Chapter 8: The Embroidered Uniform Guard and Shaanxi

As a personal eunuch who had grown up alongside the emperor, Wang Cheng’en naturally understood the emperor’s character well. In the past, the emperor would never have remained so calm in such a situation.

Wang Cheng’en attributed all these changes to destiny’s will, which only stirred his heart with greater excitement. Yet, alongside this, a subtle worry began to rise within him. The officials at court, upon hearing news of the emperor’s training of internal troops, would surely try to intervene and stop it. But judging by the emperor’s temperament now, he was unlikely to yield to them easily.

As for what the emperor would do next, Wang Cheng’en could not quite foresee. His mind was not particularly sharp; some things were simply beyond his reach. But for himself, these matters were less important. All that mattered was loyalty. The emperor would make his own decisions.

While Wang Cheng’en and Wei Zhongxian, the two personal eunuchs, pondered separately, the fifty prisoners in the training ground were swiftly slain by two hundred young eunuchs. Only then did Zhu Youjian rise to his feet and look at the assembled crowd.

Seeing the emperor stand, the two hundred young eunuchs who had just been wielding blades immediately dropped their weapons and prostrated themselves on the ground. Zhu Youjian could see that these boys, who were killing for the first time, displayed a variety of expressions: some excited, some terrified, some trembling… Yet one thing was common to all—they carried deep reverence and fear for imperial authority in their bones.

Harnessing such intense emotion, Zhu Youjian could easily train a personal guard more loyal than any elite force of past eras. But the question of death struck him anew—how had his former self lost?

Casting the thought aside, Zhu Youjian reached out to tap the boy who had charged out first. This young eunuch was a veteran of the Prince of Xin’s household, and Zhu Youjian found his face familiar. After some reflection, he recalled his name: Xiao Hongzi.

“Xiao Hongzi, you showed the greatest bravery just now. You shall temporarily command the entire guard.”

“I humbly thank Your Majesty for your grace. Long live the emperor, long live, long live forever!” Despite the blood on his body, Xiao Hongzi was overwhelmed with joy, repeatedly banging his head on the ground.

Though the command was temporary, as long as he diligently fulfilled his duties, the “temporary” would soon be dropped. At the same time, Xiao Hongzi felt a newfound loyalty to the emperor. Eunuchs like him could be beaten to death at any whim of a palace noble who disliked them. But now, by the emperor’s word alone, he was made commander of the entire guard.

Though the guard numbered only two hundred now, Xiao Hongzi believed this force would quickly expand.

After appointing Xiao Hongzi, Zhu Youjian divided the men into squads of five, then grouped two squads into units. He then selected three eunuchs who had distinguished themselves in the fighting and appointed them as squad leaders. With only three squad leaders and one commander among two hundred men, the others prostrated on the floor began to scheme. There were many vacant positions. Those who failed to catch the emperor’s attention this time resolved to strive harder next time.

It was better to advance now by one step than to run ten thousand steps later.

Once the appointments were made, Zhu Youjian personally distributed silver to the two hundred. Apart from two grand prizes of a thousand taels each, even those who had not gotten to strike a prisoner received twenty taels. Twenty taels might seem insignificant to the great nobles but was a fortune to these lowly eunuchs who had little to gain and often had to pay tribute to their seniors.

Naturally, their gratitude overflowed.

Then Zhu Youjian summoned Wei Zhongxian. “Bring me a hundred prisoners tomorrow. Arm them with blades, and provide two hundred sets of fine armor for my personal guards.”

“I obey Your Majesty’s command!” Wei Zhongxian knelt hastily.

Afterwards, Zhu Youjian turned to the young eunuchs. “Tomorrow, you will fight the enemy with real blades and real armor. Are any of you afraid?”

“No!” “We serve the emperor until death!”

The cries of loyalty from the two hundred young eunuchs thundered through the air.

Their freshly received silver still warm in their hands, with glory and wealth before their eyes, who would be afraid? Everyone in the palace knew that to rise, no matter the means, one must pay a bloody price.

...

Leaving Wansui Mountain, Zhu Youjian, surrounded by attendants, went to the Imperial Kitchen.

Though Xu Yingyuan loved money, he was capable. Upon taking office, he immediately uncovered several eunuchs who were betraying the palace and colluding with outsiders and had them beaten to death on the spot. The Imperial Kitchen was a place full of eyes and ears; it would take time to gain full control. But with this start, no one dared to act recklessly.

Zhu Youjian spoke some encouraging words and, upon leaving, patted Xu Yingyuan on the shoulder, stirring a wave of emotion that brought tears to Xu’s eyes.

Leaving the Imperial Kitchen, Zhu Youjian returned to the Qianqing Palace and began poring over official registries and memorials submitted over the past few years. Though from the future, limited by current technology and communication, this was his only way to understand the present state of the Ming.

His focus fell mainly on the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Shaanxi (Yansui).

As a secret service agency, the Embroidered Uniform Guard was invaluable. However, it seemed the current Guard was no longer loyal enough. Its current commander, Tian Ergeng, came from a civil official family; his grandfather was once Minister of War. Yet Tian had risen to his position by clinging to Wei Zhongxian.

Zhu Youjian cared little about which faction Tian belonged to. Such a secret service must be firmly under his control. If the person in charge was not his own trusted appointee, he must be replaced.

Next, Zhu Youjian turned his attention to memorials from Shaanxi over the years. Shaanxi was one of the nine key border strongholds.

From these reports, droughts had been severe in recent years, sparking frequent rebellions. Not only that, incursions by the Hetao Mongols were common, and soldiers’ pay was seriously overdue.

The memorials were mere words, yet Zhu Youjian knew in this agricultural society, Shaanxi’s problems were nearing a breaking point and demanded urgent resolution.

With this in mind, Zhu Youjian ordered Wang Cheng’en to send several young eunuchs in secret to Shaanxi to gather firsthand intelligence.

Now that Zhu Youjian had just ascended the throne, most eunuchs and palace maids were eager to impress him, especially those who once belonged to the Prince of Xin’s household faction.

Moreover, though his reign had lasted less than a month, an atmosphere of change was already perceptible within the imperial city.

Thus, the young eunuchs, receiving their orders, solemnly departed in secret for the border town of Shaanxi.