Chapter 746: King Zhu Zai is Here
"boom!"
Amid the explosions, smoke rose from the city walls, and along with the howling of enemies came the enemy troops rushing to the top of the city walls.
"kill!"
The tall enemy soldier had sharp eyes. After killing one person, he glanced around and stared at the weak Prince Yu and his servant Yang Xi.
One looks weak but has an air of wealth; the other looks plump and white, and even wearing armor they don’t look like warriors, but more like a troupe of actors.
Since the enemy launched the general attack, the city wall has been breached several times, and each time Chen Yi led his men to drive the enemy back.
As the battle intensified, the enemy became more and more frantic, launching wave after wave of attacks.
The Yanshan Vanguard had also been rebuilt, but after all, it had never seen blood, and after two days of attack and defense, it suffered heavy losses. But Chen Yi had no time to feel sorry for them, and had to lead them to put out fires everywhere.
At this moment, the strengths and weaknesses of the ragtag army were separated. Some fought bravely and without regard for their own lives, while others hid wherever possible. Although they did not dare to run away, they could always slow down their steps!
Prince Yu even saw someone pretending to be dead.
"Your Highness!" Yang Xi screamed, "Let me do it!"
The enemy soldier was charging at him, but Prince Yu did not move. "I didn't stop you."
Yang Xi shuddered, "If I...if I die in battle, please beg Your Highness to show mercy and take care of my family."
The brave soldier fought one against four, and after killing two of them, the remaining two defenders turned around and ran away.
"Fuck you!" Yang Xi yelled, raising his sword and ready to charge forward, but he turned back to look at Prince Yu and begged, "Your Highness, please leave!"
Prince Yu stood there, watching the fierce enemy soldiers rushing towards him in ecstasy.
His legs felt weak, but strangely, his heart was extremely calm.
He was an accidental product... His mother was not favored by Emperor Jiajing, and she remained an unknown figure after giving birth to him.
The saying that a mother is honored by her sons does not exist because the Taoist priest already has three sons.
A son's status is determined by his mother's. Emperor Jiajing was not even interested in looking at his mother for even a second, as if he had drunk too much that night.
For the Taoist, women are more of a tool for reproduction. If he didn't need an heir, he would rather stay with the statues and incense.
The little transparent Prince Yu gradually grew up in the palace. He learned how to read people's eyes, how to complain calmly after being bullied, and how to act...
Historically, Prince Yu's money and grain were withheld, and he had no choice but to bribe Yan Shifan.
This is a prince, the eldest son at that, and if nothing unexpected happens, he will be the future emperor. Yet, he needs to bribe his subjects in order to get the money and food that is his share.
This secret lawsuit was very clever.
But Emperor Jiajing, perhaps because he was unaware of the situation or something, did not take any action.
So much so that Yan Shifan boasted proudly...even the damn prince had to bow to me.
He had a difficult life, and it was not until the death of Emperor Jiajing that he stepped out of his residence and faced this beautiful land.
The opening of the port during the Longqing reign is a major event in the history of the Ming Dynasty that deserves special mention.
As a result, the Ming Dynasty opened its doors and completely revitalized the southern economy through trade.
In later times, such an economic structure would make people laugh out loud in their dreams.
However, the vibrant economy in the South did not bring about national prosperity, but instead laid the seeds of disaster.
The South became increasingly prosperous, while the North became increasingly poor due to the threat from foreign races.
The gap between the north and the south was getting bigger and bigger... When the gap became large enough, the literati and wealthy merchants in the south began to feel dissatisfied.
They are shouting that the emperor is incompetent and greedy...
In a word, the people in the north, including the emperor, are all poor relatives. We are already five generations apart! You still want to take advantage of us?
So officials from the Southern faction spoke up for them one after another.
The sounds of wind, rain and reading are actually the sounds of money, fame and desire, and every sound is pleasant to the ear.
Against this background, it is necessary to develop the northern economy.
But the grassland always breeds waves of powerful enemies.
After much difficulty in getting rid of Altan's ambition, just when the Ming emperor and his ministers thought the world was at peace, the three great expeditions of the Wanli Emperor began...
This was the beginning of the nation’s fall.
When the last rays of the empire once again suppressed the evil neighbor in the east, another enemy emerged in the north.
The Man Qing who once bowed to the Ming Dynasty.
If the Ming Dynasty was in the Jiajing or early Wanli period, this enemy would not be a threat.
But at this moment, after the three major expeditions of the Wanli period, the Ming Dynasty had almost exhausted both its elite troops and its financial resources.
What followed was endless internal friction, which gave Man Qing an opportunity. But even so, if it weren't for natural disasters or man-made disasters, the postman would still be engaged in his seemingly hopeless career.
As long as there is no chaos within the Ming Dynasty, there will be no chance to find any opportunities from the outside.
First there was man-made disaster, then natural disaster, then civil unrest began...and the foreign races took advantage of the situation.
Jiang Qingzhi changed his name at the beginning and taught this history to Prince Yu and others as a story.
Especially Prince Yu, Jiang Qingzhi directly leaked the secret.
——Every three hundred years there will be a natural disaster.
Natural disasters plus man-made disasters!
This is a scene of national destruction!
——Third brother, we can’t delay any longer in the North.
Prince Yu stood there, with these words in his mind!
If the North wants to develop, it must eliminate external threats. Otherwise, the more you develop, the more jealous the foreign races will be. If the army is not strong, the development results will only become spoils of war for the foreign races.
Therefore, if the Ming Dynasty wants to continue, it must first defeat Altan!
Everyone thought that Jiang Qingzhi's purpose in this battle was to stop Altan from going south, but Prince Yu guessed that his uncle's purpose was more than that...
Defeat Altan?
Only in this way can Altan calm down.
Only in this way can the Ming Dynasty develop the northern economy calmly.
Only when the economic gap between the north and the south is narrowed or even equalized, can the contradictions within the Ming Dynasty be balanced.
Conflicts won’t go away…but they can be balanced!
Now Jiang Qingzhi is implementing his strategic goal...working hard to defeat Altan Khan.
Prince Yu, as his disciple, is also facing a choice at this moment.
retreat!
The son of a rich man cannot sit down in the hall.
The return was impeccable.
But a voice became louder and louder in Prince Yu's mind.
——The leaders of the Ming Dynasty need courage!
Jiang Qingzhi once said that there was no shortage of smart people in the Ming Dynasty. No, there were too many smart people.
But what did the Ming Dynasty lack?
It's courage!
——Your Majesty broke with the ministers and the scholars and officials of the world. It seemed reckless, but in fact, Your Majesty was practicing those words with supreme courage...
——The emperor guards the national gate!
The emperor's majesty is another gate to the country.
Once the emperor's majesty was destroyed, the Ming Dynasty would be on the verge of collapse.
So, as the heir of the Ming Dynasty!
I am Zhu Laosan!
I, Zhu Zaigui, will never retreat!
Prince Yu raised his sword, with a look of struggle in his eyes, but he immediately rushed towards the enemy soldiers. Chen Yi, who was far away, accidentally saw this scene during the fight and was horrified.
"Be careful!" Chen Yi shouted loudly. He ignored his opponent and ran towards Prince Yu.
If Prince Yu died in Luanling Pass, not only would Chen Yi be doomed to die, but the subsequent war situation would also take a sharp turn for the worse.
The fierce enemy soldiers obviously did not expect that Prince Yu would advance instead of retreating. They were stunned for a moment and wondered if this seemingly wealthy young man was an expert in swordsmanship?
"what!"
Just as he was thinking about it, a shrill scream was heard.
The fat white man rushed over with disorderly steps and chopped with his knife.
Is this... chaotic cloak sword technique?
The brave soldiers blocked carefully.
clang!
The fat white man's long sword flew away and he fell in front of his fierce soldier.
At this time Prince Yu arrived.
"kill!"
Prince Yu raised his knife and chopped hard.
The brave soldier blocked subconsciously.
With a clang, Prince Yu's long sword was blocked, but what was better than the fat white man was that he could still hold the long sword tightly.
This must be thanks to the strictness of Sun Chonglou, who taught him swordsmanship and archery a while ago.
After Prince Yu's long sword was knocked away, the brave soldier realized that he had overestimated these two clubs.
He stretched out his hand in ecstasy, ready to catch it alive.
In desperation, Prince Yu swung his sword again regardless of the consequences.
The brave soldier raised his knife to block, but his other hand still stretched out.
Suddenly the hand stopped.
Prince Yu saw that the soldier's face was as red as a pig's liver, and then he brought down his long sword, easily splitting the soldier's sword and cutting into the soldier's neck...
Blood spurted all over Prince Yu's face, and he pulled out his sword with force.
Most of the soldier's neck was cut off, and his head was tilted to the right in a strange way.
But he did not look at Prince Yu, but at the ground.
The fat white man fell on his back between his legs, his right hand still pinching his vitals, and he was still squeezing... pulling...
But in Chen Yi's eyes, it was Prince Yu who killed the fierce soldier with one powerful blow.
"Am I dazzled?" Chen Yi said in disbelief.
Prince Yu watched the fierce soldier slowly kneel down, and also looked at his blood-stained sword in disbelief.
"I killed someone!"
The offensive and defensive battle was in full swing. At this moment, hundreds of cavalry rushed into Luanling Pass from the other side.
The sound of horse hooves hit the stone slabs. The fighting was raging on the city wall and no one paid any attention.
When they reached the end, the first person jumped off his horse and rushed up to the city. He looked around and found Prince Yu. He breathed a sigh of relief and shouted:
"Your Majesty orders that those who defend Luanling Pass will be rewarded handsomely! Those who flee in battle will have their entire family executed!"
The defenders were startled, and at this time hundreds of people dismounted and rushed forward.
Someone looked back and said, "It's the palace guards!"
What the hell!
Prince Yu turned back, Chen Yi turned back...
Those hundreds of people were agile and quickly turned the situation around after joining the battle.
And those ragtag troops were frightened by the severity of the entire family being executed, and they all revolted.
With just one wave, the enemy troops who were not used to the defenders' transformation from rabbits to wolves were driven away.
"The Ming reinforcements have arrived, and their swords and spears are extremely sharp. After their arrival, the morale of the defenders suddenly boosted, and Wan Hu..."
Biji, who was close to command, smiled bitterly, "A section of the city wall collapsed earlier. Even if we have firearms to defend, I am confident that I can break through the gap in half a day... Seeing that the defenders are doomed, something unexpected has happened. Is this God's will?"
Biji looked at the defenders on the city wall and said, "If our army had withdrawn from the city wall earlier, the defenders would have been paralyzed. But now everyone is fighting bravely. This battle..."
"Wan Hu!" The generals looked at him with despair in their eyes.
Two days may seem like a long time, but when every soldier defending the Pass fights bravely, it would be a dream for 20,000 troops to capture Luanling Pass.
At this moment, the Ming army was frantically blocking the gap with sandbags.
"That's too late."
Biji shook his head. "I am more worried that the Ming people will continue to send reinforcements. Even if they are ants, they can kill beasts if there are too many of them. If we are trapped here, it will be a great defeat for the Khan."
Everyone looked at Siye and couldn't help but shudder.
"Withdraw!" Biji's eyes were firm. "I will bear any consequences. Withdraw immediately!"
Dangdang Dangdang!
As the horn sounded, Prince Yu, who was talking to the guards on the city wall, heard Chen Yi curse: "Damn it, we can't let them retreat!"
Prince Yu walked over and asked, "Why?"
Chen Yi said, "Chang Wei Bo has instructed that we must contain the enemy's detachment in front of Luanling Pass. He will make his own arrangements later. But now..." He looked at the defenders, "Although their morale is boosted, if we go out of the city to fight in the field, I think... we are still no match for them."
Prince Yu asked: "Just leave them here?"
"Yes." Chen Yi smiled bitterly, "But the enemy general is resolute. Even if I give up blocking the gap, he will not stay."
"Maybe I can help you!"
Prince Yu said.
"Your Highness..."
Prince Yu waved at Yang Xi, "Bring me my banner."
Emperor Jiajing specially gave him a large flag when he left the capital this time. The flag of the prince leading the army was solemnly handed to him by Wang Yiqi.
If necessary, we must let the foreign races see our Zhu family’s courage!
This is what the Taoist said.
"Pack up the camp and evacuate immediately." Biggie was giving instructions.
"Wanhu!"
At this time, someone pointed at the gate and said, "Whose flag is that?"
Biggie looked up.
The afternoon sun was quite dazzling, and Biggie squinted.
“It’s the dragon flag!”
Biji's face turned pale as he exclaimed.
In the Ming Dynasty, the dragon flag represented imperial power.
At this moment, with the dragon flag raised, there is only one possibility.
There is a prince in Luanling Pass!
Moreover, he must be the eldest son!
Should we withdraw our troops, or stay and attack Luanling Pass?
Biggie rode his horse forward slowly.
On the top of the city wall, Zhu Laosan roared at the people below in the astonished eyes of his soldiers.
"I, the King Zhu Zai, am here!"
(End of this chapter)
