How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 134 The Birth of a Loyal Martyr (Third Update, Please Subscribe)
Thirty miles north of the border wall of Datong Town, in the wilderness, a fortified camp several hundred paces square had been erected sometime during the war. With trenches and palisades all in place, it resembled a crouching beast. Various flags fluttered wildly in the northern winds, and the camp appeared quite orderly, with scouts constantly moving about and the sound of watchtowers carrying far and wide—it looked quite impressive.

But the veteran soldiers knew perfectly well that, at most, the only ones truly capable of fighting to the death in this camp were the five thousand retainers from the three military families and the five thousand clean-cut musketeers under Eunuch Liu. The rest were just soldiers there to make up the numbers and to bolster the ranks, guarding the stockade and transporting provisions.

Inside the central command tent, the charcoal brazier burned brightly, making everyone feel warm and cozy. Wei Zhongxian, wearing an imperial-bestowed python-patterned lining over a stiff chainmail, reclined in a tiger-skin-covered chair, his fingers twirling a string of sandalwood prayer beads. Below him, several generals including Li Huaixin, Ma Chengen, and Wang Tong, as well as Liu Yingkun, the commander of the Qing army, stood with their hands at their sides.

“You all understand His Majesty’s meaning,” Wei Zhongxian said in a low voice, but with the strength to subdue arrogant soldiers and fierce generals. “If we can scare that scoundrel Hudun Tu and make him talk to Yuan Chonghuan honestly, that will be a great achievement.”

This guy is a ruthless man who dared to steal silver from a powerful Shanxi merchant in Xuanfu Town to pay his soldiers! With that in mind, who among the frontline commanders would dare to disobey? Li Huaixin and his men quickly clasped their hands in a fist salute, their armor flapping loudly: "Rest assured, Your Excellency, we will do our utmost to achieve our goal!"

"Hmm." Wei Zhongxian stared at the charcoal fire with drooping eyelids. "The scene should be lively, so make sure the gongs, drums, and cannons are loud. But..." He raised his eyes and swept them over the crowd like cold needles. "Don't really fight to the death and deplete His Majesty's energy. Your families are all very wealthy. If you really fight to the death, you won't be able to hold the fort in the future."

The generals exchanged glances, all of them understanding perfectly well—this was clearly just a show, all talk and no action, no real risking their lives.

Wei Zhongxian suddenly remembered something, and his tone became casual: "My good-for-nothing nephew Liangqing has also come along. Young people haven't experienced battle, and he's full of enthusiasm, eager to make a name for himself. I'm thinking of letting him lead a group on a patrol, to broaden his horizons. You are all seasoned veterans, so please help him out and make sure he's safe. He's one of my few remaining blood relatives." Of course, Wei Zhongxian had more than just Wei Liangqing as blood relatives. Although Old Wei had already cut off all the ties he could, this "prospective martyr" Wei Liangqing could still produce offspring…

Liu Yingkun immediately bowed and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty! Even if I glare until my eyes bleed, I won't let you get hurt! The men of the Jing Army are all very clever!"

Li Huaixin and the others quickly patted their chests and swore, "Lord, your life is of utmost importance! We will protect you with our lives! We will ensure that you establish meritorious service with peace of mind!"

Wei Zhongxian finally smiled and waved his hand, "I understand your good intentions. Go and make preparations. Be quick-witted and make sure this play... oh, I mean, this job is done perfectly."

The generals bowed and withdrew.

A gust of cold wind swept through the tent, and Wei Liangqing, clad in brand-new mountain-patterned armor, paced back and forth, rubbing his hands excitedly. Seeing Li Huaixin emerge, he rushed forward, eagerly asking, "General Li, what are your orders, Uncle? When will my troops be deployed? The brothers are itching to get started!"

He was anxious too... They'd have to cut off dozens of Tartar heads to solidify his "loyalty." Then he wouldn't have to worry about the rest of his life.

Li Huaixin looked at his ruddy face, sighed inwardly, and put on a smile: "Lord, don't worry. The eunuch has already made arrangements. Please lead your own retainers and send two hundred elite cavalry to follow the army. When the army encounters and defeats a small group of Tartars, then have the Lord lead troops to pursue them. You will surely achieve merit."

Wei Liangqing's eyebrows twitched with delight, as if he could already see the Tartar's head and the rewards: "Good! Just as it should be! I will muster the troops now and will not let down my uncle and all the generals!" With that, he ran off in a flurry. Ma Chengen said in a low voice with concern, "General, the situation on the grasslands is treacherous. Isn't it too risky for you, Lord Wei, to go to the front?"

Li Huaixin glanced at him, lowering his voice even further: "Deputy General Ma, haven't you figured it out yet? Is this battle really about risking everything? It's clearly a fight to earn merit for the Earl! Let's scare the Tartars away first, and then let them slaughter a few fools. It'll be a credit, and both the Earl and the Eunuch will be proud. Let's keep our eyes open and protect them closely, so nothing goes wrong."

Ma Chengen nodded in realization.

……

The following morning, three cannon shots rang out, accompanied by the blaring of drums and horns. Wei Zhongxian personally led his ten thousand elite troops, marching out of the camp in a grand procession, slowly advancing towards the Hudun Tuhan camp to the north. Banners blotted out the sun, swords and spears gleamed, and the sheer force was intimidating. Wei Liangqing, on the other hand, led his hundred or so personal guards and two hundred elite cavalrymen assigned to him, trailing far behind the main army, suppressing his excitement and waiting for news of victory from the front so he could rush in and claim the credit.

The army had been marching for about an hour. The hills ahead were undulating, obscuring visibility. Wei Zhongxian sat upright on his horse, expressionless. A young fire-wielder named Xiao Shunzi quietly rode closer and whispered, "Grandfather, we just received an urgent report from the scouts. Tiger Mound Rabbit Khan is personally leading 20,000 elite cavalry, and they've arrayed themselves just twenty miles north of us!"

Wei Zhongxian didn't even lift his eyelids, only giving a faint "hmm," as if he already knew. His fingers, which were holding prayer beads, paused slightly, and he instructed his trusted adopted grandson, Wei Laishun, beside him: "Little Shunzi, go to the rear army immediately and relay my message to the Earl of Suning: A small group of fleeing enemy cavalry has been spotted to the due north. Order him to immediately lead his elite cavalry to bypass the main army and pursue them north at full speed! Strive to annihilate them completely, and report their heads as a victory! There must be no mistakes!"

Wei Laishun understood immediately, responded softly with "Yes," and turned his horse to gallop towards the rear army.

……

Wei Liangqing was growing anxious when he suddenly saw Wei Laishun galloping towards him, and his heart leaped with joy. When he learned that it was his uncle ordering him to lead troops to circle around and pursue the "small group of routed soldiers," he was overjoyed!

Little did he know that this was his uncle's arrangement for him to show his "last act of loyalty."
He felt that his uncle really loved him the most, and had given him the credit that was so easy to get!
"My lads! Your uncle has given orders! The opportunity to make a name for yourselves is at hand! Follow me to fight the enemy!" Wei Liangqing drew his sword from his waist, roared with high spirits, and spurred his horse forward. The magnificent white horse shot off like an arrow.

More than three hundred riders behind them responded with a roar and followed closely behind, like an iron torrent, bypassing the flank of the slowly advancing army and rushing straight to the north like lightning!
……

Twenty miles away, Hudun Tuhan stood on a high slope, overlooking the approaching Ming army with its banners waving. His face was gloomy, and his eyes were still burning with anger. How could he swallow this insult from Wei Zhongxian, who dared to personally lead a large army to press on their border? He was surrounded by Xifu, Fan Wencheng, Fan Yongdou, and various tribal chiefs and generals.

"Your Majesty, Wei's army looks well-organized, but it's just a bluff. Their main force is only about ten thousand; the rest are just there to fill the ranks," a general analyzed.

Just as Hudun Tu Khan was about to speak, a scout galloped up like the wind, dismounted, and exclaimed in alarm, "Great Khan! Something terrible has happened! To the south... to the south, there's a Ming cavalry force, about two or three hundred riders, breaking away from the main force and charging at full speed towards my central army! They're incredibly fast!" "What?!" Hudun Tu Khan was startled and instinctively tightened the reins. "Broken away from the main force? Charging straight towards my central army? How many are there?"

"Reporting to the Great Khan, there are only two or three hundred cavalry!"

"Two or three hundred cavalry?" Tiger Mound Rabbit Khan frowned, his mind filled with doubt. What was Wei Yuan trying to do? Send two or three hundred cavalry to charge the central army of my twenty thousand troops? Had he lost his mind? Or… He suddenly realized a possibility, his expression changing slightly: "Could they be suicide soldiers? Wei Yuan has sent elite suicide soldiers, each one like the white-armored soldiers of Jianzhou, to directly attack my central army?!"

The thought sent a chill down his spine! The Ming army was full of daredevils skilled in close combat! If he were truly charging straight at the commander's banner with a death wish…

Xifu and Fan Wencheng exchanged a glance, and Fan Wencheng immediately said in a sinister tone, "Great Khan, the Ming people are cunning; we must be wary. This might just be a trick by Wei Zhongxian to frighten you..."

Are you trying to scare me, a mere child? Can't you even handle being scared?

Hu Dun Tu Han was both ashamed and annoyed by what he said. He had originally planned to move backward, but now he was too embarrassed to run away.

Looking at the small group of cavalry getting closer and closer, kicking up dust, the fear he had felt at the "Elite Vanguard Death Squad" was instantly replaced by a strong sense of humiliation! The mighty Great Khan of the Mongols, in front of the Later Jin envoys, was almost forced to retreat by two or three hundred Ming cavalry? If this got out, where would Ligdan Batur's face be? How could he continue to rule the tribes?

"That eunuch Wei! He's gone too far!" Hudun Tu Khan roared in fury, pointing his golden sword at the approaching Ming cavalry. "Who will go and wipe out these ignorant Ming dogs! Bring me their commander's head!"

"Great Khan! I'm going!"

A burly, bearded Taiji standing beside Lindan Khan stepped forward in response; it was his cousin, the renowned and valiant Batu Taiji. "Warriors protected by the Eternal Heaven, follow me!" Batu Taiji roared, rallying his five hundred elite cavalry, who swept down the hill like a whirlwind, charging towards Wei Liangqing's troops!
……

Wei Liangqing was currently leading the charge, his mind filled with fantasies of slaying enemy generals and capturing their flags. His brand-new mountain-patterned armor gleamed in the sunlight, and his white horse was exceptionally fine, giving him the air of a renowned general of the time. He was only thinking about charging forward to kill a few lone Tartar soldiers, cutting off their heads, and returning to claim credit.

However, when he rode his horse up a gentle slope and his view suddenly opened up, the scene before him made his blood freeze instantly!
Where was that small group of defeated soldiers?!

A cloud of dust billowed ahead, and the earth trembled! A Mongol cavalry force, far larger than he had imagined, was surging towards him! Their ferocious faces, gleaming scimitars, and deafening shouts revealed them to be an elite force poised for battle! Even more terrifying, he could clearly see the massive Suluding (a type of Mongol cavalry) within their ranks!

"The...the main force of the Tartars?!" Wei Liangqing's face drained of all color instantly, his heart gripped by terror! He had never seen anything like this before. All his fantasies were shattered in that instant! Only fear remained!

"Retreat! Retreat now!" he roared almost instinctively, his voice trembling. He tried to rein in his galloping warhorse and turn to flee. However, the white horse beneath him, charging at full speed, was completely unprepared. When he pulled sharply on the reins, it whimpered and then protested by raising its front hooves high, standing on its hind legs!
Wei Liangqing was an average rider and never expected that his horse could stand up like a person. He lost his balance, screamed, and fell off the horse!
With a muffled thud, Wei Liangqing's mountain-patterned armor crashed heavily onto the grassland, leaving him dazed and disoriented.

……

Batu Taiji, who was leading his troops in a charge, saw the Ming general in bright armor charging ahead from afar. He felt a chill run down his spine and thought to himself, "This Ming general looks quite big and his armor is excellent. Could he be a tough opponent?"

He instinctively tightened his grip on the curved blade, preparing to find an opportunity to retreat.
But the next second, he was dumbfounded to see that the "tough guy" had actually fallen off his horse! He landed on the ground like a sack of potatoes!
Batu Taiji was taken aback at first, then a mixture of elation and contempt welled up inside him! Turns out he's a complete fool!

"Hahaha! May the Eternal Heaven protect us! Warriors! That Ming dog general is a piece of trash! Kill him!" Batu Taiji's courage was greatly increased. He raised his scimitar and roared as he charged towards Wei Liangqing, who had fallen to the ground!
Wei Liangqing was dizzy from the fall. He had just propped himself up when the thunderous sound of hooves and howling horses was already close at hand! He looked up in horror and saw a large group of galloping warhorses carrying Mongols charging towards him.

This is terrible; Xianzhong has become Xianzhonglie (a martyr's sacrifice).
"No, no..." His desperate cry was drowned out by the sound of horses' hooves.

Batu Taiji grinned maliciously as he steed his warhorse, its massive hooves slamming into Wei Liangqing's mountain armor!
"Crack!" The sound of bones breaking rang out!

"Pfft!" Wei Liangqing spat out blood, his eyes bulging out! Immediately afterward, more than ten Mongolian warhorses trampled over him!

That's really terrible!
The mountain-patterned armor twisted and deformed under the horse's hooves. Blood and internal organs gushed from the gaps in the armor, staining the withered grass and soil red. Wei Liangqing's body convulsed and deformed under the iron hooves, eventually turning into a pool of indistinct flesh and blood.

He stared wide-eyed until his death, as if he couldn't understand how his "path to becoming a hero" had ended so abruptly, with him tripping over the threshold.
Where is the problem?

Batu Taiji reined in his horse, looked at the mass of flesh and twisted armor on the ground, spat, used his scimitar to lift the banner that read "Earl of Suning, Wei" beside him, and laughed wildly: "Hahaha! The Ming dog's general is dead! Warriors, kill them all!"

(End of this chapter)