Chapter 46: Good News, The Ancestor Has Shown His Spirit!

Chongzhen Era.

The capital reorganized its three main camps, amassing fifty thousand troops; one hundred thousand Hongwu soldiers were either quelling bandits or marching to do so, relentlessly purging the bandit scourge from the capital region, Henan, Shandong, and other provinces.

The disaster-stricken areas of Shaanxi, after an influx of silver and grain, saw the Shun regime utterly collapse. Though the rebel king refused to pay taxes, he could not withstand the Emperor’s lavish dispatches of grain!

Under the governance of the Three Yangs of Yongle, three years of tax exemption were granted to Shaanxi and surrounding regions; the court regularly distributed or supplemented seed grain, all managed by Hongwu soldiers. While corruption could not be entirely avoided, it was exceedingly rare.

Capital Camp.

On the drill field.

“Well! To think that generations hence, people would accuse you, Xu Da, of leading corrupt troops—a disgrace lasting centuries! How shameful!” Zhu Yuanzhang’s face was grim as he rebuked Xu Da and the others.

“Your Majesty, please do not be angry!”

“I am guilty and await Your Majesty’s judgment!” Xu Da was mortified. He was responsible for training the Chongzhen soldiers of the capital camp, while the Hongwu troops handling disaster relief were led by an old Huai West comrade under him—and yet corruption had occurred!

“Grand Ancestor, please calm yourself. The greater matter is at hand,” Zhu Youjian quickly soothed.

In truth, of the five hundred thousand bushels of grain allocated, four hundred thousand reached the people—a figure almost unimaginable. For example, in the third year of Chongzhen, a famine in the northwest prompted the allocation of one hundred thousand bushels for relief; by the time it left the capital, only fifty thousand remained, two thousand reached local officials, ten thousand made it to the disaster sites, and less than five thousand were actually received by the populace.

Thus, with only a twenty percent loss, Chongzhen was already satisfied.

“We’ll settle your punishment later. Hurry and assemble the Hongwu troops; affairs of the capital will henceforth be handled by Chongzhen soldiers on rotation,” Zhu Yuanzhang commanded with a flourish of his dragon robe.

“Yes, Your Majesty!” Xu Da responded resolutely, immediately sending urgent orders across six hundred miles to gather Hongwu troops from the capital region, Shandong, and Shaanxi.

Meanwhile, Zhu Youjian issued a decree summoning Fu Youde to return to the capital at once, leaving Shanhaiguan affairs under the full command of the Vice Minister of War and Hao Yongzhong.

At this point, internal strife within the Chongzhen court was nearing resolution; fifty thousand Chongzhen soldiers in the capital sufficed, Fu Youde and Hao Yongzhong’s Liaoning cavalry remained stationed at Shanhaiguan, and Shi Kefa’s loyalist troops had already entered the capital region.

The departure of one hundred thousand Hongwu soldiers would not weaken the Chongzhen dynasty’s military strength—in fact, it would save considerable expenses.

…

Within the small world.

Old Zhu Di brought no troops, only his three sons and a grandson.

Especially young Zhu of Yongle, who had recently been enjoying himself with his second and third uncles—until, out of nowhere, old Zhu Di gave him a thrashing, leaving him bewildered! Now he still held an ice pack, rubbing his bruised eye.

Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui, the two shifty brothers, only dared mutter quietly; here, neither dared even breathe loudly.

Old Fourth Zhu arrived alone, carrying a large sack and saying nothing.

On Hongxi’s side, it was still the hefty father and son duo, with Xuande Zhu Zhanji standing behind, casting furtive glances at Yongle’s Zhu Gaoxu, looking guilty.

Old Zhu Di surveyed the scene and realized he was the eldest present, immediately swelling with pride. Suddenly, he frowned, recalling something, and addressed the Xuande Emperor: “Come here.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

The Xuande Emperor trotted over as if the throne were burning.

“Why haven’t I seen your second uncle in the Xuande era? Has he gone to his fief?” Old Zhu Di asked calmly.

The Hongxi father and son glanced over, still unsettled about the Han King’s situation.

Second uncle?

Second uncle was long gone!

The Xuande Emperor was momentarily confused, but quickly composed himself—he had been emperor for ten years after all. His face contorted in grief, choking out:

“Second uncle… he contracted a cold two years ago, and by the time I summoned the imperial physician, he had already passed!”

“I see.”

Old Zhu Di paused, his spirits dampened.

Seeing his nephew weep uncontrollably, Yongle’s Zhu Gaoxu was moved, boldly throwing an arm around him to comfort: “A true man shouldn’t cry, nephew. Your second uncle never feared death.”

“Yes, yes.” Xuande Zhu Zhanji averted his gaze, then after a round of condolences, guiltily pulled Zhu Gaoxu aside.

“Second uncle, come with me.”

“What for?” Zhu Gaoxu was baffled.

Xuande Emperor Zhu Zhanji led him to the Xuande throne, pushing him firmly and saying, “Sit!”

“Nephew, don’t mess with me—your grandpa’s still here!” Zhu Gaoxu leapt back several paces, forcing a laugh.

Though he was tempted, he wasn’t foolish enough to sit on the throne now—it would be suicide.

“Grandfather!” Xuande Zhu Zhanji pleaded, glancing back.

“I… saw nothing.” Old Zhu Di turned away.

He didn’t know what his grandson was planning, but the plea in his eyes was genuine, and since everyone present was family, with himself the eldest in the absence of his father, he let them be.

Zhu Zhanji turned back, earnestly imploring: “Second uncle, please sit.”

With that, he half-pushed Zhu Gaoxu onto the Xuande throne.

“Nephew, you… you’ve truly put me through the wringer!” Zhu Gaoxu’s grin stretched ear to ear, comfortably wriggling as if trying to embed himself in the seat.

“Second uncle, you’ve always wanted to sit there—now your wish is granted.”

Xuande Emperor Zhu Zhanji gazed at his satisfied expression, finally at ease himself.

Soon after—

Zhu Youjian arrived with Old Zhu.

Zhu Yuanzhang barked, “Fourth, did you bring everything?”

Rustle.

Old Fourth Zhu deftly spread the bundle on the table, arranging it neatly. “Father, everything is ready!”

On the table lay a row of solid wooden spirit tablets—the very kind Old Zhu had used to bash Zhu Yunwen. Finding them handy, he had Fourth Zhu commission a batch!

“Don’t just stand there!” Zhu Yuanzhang pushed the tablets, saying gravely, “Take one each, mind your strength later—not too hard, don’t kill them outright. We must vent our anger properly!”

“Yes!”

The emperors and heirs, brimming with murderous intent, looked less like royalty and more like a band of brigands!

…

The fourteenth year of Zhengtong, August fourteenth.

Tumu Fortress.

The sky was gloomy; the army camped in place, tents stretching endlessly.

“Your Majesty, you must not camp here! The terrain of Tumu Fortress is unfavorable—if Esen pursues us overnight, the consequences will be dire!” Duke of England, Zhang Fu, dragged his aged body to kneel before the throne, his cloudy eyes filled with helplessness.

“This place is only twenty li from Huailai. Please issue an order for the entire army to march urgently—we can surely enter the city before the Oirat cavalry arrives. Once inside Huailai, Esen’s threat will be nothing!”

Prince Consort Jingyuan and Minister of War Kuang Ye, faces anxious, joined in urging.

“This…” Zhu Qizhen, seated on the throne, hesitated, unsure what to do, looking to Wang Zhen for guidance.

“How dare you!” Wang Zhen stepped forward, clearing his throat and loudly rebuking, “His Majesty’s decisions are wise and heroic—how dare you question him? Is this a palace coup?”

“We dare not!” The ministers bowed their heads, grinding their teeth in fury, wishing they could tear this eunuch apart!

“The army’s rear still has over a thousand supply carts yet to arrive. If we retreat to the city now, aren’t we handing over Ming’s treasures to the enemy?” Wang Zhen, towering above, pointed at the ministers, cursing, “Or perhaps some among you were bribed by Esen, deliberately proposing this plan to force His Majesty to retreat and then share the spoils?”

Thinking this, Wang Zhen grew even angrier. His chance for glory was lost, but the silver he’d painstakingly amassed along the way was intact. Yet these people couldn’t stand his success and always tried to trip him up!

If not for the need to maintain his lofty image before the emperor, he’d have whipped them long ago!

“May our ancestors bear witness—we harbor no such intentions!” The civil and military officials, crushed by such accusations, hurriedly knelt, declaring their fear and innocence.

Hmph!

Wang Zhen snorted coldly—what caliber, daring to meddle in my affairs! Then he shot the emperor a sycophantic look:

“Rest assured, Your Majesty—with me here, these people can make no trouble.”

“What my adviser says is my will,” Zhu Qizhen relaxed, nodding in satisfaction and swelling with confidence, declaring, “Issue my command at once—have the army camp at Tumu Fortress and await the supplies!”

“Your Majesty! Please reconsider…” Zhang Fu grew desperate. After years of campaigning, he knew that camping here was akin to courting disaster!

“Old Duke, are you defying the imperial order?” Wang Zhen interrupted with a cold laugh, then leaned in to whisper, “When His Majesty returns to the capital, he’ll send the Embroidered Uniform Guard to search your mansion for evidence of treason—do you think they’ll find any?”

Find any?

Zhang Fu’s face changed dramatically; under the gaze of Prince Consort Jingyuan and Minister of War Kuang Ye, he lowered his head in shame, silent.

He did not fear death—otherwise, he wouldn’t have volunteered to lead the campaign before the emperor’s own expedition. What he feared was that the fortune he’d fought all his life to leave his descendants would be wiped out by a single decree ordering the execution of his entire household!

Eunuch Wang Zhen, satisfied, patted his shoulder. Were it not for necessity, he wouldn’t wish to eliminate this four-generation veteran whose horse had trampled Annam and whose merits were legendary.

“Your Majesty, time is pressing. If we delay, all will be lost. But once inside Huailai, the army will be safe, and Your Majesty secure!” Kuang Ye, deeply anxious, as Minister of War, understood the situation better than most. Unless they retreated into the city, these two hundred thousand troops would be at Esen’s mercy!

Zhu Qizhen felt his authority challenged and immediately slammed the table, shouting, “Do not urge me further! My words are golden—were the late emperor standing here, my order would not change!”

At these words, the ministers’ hearts sank. The emperor could say such things, but they could not argue back!

Zhang Fu sighed; unless the ancestors of Ming manifested, the ministers could not persuade and could only let the emperor and Wang Zhen have their way.

Bang!

The door was kicked open!

The ministers turned, frowning.

Who dared so boldly to kick open the emperor’s tent? Outside were two hundred thousand troops—it was clearly not Esen’s forces!

But who in Ming dared such audacity?

“Impudent! Who dares disturb the emperor?”

Wang Zhen shouted, but his voice abruptly ceased.

A middle-aged figure strode in, clad in a crimson dragon robe, exuding authority, wielding a tablet-shaped board, radiating dominance.

Behind him, one after another, figures in dragon robes entered, all with grim faces and fierce bearing.

The ministers were stunned.

The four-generation veteran Duke of England Zhang Fu muttered in shock, “The ancestors of Ming have manifested!”

…