Having reminisced before the miniature portrait in the Western Chamber of Warmth for a long time, Shunzhi again strolled outside into the court only to find that the snowflakes had been several cun deep. The surroundings were devoid of any sound and reminded him of an empty temple. Shunzhi was finally smoothed by a considerable sense of relaxation. True to Hong Chengchou’s supposition, he did have to make plenty of arrangements before he gave up the throne.
“Your imperial majesty, upon your edict Fan Chengmo has arrived for an audience,” the guard Wo He had kneeled behind him and reported in a hushed voice. “On a cold night like this, your imperial majesty should…” Shunzhi cut him out with a wave of his hand and walked into the Hall. Only then did he find that Fan Chengmo had entered and prostrated himself on his knees.
Shunzhi took a seat near the kang.It was quite warm in the room and before long he felt restless and hot. He was about to lift his hand to unbutton the fur coat before Suma Lagu took a quick step forward and removed it. After that, she retreated to the outside of the Hall. Shunzhi looked at Fan Chengmo for a second. He was still in his forties but his hair at the temples had started to grey. The tip of his sandy pigtail, dangling from the double-eyed peacock tail feather on his hat, was lying on the floor. He bowed his head so low that it almost touched the ground. Sunzhi made a slight coughing sound. Realizing the presence of the Emperor, Fan Chengmo made three loud kowtows on the square brick and said in a resounding voice, “Your humble slave Fan Chengmo wish your imperial majesty good health!”
Shunzhi responded in a flat tone, “Mr. Fan, please stand up and sit at the stool over there.”
Fan Chengmo kept his head in a bowed position and withdrew to a small table on the right after saluting Shunzhi by bending his left knee and drooping his right hand. He took a seat on a drum-shaped carved porcelain stool, resting half of his rear on it. “The Emperor summoned me in the depth of night. May I know what the imperial edict is?”
Shunzhi exhaled a long breath, glanced at Fan Chengmo and said slowly, “I, the sovereign, summon you to draft an edict on my behalf.” Fan Chengmo relaxed a little bit and thought to himself. “In that case, why did he choose to summon me at night? Is it possible that there are changes in the war situation in the southeast?” An ink-slab was presented by Suma Lagu, who also prepared the ink ready. Fan Chengmo took a full breath, dipped the brush and held it in his hand, waiting for Shunzhi to start.
Shunzhi sipped the tea and his complexion became more sallow. He opened his mouth and said, “It has been eighteen years since I ascended to the throne despite my poor virtues. My performance is far cry from those of grandfather and father, in terms of human resource management, administration, as well as implementation of laws and regulations. After the whole country was unified, the Han Chinese has had great sway over me. As a result, the destiny of the country is not blessed and the common people have had a hard time. This is my first crime.”
Hearing this, Fan Chengmo stood up in panic, unaware that the ink dripped from the brush and stained on his sleeves. Caught in this impolite behavior, he kneeled down right away and said, “The Emperor came into power as an innocent child, but has grown up to expel the intruders, suppress the remnants of the former Ming government, enter the Pass and establish the Manchu rule over China, laying an unprecedented foundation for Ming Dynasty. Any lapse of rule is due to the fact that the country is still recovering from the recent wars and turmoil. Your imperial majesty has made a statement that I dare not write down!”
“Stand up,” Shunzhi said without emotion. “Just write it down!” Shunzhi’s composure somewhat startled Fan Chengmo, who returned to his seat in great trepidation. He pulled himself together and wrote: “Although I, the sovereign,barely possess any virtues, I have been in power for eighteen years. Since I embarked on governing the country, I failed to emulate my grandfather and father in terms of implementation of laws, management of human resources as well as administration. I was bound by the past practices and not diligent enough. Contented with the present, I allowed myself to the gradual process of sinicization. On the other hand, I made frequent changes to simple and pristine customs of the past. As a consequence, the governance of the country is far from perfect and the common people have not enjoyed a happy life. This is another crime.”
Shunzhi continued, “I, the sovereign, was only six when the late emperor passed away. I failed to fulfill filial duty even for a day. I had intended to attend on the Empress Dowager with great care to make up for this--”Choked with sobs, he pulled a white silk kerchief under the bed and wiped his eyes. “Now, I, the sovereign, am about to leave her forever, which adds to Emperor Dowager’s sorrow over me…” With these words, two streams of tears flowed down his cheeks.
Increasingly shocked by Shunzhi’s dictation, Fan Chengmo could hardly suppress the fear on his face. He stood up from the stool, kneeled prone on the floor, and kowtowed several times before he spoke, “Your imperial majesty is in the prime of your youth. How come you make such a statement? If your majesty does not divulge the reasons behind it, I would rather die than obeying your order.” With these words, he made another three loud kowtows.
Shunzhi Emperor was quite sympathetic with Fan Chengmo’s reaction.Anyway, he was only twenty-four years old. A statement like this would have been beyond his wildest imagination a few months ago. It was only natural for Fan Chengmo to budge. However, at present he was resolved to renounce the power to become a monk, which required him to forsake any worldly connections. His statement must leave no room for speculations; otherwise there must be dire consequences. He collected himself, saying, “Mr. Fan. This edict would not be finished tomorrow morning if you stuck to the protocols between the emperor and the minister tonight. Stand on your feet! To tell you the truth, this is my ‘last will’ for I have made up my mind to become a monk!”
Fan Chengmo was greatly shaken. “From three wise kings to five august Emperors, none of them had taken such a step! Indeed every Manchurian is sentimental! Your uncle Dorgon had complete control of the court in the capacity of Regent Prince. He refused to usurp the throne only because he grew up with the Empress Dowager when they were in their childhood. Only a few years have passed and now we have an emperor intent on becoming a monk!” thought he.However, he said the following in an attempt to bring Shunzhi around, “To renounce the state power is like discarding worn-out shoes. The ancient sagacious emperors only talked about it to silence jeers. Nowadays, the whole country is united and the million common people live in harmony. What makes your imperial majesty to easily forsake the supreme prestige and tread on unexplored land?”
Seeing that he was intent on persuading him with the trite reasoning, Shunzhi broke him off and snapped, “My mind is set and it is of no use for you to talk any further!”
Fan Chengmo paused in thought and added, “Your imperial majesty showered great favors on late Empress Dong-e. She was granted the title of Concubine next to the Empress in rank and raised to Empress posthumously. This is great kindness on your part. Why do ...”
“Shut up!” Shunzhi sneered. “Everyone has his own aspirations. Do you think it is in your power to change my mind?”
“Actually, I do not want to mind other's business. But the Empress will surely know the edict I am going to write down. Can I shirk the responsibility even if I die one thousand times? That’s why I risk offending your majesty to offer my …”
Before he could finish, Shunzhi thumped the table in great rage. “I am in charge of this so you don’t have to be afraid of being executed by the Empress Dowager. Do you think I will spare your life if you refuse to take my order? Write it!”
This was the exact assurance that Fan Chengmo needed. He lifted himself on his feet with great caution and returned to the desk. He steeled himself and continued to write: “My father passed away when I was six. I am eternally regretful that I didn’t observe the custom of wearing mourning clothes for three years. I derive the only comfort from attending to the Empress Dowager, complying with her will and cheering her up. Furthermore, I wish that after my death the common people shall fulfill your filial obligations so as to alleviate my remorse. Today I will leave the Empress Dowager forever, causing frequent sorrow to her. This is another crime.”
Shunzhi dictated the rest of the edict with much ease and confidence. He blamed himself for granting more favors to Han officials rather than having more confidence in member of Manchu clam; acknowledged his arrogant nature that kept himself from accepting other's advice; regretted over his failure to approach virtuous officials and dismiss the immoral ones although he could tell the their differences; accused himself of being as fatuous as the late Ming Emperors for establishing the eunuch-staffed Thirteen Offices. He calmly enumerated thirteen misdemeanors he had committed since he came into power as if he were talking over someone else’s faults. Fan Chengmo felt increasingly dizzy while he simultaneously strained his ears to catch Shunzhi’s words, wrote them down and polished them when necessary.
Having listed all his faults, Shunzhi sighed with a great sense of relief. “I, the sovereign, know that I've had many wrongdoings, over which I often feel regretful. It’s a pity that I can not rectify them due to my procrastination and inertia. As a result, my faults increasingly grew in number. This can be my fourteenth crime.” In dejection, he half reclined on the bed. The tears of the candle dropped and fell to the polished blue brick. Suddenly, the clock stroke eleven with clanging sound– it was already the first quarter of eleven at night.
Anticipating the most important decision from the Emperor, Fan Chengmo quickly focused his attention, held his breath and brush, and waited for the order. Shunzhi took a brief break, then called in a faint voice, “Suma Lagu!”
Suma Lagu, who was inclining her head to listen at the door of the Hall, trembled at Shunzhi’s unexpected call. She quickly bowed and replied, “Your humble slave is at your service!”
“Ask Wo He and other guards to come in and listen.” Suma Lagu responded with a “Yes” and went to summon them. In a moment, Wo He and the other three guards filed in and kneeled next to each other. Suma Lagu was about to retreat when Shunzhi stopped her, “Don’t go. You’ve been serving the Empress Dowager for many years. I, the sovereign, always regard you as my younger sister. Listen to what I am going to say so you can have a clear idea.” Suma Lagu only kowtowed and said anything. Then Shunzhi cleared his throat and said with great clarity of voice, “As to the new Emperor – I, the sovereign, intend to choose the third imperial prince Xuanye as my successor.” He paused and added, “The princes are about the same age. Young as he is, Xuanye is extraordinarily clever. What’s more, he has had smallpox. I also invited the Tibetan monk E’er Deji to tell his fortune. It turned out that his future would be extremely promising. – You don’t have to write down this. – His mother Tong is a dignified and graceful woman, honest and sincere in nature. She is worthy of being the Empress Dowager. That’s it.” Shunzhi continued without stopping his muse. "As the new Emperor is too young, it is only natural to select a few advisors. As I see it, Suo Ni – Suke Saha – Ye Bilong – Ao Bai would suffice."
Fan Chengmo listened to every word with great care as if it were inscribed on his mind. He felt relaxed all over, just like taking a refreshing dose of medicine. “Even if the Empress Dowager blames me, my turn will come only after her blame falls on the above four officials.” No longer weighed down with anxieties for his own sake, he found more ease in writing the edict. “Hereby I specifically designate ministers Suo Ni, Suke Saha, Ye Bilong, and Ao Bai as official advisors. As officials with great achievements and impressive credentials, you have my unreserved confidence and I place high expectations on you. I encourage you to swear loyalty to the new Emperor, protect and assist him in administrative affairs. This edict shall be proclaimed in and outside the country to everyone informed.”
Being of a frail constitution, Shunzhi was seized with a fit of coughing while he lay prone on the bed. Tonight he was too excited and the dictation of the edict added its toll. His face flushed crimson because of short breath. Suma Lagu hastened forward with a spittoon in her hand, while WoHe hurried to pat his back. But Shunzhi grabbed Wo He by the hand and said, “My friend, you have been with me for several years. The new Emperor is still young. You shall take good care of him!” Wo He could no longer hold back his tears and burst into crying. He prostrated himself on the ground and said, “Your humble slave will aid and protect the young Emperor with absolute sincerity!”
“Don’t cry,” Shunzhi comforted him and turned to ask, “Mr. Fan, what do you think of these four advisors?”
Fan Chengmo placed the brush on the rack, stood up and answered in a bowed posture, “Here is my reply to your imperial majesty’s inquiry. Four of them are all ministers of great influence in our country. I’m greatly impressed by your imperial majesty’s penetrating judgment.” However, Shunzhi shook his head and said, “It may not be the case. But the ancestors’ regulation has it that Han ministers can not serve as advisors. Mr. Fan and other Han ministers shall understand my well-thought decision. As far as these four ministers are concerned, Suo Ni, with long-standing qualifications, excels both in moral integrity and professional competence. It is a pity that he is too old. Suke Saha is quite a talent. He is loyal, upright and bold enough to shoulder responsibilities.However, he is not so well qualified. Ye Bilong is reluctant to take initiative. He is too meek and short of resolve. However, he is not so ambitious as to cause trouble. Ao Bai is perceptive and decisive. He is competent in both civil and military affairs. His only weakness is that his temper is too short. If four of them can be of one heart and one mind in assisting the young Emperor, I can set my heart at ease and leave.”
The night deepened and Fan Chengmo had retreated. Snowflakes were swirling above the Forbidden City. Everything was frozen in the wintry night. The water in the clepsydra almost ran dry. The light of the lamp was already dim. The red tears of the candle piled high on the candle-stand. Only the distant sound of watchman’s clapper -- “Dong, dong,-- dang” -- could be heard, adding a sense of dreariness to the winter night.
Lifting his face with glistening tears, Shunzhi Emperor issued an order to Chang Hao, “Forward my edict to the Chamber of Eunuch Affairs. Take the keys and open the gates of the Palace. I, the sovereign, is to leave the Palace with the designated companions.”
