Chapter Fifty-Six: Also Lost

Chapter Fifty-Six: Yishiha

The imperial edict from Zhu Qizhen arrived in Yishiha's hands at the same time as a letter from Jin Ying. The letter carefully explained the circumstances leading up to this moment. Yishiha sighed inwardly, thinking, “It seems I will have no choice but to oppose Wang Zhen from now on.”

All of Yishiha’s achievements lay in the northeast. Though he was a eunuch by title, his deeds were more reminiscent of a military commander. Thus, he spent most of his years away from the palace, evading court intrigues whenever possible. Although it appeared as though he had no allies at court, at least he was not entangled in the storms of the inner court.

Yet now, despite Jin Ying’s letter mentioning only this one event, Yishiha could tell at a glance the great favor Jin Ying was granting him. Even if Wang Zhen were blind, he would still see Yishiha and Jin Ying as allies. In the face of such overwhelming interests, most political creatures acknowledge only reality. The reality was that Jin Ying’s first act upon taking office was to recommend Yishiha.

There was no way for Yishiha to deny this association. Even if he attempted to do so, others would only see it as a betrayal of gratitude. He was now inevitably entangled in the struggle between Wang Zhen and Jin Ying.

Yishiha considered, “From Jin Ying’s words, the current emperor is no less wise than his predecessor. If I am to accomplish anything in the northeast, it will depend on His Majesty’s intentions.”

Without delay, Yishiha set out at once, traveling by official post stations at breakneck speed. In just two days, he arrived in Beijing. He found lodging in a temple and reported his arrival to the palace.

Eunuchs in Beijing maintained particularly close relationships with the temples. Many temples were built with funds donated by eunuchs; some were even converted from their former residences. Indeed, many eunuchs owned mansions outside the palace. Yishiha, however, having spent his career in the northeast, owned no residence in the capital. In Shenyang, though, his mansion was as grand as that of any regional commander or governor.

After settling in, he immediately sent gifts to Jin Ying’s residence. But Jin Ying, busy at court, had not returned home. At this time, few eunuchs in the capital owned private residences, though Jin Ying, as a favored attendant of the former Emperor Xuanzong, had been granted a special mansion.

Jin Ying, of course, could easily guess Yishiha’s intentions in sending gifts—such gestures were only natural. Foreseeing this, Jin Ying had already left word: “With a wise emperor on the throne, all you need do is answer truthfully.”

The next morning, Yishiha entered the palace.

But Zhu Qizhen spent his mornings at court, listening to lectures; dined at Kunning Palace at noon; and in the afternoons, consulted with the Grand Empress Dowager in Cining Palace regarding affairs of state. He rose before dawn each day, and even when there was nothing urgent, he would not return until he had paid his respects at Cining Palace. The earliest he would return was in the afternoon.

And so, Yishiha waited from morning until afternoon. With Jin Ying’s support, he did not dare eat or drink much, fearing disgrace before Zhu Qizhen. It was well known that eunuchs, due to their physical condition, had difficulty holding their urine, and if they tried, they would often leak, resulting in an unpleasant smell. Thus, eunuchs were accustomed to powdering themselves and dousing themselves in fragrances to conceal this flaw.

Yishiha understood that the emperor had summoned him today. Any other time, mistakes could be overlooked, but to err before the emperor would be disastrous. Was this not the same reason King Zhao had refused to employ Lian Po—due to his frequent need to relieve himself in old age? If Yishiha failed in this regard, not only would he lose hope of promotion, he might not even be permitted to return to Liaodong to pursue his ambitions.

This audience was of the utmost importance to him.

“The Emperor approaches!” As Yishiha waited in the Hall of Heavenly Purity, a young eunuch’s voice rang out. He immediately knelt, forehead pressed to the ground, not daring to look up.

Zhu Qizhen did not arrive by sedan chair, but walked in person, spotting Yishiha from afar. Yishiha’s attire was markedly different from that of the lesser eunuchs, signaling his elevated rank. Zhu Qizhen could not distinguish whether it was the garb of the Flying Fish Guards, the Flying Bull Corps, or some other ceremonial robe—he could not tell the difference among these elaborate uniforms. Yet for ministers, such distinctions were a great honor.

But Zhu Qizhen was the emperor; it was for others to accommodate him, not the reverse.

Seeing Yishiha, Zhu Qizhen felt a touch of disappointment. Most of Yishiha’s hair had turned white, deep wrinkles lined his face, and his features sagged with age. He was old now. This hero, once dispatched by the Emperors Taizong and Xuanzong to the Nurgan outpost, was now nearing the end of his years.

This was a concern that weighed on Zhu Qizhen’s mind. Among civil ministers, the Three Yangs and Hu Ying were all aging; among the generals, the first generation of heroes like Zhang Fu, who had distinguished themselves in the Campaign of Jingnan, were old as well. Even Fang Zheng, once head of a mere thousand households, was now elderly. Among the eunuchs, the capable men—Zheng He, Wang Jinghong, Yishiha—were dead or dying.

The empire still stood, but its heroes were passing away. Zhu Qizhen felt both anxiety and a secret joy: the anxiety for the inevitable gap in capable ministers, but also the satisfaction that, as Minister Jian had said, if he could show restraint, these formidable old hands would fall away on their own, leaving the center of power. Ten years, more or less, was all it would take.

Yet these men had all been cultivated by Emperor Taizong and promoted by the benevolence of Xuanzong, their talents forged in the crucible of the Jingnan War at the cost of countless lives. If they were all gone, would Zhu Qizhen truly be able to hold the empire together, let alone reclaim lost lands from the Oirat Mongols?

But for now, this concern remained only in his heart. It was not yet the time to dwell on such things.

He said, “Let Yishiha rise. We will speak further inside.”

Without breaking stride, Zhu Qizhen signaled to a young eunuch, who came to guide Yishiha. Yishiha followed the retinue into the Hall of Heavenly Purity.

Once seated, Zhu Qizhen summoned Yishiha again.

Entering the grand hall, Yishiha glanced around and saw Jin Ying and Wang Zhen standing to Zhu Qizhen’s left and right.

“Your servant greets Your Majesty and wishes you peace and health.”

With a wave, Zhu Qizhen replied, “We are well. Master Yi is a meritorious servant of the court. Someone, bring him a seat.”

A cushioned stool was brought forward, and Yishiha, after expressing his gratitude, sat down cautiously. “Your servant thanks Your Majesty.”

Zhu Qizhen asked, “Eunuch Yi, are you familiar with the Jurchen tribes?”

Yishiha replied, “Your servant is himself a Jurchen. Since following Emperor Taizong, I have always dealt with the Jurchen tribes—I know them as well as anyone.”

Zhu Qizhen continued, “It was you who reported the drought in Nurgan.”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“Then tell us the situation.”

“Your servant may have spoken imprecisely. Strictly speaking, it is not only the Nurgan garrison that suffers from drought, but all the Jurchen lands. This year’s autumn harvest will likely yield little.”

Zhu Qizhen, unconcerned about the Jurchen drought itself, asked, “Do the Jurchen tribes practice agriculture?”

“The Jurchen live by fishing and hunting, but they do farm. However, due to the bitter cold of Nurgan, the land is covered in snow for half the year.”

“They can only plant one crop, sown in spring and harvested in summer. The Jurchen are not skilled farmers, so the yields are low.”

Zhu Qizhen nodded. “So, most of the northeast is cultivable?”

Yishiha pondered for a moment. “Yes.”

Zhu Qizhen nodded again. “Continue.”

Of course Zhu Qizhen knew the northeast could be farmed, but he needed confirmation from Yishiha, the recognized authority in the region, in order to persuade others—especially the Grand Empress Dowager.

In fact, summoning Yishiha already overstepped the boundaries that the Grand Empress Dowager had set for him. Though she had said nothing, Zhu Qizhen knew she would be expecting an account of his actions.

He felt he must prepare a satisfactory explanation.

Yishiha, unaware of the deeper implications behind Zhu Qizhen’s questions, continued to report on the drought: “Before I left, the three garrisons of Jianzhou were already showing signs of restlessness. According to my information, envoys from the Oirat Mongols have been active among them.”

“I fear the three garrisons of Jianzhou may soon no longer be under imperial control.”