The wind rises at the end of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 447 Chen Wang
The fifteenth year of Chongzhen, October 23, winter.

Snowflakes fell slowly from the sky, covering the sky and the earth with a thick quilt.

The city's winding ridges were swallowed up by the snow, and the gaps between the bricks and stones were gradually filled up, leaving only a vague gray shadow, looming in the vast snow curtain.

The cold wind howled, blowing the broken snow against the parapet, making a faint whimpering sound.

The old soldier Wang San tightened his thin cotton armor. He blew a breath of hot air into his palms, squinted his eyes and looked into the distance. There was only white snow in his field of vision.

The heavy snow for several days has made the sky and the earth covered with a vast expanse of white. The rolling mountains in the distance and the snow nearby are connected into one, and the whole world seems to melt in this dazzling white light.

The dazzling light of the snow made his eyes dizzy, and a few blurry black shadows flashed in his vision from time to time.

This is undoubtedly a precursor to snow blindness.

But Wang San didn't know what snow blindness was. However, his years of guarding the border made him understand that he couldn't stare at the snow for a long time.

"This damn weather..."

Wang San muttered something, then raised his arm and wiped his tearful eyes with the cold sleeves of his sleeves.

Although his eyes were uncomfortable, he did not dare to be negligent. After all, the Mongolian tribes on the grassland had been restless in recent days.

There were rumors in the army that the Jiannu seemed to be mobilizing troops to enter the pass again.

When it comes to matters concerning his life and property, he naturally dares not be careless.

Suddenly, Wang San's gaze stopped on the distant horizon.

At the end of the snowfield, there seemed to be some strange black spots.

Wang San rubbed his red eyes, thinking it was an illusion in the snow, and the black spots gradually became blurred.

“Lao Li!”

Wang San shouted in a hoarse voice.

“Come here quickly!”

Wang San felt waves of severe pain coming from the bottom of his eyes. He closed his eyes and tears flowed uncontrollably.

He endured the pain and opened his eyes again, but there were several dark shadows floating in his field of vision, making it impossible for him to see the situation in the distance clearly.

"what happened?"

Inside the beacon tower, another person, Lee Ji-eun, who was sitting by the fire and roasting charcoal, was originally sleeping with a spear in her arms, but she woke up the next moment after hearing the sound.

When Li Zhien heard the urgency in Wang San's mouth, she stood up and walked to the arrow window.

The next moment, Li Zhien froze on the spot.

On the snowy field in the distance, a thick black line was slowly wriggling, like a giant python awakening, winding towards the Great Wall.

"What's wrong, did you see it clearly?!"

Wang San rubbed his eyes vigorously and asked anxiously.

But Lee Ji-eun, who was clearly standing next to him, did not answer him.

Wang San was a little anxious, and he reached out to touch Li Zhien's shoulder.

And when he touched Li Zhien's shoulder, the trembling from his palm made Wang San's heart completely cold.

Wang San opened his tearful eyes and looked into the distance again.

This time, he saw clearly...

At the end of the snowfield, the black line was moving slowly and steadily.

More dark shadows are emerging from the horizon like a surging wave.

This is not an illusion, but an approaching army.

The black shadows caused by snow blindness mixed with the real enemy troops, making the scene before our eyes both blurry and real.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!!!"

The rapid sound of drums rang out in the beacon tower.

"Enemy attack!!!"

The sound came from the beacon tower.

Wang San was not the only soldier in charge of lookout.

"Light the beacon!"

The captain of the beacon tower appeared out of nowhere and as soon as he rushed into the beacon tower, he shouted orders loudly.

Wang San and Li Zhien stumbled up the stairs, alarming other people in the stage.

Above the beacon tower, the soldiers on duty were already moving the stacked fuel.

A soldier was half-kneeling on the ground, trembling as he struck the flint.

I don’t know if it was because of the cold or the fear, but his whole body was shaking and he failed to start a fire several times.

"Break it with fire!"

The captain had also rushed up at this time, and looking at the beacon fire that had not been lit for a long time, he couldn't help but roar.

Wang Sanqiang suppressed the fear in his heart, and with trembling hands, he took out a fire starter from his arms.

As soon as the blown-lit fire stick came close to the pile of firewood soaked in kerosene, the flames jumped up with a "hiss" and thick black smoke immediately rolled up.

"boom!"

The roar of the bowl-mouth gun sounded particularly dull in the wind and snow, and the fire from the muzzle flashed away.

The heavy black smoke drifted southeast with the wind, leaving a winding gray trail on the lead-gray sky.

In the distance, the adjacent beacon towers also responded quickly.

One after another, smoke clouds rose into the sky, forming a winding black dragon in the wind and snow.

The sound of cannons exploded one after another, and the rumbling sound of war drums echoed inside and outside the Great Wall.

As smoke signals rose one after another, the black lines on the snowfield had evolved into a black tide.

The pitch-black ink spreads across the white rice paper.

Countless flags were fluttering in the north wind, and a black tide of cavalry was coming on the snow, covering the mountains and fields.

Smoke billowed up into the air. On this vast snowy plain, this lonely beacon tower was the first beacon to be lit along the entire defense line.

And similarly...

This will also be the first place to greet death.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!!!"

The dull sound of war drums echoed in the snow.

"Ugh——"

The low sound of the horn wailed in the strong wind.

For thousands of years, whenever foreign tribes invaded the Central Plains from the south, the descendants of Yan and Huang would beat the high-spirited war drums and blow the horns symbolizing death.

Wherever the drums sounded, there were always brave Han warriors who would not fear life or death, and would counterattack to the north and die facing north.

Wherever the trumpet sounded, there were always Han men standing in formation to welcome it, using their flesh and blood to build a Great Wall, saving the Chinese nation from danger...

……

Northern Zhili, the capital.

It was past midnight and everything was quiet.

The entire city of Beijing fell into a dead silence and darkness. Only the lights in the Forbidden City remained bright, appearing particularly dazzling in the inky night.

The nine-gate tightly closed city wall was like a dying wound, isolating the emperor's palace from the outside world.

In the eastern warm room of the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Chongzhen was wearing a faded blue silk robe and staring at the window frame not far away.

The howling north wind outside the window was mixed with fine snow particles, hitting the window lattice, making a fine rustling sound.

Cold sweat soaked Chongzhen's shirt, and he had just woken up from his sleep.

The scene from his nightmare still lingered in front of his eyes.

He dreamed that the enemy troops broke into the capital and the Forbidden City.

He dreamed that he was standing on the tower of the Meridian Gate and saw a large number of bandits coming like a tide.

Those hideous faces were distorted in the light of the torches, and the swords and guns in their hands were shining coldly.

He dreamed that the palace walls collapsed, the palace caught fire, and the eunuchs and palace maids fled in all directions.

I dreamed of the collapse of the country and the destruction of mountains and rivers.

I dreamed that the person who sat high on the steps of Fengtian Palace was a Jiannu with a golden rat tail...

Your Highness, all the people bowed their heads, shaved their heads and changed their clothes...

No clothes left...

Chongzhen gripped the armrest of the chair tightly, his knuckles turned white from excessive force, and veins bulged on the back of his hands.

His body was shaking uncontrollably, and it felt like a thousand-pound rock was pressing on his chest, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

All of this is not just a nightmare.

I'm afraid all of this will become a reality in the near future.

"His Majesty!"

Wang Dehua stumbled in, his steps staggering, and he fell heavily to the ground just as he stepped over the threshold, his knees hitting the floor with a dull sound.

But Wang Dehua didn't care about the pain and immediately climbed up using his hands and feet. Chongzhen didn't care about Wang Dehua's impoliteness. He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the despair in his heart, and looked at Wang Dehua as calmly as possible.

Wang Dehua ran over, fell to his knees with a thud, and raised a letter with trembling hands.

"The Jian-Jian Nu have already broken into Jizhou City."

Wang Dehua's voice was choked and hoarse, as if it had been sanded.

"Jizhou General... Bai Tengjiao... died in battle... 2,700 soldiers under his command... not a single one survived..."

Outside the warm room, the howling of the wind became more and more violent.

The biting cold wind blew in rain and snow suddenly from the open palace door, causing the candlelight in the warm room to shake violently and casting a flickering shadow on Chongzhen's pale face.

Chongzhen said nothing, but slowly raised his eyes. His gaze passed through the palace door and looked at the boundless darkness outside. There was not a single light reflected in his pupils.

The news of the fall of the important city of Jizhou did not stir up any ripples in his eyes.
He has received too much unbearable news these days.

Each letter felt like a dull knife cutting flesh, but now I feel numb to it.

The ending has already been determined, and everything has become a foregone conclusion.

Wang Dehua looked at Chongzhen's expressionless face and became more and more frightened. His lips trembled and a faint cry came out of his throat.

"His Majesty……"

Chongzhen's eyes finally moved and he looked at Wang Dehua who was kneeling on the ground.

The soldiers outside the hall closed the door of the warm room in time, but the strong wind that blew into the warm room still blew out many candles.

"I……"

Chongzhen did not move, but just spoke one sentence.

"understood."

The lights in the warm room were half off, and many places were therefore shrouded in darkness.

The lights were not relit, and there were no other palace servants in the warm room.

The palace maids who were originally standing by had already been sent away by Chongzhen.

"Go back."

Chongzhen waved his hand, his mood was calm.

At this time, he didn't need anyone by his side.

"His Majesty……"

Wang Dehua's throat was surging, and for some reason he felt more and more fear in his heart.

"Go back."

Chongzhen lowered his eyes, raised his tone, and cast his gaze on Wang Dehua.

The gaze was as cold as ice, without anger or sadness, only dead silence.

Wang Dehua's heart was chilled, and he almost subconsciously lowered his body. He didn't dare to say anything, but bowed all the way and slowly left the warm room.

The heavy palace door slowly closed with a harsh creaking sound, keeping the raging wind and snow out.

However, the last gust of cold wind still swept past like a knife.

The only remaining candle flame in the hall trembled violently, and several candles went out one after another. Wisps of green smoke rose up in the stagnant air and dissipated without a trace.

Watching Wang Dehua leaving the warm room, Chongzhen felt even colder in his heart.

Up to now, there is no one around him whom he can trust.

Sun Chengzong died, and Yang Sichang also died in the south.

The two people he trusted most have both left this world.

Or.

Now, he no longer dares to trust anyone.

He believed in the Donglin Party.

But the result is that the country's situation is getting worse and worse. There are so many upright people in the court, but they are all treacherous villains!

He believed in Yuan Chonghuan.

But the result was that Mao Wenlong was killed by Yuan Chonghuan, and the Jian Nu army reached the outskirts of Beijing!

What about pacifying Liaoning in five years? It's all empty talk!
He believed in Xiong Wencan.

But the result was that Xiong Wencan's greed for money ruined the originally good situation of the South Country!
He believed in Zhou Yanru.

But the result was that Zhou Yanru did not dare to take up the post, and he led his troops to hesitate and refused to return to the court!
Too much, too much!
Too many people have betrayed his trust!
Chongzhen gripped the armrest tightly, clenched his teeth, and his whole body began to tremble uncontrollably.

Not out of fear, just out of anger.

Among them, the person who betrayed his trust the most was Chen Wang!!
The Chen Wang, whom he compared to Yue Wumu and Qi Nantang and had high hopes for!

"why?"

"Why!"

Chongzhen roared, unable to suppress the anger in his heart.

The huge roar echoed in the empty warm room and also echoed in Chongzhen's ears.

But no one could answer his question.

Chongzhen closed his eyes, and he recalled the last time he met Chen Wang on the platform in the twelfth year of Chongzhen.

At that time, Chen Wang stood in the crowd, standing upright like a sword, with a dignified appearance, majestic demeanor, and respectful words, which gave him a very good impression.

He personally stepped down from the throne and tidied up Chen Wang's appearance. Chen Wang knelt on the ground, crying with gratitude.

"Your Majesty, I am grateful for your kindness."

"Only on the battlefield, one sword and one gun, one will sacrifice one's life."

"We must clear the universe and clear the seas for China!"

Chongzhen still remembered those solemn words until this moment.

"Why?!"

Chongzhen wailed unwillingly.

"I am not the king who is destroying the country, but my subjects are the subjects of the country. Everything I do is a sign of the country's destruction!"

Is it possible that the country, which has ruled for nearly three hundred years, will be destroyed in his hands?

If this were the case, how would he face going to the underworld to meet the former emperors and Taizu?

If the clothes and honor are ruined, the country will be in danger.

If the world falls into the hands of the barbarians again, if the Chinese gods hear the sound of the Hujia again...

He Zhu Youjian...

He will be the biggest sinner in the world.

Will be the biggest sinner in China.

Two lines of clear tears slowly flowed down from the corners of Chongzhen's eyes.

He did not feel anything unusual about the oath that Chen Wang made at that time.

But looking back now.

In everything Chen Wang said, there was not a single word that mentioned him, nor was there a single word that mentioned the Ming Dynasty.

original……

From that time on, Chen Wang already had his own intentions.

For some reason, Chongzhen's mood gradually calmed down.

"Since the sun and the moon are in my hands, there is no way they can shine on China."

Chongzhen closed his eyes, and everything returned to darkness again.

His mind had never been so calm.

"Chen Wang."

"Chen Wang..."

"What a great name."

Chongzhen smiled.

He recalled the grand occasion when the prisoners were presented at the Meridian Gate.

Thinking of the people in the capital, my eyes filled with tears.

I remembered those cries of pain and sorrow.

What is Chen is the vision of the world.

Natural disasters continued, people were living in misery, civil unrest abounded, and foreign invaders were lurking.

The world needs a wise leader, a wise leader who can lead China to stand up again.

Chongzhen slowly opened his eyes. There was no flickering candlelight in the warm room and it was pitch black all around. However, his eyes appeared unusually bright in the darkness.

"I hope you can keep the aspirations you made on the platform and clear up the world for China."

"I will help you one last time..."

"Help you... ascend the throne of the emperor..."