Within the Imperial Capital, Emperor Chongzhen sat alone in the imperial garden, his expression vacant in a way that no court historian would ever dare to record, yet one that perfectly captured the state of a man who had slowly come to realize that the world no longer responded to his commands.
Moments earlier, he had turned on a faucet to wash his hands, the water flowing freely with a steady sound that should have been soothing, yet he had forgotten to turn it off, leaving it running as though even such a simple act now required more attention than he could spare.
Eunuch Wang Chengen had hurried over, quietly reaching out to close it for him, the small gesture carrying with it a silent acknowledgment that the Emperor's mind was elsewhere, far removed from the mundane.
Everywhere across the realm, the tide of Shared Governance was growing stronger, no longer a distant murmur but a roaring current that surged from province to province, sweeping up officials, generals, and even commoners into something that resembled both a movement and a storm.
And now, when Emperor Chongzhen looked at the situation, he discovered something both absurd and terrifying.
He could no longer leave the capital.
From three directions, the city was effectively surrounded by forces that claimed allegiance to Shared Governance, leaving only the northern route relatively open, though even that felt less like an escape and more like a temporary illusion.
Not long ago, he had still been issuing orders, attempting to recall the garrison from Dalinghe Fortress to suppress the rebellions, clinging to the belief that decisive action could still restore order.
Now, even that effort seemed pointless.
"What is there left to suppress," he muttered bitterly, his voice tinged with exhaustion rather than anger. "The entire world has already risen in rebellion."
His thoughts drifted, unwillingly, toward Sichuan, where the situation had taken a turn so absurd that even in this moment of crisis, it managed to provoke disbelief.
"They actually supported someone called Flat Rabbit," he said, almost incredulously. "With a name like that, he is obviously a bandit, and yet the Provincial Governor and the native chieftains have chosen him."
He let out a short, humorless laugh.
"Have things truly deteriorated to the point where even a bandit is more worthy of allegiance than I am?"
Before anyone could respond, Minister of War Chen Xinjia entered, bowing quickly.
"Your Majesty, the ministers are awaiting your decision."
Emperor Chongzhen hesitated, his stubborn nature wrestling with the reality before him, and for perhaps the first time, that stubbornness began to show cracks.
"The reason the Shared Governance faction has grown so bold," he said slowly, "is because we have not attacked Shenyang. If we were to launch a campaign now, perhaps we could silence them."
The suggestion itself carried a faint trace of compromise, as though he were considering aligning, even partially, with the logic of those who opposed him.
Chen Xinjia lowered his voice.
"Your Majesty, had we attacked earlier, that might have been possible, but now… Liaodong's forces under Wu Sangui, along with the troops at Shanhai Pass under Gao Di, have already joined the Shared Governance faction."
He paused just long enough for the implication to settle.
"Shanhai Pass lies dangerously close to the capital. If our Liaodong forces move to attack Shenyang now, Wu Sangui could take advantage of the situation and strike directly at the capital."
Emperor Chongzhen stiffened.
Chen Xinjia continued.
"They command nearly fifty thousand troops. If they advance, the capital will be in grave danger."
Silence fell once more.
This time, it was heavier.
This time, it carried regret.
Had he acted sooner, had he listened to those who urged decisive action, had he taken Shenyang before the situation spiraled beyond control, perhaps the realm would not have descended into this state.
But history, like power, had no patience for regret.
"What should I do now," he asked quietly, the question no longer directed at policy, but at fate itself.
Chen Xinjia spread his hands helplessly.
"I do not know. I am but a powerless Minister of War."
Emperor Chongzhen stared at him.
"Is this not precisely the matter you are supposed to handle?"
Chen Xinjia gave a bitter smile.
"When I assumed office, the troops had already been taken to Liaodong by my predecessor, Lu Xiangsheng, along with the supervising eunuch Gao Qiqian. I have no forces at my disposal."
Silence.
An awkward, almost suffocating silence.
By the time Chen Xinjia withdrew, Emperor Chongzhen remained seated, unmoving, as though even the act of standing required a certainty he no longer possessed.
After an indeterminate amount of time, he turned to Eunuch Cao Huachun.
"What should I do?"
Cao Huachun sighed deeply.
"At this point… perhaps we can only wait for the Shared Governance faction to fracture from within."
---
In truth, Emperor Chongzhen was not alone in this expectation.
Across the realm, among those who did not belong to Dao Xuan Tianzun's system, there existed a shared belief, almost a certainty, that the current situation could not sustain itself indefinitely.
Too many factions.
Too many leaders.
Too many ambitions.
If there had been only one rebel, such as Prince Tang, there would have been unity.
If it had been only Prince Fu Heir Zhu Yousong, the outcome would have been straightforward.
But now, the landscape was crowded with figures of wildly different backgrounds, from nobles to soldiers to… Flat Rabbit, whose presence alone seemed to challenge the very definition of political legitimacy.
"They all claim Shared Governance," people whispered. "But who leads? Who decides?"
And in that question lay an inevitable conclusion.
They would have to fight.
Even opportunists like Wu Sangui were preparing to enter the stage, ready to seize whatever advantage emerged from the chaos, while those without armies could only watch from the sidelines, waiting to see which banner would prevail before choosing their allegiance.
---
"Your Majesty!"
A young eunuch stumbled into the Imperial Study, breathless with urgency.
"Your Majesty, the rebel Qin Prince Heir Zhu Cunji has declared his march toward the capital, and their slogan… has changed."
Emperor Chongzhen jolted upright.
"They are coming to the capital? What is their slogan now?"
The eunuch hesitated, as though unsure whether the words themselves constituted a crime.
"They say… they will ensure that Your Majesty also has 'No Cavities.'"
For a moment, the Emperor simply stared.
Then, very nearly, he overturned the table in front of him.
Before his anger could fully manifest, Chen Xinjia rushed back in.
"Your Majesty, this may be an opportunity. If the Shaanxi rebels march toward the capital, they must pass through Shanxi, which means they will inevitably clash with the Shanxi rebels under Chen Qianhu."
Emperor Chongzhen's eyes lit up.
Yes.
That made sense.
Two rebel forces, each claiming legitimacy, each seeking dominance, would have no choice but to confront one another.
Just as in the final years of the Yuan dynasty, when the future founder of the Ming had to defeat his rivals before claiming supremacy.
"This… may be worth watching," he murmured.
Chen Xinjia pressed on.
"We could recall Lu Xiangsheng from Liaodong and prepare to strike when both sides have exhausted themselves, eliminating them in one decisive blow."
"Excellent," Emperor Chongzhen said, a flicker of hope returning at last.
But hope, in times such as these, was a fragile thing.
Another eunuch rushed in almost immediately.
"Your Majesty, urgent news. Chen Qianhu of Shanxi has also declared his march toward the capital."
"What?"
Even Chen Xinjia faltered.
"If both armies march toward the capital instead of fighting each other, they will arrive one after the other… they will not clash."
Emperor Chongzhen froze.
And before he could process that development, more reports flooded in, each one more alarming than the last.
"Sichuan's Flat Rabbit has declared his march toward the capital, joined by thirty-two native chieftain forces."
"Prince Fu Heir Zhu Yousong of Henan is advancing toward the capital."
"The Prince of De from Shandong is marching as well."
One after another.
Wave after wave.
The entire realm seemed to be converging on a single point.
The capital.
Panic crept into Emperor Chongzhen's voice.
"Only Prince Tang remains unaccounted for. Where is he? Has Cao Wenzhao already eliminated him?"
The answer came swiftly.
Cao Wenzhao had not eliminated him.
Instead, he had joined him.
Leading the entire naval force, uniting with Zheng Zhilong along the southeastern coast, forming a massive fleet that sailed directly to Tianjin Port.
The local officials had not even attempted resistance.
They surrendered immediately.
And just like that, the first of the Shared Governance forces to reach the capital's doorstep was Prince Tang.
A result so unexpected that even Emperor Chongzhen, in all his despair, could not have predicted it.
At this point, there was little left to do.
"We must recall Lu Xiangsheng from Liaodong," he said at last, his voice heavy but resolute in a way that suggested this was no longer a strategy, but a final attempt.
He turned to Cao Huachun.
"Organize the palace guards and the eunuchs. We will defend the city and wait for Lu Xiangsheng's return."