Volume 2: The Capital, I’m Back Chapter 55: The Capital, I’m Back
The combat effectiveness of the Three Thousand Battalion is no longer what it used to be. Facing a mere three hundred Mongolian cavalrymen, they simply don't take them seriously.
First, find a suitable place for an ambush and hide there. When the enemy gets close, a charge will end the battle.
Li Zhen dragged a Mongolian by his braid to Zhu Qizhen, kicked him to the ground, and cursed: "You bastard, you dare to resist? If the emperor hadn't said to spare your life, I would have chopped you off on the spot!"
The man sat on the ground, but he refused to give in and kept shouting and cursing in Mongolian.
Zhu Qizhen asked: "Hey, can you speak Chinese?"
The other party ignored him completely and continued to yell and curse, looking very angry.
At this time, Feng Yi on the side seemed to see the light, and hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, I know a little Mongolian and can help you translate!"
"Who asked you to translate?" Zhu Qizhen frowned and said, "Get out of the way!"
"Yes Yes!"
Feng Yi hurriedly retreated to the side, trembling, not daring to breathe.
Zhu Qizhen turned to Li Zhen again and said unhappily, "Why did you bring him back?"
Li Zhen scratched his head and asked in confusion: "Didn't the emperor say that he wanted to leave someone alive..."
"What's the point of this person you captured alive? Can you understand what this person is saying?"
Li Zhen shook his head and said, "I don't understand!"
"That's it!" Zhu Qizhen waved his hand and said, "Take him down and chop him off!"
"yes!"
"Wait a minute, wait a minute!"
A miracle happened. The Mongolian suddenly could speak Chinese.
"Ask me whatever you want to ask, don't kill me!"
"You bastard!" Zhu Qizhen said with a snort, "Is your name Chahantai?"
"Yes, his full name is Tuohuan Chahantai!"
"From the Tatars?"
"Yes, the Tatars!"
"Why don't you just herd sheep on the grassland? Why did you come all the way to my Ming Dynasty?"
"this……"
Seeing Chahantai's hesitation, Zhu Qizhen waved his hand and said, "Chop him off!"
"I'll tell you, I'll tell you!" Chahantai swallowed his saliva and continued, "Yes...I made an appointment with Cao Jixiang and his son to attack the imperial city and help them seize the throne."
These words are basically the same as what Feng Yi said just now, and the matter is very clear.
"How did you get in touch?"
"letter!"
Chahantai took out a stack of letters from his body. Fan Zhong was worried that it was a trap, so he stepped forward to take it and handed it to Zhu Qizhen.
"These are all letters between us. I told you the truth and I have nothing to hide."
Zhu Qizhen flipped through it briefly, then put it aside and said with a sullen face, "I have one last question for you. How did you manage to cross the Great Wall with these men?"
Chahantai wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face looking very conflicted.
Zhu Qizhen had no patience at all and waved his hand, saying, "Chop it off, chop it off!"
"No, don't chop!" Chahantai no longer dared to hesitate and said truthfully, "We have an insider at Huangya Pass."
"Okay, okay!"
Zhu Qizhen did not get angry but laughed and said, "My soldiers are all very good!"
Li Zhen became more and more angry as he listened, and couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, I will lead the troops to Huangya Pass tomorrow!"
“No need!”
Zhu Qizhen waved his hand and said, "There is no need to rush for such a small matter. Bring my decree to the capital overnight and tell them that I am back!"
"yes!"
Fan Zhong looked at Feng Yi, who was curled up like a quail, and asked, "Your Majesty, what should we do with this guy?"
Zhu Qizhen said expressionlessly: "According to the Ming Dynasty law, what should be done to those who plot rebellion?"
"All nine clans should be killed!"
Feng Yi quickly knelt on the ground, kowtowed repeatedly and begged for mercy: "I know I was wrong, please have mercy on me, Your Majesty, please have mercy on me!"
Fan Zhong stepped forward and kicked him out, cursing, "You bastard, when you were plotting a rebellion, why didn't you think of asking the emperor for mercy?"
"Be gentle!" Zhu Qizhen said, "Don't kill him. He will be useful when we return to Beijing tomorrow!"
Fan Zhong said bitterly: "I am just angry in my heart. How dare such a bastard rebel!"
"Why bother with such a small fish and shrimp? Save your energy and fight the tiger tomorrow!"
"Yes!" Fan Zhong picked up the copper hammer he carried with him and said excitedly, "I will smash the heads of these traitors into pieces one by one in front of all the officials!"
Early in the morning, before the sun rose, the 3,000-man camp was already ready to go.
Faintly, the sound of horse hooves came from the front. Fan Zhong went forward to check, and saw dozens of horses galloping towards him.
He saw Li Zhen at a glance. Behind Li Zhen was also an acquaintance, Jinyiwei Yuan Bin.
"Your Majesty, the Earl of Xiangcheng is back!"
Zhu Qizhen nodded and said, "Pass the order down and prepare to set off!"
Li Zhen, Yuan Bin and others dismounted and hurried over.
"Your humble servant Yuan Bin pays respect to His Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"
Zhu Qizhen came to Yuan Bin and reached out to help him up.
"Yuan Qingjia, why are you crying?"
"Your Majesty, I am worried..."
Yuan Bin was so excited that his eyes were filled with tears and his speech was incoherent.
"I'm back, right? Now wipe your tears. What will it look like if the soldiers see you?"
"Yes Yes……"
Yuan Bin was really worried that as a Jinyiwei, he had failed to protect the emperor. He always felt derelict in his duty. He had been working day and night these days. Today, he finally had the emperor back. How could he not be excited?
Li Zhen stepped forward and said, "I have delivered the emperor's decree for his return to the capital. His Royal Highness Prince Qing is leading all the officials to welcome him outside Anding Gate!"
"Okay !" Zhu Qizhen nodded and immediately ordered, "Pass on my order and return to the capital!"
Two thousand soldiers escorted Zhu Qizhen as they marched southwards. When the army was still ten miles away from the capital, scouts of the imperial guards began to appear in front of them and continuously reported the news of the army back to the capital. At this time, the streets of the capital were already deserted.
In the capital, everyone from civil and military officials to the common people were waiting for the triumphant return of the Ming Emperor.
Although the army turned defeat into victory in the later stage of this expedition, it still lost more than 100,000 people in the early stage, so it could be considered a draw with the Oirat at most.
But things are different when the emperor returns to Beijing.
Being able to march deep into the desert alone and escape unscathed, with such military exploits, it is no exaggeration to call him a god of war.
The area outside Anding Gate is extremely spacious and usually very deserted. However, now, headed by Prince Zhu Qiyu of Qin, the civil and military officials are divided into two groups, divided by rank, and lined up on both sides, with more than a hundred people.
The Minister of Rites Hu Yi was already 75 years old. Zhu Qiyu specially asked someone to prepare a cushion for him, but the old man insisted on not using it.
The Ministry of Rites has been preparing for a long time to welcome the emperor this time.
The sound of horse hooves was getting closer and closer in the front. The Three Thousand Battalion was already approaching the capital, but instead of splitting up and returning to the garrison as in the past, they continued to march towards Yongding Gate in orderly steps.
Hu Yi frowned and asked, "What's going on? Why are they all here?"
According to etiquette, when the army returns from an expedition, except for the imperial guards who protect the emperor, all other troops must return to their respective bases.
Zhang Fu was beside him and said, "The emperor must have a deep meaning in making such an arrangement. We just need to wait patiently."
Hu Yi shook his head and said nothing more.
In his mind, as long as the emperor can return safely, these details are no longer important.
Finally, a horse galloped over, and the man on the horse was Li Zhen, the Earl of Xiangcheng.
"The Emperor has ordered that His Royal Highness Prince Qing come forward to greet him!"
"I obey your order!"
After Zhu Qiyu kowtowed, he stood up and walked forward.
Li Zhen added: "Now, those whose names are called, go and greet the Emperor!"
The ministers looked at each other in bewilderment. We have been kneeling here for a long time. You just need to come over quickly. Let's all shout Long live the emperor three times, and then we can happily enter the city. Why do we have to call out names?
Li Zhen looked around and continued to shout, "The Imperial Household Department Supervisor Cao Jixiang, the Jinyiwei Commander Ma Shun, the Datong Left Assistant General Shi Heng, the Datong Commander Shi Biao, the Imperial Academy Lecturer Xu Yun, and the Jinyiwei Commander Cao Qin!"
Everyone was confused and thought that these people were going to be very successful . They were all envious and jealous.
Those who were named were all terrified and began to tremble involuntarily.
Cao Jixiang looked at Ma Shun, Ma Shun looked at Shi Heng, and Shi Heng looked at Xu Yun. No one dared to move.
Li Zhen saw this and urged, "Please go and welcome the emperor as soon as possible!"
"Your Majesty...Your Majesty obeys your order!"
With no other options, these people had no choice but to go forward, praying silently in their hearts, hoping that their secret would not be exposed.
Li Zhen glanced at them and couldn't help but sneer secretly . You guys dare to rebel?
Instead of enjoying a comfortable life, he insists on seeking death. It seems that there will be a river of blood today!
