Ming Empire

Chapter 20
The route Cao Yue led was to the northeast, and he planned to retreat to North Korea when the situation was not right.

Although North Korea has been conquered by the Manchus, the influence of thousands of years of surrender to the Han regime cannot be eliminated at once. It is definitely more dangerous to go back to the pass around the Mongol territory than to retreat into North Korea.

Cao Yue knew that there must have been a signal for emergency assistance in Shengjing City. According to his estimation, it would take at least one day for the emergency report to reach Songshan. Huang Taiji organized forces to rescue Shengjing, and it would be good to arrive in two days.It would take at least three days in total, and these three days were enough for him to deal with Sheng Jing's aftermath.

Just when Cao Yue estimated that it would take at least more than a day for the Qing army to return to the division to rescue them, he led his troops to leave Shengjing, headed northeast for a while, and then turned south. Hidden to avoid the possible pursuit of the Qing army.

Cao Yue's arrangement was very calm, and his arrangement happened to miss Huang Taiji's troops who hurried back to Shengjing.

After Cao Yue had traveled nearly 150 miles away from Sheng, the troops led by Huang Taiji had just arrived at the Liaohe River, which was about [-] miles away from Shengjing City.The people and horses marched continuously, and they were already exhausted. Many horses died because of being too tired.

Under the repeated persuasion of Zhibai, Ye Bilong and other cronies, Huang Taiji, who was already in poor health, agreed to dismount and rest.

As soon as the order to rest was announced, all the bannermen of the two yellow flags rolled off their horses. Many people just lay down on the ground and didn't want to move.

"Your majesty, if you go forward like this, even if you return to Shengjing, the warriors of the two yellow flags will not be able to fight. We will definitely not be able to defeat the Ming army who is waiting for work." Seeing the exhaustion of the Jurchen banner soldiers under his command, Chebai couldn't help but feel worried, "Your majesty, the servant thinks , we should take a good rest, the emperor's dragon body also needs a good rest, don't really be exhausted."

Seeing that the sergeants looked exhausted and he was top-heavy, Huang Taiji reluctantly agreed to Chee Bai's suggestion.

"Your Majesty, you'd better hurry on your way. This servant will lead a team and go back to Shengjing first. I dare to promise that I will wipe out the Ming army that attacked Shengjing," Chee Bai persuaded again earnestly. Now Huang Taiji's body It was already bad, and he was worried.

Huang Taiji is very obese, with a weight of at least 180 jins. Before that, he had counted blood continuously, and in the past two days, he often coughed up blood. He was very tired after walking continuously. Not only was he worried, but everyone else was also worried. Hearing what he said, he immediately came over to persuade , "Your Majesty, the dragon body is weak now, and you need to rest more. If your body is exhausted, it will be the misfortune of the Qing Dynasty. The servants will lead the army back to Shengjing first, and you can come here slowly, Your Majesty."

"No!" Huang Taiji shook his head resolutely, panting heavily, "I want to rush back to Shengjing to personally command this battle."

Seeing that Huang Taiji still persisted like this, Chebai and the others were very puzzled.

"You don't understand." Of course, Huang Taiji would not say that he couldn't let go of Hai Lanzhu, but said another reason, "The Ming army leader who attacked Shengjing this time is not simple. When the Qing army was victorious, he dared to go deep into the hinterland of Liaodong and sneak attack on the capital of the Qing Dynasty. This has never happened since Xian Khan raised his army. This man's courage cannot be underestimated!"

"Your Majesty, are you worried that Shengjing will be completely taken over by the Ming army?" Chaebai interjected cautiously.

Huang Taiji looked at the north with a solemn expression, and finally nodded slightly, "I believe that Shengjing is far more ominous than good."

Hearing what Huang Taiji said, everyone's hearts sank to the bottom of the water.

In recent years, when the Qing army fought against the Ming army, the Ming army was defeated, so there is a saying that the Jurchen is invincible.The victory of Lien Chan made Chebai and others grow proud. They looked down on the Ming army and never thought that their country would be captured by the Ming army.

No one dared to imagine what the Ming army would do if they captured Shengjing.

Although it has been reported that the Ming army has broken through Shengjing, most people are still lucky and hope that Dai Shan can lead Shengjing's garrison army to defeat the Ming army.

Seeing the silence of the crowd, Huang Taiji said with a more solemn expression: "If Shengjing is lost to the Ming army, it means that this person's strategy is far superior to any Ming army commander we have encountered before, including Yuan Chonghuan and Hong Chengchou. If this person is not eliminated, he will surely become a confidant of our Qing Dynasty in the future. Therefore, no matter whether Shengjing falls into the hands of the Ming army or not, I must personally command this battle and eliminate this person."

"Your Majesty is wise," Chee Bai, Ta Zhan, Ye Bilong and the others immediately offered flattery, and they admired Huang Taiji's foresight.

Huang Taiji didn't say anything else, and ordered everyone to hurry up and rest. After half an hour, they must set off and rush to Shengjing in one go.

Just when the two yellow flags led by Huang Taiji were about to finish their rest, another fast horse came to report that there was the latest news from Shengjing.

The messenger from Shengjing was quickly brought in front of Huang Taiji. After seeing Huang Taiji, the messenger fell to his knees with a plop, touched his head to the ground, and wailed loudly: "Your Majesty, Shengjing was captured by the Ming army!" , the imperial palace was also occupied by the Ming army. The Ming army destroyed Shengjing City, and the entire palace was burned... The Ming army also killed all the males. Prince Li was captured by the Ming army. The emperor's elder brothers, except Jiu Ah Brother, the others were all... castrated, and all the property in Shengjing City was robbed by the Ming army... The Ming army has fled Shengjing..."

"What?" Huang Taiji suddenly got up when he heard this, suddenly, several mouthfuls of blood spewed out from his mouth like arrows, and his body fell down slowly.

Seeing Huang Taiji like this, the cronies such as Chebai, Ta Zhan and Ye Bilong were all frightened, they quickly helped Huang Taiji lie down, and brought him water to drink.The two imperial physicians who came back with the army were also urgently called to their side, and hurriedly treated Huang Taiji

In fact, several batches of people who reported the letter and Huang Taiji had missed it, otherwise Huang Taiji would have known the news earlier than now.

After shouting and treating him for a long time, the pale-faced Huang Taiji slowly woke up.After waking up, another mouthful of blood sprayed directly from his mouth, and it sprayed all over the face of Chee Bai, who was standing aside, as did Ta Zhan and Ye Bilong.

"Help me up quickly, I'm going back to Shengjing immediately," Huang Taiji ordered weakly.

Seeing this situation, Chebai, Tulai, Ta Zhan, Ye Bilong and others didn't dare to dissuade them, they hurriedly asked people to go to a nearby post station to ask for a carriage, and they drove Huang Taiji to Shengjing in the carriage.

Knowing that the Ming army had fled Shengjing, Huang Taiji ordered Chebai and Tulai to rush to Shengjing with a thousand riders each to avoid more trouble.

When Huang Taiji's car arrived outside Shengjing City, it was already a day after receiving the last news.Huang Taiji, who was physically weak, opened the curtain door, and when he looked out, he saw something that he would never forget.

The original tall and majestic Shengjing City has been basically destroyed. All the major city gates have been blown up, and only a few broken sections of the city wall stand there alone.Inside the ruined walls, everything was scorched black, and there were still many places where green smoke was still rising.

The prosperous and neat neighborhoods of Shengjing, as well as the large-scale imperial palace, are almost in ruins.

Seeing this scene, Huang Taiji felt his eyes darkened, his chest tightened, his throat was filled with a sweet taste, and a mouthful of blood spewed out uncontrollably, spilling on the soldiers who came to help him get off the car.

"Your Majesty..." The front of the car was already full of kneeling people who came to greet him, including the Sergeants of the Two Yellow Banners who returned to Shengjing one step ahead of Chebai and Tulai, as well as the surviving concubines and relatives and children of Huang Taiji.

Except for the banner men of the two yellow flags, among the surviving population in Shengjing, there are very few male men. Those who were lucky enough to survive were all those who fled outside the city to hide in the dark after the Ming army attacked.

Seeing the once prosperous city of Shengjing turned into ruins, and his concubines all in a state of distress, Huang Taiji's heart was bleeding. He vowed that he must regroup and defeat more Ming troops, especially if he wanted to capture them alive. This man named Cao Yue must behead Cao Yue in front of Xianhan's spirit, and hang his head on the newly built Shengjing city for several days.

"Your Majesty, almost all the houses in the city were burned down by the Ming army, and the remaining houses cannot be lived in. Your Majesty, you should try to stay in the barracks outside the city for a few days." Chebai and Tulai stepped forward cautiously, Huang Taiji played the ceremony.

Huang Taiji stared blankly at these people who were still kneeling in front of him, and closed his eyes in pain.Chebai also immediately ordered that all the horses go to the military camp on the east side of the city.Huang Taiji was helped into the carriage again, the carriage did not stop, and went to the military camp in the east of the city.

After arriving at the military camp in the east of the city, Huang Taiji, who was extremely weak, was helped to rest in the largest military tent.

Empress Zhezhe, Bumbutai, and Namuzhong were waiting by her side, and they all looked worried.

There are too many unfortunate news. Just last night, after suffering a strong stimulus from long illness, Hai Lanzhu finally couldn't resist and died.But they did not dare to tell Huang Taiji the news, for fear that Huang Taiji would not be able to stand the stimulation and his condition would aggravate.

They still had a letter written by Cao Yue in their hands. They didn't read the contents of the letter, but they dare not hand the letter to Huang Taiji now, for fear that Cao Yue would write some humiliating words in it, which would further irritate Huang Taiji .

After lying down for several hours, Huang Taiji finally woke up. After seeing Zhezhe, Bumbutai, and Namuzhong kneeling beside him, his eyes were still searching.Everyone knew who Huang Taiji was looking for, but no one dared to tell Huang Taiji that Hai Lanzhu had passed away.

"Queen, tell me, what happened in Shengjing these few days, and who is Cao Yue who led the army to attack!" While saying this, Huang Taiji's mind flashed, and he blurted out: "Cao Yue should have Leave the letter to me?"

Seeing Huang Taiji's question, Zhe Zhe, who had been frightened all the time, ignored the gesture of Bumbutai's eyes, and replied in a low voice: "Your Majesty, that Cao Yue left you a letter. The concubine is thinking... you should give me a letter again." Let’s see it in a few days, take care of your body first.”

"Give me the letter and tell me everything!" Huang Taiji's tone was irresistible, so Zhezhe had no choice but to hand the letter to Huang Taiji.

Huang Taiji unfolded the letter and read it slowly, the more passionate he looked.

At this time, Bumbutai said softly: "Your Majesty, Sister Hai Lanzhu has gone..."

Hearing Bumbutai's words, Huang Taiji's body trembled a bit, but he didn't seem to recover, and continued to read the letter.Soon, his face was flushed, he looked at Zhezhe, then at Bumbutai and Namuzhong, and continued to read the letter.Finally, he coughed violently. Seeing the end, he suddenly sat up straight, coughed violently continuously, and then vomited blood.

Under the anxious calls of Zhezhe and Bumbutai, Huang Taiji couldn't get up, so he died.

He was pissed off by Cao Yue!
(End of this chapter)