Emperor Chongzhen was too extreme.

Chapter 125 What are you expecting?
Li Zong was shocked to hear that the Ming emperor was actually going to take the initiative to make peace with him.

My heart was initially filled with joy, but then a great deal of doubt welled up within me.

He was just about to go to the Ming Dynasty to negotiate peace in order to buy time when the Ming Dynasty offered itself up to him.
This is too much of a coincidence, making it hard not to suspect that there might be some kind of conspiracy involved.

As for the oath made at the Yalu River, Li Zong didn't take it to heart at all.

I read the Spring and Autumn Annals!
It's not like I'm ignorant of history.

Who doesn't know.

Ever since that old bastard Sima pointed at that river and swore an oath, all those oaths and vows have been utter bullshit.

but.

After Li Zong inquired about the details of the peace talks from his subordinates, most of his doubts were instantly dispelled.

Why did the Ming emperor choose to speak with him personally instead of sending an envoy?
And he's even going to meet me one-on-one, witnessed by both armies?!
It's hard not to be tempted by that.

From Li Zong's perspective.

The fact that the Ming emperor was willing to meet with him alone meant that he was indeed there to negotiate peace.

Otherwise, why would he risk doing this?
Fighting in a foreign land, the Ming army's logistical support was definitely insufficient.

Moreover, the Ming army has been spending money lavishly these past two days, already distributing several million taels of silver.

The silver they carried was definitely not enough to support them in continuing to distribute it like this.

In addition, the Ming Dynasty probably also heard rumors that the Later Jin army was about to arrive.

Therefore, they considered peace talks.

In other words, the Ming Dynasty had only a glimmer of hope if it could negotiate peace.

Thinking about these things.

Li Zong began pacing around the palace.

for him.

Although he had already seen through the Ming emperor's delaying tactic, he knew that if he ignored it and dragged it out for a few more days, the Ming army would collapse on its own.

But the problem is.

Although the Ming Dynasty was in a hurry, he was even more anxious than the Ming Dynasty.

If the Ming army were to engage in a few more desperate acts of inciting public opinion, he would probably never get a good night's sleep for the rest of his life.

Taking advantage of this peace talks to stabilize the Ming army is indeed an excellent opportunity.

Li Zong narrowed his eyes and replied to his trusted subordinate:
"Go release Kong Youde and his group, and find a scapegoat to pin this on him."

"Then go and tell the Ming Dynasty envoy."

"I wish to meet with the Ming Emperor outside the city at noon tomorrow, in the presence of the soldiers and civilians, to discuss peace talks."

The subordinate replied, "I understand!"

Li Zong watched his subordinates leave, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

During peace talks, they would casually agree to the Ming Dynasty's demands, delay the process for a few days, and then everything would be accomplished.

but.

He harbored a vague, inexplicable apprehension about these peace talks.

Li Zong continued to instruct his men, "Go and summon Li Hu."

"Yes!"

soon.

Li Hu arrived at Li Zong's palace.

Li Zong spoke frankly to his trusted general, saying, "I will be meeting with the Ming emperor tomorrow. Send someone to inform the Later Jin."

"Tell them to speed things up, and North Korea will provide all the logistical support."

Li Hu frowned, and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Your Majesty, I understand. But the Ming emperor is cunning and treacherous. Could his sudden invitation to peace talks be a trap?"

"For example, what if things go against you on the battlefield?!"

Honestly.

That was exactly what Li Zong was worried about.

But when he thought about how the Ming emperor was just a seventeen-year-old boy, while he himself was in his prime and had several battle experiences, he realized that the emperor was not.

Li Zong couldn't help but feel relieved.

Even if the Ming emperor started fighting wars from the moment he ascended the throne, it would only have lasted two or three months.

How could such battlefield experience compare to that of a seasoned king on horseback?

Although the fact that the Ming emperor led troops to rescue Dongjiang Town shows that this Ming emperor was not unskilled in martial arts.

But actually, it can be guessed with just a little deduction.

All of this was due to intelligence issues, which allowed the Ming army to appear at the perfect moment, catching the Later Jin completely off guard and leading to the annihilation of the Later Jin.

It can't possibly be like in novels and storybooks.

The Ming emperor led the charge and captured Wunage, which intimidated the entire Later Jin army, leading to its collapse, right?
Li Zong did not believe it.

Because Yi Jong was also a monarch.

He knew that in the eyes of the people, the monarch was high above them.

But frankly speaking, a monarch is just a human being.

In this case.

Could the Ming emperor possibly monopolize all the civil and military achievements of the entire world?

Although he didn't take it seriously, Li Zong still made contingency plans since he had some concerns.

He looked at Li Hu and said, "There's no need to worry too much about what you're saying."

"If the Ming emperor dares to make any move tomorrow, I will be the one to capture him first, and I will not let him take the initiative."

Li Hu nodded, gradually feeling relieved.

“However,” Li Zong changed the subject, continuing:
"You're right, we should still consider the worst-case scenario no matter what."

"In case, I mean in case."

"If I am ambushed and fall into the hands of the Ming army tomorrow, you should retreat back into the city and defend it to the death. Distribute the money in my treasury to the elite troops and work together with all the soldiers to defend the city."

"In this way, it would be absolutely impossible for the Ming army to breach the city."

"As long as the capital is still standing, they will certainly not dare to harm me. At most, I will suffer for a few days."

"Once the Later Jin army arrives, the Ming army will be doomed."

Li Hu nodded solemnly: "Your subject understands!"

Watching Li Hu's departing figure, Li Zong finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He has even considered the worst-case scenario, so he can really rest easy now.

When Li Zong thought of the so-called Ming Dynasty emperor again, a mocking smile crept onto his lips.

Do you really think I can't see through you? You want to buy Dongjiang Town time to develop through peace talks?
But I will absolutely not give you that chance.

Not only will I not give you any chance, but I will also use my wisdom to ensure that all 10,000 Ming soldiers you brought die here!
This is the consequence of your arrogant invasion of North Korea!
Li Zong's mocking smile continued to widen, eventually turning into maniacal laughter.

The frustration I felt watching those lowly people rebel from the city wall earlier vanished instantly.

Besides the fact that he was about to defeat the Ming emperor, Li Zong also thought of something very funny.

According to unofficial historical records:
Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, once overestimated his abilities and attempted to launch a distant expedition to Korea, but upon arrival, he was blinded in one eye by an arrow shot by the then-King of Korea.

finally.

Li Shimin had no choice but to kneel down and beg for mercy from the King of Joseon, submitting to him in order to escape back to the Tang Dynasty.

Regardless of just how far-fetched this unofficial history from the Tang Dynasty actually is.

This is really going to become official history of the Ming Dynasty very soon!

……

The next day.

noon.

Zhu Youjian and Li Zong arrived outside the city with a group of men as agreed.

After both sides stopped at a suitable distance, the two men rode their horses slowly toward each other.

Li Zongqi, on horseback, watched the Ming emperor slowly approaching him, his eyes narrowed slightly.

This was his first time meeting the Ming Dynasty emperor.

The Ming emperor was more robust and upright than he had imagined, but he did not exude a strong sense of intimidation; on the contrary, he seemed quite approachable.

It seems that the Ming emperors were not much different from what he had guessed.

However, Li Zong did not lower his guard just because the other party was young and calm.

He wore soft armor under his robes, held the reins in one hand and placed the other on his waist, slowly urging his horse closer to the other.

If the other party dares to make any move, the sword at his waist, which is a symbol of ceremonial honor, will turn into a bloodthirsty blade!
that's it.

Under the watchful eyes of the soldiers, Li Zong finally arrived at a place where he was only a step away from the Ming emperor.

Looking at the other person's peaceful face, Li Zong smiled.

He was about to say something when he realized that everything that had happened before was a misunderstanding, the work of villains, and that the Ming Dynasty and Korea were essentially one family.

Suddenly, he discovered that a golden mace had slipped out of the Ming Dynasty emperor's sleeve and was about to smash it down on his head without saying a word!

Li Zong's pupils contracted; he never expected that the Ming emperor had no intention of negotiating peace at all. The so-called peace talks were, from beginning to end, nothing more than a trap set by the other side!

However, Li Zong had no time to think about these things at that moment. He instinctively tried to dodge the blow from the golden melon.

However, on the one hand, the opponent acted too quickly.

On one hand, in that split second, Li Zong's eyes met the other party's, and he was involuntarily intimidated by the other party's aura, and a sense of fear arose from the bottom of his heart.

He had never felt this way, not even when he was facing Huang Taiji!
In that moment of distraction, the golden melon struck Li Zong on the forehead, causing him to lose consciousness.

And this time.

Li Hu, who was watching everything intently from afar on horseback, was shocked and immediately wanted to rush forward to save his master.

But Li Hu had only spurred his horse forward two steps when he noticed that the Ming army seemed to have been prepared all along, and was rushing towards him at an even faster speed.

Remembering Li Zong's instructions from the previous day, Li Hu gritted his teeth and reined in his horse: "Retreat to the capital! Retreat to the capital!"

He knew very well that if he led his men to charge now, Li Zong would be doomed.

Zhu Youjian did not order a pursuit of the Korean army that was retreating to the capital. Instead, he picked up Yi Zong and headed back to the city where the Ming army was stationed.

there.

After returning to the city, Li Hu, despite his anxiety, immediately distributed money to the elite troops in the capital, as instructed by Li Zong.

"The Ming emperor actually plotted to capture the emperor; he was utterly wicked and disregarded all ethics and morals!"

"I contacted the Later Jin two days ago, and their army will arrive in five or six days at most!"

"We only need to defend the city; there's no need for us to launch an attack. When the time comes, we can easily welcome back our lord and kill the Ming emperor to avenge today's humiliation by cooperating with the Later Jin army!"

The elite elite troops roared: "Defend the capital to the death!!!"

With each elite soldier receiving their pay, morale in the Korean capital reached its peak.

Looking at these elite soldiers with indignant expressions, Li Hu breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Fortunately, the Lord anticipated this worst-case scenario and made arrangements accordingly.

All they had to do next was defend the city and wait for the Later Jin army to arrive.

With the strength of these people, defending the capital would be a piece of cake.

It was impossible for the Ming army to break through.

But for the other tens of thousands of ordinary soldiers in the city, the mood was quite different at this moment.

Don’t worry about scarcity but inequality.

In the past, it would have been fine if these elite troops had received the lion's share of the pay.

But now.

We were just going to greet the emperor, and the Ming emperor gave us a hundred taels of silver... Now you're only giving silver to your own cronies?

Are we human beings?
The crowd remained silent, but their thoughts were racing.

However, for Li Hu...

In such a critical moment and in such a short time, how could he possibly notice any of these things?!

The city where the Ming Dynasty was temporarily stationed.

Li Zong slowly opened his eyes, regained consciousness, and found himself tied up in a room that wasn't very big.

After the initial shock, he quickly regained his composure.

I remembered what had just happened.

After a moment of silence, a bitter smile suddenly appeared on Li Zong's face.

The aura emanating from the Ming emperor when he attacked him just now left a very deep impression on Li Zong.

At that moment, Li Zong realized that all his previous understanding of the Ming emperor was wrong.

Although he was unwilling to admit it, he knew he was wrong.

he knows.

The aura emanating from the opponent was something they had fought their way through, step by step, amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Contrary to what I thought, the other party got to where they are today entirely by luck.

and so.

He was able to lead Dongjiang Town to victory over the Later Jin, which is why he dared to bring 10,000 men to Korea, and that's why he gradually fell into their trap and was captured alive.
The most terrifying thing is...

The other party has only been here for two days.

Yet, without even deploying a single soldier, he used stratagem to put North Korea in such a passive position.

I doubt you could find such a story anywhere else in the entire history books.
It's only been two days! He's only been on the throne for less than three months!!!

Excellent! What a fine Ming Dynasty emperor!
I truly underestimated you, like a pitiful frog at the bottom of a well!

After a somewhat manic, bitter laugh, Li Zong's expression slowly returned to calm.

It is true that I lost to my opponent completely.

But at least we have the upper hand, which is the overall trend.

Although the overall situation had little to do with him personally, his victory was both pathetic and laughable.

But that's how politics is; only those who survive to the end are the real winners.

A win is a win.

As for the Ming emperor, Li Zong now holds him in the highest esteem.

He knew it perfectly well.

If the tide of the world had turned even slightly in their favor, North Korea would probably be destroyed by now.

Unfortunately, the trend of the times is ultimately beyond human control.

To have come this far under these circumstances is already incredibly remarkable.

After this incident.

He would erect a memorial tablet for the Ming emperor in his palace, offering sacrifices and imitating it every day.
Li Zong took a deep breath, stopped thinking, and shouted towards the door, "Li Zong, the young king of the sinful kingdom, requests an audience with the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty!!!"

soon.

Li Zong was brought before Zhu Youjian.

Looking at the young face before him, Li Zong suddenly prostrated himself on the ground.
"The young prince, misled by his close advisors, dared to offend the majesty of the Ming Dynasty. He deserves to die!"

"But now the sins I have committed are irreversible. I beg the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty to give me a chance to atone for my crimes!"

“Li Hu, a trusted general of Xiao Wang, often colluded with the Later Jin. Now that Xiao Wang has been captured, he must have already informed the Later Jin and begged for help, and he will defend the capital to the death.”

"I'm afraid that in no more than three to five days, tens of thousands of Jin troops will be at the gates of Korea, at which point the Ming Dynasty will be in grave danger!"

At this point, Li Zong burst into tears.

"Now, the only way to break this deadlock is for me to return to the city under the escort of the Ming army and stabilize the Later Jin side so as to avoid this great disaster."

"From this day forward, Joseon will sever all ties with the Later Jin and regard it as an enemy state. Joseon will obey any orders from the Ming Dynasty without question!"

"If Your Majesty is still concerned, I would have no objection even if you sent troops to be stationed in the capital!"

Done.

Li Zong then knelt on the ground and said nothing more.

He has made himself very clear.

With just over ten thousand men, the Ming Dynasty had no chance of breaching the capital.

Moreover, it won't be long before the Later Jin army comes to attack.

When the Later Jin army arrives, everyone will surely die.

Therefore, even if the Ming Dynasty captured the King of Joseon alive, it wouldn't have much of an effect in essence.

Even if the Ming Dynasty appointed him as the "Gatekeeper Emperor," Li Hu and his loyal troops within the city would never open the city gates.

Because if the city truly falls, they will be the ones who die.

Zhu Youjian sat in his seat listening to Li Zong's words, and couldn't help but frown.

I thought the other party would provide some more valuable clues.

I didn't expect it to be all just this kind of nonsense.

He ignored Li Zong and instead instructed Mao Wenlong:
"Go and inform the people and soldiers in the surrounding cities that Li Zong's rebellion has been captured by me, but there are still people in the capital who are resisting stubbornly."

"Tell them that they will attack the city with the Ming Dynasty tonight, and after the city falls, all the wealth in the palace will belong to them."

"Then send Jin Demin and the others to deliver a message to the soldiers who came to welcome the emperor and the other ordinary soldiers in the city: Li Zong has committed treason and has been stripped of his kingship by the Ming Dynasty."

"If they are willing to cooperate with the Ming Dynasty in punishing the stubborn rebels in the city, then after the Ming Dynasty breaks through the city, all the rebels' wealth will also belong to them."

Li Zong suddenly raised his head and looked at the Ming Emperor in front of him in disbelief.

At this moment, Zhu Youjian finally turned his gaze to Li Zong again.

"As for Li Zong, we'll drag him to the city gates and skin him alive to crush the fighting spirit of the rebels defending the city."

"Your humble servant obeys the decree! I will proceed immediately!" Mao Wenlong bowed and accepted the order, then quickly left.

Zhu Youjian slowly stood up, glanced at Li Zong, and turned to leave the room.

Li Zong trembled violently as he looked at Zhu Youjian's last look.

The other party didn't say anything.

But that look seemed to be asking him something with extreme calmness:

What are you expecting?
(End of this chapter)