Chapter 39: The Great Ming’s Five-Good Youth
Chapter 39: The Great Ming’s Five-Good Youth
In front of the Fucheng Gate.
“Hurry, go call everyone over!”
Fang Shihong shouted excitedly.
The place was already packed with people. Everyone was looking up at the gate tower. The pitiful Young Master Wang was still hanging there. It was hard to tell if he was alive or dead, but he probably wasn’t dead. Actually, his main threat had been hypothermia from the heavy rain, but not long after Yang Xin left, the heavy rain had stopped. As long as he wasn’t drenched by rain anymore, it was fine. After all, it was summer, not winter, and it wasn’t even June yet!
But getting him down was a very tricky matter…
Otherwise, they wouldn’t have waited until now.
He was actually discovered just after daybreak, but the soldiers who rushed here were helpless.
He was hanging down from the eaves of the second floor, right outside the second gate tower, but just barely with his head below the eaves. Pulling him inside from within was impossible. Beneath his feet was the heavy eave of the first floor, but it was still over two meters away. Setting up a ladder on the roof tiles was also not possible. Moreover, the second-floor gate tower was recessed inward a section. Even setting a ladder on the city wall to reach the first-floor eaves wouldn’t reach him; there was still an empty gap above. Rescuers couldn’t stand on a suspended bamboo ladder to lift someone over two hundred pounds…
Nor did they have that much strength.
The only way was to do as Yang Xin did when he hung him out: climb from inside onto the beam of the second-floor heavy eave, then drag him back the same way. But the soldiers alone couldn’t do it. Actually, even two people didn’t have that much strength. It would take five or six people together to pull him back. Even then, they had to be careful not to fray the rope or get it stuck, since it was a Cross. But coordinating so many people on the roof beams was truly difficult.
Actually, even if Yang Xin were asked to drag him back now, it would be impossible.
Letting him slide out was easy.
A kick and he slid down by himself!
But pulling him back would require several times the force.
The pitiful Young Master Wang hung in mid-air like a wind chime on the eave corner. Below, a huge crowd gathered, with more idlers still arriving, all watching his image tied to the Cross in amazement. He hung his head low and motionless like a martyr, which conveniently allowed those below to see his face clearly.
“Do you know this person?”
Yang Xin asked curiously.
“His father is the former Ministry of Justice Secretary Wang Zhizai. Two years ago, during the capital audit, he was dismissed from office. He stayed in the capital claiming to study, but actually he was keeping an eye on the court.”
Fang Shihong said.
“Wang Zhizai?”
Yang Xin looked as if the name was familiar.
“The one from the ‘Palace Staff Incident.’ Everything was settled fine; the madman was convicted. But he and the Donglin Faction Scholars insisted on implicating Consort Zheng, which ended up stirring up a huge storm throughout the court. They turned nothing into something, even angering His Majesty enough. Coincidentally, his own hands weren’t entirely clean. During the capital audit two years ago, he was charged with corruption and dismissed. Not just him; most of the Donglin bunch were purged from the court.”
Fang Shihong said.
By this time, the Donglin Faction Scholars had already suffered heavy losses, losing the capital audit under the combined attacks of the Qi, Chu, and Zhe factions. However, they were lucky. Soon after, the Wanli Emperor died of illness, and Crown Prince Zhu Changluo, who was deeply grateful to them during the succession disputes, ascended the throne. He quickly recalled all the key Donglin figures to the capital and entrusted them with important posts, including the Donglin Faction leader Ye Xianggao, who was recalled to replace Fang Congzhe. One could say the Donglin Faction suddenly turned the tables. Yet, great joy and great sorrow always followed each other closely. Just as the Donglin Faction Scholars were wildly cheering their victory, Zhu Changluo, who had been emperor for only a month, suddenly died. The poor Donglin Scholars were instantly dumbfounded. One month was not enough for Ye Xianggao and others to reach the capital. Most key Donglin members were still on the road. If, during this period, Fang Congzhe and his treacherous faction managed to control the confusedly succeeding Tianqi Emperor, then the Donglin would have no chance left.
Therefore, the Donglin Faction Scholars in the capital resolutely decided to seize the emperor.
In the end, they succeeded.
By capturing Tianqi, they preserved the “court filled with upright officials” left to them by the dead Zhu Changluo.
But Tianqi, already fifteen by then, was not a five-year-old child who would give them ample time to control the court. Soon, this cunning young emperor grew up and subsequently unleashed the beast known as Nine Thousand Years Old to settle scores for everything that happened back then…
Then the Donglin Faction Scholars met their misfortune.
This was the series of chaotic events in the Great Ming from the late Wanli era to the early Tianqi era.
The Donglin Faction Scholars had pushed Wanli beyond endurance with the Palace Staff Incident…
Wanli was indeed furious with them.
Whether this case was due to Consort Zheng’s foolishness or the Crown Prince’s self-inflicted injury scheme wasn’t important. What mattered was that such a royal scandal could not be fully investigated. Whatever the outcome, the emperor’s face would be utterly lost. Whether it was the wife trying to murder the son or the son framing the wife, to the outside world, it was a slap in Wanli’s face. Sun Chengzong was right; it was okay to investigate and punish the minor figures, but beyond that, it should be stopped and blurred over. But the Donglin Faction Scholars insisted on exploiting this incident for publicity. No matter how tolerant Wanli was, he couldn’t let them off lightly.
It wasn’t until his death from illness that the Donglin Faction Scholars managed a desperate comeback.
But, unfortunately, happiness was always so brief.
The sudden death of Zhu Changluo, the one-month emperor, once again pushed the Donglin Faction Scholars to the edge of the abyss. In the end, to protect what they had just gained, they had no choice but to take the risk.
“What a mess!”
Yang Xin sighed with emotion.
Truly, fate played tricks on people!
Thinking about it, the Donglin Faction Scholars were quite tragic. If Wanli hadn’t died, they might have endured it. But just as they were letting out cheers of happiness, a bucket of ice water was dumped on them…
That was unbearable!
“Commander-in-Chief Guo!”
Fang Shihong suddenly shouted beside him.
Yang Xin immediately looked in the direction he called. A large number of soldiers from the Patrol Camp were parting the crowd, surrounding a red-robed military officer who was walking over. The latter also saw Fang Shihong.
“Young Master Fang!”
He said with a grave expression.
“Commander-in-Chief Guo, what’s happening here?”
Fang Shihong said with a smile, returning the courtesy.
Yang Xin followed suit with a salute.
“Don’t mention it. Some skilled bandit appeared out of nowhere. Not only did he break into the Wang residence at night, knock out two women, and kidnap Government Student Wang, but he also climbed the Fucheng Gate, knocked out and tied up the guarding soldiers, and hung Government Student Wang on the gate tower. Last night during the heavy rain, those slackers didn’t even go out on patrol. He wasn’t discovered until daybreak when the ward gates were opened. And since he’s close to the censors, I’m bound to be impeached for dereliction of duty. Now I still have to figure out how to get him down. I must say, that bandit was truly skilled. How did he manage to hang such a big living person up there? Getting him down isn’t easy either!”
Commander-in-Chief Guo said with a frustrated look.
“Commander-in-Chief Guo, I might have a method?”
Yang Xin said.
“This gentleman is?”
Commander-in-Chief Guo asked, puzzled.
“I am Yang Xin!”
Yang Xin said with a smile.
“The one who beat up Deputy Commander Xu?”
Commander-in-Chief Guo said, astonished.
Clearly, Yang Xin’s infamy had spread throughout the capital in just one day.
“Well, I just taught him a lesson on behalf of the Imperial Noble Consort because he was disrespectful to her. I am a law-abiding citizen; how could I beat up an imperial official?”
Yang Xin said.
To this, Commander-in-Chief Guo could only chuckle.
“What method does Young Master Yang have?”
He asked.
“Have a few soldiers lower two rope loops from above. Someone below can use a bamboo pole to guide them, loop them around both sides of that wooden frame, then pull the ropes taut and cut the one he’s hanging from. Then slowly lower him down bit by bit!”
Yang Xin said.
“That’s a good method. Later, he should thank Young Master Yang!”
Commander-in-Chief Guo said.
“No need for that. I have a minor grievance with him. He harassed my cousin and I taught him a lesson. It wasn’t really a big deal, but earlier he led people from the Western City Metropolitan Police Office to ambush me. We common folk can’t afford to provoke the families of officials. Consider this me backing down. No need to thank me; just don’t keep coming after me in the future.”
Yang Xin sighed and said.
“After all, I’m just an ordinary commoner!”
He added immediately.
Of course, Commander-in-Chief Guo wasn’t interested in his performance.
Daring to publicly beat up a seventh-rank civil official, and still having the face to call himself an ordinary commoner?
“Who is this person?”
Watching his retreating figure, Yang Xin asked Fang Shihong.
“Patrol Camp Commander-in-Chief Guo Qin. Nighttime bandits are his responsibility!”
Fang Shihong said.
“How many people are in the Patrol Camp?”
Yang Xin asked.
“A lot. One Commander-in-Chief, two Brigade Generals, eighteen company commanders. Below them, ten thousand infantry and five thousand cavalry.”
Fang Shihong said.
“So many? Then why don’t I see many?”
Yang Xin asked, surprised.
“First, they work in shifts. Second, they’re not just inside the city; their patrol area spans from Tongzhou to Zhuozhou. Several inspection posts at Hongren Bridge are also manned by their people. Third, they’re only responsible for patrolling outside the wards. If not for this incident tonight, they would have changed shifts already. But now, they can forget about leaving. Later, the censors will surely impeach him for dereliction of duty.”
Fang Shihong said.
As they spoke, preparations were completed on the gate tower. Two rope loops were lowered from above. Soldiers below used long bamboo poles to guide them around both ends of the Cross. The ropes were pulled taut from above, then the rope holding Young Master Wang was cut. Slowly, bit by bit, they lowered him down. Facing the rising morning sun in the east, Young Master Wang descended like a suffering angel. Below, curious discussions arose. But soon, sharp-eyed people saw something else hanging below him. It was too high to see before, but now everyone could see it clearly.
“Th-this, who did this? How is Young Master Wang supposed to carry on the family line after this?”
Fang Shihong said, stunned.
“Surely not? Isn’t it just a silver ingot attached?”
The culprit beside him said.
“This isn’t just an attached silver ingot. This ruins his manhood. Many young eunuchs in the palace are made this way. When young, a rope is tied around it, and if it’s damaged, it’s useless. It might still function, but hoping to carry on the family line is out of the question. Actually, this Young Master Wang could try entering the palace later. He could still be a young eunuch.”
Fang Shihong said with schadenfreude.
Yang Xin looked around; everyone wore similarly gleeful expressions. All were watching Young Master Wang’s exhibition…
“You people, don’t build your happiness on others’ pain!”
He declared righteously.
If you have the guts, don’t look!
Surrounding him were looks of disdain.
Yang Xin didn’t notice that behind him, there was another pair of approving eyes.