Chapter 4: All directions are guilty, but I am the one to blame
In just half an hour, the army has been assembled.
Zhu Qi Zhence immediately stepped forward and looked up. Eighty thousand soldiers were neatly arrayed in the wind, waiting for the order to attack.
Standing in the front row are the commanders of each battalion, British Duke Zhang Fu, Taining Marquis Chen Ying, Pingxiang Bo Chen Huai, Xiangcheng Bo Li Zhen, Sui'an Bo Chen Xun, Xiuwu Bo Shen Rong...
This expedition was accompanied by fifty-two civil servants and generals. Most of these people had followed Taizong and Emperor Xuanzong in conquering Annan and conquering Mobei. They had made many military exploits and could be said to be the mainstay of the entire Ming Dynasty.
What is shocking is that such a powerful lineup was completely defeated!
It is said that Wang Zhen harmed the country. Could it be that Zhu Qizhen got away with it by playing a good hand of cards?
Although Emperor Ren and Xuan only reigned for ten years, in these ten years, the whole country had recuperated and recuperated, and had restored the national strength consumed by the southern and northern wars during the Yongle period. What was handed over to Zhu Qizhen was a strong Ming Dynasty.
We need food, soldiers, generals, and firearms units like the Shenji Battalion that can defeat the Mongolian cavalry.
However, the outcome of this battle was that the three battalions with a total of 200,000 main troops were wiped out overnight, the emperor was captured, and the emperor was everywhere. The name of the Baozong was passed down through the ages.
Zhu Qizhen closed his eyes and thought silently in his heart, if it's just a dream, it's time to wake up!
The north wind blows on the cheek, like a knife cutting and a needle pricking, the feeling is real and strong.
This is not a dream, I am the orthodox emperor Zhu Qizhen, the shame of the Ming Dynasty...
No!
I don’t want to be a bastard!
Since God has given you a chance to start over, history must never repeat itself!
With firm eyes, Zhu Qizhen slowly pulled out the dragon-patterned sword from his waist and raised it high above his head.
The soldiers immediately fell silent, and 80,000 pairs of eyes stared at the emperor in front of the battle. This time in the Northern Expedition, they suffered successive defeats. There was only one word in everyone's mind, coward!
I thought that the emperor's personal expedition would be majestic and overwhelming, but I didn't expect that I didn't even see the emperor's shadow along the way, and even the orders for the battle were given by a eunuch.
There were only 80,000 people left out of the 200,000 people, nestled in a remote corner of the mountain like Tumubao, and the water source was cut off by the Oara people. Everyone's lips were chapped, and they could only lick them constantly to relieve their thirst a little.
"Soldiers!"
As Zhu Qizhen shouted, everyone cheered up, and the emperor personally went to the battle to supervise the battle, which undoubtedly rekindled the hope of the soldiers.
"I am your emperor. Today, under the banner of the Ming Dynasty, under the shining of the sun, moon, mountains and rivers, I will fight to the death with the main force of the enemy army together with you!"
The scene was surprisingly quiet. Apart from the echo of my own shouting, there was only the sound of the howling wind.
"I know that you feel aggrieved because you have suffered many defeats along the way. This is my dereliction of duty!"
British Duke Zhang Fu's expression changed, and he hurriedly stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, please kill the traitor Wang Zhen to rectify the morale of the army!"
At this time, even if the emperor makes thousands of mistakes, he cannot make any mistakes!
The war is imminent, and the coach's image directly affects every soldier, so the only one who can be wrong is Wang Zhen!
Immediately afterwards, Kuang Ye, the Minister of War, Chen Ying, the Marquis of Taining, and others petitioned: "Please kill Wang Zhen!"
All the military attachés present hated these dead eunuchs and began to shout: "Kill Wang Zhen! Kill Wang Zhen!"
Seeing that the emotions of the soldiers were high, Zhu Qizhen pointed forward with his sword.
"Take Wang Zhen!"
Fan Zhong was already ready. With a wave of his hand, two guards carried Wang Zhen to the front of the formation and threw him to the ground. Wang Zhen fell to the ground softly, shaking all over.
He knew that his death was coming, and he wanted to beg for mercy, but his teeth kept chattering and he couldn't say a word.
But, why?
The emperor asked him yesterday for advice on the war situation and response strategies, and accepted his proposal and agreed to negotiate peace with you first. Why did his temperament suddenly change when he woke up?
Why, exactly why...
Zhu Qizhen pointed his sword at Wang Zhen and said slowly: "I believed Wang Zhen's slander, which resulted in the loss of 120,000 soldiers' lives. All parties are guilty, and the blame lies with me!"
Having said this, he suddenly stretched out his left hand to twist a strand of hair from his forehead, and then raised his right hand.
"Your Majesty, no!"
Zhang Fu was about to dissuade him, but he saw that Zhu Qizhen had already raised the knife and held a strand of broken hair flying in the wind.
"Today, I will cut off my hair and take the place of my head to encourage you all!"
Since the Han Dynasty, Confucianism has become the mainstream, and Confucianism pays attention to the hair and skin of the body. It is the beginning of filial piety. It is the beginning of filial piety. At that time, cutting hair was a sign of treason and even unfilial piety. It was a very serious behavior. .
Sure enough, when all the soldiers saw the emperor cutting off his will, they were shocked.
At this moment, the emperor in their eyes was no longer the willful young man who was ignorant of the world, but a real emperor who was responsible and courageous. Many veterans even felt Emperor Taizong's determination to sweep across Mobei again before he went on the expedition. and momentum.
Zhu Qizhen slowly let go of his hand, and his broken hair disappeared in the wind.
"Before sunset today, many people will die in battle. Are you afraid?"
The soldiers were in high spirits and shouted in unison: "Don't be afraid!"
Zhu Qizhen's eyes were like torches and he said loudly: "My last decree is that if you see me fall off my horse, don't be sad, don't stop charging, follow the military flag closely, kill the enemy bravely, and fight to the death!"< /p>
"I will fight to the death!"
"I will fight to the death!"
"I will fight to the death!"
The unanimous shouts of 80,000 soldiers echoed in the valley, with lingering sounds.
"Today, I will use the blood of traitors to comfort the loyal souls of the Ming Dynasty who died in battle!"
The soldiers were extremely excited and roared like wild beasts: "Kill!"
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
Fan Zhong's eyes were full of excitement and he performed the operation himself. With a click, Wang Zhen's head fell to the ground.
The first generation of powerful officials in the Ming Dynasty came to an end.
Zhu Qizhen raised the sword in his hand again and issued the last instruction.
"Listen to my order and the whole army will attack!"
The 80,000-strong army launched an attack in the direction of the Guishui River like a tide.
Zhu Qizhen took the lead, with the dragon flag flying behind him.
Once upon a time, this dragon flag marched across Mobei and reached the banks of the Onan River. All the Mongolians fled.
Today, let this flag restore the glory of our ancestors!
…………
The army set off in such a hurry that there was no time to dismantle the camp and simply abandoned it.
In an inconspicuous small tent, there was a person huddled in the corner, shivering.
Hearing the footsteps outside gradually disappear, he walked out tremblingly and looked around. Except for himself, the camp was already empty.
This person is none other than Wang Zhen’s most proud godson, the second-ranking official in the Supervisory Office of Rites, Wang Xi.
Wang Xi's real name is Ning Xi. In terms of age, he is more than ten years older than Wang Zhen. He also entered the palace earlier than Wang Zhen. However, to be a good eunuch, a promising career, the most important thing is to be shameless.
To regain his momentum, he was the first to come to ask for his godfather.
Today's situation really scared him.
Even Wang Zhen, a powerful official with one hand covering the sky, could be killed with just one word. One can imagine his own fate.
There was definitely no way to go back to the capital. After much deliberation, I thought I might as well go and join him first, thinking that if I had done something good by providing information, I might even be rewarded with an official position.
After making up his mind, he tried his best to identify the direction and headed west as if running away.
…………
PS: Thank you to Liuyang Beauty, Pepper Boss, Qitao Brother, Hailing King, and Canghai Zhijiao for their rewards. I am so grateful that I cannot express my gratitude!!