Chapter 32: Life and Death Game
The Wala army fought back extremely quickly. It took less than a night from the time the guards discovered Tumu Fort to the time they surrounded it. They immediately launched an attack. The officers and soldiers held on for a whole night, and only then were they able to protect the dignitaries and nobles in Tumu Fort.
Now not only Zhu Qizhen looked heavy-hearted, but everyone else also looked solemn.
In any case, they could not imagine that such a thing would happen.
A small earthen fort easily trapped the emperor, cabinet ministers, eunuchs, nobles, and border generals.
The original advantages of Tumu Fort all turned into disadvantages after it was surrounded by the Wala army. The soldiers carried very little water with them, and the nearby seasonal water sources had either dried up or been cut off.
The meager three dou of grain is fine, but whether it is a human or an animal, replenishing water is essential.
The soldiers have already complained about the bumpy journey, and now they are surrounded by the Wala army. It is obvious that they will not be able to wait for reinforcements.
If Shi Jing and others had not tried their best to maintain discipline in the military camp, the soldiers would probably have risen up in rebellion long ago.
With the speed of the Oirat, they would have surrounded the entire Tumu Fort by now. The fact that they have not taken any action so far may be because they are trying to measure how much combat effectiveness the besieged Ming army has left.
For the Ming army, there are only two options now: one is to break out at the risk of death, and the other is to wait for reinforcements.
These two paths seem completely different, but in fact the risks are quite significant.
Breaking out meant a real fight with the Oirat, but the soldiers' fighting capacity had clearly declined significantly. Waiting for reinforcements was even more ridiculous. Now that the royal army's communication channels had been cut off by the Oirat, by the time the capital realized something was amiss and sent reinforcements, their bodies would likely be cold.
In other words, they are now in a dead end.
Shi Jing watched his soldiers, each one dejected, finally unable to contain himself. He approached Kuang Ye and said, "Minister Kuang, there's only one solution now. That's to break out. At least get a small group of us out so we can get to the capital for help." Seeing the haggard Kuang Ye looking at him, he said, "Minister Kuang, whether you think I'm trying to escape or just a coward, this is the only solution I have. As long as we can break out, there's still hope."
Kuang Ye looked at him, a hint of helplessness on his face, and said, "If Your Majesty had said this last night, I wouldn't have hesitated for a second... But now the Oirat must have completed their encirclement. As soon as they start to break out, the Oirat will surely launch a massive attack. If Your Majesty can't retreat to the capital by then..."
Last night was their last chance. If they missed it, all they could do was wait for death.
Shi Jing sneered and said, "If you continue to sit and wait for death, there will only be one result, and that is death. Either you will be killed by the Oirat people, or you will be killed by your own people." He looked at Kuang Ye and said with some regret, "Since we are going to die anyway, why not fight the enemy to the bitter end? At least your Majesty's reputation can be preserved after death."
Kuang Ye was shocked when he heard this. Just as he was about to scold him, he suddenly realized that the emperor at this moment probably didn't care about these hierarchies. His originally upright body became sluggish again.
Shi Jing was almost driven to death by this group of high-ranking officials and dignitaries. Finally, he said angrily: "If you don't leave, I will leave! My soldiers only die in battle, not waiting to die! If you want to sing the song of being surrounded by enemies, go and sing it yourself!" After that, he turned around and left.
His soldiers were all brought up by him personally. They wanted to follow him and make achievements together. They absolutely could not die here in such a cowardly way.
Kuang Ye opened his mouth but still couldn't say a word.
Shi Jing had just left Kuang Ye's tent and planned to go back to check the soldiers' equipment and wait for an opportunity to break out after nightfall.
He only cared about persuading as many soldiers as possible to break out. Whether the emperor lived or died was no longer a concern for him. If the emperor really died on the battlefield, perhaps he would have a good reputation and he would have to thank them. As long as they could return alive, how they would explain the matter was entirely up to them.
Only the living can explain everything. Face and reputation are the least valuable things in the world, and the same goes for the emperor.
Unexpectedly, a eunuch took the initiative to find Shi Jing, pulled him to a corner of the military camp, and tried to please him in a fawning manner.
"I heard Captain Shi is planning to break out...?"
Shi Jing narrowed his eyes and looked at the other person, then asked, "Why? You want to run away too?"
He had some impression of this Xining. Like Wang Zhen, she often followed the emperor. At this time, she should be staying by the emperor's side. Why did she come to him?
Xining rubbed his hands and said, "The situation is not good now. Breaking through is good, but it's too dangerous. If you're not careful, you'll lose your head... Even if you return to the capital alive, it won't be easy to explain what happened. The two old ladies and the King of Qing are not easy to fool. If they hold us accountable, you, Captain Shi, will be in danger..."
Shi Jing hummed, his tone rising slightly, and asked, "What about Princess Shunde?"
Xining hadn't expected him to mention Princess Shunde. She laughed dryly and said, "Master Wang has instructed the officials along the way to stop the princess, lest she ruin the border patrol and steal the emperor's limelight. She won't be back for a while."
Shi Jing had also heard about Zhu Yuhuan's return to Beijing, but he never expected that Wang Zhen would do such a thing. He looked at Xining in front of him and felt even more disgusted.
He was really fed up with these people.
Xining still had no idea what he was thinking. She just looked around and said stealthily, "Captain Shi has been at the border for a long time. He doesn't know the temperament of the Princess Shunde. She is arrogant and domineering! Even Eunuch Wang is terrified of her. If we fall into her hands, we will definitely be in big trouble..."
Shi Jing had already frowned when he heard him slander Zhu Yuhuan, and when he heard him mention the word "we", he asked, "Eunuch Xi, what do you want to say?"
Xining chuckled and said, "Since Captain Shi is leaving, why don't we go together and take His Majesty with us? I've already discussed it with Captain Tian, and we'll take our men with us..."
Shi Jing was stunned at first, but soon understood what he meant.
Xining wanted to use the emperor to please the Oirat Mongols in exchange for a way to survive.
Everyone can see that the current situation is a dead end.
Since everyone can die, why can't the emperor be the one to die?
Shi Jing couldn't help but sneer.
Xining thought he had agreed, and was ecstatic. She said in a rush, "Then we'll take advantage of the opportunity to break out and control the emperor..."
Before he could finish his words, a cold light flashed, and the world became a little hazy.
Xining opened her eyes wide and felt dizzy.
Shi Jing sheathed his sword, looked at the head on the ground, and kicked it under a carriage carrying supplies.
He wanted to live with others, but he didn't intend to be a dog of the Wala.
Shi Jing had just stepped into the light when he heard Wang Zhen's joyful voice: "Are the Oirat willing to negotiate? Will they withdraw their troops twenty miles as a sign of sincerity?"
Shi Jing suddenly had an ominous premonition in his heart.
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