My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Thinking of this, Chongzhen smiled with relief and nodded.

"Lang'er is absolutely right! Perhaps I was just being overly cautious as I approached home. It seems I was indeed worrying too much."

Just as the atmosphere between father and son eased and Chongzhen was about to inquire about the specific arrangements after arriving in Nanjing, a series of hurried but light footsteps suddenly came from outside the cabin, followed by a eunuch's report:

"Your Majesty, Your Highness the Crown Prince, Chang Yanling, the Nanjing Garrison Commander and Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Luo Yangxing, the Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, urgently request an audience!"

"Chang Yanling? Luo Yangxing?"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen was slightly taken aback, and the brows that had just relaxed on his face furrowed again.

According to the itinerary and etiquette, the main officials of Nanjing should have greeted the emperor at the dock outside Nanjing city. Why did they come to the river near Yangzhou in advance? And why did the leading figures of the Embroidered Uniform Guard come together?

A barely perceptible look of surprise flashed in Zhu Cilang's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

He and Chongzhen exchanged a glance, both seeing the same question in each other's eyes:

Could something unexpected have happened in Nanjing?

After a brief silence, Zhu Cilang was the first to react.

He turned slightly to face Chongzhen and spoke in a calm tone:

“Father, since Commander Chang and Deputy Commander Luo have arrived here, they must have important matters to report. Why not summon them in and ask them? We can also take this opportunity to learn about the current situation in Nanjing.”

Upon hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen pondered for a moment and then nodded.

He is indeed quite concerned about the current situation in Nanjing, and this unexpected incident may be a window into understanding the truth.

He then cleared his throat and gave the order:

"In that case, summon the two of them to an audience."

"The slaves obey the order."

The eunuch bowed and accepted the order, then turned and quickly walked out of the cabin.

Before long, a steady but slightly hurried sound of footsteps came from outside the cabin door.

Two young eunuchs lifted the heavy brocade curtain from the outside, and Chang Yanling, the commander of the Nanjing Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Luo Yangxing, the deputy commander, walked quickly into the cabin, one after the other, bowing.

The two had clearly traveled a long and arduous journey to get here.

Luo Yangxing was an old face. Although he had experienced many things before, his expression showed more composure and caution.

Chang Yanling, who was walking in front, was about forty years old. He was not tall, but rather stocky. He had a dark complexion and a round face with relaxed eyebrows and eyes. At first glance, he seemed to have a kind of honest and simple air about him. If you didn't know his identity, you would think he was an old military officer who was always on the go and not good at talking.

But how could someone who could sit in the crucial position of Commander of the Nanjing Embroidered Uniform Guard and wield the power of investigation and supervision in the capital be as simple as he appears on the surface?
The occasional glint of shrewdness in his seemingly honest eyes and the imposing aura of someone accustomed to high positions as he walked revealed that he was no ordinary person.

The two men walked to the center of the carpet about ten feet away from the imperial desk, and without hesitation, they knelt down in unison with a "thump," performing the three bows and nine kowtows, their voices loud and respectful.

"Your subject is Chang Yanling, the garrison commander of Nanjing and commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

"Your subject is Luo Yangxing, the Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

"Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince! Long live the Crown Prince! Long live the Crown Prince! Long live the Crown Prince!"

Emperor Chongzhen sat upright on his throne, his gaze calmly sweeping over the two kneeling figures. He raised a hand slightly and spoke in a flat tone:

"You two, please rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!"

After bowing twice, the two stood up, but still kept their hands at their sides and bowed slightly to show respect.

Zhu Cilang stood slightly behind and to the side of Emperor Chongzhen, his gaze first falling on Luo Yangxing. A gentle smile appeared on his face as he spoke:

“Commander Luo, it has been some time since we last met. We have heard that you have been diligent in your duties in Nanjing and have achieved great results in reorganizing the garrisons and eliminating long-standing abuses. Your Majesty and I are very pleased.”

These words were both an affirmation and a subtle reminder: Luo Yangxing, you are where you are today, so you should be grateful and take good care of yourself.

Upon hearing this, Luo Yangxing bowed even lower, his tone sincere and even tinged with gratitude, and quickly replied:
"Your Highness flatters me! I am humbled! I committed a grave error in the past, but Your Majesty and Your Highness have shown me boundless grace by not punishing me severely, but instead entrusting me with important responsibilities. I am deeply grateful and can only repay Your Majesty and Your Highness's kindness by doing my utmost and sacrificing my life for them! I will never dare to be negligent in the slightest or make any mistakes!"

His words were partly an expression of loyalty and partly a heartfelt expression.

Having experienced the ups and downs of his previous official career, he understood the Crown Prince's methods and power better than anyone else, and cherished this power he had regained even more.

Zhu Cilang nodded slightly, said no more, and turned his gaze to Chang Yanling standing in front of him. His tone remained calm, but carried a hint of scrutiny:

"Commander Chang, the imperial edict has been issued, ordering you to welcome the Emperor in Nanjing. Why did you arrive here on the Yangzhou riverfront before the Emperor's arrival in Nanjing? Is there some urgent matter in Nanjing that requires immediate reporting?"

This question goes straight to the heart of the matter, and it was a question shared by both Emperor Chongzhen and Emperor Zhu Cilang.

When Chang Yanling heard the Crown Prince's question, he was slightly taken aback and subconsciously glanced at Emperor Chongzhen on the throne.

Logically, with the emperor present, he should be the one to speak first and ask questions; even if the crown prince is overseeing the country, he should be in a secondary position.

But the crown prince seemed to completely disregard these formalities and asked the question directly, while the emperor made no response, as if he acquiesced.

This subtle scene made Chang Yanling realize instantly that Luo Yangxing's earlier private reminder that "the Crown Prince's status is extraordinary and he is favored by the Emperor" was no exaggeration.

He dared not be negligent, and quickly composed himself, replying respectfully:

"Your Highness, Your Majesty! I have been following your orders and making arrangements in Nanjing to welcome you without fail. However, I have considered that Your Majesty and Your Highness are on a long and arduous journey south and will soon arrive in the capital. The situation in the capital is complicated, and I fear that Your Majesty and Your Highness may be concerned about the current situation in Nanjing. Therefore, I have taken the liberty of discussing with Commander Luo that we should take a fast boat downstream to welcome you here, so that we can present the situation in the capital to Your Majesty as soon as possible and put Your Majesty's mind at ease."

"If I have overstepped my bounds or acted improperly, I humbly beg Your Majesty and Your Highness to forgive me!"

His words were quite diplomatic, turning "absent-off duty" into "showing consideration for the Emperor's heart and reporting in advance," thus explaining the reason and expressing his loyalty.

After listening, Chongzhen gave a noncommittal "hmm," his expression softening slightly.

His focus was not on the details of welcoming the emperor, but on the actual situation in Nanjing.

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp as he looked at Chang Yanling, and asked in a deep voice:
"In that case, Minister Chang, please tell me in detail how the situation in Nanjing is lately? Is it still stable? Has my southern tour caused any disturbances in Nanjing?"

Seeing that the emperor had personally inquired about the matter and that his tone was acceptable, Chang Yanling and Luo Yangxing both secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Chang Yanling quickly gathered his thoughts and began to report in an orderly manner.

His voice wasn't loud, but his enunciation was clear and logical, indicating that he had been prepared in advance.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, thanks to Your Majesty's great fortune, the situation in Nanjing, the capital, has been generally stable recently, without any major disturbances."

He first set the tone, and then began to elaborate:
“Since His Majesty’s birthday celebration last month, those nobles and officials who were sent to the capital to offer their congratulations, such as the Duke of Wei, the Earl of Chengyi, and the Marquis of Zhenyuan, have returned to Nanjing one after another.”

"After they returned to the capital, the officialdom in Nanjing was indeed bustling for a while. The meritorious officials seemed to have a deep understanding of His Majesty's divine power and the new policies of the court."

His wording was tactful, but his meaning was clear: those nobles who had been "punished" in the capital played a crucial role in setting an example and deterring others upon their return.

"In addition, the work on clearing up arrears and cracking down on smuggling has progressed quite smoothly with the cooperation of the various government offices in the capital. Most of the officials, gentry and merchants involved have been able to understand the Emperor's will, take the overall situation into consideration, and have taken the initiative to pay the deficits and taxes owed in previous years."

"To date, almost all those involved have been apprehended, and all the money and grain obtained have been handed over to the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue's treasury and the transport warehouse. The accounts are clear and verifiable."

These words were tantamount to reporting to the Emperor and the Crown Prince:

Nanjing has collected most of the fines, with less resistance than expected, and the results are remarkable.

Chang Yanling paused slightly, stealing a glance at the Emperor and the Crown Prince's expressions. Seeing that neither of them was displeased, he continued:

"During this period, after returning to the capital, meritorious officials such as the Duke of Wei and the Earl of Chengyi also gave advice to their peers, saying that His Majesty is wise and His Highness the Crown Prince is benevolent. As long as there is a command, we, as his subjects, should serve him with all our might. Therefore, the situation in the capital was quickly stabilized."

He cleverly distributed the credit to the nobles, which not only appeared objective but also prevented the blame from being placed entirely on the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

However, Chang Yanling immediately changed the subject and began to complain again.

"However, Your Majesty and Your Highness are wise in their judgment. We are carrying out your orders, and there are many difficulties along the way."

"Especially since Commander Luo arrived in Nanjing on a secret imperial decree to oversee the reorganization of the Imperial Guards."

"The various thousand-household and hundred-household units of the Imperial Guard in the capital have long suffered from malpractices, with a waste of personnel. Many sons of nobles are nominally employed but receive salaries, while few are skilled in practical matters and knowledgeable in investigation. Lord Luo and I, following His Majesty's will, have eliminated redundant personnel, dismissed those who were not qualified, and rectified the discipline. This is indeed a necessary step for reform and innovation."

"However, it is inevitable that some deeply entrenched interests will be touched."

He sighed, his tone tinged with helplessness:

"Those noble sons who were dismissed had families that had been operating in Nanjing for generations and were quite prominent. Although they dared not openly defy the imperial decree, they had many complaints in private and took their anger out on me and Lord Luo. They either asked others to intercede for them, secretly made things difficult for us, or spread rumors. During this period, we have been walking on thin ice, trembling with fear."

"Fortunately, Lord Luo carried His Majesty's secret decree and was resolute in his attitude. I also did my best to mediate, which allowed the rectification to be carried out and prevented a major chaos. However, the pressure involved was beyond words."

Finally, his tone lifted, filled with relief and boundless confidence, as he steered the conversation toward his anticipation of the emperor's arrival:
"Now everything is fine! His Majesty and His Highness are about to arrive in person! This is truly a stabilizing force, clearing away the clouds and revealing the sun! With His Majesty and His Highness in charge of Nanjing, those who harbor resentment and are eager to cause trouble will surely restrain themselves, intimidated by His Majesty's power, and dare not cause any more trouble! The capital will be completely secure, and His Majesty's decrees will be able to be implemented without hindrance!"

These words both praised his achievements and expressed his grievances, ultimately concluding with his anticipation and absolute confidence in the arrival of the emperor and the crown prince. They were impeccable, demonstrating the utmost competence of a subject.

Emperor Chongzhen listened quietly, his expression gradually shifting from initial inquiry to satisfaction. Finally, when he heard Chang Yanling complain and express his expectations, the corners of his mouth even twitched slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile.

This was exactly the effect he needed: the nobles and officials in Nanjing felt the pressure and paid the price, but they weren't driven to desperation or out of control. The situation was generally under control and even developing in a positive direction. Chang Yanling and Luo Yangxing clearly played the roles of "villain" and executor very well, and they knew how to maintain a proper balance, knowing when to advance and when to retreat, when to claim credit and when to complain.

This was precisely the effect he wanted to achieve during his southern tour: a combination of kindness and severity, a way to both intimidate and win over his allies.

"I know!"

Emperor Chongzhen slowly spoke, breaking the brief silence with obvious approval in his tone.

"Minister Chang and Minister Luo, I am aware of what you have said. In Nanjing, you have faced difficulties without fear, performed your duties impartially, stabilized the overall situation, and made contributions to the country. I am very pleased."

He set the tone first, giving it full affirmation.

He then made a clear promise, which was exactly what his subjects had been hoping for.

"Upon our arrival in Nanjing, I will bestow rewards upon you both. I have remembered your contributions."

Upon hearing this, Chang Yanling and Luo Yangxing were overjoyed, knowing that their risky and meticulously prepared report had achieved its best effect.

The two immediately knelt down again, kowtowed in gratitude, and their voices were filled with excitement:
"Your Majesty, we kowtow in gratitude for Your Majesty's divine grace! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! We will certainly continue our efforts and serve Your Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince to the death!"

"Be flat."

Emperor Chongzhen waved his hand, his tone softening considerably.

"You must be tired from your journey. Go down and rest first. We'll return to Nanjing together tomorrow."

"Your Majesty, we obey! Thank you! Thank you, Your Highness!"

The two kowtowed again before rising, bowing their heads, and carefully leaving the cabin.

After the two left, the cabin returned to silence.

Emperor Chongzhen looked at Zhu Cilang with a relaxed and satisfied expression.

"Lang'er, it seems that the situation in Nanjing is much better than I expected. Chang Yanling and Luo Yangxing are two capable people who know how to handle things and also know how to be tactful."

Zhu Cilang smiled slightly and bowed, saying:
"Your Majesty is wise, and the stability of the capital is the cornerstone of the success of this southern tour. Now everything is ready, and we are just waiting for Your Majesty to arrive in Nanjing so that Your Majesty can demonstrate your imperial power, comfort the south of the Yangtze River, and carry out your grand plans."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded, feeling greatly relieved.

His last lingering doubts about the trip to Nanjing vanished with Chang Yanling's report, which was both complimentary and critical, but generally optimistic.

He was full of confidence for his upcoming trip to Nanjing.

A moment later, Zhu Cilang also bowed and took his leave.

Walking down the corridor back to his cabin, Zhu Cilang had a clearer understanding of the situation in Nanjing.

All indications suggest that the powerful bureaucratic clique in Nanjing has been successfully deterred, and internal rectification is proceeding within a controllable range.

Everything was developing in the direction he had expected.

Next came the final and crucial stop of this months-long, thousands-of-miles-long southern tour—Nanjing.

That place was not only the secondary capital of the Ming Dynasty, but also the key location where many grand plans for the future began to be implemented. (End of Chapter)