The wind rises at the end of the Ming Dynasty

With Chen Wang's decree finalized.

Throughout the Fengtian Hall, all the officials bowed and responded to the order.

The gilded column bases reflected the morning light, and the smooth, mirror-like gold brick floor reflected the respectful figures of the people standing there.

There was no longer any voice of opposition throughout the world.

Those powerful literary families who constantly clamored that they should not compete with the "people" for profit have long been swept into the dustbin of history.

Those pedantic scholars who spend their days shaking their heads and constantly claiming that ancestral rules cannot be easily changed have no place in the court of the Great Chen Empire.

Today, those standing in the court of the Great Chen Empire are all ambitious and energetic ministers who aspire to restore the glory of the Han and Tang dynasties.

They were either in their prime or weathered by time, but their brows all radiated a spirit of ambition and their chests beat with a burning desire to restore the former glory of the Han and Tang dynasties.

This was a group of energetic ministers, and their presence filled the entire hall with a tense yet upward-looking atmosphere.

"The maritime affairs are settled, and all matters have been resolved."

Chen Wang remained standing before the dragon throne, without sitting down.

He had one hand on his jade belt and the other on the hilt of his goose-feather saber at his waist.

During the Song and Ming dynasties, emperors no longer carried swords when attending court.

But all of this has now been changed by Chen Wang.

Chen Wang still carried the goose-feather saber that had accompanied him in his many battles.

The goose-feather saber is not decorated with any precious gems, yet no one dares to underestimate it.

Its significance is far greater than that of any other precious sword in the world.

Chen Wang went to court with a sword on his back, and there were two things he wanted to announce.

Firstly, he was originally a military officer who rose to the highest rank through his outstanding military achievements. This sword is a testament to his origins and path.

Secondly, it was to demonstrate to the world the importance of reviving the martial spirit and changing the decadent situation of the previous dynasty, where civil officials valued civil officials more than military officials and the dynasty was too weak to recover.

"Everyone."

Chen Wang's voice was loud and clear, and his sharp gaze slowly swept over the group of court officials in the Fengtian Hall.

"In the Battle of Jining, the Jurchens fled north and the Mongols submitted."

"However, the country was in turmoil and the world was not at peace, so we were unable to complete the task."

"Now!"

Chen Wang stood tall and proud, his gaze piercing.

"A letter arrives from a wild goose, signaling that the northern frontier is pacified!"

As soon as Chen Wang finished speaking, the once solemn and quiet Fengtian Hall seemed to crack open, and a sudden, uncontrollable uproar erupted.

Although the court officials tried their best to maintain court decorum, they could not help but feel a slight unease.

Is the northern border the northern border they think it is?

Is it the northern border region occupied by the Mongol tribes?

Everyone was filled with doubts.

However, their doubts did not linger for long, because what Chen Wang said next revealed everything to them.

"In the first year of Weiyao, on the first day of the second month, Xuanwu Earl Chen Gong led 200,000 cavalrymen from the Tumed, Kharachin, and Aohan tribes, along with 300,000 troops from the nine border regions, to launch an eastern expedition against the Khorchin and Chahar tribes."

"At Mount Gule, they inflicted a great defeat on the right wing of the Mongols, killed their Taiji, destroyed their tribe, killed more than 36,000 enemies, and captured more than 53,000. The proclamation was sent out, and all the tribes submitted and surrendered."

"now……"

Chen Wang raised his voice.

"Within and outside the Great Wall, we are now one!"

As Chen Wang's voice fell, the voices of officials from the Court of State Ceremonial also rang out below the imperial steps.

"Xuan!"

"Emissaries from various Mongol tribes pay homage—"

The chanting of officials from the Court of State Ceremonial (Honglu Temple) rose layer by layer from outside the Hall of Imperial Sacrifices (Fengtian Hall), carrying far along the white marble imperial road.

A moment later, heavy footsteps approached from afar.

More than ten envoys dressed in traditional Mongolian attire followed the officials from the Ministry of Rites, bowing their heads as they entered the hall.

They wore sable robes with the right side overlapping the left, gold and silver belts around their waists, and leather boots. They were not wearing hats and knelt on the ground in unison.

Gu Mu raised his hands above his head, holding a white silk scroll embroidered with wolf patterns in gold thread.

He is a Taiji of the Tumed tribe and the ambassador for this audience.

He knelt down, his forehead touching the ground, and spoke loudly in broken but clear Chinese:

"Envoy of the thirty-six Mongol tribes, Tümed Taiji Gumu, pays respects to His Majesty the Great Emperor—"

Behind him, all the Mongol envoys knelt down in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized.

"Long live the Emperor of Dachen!"

Gu Mu's attitude was extremely respectful, and his voice was exceptionally loud.

"From the south to the north of the Gobi Desert, from the Onon River to the Irtysh River, the eagles on the grasslands have all folded their wings, and the herdsmen of the ten thousand tents have all bowed their heads to listen to the bells of the Great Emperor."

Gu Mu's voice trembled slightly.

The lingering effects of the Battle of Jining still affected his mind.

He dared not look up at Chen Wang's figure.

Chen Wang's current imposing presence is even more terrifying than it was in Jining.

"Your Majesty, by the mandate of Heaven, has ushered in a golden age. Your virtue is magnificent and your military achievements are illustrious."

"Having inherited the orthodoxy of the Central Plains and the lineage of the steppe Khanate, from now on, both inside and outside the Great Wall shall be the territory of the Great Chen Dynasty, and all the tribes of the southern and northern steppes shall respect Your Majesty as their sovereign!"

As Gu Mu finished speaking, he kowtowed again.

The deputy envoy beside him bowed and raised his hand, holding a golden knife, and said respectfully.

"This is a golden sword passed down from Genghis Khan. All the tribes have agreed to present this sword to Your Majesty, symbolizing that all military power on the grasslands has been transferred to the Great Chen!"

Under the oppression of the Qing Dynasty, the lives of the various tribes on the grasslands were not actually satisfactory, with only a small number of kings and nobles living in wealth.

However, most herders live a life akin to that of hogs and dogs.

However, not many people care about their voices.

The grasslands have their own timeless rules.

Eagles hunt rabbits, wolves devour sheep; the strong possess everything, the weak depend on others for survival; blood and swords inscribe the inscription of existence.

But the current Da Chen is a true powerhouse.

Chen Gong led 5,000 troops into southern Gobi Desert, and the momentum of the Battle of Jining caused a shift in the winds of war on the grasslands.

All the tribes of Southern Mongolia submitted, and few resisted.

The few who resisted were also wiped out by the armored cavalry led by Chen Gong.

As the war escalated, more troops were conscripted, and by the first day of February, the total number of cavalrymen of the Great Chen Empire who had entered the grasslands reached more than 30,000.

After subduing the various tribes of the left wing of Mongolia, Chen Gong inflicted a major defeat on the Khalkha Mongol coalition in northern Mongolia, subdued the three Khalkha tribes, and made them submit to him.

Then, riding high on his great victory, Chen Gong summoned the various Mongol tribes, assembled an army of 200,000, and launched an eastern expedition against the right wing of the Mongols, mainly composed of the Khorchin tribe.

At the same time, Xuanda sent 20,000 troops, Zhili sent 30,000 troops, and Jiliao sent 20,000 troops, for a total of 300,000 troops.

The outcome of the battle was a foregone conclusion: the Great Chen Allied Forces crushed the enemy with overwhelming force, thus securing the overall situation in both southern and northern Mongolia.

They decisively defeated the Mongolian right wing, securing the victory in one fell swoop.

In the final moments, Chen Gong led his personal guards out to attack, inflicting a major defeat on the right wing of the Mongol central army and killing Badali, the Taiji of the Khorchin tribe.

Chen Gong cut off his head, hung it on his horse and returned to the battle, threw the flag on the ground, and ordered his cavalry to trample it.

The chieftains of all the Mongol tribes trembled in fear, not daring to look up at them, thinking them to be celestial beings.

"The Great Chen Dynasty unified the nine provinces, its might shook the eight wastelands, and its glory resounded throughout the ages."

Gu Mu's voice was a little hoarse.

His emotions were in turmoil. Before the final battle, he still harbored a slight desire to become the overlord of the grasslands.

However, with the conclusion of the final battle, the formidable strength of the Great Chen Empire's army was once again witnessed.

They saw Chen Gong, who seemed like a celestial being, with his invincible figure.

Gumu suppressed all his ambitions.

he knows.

The Great Chen Empire of today.

Just like the Ming Dynasty of the past.

No.

The Great Chen Empire of today.

It is a more terrifying existence than the former Ming Dynasty.

"The thirty-six tribes of the Great Desert have agreed to bestow an honorific title upon His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Chen Dynasty..."

Gu Mu bowed deeply. He knew.

The era in which Genghis Khan's descendants ruled the grasslands has now come to a complete end.

In this day and age.

Belonging to the most powerful empire in this world—the Great Chen!
His name is: Holy Martial Heavenly Khan!

As Gu Mu finished speaking, the guards presented the golden knife they had offered to Chen Wang.

"I."

Chen Wang spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"Take this honorific title and hold this ritual vessel."

Chen Wang slowly reached out and personally took the heavy golden knife.

The patterns on the scabbard pressed against my palm, carrying the roughness and weight unique to steppe weapons.

Gu Mu touched the ground with his forehead and said in a loud voice.

"Thank you, Holy Martial Khan! By the Eternal Heaven, the thirty-six tribes of the grasslands hereby swear to be the northern vassals of the Great Chen Dynasty and to forever serve the Holy Martial Khan as their lord!"

"May we forever be the northern vassals of the Great Chen Dynasty, and forever serve the Holy Martial Heavenly Khan as our lord!"

The other envoys repeated the chant in unison, their voices resounding throughout the palace.

This moment marks the end of centuries of division and warfare, and the beginning of an unprecedented future.

From then on, the Great Wall, which stretched for thousands of miles, was no longer a barrier separating the inside from the outside, but became a majestic backbone of the empire's vast territory.

The warhorses of the grasslands and the ships of the Central Plains will together carry this new empire to a more distant shore.

All of this began with the fierce and bloody battle that determined the fate of the nation at the foot of Jining City, and was completed amidst the flashing swords and shadows that swept across the vast grasslands of northern Mongolia.

Finally, within the supreme Golden Palace of the Forbidden City, it rightfully received its glorious coronation.

With his left hand holding the golden knife offered by the grasslands and his right hand resting on the goose-feather saber that had accompanied him in battle for many years, Chen Wang declared with piercing eyes.

"Chen Gong, the Earl of Xuanwu, was loyal and righteous, and possessed exceptional wisdom and courage."

"Having received the imperial axe, he led a small army northward into the vast deserts."

"Thirty-seven battles, large and small, all won; traversing thousands of miles, his might shook the desert."

"Seven times he seized the banner of the rebel chieftain, nine times he beheaded the ruthless general, and personally killed one hundred and fifty-six stubborn enemies. His battle robe was stained with blood, and his spirit was as vast as the sea."

"Thus, the tribes with felt tents lost their courage at the sound of drums and horns, and the archers and cavalry trembled at the sight of banners."

"The grasslands sing praises of the 'Divine General of Heaven,' and the Wolf Mountain bows in reverence, forever remembering the might of the nation."

"Their achievements are comparable, shining brightly through the ages."

“In the past, the Great Wall separated the north and south, but now the northern desert is filled with the king’s subjects.”

"This is not merely a testament to the bravery of the generals, but a sign of the restoration of order and the grand vision for the nation."

"I have received the Mandate of Heaven to rule over the eight directions. Rewards will surely be given for meritorious service, and titles will be bestowed to honor virtue."

“Chen Gong, the Earl of Xuanwu, is specially promoted to the rank of First-Class Marquis – Marquis of Champion, and is granted a gold certificate, which allows the title to be inherited for five generations.”

"He is bestowed with a jade belt and a python robe, and awarded 100,000 taels of silver. A stele shall be erected in the north to forever commemorate his merits!"

Chen Gong fulfilled his promise, marching north into the desert, sweeping away all the heroes, and unifying the grasslands.

As the spring breeze has once again turned the grasslands green, the good news of the various tribes returning home has spread throughout the country.

"now."

"The land of China has been settled, the world is subdued, and the grasslands are unified. Only the Liaodong territory remains in the hands of the Jurchens."

Chen Wang looked down at the assembled officials in the Fengtian Hall.

Incense smoke curled up in the hall, and the golden pillars with dragon patterns gleamed solemnly in the morning light.

"Now that the land of China is at peace, with rites and music renewed, the world is in awe and ships are arriving in droves."

"From the south to the north of the desert, all are governed by imperial decrees. Yet, under the bright light of heaven and earth, some filth remains unpurified."

Chen Wang's voice was not loud, but every word was clear and pierced the silence.

"The old land of Liaodong is still ravaged by the Jurchens, and the former people of Liaoshen still weep for the whips of the barbarian cavalry."

"This is truly a deep shame for the nation, and a profound pain in my heart!"

Chen Wang's tone gradually became stern.

"Now, the opportune moment has arrived, and all the necessary preparations have been made!"

"The mighty cavalry of the grasslands raise their whips and volunteer for battle, while the elite soldiers of the Central Plains stand ready with their weapons at the ready."

"How can we allow wolves to occupy Han territory for long, and let their poisonous flames continue to scorch the lands of Yao and Shun?"

"I."

Inside the hall, the officials bowed their heads and held their breath, with only Chen Wang's deep voice echoing under the dome.

"In the name of the Great Chen Emperor and with the power of the Holy Martial Heaven Khan, I command the world."

"By order, Hu Zhili, Governor-General of Zhili and Earl of Weiwu, shall be appointed Generalissimo of the Liaodong Campaign, with the authority to command all troops and to carry out the campaign."

"The four garrisons of Jiliao, Xuanda, Guanning, and Zhili will each select their elite troops, forming a combined force of 150,000. They will sharpen their weapons and prepare their horses, setting a date to march beyond the Great Wall."

"Thirty-six tribes from the south and north of the Gobi Desert, together with 50,000 elite cavalry, were dispatched to assist in the campaign and restore the Han territory."

"With a combined force of two hundred thousand, we will deploy a righteous and honorable army to annihilate the enemy in one fell swoop and forever cleanse the northern deserts."

"All my soldiers should remember that Liaodong is our compatriots, and Shenyang and Liaodong are our homeland."

"Wherever the banners point, the aim is to bring peace to the people; wherever the arrows are pointed, the only goal is to punish the ringleaders."

"On the day the enemy is defeated, do not plunder the people's property, do not destroy their houses, and do not harm those who have surrendered."

"Anyone who can capture or kill the enemy chieftain and surrender the city will be rewarded according to the national rites, and we will never be stingy with it!"

"After the imperial edict was issued, they advanced by land and water, encircling the enemy from the east and west."

"The navy crossed the sea from Dengzhou and Laizhou to cut off their external support, while the iron cavalry knocked on the pass from western Liaoning and went straight to their lair."

"The hatred of Sarhu in the past should be avenged today, and the souls of Ningyuan and Jinzhou will surely be comforted at this moment."

"I have ordered the relevant officials to prepare a grand sacrifice to announce to Heaven and Earth, and to prepare legal codes to await the presentation of the captives."

Chen Wang stood upright like a pine tree, his voice gradually deepening, yet becoming increasingly stern.

"Wherever the heavenly troops march, those who dare to betray them will be punished by the divine gods!"

"Anyone who dares to obstruct the royal army's command will be executed according to the law!"

"This proclamation shall be made known both at home and abroad!"

As Chen Wang's final order was given.

Inside the Fengtian Hall, all the officials bowed in unison.

From Nanjing to Beijing, this north-south post road awakens like a giant vein, suddenly surging forward.

Along the more than 2,200 li of official road, each post station was mobilized upon receiving the order, and the courier riders carrying the imperial edict box with an apricot yellow color carried their whips like lightning.

With the military town clearing the way, the post horses changed horses without stopping, and the sound of hooves echoed day and night on the stone-paved official road.

The imperial edict traveled 2,200 li in swift motion, as fast as a shooting star.

They arrived in Beijing on the 6th, Jiliao on the 8th, Liaodong on the 9th, Xuanda on the 11th, and on the 16th they had already rushed into the depths of the grassland with the force of wind and thunder.

The four towns responded to the order.

Cao Bianjiao led 30,000 infantry and cavalry out of Xuanda.

Zhou Yumao led 30,000 elite troops out of Ji and Liao.

Zu Zefu led 15,000 Guan Ning cavalrymen into Jinzhou.

Hu Zhili was stationed in Beijing. He was ordered to gather troops, mobilize the elite forces from various towns in Zhili, and also incorporated the old troops from Hanzhong who had marched north after recovering Sichuan and Shaanxi. More than 80,000 troops marched out of Beijing.

The army passed through Tongzhou and Sanhe, rolling eastward, their armor reflecting light to form a winding silver dragon, pointing straight at the majestic walls of Shanhaiguan.

All the tribes of the grasslands obeyed the imperial edict and followed Chen Gong from the Jiliao Great Wall into the pass, heading towards Shanhaiguan.

The first year of Weiyao.

April 14th.

The edict was issued no more than forty-five days later.

The four garrisons had 150,000 elite soldiers, and together with the Mongol cavalry of the grasslands numbering 50,000, the total number of infantry and cavalry was 200,000.

Everyone gathered in Ningyuan!

The Great Chen Empire.

This massive war machine is already running at full speed.

Every gear meshed tightly, and every crossbow string was taut to its fullest extent.

The thunderous sound of war drums has already resounded in Liaodong.

The order for the Northern Expedition has spread throughout the entire northern country.

The final judgment.

Imminent execution! (End of Chapter)