“You… how do you know?” Jiang Quan was very surprised.
“Baoer, that’s Hu Shuren, right?” Hu Shanwei said. “That night when I slept in the same bed with you, you talked in your sleep, saying you couldn’t find your Baoer. I never understood why someone like you would insist on entering the palace court, why Hu Shuren could easily abandon the head eunuch who had served her for years yet treat only you with such devotion, why the bandits wanted to cut off your head, why Marquis Linchuan Hu Mei would have three clans exterminated in the palace disturbance case… And your expression and reaction have confirmed my answer.”
Jiang Quan rubbed the copper basin with her palm, her ears experiencing auditory hallucinations as if she could hear an infant’s crying. “What I thought would be a mother-daughter reunion became a death warrant instead.”
Hu Shanwei asked, “If you could do it again, would you choose to hide your identity outside the palace for life?”
Jiang Quan thought for a long time and said, “No. Even if I could do it a hundred times over, I would still enter the palace court. Asking a mother whether she would give up searching for her daughter is like asking a moth whether it would fly into flame.”
Hu Shanwei said, “If that’s the case, then please pull yourself together quickly, recover well from your illness, and don’t keep sitting in dejection. What can an aging eighth-rank female historian do for the little princess? No one would want you as a wet nurse or nanny. Cao Shanggong has no kinship with the little princess, yet Li Xianfei invited her to preside over the princess’s hair-cutting ceremony. Don’t you want to someday have the ability to block those plots and schemes for the little princess, letting her grow up happily without becoming a chess piece manipulated by others?”
Hu Shanwei deeply sympathized with Jiang Quan, but in the palace, helping someone regain fighting spirit quickly was more important than sympathy. For this, Hu Shanwei was willing to be the villain and speak some harsh truths.
Jiang Quan naturally felt unwilling, her eyes kindling with desire.
Hu Shanwei sighed and took out a box of Korean ginseng from the second layer of the food box. This was what Mu Chun had entrusted to Chen Er’mei of the Imperial Kitchen Bureau to give her before he left. Since Hu Shanwei only had mental trauma with no serious physical harm, she gave it to Jiang Quan, who needed more physical nourishment, like offering flowers to Buddha.
Now that Hu Shuren had fallen, Jiang Quan, as a former favorite from Yanxi Palace, would inevitably be trampled by those palace servants accustomed to kowtowing to the powerful and stepping on the weak.
Fortunately, the female officials who entered the palace together were quite united. When Hu Shanwei was rejected by all six bureaus and one office and fell into misfortune, she was secretly cared for by Jiang Quan and others, never worrying about meals and even getting iced mung bean soup. Now that Jiang Quan had lost favor, the same group stepped forward to help.
Huddling together for warmth was useful. Just look at the former Yanxi Palace servants walking East Long Street at midnight carrying bells as punishment – compared to them, Jiang Quan was in heaven.
Hu Shanwei comforted Jiang Quan, watched her finish the ginseng soup, go to bed, and begin breathing evenly before extinguishing the candle and closing the door to return.
Before extinguishing the candle, Hu Shanwei glanced around Jiang Quan’s room. The gorgeous ornaments on the treasure shelf, the rare Western clock in the corner for telling time – all had been moved away. Everything Hu Shuren had bestowed was confiscated into the palace treasury.
Hu Shanwei carried the empty food box outside. East Long Street was still brightly lit by lamps on both sides. The evening breeze carried the ceremonial music sounds from the three-day feast celebrating the little princess’s bathing ceremony.
“All under heaven is at peace!”
The former palace servants of Yanxi Palace walked in a long line, carrying bells for punishment, passing by Hu Shanwei with her food box. Every few steps, they shook their bells and cried out in unison that all under heaven was at peace.
Another summer night like a procession of ghosts.
A black moth flew into the copper wire mesh already covered with insect corpses on a street lamp, creating a burst of acrid smoke.
Hu Shanwei stopped, standing beside Yanxi Palace, now sealed with official strips. She remembered meeting Jiang Quan here that night when Emperor Hongwu visited Noble Consort Hu, and outside Yanxi Palace was displayed the “guard sleeping quarters” ceremonial guard that only three palace main positions could have.
“Asking a mother whether she would give up searching for her daughter is like asking a moth whether it would fly into flame.”
Jiang Quan’s sad yet resolute answer echoed in her ears. Looking at the scorched moth corpse on the street lamp outside Yanxi Palace, Hu Shanwei couldn’t help but sigh – so the ending had been predetermined all along…
As she pondered, patrolling Embroidered Uniform Guards walked by. Mu Chun’s face suddenly appeared in Hu Shanwei’s mind. During this child’s first campaign, she had been unconscious and couldn’t bid him farewell. She wondered how his bandit suppression was going at Guaishi Ridge in Jiangxi?
People can’t withstand being thought about.
Meanwhile, thousands of li away, at Nanchang in Jiangxi, below Guaishi Ridge.
Mu Chun sneezed three times in succession. Nearby, Ji Gang asked, “Who’s thinking of General Mu?”
Mu Chun muttered, “Definitely not my father.”
Nor could it be his mother, who had been gone for seventeen years.
Mu Chun led three hundred Embroidered Uniform Guards on a distant expedition to suppress bandits in Nanchang, Jiangxi. As merely a minor Embroidered Uniform Guard, he couldn’t command respect, but fortunately he had Emperor Hongwu’s backing. His Majesty granted him the nominal title of Roving General specifically for this campaign – after the fighting ended and he returned the troops, this nominal title would automatically disappear.
Mu Chun’s background was truly too good – so good that his starting point was the endpoint that ordinary soldiers could barely reach after a lifetime of struggle.
For his first time commanding in battle, Mu Chun was quite excited. Having excellent bloodlines from both maternal and paternal sides, he learned without teaching and could actually use cunning from the start:
First, to avoid alerting the enemy, he ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guards to disembark at Jiujiang County in Jiangxi, disguise themselves as merchants, and split into three routes to converge at Nanchang.
At midnight, the three armies successfully rendezvoused, and Mu Chun began his second phase plan. He threw Ji Gang a set of bridal clothes and a makeup case filled with rouge and powder.
Holding the bridal dress, Ji Gang thought General Mu had lost his mind: “What’s this for? I’m fair-skinned, long-legged, and beautiful, but I’m a real man.”
Mu Chun: “I know, but in this army, you look most like a woman.”
Mu Chun explained his plan:
First, a hundred soldiers would disguise themselves as a wedding procession, hiding weapons in the bridal sedan and dowry boxes, making a big show with drums and gongs as they passed below Guaishi Ridge, luring the bandits down to rob and kidnap the bride.
A beautiful bride and rich dowry.
To bite this juicy bait, the bandits would surely send about half their forces down the mountain to surround the large wedding procession – according to confessions from the imperial prison bandits, Guaishi Ridge had nearly a thousand bandits and had become quite powerful.
Five against one, plus carrying dowry, stealing mules and horses, kidnapping the bride and taking the groom hostage – all required manpower.
When five hundred bandits emerged from hiding to surround the wedding procession and rob the bride and dowry, Mu Chun, disguised as the groom, would signal with a bamboo whistle. The wedding party would open the dowry boxes, take out weapons to counterattack, while two hundred Embroidered Uniform Guards and a hundred reinforcements hiding in the dark would surround the bandits. Working from inside and outside, they would first kill some vicious criminals to intimidate the bandits.
Then Mu Chun would announce amnesty for those who surrendered, and those who actively helped the court suppress bandits would receive official positions and money based on their final contributions.
Those who killed the bandit chief would be made hundred-household commanders.
Those who refused to surrender would be killed without mercy.
This was Emperor Hongwu’s personally taught method for “how to annihilate bandits”: first subdue by force, then persuade, finally break through from within, letting bandits kill each other for great victory.
The plan proceeded smoothly. The ostentatious wedding procession excited the entire stronghold, and half the bandits came down to rob them.
The bandits forced the wedding procession to stop. The bride in the sedan screamed in fright, and a slender hand white as jade lifted the cloth curtain of the sedan door, revealing under the bridal veil a corner of a melon-seed shaped chin like a wrapped dumpling, resembling freshly fired porcelain from Jingdezhen.
The bride spoke in a delicate, soft, timid voice: “Spring Lord, who are these people?”
Seeing the bride with her face half-hidden like a pipa player, the bandits’ eyes glowed green with excitement, wishing they could immediately seize her as their stronghold’s wife.
The mounted groom Mu Chun: “Wife, they’re bandits.”
“Oh my!” The bride let out a bone-melting coquettish cry and lowered the curtain.
Hearing this voice, the bandits’ eyes blazed with excitement.
Mu Chun thought Ji Gang was truly wasted not performing as a maiden in opera. He blew his bamboo whistle.
The officers and soldiers acted according to plan, opening boxes to retrieve weapons and counterattack the bandits. Everything proceeded smoothly. Each Embroidered Uniform Guard fought bravely, swearing to avenge their nine fallen comrades. Grieving armies must win – they fought more courageously as they battled.
The hundred reinforcements from his great-uncle were all battle-hardened veterans capable of fighting five opponents each. Bandits either died in battle or surrendered.
Seeing the time was right, Mu Chun ordered a ceasefire and announced the court’s amnesty conditions.
Hearing that killing the bandit chief would make them hundred-household commanders, the bandits’ eyes lit up again – this was more tempting than stronghold wives. Once they became officials, would they lack beautiful women?
One bandit asked: “How big an official is a hundred-household commander?”
Mu Chun: “Sixth-rank military officer. You can also request your mother be granted the title of mandated lady, bringing glory to ancestors.”
The bandits all expressed willingness to defect.
Mu Chun began executing his third wave plan: Ji Gang continued disguised as the bride while he played the kidnapped groom hostage. Elite subordinates changed into bandit clothes, mixed among the surrendered bandits to make five hundred people, carrying boxes of “seized” dowry to present to the bandit chief.
The bride was carried before the bandit chief by eight robust bandits. She screamed and struggled, making her slender waist appear even more snake-like in its soft flexibility.
“Reporting to the chief, we present you with a new stronghold wife.”
The bandit chief stroked his beard, his gaze lecherous and filthy like a fly, buzzing around the bride’s body. Everything was fine except her chest was a bit small – she’d need proper supplementing with papaya and pig’s trotters.
The groom Mu Chun cried: “Don’t touch my wife! I’ll pay whatever silver you want – my family has plenty of money.”
The bandit chief said: “Since your family is so wealthy, write home asking them to pay ransom. Then you can marry another – bring the new wife closer so I can see her face.”
The bride naturally had to struggle, her serpentine waist twisting as if about to break. The bandit chief’s eyes fixed on her waist’s swaying, not noticing the cold gleam of hidden blades in his subordinates’ sleeves.
“Agh!”
Eight bandits struck almost simultaneously, stabbing eight bloody holes in the bandit chief’s chest.
Capture the chief to capture the bandits. Mu Chun roared: “Attack!”
Mu Chun continued following Emperor Hongwu’s taught experience: first subdue by force, then persuade, finally recruit surrender. By dusk, the bandit stronghold that had occupied Guaishi Ridge for nearly ten years was completely eliminated by government forces.
Using three hundred Embroidered Uniform Guards and a hundred reinforcements to defeat a thousand bandits counted as complete victory.
Mu Chun sat in the bandit chief’s chair, hosting a celebratory feast. Since eight bandits had killed the bandit chief, Mu Chun waved his hand grandly – each one was made a hundred-household commander!
Looking at the eight newly minted bandit hundred-household commanders, Ji Gang felt somewhat worried. “General Mu, granting official positions isn’t child’s play. Making eight bandits all sixth-rank military officers – when we return to court, the court probably won’t acknowledge this.”
Mu Chun laughed heartily while drinking. “That’s for the court to worry about. My task is to win battles. After fighting, I return to the capital and even my Roving General title disappears – I’m just a minor soldier, lower in rank than you. I can’t manage so much.”
Ji Gang thought: whose ability to pass the buck did you inherit?
Not just Ji Gang – the eight new hundred-household commanders also began worrying, approaching Mu Chun to ask: “Officials have official robes, seals, and monthly salaries to support families. Is this true? Will the court really recognize us bandits as officials? We feel you government soldiers look down on us.”
Especially the hundred elite reinforcements sent by Duke Song Feng Sheng – in their eyes, this group of recruited bandits was just trash. Even when bandits toasted them, they barely responded.
Seeing the atmosphere was wrong – this was a time for unity, not division – even if there would be division, it should wait until reaching the capital.
Getting carried away with drink, he simply jumped onto the bandit chief’s tiger-skin chair and stood up, loudly saying: “Everyone, don’t look down on yourselves just because you were once bandits. What’s wrong with being bandits? My maternal grandfather Duke Ying Feng Guoyong and my great-uncle Duke Song Feng Sheng – they’re both impressive figures, first-rank dukes with hereditary titles. Do you know what they have in common?”
The government soldiers all rolled their eyes at their roving general.
The bandits eagerly raised hands to answer:
“Same mother!”
“Same father!”
“Same ancestors!”
“Correct!” Mu Chun applauded, saying: “But they have another common point – they were both bandits!”
The government soldiers were in uproar: Family shame shouldn’t be aired publicly! The roving general must be drunk!
The bandits all showed worshipful expressions: “How did they go from bandits to dukes?”
Mu Chun spoke eloquently: “My maternal Feng brothers came from the dragon-rising land, Fengyang people. Fengyang suffered nine famines in ten years with great chaos. The Feng brothers established a stronghold in Miao Mountain, Fengyang, killing the rich to help the poor. His Majesty established a stronghold in Jiu Mountain, Fengyang. When two bandit groups meet, there must be conflict – everyone wants territory…”
At these words, the government soldiers quickly split into three factions. One was the three hundred Embroidered Uniform Guards who deeply sweated for Mu Chun. That His Majesty had been a bandit was correct and recorded in history books, but bringing it up at a drinking table as bragging material – weren’t you afraid of angering His Majesty?
Another faction was the hundred reinforcements sent by Duke Song Feng Sheng – all former subordinates who had charged into battle following the Feng brothers. Seeing this wastrel Mu Chun actually reveal the Feng family’s “shameful past,” they wanted to rush up and shut his mouth!
If Mu Chun weren’t the Feng family’s blood grandson, they would have killed him already.
The third faction was the ten guards sent by his father Marquis Xiping Mu Ying.
Guard A: “Those old soldiers seem eager to charge up and beat our young master. Stay alert.”
Guard B: “Got it – actually I want to beat him too.”
Guard C: “Is he really our marquis’s biological son?”
Mu Chun continued standing on the bandit chief’s tiger-skin chair telling the story of the Feng bandit brothers: “My grandfather thought: fight if you want to fight, who’s afraid of whom? So he brought his brother Feng Sheng out of the stronghold to battle His Majesty. But upon seeing His Majesty’s dragon countenance, my grandfather immediately surrendered. Can you guess why?”
Bandits: “Why? Keep talking, don’t stop!”
Mu Chun: “My grandfather saw a giant dragon this long and thick coiling above His Majesty’s head! Meeting the true dragon emperor, how could he not surrender?”
All government soldiers looked at each other: At least he wasn’t completely stupid.
Standing on the chair, Mu Chun told legendary stories of the Feng brothers with spittle flying, such as how his grandfather Feng Guoyong led five hundred troops to capture Jiqing city, and how he rescued Duke Weiguo Xu Da from danger at the Battle of Shaoxing.
The bandits applauded enthusiastically, finding it more entertaining than professional storytellers, viewing Mu Chun’s grandfather as their life goal.
Just getting excited, Ji Gang below winked meaningfully. Mu Chun understood and said: “I’ve had too much food and drink – let me visit the latrine and I’ll be right back.”
The bandits continued applauding and cheering, feeling this beardless General Mu had no airs, was approachable, didn’t discriminate against their bandit origins, and could be trusted.
Ji Gang pulled Mu Chun to the watchtower. “Forward scouts report our Guaishi Ridge stronghold is surrounded by Hu Mei’s rebel army. They declare they’ll kill all Embroidered Uniform Guards to avenge Hu Mei.”
In the past, Hu Mei, former Prime Minister of the Great Han, surrendered to Zhu Yuanzhang and betrayed Han King Chen Youliang on the condition that he could retain command of his subordinate forces.
Zhu Yuanzhang had some hesitation then, but behind-the-scenes advisor Liu Ji kicked the wooden table hard, telling him to agree first – future matters could be handled later. Dealing with Chen Youliang was urgent.
Zhu Yuanzhang agreed.
Thus Hu Mei always retained this army of about thirty thousand, becoming the Hu family’s private force. When the Hu family was exterminated and Hu Mei granted death, the court forcibly disbanded this private army.
However, while these private soldiers outwardly complied with court arrangements and returned to farming, core members secretly gathered to form an army of about ten thousand. After the Embroidered Uniform Guard destroyed Guaishi Ridge stronghold, they surrounded the place, determined to kill all Embroidered Uniform Guards, capture Mu Chun as hostage, and avenge their master Hu Mei!
“Ten thousand men?” Mu Chun sobered up instantly from fright, asking Ji Gang: “How many do we have now?”
Ji Gang: “Including surrendered bandits, about a thousand.”
Ten times the difference!
“Definitely can’t win.” Mu Chun whispered: “The stronghold has tunnels – let’s run quickly.”
Ji Gang said: “The tunnels were just blown up by Hu Mei’s rebels. You’re the general, you come from a prestigious family. You must lead us in a battle of few against many like your father and grandfather, or you’ll disgrace your surname.”