Before the gates of the capital, Liu Dahui and five Zhejiang army soldiers stood with weathered faces and dust-covered clothes, gazing at the city gates. The expressions on their faces could not have been more excited.
Liu Dahui cradled a deep-mouthed basin in his hands. Inside the basin was water containing two stones, with the water level reaching halfway up the stones. Two white turtles lay on the stones, necks stretched out, looking exceedingly arrogant.
“We have arrived. We have finally reached the capital. These two ancestors were truly too difficult to serve. At least we have not failed our mission; we have brought these two ancestors here alive.” Liu Dahui’s eyes grew moist with excitement.
“It was too difficult. We thought this errand would be simple. It was just delivering two white turtles and dragon’s saliva incense to the capital, was it not?”
“Exactly. We figured the round trip would take at most ten days at the longest. Who knew that just the journey to the capital would consume over half a month.”
“In the middle of the trip, the two turtles suddenly stopped moving. We thought they had died and were scared half to death. It was thanks to General Dahui’s persistence that we ran to several fishing villages and found an old turtle farmer. Only then did we learn they were hibernating.”
“It was too miraculous. At the old fisherman’s house, in their kitchen, we lit a fire to warm things up. After two days of heat, the two turtles really woke up.”
“Thanks to the old fisherman teaching us turtle-rearing techniques. Who would have thought turtles need to sun their backs every day, require timely insulation in winter, eat not only meat but also vegetables, and have their water changed every three days… Although our journey slowed down, covering in three days what we used to do in one, these two little ancestors are still lively and kicking. That is better than anything.”
The five Zhejiang army soldiers behind him were equally excited, chattering away as they expressed their thrilled feelings.
Their journey had truly been arduous: three shifts a day, never leaving their side, always someone tending to them, meticulously caring for their every need from eating to drinking to excreting. They had treated the two white turtles like ancestors, offering them everything short of three sticks of incense morning and evening.
Whenever the turtles ate a little less or moved a bit less, they grew anxious and on edge. Especially after the turtles hibernated midway, they had nearly been frightened to death. Fortunately, the turtles had awakened later.
Otherwise, they would all have wanted to commit seppuku in atonement.
Fortunately, they had finally reached the capital, and the two white turtles were still lively and kicking. They had not failed their mission; how could they not be excited?
Liu Dahui and his group’s dishevelled appearance and odd behaviour caught the attention of the city gate guards. Several guards approached to question them.
Had they not been wearing military uniforms, the guards would have taken them for vagrants and thrown them into prison first.
This was the capital, after all; not just anyone could enter!
“We are here on the orders of Governor Zhu of Zhejiang to present auspicious omens to the capital.” Liu Dahui produced his token and official letter.
The city gate guards verified Liu Dahui and his group’s token and letter, finding no discrepancies, but they still harboured some suspicion. “Where are the auspicious omens you are presenting?”
“Right here.” Liu Dahui gave the basin in his hands a slight shake.
“Good heavens, it is white turtles. No wonder you are presenting them to the capital. These are auspicious signs rare even once in a century. Please, come in quickly. Do not delay the governor’s important matter.” A guard peered in and saw the two white turtles in the basin. This opened their eyes, and now fully convinced, they hurriedly ushered Liu Dahui and his group into the capital, fearing any delay in presenting the auspicious omens might bring trouble.
West Garden.
The air felt somewhat oppressive. The attendants in the hall scarcely dared to breathe, and even Huang Jin proceeded with utmost caution.
On the dais, Emperor Jiajing sat upon the dragon throne, his face expressionless as he read a memorial.
In the hall, Yan Song stood deferentially at the lower position.
“Zhang Jing refuses to admit guilt. He recounts the events and outcomes of commanding the Battle of Wangjiangjing, stating that since assuming the governorship, he has exterminated over five thousand Japanese pirates in Jiangnan. He pleads his case as wronged and begs Your Majesty for clemency, allowing him to atone for his crimes on the battlefield and slay more pirates. Weizhong, what is your view?”
Having finished reading the memorial in his hand, Emperor Jiajing tossed it onto the desk before him and turned to Yan Song, who stood respectfully below, to ask his opinion.
“Zhang Jing harbours pirates and squanders wealth, cowers before them in fear, repeatedly misses opportunities, and incites public resentment. Only upon being impeached by Wenhua and others did he fight a single battle. The victory at Wangjiangjing owes much to the efforts of Zhao Wenhua and Hu Zongxian. In this memorial, Zhang Jing seeks to claim the merits of Zhao Wenhua and Hu Zongxian.”
“Zhang Jing claims that since taking office as governor, he has exterminated over five thousand Japanese pirates in Jiangnan. Heh, if this minister recalls correctly, before the Battle of Wangjiangjing, Governor Zhu Ping of Zhejiang alone had slain no fewer than three thousand pirates in recent days. Is Zhang Jing now appropriating Zhu Ping’s merits as well? No wonder he seizes the merits of Zhao Wenhua and Hu Zongxian this time; it seems he is accustomed to it!”
“Xu Jie and Li Ben, both men of Songjiang and Zhejiang, are intimately familiar with the ravages inflicted by Japanese pirates on their hometowns. They both state that Zhang Jing harbours enemies without fighting, damaging the court’s prestige among the people, wasting provisions and pay. To not punish Zhang Jing would be to fail in upholding the law.”
“The commander is the soul of the army. Zhang Jing is cowardly, has lost all public support, and is unfit for further use. Without severe punishment, there can be no warning to the realm.”
Yan Song stepped forward, bowed his body, and spoke slowly. He even drew in Xu Jie and Li Ben as witnesses.
“Hmph, Zhang Jing only fought upon hearing of Wenhua’s impeachment, and now under arrest, he still speaks falsely. Utterly detestable!”
Emperor Jiajing snorted, his displeasure evident.
Below, Yan Song, bowed and head lowered, could not help but reveal a fleeting, imperceptible smile on his face. Of course, he managed his expression well; the smile appeared for only an instant before he resumed his usual calm and composed demeanour.
With that said, he picked up the other memorials on the desk once more and continued perusing them.
He glanced at one, his face darkening with displeasure as he flung it to the floor. He opened another, read two lines, and tossed it down similarly.
He flipped through several more memorials, and seeing that none contained the arguments of the previous two, his anger did not continue to rise.
“Li Yongjing and Wen Wangyun memorialise that Zhang Jing’s great victory at Wangjiangjing has greatly dampened the arrogance of the Japanese pirates. This is precisely the moment for the army to press forward bravely. We should seize the momentum to strike the pirate lair at Tuolin and annihilate them utterly. If we change commanders now, we risk losing the opportunity. We should wait until after Zhang Jing advances his troops, then judge his merits and faults based on his performance before deciding praise or blame!”
“On this, Weizhong, what is your view?”
Emperor Jiajing turned to Yan Song once more and inquired his opinion.
“With Zhang Jing’s crimes so grave, for Li Yongjing and Wen Wangyun to still speak on his behalf is punishable by death. This minister cannot but suspect they form a faction to protect him.”
Yan Song bowed in reply.
His words were soft, yet each one sharpened into a blade, fiercely stabbing at Li Yongjing and Wen Wangyun behind the memorial.
“Investigate swiftly the relations between Li Yongjing, Wen Wangyun, and Zhang Jing. If there is any suspicion of factionalism, administer fifty strokes of the court staff and demote them to commoners!”
Emperor Jiajing slammed the desk and ordered.
“Your servant obeys!”
Yan Song bowed to receive the command.
Emperor Jiajing waved his hand, and Yan Song bowed as he withdrew.
After Yan Song’s departure, Emperor Jiajing continued perusing the memorials. The atmosphere in the grand hall was so quiet that only the sound of turning pages could be heard. The attendants suppressed their breathing to the point of inaudibility, the silence and oppression suffocating.
