The truth is merciless. Because of this personal expedition, the guards of the Ming Dynasty were completely defeated. Although the Ming army took the initiative to attack, every battle was passively beaten and lost all the way. 300,000 troops left and never came back. Yingzong was captured by the Mongwa Army, and the weak nature of the Ming Dynasty was exposed. If it weren't for the lack of preparation for the capture of the Central Plains, the disaster of the Ming Dynasty would be similar to the demise of the Northern Song Dynasty.
Wang Zhen, the favorite eunuch of Yingzong.
The system of Ming Dynasty established the unified military power of eunuchs, because Chengzu of Ming Dynasty set a precedent for appointing county magistrates as officials. Specifically, the emperor regarded eunuchs as personal representatives, so although he knew that eunuchs would bring a lot of harm, Ming Chengzu thought that nothing was more conducive to safeguarding imperial power than appointing eunuchs. Ming Yingzong, the fifth emperor of Ming Dynasty, was only 10 years old when he ascended the throne. Wang Zhen, the eunuch leader who grew up with him, became a natural candidate for the body-guard. Wang Zhen's position is the magistrate of Neiya, and his nephew Wang Shan once served as the commander of thousands of security teams. With the help of the emperor's naivety, weakness and credulity, Wang Zhen expanded his power and made him the actual decision-maker of government affairs in the imperial court. At that time, the atmosphere in the empty court was so bad that even honest officials could not stand it. Almost all government officials and the public support Wang Zhen's power, whether for speculation or to keep his official position.
Wang Zhen is a lonely scholar, and he often falls off the list. In desperation, he became an angry eunuch. His position in the palace is only to satisfy his selfish desires. These people have no ability to manage the country and certainly no ability to manage the army. The eunuch's attachment to him as a prefect in the guard army can only dampen morale and do more harm than good.
In the early years of Emperor Yingzong, Shunwang was the leader of the Mongolian Wala tribe. In April of the eighth year of Taoist temple, Tuoba died and his son succeeded to the throne first. The performance of Valais in Mongolian ministries is average. After killing Arutai and annexing the ministries, it became more and more powerful and ruled northern China; Those who are strong, brave and capable of fighting bravely will inherit the throne first. Valla is a strong warrior. Vala was not bound by the Ming court, and constantly made trouble, attacking the important town of Saibei and making a scene. The northern border has entered an eventful autumn.
Wang Zhen encouraged Ming Yingzong to make personal expedition.
In the first month of the 12th year of Daoguang, Luo Hengxin and Fu Xuan, the secretariat of Datong, predicted that Vara would pose a threat to the Ming Dynasty, and solemnly wrote to the emperor, pointing out that Vara should increase the armaments of border cities during the invasion, otherwise it would lead to great disaster. However, ministers, including war ministers, are afraid to make a difference in war preparation because they are afraid of Wang Zhen's arrogance. However, under the pretext of preparing for war, Wang Zhen increased the tax items of people in border areas. Under the pressure of Vara's repeated exploratory invasions and ministers' repeated demands for strengthening military strength, it was not until the end of June in the fourteenth year of the Orthodox Church that the Commander-in-Chief of Security and the Magistrate of Neiya were selected to handle this matter, and people were sent to Datong and Fu Xuan to guard the capital to prevent Vara's invasion to the south. However, it is too late.
The fuse of Wara's invasion to the south was the tribute incident. In February of the 14th year of Orthodox Church, more than 2,000 people were sent to pay homage to the good horse, pretending to be 3,000. Magistrate Wang Zhen was very angry. He thought that the number of envoys who pretended to be tributes was contempt for the court and ordered the price of horses to be reduced. "This is a betrothal gift," said the envoy. It means to marry the royal princess first. The court replied, "Not married." It turns out that before this, I also sent a tribute, which was purchased by officials of the Ming court, detailing the actual situation in China; First of all, he expressed his willingness to marry the Tong family and made a private promise, but it was not reported to the court. I also think that marriage is successful, so I take horses as dowry. Surprisingly, Mingting not only bargained, but also refused to get married. In a rage, he decided to dispatch troops and invade Datong on a large scale.
In the autumn of July, the powerful Vara cavalry also led a large-scale attack and swept away. An emergency military report from the northern border was sent to the capital, which was in a panic. On July 8, the First Legion entered the territory of the Ming Dynasty. The soldiers' front is very sharp and unstoppable. In the Ming Dynasty, the defenders of Datong were completely annihilated, the Great Wall must pass through, the castle collapsed, and the Walla army was invincible.
It was reported that the horn sounded all day, and the city was reported to have fallen. In Datong, four generals, Xu and Jingyuan, were ordered to lead ten thousand people from Beijing to resist the enemy. After the Shijing Guard led by Jingyuan left, Wang Zhen thought it was an opportunity to show his prestige, so he encouraged the emperor to conquer it himself and let him return to his hometown to honor his family. The 23-year-old emperor Zhu Qizhen didn't know the seriousness of the border situation. He always listens to Wang Zhen's music. It is a very brave and beautiful thing for the emperor to lead hundreds of thousands of soldiers to the front at once. So he ordered to leave in two days.
Yingzong went to war.
After this confidant report was published, the emperor was stunned by Wu Wen. No one could believe that the emperor really wanted to go on an expedition in person. However, before the ministers woke up, the excited emperor issued a series of instructions to send troops directly, and instructed the guards to protect the Northern Expedition: Taishi Gong, Yingfu Gong, Taishi Gong and Cheng Guogong led the troops; Ministry of War Shangshu, Ministry of War Shangshu Kuang, Zhang Yi, etc. It's the imperial guard. The entire Northern Expeditionary Army was led and commanded by the commander of the Guards and Governor Wang Zhen.
After proper arrangements, the emperor was elected as the monarch and assembled 500 thousand troops in two days, ready to stand by and watch. The emperor was in high spirits. On the same day, accompanied by Wang Zhen, he left Beijing with 300,000 guards.
When they arrived at the Dragon Tiger Terrace, the soldiers were exhausted and Wang Zhen ordered them to stay in the camp. It was about a drum, and the wind alarmed the sergeant. The exhausted and weak internal security camp was a mess and a false alarm. So he thought it was an ominous sign. The next day, the army continued northward, left Juyongguan and came to Huailai until Fu Xuancheng. These days, the guards who have no fighting spirit have panicked. Minister Kuang of the Ministry of War thought his trip was over and urged the emperor to return. Wang Zhen was furious, severely reprimanded Kuang, and ordered him and his retainer Wang Zuo to follow the camp and be supervised by the guards. Kuang _ 65 years old. He is worried and anxious. After marching for a few days, he fell off his horse and almost died. Ministers asked him to stay and treat the sick and wounded, but he firmly refused, saying, "I dare to defend my illness!" " "Army into the office, navarre army vanguard attack. Zhu Yong led the Guards to attack Wallachia, but it turned out that he was no match for the enemy. He suffered a great failure. Wang Zhen's elite guards were ordered to sweep the array, while the Walla army made a rout gesture, actually pretending to be defeated, in order to lure the enemy deeper. The emperor was very excited and encouraged Wang Zhen to command the army to crusade against Datong in the north.
Zhu Qizhen, the young emperor, knew almost nothing about the war except the wild idea of personal exploration. In the Ming dynasty, the fighting capacity of the guards who were hardly in the room was pitifully low, except for consuming food and grass; Wang Zhen, a powerful eunuch minister, is not good at commanding operations except for personal madness; Kuang _,
Before reaching Datong, food and grass were scarce, and many soldiers died of hunger and fatigue. The minister once again asked the emperor to return to Li Guan and escort the guards to the back of the temple. Wang Zhen turned a blind eye to this. Kuang ran to the emperor's tent and was stopped by the guards. Wang Zhen condemned, "Corrupt Confucianism knows what a struggle is! Kill immediately if you talk again! " Kuang _ is worried. He said word for word: "I want to speak for the people of this country and the whole world." What is there to be afraid of? "Selected call guards escorted quantico _ out. Kuang _ had to cry with the Minister of Finance at the Prime Minister's Office.
On August 1 day, Zhu Qizhen proudly entered Datong. After a short rest, the emperor and Wang Zhen planned to leave Datong and continue to sweep Walla northward. The accompanying ministers and generals are unwilling to go any further. They all look scared. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Kuang, who was injured by a falling horse, knelt on the grass in the camp all day and asked the emperor to return to the Luanhe River so that he could not venture north again. Qin officials were very worried when they saw the astronomical phenomena, and said, "The astronomical phenomena have issued a warning that we can't go any further. If there is an accident and the driver is in distress, who will be responsible? " Wang Zhen shouted confidently: "If so, it is fate!"
Four generals, including Xu and Jingyuan, each led an army of 10,000 people to the north and repelled the Walla army. At this point, the faults will be sent out one by one. In other words, the Walla army is unstoppable and will soon enter the emperor's royal camp directly. The situation was so critical that Emperor Zhu Qizhen seldom took it seriously. Wang Zhen, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Guards, goes his own way. He completely ignored the feasibility of things and expected the emperor to visit his hometown. Seeing that Wang Zhen was so confident, the emperor took him with confidence.
At dusk, a black mesh cloud hung over the royal camp, thunder rumbled and rain poured down. Wang Zhen stood in the big tent of the royal camp and looked at the rain outside the tent. He was very angry. Just then, an urgent military report came from the guard: Hou Xining and Zhu Mian were all wiped out. Wang Zhen began to feel uneasy, but pretended to be indifferent. Guo Jing, the eunuch guarding Datong, sent a secret letter saying that the Walla army was unstoppable and the situation was critical, and it was impossible to go north. This is the plan to transfer troops back to Beijing.
The next day, Wang Zhen announced that he would withdraw his troops to Lu 'an. Deng Guo, the company commander of Datong, quickly told Cao Naiyi, the bachelor in the same car, that he would drive back to Luanhe River from Zijingguan and get to Beijing safely. When Cao Naiwang reported to him, he didn't listen. Wang Zhen took the opportunity to transfer troops back to Beijing and let the emperor drive back to his hometown Yuzhou.
As a result, thousands of guards came to Li Jinfa along this road. When Wang Zhen approached his hometown, Wang Zhen felt that thousands of troops would trample bad crops and supply hay, which would do more harm than good. He temporarily changed his mind, and the exhausted army that had entered the command line for more than 40 miles turned east and returned to the past Wolf Mountain. Just then, the world of mortals rolled in the distance, the horse hunters flew to print newspapers, and the Vara cavalry caught up!
The guards of the Ming dynasty were in chaos, and the soldiers who had never faced the war were disheveled and pale. This is August 13.
Wang Zhen, the commander-in-chief of the Royal Guards, urgently ordered a captain, Cheng Guogong and Zhu Yong, to lead 30,000 imperial troops to meet several runners-up. Zhu Yong foolhardy, led 30000 troops into the Yaoziling. Valak's army ambushed the two wings of the mountain and suddenly attacked Zhu Yong's cavalry. Thirty thousand Ming imperial soldiers were killed and wiped out. Hou Kezhong and Governor Wu Keqin were ordered to resist a large number of Walla troops, and they were defeated and killed.
Wang Zhen led the guards to the army, protected the emperor and moved to a safe place. The emperor and his team came to Tumburg. It's not too late. It was a magical moment. It's only 20 miles from here to Huailai. Kuang _ advised the emperor to go through the customs and enter Huailai City to protect himself. He stayed behind the house with an elite army and was rejected by Wang Zhen. Wang Zhen refused to go to Huailai City and ordered the whole army to meet the bystanders immediately on the grounds that thousands of cars in the trenches did not arrive. Kuang _ rushed into the royal account, desperately demanding entry, and was d.
Emperor Zhu Qizhen was stationed in Mutubao under the protection of pro-army. There are no dangerous barriers, no natural barriers, no springs and rich vegetation. This is where the enemy pursues victory. The next day, in August of 14, when the army was ready to leave, the Walla army killed it. Forming an encirclement, a heavy means. The army was trapped in a civilian fortress and did not dare to move. After being besieged for two days and nights, the soldiers and horses were hungry and thirsty, and there was no water to drink. The guards in Wang Zhen were ordered to get water on the spot, but after digging for two feet, no water came out. There is a river 15 miles south from here, but this river has been occupied by the Walla army.
For the first time, the leader felt that the time was ripe, so he ordered the Vara army to divide into two roads and attack the Ming army along both sides of Magukou. The Ming army guarding Taniguchi ordered Guo Mao to lead the hungry guards to bravely stop for four days and four nights. Valla's army fought more and more wars and became more and more brave. After eating, it will take turns to attack. The Ming army guarding Taniguchi suffered heavy casualties and gradually became unsustainable. When the canyon opened, the emperor and his guards were like turtles in a jar, waiting for death.
/kloc-in August of 0/5, Valla sent messengers to make a written peace with the emperor. Emperor Zhu Qizhen, who was decided by the priest, believed this, so he called Bachelor Cao Fei for peace, and sent two general affairs to the messenger of Vara's army. Wang Zhen thought that the peace talks had been settled, and ordered to immediately announce to the three armed forces that they would start marching into the camp. Walking in the ravine, when the rotation, the army was in chaos, and weapons and ceremonies were thrown everywhere. The emperor drove south less than three or four miles, and the Vara cavalry launched an all-out attack from all directions. The Ming Guards were in danger of collapse, and the soldiers fled for their lives. Fiasco is inevitable.
The warriors entered the battlefield, waved long knives, hacked and killed Wei Ming, and shouted, "Those who disarm and throw knives will not kill!" So, groups of guards and soldiers untied their armor, laid down their weapons and knelt down shirtless to surrender. Under the light of the horseshoe knife of the Vara cavalry, the naked soldiers who surrendered by the Ming Guard and the people who did not fall trampled on each other, trampling on each other, and many people were injured. The body was submerged in the wilderness, and horns and cries for help echoed in the wilderness. The emperor's official attendants and the guards around the pro-army are still fighting the last battle. They were shot by arrows and died heroically.
Emperor Zhu Qizhen was pale. Riding a horse, he tried to break through under the close protection of the pro-army guards, but failed to break through the encirclement of Valla soldiers. Hundreds of pro-military soldiers, including Finance Minister Fu Shangshu, Bachelor Cao Nai and Zhang Yi, were killed. Only Xiao Weizhen, Yang Shan and other ministers who followed the emperor's personal expedition survived; The sergeant escaped from the mountain and fell into the valley. Only a few people escaped to the mountain pass. Valla captured more than 200,000 horses and mules, as well as a large number of armored equipment and trenches.
Without success, Emperor Zhu Qizhen was surrounded by guards and pro-troops and escaped. Valla soldiers killed again and again, and the guards were dispersed. Suddenly, the emperor found that there were no soldiers around him, no traces, only jurchen eunuchs would rather be there. The emperor got off the horse and walked cross-legged to the south, sitting quietly with his eyes closed. Eunuch likes to wait with him. In fact, Ning had secretly communicated with Vala and told the first person in detail the actual situation of the Ming court. Just then, a Vala soldier came and asked for the armor worn by the emperor, but the emperor ignored it. Valla's soldiers waved their weapons and just wanted to start work, but they were stopped by their brothers who came. His brother looked at the emperor's clothes and manners and said, "This is not an ordinary person. His behavior is different from that of ordinary people! "
Valla sent soldiers to send the Emperor to Lei Jia Station to visit his first brother, Wang Sai Kan. Zhu Qizhen opened his eyes and asked, "Are you the first one? Is it Bayan Timur? King of the game? Or the king? " When he knew it was Emperor Daming, King Saikan was shocked to hear these questions. Hanwang dare not neglect, let Sineitai escort Zhu Qizhen and Chi Jian first.
I also got a report from the king of the competition magazine: "The subordinate arrested a man, which is unusual. It may be Daming Tian Zi! " I was surprised and immediately called two of my cronies who were sent to China and asked them to identify me. When they saw Emperor Zhu Qizhen, they were shocked and said, "Exactly!" First of all, I was overjoyed and said with a smile, "I often sacrificed to heaven and begged Dayuan to rule the world, but now I have won a great victory!" " "I first excitedly asked the squire's military affairs minister, what should I do? How to deal with the captured emperor? A military commander named Naigong blurted out: "God gave us the enemy, it is better to kill him!" " "Bo Yan Timur, an aristocratic tribe, repelled him, saying," When the two armies fought, many soldiers and horses were hit by swords and arrows, and some were trampled to death. Now, Emperor Daming was not defeated by knives and arrows, but asked Yan Na and me calmly, without any panic or anger. All along, we have been rewarded by Emperor Daming. Although God was angry and pushed him to the ground, he was not killed. Why should we go against God's will? If Yan sent someone to see the son of heaven, wouldn't all the men of romantic figures agree with this view through the ages? Therefore, he first ordered the emperor Zhu Qizhen to be sent to guard Bayan Timur Barracks.
The emperor was accompanied by Captain Bin Yuan's entourage. Bin Yuan was ordered to send messengers to preserve the emperor's calligraphy, and told Huailai Shoujiang that when the emperor was captured, he must immediately send a lot of gold and silk. Huailai city gate is closed, and envoys put on ropes. When the generals heard the news, they immediately sent people to the capital Maggie. That night, on the third night, the sergeant ran into the palace from the West Chang 'an Gate to report. On August 17, civil and military officials gathered to convey the situation at the front. They couldn't help crying. The defeated soldiers who fled back to Beijing were scarred. When they asked where the emperor was, they all said they didn't know. Huailai made it into the newspaper, only to know that the emperor was captured and wept bitterly in the palace.
Empress Dowager Cixi sent messengers and a treasure-laden Wen Qi, and ordered eight knights to escort them to the first battalion. Queen Qian also sent someone to send them to the first one, asking for them to be returned to the emperor. Every night, Queen Qian knelt in the palace and cried and prayed to heaven. She was tired and fell to the ground. One leg was soon disabled, and then she was bleeding and crying, and then one eye was blind.
In this personal expedition, Wang Zhen, commander-in-chief of the Guards and chief of Neiya, was not spared. When he led the elite guard to guard the emperor's breakthrough, he was stopped and dispersed by the Walla army. Sineitai's army closely guarded Wang Zhen, but the emperor was gone. General Fan Zhongyan flew into a rage when he saw the emperor's death. He waved a sledgehammer and threw it at Wang Zhen from the side. Wang Zhen died instantly. Fan Zhong shouted, "I will kill this thief!" Subsequently, Fan Zhong killed dozens of people in the Walla army with a hammer and eventually died.
Excerpt: Wang, Secret Records of Guards in Ming and Qing Dynasties, published by China Workers Publishing House on June 5438+ 10, 2009.