Chapter 53: The White-Staff Soldier Enters the Capital, Qin Liangyu Bestowed the Title of Marquis
“Long live the Emperor!”
“Long live the Emperor!”
...
The thunderous chants of homage echoed one after another across the plaza of Chengtian Gate, fading into the distance.
“General Qin, please rise!”
At last, Chongzhen beheld the most formidable woman of the Great Ming.
Not only in the Ming dynasty but throughout all of Chinese history, she was unparalleled.
In every historical record, female figures were consigned to the biographies of exemplary women.
There were many female generals recorded—Fu Hao of the Shang dynasty, the Southern Mother Xian Ying of the Sui, Hua Mulan of the Northern Wei who took up arms for her father, Lady She of the Northern Song, Liang Hongyu of the Southern Song, and so forth.
Yet Qin Liangyu was the sole heroine in history to be chronicled as a prominent general in the official annals dedicated to generals and ministers, an honor of the highest distinction.
Chongzhen suppressed the joy within his heart, then turned to the soldiers and shouted hoarsely, “No need for formalities, brave warriors!”
The response was a unified clanging of armor.
The sound sent a shiver through Chongzhen’s entire body.
“Wang Cheng’en, proclaim the imperial edict!”
Wang Cheng’en stepped forward and presented an imperial decree.
“Qin Liangyu, receive the decree!”
Qin Liangyu knelt, and several generals behind her followed suit.
“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Qin Liangyu, acting Pacifier of Shizhu, loyal and steadfast in serving the state, who has quelled the bandits, marched north to aid Liaoning, shining the glory of our army and virtue, has greatly comforted my heart. You are hereby granted the title Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery, appointed as General Who Stabilizes the Nation, and bestowed a marquisate residence.”
As Wang Cheng’en’s words fell, everyone present was stunned.
The noble faction led by the Duke of Yingguo was momentarily speechless; the court officials who had been confined for a day and night were dumbfounded; Qin Liangyu and her kin, along with the troops, were equally bewildered.
The Ming dynasty’s system of ennoblement was strictly founded on military merit that benefited the nation. Although standards had relaxed somewhat in later years, with many titles exchanged for favors, ennoblement remained an arduous achievement.
None had expected His Majesty to confer a marquisate.
A marquisate alone might have been manageable, as the Emperor sought to win hearts and there were already several marquises.
But the title of General Who Stabilizes the Nation carried weight.
The Ming military ranked generals across twenty-five grades: the highest was the General Who Exhibits Martial Prowess, a first-rank military official; next was the General Who Establishes Might, also first-rank; descending down to the twenty-fifth rank of district military inspectors commanding borderlands, which were ninth-rank officials.
General Who Stabilizes the Nation was sixth in rank. Given Qin Liangyu’s merits and her marquisate, one might expect her to hold a higher rank—if not the top General Who Exhibits Martial Prowess, then at least the third-rank Dragon and Tiger General. Why, then, was she appointed sixth-rank?
The ministers quickly grasped Chongzhen’s intent: to stabilize the realm, this was the Emperor’s profound commendation of Qin Liangyu.
(P.S.: Ming military ranks were notoriously complex, involving rank, office, merit grades, and temporary wartime or peacetime designations; one could not judge by rank alone.)
Though this appointment bypassed the usual court deliberations, no one in the Cabinet or Ministry of Personnel dared defy the Emperor’s will openly—doing so would mean execution.
Before Qin Liangyu could respond, Wang Cheng’en continued reading: “Her son Ma Xianglin, unparalleled in valor and strength, well-versed in the classics and a courageous warrior, is promoted to General Who Demonstrates Resolute Bravery.
Her nephews Qin Yiming, Qin Gongming, Qin Zuoming, and Qin Zuoming have followed the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery into battle, achieving countless merits, becoming exemplars of our young generation. They are hereby granted the rank of General Who Trusts in Valor.
May all ministers continue to fight bravely on the battlefield, living up to my hopes. So decree I!”
“Your servant Qin Liangyu receives the decree and humbly thanks Your Majesty’s heavenly grace.”
The rank of General Who Demonstrates Resolute Bravery was third-grade, and General Who Trusts in Valor was fourth-grade.
Though these rewards were not exceedingly high—for example, Ma Xianglin had already been promoted to a third-grade commander by Emperor Tianqi in the first year of his reign—multiple family members rewarded, including a marquisate for the head of the family, was a tremendous honor.
Chongzhen did not need to see the expressions on the faces of the Duke of Yingguo and the noble faction; the more they deemed it impossible, the more determined he was to proceed.
If opportunity arose, he would grant Qin Liangyu a dukedom—he knew she deserved it.
Her husband Ma Qiancheng was the hereditary Pacifier of Shizhu (commonly called a Tusi, or native chieftain). After Ma Qiancheng was murdered, Qin Liangyu took up his post on behalf of their young son Ma Xianglin.
Qin Liangyu led her brothers Qin Bangping and Qin Minping in battles against the Jian Man tribes and the She Chongming rebellion.
Her elder brother Qin Bangping and Qin Banghan died in battle during the Hun River campaign in the first year of the Taichang era (1621).
Her younger brother Qin Minping died in the suppression of the She’an rebellion in the fourth year of the Tianqi era (1624).
...
By the seventeenth year of the Chongzhen reign, out of eleven family members, nine had fallen on the battlefield—a tragic and heroic legacy.
If Qin Liangyu could not be trusted, then no one in the entire Ming dynasty could be.
Chongzhen looked upon the kneeling group with a secret pang of emotion, hoping his arrival might alter the fate of these loyal generals.
After Qin Liangyu received the decree and expressed thanks, Chongzhen suddenly said, “Seeing General Qin inspires my poetic muse; I have composed two poems as gifts to you!”
His words instantly piqued the curiosity of the ministers.
Chongzhen pondered briefly and recited:
“Mastering the Eight Formations of Western Sichuan, a pair of soldier’s tokens held in embroidered sleeves.
Since time immemorial, women have willingly endured hardship—why must generals be men alone?”
Before the crowd could applaud, he continued:
“Your battle robe of Shu brocade has been cut to serve,
On horseback amid peach blossoms, you grasp the long tether.
Among all the remarkable men in the world,
Who would willingly march ten thousand miles upon the battlefield?”
The faces of those present changed instantly.
The first poem praised the brave and patriotic spirit of the female general, affirming Qin Liangyu’s valor.
But the last two lines of the second poem, while openly flattering Qin Liangyu, were in fact a sharp rebuke of cowardly men who prized life above honor and lacked courage.
“Your servant humbly thanks His Majesty…”
Qin Liangyu’s voice choked slightly. Though her heart had been as steadfast as stone through years of war, these two poems pierced her defenses.
“General Qin, no need for such formality; I am the one who should thank you all!”
Chongzhen said this, then nodded toward Wang Cheng’en once more.
Wang Cheng’en produced another decree, roughly stating appreciation for the White Banner soldiers’ hardships, awarding them six months’ pay.
Was six months’ pay—nine taels of silver—a large sum? It was neither too much nor too little, but enough to make the White Banner troops erupt with cheers.
Defending the homeland was their duty as soldiers; even without extra pay it was their obligation. Now that it was granted, all rejoiced.
“Bring wine! Let us toast my sons!”
At the Emperor’s command, the long-waiting eunuchs swiftly distributed wine jars and began pouring for each White Banner soldier.
“Soldiers, this cup I offer to you. You have shed your blood and given your lives for the Great Ming, suppressed the rebels, marched north to aid Liaoning, and achieved glorious merits. You are the most honorable of my realm. I salute you!”
Chongzhen drained his cup and smashed it upon the ground.
The White Banner soldiers, hearing the Emperor’s words, each felt their breath quicken.
An imperial toast was an unparalleled honor; as the lowest-ranking soldiers, they had scarcely ever enjoyed such treatment.
Moreover, the Emperor proclaimed them the most worthy and respected people of the Ming.
“Long live the Emperor!”
After finishing their wine, the soldiers smashed their cups on the ground in imitation and shouted their allegiance, voices soaring to the heavens.
Only after some time, at Chongzhen’s signal, did the cheers subside.
“Soldiers, I have more to say!”