Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 371 If Tumu Fort had such a strong army back then

Beyond the Great Wall, in Xuanfu.

The weather these past few days has been like a child's face, changing in an instant, and also like the unpredictable moods of those upright officials in the imperial court.

One moment the sky was clear and the sun was high in the sky, casting a warm yellow glow on the rammed earth and stone walls; the next moment a north wind swept across the land, dark clouds filled the sky, and the gray sky pressed down straight down, as if to grind everything in the world into dust.

The wind carried fine ice shards that stung people's faces like knives.

Duke Zhang Weixian of England tightened his sable fur cloak, which was a special gift from the Emperor, who said that the border was bitterly cold and that this old minister should take good care of himself.

The atmosphere was warm and cozy, but Zhang Weixian's feelings were far from that.

He stood atop the tall city tower of Xuanfu, gazing into the distance. His eyes swept beyond the battlements, landing on the dense, dark military camp stretching for ten miles outside the city.

This is Man Gui's Xuanda border army.

Before coming, Zhang Weixian harbored a certain degree of self-confidence, and even a subtle, almost imperceptible, desire to test him.

As the Duke of Yingguo, Zhang Weixian felt a deep-seated shame from the Tumu Crisis, a mark etched on the first page of the official records of every generation of his Zhang family.

Since inheriting the title, he has never stopped thinking about revitalizing the Beijing Garrison and wiping away the previous humiliation.

Recently, I was fortunate enough to be selected by His Majesty and entrusted with the military administration of the Beijing Garrison, where I undertook a major overhaul.

They eliminated the old and weak, and replenished the ranks with strong and brave men; they invited Western instructors to practice firearms; they strictly enforced rewards and punishments, and trained in battle formations.

Although the Beijing garrison may not be said to have undergone a complete transformation, it has swept away its former decadence and is showing some signs of improvement.

The troops were in excellent physical condition, their armor gleaming, and their drills and training were conducted with strict discipline.

Therefore, his reason for volunteering to accompany the emperor to Xuanda was that he, an old man, was suddenly filled with youthful vigor and wanted to compare his hard-earned and highly trained troops with the legendary and unparalleled border army to see who was the true pillar of the Ming Dynasty.

However, when he actually stood there, and the invisible murderous aura emanating from the military camp mingled with the biting cold wind, his pride vanished like a fading sunset in winter.

……

After waiting for several days, the wind and snow subsided slightly.

The emperor was greatly pleased, and accompanied by generals such as Man Gui and Cao Wenzhao, he and Zhang Weixian inspected this mighty army in the northern border of the Ming Dynasty.

There were no elaborate ceremonial processions, no deafening shouts.

The emperor's carriage slowly entered the camp amidst a somber silence.

Zhang Weixian rode on his horse, closely following the imperial procession. From the moment he stepped into the camp gate, his eyes were glued to the horse.

What met the eye was a somber gray-black. It wasn't the brand-new black armor and robes issued by the Beijing garrison, but a color that had been repeatedly soaked and polished by the winds, sands, blood, and fire of time.

What he saw were large flags fluttering in the cold wind, their edges tattered and worn. The character "明" (Ming) on ​​the flags had been eroded by the wind and sand, turning white, and there were also dark brown, old bloodstains, like scattered plum blossoms, ferocious and eerie.

What he saw were rows of soldiers standing at attention, almost none of their armor intact.

Some breastplates have deep dents, indicating they were struck by heavy weapons; some shoulder guards have long, sharp marks left by arrows; and some even show clear signs of repair by rebinding with strips of raw cowhide at the joints of the armor plates.

Unlike the gleaming armor of the Beijing garrison soldiers, they reflected a chilling, cold light under the gloomy sky.

Zhang Weixian's gaze shifted from the cold armor to the faces of the soldiers.

Their skin is uniformly bronze, a mark sculpted by the scorching sun and winds over the years.

Every wrinkle seemed to conceal the yellow sand of the frontier, and every pair of eyes revealed a wild beast-like vigilance and numb ferocity.

Those were eyes that took life and death for granted and considered killing an instinct!
The imperial carriage moved slowly forward, and the entire camp, a military camp of tens of thousands of people, was completely silent except for the sound of the wind and the fluttering of the flags.

An invisible aura permeated the camp, unlike the solemnity of a bustling temple or the natural majesty of the imperial palace.

That was a kind of... murderous aura.

A murderous aura so intense it was almost tangible, mixed with a faint smell of blood, sweat, leather, and saltpeter, created the unique military scent of a battle-hardened army.

The smell was so strong that Zhang Weixian almost burst into tears. He had spent half his life in the military and considered himself an expert in warfare, but now he realized that everything he had seen and practiced before was just theoretical.

No matter how gleaming the armor of the Imperial Guards was, it couldn't withstand the slashing of any single saber here. No matter how orderly the Imperial Guards' ranks were, they couldn't withstand the charge of any single cavalry unit here.

"Young men from the capital, dressed in fine robes, are like peaches and plums in a greenhouse, beautiful but fragile; while brave men from the frontier, with their armor worn and tattered, are like pines and cypresses on a cliff, simple yet steadfast."

Zhang Weixian silently recited in his heart
The army before us is the real army!

The humiliation of Tumu Fortress... His most sensitive nerve was pierced, and a torrent of grief and regret surged forth.

If... if Emperor Jing had had such a battle-hardened army by his side back then, how could he have suffered such a humiliating defeat? How could his Zhang family ancestors have shed their blood on the desert sands and perished at the border?

Do not!
Zhang Weixian's heart was screaming as he suddenly realized something deeper.

Having a strong army is not enough!
If the late emperor had possessed half the wisdom and martial prowess of the current emperor, understood border affairs, and trusted capable generals, why would he have so readily believed slanderous words and rashly led a personal expedition as the Son of Heaven, treating hundreds of thousands of troops as a child's game on the battlefield?
Even a strong army needs a wise ruler to command it, and a fine sword needs a hero to wield it!
If the ruler is incompetent and the ministers are treacherous, even the sharpest sword will only become a burial offering to bring about one's own downfall!
A surge of hot liquid rushed to his eyes. This Duke of England, who had weathered many storms in the court without ever changing his expression, trembled slightly on horseback, and tears welled up in his eyes.

……

The emperor reined in his horse:

"Soldiers, you may rise."

The sound was as soft as a gentle breeze, brushing past the battle lines, seemingly about to dissipate into the howling of the wilderness. Standing beside the emperor, Man Gui took a deep breath, his weathered chest swelling, and then, with all his might, let out a thunderous roar:

"—His Majesty has decreed!! All soldiers, you may dispense with formalities."

Like a thunderclap from a clear sky, it instantly resounded throughout the entire camp, transforming the emperor's gentle voice into an unparalleled military command!
As the voice faded, the deathly silent army finally stirred.

Without the slightest delay or disorder, it was as if an invisible will was simultaneously controlling tens of thousands of bodies.

A loud "clang!" was heard, a demonstration by the officers in the front row, followed by a series of muffled, thunderous sounds of armor plates colliding, echoing through the sky!
Immediately, the oath, embodying the strength of tens of thousands, erupted from every corner of the army formation, soaring straight into the sky:
"—I will die for His Majesty!!!"

The sound waves surged like a tidal wave, stirring up dust and sand that shot straight into the sky.

Zhang Weixian was shaken by the sound. He looked up at the young emperor sitting on his horse, who was not particularly tall, but seemed to be able to suppress the heavens and the earth. He was filled with mixed feelings.

He finally understood why unruly and battle-hardened generals like Man Gui and Cao Wenzhao were so devoted to this young monarch.

Because this emperor gave them, as soldiers, what they wanted and needed most—dignity, trust, pay, and... the hope of victory!

After the inspection, the wind and snow started again.

The generals and officers followed the emperor back to the warm pavilion of the Xuanfu General's Office.

The underground heating was burning brightly, dispelling the chill that had enveloped me.

However, the scenes he had just witnessed in the camp still lingered in Zhang Weixian's mind, stirring his emotions and leaving him unable to calm down for a long time.

The emperor did not rush to discuss matters, but instead ordered the eunuchs to prepare hot tea and bestow it upon the generals.

He looked at Zhang Weixian and smiled, "Duke of Yingguo, what do you think of my Xuanda army?"

Zhang Weixian rose from his seat and bowed deeply to the ground once more. This time, his voice was filled with sincere admiration and a hint of shame: "Your Majesty, only today do I realize what a strong army truly is! What I did in the capital garrison was nothing more than child's scribbles. Compared to General Man's army, it was like a firefly compared to the bright moon. I am utterly ashamed!"

A rare hint of embarrassment appeared on Man Gui's weathered face as he said in a deep voice, "Your Excellency flatters me. These soldiers are just scoundrels who are able to eat their fill, wear their clothes, and fight because of His Majesty's grace. Compared to the Emperor's personal guards in the capital, they are wild and unruly and not worthy of respect."

“That is not true!” Zhang Weixian said solemnly. “Weapons are instruments of violence. Their purpose is to kill the enemy, not to be admired. When you look at their formation, it is like a mountain range standing tall and unmoving; when you observe their movement, it is like a river rushing and surging, without ceasing. When they are still, they are like a dragon hiding in the abyss, concealing its claws and teeth; when they move, they are like a tiger emerging from the mountain, and blood will surely be shed.”

His voice grew increasingly impassioned: "This is the truly mighty army capable of expanding the territory of our Great Ming and wiping away our past humiliations! With such a powerful army at your command, Your Majesty, what need is there to worry about the Jurchens not being destroyed or the northern border not being at peace!"

Cao Wenzhao stroked his beard and nodded, saying in a deep voice, "What the Duke says is absolutely right. What we soldiers seek is nothing more than to die on the battlefield and to have our wives and children honored. Now that His Majesty trusts us and our provisions are plentiful, everyone is eager to go beyond the Great Wall and take the enemy chieftain's head to exchange for fame and fortune!"

The atmosphere inside the pavilion became incredibly lively.

The emperor listened with a smile, and only after everyone had finished speaking did he gently raise his hand to signal for quiet.

His gaze swept over every general present.

"I know the thoughts of all my ministers." The emperor's voice returned to its usual calm. "With the snowstorm blocking our way for several days, the situation in the southern desert must have changed again."

As he spoke, he gestured to the eunuch standing beside him, who then slowly unfolded a huge map on the central table.

Beside the massive table, a Mongol envoy dressed in Chahar noble attire looked anxious.

"If Huang Taiji is to make a move, his swift and decisive strike will undoubtedly be aimed at our vanguard, whose position is still unstable! We must not give him that opportunity."

The emperor turned to face the assembled generals, who were holding their breath in awe, and said:
"My mind is made up—increase the troops!"

"Preach my will!"

All the officers, including Zhang Weixian and the Mongol envoy, knelt down in unison.

"Cao Wenzhao is hereby appointed as the commander-in-chief of the reinforcements. Immediately select 10,000 elite cavalry from Xuanda and 5,000 firearms battalions, and set off with light equipment! Your mission is to join forces with Hu Dawei's troops as quickly as possible, seize key locations, and transform our vanguard positions into a fortress that Huang Taiji cannot penetrate and must avoid!"

"This humble general... obeys the imperial decree!" Cao Wenzhao's eyes blazed with intense fervor!

"Mangui!"

"The general is here!"

"You and Zhang Weixian will remain in Xuanfu to oversee the overall situation and integrate all subsequent troops and supplies! I will give you the entire winter to prepare!"

The emperor's gaze swept over everyone, his voice filled with an unprecedented sharpness:

"I am here to tell you the truth!"

The generals felt a chill run down their spines, raised their heads, and were filled with shock.

"This troop reinforcement is only partly for defense!"

He walked to the map and drew several red arrows from Xuanda, Shanxi, and Liaodong, pointing directly to Shengjing, the capital of the Later Jin Dynasty!

"Whether Huang Taiji comes this winter or not! When spring arrives, flowers bloom, and the ice and snow melt, it will be me—" He pointed heavily at the location of Shengjing with the ruler, making a crisp sound, like the beating of a war drum!

"—A multi-pronged attack, striking straight at the heart of the enemy, achieving victory in one decisive battle!"

Zhang Weixian, Man Gui, Cao Wenzhao... these veteran generals who had spent their lives in the military felt an irrepressible surge of hot blood rushing from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads!

The young emperor before me indeed harbored lofty ambitions that encompassed the world!
If it weren't for this damned blizzard, if it weren't for the frigid weather that was unfavorable for the army's movement, they would have loved to take up their swords and mount their horses right now, and crush the city of Shengjing!
Outside the window, the wind and snow are still blowing.

But inside the warm pavilion, a raging fire, powerful enough to melt ice and snow, ignited in everyone's heart!

(End of this chapter)