Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 75 Two Imperial Edicts
"Dang! Dang! Dang! Dang!"

Unaffected by Zhang Xian's question, the alarm bell on the city wall rang urgently.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

All the drowsy soldiers were instantly awakened. Some shouted and ran around to tell others, while others quickly picked up their weapons and stood ready for battle. The drawbridge in front of the city gate was also quickly raised.

These low-ranking officers and soldiers all understood one principle:
If it really is the Tartars coming to plunder the pass, once they breach the city gates, no one will be able to escape unscathed.

But at the same time, they often couldn't understand:

Why is it that those in power never seem to understand this simple truth that even they themselves understand?
For the soldiers and civilians of Yanghe Pass, this pass was their safe haven. But for the Ming Dynasty, wasn't Datong also the safe haven for the nation?
Looking at his tattered clothes, holding his rusty weapon, and carrying a sour, hard-to-eat black cornbread, he thought about the tenant farmer work he would have to do after his shift to support his family.

They didn't know who they were fighting for, or why they were risking their lives...

but now.

The Tartars are coming! To hell with them, let's fight them first!

At least this time, the Duke of Yi was also on the city wall. Unlike some of the previous governors and generals, he didn't abandon us and run away. Instead, he found a long spear somewhere and carried it around to inspect and organize the defense, didn't he?

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!!!"

Guo Xun's voice still echoed on the city wall. Although his voice was slightly weak due to his age and trembled a little due to nervousness, he was also somewhat at a loss.

But he never even entertained the thought of running away, despite Zhang Xian's constant attempts to dissuade him.

Guo Xun was not without self-awareness; he knew he lacked the ability to organize a war.

After all, from the day he was born, he was the heir of the Marquis of Wuding's mansion, living a comfortable life in the capital.

Although born into a noble family, neither he nor his father and grandfather had ever been to the battlefield. Their understanding of military strategy was only superficial. Like their father and grandfather, they mostly enjoyed collecting books and writing poetry, and were happy to associate with scholars.

But he understood one thing:
Now, bearing the title of Duke of Yi, he is the highest-ranking nobleman here!
The soldiers here are all watching him closely. If he were to leave the city wall in a panic at this moment, it would definitely affect morale, and Yanghe Pass would be even more difficult to defend!
As long as he stands here, he is a banner that inspires morale; he cannot run away!
Besides, the Imperial Guards were right below the city walls; where could he possibly escape to?
Perhaps dying on the battlefield at this moment is the best ending for him.

With the person dead and the light extinguished, all guilt is absolved. Perhaps if the emperor knew this news, he would still consider the ancestral bond and at least allow the Guo family descendants to continue inheriting the title of Marquis of Wuding.

Anything is better than being arrested by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and brought back to the capital, only to be accused of desertion in the face of battle...

While talking.

Another group of people hurried up the steps to the city wall. The person who came was none other than Zhou Shangwen, the general of Datong.

The person following closely behind Zhou Shangwen was dressed in a light brown hemp flying fish robe.

Guo Xun had met this man before; he was Yan Changping, the Jinyiwei Tongzhi (assistant commander) that Zhang Xian had just mentioned.

"Zhou Shangwen also happens to be right below the city?"

Guo Xun couldn't help but wonder. As the General of Datong, Zhou Shangwen was certainly not an idle person and couldn't possibly be here cosplaying "Waiting-for-Husband Stone" all day like him.

He should have been accompanying Yan Changping on business... but if he was accompanying him, why wasn't the Governor of Datong, Long Dayou, there?
"Where is the platoon leader?"

After Zhou Shangwen arrived, he didn't even have time to greet Guo Xun before immediately finding someone to question.
"The enemy has arrived here. Why didn't the night scouts give us advance warning?!"

The term "night scouts" refers to the scouts in the garrison troops. They were mainly responsible for going out to investigate enemy situations. Because they often did not return to base at night, they were called night scouts.

"Well... General, the night scouts were ordered today to renovate the outhouses for Governor Long..."

Under Zhou Shangwen's stern gaze, the captain hesitated for a moment, then stammered out the truth. "You bastard!"

Zhou Shangwen's beard bristled instantly, and he cursed loudly, but ultimately he had no choice but to turn around and bow to Yan Changping.
"Prefect Yan, what do you think of the current situation..."

"The war is of utmost importance. General Zhou, please do as you see fit. We can discuss the imperial edict after we have defeated the enemy."

Yan Changping seemed to be a reasonable person, so he nodded and stepped aside.

However, no one saw that, faced with the overwhelming enemy forces on the desolate plains, the man known as "King Yama" in the capital was trembling uncontrollably with his hands hidden in his flying fish robe.

A cruel and bloodthirsty person may not be unafraid of war; in fact, when faced with war, he may be more timid than anyone else.

"Imperial edict? What imperial edict? Zhou Shangwen also has an imperial edict?"

Guo Xun couldn't help but feel puzzled upon hearing this.

Little did he know that Yan Changping had brought two imperial edicts with him on this trip.

One of the requests was for Guo Xun to bring Yan Maoqing and others back to the capital to report back.

The other task was to "invite" Zhou Shangwen to go to the capital to report on his duties.

Because Zhou Shangwen not only submitted a memorial to the emperor recommending himself, but also wrote a secret letter to Xia Yan, requesting that Xia Yan recommend him as a general of the Futao Army, promising to give him credit after the matter was accomplished.

He had spent most of his life in officialdom and was now nearing seventy. How could he not know the unspoken rule that having someone in the court makes things easier?
In order to get this done, bribing him is out of the question, but giving him credit is acceptable.

It just so happens that Xia Yan is serious about the Futao campaign and needs to win over a truly capable general to ensure that the Futao campaign goes smoothly without any unexpected events.

Zhou Shangwen is indeed the most suitable candidate he can find at present.

Therefore, the two hit it off immediately. In the recent discussion on the restoration of the capital, Xia Yan, just as he had strongly supported Zeng Xian in history, highly praised Zhou Shangwen's past achievements and recommended him as the commander-in-chief.

However, after accepting the promises made by Zhu Houcong, Yan Song is now doing everything he can to prevent a resurgence of the problem.

Unable to find a breakthrough with Xia Yan for the time being, he turned his attention to Zhou Shangwen.

Now, under Yan Song's instigation, a group of censors and officials in the court are taking advantage of the privilege of reporting on matters on the spot granted to them by the court. They are submitting memorials to falsely accuse Zhou Shangwen of concealing defeats, embezzling military funds, bribing Xia Yan, and doing everything they can to drag Zhou Shangwen and Xia Yan down with them.

In order to achieve his own goals, Zhu Houcong would naturally cooperate with Yan Song.

So, while sending people to "invite" Guo Xun and others back, he also issued an imperial edict to "invite" Zhou Shangwen to the capital to report on his duties.

This is the reason why Zhou Shangwen and Yan Changping appeared together at the foot of the city.

If it weren't for this unexpected enemy attack, he would be under "escort" right now.

Moreover, Zhou Shangwen knew in his heart that he was already at odds with the civil officials, and this trip to the capital was probably like going into the tiger's den. In particular, the emperor only summoned him and not Long Dayou, who had been parachuted in. This trip to the capital was likely to be more dangerous than safe.

But now...

"Bring me my knife!"

"Notify Junzuo, Junyou, and Junren to lead the men, women, and children of the Zhou family into battle against the Tartars!!!"

(End of this chapter)