When the three armies learned that the Emperor had been humiliated and slain, they were furious beyond measure, roaring as they tried to charge out of the city gates. Fortunately, Cao Nai quickly came to his senses and slapped Chen Huai and the other generals one after another. Once he had knocked them awake, they exchanged glances, the fury in their eyes burning like heavenly fire. In an instant, they understood that this was a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity.
Seize back the Emperor's body!
Seize back the land occupied by the Oirats!
Wash away the humiliation of their unbroken defeats!
The city gates swung wide open. Chen Huai, Jing Yuan, Zhu Mian, and the others each led a great army charging out. Even civil officials such as Cao Nai climbed onto horses, broadswords in hand, and rushed forth.
Kuang Ye remained atop the city wall, his eyes fixed on the sky, dark as black ink.
The bird and the person in the air had already wheeled away and flown off after landing their strike. Not even a shadow could be seen now.
Who was he?
Why had he killed His Majesty?
Kuang Ye immediately turned and summoned a trusted subordinate, ordering, "Go find Xue Shao and Miao Zhen. Ask Daoist Priestess Pan to leave seclusion. Tell her Datong is in peril—the Ming Dynasty is in peril!"
The subordinate acknowledged the order and immediately ran off.
Meanwhile, Yesen had also confirmed the Emperor's death. With an ugly expression, he looked up at the slowly opening city gates.
No matter how he had threatened, tempted, or assaulted them during this time, he had been unable to open those gates.
Yet now they were slowly opening. Before they had even opened fully, a rider charged out first. Yesen met his gaze through the ranks of