Chapter 49: Madness Beyond Reason

Under such circumstances, how could Chen Hong dare to slight Xu Guangqi? He quickly said, "Minister Xu is too kind."

The two entered the palace one after another.

Chen Hong stood to one side of his master and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, Minister Xu has arrived."

Zhu Youxiao nodded, then glanced at Xu Guangqi.

By this time Xu Guangqi was already prostrating himself on the ground in salute: "Your servant Xu Guangqi pays respects to Your Majesty."

"Rise, beloved minister!" Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said.

Once Xu Guangqi stood up, Zhu Youxiao finally spoke again: "I summoned you today because I saw this resignation memorial of yours."

As he spoke, Zhu Youxiao picked up a routine memorial and waved it: "This is my fault. I have neglected you."

Xu Guangqi was greatly alarmed upon hearing this and quickly said, "Why does Your Majesty say such a thing? Your servant's body truly is not well, and I wish to return to my hometown to recuperate."

Smiling at Xu Guangqi, Zhu Youxiao sighed and said, "Beloved minister Xu, I know you harbor resentment, but the affairs of the court are numerous and complex, and my own health has not been good either—I have overlooked you."

Hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, Xu Guangqi felt a chill run down his spine.

After all, he, Xu Guangqi, was not some high-ranking official or a weighty minister. For His Majesty to console him so gently made Xu Guangqi feel that something bad was bound to happen.

Showing sudden kindness out of nowhere means either treachery or theft—perhaps describing the Emperor that way was inappropriate, so then: one who humbles himself before others must have a request.

For the Emperor to humble himself before someone, that matter must not be easy to handle. Xu Guangqi's heart was pounding with unease, and he became even more cautious.

"I understand your heart, beloved minister. The border is unsettled, the land is not at peace, and I know of your fervent desire to serve the nation."

Zhu Youxiao continued: "Since you wish to train troops, then train them boldly. I support you. I will issue an edict shortly, appointing you as Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, and Governor-General of the Capital Camps."

This official position was actually quite clear—the first two were honorary titles; Governor-General of the Capital Camps was the truly crucial post.

Of course, although they were honorary titles, they were still necessary. If it truly came to a critical moment, they would no longer be merely honorary.

Xu Guangqi was stunned by these words. Promoted this much all at once? Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate? Vice Minister of the Ministry of War? Governor-General of the Capital Camps?

Logically speaking, a promotion was a good thing, but suddenly rising from an official whom no one favored and no one respected to such a high position—Xu Guangqi's heart truly was pounding with unease.

He was not one of His Majesty's trusted ministers! His official career over the years had not been smooth; his current position was Junior Supervisor of the Household of the Heir Apparent and Censor of the Henan Circuit.

"Your servant is terrified! Your servant's health is poor, and I fear I may fail Your Majesty's grace." Xu Guangqi quickly knelt on the ground and said loudly.

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Xu Guangqi, a smile immediately appearing on his face, and continued: "Beloved minister need not be like this. I know well your abilities. I have already prepared a residence for you in the capital. After you return, an imperial physician will come to treat you. The edict will be issued shortly—do not disappoint me, beloved minister!"

"Your servant accepts the edict." Although Xu Guangqi's heart was still filled with anxiety, he knew he could not refuse now.

Besides, deep down he did not truly want to leave. To render meritorious service for the nation was something he wanted to do—otherwise he would not have been training troops in Tongzhou. It was just that now that he was entering the Capital Camps, he did not know whether he would have the opportunity to train soldiers.

Thinking of this, Xu Guangqi's heart was filled with a welter of emotions. But he also understood that it was no longer up to him.

Watching Xu Guangqi leave, Zhu Youxiao sat down with some helplessness.

He had originally wanted to pull Xu Guangqi into Wei Zhongxian's faction—at least nominally.

But after meeting Xu Guangqi, Zhu Youxiao hesitated. Such an approach was not appropriate.

Xu Guangqi was a rare non-partisan figure. So why not support him instead? In that case, he could not classify Xu Guangqi as part of the eunuch faction.

After all, he could not rely on Wei Zhongxian forever—he needed to start cultivating new talent!

While Zhu Youxiao was pondering how to cultivate new talent, the fighting finally erupted in Liaodong!

Nurhaci ordered an attack on Shenyang.

The Mongols, serving as cannon-fodder vanguard, charged toward the city walls of Shenyang carrying scaling ladders, while Nurhaci's Eight Banners pressed forward behind them.

Xiong Tingbi stood atop the city wall, expressionless, watching below.

Beneath the city wall were trenches, all dug by those surrendered Mongols. For the Jurchen to reach the foot of the wall, they first had to cross those trenches. The simplest method was naturally to set up scaling ladders—placing them across the two sides of the trench and climbing over.

"Tell the archers and the cannon crews: once the Jianzhou barbarians enter the range of the trenches, release arrows and fire the cannons." Xiong Tingbi said to Li Guangrong beside him.

Soon the vanguard charged to the front of the trenches, and the scaling ladders were directly set up.

At that moment, the sounds of cannons and arrows cutting through the air rang out from atop Shenyang's walls.

The iron cannonballs smashed directly into the midst of the Mongols, and with their forward rolling momentum, basically anyone they hit was finished.

There were also explosive shells that burst directly among the Mongol ranks.

Arrows rained down as if they cost nothing. Because they were fired in arcs, basically anyone struck would be pierced clean through.

Although arrows were also shot up from below the walls, the gap between shooting upward and shooting downward was simply too great.

At the rear of the battle formation, Nurhaci watched this scene with a grim expression. These Mongols were nothing much, but the Ming army was very well prepared.

Facing such arrows and cannon fire, forget about reaching the foot of the walls—even crossing those trenches was no simple matter.

What was more, the Ming army had madly dug two lines of trenches!

Thinking that it was the Mongol spies he had sent who had dug them, Nurhaci felt as if he had swallowed a fly—his expression was truly awful.

"Father Khan, the scouts sent to Liaoyang have returned." Daišan came to Nurhaci's side and said cautiously: "Liaoyang city is just like Shenyang—trenches have been dug, and they've even been filled with water."

Nurhaci glanced at Daišan, then nodded.

In fact, he had already anticipated this. If Shenyang was like this, how could Liaoyang be any better? This barbarian Xiong had actually turned himself into a turtle hiding in its shell—truly impossible to get a bite in.

Thinking of this, Nurhaci's expression grew even more gloomy.

If Liaoyang had been lax, he could have launched a surprise attack on Liaoyang, or at least drawn the Ming troops out of Shenyang and sprung an ambush on them halfway.

In Nurhaci's view, as long as the Ming army dared to come out, he could definitely destroy Xiong Tingbi and destroy the Ming army. But judging by the current situation, the Ming army was destined not to come out.

"Father Khan, why not besiege on three sides and leave one open?" Daišan offered advice to Nurhaci. Perhaps leaving one side open would make Xiong Tingbi flee? Or some other general in the city might flee.

Once a general fled, the Ming army would fall into chaos, and then they could be annihilated. As long as the Ming army left the city, everything would be easy to handle.

Daišan felt it was worth a try.

PS: This Sunday, that is, January 12th at 2 PM, The Fatuous Ruler is going on its trial recommendation.

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