My Hidden Strength Was Exposed by the Heavenly Dao Ranking List – Chapter 125

Chapter 125: The Gate-Calling Emperor and Peng Feng Return to the Central Plains

（The protagonist is already over three hundred years old, and getting flak for introducing a second female lead, really… I’ll try not to write female lead scenes in the future. ）

While Peng Feng was away from the Central Plains, traveling around the world,

A bizarre emperor appeared in the Great Ming Dynasty.

This emperor’s shamelessness, thick-skinnedness, and betrayal of his country far exceeded the combined totals of Emperor Huizong and Emperor Qinzong of Song.

Even if all the foolish emperors of the past were added together, none of them would be as incompetent and terrifying as he is.

This person is Zhu Di’s great-grandson, Emperor Yingzong of Ming, Zhu Qizhen.

Don’t be fooled by the “Ying” in his name; that’s a beautified title given to him by his descendants.

Emperor Yingzong of Ming, Zhu Qizhen, was the eldest son of Emperor Xuanzong of Ming, Zhu Zhanji, born in 1427.

In the eighth year of the Zhengtong era, which was 1443 AD, he officially ascended the throne.

After ascending the throne, he favored a eunuch named Wang Zhen, leading to the abuse of power by eunuchs.

In the seventh month of the fourteenth year of the Zhengtong era （（1449 AD））, Esen Taishi of the Mongol Oirat launched a large-scale attack on the Ming Dynasty’s border. The Datong garrison suffered a defeat, the fortresses outside the Great Wall fell, and the news reached the imperial court.

Emperor Yingzong of Ming, Zhu Qizhen, under the instigation of the eunuch Wang Zhen, ignored the advice of his ministers and personally led a large army to go on an expedition.

In Zhu Qizhen’s view, he had an army of 500,000, including countless experts, while the Oirat only had 30,000 troops.

With 500,000 troops attacking 20,000 to 30,000 troops, it would be a piece of cake.

With a flying dragon riding on your face, how could you lose?

The eunuch Wang Zhen thought that since he was now the emperor’s confidant, he should return to his hometown to show off. Thus, the army went to Wang Zhen’s hometown, Weizhou.

But at this time, Wang Zhen was worried that there were too many soldiers, which would trample the crops in his hometown. He then ordered the army to turn around and return to the capital via Jiayuguan. After such a detour, the Ming army was exhausted when they reached Tumu Fortress.

The Oirat army followed closely behind.

Before launching the attack at Tumu Fortress, the Oirat commander cut off the Ming army’s water supply.

This caused the 500,000-strong army, which was already exhausted, to have no water to drink or food to cook. Before the battle even started, the Ming army was in chaos.

In the end, the 500,000-strong army was defeated.

More than half of the Ming army was killed or wounded, and they scattered and fled. More than fifty officials who accompanied the army were killed, and with the previous losses, including two Dukes, three Marquises, six Earls, two Ministers, three Vice Ministers, and other important officials, the imperial court was almost emptied.

The entire central government of the Great Ming Dynasty was nearly wiped out. The gates of the capital were also wide open. After the prosperous Yongle era and the rule of Ren and Xuan, the empire at its peak had reached a critical moment of life and death after this defeat.

This was the famous Tumu Crisis in history.

But, don’t think that’s the end of it.

If Emperor Yingzong of Ming, Zhu Qizhen, had just been a prisoner of the Oirat, that would have been the end of it. At most, history would have evaluated him as being in the same vein as Emperor Huizong and Emperor Qinzong of Song.

But, no!

Emperor Yingzong of Ming, Zhu Qizhen, had a series of outrageous actions.

After capturing Zhu Qizhen, Esen Taishi of the Oirat became ambitious and wanted to invade the Great Ming further. He forced Zhu Qizhen to attack Xuanfu and Datong, and ordered Zhu Qizhen to call for the gates to be opened.

Zhu Qizhen agreed and stood at the forefront of the Oirat army, calling for the Ming garrison to open the gates for him.

If the garrison commanders of the two passes had listened to his chaotic orders and opened the gates to surrender the cities, the nine border defense lines of the Great Ming would have collapsed. The barrier of the capital and even the entire Central Plains would have been removed. Countless common people would have suffered the slaughter of the barbarian iron cavalry.

Fortunately, the garrison commander of Xuanfu, Luo Hengxin, and the garrison commander of Datong, Guo Deng, were clear-headed and prioritized the country. They refused to open the gates.

After that, the Oirat army changed its route to attack Zijing Pass, still forcing Zhu Qizhen to call for the gates to be opened.

This time, the gate-calling emperor succeeded!

The Oirat army broke through Zijing Pass, killed the garrison commander Sun Xiang, and opened the road directly to Beijing.

This is the origin of Zhu Qizhen’s title as the gate-calling emperor.

Seeing that the capital of the Great Ming was in danger.

At this time.

A great loyal minister appeared in the Great Ming, Junior Protector Yu Qian.

Yu Qian and the other ministers, at a critical moment, supported Prince Cheng, Zhu Qiyu, as the emperor, and remotely honored the captured Zhu Qizhen as the Retired Emperor.

Then, they launched the vigorous defense of the capital, defeated the Oirat at the critical moment of the Great Ming’s life and death, and preserved the country.

Junior Protector Yu Qian is a national hero of the Great Ming!

The following year.

Esen Taishi of the Oirat felt that keeping Zhu Qizhen was useless. Such a terrible person might cause even more damage if released. So, he generously sent Zhu Qizhen back to the Great Ming.

In 1157 AD.

Seeing that Zhu Qiyu was seriously ill, Zhu Qizhen took the opportunity to contact Marquis Wuqing, Shi Heng, Commander Zhang Yi, Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices Xu Bin, Left Vice Censor-in-chief Xu Youzhen, and the former eunuch under Wang Zhen, Cao Jixiang, promising them benefits.

Then, he was restored to the throne and became emperor again.

After becoming emperor.

Zhu Qizhen immediately killed his younger brother, Emperor Jingtai, Zhu Qiyu, who had contributed to resisting the Oirat.

After his restoration, Zhu Qizhen had a series of extremely disgusting actions.

◈◈◈

He carried out a large-scale purge of the imperial court, killing many meritorious officials who had contributed to the defense of the capital.

Minister of War and national hero Yu Qian, and Grand Secretary Wang Wen were executed in the marketplace.

Deputy Commander Fan Guang, who had repelled Esen in the Battle of Deshengmen, was executed by slow slicing.

Zhu Qizhen held a grudge against Guo Deng, who had refused to open the gates to betray the country when he was captured and calling for the gates to be opened. After his restoration, he used this as a crime to strip him of his title and exile him.

Then, Zhu Qizhen exonerated Wang Zhen and built a temple to worship and summon his soul.

He even built a temple in the capital for Esen Taishi of the Oirat, who had captured him.

For the emperor of the Great Ming to build a temple in the capital for a barbarian chieftain and the monarch of an enemy country, perhaps he had truly developed “Stockholm Syndrome” from being abused in the Oirat, or perhaps he sincerely regarded Esen as a benefactor to be grateful for.

Moreover, Zhu Qizhen also gave the vast territory of the Hetao region to the Tatar tribe of Mongolia.

Summarizing Zhu Qizhen’s life.

He was unable to distinguish between kindness and enmity, friend and foe, right and wrong. He was cold-hearted and ruthless, and as a ruler, his crimes were heinous. He even called for the gates to be opened for the invaders of a foreign race, losing national integrity and causing the death of the national hero Yu Qian.

This person’s detestability can be ranked first among the foolish emperors of the past.

No foolish emperor can compare to him.

And when Peng Feng set foot in the Central Plains from overseas.

The coup of seizing the gate had just happened.

Junior Protector Yu Qian had just been imprisoned and had not yet been beheaded.

◈◈◈

Peng Feng got off the lone boat.

He tied up the lone boat.

Then, carrying the treasured saber that had accompanied him for hundreds of years, the Sun Devouring Blade.

He leisurely walked on the land of the Central Plains.

As he walked, he finally reached a town.

He saw a restaurant that seemed decent.

He went in.

“Boss, bring me your best wine and a few side dishes.”

“Alright.”

After a while, the wine and dishes were served.

Peng Feng carefully took a sip of the yellow wine.

This yellow wine, the taste is really good.

In these thirty-plus years.

He had traveled all over the world and visited countries around the globe.

He had drunk European wine, the homemade wine of the Native Americans in North America, the rum favored by pirates, and the brandy from Russia.

However, the yellow wine of my Great Huaxia is still the most suitable for my taste.

A plate of peanuts, a few taels of wine.

Life is so pleasant.

As he was drinking, Peng Feng’s attention was suddenly drawn to the discussions of the people next to him.

“Damn it. It’s ridiculous. Junior Protector Yu is a hero of our Great Ming. The previous Emperor Yingzong listened to the words of that eunuch Wang Zhen, causing the great defeat at Tumu Fortress. More than 500,000 elite troops were destroyed. At that time, the country was in decline. The Oirat army attacked the capital. If it weren’t for Junior Protector Yu, I’m afraid our Great Ming would have been finished.”

“As a result, Emperor Yingzong was good. After his restoration, the first thing he wanted to do was to kill Junior Protector Yu.”

“A national hero like Junior Protector Yu is actually going to die at the hands of a foolish emperor. Absurd, absurd!” A blue-robed scholar at the next table cursed while drinking.

A gray-robed scholar sitting with him looked around vigilantly: “Don’t you want to live? You’re making reckless comments about the imperial court and His Majesty. You’re courting death. If you keep talking, the Imperial Bodyguard will be here soon.”

The blue-robed scholar, half-drunk, laughed loudly: “Junior Protector Yu is a national hero who saved the country, but he’s been imprisoned and is about to be killed. If I’m not allowed to speak, then I’ll really die of anger.

Since its founding, our Great Ming has had wise emperors in every generation. His Majesty Taizu, His Majesty Chengzu, His Majesty Renzong, His Majesty Xuanzong, which generation wasn’t great? How could we have ended up with such a foolish emperor? If his Imperial Bodyguard wants my life, Li’s life is his to take.”

The gray-robed scholar immediately covered the blue-robed scholar’s mouth and tried to help him leave, fearing that he would cause trouble.