After summoning the heads of the six ministries, Yang Shizhong, as the Grand Secretary, immediately led them into the palace to meet the Emperor.
Upon seeing their arrival, Zhu Qizhen instructed the eunuchs to spread out the urgent report from Liaodong that they had just received on the table in the middle of the palace.
Yang Shizhong and the others who entered the palace were also gathered around that table, looking at the contents on it.
After reading the above content, Yu Gan immediately slammed his hand on the table and said:
"broken."
"What's wrong?"
Yang Shizhong looked at Yu Gan, who suddenly slammed his hand on the table, and asked.
Yu Gan looked at the crowd in front of him and said:
"We all underestimated Li Qin. According to the intelligence reported by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the cavalry in Liaodong disappeared after Li Qin issued the proclamation."
Li Qin most likely sent his cavalry ahead of the main army before the army had even fully assembled.
He has most likely already marched towards Jinzhou.
After he finished speaking, he looked at Zhu Qizhen on the dragon throne and said:
"Your Majesty, in order to be on the safe side, we must send reinforcements to Shanhaiguan as soon as possible."
If Jinzhou and Ningyuan are lost, Li Qin's next target will definitely be Shanhaiguan.
Shanhaiguan is not only the gateway to the capital, but also the gateway to the Central Plains.
We absolutely cannot let him fall into Li Qin's hands; we must stop him outside the pass.
The people present were also very surprised after hearing Yu Gan's analysis.
Zhu Qizhen, who was seated on the dragon throne, immediately said:
"Alright, then you can discuss it and send a troop to reinforce Shanhaiguan first."
First, we must hold Shanhaiguan.
"At the same time, I have another order: I will personally lead the army to quell the rebellion of Li Qin, and do so to pay tribute to my Crown Prince."
Upon hearing His Majesty the Emperor's order, everyone present was greatly alarmed and offered their advice:
"Your Majesty, you must not!"
"Your Majesty, you are of inestimable health, how can you enter such a dangerous place?"
"Your Majesty, you..."
Zhu Qizhen, who was sitting on the dragon throne, stood up and said:
"We really need to show the traitors what a king's army is, and what the emperor's thunderous wrath is."
"If I cannot quell the rebellion and avenge the Crown Prince, I will be ashamed to sit on this throne."
Just after Zhu Qizhen finished speaking, Wang Zhen, who was standing next to him, immediately greeted him respectfully:
"Your Majesty is wise. Now that Li Qin, this traitor, has rebelled, it is time to let the world see what the emperor's thunderous wrath is like."
Right after Wang Zhen finished speaking.
Among the officials below, those from Wang Zhen's faction, such as Xu Youzhen and Sun Zhixie, stepped forward to greet Zhu Qizhen respectfully.
The emperor is wise.
Phrases like "Your Majesty is wise."
With their flattery and Zhu Qizhen's firm resolve, Yu Gan and the others were powerless to reverse the situation.
In the end, Zhu Qizhen forcibly settled this matter.
Outside Shanhaiguan, Li Qin and his men, who had been on a long and arduous journey through the night, finally saw Shanhaiguan in the distance.
Li Qin, panting heavily, looked at Shanhaiguan in the distance and muttered to himself:
"We've finally arrived."
Looking at Shanhaiguan in the distance, everything seemed normal, and the soldiers on it were leisurely enjoying themselves.
There was absolutely no warning or vigilance.
That makes sense, after all, this isn't the front line, and we haven't seen the flames of war for decades.
And they probably don't even know yet that they've rebelled and are trying to clear the court of corrupt officials.
This gave me a perfect opportunity.
That is to find a way to trick the gates of Shanhaiguan into opening.
After all, you only brought cavalry, without any siege equipment. Are you expecting them to climb the city walls by hand?
He then summoned his personal guard captain, Qi Duchen, and gave him instructions:
"Qi Duchen, select the three hundred most elite men from your eight thousand personal guards. Find one who resembles me, have him wear my armor, and carry my letter."
Try to trick them into opening the gates of Shanhaiguan.
Once they open the city gates, do not rush in. Maintain control of the gates and give the signal; I will immediately lead the army in.
Li Qin told Qi Duchen, one of the people he trusted most, what he had to say.
After all, he had to entrust such an important matter to someone he trusted.
As for why he only sent Qi Duchen with three hundred men instead of personally leading the more than twenty thousand troops,
That's for safety, of course. If he really showed up at Shanhaiguan with more than 20,000, nearly 30,000 cavalry.
Even a fool could see what he was going there to do.
The capital city is right behind Shanhaiguan. What are you planning to do with tens of thousands of cavalry?
That would absolutely not be enough to trick them into opening the gates of Shanhaiguan, and it would only alert them.
His only option left was to launch a direct attack.
He could imagine how brutal it would be for a group of cavalry to launch a fierce attack on Shanhaiguan without any siege equipment.
Moreover, if he can't take it down quickly, and reinforcements arrive at Shanhaiguan, it will be even more difficult for him to fight.
After Qi Duchen selected the three hundred men, Li Qin immediately assured them.
Once they capture the city gates and take Shanhaiguan, they will be richly rewarded regardless of their lives.
Li Qin then revealed his trump card for deceiving the city gates of Shanhaiguan.
That was the imperial edict that summoned him to the capital.
Looking at the imperial edict in his hand.
They were 80% certain they could trick their way into opening the gates of Shanhaiguan.
After all, he was sent to the capital by imperial decree to explain the Crown Prince's situation.
He refused to believe that the garrison commander of Shanhaiguan would not open the city gates and let him in after seeing the imperial edict.
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