MLMD -Chapter 353 Cutting Off the Roots

The 3rd day of the 7th month, Chongzhen Year 10 (1637)

Taiyuan · Governor’s Yamen

An official dressed in a vermilion court robe with an embroidered golden pheasant on his chest walked slowly through the rear garden. At his side walked Yue Yang, likewise clad in a red python robe. Following behind them were Xu Dingchen’s aide Tang Xueying and Yue Yang’s personal guard captain, Chen Dazhi.

Perhaps feeling tired, Xu Dingchen pointed toward a pavilion ahead and said with a smile, “Age finally catches up to you. I can’t compare with you young men anymore. Let’s go sit over there for a while.”

“Of course,” Yue Yang replied readily, following along.

Once they were seated in the pavilion, a maid soon brought over a pot of fragrant tea and several plates of fruit. Xu Dingchen lifted the teapot and personally poured Yue Yang a cup, smiling as he asked, “Zhenghong, do you still remember the first time we met?”

“Of course I do,” Yue Yang nodded. “At the time I was still a mere commoner. Your Excellency, as provincial governor, did not hesitate to lower yourself to associate with me. I was deeply moved, and I have never dared to forget it to this day.”

“Yes…” Xu Dingchen let out a long sigh, stroking his beard. “In the blink of an eye, five years have passed. You’ve risen from a nobody to the Marquis of Loyalty and Valor, while this old man can still sit in the governor’s seat largely thanks to your support. Truly, the ways of the world are unpredictable.”

Yue Yang smiled but said nothing. In the Ming dynasty, officials usually served three-year terms; few could remain provincial governor for five full years. Xu Dingchen was an exception, and the reason he had held the post so long was largely because of Yue Yang—something no one could deny.

After a pause, Xu Dingchen looked at Yue Yang with a complicated expression. “Zhenghong, I can say I watched you rise step by step from a scholar to where you stand today. Now that you are a marquis—wealth, glory, and command of great armies all within your grasp—what more could you want? Do you truly intend to sit on that seat?”

After a long silence, Yue Yang raised his head and spoke earnestly. “Your Excellency, why use such words to test me? Though I am merely a licentiate by origin, I know well that this path has always been like rowing upstream—if you do not advance, you retreat. If I were to step back now, do you think His Majesty alone would spare me? Would the officials at court let me go? Even if the court fears my strength now and dares not move against me, what about the future? After His Majesty and I are both gone, when a new emperor ascends—will he still tolerate us?”

Xu Dingchen fell silent. There was no answer to that question. No emperor would ever tolerate an uncontrollable force within his realm. The court might endure Yue Yang’s power for now, but once time passed and imperial strength recovered, what awaited him would surely be savage retaliation.

“I thought of this long ago,” Xu Dingchen sighed deeply. Though he was governor of Shanxi—nominally wielding vast authority—in Shanxi his power was greatly curtailed. The northern Shanxi route was entirely under Yue Yang’s control; elsewhere, military affairs belonged to the Xuan-Da Governor-General, while civil authority was divided among the Surveillance Commissioner and the Provincial Administration Commissioner. His own position had become awkward.

“Then why did you send troops to occupy Taiyuan?” he asked.

Yue Yang chuckled softly. “Your Excellency already knows—why ask?”

His laughter turned cold. “Hong Chengchou sent men to assassinate my generals. While I was away, he even planned to dispatch troops to sever my foundations, timing it for my absence by having himself transferred. If I do not avenge this hatred, wouldn’t that make people think me weak?”

Xu Dingchen grew impatient. “Then you must tell me your bottom line. You sent troops to seize Ming cities and confined me here—are you truly planning to rebel?”

“Rebel?” Yue Yang smiled faintly. “That depends on whether the court can give me a satisfactory answer. If not…” He did not finish, but Xu Dingchen understood.

“Enough,” Xu Dingchen waved wearily. “I am nearly sixty. Before long I will submit a memorial to retire. I won’t meddle in this mess anymore.”

Seeing the exhaustion on the old man’s face, Yue Yang felt deeply guilty. Xu Dingchen had treated him well before his rise, and they had worked in tacit understanding for years. Now Yue Yang’s actions had dragged him into serious trouble.

Before Yue Yang could think of how to compensate him, footsteps sounded behind them. A voice reported, “Reporting to both Excellencies: news from ahead—His Majesty has dispatched the Minister of War and Junior Grand Secretary, Lord Yang Sichang, to Taiyuan. He is expected to arrive in several days.”

“Yang Sichang?” Yue Yang and Xu Dingchen exchanged looks, surprise in their eyes.

As Junior Grand Secretary, Yang Sichang represented the court and the emperor. He could not travel lightly. With attendants, soldiers, and servants numbering over a thousand, it took more than half a month to reach Taiyuan.

When Yang Sichang arrived outside the city, Yue Yang and Xu Dingchen led all officials to welcome him. Formalities were impeccable. Yang wasted no time; after brief greetings, he went straight to the governor’s yamen and requested a private meeting with Yue Yang and Xu Dingchen.

Once seated, Yang spoke bluntly. “Marquis Yue, I am here by imperial order to ask: what must the court do for you to withdraw your troops back to the northern route?”

“Withdraw?” Yue Yang asked with a half-smile. “Then how does the court intend to deal with Hong Chengchou?”

Yang replied briskly, “Lord Hong is a pillar of the state. With banditry worsening, the court cannot do without him. Please bear with this. As for his previous actions, I am willing to apologize on his behalf.”

“Hah… hahaha!”

Yue Yang threw back his head and laughed until tears streamed down his face, bending at the waist.

Yang’s face darkened. “Marquis Yue, is what I said really so amusing?”

Yue Yang finally straightened, wiping his tears. “Lord Yang, don’t you find it ridiculous? At a time like this, you still try to placate me with such words. You apologize on his behalf—tell me honestly, would such an apology mean anything?”

Yang’s face turned ashen. Yet he could not deny it. An apology mattered only if the recipient chose to accept it.

“What do you want, then?” Yang narrowed his eyes, a sharp glint flashing.

Yue Yang waved dismissively. “Grand Secretary Yang, don’t try that with me—you’re not there yet. Ask yourself: compared to Huang Taiji or Yueto of the Qing, how do you measure up? I personally slew Yueto and angered Huang Taiji to death. Do you think you’re more capable than Huang Taiji?”

It was a blatant slap to the face—and Yang could not refute it, because it was the truth.

Like a deflated ball, Yang sighed. “Fine. What do you want?”

“Compensation,” Yue Yang said, raising one finger. “It’s simple. I want to be Governor-General of Xuan-Da and Governor of Shanxi. Agree to this, and the matter is settled.”

“What?!” Yang nearly leapt up. “Impossible! All under Heaven belongs to the Ming—how can offices be privately bestowed?!”

“Oh, spare me,” Yue Yang rolled his eyes. “That line only fools bookish idiots. The world is vast—how much does the Ming really control? A drop in the ocean. And I’m not taking it for free. If the court agrees, I’ll double the annual taxes and grain I submit.”

“You mean to buy the court with silver?” Yang roared.

“Think what you like,” Yue Yang stood decisively. “This is my final word. If the court won’t agree, then leave—this place does not welcome you.”

With that, Yue Yang walked out. The meeting ended in discord.

“Impudent wretch!” Yang trembled with rage. Xu Dingchen hurried to support him.

“Is the Ming truly finished?” Yang muttered, his teacup shaking until he finally flung it onto the table with a clatter.

After a long silence, he slumped back. “Zhixuan… is Shanxi truly lost?”

Xu Dingchen replied calmly, “Without Yue Yang, Shanxi would already be a pasture for the barbarians. Without him, Xuan-Da would long have been ravaged. By rights, all his merits should be expected of a Ming subject—but times have changed. If the court refuses him now, what can it do? Unless it resolves to destroy him by force, he already controls most of Shanxi. What can we do but sigh?”

They fell silent. At last Yang sighed. “Yes… the court has no silver. Before I left the capital, Hong Chengchou reported that the bandits near Macheng broke through and now roam Hubei, Henan, and Hunan. He admits he can no longer suppress them and requests one million taels of silver and eight hundred thousand dan of grain. His Majesty has been so worried he can’t eat. If Yue Yang rebels too, the realm will be beyond saving.”

“So your meaning is…?” Xu asked.

“What choice is there?” Yang said bitterly. “This traitor repays imperial grace by threatening the court with arms—and yet the court can do nothing.”

Yang stayed in Taiyuan, sending urgent couriers to the capital. Half a month later, he met Yue Yang again.

He looked much older now.

“Grand Secretary Yang,” Yue Yang said plainly, “after half a month of correspondence, I trust there is a result?”

“Yes,” Yang replied calmly. “His Majesty largely agrees. You may serve as Governor-General of Xuan-Da, but you cannot concurrently hold the Shanxi governorship. Select a candidate for court appointment. In addition, you must submit 1.5 million taels of silver and one million dan of grain annually.”

“Agreed,” Yue Yang said calmly, suppressing his excitement. With the title secured, silver and grain meant nothing. Within a few years, he could turn Shanxi into his base.

Yang soon returned to the capital. By early July, the edicts were issued, shocking the court.

First, Yang replaced Wen Tiren as Grand Secretary. Wen was dismissed and soon died of illness. Yang then reassigned Lu Xiangsheng and formally appointed Yue Yang as Governor-General of Xuan-Da, with Hai Lou as Governor of Shanxi. All understood—the court had yielded. Shanxi was now Yue Yang’s domain.

Eight days later, Yue Yang arrived in Datong and invited all Xuan-Da generals to a banquet. When the revelry peaked, he dismissed the entertainers.

Silence fell.

Yue Yang smiled. “Three matters. First, from now on the court will provide no silver or grain to Xuan-Da. Second, from next month we open wastelands and re-register all military farms. Third—those unwilling may go south to Henan to join Lord Lu Xiangsheng.”

The hall was dead silent.

Yue Yang had severed their roots.