MLMD -Chapter 263 Conflict in the Military Camp

“Boom…”

The words of the burly general hit the hall like a spark falling into a vat of oil, igniting the already tense atmosphere into full eruption.

“Your Majesty!”

Everyone turned their gaze to Emperor Chongzhen, many faces etched with panic. Though they all knew the Qing forces would eventually arrive, many had buried their heads in the sand like ostriches, reassuring themselves that perhaps these barbaric invaders would plunder enough and leave, allowing life to continue as before—brothels, wine, and leisure. But now, that fragile illusion had been shattered. The Qing army had indeed arrived, a hundred thousand fierce soldiers charging toward the imperial outskirts.

“Your Majesty, please issue an order immediately! Send Lu Xiangsheng to confront them, and Yue Yang—he’s formidable, isn’t he? Have him drive the barbarians out!” The first to speak was none other than Left Censor Tang Shiji, who had just been arguing relentlessly with Yang Sichang.

Tang Shiji’s earlier forceful demeanor urging the emperor to punish Yue Yang had vanished. When he first learned the Qing troops had reached the city outskirts, his face drained of blood, his legs trembling. Hundreds of censors who had been crouched on the floor now exchanged nervous glances—it was clear this time the Qing were serious.

Seeing Tang Shiji’s wavering expression and the sudden silence behind him, Yang Sichang felt a wave of disgust. “These are fools. Just moments ago, they were shouting for Yue Yang’s arrest. Now that they need him to risk his life for them, suddenly everyone’s scared. They really think he’ll just blindly go die for them?”

Yang Sichang remembered Tang Shiji’s disrespect earlier. Now was his chance to reclaim the moment. Clearing his throat, he said: “Lord Tang, didn’t you just insist on apprehending Yue Yang and bringing him to the capital? I think you are the most suitable person. Why not take the imperial riders and go arrest Yue Yang outside the city?”

“How is that acceptable…”

Tang Shiji was both shocked and enraged. He hadn’t witnessed the Qing’s savagery firsthand, but he knew enough to be wary. Taking the imperial riders to Yue Yang’s camp? He’d likely return as nothing more than a corpse!

“Lord Yang, with the enemy at our gates, you expect me to personally go arrest Yue Yang? What do you mean?” Tang Shiji glared furiously.

“Haha…” Yang Sichang laughed. “Ah, I see Lord Tang understands the gravity of the situation. Yet just now, you kept shouting to bring Yue Yang to justice. Why the silence now? If Lord Tang refuses, who among you dares go? You… or you… or perhaps you?”

At Yang’s pointed fingers, each minister instinctively stepped back and shook their head. Ridiculous—they were scholars, not warriors. Life was too precious to risk in battle.

Seeing that not a single official would leave the city, Emperor Chongzhen’s face was a mix of disdain and bitter frustration. This was his court—his ministers who constantly touted virtue and justice. Beyond scheming and climbing over others’ shoulders, they were useless. In front of the kneeling censors, a verse escaped his lips involuntarily:

“Fourteen thousand soldiers shed their armor, yet not one is a man!”

Silence. Dead silence filled the hall. Every minister bowed their head; the kneeling censors wished they could sink into the floor from shame.

“Enough, enough!” Chongzhen sighed, waving weakly. The senior eunuch Wang Cheng’en stepped forward, gesturing for the censors to rise and return to their positions.

“What are you waiting for? Return to your posts! Haven’t you embarrassed yourselves enough?” A low voice commanded, and the censors rose like pardoned prisoners, retreating to their places. Tang Shiji, seeing his men fall back, felt powerless and blended back into the crowd.

Once calm returned to the hall, Wen Tiren stepped forward, bowing: “Your Majesty, the Qing army is already at the city outskirts. Discussing Yue Yang’s punishment is untimely. The priority now is repelling the enemy. I seek your guidance, Sire.”

Yang Sichang scoffed. Wen Tiren must be senile to suggest such nonsense.

Chongzhen frowned sharply. “Wen Aiqing, as my chief minister and right hand, you should advise me after strategizing, not make me do all the thinking. How then am I to use you?”

Wen Tiren flushed with embarrassment. To restore his image, he hurriedly added: “Your Majesty, we are confined to the capital. Any strategy we devise is mere theorizing. The best suited is Lu Xiangsheng, who is actively engaging the enemy.”

Indeed, as chief minister, Wen deftly passed the responsibility to Lu Xiangsheng outside the city. Chongzhen considered it and agreed—those of them confined to the palace were ill-informed compared to a commander at the front.

“Send orders—dispatch envoys to Lu Xiangsheng’s camp. Inquire about the battle and remind him to fight valiantly. If he drives the Qing beyond the pass, it will be a great achievement. Also, tighten the gates and increase patrols to prevent any mishaps!”

“Your Majesty’s orders shall be obeyed! Long live the Emperor!”

With the traditional cries of “Long live the Emperor,” the court session ended theatrically—but the battle outside had only begun.

June 21, 1636, Morning

While the Ming court scrambled helplessly against the uninvited invaders, Prince Duoluo Ajige led the Qing forces, along with Raoyu Beile Abatai and Yangguli, to Liángxiāng, establishing camp ten miles from the Ming army. Skirmishes had already caused some losses on both sides, and Lu Xiangsheng urgently convened his generals.

Seated at the head of the tent, Lu Xiangsheng’s piercing gaze swept over the assembled officers. “Gentlemen! A trained army is ready for a single moment of need. Now the enemy is at our gates. Show courage and defeat them for the Emperor’s favor! Understood?”

“All obey the commander’s orders! We shall fight bravely to repay the Emperor’s grace!” the generals responded in unison.

Seeing their morale high, Lu Xiangsheng nodded. Since Yue Yang brought a large supply of silver and provisions from the capital yesterday, all troops had received rations and funds, lifting spirits immensely. They awaited his orders.

Suddenly, a guard’s voice called from outside: “Commander, an envoy bearing the imperial edict has arrived. Please receive him outside the tent.”

Lu Xiangsheng and the generals rose, straightening their attire. Outside, they saw a eunuch in his forties, pale-faced and mustache-free, looking haughtily at the sky. Behind him were three or four imperial guards in flying fish uniforms, with embroidered spring knives at their waists. Another ten mounted palace soldiers, armored and cloaked in red, stood ready.

Bowing, Lu Xiangsheng greeted: “Commander Lu Xiangsheng welcomes the envoy. You must be tired. Please rest in the tent.”

The eunuch snapped sharply: “Spare me… I am here to deliver the Emperor’s decree, not to rest. Let’s proceed with the formalities.”

Yue Yang frowned, but Lu Xiangsheng remained composed: “As you wish, envoy. Please deliver the decree.”

“Lu Xiangsheng, receive the edict!” the eunuch barked.

Kneeling, Lu Xiangsheng and the generals accepted the imperial decree, while the entire camp kneeled and shouted in unison: “Long live the Emperor!”

The eunuch handed over a yellow silk-wrapped box containing a lacquered dragon box. Inside was the imperial decree, carefully wrapped in yellow brocade, which he read aloud:

“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor commands… the rebel Yue has harmed the state and the people. All loyal subjects are enraged. Right Censor Lu Xiangsheng is to lead his forces to support the throne. The Emperor is greatly pleased. Lu Xiangsheng is promoted to Minister of War, granted an imperial sword, golden belt, embroidered chest armor, 500 taels of silver, and twenty reward plaques for battlefield merit…”

Lu Xiangsheng wept with joy. Yue Yang, witnessing this, silently admired Lu Xiangsheng’s unwavering loyalty—a loyalty he estimated as maxed out at 100%.

After receiving the edict, Lu Xiangsheng bowed to the eunuch: “Your journey has been long. I shall write a formal thanks to the Emperor for you to carry back.”

The eunuch nodded: “Please do as you wish, Lord Lu.”

Once inside, the generals examined the imperial gifts—swords, silver, and embroidered items—marveling at the treasures, symbols of the emperor’s favor. The eunuch, watching, snorted at their fascination.

His gaze then fell on Yue Yang, clad in black-gray full Gothic-style armor. He walked over, scrutinizing him carefully.

“You are the Shanxi Northern Route Deputy General, General Yue Yang?”

Yue Yang bowed: “I am Yue Yang, at your service.”

The eunuch’s expression cooled: “I just arrived in the capital yesterday, yet your name is everywhere. You’ve already made a name for yourself here.”

Yue Yang noticed the sneering tone and, although unoffended, found it strange, having never wronged this man.

His face darkened. Calmly, he asked: “May I know your name, sir?”

The eunuch sneered: “I am Gao Qiqian. My name is unchangeable.”

“Gao Qiqian?” Yue Yang paused, then circled him, tilting his head as if examining a rare artifact. Finally, he stopped, recalling Gao’s notorious reputation in later generations: greedy, cowardly, deceitful, a schemer—an epitome of vice. Curiosity stirred within him.

The generals gaped at Yue Yang’s impoliteness. Gao Qiqian, too, paled with anger: “Yue Yang, why do you look at me like that?”

“Nothing,” Yue Yang replied with a faint smile. “I have never seen someone so remarkable as you, sir. I merely looked twice. I hope you do not fault me for that.”

“You… you insolent wretch!” Gao’s finger shook, unable to speak. Yue Yang’s audacity was unprecedented—even Lu Xiangsheng, a top-ranking official, referred to himself humbly. Yue Yang’s praise was clearly sarcastic.

Strictly by rank, Gao should kneel before Yue Yang, but as a palace eunuch used to being obeyed, he could only tremble in anger without retort.

The generals noticed the tension. Wu Sangui and others were secretly delighted, while the Xuanda generals were horrified. Some rushed to separate the two. Wang Pu, friendly with Yue Yang, appeased Gao, while Yang Guozhu pulled Yue Yang aside: “Deputy General Yue, you’ve lost your mind! Offending Gao will make life in the camp impossible!”

“Afraid?” Yue Yang spat contemptuously. “He’s just a eunuch riding on authority. What’s there to fear?”

At Yue Yang’s words, everyone was stunned…