Chapter 550: Calling Wukeshan to Shanhai Pass

But they had no choice—they could only wait for the people from the Great Ming to come and explain. After all, they couldn't just fly off the handle when the other side hadn't even done anything yet, could they?

Everyone waited anxiously, some glancing toward the door from time to time, hoping someone would come in with word that the visitors had arrived.

But there was still no news, and the waiting was starting to make everyone a bit restless.

Wukeshan was also somewhat anxious, but he still put on a look of complete composure.

This was no time to lose his head—he had to keep the right measure. If he panicked, the people under him would panic even more. If something were to happen because of that, it would be bad; the situation was still very tense.

Just then, footsteps sounded from outside.

Soon after, figures appeared outside.

The first one in was the messenger, followed by Prefect Zhang.

After entering the room, Prefect Zhang clasped his fists toward the assembled crowd and said with a smile, "Gentlemen, gentlemen, I apologize for arriving late. It was not intentional on my part—I was truly held up by some matters. Please do not take offense."

Prefect Zhang's words were very courteous, and paired with his plump body and round face, such a kindly countenance speaking such words truly made one feel warm and close to him.

Yet not a single person present felt that way.

This Prefect Zhang came from the Imperial Household Department—one could say he was a man of the current Emperor—and he had spent several years there. He was a textbook smiling tiger: in private dealings he could be described as a very amiable person, but when trouble arose, he struck with real ruthlessness.

Having been together for so long, everyone knew very well what kind of man this Prefect Zhang was, and no one bothered to probe too deeply into his words.

Everyone rose together, cupped their fists toward Prefect Zhang, and said, "Prefect Zhang is too kind."

"Let's sit and talk." These words came from Wukeshan—in this gathering, he was the only one who could say such a thing.

Besides being the heir of Khorchin, he was also the Guard Commander appointed here by the Great Ming, nominally the supreme commander, and he did have that authority.

After Prefect Zhang sat down, Wukeshan said, "Lord Zhang, let's not beat around the bush. This time the Great Ming is mobilizing troops in Liaodong, and we know very well what you intend to do. We invited you here precisely to ask about this matter."

Hearing this, Prefect Zhang smiled.

Raising his head to look at Wukeshan, Prefect Zhang said, "Lord Wu, you overestimate me. I am only the Prefect of Daming City—if something happens in this little patch of land around here, you can still come to me to solve it. If there's something that needs communicating with the court, that's no problem either."

"But this Liaodong business is not something I can decide. Whether to fight or make peace, whether to move troops—those are matters for the great lords in the capital to discuss, not something I have the final say on. I don't know anything about it right now."

Hearing this, Wukeshan furrowed his brow.

Those words were rather meaningless, but he didn't want to call Prefect Zhang out on it.

Wukeshan said, "Since Prefect Zhang doesn't know about this matter, then we won't ask. But there is one thing we would very much like to know—we've heard that His Majesty has already arrived at Shanhai Pass?"

This was something Prefect Zhang naturally could not pretend not to know, so he quickly said, "His Majesty has indeed already graced Shanhai Pass with his presence."

Wukeshan nodded and said, "Then we shall write a routine memorial. Since His Majesty has come to Shanhai Pass, we people naturally must go pay our respects. I'll have someone prepare gifts right away, and we'll set out immediately."

"I do know a little about this matter." Prefect Zhang looked at Wukeshan, a faintly inscrutable smile on his face.

This left Wukeshan somewhat bewildered. He raised his head to look at Prefect Zhang and asked, "I wonder what Prefect Zhang knows? Please, speak freely."

"His Majesty has already dispatched an imperial envoy here." Prefect Zhang said with a smile. "The reason I was late just now was precisely because I was receiving the messenger with this news, so I only just learned of it myself."

"This time His Majesty came to Liaodong mainly to see you all. Sending someone here with the decree is precisely to hope that you will go to Shanhai Pass, to meet His Majesty together, and incidentally discuss matters for the future."

"Of course, I don't know the specifics—we'll have to wait until the imperial envoy arrives."

Everyone's brows furrowed.

Wukeshan felt displeased in his heart.

What do you mean you don't know the specifics? Was what you just said not a way of saying you don't know?

Discuss matters for the future—what future matters? Could it be that the current situation can't be maintained?

Quite a few people couldn't help feeling worried—could the Great Ming be about to turn hostile?

If it came to war, everyone present felt it would bode ill. What kind of life they had lived before, they all knew very well in their hearts. What kind of life they were living now, they knew even more clearly. No one wanted to lose their current way of life.

Wukeshan's gaze swept over the people around him. He was silent for a moment, then sighed and said, "When will the imperial envoy arrive?"

"Should be soon." Prefect Zhang said with a smile. "If nothing unexpected happens on the road, it will be within these two days. So there's no need for you gentlemen to worry—stay calm. Once the imperial envoy arrives, you may ask him anything."

Wukeshan nodded, looked at Prefect Zhang, and said, "That would be excellent."

This conversation was about over at this point, since Prefect Zhang clearly wasn't going to say anything more.

Usually everyone laughed and joked together, all appearing to be the closest of friends, but in reality it wasn't like that at all. Both sides were only friends on the surface—what each privately thought, no one knew.

But Wukeshan was disappointed—the imperial envoy did finally arrive on the third day, only he didn't bring the answers they wanted.

The one who came was merely a decree-bearing envoy, telling Wukeshan and the others to go to Shanhai Pass for deliberations.

After this imperial edict reached Daming City, it immediately sparked a frenzy.

Those qualified to go were naturally very pleased and immediately began preparing gifts. Though uneasy at heart, they still wanted to go and see. If they didn't go, they would never know what the outcome would be.

As for the smaller tribes that weren't qualified to go, they tried to sneak into other people's parties. After all, no matter what happened, first-hand information was extremely important.

On the Khorchin side, Wukeshan naturally served as the plenipotentiary representative, accompanied by his two sons as well as Bumbutai.

Wukeshan's father naturally could not go—he had to stay at home. If anything happened, he could respond in a timely manner.

The five tribes of Inner Khalkha also sent people.

Everyone began converging on Shanhai Pass, and for a time, the sound of horse hooves was unceasing on the roads.

Inside Shanhai Pass.

Zhu Youxiao was strolling around.

Although the clouds of war were gathering over Liaodong, none of it had anything to do with Zhu Youxiao. He wasn't concerned about anything, nor was he worried about this campaign.

In Zhu Youxiao's view, there was simply no possibility of losing this battle. The people he was waiting for hadn't arrived yet, and it wasn't yet his turn to take the stage as the lead, so he might as well stay here quietly.

Looking around and taking walks was quite pleasant—better than being cooped up here getting bored.

At the same time, the great army had also broken camp, leaving Shenyang and advancing forward.

Sitting on his horse, Sun Chuanting was in high spirits. He glanced at the generals beside him, excitement showing on his face.

Back when he had led men to fight in Sichuan, he had once imagined this very scene.

At the time, he had envied the men under Qi Yuangong's command, and he had thought then: if he had men like that under him, he wouldn't have fought so miserably. If the numbers were greater—greater still—then he could strike at any place he wanted.

Now, six or seven years had passed, and this wish of his had finally come true.

The men under his command were not only more elite than they had been back then, but their numbers were also beyond comparison. Under such circumstances, this campaign was one he had to fight beautifully.

This time Qi Yuangong was also under his command, which made Sun Chuanting even more pleased.

Qi Yuangong stood at Sun Chuanting's side, his expression very grave.

Although their family now held a high position among the Imperial Guard, their power and influence were already incomparable to what they had once been.

His Majesty trusted him greatly, and all of his brothers had also been given important posts.

Qi Yuanfu served as a personal guard to the Son of Heaven, while Qi Yuangong and his younger brother also became Imperial Guardsmen. Though they were split between the two eastern and western offices, one could still say each had his uses. Only, compared to when their father was still alive, their standing was worlds apart.

But Qi Yuangong also understood that his father was gone now, and the only one the Qi family could rely on was himself.

Qi Yuangong's heart was stirred this time—if he could render great service in this campaign, his household would surely be restored to its former glory.

"Great Marshal, this time we must smash through them like a storm and take it all in one go!" Qi Yuangong said, looking at Sun Chuanting.

Sun Chuanting had already worked out the tactics for this campaign long ago—to put it plainly, it was simply to push forward with overwhelming force, with no other arrangements whatsoever.

If you had no bases and no cities, then it might be harder to fight; but since you have cities, then it can only be fought city by city.

As for abandoning the cities and fleeing, Sun Chuanting was not worried at all. If Hong Taiji wanted to run, he could only flee north; fleeing west was impossible—if he ran west, he would be captured by a certain someone.

If he fled north into the deep mountains and old forests, Sun Chuanting doubted they could survive for long. When winter came and heavy snow sealed the mountain passes, they would not last long in the mountains.

So this campaign was not that difficult—once they pushed through, the enemy would be defeated and surrender. This was what Sun Chuanting had already planned out.

It was only the next step that he had yet to figure out.

But he didn't need to worry about what came after either—the Emperor was right now at Shanhai Pass, so whatever needed to be done could simply be left to His Majesty.

In this matter, Sun Chuanting knew his place,

And besides Sun Chuanting, everyone else was also advancing northward, wanting to take this place down in a single battle.

Every single one of them was full of confidence.