Crown Prince Wanli unfurled the letter and saw lines of impeccable calligraphy, elegant enough to be passed down through generations.
"I, Fan Li, lead the valiant warriors of Chu from Peng City. My intention is to vanquish the wicked and overthrow the tyrannical Ming.
However, at Zitong Pass, the Ming Chancellor, Zhang Juzheng, has stationed three hundred thousand troops, blocking our army's advance.
I have also heard that Yunzhou City has high walls and deep moats, defended by four hundred thousand troops under the command of Crown Prince Wanli himself, making it impossible for our allies to progress.
Wanli is a man of exceptional talent and profound cultivation, well-versed in military strategy, inheriting the legacy of the Ming Taizu.
Outside Mount Yunmeng, I nearly perished at his hands… Therefore, I believe the Ming Dynasty's destiny is not yet exhausted. The time to attack is not yet ripe. Why not withdraw…”
Crown Prince Wanli read Fan Li’s handwritten letter five times while a triumphant smile bloomed on his face like a flower.
He summoned several deputy and assistant generals of the Northern Ming Army, handing them the letter to read in turn.
"Fan Li’s calligraphy is quite impressive. He must have diligently studied the Yan style."
"What are your thoughts, generals?"
His words were vague, leaving it unclear whether he was asking about Fan Li's calligraphy or the content of the letter.
A seasoned deputy general, sensing the Prince’s mood, asked cautiously, “According to this letter, the Great Chu army cannot reach Yunzhou City. This means the enemy forces outside the city are isolated and without reinforcements? However, the letter contains much flattery directed at Your Highness. Could it be a trap, intended to lure you out of the city?”
Crown Prince Wanli’s face darkened.
“You’re one of Hu Zongxian’s men, aren’t you?” he asked coldly.
The generals within Yunzhou City were divided into two factions – those who had accompanied Wanli as reinforcements and those who were loyal to Hu Zongxian.
The deputy general, hearing the Prince’s accusation, quickly dropped to his knees. “This subordinate is Tang Kekuan, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Yunzhou garrison. This subordinate is a servant of the Great Ming, not any individual’s personal soldier.”
“A defeated general!”
“Yunzhou City suffered a humiliating defeat because of incompetent fools like you guarding the borders!”
“Leave my sight! How dare you offer advice to this Grand General?”
Tang Kekuan’s face paled with anger and humiliation. More shameful than defeat was the complete denial of his loyalty and service by his own people.
Tang Kekuan, a towering, muscular man, swayed unsteadily as he rose to his feet.
“This subordinate… takes his leave…”
The other generals looked at him with sympathy, but none dared to speak up against Crown Prince Wanli.
Stolen novel; please report.
Suddenly, just as Tang Kekuan left the tent, a scream pierced the air.
“General Tang has committed suicide!!!”
Chaos erupted within the tent.
A general, unable to contain himself, said urgently to Wanli, “Your Highness, General Tang was a veteran of countless battles, a man of great merit. He… he committed suicide because of this…”
“Silence!” Wanli shut up the general. “A defeated general, clinging to life until now is a testament to his shamelessness. He should have slit his own throat long ago.”
His words left the other assistant generals red-faced with shame. They, like Tang Kekuan, were survivors of the Yunzhou defeat.
Crown Prince Wanli, however, showed no remorse. He steered the conversation back to the letter, asking, “Tell me, what are your thoughts on Fan Li’s letter?”
After witnessing Tang Kekuan’s fate, how could the generals misunderstand the Prince’s intentions? Especially those who weren’t part of the Yunzhou garrison eagerly seized the opportunity to flatter him.
“Your Highness is truly awe-inspiring! Your mere reputation has scared off the Great Chu army."
“The battle hasn’t even begun, and the enemy has already retreated. With Your Highness leading us, victory is certain!”
“The enemy is isolated outside the city. We will follow Your Highness to achieve great merit and glory!”
Flattery flooded the tent, eliciting laughter from Crown Prince Wanli. He feigned humility. “I only asked you to assess Fan Li’s calligraphy. Who told you to flatter me? I don’t need this.” But his tone clearly indicated his satisfaction.
A bold general seized the opportunity. “Your Highness, given the current situation, shouldn’t we march out of the city and engage the enemy?”
Wanli looked at him approvingly.
That was exactly what Wanli had in mind.
What glory was there in defending a city?
Could they truly trap the three hundred thousand allied troops outside Yunzhou?
Outside Mount Yunmeng, Wanli had suffered a setback. Not only had he failed to recruit the third-generation Guiguzi, but he had also lost his entire personal guard.
He had sensed a change in Emperor Jiajing’s attitude towards him. Aside from indifference, there was now a hint of doubt, as if the Emperor was reconsidering his choice of heir.
Therefore, Wanli desperately needed a great victory to prove his worth, to cement his position as Crown Prince.
“I am a born emperor, destined to rule. The Imperial Astrologer, Lan Daoxing, once predicted that I am the reincarnation of an ancient emperor. The throne of the Great Ming can only belong to me!”
His excitement grew. He longed to summon his troops and march out of the city, annihilating the three hundred thousand allied troops in one fell swoop.
Just then, a voice announced from outside the tent.
“Reporting to the Grand General, the Grand Coordinator, Hu Zongxian, requests an audience.”
Wanli frowned. He disliked Hu Zongxian. The man's prestige within the Great Ming military was too high. He couldn’t easily remove him from his position.
“Summon him,” he said coldly.
He still wore the simple clothing of a farmer, but his expression was serious.
The generals from the Yunzhou garrison were about to kneel, but Hu Zongxian subtly shook his head, gesturing for them to remain standing.
He knew that the more respect his subordinates showed him, the more Wanli would dislike him. And the less likely the Prince would listen to his advice.
“You’ve arrived, Grand Coordinator?” Crown Prince Wanli said impassively. “This Grand General is discussing military strategy with the other generals. What brings you here?”
Hu Zongxian sighed inwardly. He had heard of his beloved general Tang Kekuan’s suicide and had come to inquire about the situation, only to discover that Wanli was planning another offensive.
“This subordinate humbly requests that the Grand General reconsider. Our army has recently suffered a defeat. Our morale is low. The enemy has just achieved a victory. Their morale is high. As the ancients said, ‘Strike while the iron is hot, then it weakens, then it breaks.’ If our army continues to defend Yunzhou City, delaying the battle, we can wait until the enemy is exhausted. Then, when we attack, victory will be certain.”
Hu Zongxian had already made a significant concession. He was no longer trying to prevent Wanli from marching out of the city. He was merely asking him to wait.
Unfortunately, Crown Prince Wanli refused to listen.
He tossed Fan Li’s letter to Hu Zongxian and sneered. “I heard you are a man of great learning, Grand Coordinator, a scholar of vast knowledge. Look at this letter from Fan Li. The opportunity is before us. If I don’t attack immediately, are you suggesting I wait until the allied forces withdraw, then pursue them?”
Hu Zongxian quickly scanned the letter.
“Your Highness, this letter is a ruse!”
He was about to explain, but Wanli waved him silent.
The Prince pointed to the corpse in the corner of the tent. “Look closely, Grand Coordinator. This was an elite scout from the Great Chu army, sent here specifically to deliver this letter. Our scout battalion suffered heavy losses before they managed to kill him. How could the intelligence he carried be a ruse?”
Hu Zongxian frowned. He examined Qing Yuan’s body, noting the countless wounds, indicating the ferocity of his final battle.
After a long silence, Hu Zongxian spoke three words. “A ruse of self-inflicted pain…”