Di Ming

Chapter 476 "Who else could it be but Yin?"

The impending southward advance of the Mongol army made the weather in Beijing even colder. The atmosphere within the Forbidden City grew even more somber.

Everyone knew the Tartars would take advantage of the situation and march south, but when they actually heard that the Tartar army was heading south, everyone felt panicked.

The Tumu Crisis was etched in our memories. The devastating Gengxu Reform was only a few decades later. The Mongol Tartars had always been the Ming Dynasty's sworn enemy.

They've come again.

Inside the Wenhua Hall, Consort Zheng, shivering with cold, seemed to have frozen her eyes, radiating an aura that kept strangers at bay.

"How dare the Tartars kill a Ming envoy and launch a massive southward invasion?! Everyone's bullying me!"

She had only been in power for six months, and she was already overwhelmed with worry. Her complexion deteriorated, her hair lost its luster, she constantly felt a dull ache in her chest from anger, and she couldn't sleep well at night.

If it weren't for her son's throne, she wouldn't bother with regency! Wouldn't it be better to just enjoy a peaceful and carefree life every day?

But Changxun is only fourteen years old, and the Emperor's body cannot withstand stimulation, so it is she, a woman, who is in charge!

Consort Zheng grew increasingly angry as she spoke, the gold hairpin in her hair trembling violently, and she roared:

"The imperial court is willing to give the Tartars more market rewards and increase the number of border markets to appease them, but the Tartars still want to take advantage of our misfortune! Do they think our million-strong army is just for show!"

"I want the Tartars dead! I want the Chahar Khan dead! I want to slaughter all the Tartars!"

Seeing his mother's renewed rage, Zhu Changxun turned pale and echoed Consort Zheng's words:

"Kill all the Tartars! I want the Tartars dead! The Ming Dynasty has a million-strong army, we are not afraid of them!"

Below the steps stood, in order: Wang Xijue, Zhang Jing, Zhang Wei, Shen Li, Gao Huai, Shi Xing, Sun Piyang, Chen Ju, Yang Junmin, Duke of Yingguo Zhang Weixian, Duke of Chengguo Zhu Yinghuai, Duke of Dingguo Xu Wenbi…

They were all cabinet ministers, chief ministers of the Directorate of Ceremonial, high-ranking officials, and nobles who controlled the Beijing Garrison.

Everyone looked bitter upon hearing Consort Zheng's and the Crown Prince's words, but none of them could say it outright.

A million-strong army? The imperial court doesn't have a million-strong army these days. That's just on paper!
At present, the imperial court has only 150,000 to 160,000 troops in the nine border regions, 50,000 troops in Li Rusong's Western Army, 30,000 troops trained by the imperial guards, and more than 20,000 elite troops guarding the capital.

The number of armored soldiers combined is at most two or three hundred thousand.

In addition, almost all the elite troops in the Central Plains were taken away by Qi Jiguang and sent to Nanjing. There were no elite troops left in the entire Central Plains region.

Blame Qi Jiguang. But the worst one is Zhu Yin.

As for the remaining majority of the so-called soldiers, they were a motley crew that had been in arrears with their pay for years, lacked training, were slacking in battle, and were undisciplined. Their numbers were indeed in the millions, but their armor and weapons were worn out, their horses were scarce, their weapons were crude, and they couldn't even get enough to eat.

They usually just guard the city, maintain order, and patrol; how could they possibly fight in battle? It's good enough if they don't cause trouble or demand payment. Sending them to fight the fierce Tartar cavalry would be sending them to their deaths, or forcing them to rebel.

"Speak up, all of you! The Mongols are coming!" Consort Zheng looked at the high-ranking officials in red robes in the hall and became even angrier.

They were all high-ranking officials, ministers, dukes, and powerful eunuchs, but in the end, there wasn't a single one she could rely on!
The group looked at each other, but none of them had a good idea.

For months, their biggest worry has been the Mongol invasion of the south. This time, the Mongols, if they don't come, it's a sure thing; if they do, it will be a large-scale, united invasion by various tribes, with a massive army, unlike the small-scale skirmishes of the past.

If more than 50,000 Mongol cavalrymen marched south, it would put immense pressure on the Ming Dynasty's border defenses, let alone 100,000.

Because Mongol cavalry were swift and unpredictable, their attacks were elusive and difficult to defend against. This is the power of cavalry.

The Ming Dynasty's Nine Garrisons were said to have 700,000 troops on paper, but only 150,000 were elite soldiers capable of fighting tough battles. These were mainly infantrymen, and they were scattered along the Great Wall for thousands of miles, guarding thousands of castles and beacon towers. They could not be concentrated in one place at all.

Even if they could concentrate their defenses in one place, the Mongol cavalry could easily avoid their strong points and attack from another location. Could a border force primarily composed of infantry possibly be faster than the Mongol cavalry?

Therefore, it was inevitable that the Mongol army would breach the Great Wall; this time, there was no way to stop them. The only question was whether they could defeat the southward-bound enemy army before they besieged Beijing!
Otherwise, it would inevitably lead to the third Battle of Beijing, or even the Kaiyun Disaster and the Jingkang Incident!
"Your Highness, Your Highness the Imperial Concubine." As the Grand Secretary, Wang Xijue could not remain silent and had to speak first.

"In my opinion, there are two things that are of utmost importance at present."

Wang Xijue is now in a dilemma, caught between a rock and a hard place, and is becoming increasingly cautious in his words and actions. But there's nothing he can do; his reputation and honor are already intertwined with the Northern Dynasty, and it's impossible to change course.

Consort Zheng's expression softened slightly, and she said in a gentle tone, "Mr. Wang's words are surely wise and insightful about governing the country."

Wang Xijue cupped his hands and said, "There is a struggle between the North and the South in the Central Plains, but there is also a struggle between the Qingcheng and Baicheng in Mongolia. The Ming Dynasty is divided, and so is Mongolia. The Tartars took advantage of the internal strife in the Ming Dynasty to launch a large-scale southward invasion, and the court will naturally take advantage of the infighting between Qingcheng and Baicheng."

"Qingcheng is the capital of the Tumed tribe, and San Niangzi and Shunyi Wang are the common leaders of the Right Wing Mongols. Baicheng is the location of the Northern Yuan Khanate and the capital of the Chahar Khan. Since Altan Khan, both sides have wanted to dominate the Mongol power, and there have been constant small wars and internal struggles. Neither side is willing to submit to the other."

"This time, Chahar Khan (Buyanchechen Khan) summoned the Mongol tribes to march south. Why did only the left wing respond, while the right wing did not? Of course they couldn't respond, otherwise wouldn't it be like Qingcheng obeying Baicheng's orders? This is the court's opportunity!"

"Therefore, the first priority is to continue contacting the Third Lady of Qingcheng. The previous envoys were not of high enough rank or prestige. This time, we need to send a highly respected minister to Guihua City (Qingcheng). I believe that we can send Zheng Luo, the Governor-General of Xuanda, to Qingcheng to meet the Third Lady and the Prince of Shunyi."

"As long as Third Lady continues to be subservient to the Ming Dynasty, the Mongol tribes will not be able to unite and invade the south, and at least Xuanfu, Datong, and the three border regions will be stable. As long as the right-wing Mongols, led by the Tumed tribe, do not participate, the court can confidently and boldly draw elite troops from Xuanfu, Datong, and the three border regions to the east to converge and concentrate on resisting the large army of the left-wing Mongols. If we can persuade Third Lady to take the opportunity to use force against the left-wing Mongols, that would be even better."

Consort Zheng frowned. "But... the envoy has been in Qingcheng for several months, and the Third Lady, who was previously so obedient to the court, has still not responded. I'm afraid that not only will she not stay put, but she will also send troops south to support Chahar Khan."

Wang Xijue sighed, "Third Sister has always been very obedient, but a few years ago, because the bandits Yin and Qi recovered the Hetao region, destroyed the Ordos tribe, and even attacked Qinghai Mongolia, they greatly offended the Right Wing Mongols, to the point that the Right Wing Mongols hated the court. If it weren't for Third Sister's obedience, would the Right Wing Mongols have let it go so easily?"

"If we want to win over Third Sister and the Right Wing Mongols, the only way right now is to return the Hetao region and release the prisoners of war. If Zheng Luo goes to Qingcheng with generous gifts to return the Hetao region and release the prisoners of war, Third Sister will have given an explanation to the Right Wing Mongols, and she will most likely be able to make peace with the court and help the court attack the Chahar King on the Left Wing!"

"Even if she doesn't send troops to help the court, as long as she doesn't participate in the attack on the Ming Dynasty, the court can focus on dealing with the Chahar Khan."

"This is using the Hetao grasslands and Mongol prisoners to exchange for fighting poison with poison, and using the Tartars to fight the Tartars!"

Wang Xijue presented this strategy, but did not offer a second one, instead waiting for everyone to process his words.

He knew that there would inevitably be opposition.

"Return the Hetao grasslands and release the Mongol prisoners of war?" Vice Minister Zhang Wei was stunned, then raised his tablet. "Your Highness, Your Majesty, this is absolutely forbidden! Grand Secretary, how could you suggest abandoning the Hetao region?"

"The imperial court has recovered the Hetao grassland for several years and provides a lot of warhorses and fodder every year. Now, tens of thousands of people have been relocated to Hetao, and it has a great sense of revival like it did at the beginning of the dynasty. The cavalry of the nine border regions can also ride two horses each. At least there are no more so-called cavalrymen who ride oxen and mules to patrol the border and are ridiculed by the Tartars."

"Besides, the Hetao region is our Han homeland. How can we talk about returning it? Although Yin and Qi are traitors, their recapture of the Hetao region is not a crime. How can we abandon the Hetao region?"

"If the Hetao region is lost, the imperial court will lose more than half of its warhorse supply. How will it then be able to resist the Tartars and suppress the puppet regime? Isn't this like drinking poison to quench thirst? I believe this strategy is absolutely unacceptable!"

"It's like throwing offerings into a miasma-ridden abyss to fight with crocodiles, or like cutting off pieces of flesh to feed a starving viper—how could that be acceptable?"

Hearing Zhang Wei's words, Wang Xijue's expression grew even more bitter. The Grand Secretary sighed deeply and said in a sorrowful tone:
“Grand Secretary Zhang, during the reign of Emperor Shizong, there was a debate in the court about whether to recover or abandon the Hetao region. Emperor Shizong even unjustly executed Zeng Xian, a minister who advocated for the recovery of the Hetao region.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wei's hair stood on end, and he glared at the emperor, saying, "Does the Grand Secretary intend to follow Yan Song's example and advise the emperor to kill me? The whole world knows that Zeng Xian was wronged, but I am only concerned with the affairs of the country and am not afraid to follow in his footsteps!"

Wang Xijue shook his head and said, "How dare I say that? But why did Emperor Shizong suddenly change from supporting the restoration of the Tao to opposing it and instead supporting abandoning it? Was it merely because of the warning from Wudang and the instigation of Yan Song? It was because he couldn't offend Altan Khan at the time! He could only use this as an excuse to kill Zeng Xian!"

"Therefore, whether the court should recover the Hetao region or abandon it depends on the circumstances. In the current situation, weighing the priorities, it is time to temporarily abandon the Hetao region."

Zhang Wei sneered: "How easy it is for the Grand Secretary to speak! The Hetao region, which tens of thousands of soldiers fought and bled to recover, can be discarded like worn-out shoes with just a few words?"

"When Emperor Shizong killed Zeng Xian, he was unwilling to fight against the Mongols. But did the Mongols become docile? Just two years later, Altan Khan led an army of over 100,000 south and besieged Beijing! As a result, the Mongols captured 300,000 people and massacred over 100,000. How tragic!"

Wang Xijue said with great distress, "What Grand Secretary Zhang said makes sense! But that was two years later! What does that mean? It means that Emperor Shizong's execution of Zeng Xian and abandonment of the reconquest of Hetao bought the Ming Dynasty two years! Without those two years of preparation, the outcome of the Gengxu Incident could have been either the Kaiyun Disaster or the Jingkang Incident!"

Shen Li immediately objected, saying, "Your Highness, Your Majesty! I cannot agree with the Grand Secretary's words! Whether Emperor Shizong recovers the Hetao region or abandons it, he cannot stop Altan Khan's invasion of the south. What difference does it make if it's two years earlier? Although the court has two fewer years to prepare, the morale and fighting spirit gained from recovering the Hetao region and launching a proactive attack are enough to offset the two years of preparation!"

"Two years later, Altan Khan marched south, and the border troops collapsed at the first encounter. The Mongol army reached the gates of Beijing without lifting a finger, advancing hundreds of miles as if they were in an empty land. Where was the preparation during those two years?"

"Your words, Prime Minister, are far-fetched. How can they convince the world? These barbarians are like beasts, fearing power but not virtue. Do you think that if the court returns the Ordos region, it can appease the Right Wing Mongols and allow the Third Lady to attack the Chahar Khanate?"

"The Strategies of the Warring States says, 'If you offer meat to a hungry tiger in its path, disaster will surely follow!' I am worried that this action is no different from offering money to a thief or asking for a horse in a brothel."

"I'm afraid the court's good intentions will be seen by Third Sister as weakness and vulnerability, which will backfire and prompt her to send troops south as well! Would the Right Wing Mongols let such a good opportunity pass by? I think they will most likely attack Shanxi!"

Shen Li was a proponent of retrogressive policies, so he naturally opposed abandoning the old ways.

"Your Majesty, I agree with abandoning the Hetao region and appeasing Qingcheng!" Minister of War Shi Xing stepped forward and said, "Zheng Luo reports that Third Lady actually wants to return to the court, but because the Hetao grasslands have been recovered by the court and tens of thousands of Mongol prisoners are unable to return north, the chieftains of the various Mongol tribes on the right wing have all vowed revenge against the Ming Dynasty. Third Lady cannot suppress the anger of the masses and has no choice but to accept this situation. The Ministry of War also has intelligence from the northern frontier transmitted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard to prove this, and it is not just Zheng Luo's side of the story." "If the court rewards Hetao and returns the prisoners, Third Lady can subdue the masses and re-sign an alliance with the court. If the court promises great benefits, it can gain their strength and win their hearts. In the future, we can use barbarians to control barbarians, and in the future, we can make them obedient."

Shi Xing paused here, then continued eloquently:

"Even if the imperial court doesn't give up Hetao, can't they take it back themselves? If Third Sister raises an army to seize Hetao now, can the imperial court spare troops to protect it? They simply can't! Knowing they can't protect it, why not just give it to her voluntarily?"

"Even if we take a step back and assume that Third Sister takes the Hetao region, she will still take the opportunity to invade the south. At least that will have the effect of delaying the enemy. A negotiation can always buy the court a few months. With those months, the court can concentrate all its efforts on dealing with the Left Wing Mongols."

"Therefore, even if we know it's like throwing good money after bad, we should still give up the Hetao region and return the prisoners!"

Minister of Revenue Yang Junmin also stepped forward, holding his official tablet, and said:

"Your Majesty, I agree with abandoning the Hetao region and returning the prisoners to appease and strengthen ties with Qingcheng! This is a wise and prudent suggestion from the Grand Secretary! Even if, as Grand Marshal Shi says, the court does not give up the Hetao region, will the Right Wing Mongols simply seize it themselves? Right now, the court is preoccupied with one issue and struggling to cope with another. How can it possibly hold onto the defenseless Hetao region?"

"Since we know we can't hold it, why not do a favor and temporarily give it to Third Sister, so she can keep the internal situation under control and continue to maintain good relations with the court?"

"Send them out of the Hetao region. The worst-case scenario is that Third Sister goes back on her word, but that would still buy us a few months. The best-case scenario, however, would allow Third Sister to send troops to attack the stronghold of the Left Wing Mongols and cut off the Chahar Khan's rear. Why not take a gamble? Does the court have a better plan?"

Wang Xijue nodded and said, "You gentlemen truly understand my heart. That's exactly what I meant. Whether the Hetao region is given away or not, it's no longer under the control of the court, and we can't protect it anyway. So let's just use it to do a favor and give Qingcheng a way out. What does it mean to be tolerant for the sake of the country? This is it."

"Alas, do I really want to resort to such a desperate measure? If I were to utter these words in court today, the historians of the future would be like knives, and what kind of infamy would I suffer? But the affairs of the state are such that I cannot afford to worry about the reputation I will bear after my death. Whether they know me or condemn me, only history will tell."

Upon hearing this, a collective sigh arose in the court, and everyone looked somber and deeply saddened.

Wang Xijue's suggestion to cede the Hetao region was tantamount to ceding territory. Even if this strategy could alleviate the court's current predicament and be considered a wise and prudent approach, Wang Xijue's reputation would be severely damaged regardless of the outcome.

Standing at the head of the military officers, Duke Zhang Weixian of Yingguo also stepped forward and said:

"Your subject agrees to reward the Third Lady with the Hetao region and send back the Mongol prisoners of war!"

Immediately, Duke Cheng, Zhu Yinghuai, and Duke Ding, Xu Wenbi, also stepped forward to agree with Wang Xijue's strategy of abandoning the Hetao region and releasing prisoners of war.

"My lord, second the motion!"

Because for now, this is indeed a possible solution. At worst, it can serve as a delaying tactic. What the court needs most right now is time, isn't it?

Only three ministers supported Zhang Wei and Shen Li's opinions and opposed abandoning the Hetao region, putting them at a significant disadvantage.

Consort Zheng sat behind the beaded curtain, looking at the ministers in the hall who advocated abandoning the Hetao region. She couldn't help but feel annoyed again and said irritably:

"After all this talk, you gentlemen are just offering up a piece of ancestral land to win the favor of a Mongol woman? The land is mine, why should I give it to her? The Ming Dynasty is a celestial empire, why should we have to appease a barbarian woman? Then who will appease me? Hmph, I am the Regent Imperial Concubine of the Ming Dynasty, and I have been assisting the Crown Prince in overseeing the country for half a year. Why has no one given me a piece of land? What makes me inferior to her?"

She was genuinely angry. She didn't actually know how important the Hetao region was, but when she heard they were giving away a large piece of land, she instinctively felt heartbroken, as if she'd been ripped off, and couldn't bear to part with it!
When Wang Xijue and the others heard her words, they looked at each other in bewilderment and dared not refute her. They could only silently say four words in their hearts: incomprehensible.

Sigh, women in power really don't work. What are you talking about? Is this something to be angry about?

Consort Zheng's nose tingled, and she almost burst into tears. To give up a large piece of land to appease a Mongolian woman? How infuriating!

That land belongs to the Ming Dynasty, and it belongs to her son Changxun!

Just then, a clear voice suddenly came from the entrance of the main hall:
"Give up the Hetao region? The Grand Secretary is loyal to the country and has put in a lot of effort, but he is blinded by a single leaf!"

Everyone turned around and saw a man dressed in the everyday clothes of a third-rank civil official strutting into the hall. This man was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with a face as handsome as jade and a beautiful woman's appearance. Moreover, he had a refined demeanor and a radiant presence. He was none other than Zheng Guowang, the Vice Minister of War, Imperial Commissioner for Training Troops in Four Provinces, and Military Commissioner who was currently enjoying great influence!
Wasn't this imperial brother-in-law training troops in Luoyang? Why did he suddenly return to the capital?
Unbeknownst to them, Zheng Guowang had devoted himself to learning from Zhu Yin over the years, placing great importance on intelligence and training some of the Imperial Guards to be on par with those of the early Ming Dynasty. He had also deployed spies on the grasslands.

Therefore, although she was in Luoyang, she was able to foresee the Mongol army's southward advance and also learned about the situation in the Hetao region. Knowing the gravity of the matter, she immediately went to the capital half a month ahead of schedule.

She and Consort Zheng were very close relatives, like siblings, so she had the privilege of returning to the capital to see the Emperor at any time without needing permission. Upon receiving the news, she immediately rode swiftly from Luoyang northwards.

"Fourth brother..." Consort Zheng was both surprised and delighted to see Zheng Guowang, who had suddenly returned to the capital and was covered in dust from his journey. "You've finally come back."

Upon seeing her beloved younger brother, Consort Zheng seemed to have found her anchor. She disregarded the solemnity of the court assembly and made no attempt to conceal her affection, making the atmosphere in the court less formal.

Zheng Guowang, however, bowed respectfully and meticulously, saying:
"Your humble servant Zheng Guowang, Vice Minister of War, Vice Censor-in-Chief, and Imperial Commissioner for Military Training in Shandong, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Henan, pays his respects to His Highness the Crown Prince Regent and His Highness the Imperial Noble Consort Regent! May His Majesty the Emperor enjoy boundless blessings and peace!"

She was reminding her sister that this was the imperial court, not the inner quarters, and that she should be careful about how she addressed people.

Consort Zheng straightened her posture, then said in a calm and composed voice, "Your Majesty is well. Minister Zheng, please rise!"

Zheng Guowang thanked the emperor and rose, then cupped his hands, raised his tablet, and said in a clear, resonant voice:

"Just now, I heard the gentlemen advising me to abandon the Hetao region. I believe this is not advisable."

Consort Zheng smiled, revealing her dimples, and said, "Minister Zheng, please explain in detail why we cannot abandon the Hetao region."

A bitter smile appeared on Zheng Guowang's face, which bore a striking resemblance to Consort Zheng, as he spoke calmly:

"Because that Third Lady of Qingcheng has decided to retake the Hetao region! The imperial envoy sent to Qingcheng has probably been killed by now!"

"The right-wing Mongol cavalry has begun to assemble in Qingcheng. Third Sister not only intends to retake the Hetao region, but also to capture Datong!"

"This time, the imperial court has no choice but to fight on two fronts, east and west."

“Your Majesty, as the saying goes, when the Xia dynasty declines, the Hu dynasty will surely prosper. Since ancient times, whenever the Central Plains have been divided, when have the barbarians ever missed the opportunity to move south? They never will. Whether it is the Chahar Khan or the Third Lady, they are all birds of a feather.”

"Third Lady was submissive before because the Ming Dynasty was strong and she dared not act rashly. Now that the Ming Dynasty has fallen to such a state, how can she be content with her lot? That woman, after all, is Anda Khan's woman."

Upon hearing this news, everyone's faces turned extremely grim.

What?! The Third Mongol has also decided to invade the Ming Dynasty from the south?! That means both the left and right wings of the Mongols are going south! The court is being forced to fight a two-front war?!
Has the worst thing finally happened?

They did not doubt Zheng Guowang's intelligence; at this juncture, why would Zheng Guowang lie?
Yes, after all, Third Sister was once Anda's woman. She held power in Qingcheng for many years. She is not someone to be trifled with.

Wang Xijue closed his eyes in anguish, and said in a desolate voice, "I originally intended to use the Hetao region to appease Third Lady and Prince Shunyi, buying time for the court. Who knew... they would try to seize it themselves!"

"Once the war breaks out on both the eastern and western fronts, the imperial court will be short of money, food and weapons. The new army is not yet fully trained, and we also have to be wary of the puppet regimes in Nanjing and the Western Regions. We are surrounded by enemies on all sides. What can we do?"

Zheng Guowang continued, “Gentlemen, please do not expect peace negotiations. The Tartars have come to occupy the Central Plains and restore the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. They want to take advantage of the Ming Dynasty’s weakness and kill it. Peace negotiations will only demoralize the troops and shake their morale; they will only encourage the enemy. If you don’t believe me, you can try it.”

Zheng Guowang's voice sounded very soft, almost like a woman's. However, everyone thought that Zheng Guowang only had a woman's voice and appearance.

Everyone frowned upon hearing "his" words.

The Ming Dynasty was surrounded by enemies on all sides! But the court lacked silver, food, weapons, and elite troops! It was simply unable to attend to all aspects of the situation!
Consort Zheng was pale and her mind was buzzing. One thought flashed through her mind: "To hell with the Ming Dynasty, I'm tired, I don't care anymore!"

To everyone's surprise, Zheng Guowang stood ramrod straight and said in a firm and resounding voice:
"But there is one person who can help the court resist the two Mongol armies! Although a bitter and bloody battle is unavoidable, he can protect Beijing and prevent the area within the Great Wall from being ravaged!"

"Who?" Consort Zheng's expression brightened with joy.

“Zhu Zhihu,” Zheng Guowang uttered softly.

"It's him!?" Consort Zheng's expression changed drastically, and she gritted her teeth.

The ministers were all utterly bewildered. Had Zheng Guojiu lost his mind?

But then Zheng Guojiu sighed and said to himself, "Who else could it be but Yin?"

These words left the entire hall speechless.

Who else could it be but Yin?

For a moment, the hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; it was eerily quiet.

Zheng Guowang stood in the main hall, her slender yet upright figure appearing out of place and forlorn. Her expression suddenly became…utterly lonely!
……

P.S.: That's all for today. A chapter of just over 6,000 words. Thank you, goodnight! Please vote with your monthly tickets!

(End of this chapter)