Persimmons are poisonous.

Chapter 937 Do Not Return Without Breaking Shengjing

The hall doors opened, and a hundred-household officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard emerged from the Imperial Palace.

Outside, a large contingent of Embroidered Uniform Guards and agents from the Eastern and Western Bureaus had already gathered, their numbers obscuring the sky.

"Embroidered Uniform Guard, Southern City Hundred-Household Post, where are you!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

Dozens of men stepped forward simultaneously, responding with loud voices.

"By imperial decree, thoroughly investigate Censor Cao Rong!"

"Yes!"

The voices reached into the Imperial Palace, and the officials instinctively turned their heads.

The scene outside the hall made many feel uneasy.

"Your Majesty, to allow these people of unknown origin to sow chaos in the court, has the imperial throne of the Great Ming changed hands?"

"We have diligently served for decades, pouring our hearts and souls into the Great Ming, are we so unworthy of trust?"

"If our founding emperor were to witness this, open his eyes and see, is this Great Ming still the Ming of the Zhu family?"

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern and Western Bureaus have surrounded this hall. Does Your Majesty intend to arrest all of us?"

"If so, there is no need for Your Majesty to act. Fetch us a knife, and we shall take our own lives here in the hall!"

Wuwuwuwu~~~

The officials grew more impassioned with every word, and eventually, someone began to weep within the hall.

Fang Er and Li Shimin watched the officials' performance with smiles, as if watching a play.

Zhu Youjian tried to speak several times but was glared back by Li Shimin.

Outside Beijing City, three men on three horses galloped from the north.

They bypassed Desheng Gate, Xizhi Gate, Fucheng Gate, Xibian Gate, Guangning Gate, and You'an Gate, shouting all the way.

"Victory report! Great victory at Jinzhou, twenty thousand Tatar heads taken, Agui and Babutai captured alive!"

These were the soldiers sent back by Zu Dashou to report the victory. They had been riding day and night, yet they still arrived a day later than Fang Er and his companions.

The three cavalrymen, holding flags high as they entered Yongding Gate, were not stopped by the guards at the city gates.

The common people, hearing the contents of the victory report they were shouting, also cleared a path for them.

"Jinzhou, the victory was achieved so quickly!"

After entering the city, the victory report cavalry maintained their speed. No one stepped forward to reprimand them. They rode directly to the East Glorious Gate, dismounted their warhorses, and rushed inside, holding their flags and victory reports.

"Victory report! Great victory at Jinzhou, twenty thousand Tatar heads taken, Agui and Babutai captured alive!"

The imperial guards guarding the palace city, upon hearing the victory report, relayed the message from one guard to another towards the Imperial Palace.

"Victory report! Great victory at Jinzhou, twenty thousand Tatar heads taken, Agui and Babutai captured alive!"

~~~

The sound reached the Imperial Palace, and everyone was stunned.

Twenty thousand Tatar heads taken, this was an unprecedented great victory!

Even the Great Victory at Ningyuan over ten years ago only resulted in the killing of a thousand enemy soldiers!

The doors of the Imperial Palace were opened, and three soldiers reporting victory scrambled in. Upon reaching the front of the imperial steps, they knelt on one knee with a thud.

"Jinzhou Embroidered Uniform Guard Hundred-Household, Wang Dou, by the order of the Left Surveillance Commander, respectfully reports victory to His Majesty!"

As he spoke, he held the victory report document above his head with both hands.

Zhu Youjian was stunned. After a while, he regained his senses and quickly said to Wang Chengen.

"Great Eunuch, quickly present the document!"

"As you command~"

Wang Chengen walked down the steps, took back the victory report, hesitated for a long time, and then handed it to Li Shimin.

Old Li glared and cursed, "You blind fool! I witnessed the battles myself, and you still want me to look at this?"

Wang Chengen then sheepishly handed the victory report to Zhu Youjian.

Zhu Youjian's mind was entirely focused on the victory report. He didn't bother to argue about who saw it first, although arguing would have been futile anyway.

He recognized Zu Dashou's handwriting immediately from the words on the report.

As he read through the lines, he became more and more excited, eventually slapping his thigh and exclaiming.

"Good! Good! Excellent!"

"Wang Eunuch, quickly, read it aloud to all the officials so they can all hear!"

Wang Chengen took the victory report back, and with his hoarse voice, began to read.

"Your subordinate, Zu Dashou, Left Commander of Jinzhou, pays his respects to His Majesty from Liaodong."

"In July of the thirteenth year of Chongzhen, the Great Emperor Taizong descended upon Jinzhou, leading divine soldiers and nine divine chariots, striking the Qing army outside Jinzhou city."

"Cannons roared, and guns fired in unison, throwing the Qing army into instant disarray. Your subordinate led his troops out of the city and inflicted heavy casualties."

"In just half a day, twenty thousand enemies were killed!"

"Dorgon and Jierhalang routed and fled!"

"Agui, son of the Old Slave and Mergen Zhen, and Babutai, son of the Old Slave and Prince Rao Yu, were captured alive!"

"Daishan's second son, Duke Shuo Tuo, was beheaded on the battlefield!"

"Daishan's fourth son, Wakedai, was beheaded on the battlefield!"

"Daishan's seventh son, Mandahai, was beheaded on the battlefield!"

"Daishan's eighth son, Huse, was beheaded on the battlefield!"

"Daishan's grandson, Prince Duoluo, Adali, was beheaded on the battlefield!"

"Immense spoils were seized!"

"Your subordinate knows that Your Majesty has long awaited this victory, and thus, reports the victory hastily before the battle concludes, hoping to alleviate Your Majesty's worries!"

"Upon dispatching this report, your subordinate will continue the pursuit and will not return until Shengjing is conquered!"

By the end, Wang Chengen's voice was trembling uncontrollably.

This victory report was far more than just twenty thousand enemy killed!

A Prince, a Zhen, a County Prince, and a Duke!

The spoils of this battle were unprecedented!

If this were announced to the world, it would be enough to awe the petty and invigorate the morale of the Great Ming army!

Zhu Youjian was trying to regulate his breathing. The pressure he bore was unimaginable to others.

After ascending the throne, he faced the Old Slave externally, internal rebellions, an empty treasury, and constant natural disasters!

The officials were preoccupied with factional strife, and he was trying every possible means to keep the sinking ship of the Great Ming afloat.

The contents of this victory report were a great victory he dared not even dream of!

When pressure reaches its extreme, and a glimmer of hope appears, the excited emotions are also something others cannot comprehend.

When the officials heard of twenty thousand enemies killed, they held their breath and listened intently to the rest.

For ambitious officials, the prosperity of the Great Ming was their goal.

For those with ulterior motives, as long as the Great Ming continued to exist, they could continue to drift along.

As for history, the meager donations obtained by Chongzhen four years later were also related to the dim prospects of the Great Ming.

As participants in the empire's management, everyone was well aware of the bottomless pit of military expenditure.

Some genuinely couldn't afford to pay, like Fan Fucui and Liu Zongzhou.

Some, like Xue Guoguan, Chen Yan, and Zhang Sizhi, were thinking of changing masters while preserving their official positions to continue their easy lives.

Now, the Great Ming had found an opportunity to catch its breath, which was a good thing for everyone.

However, as they listened, their eyes widened involuntarily.

In just half a day, not only were twenty thousand enemies killed, but two sons of the Old Slave were captured, and four sons and one grandson of Daishan were killed!

It was simply incredible!

The hall fell so silent that one could hear a pin drop. After a long while, Zhu Youjian calmed himself, stood up, and bowed to Li Shimin.

"On behalf of the entire Great Ming, I thank the Great Emperor Taizong for his assistance!"