Chapter 58: Stand Back, I’m About to Summon My Ancestor!

Capital City.

Imperial Jidian Hall.

To the left of the dragon throne, Wang Cheng’en held a confidential letter in his hand, bowing respectfully as he spoke in a low voice, “Your Majesty, the Jian slave forces have already stationed themselves in Ningyuan City.”

Here comes trouble!

Zhu Youjian raised his brows. To speak plainly, given the current state of the Chongzhen court, it was simply impossible to defeat the Jian-slave forces.

“Bi Maokang, how is the progress on the firearms I ordered you to produce?”

Bi Maokang, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War in Nanjing who had arrived with Shi Kefa, stepped forward and bowed. “Your Majesty, over five hundred of these guns have already been manufactured at the Heavenly Works Pavilion, with more than seventy thousand bullets prepared. However, the quality is still lacking, the range is only about three hundred paces, and the power is less than half that of the original! At most, seven rounds can be fired every half a quarter hour!”

After the battle at Baozong, the Divine Machine Battalion had suffered severe losses; those who knew how to make firearms perished, and the capacity for producing such weapons plummeted. Adding to this, successive dynasties had long neglected the issue of keeping firearms dry and functional, leading the soldiers to believe that firearms were unreliable—less useful than short sticks and waist knives.

From then on, the Divine Machine Battalion was only that in name.

Zhu Youjian had never intended to rely solely on rifled guns to resist the Qing army. He ordered, “Pack every hundred guns with ten thousand bullets into a batch, and send them to the palace.”

One batch each for the Hongwu, Jianwen, Yongle, and Hongxi courts.

Although the Hongxi Emperor did not intend to send troops to assist, he still claimed he would come to observe the battle, shamelessly insisting on a share. The Xuande Emperor also claimed he would observe but was too embarrassed to ask; he was probably preparing to take the biggest share silently.

“Your servant obeys!” Bi Maokang accepted the order respectfully.

Suddenly, Zhu Youjian remembered something and turned his head. “Also, have the illustrations of military equipment from Vice Minister Bi brought here by the Office of Imperial Seals. Make five copies.”

“And fetch some sweet potato, potato, and other crop seeds for me; I have great use for them.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Wang Cheng’en replied softly, asking no further questions. He would do exactly as the emperor commanded.

“Your Majesty, the Jian slave forces have invaded the border, and Ningyuan City has fallen. I beg to be given the command to resist the enemy!” Shi Kefa, who had long been anxious, could not help but step forward and plead.

Shi Kefa, serving as Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and Associate Censor-in-Chief, was known in history for weeping bitterly and striking his head against a pillar when Chongzhen hanged himself, so much so that blood ran to his feet.

His loyalty was unquestionable, but his military talent was lacking.

Zhu Youjian was admittedly not a military expert, but his knowledge of history made him at least a good judge of men. As it happened, the emperor’s job was exactly that. Shi Kefa was a first-rate loyal official, no doubt, but there was no need to entrust him with military command. It wasn’t as if there were no other capable people; in the worst case, Zhu Youjian would lead the charge himself before letting Shi Kefa exhaust himself in battle.

“Minister Shi, you need not worry. I already have a plan,” Zhu Youjian glanced at him and smiled helplessly, offering reassurance.

“May I ask, Your Majesty, what is this plan?” Shi Kefa grew anxious, thinking the emperor's suspicious nature was acting up and that he was unwilling to let him command troops. In his urgency, he blurted out the question.

He regretted his words at once; such questioning bordered on disrespect!

Fortunately, the current Chongzhen Emperor was quite open-minded.

“Listen well!” Zhu Youjian rose from the throne and smiled. “I will personally lead the army!”

“What!?”

“Your Majesty, do not act on impulse. There are no reliable troops in the capital, and the tens of thousands of new recruits are inexperienced. They cannot serve as the emperor’s army in such a crucial battle!”

“Your Majesty must not! The Jian slave forces are fierce; we must avoid their main strength!”

“The disaster of the Tumu Fortress is still fresh in our memories. Please think thrice before acting!” The ministers of the Chongzhen court were shocked and rushed forward, trying to dissuade him.

The calmest in the hall were the three Yangs and Xia Yuanji from the Yongle court’s cabinet. These four high-ranking ministers were undisturbed, a stark contrast to the panicking Chongzhen officials.

What was there to be so alarmed about?

Their own Great General for Northern Campaigns was already preparing for a third expedition to the northern steppe—or rather, to invade Japan.

“I should avoid their main strength?” Zhu Youjian mused. Indeed, it would be wise, but though he couldn’t win in battle, he could certainly call for reinforcements.

He smiled lightly and decreed, “Mobilize three thousand soldiers as the emperor’s personal guard to march with me!”

“This order is final. Any dissent, and you will be executed!”

The ministers fell silent. The current emperor truly meant what he said; recently, his ruthlessness was reminiscent of the founding emperor. If not for the timely intervention of the three Yangs, the Embroidered Uniform Guard might have slaughtered its way from Beijing to Nanjing by now!

“Three thousand cavalry? How can that be enough? Your Majesty, this is reckless!” Shi Kefa stomped his feet in anxiety, yet there was nothing he could do.

“We have all been called from the provinces to serve in the capital, yet we now shrink from danger and dare not speak forthrightly. Shame on us.” The ministers exchanged glances and bowed their heads in shame.

If it were the old Chongzhen, except for the war officials, others might have dared to remonstrate, but the emperor had changed. When he said he would kill, he meant it—an emperor’s word was law.

Acting Minister of Revenue Xia Yuanji reprimanded, “Enough! The emperor is favored by heaven and protected by the founder. What need is there for your worry? Quickly prepare military supplies and select three thousand cavalry for the imperial campaign!”

“Yes, Lord Grand Secretary.” The ministers quieted down. Though concern lingered on their faces, their efficiency was unmatched—they immediately set to work preparing for the small imperial campaign.

After the ministers departed,

Wu Mengming stepped forward to report, “Your Majesty, Wu Sangui and Zuo Liangyu have already dealt with the bandit problem in Shandong and other provinces, but are secretly recruiting troops. Their intentions are unclear.”

“And Liu Zeqing tried to leave the capital, but I stopped him.”

“They are still alive?” Zhu Youjian cast him a displeased glance.

“I am incompetent!” Wu Mengming broke out in a cold sweat, silently cursing, and quickly withdrew.

Soon,

Within seven days,

A personal guard of three thousand cavalry was fully equipped and ready to set out.

Nearly half the officials of the Chongzhen court, over a hundred in all, accompanied them. A force of several thousand men set out in grand fashion toward Shanhaiguan, six hundred li away.

The next day,

Zhu Youjian, sore from riding, could bear it no longer. He placed an anchor point on Gong Yonggu and slipped into his own small world.

While the army was still on the road, he once again visited the Hongwu, Jianwen, and Yongle courts. After confirming arrangements with his ancestors, he finally arrived in the Hongwu era.

Zhu Yuanzhang, as usual, was reviewing memorials, his brow sometimes furrowed, sometimes relaxed, working with tireless energy.

This time, young Zhu Di was absent, having recently taken leave, reportedly to deal with some “pregnancy” business.

“Great Ancestor!” Zhu Youjian called softly.

“My grandson, you’re here,” Zhu Yuanzhang rubbed his brow, smiled, and asked, “Are you here to ask for reinforcements? Everything’s ready on my end.”

The old emperor truly doted on him.

Truth be told, Zhu Youjian hadn’t done much for the Hongwu court, apart from later saving Empress Ma and Zhu Xiongying. Yet Zhu Yuanzhang was ready to grant him a force of a hundred thousand soldiers.

In all of Chinese history,

Who but Zhu Yuanzhang had ever been so generous?

If it had been Liu Bang, he would have demanded a price.

Zhu Youjian felt a bit embarrassed and produced ten large sacks of seeds. “Great Ancestor, look, these are sweet potatoes, potatoes, corn, and other high-yield crops from the future...”

...