sovbooks Chapter 105 The Xiliang Army, with its vast numbers, rushes into the capital!
Chapter 105 The Xiliang Army, with its vast numbers, rushes into the capital!
Chapter 105 One Hundred Thousand Xiliang Army Troops Rushed into the Capital!
Dengzhou Guard.
An imperial edict arrived at the Dengzhou Garrison.
Qi Jingtong, the Admiral of the Ming Dynasty Navy and Commander of Dengzhou Guard, waited early at the drill ground, kneeling to receive the imperial decree.
"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"
"Qi Jingtong is hereby promoted to Governor of Hebei and Shandong, and shall immediately lead the newly trained Ming navy and 100,000 troops from the Hebei and Shandong garrisons back to the capital to report on his duties!"
"So be it!"
"Your humble servant will obey Your Majesty's decree!"
Upon receiving the imperial edict, Qi Jingtong's expression was extremely solemn, and his clothes were already soaked with sweat.
He had only been in Dengzhou for less than half a year training the Ming navy when Zhu Houzhao urgently ordered him to bring the entire newly trained Ming navy back to the capital.
Even the most foolish person could sense that something terrible must have happened in the capital, which is why Zhu Houzhao was willing to mobilize new soldiers to stabilize the situation in the capital.
Moreover, Zhu Houzhao was not satisfied with that, and even temporarily promoted him to the position of Governor of Ji-Lu, mobilizing the garrison troops of Ji-Lu.
Everyone knew what the garrison soldiers were like; they had some fighting ability, but not many.
It couldn't compare to the elite Beijing army, the border guards, or even his newly trained Ming navy.
Despite this, Zhu Houzhao still ordered Qi Jingtong to lead 100,000 troops from the Jilu garrison back to the capital.
The matter was of great importance, and Qi Jingtong dared not delay even for a moment.
He immediately ordered the mobilization of the newly trained 10,000-plus Ming Dynasty naval personnel to board the ships and await orders.
In his capacity as the governor of Hebei and Shandong, he dispatched 100,000 of the most combat-ready garrison soldiers from various garrisons in Hebei and Shandong. He then ordered these 100,000 garrison soldiers to depart from their respective garrisons and travel by land to the capital to join him.
Meanwhile, the Ming Dynasty navy, led by Qi Jingtong himself, sailed by water to Jinmenwei on warships!
Northwest military defense.
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The same imperial edict also arrived in Yansui.
Governor-General Gan Ning and General Shen Ying of the Western Front kneel to receive the imperial decree.
"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"
"Order Governor-General Shen Ying of Gansu and Ningxia to immediately lead 100,000 troops from Xiliang back to the capital to report on his duties!"
"So be it!"
Upon hearing the order, Shen Ying paused for a moment before quickly accepting it.
"Your humble servant will obey Your Majesty's decree!"
Upon receiving the imperial edict, Shen Ying's expression turned solemn, his mind racing.
Shen Ying, after inheriting the title of Commander of Yan'an Guard in the first year of Tianshun, served four emperors and fought on the Northwest front for many years, making outstanding military achievements.
During the Chenghua era, he was given the seal of General Who Conquers the West and appointed as Commander-in-Chief, garrisoning Ningxia, Gansu and other places.
During the reign of the late Emperor Zhu Youcheng, Shen Ying was a military general whom Zhu Youcheng trusted very much. After Zhu Youcheng was deposed, he also summoned Shen Ying back to the capital and appointed him as the commander of the Guoyong Battalion.
Zhu You entrusted almost all of his last trump cards to Shen Ying, which shows how much he trusted this old minister.
After Zhu Youcheng came to power, he greatly promoted Shen Ying.
First, he appointed Shenying as the Governor-General of Gansu and Ningxi, and then he was promoted to General of the Western Front, in charge of a total of 200,000 Xiliang troops in Gansu and Ningxi.
In the seventeenth year of the Hongzhi reign, the Tatar prince Dayan Khan invaded the border region of Yansui. Zhu You ordered Zhu Hui, the Duke of Baoguo, to be the commander-in-chief, with Shen Ying as the governor and Li Jun as the left and right adjutants, to lead the army to the northwest.
After quelling the rebellion, Zhu Hui and others led their troops back to the capital, while Shen Ying was left in the Northwest to oversee all military affairs there!
With 200,000 Xiliang troops at his disposal, Shen Ying almost single-handedly shouldered all the responsibilities for the defense of the Northwest.
Now, Zhu Houzhao has issued an imperial edict ordering him to lead 100,000 Xiliang troops to the capital to report on his duties!
But Shen Ying knew that this was no ordinary job performance review!
Zhu Houzhao's summons of him to lead troops back to the capital must mean that something serious and difficult has happened in the capital!
Zhu Houzhao did not trust the military generals in other places, which is why he ordered him to lead his troops back to the capital!
Shen Ying did not hesitate for long and almost immediately summoned his deputy, Cao Xiong, the deputy commander-in-chief of Ningxia.
"Cao Xiong, His Majesty has urgently summoned me to lead troops into the capital. After I leave, you will temporarily take command of the northwestern military defenses. Be careful, and absolutely no trouble can be allowed to occur!"
"Yes, General! I will not fail in my mission!"
After receiving the order, Cao Xiong asked with some curiosity, "General, His Majesty urgently summoned you to lead troops into the capital. Has something happened in the capital?"
Shen Ying glared coldly at Cao Xiong: "Don't pry into things that aren't your business!"
"Go, muster 100,000 troops and prepare provisions. I will depart immediately!"
"Yes, General!"
Cao Xiong was extremely shocked. There were only 200,000 troops stationed in the Northwest, but Zhu Houzhao transferred 100,000 troops to the capital at once.
What on earth is about to happen in the capital?!
Cao Xiong dared not ask any more questions and hurriedly went to carry out Shen Ying's orders, checking the troops and preparing provisions.
It took two whole days of busy work to get everything ready.
On the very day the troop strength was tallied, Shen Ying led these 100,000 men into the capital at breakneck speed!
Forbidden City.
Cining Palace.
After the weather turned cool, Zhu Houzhao moved back to the Forbidden City.
During this period, Cao Zhengchun, Yu Huatian, and others strongly advised Zhu Houzhao not to risk his life and not to return to the Forbidden City before the Mid-Autumn Festival.
But they were immediately given a severe scolding by Zhu Houzhao.
Is he, the emperor of the mighty Ming Dynasty, so frightened that he doesn't even want to go home just because two petty thieves are going to have a showdown on his roof?
If this gets out, where will he, the emperor, put his face?
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
For an emperor, the most important thing is the dignity of his position.
If he avoids it, the Ming emperor's prestige will be lost, and how will he be able to rule the country?
Besides, Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue were clearly after him.
Even if he ran to other places, besides the Forbidden City, there would be the West Garden Peak and the South Palace Peak. Let alone the fact that the West Garden and the Forbidden City are only separated by a wall, there would be other places besides the Forbidden City Peak.
Since that's the case, he might as well confront them head-on and not back down an inch!
At this moment, Shangguan Haitang had already entered the palace and was reporting the situation of the Ming Dynasty Bank to Zhu Houzhao.
At the end of her report, Shangguan Haitang spoke emotionally to Zhu Houzhao.
"Your Majesty, I am also skilled in some martial arts. Since Your Majesty intends to confront Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng directly, I request to remain in the palace to protect Your Majesty!"
Although Shangguan Haitang is the number one secret agent of the Xuan class, her martial arts skills are the worst among the four secret agents.
Shangguan Haitang could barely be considered a first-rate expert in the martial arts world, but compared to others, she was far inferior.
Even so, Shangguan Haitang wanted to stay in the palace and do her part to protect Zhu Houzhao.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Houzhao smiled and said, "Haitang, I understand your feelings."
"However, I am not short of people to protect me."
Zhu Houzhao was right. He had top experts like Cao Zhengchun, Yu Huatian, and Zhuge Zhengwo by his side, as well as tens of thousands of secret police officers and the Imperial Guards and the Four Guards of Tengxiang in the capital.
There is absolutely no need to worry about the security forces surrounding him.
Shangguan Haitang's mouth was open, her face showing some disappointment, as well as some inferiority and self-blame.
If her martial arts skills were better, would she not have been disliked by Zhu Houzhao and could have stayed by his side to protect him?
Just then, Zhu Houzhao said again, "However, I am also very happy that you are willing to stay in the palace."
""
"In my harem, there are not many suitable experts who can protect them closely."
"If you are willing, you can protect Consort Shu closely. She is about to give birth and needs special protection."
Consort Shu?
Shangguan Haitang remembered the concubine who was pregnant with Zhu Houzhao's child; her name seemed to be Li Xianran.
Even now, Shangguan Haitang still remembers the conflicted feelings she had when she learned that Li Xianran was pregnant.
There was envy, and there was also jealousy.
Counting the days, there's at most a month left before Li Xianran's baby is born.
I don't know if it will be a boy or a girl.
Now, Zhu Houzhao wants her to be Li Xianran's personal bodyguard.
Without much hesitation, Shangguan Haitang nodded: "Your Majesty, this humble servant is willing!"
"Very good." Zhu Houzhao smiled and nodded.
"Consort Shu is staying at Changchun Palace. You may go there now."
"Yes, Your Majesty. This humble servant takes his leave."
Shangguan Haitang bowed and took her leave, then withdrew from Cining Palace.
As I walked out of the Cining Palace, I was greeted by a woman in white sitting in a wheelchair.
The woman was exceptionally beautiful, with an ethereal, otherworldly quality, as if she were untouched by worldly concerns.
Shangguan Haitang unconsciously stopped in her tracks, and the woman's wheelchair also stopped in front of her.
The woman also looked at Shangguan Haitang with curiosity, then asked softly, "Shangguan Haitang?"
Looking at the woman in white before her, Shangguan Haitang quickly identified her: "Wuqing?"
The two very beautiful women nodded to each other.
This was their first meeting, but it would certainly not be their last.
Shangguan Haitang walked out of Cining Palace with her head held high and chest out, heading towards Changchun Palace.
Wuqing, on the other hand, pushed his wheelchair himself and slowly walked into the Cining Palace.
"Your Majesty, Wuqing, one of the Four Great Constables of the Six Doors, requests an audience."
Liu Jin entered the hall and informed Zhu Houzhao.
Zhu Houzhao had anticipated the cold-hearted request for an audience.
Prior to this, Zhuge Zhengwo had informed him of this matter, which Zhu Houzhao had also permitted.
"Let her in."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
A moment later, Wuqing pushed the wheelchair to Zhu Houzhao. Because of his disability, he could not kneel down, so he could only bow with his hands clasped.
"Your humble servant, Sheng Yayu, pays his respects to Your Majesty."
Sheng Yayu is Wuqing's real name.
Among the Four Great Constables, Wuqing, Tieshou, Lengxue, and Zhuiming are just code names, just like the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise in the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Zhu Houzhao looked up at Wuqing, somewhat surprised: "Wuqing? How come you're a woman?"
When Zhu Houzhao watched The Four Great Constables before, he never heard that Wuqing was a woman.
Which version of The Four Great Constables is this?
Wuqing was somewhat embarrassed. Although the name of the Four Great Constables was renowned throughout the world, she rarely appeared in public because of her leg injury.
Iron Hand, Cold Blood, and Life Chaser were often away on business, so over time, everyone assumed that the Four Great Constables were all men.
Uneasy, she rubbed her thighs, lowered her head, and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty has always been a woman."