Chapter 608
Good news from Fujian has arrived!
Just as Emperor Chongzhen was surrounded by these loyal yet incredibly stubborn old ministers, pondering whether he should forcefully interrupt them or simply walk away and end this farce—
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
An urgent voice, filled with unprecedented urgency and a hint of barely suppressed joy, suddenly came from outside the door, instantly drowning out the noise inside the pavilion!
A young eunuch practically ran into the Wenyuan Pavilion, not bothering to wipe the fine sweat from his forehead—whether from rushing or running—as he held a military report high in his hands. The report, with three red pheasant feathers inserted into it, was particularly glaring in the dim light of the room.
His face flushed crimson, his breathing quickened, but his eyes gleamed with an irrepressible light. He rushed straight to Chongzhen, his voice trembling slightly with excitement:
"Your Majesty! Fujian! Fujian, urgent dispatch! It's a victory report from Duke Jinghai, Zheng Zhilong, delivered overnight! A great victory! An unprecedented victory!"
"Fujian? Zheng Zhilong? Good news?!"
These words, like ice water poured into boiling oil, instantly silenced the Wenyuan Pavilion, which was originally in a state of chaos and immersed in the emotion of "persuading the emperor to change his mind."
All the arguments, cries, and advice came to an abrupt halt at that moment, as if suddenly severed by an invisible hand.
Emperor Chongzhen's brows, which had just furrowed in impatience, suddenly lifted upon hearing the sound.
He turned around quickly, his gaze sharp as lightning, staring intently at the heavy military report in Wang Chengen's hand. The helplessness and annoyance that had been brought on by the old ministers receded like the tide, replaced by a sharp light mixed with surprise, expectation, and some inexplicable premonition.
Jiang Dejing, Fan Jingwen, Zhang Zhifa, and others were also frozen in place, remaining in various positions—kneeling, standing, or being helped—all turning their gazes toward the military report.
The tear stains on her face were still there, and the anxiety in her eyes had not yet subsided, but at this moment they were replaced by immense curiosity and astonishment.
Fujian? Good news coming at this time?
The battles in Liaodong and Korea are over, but what about Fujian...? Are they pirates? Or Western barbarians?
"Quickly! Read it! Read it aloud to me without missing a single word!"
Chongzhen's voice suddenly rose, carrying an unquestionable command, and even sounded somewhat hurried due to his urgency.
He ignored Fan Jingwen and the others who were still kneeling on the ground, walked a few steps to the throne, and stared intently at Wang Chengen.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Wang Chengen took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, and carefully untied the bright yellow wax seal bearing the seals of the Fujian Governor and the Duke of Jinghai, taking out a thick stack of memorials written in the elegant official script.
He cleared his throat and, in his distinctive, high-pitched yet clear and steady voice, began to read aloud:
"Your subject, Zheng Zhilong, Duke of Jinghai, Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, Commander-in-Chief of the Fujian Navy, and Director of the Maritime Trade Office, respectfully bows a hundred times to Your Majesty the Emperor..."
After the opening platitudes, the main text resounded like thunder, each sentence exploding within the Wenyuan Pavilion:
"I humbly believe that the island of Dongfan, perched high above the sea, has been part of our Chinese homeland since the Three Kingdoms period of Wu. However, since the previous dynasty, the maritime ban has become increasingly strict, treating it as if it were a foreign land. This has allowed the Dutch, Portuguese, and other Western barbarians to seize the opportunity to occupy it, build forts, station troops, plunder our merchants and people, and exploit our fertile lands for decades! This is truly a disgrace to the nation and a scourge to our maritime borders!"
"Your Majesty's grace has granted me the position of Governor-General of the coastal frontier. I have thought about this day and night, and I have never failed to feel heartbroken and resentful! However, in the past, the affairs of the country were fraught with difficulties, and I had no time for long-term planning. Now, thanks to Your Majesty's divine martial prowess and His Highness the Crown Prince's wisdom, we have swept away the northern barbarians, pacified Korea, and our prestige has spread throughout the land. The nation's power is growing day by day."
"Your Majesty's will and divine authority have led me to mobilize the elite Fujian naval forces, with over a thousand warships and a hundred thousand soldiers, to sail eastward, determined to clear the seas of hostilities and reclaim our lost lands!"
"Our Ming Dynasty navy, relying on His Majesty's divine might, united in hatred against the enemy and fought bravely. First, we defeated the combined fleet of the barbarian chieftains in the open sea, burning and sinking twenty-three of their giant ships, capturing seventeen, and killing, wounding, and even jumping into the sea countless times! Then we landed and launched a strong attack, capturing their fortified cities and breaking through their strongholds! The flintlock muskets resounded throughout the world; the red-coated cannons subdued the barbarians! After days of bloody battle, we finally annihilated and drove out all the Western barbarians, including the Dutch and Portuguese, who had occupied the eastern regions!"
"By the end of November, the entire island of Dongfan was covered with the dragon flag of the Ming Dynasty! The remaining barbarians on the island either surrendered or fled, and dared not attack again. In this battle, a total of more than 3,700 Western barbarian soldiers and officers were killed, wounded, or captured, and countless warships, cannons, muskets, gold, silver, and other goods were seized! The barbarian leaders, including Coyett (the Dutch governor) and Fernando (the Portuguese commander), all bowed their heads and begged for their lives!"
"Now that the Eastern Barbarians have been recovered, the island is vast and the people are diverse. There are remnants of Western barbarians, native aborigines, and Han Chinese from Fujian and Guangdong who have migrated there. It is imperative that the court quickly dispatch capable officials to establish prefectures and counties, register households and regulate the people; send strong troops to build fortifications to deter any unruly behavior; and promote education and culture to spread the emperor's virtues, so that all the people on the island may know that they are children of the Great Ming Emperor and forever bathed in the emperor's rule!"
"This is all due to Your Majesty's virtue and power, the Crown Prince's strategic planning, and the soldiers' bravery! We have only done our part by running around, what merit have we made? We only wish that Your Majesty will soon decide on a plan for dealing with the aftermath of the Eastern Barbarian invasion, so that the southeastern coastal borders of our Great Ming will be forever free from foreign threats and as impregnable as a fortress! Your subject has respectfully sent an envoy to report this, and humbly begs Your Majesty's wise consideration! Your subject, Zheng Zhilong, is truly trembling with fear and trepidation, and respectfully submits this report."
Wang Chengen read with great intonation, especially emphasizing the numbers of victories and the details of the battles.
When the last sentence, "The entire island of Dongfan has been planted with the dragon flag of the Ming Dynasty," was recited, only the heavy breathing of the crowd could be heard in the Wenyuan Pavilion.
A brief, deathly silence.
Then--
"Excellent! Excellent! What a brilliant Zheng Zhilong! What a brilliant Duke Jinghai!"
Emperor Chongzhen suddenly stood up from his seat. The movement was so abrupt that the chair was pushed back a few inches, making a screeching sound.
His face flushed with excitement, his eyes gleamed, and he could no longer contain his joy. He slammed his hand on the hard mahogany desk beside him, making a loud "bang" that made the pen holder and inkstone on the desk jump!
"Hahahaha! Heaven bless the Ming Dynasty! Heaven bless the Ming Dynasty!"
Emperor Chongzhen burst into laughter, a hearty and unrestrained laugh that seemed to sweep away all the frustration he had felt from the remonstrations of the cabinet ministers! He paced excitedly in the not-so-spacious office, his steps quick and heavy, the hem of his black robe catching a gust of wind.
"Dongfan! Dongfan! This homeland, which has been separated from the mainland and occupied by Western barbarians for decades, has finally returned to the territory of our Great Ming Dynasty! Hahahaha!"
He walked to the window, suddenly pushed it open, and a biting wind carrying snowflakes rushed in, making his clothes flutter and clearing his feverish head a little, but the excitement on his face only intensified.
He turned, his gaze fixed intently on the still-shocked cabinet ministers, his voice trembling with excitement, yet brimming with unparalleled pride:
"In the past, the imperial court valued land over sea, regarding the vast ocean as a daunting obstacle, and treating the precious island of Dongfan as a barren wasteland, discarding it like worn-out shoes! This allowed the barbarian scoundrels of the West to take advantage of the situation, occupy the land for decades, plunder our wealth, and cheat our merchants and people! This is a loss for the dynasty and a regret in my heart!"
"But times have changed!"
He suddenly swung his arm, as if giving orders. "My navy, under the command of the Duke of Jinghai, is invincible wherever its banners point! The Dutch and Portuguese are nothing but clowns, vanquished in an instant by the thunderous might of my Great Ming army! This is true territorial expansion! It is another unparalleled achievement after Liaodong and Korea!"
He walked back to the throne, placed his hands on the table, leaned forward, and swept his gaze across the crowd, speaking each word with unwavering resolve:
"From this day forward, the southeastern sea frontier of my Great Ming Dynasty will be wide open, and the vast waves will be at my disposal! The Eastern Barbarians are me, the Great Ming Dynasty, a steadfast anchor in the sea that will never rust! A Great Wall of the sea protecting the wealth of the southeast! I am so pleased! I am so pleased! Hahaha!"
The emperor's undisguised elation and pride finally awakened the cabinet ministers who were still immersed in the double shock of the "emperor's abdication" and the "victory report from the Eastern Barbarians".
In any case, recovering lost territory and expanding the territory is always a great joy and a blessing for the country that deserves universal celebration.
Grand Secretary Xue Guoguan was the first to react. He immediately straightened his clothes, bowed deeply to Emperor Chongzhen, and spoke in a loud and joyful voice:
"Your Majesty, we offer our congratulations! We offer our congratulations to the Great Ming! Duke Jinghai, Zheng Zhilong, has displayed his might overseas, pacifying the Eastern Barbarians in one fell swoop, thus expanding the territory of our Great Ming and ensuring lasting peace on the seas. This is a testament to Your Majesty's boundless blessings and the Crown Prince's wise judgment in recognizing and employing talent! We are honored to share in this achievement!"
His words cleverly attributed the credit to "His Majesty's great fortune" and "the Crown Prince's ability to recognize talent," which was both in line with the duties of a subject and subtly aligned with the emperor's thoughts.
Jiang Dejing, Fan Jingwen, Zhang Zhifa, and others quickly followed suit, bowing to offer their congratulations.
"Your Majesty, we offer our congratulations! This is a momentous occasion for our nation!"
"Your Majesty's power extends throughout the four seas and your virtue reaches the eight directions, which is why you can inspire your soldiers to fight to the death and achieve this extraordinary feat!"
"The submission of the Eastern Barbarians and the peace of the coastal regions are truly a blessing for the nation and a boon for all the people!"
In an instant, the Wenyuan Pavilion was filled with congratulations and praises to the emperor. The tense atmosphere of remonstrance and lamentation that had just been there was completely shattered by this sudden good news.
The charcoal fire seemed to burn even brighter, casting a rosy glow on everyone's faces.
Hearing the congratulations from everyone, Emperor Chongzhen was overjoyed, and all the pent-up feelings in his heart disappeared.
With a wave of his hand, he gave the order directly, his tone resolute and brooking no argument:
"The Cabinet shall immediately draft an edict to announce the great victory in Dongfan to the world with the highest honors! Every citizen of the Ming Dynasty must know that the battle flag of our Great Ming has been planted on the highest point of Dongfan Island! We must let all nations of the world see just how powerful the Ming Dynasty is today!"
"The Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Revenue shall immediately convene to discuss and decide on the aftermath of the Dongfan incident! Select capable officials who are familiar with maritime affairs, understand the local conditions, and are willing to take on responsibilities, and send them to Dongfan as soon as possible to establish prefectures, states, and counties, set up government offices, register households and people, measure land, and collect taxes! Deploy elite troops who are proficient in both land and sea warfare and familiar with island warfare to Dongfan to build fortifications, defend the region, suppress local strife, and patrol the seas!"
In addition, funds, provisions, and supplies were raised to ensure the expenses of officials and the army, and support was provided for local water conservancy projects, land reclamation, the establishment of schools, and the spread of the Holy Teachings!
He spoke at length, becoming increasingly excited as he went on, his eyes sparkling with grand visions:
"I will build Dongfan into the most fortified stronghold, the most prosperous commercial port, and a model for civilizing the barbarians in the southeastern seas of my Great Ming! Let it become an unsinkable sea liner of my Great Ming, protecting the southeast and radiating its influence to the four seas!"
"Your Majesty, we obey! We will proceed immediately!"
Xue Guoguan immediately bowed and accepted the order, his expression solemn. This was indeed the most urgent matter at hand, and there was no room for carelessness.
Emperor Chongzhen nodded in satisfaction, looking at Xue Guoguan and the other cabinet ministers, his smile widening. As if casually, he brought up the previous topic again, but his tone was completely different, carrying a hint of pride and a "I'll prove it to you" connotation:
"Look, all of you, look. The Crown Prince's father-in-law has achieved such unparalleled merit. The Crown Prince's strategic planning in Liaodong and Korea is also evident to all. With such capable ministers and generals, and such a wise heir, what else could I possibly worry about? This empire, once entrusted to the Crown Prince, will only prosper and expand more than it has in my hands! I am truly at ease, and I am also... full of anticipation."
His words, seemingly filled with emotion, actually linked the "abdication" with the "capable crown prince," essentially using this freshly delivered, hard-won news as the latest and most powerful evidence that the "crown prince was capable of taking on the responsibility."
However, before he could finish speaking, Grand Secretary Jiang Dejing had already recovered from his initial joy at the good news and keenly grasped the implied meaning in the emperor's words.
The joy on his face faded slightly, his brows furrowed again as usual, and he couldn't help but take a step forward. Although his voice was much gentler than when he had given his advice earlier, it still carried a stubborn worry:
"Your Majesty! The Duke of Jingguo has made such a great contribution, and His Highness the Crown Prince has shown great insight into people. We are deeply impressed! However, it is precisely because our Great Ming is now thriving, continuously expanding its territory and growing stronger, that we need a wise ruler like Your Majesty to sit in the center, manage the overall situation, and stabilize the hearts of the people in the court and among the people!"
Your Majesty is the pillar of stability; with Your Majesty present, meritorious officials are at ease, the people are loyal, and all directions fear and submit! If Your Majesty were to... well, if you were to show any sign of resignation at this time, it would not only fail to demonstrate the Crown Prince's abilities but would also easily cause panic both inside and outside the court, leading people to believe that the political situation had changed and trouble was about to erupt! Your Majesty, three..."
"OK OK!"
Upon hearing this familiar opening, Chongzhen knew that Jiang Dejing was about to launch into his long-winded discourse on "Your Majesty's indispensability."
My good mood was instantly ruined, and my head started to throb again.
He quickly raised his hand, interrupting Jiang Dejing, his face revealing an undisguised expression of helplessness and "Why are you here again?"
"The good news is a great joy! As for how to arrange the rewards and how to govern the Dongfan, we still need you ministers to discuss it carefully and come up with a plan."
Chongzhen quickened his pace, and as he spoke, he began to move toward the door, clearly preparing to slip away.
"I am feeling a bit tired; the heat of this charcoal fire is making me dizzy. My ministers, please stay here and discuss the important matters concerning the aftermath of the Dongfan rebellion. We must come up with a plan as soon as possible. I will return to the palace to rest for a while."
Having said that, he didn't give Jiang Dejing, Fan Jingwen and the others a chance to speak again. He gave Wang Chengen a wink, then strode out of Wenyuan Pavilion as if he were fleeing.
Wang Chengen hurriedly grabbed the original copy of the victory report and jogged after him. Several of his attending eunuchs also rushed out in a panic. (End of Chapter)