Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

On the Deshengmen city tower, Zhu Qiyu used a monocular telescope to look at the Oirat camp.

Flames soared into the sky, and figures could be seen moving about in the flames.

Cheng Jing stepped forward, holding a mink cloak: "Your Majesty, the night air is chilly. Why don't you return to the palace to wait?"

Zhu Qiyu didn't take it; instead, he handed the binoculars to Cheng Jing: "Take a look."

Cheng Jing followed the gaze and frowned, "What are the Oirats doing?"

"If we are to fight to the death tomorrow, we should let the soldiers eat well and sleep soundly tonight to conserve their energy."

With such singing, dancing, and revelry continuing until dawn, how much strength will the soldiers have left to attack the city tomorrow?

Cheng Jing was taken aback upon hearing this: "Your Majesty means..."

Before Cheng Jing could finish speaking, a series of hurried footsteps came from the steps of the city gate tower.

Yu Qian and Shi Heng arrived, both fully armed.

Yu Qian bowed and said, "Your Majesty, there is something amiss at the Oirat camp."

Zhu Qiyu nodded: "I have seen it. What does Minister Yu think?"

Yu Qian replied, "Esen deliberately gathered his entire army in front of Deshengmen, making a great show of it with bright lights."

This was a feint, intended to make our army believe that they would definitely attack Deshengmen tomorrow, thus causing us to concentrate our elite troops there.

In reality, their main force may have already secretly shifted, intending to attack elsewhere.

Zhu Qiyu suddenly said, "Esen might launch a night attack."

All three were startled.

Yu Qian frowned: "A night attack? But if we attack a city at night, the Oirat cavalry's advantage will be hard to exploit, and their crossbow accuracy will be greatly reduced."

Zhu Qiyu: "But the firepower of our army's firearms will also be greatly reduced."

Artillery is difficult to aim at at night, and the accuracy of musket firing also decreases.

Moreover, the defenders' visibility is impaired at night, so if the Oirat send elite squads to scale the city walls for a surprise attack, the success rate would be higher than during the day.

Shi Heng said, "If Esen wants to fight a final battle, he will definitely concentrate all his forces to attack one gate."

Zhu Qiyu murmured, "Zhangyi Gate."

Historically, Esen's last day was also spent attacking Changyi Gate.

However, things are different now than in history, and Zhu Qiyu was not 100% certain.

During the two days of fighting, the Zhangyi Gate city wall suffered the most damage, and the defending troops suffered the greatest casualties.

If it's a do-or-die final battle, choosing this location is a reasonable option.

Shi Heng offered a different opinion: "But it could also be a feint."

Esen deliberately made us think he would attack Zhangyi Gate, but in reality he launched a surprise attack elsewhere.

For example, at Xizhimen, General Sun was seriously wounded in yesterday's battle, and the defending troops were also exhausted.

Yu Qian nodded: "General Shi is right."

For a moment, Zhu Qiyu was also undecided.

Of the nine gates, Desheng Gate currently has the strongest military force, with 12,000 men under Shi Heng.

Next was Andingmen, which had 8,000 men under Fan Guang.

Despite a fierce battle, Sun Tang's troops at Xizhimen still had 6,000 soldiers available for battle.

Five thousand men each were stationed at Dongzhimen, Chaoyangmen, Chongwenmen, and Xuanwumen.

Fuchengmen has four thousand.

Of the original 8,000 troops guarding Zhangyi Gate, less than 5,000 were still able to fight after the bloody battle the day before.

If we concentrate our forces to defend Zhangyi Gate, and if they attack other places first, the gate will be wide open, and we will lose the whole game.

If they continue to divide their forces for defense, each gate will be understaffed. If the Oirat concentrate their elite troops to launch a fierce attack on one gate, it is very likely that the gate will be breached.

Dilemma.

Zhu Qiyu raised his head: "Issue my decree: the Grand Secretariat, the Five Military Commands, the Ministry of War, and all the commanders of the various departments shall immediately convene at the Ministry of War for a meeting!"

"I want to see everyone within half an hour!"

"I obey your decree!"

Soon, dozens of civil and military officials gathered at the Ministry of War.

Zhu Qiyu stood in front of a huge map of Beijing's defenses: "You all know the situation."

While Esen was ostensibly rewarding his troops outside Deshengmen, he may actually be employing a feint.

I believe he is highly likely to launch a surprise attack under the cover of night.

Chen Xun stroked his beard and said slowly, "Your Majesty, this old minister believes that even if Esen had the intention to launch a night attack, he would have no way to do so."

With Beijing's nine gates tightly closed and its city walls high and its moats deep, how could he have succeeded?

It's just a bluff.

Yu Qian walked up to the map and said, "Grand Secretary Chen is mistaken."

The city of Beijing was over forty li in circumference, and the nine gates were several li apart.

If the Oirat forces concentrate their elite troops to launch a fierce attack on one gate, while the defenders of the other gates are unable to provide reinforcements, the possibility of a breach cannot be ruled out.

"If it weren't for General Sun's desperate fight, Xizhimen would have almost fallen the day before yesterday."

Wang Zhi asked, "Minister Yu, which gate do you think the Oirats will attack?"

Yu Qian pointed to Zhangyi Gate: "There are many damaged sections of the city wall here. Although it has been repaired, it is still weak."

Shi Hengye said, "But it could also be Xizhimen. General Sun was seriously injured, and the morale of the defending troops was damaged."

Furthermore, the Oirats suffered a loss at Xizhimen yesterday, and given Esen's personality, he is very likely to seek revenge.

Sun Tang, his left arm bandaged, said, "Though I am wounded, the morale of the soldiers at Xizhimen has not fallen! If the Oirats dare to come, we will make sure they never return!"

Someone whispered, "It could also be Andingmen. General Fan is seriously injured and unconscious, and there is no commander at Andingmen for the time being."

The crowd was in an uproar, with no consensus.

Zhu Qiyu raised his hand to stop the argument: "Gentlemen, now is not the time for speculation."

We cannot, and should not, guess the direction of Esen's attack.

If we guess wrong, it will mean the destruction of the country and the ruin of our families.

Chen Xun smiled wryly: "Your Majesty, what should we do? If we divide our troops, each place will be weak; if we concentrate our troops, we may fall into a trap to lure the tiger away from the mountain."

Zhu Qiyu slowly began, "Let me share my thoughts, and I'll give you your opinions."

The guards at the nine gates remained in their positions as originally planned.

However, each gate only left 60% of its troops to defend the city, while 20% of its elite soldiers were drawn to form a rapid reinforcement force.

These elite troops were to be fully equipped with horses, led by Shi Heng, and stationed at the drill ground southeast of the imperial city.

This place is no more than five li away from Deshengmen, Andingmen, Dongzhimen, Chongwenmen, Xuanwumen, and Zhangyimen, and can be reached by cavalry in half a quarter of an hour.

At that time, no matter which direction the enemy attacks from, timely support can be provided.

Furthermore, spies were dispatched in all directions outside the city; if the Oirat army was spotted, fireworks would be used as a signal!

Chen Yi spoke first: "Your Majesty, there are fewer than eight thousand good horses left in Beijing."

Chen Xun also spoke up: "The spies who released the signal are doomed."

Zhu Qiyu nodded painfully: "I know, that's why we need spies to buy time for our Great Ming. Anyone who leaves the city tonight will be a great contributor!"

The others also understood what Zhu Qiyu meant.

The scouts went out of the city to investigate and, upon discovering the situation, released fireworks to signal the news.

This way, the Ming army could know from which direction the Oirat Mongols would attack and adjust their deployment accordingly.

Even if the Oirat were to temporarily change their attack direction, it would be impossible for so many people to turn around so quickly without making a sound.

Zhu Qiyu then said, "Minister Yu, you stay at the Ministry of War to coordinate all parties. I will go to Zhangyi Gate."

Civil officials such as Chen Xun and Wang Zhi hurriedly dissuaded him: "Your Majesty, you must not! Your Majesty's life is of utmost importance, how can you personally go to such a dangerous place!"

Moreover, His Majesty already stated yesterday that he would not go to dangerous places!

Zhu Qiyu: "I only said yesterday that I would not leave the city. Rest assured, I will stay on the city wall tonight."

Yu Qian gave Zhu Qiyu a deep look, but did not try to dissuade him. He simply cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I request to accompany you."

Zhu Qiyu shook his head: "No, Minister Yu must remain in the Ministry of War. You are the linchpin of the entire army; you cannot be moved lightly. Shi Heng!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Your rapid reinforcements are crucial tonight. Remember, don't attack without warning, but arrive swiftly upon seeing the smoke!"

"This subordinate obeys!"

Zhu Qiyu then looked at Sun Tang: "General Sun is injured and should be resting. But Xizhimen cannot be without a commander, so I can only trouble you again."

Sun Tang knelt on one knee: "Your Majesty, rest assured! As long as Xizhimen stands, I will stand; if Xizhimen falls, I will die!"

"Very well!" Zhu Qiyu surveyed the crowd one last time. "Gentlemen, tonight's battle will determine the fate of the Ming Dynasty. I hope you will all unite as one to resist foreign aggression!"

"Let us unite as one and work together to resist foreign aggression!"