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

October 19th, the fourth year of Chongzhen's reign

After finishing his physical training, Chen Feng stood in the courtyard in a daze. A day had passed since the deadline given by Zhang Lan and Li Ruolian.

Chen Feng didn't want to take sides, but he couldn't afford to offend either side. He wanted both sides to sit down and talk things over so they could share the credit, but the two sides were at loggerheads, so how could they possibly sit down and talk properly?

After Li Ruolian and his men broke in yesterday, Zhang Lan strengthened the security at the courtyard gate.

Chen Feng and his group were no longer allowed to go out at will, which made Hao Dadao and Meng Changgeng somewhat dissatisfied.

Just as Chen Feng was doing push-ups, a servant came to report.

It is said that a scholar has arrived and wishes to see Commander Chen.

Chen Feng wondered why Zhang Lan's people would let someone in to see him. He wiped the sweat from his hands and went out to greet them.

Standing outside the door was a middle-aged scholar, dressed in a blue robe and a square scarf, with a mustache that trembled as he spoke, his chin held higher than his forehead.

He glanced around as he entered, his gaze lingering on Chen Feng for a moment before turning away, as if looking at him any longer would be beneath him.

"You're Chen Feng?" he asked in a high-pitched voice, tinged with impatience.

Chen Feng remained silent.

The scholar strolled into the courtyard, looked around, and curled his lip. "Living here? It's alright."

He turned to Chen Feng, raised his chin, and said, "I am the advisor to Governor Qiu of Ningyuan. I am here on the governor's orders to show you the way."

Chen Feng's brow twitched slightly.

Qiu Hejia?

The scholar, seeing that he remained silent, assumed that he was intimidated by his imposing manner and became even more smug.

He stood with his hands behind his back, speaking eloquently: "Governor Qiu knows everything about what happened in Yizhou. Impersonating a captain and acting on your own is punishable by death according to the law. But Governor Qiu values ​​talent and is willing to give you a chance."

He paused, glancing sideways at Chen Feng, "Your credit should be attributed to Lord Qiu. When the Ministry of War officials come to verify military merits, say that you acted on Lord Qiu's secret orders, and that all the plans and procedures were formulated by Governor Qiu. You only contributed a tiny, insignificant amount. After it's done, Lord Qiu will petition to pardon you and bring you into his household as a bodyguard."

Chen Feng's noodles twitched, and he squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth: "Governor Qiu's strategic planning and decisive victories are truly those of a reincarnation of Zhuge Liang. When reviewing battle achievements, should I add: 'If it weren't for my foolishness in failing to execute Governor Qiu's plans, we might have even blown up the slave chieftain Huang Taiji along with him?'"

The scholar stroked his mustache and finally turned to look Chen Feng directly. "I didn't expect a soldier like you to have such a clever mind. You're a promising young man. When I get back, I'll put in a good word for you, and Governor Qiu will surely reward you with even more silver."

Chen Feng's temples throbbed as he listened. "Does Governor Qiu have any other rewards in store?"

"A mere soldier should be content with such good fortune," the middle-aged scholar said with a mocking smile. "Or perhaps you still want..."

Chen Feng clenched his fist, and his knuckles cracked.

"Bang."

Before the scholar could finish speaking, Chen Feng's fist slammed into his face.

The scholar leaned back, his front teeth flying out, spraying blood and foam, hitting the door frame and bouncing back.

The scholar fell to the ground, covered his face, and howled like a pig being slaughtered.

Chen Feng stepped forward, straddled the man, grabbed him by the collar, and punched him repeatedly in the face, which was still open and howling.

"Damn it!" he cursed as he smashed things, "Qiu Hejia! A whole bunch of idiots!"

When Chen Feng was studying this battle, he disliked Qiu Hejia because he thought Qiu was cowardly, afraid of battle, and ambitious but incompetent.

Reading "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" makes one think they are Zhuge Liang, remotely controlling the school from the rear.

What's the difference between them and those keyboard warriors who can play the game just by looking at the skills and become masters after playing it once?

Moreover, on the day he transmigrated, it was that idiot Qiu Hejia who led the army to try to cross the river under the cover of fog, resulting in the loss of six or seven thousand elite troops of the Ming Dynasty.

This led to him being hunted down to Yizhou, where he nearly lost his life several times.

Why would someone want a share of the credit but not come to me directly, instead sending their advisors to talk about "fate" and "contentment"?

He was about to be dismissed and investigated, yet he still didn't know to tuck his tail between his legs and act like a dog. If someone like him could rise to a high position, the Ming Dynasty deserved to perish!

When the guards behind the scholar saw that their master had been attacked, they wanted to draw their swords and rush forward.

But before they could make a move, Hao Dadao and Meng Changgeng, who had been watching from the sidelines with displeasure, pounced on them.

Those guards were no match for these tough soldiers who had rolled out of piles of corpses; they were easily knocked to the ground.

Chen Feng shook the blood off his hands and said to Hao Dadao, "Throw it out!"

Hao Dadao grabbed the man by the back of his collar, lifted him up like a chick, strode to the courtyard gate, and threw him onto the street.

The man, already half-dead from Chen Feng's beating, lay on the ground still yelling, "You...you wait! Governor Qiu won't let you get away with this!"

Chen Feng stood in the courtyard, staring at the closed gate, his chest heaving violently.

Hao Dadao chuckled and said, "That's great! I've had a grudge against that pedantic scholar for a long time."

Meng Changgeng tugged at his earlobe, stretching the flesh out long: "Boss...that's the governor's man...is that alright?"

Hao Dadao slapped him on the back of the head: "You didn't hold back either! You kicked harder than anyone else!"

Meng Changgeng awkwardly loosened his earlobe and remained silent.

Chen Feng ignored the two men and turned to go inside.

He finally understood why Zhang Lan had agreed to let this scholar come to see him; this kind of fool posed no threat to Song Wei at all.

Another day passed.

New guests have arrived at the door.

Meng Changgeng rushed in, looking somewhat nervous. "Boss, the person who came said he was an envoy of the Grand Marshal, and it seems he's a high-ranking official."

Chen Feng's heart skipped a beat. Zu Dashou?

He quickly went out to greet them.

A middle-aged man, in his early forties, stood at the gate of the courtyard. He was wearing an ordinary blue cotton robe, and his right hand was wrapped in a white cloth and hung in front of his chest.

But when he stood there, he was like a gun planted in the ground, his back straight, and his murderous aura was impossible to hide.

Chen Feng stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "May I ask your esteemed presence...?"

The man looked at him, and seeing how young Chen Feng was, he suddenly smiled.

"I am He Kegang, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Liaodong," he said slowly. "Commander Zu sent me to find you."

Chen Feng was stunned.

He Kegang!

He came back from the dead? No, historically he was supposed to die half a month later, meaning he had already broken through the encirclement with Zu Dashou.

Chen Feng opened his mouth, as if to say something, but couldn't utter a single word.

He forgot to bow, forgot to be polite, and just stared blankly at He Kegang, his mind completely blank.

How much have I actually changed history?

What's going on in Dalinghe?

He had asked Zhang Lan about the second question a few days ago, but Zhang Lan did not mention the specific details of the battle at Dalinghe.

Seeing his appearance, He Kegang coughed lightly.

Chen Feng snapped back to his senses and realized his lapse in composure. He quickly stepped aside, saying, "General He... please come in."

He Kegang nodded and stepped into the courtyard. He dragged his right leg slightly as he walked, as if he also had an injury on his leg.

Chen Feng followed behind, his mind churning with thoughts.

Upon entering the room, He Kegang sat down at the table, his gaze sweeping over the simple furnishings before finally settling on Chen Feng's face.

He didn't mention what Zu Dashou had instructed him to do first, but stared at Chen Feng for several breaths before suddenly speaking: "Commander Chen, I have a question for you, answer me honestly."

Chen Feng's heart skipped a beat. "General, please speak."

He Kegang's voice deepened: "Do you really know He Mingxiao?"

Chen Feng was taken aback, only then remembering He Mingxiao's last words on the banks of the Xiaoling River.

He nodded: "I know him."

Then he turned around and went outside, asking Sun Ergou to bring him the Ming army officer's cloth armor and the white armor of the Bayara.

Sun Ergou responded and left, soon returning with two sets of armor.

Chen Feng took the cloth armor, held it with both hands, and handed it to He Kegang.

His voice was low: "General He, these are Commander He's belongings. I wore them out... I'm sorry."

He Kegang stretched out his left hand and placed the cloth armor on the table.

The armor was broken, the skirt was torn, and the breastplate was torn in half.

Chen Feng continued, "There was also a waist knife, which belonged to Commander He. But it was lost during the breakout from Yizhou."

He paused, then pointed to the white armor, "This armor was captured by Brother Mingxiao himself and should be returned to the general."

He Kegang remained silent.

He lowered his head, his left hand stroking the tattered cloth armor, the dried bloodstains, and the broken armor plates.

His lips trembled slightly, his throat bobbed several times, and he let out a long sigh.

The room was so quiet you could hear the wind outside the window.

He Kegang didn't look up, but asked in a hoarse voice, "Did he... leave any last words?"

"Yes," Chen Feng said softly. "He said... he asked me to tell the general that he did not disgrace his father."

He Kegang's shoulders trembled violently.

He remained silent.

He simply lowered his head even further and his shoulders shrugged slightly.

Tears dripped onto the tattered armor, seeping into the dried blood.

Looking at the man crying silently, Chen Feng suddenly thought of Zhang Lan.

Zhang Lan's acting was flawless; her tears and movements were all perfectly timed, but she still couldn't evoke any resonance in him.

But He Kegang, a veteran general who had fought on the battlefield, should have been used to life and death long ago, yet he still shed silent tears when faced with the death of his own son and nephew.

Chen Feng was deeply moved, and his nose felt a little sore.

After a long time, He Kegang slowly raised his head.

He looked at Chen Feng, his eyes red, then suddenly stood up, took a step back, and knelt down on both knees.

His forehead slammed against the blue brick with a dull thud.

(Godfathers, please see the author's message at the end.)