Chapter 46: Summoned to the Golden Palace

  A night without words.

  Wang Pu wanted to make friends with some royal relatives or cabinet ministers before attending the imperial court, but without the sacred decree of Emperor Chongzhen, he could not enter the city. The assistant minister of the Grand Secretariat, Zhou Yanru, and the Minister of War, Chen Xinxia, also wanted to get along with Wang Pu, but they did not dare to privately visit him outside the city because Emperor Chongzhen was extremely taboo about officials making friends with generals from outside the capital.

  The next day at noon.

  Outside Guangqu Gate, Wang Pu's army camped.

  Wang Pu took off his armor and, under Chen Yuanyuan's service, put on the big red court dress bestowed by Emperor Chongzhen. The whole person looked particularly spirited. This big red court dress was particular, only the commander-in-chief of each department, the left and right commanders of the five armies, the deputy commander, the commander-in-charge, and the external garrison general who wore the general's seal had the qualifications to wear it.

  Wang Pu had not yet formally worn the general's seal, but everyone thought it was only a matter of time.

  "How is it?" Wang Pu asked with a pleased smile as he turned around twice and asked Chen Yuanyuan, "My wife, what do you think?"

  Chen Yuanyuan smiled and said: "Master, wearing this official uniform is truly majestic."

  "That's for sure." Wang Pu puffed out his chest and said with a straight face, "Your husband is the youngest, most handsome, most elegant, and most extraordinary general in the world. With your husband's physique, even if he wore beggar's clothes, it wouldn't be ordinary dignity."

  "Hehe."

  Chen Yuanyuan couldn't help but laugh, her eyes curved like crescent moons.

  Wang Pu's heart was stirred, and he beckoned Chen Yuanyuan with his finger, leering: "Come here, my lady."

  "No." Chen Yuanyuan's face turned bright red with shame. "It's broad daylight now, and besides, Xiao Qi and the others are still outside."

  Two people were in the midst of a romantic quarrel when suddenly, from outside the account, Xiao Qi's voice rang out: "General, have you changed into your court attire? The imperial envoy sent by the Emperor is almost here."

  "Come on." Wang Pu turned his head and roared, "What's the hurry, are you trying to rush me to my death?"

  Chen Yuanyuan gently pushed Wang Pu and softly said: "Husband, go quickly."

  "Let's just take a walk and let Master get close for a moment before leaving."

  Wang Pu finished speaking and strode over to Chen Yuanyuan's delicate body, forcefully kissing her bright red lips, his hands also taking the opportunity to grope her plump buttocks a few times, until Chen Yuanyuan couldn't help but giggle, Wang Pu then smiled lewdly and hummed a Shanxi folk tune as he exited the tent.

  Outside the account, Chang Yanling, Li Zushu, Xiao Qi, Knife Scar Face, Zhen Youcai and others have arrived, just waiting for him alone.

  Wang Pu asked: "Scarface, where are your brothers?"

  Scarface said: "Everyone is lined up outside the camp."

  "What about Jian Nu?"

  They also pressed on to the outskirts of the camp.

  "Are you dead?"

  "They won't die, Old Man Li gives them ginseng stewed meat every day, nourishing them."

  "That's good." Wang Pu waved his hand and said loudly, "Brothers, let's go!"

  Wang Pu led Chang Yanling and others to arrive slowly outside the camp, where they saw more than 200 family servants already dressed in neat rows, lined up in two neat columns. In the middle of the formation were two large prisoner carts, and naturally, the prisoners being held inside were Huang Taiji and Dai Shan. The two men looked quite well, but their eyes seemed rather unfriendly.

  Not yet out of the camp gate, a team of powerful generals came from the official road, surrounding a eunuch wearing a large red brocade robe. Chang Yanling's face changed as he stood beside Wang Pu and said in a low voice: "Big brother, this public servant is not an ordinary public servant. He is the emperor's confidant, the chief eunuch Wang Chengen."

  Wang Chengen?

  Wang Pu's heart skipped a beat when he heard the words, how could he not know Wang Cheng'en, this guy was the eunuch who died with Emperor Chongzhen on Coal Mountain? Fortunately, Wang Pu was prepared early and quickly stepped forward, taking advantage of the handshake to secretly put a jade Buddha into Wang Cheng'en's hand. This thing was found in the Jian Nu Palace, it must be worth at least several tens of thousands of taels of silver.

  "King Gong, you've worked hard, hehe."

  Wang Chengen patted the sleeve with a smile, and his face immediately bloomed into a flower. He fawned and said: "What's the big deal about our family running to Guangqu Gate? General Wang led a lone army to enter Liaodong, turning Jian Nu upside down, that's what I call real hardship, that's what I call a true hero! Our family has never been convinced by anyone, but today we can't help but admire General Wang!"

  Wang Pu hastily smiled and said: "Oh dear, sir, you're being too serious."

  "Wang Zongbing, shall we enter the city then?"

  Wang Pu hastily cupped his hands and said: "Please go first, Lord Wang."

  "This won't do." Wang Chengen hastily shook his head and said, "Our family has been ordered by the Emperor to come and welcome General Wang. Today you are the host, our family can't steal your thunder, please go first."

  The two men declined for a while, but Wang Chengen insisted on letting Wang Pu go first.

  Wang Pu had no choice but to lead the way on horseback. As they approached the Guangqu Gate, the magnificent scene outside Nanjing City was reenacted outside Beijing City, with hundreds of thousands of civilians packing the roads inside and outside the city, leaving no room for water to flow through. However, this time, there were no nobles or officials coming out of the city to greet them, as they were under the emperor's feet.

  Wang Pu and his two hundred or so men once again enjoyed the thunderous applause of the Ming people, while Huang Taiji and Daishan, on the other hand, once again experienced the boundless anger of the Ming people.

  ■■■

  Huangji Hall

  The Chongzhen Emperor and civil and military officials are having a meal of thin soup.

  Because the Chongzhen Emperor is holding a grand court in the Huangji Hall today, the morning court was also held together in the Huangji Hall. The civil and military officials have been waiting in line outside the Meridian Gate since the fifth watch, and now they haven't eaten anything yet, each of them has already starved to the point of hunger pangs, fortunately, the Chongzhen Emperor had the imperial kitchen prepare a thin porridge for the officials early on.

  The officials had just finished their soup when Wang Cheng'en, who was sent to deliver the edict, returned.

  Chongzhen Emperor had just finished his soup, and when he looked up, he happened to see Wang Cheng'en slipping into the great hall. He asked, "Cheng'en, has General Wang arrived?"

  Wang Chengen rubbed his waist and panted: "Your Majesty is waiting outside the palace."

  Chongzhen Emperor smiled and said: "Declar."

  "The slave obeys the order." Wang Cheng'en responded with a loud voice, turned around and shouted, "The emperor has an edict, proclaim... General Wang Pu of Datong to see..."

  The two eunuchs standing outside the palace hastily relayed the message: "Announce... Commander-in-Chief Wang Pu of Datong requests an audience..."

  The officials in the grand hall stopped their whispers, each turning their heads to look outside, and in the suffocating wait, a lithe figure stepped onto the golden steps under the midday sun. The bright red general's uniform reflected dazzling light under the sun's rays, almost bewildering the eyes of the officials.

  Wang Pu followed Wang Cheng'en's instructions, stepped into the Golden Palace, and knelt down on the Danbi, bowing his head and shouting: "Your minister, Wang Pu, Commander-in-Chief of Datong, pays homage to Your Majesty, may you live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, and ten thousand more years..."

  Chongzhen Emperor smiled and said: "Love, you are safe."

  "Thank you very much."

  Wang Pu bowed his head and then stood up straight in the hall.

  The eyes of the civil and military officials immediately focused on Wang Pu, and Emperor Chongzhen, sitting on the dragon chair, nodded slightly in his heart, secretly admiring that Wang Pu was indeed young and handsome, with a dignified appearance.

  "King Ai, you led a thousand cavalry into the depths of Liaodong, destroying the old nest of Jian Nu and capturing their leader, Huang Taiji. This is a victory unprecedented in the history of our dynasty, greatly enhancing the prestige of our great Ming nation and military. Not long ago, you also led the army to annihilate the White Lotus rebels that plagued Shandong, recovering Jining and unblocking the Grand Canal. Your military achievements are truly brilliant, I am extremely pleased."

  "Long live."

  Wang Pu took out a yellow silk package from his bosom, held it high above his head and loudly announced: "I have retrieved for Your Majesty, for the Great Ming Empire, an item that has been lost for far too long."

  The transmission of the national jade seal is a matter of great importance, not to be taken lightly. Such a treasure Wang Pu would absolutely dare not privately store, and not only can it not be privately stored, but it must also be handed over at the first opportunity when meeting with Emperor Chongzhen. Otherwise, it would be easy to be accused by the imperial historians of privately storing national instruments, and that would be unbearable.