Late Ming Dynasty: From the Defeated Soldiers at Daling River to Ascending the Throne

The four were "invited" out of the cabin.

The camp gates were already open, and two squads of armored soldiers stood on either side, each holding a torch.

Orosechen personally led the way, while Gultai lagged half a step behind Chen Feng, his hand always resting on the hilt of his sword.

Shen Qinghe followed behind Wang Jie and Hao Dadao, walking with Meng Changgeng.

Zhao Sheng, who was watching from afar, saw everything. When he saw Chen Feng and the others finally enter the camp, the weight that had been hanging over his heart finally eased a little.

Chen Feng walked in the middle, his eyes seemingly tired and downcast, but in reality, he was quickly scanning the layout of the camp.

The camp was brightly lit, with rows of torches stuck in wooden frames and extending along the main road, illuminating most of the camp as if it were daytime, clearly to prevent any internal strife.

On the east side, closer to the Mongolian camp, there are significantly fewer pine torches, and there is a detached earthen and stone bungalow surrounded by a fence.

The building was square with thick walls and small windows. The roof was covered with a thick layer of wet mud. Armored soldiers were carrying wooden barrels out of the building and loading them onto carts. Black gunpowder could be seen scattered around the barrels.

Four armored soldiers with spears stood at the entrance, and a sentry circled the house every twenty breaths.

On the west side, grain and fodder were piled up like mountains.

The haystacks covered with straw mats resembled small hills, roughly estimated to be no fewer than twenty.

Firebreak ditches were dug around the area, but the guards were noticeably sparser than those at the gunpowder depot, with only two teams of ten men patrolling.

The central area is the camp.

The large cowhide tents are arranged in a checkerboard pattern, with passageways between them for easy assembly.

It was nearly midnight, but half of the tents still had lights on, and the sounds of weapons being sharpened and armor plates being wiped could be faintly heard from inside.

It was clear that a major battle was imminent, and the Later Jin soldiers were all on high alert.

The group walked deeper into the camp and stopped in front of a solitary tent. The tent was small, but sturdy, and there was a felt mat at the entrance.

"Please stay here for the time being, Mr. Liang." Oroseson lifted the tent flap. "Food and hot water will be served shortly. There will be guards outside. Please feel free to ask if you need anything."

Chen Feng glanced at the four armored soldiers with spears on each side of the tent, clearly on guard, but he still nodded and stepped into the tent.

Orosechen smiled at the tent entrance: "Sir, please rest early."

The curtains fell, and the footsteps faded into the distance.

A single mutton tallow lamp lit the tent, casting a dim light. A felt mat was laid on the ground, and two old blankets were piled in the corner; otherwise, there was nothing else.

Chen Feng sat down cross-legged. Wang Jie, Hao Dadao, and Meng Changgeng gathered around, forming a very small circle around the lamp.

Wang Jie spoke first, his voice low: "I checked earlier, the camp is heavily guarded, there's no way to get out."

Chen Feng closed his eyes. "Now we can only wait."

"What are you waiting for?"

"Orossen will definitely send someone to the central army to request and verify our identity information."

Wang Jie was somewhat uneasy. "Won't this give us away?"

Chen Feng shook his head. "I don't know."

Wang Jie grew a little anxious. "What do you mean you don't know?"

"The dragon ticket is genuine, that won't give us away. The only question is whether Huang Taiji will send someone who knows Liang Siye to verify his identity. However... those who know Liang Siye's appearance are all Huang Taiji's confidants. Zhang Canzheng's tens of thousands of troops are watching us from the outside, and those confidants can't get away for the time being."

"What if they actually send someone?"

Meng Changgeng rolled his eyes at Wang Jie, "When the time comes, we'll stand guard outside the tent and say that the master has already rested. If he really wants to come in, we'll let him catch a glimpse of the master's back from afar; if his identity is exposed, we'll just take him hostage and rush out."

Chen Feng smiled and looked at Meng Changgeng, "Yes, let's do as the scholar says."

Although Meng Changgeng spoke casually, Wang Jie was still very uneasy, feeling as if he had been tricked.

Hao Dadao scratched his head. "Boss, what do we do now? Are we really going to sleep here?"

Chen Feng lay down and turned his back, saying, "I can take a nap and conserve my energy."

"Oh." Hao Dadao looked at Meng Changgeng and reached out his hand, which had been itching to touch him, to pat his head.

Meng Changgeng was startled and stepped aside, hissing in a low voice, "What are you doing?!"

Hao Dadao grinned, "Hehe, I've been wanting to touch a Tartar's bald head for a long time. So this is what it feels like. Let me touch it again."

Meng Changgeng was furious. "I'm not a Tartar!"

"Hey, there's no difference, come on." With that, Hao Dadao pounced on him.

"Don't come any closer..."

Listening to the subtle commotion behind him, Chen Feng's gaze turned deep.

————————————————————————

At the same moment, twenty miles away, at Huang Taiji's camp.

Inside the golden-roofed tent, the lights were bright. Huang Taiji sat on a tiger-skin chair with a map of western Liaoning spread out in front of him.

He was thirty-nine years old, with a robust build, round cheeks, long and bright eyes, and a thick mustache. Although he was dressed in casual clothes, his back was straight, and he exuded an air of quiet authority.

There were two other people in the tent.

On the left is Dahai, the first Bakshi (civil official) of the Later Jin Dynasty. He is over forty years old, with a thin face, and wears a blue satin robe. He is fluent in Jurchen, Han and Mongolian languages, and many of Huang Taiji's edicts came from his hand.

On the right is Ning Wanwo, a Han Chinese soldier named Bakshi. Originally a scholar during the Ming Dynasty, he was highly valued after surrendering to the Later Jin. He was short and stout, with perpetually squinting eyes, as if he were always scheming.

An hour ago, a scout reported that Liang Siye's warming carriage had been found north of Qilihepu, with sixteen corpses at the scene, but no trace of Liang Siye had been found.

Huang Taiji looked worried. Although he was not worried that the merchants would cut off the trade route with the Jin Dynasty, he was certain that it would have some impact and cause unpleasantness between the two sides.

Huang Taiji spoke up, "What is Mr. Ning's opinion on this matter?"

Ning Wanwo raised her head: "According to the intelligence report, the body of the young master of the Liang family has not been found. It is possible that he was kidnapped, but it is also possible that he escaped."

Huang Taiji was somewhat dissatisfied with Ning Wanwo's repetitive and rambling remarks. Although these Han people were very talented, they always liked to speak in circles.

Huang Taiji slowly spoke: "Then, Mr. Yining, who did this?"

Ning Wanwo said calmly, "In my opinion, it is very likely the work of night watchmen."

Dahai, standing to the side, shook his head. "In my opinion, it's more likely the work of those rebellious Nikan. The scouts said there were two Nikan corpses at the scene (Nikan is a derogatory term used by the Jurchens for Han Chinese; if someone was captured and enslaved by the Jurchens, they were called Nikan, haha). They also stripped all the clothes and weapons off the corpses at the scene. Only those Nikan would do such a thing."

Ning Wanwo showed no reaction to Da Hai's use of the term "Nikan," maintaining his calm tone as he said, "The Night Scouts often collude with those Nikans to attack grain convoys and military farms. I believe this was also the work of the Night Scouts."

Huang Taiji pondered for a moment, "The night scouts are always cautious and rarely launch attacks. Even when they do, they target grain convoys. This has never happened before, but what Mr. Ning said is not without reason."

Da Hai stroked his beard, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "That young master of the Liang family was too arrogant; he brought too few guards."

Ning Wanwo cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, we should send a letter over there as soon as possible. If the young master of the Liang family is captured by the night watchmen, our business with the Shanxi merchants may be exposed. We must warn them to be on guard."

At this time, Huang Taiji had not formally proclaimed himself emperor, but the Han officials around him were already eyeing this merit of supporting the emperor and repeatedly urged Huang Taiji to declare himself emperor, but Huang Taiji refused on the grounds that the time was not yet right.

However, these Han officials still addressed Huang Taiji as "Your Majesty".

Just then, another messenger entered the tent: "Report! Urgent report from Orosechen Ejen of the grain supply camp: Liang Siye has appeared at the camp, holding a royal warrant and requesting an audience with the Great Khan!"

The three people in the tent were all taken aback.

A messenger presented the silk cloth. Huang Taiji took it, unfolded it, glanced at it, and then handed it to Dahai: "Take a look."

Dahai carefully examined the seal, the silk, and the gold thread, then smelled the inkpad and nodded: "It's genuine. I gave it to him this morning."

Then Dahai sneered, "These Han merchants are insatiable; they clearly want the Great Khan to offer them more benefits!"

"Greed is human nature among Han Chinese merchants," Huang Taiji said dismissively. "If they weren't greedy, why would they risk sending us things?"

He turned to the messenger, "How is Liang Siye?"

"It is reported that he suffered a nose injury and his clothes were torn. Only three people remained with him: two who appeared to be servants and a Nikan aha. He was emotional and insisted on seeing the Khan to seek justice."

Huang Taiji laughed: "What a tough dog."

After a moment's thought, he ordered: "Tell Orosechen: Take good care of Liang Siye, provide him with food and supplies according to the standards for a lieutenant general. Tomorrow, send a troop of Bayara to escort him back to Yizhou City to recuperate. With the great battle imminent, I, the Khan, have no time to receive him. I will reward him after the battle."

"Yes, sir!" The messenger withdrew.

He looked at the map again, pointing to the location of the Daling River: "Tomorrow, Zhang Chun's 40,000-strong army will arrive. If we win this battle, the overall situation in Liaodong will be settled. As for Liang Siye..."

He smiled. "Once the war is over, we'll bestow upon him an honorary title and issue him a couple more imperial edicts. Isn't that exactly what the Han people want—these empty titles and promises of the future?"

Dahai and Ningwanwo exchanged a glance and said in unison, "Your Majesty the Great Khan is wise."