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

On the fourth day of the tenth month of the fourth year of Chongzhen's reign, at the hour of Si (9-11 AM).

Chen Feng reined in the horse, and the horse snorted, exhaling a puff of white vapor.

About seven or eight miles ahead, the outline of a huge city gate slowly rose from the horizon, and gradually, the brick and stone city wall that stretched across the mountain pass could be seen.

It's been seven days.

Chen Feng counted them in his mind.

After leaving that nameless fortress, bypassing Daning, crossing the no-man's-land, and hiding in the wilderness for seven days, we finally arrived at Xifengkou.

Just as Chen Feng breathed a sigh of relief, other thoughts surfaced.

Now we're back in the Ming Dynasty, but what happens next?

Looking at the distant city gate, Chen Feng couldn't help but feel worried.

He had no memories of the original owner, and didn't even know the original owner's name.

The only person who might have known the original owner of this body had died on the banks of the Xiaoling River.

In this era, he was a non-existent person, a nameless and faceless wandering ghost.

Chen Feng suddenly felt a pang of nostalgia for that little card from his later life, which had a photo, a number, and his birth date.

It's not needed in daily life, and basically no one would think of carrying it with them; a mobile phone can replace all its functions.

But that thing can prove: you are you.

What does he have now?

The two pieces of silk cloth covering the Later Jin dragon seal may be useful in the future.

Two hundred and thirty thousand taels of silver notes—that would be the capital to secure my future.

Oroseson's head could be used to earn military merit, provided he had an official status.

There were also Zhao Sheng, Meng Changgeng, Hao Dadao, and their group of subordinates whom he trusted. In their eyes, Chen Feng was a commander, a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Chen Feng didn't know what the Ming Dynasty law stipulated, but he could figure out which crime was more serious, "impersonating a military officer" or "impersonating a member of the Imperial Guard."

The former was a violation of military discipline, while the latter was an infringement on imperial power.

You might lose your head.

He didn't know if there was a household registration system, file management, or anyone would investigate in this era.

All he knew was that once he entered the pass, he would face scrutiny from the guards. If he couldn't explain his identity, he would likely be arrested as a spy for the Later Jin.

If Meng Changgeng and the others say that he is a centurion of the Guan Ning Army, then where is the official seal?

Zhao Sheng said he was a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but where was his waist badge?

He has nothing.

Chen Feng slowed his horse down, letting the group pass him.

Hao Dadao's laughter came from ahead, Sun Ergou was shouting something at Lao Putou, and Aji silently rode his horse at the back of the group. They were all very excited.

Chen Feng was thinking: What if we get caught? What will happen to these people?

"Boss?" Meng Changgeng saw that Chen Feng was preoccupied, so he rode over and approached with a sly smile on his face.

Chen Feng remained silent.

Meng Changgeng leaned closer and lowered his voice: "Boss, are you missing your wife?"

Chen Feng glanced at him.

Meng Changgeng, smugly convinced he'd guessed Chen Feng's thoughts, grinned even more slyly. "Don't worry, even if your wife thinks you died in battle and runs off with someone else, we can get her back. And if we can't, we'll just find someone better. Boss, you've done such a great service this time, a promotion and a fortune are guaranteed, why worry about not having women?"

Chen Feng didn't say anything and continued riding his horse leisurely. Before they knew it, the two of them had fallen to the back of the group.

Meng Changgeng was still rambling on: "Let me tell you, these women..."

"Scholar," Chen Feng interrupted him.

"Why?"

"Have you...read the Great Ming Code before?"

Meng Changgeng paused for a moment, then raised his chin and thumped his chest loudly, "Of course! Back in my hometown, I was a well-known scholar for miles around. I've helped many people write legal documents, and I know the laws of the Ming Dynasty inside and out!"

Chen Feng nodded, his tone as if asking about the weather, "Then tell me, what crime is it to impersonate a commander?"

Meng Changgeng's smile froze.

Chen Feng ignored him, looking straight ahead: "Impersonating a member of the Imperial Guard?"

Meng Changgeng stared at Chen Feng, mouth agape, his eyes wide with shock. "Boss...you..."

Chen Feng turned his head and met his gaze, his face expressionless. "Just asking, just kidding."

Meng Changgeng didn't think Chen Feng was joking. He stared at Chen Feng for three breaths, his Adam's apple bobbing, and his voice was extremely low. "Boss, you...you're really joking with us, right?"

Chen Feng did not answer.

Meng Changgeng opened his mouth and then closed it again. He felt the wind on horseback making his throat dry. "Impersonating a centurion... one hundred strokes of the cane, exiled for three thousand li."

He paused, then continued, "Impersonating a member of the Imperial Guard..."

"explain."

"Beheading, execution in the marketplace."

Chen Feng nodded, as if he had heard some trivial point of knowledge, and then spurred his horse forward a few steps.

Meng Changgeng stood there stunned for a moment, then spurred his horse to follow.

Ahead, the city gate tower at Xifengkou is getting closer and closer.

With the Ming Dynasty's territory right before their eyes, the troops had already started running.

Zhao Sheng led several night scouts to keep the formation in order, so that Hao Dadao and Sun Ergou wouldn't run too fast.

Gradually, the Ming army flags on the city wall became clearly visible, and Zhao Sheng and the scouts quickened their pace.

Chen Feng and Meng Changgeng lagged behind, following slowly.

Zhao Sheng was the first to notice something was wrong.

He glanced back, reined in his horse, and raised his hand to shout, "Halt!"

The line stopped.

Zhao Sheng turned his horse around and rode back. Meng Changgeng came to meet him. As the two passed each other, Meng Changgeng gave Zhao Sheng a meaningful look.

Zhao Sheng frowned, remained silent, and rode straight up to Chen Feng. "Boss, what's up?"

Chen Feng shook his head, spurred his horse past him, and headed towards the group.

Zhao Sheng didn't move, watching his back.

Meng Changgeng leaned closer and whispered, "Old Zhao, something's happened."

"What is it?"

Meng Changgeng lowered his voice even further: "The boss just asked me about the Ming Dynasty law... what crime is it to impersonate a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Zhao Sheng's expression changed. "Why is he asking this?"

"How the hell would I know!" Meng Changgeng exclaimed, pulling at his earlobe in frustration. "He just asked, and I answered. Only after I answered did he tell me he was joking."

Meng Changgeng glanced at Chen Feng ahead and continued in a low voice, "Damn, does he look like he's joking?"

Zhao Sheng was silent for a moment. "But the boss said he was a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard..."

"Did he say that?" Meng Changgeng asked suspiciously.

"He..." Zhao Sheng thought carefully, and it seemed that Chen Feng had never directly admitted it; it seemed that he was the one who mentioned the Embroidered Uniform Guard. "He doesn't seem to have said that..."

Zhao Sheng took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "After we enter the pass, no one should mention that the leader is a captain, let alone a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. If anyone asks, just say he was a defeated soldier who escaped with us."

Meng Changgeng nodded: "Go talk to Hao Dadao, that Gouzi kid has a big mouth..."

Before he could finish speaking, Sun Ergou suddenly shouted, "Scouts!"

Zhao Sheng and Meng Changgeng looked up at the same time.

A troop of cavalry, about thirty riders, charged out from the Xifengkou Pass, carrying Ming army flags, and headed straight for them.

Zhao Sheng's pupils contracted.

The scouts were in a loose formation and moving very fast. The riders on horseback had their hands on the hilts of their swords, and the leader appeared to be a small flag bearer.

Only then did Chen Feng slowly ride to the front of the column. He watched the approaching Ming scouts, his face still expressionless.

"Boss..." Sun Ergou was a little flustered.

Chen Feng remained silent.

At this time, they were still about a mile away from Xifengkou. The city gate was tightly closed, which clearly showed that the other side was wary of them.

The scouts suddenly dispersed fifty paces away, forming an arc to encircle them. The leading officer raised his saber and shouted sternly, "Halt! Dismount!"

Hao Dadao and Sun Ergou placed their hands on the hilts of their knives and looked at Chen Feng.

Chen Feng shook his head slightly, then he was the first to dismount and raise his hands.