To Jingtai

The assembled officials all looked stricken, as this reminded them of the shame of the Jingkang Incident.

Hu Ying couldn't help but ask, "Esteemed sir, in the original history, did our Great Ming successfully defend the capital? Or did..."

As a veteran of six imperial reigns, Hu Ying had witnessed the rise and fall of Great Ming throughout his journey.

At the Battle of Tumu Fortress, Great Ming lost 500,000 troops, and a host of ministers led by the Duke of Ying had died in battle—an absolute catastrophe. The Oirats seized the opportunity to press directly toward the capital, and with the Son of Heaven held hostage, it was unimaginable how Great Ming could possibly hold out.

"It was defended."

Qin Ning smiled faintly, then turned his gaze to Yu Qian. "In the fourteenth year of the Zhengtong reign, with the support of a group of ministers led by Yu Qian, Prince Cheng, Zhu Qiyu, formally ascended the throne and became emperor that same year."

"In this way, the emperor held by the Oirats was no longer their usable emperor. So the tactic of 'carrying the Son of Heaven to attack the capital' naturally collapsed on its own."

"However, the Oirat army's southward advance was already unstoppable. At this moment of national crisis, the Minister of War, Yu Qian, turned the tide. He resolutely defended the capital, actively reorganized and prepared the troops, and mobilized a large army to strengthen the capital's defenses."

"Fighting a bloody battle at the Desheng Gate, the Xizhi Gate, and other city gates, he repelled the Oirat attacks. After five days, he successfully forced the Oirats to retreat, achieving victory in the Defense of Beijing. This crushed the Oirat army's ambition to capture the capital and turned Great Ming's crisis into safety."

When Qin Ning said this, the gathered officials noticeably changed their looks toward Yu Qian.

From just a few brief sentences by Qin Ning, they could all discern the critical role Yu Qian had played.

"However..."

"In the eighth year of the Jingtai reign, with the help of Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen, Cao Jixiang, and others, Emperor Yingzong of Ming, Zhu Qizhen, who had been placed under house arrest in the Southern Palace, launched the 'Coup at the Duomen Gate' and successfully restored himself to the throne."

"In the same year, Minister of War Yu Qian was ordered by Zhu Qizhen to be executed on charges of 'treason'."

When these words were spoken, the faces of all present changed dramatically.

Zhu Qizhen had actually managed to reclaim the throne and even ordered the execution of this great hero, Yu Qian...

Hu Ying, the elder statesman of six reigns, was now red-faced with fury. "This... this... how could he be so foolish? How could he be so foolish? As the emperor of our Great Ming, to murder a meritorious minister in such a way!"

The Empress Dowager Sun and Zhu Qizhen were already pale with fright.

They both understood clearly: Qin Ning saying these things in public meant that, from now on, Zhu Qizhen would certainly never be allowed to sit on the throne again.

Whether he would even survive was still an open question.

Now, with the founding emperor and his successor both here, these two emperors would never permit such history to repeat itself.

"Is Cao Jixiang here?"

At that moment, Zhu Yuanzhang's voice came from the main seat. His flat tone snapped everyone back to reality from their shock.

"Mi... Ming Ancestor, this servant, Cao Jixiang... pays respects to the Ming Ancestor."

A eunuch stepped forward, his legs weak, and knelt before Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang just glanced at him, not immediately saying how he would be dealt with, but instead turned to Qin Ning. "Sir, this Cao Jixiang..."

"Supervisor of the Directorate of Ceremonial, part of the inner court eunuch system. I recall he belongs to Wang Zhen's faction," Qin Ning said flatly.

"Wang Zhen again!"

Zhu Yuanzhang let out a cold snort. "Men, take this Cao Jixiang away! Flay him and make a straw man! As for his clan—hold on—first just flay him alone. As for his family, arrest them all and interrogate them one by one. Execute those who are guilty; release those who are innocent."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Lan Yu, waiting nearby, acknowledged and stepped forward, dragging Cao Jixiang out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

"Shi Heng," Zhu Yuanzhang's voice rang out again, like a death warrant that made the hairs on everyone's necks stand on end.

"Mi... Ming Ancestor!"

A man in military attire stepped forward. It was none other than Shi Heng, his voice trembling as he prostrated himself on the ground, utterly despairing inside.

"Sir, what do you say about this man?" Zhu Yuanzhang turned to Qin Ning once more.

Qin Ning thought for a moment, then said, "It might be worthwhile to keep him. In the Defense of Beijing, he was among the top meritorious generals, personally leading charges and smashing the Oirat cavalry."

"As for Xu Youzhen, keeping him around is still useful. That man has talent in flood control."

"Very well. Then we'll do as you say, sir."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, then narrowed his eyes as he looked at Zhu Qizhen and the Empress Dowager Sun. "As for you two..."

"A malevolent empress meddling in politics, and a fatuous emperor who cost countless soldiers of Great Ming their lives. Simply killing you would be too merciful. I sentence you both to enter the Southern Palace. From now on, every day you must copy sutras and pray for the fallen soldiers of our Great Ming until you die of old age. You are never to set foot outside the Southern Palace for the rest of your lives."

"Mi... Ming Ancestor... this subject thanks you for your mercy not to kill..."

Zhu Qizhen and the Empress Dowager Sun prostrated themselves on the ground. For the two of them, this was already considered a good outcome.

Later, Qin Ning took out paper and brush, wrote a list, and handed it to Zhu Yuanzhang for him to deal with as he saw fit.

He himself followed Li Shimin, Qin Shi Huang, and the others to an inner hall to rest.

It was not until the next day that the army once again assembled in the square in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Newly ascended Emperor Jingtai, Zhu Qiyu, bid them farewell. He tried to persuade them to stay: "Ming Ancestor, do you truly have to leave today? Why not stay a few more days..."

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head. "We have matters to attend to, no time to tarry here. Remember what I told you last night: do not re-appoint the crown prince. After you abdicate, you must pass the throne to Zhu Jianshen. Do you understand?"

"Ming Ancestor, rest assured. I will follow your instructions." Zhu Qiyu dared not offer any objection, nor did he dare harbor any thought of re-establishing the crown prince. If he did, he understood very well that the Ming Ancestor could return at any time.

"Woom!"

Finally, under the watchful gaze of Zhu Qiyu and the assembled officials, Qin Ning waved his hand and ascended into the sky leading an army of 70,000.

"Sir, are we heading directly to the scene of the Defense of Beijing now?" came Zhu Yuanzhang's voice from high above.

Qin Ning nodded.

Zhu Di couldn't help but ask, "But sir, you said before: one emperor, one timeline. Since we stopped the losses at Tumu Fortress here, there should have been no Defense of Beijing later, right?"

"You forgot?"

Qin Ning smiled. "At the time of the Defense of Beijing, Zhu Qiyu had already ascended the throne. So when we go, it will be to the timeline of Emperor Jingtai, not the Zhengtong reign."

Hearing this, Zhu Di paused, suddenly understanding. "Sir, you're right. I almost got confused, mainly because the time of the Defense of Beijing is so close to Tumu Fortress, so I instinctively thought it was still under Zhu Qizhen's Zhengtong period."

...