In the twelfth month of the fifth year of Chongzhen's reign, the forces of Gao Family Village finally withdrew back to their garrisons.
That same month, the winds of chaos shifted once again.
Li Zicheng, accompanied by his Eight Diamond Warriors and Guo Tianxing, suddenly burst out of the Taihang Mountains. On the night of the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth month, just before dawn, they launched a surprise assault and successfully breached Liaozhou—modern-day Zuoquan County.
The Supreme Commander of Xuanfu and Datong, Zhang Zongheng, and the Shanxi Provincial Commander, You Shilù, were caught completely off guard.
In panic, You Shilù hastily submitted a memorial to the throne:
"The bandits under my pursuit were Zijing Liang and his accomplices, while the so-called Dashing General and his group belonged to the Xihe bandits. I do not understand why they were permitted to move east unimpeded, bringing calamity upon Liaozhou. Fearing the collapse of the entire suppression effort, I had no choice but to abandon my current pursuit and rush to Liaozhou to preserve the territory."
On the twenty-eighth day, You Shilù arrived outside Liaozhou with his troops. After two days of fierce fighting, Li Zicheng abandoned over one thousand three hundred corpses and withdrew once more into the Taihang Mountains.
In the first month of the sixth year of Chongzhen's reign, within the Imperial Study of the capital—
The Chongzhen Emperor flipped through the memorials, his brows knotting tighter with each page.
"Six years," he said bitterly. "Six entire years of bandit suppression, and the realm is still in utter chaos."
The chief eunuch Cao Huachun, standing at his side, hurriedly spoke up.
"This is by no means Your Majesty's fault. Your Majesty governs diligently for the people, striving day and night—truly a wise ruler seldom seen through the ages. It is merely that the officials below fail to carry out their duties."
Such words never failed to soothe the emperor.
He casually opened another memorial—this one submitted by Lao Nanfeng, the garrison commander of Puzhou, detailing the Battle of Houjia Village.
Naturally, this was the version Cheng Xu had carefully polished.
Enemy forces numbered in the hundreds of thousands.
Arrows fell like rain from all directions.
Rebel leaders dropped one after another with every volley.
The Chongzhen Emperor's spirits soared.
"This battle was fought magnificently," he murmured. "Could it be… an embellished report meant to amuse Us?"
With suspicion in his heart, he opened yet another memorial—this one from Zhang Fengyi of the Sichuan White Pole Soldiers.
It contained only a brief statement:
"The contents are acceptable."
Zhang Fengyi had not refuted a single word.
The Chongzhen Emperor's mood shot upward as if propelled skyward.
"Merit in suppressing bandits must be rewarded!" he declared happily. "This Puzhou garrison commander deserves promotion. Old Cao—what rank should he receive?"
Cao Huachun pondered.
"He is currently a fifth-rank garrison commander. Given such great merit, a promotion of one rank would be appropriate. He could be made a fourth-rank Mobile Division Commander, tasked with future bandit suppression. With such authority, his pursuit of scattered rebels across regions would be far more legitimate."
"Approved!" the emperor said decisively. "Draft the edict."
He then pointed at two names.
"And these two—Wang Xiaohua and Shi Jian. They too have rendered distinguished service."
Cao Huachun replied, "Coincidentally, the Prefect of Pinelyang Prefecture has submitted a memorial stating that the region lacks garrison troops. He requests that Wang Xiaohua be assigned there."
The Chongzhen Emperor nodded. "Very well. Promote Wang Xiaohua to Pinelyang Garrison Commander. And Shi Jian?"
"Hejin Garrison Commander," Cao Huachun suggested.
"Approved."
The emperor's gaze then fell upon another name.
"Xing Honglang," he said slowly. "Is this person not a surrendered rebel? How did she come to hold the position of Military Preparations Commissioner? That is clearly a civil post."
Cao Huachun lowered his voice.
"The Military Preparations Commissioner also oversees military affairs. Hedong Circuit has just endured a great battle—no ordinary civil official would dare go there. The Shanxi Governor therefore appointed a surrendered rebel to manage the salt administration. Xing Honglang was formerly a salt smuggler, skilled in finance and administration. He likely valued her abilities."
The Chongzhen Emperor snorted coldly.
"Absurd! Allowing a rebel and a salt smuggler to oversee the salt administration—isn't that like appointing a rat to guard the granary?"
Cao Huachun hesitated. "Your Majesty…"
"She has already risen far enough," the emperor said sharply. "She is not to be promoted further. Order her to garrison Hedong Circuit instead. As for the salt administration—we must appoint someone else."
Cao Huachun whispered cautiously, "Shanxi is in chaos. Civil officials are unwilling to go."
"We would not be at ease even if one did," the emperor replied. "Send one of Our own—a loyal eunuch who has served Us since childhood—to oversee the salt administration in Hedong."
Cao Huachun secretly rejoiced.
The salt administration was a fat post. Anyone seated there would inevitably grow wealthy.
Believing he had resolved yet another major issue, the Chongzhen Emperor picked up the next memorial.
And then—
His expression changed.
Yan Zhenghu had taken Jiaocheng and advanced on Taiyuan. Failing to breach it, he turned and seized Xizhou.
Shang Tianlong captured Wucheng, advanced on Fenzhou, failed again, and instead took Yangcheng County.
Most shocking of all—
Li Zicheng, after being driven from Liaozhou, had crossed the Taihang Mountains entirely and entered the Capital Region, appearing in the prefectures of Shunde (modern Xingtai) and Zhending (modern Zhengding).
The Chongzhen Emperor stared at the memorial submitted by Censor Meng Guozuo:
"The southern Capital Region is a vital strategic corridor. Shunde is an open plain stretching a thousand li straight to the capital, with no rivers or mountains to block the way."
The emperor's heart plunged as if on a collapsing tower.
"Are you joking?" he exclaimed. "The rebels are nearly at the gates of the capital?!"
Rage consumed him.
"Is Xu Dingchen merely drawing a salary? A Shanxi Provincial Governor commanding an entire province, yet repeatedly allowing rebels to slip through—now they've reached the Capital Region! Preposterous!"
"Your Majesty, please calm yourself," Cao Huachun urged.
"I cannot!" the emperor shouted. "Dismiss him! Dismiss Xu Dingchen at once! We never want to see this man again!"
Cao Huachun hesitated.
"Xu Dingchen has only held office for just over a year. If he is dismissed now…"
"We do not care!" the emperor snapped.
"But… the officials are unwilling…"
Factional infighting could stall appointments for years—but a provincial governorship could not remain vacant.
The Chongzhen Emperor fell silent, then suddenly said, "Ah—Dai Jun'en. Send Dai Jun'en to be Shanxi Provincial Governor."
Dai Jun'en.
A famed poet and writer, known by his sobriquet—the Madman of Lanjiang.
In his desperation, the emperor had seized a literary man and thrust him into the fires of frontier governance.
Whether it would work—he no longer cared.
His concern now lay solely with the rebels nearing the capital.
He urgently ordered:
Two thousand troops from Tongzhou
Two thousand from Changping
Eight thousand from General Liang Fu of Baoding
These forces were to cooperate with Lu Xiangheng, Military Preparations Commissioner of Daming, and the Shanxi government troops.
Thus, one of the late Ming dynasty's fiercest generals—
Lu Xiangheng, leading his Tianxiong Army—
Stepped fully onto the stage of history.