Chapter Sixty-One: Two Imperial Edicts for Zuo Liangyu!

Of course, this was certainly a good thing for him. With so much silver confiscated, they had better clear his previously unpaid military rations somehow.

If he couldn't get the overdue military rations, he wouldn't even be able to manage the soldiers under his command.

As he was thinking about this, Zuo Menggeng spoke again:

"There is another matter here that concerns us!"

Zuo Liangyu then looked at Zuo Menggeng with some confusion.

"What matter?"

Zuo Menggeng continued:

"It says here that the Emperor has released Sun Chuanting from prison, appointing him as the Viceroy of the Three Borders, with the additional title of Minister of War, giving him supreme command over all military affairs in the Three Borders!"

Alright!

This matter indeed concerned Zuo Liangyu, because if things stood this way, Sun Chuanting would become Zuo Liangyu's direct superior, capable of directing all of Zuo Liangyu's military actions at will.

However, Zuo Liangyu did not consider this a bad thing, because he had previously served under Sun Chuanting and held a rather favorable opinion of him.

At that moment, Zuo Menggeng suddenly placed the *Great Ming Daily* he was holding onto the table, then looked at Zuo Liangyu with a solemn expression and said:

"Father, I always feel that the Emperor summoning us back to the capital this time is not simple. Do you think the Emperor has grown suspicious of you and intends to make a move against you?"

Zuo Liangyu furrowed his brows, then shook his head and said:

"It shouldn't be. With the rebel bandits running so rampant right now, the Emperor shouldn't make a move against me at this time. Otherwise, how would the other generals still on the front lines pursuing the rebels feel?

"Perhaps the reason the Emperor wants to summon me is just to give me some instructions regarding certain matters!"

Hearing this, Zuo Menggeng nodded in deep agreement.

After all, what Zuo Liangyu said made sense; making a move against a major general at this juncture would indeed affect the morale of the front lines.

As long as the Emperor wasn't a fool, he wouldn't do such a thing.

"Forget it, forget it. Don't think about it so much. We'll find out once we see the Crown Prince later. Let's eat first!"

With that, Zuo Liangyu began to tuck into his meal with great gusto...

Meanwhile, over at the Eastern Palace, the Brocade Guard had already informed Zhu Cilang of Zuo Liangyu's arrival.

Hearing this name, a cold smile instantly crossed Zhu Cilang's heart.

After much yearning and anticipation, the greatest warlord of the late Ming dynasty had finally arrived!

"Have Zuo Liangyu come to see Us immediately!"

Pausing for a moment, Zhu Cilang continued:

"By the way, summon Sun Chuanting as well, and say it is Our command."

About half an hour later, Zuo Liangyu finally arrived!

"Your subject Zuo Liangyu pays respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince! May the Crown Prince live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"

Zuo Liangyu came before Zhu Cilang and paid his respects with a deeply respectful bow.

Zuo Liangyu arrived in front of Zhu Cilang, executing a full and reverent kowtow.

Zuo Liangyu stood at the head of the hall, coldly watching the man before him, his thoughts tangled and complex for a moment.

Although historically Zuo Liangyu was indeed not a fiercely loyal subject, in the end, he never truly betrayed the Great Ming either.

Furthermore, it would be unreasonable to condemn Zuo Liangyu based on things that had not yet happened.

Yet, turning back to the present, the problems weighing upon Zuo Liangyu were still gravely serious.

At the very least, harboring bandits for self-preservation, filing false military reports, and collecting pay for phantom soldiers were all indisputable facts.

Thinking of this, Zhu Cilang asked in a ringing voice:

"Zuo Liangyu, do you know your crimes?"

Hearing this, Zuo Liangyu was instantly broken out in a cold sweat of terror, and he hurriedly blurted out:

"Crown... Crown Prince, what... what crimes could your subject possibly have?"

Zuo Liangyu had never met Zhu Cilang before and thus knew nothing of the Crown Prince's character.

Without wasting any breath, Zhu Cilang simply waved his hand.

The next second, Ma Bao, standing beside Zhu Cilang, picked up an imperial edict from the imperial desk before the Prince and began to read aloud.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: Zuo Liangyu, General Pacifying the Rebels, has engaged in corruption, harbored bandits for self-preservation, fabricated military reports, falsely claimed provisions, and辜负 (betrayed) imperial grace. He is hereby ordered to be executed by decapitation immediately! Let this be known!"

What?

Upon hearing the contents of the imperial edict, Zuo Liangyu was practically paralyzed with fright.

Never in his wildest dreams had he expected that the things he had done in Shaanxi had all reached the ears of the Emperor.

Even less did he expect that the Emperor genuinely intended to execute him!

Meanwhile, before Zuo Liangyu could even react, Zhu Cilang directly rebuked:

"Guards, drag him out and behead him."

The next instant, Li Hu walked in with several guards and, without a single word of nonsense, dragged Zuo Liangyu straight toward the exit as if they were truly about to sever his head.

It was only then that Zuo Liangyu finally snapped out of his daze, and he hastily shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Crown Prince, your subject knows his wrongs!"

"I beg Your Highness to give your subject one more chance! Your subject will never dare to do it again!"

Zuo Liangyu had originally wanted to cry out, "Your subject is wronged!" but realizing that he actually *had* committed all those deeds, there was no real injustice to speak of, so he changed his words in the end.

He had no choice—he truly did not want to die!

Back when he was fighting the rebel bandits, his entire family had been slaughtered by them, leaving behind only a single son, Zuo Menggeng.

If he died, his son would likely not survive either, and by then his old Zuo family line would be utterly finished.

Therefore, he truly, desperately wanted to live!

Watching as Zuo Liangyu was about to be dragged out the door for execution, Zhu Cilang finally spoke:

"Wait. Bring him back here."

Li Hu did not hesitate, immediately dragging Zuo Liangyu back in and dumping him directly onto the floor.

Zuo Liangyu scrambled to his feet in haste, then tremblingly dropped back down to his knees.

His mouth was full of desperate pleas:

"Crown Prince, I beg you to give your subject another chance! Your subject will never dare to do it again, and your subject will strictly suppress the bandits from now on!"

"Your subject swears on his life, should your subject ever harbor any improper thoughts again, may he die a wretched death without a burial place!"

Zuo Liangyu was genuinely terrified!

At this very moment, all he cared about was staying alive!

Gazing down at the man before him, Zhu Cilang said nothing, merely waving a hand toward Ma Bao.

Ma Bao instantly understood the gesture, and picked up the second imperial edict from the imperial desk, beginning to read aloud.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: Zuo Liangyu, General Pacifying the Rebels, is fiercely loyal and patriotic, fearless of life and death, and has rendered great and arduous service. We are deeply gratified, and hereby specially confer upon Zuo Liangyu the title of Earl of Ningnan and Guardian of the Crown Prince. This noble title shall be hereditary and perpetual, shared in glory alongside the State! Let this be known!"

...............

After listening to the contents of the second imperial edict, Zuo Liangyu's mind experienced a total meltdown.

He raised his head, staring in utter disbelief at Zhu Cilang seated in the position of honor, completely unable to fathom what on earth was going on.

Why were there two imperial edicts?

And these two edicts—one demanded his execution while the other bestowed a noble title upon him—how could the gap between them be so unimaginably vast?

Yet the very next second, Zuo Liangyu suddenly remembered that staring directly at royalty was a grave offense, and he hurriedly buried his head back against the ground, his heart churning violently with overwhelming shock.

He had no inkling whatsoever of what the Crown Prince before his eyes was trying to accomplish.

At that moment, Zhu Cilang spoke once more:

"Zuo Liangyu, tell Us, which of these two imperial edicts do you want?"

For a moment, Zuo Liangyu felt his mouth go terribly dry, making even speech difficult.

Nevertheless, he gritted his teeth and forced out the words:

"Your subject... your subject wants the second imperial edict."

Are you kidding? The first one was an order to have his head chopped off, while the second was an edict conferring a noble title—need you ask which one he wanted?