Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 146 The current emperor is a fake! Duke Ying regrets: Fake emperor, you are just a refugee
Northwest, Hexi Corridor.

The November sky is even more desolate. The sky is a pale grey-blue, with only this last tinge of color left. The cold wind whistles in, bringing with it a bone-piercing chill, passing through the withered reeds and sparse poplar forests, making bursts of sobs, as if the earth is whispering about the vicissitudes of a thousand years.

Tan You, the newly appointed commander of Shaanxi, was wearing heavy armor, his cape fluttering in the cold wind. He rode his horse against the wind, his iron hooves breaking through the morning frost, each step seemed so firm, yet seemed to carry an endless weight. Tan You's eyes were deep, staring at the blurred horizon ahead, his face solemn.

In his mind, he kept thinking about what the Duke of England said. All those legends turned out to be true! Old Duke, you are so confused!

There is no other way. The Tan family has been blessed by the emperor since Emperor Taizong. How could they let the Ming Dynasty be ceded to outsiders?
"Sir, we are almost at Dunhuang." The guard reported.

Tan You took a deep breath and said to the three trusted guards who accompanied him: "Remember, don't tell anyone about your visit to Dunhuang this time."

The three guards nodded: "Don't worry, sir. I understand."

Tan You seemed to be worried. It was not that he was worried about these three confidants, but that he was worried about the future.

The current emperor is fake!

He had been in a state of tension for days because of this huge secret in his heart. When the Duke of England confessed everything to him, he even thought that the Duke of England was confused and talking nonsense.

After Duke Ying explained everything, he believed it! And the reason why he could become the commander of Shaanxi was because of Duke Ying's arrangement. He was asked to come to the northwest to help the real emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

Tan You looked up at the vast sky and sighed, "Emperor Taizong, Emperor Renzong, Emperor Xuanzong, your spirits in heaven, protect the Ming Dynasty."

……

Dunhuang City.

Tan You rode his horse into the city. Dunhuang in November was different from the south. It was already shrouded in coldness. The air was filled with a cool breath that seemed to penetrate heavy clothes and reach the bone marrow.

On both sides of the street, the shop signs swayed in the cold wind, making creaking sounds. Occasionally, the sound of camel bells could be heard in the distance. Pedestrians wrapped their clothes tightly and walked by in a hurry.

Tan You's horse's hooves echoed on the stone road, and soon he arrived in front of a palace. He said a few words to the guard at the door, and the guard hurried in to report.

Not long after, Xu Bin came out in a hurry. The moment he saw Tan You, he was surprised: "New Ning Bo? It's you who came. That's great."

"Let's talk inside!" Tan You interrupted him.

Xu Bin reacted and took him into the palace, and ordered people to settle the three followers brought by Tan You. As the two walked in the corridor of the palace, Xu Bin lowered his voice and asked, "Did the British minister send you here?"

"Yes!" Tan You nodded. "The old Duke had a great reputation throughout his life, but in the end, he brought about a disaster."

Xu Bin smiled bitterly: "It's no use saying this now."

Tan You spread his hands helplessly: "At least, the Ming Dynasty was saved. The old Duke had no other choice at the time, so he resorted to the worst possible strategy. He regrets it now."

Xu Bin's eyes were sharp, and he said in a deep voice: "I hope we can correct it. The old Duke is already trying his best to correct his mistakes. If it weren't for the old Duke, we wouldn't be able to settle down in Dunhuang."

Tan You took a deep breath and asked, "I want to see... Is he here?"

"Of course, I've been waiting for you!" Xu Bin made a gesture of invitation.

……

Mobei Grassland.

The cold wind was like a knife, cutting every inch of the air. In the distance, the snow-capped mountains were towering. Nearby, the grassland was covered with frost and snow, shining with a silvery white luster, stretching as far as the eye could see to the horizon.

A Ming army of more than 3,000 people was cleaning up the battlefield. Yang Guifang, wearing armor, stood on a hill, full of heroic spirit. He shook the bloody knife and sheathed it.

A guard ran over and reported: "General, the ones we just killed should be the troops of the Oirat commander. General, should we go deeper?"

Although the guard was covered in blood and had wounds on his wrists, his eyes were full of gloom. This was because they had followed General Yang Guifang deep into the grasslands, appearing and disappearing like ghosts, winning battle after battle, and making the enemy unable to find their traces. He had been in the army for seven or eight years, and had never fought such a satisfying battle. He admired the new General Yang very much.

"We can't go any further." Yang Guifang smiled. "If we go any deeper, this general doesn't have a detailed map of the interior."

It turned out that he dared to fight like this this time because he had made sufficient preparations before setting out and had read the map information of the Mobei grassland collected by spies over the years.

Then, after careful analysis, he formulated this route of advance. Therefore, they came and went like the wind, and confused the Oirat people.

"I will report my achievements to you all when I return." Yang Guifang said loudly.

"General, we'll talk about it later." A lieutenant said loudly, "General, next time you go to war, you must bring your banner with you. It's exciting to follow you to fight!"

The soldiers laughed. They had a new understanding of this young general who looked like a scholar. Yang Guifang glanced over and then looked towards Mobei.

Many people came to his mind, Wei Qing and Huo Qubing in the Han Dynasty, Li Jing in the Tang Dynasty. These ancestors all left legends on this land. Now, it was his turn, Yang Guifang.

……

In the capital, winter has arrived.

The sun seemed to be afraid of the cold, its light was dim, unable to penetrate the thick clouds. The cold wind was as sharp as a knife, blowing through the streets and alleys, making bursts of piercing whistles.

On both sides of the street, the bare branches of the trees trembled in the cold wind. A few stubborn dead leaves finally couldn't bear the weight and fell with the wind, spinning and blending into the endless paleness.

He rode into the capital and went straight to the Ministry of War, shouting "Great victory". Not long after, Yu Qian, the Minister of War, rushed to the Palace of Heavenly Purity with the latest intelligence from Mobei.

At this moment, Zhu Qizhen was nestling in the warm room of the Qianqing Palace, yawning and reviewing memorials. He decided that he would have to go to the Wenhua Hall to work with the cabinet ministers tomorrow. This warm room was comfortable, but it was easy to get sleepy.

"Your Majesty, Yu Shaobao requests to see you." Cao Jixiang came to report.

Zhu Qizhen sat up straight, rubbed his face, and waved to Yu Qian. After a while, Yu Qian came in, paid his respects, and presented the intelligence report: "Your Majesty, Yang Guifang went deep into Mobei, won three battles and three victories, captured countless prisoners, and captured a censor."

"Eh, I knew this kid was reckless." Zhu Qizhen was overjoyed.

He took the letter, scanned it quickly, and praised: "This kid dared to go deep into Mobei with 3,000 people. He has guts!"

Yu Qian nodded, his eyes full of admiration: "Yes, he wants to be Huo Qubing, it's a bit like that."

"That's not right. Haven't you always been against his reckless advance?" Zhu Qizhen asked, "Why do you support him this time? He has penetrated a thousand miles into the northern desert, which is even more reckless than before."

Yu Qian shook his head: "No! This guy made full preparations before entering Mobei. Moreover, he not only won the battle this time, but also obtained a lot of intelligence. He has made great contributions! I have to reflect on myself. The generals of our Ming Dynasty cannot all be as cautious as I am. We must have generals like Yang Guifang who dare to block, and Confucian generals like Guo Deng. Only when a hundred flowers bloom can the Ming Dynasty be blessed."

"You have said all the good things. I can only issue an imperial decree to reward you." Zhu Qizhen said, "Your Ministry of War should study and report the merits of the soldiers who went deep into Mobei this time. I want to help Yang Guifang establish his prestige."

"As you wish." Yu Qian nodded his head. Zhu Qizhen's eyes flashed. To him, Yu Qian was the past and the present, while Yang Guifang and his younger generation were the future of the Ming Dynasty and the generals of his era. Just like Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Wei Qing, Huo Qubing, and Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, Li Jing, future generations would put their names together and shine for an era.

……

The dusk is vast.

Zhu Qizhen came to Kunning Palace for dinner. Although he was still in a cold war with the empress dowager, he did not say hello when they met, and they ate separately without talking during the meal. But he still came.

The game has begun, whoever wins in the end will win!

The empress dowager was wearing a fox fur coat, which made her look even fairer and more attractive. She had her long hair tied up low with a hairpin and adorned with exquisite jewel jewelry, which made her look more noble, elegant and graceful.

"Shuangxi, please pay respects to the Queen Mother for me."

"Shuangxi, bring the dishes and chopsticks to the emperor."

"Shuangxi, this bowl of soup is for the Queen Mother."

"Shuangxi, I don't want to eat this dish. Put it in front of him."

Poor Shuangxi was busy in front of the two men. She pouted, but didn't dare to get angry, because one was the empress dowager and the other was the emperor, and she was just a little palace maid, sandwiched between them.

However, she really couldn't bear it anymore, so she lowered her head and said weakly, "Queen Mother, Your Majesty, I suddenly have a stomachache. You can eat by yourselves, I'll take my leave."

She covered her stomach, turned and ran away.

Zhu Qizhen and the Queen Mother stayed together for a while, each lowering their heads to eat. After a while, the Queen Mother spoke first: "In five days, it will be your 100th birthday. The Ministry of Rites has prepared the procedures, you have to read them. If you don't read them, they will hand them over to me."

"It's just a birthday, why make it so complicated?" Zhu Qizhen snorted, "I should have known it earlier, I wouldn't have celebrated it."

"The Emperor's birthday is more than just a birthday." The Queen Mother looked up and said, "All the subjects in the world are watching. Isn't your reputation known far and wide? You must show the subjects of the world that the royal family is harmonious and the emperor and his subjects are of one mind."

Zhu Qizhen put down his chopsticks and said, "Okay, I'll watch it later! I hope that by then, Queen Mother, you can also act with me and play the role of a harmonious royal family."

The Queen Mother lowered her head, a few strands of hair falling down, she gracefully reached out and gently stroked them, saying lightly: "I know, I will give you a warm and lively longevity."

Zhu Qizhen put down his bowl and chopsticks, stood up and walked away.

……

this day.

The palace was decorated in a festive manner, as today was His Majesty's birthday. Red silk was hung high up, swaying gently in the wind, and lanterns were hung in every corner of the palace, adding a bit of liveliness and vitality to this solemn palace.

According to the procedure, the emperor would first accept congratulations from concubines in the harem, then go to the empress dowager's palace to pay his respects, and finally go to the Fengtian Hall to accept congratulations from all officials and then give a banquet.

The concubines were dressed in gorgeous palace clothes, wearing precious jewels on their heads, their faces filled with joy. They held delicate fans or stroked their long hair, and walked lightly between the palaces, like blooming flowers, adding endless spring colors to this longevity day.

After Zhu Qizhen sent away the concubines, he came to Kunning Palace. The Queen Mother was wearing a phoenix robe today, cold and dignified, with beautiful eyebrows and eyes. She took out four sachets and said in a gentle voice, "This is what I... embroidered. I'm giving it to you. It will refresh you in the future."

"Thank you, Queen Mother." Zhu Qizhen took it.

"Go ahead. After all the officials pay their respects, come back to Kunning Palace." The Queen Mother lowered her eyes. "Celebrate your birthday with only... your family."

Zhu Qizhen bowed and left Kunning Palace.

As he was walking on the imperial road, he unexpectedly ran into Concubine Xian who was supporting Duke Ying. Concubine Xian bowed to Zhu Qizhen and said, "Your Majesty, my grandfather came to the palace today to celebrate your birthday and also came to see me."

The Duke of England looked gloomy and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

Zhu Qizhen smiled, stepped forward to help the Duke of Yingguo up, turned to Concubine Xian and said, "You go back. I will help the Duke of Yingguo to Fengtian Hall."

"Yes!" Concubine Xian winked at him.

……

Zhu Qizhen waved away the eunuchs and palace maids who followed him, and helped the Duke of Ying towards the Fengtian Hall. The cold wind was chilly, and Zhu Qizhen smiled: "Old Duke, you are in good health. Last time you were seriously ill, I thought you would not make it."

"I know you hope I die." The Duke of England said coldly.

"If you live honestly, why would I hope you die? Besides, you are my father-in-law now." Zhu Qizhen smiled.

"I?"

The Duke of England snorted coldly and stopped. His cloudy eyes became sharp. "You are talking so smoothly now. Without me, you are just a refugee in Huailai City. I didn't expect that a refugee would have such great ambitions."

Zhu Qizhen grabbed his arm and said coldly: "It seems that you regret it? Don't forget that it was you who threatened me and forced me to pretend to be the emperor."

The Duke of England spat out a mouthful of blood: "But we also agreed that if I abdicate, you will abdicate!"

"If you abdicate, I will die!" Zhu Qizhen said angrily, "You are just using me, and I am using you in return. Is this too much?"

Duke Yingguo spat out another mouthful of blood, his eyes spitting fire: "Well, well, well, you are despicable and shameless, and you want to usurp the Ming Dynasty. Even if I can't take you in, God will take you in."

"I'm waiting!" Zhu Qizhen grabbed his arm and exerted force, saying coldly, "Old Duke, don't be impulsive. Your Zhang family and I are now connected. If anything happens to me, you will kill all nine clans. Not to mention the virtuous concubine, there are also Zhang Lun and others, and all your descendants will be killed."

The Duke of Ying's weathered face fell, as if he was depressed, and he said, "How dare I? You are the one who makes the final decision now. Everything is under your control."

"That's right." Zhu Qizhen let go of his hand. "Come on, today is my birthday, and all the officials are waiting to congratulate me. When the banquet is held in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, you can have a few more drinks. You are old now, why do you still care about so many things? Enjoy your life, you don't have many years left to live."

British Duke: “!!!”

Zhu Qizhen spread his hands and said, "I actually hope you can live a few more years and watch me revive the Ming Dynasty."

British public: "cough cough cough..."

Zhu Qizhen helped him up again and smiled: "You see, I can protect you, and only I can protect the Ming Dynasty."

The Duke of England paused, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

(End of this chapter)