NICHOLAS HAS AN INTERVIEW WITH HIS FATHER, AND LEAVES PEKIN FOR EVER.
Not daring to believe, yet trembling for fear his father should be the
traitor to the Mings that his submission to Chun-ti had proclaimed him,
Nicholas followed the procession that conducted Chin-Chi-Loong to the
palace appointed for his residence in Pekin; nor could he help remarking
the absence of Chinese faces among the soldiers and attendants who
followed him. Again, when he entered the palace, the courtyards, and the
passages, nought could he see but Tartars. "Surely," he thought, "my
beloved father must be a prisoner of state;" and, much vexed at his
unfilial misgivings of his parent's loyalty, he sent to the chief a
message by one of the attendants, that "the bearer of his letter from
the south to the north" craved an immediate audience of the King
Pacifier of the South; when, as the chief knew that it could be no other
than Nicholas, in another minute the father and son had met again, after
their long absence from each other.
"Is it possible that my father can have become so terrified by the
tempestuous fortunes of the imperial Ming, that he should seek the
sunshine of the barbarian's court?" said Nicholas, sadly, when the
first greeting was past.
"This is, indeed, the most unfortunate day in the life of
Chin-Chi-Loong, if his son can believe him willingly guilty of so great
a crime," said the chief.
"What words are these, my noble parent? for if thou art not a receiver
of stolen things, how camest thou by this kingdom of Fokien? for surely
it was not given to thee by the Emperor Yong-Li," replied Nicholas.
"Is my son blind, that he cannot see that his parent is a prisoner to
these Tartar dogs?"
"A prisoner, my father! Do the Tartars confer kingdoms upon their
prisoners?" said Nicholas.
"Even as thou wilt hear," replied the chief; adding, "The commission
sent by the Emperor Wey-t-song created his servant lord of the four
seas. Once in possession of that office I sought to sweep the rebels and
thieves from the sea-coast provinces, but by the time I had effected
this great end, the news came that the rebel Li-Kong had slain the
Emperor and usurped the throne; then I determined to hold possession of
the seas, towns, and cities for the Prince Yong-Li, and so for many
months kept the miserable Tartars who had invaded those provinces at
bay; and even when the barbarians poured into the empire like locusts, I
still kept possession of the sea-coast towns and cities. Then, afraid of
my power, the Tartar king and his brother Amavan sent a great embassy,
assuring me they were allies of the great Woo-san-Kwei, who, to quell
the rebellion and hunt the robbers from the face of the land, had
prayed their assistance; moreover, they swore that when they had purged
the empire of all such rogues, they would place it in the hands of the
Prince Yong-Li and leave the land."
"Surely my father was too wise to believe the artful thieves," said
Nicholas.
"Not so, my son, for the embassy was supported by a letter in the
characters of Woo-san-Kwei, informing me of the cruel murder of his
parent, earnestly beseeching my aid in exterminating the rebels, and
also assuring me of the good faith of the Tartar rats. Not doubting so
great and wise a general, and moreover that the people might believe my
authority lawful, I accepted from the Tartar king the title of
Pacificator of the South, and the kingdom of Fokien. When, however, I
had made amity with him, he poured fresh hordes into the cities, so that
speedily I had little power upon land, and determined upon the first
opportunity to again seek my fleet. It was then that I became betrayed
into their hands, for the Prince Amavan, who commanded in the south,
suddenly gave out that he was proceeding to Pekin, to aid in the
installation of the new Emperor, and prayed that previous to his
departure I would take part in a great hunting expedition. Knowing this
to be the darling pastime of these barbarians, I complied. When,
however, we had reached a great distance from the coast, I saw a large
body of troops come from behind a neighboring hill, and immediately,
fearing treachery. I resolved to escape, but the mild manner of Amavan
persuaded me that my fears were idle; so when too late I found myself in
the midst of the main body of his army; with the greatest politeness, he
informed me his brother the king was dead, and that the Emperor was his
nephew Chun-ti. At the news, I could have plunged my dagger into the
rogue; but knowing that force would be useless among such a formidable
army, I dissembled my rage, and pretended to rejoice at the chance of
prosperity the people would have beneath such an Emperor."
"Indeed it were better to die than dissemble, my father," said Nicholas,
with flashing eyes.
"Listen, my son. Well, taking advantage of my apparent joy, this Amavan
told me he was commanded by the Emperor to invite me to his court, where
I should formally receive my title and kingdom from the imperial hands.
Thus had I the choice of entering Pekin as a captive or a king."
"The former would have been more worthy of the great sea chief, whose
ambition hath ruined him," said Nicholas.
"Is it possible that thou canst dare----"
"Pardon, O my father, but thy son will dare any thing and every thing
till he can rescue his parent, country, and Emperor from the hands of
these barbarians, and until he has done this he will rest neither by
night nor day."
"Do this, and my error may yet be retrieved."
"Thy son shall be worthy of his parent," replied Nicholas; adding, "But
cannot my father cast aside this mock dignity, and at once escape from
this rebellious city?"
"It is not possible; it would not be wise; it would be treasonous to the
General Woo-san-Kwei."
"Then the noble Woo-san-Kwei is not a traitor to the Emperor Yong-Li,"
said Nicholas, eagerly.
"Hist!" replied the chief by way of caution; then adding, "He but waits
the opportunity to rise and exterminate the Tartars."
"Thank Heaven!" exclaimed Nicholas; adding, "Yet surely these double
ways are neither honest nor successful." Then, taking farewell of his
parent, he left the palace, and making his way to a portion of the city
unfrequented by the Tartars, exchanged his rich clothes for the attire
of a small merchant, went to the river, and after some hard bargaining,
took a passage on board a trading junk, and left Pekin for ever.