Emperor Chongzhen was too extreme.

Chapter 122 Living towards death
Listening to what Zhu Youjian said.

Mao Wenlong was once again stunned.

He never expected this.

Your Majesty actually thought of achieving a decisive victory in one battle, directly attacking Seoul, the capital of Korea, to completely resolve the Korean issue.

True.

Theoretically speaking, this operation is not impossible.

After all, if the army is really determined to go there, it can always find a way to get there.

North Korea does not have a complete defensive line like the Great Wall.

If you encounter a city blocking your way, you can choose not to attack it and simply go around it.

Even during the Ming Dynasty, there were instances where hundreds of Japanese pirates would take a circuitous route and eventually attack the walls of Nanjing.

But theory is ultimately just theory.

In practice, as long as the pursuing troops catch up and the front lines are blocked, the Ming army will be completely surrounded and annihilated.

At that time, Korea didn't even need to fight the Ming Dynasty to the death; it could simply wear down the Ming Dynasty by harassing it every few days.

Therefore, the route of directly attacking Seoul is simply not feasible.

Think of this.

Mao Wenlong was about to offer some advice when he suddenly remembered something.

He then swallowed the words that were already on the tip of his tongue.

The blitzkrieg against Seoul was indeed a near-death experience.

But if we don't directly attack Seoul...

Then the fate awaiting their holy procession will likely be even more perilous.

North Korea has already colluded with the Later Jin, and the powerful families in Shandong are certainly watching everything in secret.

If the timeline of the war in Korea is extended even slightly, these forces will inevitably mobilize in full force.

At that time, they will probably face not just a one-sided attack from North Korea from both sides.

Instead, it was a three-way encirclement and suppression by Korea, the Later Jin, and the aristocratic families!
now.

Mao Wenlong was shocked to realize that the two attack routes they had discussed for so long, from left to right, were complete nonsense.

Going directly to Seoul is the best decision.

Although this may sound incredibly unbelievable, it is a truly viable way to survive against all odds.

Mao Wenlong couldn't help but look up at Zhu Youjian, only to see that His Majesty remained calm, seemingly not thinking that his decision was anything special.

Mao Wenlong swallowed hard, then solemnly replied, "Your Majesty, I understand. I will go and tell the others to prepare immediately!"

Zhu Youjian nodded, and Mao Wenlong then left.

Then, he picked up the document on the table and began to read it.

What he is currently reading are records about the Chungmyeong faction within Joseon.

Since Yi Jong seized power in a coup, the loyalist faction in the Joseon court has been constantly suppressed.

However, some loyalists of the Chungmyeong faction still remain in Seoul.

Once the main army reaches the vicinity of Seoul, we should be able to make use of these people.

Looking at the documents before him, Zhu Youjian was completely absorbed, constantly simulating everything that might happen once the enemy was at the city gates.

there.

When Mao Wenlong relayed the news of the direct attack on Seoul to the generals, the entire room fell silent.

No one expected that His Majesty's final decision would be to disregard everything and march straight for Hanseong.

Do they really think they can take over the North Korean capital with just 10,000 men?

This is too sensational, even too childish.

For a moment, no one knew what His Majesty's purpose was in making such a decision.

After a long pause, Chen Jisheng finally spoke with a furrowed brow and an urgent expression:
"General, with our forces, how could we possibly take Seoul? Isn't His Majesty's decision a bit too hasty and short-sighted?!"

"You should try to persuade His Majesty again!"

It's no wonder Chen Jisheng was so anxious that he spoke without thinking.

This expedition was personally led by His Majesty, who advanced and retreated alongside them.

If anything happens, the entire Ming Dynasty will be completely finished!
Therefore, it was difficult for him to accept that such an extremely risky and low-probability method was being used to attack North Korea.

Mao Wenlong shook his head as he listened to Chen Jisheng's doubts.

He then recounted to everyone the new concerns that arose after his conversation with His Majesty.

Everyone frowned upon hearing this.

Many of these people do not have a clear understanding of just how chaotic the Ming Dynasty is now.

Now, after listening to Mao Wenlong's story, my mouth is already dry without me even realizing it.

Just a few days ago, two or three thousand Confucian scholars gathered to obstruct the emperor's journey.
What if the timeline is dragged out any further?!
It was to be expected.

If they linger in Korea for even a little longer, these powerful families will surely cut off their escape route completely.

Then, they joined forces with external forces to launch a pincer attack.

Although they knew the situation was extremely critical, they still felt that attacking Seoul directly was far more risky.

Then someone else spoke up:

"General, shouldn't you try to persuade the Emperor again? It's impossible for us to conquer the capital of Korea with just our numbers."

"Yes, what if something goes wrong? Wouldn't our Great Ming Dynasty have to suffer the humiliation of Tumu Fortress again?"

"."

Listening to everyone's comments, Mao Wenlong suddenly slammed his hand on the table.

"Enough! If victory is assured, what use are we?!"

"Following your advice of taking a cautious and steady approach, the only consequence will be a slow death!"

"Only by striking directly at Seoul can we survive in the face of death!"

"Moreover, His Majesty's aim is to revitalize the Ming Dynasty, which is inherently against the will of Heaven. Are we to give up just because there are dangers involved?!"

"Anyone who's afraid of dying can leave now, I won't stop them!"

Mao Wenlong also knew.

Of those who are standing here now, who among them is afraid of death?

The words that everyone just spoke were merely expressions of concern, not fear.

as predicted.

After Mao Wenlong finished speaking, the remaining generals exchanged glances, said nothing more, and unanimously accepted the order:
"Understood! Now proceed with the preparations!"

Mao Wenlong nodded.

After everyone left, he sat down alone in the room, his gaze deep.

Although the attack route has now been determined.

However, what kind of dangers their army of just over ten thousand would encounter once they reached the vicinity of Seoul was beyond his control.

What to do then, only His Majesty knows.

Think of this.

Mao Wenlong couldn't help but sigh, feeling that he, a first-rank official, was somewhat useless.

no way.

To lead 10,000 men to directly attack another country's capital, and to accomplish this in such a short time.

Even if the military genius Han Xin were to be resurrected, he would probably feel helpless for the time being.

at the same time.

Seoul, the capital of Korea.

Although it is already late at night.

However, a dozen or so elderly North Korean officials, with graying hair, were still full of energy as they gathered in a secret room to discuss important matters.

These dozen or so people were all veteran officials from the previous dynasty before Li Zong ascended the throne, and they were all loyalists.

Some of them are even direct descendants of the Ming Dynasty and have a deep affection for the Ming Dynasty.

originally.

Over the years, everyone has almost been driven to their deaths by that bastard Li Zong.

But unexpectedly, before he died, he was able to witness the Ming Dynasty's envoy displaying imperial power once again.

Although this scene was only fleeting, like the blooming of a night-blooming cereus.

It was suppressed by Li Zong as soon as it appeared, but it still appeared in the end, didn't it?
An elderly man named Xie Shouzhong looked at the crowd and spoke first: "What should we do about the matter of the Ming Dynasty envoy?"

As soon as the question was asked, a serious expression appeared on everyone's face in the room.

The news of Kong Youde and others being paraded through the streets and then imprisoned has now spread throughout Seoul.

It will likely spread throughout Korea in a day or two, after all, Korea is not even as large as a single provincial administration office in the Ming Dynasty.

Li Zong's actions were tantamount to an open rebellion.

What will happen to these well-known loyalists then?
This matter is not only related to the Ming Dynasty's reputation, but also to the vital interests of each of them.

After a pause, the elderly man named Jin Demin, sitting in the center of the group, spoke:

"It won't be long before this matter reaches the Ming Dynasty. Since the Ming Dynasty was able to withstand the Later Jin's attack, it certainly won't swallow this insult."

"In any case, we will definitely rescue Kong Youde and the others, but as for how exactly to do so, let's wait and see how the Ming Dynasty reacts."

Upon hearing this answer, the group of old men stroked their beards and nodded silently.

Kim Deok-min is the strongest among them now, and the only loyalist faction member in charge of the army.

Although this so-called army only numbered a few hundred people, and they were all miscellaneous soldiers.

But now that the Chungmyeong faction throughout North Korea has been almost completely dealt with, Kim Duk-min has become the leader of the Chungmyeong faction.

As a leader, one must listen to what others say.

Most importantly, Jin Demin's words make a lot of sense.

Regardless of their motives, Kong Youde and his group were determined to rescue them.

But is it a minor rescue, a medium rescue, or a major rescue?

Ultimately, it depends on the Ming Dynasty.

Should the Ming Dynasty send someone to condemn the matter, send more delegations to handle it, or directly send troops to teach Korea a lesson?
What they will do then is actually based on this.

no way.

The Zhongming faction's strength is undeniable, and they intend to release the person with a single order.

But our strength doesn't allow it.

If possible.

They would much rather the Ming Dynasty send troops directly to kill that damned Li Zong.

Over the years, Li Zong has killed far too many people in their faction!
Although everyone knows this idea is very impractical.

But when a group of old men get together, they can't help but fantasize like children.

the other side.

Shandong region.

When the powerful families in the coastal areas heard that five cities had been seized by the emperor and his men, their jaws dropped to the ground.

The emperor didn't die in Dongjiang Town, he actually came back alive and robbed us?!
Then what about all our meticulous planning and scheming these past few days?!

A clown from a circus?!
The person in charge of the five cities that were robbed, in particular, fainted upon hearing the news.

I just came out to a meeting.
And now you come to me saying that not only is my entire family wiped out, but my family business, which has been passed down for hundreds of years, has also been looted?!
Is there any royal law? !

Is there any heavenly principle? !

No one knew how the emperor had accomplished all of this.

But everyone knows that the current situation has far exceeded their expectations.

Especially Kong Yinchang.

In his extreme shock, only one thought remained in his mind:
Regardless of how the imperial entourage withstood the Later Jin's attack, they've done it now!

Hurry back and ask your older brother what to do next!

If this matter is not handled properly, it could be a catastrophe for everyone!
In a hurry.

He led Tian Hong and Zhang Zhuo, key figures from the Tian and Zhang families, to Qufu overnight.

After traveling through the night, the three finally arrived in Qufu.

Upon entering the gate of the Duke of Yansheng's residence, Kong Yinchang scrambled into the ancestral hall and recounted in detail how the emperor had defeated the Later Jin and plundered five coastal cities.

Upon hearing his younger brother's words, Kong Yinzhi's face lost its almost unchanging composure, instead revealing disbelief and panic.

After a long while, he slowly calmed down the turmoil in his heart.

And at this time.

Tian Hong and Zhang Zhuo, who were extremely anxious, quickly stepped forward and said:

"Brother Kong, things have come to this point. Let's join forces with the other powers and rebel directly!"

"If all the forces in Shandong were combined, we could muster at least tens of thousands of troops. The best option would be to kill the emperor before he lands in Shandong again."

"Otherwise, who knows how many more problems might arise!"

Faced with the two urging him on, Kong Yinzhi couldn't help but feel a little annoyed:
"Nonsense! We don't even know where the emperor will stay. Even if we raise tens of thousands of troops, he might receive the news and take a detour and flee. What are we supposed to do then?!"

"Are we just going to sit here and wait to die?!" Tian and Zhang glared at each other, their voices sharp and menacing.

No wonder they were in such a hurry.

They were the two families that got robbed!
While it's not quite a serious blow, losing five cities is still a painful loss.

And the most important thing is.

They didn't know if the emperor would come again!

Kong Yinzhi waved his hand and sighed, "Let me think about it!"

Then he paced back and forth inside the ancestral hall.

After walking for a while, he suddenly raised his head and asked, "Where did the emperor go after looting those five cities?!"

Tian Hong replied, "It seems they continued their journey back to Dongjiang Town."

Dongjiang Town?
Kong Yinzhi pinched his brow in slight pain. The emperor had already repelled the Later Jin's attack, so why was he still going back to Dongjiang Town?!

He snatched the map and stared into deep thought at Dongjiang Military Town, which was very close to North Korea.

After continuous deduction, he suddenly had an epiphany.

Immediately, Kong Yinzhi looked at Tian and Zhang with a serious expression:

"The emperor probably hasn't really returned to Dongjiang Town; his ultimate goal is likely to use Dongjiang Town as a base to attack Korea."

"Then we'll use the power of North Korea and Dongjiang Town to contain Shandong!"

Tian Hong and Zhang Zhu both paused for a moment: "With his small force, even if you include all the troops in Dongjiang Town, how could he possibly defeat Korea?"

"What's more, isn't North Korea colluding with the Later Jin dynasty?!"

Kong Yinzhi couldn't help but feel an urge to laugh in his extreme anger:
"Who could have predicted that he could withstand the Later Jin's attack? And who could have predicted that he would not only defend against the Later Jin but also launch a counterattack?!"

Tian Hong and Zhang Zhu remained silent, then a resolute glint flashed in their eyes: "Then let's do as we just said and rebel!"

"No matter what he plans to do next, we will gather troops in Shandong and wait for him!"

Hearing their suggestion, Kong Yinzhi quickened his pace.

From his perspective, Kong Yinzhi did not want things to have escalated to this point.

The Tian and Zhang families rely on maritime trade, so they may not care much about things like morality.

However, the Kong family still needs to submit a letter of surrender for generations.

If they were branded as rebels, who would dare to ask them to draft a surrender document after a change of dynasty?
The Ming Dynasty has now lasted for more than two hundred years, and it is teetering on the brink of collapse. It may not be long before the dynasty changes hands.

And there's another problem.

Can they really win?
Kong Yinzhi stopped and looked at Tian Hong and Zhang Zhuo: "The fact that the emperor was able to defend against the Later Jin's attack shows that his army is very strong."

"If we confront them head-on, we'll likely pay a heavy price. Are you really willing to bear that price?"

"Moreover, the emperor acts with lightning speed, whether in action or military campaigns. If we don't forcibly confine him to one place, the cost will be even greater."

Tian and Zhang exchanged a glance, remained silent for a long while, and then sighed:

"Does that mean we should just stand by and watch ourselves fall into a passive position, unable to restrain the emperor no matter what he does?"

Kong Yinzhi shook his head: "That's not what I meant."

"Since the emperor has chosen to launch an expedition to Korea, there will be casualties in the army, regardless of whether he wins or loses."

"What we need to do is keep a close eye on our respective territories before he and North Korea decide the outcome, so as to avoid further setbacks."

"Once the emperor has settled his affairs with Korea, he will inevitably pass through Shandong again."

"Only when we can stop him from moving can we truly fight him to the death."

Zhang Zhuo and Tian Hong stroked their chins and pondered for a moment, feeling that Kong Yinzhi's words did indeed make some sense.

The two then asked, "So how do we trap them in one place? Brother Kong, what are your thoughts?"

Kong Yinzhi said calmly, "Attack where the enemy must defend."

"Breaching the dikes and destroying farmland creates disaster victims."

"Forcibly confine them to one place."

Listening to what Kong Yinzhi said.

There was no shock in Tian Hong's or Zhang Zhu's eyes, only a solemn expression.

It looks like they're considering whether this approach is feasible.

They had also heard about the emperor's disaster relief efforts in Shaanxi.

If you look at it this way.

This emperor of the Ming Dynasty seemed to care a lot about the people's livelihood. If a large number of disaster victims appeared in Shandong, he would definitely go to deal with it.

In that case, it would be very worthwhile to create tens of thousands of disaster victims to forcibly delay his progress.

Think of this.

The two looked at Kong Yinzhi and nodded.

Let the common people suffer a little more, and let the emperor bear the blame after the deed is done.

(End of this chapter)