Chapter 156: Imperial Brother, Why Do You Rebel?

The Great Banner is the symbol of a military commander-in-chief. In ancient times, due to inconvenient communication during military campaigns, battle commands were mostly transmitted using command flags, and the commander's Great Banner was of paramount importance, representing the exact location of the commander. As long as the Great Banner stood, it meant the commander was still present, neither fallen nor fled, allowing the soldiers to fight with peace of mind. If the soldiers could not see the Great Banner, they would fear that something had befallen the commander, leading to scattered morale and a complete loss of fighting spirit. During a battle between two armies, there was a saying: "Rather than beheading the enemy general, seize their banner." This banner referred precisely to the Great Banner representing the commander. Capturing the enemy's Great Banner could decisively influence the outcome of the war. Therefore, commanding generals attached immense importance to the Great Banner, usually selecting their strongest and bravest subordinates to guard it. As long as a man lived, the Great Banner stood; even if the man died, the Great Banner must not be lost!

The strategy Etsen proposed to Esen was actually inspired by an old event from the Jingnan Campaign. During the Jianwen era, Zhu Di raised an army to purge the imperial court's corrupt officials, and when attacking the city of Jinan, the Yan army met fierce resistance from the city's garrison and populace. Initially, Zhu Di devised a scheme, deliberately spreading word that he would divert the Yellow River to flood Jinan, intending to force the city's defending general, Sheng Yong, into surrender. Tie Xuan, then serving as the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Shandong, gave Sheng Yong an idea: use a feigned surrender to ambush Zhu Di when he entered the city. Unfortunately, fate intervened; as Zhu Di entered the city, the heavy iron gate fell a little too early, crushing the mount beneath him, though he miraculously escaped unharmed and without a single scratch.

Furious, Zhu Di retreated and ordered a heavy siege, bringing cannons to the front lines in an attempt to force his way through the city walls. Unexpectedly, Tie Xuan came up with a brilliant and unconventional defense: he hung portraits of Zhu Yuanzhu on the city battlements and personally inscribed numerous spirit tablets of Zhu Yuanazhu, placing them at every single merlon. How could Zhu Di dare to order his men to fire cannons upon his own father's portraits? After a standoff lasting several months, Zhu Di had no choice but to sound the retreat, and the city of Jinan was ultimately preserved.

Esen had read this story several times in historical texts, and for a long time, he had deeply scorned Zhu Di's overcautious and timorous behavior. After all, it was merely a portrait and a few wooden tablets; if they were blasted to pieces, one could simply make new ones. Why hesitate? But now, he suddenly felt that this pedantic mindset of the Ming people was truly a marvelous advantage. During the Battle of Tumu Fortress, Oirat soldiers had captured a bright yellow Great Banner that symbolized the emperor's identity. Today, Zhu Qizhen was the Grand Emperor of the Great Ming. If they hoisted his imperial banner and paraded him at the front to attack the Ming army, the cannons on the Ming city walls would certainly not dare to fire, and even the defenders' counterattacks would be severely crippled. As long as they seized this tactical opportunity, the Oirat cavalry wiping out the Deshengmen defenders in one fell swoop was a certainty!

No sooner said than done, Esen immediately ordered his men to fetch the somewhat soiled Great Banner and sent someone to find Zhu Qizhen, claiming he had matters to discuss.

Inside the tent, Zhu Qizhen was still taking his afternoon nap when he was suddenly shaken awake by Yuan Bin, who announced that Esen wished to consult with him and instructed him to put on his dragon robe. Over the past few days, Zhu Qizhen rarely wore his dragon robe. First, wearing it often invited mockery from the Oirats; second, he had no spare dragon robe to change into, and once it became soiled, he had to resort to ordinary leisure wear. Thus, he only wore it on important occasions. Hearing that Esen wanted him to put on his dragon robe, Zhu Qizhen was overjoyed, assuming the imperial court had sent envoys once more to take him back. Had he not been afraid of keeping Esen waiting, he would even have liked to bathe and present himself to the Ming envoys with dignity.

When he arrived outside Esen's tent with his head held high and his chest puffed out, the sight of that bright yellow banner fluttering in the wind made him even more deliriously happy.

"Esen has actually raised my Great Banner! It seems this time he is truly going to send me back!"

Zhu Qizhen was so excited he nearly cried out. He gazed rapturously at the Great Banner for a long moment before lifting the tent curtain and stepping inside. However, upon realizing there were no Ming envoys inside the tent, he paused in surprise and subconsciously asked, "Grand Tutor, where are the envoys?"

"What envoys?"

Esen had no patience for his rambling and said to Zhu Qizhen, "Today I have a task for the Great Emperor to perform. As long as it is done well, returning to the capital will be a very simple matter."

Zhu Qizhen nodded hastily. "As long as it is something I can do, I will have no objections whatsoever!"

"I've heard that an emperor's word is as weighty as a tripod. You must not break your promise."

Esen burst into a mocking laugh, and the others in the tent rocked with mirth.

Zhu Qizhen was completely baffled, but unfortunately, he could not understand what Esen was saying and could only wait for the other man to explain. It took Esen quite a while to curb his laughter before telling Zhu Qizhen, "Today, this Grand Tutor has resolved to attack Deshengmen. I ask the Great Emperor to lend me a hand!"

"At-Attack Deshengmen?"

Zhu Qizhen's heart skipped a beat, but he still forced a smile and asked, "Grand Tutor, what does that have to do with me?"

"Naturally, I am asking Your Majesty to charge into battle at my side."

Esen stopped beating around the bush and stated his purpose directly and bluntly.

"I—I am the Sovereign of the Universe! How can I put myself in such peril? I will not go, absolutely not!"

Thinking of the Great Banner raised outside the tent, how could Zhu Qizhen fail to understand Esen's intentions? He was trying to use him as a living talisman for the Oirat army!

Seeing Zhu Qizhen shake his head like a rattle-drum, Esen asked with a smiling expression, "Is Your Majesty truly the Sovereign of the Universe?"

"I am, naturally..." Zhu Qizhen shrank his neck and replied weakly.

Esen's smile vanished abruptly. With a reverse swing of his hand, he struck Zhu Qizhen squarely across the face with a crisp slap.

Zhu Qizhen was sent reeling, spinning around the tent a few times before collapsing heavily onto the ground. Esen squatted down and asked with a smile, "Speak, are you still the Sovereign of the Universe?"

Zhu Qizhen saw stars before his eyes, his ears ringing. Hearing the question, tears of humiliation welled up, and he stammered, "I—I am not..."

"Hmph, refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!" Esen uttered a Ming proverb he had picked up, flicked his sleeve, and stood up, issuing his command: "Today this Grand Tutor will personally lead the expedition, and you shall accompany me. If you dare to disobey, don't even think about staying alive in this world!"

Hearing this, Zhu Qizhen collapsed completely. He knew deep down that the tiger skin of emperorship could no longer be wrapped around him; right now, he was nothing more than a chess piece manipulated at the whim of the Oirats.

Once the troops in the main camp were fully armored, Esen also donned his battle gear, preparing to lead the charge personally. Several Oirat guards hoisted Zhu Qizhen up, dumping him onto a war chariot captured from the Ming army at Tumu Fortress, and secured the emperor's Great Banner right onto the vehicle.

"Grand Tutor, Grand Tutor! Can you at least give me a suit of armor? Blades and arrows have no eyes after all, and I don't want to die in the battle array!" Zhu Qizhen pleaded pitifully to the side as he was held up by his arms.

Esen glanced at him sideways, figuring this chess piece might still have some use, and instructed his guards: "Arm him with armor, but put the imperial robe over the top. Remember, don't let him die too easily; this Grand Tutor still has great use for him."

The guards acknowledged the order, casually grabbed a suit of armor to throw over Zhu Qizhen, and forcefully shoved him down into the war chariot, preparing for the charge.

...

On the battlements of Deshengmen, Zhu Qiyu and a gathering of civil and military officials looked toward the Oirat camp, filled with heavy suspicion.

Just two quarters of an hour ago, someone had suddenly spotted a banner of a remarkably distinct color raised within the Oirat camp. Although it was distant, as the banner fluttered in the wind, its hue and the designs painted upon it were faintly discernible.

Zhu Qiyu wore a puzzled expression as he asked the ministers beside him, "That banner seems somewhat similar to the dragon banner in my imperial regalia. Why would Esen hoist it in the camp? Is he trying to experience the majesty of an emperor?"

Minister of Revenue Jin Lian spoke with a grave expression, "Your Majesty, the matter is likely not so simple. This is the crucial moment of battle, and a ruthless ambition like Esen's—how could he care for such hollow honors?"

"What the Minister says is true. Esen harbors immense designs; he is definitely up to some trick."

The ministers concurred deeply and began discussing it among themselves in hushed murmurs.

Soon, the clamor of the officials on the battlements fell silent. For the Oirat camp gates had swung wide open, and their elite cavalry was sweeping toward Deshengmen like a tide of black water.

*Woooo—*

Long, mournful horn blasts sounded from the Ming camp, proclaiming the enemy's assault had begun.

"That banner is moving!"

Amidst everyone's tense gazes, someone suddenly cried out in shock.

Zhu Qiyu shaded his eyes with his hand, looking into the distance, and saw the bright yellow banner mingling among the other Oirat flags as it advanced toward Deshengmen.

As the banner drew closer, everyone's vision cleared.

"Th-This is the Five-Colored Gold-Embroidered Dragon Banner used only during imperial tours!"

Xing An, standing beside Zhu Qiyu, let out an involuntary cry. Having served in the palace for decades, he was intimately familiar with imperial regalia. Now that the Great Banner had closed the distance significantly, he recognized it almost instantly.

"It's His Majesty—no, it's the Grand Emperor!"

Soon, someone else spotted Zhu Qizhen inside the war chariot. Though far away, that striking bright yellow dragon robe stood out vividly against the sea of black.

Though it was not yet certain if the man was truly his imperial brother, Zhu Qiyu's hands and feet had already turned ice-cold.

As the great-grandson of Zhu Di, he was naturally well-acquainted with the deeds of his illustrious ancestor. With Esen leading someone suspected to be the Grand Emperor to attack Deshengmen, the defenders would inevitably hesitate to strike for fear of harming their own emperor. The Oirats, burdened by no such taboo, would undoubtedly grow fiercer by the battle. With the tide turning in such a manner, the outcome was too close to call!

A moment later, an envoy dispatched by Yu Qian verified the ruler and ministers' suspicions.

Beneath the city wall, the envoy reported that Ming scouts had discovered the emperor's Great Banner and inquired how to counter Esen's vile tactic.

An unusual silence fell over the ministers. Tie Xuan's use of Taizu's portraits and spirit tablets back then had forced Taizong Emperor to withdraw empty-handed; how much more so when Esen was parading a living, breathing Grand Emperor? If someone were to carelessly take the Grand Emperor's life, how could they explain it to the world in the future?

The crime of regicide was a burden no one could shoulder!

In the camp outside the city, Yu Qian was likewise caught in a difficult dilemma. To avoid accidentally taking Zhu Qizhen's life, Shi Heng dared not order the Divine Machine Battalion to open fire and could only send infantry out of the camp to form battle lines, preparing to forcefully block the Oirat cavalry.

Yu Qian knew deep down that this crisis could only be resolved by Zhu Qiyu, and he decisively dispatched an envoy to seek Zhu Qiyu's opinion. The moment Zhu Qiyu gave the order, he would immediately have Shi Heng deploy the Divine Machine Battalion to halt the Oirat cavalry with firearms.

Yet he waited and waited, receiving no response from Zhu Qiyu whatsoever. A profound sense of helplessness welled up within Yu Qian's heart.

...

Watching the approaching Oirat army, Xue Rui was filled with shock. He had read countless historical texts, yet he had never heard of Esen dragging Zhu Qizhen along to attack the capital. In other words, the current situation completely deviated from the original course of history. And this massive change was undoubtedly a chain reaction triggered by his own interference.

"Damn it! Esen is using such a sinister and despicable trick. If we hesitate any longer, the Oirat cavalry will have broken right into our camp!"

Xue Rui was so anxious on the battlements that he nearly jumped up and down.

Seeing that Zhu Qiyu was still hesitating, a sudden stroke of inspiration hit Xue Rui, and a phrase flashed across his mind.

"The Grand Emperor has rebelled!"

Just as the ruler and ministers sat in silence, a grief-stricken and indignant cry suddenly rang out atop the city wall!

Zhu Qiyu and the ministers turned back in astonishment to see Xue Rui pointing outside the city with a heartbroken expression.

"Your Majesty, the Grand Emperor has surrendered to the Oirats and has actually led troops in person to attack Deshengmen! If this isn't rebellion, what is?!"

Seeing that neither the ruler nor the ministers had reacted, Xue Rui offered further guidance, explaining his train of thought to the crowd.

When they first heard the phrase "the Grand Emperor has rebelled," let alone the ministers, even Zhu Qiyu thought it was absurd. But upon second thought, if things were truly as Xue Rui claimed—that the Grand Emperor Zhu Qizhen had rebelled and led troops to attack the capital—then his act of inviting wolves into the house was an absolute betrayal of the Great Ming.

And such a supreme traitor naturally deserved to be executed by all. Even if he were to be slain amidst the chaotic melee, the common people of the realm would only clap and cheer, never suspecting the court of intentionally borrowing knives to commit murder.

"Imperial Brother, why have you chosen to rebel? Was there something inappropriate in what this younger brother of yours did?!"

Suddenly, Zhu Qiyu let out a piercing, mournful cry.

The ministers were startled, instantly grasping the emperor's underlying intent. He was endorsing Xue Rui's method for resolving the deadlock!

"Grand Emperor, how could you be so foolish as to submit to the Oirats!"

Among the officials, someone suddenly burst into tears.

Xue Rui followed the sound to see Jin Lian vigorously slapping the battlements, portraying a man undergoing agonizing heartbreak.

"Are you lot really putting on a performance now?"

Xue Rui stared in dumbfounded amazement. Jin Lian's acting skills were simply too extraordinary; tears were streaming down in torrents as if he had undergone professional training.

"Grand Emperor, the Empress Dowager is still waiting for you to return to the palace! How could you surrender to the bandits? *Wuu wuu wuu*..."

Next, Grand Academician Chen Xun also shouted with a sorrowful expression, his voice choking slightly at the emotional climax.

Xue Rui strongly suspected that these two must have held a grudge against Zhu Qizhen, which was why they were taking the lead in hurling dirt at him.

With these two setting the tone, how could the rest of the officials hold back? They all scrambled to fling filth at Zhu Qizhen, thoroughly molding him into an unprecedentedly muddle-headed ruler.

"Just making a gesture is enough! If you keep crying, the Oirats are going to break into the capital."

Anxious in his heart, Xue Rui kept darting glances at Zhu Qiyu, eager to see what he would decide.

Fortunately, Zhu Qiyu also realized that his imperial brother's treasonous charge had now been firmly established. With this righteous banner on their side, the Ming army's all-out counterattack would be justified and rational, and he would not be reviled by the world.

Taking a deep breath, Zhu Qiyu shouted: "Hear my order, soldiers on the battlements! The moment the Oirat army enters the artillery range, ignite the cannons immediately without the slightest hesitation!"

...

Outside the city in the Ming camp, Yu Qian gripped his broadsword, having already prepared himself to fight to the death with the Oirats.

The tactic the Oirats were currently employing seemed like an insoluble dead end to the ruler and ministers upon the walls. Especially with someone as indecisive and fearful of responsibility as Zhu Qiyu, how could he possibly follow his own expectations and order a full counterattack against the Oirat battle formation where his imperial brother resided?

"General Shi, prepare for a fight to the death!"

Watching the approaching Oirat army, Yu Qian took a deep breath and issued his command to the grim-faced Shi Heng.

*Boom, boom, boom—*

Yet the very next second, earth-shattering cannon fire erupted from the battlements directly behind him.