PFC Chapter 024 How Did They Become a Household?
Chapter 024 How Did They Become a Household?
Chapter 024
Led by over a hundred riders, Liu Huan, the commander of Guide Guard, rode a blue mule and, dressed in military attire, slowly approached.
"This humble servant greets the Commander. I was unaware that you would come so late at night..."
"Great news! Absolutely fantastic news!"
Liu Huan took out a document from his pocket: "The Ministry of War just issued an approval document, Commander Chen. Congratulations, you've been promoted!"
Chen Ying took the document and examined it closely by the firelight.
The document, written in black and white, stated: "In the intercalary third month of the second year of the Tianqi reign (1623), the White Lotus rebels, led by Xu Hongru, instigated a rebellion in Yuncheng, which then spread to Cao and Pu. Chen Boying, the Right Banner Commander of the Right Thousand-Household Office of Guide Guard, was ordered to lead his troops to aid in the suppression. He fought bravely in battle, braving arrows and stones, and personally killed the false commander Gao Shangbin in the Battle of Juye; he then pursued the rebels to Teng County, leading his elite troops in a charge and capturing the rebel leader Wang Haoxian. Both battles resulted in the identification and verification of the severed heads."
According to the "Regulations for Military Officials" in the "Collected Statutes of the Ming Dynasty," "Anyone who kills a bandit leader in battle shall be promoted three ranks and allowed to inherit the title." Chen Boying has now killed two bandit leaders, demonstrating commendable loyalty and bravery. After review by the Ministry of War, a memorial was submitted to the emperor, and Chen Boying was specially promoted to the rank of Right Thousand-Household Commander of the Guide Guard, a fifth-rank official, with the title being hereditary. He was also awarded thirty taels of silver and two sets of silk. The vacancy for the position of Banner Commander was to be filled by a son of the eligible heir recommended by the Guard.
This is a court decree to encourage loyalty and bravery; the official in charge must be even more steadfast in his loyalty, train and maintain the troops, and secure the Central Plains. Any negligence will be severely punished…
Chen Yingyue became more and more confused. He was just a military household without official registration. Although his ancestors were hereditary centurions, his uncle Chen Youfu was demoted and recruited after failing the military and political examinations three times.
He actually became a fifth-rank official, the commander of the Guide Guard.
What's going on?
Chen Ying felt a sense of unreality: "This... sir, what merit do I possess...?"
"Oh, Commander Chen, you're too modest."
Liu Huan patted him on the shoulder affectionately: "I have already verified and reported your merit of beheading the White Lotus Sect leader. You deserve it. Besides... Lord Xu Xianchun personally appointed you as his general."
Let alone Chen Ying being just a fifth-rank commander, even if he were a fourth-rank deputy commander, Liu Huan wouldn't need to personally deliver the official document to him. The problem is, he dared not disobey Xu Xianchun's orders.
Upon arriving in Guide Prefecture, Xu Xianchun's first act was to make an example of Dong, the Right Commander of Guide Guard, by removing him from his position and beating the fierce general until he had only four teeth left.
More importantly, because Hou Xun's son, Hou Fangxia, startled Xu Xianchun with his horse, he was arrested and beaten severely. Even Zheng Sanjun, the prefect of Guide Prefecture, Lü Zhisi, the son of Lü Kun, one of the three great ministers of the Wanli era and former Minister of Justice, Yuan Shu, the eldest son of Yuan Keli, the governor of Dengzhou and Laizhou, and dozens of gentry from Guide Prefecture came to plead for mercy.
The problem is that Xu Xianchun doesn't give face to anyone. Instead, he arrested more than a dozen members of the Hou family and tortured them to extract confessions, causing screams to echo throughout the Shangqiu County Prison.
Xu Xianchun's fearsome reputation terrified Liu Huan. He used all his strength and connections to change Chen Youfu's position as the hereditary captain in the 44th year of the Wanli reign to the 1st year of the Tianqi reign, when he was ill and unable to perform his duties. His position as the right captain was then inherited by his nephew, Chen Boying.
In the September assessment of the first year of the Tianqi reign, Chen Boying achieved excellent results, ranking third in Henan Province in policy essay and seventh in a combination of horse archery, foot archery, and spear fighting, and successfully succeeded in inheriting the position.
Chen Boying's resume states that he took office on December 18th of the first year of the Tianqi reign, becoming the Right General Banner Officer of the Right Thousand-Household Office of Guide Guard.
Then, in March of the second year of the Tianqi reign, Xu Hongru rebelled in Shandong. The military merit originally won by Dong Qianli, the Right Commander of Guide Guard, had been fraudulently claimed by Liu Huan, but now it fell on Chen Ying's head.
Liu Huan lowered his voice and whispered in Chen Ying's ear, "Lord Xu said that you are a rare talent, and it's a waste of your abilities to be in this small place like Yongcheng. Our Right Commander of Guide Guard will be transferred to Changping and renamed Changping Shahe Garrison Commander!"
This was actually an unexpected bonus for Liu Huan. The ten centurions of the Right Thousand Household Office were transferred to Changping, but the Right Thousand Household Office was still established. He could still set up the Right Thousand Household Office, and he could also promote ten centurions, ten deputy centurions, plus dozens of officials such as garrison commanders, generals, and squad leaders.
That's a lot of money.
Chen Ying frowned slightly: "Transferred to Changping?"
"Yes, guarding the capital from Changping. Congratulations, Commander Chen! If you become rich and powerful, don't forget me!"
Liu Huan was actually a little envious, but it was a great pity that he was only transferred to a Thousand-Household Garrison. If the entire Guide Guard had been transferred there, they would have made a fortune.
The military garrisons of the Ming Dynasty were not always static. For example, the Suiyang Garrison was originally the fortified garrison of the Prince of Zhou's residence, which was transferred to Suizhou and established as the Suiyang Garrison. In the four locations of Guide Prefecture, there were no battles to fight for more than two hundred years.
There was no way to profit from military supplies or exploit soldiers, resulting in a significant reduction in profits. Even a fourth-rank garrison commander in the border army could earn more in a year than a commander could in ten years.
"Commander, what's going on?"
Liu Huan smiled faintly: "Commander Chen, you should have said so earlier, given your relationship with Lord Xu..."
"Your subordinate..."
Chen Ying bowed and said, "This humble servant...accepts the order."
Liu Huan laughed: "That's right. Tomorrow morning, we'll return to Dewei, and I, the commander, will take you to your post."
He exchanged a few more pleasantries, then led his men away, the sound of their horses' hooves fading into the distance.
The construction bureau was deathly silent.
"Boying, you've really become a commander of a thousand men?"
Chen Daniu's voice trembled as he carefully reached for the document in Chen Ying's hand.
The most shocked person was Song Yanniang. She thought that marrying Chen Boying was a step down for her, and that Chen Boying had gotten a great deal. But she never expected that in just over two months, Chen Lang would become a commander of a thousand households.
"Chen Lang, am I dreaming?"
Song Yanniang reached out and pinched Song Xianze's arm, causing Song Xianze to wince in pain: "Ouch..."
"It hurts, that's good. If it hurts, it's not a dream!"
Song Xianze looked furious: "Why did you pinch me?"
"I'm afraid it will hurt if I pinch myself, but I can't bear to pinch Chen Lang..."
"So, you pinched me..."
Song Xianze said irritably, "You've gone too far!"
Chen Ying couldn't understand how he had become a fifth-rank commander, but the problem was that he didn't remember fighting this battle.
"Da Niu, did we go to Shandong last year?"
"No!"
Chen Daniu thought for a moment and said, "Commander Dong went with five hundred men. Our Ma Mu Centurion's Shan Danyang is still dead in Shandong..."
"What's going on?"
Back in his office, Chen Ying still couldn't figure out what had happened.
Song Xianze asked, "Brother-in-law, why don't you understand what's going on?"
"Hmm, how did I become a commander of a thousand households?"
Although Chen Ying knew that a thousand-household commander of the fifth rank in the Ming Dynasty was not a very high-ranking official, because the Ming Dynasty had established a total of 459 guard posts in the inner and outer garrisons, plus 359 guard posts of a thousand-household commander, for a total of 2,783 thousand-household commander posts throughout the country.
There are 2,783 commanders of the fifth rank. The problem is that commanders are different from generals. Generals have no fixed number of members, but commanders are one per position, so there are 2,783 of them.
"This document... is genuine."
"I know it's true."
Chen Ying smiled wryly, "Even Commander Liu wouldn't dare to forge the official seals of the Ministry of War, the deputy director of the Ministry of Personnel, and the five military governorates, but this credit..."
"The credit is fake, but the promotion is real."
Song Xianze suddenly said, "I understand. Brother-in-law, think about it: the iron plow, the seed drill, and that carriage for Prince Xin... Can these things really be kept secret from the capital? The Emperor is obsessed with carpentry; he is the emperor. How could he not know about a craftsman as skilled as you?"
"You mean...?"
"I suspect His Majesty has noticed you for a while. He wants to reward you, but according to ancestral rules, only those who have passed the imperial examinations can be granted official positions. However, since you come from a military household, it's easier to arrange things this way. He can attribute your success to military achievements and grant you a military rank, and the civil officials won't be able to say anything. But the Emperor himself can't personally oversee the promotion of a mere military household member, so..."
"So Hsu Hsien-chun was sent to handle it."
"That's right! Who is Xu Xianchun? He's the leader of the Five Eunuchs, the sharpest knife in Eunuch Wei's hand. With him handling this matter, firstly, it's fast; secondly, it's ruthless; and thirdly... no one dares to investigate."
Chen remained silent.
Song Xianze's analysis made sense, but something felt off. If the Tianqi Emperor truly wanted to reward him, why go to such lengths? A single imperial edict would have been enough to promote him directly; who would dare object?
Of course, Chen Ying was also influenced by the Qing Dynasty dramas. In the Ming Dynasty, apart from Zhu Yuanzhang, even political strongmen like Zhu Di had ministers who dared to contradict them to their faces. Especially during the reigns of Wanli, Tianqi and Chongzhen, the power of civil officials was too great. A palace coup directly slapped the emperor in the face.
The struggle over the foundation of the state also served as a slap in the face to Wanli. Most of the early Donglin Party members were tough as nails, except for those who were too eager to take action.
Let alone the current Tianqi Emperor, even three years later, when the all-powerful Wei Zhongxian is at the height of his power, there will still be people who dare to defy him.
"To the eunuch faction, brother-in-law, you are a useful pawn. Promoting you to the rank of commander and transferring you to Changping will both save face for His Majesty and give us a capable man—a win-win situation."
Chen Ying sighed and said, "What a pity. Being transferred to the capital will put me in a dangerous place!"
Chen Ying is currently pursuing a path of opportunism, and he will likely be purged when Chongzhen ascends the throne. Therefore, he can only try to curry favor with Chongzhen in advance.
Before he could finish speaking, the sound of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came from outside the courtyard.
Where is Chen Boying, the Right Commander of Guide Guard?
A sharp shout pierced the night sky, followed by the gate of the Imperial Workshop being kicked open violently. Torches rushed into the courtyard, illuminating a group of Imperial Guards with embroidered spring knives at their waists.
The leader was a man in his forties with sinister eyes and brows. He was none other than Xu Xianchun, the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He was a fourth-rank official and very easy to recognize.
Chen Ying hurriedly stepped forward to greet him: "This humble servant, Chen Boying, greets Lord Xu."
"You're Chen Boying?"
"It is indeed your humble servant."
Xu Xianchun dismounted swiftly and walked up to Chen Ying: "I heard... you built a carriage for His Highness Prince Xin?"
"Yes... I didn't know it was His Highness Prince Xin who commissioned it, and I dared not refuse."
"Well done!"
Xu Xianchun suddenly laughed, but the laugh sent chills down one's spine: "His Highness Prince Xin found it very comfortable, saying it was even more stable than the carriages in the palace."
"Your Highness is too kind; I am humbled."
Xu Xianchun leaned closer and lowered his voice: "Then you can't be biased. Does Eunuch Wei also want one?"
"Yes, but..."
Chen Ying forced a smile and said, "Please forgive me, Lord Xu, but the Construction Bureau only has a small amount of ordinary timber and steel. I'm afraid even a skilled cook can't make a meal without ingredients!"
Xu Xianchun straightened up and looked around the simple courtyard of the Imperial Workshop: "I heard that you used elm and beech wood to build the carriage for Prince Xin, and even wrapped it with copper horns?"
"Yes……"
"Are those tattered rags worthy of Eunuch Wei?"
Xu Xianchun said with a serious expression, "Chen Boying, I'm giving you a chance. Build a carriage that is ten times more luxurious and comfortable than Prince Xin's. If Eunuch Wei is satisfied, your position as a commander—no, just the beginning—will be promoted to a fourth-rank commander, then a third-rank deputy commander, or even a deputy commander of the governor's office. That will all be up to Eunuch Wei's word. If he's not satisfied..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the threat was very clear.
Chen Ying took a deep breath: "Lord Xu, it's not that I'm refusing, but the Construction Bureau... simply doesn't have the best timber. No matter how exquisite the craftsmanship, a carriage made of ordinary elm or pine can't be very luxurious."
"No timber?"
Xu Xianchun raised an eyebrow: "That's easy, I'll figure out the money and supplies!"
"If you have the wood and iron, I guarantee I can build a carriage that is one of a kind in the world, and I assure you, Eunuch Wei, you will be satisfied!"
Chen Ying was very confident. Luxurious decorations? That's just ridiculous. Ivory, gold and jade, golden nanmu, rosewood—you get what you pay for. If you don't know how to spend money, then you're a fool.
Chen Ying was very familiar with the craftsmen of the Bureau of Manufacturing. Among them were four outstanding goldsmiths and eleven silversmiths, who did everything in the most luxurious way.
"That's excellent!"
Early on the third day, Chen Ying took a carriage to Guide Prefecture. It took him a day and a night to reach the city. Before he even arrived at the Guide Guard Commandery, he received some shocking news.
The Hou family, ranked third among the eight great households in Guide Prefecture, whose Nanyuan Villa was owned by Hou Zhipu, the former Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, was raided by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. It was said that Hou Zhipu's second son, Hou Ke, had secretly kept eleven sets of armor and a number of swords and spears in the Nanyuan Villa, and was secretly plotting a rebellion.
Chen Ying and Song Xianze exchanged a glance, both knowing that Xu Xianchun had definitely framed them.
"Commander Chen!"
Chen Ying watched as a group of more than a dozen Imperial Guards stepped forward. The leader, a centurion, said, "Commander Chen, this is the list. Do you think it's enough?"
"Was this confiscated from the Marquis's residence?"
"That's right!"
Chen Ying took the list, which read: "Twelve pieces of agarwood, each two zhang long and two chi two cun in diameter; two pieces of ebony, each one zhang eight; thirty-two square pieces of sandalwood; eighteen pieces of golden nanmu; huanghuali..."
"Lord Commander, is this enough?"
The commander of the Imperial Guard laughed, "There are many wealthy families in Guide Prefecture; if that's not enough, we'll go and confiscate more..."
"Enough, enough!"
Chen hurriedly replied, "That's enough!"
Chen Ying finally understood what it meant for a scholar to encounter a situation where he couldn't reason with someone.
The commander of the Imperial Guards said, "Lord Commander, we will immediately send all the timber, as well as the gold, silver, silk, and precious objects confiscated from the Marquis's residence—everything needed for making carriages—to the Imperial Workshop!"
"Thank you very much, I, Chen, will certainly build a fine carriage for Eunuch Wei!"
"Lord Commander, farewell!"
After the Imperial Guards left, Song Xianze lowered his voice and asked, "They...they...ran the Hou family's house?"
Chen Ying nodded slowly.
"Just to...find timber to build you a car?"
"more than."
Chen Ying coldly said, "Hou Xun is a capable henchman of the Donglin Party. Xu Xianchun is retaliating. He's just doing it on a whim."
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