Chapter 005 Where is your integrity
He roared like a beast, swinging his fist down onto his opponent's arm. Amidst the latter's screams, he actually broke the arm in one blow. However, the significant loss of blood began to make him feel dizzy, as his energy requirements far exceeded those of an ordinary person, making him particularly sensitive to blood loss. After all, energy primarily relies on blood circulation, and the healing of such lacerations consumes far more energy than that of arrow wounds.
Before them lay a desolate village that resembled a ghostly realm, where hardly any signs of life could be seen. Only a few emaciated villagers sat numbly in the sun, their skeletal faces revealing only the movement of their eyeballs to indicate they were still alive. Many trees around them had their bark stripped away, presenting a stark contrast to the fresh green of early spring. Beside a gray-black thatched hut, a big-headed, pot-bellied child sat next to a withered female corpse, barely clinging to life. The skeletal faces of the villagers showed only the movement of their eyeballs to indicate they were still alive, while many trees around them had their bark stripped away, presenting a stark contrast to the fresh green of early spring. Beside a gray-black thatched hut, a big-headed, pot-bellied child sat next to a withered female corpse, barely clinging to life.
Then why didn't you say so before
The common people are suffering!
At that moment, a spear suddenly appeared under his ribs
These beasts
Yang Feng sighed, handed the girl to Huang Ying, then stepped forward and patted his shoulder, saying: "Stop calling out, if the bandits hadn't arrived, they might have opened the door. Now that the bandits are here, they have captured us to offer to the bandits, which is already somewhat shameful."
Yang Feng can be said to be at the forefront; at the moment of collision, he suddenly sidestepped, avoiding the spear that was thrust at his chest. At the same time, his spear pierced into his opponent's chest, the immense force causing it to penetrate directly through the body. As they passed each other, Yang Feng seized his opponent's spear with his right hand and, as if it had eyes, thrust it from behind towards the left side. The spear directly stabbed into Liang Cheng's ribcage. Meanwhile, Yang Feng's left hand grasped the front end of his own spear and smoothly pulled it out, then he threw it forward with a reverse motion, hitting the chest of the third cavalryman. As they passed each other, Yang Feng seized his opponent's spear with his right hand and, as if it had eyes, thrust it from behind towards the left side. The spear directly stabbed into Liang Cheng's ribcage. Meanwhile, Yang Feng's left hand grasped the front end of his own spear and smoothly pulled it out, then he threw it forward with a reverse motion, hitting the chest of the third cavalryman.
He discarded the spear in his right hand and swiftly seized a long spear that was thrusting towards him from the right side. With a powerful upward bend, he instantly curved the white wax rod spear into a U shape and then thrust it forward, piercing the throat of the cavalryman.
There is nothing strange about this; when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. Even the emperor is in such a state, and looking at the troops behind him, one does not need to guess that Beijing has fallen. If those local officials had any integrity, they would not have allowed Li Zicheng to enter Beijing. Now, the fact that they have not come out to pledge loyalty to the new ruler can already be considered as having a sense of conscience.
He must be cautious, as Wang Yongji is a cunning old fox, and Wu Sangui is a vicious wolf; neither of them is a good person. He is dancing on the edge of a knife and must ensure absolute safety. The consequences of directly aligning himself with these two are not easy to predict, as his history of escape has already changed. Similarly, it is difficult to say how the original masterminds and main operators who historically invited the Qing army into the pass would respond to his arrival. Therefore, the best course of action is to head straight to Shanhaiguan, first using the emperor's banner to take control of the army under General Gao Di. Unlike Wu Sangui's private army, Gao Di's troops were hastily recruited locally, and the emperor's banner still holds some weight in front of these people. Moreover, it is clear that Gao Di is not on the same level as Wang Yongji and Wu Sangui; dealing with him is much easier than dealing with the other two. Once he has control of Gao Di's tens of thousands of troops, he can wait at Shanhaiguan for Wu Sangui's return, and having soldiers in hand will provide him with leverage.
Liang Cheng said
The plague and natural disasters cannot be blamed on Your Majesty
This is a bit safer
Quickly open the door, the royal carriage has arrived
Liang Cheng quickly said
Your Majesty, ahead lies Jizhou
Liang Cheng hurriedly rushed to the foot of Jizhou City and shouted loudly at the top.
The sunbathing famished individuals never got up from beginning to end, as if they were a group of zombies, merely turning their necks a few times, as if in their world there remained only the little warmth bestowed upon them from above.
Haha, you are loyal subjects, you all are loyal subjects. Today, dying together with you is not in vain. Kill! As a man of the Ming Dynasty, if I must die, let it be a glorious death!
He is the commander of the Jinyiwei who escaped from Beijing, merely a hereditary Qianhu, originally based in Dongzhimen. After the city fell, the few of them hid nearby, uncertain of where to go next, when Yang Feng suddenly appeared. Whether it was a call of loyalty and righteousness, a matter of habit, or a pursuit of wealth and danger, remains unknown. In any case, they charged out with a total of fifty-four riders.
Yang Fengmeng turned to the side
natural disaster
Your Majesty, I do not know much else, but I am aware that the common people are indeed suffering greatly. Although there are continuous natural disasters, border troubles, and rampant banditry, as well as the infighting and disorder among the court officials, the frequent changes in Your Majesty's decrees are also a contributing factor
Running all the way from Beijing to here, the sights and sounds along the journey made him truly feel what a hell on earth is. It is no wonder that the city of Beijing fell apart as if it were a child's play. One could say that Li Zicheng's success was merely the final push on a wooden building that had long been decayed and was on the verge of collapse. This country had already been eroded into a hollow shell.
Liang Cheng looked at the empty city wall above his head and said with indignation
Your Majesty, shall we proceed to Zunhua or to Yutian next
Yang Feng dismounted with a bitter smile, picked up the child, and said: "Natural disasters are also my fault."
However, the movement was slightly slow, and the spearhead instantly opened a wound under his rib, causing blood to spurt out immediately
Yang Feng did not hesitate for a moment as he drew the arrow and hurled it back; the arrow, still stained with his blood, struck the assailant squarely in the face with a whoosh. Meanwhile, his hand swept to the side, gripping the neck of a cavalryman, and with a sudden force, he lifted the over one hundred kilogram strong man single-handedly, letting out a fierce roar as he smashed him down onto the ground, causing two cavalrymen to be thrown off their horses.
He appeared quite anxious throughout the journey because he had spoken many truths in Beijing, believing that he would inevitably face dire consequences, especially since he had openly stated that the Emperor was ineffective in governing the country
Liang Cheng said
Your Majesty, please hurry!
Yang Feng said with a bitter smile
At that moment, a member of the Jinyiwei suddenly exclaimed
Yang Feng said nothing further, silently turning his head to look at the hundreds of pursuers who were now less than one kilometer away. He then took a spear from a member of the Imperial Guard, controlling his warhorse to slowly move to the front, a cold smile on his face as he stood with his spear facing the approaching enemy. The members of the Imperial Guard also drew their weapons, standing in a line on either side of him, their backs against the tightly closed gates of Jizhou, silently awaiting their final fate
Liang Cheng asked cautiously
Liang Cheng shouted
Yang Fengluo thought for a moment and then said
The state has nurtured its scholars for three hundred years; it cannot truly stand by and watch the emperor perish at the gates, can it?
If it were in the past, a mere minor official like me would have been sentenced to prison for saying such words
I humbly obey your command
I do not have this habit. I, the Emperor, am incapable of bringing the world to such a state, causing suffering to the common people and leading to their misery. If death is to be my fate, it is a consequence of my own actions. You, my lords, do not blame me for my deep sins, and even at this moment of national crisis, you still choose to follow me to death. How can I dare to abandon you? Today, it is nothing but death. To die alongside you, my lords, would bring me no regret
Yang Feng seized a spear and deftly knocked a cavalryman off his horse while shouting
Well, today it is nothing but death, and I have no regrets for the nation that has nurtured scholars for three hundred years
Yang Feng's original plan was to go to Fengrun. After leaving Beijing, they turned north to avoid Tongzhou and Zhangjiakou, then headed directly east to reach this place. There are two routes from Jizhou: one leads to Yutian and then to Fengrun, while the other goes northeast to Zunhua, the garrison of Governor Wang Yongji of Jizhiliao. From Zunhua, one can head directly east to Shanhaiguan. At this time, Wang Yongji had already moved south to Yutian, which means that going to Yutian would allow them to encounter him, and then they would meet the arriving Wu Sangui. However, if they went to Zunhua, they would miss them just right, heading straight to Shanhaiguan without their knowledge. At this time, Wang Yongji had already moved south to Yutian, which means that going to Yutian would allow them to encounter him, and then they would meet the arriving Wu Sangui. However, if they went to Zunhua, they would miss them just right, heading straight to Shanhaiguan without their knowledge.
Yang Feng said
Liang Cheng shouted anxiously
Yang Feng quickly turned around, the cavalry behind him galloping and stirring up dust, barely visible. It was evident that the pursuing troops had arrived, and someone of his BOSS level was certainly a prime target for Li Zicheng's relentless pursuit. It was likely that at this moment, not just one group of pursuers was searching for him. He dared not delay any further, urgently kicking his steed, leading fifty-two Imperial Guards, a eunuch, a common woman, and a child in her arms, racing towards Jizhou City. However, the speed of the pursuing soldiers was clearly faster. When they reached Jizhou City half an hour later, the flag emblazoned with the character 'Chuang' had already appeared in their line of sight.
At the top of Jizhou City, an old man stood there with a bitter smile.
Liang Cheng hurriedly rushed to his side, wielding a knife to deflect a spear, while anxiously shouting.
Go to Zunhua
Quickly open the door, the royal carriage has arrived
Suddenly, a series of cannon fire erupted behind him, almost simultaneously, a piercing whistle swept over his head. Following that, a scene of carnage unfolded among the cavalry of the advancing troops, and then the sound of the city gate opening echoed from behind, accompanied by the shouts of battle. Yang Feng turned to look back, and a large number of infantry and cavalry were pouring out of Jizhou City, charging towards him.
After speaking, he remounted his horse and took the water pouch handed to him by Huang Ying, the young girl who had escaped Beijing with him. He poured some horse blood into the mouth of the little girl. This was something he always kept on hand. The current emperor is like a machine that runs on blood; after all, when it comes to comprehensive nutrition, blood undoubtedly ranks first, and it is convenient to consume. Although the child did not immediately recover after drinking a few mouthfuls of horse blood, at least her life was temporarily sustained. The current emperor is like a machine that runs on blood; after all, when it comes to comprehensive nutrition, blood undoubtedly ranks first, and it is convenient to consume. Although the child did not immediately recover after drinking a few mouthfuls of horse blood, at least her life was temporarily sustained
Yang Feng finished speaking and suddenly kicked his warhorse, charging straight towards the Shun army several hundred meters away. All the Jinyiwei beside him spurred their warhorses, and even Old Wang came along with a knife in hand. Opposite them, hundreds of Shun cavalry also gradually formed into a line, raising their long spears as they collided towards them. The two groups crashed into each other in an instant
Yang Feng looked around with a sense of nostalgia
Liang Cheng also smiled wryly
Old Wang said cautiously
bandit army
A head poked out from the city wall, and then quickly withdrew. However, the city gate they were anticipating did not open, nor did anyone else show their face. The entire Jizhou seemed to have transformed into a silent dead city.
Am I, this emperor, a failure?
However, at that very moment, as the bowstring on the opposite side twanged, a sharp arrow struck him squarely in the chest