Chapter Fifty-Four: Golden Blossom

Chapter Fifty-Four: Jin Ying

Zhu Qizhen had seen Jin Ying before.

After all, as the so-called Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial Duties, Jin Ying was often at Emperor Xuanzong’s side, and Zhu Qizhen, being Xuanzong’s beloved son, had naturally met him.

But it was only limited to mere acquaintance.

Previously, Zhu Qizhen was still young; no matter how important the affairs of state, he would not have been involved. Moreover, Wang Zhen, ever eager to maintain his influence in Zhu Qizhen’s heart, limited the young prince’s interactions with other eunuchs.

Thus, Zhu Qizhen’s impression of Jin Ying was faint.

Yet, the moment Jin Ying saw Zhu Qizhen, he knelt to the ground and said, “To see you again today, my lord, is a blessing; even before the late emperor, I would have words to speak.”

Hearing this, Zhu Qizhen felt a pang of sorrow. The late Emperor Xuanzong’s place in his heart, as a father figure, had never changed, nor could it be changed. Jin Ying’s words brought that memory rushing back.

Even if he would not yield to the Empress Dowager, he must show respect for Emperor Xuanzong.

Yes, some of what Zhu Qizhen told Wang Zhen was true, some false. The false part was that, to divide Wang Zhen’s power, Zhu Qizhen needed at least two or three different channels of communication with the outside world.

Currently, Zhu Qizhen’s sources of information were as follows: the largest was the Grand Secretariat.

All memorials from the two capitals and thirteen provinces were compiled there before being reported. But this channel must pass through the Directorate of Ceremonial Duties.

While Wang Zhen dared not conceal what ought to be reported, it was easy for him to manipulate the order—placing urgent matters among trivial ones, delaying important issues, and so forth. Zhu Qizhen could not easily find fault.

Moreover, the memorials from local officials, filtered through the Grand Secretariat, were often unreliable, as Zhu Qizhen well knew.

Hence the creation of the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

They were not as all-powerful as legend suggests, but they served well to verify the truth of reports from local officials.

Neither the Eastern Depot nor the Embroidered Uniform Guard should be controlled by the same person.

The reason was simple: Emperor Taizong had established the Eastern Depot to monitor the Embroidered Uniform Guard. If both were under the same leader, what purpose would the Eastern Depot serve?

In fact, the Eastern Depot’s organization was inferior to the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The latter was a formal state institution, while many of the Eastern Depot’s personnel were transferred from the Guard.

In terms of manpower, it was not unreasonable to see the two as one entity.

Later, the Eastern Depot expanded dramatically, even recruiting local thugs and ruffians, but that is another matter.

Truly, Jin Ying’s appointment was recommended by the Empress Dowager.

But she had carefully considered it—Jin Ying was someone Zhu Qizhen could accept, for Jin Ying was not her own man.

Strictly speaking, Jin Ying belonged to Emperor Xuanzong.

Between the Empress Dowager and Zhu Qizhen, Jin Ying naturally leaned towards Zhu Qizhen. His loyalty stemmed from Xuanzong. While he would serve the Empress Dowager, he was not her confidant.

Zhu Qizhen said, “Eunuch Jin, rise.”

Jin Ying stood, hands lowered, by Zhu Qizhen’s side.

Zhu Qizhen continued, “The Eastern Depot in your hands should be quite manageable.”

Jin Ying bowed slightly and replied, “I possess only this modest ability.”

Zhu Qizhen had no doubt Jin Ying could master the Eastern Depot; Wang Zhen had only recently taken over as Director of Ceremonial Duties, stabilizing his position, placing his men in the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot, but compared to Jin Ying, who had wielded real power during Xuanzong’s reign, he was still lacking.

The outcomes of both men tell their own tale.

Wang Zhen’s fate is well known; as for Jin Ying, after the disaster at Tumu Fortress, he and Grand Empress Sun established the regency. When the regent later sought to depose the Crown Prince, Jin Ying fiercely opposed it.

He narrowly escaped death several times.

Yet his steadfast loyalty was rewarded: when Emperor Chenghua ascended, he showered Jin Ying with favor. Even after Jin Ying and his nephew passed away, the nephew’s son was granted a post thanks to imperial grace.

Such was the magnitude of royal favor.

To weather so many storms with ease, to emerge unscathed and shelter his descendants, Jin Ying’s cunning and prudence were clear.

Of course, Zhu Qizhen knew nothing of Jin Ying’s future.

But even now, Jin Ying’s capabilities were evident.

The incriminating evidence against Cao Jixiang for the Empress Dowager must have been arranged by Jin Ying; though confined within the palace, how could Jin Ying know about affairs outside? Clearly, the Eastern Depot or the Embroidered Uniform Guard contained his agents.

The late emperor’s passing was an act of fate, yet within months, Jin Ying had climbed back to the inner court’s core.

Among the inner court eunuchs, the true powers were the Directors of Ceremonial Duties, the Eastern Depot, and the Imperial Horse Agency.

Others ranked below.

Zhu Qizhen asked, “Are you aware of certain matters I have arranged?”

Jin Ying replied with utmost respect, but without a trace of panic, as if he had long anticipated the question: “Your Majesty instructed me to investigate the disaster in Henan; I have assisted Lord Yu in pacifying the region. This autumn’s harvest in Henan was good, and the province has survived.”

“Your Majesty also ordered the collection of pearls in Hepu and the covert gathering of intelligence on Annam. I have arranged for agents to enter Annam from three routes: by sea, from Guangxi, and from Yunnan, setting up secret posts along the way to support the advancing army.”

“There is also the matter of the grasslands. There are two places where Adai Khan might have gone; I have sent men to investigate.”

Zhu Qizhen asked, “Which two?”

Jin Ying answered, “One is Najiyi, the other is Khalkha.”

Zhu Qizhen frowned slightly; he knew of Khalkha. In later times, Khalkha’s marriage alliance with the Qing made its name famous.

But Najiyi?

Jin Ying explained at once: “Khalkha is the core tribe of Eastern Mongolia, always controlled by the Golden Clan, and may well hide Adai Khan. Najiyi lies north of Gansu, at the site of Western Xia’s Blackwater City, near Juyan Lake. It is the ancestral land of Adai Khan’s line, close to the border. During the Hongwu and Yongle reigns, Ming troops were stationed there, though later withdrawn. Other tribes dare not easily occupy it; it remains a blank space.”

Zhu Qizhen nodded, “So your view is that Adai Khan must be hidden by others?”

Jin Ying replied, “I followed the late emperor to the grasslands. Though they seem vast, places where troops can be concealed must be rich in water and pasture. Such places are treasures on the steppe; none are without an owner.”

“If Adai were alone, of course, there would be no place he couldn’t go, but a single man on the steppe, living or dead, is of no consequence.”

“Adai Khan, however, wishes to make a comeback, to win the support of some tribes.”

Zhu Qizhen sighed inwardly; how could he not discern Jin Ying’s implication?

Zhu Qizhen’s agents searching for Adai Khan on the grasslands were doomed from the start.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard could find him; Toghon could not fail, unless Adai Khan was hidden by someone. In that case, even if the Guard found him, what could they do?

Could they bring him back to Ming?

If not, it mattered little whose hands held Adai Khan.

As for supporting him, that would require Adai Khan to approach Ming himself. He may be hard to find, but Ming is easy to locate.

In such circumstances, if Adai Khan does not come to Ming, his wariness is evident. Even if found, what use is it?

Only lives of the Embroidered Uniform Guard would be wasted.

Zhu Qizhen said, “Since that is so, withdraw the search.”

Jin Ying replied, “Your Majesty is wise.”

Zhu Qizhen said, “The late emperor’s untimely passing has left all these burdens upon myself and the Empress Dowager. You are an old servant of the late emperor; you must lend me your strength.”

Jin Ying knelt again, eyes brimming with tears. “How dare I not serve with utmost loyalty. There is one matter I beg Your Majesty to heed.”