Chapter 876: Heart Gives Up

The ministers exchanged glances and decided to launch an expedition to reclaim all land seized by the Tatars and eradicate their remaining forces, so they could no longer ravage the passes.

"Contact General Yang Hong of Xuanfu, and coordinate a joint operation," Cao Nai said coldly: "If Yang Hong refuses or slacks off, ask him where Yang Jun is now."

Yang Jun committed a capital crime; we are not pursuing it now to give the Yang family a chance to redeem themselves through service.

If they dare to deceive us again, unless Yang Hong intends to rebel, no one can save him or his son.

Yang Hong clearly understood this—he received the imperial edict naming a new emperor a full day earlier than Datong.

Upon receiving the edict in the evening, he saw it as an opportunity for the Yang family to escape peril—and even advance further: the emperor had become Retired Emperor, held by Esen, posing minimal threat to Great Ming but increasing threat to the new emperor.

If he held Xuanfu firmly, served the state loyally, and served the new emperor faithfully, accumulating sufficient merit, past faults could be minimized, then erased.

Yang Hong had only one son: Yang Jun.

Though he despised his son's failures, as a father, what could he do?

Yang Hong took a deep breath, made his decision, and began summoning officers to plan a new Xuanfu defense line and intensify efforts to clear remaining Tatar forces within the passes.

They had just concluded the meeting and finalized their battle strategies when urgent news arrived from Datong.

One deputy commander frowned: "It's deep night—why send a military report now? Has Datong fallen?"

Yang Hong's face darkened; he immediately ordered the messenger to be brought in.

If Datong had fallen, the threat to Xuanfu would be immense.

Previously, Guo Deng's repeated defeats and concealment of battlefield intelligence had allowed Tatar forces to infiltrate, creating grave danger to Xuanfu.

The messenger burst in, gasping, knelt, and reported: "The Emperor has perished! The Tatars have been defeated and retreated fifty li!"

Yang Hong froze, then turned pale, crying out: "What did you say? How did the Emperor die? Did Esen kill him?"

He looked utterly incredulous—what benefit would Esen gain by killing the Emperor? Why not protect him?

What use is a dead Emperor? He would only ignite the fury and resolve of Great Ming's subjects—and destroy all of Yang Hong's plans.

The messenger had no idea—he had been outside the battlefield, merely ordered to deliver a message to Datong, and knew only the critical point: "The Emperor's body has been recovered."

This was the news Yang Hong received at night, making him the first on the frontlines to learn: the capital had named a new emperor, the Emperor had become Retired Emperor, yet the Retired Emperor had already become the late Emperor before the imperial decree reached the front.

No—the capital had decided to name a new emperor, but the new emperor had not yet ascended, so the Emperor was still Emperor, not yet formally Retired Emperor.

Therefore, the Emperor had died.

The new emperor would ascend legitimately, with no Retired Emperor looming above him.

Yang Hong slowly sat down in his chair.

With the Emperor's death, the new emperor and court ministers would remember only his virtues; all misdeeds and those responsible for them would be dragged out for reckoning.

Yang Hong's heart sank further, a deep pain rising in his chest; he asked hoarsely: "Where is Yang Jun now?"

"He is guarding the South Three Posts."

Yang Hong: "Transfer him to the North Seven Posts. Order him to join the vanguard and drive the Tatars out of Xuanfu—expel their central command."

The officers stared, exchanging glances.

The North Seven Posts was the front line's front line; soldiers stationed there, regardless of rank, rarely survived—after every battle, reinforcements had to be sent to replace the dead.

Yang Jun could still be sheltered elsewhere, but at the North Seven Posts, soldiers died daily—who would have time to protect this young general? A senior commander who had known Yang Jun since childhood and was close to Yang Hong hesitated: "General, isn't the North Seven Posts too dangerous?"

"Yang Jun has trained for years—this is his moment to repay the Emperor's grace. The North Seven Posts is dangerous, but aren't every soldier there someone's son, someone's flesh and blood? If they can go, why can't he?"

Hearing this, the officers in the tent were deeply moved; two deputy commanders immediately volunteered to go to the North Seven Posts, but Yang Hong refused them.

"You have more suitable positions."

After all officers withdrew, Yang Hong pressed his hand to his chest, his eyes filled with unyielding sorrow.

He guessed that by morning, Datong would receive the capital's edict—Cao Nai and the others had moved the imperial court to Datong to defend it; the Emperor's carriage was there now.

Whether for the sake of Great Ming's realm or to prove his loyalty to the new court, they must respond.

Yang Hong felt nothing better than driving out the Tatars, reclaiming lost land, and avenging the late Emperor.

There were Chen Huai, Jing Yuan, Zhu Mian, Liang Cheng, Wang Gui—all of them; even Kuang Ye had proven himself worthy of Minister of War through battlefield merit. His own defense of Xuanfu paled beside their achievements.

With the Emperor's death, everyone was making mistakes; now they could only correct them, earn merit to offset their failures.

His rank was acceptable—but Yang Jun's was not.

His rank was too low, and his crimes too grave.

Yang Hong swallowed his pain—and indeed, by the next afternoon, he received a direct order from the imperial carriage at Datong.

It was Cao Nai's joint operation order, issued in the Emperor's name.

The court now split into two: the imperial carriage's location became the small court, since nearly half of the Six Ministries and Nine High Officials had accompanied the Emperor on campaign.

Yang Hong asked: "Has the casualty list for the Six Ministries and Nine High Officials been finalized?"

The messenger replied: "Still being compiled—some are missing, unlocated; others confirmed dead, but bodies not yet recovered."

Yang Hong's heart sank further: "Do you have an approximate number?"

The messenger's voice grew somber: "So far, eighteen high-ranking civil and military officials have been confirmed dead—including Duke of Ying, Cabinet Academician Zhang Yi, Vice Censor-in-Chief Deng Qi, Marquis Li Zhen, Marquis Gongshun Wu Kezhong and his brother, Guard General Fan Zhong, Marquis Shen Rong…"

Nobles, civil officials, military commanders—all included.

Most died on the retreat toward Huailai.

Yang Hong's heart plunged to the bottom—he knew his family had alienated half the court.

The families of the dead could no longer harm him or his son, but the surviving courtiers who accompanied the Emperor—if they held grudges—the Yang family would never rise again.

Unless he could achieve an unprecedented merit, seize enough power to stand against those who survived the battle.

With this in mind, during cooperation with Datong, Yang Hong led from the front, fought fiercely, and actually turned defeat into victory, winning two minor engagements against the Tatars.

On the eighteenth day of the ninth month of Zhengtong Ten, urgent border reports arrived: the Emperor perished on the sixteenth day of the ninth month of Zhengtong Ten—the realm mourned deeply.

At that moment, the provisional Emperor Zhu Qiyu was meeting Chen Xun, who had just returned to Jingcheng; upon receiving the report, the Cabinet fell silent—then erupted.

Ministers wept aloud, demanding the Emperor launch an army to avenge the late Emperor.

Zhu Qiyu wept uncontrollably—he had not yet accepted himself as Emperor, had not yet entered the role, had not yet tasted the sweetness of power; all he could think of was how Zhu Qizhen had treated him well.

The late emperor had only two sons: him and Zhu Qizhen; the brothers had always gotten along well. After the late emperor's death, Zhu Qizhen specifically kept this younger brother in Jingcheng, personally led the expedition, and entrusted him with the regency without the slightest doubt.

It could be said that at this moment, their bond was pure brotherly affection; thus, upon hearing of his elder brother's plight, he immediately agreed to the ministers' proposal, dispatching a large army to the border to avenge his brother and restore Great Ming's honor!

Yu Qian stood beside them, opened his mouth as if to speak, but said nothing—instead, he voluntarily offered to lead the troops.