Chapter 850: Fated Encounter

"There's no need to return to Datong City; we can detour around the side—it's still within Datong's territory, guarded by Guo Deng and Kuang Ye. The enemy can't reach us there. We've already traveled that road; going again will be familiar and safe."

The Emperor was convinced: retracing a path already traveled was always safer.

The army changed course and turned back. Cao Nai laughed in frustration: "The city is right ahead—entering it will bring safety. Even if the enemy has laid an ambush, are our hundred thousand troops just sitting ducks? Where's Jing Yuan? Isn't he the vanguard?"

"The Prince Consort Commandant was ordered to return to Huicheng to scout the route—he's been gone for a quarter-hour."

Cao Nai could only lead the other ministers to persuade the Emperor.

But they couldn't even see the Emperor's face—only stood outside the imperial carriage, staring blankly at Wang Zhen.

The battle came suddenly: Jing Yuan, advancing toward a flank of Datong, encountered an enemy force. Both sides clashed without warning.

At this moment, Kuang Ye had just taken control of Guo Deng, pressured and bribed him into revealing Datong's true military situation, and had just divided the reinforcements into three columns, stationing them together with Datong's garrison.

Just then, scouts spotted enemy activity: two Tatar armies had quietly infiltrated through a gap in Datong's defenses—half their troops were already inside.

Had our reinforcements not arrived just in time to collide with them, we wouldn't even have realized our rear had been cut off.

In the chaos of battle, casualties were heavy, but most of the Tatar troops were driven back beyond the defenses.

Kuang Ye stared at the casualty figures, heart aching. He wrote in his journal: "Reaction too slow. Though brave, lacking agility. The Five Armies have grown lax to this degree. Once back in Jingcheng, we must train rigorously—no more negligence."

After finishing his journal entry, he immediately wrote a report on Datong's situation and sent it racing after the Emperor by swift courier.

Simultaneously, they learned the Tatar central army had advanced close to Xuanfu, though the actual battle conditions remained unknown. Given Datong's defenses had collapsed, he feared Xuanfu would fall too—in his letter, he urged the Emperor to march urgently, making return to Jingcheng the top priority.

Kuang Ye estimated: if all went well, the Emperor's carriage would enter Weizhou by evening. Once the Emperor was safe, he would locate Yexian's main force, destroy it first, then encircle and trap the enemy—close the door and beat the dog, rooting out every infiltrator behind our lines.

Kuang Ye's plan was sound—but he didn't know the Emperor had turned northeast halfway and headed for Xuanfu.

By the time scouts realized it, the imperial carriage and Yexian's central column were dangerously close. Not only did the Emperor and Wang Zhen freeze in shock—Yexian's army was stunned too.

They quickly recovered and, ignoring the disparity in troop numbers, launched a direct assault on the imperial carriage.

Yexian's cavalry was formidable—they didn't linger in battle, but pierced through, struck, and withdrew immediately.

Wang Zhen ordered Song Ying to hold the rear, while he himself led the main force, frantically escorting the Emperor away.

Song Ying died in battle.

The Emperor finally sensed the danger, seized command immediately: he ordered Duke Gongshun Wu Kezhong and Commander Wu Keqin to hold the rear, dispatched Zhu Yong and Marquis Yongshun Xue Shou to reinforce Prince Consort Commandant Jing Yuan, who was pinned down by Tatar troops, then fled hastily toward Xuanfu.

The Duke of Ying, seeing the Emperor in panic, had no choice but to rally the army despite his illness.

Wang Zhen cursed Kuang Ye and Guo Deng for failing to defend the city, allowing the enemy to breach the lines and concealing the truth.

The Duke of Ying said: "This is the main force—not the western army. It's the central army. Their original target was Xuanfu; now they're after the imperial carriage."

The Duke of Ying gritted his teeth: "We've come too far to retreat now. Order Yang Hong to march immediately and hold the southern flank of Xuanfu—under no circumstances can Yexian's army cut off our retreat."

Wang Zhen snapped: "Xuanfu's troops are chasing us—we're retreating south. How could they circle around to our rear? Better to order Yang Hong to move out now and block the pursuing army, coming from the northwest of Xuanfu to support us."

The Duke of Ying believed they still had many cards to play—Yang Hong didn't need to come here. Preserving the retreat route was more critical.

Soon, a battle report arrived from the rear: Zhu Yong, sent to reinforce Jing Yuan, never found him—he led his army straight into a Tatar encirclement. Of thirty thousand troops, most died. Zhu Yong and Marquis Yongshun Xue Shou were both killed. The few survivors escaped only because Jing Yuan, having shaken off his pursuers, looped back, saw the surrounded Ming troops, charged from the outside, tore open a gap in the encirclement, and rescued over ten thousand men.

The Emperor heard that Zhu Yong, commander of the central army, had been killed—and Kuang Ye's report, after its arduous journey, finally reached the camp.

He learned Yexian's forces had likely infiltrated through Datong's defenses, and with this central army, who knew how many more Tatar troops lurked along the way. He rejected the Duke of Ying's advice and followed Wang Zhen's: he immediately ordered Yang Hong to lead Xuanfu's troops out from the northwest to reinforce them.

The army fled in panic for two days—when scouts spotted a Yexian force sixty li southeast of Xuanfu.

The retreat route was cut off.

The Emperor: …

Wang Zhen: …

The Duke of Ying let out a laugh—angry.

While the Emperor suffered this desperate flight, the capital was peaceful.

For they had just received word: the stubborn, battle-hungry young Emperor had finally decided to return to the capital.

All court officials exhaled in relief. The Empress Dowager and Empress in the inner palace sighed with relief too. Everyone began joyfully preparing for the Emperor's return.

Even Prince Cheng relaxed greatly. After finishing his duties, he swung his fan happily and left the palace.

When his elder brother returned, he could shed his burdens and become his carefree little prince again.

The cheerful Prince Cheng decided to treat himself today. He immediately took his attendants to a restaurant on the main street.

"Your Highness, which restaurant today?"

Prince Cheng thought a moment: "I'm tired of Taotie Pavilion and Top Graduate Pavilion—no new dishes in two months. Find somewhere else."

One guard thought: "Your Highness, I know a place with excellent lamb soup and flatbread."

Prince Cheng simply loved to eat—he didn't care about the pretentious hierarchy of Top Graduate Pavilion. Hearing it was delicious, he immediately said: "Let's go now!"

The guard led him to the end of the street, turned down a narrow alley, and soon a steaming stall appeared.

The rich aroma of lamb soup hit his nose—Prince Cheng's eyes lit up instantly, and he quickened his steps.

As he drew near, he saw the shop was packed. Three tables had been set outside—all full.

The guard stepped forward, and the owner immediately turned and shouted toward the three half-empty tables: "Who wants to share a table?"

The two tables with three guests each stayed silent—but the one at the far end, with four people, turned around, saw him, grinned, and waved: "Come here!"

Prince Cheng followed the voice and saw Pan Yun. He froze for a moment, then led his guard over.

Seeing Miao Zhen and the others immediately shifted, clearing a bench for Prince Cheng.

Prince Cheng sat beside Pan Yun, astonished: "Miss Pan, what are you doing here?" (End of chapter)