Volume 2: The Capital, I’m Back Chapter 43 Where is the Emperor?
At Badaling, Zhang Fu and Kuang Ye stood on the dilapidated city wall and watched the Wala army begin to retreat.
"Prince Ying, have the Wala people really withdrawn?"
Kuang Ye expressed his doubt about the scene before him. This old fellow Yesen was full of cunning schemes. Could he be plotting something again?
Zhang Fu felt the same way. During Yesen's siege, no less than ten thousand people were killed and corpses piled up like mountains outside the city. Just gave up like that?
"I also feel that something is fishy. We cannot let our guard down yet. Let's wait and see what happens!"
Three days later, the Embroidered Uniform Guards sent back information that the Oirat had indeed withdrawn its troops.
Zhang Fu and others finally breathed a sigh of relief. Both sides had suffered heavy losses in this battle. They couldn't remember how many times the Oirat people had rushed to the city wall and were forced back by the Ming army. Even so, no one could guarantee whether they could defend against the next round of attacks.
Both sides are on the brink of collapse, holding on with only their last breath. It just depends on who loses their breath first.
In the end, the Ming army had the last laugh.
Upon confirming the news of the Oirat's withdrawal, the soldiers cheered thunderously, and their long-suppressed emotions were finally vented.
However, after the celebration, the smile on Zhang Fu's face slowly disappeared because the emperor had not returned yet.
According to the intelligence transmitted back from Gubeikou, Zhu Qizhen and the Three Thousand Battalion did not enter the pass, but turned around and charged into the grassland.
With Yesen's withdrawal, the situation of this isolated army became even more dangerous.
At the temporary command post at Badaling, Zhang Fu, as the commander-in-chief, summoned all the generals to discuss matters.
There is only one topic this time: whether to send troops to the desert to bring back the emperor.
Chen Ying volunteered to lead the troops to the battle.
Chen Huai and others were no less enthusiastic and suggested sending troops. In their minds, if the emperor had not stepped forward, everyone would have been trapped and died in Tumu Fort.
The soldiers were very enthusiastic, but Zhang Fu remained silent.
As the commander-in-chief, he must remain calm. The Ming army still has more than 30,000 combat troops. Unless they redeploy their troops, entering the desert with the current strength would be tantamount to suicide.
However, the emperor is still outside and if he does not send troops, wouldn’t that be disloyalty?
Chen Ying was already impatient and said, "Duke Ying, the emperor has appointed you as the commander-in-chief. What are you waiting for? Give the order!"
Zhang Fu finally spoke up: "Everyone, I have been wondering about one question, why did Wala Yesen withdraw his troops in such a hurry?"
Everyone was startled when they heard this. Kuang Ye seemed to have realized something and said, "Duke Ying, do you mean... the Wala withdrawal is related to the emperor?"
"I am just guessing." Zhang Fu said slowly, "Wala has more troops than others. If they insist on attacking the city, the result is still unknown. But, why did Yesen suddenly withdraw his troops?"
Chen Ying couldn't help but say, "Duke Ying, don't keep us in suspense about what you want to say!"
Zhang Fu turned to Yuan Bin and said, "Captain Yuan, please tell everyone the intelligence that the Jinyiwei has obtained!"
Yuan Bin nodded and said, "I have sent all the Jinyiwei out to gather intelligence from the periphery. I learned that the Oirat people have a supply route. However, before Yesen withdrew his troops, no team transporting food and grass appeared. From this, I can infer that the reason why the Oirat people withdrew their troops is probably because they ran out of food."
After hearing this, Chen Ying asked in confusion: "What does that have to do with rescuing the emperor?"
Yuan Bin continued, "If there is a problem with the food supply in the rear, the only possibility is that the emperor has cut off the enemy's food supply route on the grassland, or even destroyed the food supply camp. In this case, the Wala people will definitely do their best to encircle the emperor."
Chen Ying frowned and said, "If that's the case, isn't the emperor in an even more dangerous situation?"
"I have discussed this matter with Duke Ying and Minister Kuang. If the emperor leads 3,000 troops deep into the heart of the grassland, he can still rely on the mobility of the cavalry to deal with the enemy. If our army enters the grassland, we will have no advantage against the Wala cavalry and may even become a burden to the emperor!"
Everyone was silent for a long time. Chen Ying slapped his thigh and said angrily, "Are we just going to watch the emperor being besieged by the Oirat people and just ... sit back and do nothing?"
Zhang Fu said calmly, "Before the Emperor left the country, he issued an oral instruction that we must put the overall situation first and not act on impulse. If going to the grassland can bring back the Emperor, I will be willing to die on the battlefield. However, if we blindly send troops and sacrifice the lives of our soldiers, we may even become a burden to the Emperor. I cannot make this decision no matter what."
Although everyone was unwilling, they all knew that Zhang Fu was right.
This meeting did not produce any conclusions. Everyone was in a very depressed mood, with no trace of the joy that came from a great victory.
That night, Zhang Fu sat quietly at the head of the bed, unable to fall asleep.
He is 75 years old this year. Since he was 25 years old, he followed his father Zhang Yu to start an uprising to quell the rebellion. Later, he conquered Annan and Mobei. He fought in all directions in his life and made countless military exploits. However, the battle at this moment impressed him the most.
Emperor Xuande died young, and Emperor Zhengtong succeeded to the throne at the age of eight. Many times, in Zhang Fu's eyes, he was still a child.
He was blindly arrogant, doted on eunuchs, and hastily sent troops, whereupon the 200,000-strong army was defeated along the way, with only less than 80,000 left.
Just when everyone was in despair, the young emperor seemed to have become a different person overnight. He personally led his army in a desperate counterattack, fighting his way out, which made everyone look at him with new eyes.
With a ruler like this, the Ming Dynasty has no worries.
Now how to do?
If we send out troops, there is no cover on the grassland, and the infantry will be sitting ducks when facing the cavalry, which will only increase casualties.
Not sending troops?
The Ming Emperor was far away in the Mobei grasslands, and his life or death was uncertain.
What should I do...
Overnight, the 70-year-old veteran seemed to have aged a few years.
"English Duke, English Duke!"
Before dawn, Kuang Ye hurried to Zhang Fu's bedroom, looking very anxious.
Zhang Fu raised his eyes and asked, "What's the matter?"
"The capital!" Kuang Ye took a breath and said, "Something happened in the capital!"
Zhang Fu immediately became alert and said, "What happened? Don't be impatient, tell me slowly! "
Kuang Ye handed over the memorial in his hand and said, "Yu Qian submitted a memorial saying that someone in the capital has proposed to support the Prince of Qing as regent!"
Zhang Fu took the memorial read it for a few seconds, threw it to the ground, and said angrily: "The emperor risked his life and personally led 3,000 troops to raid the rear of the Wala. What are they going to do? Do they want to rebel?"
"Duke Ying, we can't wait any longer now. We must return to the court immediately and take charge of the situation!"
Zhang Fu's eyes were filled with murderous intent, and he gritted his teeth and said, "I will lead my troops back to the capital right now, and then I will catch these clowns one by one and chop off their heads with my own hands!"
Kuang Ye nodded and said, "That's right!"
Zhang Fu suddenly looked dejected again and said, "But, Your Majesty..."
"I'll wait here!" Kuang Ye understood what he meant and said, "You lead the troops back to the capital first, and I'll stay here and wait for the emperor!"
Zhang Fu looked at him meaningfully and said, "Minister Kuang, I'll leave this to you."
Kuang Ye bowed and said, "The capital will be handed over to Duke Ying!"
