Chapter 849: Changing Course

The Duke of Ying's gaze was deep: "What I say today, I hope you remember—you are Minister of War. If you survive and return to Jingcheng, please promote the lower-ranking officers. Only they truly know how things are on the frontier."

"Over the years, the imperial court has neglected frontier strategy, leaving lower officers knowing everything yet powerless; mid-level officers knowing nothing yet pretending to know; and upper officers—like us, like Your Majesty—far away in Jingcheng, wanting to know everything yet knowing nothing."

Kuang Ye's pupils shrank sharply—the Duke of Ying was speaking like a man giving his final words.

The Duke of Ying smiled at him, detailing carefully: "Your Majesty is capricious, but has the makings of a wise ruler—only misled by Wang Zhen. You need only hold Datong securely. Wang Zhen… leave him to me. I hope when you return to Jingcheng, you will wholeheartedly assist Your Majesty and restore a golden age."

Kuang Ye's eyes grew slightly red; when he left the Duke of Ying, his expression was resolute, his aura fierce.

As soon as Kuang Ye departed, Zhu Mian and Chen Huai emerged from behind the screen and knelt before the Duke of Ying, their eyes red.

The Duke of Ying sat in his chair, looking down at them: "Before Kuang Ye, I gave everyone face. For over a decade, though I rarely left, I've heard troubling rumors—officers in garrisons across the land have embezzled funds; military farmland has become private property; Great Ming's soldiers have become their farmers. You two, as military nobles, are truly unaware of this?"

Both men flushed red and lowered their heads.

The Duke of Ying's voice was heavy: "Or are you two involved as well—knowing full well and still committing these crimes?"

"Your Grace…"

The Duke of Ying raised his hand to cut them off, speaking sternly: "Don't defend yourselves. I haven't probed your intentions—I'm merely telling you this: if the termites keep gnawing, the main pillar will collapse, and the termites will fall with it. But now is your chance—to replace me, even surpass me, and become the foremost general of the army, the pillar of Great Ming."

The two men looked up at the Duke of Ying in shock: "Your Grace, this time is merely…"

"How can you still not understand!" The Duke of Ying slammed his hand on the armrest, agitated: "I've told Kuang Ye all this, yet you still think I'm exaggerating? To be this careless about the enemy—how will you win? How can you possibly win?"

The Duke of Ying pointed to the door: "Get out. Get out!"

Zhu Mian and Chen Huai exchanged glances, bowed, and rose to leave.

Outside the door, both fell silent: "Is the Duke of Ying overly anxious?"

Chen Huai felt uneasy: "We should be cautious. For this campaign, everyone must be careful."

Zhu Mian nodded slightly.

The personal attendant closed the door, poured tea for the Duke of Ying, and whispered: "Your Grace, why didn't you speak more gently to them?"

The Duke of Ying's face was expressionless: "They're all old men, seasoned officials—stubborn to the core. Only harsh words can sink in a little. I only hope they survive, and when they remember my words, Great Ming won't be left without capable men."

The attendant followed the Duke of Ying, thinking the situation was bad—but not this dire.

How could the Duke of Ying not sense the attendant's doubt?

But how could he tell him it was all instinct and deduction?

From the moment he realized Guo Deng had concealed military intelligence, he deduced the Datong defense had failed.

Over the years, the Oirats had been active—suddenly launching three armies southward, having prepared secretly for years. Meanwhile, Great Ming was riddled with internal strife. On the surface, its forces vastly outnumbered the Oirats, its generals no less capable—but all power rested in the hands of a eunuch.

The Duke of Ying had fought his whole life, commanded his whole life—he knew too well the consequences of a commander's chaotic orders. Even without the Oirats as an enemy, it would be a catastrophe.

Especially with enemies all around. He already sensed this return journey would not be peaceful—and that he would die on the emperor's personal campaign.

The Duke of Ying drew his sword, examining it inch by inch. Before death, let him do one last thing for Great Ming—for Your Majesty.

But he must choose the right moment—so as not to drag his family down with him.

The attendant didn't know his thoughts, still urging him to preserve his health: "You've retired. Let the state affairs be—why trouble yourself? The Emperor only brought you along as a good-luck charm…"

"Has the Emperor finished preparing?" the Duke of Ying interrupted. "Are we ready to depart?"

The attendant immediately went to inquire.

The Emperor was indeed ready; the imperial procession was orderly enough—but outside the city walls, the camp was in chaos.

Pan Yu's unit, already twenty li from the city, was overtaken. Their detachment had been reassigned under Zhu Mian to remain in Datong.

The first messenger delivered the order: move aside to let the imperial vanguard pass. A second messenger arrived moments later, ordering them immediately westward—to detour around and return to Datong's left flank, awaiting further orders.

The first order bore the seal of General Zhu Yong, the second, Zhu Mian's.

In the past, they would have obeyed Zhu Yong. But now they were to remain in Datong—they must obey Zhu Mian.

Seeing the company commander hesitate, Pan Yu leaned close and whispered: "My lord, our lives now depend on General Zhu Mian. Besides, the imperial procession will pass here—if we wait until they've all gone before turning back, night will have fallen. With so many men, what if someone slips in among them and returns to Jingcheng…"

The company commander immediately said: "Obey General Zhu."

He didn't specify which general—but led his men westward. Their column veered off, stretching westward, detouring to Datong's left flank.

Of the eighty thousand reinforcements left behind, Wang Zhen randomly selected—wanting to take the elite Divine Engine Corps and cavalry units, even picking the finest battalions from the Five Armies.

This threw the camp into utter chaos—but worse was to come: the next day, Wang Zhen realized how disheveled they looked. Passing through Weizhou like this—wouldn't his fellow townspeople laugh at him?

Moreover, after this turmoil, the army's formation was in disarray; carts and horses kept trampling fields, crushing crops not yet harvested.

Wang Zhen felt uneasy—if he brought this army home, trampling his neighbors' fields, his reputation in his hometown would sink even lower.

He wanted to return in glory—not to be cursed.

Coincidentally, that day, movement was detected in a nearby forest. Wang Zhen sent troops to investigate and found hoofprints on the road—the scouts said they were cattle hooves. He immediately went to the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, ahead lies enemy activity. Scouts saw countless horse hoofprints—likely a large Oirat force lying in ambush."

The Emperor leapt to his feet: "Ambush?"

"Yes!" Wang Zhen said. "I've sent Song Ying to investigate—but the Emperor's safety comes first. We cannot risk it. We cannot go to Weizhou. Your Majesty, let us turn back."

The Emperor frowned: "Turn back? But we've already traveled two days and nights…" (End of Chapter)