Chapter 34: There is More to the Story

As the highest-ranking military and civil official in Henan, Gao Mingheng was well-versed in human affairs and worldly ways. How could he fail to read the expression on the Prince of Zhou’s face? Immediately, he remarked, "With such a tremendous victory, Your Highness seems to harbor some anxieties?"

Zhu Gongxiao nodded, motioning for Gao Mingheng to take a seat, before letting out a soft sigh. "This is indeed a great victory. However, the Shandong garrison's desperate fighting actually has other hidden reasons behind it."

"Oh?" Gao Mingheng's curiosity was piqued. With a smile, he said, "Although Liu Zeqing, the Regional Commander of Shandong, possesses some martial prowess, being able to pull off such a brilliant battle is indeed rather peculiar. I wonder what Your Highness means by these hidden reasons?"

Hearing this, Zhu Gongxiao exchanged a glance with He Yi.

Understanding the cue, He Yi immediately led all the other palace attendants to withdraw from the room. He then posted guards within a fifty-pace radius, ensuring that not a single soul could overhear them.

Seeing Zhu Gongxiao act with such solemnity, the smile on Gao Mingheng's face slowly faded. He guessed that what Zhu Gongxiao was about to tell him was likely no good news.

Sure enough, the moment Zhu Gongxiao spoke, Gao Mingheng felt his head spin with a staggering weight.

"The matter must be traced back to the beginning of the year. At that time... the situation in Liaoning was dire, and news of a crushing defeat arrived. His Majesty therefore secretly sent the Crown Prince out of the capital to Nanjing. Unexpectedly, midway through the journey, the Crown Prince suffered from the change of climate and fell ill. Consequently, he could only be sent to Kaifeng first, to be treated by several world-renowned physicians residing in our little royal domain. And I also received the imperial decree to escort His Highness south. But who could have foreseen that Li Zicheng would besiege Kaifeng for a third time... while Ding Qirui would suffer defeat at Zhuxian Town? This resulted in the Crown Prince being delayed in Kaifeng for a long time, unable to depart. Once news of the defeat at Zhuxian Town spread, the safety of the Crown Prince became even more precarious. That is why the Shandong garrison fought with such desperate fury."

"Ah..." Gao Mingheng gasped upon hearing this, dumbfounded. "The Crown Prince... the Crown Prince... is right inside the Prince of Zhou's estate?"

Zhu Gongxiao let out a gentle sigh. "Indeed. However, after learning of the defeat at Zhuxian Town, the Crown Prince grew deeply concerned for state affairs and contracted a mild cold, making him unable to receive guests. We must wait a few more days, until His Majesty's imperial edict arrives in Kaifeng alongside the Shandong troops, before the officials and people of Henan will be able to behold the Crown Prince."

Upon hearing Zhu Gongxiao's words, Gao Mingheng's mind raced, conjuring countless implications that Zhu Gongxiao had left unspoken.

No wonder Zhu Gongxiao had previously disbursed a colossal sum of one million one hundred and sixty thousand taels of military funds to reward the militia and defend Kaifeng...

No wonder Zhu Gongxiao had acted completely out of character, utterly disregarding the taboo against imperial princes meddling in military and political affairs...

No wonder Zhu Gongxiao... was so deeply anxious...

The first two reasons would have, at most, caused Gao Mingheng to indulge in a bit of gossip. But when he considered the depth of Zhu Gongxiao's anxiety, Gao Mingheng was instantly overwhelmed by a tangled web of sorrow and dread.

"The heir apparent of the nation... how could he be so reckless as to leave the capital and plunge himself into such a perilous situation..." Gao Mingheng muttered in a daze, speaking in a continuous, stunned daze.

Beside him, Zhu Gongxiao also heaved a heavy sigh. "This is... His Majesty's imperial edict... having ventured into the city a step ahead. Once the Shandong troops enter Kaifeng, the contents of this edict will soon sweep across the entire realm."

With that, Zhu Gongxiao handed the imperial edict over to Gao Mingheng.

Zhu Gongxiao was not afraid that Gao Mingheng would question his narrative after seeing the edict.

Chongzhen had not acted foolishly this time; the decree simply stated that the Crown Prince was in Kaifeng, bestowed upon him the imperial Shangfang sword, and officially appointed him as the Grand Marshal Commanding the Military Forces of Five Provinces, serving as the supreme commander of the entire army. As to how the Crown Prince had managed to end up so bafflingly in Kaifeng, Chongzhen mentioned nothing at all, clearly leaving Zhu Zhuailang room to maneuver as he saw fit.

Having learned the whole sequence of events and finding himself with no way out, Zhu Gongxiao, though miserably trapped, had no choice but to throw his full support behind Zhu Zhuailang's scheme.

"In that case... the burden on our shoulders is far too heavy..." Gao Mingheng murmured. He hurriedly rose, bowed slightly to Zhu Gongxiao, and said, "Your Highness... this official must go and persuade Lord Hou as soon as possible. Right now, Viceroy Ding is finished. Lord Hou was dispatched to Henan in his capacity as Junior Vice Minister of the Ministry of War precisely to oversee the campaign. No doubt he will soon take charge of the military situation in Henan. Given the relationship between Lord Hou and Zuo Liangyu, the war situation in Henan... cannot do without the aid of the armies from the five provinces! Relying solely on the strength of our single province of Henan is utterly impossible..."

Zhu Gongxiao nodded repeatedly. "What the Governor says is entirely correct. This humble prince will await your good news right here."

Gao Mingheng exchanged a few powerless, polite remarks and then hurried off.

The strength of Henan province alone was certainly insufficient to annihilate the rebel bandits. Yet, Henan's frail frame could never bear the colossal blame of having the Crown Prince trapped and lost within its borders!

Gao Mingheng had realized this, and Zhu Gongxiao was even more acutely aware of it.

Not long after, eighteen riders, each carrying a secret letter, galloped desperately toward the river and crossed over.

Their destination was the estate of Lord Hou, stationed north of the Yellow River.

Outside the walls of Kaifeng lay Yanli Village.

This was Li Zicheng's encampment and had effectively become the center of the entire peasant army.

Today, a grand military council was convening.

Inside Li Zicheng's tent, his generals had gathered.

Tian Jianxiu, Liu Zongmin, Li Yan, Li Guo, Dang Shousu, He Jin, Niujinxing, Yuan Chengzhi, Yuan Zongdi, Gao Yigong, Song Xiance, Hao Yaoqi, Li Laiheng, and Gu Jun'en stood solemnly in formation within the tent.

Beside them were Luo Ruchai, also known by his alias "Cao Cao," who had been invited by Li Zicheng, and Yuan Shizhong, the leader of the Lesser Yuan Camp.

The purpose of Li Zicheng's massive assembly went without saying: to discuss how to break through Kaifeng!

"The battle of Kaifeng must be won at all costs!" Li Zicheng set the tone at the start, a ruthless glint flashing in his right eye.

Seeing this, the others all wore solemn expressions. Even Luo Ruchai and Yuan Shizhong turned serious. This was Li Zicheng's third attempt to take Kaifeng. On account of this, one of his eyes had been shot blind by the city's defenders. Now, only his right eye remained unimpaired.

How could such a deep and irreconcilable hatred fail to keep Li Zicheng obsessed with this city?

Furthermore, for Li Zicheng, Kaifeng was a city with abundant reserves. It possessed a massive population and immense wealth—both of which were crucial elements for augmenting his strength.

"Once this battle commences, the Southern City, the Western City, and the Canal Gate shall be the responsibility of our army!" Li Zicheng looked toward Luo Ruchai and smiled. "Cao Cao, what do you think?"

Hearing this, Cao Cao laughed. "Since my old brother has claimed the three most heavily defended sectors, what more can this younger brother say? The Eastern City shall be attacked by me!"

With that, both Li Zicheng and Cao Cao turned their gaze toward Yuan Shizhong.

The so-called division of battle zones was, in reality, a division of spoils.

Yuan Shizhong was an insurgent leader native to Henan, so he was naturally familiar with the city of Kaifeng. The Southern City was where the common folk were most concentrated, while the Western City housed the highest number of nobles and wealthy officials. The Eastern City was home to the most merchants and affluent families. As for the Northern City, it was the place with the least profit to be reaped.

Li Zicheng commanded a force of one hundred and thirty thousand, possessed the greatest strength, and commanded the most respect; by claiming the three most difficult sectors to assault, he naturally also claimed the three sectors with the greatest spoils. Luo Ruchai was cunning by nature; commanding only seventy or eighty thousand troops—weaker than Li Zicheng but stronger than Yuan Shizhong—he naturally picked out a favorable location as well.

Yuan Shizhong met their gazes without showing any resentment.

In these troubled times, whoever had troops was the king of the mountain. Since Yuan Shizhong's own strength was the weakest, he considered himself fortunate just to be allowed a share of the spoils. Realizing this, Yuan Shizhong contentedly accepted the assignment. "In that case, the Northern City will be attacked by the thirty thousand sons of our Lesser Yuan Camp!" (To be continued.)