Volume 1: The Wind Rises in Tumubao Chapter 34 I am the legitimate emperor of the Ming Dynasty
Fan Zhong wanted to step forward to stop it, but it was too late. Just when he was in despair, he suddenly saw a tall figure appear.
Then, with a swish, the Wala man who attempted a sneak attack had his head chopped off and fell straight to the ground.
Zhu Qizhen only felt a stream of steaming liquid splashing on his neck. He reached out to touch it and it was all blood.
He turned around suddenly and saw that it was Ha Ming from the Jinyiwei. He couldn't help but ask, "Why are you here?"
At this time, Li Zhen caught up and said, "Your Majesty, I borrowed Ha Ming from the Jinyiwei!"
Zhu Qizhen nodded and continued to fight.
With Ha Ming's help, Fan Zhong's pressure was relieved a lot. While he was fighting, he suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves in the distance. Looking closely, he found that it was the support of the Wala people!
He looked back at the city gate. Most of the refugees had already entered the city. Only some weak, elderly, or injured people were left, struggling to get closer to the city gate.
In the distance, there was a black mass of Wala cavalry, rushing towards them with dust rolling up. Judging from the situation, there were at least 20,000 to 30,000 of them.
"Your Majesty, most of the people have already entered the city , retreat quickly!"
Fan Zhong looked at the situation in front of him and said anxiously.
Zhu Qizhen looked back and said resolutely: "No, the people have not all entered the city yet, hold on a little longer!"
Li Zhen also realized that something was wrong, and hurried forward to persuade him: "Your Majesty, the support of the Oirat people has arrived, we can't wait any longer!"
"I say no!" Zhu Qizhen's face was as gloomy as water, and his tone was firm, "I am the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and these people are my subjects. As long as there is one person still outside, we must stand in front of them, even if it means fighting to the last man!"
Everyone was silent. Although they didn't understand, they were all in awe.
In the past, I often heard people praising a certain emperor for loving his people like his own children and treating his people as if they were his own flesh and blood. But I've heard such words so many times that I've become numb to them.
In their impression, seeing the common people suffer from a disaster and allocating some money and food to disaster relief is already a sign of loving the people like their own children.
And now, Zhu Qizhen's performance has refreshed everyone's cognition.
The emperor is the ruler of a country, and the lives of the common people are like grass. However, the emperor is risking his life to protect those insignificant people.
"rush!"
"kill!"
Everyone stopped hesitating and raised their weapons to charge into the enemy camp.
When the Oirat people saw their reinforcements arriving and were about to counterattack, they saw the Ming army charging towards them with great momentum.
At this moment, they were very surprised and wondered if these people were crazy.
Why don't you run away when you see our reinforcements coming?
After another round of fighting between the two armies, Fan Zhong looked back at the city gate and immediately shouted, "Your Majesty, all the people have entered the city!"
Zhu Qizhen looked back and saw that, as expected, all the people captured by the Oirat people had entered the city.
"withdraw!"
The Ming army received the order and immediately covered Zhu Qizhen's retreat.
At this time, the Oirat army was already very close. Seeing that the Ming army was running away after the battle, how could they let them go?
So, these people began to pursue with all their might, and at the front of the team was Bayan, an old friend of the Ming army.
Although one of his eyes was burned by lime powder, he recognized Zhu Qizhen at a glance.
The reason is simple, only the emperor can wear golden armor.
His only remaining eye was filled with murderous intent, and he shouted with all his might: "The man in golden armor among the southerners is their emperor. If you can capture him alive, you will be granted the title of Marquis !"
The cavalry behind him suddenly became excited, shouting and galloping on their horses at full speed.
On the city wall, Zhang Fu and others saw that Zhu Qizhen was reluctant to retreat and they were so anxious that their hair turned white with sweat.
Finally, when they saw Zhu Qizhen retreating, they felt relieved, but then they felt worried again.
Because the main force of the Oirat people had already caught up, at this speed, it would be impossible to close the city gates after all the Ming troops entered the city.
Or there is another option, which is that half of the Ming army advances, and the remaining half can only stay outside.
Only in this way can we prevent the Oirat people from entering the city. Losing some men and horses is better than losing the city and losing people!
"Duke of England!" Kuang Ye said with a look of death, "You make the decision!"
Zhang Fu shook his head helplessly and said, "As long as the emperor can enter the city safely, the others... can only do this!"
To be honest, exchanging half of a three thousand battalion for a few thousand refugees is not a good deal no matter how you look at it.
However, this is the emperor's decree, and the deal must be done regardless of whether it is cost-effective or not.
Kuang Ye sighed and said, "The Emperor has appointed you as the supreme commander. You give the orders!"
Zhang Fu sighed helplessly and said a few words to the messenger beside him, and the messenger hurried downstairs.
Seeing the Badaling city gate right in front of him, Zhu Qizhen subconsciously looked back.
It would have been fine if I hadn’t looked at it, but once I did, I immediately thought something was wrong.
The Wala people were so fast that they actually caught up with their own team!
What if all the Ming troops enter the city and the Oirat people follow them in?
Soon, he thought of another possibility, which was to abandon part of the troops and lock the Oirat people outside the city.
He quickly rejected this idea. The lives of refugees are lives, but the lives of soldiers are not lives?
No, you can't do that!
But...what else can we do?
Zhang Fu on the city wall was waiting anxiously. As soon as the emperor entered the city safely, he could close the gate at any time!
Boyan behind him was chasing excitedly because he found that the little emperor seemed unable to escape.
Zhu Qizhen galloped on his horse and looked around.
The Badaling city wall is located at the junction of plains and mountains. Entering Badaling means officially entering the Yanshan Mountains.
Before this, it was an open plain.
Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind.
The situation is urgent and there is no time for thinking. A decision must be made at this moment.
"drive!"
Suddenly he shouted, turned his horse around and headed north!
Fan Zhong and Li Zhen behind him didn't even have time to think and followed closely.
The main force was even more confused, and everyone followed the front line and turned north.
On the city wall, Zhang Fu's face was full of confusion. Why didn't the emperor go into the city but head north?
Suddenly, he understood!
He was trembling all over, trying to utter three words: "Close the city gate!"
"What did you say?" Kuang Ye was horrified and said, "The emperor hasn't entered the city yet!"
Zhang Fu suddenly shouted, "Close the city gate!"
Boyan was chasing and was greatly surprised when he suddenly saw the Ming army turn around.
For a moment, he didn't know whether to continue chasing or attacking the city. After hesitating for a moment, he still chased after them.
To the north of Badaling is endless grassland.
Zhu Qizhen led the 3,000-man battalion and galloped all the way into the grassland. He immediately felt the cool autumn air and the vast sky and land.
He silently said in his heart: "Zhu Qizhen, I have helped you pay off the sins you committed in your previous life. From now on, no matter life or death, this body, this world, will have nothing to do with you anymore! From now on, I will be the true and orthodox emperor of the Ming Dynasty!"
