032 The Joy of Hongguang

Compared to the Forbidden City in Beijing, the newly renovated imperial palace of the Hongguang reign was truly a case of a small pond dwarfed by a vast ocean. Wang Lanping waited outside the main hall, standing just below the dozen or so steps at the entrance. Seeing the guiding eunuch gesture for him to proceed, he hurriedly gathered himself. Meeting an emperor was a grave matter, and he could not afford to be cavalier. Having had prior experience meeting the Chongzhen Emperor, he was well-versed in the necessary etiquette and taboos.

Wang Lanping straightened his armor, unhooked his sword from his waist, and handed it to a nearby eunuch. He signaled to Zheng Hongkui, who had accompanied him, and said, "Lord Zheng, please."

Zheng Hongkui nodded. "The Emperor wishes to see you. Now that I have delivered you here, my duty is fulfilled. I shall return to the naval fleet. However, I have a sudden question for you, Scholar Wang: having stood in the presence of the Son of Heaven twice now, what are your thoughts?"

From the moment they boarded the ship at the Yangtze estuary in Anqing to their arrival in Nanjing, the two had barely spoken privately beyond basic courtesies. Zheng Hongkui’s reservations were clear: he could neither draw too close to this man nor drift too far away. To get too close was to risk being implicated if Wang were purged by Ma Shiying and his faction. To drift too far was to risk losing a path to influence should Wang truly possess the extraordinary talent to help the Emperor restore the court's authority. Thus, he remained distant yet cordial, neither cold nor overly warm.

Throughout the journey, Wang Lanping had welcomed the peace, using the time to mentally rehearse the potential crises awaiting him in Nanjing—what to say to the Emperor, how to navigate the officials of the Southern Capital—ensuring he was prepared for any eventuality.

Wang Lanping felt a slight tension in his chest. He glanced sideways at Zheng, thinking, *How patient you are. You held your tongue the entire trip just to find out if I intend to become a loyalist to the Emperor. As if I would tell you.*

"I have no particular thoughts, only a lingering sense of nervousness," Wang Lanping replied with a noncommittal laugh. "Perhaps Lord Zheng could accompany me a bit further? They say the dragon’s face is hard to read; having you by my side would put my heart at ease." His words carried a double meaning. On the surface, they were empty pleasantries, but beneath them lay a deeper calculation. The Emperor’s desire to form a loyalist faction was as clear as the sun, and Wang was no fool; being used as a pawn for the Emperor was a thankless, grueling task. Especially here in the Hongguang court, where Zheng commanded strong troops—if the two of them joined forces, their efforts would surely double in effectiveness.

Zheng Hongkui was a shrewd man who could discern multiple meanings from a single phrase. His eyes flickered as he smiled. "Scholar Wang, why say such things? You are a young hero who has made a name for yourself in battle; surely you will receive a great reward from the Emperor. I am a man without merit; to stand before the Emperor alongside you would only be asking for trouble. However, I shall prepare a feast on my flagship to celebrate your impending promotion. I hope you will grace me with your presence. Ah, please, the Emperor is waiting." The implication was clear: if you succeed, I will stand with you, but for now, it is too early—the Emperor and the officials are waiting to lock horns with you.

Wang Lanping laughed. "Very well, I shall take your kind words as an omen." With that, he ascended the steps and strode into the main hall.

The Hongguang Emperor, Zhu Yousong, was laboriously stepping down from his dais, supported by two eunuchs. Because of his extreme obesity, his eyes vanished into slits whenever he smiled. His thick chin, adorned with a small goatee that bobbed up and down, made him look remarkably like the God of Wealth in a folk painting—quite a comedic sight.

"Scholar Wang, Minister Wang, I have finally been waiting for you!" Zhu Yousong beamed as he approached, his face glowing with genuine delight. He hadn't felt this happy since the day he ascended the throne; surely, better days were ahead.

The assembled officials were confused, as none had known of Wang Lanping’s arrival. Even Ma Shiying, who controlled the court, was caught off guard. He had only heard that the Emperor intended to send the naval fleet to patrol the Anqing area; he never imagined they would bring back a man—and not just any man. Liu Zeqing’s earlier report had already made Wang’s exploits the talk of Nanjing; even the street storytellers had new tales to spin.

Ma Shiying was displeased. *What is the Emperor planning?* It seemed the Emperor had arranged this arrival himself, and the implications were subtle. Could Zheng Hongkui have aligned himself with the Emperor? Zheng was a slippery old fox who avoided associating with court officials and treated the Emperor with polite indifference. Why would he suddenly help now?

Ma Shiying could not fathom it. He turned to study the vibrant, energetic young general. What was the Emperor’s intent in bringing him to the capital? To grant him titles and use him to check the Four Garrisons of the Yangtze? To dilute Ma’s own power?

In the hall, besides the Hongguang Emperor, there was one other person who was particularly excited: Shi Kefa. He knew who Wang Lanping was—a general on the front lines against the rebels. For the Emperor to summon him now signaled a shift: an offensive! To reward him with titles and send him north to pacify the rebels—this aligned perfectly with Shi Kefa’s own convictions, and so he was pleased.

However, the Hongguang Emperor was neither as wise and martial as Shi Kefa hoped, nor as cunning as Ma Shiying feared. But one thing was certain: promotions were inevitable.

Wang Lanping stepped into the main hall and saw the portly man in the bright yellow dragon robe waddling toward him with a wide grin. He immediately realized this was Zhu Yousong. His appearance was hardly that of a sovereign—compared to his cousin, the Chongzhen Emperor, he was a far cry. Truly, one cannot judge a book by its cover; walking down the street, he would just be a fat man, and even in a dragon robe, he was still just a fat man.

But since his surname was Zhu, Wang Lanping cupped his hands and knelt before him. "Your subordinate, Wang Lanping, pays respects to Your Majesty. Long live, long live, long, long live the Emperor!"

Zhu Yousong had run a few steps, panting heavily, but it did not dampen his excitement. He waddled over, grabbed Wang Lanping’s arm, and beamed. "No need for such formality, General Wang. Please, rise. I have felt a spiritual kinship with you for a long time. I have heard of your talents, and seeing you today, you truly live up to your reputation. Young and promising—a true Confucian general!"

Wang Lanping had not expected the Emperor to heap such praise upon him before the entire court. It was generous, and he quickly replied, "Your subordinate is ashamed. I failed to hold Anqing Prefecture, losing the city and the land. My crimes are such that ten thousand deaths could not redeem them. How can I deserve such high praise from Your Majesty?"

Zhu Yousong glanced at Ma Shiying, his expression lacking the usual submissive restraint. "How can the talent of a general be judged by the gain or loss of a single city? In my view, your talent is comparable to that of Guo Ziyi, the general who restored the Tang Dynasty. Come, walk with me."

Even Wang Lanping felt embarrassed. *Your Majesty, take it easy with the praise. You’re roasting me over a fire. There are plenty of generals standing right here; how can they feel comfortable while you shower me with such accolades?*

Zhu Yousong led Wang Lanping to the center of the hall, surveyed the officials, and laughed heartily. He seemed to have been transformed. "My ministers, since the burden of the Ming Empire fell upon me, I have sworn a solemn vow to reclaim our lost lands and return to the old capital. In these troubled times, when the nation is in peril, the state needs capable generals. While our armies have suffered repeated defeats, only General Wang has been able to project our military might and strike a blow against the rebels at Huaining. My heart is greatly comforted!"

Wang Lanping felt helpless. *Too flamboyant. Let’s quit while we’re ahead. You’ve had your moment of glory, Your Majesty, but I’ll likely be bludgeoned by other generals the moment I step out of the palace. You’re turning me into a target, a lone wolf. You make it look as if you’re desperate to seize power. Can’t we be more subtle? Can’t you stop adding to my list of enemies?*

Many officials wanted to curry favor with the "Scholar General," but upon seeing the long, sour face of the Chief Grand Secretary Ma Shiying, they dared not move.

Shi Kefa longed to say something about the Ming gaining another tiger-like general, but since no one else in the court spoke, to do so now would seem like bootlicking. He remained silent, merely observing.

Ma Shiying’s face was dark. He truly could not understand the Emperor’s game. If you want to shed your status as a puppet, you should at least find someone competent. Even if Wang Lanping had some ability, by doing this, the Emperor had turned all the other Ming generals against him. Was he trying to get him killed?

The atmosphere in the hall was awkward, the officials shifting their gazes between the Emperor and Ma Shiying, their expressions immensely uncomfortable.

Seeing this, Wang Lanping stepped in to smooth things over. He bowed and turned to the officials. "I, Wang Lanping, greet all you ministers. I have long heard of the many worthies in this court, and today, I see a hall filled with loyal and virtuous men. When the great catastrophe struck the capital and the former Emperor met his end, the people were in dire peril. At that critical moment, you ministers acted with resolve, upholding the mandate of the current Emperor to stabilize the hearts of the people and extend the longevity of our nation. Such a feat is beyond my humble reach. With His Majesty’s grand strategy and your far-sighted wisdom, we shall surely restore the Ming and create a golden age."

It was a difficult feat to smooth things over so effectively, but he had to, given the Emperor’s antics. After uttering these insincere words, Wang Lanping gauged the reaction of the officials. *Good, that landed well.* Indeed, many of the ministers began to look smug. *Yes, we upheld the throne and saved the dynasty. With such merit, let’s see who dares call us good-for-nothings.*

Zhu Yousong laughed, his cheeks trembling. To be called a "Sage Ruler" was a label no emperor could resist.

Ma Shiying saw that the young man was at least sensible, unlike the oblivious Hongguang Emperor. Yet, this only increased his unease. A person you cannot read is the most dangerous; if everyone were like the Hongguang Emperor, whose every thought was transparent, there would be nothing to fear. He spoke up: "I have long heard that Scholar Wang is both a scholar and a warrior, a rare talent. When I served as Governor of Fengyang, I often wished to meet you, but the chaos of the times prevented it. I wonder, does the General remember his old superior?"

Ma Shiying was quick to claim credit. By bringing up his own background, the implication was clear. When Ma was Governor of Fengyang, he had four major generals under his command. Wang Lanping had been a deputy commander under Liu Zeqing—one of Ma’s subordinates. Ma was telling Wang: *Remember, you were my man before, and you still are. Don't stand on the wrong side.*

Wang Lanping understood the subtext perfectly. It was inappropriate to offer a full kowtow to anyone but the Emperor in the hall, so he straightened his posture, cupped his hands toward Ma Shiying, and feigned great surprise and respect. "So it is Chief Grand Secretary Ma! I have been remiss. Old Governor, how could I ever forget?"

Ma Shiying was self-satisfied, glancing at the officials as if to say, *See? The man the Emperor admires was once my subordinate.*

The Hongguang Emperor, hearing this, was displeased. He pointed at Shi Kefa. "Scholar Wang, do you know this man?"

Wang Lanping looked Shi Kefa up and down. Judging by his high-ranking official robes, he must be a Minister of one of the Six Ministries. Who could it be? The man radiated integrity, poised and dignified, with a military air about him. Could it be the Minister of War, Shi Kefa?

Wang Lanping said, "Your Majesty, is this not Grand Secretary Shi, Lord Shi?"

The Hongguang Emperor stroked his goatee and smiled.

Shi Kefa bowed. "The General has a sharp eye. Indeed, it is I. I have long heard of your reputation, General. It is an honor to meet you."

The name Shi Kefa was like thunder to Wang Lanping’s ears—a national hero. He would die for his country at the Battle of Yangzhou, taking eighty thousand citizens with him to the grave. A true titan.

Wang Lanping returned the bow. "You are too kind, Grand Secretary."

Seeing the two high officials and even the Emperor treat Wang Lanping with such respect, the other officials could not afford to fall behind. They all stepped forward to offer greetings and praise, nearly eager to embrace him to prove their sincerity.

The Hongguang Emperor was delighted. *You lot argue over the smallest trifles, always asking me to make decisions, and then ignoring them when I do. Now, at least my ears are quiet, and you finally have someone you don't all hate. The people of the city praise him; surely you wouldn't dare go against the people.* The Hongguang Emperor returned to his throne, gestured for silence, and smiled. "Wang Lanping, come forward to receive your appointment."

Wang Lanping felt a mix of shock and joy. Joy, because the Battle of Huaining was intended for this very moment; shock, because he prayed the Emperor wouldn't overdo it. If he were granted a rank that placed him above Ma Shiying, it would be terribly awkward.

Ma Shiying, upon hearing this, interrupted before Wang Lanping could even kneel to accept the decree. "Your Majesty, Scholar Wang has indeed performed meritorious service and deserves to be rewarded. However, this is a grave matter. Perhaps it would be better for the Cabinet to deliberate first before conferring any titles."