Chapter 10: The True State of the Embroidered Uniform Guard

"Your Majesty, he is waiting outside!"

"Summon him."

"Your subject, Li Ruolian, chiliarch of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, pays respects to Your Majesty."

Clad in a crimson flying-fish robe, Li Ruolian entered the warm pavilion and knelt on the floor, his mind racing. Although he held the rank of chiliarch, he was only a fifth-rank official, far below the standing required to gain an audience with the Emperor. He had no idea why the Son of Heaven would summon a minor officer like himself.

"Rise."

After offering his thanks, Li Ruolian stood up. The moment he caught sight of the Emperor staring at him, he immediately lowered his gaze; to look directly at the Emperor was an act of grave disrespect.

The Emperor stood over six feet tall, possessing a robust and powerful frame. His eyes were piercing, and he radiated a sense of vitality. Compared to the likes of Tian Ergeng and Xu Xianchun—whose bodies were hollowed out by wine and debauchery—this man was in a different league entirely.

"Minister Li, do you know why I have summoned you?"

"This subject does not know." Li Ruolian shook his head and added immediately, "If Your Majesty has tasks to delegate, this subject will not shrink from them, even at the cost of his life!"

"Not shrinking, even at the cost of your life?" The Chongzhen Emperor wore a playful smirk. "If I were to order you to execute Tian Ergeng, Xu Xianchun, and Wei Zhongxian right now, would you dare?"

"Please, Your Majesty, grant the decree!" Li Ruolian knelt again without a moment's hesitation.

"You are quite decisive. Are you not afraid that I am merely testing you? You must realize that Wei Zhongxian’s power is immense, and both Tian Ergeng and Xu Xianchun have pledged their loyalty to him. Tian Ergeng is your superior—are you not loyal to him?"

"Your Majesty, I am a chiliarch of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The Guard is the Emperor’s personal army. My loyalty belongs to the Emperor, not the Commander. Your Majesty need not test me; whoever you order me to kill, I shall kill."

Though kneeling, Li Ruolian’s voice remained resonant, revealing an unwavering resolve. The current Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Tian Ergeng, had been appointed by the Tianqi Emperor. Having ascended the throne only half a month ago, the Chongzhen Emperor had not yet had the chance to replace him. According to historical records, Tian Ergeng would be succeeded by Luo Yangxing, and later by a man surnamed Wu. These two would become the final Commanders of the Embroidered Uniform Guard of the Great Ming.

Luo Yangxing was the son of the former Commander, Luo Sigong. He started out well, but eventually grew corrupt, eventually defecting to Li Zicheng and offering him 30,000 taels of silver. After the Manchus breached the passes, Luo Yangxing defected to them as well. If his father had known he would sire such a "servant of three dynasties," he would surely have risen from his grave to strangle him.

Since the Chongzhen Emperor knew Luo Yangxing was compromised, he would naturally not employ him. The only person he remembered from the Guard was this very Li Ruolian, who would later die defending the Chongwen Gate.

"Minister Li, I have just ascended the throne, and the court is in turmoil. I wish to reclaim control over the Embroidered Uniform Guard, purge the eunuch faction, settle the partisan strife, and restore a clear and righteous world. That is why I was not joking when I spoke of killing Tian Ergeng."

"Your Majesty, I am willing to trade my life for his. I may not be able to handle Wei Zhongxian, but as for Tian Ergeng, I can use my position to take him by surprise."

The Chongzhen Emperor could feel the sincerity in Li Ruolian's words. Had he not been a transmigrator from the future who had studied history, he might have truly mistaken Li Ruolian’s words for mere sycophancy.

"Grand Attendant, bring a chair!"

Li Ruolian was ecstatic and bowed repeatedly in gratitude. To be seated in the presence of the Emperor—a privilege even the Senior Grand Secretary of the Cabinet might not enjoy—was like a dream for a mere fifth-rank chiliarch.

"Minister Li, are you aware of the current state of the Embroidered Uniform Guard? Tell me about it."

Li Ruolian pondered for a moment, his expression darkening. "Your Majesty, the Guard is no longer what it once was. Under the 'leadership' of Wei Zhongxian, our glory has faded. Officials beat and curse us, and the common people hold us in contempt."

"The organizational structure remains intact, but the practice of drawing pay for ghost soldiers is rampant. I do not have the exact figures, but the thousand-man unit under my command currently has only 858 men on the rolls, which is actually considered the best. Some other units may have only four or five hundred, and most are old or infirm. The total number reported for the entire Guard is over fifty thousand, but by my estimation, there are likely no more than fifteen thousand, and perhaps only half of those are truly capable of combat."

The Chongzhen Emperor was not the least bit surprised by Li Ruolian’s figures. Historical records indicated that when Li Zicheng besieged Beijing, the Guard was said to have 150,000 men, though it was estimated that only 15,000 to 20,000 were actual soldiers. The current numbers were, in fact, relatively optimistic.

"Do you know of anyone else within the Guard who is reliable?" The Emperor added, "I mean those truly loyal to the imperial authority."

"The men under my command are all trustworthy. The Vice Commander Wu Mengming, Assistant Commander Wang Guoxing, Chiliarch Wang Wencai, and Centurions Wang Shoulin and Gao Wencai are all upright men who can be utilized."

The Chongzhen Emperor frowned slightly. He had no recollection of these names. While he trusted Li Ruolian, that did not mean he trusted those whom Li Ruolian recommended. After all, one can know a person’s face but not their heart; it was possible they were two-faced and had deceived Li Ruolian.

"How many men can you control?"

"Your Majesty, those of us who still wish to accomplish something have been left relatively alone by Wei Zhongxian. We can control about three to four thousand men. While the number is not large, we are confident we can eliminate the rest."

The Chongzhen Emperor was overjoyed. This was excellent news—the Guard was not entirely rotten, and there was a core he could use. This meant he could move sooner than planned.

"Li Ruolian, I have several tasks for you. First, investigate these men you mentioned privately. If they are truly capable, I will not treat them poorly. Second, secretly investigate everyone in the Guard above the rank of centurion and gather evidence of their crimes. I have great use for it."

"You have one month. If you succeed, you shall be promoted to Vice Commander and temporarily oversee the Guard. If you perform well, the position of Commander will be yours!"

Li Ruolian was stunned. He was a fifth-rank chiliarch, and Vice Commander was a third-rank position—a triple promotion, plus the temporary command of the entire organization. Even setting aside the potential to become the permanent Commander, Tian Ergeng had effectively been removed from power. In other words, in one month, he would be the master of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. As the master, there was so much he could do to root out the corrupt and the wicked.

Why had he joined the Guard in the first place? If he only wanted to earn military merit, joining the Nine Border Armies or the Beijing Garrison would have been far easier. He had joined the Guard specifically because it was the Emperor's personal force, capable of serving the people.

"Lord Li, why have you not yet thanked His Majesty for his divine grace?"

"This subject thanks Your Majesty for your divine grace!" The dazed Li Ruolian immediately knelt.

"Go now, and do not fail my expectations!"

Li Ruolian bowed and began to walk toward the exit of the warm pavilion. However, halfway to the door, the Chongzhen Emperor suddenly shouted, "Wait!"