Chapter Twenty-Two: Alarming News from Xuanfu

Everyone present was not just stupefied like Shi Tai, unable to believe their ears. The eunuchs and guards of the Prince’s household were also struck with disbelief, and on the other side, Zhou Yunyi and his Night Riders were even more astonished. Even Lu Qing, who had long known of the “Tumu Crisis,” was left gaping in shock.

The emperor leading a personal campaign was second only to succession in national affairs. Not to mention, the three main army camps forming the bulk of the force numbered over a hundred thousand, and hundreds of civil and military officials accompanied the imperial carriage. The noble families’ private troops were beyond counting. To mobilize so many people in just two days, and then depart the capital to reach Huailai dozens of miles away—such efficiency and speed was unprecedented, not just in this dynasty but throughout history. It was, without exaggeration, the first of its kind, something never before heard of. (Perhaps, only the five great powers of later times could match such rapid mobilization; other nations would surely be left in the dust.)

In the days of Emperor Taizong, he often led campaigns against the Northern Yuan himself, but he would begin preparations for the army’s rations and supplies months, even a year, in advance. Large numbers of laborers, oxen, horses, and carts were requisitioned, and special transport teams were formed. Only once enough grain to supply the northern campaign for several months had arrived at the frontier did the preparations cease.

Furthermore, the emperor would arrange for the crown prince to act as regent and for the Six Ministries to remain in the capital. Only after all was in order would he set out. Emperor Xuanzong’s expeditions were no different. No matter how urgent the military situation, the emperor would never act rashly.

One must understand that an emperor’s personal campaign is intimately tied to the fate of the nation. If an ordinary general suffers defeat, another can be appointed and more troops sent. If the emperor’s army is defeated, however, the very foundation of the dynasty is shaken, and the consequences could be catastrophic, even leading to the collapse of the realm. For this reason, emperors throughout history only embarked on such campaigns after the utmost preparations, especially regarding rations, which was the highest priority. No matter how talented or bold, an emperor would never march without abundant supplies.

Yet today’s emperor left Beijing with over a hundred thousand troops after only two days of preparation. Such daring and speed were enough to make anyone look at him in a new light. Even if urgent news from the frontier had prompted the court to begin preparations when Prince Consort Jingyuan was dispatched to reinforce Datong, all told, less than five days had passed. In such a short time, just how much grain and matériel could be gathered for the army?

It was beyond belief.

No wonder later historians, when documenting the Tumu Crisis, described the army as short of rations, anxious in spirit, and low on morale. The root of the problem was here: from the very start, the army had not carried enough food.

Even a child knows that soldiers must be well-fed to fight, and that an emperor does not mistreat his troops. Could it be that Emperor Yingzong Zhu Qizhen did not know this? Even if he didn’t, would all the ministers and generals be equally ignorant? The commander of the three main camps, Duke of Yingguo Zhang Fu, was the son of the great hero Zhang Yu and the general who pacified Jiaozhi—an experienced veteran. Could he not know?

Anyone with a sound mind would understand the importance of rations. It was impossible that from the emperor down to the officials, everyone would turn a blind eye. Something had gone wrong somewhere, but where?

Lu Qing frowned in deep thought.

Eunuch Guo, for his part, showed little surprise. He had already learned of the emperor’s plan to lead the campaign when he and Marquis of Xining Song Ying set out for Datong. He also knew the capital was only a day behind them, so his initial shock had long since faded. Yet the news that the imperial carriage had already arrived at Huailai left him uneasy—not because of the army’s hasty departure, but because he was about to face the emperor. It was the same anxiety a child might feel when summoned to see a parent after misbehaving at school.

“Why would His Majesty act with such haste? Though I am an insider of the court and know little of military affairs, even I understand that ‘the army does not move until the rations are in place.’ The three main camps total over a hundred thousand—feeding the men and horses is a staggering daily expense. How could all be readied in just two days? If the army runs out of food, what disaster will follow!”

Shi Tai had already set aside his grievances with Eunuch Guo; now his mind was wholly occupied with worry over the imperial troops’ arrival. It was clear that, though banished from the palace to serve in the Prince’s household, his loyalty to the emperor remained unshaken. His concern was genuine and could not be feigned.

Yang Jun glanced at the anxious Shi Tai and replied, “His Majesty’s decision was indeed hasty, but there is no need to worry about the army’s rations. Here in Xuanfu, we have seven great grain depots, with reserves exceeding a million bushels. When the time comes, we will dispatch the grain directly to the army. Since the imperial carriage must pass through Xuanfu to reach Datong, and with Xuanfu’s supplies, there is no need to fear hunger, Lord Shi—you may set your mind at ease.”

At this, Shi Tai slapped his forehead with delight. “Ah, I had forgotten about Xuanfu’s seven granaries! Surely His Majesty has already made arrangements—my worries were unfounded, truly much ado about nothing.”

Seven granaries in Xuanfu, with over a million bushels of grain?

Hearing this, Lu Qing instinctively glanced at Yang Jun, but his heart did not settle; instead, he grew more confused. If Xuanfu had such abundant reserves, then why was the army said to be short of food? Since Zhu Qizhen set out from Juyong Pass, he would have passed through Huailai to Xuanfu—those granaries would be right before the army’s eyes. So where did the shortage arise?

Could it be that court historians, wishing to blame the Tumu Crisis solely on Wang Zhen, fabricated the story of a lack of rations to demonstrate his recklessness? Or was it…?

Suddenly, Lu Qing’s heart tightened as another possibility occurred to him: what if the seven granaries of Xuanfu had never delivered grain to the army at all?

But on reflection, that seemed impossible. The commanders of Xuanfu would never dare withhold food from an imperial army, not even for a moment. If they did, Zhu Qizhen’s elite troops would need to suppress the rebels in Xuanfu before ever fighting the Oirat Mongols, and the Tumu Crisis would never have occurred!

If not that, then what? It couldn’t have been the granary officials refusing to deliver rations, or—as some later analysts suggested—the Ministry of War officials who remained in Beijing deliberately sabotaging the effort, ensuring the army never received supplies.

Such explanations were pure fantasy. How much power and hatred would it take for the Ministry’s officials to wish death upon the emperor, their colleagues, and over a hundred thousand elite soldiers? Only madmen could contemplate such a thing, and even madmen would be incapable of carrying it out.

Lu Qing would not believe such implausible theories. Though the immediate outcome of the Tumu Crisis was the decline of the military nobility and the rise of the scholar-official class, to suppose that the officials engineered such a monstrous plot just to dominate the court was laughable.

Besides, most of the elite officials were marching with Zhu Qizhen; only the second- and third-tier remained in Beijing. What kind of self-sacrifice would it take for the leading ministers to risk their own lives simply to benefit their colleagues left behind in the capital? These men had fought their way to high office through the civil service exams, outcompeting thousands. They were no fools. The sun would rise in the west before any of them would die for another’s gain.

Yet the crisis had occurred, so something must have gone amiss somewhere. But where?

Damn, this was giving Lu Qing a headache. To know the broad strokes but not the details was agony. If only he had known he’d be sent to this era, he would have memorized every scrap of information about the fourteenth year of the Zhengtong reign!

But fate had given him no time to prepare. Now, he could only grope for the truth amid the mists of confusion. No, he reminded himself, he was not here to uncover the truth—he was here to prevent this tragedy.

Time was running short; he could not delay another moment. Now that he knew Zhu Qizhen had reached Huailai, he must take Eunuch Guo to him at once.

With this resolve, Lu Qing turned to Yang Jun. “Lord Yang, since His Majesty has arrived at Huailai, I shall escort Lord Guo to the imperial presence without delay. Farewell!”

Having decided not to provoke the Embroidered Guards, Yang Jun was only too glad to see the back of Lu Qing and Guo Jing. He had already burned his bridges with the eunuch, and as long as the court needed the Yang family to guard Xuanfu, he need not fear Guo Jing’s revenge. As for settling scores, there would be time enough for that in the future. The silver he had taken would eventually have to be repaid; there was no rush. After all, the Datong eunuch had no authority in Xuanfu. Showing respect was courtesy—refusing to do so was his right. What could the Yang family possibly fear?

Just as he was about to wave Lu Qing away, a flurry of hoofbeats sounded from the west, while from the north, over a dozen riders appeared on the main road.

With swift riders approaching from both the northwest, everyone turned to look.

“Report!”

The two urgent couriers from the west were first to arrive. Upon seeing Yang Jun, they leapt from their horses, and the leading man cried anxiously, “Commander, urgent news from Datong: the Oirat chief Esen broke through Yanghe Pass two days ago. The Governor, Marquis of Xining Song Ying, and Viscount Wu Jin, Zhu Mian, have both fallen in battle. The Vice Commander Shi Heng and Guard Eunuch Guo Jing are missing. The forty-thousand strong army has been wiped out!”

“What!” Yang Jun was stunned. Before he could ask for details, the northern riders had arrived. At their head, a young man, catching sight of him from afar, shouted, “Brother! Brother!”

Yang Jun recognized his second brother, Yang Neng, by the familiar voice. “Why aren’t you at the horse camp? What brings you here?”

Without pausing for breath, Yang Neng rode up and blurted out, “The Oirat have invaded. Dushi, Chicheng, and Longmen are all in urgent danger. Father orders you to lead your troops to reinforce Dushi at once!”