Chapter 9: To Bet or Not to Bet

Regarding the 600-li express delivery: During the Ming and Qing dynasties, there were post stations set up every 10 li and relay stations every 30 li. These relay stations housed specialized post horses. The 600-li express delivery involved continuously changing horses along the route without any stops, ensuring that the message was delivered to a distance of 600 li within the span of 12 hours.

Zhen Youcai said: "I saw a military officer outside the village collecting the armor of the Prince Li's guards. Later, the general asked me if I could speak Manchu, and I guessed that the general intended to send someone to impersonate the guards of Prince Li to deceive the city gate. General, if you truly have such intentions, I advise you to abandon this thought as soon as possible; it is not so easy to deceive the gates of Shengjing."

What does this have to do with us

Outside the private chamber, Empress Zhezhe and Consort Bumubutai were anxiously pacing back and forth. Both were eager to push the door open and see what was happening, yet they did not dare to act rashly. Finally, a narrow gap appeared in the tightly shut door, and an elderly imperial physician emerged, his face weary. Zhezhe and Bumubutai hurriedly surrounded him, asking anxiously: "Physician, how is Consort Chen?"

"Did you guess it?" Wang Pu was secretly astonished and asked, "How did you figure it out?"

Zhen Youcai stated: "The guards of the Jian army are strict at night, and it is absolutely impossible to deceive them into opening the city gates. However, the guards during the day are relatively lax, and it is not difficult to sneak a few dozen people into the city."

Zhen Youcai's statement is indeed true; over the years, the Ming army has been unable to invade Liaodong, and both Korea and Mongolia have already submitted to the Jianzhou Jurchens

Wang Puda said, "What is the matter?"

... ...

"Not at all," the imperial physician said with a heavy heart. "The Empress might be wanting to see His Majesty one last time, which is why she is enduring and refusing to depart this world."

A dozen or so Jianzhou soldiers rushed out from the gatehouse, swarming to push open the bolt. The tightly shut city gate had just opened a crack when the horseman had already dashed out like a gust of wind, quickly disappearing into the vast night sky

Zhen Youcai. Wang Pu squinted his eyes and suddenly said something irrelevant, "Shouldn't this general thank you? You saved the lives of this general and over a thousand soldiers of the Ming Dynasty, didn't you?"

Wang Puda: "Where is the person?"

Bring it in

Zhen Youcai seemed to have guessed Wang Pu's thoughts and said softly, "My lord, there is no need to be surprised; this is all something I have deduced."

Zhen Youcai stated: "When Nurhaci raised his army, the Jianzhou forces numbered only a few tens of thousands, yet they repeatedly captured key military strongholds of the Ming Dynasty, such as Fushun, Kaiyuan, Tieling, Shenyang, and Liaoyang, which were heavily guarded. The bravery and combat skills of the Eight Banners troops were one reason, but the most important reason was that Nurhaci was exceptionally adept at utilizing internal support to deceive and open the city gates. The major military strongholds in Liaodong had towering walls of ten zhang, yet they could not serve their intended purpose as a barrier."

Zhen Youcai did not dare to speak, only his pair of eyes rolled around restlessly, making him appear like a cunning and sly character.

"Xiao Qi, do not act impulsively." Wang Pu stopped Xiao Qi and then addressed Zhen Youcai, "Zhen Youcai, is this all you have to say to this general?"

On the long, quiet street, as the night deepens and people are peacefully asleep, a sudden clatter of hooves shatters their dreams. The gatekeeper, a soldier of the Jianzhou, is dozing off in a daze, when the urgent sound of galloping horses suddenly pierces his ears. Startled, he looks up to see a rider approaching swiftly, and a piercing shout echoes under the night sky: "Quickly open the city gates, the regent Prince Zheng is on an urgent mission from six hundred li..."

Wang Puda: "So, does this mean that I, as a general, should trust you then"

... ...

Zhe Zhe has lost his composure: "What should I do, what should I do?"

Zhen Youcai said: "The general may not be aware that this estate is actually a royal estate. Periodically, it sends grain, vegetables, and some seasonal delicacies to the imperial palace in Shengjing. As it happens, it is time for another shipment of grain. The general could have your subordinates disguise themselves as cart drivers and hide their weapons in the grain cart. The guards, who are already familiar with my associates, generally do not conduct inspections, so it should be possible to sneak into the city.

In the stillness of the deep night, the Guanju Palace is brightly lit.

"General, do not trust him," Xiao Qi urged, "Be careful, this guy might be scheming to trick us"

Hmm?

At this moment, Bu Mu Bu Tai appeared remarkably calm and said to Zhe Zhe: "Your Majesty, the Empress, the Consort Chen is the Emperor's most favored concubine. If we conceal the news of Consort Chen's critical illness, the Emperor will surely hold us accountable. The most urgent matter now is to quickly send a fast horse to Songshan, so that the Emperor can return to Shengjing to see Consort Chen one last time"

Wang Pu asked expressionlessly, "What do you mean by that?"

"I still don't believe it," Xiao Qi retorted, "Is it possible that the banner of the Jianzhou bandits is at the city gate, and the guards of the Jianzhou bandits won't open the door?"

It is already late," Zhen Youcai said with some regret, "Of course, Dai Shan must have some connection with the *Tushu* regarding defense; otherwise, how could he return to the city? However, at this point, I fear it has already been destroyed by him.

The chief eunuch, who was waiting nearby, hurriedly rolled out of the inner court and conveyed the imperial edict of Zhezhe to the Prince of Li and the Prince of Zheng, who were stationed in Shengjing. The Prince of Li, Daisan, was away, while the Prince of Zheng, Jierhalang, did not dare to delay and immediately dispatched a fast horse with an urgent message to the front lines at Songshan, covering a distance of six hundred li.

Xiao Qi turned around and called out, and two servants escorted Zhen Youcai into the hall. Wang Pu frowned and asked, "Zhen Youcai, what is the matter?"

Taking advantage of the remaining time, Wang Puzheng intended to take a short nap when Xiao Qi suddenly pushed the door open and reported, "General, that Zhen Youcai is insisting on seeing you, claiming that there is an urgent matter."

The imperial physician shook his head and sighed, saying: "Your Majesty, I have done my utmost."

"Yes, yes, yes," Zhe Zhe said repeatedly, "Someone, hurry to the Prince of Li's residence and the Prince of Zheng's residence, and have both princes send fast horses to Songshan immediately to inform the Emperor that Consort Chen is critically ill, urging him to return to Shengjing at once"

Ah? Zhezhe exclaimed in shock, "The Empress..."

Under the urgency of 600 miles, there are 400 miles, 300 miles, and 200 miles of urgency

Wang Pu's expression darkened as he looked at Xiao Qi, who quickly shook his head, knowing that he would certainly not disclose such significant military secrets to Zhen Youcai

If what Zhen Youcai said is true, then this is indeed a solution

Damn it! Xiao Qi clenched his fists and said with a harsh tone, "General, let me go down and take a look. If that old servant really has compromised the defenses, it would be of no use to keep him alive; it would be better to kill him with a flurry of blades."

"I dare not," Zhen Youcai hurriedly lowered his head, unable to meet Wang Pu's cold and piercing gaze. He clasped his hands and replied, "I am doing this for my own survival. If the general suffers defeat in Shengjing, I fear I will not survive either. Only if you, General, achieve great success can I continue to live well, heh, hehehe..."

Zhen Youcai lowered his head, secretly glanced at Wang Pu, and quickly averted his gaze, softly saying: "General, are you thinking of taking advantage of the darkness so that the Jianzhou bandits on the city cannot see clearly, and sending someone to impersonate the guards of the Prince of Li to deceive the gates of Shenyang City?"

"Of course it is related," Zhen Youcai said. "Nurhaci seized the entire Liaodong by deceiving the city gates; how could he leave the same opportunity for others? If the general sends someone to deceive the guards of Prince Li, isn't that just asking for death?"

Wang Puhui raised his hand to stop Xiao Qi and said to Zhen Youcai: "Go on, continue speaking."

Beyond the six-hundred-li express delivery, there exists an even more urgent eight-hundred-li express delivery. The eight-hundred-li express is not merely about covering eight hundred li in twelve hours; it involves running at full speed, as fast as possible. In a single day, it may even cover over a thousand li. Ultimately, the message arrives, but the horse is exhausted, and the person is worn out. During the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Xuanzong often did this to ensure that Yang Guifei could enjoy fresh lychees.

Wang Puda: "Dai Shan is the Prince of the Banner of the Jian clan, and also the Minister of Defense in Shengjing. He must have some connection to the defense!"

Changyong Fortress

The three guards stepped forward to block the way, and the leading guard spread his hands and said in a deep voice: "Close the gates"

In such a grand environment, the Jian soldiers have never believed that Shenyang would come under attack. This is actually a result of human inertia and conventional thinking, as since Nurhaci raised his banner, the Jian soldiers have experienced continuous success. Apart from suffering two setbacks during the siege of Ningyuan City, they have hardly faced any defeats. Under such circumstances, it is impossible not to foster an air of arrogance.

Wang Puda: "Let him in"

"During the day?" Xiao Qi exclaimed, "What kind of joke is this? How can over a thousand people approach Shengjing City in broad daylight? Do you think the soldiers in the city are all dead?"

Zhen Youcai's eyes twinkled, and he continued, "Oh, besides these, there is one more thing."

Zhen Youcai said: "Gentlemen, you may not be aware that when the old servant, the chieftain Nurhaci, was alive, he established strict regulations. All city gates must be closed at night, and unless there is a chieftain or a guarding minister present, the gatekeepers of the Jianzhou people will never open the gates unless the chieftain Huang Taiji himself is present"

Under the bright daylight, the vigilance of the Jian soldiers is low. Moreover, since Changyong Fort is an imperial estate that frequently transports grain, vegetables, and game to the palace, the guards are even less likely to be suspicious. However, this approach carries significant risks. If Zhen Youcai were to fabricate a story, the consequences would be severe. While one could escape under the cover of night if the deception fails, fleeing during the day would be much more difficult, as the Jian soldiers are not to be underestimated in their horsemanship and archery. However, this approach carries significant risks. If Zhen Youcai were to fabricate a story, the consequences would be severe. While one could escape under the cover of night if the deception fails, fleeing during the day would be much more difficult, as the Jian soldiers are not to be underestimated in their horsemanship and archery

What method?" Wang Pu said coldly, "Tell me about it.

The messenger took out a piece of stationery from his bosom, which indeed bore the purple flower seal of the governor of Shengjing. Only then did the gatekeeper turn around, wave his hand, and shout: "Open the city gates!"

Zhen Youcai said: "The general wishes to capture Shengjing City through a surprise attack; I happen to have a method for that."

Xiao Qi said: "I am waiting outside."