News reached Yuzhou earlier than Yongan. Xing Muzheng passed the secret report to his staff; some were shocked, others delighted. Shocked that the world was once again in chaos, delighted that the matter could benefit the Marquis’ household.
Qian Jiaoniang also learned the news from Xing Muzheng. After long thought, she lifted her gaze and met his eyes. “Trouble.”
Xing Muzheng nodded. “Yes, trouble indeed.”
He had the secret letter sent to the Dingxi Marquis’ household in Yongan. When Xing Pingchun received it, he invited Mr. Cao, others of learning, and Wang Yong and Second Brother Zheng to discuss affairs.
Mr. Cao asked, “What is Chouyang’s view?”
Xing Pingchun was silent a moment before saying, “This matter holds both peril and fortune—difficult to foretell.”
Second Brother Zheng, knowing only the work of wood, could not understand such grand matters. He only thought: since Xili has invaded again, the Xie kingdom must go to war again—where could there be fortune in that?
Another gentleman asked, “What do you mean by peril, and by fortune?”
Xing Pingchun said, “Xili’s challenge is peril for Great Xie, but for the Marquis’ household, both peril and fortune.”
Mr. Cao stroked his beard. “How so?”
Xing Pingchun explained slowly: “Xili rekindling war means Great Xie’s people will once again fall into fire and water, soldiers will once more enter the battlefield, life and death uncertain—this is great peril. Moreover, the court now heavily relies on Duke Xu’s house. The supreme commander is set as General Xu Meng. General Xu has courage in arms, but not the wisdom of a commander. The Xie army will likely lose. At that time, the Emperor will surely remember my father. If Father takes up the commander’s seal, he will hold great military power—in this, it is fortune for our house. But if Father wins, the Dingxi Marquis’ household will shine in renown, and the court will grow all the more wary of him, seeking ways to hinder him—perhaps even to eliminate him.”
Second Brother Zheng’s eyes went wide. Could there be so many twists in this?
Mr. Jiang said, “The court could also just send Marquis Xing to the front as overseer of the battle, while leaving the commander’s seal still in General Xu’s hands.”
Xing Pingchun smiled. “If Father is already at the front, how could the commander’s seal rest in another’s hands?”
Wang Yong nodded firmly. What Chou’er said was completely right.
Mr. Cao asked, “If the court truly wished to harm Marquis Xing, what scheme do you think they would use?”
Xing Pingchun pressed his lips together, then smiled in calm acceptance. “Naturally, they would act through me, held here in Yongan as hostage.”
All present acknowledged this. Seeing the young master’s composure, they glanced at one another with approval.
Second Brother Zheng was horrified. “Ping-ge’er?”
Xing Pingchun said, “Uncle, do not be alarmed. From the moment I came to Yongan, I had already prepared myself.”
Second Brother Zheng said, “Since you know the danger, why not find a way to escape?”
Xing Pingchun said, “I cannot leave now. If I go, the court will only have greater excuse to move against the Marquis’ house. For now, we can only meet soldiers with soldiers, water with earth.”
Wang Yong said, “Chou’er, be at ease. The Marquis will surely see you safe!”
Xing Pingchun smiled and nodded with solemn gravity.
***
As expected, things unfolded just as Xing Pingchun had foreseen. A day later, Emperor Yongtai learned of Xili’s invasion. He flew into a rage and in court demanded which generals would volunteer. Xu Meng and Hong Tai both requested command, but Emperor Yongtai still appointed Xu Meng as Grand General of Pacifying the West, leading seventy thousand troops to the front.
Xu Meng, in high spirits, departed under Emperor Yongtai’s personal send-off, heading to the front at Hemeng Pass. The war dragged on for half a year, during which the Xie army suffered defeat after defeat. Xili broke through Hemeng Pass; the Xie army retreated to Shinan Prefecture, only to have the city fall and the prefecture lost. Emperor Yongtai was thunderously enraged. Hong Tai requested command time and again, yet the Emperor refused to grant it. Hong Tai, in terms of seniority, was Emperor Yongtai’s imperial uncle. With Empress Dowager Cian still alive, the Hong family’s prestige in court was immense. Moreover, he had once been Xing Muzheng’s superior. The Emperor guarded against him even more than he guarded against Xing Muzheng now.
The frontlines were suffering defeat after defeat. At court, many officials recalled the great merit of Xing Muzheng, who had once turned the tide in desperate times, and they jointly submitted memorials, requesting an imperial decree to summon him to lead the army against the enemy. Emperor Yongtai had originally intended to dismiss it on the grounds that Xing Muzheng was bedridden with illness, but for the moment, he could not think of any other candidate. The most pressing matter was to preserve Great Xie’s lands from being seized and plundered by the barbarians—only then could he remain securely seated on the dragon throne.
Emperor Yongtai had never encountered such a grave matter, and his suspicion ran too deep—he trusted no one fully. Even his grandfather, old Duke Xu, he no longer believed, not after the defeat suffered by his uncle Xu Meng. Flustered, the emperor hid in the harem. His most favored Consort Shu, who had been handpicked and raised by the Empress Dowager, listened to his grievances and actually offered an idea: “Since Xing Muzheng is ill, why not send him to the front as a military adviser? He can teach General Xu how to arrange troops. Would that not set Your Majesty’s mind at ease?”
Emperor Yongtai had already harbored such a thought; hearing Consort Shu say it made him all the more convinced. Without calling in the night-duty ministers for discussion, he immediately ordered an imperial edict to be drafted and dispatched to Yuzhou at top speed.
The decree was worded with lofty phrases, claiming he was concerned for Xing Muzheng’s frail health and could not bear to see him charge into battle personally. Yet, with the nation in peril, he was appointing him as Imperial Envoy to Pacify the West, to set out immediately for the frontier and assist General Xu in defeating the enemy.
To make the former Grand Marshal of All Forces into a petty “Imperial Envoy”—any other commander would have flown into a rage. Xing Muzheng simply had the eunuch messenger informed that he was gravely ill and unfit for such duties, then burned the imperial edict.
Upon hearing of this, Wu Ze shook his head and told his attendants: “The state of Xie is doomed.”
Qian Jiaoniang, who had herself suffered the bitter hardships of war, felt deep sympathy for the common people now engulfed in flames. She hated the incompetence of the generals and also wished her husband could save the people from fire and water. But she knew Xing Muzheng had to refuse this decree first—otherwise, with that suspicious emperor’s nature, he would surely suspect Xing Muzheng of feigning illness.
As expected, when the refusal was reported back to Yongan, Emperor Yongtai quickly issued two more decrees. This time the wording carried more sincerity, but also the veiled accusation that if Xing Muzheng refused, he would be abandoning the state. Along with the decree came an envoy’s token, granting him authority even over the marshal.
Only then did Xing Muzheng, “reluctantly and under compulsion,” accept the decree.
The eunuch who delivered the decree, smiling broadly, said to Xing Muzheng—who was being supported up by Qian Jiaoniang: “Special Envoy Xing, His Majesty is most compassionate. Fearing you might fret for home while at the frontier, he has ordered this servant to escort Madam Xing to Yongan, to be reunited with the young shizi, so that the envoy may serve without worries.”
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