treacherous traitor Zhao Jingzhong, who sought to betray our great Ming Dynasty!”
“Oh!”
Chongzhen, though pleased, didn’t react with too much excitement.
The Ming Dynasty was in a precarious state, its foundation crumbling. Even Zhao Jingzhong, the supervisor of the East Factory, was willing to betray his country.
Thankfully, Chen Ran, this acting commander of the Imperial Guard, had eliminated him, preventing Zhao Jingzhong from revealing the defense plans for the capital and the blueprints for the red cannon to the Jurchen.
Seeing that Chongzhen didn’t seem particularly thrilled, Han Kuang quickly pressed on, not wanting to keep the emperor in suspense:
“And there’s more, Your Majesty!”
“Chen Ran not only killed Zhao Jingzhong but also, with nearly a hundred loyalist troops, killed over a hundred Jurchen soldiers who came to aid Zhao Jingzhong!”
“What?!”
Chongzhen, upon hearing this news, jumped to his feet.
This was different!
Since the Jurchen rebellion during the Wanli era, the Ming troops had suffered more losses than victories, and the defeats were crushing, while the victories were meager.
Killing a few Jurchen soldiers was considered a victory.
However, in the Battle of Hunhe and the Battle of Sarhu, the Ming Dynasty lost hundreds of thousands of soldiers!
As a result, fear of the Jurchen had permeated every level of Ming society.
Even a small number of Jurchen, a mere ten thousand, were considered invincible!
This sentiment was prevalent from the court to the common folk.
The Jurchen were portrayed by the people as monstrous beings, with blue faces, sharp fangs, and towering heights, each capable of slaying hundreds of Ming soldiers!
But Chen Ran, with just a few dozen loyalist troops, had slain both Zhao Jingzhong and over a hundred Jurchen soldiers.
This victory couldn't simply be measured by the one hundred plus heads.
It signified that a Ming loyalist force, without even official designation, could, with less than a hundred men, kill over a hundred Jurchen!
The Ming people were no weaker than the Jurchen!
The enemy wasn’t some invincible monster that devoured people without leaving a trace, capable of slaying hundreds of Ming soldiers alone!
The uplifting implications of this victory were self-evident!
“Good! Excellent!”
Chongzhen, his face radiating with joy, paced back and forth, his excitement palpable.
While the capture of the defense plans for the capital and the blueprints for the red cannon, along with the elimination of Zhao Jingzhong, had eased his concerns, the killing of over a hundred Jurchen, along with their heads, was a true cause for celebration.
The Ming Dynasty, with its empty treasury, rampant banditry, and repeated defeats against the Jurchen, had sunk into despair, both within the court and among the people.
This genuine victory was exactly what the Ming needed to revive the national spirit!
“Bring Chen Ran and the heads of the barbarians to the Meridian Gate. I shall personally inspect them!”
“Yes!”
Han Kuang, promptly agreeing, dashed out of the Imperial Study.
It wasn’t surprising to see the Chief Grand Secretary acting without decorum.
After all, Chen Ran was his man!
This time, Chen Ran had not only eliminated Zhao Jingzhong, ridding the Ming Dynasty of a major threat, but also brought back over a hundred real heads of the Jurchen!
While these achievements belonged to Chen Ran, Han Kuang, who had appointed Chen Ran as the acting commander of the North Garrison of the Imperial Guard in a time of crisis, also deserved great merit!
He had been appointed Chief Grand Secretary for less than two months and had already achieved three major feats: the execution of Wei Zhongxian, the pursuit and killing of Zhao Jingzhong, and the capture of over a hundred heads of Jurchen soldiers.
These were all brought about by Chen Ran!
…
At the Meridian Gate, the over a hundred Jurchen heads were piled into three small stacks.
Chongzhen, seated on the dragon throne, observed as the officials from the Ministry of War inspected the heads.
They were verifying the authenticity of the heads.
As the Ming Dynasty rewarded soldiers based on the number of heads they brought back, false claims and fabricated heads were common, often involving ordinary citizens whose hair was shaved to impersonate the Jurchen.
Thus, verifying the authenticity of the heads became crucial.
The distinction between real Jurchen or Mongol heads involved examining their facial features, hair, and other characteristics.
True Jurchen or Mongols, usually of Tungistic origin, had distinct facial features: broad, flat faces, with most having round faces but small eyes. Their teeth also showed higher wear compared to the Han people, due to their semi-nomadic lifestyle.
Moreover, newly shaved hair differed from the braids they had grown from childhood.
Furthermore, the head of Zhao Jingzhong needed to be authenticated.
Soon, the verification process for the heads was complete.
“Your Majesty, all the heads are confirmed to be those of Jurchen, and the head of Zhao Jingzhong has also been verified.”
Having spoken, the Minister of War, Su, strode forward, carrying the defense plans for the capital and the blueprints for the red cannon, which Chen Ran had recovered.
“The defense plans for the capital and the blueprints for the red cannon have been recovered by Acting Commander Chen, please inspect them, Your Majesty!”
Chongzhen took a look at the defense plans and the blueprints for the red cannon, then passed them to an attendant.
There was no doubt about their authenticity, as the Minister of War had already inspected them.
He then turned his gaze to Chen Ran.
“Chen Ran, step forward!”
Chen Ran moved forward a few steps.
“Chen Ran, acting commander of the North Garrison of the Imperial Guard, greets Your Majesty!”
Chongzhen took a closer look at Chen Ran, noticing his handsome features, tall stature, and the flying fish robe of the Imperial Guard, which emphasized his exceptional bearing.
“What a fine commander of the Imperial Guard!”
Chongzhen, with a happy expression, looked at Chen Ran:
“You, with less than a hundred loyalist troops, managed to slay over a hundred Jurchen soldiers who came to aid Zhao Jingzhong, proving your exceptional skill and valor!”
At this moment, Han Kuang, with a beaming smile, added:
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“Chen Ran, by slaying over a hundred Jurchen soldiers this time, has significantly boosted morale in the capital and among the army. Your Majesty should definitely reward him generously!”
Upon hearing Han Kuang’s words, Chongzhen suddenly fell silent.
After a brief pause, he looked at Chen Ran and said with a slight smile:
“Chen Ran, for your service in relieving my worries, traveling thousands of miles to slay treacherous spies and barbarians, I shall reward your merit. I hereby appoint you as the official commander of the North Garrison of the Imperial Guard!”