The First Prince of the Ming Dynasty

Chen Qian seemed to suddenly feel that his realm had been sublimated.

It seems I now understand why, after struggling for half my life, I still haven't found a way to get promoted. It turns out I was using the wrong methods before!

Fighting bravely is not as good as following the right person and receiving some guidance. In an instant, you can open up a path to merit and good fortune. As for letting the Doyan Guard cavalry escape, or the failure in battle, etc., compared to the merit of helping the emperor capture and kill the Doyan Guard leader, what is that?

"General Chen, keep them trapped! Make sure they can't escape, but they also can't die! I'm leaving this to you!"

As Zhu Yi gave instructions, he also had more important things to do.

The stage for Zhu Houzhao to show off has been set up, and even the steps have been planned step by step. If the protagonist Zhu Houzhao suddenly backs down and gives up, wouldn't it be all over?

Wang Shouren in history has set an example for him: performing too well on the battlefield is not good either. You have to know how to "assess the situation". If you finish the battle before the emperor arrives, will the emperor remember your good deeds?

He couldn't completely rely on Chen Qian, who was as dense as a blockhead.

Chen Qian was no match for the Beijing garrison soldiers.

If it weren't Zhu Houzhao who arrived first, but rather the likes of Qian Ning and Zhang Zhong, he would have to personally stop them, while also "explaining the greater good to them."

Just as Zhu Yi led his men south amidst the chaos and turmoil, before they reached the location of the dragon flag, Zhu Houzhao rode ahead of him on horseback.

Perhaps the imperial horse, having been pampered and never witnessed slaughter and bloodshed, was even less apprehensive than the person it was carrying on its northward journey.

Qian Ning and Zhang Zhong were nowhere to be seen, and even those self-proclaimed loyal and brave Imperial Guards had fallen behind.

Seeing that the horse was showing signs of getting out of control, Zhu Yi reacted quickly and, even somewhat recklessly, charged forward.

In the chaos, he grabbed Zhu Houzhao's horse reins.

"Your Majesty, be careful!"

Zhu Yi was essentially trying to cover up the lies that Tang Yin had made.

Tang Yin did not act on his own initiative and say that he would accompany the emperor in a major battle in the future.

Isn't the imperial horse considered a royal carriage?

Zhu Houzhao was still in shock, and when he saw that it was Zhu Yi who came up, he didn't react much.

He looked up and saw in the firelight that the battle ahead seemed to have ended, with only a small group of enemy soldiers still surrounded in a small area and putting up a stubborn resistance. The Ming soldiers probably had all their muskets broken or had run out of fireballs, so they were basically using crossbows to shoot, and some were even throwing stones at the enemy.

Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but feel regret.

If we want to continue to expand our gains, the only way is to pursue them out of the valley.

However, once outside, there would be no opportunity to launch such an easy ambush, and the danger would greatly increase.

Moreover, military strategy dictates that one should not pursue a desperate enemy.

Zhu Houzhao did not lose his true nature because of his recklessness.

Just then, Zhu Yi shouted loudly, "Your Majesty, the bandit leader and his children and grandchildren have been trapped in a corner. Please make a judgment!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Houzhao nearly jumped off his horse.

Is there such a good thing?

We've just survived a chaotic, thrilling, and almost pointless chase...

And then I was caught up in the grand drama?

"My son, is this your son or grandson?" Zhu Houzhao asked excitedly, looking at Zhu Yi with great affection.

Zhu Yi replied firmly, "It is indeed him, along with his entourage! I have them trapped, but have been unable to deliver a fatal blow. I implore Your Majesty to order their capture!"

"Step aside, let me have it!"

Zhu Houzhao was completely carried away at this point.

They're just a small group of Tartars.

Judging from their posture, they've been beaten into a ball. It doesn't matter how many people are inside. Do you think I'm afraid of a bunch of Tartars who are just waiting to be beaten and don't fight back?

"Your Majesty, I will protect you!"

Zhu Yi said he was protecting the emperor, and almost loosened the reins to let the emperor charge ahead, so that he could experience the superb archery skills of the Doyan cavalry when they were cornered.

However, Zhu Houzhao was not entirely a reckless man.

When the nominal father and son reached the encirclement, Chen Qian suddenly turned around and saw that the young prince was leading a horse with the emperor himself on its back. He was so excited that he almost fainted.

My bravery... was actually witnessed by His Majesty himself?

Isn't that bright future beckoning me?

"General Chen, what are you waiting for? His Majesty has decreed that you charge forward, rout the outer bandit forces, and hand over the remaining bandit leader to His Majesty for judgment!"

Zhu Yi also did not give the best opportunity to Min Niansi and other "his own people".

They call themselves "one of us," but most of them come from the Prince Ning's mansion; only someone like Chen Qian is truly "unclaimed."

He also instructed the emperor to quickly clear out the scrambled soldiers outside and leave the fat sheep for the emperor to deal with himself.

Of course, there must be a method. For example, you can defeat your children and grandchildren until they are powerless to fight back, and then have the emperor personally go up and kill or capture them. That would be more effective than fighting any number of battles.

Chen Qian had now fully grasped Zhu Yi's intentions.

He immediately disregarded his own safety and led his men to directly attack the small defensive formation that the Duoyan Guards had finally formed.

"Bang bang bang..."

Just then, the sound of muskets, which had been silent for a long time, rang out once again.

Min Niansi and the others were armed with flintlock muskets.

The reason we didn't let them fire all the fireballs at once was so that we could deliver the fatal blow at the crucial moment.

As some of the shield bearers of the Duoyan Guard were knocked down by the fireballs, their seemingly complete defensive formation began to break. Chen Qian's men were all seasoned veterans of the border army, and they seized the opportunity to throw in various spears and other items, widening the breach. Then, several heavily armored men carrying shields rushed over to clear a path, and the rest of the men stabbed in with various spears and shoved things around.

The Duoyan Guard cavalry were scattered by the momentum, making it difficult for them to form an effective defense.

At this moment, Zhu Houzhao personally led the Beijing cavalry to the scene, seemingly eager to claim some credit as well.

Zhu Houzhao watched anxiously from behind.

He couldn't tell which one was his son or grandson.

However, when a person wearing armor and being covered by others appeared in his field of vision, he knew that his chance had come!

Just as Zhu Houzhao was about to spur his horse forward...

Zhu Yigao shouted, "Your Majesty, let me protect you!"

"My son, you can leave him to me. Do not act rashly!"

Zhu Houzhao responded loudly, telling Zhu Yi not to be reckless. He himself was more excited than anyone else and immediately led his entourage to rush forward.

At this moment, Zhu Houzhao was majestic and imposing. The Doyan Guard cavalry obviously did not expect that the Ming emperor was among those who charged forward. Under such circumstances, the Doyan Guard cavalry turned into infantry. Wearing heavy armor, their movements were very inconvenient in this environment, and they were quickly cut down one by one by the Ming soldiers.

Zhu Houzhao's imperial horse seemed to be a bully who preyed on the weak and feared the strong. At this moment, it also showed an extremely brave side, leaping over an obstacle and rushing towards where his sons and grandsons were.

Seeing that the emperor was about to take a dangerous step, Chen Qian disregarded his own life and desperately held down the two people blocking his way.

There's no other way... It's unrealistic to instantly incapacitate the opponent with any weapon; the only way to clear the way for the emperor seems to be to use one's body to pounce on him.

The soldiers next to them followed suit, and those who could actually do it did not make any random gestures. Subduing one of them at this time would be considered a contribution of more than ten in the past!

Then Zhu Houzhao discovered that his path forward had been cleared by a group of Ming soldiers, leaving him with no obstacles between himself and his children and grandchildren.

"Take this!"

Zhu Houzhao's original intention was to use his sword to cut down the other party, but in fact, by the time he rushed close, he had already thrown his son and grandson to the ground as well.

Moreover, Zhu Houzhao's combat skills were clearly not very high, and the horse's head brushed against the body of his son and grandson.

Subsequently, Zhu Yi, along with his personal attendants from the Prince of Ning's residence and some troops from the Beijing Garrison, caught up and cleared the way for Zhu Houzhao before his sons, grandsons, and personal guards could launch a further counterattack.

In short, it means not hitting the head, but only the lower body.

The top priority is to render the other party unable to act.

Even his own children and grandchildren had their feet shot by Zhu Yi with a musket.

Zhu Houzhao did not dare to dismount without permission, but seeing that his son and grandson were no longer able to resist, he displayed his heroic nature and jumped off his horse, holding his long sword to the neck of his son and grandson. Chen Qian and others rushed over and four or five people held down the son and grandson at the same time.

"You scoundrel, look at your grandpa! You're my prisoner! If you move again, I'll give you a taste of meat!"