The wind rises at the end of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 430 Wu Shen
There was a solemn and desolate atmosphere in Xuzhou City.

This thousand-year-old ancient city, always a battleground for military strategists, is finally no longer peaceful after more than two hundred years of peace.

Today's Xuzhou is no longer the prosperous commercial mecca with ships traveling back and forth and trade going on.

There are few pedestrians in Xuzhou city, and everyone is walking in a hurry. The bustling scene of the past is no longer there.

First, the Wanmin Army captured Xuzhou, and then after several wars, only half of the city's original population remained.

Wu Shen stood on the high tower of the Xuzhou government office, looking down at the lonely Xuzhou with a calm gaze. Beside him, there was only a young book boy standing nearby.

On the distant city wall, there were rows of red flags as bright as blood.

Today, Xuzhou has become a veritable military fortress.

There are more than 20,000 soldiers stationed in Xuzhou City.

Wu Shen looked downward. The government office where he was now had actually become his prison.

More than 3,000 standard-bearers under his command were disarmed and placed in the military camp west of the city when they entered the city.

As the commander-in-chief of the Ming Dynasty, he did not fully command any army he could see.

The officers and soldiers in Xuzhou City treated him with courtesy, but it was just courtesy.

He had no power, not even the power to leave the Xuzhou government office.

Wu Shen is a smart man.

He has a clear view of the situation in the world.

He also knew what Chen Wang was doing and what he wanted to do.

The building is about to collapse, the world is in chaos, and collapse is just a matter of days.

Chen Wang controlled Hanzhong, occupied Heluo, controlled Xuzhou, and established his capital in the South. He had more than 100,000 armored soldiers under his command. Their armor was fierce and powerful, and his reputation was as high as the sun. He had already made it possible to conquer the world.

After Sun Chuanting's death, the military power of the entire southern China was almost stolen by him.

The areas south of the Huai River and north of the Yangtze River were all under the control of Chen Wang.

Zuo Liangyu and Chen Wang had been planning peace for a long time, and this could be seen in the Battle of Xiangyang.

I'm afraid that before long, Zuo Liangyu will join Chen Wang's camp.

The canal was blocked, with the north and south blocked, and the court had no time to look south.

In the vast southern country, the only army loyal to the court was a small force west of Wuchang led by four generals: Meng Ruhu, Luo Rucai, Cao Bianjiao, and Liu Guangzuo.

However, after a series of battles and pursuits, this detachment had only 20,000 soldiers left.

Moreover, Luo Rucai was a rebellious general. The reason he surrendered was only because he had no other choice and because of the blood feud between him and Zhang Xianzhong.

Although Cao Bianjiao was loyal before, he had a close relationship with Chen Wang because of Cao Wenzhao.

If Chen Wang were to raise his flag and challenge for the throne, it would be difficult to guess Cao Bianjiao's thoughts and stance.

Liu Guangzuo is a mediocre general who goes with the flow. Under the general trend, I am afraid he will choose to surrender.

Only Meng Ruhu still maintained a certain loyalty to the court.

I just heard that Meng Ruhu suffered from back carbuncle not long ago and was suffering.

Now the command of this detachment has fallen into the hands of Cao Bianjiao.

It's ridiculous to say it.

Wu Shen couldn't help but smile bitterly. He felt that this world was really ironic.

Hu Dawei, fierce as a tiger, was a Mongolian, but he was extremely loyal to the Ming Dynasty.

However, a number of Chinese generals had rebellious intentions.

Even he, as a cabinet minister of the Ming Dynasty and enjoying the emperor's favor, was more concerned about protecting himself.

Wu Shen’s inner struggle.

In the current situation, he didn't know what he should do, and he couldn't do anything at all.

But he was also a disciple of the emperor and a minister of the Ming Dynasty.

Wu Shen was very clear about his own abilities. In terms of ability, he was no match for Yang Sichang.

In the past, Yang Sichang even found it difficult to control Zuo Liangyu.

How could he control Chen Wang, whose power was greater than Zuo Liangyu?

Why should I exercise moderation? What can I use to exercise moderation?

Relying on the three thousand newly recruited standard-bearers brought from the capital?
Or is he holding the position of commander-in-chief given by the court?
The sound of hurried horse hooves brought Wu Shen back to his thoughts which were far away in the horizon.

Wu Shen turned his head to look in the direction where the sound came from, and saw a team of more than a hundred knights.

That team of knights were all wearing red archery clothes, with bows and arrows on saddles, swords on their waists, and they looked murderous.

Even if you are hundreds of steps away, you can still feel the chilling coldness.

Wu Shen narrowed his eyes and his pupils shrank. This cavalry was more elite than all the soldiers he had seen along the way. Even the armored cavalry under the command of Henan Deputy General Gao Qian who had greeted him outside the city of Xuzhou were a hundred times more imposing.

Even the servants who once served under Cao Wenzhao were not as imposing as these cavalrymen.

Wu Shen felt a little depressed, but he already had a clear idea of ​​the identity of this cavalry.

Soon after, the news brought by the attendant who came up from Gao Ge also confirmed Wu Shen's guess.

"General Chen Wang, the bandit-suppressing general, invites you to see the governor."

Wu Shen took a deep breath and calmed his troubled mind.

What is supposed to come will come.

This meeting was scheduled a few days ago.

Wu Shen moved closer to the railing in front of him, took one last look at the soldiers pouring into the government office, and his eyes gradually dimmed.

When Wu Shen changed his clothes and put on the dragon robe, he walked into the main hall of the government office with his attendants holding the imperial sword.

At this time, in the main hall of the government office, all the original armored soldiers guarding had been replaced.

The Henan soldiers who originally wore cloth armor were replaced by Hanzhong soldiers who all wore Ming helmets.

Wu Shen's calm gaze slowly swept across the hall, finally stopping on the glaring scarlet spot of the chief on the right.

The first seat in the center of the main hall was vacant, but at the chief seat on the right was a majestic young military officer, who exuded a suffocating sense of oppression and sat as still as a mountain.

The military officer was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a bone structure as sharp as a sword drawn from its sheath, and a pair of hawk-like eyes under his thick black eyebrows.

Although he was sitting, one could still tell that he was very tall.

The military officer was wearing a scarlet silk gown with gold-woven flying fish patterns on the sleeves. Under the sunlight, it shone like fire, but because of the solemn and solemn aura all over his body, it did not seem ostentatious at all.

Wu Shen's fingertips trembled slightly in his sleeves. The Feiyu suit that was supposed to show the duty of a subject was gradually distorted in his eyes.

The scales woven with golden thread squirmed strangely in the sunlight, the fish tail turned into a ferocious dragon tail, the fish eyes were wide open with vertical pupils, and even the wave patterns on the hem of the clothes turned into rolling clouds.

Wu Shen's throat tightened, and in a trance, he actually saw a ferocious dragon head sticking out from the military officer's collar, breathing out bloody air towards him.

By the time Wu Shen regained his normal vision, the military officer had already stood up and bowed slowly.

"General Chen Wang pays his respects to the commander."

The military officer sitting in the main hall of the Xuzhou government office was naturally Chen Wang who was returning north from Chuzhou Prefecture.

Although Chen Wang said "Greetings", he did not have the slightest intention of kneeling down. He just stood there like a green pine tree.

If such a scene had happened a few years ago, Chen Wang would have been punished for disrespect.

Even a military officer of the first rank had to kneel down before the military commander.

But now is no longer the time when the imperial court still held great power as in the past few years.

The world is no longer one where civil servants can order people around.

Who else can punish Chen Wang?

Chen Wang sat back in his chair and looked at Wu Shen, who was wearing a crimson official robe.

Wu Shen had a prominent family background. As a cabinet minister, he was ordered by the court to lead the army to the southern country, and he had a close personal relationship with Cao Wenzhao.

If it were a few years ago, he would have followed the advice of Yang Sichang, Sun Chuanting and Wu Shen.

But now, he no longer has to bow his head like he did before.

"General, please." Chen Wang leaned casually against the back of the rosewood chair, pointed his right hand casually at the first seat in the main hall, and spoke.

Wu Shen's expression was very complicated. He stood there, his body trembling slightly under his crimson official robe, his eyes full of struggle.

Finally, after a while, Wu Shen stepped forward.

Wu Shen felt as if every step of his official boots on the blue brick floor weighed a thousand pounds.

When he finally took the seat in the center of the main hall, he looked down and did not seem arrogant at all because of his high position.

"The general knows what the court means, and I also know what the court means."

Chen Wang picked up the teacup placed aside.

"When the former general was alive, he was also saved by the military's kindness."

"In the eighth year of Chongzhen, I was promoted by the general and rose to prominence."

Chen Wang's words were neither hurried nor slow, but each word was as sharp as a knife, cutting the last bit of affection apart.

"However, this favor is only enough to save one soldier..."

Outside the window, a sudden gust of wind blew up, and the iron horse wind chimes on the eaves of the government office began to tinkle.

Wu Shen's expression was gloomy. Although Chen Wang did not finish his words, his meaning was obvious.

Originally, Wu Shen had organized a lot of words in his mind.

As a governor appointed by the court, even if you know that something is impossible, you should still try your best to deal with it.

However, Chen Wang's words simply and decisively blocked all room for maneuver.

The decisive tone and unquestionable determination all indicate one fact.

He will never give up the power in his hands.

Hanzhong Town will not stop its conquest.

Wu Shen let out a long sigh, and the sigh seemed to be squeezed out from the depths of his lungs, echoing in the silent hall for a long time.

After a long silence, Wu Shen finally spoke slowly, his voice hoarse and weak.

"Jinzhou has been lost..."

Wu Shen's tone was heavy, like a huge rock, hitting the ground heavily.

"The Jiannu used red cannons to destroy the walls of Xingshan City, and Deputy General Lü Pinqi led his troops to surrender without a fight."

Every word Wu Shen uttered seemed soaked in bitterness.

"Outside Shanhaiguan, only Ningyuan is left standing alone."

"News has come from the three towns of Jizhou, Xuanfu, and Datong that the Mongolian tribes have been making frequent movements recently. I'm afraid it won't be long before the Wuyin Incident will happen again."

The wind howled outside the window, and the iron horse wind chimes hanging under the eaves swayed constantly.

Wu Shen's voice became deeper and deeper.

"An epidemic was rampant in northern Zhili. Many people died in Tianjin and the capital... and swarms of field mice appeared in the countryside and cities."

Wu Shen lowered his eyes, full of sorrow.

"Li Chuang has crossed the Yellow River and captured Pingyang in Shanxi."

"The Prime Minister Zhou Yanru was ordered to lead troops to suppress the rebellion and support Taiyuan."

Wu Shen closed his eyes and suppressed his fluctuating emotions.

"The country now... has no soldiers available to defend against the invaders..."

He slowly raised his eyelids, and the sadness in his eyes faded away, replaced by a sharp light that was almost resolute.

"The north and south are cut off, and natural disasters continue..."

Wu Shen didn't finish his words, but Chen Wang already understood what he meant.

Sun Chuanting also said the same thing to Wu Shen.

At that time, Sun Chuanting turned to him and asked a question.

"Do you think... our Ming Dynasty... is really doomed?"

The fate of the Ming Dynasty...

It's already over...

Perhaps when Sun Chuanting asked this question, his mind was already as clear as a mirror.

Chen Wang sighed in his heart, but the determination in his eyes did not change at all.

"The Song dynasty fell, and the Yuan dynasty, with its northern barbarians, ruled China for ninety-seven years."

Wu Shen tightly gripped the armrest of the chair. His knuckles turned white from the force he exerted on the armrest, and the veins on the back of his hands were clearly visible.

"Emperor Taizu Gao rose from humble beginnings, drove out the barbarians, put an end to rebellion, and made the people live in their proper places, avenging China's shame and restoring the Chinese people's dignity."

"In the land of China, the sound of Hujia must never be heard again..."

After Wu Shen finished his last sentence, he seemed to have lost all his strength.

His fingers slowly loosened their grip on the armrest, and his skinny knuckles trembled slightly, like the last dead leaf about to fall in the autumn wind.

Chen Wang looked up at Wu Shen who was sitting in the first seat.

The sunlight filtered through the window lattice, casting mottled shadows on Wu Shen's crimson official robe.

This civil official who had served four dynasties now had a back as straight as a pine tree. Although he looked old, he still had his integrity.

The loyalty of an official is revealed in times of crisis, but if he is not a man destined to succeed the world, it will be difficult to reverse the situation.

The situation was difficult, and Wu Shen was not a genius born for the times, so he had no ability to save the crisis.

Chen Wang stood up, straightened his clothes, and looked at Wu Shen who was sitting in the first seat.

This time, Chen Wang was not as casual as before, but bowed solemnly to Wu Shen.

Chen Wang was speechless.

He knew that Wu Shen would do what he should do in the future.

"take it."

Wu Shen's expression was calm and he raised his hand.

The attendant holding the imperial sword at his side looked struggling.

But in the end it did not go against Wu Shen's wishes.

The attendant held the imperial sword in his hand and walked towards Chen Wang step by step.

The personal guards guarding behind Chen Wang stepped forward at the right time.

The attendant's hands were trembling as he slowly handed the Shangfang sword in his hand to the Hanzhong soldier who was stepping forward.

After paying his respects, Chen Wang turned around and walked out of the main hall without hesitation.

The Ming Dynasty was about to fall, and the northern country was about to be plunged into war.

Zhou Yanru couldn't stop Li Zicheng.

The Nine Frontiers were also unable to stop the Jian Nu.

He has already obtained the authority of the Southern Kingdom.

The obstacles blocking his way have also been cleared away.

opportunity.

has arrived.

……

"History of Ming Dynasty·Biographies·Volume 140"

Wu Shen was famous in Shanyou, but when he became prime minister, he could not do anything.

If advancement is not based on righteousness, how can the country be rectified?

However, the current situation is indeed difficult. If you are not born with talent, you will have no idea how to help.