Chapter 0000 Preface

Several eunuchs hurriedly lifted their skirts and ran quietly away

Where does Chongzhen still have the strength to speak, feeling utterly powerless, as if a heavy stone weighing a thousand pounds is pressing down on his chest! His mind seems on the verge of exploding, the pain causing him to close his eyes, and the muscles in his face begin to twitch slightly

Wang Cheng'en was greatly alarmed! Shanhaiguan is the most important barrier for the Ming Dynasty to resist the northern Manchurian invaders! If Shanhaiguan falls, the Ming Dynasty will perish! Because even if the Qing army, the Manchurian invaders, can bypass Shanhaiguan from Mongolia to attack Beijing, large-scale troop movements still must pass through Shanhaiguan! "Is this news reliable? What about the messenger?"

Wang Cheng'en supported his knee, stood up, and staggered into the gates of the Chengqian Palace. As the Emperor's chief attendant, he had been by the Emperor's side since before Chongzhen was born, accompanying him for over twenty years. He had witnessed the decline of the Ming Dynasty, and in the face of internal strife and external threats, he had raised the young Emperor to the throne. Since his ascension, the Emperor had been working tirelessly and worrying day and night, leaving this over fifty-year-old eunuch exhausted. However, today’s matter was simply too significant for him to ignore.

What? Wang Cheng'en is truly the first one with two major issues! Why is everything happening today? The peasant army is in rebellion, and the border is in urgent need! Any one of these would be enough to trouble the Emperor

Wang Cheng'en was deeply worried about the Emperor's illness. He shot a glare at Yang Siqing and made a gesture for silence. However, he knew that at this moment, Yang Siqing dared to come directly to the Qianqing Palace to find him, which meant that the matter he was reporting was of utmost importance. His mood was particularly heavy, and he felt a deep sympathy for the Emperor. What major incident had occurred again? He still stepped outside the palace gates and asked, "What is it?"

Wang Cheng'en was taken aback! With tears streaming down his face, he rushed over, feeling as if his insides were on fire! He held the Emperor tightly, saying, "What are you all standing there for? Quickly help the Emperor onto the imperial couch! Your Majesty, please do not worry; these insignificant rascals beyond the borders are not worth concerning yourself with. The health of the Dragon Body is of utmost importance! The health of the Dragon Body is paramount!"

A large mouthful of fresh blood gushed out! Chongzhen immediately fainted!

Yes. Yang Siqing wiped his tears and respectfully stepped back. Wang Cheng'en held considerable weight both inside and outside the palace! The Emperor is ill, yet the Ming Dynasty can still function as usual; however, if the eunuch Wang were to fall ill, it would truly cause great chaos. Seeing that Eunuch Wang had returned to his usual self, Yang Siqing felt somewhat reassured.

Yang Siqing had never seen such a serious expression on Wang Cheng'en's face, and was so frightened that tears streamed down his cheeks. "Your Excellency, the Emperor is ill, and the Ming Dynasty is facing one crisis after another. You must take care of your health. If you were to fall ill at this time, I truly would not know what to do."

Chongzhen, whose already frail body swayed slightly, inserted his pale and weak fingers into his half-black, half-white hair. Although only eighteen years old, his hair had already turned prematurely white! He felt as if Wang Cheng in front of him had been divided into four or five parts, "What? Pfft!"

Your Majesty, urgent reports from the border indicate that the army of Hong Taiji has bypassed our heavily fortified defense line at Guanningjin, taking a detour through Xifengkou and is advancing directly towards the capital

After being reprimanded by Wang Cheng'en, the eunuch nodded and returned to his usual demeanor, clearing his throat and saying, "Master Wang, the situation at the three borders is urgent. The governor Yang He has sent an urgent report that the peasant army led by Wang Zuogui has rebelled"

Wang Cheng'en came to his senses from his fright and waved his hand, "You may leave for now. Let the three gentlemen and Lu Xiangsheng wait on the platform, and just say that the Emperor has suddenly fallen ill. As soon as the Emperor awakens, I will immediately report this matter to him."

Yang Siqing whispered into Wang Cheng'en's ear: "Your Excellency, there is an urgent report from the chief of the Shanhaiguan garrison, Lu Xiangsheng; there has been a mutiny at Shanhaiguan"

Outside the Chengqian Palace of the Forbidden City, a hurried sound of footsteps echoed. The palace maids and eunuchs inside and outside all knew that the only one bold enough to walk in such a manner in the Qianqing Palace was the Emperor's trusted chief eunuch, Wang Cheng'en. Moreover, it must be a matter of great importance

Your Majesty, this old servant has something to report. Wang Cheng'en knelt outside the palace gate, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

Wang Cheng'en's eyes bulged as he took a deep breath, "So, this is all true!? The national treasury is empty! How could the Emperor bear to part with the silver? The Emperor values silver above all else! But if he does not release the silver this time, it will be catastrophic!"

Several close palace maids and eunuchs hurriedly followed Wang Cheng'en to assist the unconscious Emperor Chongzhen. They carefully placed the emperor onto the imperial couch.

Wang Cheng'en felt a deep sense of frustration and wanted to erupt, but he feared waking Emperor Chongzhen. He quickly walked over and slapped the eunuch on the shoulder, saying, "Do you know where this place is? If you startle the imperial presence, even a thousand of your heads would not be enough to pay for it"

On a dusk in the eleventh month of the first year of Chongzhen, the northern land had not seen rain for over six months. It was oppressive and dry, and a swirling mass of purple thunderclouds hovered over the entire capital, enveloping this city where nine out of ten houses stood empty. The cloud mass resembled a towering pillar capable of commanding the winds and clouds, seemingly emanating from the Forbidden City, piercing straight into the sky, stretching endlessly into the horizon.

Wang Cheng'en's understanding of Emperor Chongzhen can be said to surpass the Emperor's own understanding of himself. He knew that despite Emperor Chongzhen's lofty ambitions, diligent governance, and personal involvement in affairs, he lacked both the strategies for ruling the country and the skills to appoint capable individuals. Ascending the throne at the age of seventeen, he had lived in a sheltered environment, rarely coming into contact with the realities of the common people or the handling of court affairs. Coupled with his harshness, suspicion, and paranoia, he would often angrily reprimand, question, punish, or execute his ministers. If this young emperor, who had just taken on the mantle of power, were truly to handle these thorny issues, his cruelty and coldness could very well surpass that of Wei Zhongxian. And did he possess the ability to resolve these pressing matters one by one? With this thought, Wang Cheng'en's heart sank suddenly.

The common people of the capital peeked out from behind their windows, anxiously watching the strange weather. It was summer, a time when it should rain, yet it did not! Now, in the middle of winter, it was about to rain? Everyone silently wondered if this was a sign of the end times. Since the new emperor ascended the throne, the eunuchs continued to hold power, disasters occurred continuously across the regions, corpses of the starving were everywhere, and the displaced people rose in rebellion, inevitably leading to such questions.

"Lord Wei has arrived." Just as Wang Cheng'en was anxiously worrying about the Emperor, a report came from outside the Chengqian Palace, and Wang Cheng'en knew that Wei Zhongxian, who held the military power of the realm, had arrived!

Yang Siqing wiped the sweat from his forehead and nodded, "Reliable, absolutely true, Your Excellency. Lu Xiangsheng is the standard bearer of Shanhaiguan. He said that as soon as he took office, he received a report that the rebel troops had captured Governor Bi Zishu of Ningyuan. The rebels stated that if the court did not pay the overdue military salaries from the past year within ten days, they would collectively rebel and defect to the outside of the pass to join Huang Taiji! The three gentlemen, Cheng Jiming, Qian Longxi, and Yu Dacheng, are all waiting outside the palace gate."

The seventeen-year-old new emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Youjian, sat solemnly on the throne, reviewing memorials from various regions. His handsome face was marked by weariness; although he had ascended the throne for less than half a year, his once bright eyes were now bloodshot from prolonged sleeplessness. Even the full head of black hair that a seventeen-year-old boy should possess seemed to be turning gray. Upon hearing Wang Cheng'en's words, he suddenly stood up, nervously raising his eyes toward the palace gate, his expression filled with panic and confusion. "Come in and speak!"

He, Tu, and Shu Yang Siqing was Wang Cheng'en's attendant. At this moment, he was also unaware of what had happened in the Qianqing Palace. In a state of anxiety, he hurried to the entrance of the Qianqing Palace, peered in, and whispered, "Master Wang, something big has happened!"

Wang Cheng'en cried as he held the Emperor, and although he was weeping, he did not dare to make a sound for fear of disturbing the Emperor's rest. He shot a glare at the palace maids and eunuchs nearby, suppressing his voice, "Why aren't you hurrying to summon the imperial physician? What are you all standing there for?"

At the moment when Wang Cheng'en was anxiously distressed, a eunuch from below came to report, "Master Wang, something bad has happened!"

Wang Cheng'en let out a long sigh, gazing at the purple storm clouds outside the palace, which seemed to grow heavier and heavier, as if they were about to swallow the entire world. Within five steps, one could not discern any human figures. He could not help but lament in his heart, could it be that this celestial phenomenon signifies the end of the Ming Dynasty? Wang Cheng'en was certainly more aware than anyone else of the Emperor's character, and he understood better than anyone the amount of silver stored in the palace treasury. Although there were over 3.7 million taels of silver, the Ming Dynasty was at a precarious juncture. Where was money not needed? Disasters and famines plagued the land, and epidemics were rampant! Even in the most critical moments, past emperors had been reluctant to easily touch this sum of silver. If he could not persuade the Emperor to release the treasury's silver this time, he was prepared to donate all his savings to the Emperor. Although this might incite the Emperor's jealousy, making him think of him as a greedy official, he had to do it for the sake of the Emperor and the Emperor's realm! While still at the Prince of Xin's residence, he had already saved 70,000 taels of silver.