Chapter 46: Sooner or Later, the Ming Dynasty Will Have Its Day of Reckoning!

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Cuju is a time-honored, fiercely competitive sport. Without excellent physical fitness and a strong physique—requiring both explosive power and endurance—one is easily at a disadvantage during the intense physical confrontations of a match.

Of course, if the Young Emperor were to take the field, it’s likely everyone would abandon basic sportsmanship to let him shine as the brightest star on the whole court.

Zhu Xixiao’s training regimen for cuju was exceptionally rigorous.

Zhu Yijun was deeply curious about this training. Today’s drill was a rapid shuttle sprint: starting off at full speed, then abruptly stopping, leaning the body forward or nearly falling in the rush. Just a few repetitions would leave one utterly exhausted, wanting nothing more than to lie down and rest, unwilling to move a muscle.

During training, Zhu Yijun discovered the benefits of standing postures. At full-speed start, the center of gravity shifts maximally forward, causing the body to lose balance. When unable to resist this imbalance, one must step forward to regain control of the center of gravity—the same principle applied to sudden stops.

A month of stance training solidified the lower body, making full-speed starts and sudden stops, along with posture adjustments, much easier.

“Huff, huff.” Zhu Yijun leaned on his knees, lungs working like bellows as he gasped heavily. He could neither sit nor lie down; standing was best. His mouth was dry, tongue salty at the root, sweat pouring down his forehead and cheeks onto the training ground. He felt his legs no longer belonged to him.

Everyone was panting; Luo Sigong simply leaned against the wall. No matter how tough or tiring, he persevered. Though his legs wobbled, he resisted the urge to let Zhu Xixiao kick him again.

Finally catching his breath and steadying his breathing, Zhu Yijun’s legs felt as heavy as if filled with lead. He sat on the bench, smiling at Luo Sigong. “You’re doing very well. We have high hopes for you.”

“Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty!” Luo Sigong stood straight. Such words from His Majesty instantly made all hardships seem trivial.

“You all did great! Today, each of you will take home a roast goose from the small kitchen.” Zhu Yijun clapped his hands and announced to everyone.

The junior eunuchs looked on enviously. The imperial guards and sword-bearing attendants were nobles and naturally received rewards. The junior eunuchs, however, were less fortunate. Feng Bao had specially instructed the Ministry of Rites to provide extra meals for these sparring junior eunuchs, but the emperor’s gift was a sign of favor, all roast goose, yet of a different kind—an acknowledgment.

“You shall have some as well,” Zhu Yijun said with a smile to the junior eunuchs.

It is not scarcity but inequality that breeds resentment. Ten guards received roast goose, and the junior eunuchs did too. Among the twenty who trained alongside him, they could be angry but not turn on each other. Balance exists in all things.

“Another round!” Zhu Xixiao shouted loudly, and the rapid shuttle sprint training resumed.

While the young emperor trained with all his might, Qi Jiguang, the supreme commander of the three garrisons of Jizhou, Shanhaiguan, and Yongping (modern Tangshan), rode into Beitu City on a tall horse, accompanied by Dong Huli’s nephew.

Beitu City lies along the central axis of the capital. It was originally a military town built by Emperor Kublai Khan of the Yuan dynasty, with rammed earth and stone walls about twenty li in circumference, six zhang wide at the base, five zhang high, and three zhang wide at the top. There were two such towns: Beitu City and Xitu City, both garrisoned military quarters.

The Ming capital’s garrison troops were stationed within these two earthen cities.

Qi Jiguang held the reins firmly. As a border general, he was forbidden to enter the city and thus camped outside. He would not linger in the capital but return swiftly to the frontier after receiving his rewards.

Even though Jizhou, where Qi Jiguang was stationed, was only about a hundred li from the capital—a horseback ride of about an hour—the border troops were still barred from entering the city.

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Qi Jiguang brought only a hundred personal guards with him to the capital. Yet, just as they arrived at Beitu City to find a place to camp, they were interrupted by another group: the capital’s garrison troops. A captain, two banners, and five or six soldiers appeared. Though called soldiers, they looked more like household servants.

“Keep your distance! Who are these country bumpkins? This land belongs to the army; trespassers will be punished!” the captain sneered arrogantly, reining in his horse and shouting at Qi Jiguang and his men.

Qi Jiguang’s hundred guards rested their hands on their sword hilts, cold light gleaming in their eyes as they assessed the provocateurs.

The captain, startled by their imposing presence, immediately regained confidence. These were border troops, and it was clear who they were. He smirked, urging his horse forward. “Oh? You want to start a fight? Know this: I’m a man under the command of the capital’s commander-in-chief, Lord Wang. Don’t know who that is? Keep talking nonsense, and you’ll regret it!”

“This is the capital garrison, not your wild playground!”

Qi Jiguang took a deep breath. This visit was meant to be swift and smooth; causing trouble would only bring difficulty to Zhang Juzheng. He forced a smile and said, “We’ll leave.”

“Good sense!” The captain laughed scornfully. Seeing the second-rank general retreat, he decided not to press further. Fighting would mean a disadvantage for his weaker forces.

Inside a prisoner’s cart, Dong Huli’s nephew, Bu Ha-chu, witnessed the scene and laughed aloud. He spat venomously at Qi Jiguang, shouting, “Ha ha ha! Qi Jiguang, aren’t you so mighty? You once slew over two thousand of my men, stacking their heads like a little mountain!”

“Yet now, faced with a mere captain, you, a second-rank general, don’t even dare to argue back?”

“This is Ming’s cowardice! Sooner or later, it will all fall apart!”

“Shut his mouth,” Qi Jiguang ordered a guard, signaling to gag Bu Ha-chu to silence his insolence.

Was Qi Jiguang powerless? Both the Japanese pirates and northern barbarians had grudges; even Dong Huli and Bu Ha-chu had grievances. Who dared say Qi Jiguang was incompetent?

Yet, this capable and battle-hardened general, returning to the capital, had just suffered such an insult and dared not retort. This completely dissolved Bu Ha-chu’s resentment accumulated over two months.

Just as both parties prepared to leave, the sound of galloping hooves approached. A man dismounted, surveyed Qi’s attire and the prisoner cart, then bowed and said, “Commander Qi, your presence is as admirable as ever, full of vigor. News of your battlefield achievements has greatly pleased Minister Zhang, who even took an extra bowl of rice.”

“You, Director You,” Qi Jiguang smiled. The man before him was You Qi, Zhang Juzheng’s trusted aide from the Quan Chu Guild.

“Minister Zhang sent me to await your arrival and arrange your accommodations,” You Qi said, glancing at the captain. Though unaware of the details, he sensed the tension between the two groups.

You Qi treated Qi Jiguang with utmost respect because Zhang Juzheng did so. As Zhang’s envoy, he represented his patron’s authority. A cold smile twisted his lips as he regarded the capital garrison officers and soldiers, saying icily, “Gentlemen, did you just speak disrespectfully to the honored guest of Minister Zhang?”

Not everyone knew You Qi personally, but everyone recognized the Quan Chu Guild badge he wore. Zhang Juzheng had been in office for several years; the whole capital knew he was unforgiving.

“Apologies for the offense, sir, we were unaware of your status,” the officers reluctantly dismounted and bowed as an apology.

You Qi cracked his whip sharply. “Louder! Didn’t you eat today?”

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“Please forgive us, Commander Qi!” Though unwilling, the officers bowed lower and apologized loudly.

You Qi raised his whip as if to strike. Qi Jiguang quickly intervened, “Director You, please, it’s just a verbal spat.”

You Qi lowered the whip with a sharp crack against the ground. “This is by Commander Qi’s request. Otherwise, you would have faced charges of insubordination, a hundred strokes of the military cane, and possibly your lives!”

“Get lost!”

The capital soldiers, now terrified, hurriedly mounted their horses and fled at full speed.

You Qi was a servant, not a lord; when outside, he was as arrogant as possible. It’s easier to befriend the devil than to deal with a pesky imp. If the imp were easy, who would fear the devil?

Had Qi Jiguang not pleaded for mercy, those lashes would have left the soldiers badly beaten.

“Commander Qi, if you meet such ruffians again, just beat them. Lord Wang Chonggu won’t complain to Minister Zhang,” You Qi said as he mounted and led Qi Jiguang into Beitu City.

Qi Jiguang replied gently, “It’s just that when the people value their hometowns over the nation, quick to private fights but fearful of public battles, the country falls; when the people are brave in public battle but avoid private fights, the nation prospers.”

You Qi admired Qi Jiguang profoundly. Shaking his head, he said, “You and Minister Zhang are men of great deeds and noble ambition. I am merely a servant, a petty man without such gentlemanly grace. If they dare offend again, I will report truthfully to Minister Zhang.”

Whenever Zhang Juzheng gave the word, You Qi would carry his will to the censors and inspectors, reporting insubordination. According to military law, insubordination meant a hundred cane strokes—no escape. Such punishment served as a warning to others.

Zhang Juzheng arranged accommodations within Beitu City itself.

You Qi led Qi Jiguang and his men to the guild inn, smiling, “Commander Qi will have to meet the emperor soon. According to protocol, you must bathe and change clothes. Camping outside would be improper and invite endless complaints from the officials and Ministry of Rites.”

“This is the Quan Chu Guild’s errand runner; summon him if you need anything,” You Qi said before leaving to report back, leaving a steward in charge of communications.

The steward bore the Quan Chu Guild badge; no one dared offend him here.

You Qi returned to the Quan Chu Guild at dusk and reported the entire incident to Zhang Juzheng.

Zhang paused, then said, “Have the Military Affairs Censor submit a report on the capital garrison’s misconduct. If Lord Wang Chonggu does not discipline them, I will handle it myself.”

Zhang Juzheng was unforgiving and exacting.