After suffering such a major defeat with the Defense Minister and Supreme Commander forced to commit suicide, logically the Mu family should have their titles stripped and face punishment.
There had been precedent. For instance, Duke Qiguo Qiu Fu, who had sworn to follow Emperor Yongle even when he was still Prince Yan, made great contributions in the Jingnan Campaign and was granted a first-rank ducal title. But in the seventh year of Yongle’s reign, during the northern campaign against the Tatars, he rashly sought glory and advanced recklessly, resulting in total annihilation. Qiu Fu died on the battlefield, bleeding every last drop, dying most tragically.
Emperor Yongle grieved the loss of his beloved general, but defeat was defeat—responsibility had to be assigned, with clear rewards and punishments. Officials impeached Qiu Fu who had died wrapped in his horse’s hide. To give an explanation to the officials and the completely annihilated Ming northern expedition army, Emperor Yongle reluctantly stripped the Qiu family of their hereditary ducal title and exiled the entire family to Hainan Island.
This once-glorious top aristocratic family of the capital thus fell into ruin, never to recover.
Due to Qiu Fu’s total defeat, along with his subordinate famous generals Li Fang, Huo Lihuozhen and others, nearly half the Jingnan famous generals were lost in this single defeat. This made Emperor Yongle determined that the Son of Heaven would guard the nation’s gates and personally campaign against the Tatars.
Emperor Yongle was a heroic ruler who conquered the realm on horseback. Since there wasn’t a single capable fighter left, this old man would do it himself.
Now Mu Sheng’s southern expedition army was almost completely annihilated, causing Defense Minister Liu Jun to commit suicide for his country. The losses could match those of Qiu Fu’s northern expedition army. Officials submitted memorials impeaching Mu Sheng, demanding he be stripped of titles and removed from office—if he couldn’t even defeat a bandit like Chen Jikuo, he shouldn’t continue harming Ming’s army with needless deaths.
Looking at the memorials on his desk, Emperor Yongle’s secretarial team of Grand Secretaries had drafted the imperial edict stripping titles, waiting only for the emperor’s approval before sending it to the Directorate of Ceremonial for the imperial seal.
Everyone believed the Mu family would inevitably fall like the Qiu family, exiled to Hainan Island to live miserably thereafter, farming and weaving cloth in poverty, planting mangoes and sugar cane on that southern island.
Emperor Yongle hesitated somewhat. Though both were first-rank dukes, the Mu and Qiu families were different. Qiu Fu had shallow foundations, receiving his ducal title purely through merit of following the dragon.
So on Duke Qiguo Qiu Fu’s golden book and iron certificate was written “Serving Heaven, Pacifying Rebellion, Loyal and Sincere.”
On Duke Qianguo’s golden book and iron certificate was written “Founding the Nation, Assisting Fortune, Loyal and Sincere.” We are not the same.
The Mu family were three-dynasty meritorious nobles whose titles came from generations of Mu men accumulating achievements. From the first Duke Qianguo Mu Ying onward, the Mu family had shed blood for Ming, serving as Northern Expedition Marshal and Southern Expedition Marshal. Yunnan could be said to have been conquered by Mu Ying.
The second Duke Qianguo Mu Chun handled Ming’s 2.5 million great migration project, transforming Yunnan from a primitive, uncivilized wilderness into Ming’s southwestern gateway, incorporating it into Central Plains civilization.
The third Duke Qianguo Mu Sheng, who followed Mu Ying and Mu Chun in campaigns everywhere during his youth, was Yunnan’s stabilizing pillar. The Mu family’s hereditary governance of Yunnan was fundamental national policy established during Gaozhu’s time. The Mu family had high prestige in Yunnan—no one could replace their position.
If the Mu family’s titles were stripped and the whole family exiled, Yunnan would be leaderless. Wouldn’t that cause chaos?
But simply letting the Mu family off while Qiu Fu was stripped of titles even after dying in battle, with his whole family exiled to Hainan Island—wouldn’t that be unfair?
It might break the hearts of the Jingnan famous generals at court.
As Emperor Yongle struggled with this dilemma, Mu Chun used A’Lei’s face to enter the palace and requested an audience.
Mu Chun’s thinking aligned with Emperor Yongle’s—whether the Mu family could keep their titles was secondary; the real issue was that once the Mu family withdrew from Yunnan, ambitious local chieftains might rebel alongside Jiaozhi’s Chen Jikuo, taking advantage of the chaos. Yunnan would certainly fall into great turmoil.
During the Jingnan Campaign, Mu Chun and Hu Shanwei were behind-the-scenes heroes—this face had to be given. Emperor Yongle secretly met with Mu Chun, bringing Crown Prince’s Grandson Zhu Zhanji along.
Having experienced three dynasties’ storms, Mu Chun knew that even the most powerful meritorious families could fall at any moment if they weren’t careful. He thus requested Emperor Yongle give the Mu family a chance to atone through merit.
Emperor Yongle still hesitated—after such a crushing defeat, could the Mu family recover so quickly? Would betting on the Mu family again be too risky?
Emperor Yongle looked at the Crown Prince’s Grandson sitting quietly beside him, eyes observing nose, nose observing heart, and asked, “What does the Crown Prince’s Grandson think?”
Zhu Yuanfang—no, Zhu Zhanji—said, “Your Majesty, the Mu family has been loyal for generations. Prince Zhaojing Mu Ying’s achievements need no mention. Duke Chengguo’s wife is also from the Mu family, and Prince Consort Mu Xin meritoriously supervised the construction of temples at Mount Wudang. Your grandson observes Mu Sheng’s past battle record—he has almost never failed, achieving great victories. Now that Mu Sheng has suffered heavy losses, it’s not that Ming’s military strength is weak, but rather Mu Sheng’s fault in underestimating the enemy. In this Ming southern expedition, Minister of War Liu Jun was deputy commander. Though Liu Jun died for his country, as deputy commander, didn’t Liu Jun also err in rashly seeking glory?”
“Your grandson boldly speaks, requesting Your Majesty give the Mu family a chance to atone through merit. However, for Ming’s next southern expedition, the commander should be changed. Duke Yingguo Zhang Fu, commander of the former Annan campaign, could be appointed Grand Marshal for Pacifying the Barbarians to oversee the situation. Additionally, send a Directorate of Ceremonial eunuch to supervise the army, ensuring Mu Sheng won’t repeat his rash advance.”
Zhu Zhanji’s words were quite sophisticated—worthy of being the number two heir. First he played the emotional card, mentioning that second uncle Xu Zengshou’s wife née Mu was Mu Sheng’s sister, and Prince Consort Mu Xin was Mu Sheng’s brother. The Mu family were relatives with deep emotional bonds to the Zhu family, and helpful relatives at that, hinting that Emperor Yongle should show leniency to the Mu family.
Then he proposed a feasible solution—worried Mu Sheng wasn’t capable? Then change commanders and let Duke Yingguo Zhang Fu lead. Worried Mu Sheng would eagerly seek to reverse his defeat, having a “relapse of chronic illness” and rashly advance again? Then send a trusted eunuch to supervise the army at the front.
Zhu Zhanji understood Emperor Yongle too well. Throughout his speech he never mentioned Mu Chun—because Mu Chun was his teacher. If he mentioned Mu Chun’s achievements, there would be suspicion of favoritism, and Emperor Yongle wouldn’t listen to his suggestions.
Moreover, both publicly and privately, Zhu Zhanji felt the Mu family couldn’t follow the Qiu family’s path. Duke Qiguo Qiu Fu was Prince Han Zhu Gaoxu’s die-hard supporter. When the crown prince was undecided, Qiu Fu repeatedly memorialized requesting Prince Han be made crown prince.
Later when the Crown Prince became lame, Qiu Fu also memorialized to “depose the Crown Prince.”
The Mu family was different—they never participated in succession struggles. Whether Mu Sheng or Prince Consort Mu Xin, both remained neutral, always maintaining respect for the heir apparent toward the Eastern Palace.
With Prince Han’s power strong and the Eastern Palace’s weak, the Mu family never kicked them when they were down. The Eastern Palace, which had repeatedly faced enemies on all sides, was quite satisfied with this.
So in Zhu Zhanji’s view, the Qiu family could fall, but the Mu family couldn’t. Now that he had a chance to help the Mu family, why not?
Hearts are gradually won over. If the Eastern Palace helped the Mu family this time, the Mu family might show no surface changes, but could their hearts remain unmoved?
Zhu Zhanji had a mind like a wasp’s nest, seeking to maximize benefits.
Emperor Yongle pondered briefly and said, “The Mu family has rendered service to Ming. We cannot condemn them with a single blow for one defeat, negating their ancestors’ past achievements. However, Mu Sheng bears primary responsibility for this Jiaozhi defeat. First, dock his salary for one year as disciplinary action, demote him from commander to deputy commander, and let him atone through merit.”
Mu Chun was overjoyed. “Thank you for Your Majesty’s great grace. This subject will certainly return to discipline my foolish younger brother so he won’t repeat the error of underestimating the enemy.”
Emperor Yongle continued, “As for whether you, Mu Chun, can set out to pacify the Jiaozhi rebellion, I still need to seek another person’s opinion… Someone come, summon Palace Supervisor Hu.”
I need to ask your wife.
Otherwise, when your wife gets off work and can’t find you, she’ll have complaints against me. What if in anger she throws down her duties and quits? I still need to personally campaign and relocate the capital—the rear palace cannot be in chaos.
Hu Shanwei came at the summons. She had heard in the rear palace about Mu Sheng’s great defeat and Minister Liu’s suicide for his country. Seeing Mu Chun enter the palace, what else was unclear?
Emperor Yongle said, “Mu Chun has requested to go to Jiaozhi to assist Mu Sheng in pacifying the rebellion. What does Palace Supervisor Hu think?”
Emperor Yongle immediately deflected responsibility—see, I’m not sending him; he wants to go himself.
Hu Yuanfang—no, Hu Shanwei—looked deeply at Mu Chun. At seventeen, Mu Chun had suppressed bandits in Jiangxi and became famous in one battle. Afterward, he received Duke Weiguo Xu Da’s patronage, gained experience on northern expedition battlefields, then joined the southern expedition army to recover Yunnan. From then on he took root there, giving his youth to Yunnan and achieving extraordinary accomplishments, becoming deified in Yunnan.
But now Mu Chun had become a retired homebody who waited at the dinner table every day for his wife and daughter to come home and eat together. Unlike in Yunnan where it was sparsely populated and he could move freely in Kunming, living comfortably with wild animals as neighbors, the capital was different. Left and right neighbors were all acquaintances, especially the left neighbor Mu Residence, which was his former home. To avoid trouble, Mu Chun became a shut-in, lacking exercise. His previously clearly visible eight-pack abs were covered by visibly fat, about to merge into a single piece of pork belly.
As an old married couple, the most important quality was playing deaf and dumb, and sometimes even blind.
For Hu Shanwei, even if Mu Chun became a 300-pound fat man like the Crown Prince, she would still love him.
It was just that while Hu Shanwei could accept it, Mu Chun couldn’t stand gradually becoming a paunchy, greasy middle-aged man. He would deliberately suck in his stomach from time to time, like Bai Suzhen who had drunk realgar wine, struggling to maintain a smile, resolutely refusing to show his round belly.
Hu Shanwei could see the occasional melancholy in Mu Chun’s eyes. Previously when they retired together, having each other’s company at home, even doing nothing but lying under tree shade to cool off would make a day pass quickly. Now she was busy in the palace, their daughter busy at the shipyard, and Mu Chun alone at home—lonely and solitary, yet still having to hide it from his wife and daughter. It truly was difficult for him…
Seeing Hu Shanwei’s long silence, Mu Chun quickly spoke to fight for himself, “The southwest is in trouble—I cannot sit idly by. The shrines erected for me in Yunnan now have flourishing incense. If I don’t protect them, wouldn’t all these years of incense be in vain? Taking people’s gifts makes one soft, eating their food makes one compliant—don’t you agree? Don’t worry, once Chen Jikuo’s rebellion is pacified, I’ll return.”
Hu Shanwei suddenly snapped back to attention, saying, “If you’re going out to defend home and country, of course I support you. A’Lei and I will wait at home for your triumphant return.”
Duke Yingguo Zhang Fu would command this second southern expedition. Mu Chun mixed in with the Divine Engine Battalion, bringing the latest manufactured (pirated) Frankish flintlock rifles from the gunpowder factory. Now in his forties, his physical condition wasn’t what it used to be. Hu Shanwei secretly worried for Mu Chun, but didn’t show weakness on her face, fearing it would hurt Mu Chun’s morale. As if Mu Chun were just returning to Yunnan to visit relatives, she prepared various pills from the palace for him, saying:
“These are for miasma, diarrhea, and dysentery. These are tonics. This sachet repels mosquitoes. This is for external wound treatment, removing decay and regenerating flesh… I know you probably won’t need them, but they’ll be good for your subordinate officers and men to use.”
She continued, “A’Lei has grown up and her temperament is gradually becoming more steady, not playful like before. Go with peace of mind—I can take good care of her.”
Mu Chun also tried to appear relaxed as if “I’ll be back soon,” saying, “With you at home, what do I have to worry about? You two wait at home for my good news.”
As an old married couple, despite countless reluctant attachments, they kept calm expressions, striving to reassure each other.
A’Lei was different. Too embarrassed to cry in front of her sister and brother-in-law, she first buried her head in her quilt to cry and vent, then washed her face and went to the dinner table to eat with her sister and brother-in-law.
The old married couple collectively played blind, unable to see A’Lei’s red, swollen eyes, acting as if nothing happened.
At the neighboring Mu Residence, when news came of Mu Sheng being docked salary for one year and ordered to atone through merit, the elderly, weak women and children of the Mu household finally breathed a sigh of relief. Previously there had been all kinds of rumors—like the former Duke Qiguo’s Qiu family, the whole family would be exiled to Hainan to plant sugar cane. The Mu family had been on edge.
Now that the Mu family had escaped disaster, it was their ancestors’ protection. Mu Xin thus led all the Mu family to the ancestral hall to offer incense to their ancestors, thanking eighteen generations of forebears.
On the ancestral hall’s offering table were arranged spirit tablets and three portraits. In the center was naturally the founding member of the Father Worriers Alliance, Mu Ying. Beside Mu Ying was a portrait of his first wife née Feng. Both wore bright red ceremonial robes.
The third portrait was naturally Mu Chun, who died young before even having time to marry.
Mu Chun’s attire was identical to Mu Ying’s—bright red court robes, holding an ivory tablet, wearing a five-beam crown with a jade cicada held up by copper wire in the center—this was a duke’s symbol.
Mu Xin was the only adult male in the Mu household. With both older brothers in Yunnan, he supported the family, standing at the front. After burning incense and leading the Mu descendants in three bows, Mu Xin inserted the incense in the burner, turned around, and his peripheral vision swept across the portrait, catching sight of elder brother Mu Chun’s half face.
Suddenly his mind brightened—this half face overlapped with the man who had brushed past him that day and seemed very familiar with Palace Supervisor Hu’s sister.
It’s elder brother! How is this possible? Mu Xin stared fixedly at his elder brother’s portrait, his mind about to explode.
The next day when Mu Chun set out with Duke Yingguo Zhang Fu, Hu Shanwei went to the palace early as usual for duty. A’Lei, unemployed at home, couldn’t stand it and ran to mix in the crowd seeing off her brother-in-law.
These past few days Mu Chun had deliberately not shaved, letting his beard grow wild into a natural veil. Middle-aged and getting fat, even without the beard’s disguise, no one would connect this old soldier dozing while holding a flintlock rifle on a gun carriage with the former capital’s devil-may-care Mu Chun, even if their features were similar.
A’Lei squeezed to the front row, passing a package of fresh duck oil sesame cakes and a package of braised duck head, duck feet, and duck intestines to the old soldier crouching on the gun carriage.
In Nanjing, being born a duck, there are countless ways to die.
A’Lei said not a word—everything she wanted to say was in the food. Honestly, Mu Chun had spent more time with her than Hu Shanwei. A’Lei was reluctant to part.
This daughter wasn’t raised in vain. Mu Chun was emotionally moved, his agitation unable to be concealed even by his beard. He didn’t dare speak to A’Lei, only hugged the food and nodded at her.
Father and daughter looked at each other, unaware that a third person was staring at them—Prince Consort Mu Xin. Confirmed by eye contact, this was someone who had been dead for thirteen years.