Chapter 1067: Our Spy
The Chongzhen Emperor couldn't sleep. He climbed out of bed.
The dream he'd just had left a pang in his heart.
His Imperial Brother, on his deathbed, had entrusted him with this realm. Yet, he had failed to govern it well, betraying his brother's dying hopes.
“Ah!”
The Chongzhen Emperor stretched, a weary sigh escaping his lips. “From now on,” he declared, “I must be even more diligent.”
Just then, a eunuch burst in, his footsteps thudding urgently. He was weeping. “Your Majesty!” he cried. “Terrible news! Awful news!”
The Chongzhen Emperor's heart sank. “What fresh disaster now?” he demanded.
The eunuch sobbed, “The Manchu invaders have burned the Dexin Mausoleum! The Tianqi Emperor... His Imperial Majesty Tianqi’s tomb has been plundered by Qing soldiers! All the burial treasures are gone!”
With a horrified gasp, the Chongzhen Emperor staggered back, collapsing onto his bed. “No wonder I had such a dream last night,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “My brother... he came to settle accounts with me...”
Enraged, the Chongzhen Emperor roared, “The Manchu invaders are at the capital’s very gates, and where is the Minister of War? Where are the relief armies from the various garrisons? Has no one left to attend to Us?”
The eunuch stammered, “This humble servant will go, this humble servant will go right now to help Your Majesty repel the Manchu invaders.”
“Go quickly!” the Chongzhen Emperor snapped. “Enough idle talk!”
Taking his orders, the eunuch rushed out.
Soon after, Eunuch Gao Qiqian was appointed supervising censor, and Minister of War Zhang Fengyi took command as governor-general. The capital’s pampered youths were hastily assembled, forming a motley, shambolic army—one arguably weaker than even the common bandits—which then took its position on the West Zhimen Gate walls.
The Qing Grand General, Ajige, stood encamped outside the city. His gaze swept over the city walls, seeing nothing but a disorganized mess!
Ajige burst into laughter. “This city is filled with nothing but cowards!” he boomed. “One day, my Great Qing will surely conquer this city and rule the Central Plains!”
A general stepped forward from beside him. “General,” he cautioned, “it is too early to attack this city. Though its defenders are all cowards, the walls are towering and formidable. Even if we brought every cannon in the entire nation and bombarded it for days and nights, we still couldn’t breach these walls.”
“Nonsense!” Ajige snapped. “Do I need you to tell me that? Can’t I see it for myself?”
He waved his hand, issuing his orders. “This general will remain here with the central army, keeping watch over these weaklings. The rest of you, disperse and plunder the surrounding villages. Bring back as many slaves as you can.”
The generals replied, “Understood, General!”
The Qing forces immediately fanned out, spreading across the countryside to plunder.
They swept into Dingxing, descended upon Fangshan, fought at Zhuozhou, attacked Gu’an, conquered Wen’an, breached Baodi, killed Magistrate Zhao Guoding, seized Shunyi, reached Huairou, occupied Hexiwu, garrisoned Miyun and Pinggu, and besieged Dingxing. Within a single month, they had utterly ravaged the heartland. The Qing army captured a total of 12 cities and fought 56 battles, large and small, claiming victory in every single one! They seized 179,800 people and animals.
However...
Amidst the Qing army’s glorious record, however, were interspersed a few minor, seemingly insignificant defeats.
On a certain day, in a certain month, in a certain year, Wang Pu, the Regional Commander of Datong, led the Shanxi Relief Army and slew ‘xxx’ enemies outside Changping City... Ajige, with a grand flourish of his brush, crossed it out. Crossed it out!
On another day, in another month, in another year, Wang Pu, the Regional Commander of Datong, once again led the Shanxi Relief Army in the northeast of Changping, slaying another ‘xxx’ enemies... Ajige, with another flourish of his brush, crossed it out. Crossed it out!
Ajige slashed left and right, erasing here and there. In the end, the Qing army’s record became one of unbroken victories.
That would look much better when written into the History of the Qing.
My Great Qing army—powerful and invincible.
“Report!” A swift rider galloped up to Ajige, his face drenched in sweat. “General, terrible news! Our right flank skirmishers have been broken by Wang Pu, the Regional Commander of Datong. They’ve completely dispersed. Our right flank is exposed, and there’s a constant danger of the enemy thrusting into our main camp!”
“What?!” Ajige exclaimed.
The brush in his hand trembled slightly.
He frowned, and the topographical map of the capital region instantly formed in his mind: the right flank was lost.
If the enemy were to suddenly cut in from the right flank now, the disorganized rabble within the capital’s West Zhimen Gate would surely rush out to assist. Though they were an unimpressive bunch, a large enough unimpressive bunch could still deliver a painful blow.
If caught in such a pincer movement, he too would be at risk of defeat.
Ajige scoffed, “Just who is this Wang Pu, the Regional Commander of Datong?”
“Unknown!” his lieutenants shook their heads. “Never heard of him. He doesn’t seem like anyone special, but he has a very strange firearms unit. They’re incredibly fierce.”
The mention of a firearms unit immediately reminded Ajige of the Emperor’s “Action Code: Jiang Gan Steals the Letter.” Alas, that operation had ultimately failed. The spy team’s fate remained unknown to this day; they were likely captured by the Great Ming and tortured to death.
If only that operation hadn’t failed, how wonderful that would have been! Then what the hell would we have to fear from a firearms unit?
Ajige couldn’t help but spend a few seconds thinking wistfully of his spy team.
“Achoo!” At the Chang’an Automobile Factory, Bin Sheng, head of the steam engine assembly workshop, suddenly sneezed while eating in the cafeteria. “Who’s thinking of me?”
Yanzi, sitting beside him, pouted her lips. “Oh, so some other girl is thinking of you, is she?” she huffed playfully. “You can’t even hear me when I speak, can you? Why don’t you just go live with that girl who’s thinking of you, then?”
“Huh?” Bin Sheng jumped, startled. He quickly turned to Yanzi, an ingratiating smile plastered on his face. “Don’t be angry, Yanzi, I was listening to your every word.”
“Then what did I just say?” Yanzi challenged.
Bin Sheng immediately straightened up. “Miss Yanzi said that last time I gave up my right to housing allocation to a fellow worker, which means I still don’t have a marital home. But it doesn’t matter, because Miss Yanzi has been allocated a small house, and we can use your house as our marital home for now to get married. In the future, I will redouble my efforts, continue to be recognized as an advanced worker, a Labor Model, and an outstanding youth. When the factory next allocates housing, we will strive to get a large house and then have two children, one boy and one girl.”
A shy smile bloomed on Yanzi’s face. “That’s better,” she murmured. “At least you have a conscience. But why are you speaking so loudly? Look, all our fellow workers overheard you! This is the cafeteria, can’t you speak a little softer?”
“Ah!” Bin Sheng quickly lowered his voice, glancing left and right to gauge the reactions of those around them.
But it was too late to speak softly now; everyone around them was smiling at the pair.
This was Yanzi’s workplace, after all, and she had many colleagues. A group of female cafeteria workers giggled at Yanzi, their laughter carrying notes of blessing, as well as a touch of envy and admiration.
Yanzi was, after all, dating a workshop head. His salary was far higher than that of an ordinary worker, and his future prospects were bright. He was already designated as a reserve candidate for deputy factory director. What woman wouldn’t like such a man?
“Yanzi is so lucky,” one sighed.
“Bin Sheng is dependable, hardworking, and can endure hardship. Most importantly, he’s exceptionally upright and disciplined like a soldier. Where could you ever find another good man like him?”
Only Ajige, miles away, still mused gloomily, “Our spies must have been tortured to death by now. Ah, what a pity, my poor spy team.”
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