Wandering the Heavens

On July 17, the 14th year of the Zhengtong reign, Zhu Qizhen, despite opposition from the civil and military officials of the court, personally led a total of 200,000 troops from the three major camps and surrounding garrisons from Beijing to Datong to prepare for the battle against Yesen's Wala army. Looking at the grand ceremony, Yu Xian felt a little uncomfortable. The civil and military elites of the court were about to be buried in Tumu Fortress, but if they didn't die, how could the new Ming Dynasty stand up.

Every progress of society means sacrificing a part of the population. If the common people cannot be sacrificed, then the officials who follow the emperor in person will have to suffer. Zhu Qizhen and Wang Zhen will have to bear the blame, Yu Xian thought sadly.

No matter what he thought, he immediately left the Bo Mansion and went to Yujiazhuang outside the city. Years of preparation were finally beginning to bear fruit.

"Uncle, why are you back?"

Little Nose is still taking care of the children. This old eunuch who has practiced the Book of the Sunflower is in very good spirits. Because of the company of a bunch of children, he is happy all day long even though he has no children.

"It's time for Emperor Taizong's will to see the light of day again!" Yu Xian only said this.

Little Nose never expected that things would be so serious. He thought it was just a matter of a personal expedition. Taizong and Xuanzong had all led their troops in person, so it was nothing for this emperor to lead his troops in person now. Who knew that Yu Xian would even reveal his trump card?

The two did not speak again, but went deep into Yujiazhuang, passed through many traps and came to a basement, where a portrait of Zhu Di was hung, and there was a candle and incense burner in front of it. After the two bowed to the portrait, they rolled it up, revealing the secret compartment behind it, and then inserted the two keys they had kept into the lock and rotated them together. The iron plate disguised as stone slid back, and an exquisite box was slowly lifted to the window of the secret compartment.

Little Sniff solemnly took out the box and placed it on the desk in the room so that it could be taken out in time.

After the box containing Zhu Di's last will was taken out, the two left the secret room and passed through many traps before arriving at a hall. Several huge maps were hung on the wall next to them, and in the middle was a huge sand table. A dozen generals in armor were already waiting.

"Meet the commander, meet the eunuch."

"From now on, Beidouwei will enter level one combat readiness until the end of the war. During this period, Tianshu and Tianxuan will sneak into Beijing as soon as possible and await the next order. The other five divisions will assemble in their respective designated areas and await the order of this commander." Yu Xian stated the deployment directly as soon as they met without wasting any words.

Then they began to deduce the battle situation based on the various intelligence sent back by the Yaoguang Tribe. Everyone was very optimistic. Two hundred thousand versus fifty thousand, the advantage was on my side!

However, they seriously overestimated the capabilities of Zhu Qizhen and Wang Zhen, and were dreaming of leading an army of 200,000 to fight in just a few days. Yet, such a thing actually happened in the Ming Dynasty.

Having said that, based on the results of the deduction, they did not understand why Yu Xian exposed the hidden Beidou Guards to everyone, but a higher-ranking official can crush a lower-ranking official, so no matter how much they did not understand, they had to carry out the execution.

As the orders were issued, the Yujia Village in the northern Zhili area of Xuanwubo Mansion began to prepare for war. The elderly, children, women and children gradually reduced their activities outside and purchased various scarce supplies. The young and strong men who had been incorporated into the Beidou Guard were ready to assemble and rush to the battlefield at any time.

On August 15, the 14th year of Zhengtong, at Tumubao. Under Wang Zhen's chaotic orders, 50,000 soldiers of the 200,000-man army were killed at Yaoerling, and Duke Zhu Yong of Chengguo and a number of senior generals died in the battle. Now, 150,000 soldiers were cornered by the Wala cavalry at Tumubao.

"Alas, it's all because of that damn eunuch Wang Zhen. If it weren't for his reckless command, how could the army fall into such a desperate situation?"

"Go to war in person? What the hell! It's obvious that Wang Zhen wanted to establish himself, but because of his seniority he couldn't control the army, so he instigated the emperor to go to war in person. In fact, he was the one giving the orders the whole time."

……

Compared with the civil officials, the military officers never hide their emotions. Being blocked by the Wala cavalry in Tumubao, with no supplies, the middle and low-level officers and soldiers were full of frustration and anger.

However, at this time, Wang Zhen's tent was full of exquisitely crafted boxes of all sizes, all with their lids opened, and all filled with gold and jewelry. And this dead eunuch was chatting and laughing with a group of Mongols, probably meaning that Wala should retreat, let the Ming army leave, and negotiate terms after the army was settled.

Wang Zhen reluctantly agreed to the Mongols' proposal for the sake of the gold and jewels scattered on the ground.

Soon after the messenger left, the Wala cavalry that surrounded Tumu Fortress withdrew. Wang Zhen hurriedly ordered the entire army to immediately leave the built fortifications and enter Huailai County.

During this period, no matter how much the important officials advised or opposed, it was useless.

When the army was only three miles away from Tumubao, the Oirat cavalry that had disappeared suddenly reappeared. They rushed towards the unprepared Ming army with sabers brandished, and the last elite troops of the Ming Dynasty were thus destroyed in a muddle.

Twenty thousand cavalrymen had already died with Zhu Yong at Yaoer Ridge, and the rest were too exhausted from the Wala army's surprise attack and days of marching to organize an effective resistance, not to mention the Shenji Battalion and the Five Army Battalion, which needed to form a battle formation to exert their combat effectiveness. This was not a war, but a massacre.

The collapsed Ming army was unable to organize an effective resistance, and the Wala cavalry quickly divided and annihilated the 150,000 men. The Ming army camp was in chaos, and a number of important civil and military officials who followed the army died in the chaos. However, Wang Zhen, led by a Jinyiwei, miraculously escaped from the battlefield. General Fan Zhong, who originally wanted to kill him, searched everywhere for him but to no avail, so he joined the battlefield and died in battle.

The defender of Huailai City was helpless in the face of this tragedy and could only send someone to Beijing City to report the news as quickly as possible.

With the help of the Embroidered Uniform Guards, Wang Zhen, who had escaped, crossed the mountain paths and avoided the search of the Wala army. After three days of embarrassment, he finally arrived at a post station on the official road of Shuntian Prefecture. Wang Zhen's back, which was originally too tired to straighten, miraculously straightened up the moment he saw the post station, and he walked past the Embroidered Uniform Guards towards the gate.

In his opinion, it was a blessing for them to be born in this small post station with his status. He could wash and pack up here, and then let them go to Beijing to report the news and wait for Beijing to send someone to pick him up. After all, the court could not do without a eunuch like him.

But this damn eunuch didn't even think about the fact that he had already lost the emperor, so how could he have the face to go back.

However, the development of the matter was beyond Wang Zhen's expectations. He had only taken two steps when he found a sword pressing on his shoulder.

"Eunuch Wang, where are you going?"

Wang Zhen pretended to be calm and turned around. When he saw the familiar yet unfamiliar face of the Jinyiwei, he was filled with anger.

"How dare you, a mere Jinyiwei, put a knife on my shoulder!"

"Haha, Wang Zhen, Eunuch Wang, the reason I rescued you from Fan Zhong was not for the wealth and glory I promised you along the way, but to let you die a worthy death!"

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was already in tears; all of his former colleagues and Ming soldiers had been killed by this beast. If it had not been for the secret order from the Earl of Xuanwu, he would have wanted to kill this beast, who was worse than pigs and dogs, even more than Fan Zhong.

"You...how dare you betray our family? When we return to Beijing, we will make sure Ma Shun gives you a good beating." Wang Zhen still didn't understand his situation at this moment.

"Wang Zhen, stop being such a jerk."

A scolding was heard, and Wang Zhen turned around again, and saw a group of people walking out of the post station. The one walking in front was Yu Xian, the Earl of Xuanwu, whom he would never forget in his life, and beside him was an old eunuch with white hair but vigorous spirit.