CHAPTER XLI.
NICHOLAS HAS AN INTERVIEW WITH HIS FATHER, AND LEAVES PEKIN FOR EVER.
Not daring to believe, yet trembling for fear his father should be thetraitor to the Mings that his submission to Chun-ti had proclaimed him,Nicholas followed the procession that conducted Chin-Chi-Loong to thepalace appointed for his residence in Pekin; nor could he help remarkingthe absence of Chinese faces among the soldiers and attendants whofollowed him. Again, when he entered the palace, the courtyards, and thepassages, nought could he see but Tartars. "Surely," he thought, "mybeloved father must be a prisoner of state;" and, much vexed at hisunfilial misgivings of his parent's loyalty, he sent to the chief amessage by one of the attendants, that "the bearer of his letter fromthe south to the north" craved an immediate audience of the KingPacifier of the South; when, as the chief knew that it could be no otherthan Nicholas, in another minute the father and son had met again, aftertheir long absence from each other.
"Is it possible that my father can have become so terrified by thetempestuous fortunes of the imperial Ming, that he should seek thesunshine of the barbarian's court?" said Nicholas, sadly, when thefirst greeting was past.
"This is, indeed, the most unfortunate day in the life ofChin-Chi-Loong, if his son can believe him willingly guilty of so greata crime," said the chief.
"What words are these, my noble parent? for if thou art not a receiverof stolen things, how camest thou by this kingdom of Fokien? for surelyit 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 tothese Tartar dogs?"
"A prisoner, my father! Do the Tartars confer kingdoms upon theirprisoners?" said Nicholas.
"Even as thou wilt hear," replied the chief; adding, "The commissionsent by the Emperor Wey-t-song created his servant lord of the fourseas. Once in possession of that office I sought to sweep the rebels andthieves from the sea-coast provinces, but by the time I had effectedthis great end, the news came that the rebel Li-Kong had slain theEmperor and usurped the throne; then I determined to hold possession ofthe seas, towns, and cities for the Prince Yong-Li, and so for manymonths kept the miserable Tartars who had invaded those provinces atbay; and even when the barbarians poured into the empire like locusts, Istill kept possession of the sea-coast towns and cities. Then, afraid ofmy 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 quellthe rebellion and hunt the robbers from the face of the land, hadprayed their assistance; moreover, they swore that when they had purgedthe empire of all such rogues, they would place it in the hands of thePrince Yong-Li and leave the land."
"Surely my father was too wise to believe the artful thieves," saidNicholas.
"Not so, my son, for the embassy was supported by a letter in thecharacters of Woo-san-Kwei, informing me of the cruel murder of hisparent, earnestly beseeching my aid in exterminating the rebels, andalso assuring me of the good faith of the Tartar rats. Not doubting sogreat and wise a general, and moreover that the people might believe myauthority lawful, I accepted from the Tartar king the title ofPacificator of the South, and the kingdom of Fokien. When, however, Ihad made amity with him, he poured fresh hordes into the cities, so thatspeedily I had little power upon land, and determined upon the firstopportunity to again seek my fleet. It was then that I became betrayedinto their hands, for the Prince Amavan, who commanded in the south,suddenly gave out that he was proceeding to Pekin, to aid in theinstallation of the new Emperor, and prayed that previous to hisdeparture I would take part in a great hunting expedition. Knowing thisto be the darling pastime of these barbarians, I complied. When,however, we had reached a great distance from the coast, I saw a largebody of troops come from behind a neighboring hill, and immediately,fearing treachery. I resolved to escape, but the mild manner of Amavanpersuaded me that my fears were idle; so when too late I found myself inthe midst of the main body of his army; with the greatest politeness, heinformed me his brother the king was dead, and that the Emperor was hisnephew Chun-ti. At the news, I could have plunged my dagger into therogue; but knowing that force would be useless among such a formidablearmy, I dissembled my rage, and pretended to rejoice at the chance ofprosperity 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 Amavantold me he was commanded by the Emperor to invite me to his court, whereI 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, whoseambition 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 thingtill he can rescue his parent, country, and Emperor from the hands ofthese barbarians, and until he has done this he will rest neither bynight nor day."
"Do this, and my error may yet be retrieved."
"Thy son shall be worthy of his parent," replied Nicholas; adding, "Butcannot my father cast aside this mock dignity, and at once escape fromthis rebellious city?"
"It is not possible; it would not be wise; it would be treasonous to theGeneral 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 waitsthe opportunity to rise and exterminate the Tartars."
"Thank Heaven!" exclaimed Nicholas; adding, "Yet surely these doubleways are neither honest nor successful." Then, taking farewell of hisparent, he left the palace, and making his way to a portion of the cityunfrequented by the Tartars, exchanged his rich clothes for the attireof 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.