Chapter Seventy-Four: Are You Someone Who Can Afford to Provoke Me?

Datong Garrison, the residence of the supervising eunuch.

Zhang Zi'an had just enjoyed a hot bath, attended by two maids. Now stretched comfortably on his brick bed, he was relishing the skilled kneading of two young eunuchs. At that moment, another young eunuch entered to announce, “Godfather, Vice-Commander Zhao says he has an urgent matter to report to you in person.”

“Zhao Santai?” Zhang Zi'an frowned. “I suppose he’s here to complain about being beaten by Wang Pu.”

“It must be,” replied the young eunuch.

“Let him wait in the drawing room,” Zhang Zi'an instructed.

“Yes, sir,” the eunuch responded and left.

Meanwhile, Zhao Santai was led into the drawing room, where he waited for nearly half an hour before Zhang Zi'an finally appeared from behind a screen, moving with deliberate leisure. Zhao Santai, growing impatient, hurried to greet him obsequiously, “Ah, my lord, finally you have come out.”

At a glance, Zhang Zi'an noticed the whip marks on Zhao Santai’s face and exclaimed, “Good heavens, General Zhao, what happened to you? Why decorate your face with such marks for no reason?”

“My lord, please don’t mock me,” Zhao Santai complained. “This is no decoration—Wang Pu did this to me.”

Zhang Zi'an’s expression darkened, his tone chilling. “So you’re here to seek my sympathy?”

“My lord, you must stand up for me,” Zhao Santai pleaded. “After all, I’m the Vice-Commander of Datong Garrison, serving under you. Wang Pu may be a royal relative, but he’s a commander in the capital; his reach shouldn’t extend to Datong. As the saying goes, even a dog’s owner should be respected when the dog is beaten. Wang Pu has shown you no regard at all.”

“Enough!” Zhang Zi'an snapped. “If you ask me, the Prince Consort was too lenient giving you only a whipping! For your insolence, your foul tongue, and your shameful conduct—while the country faces disaster, you neglect your duties to consort with courtesans and incite disturbances—it’s more than enough to have you dismissed and investigated.”

“Ah?” Zhao Santai dropped to his knees, begging, “My lord, please save me!”

“I cannot save you; only you can save yourself,” Zhang Zi'an said coldly, taking a few steps before turning back. “You know the Prince Consort’s temper as well as I do. Weigh your own position—can you afford to provoke him? Take my advice: mind your own business and don’t stir up trouble.”

“My lord, I—” Zhao Santai tried to protest.

But Zhang Zi'an cut him off, “While the Prince Consort is observing mourning, if you cause any trouble, no one will be able to help you.”

With that, Zhang Zi'an left without another word.

Only when Zhang Zi'an was gone did Zhao Santai dare to mutter under his breath, “Damn eunuch, what a piece of work. Haven’t I paid you enough over the years? Now when I need you, you’re cleaner than anyone. So you took Wang Pu’s silver? If you won’t handle this, someone else will. I’m not done with Wang Pu yet!”

***

The Prince of Dai’s Residence.

The current Prince of Dai, Zhu Chuanqi, was just past forty, though by blood, he was a generation younger than the Chongzhen Emperor.

In the early Ming, Emperor Hongwu had enfeoffed many princes with their own armies. The Yongle Emperor seized the throne with the support of the three northern garrisons. After the “Pacification of the Troubles,” military powers of the princely fiefs were systematically curtailed. By the reign of Chongzhen, the princes had no real command over troops.

Thus, though Zhu Chuanqi was a prince, he neither led troops nor intervened in local governance.

Now, Zhu Chuanqi had learned of Wang Pu’s uproar at the Red Blossom Courtesan House and his forceful redemption of Jiaoniang and Hongxing. He summoned his two chamberlains to discuss countermeasures. In the midst of their meeting, a servant entered to report, “Your Highness, Vice-Commander Zhao Santai of Datong requests an audience.”

“Zhao Santai?” Zhu Chuanqi turned to his chamberlains. “Chamberlain Wang, Chamberlain Li, what do you make of this?”

Chamberlain Wang said, “I believe Zhao Santai is here to seek your intervention.”

Chamberlain Li added, “Wang Pu is now formally betrothed to Princess Changping, making him royal kin. Moreover, word from the capital is that he’s on good terms with Grand Secretary Zhou Yanru, and even has some connection to Eunuch Wang, the emperor’s favorite. I advise Your Highness not to take up Zhao Santai’s cause at this time.”

Zhu Chuanqi nodded. “This Wang Pu is a lawless character. He dares defy imperial edicts and raid execution grounds. Beating Zhao Santai and redeeming two courtesans is a trifling matter for him. It’s not worth getting entangled with such a madman.”

The two chamberlains bowed in unison. “Your Highness is wise.”

Zhu Chuanqi then instructed the servant, “Go to the gate and tell him I have retired for the night. Let Zhao Santai return another day.”

***

Northern outskirts of Datong, Border Army Camp.

Night had fallen. Outside the tent, the cold was bitter; even with a brazier burning, the chill inside could not be driven away. Several captains and a dozen old soldiers were gathered in Captain Zhao Xin’s tent, gambling to pass the time. The imperial court had not sent any pay for over half a year; the men’s purses were empty, but there was nothing else to do in camp.

They had no choice but to gamble on credit, writing IOUs for their bets.

But even the game was winding down. Zhao Xin, who was hosting, had written IOUs for dozens of taels of silver. After losing yet another hand, a burly, powerfully built captain called out, “Captain Zhao, you already owe us dozens of taels. You don’t mean to keep writing IOUs, do you?”

“Enough,” Zhao Xin replied impatiently. “It’s just a few dozen taels; you think I won’t pay?”

“We’re worried you might not,” the captain said. “A few dozen taels may be nothing to you, but for us, that’s money to keep our families fed. The court hasn’t paid us for months. My whole family is counting on what little I can bring home.”

“Damn it, I’m done,” Zhao Xin said, pushing the dice cup forward. He fished a silver ingot from his pouch and tossed it on the table. “Here, take this and split it. That’s all I have left.”

The burly captain weighed the ingot and said, “Captain, this is only five taels—not nearly enough.”

“That’s all there is,” Zhao Xin growled. “Take it or leave it. I have nothing more. The rest will have to wait until the court sends our pay.”

“What a wretched life,” the captain muttered, shaking his head. “No wonder you joined us this evening for a communal meal, Captain. You must be out of silver too.”

“Indeed,” another captain sighed. “We’re captains and chiefs, yet we can’t even provide for our families. Look at General Wang’s troops—each soldier got five hundred taels in pay. Scarface is just a captain, but he could redeem a courtesan outright at the Red Blossom! Compared to them, we might as well be dead.”

The burly captain suddenly exclaimed, “To hell with it! There’s no future here in Datong. Let’s defect to General Wang!”

“Shut up!” Zhao Xin’s face changed. “Tang Sheng, watch your mouth.”

“What’s there to fear?” Tang Sheng shouted back. “The old saying goes, the emperor doesn’t starve his soldiers. Soldiers have every right to demand their pay. If the court won’t provide, why shouldn’t we find another way? Besides, we’re not hereditary military households. We joined of our own will, and we can leave if we choose. Who can stop us?”

Then another captain chimed in, “Honestly, the court must have sent the pay, but Zhao Santai, that scoundrel, embezzled it.”

Another joined in, “Exactly! Let’s go confront him right now.”

Tang Sheng rolled up his sleeves and shouted, “Go back to your camps, gather the men, and follow me to the supply depot! I refuse to believe we can’t find the silver!”

Zhao Xin hurriedly intervened, “Tang Sheng, calm down! The rest of you, don’t do anything rash. Inciting a mob and storming the supply depot is tantamount to rebellion. That’s a beheading offense!”

“I’m not afraid to die,” Tang Sheng roared. “If it comes to it, it’s just a scar on my neck. We can’t even feed ourselves now. What’s the point of living like this? Come with me if you’re not afraid. If you are, stay behind.”

“What kind of talk is this?” Zhao Xin’s face darkened. He gritted his teeth, then shouted, “I’ve had enough too. Fine—if we’re going to make trouble, let’s do it right. There’s no silver in the supply depot anyway. Go back, gather the men, and let’s head straight for Zhao Santai’s headquarters!”