After experiencing two rounds of turmoil, the sun broke through the dark clouds, and a ray of golden light fell upon Prince Yan’s armor, as if coating it with a layer of golden radiance. Prince Yan resembled his father—both had large heads and round faces with dignified features. Combined with his years of decisive military command, he possessed authority in Yan territory that, while not imperial, surpassed that of an emperor. With this halo crowning his head, he truly appeared to have the bearing of a true son of heaven.
“Pacifying Difficulties! Victory is certain!”
The warriors shouted their battle cry again. The “Obeying Heaven to Pacify Difficulties” oath-taking assembly was a complete success.
News of Prince Yan’s rebellion reached the suburban Tongzhou, where the military and civilians offered no resistance whatsoever, all voluntarily surrendering to Prince Yan.
The next day, the eighth day of the seventh month, the rebellion forces captured Jizhou. Zunhua and Miyun actively surrendered and submitted to Prince Yan.
On the eleventh of the seventh month, the rebellion forces captured Juyong Pass.
On the sixteenth of the seventh month, the rebellion forces captured Huailai.
On the eighteenth of the seventh month, Yongping Prefecture submitted to Prince Yan.
On the twenty-fourth of the seventh month, Prince Yan’s rebellion forces approached the domain of Prince Gu Zhu Gui near Xuanfu.
Prince Gu Zhu Sui’s birth mother was Consort Guo Hui, the most unfortunate woman of the Hongwu reign. His maternal grandfather was Guo Zixing, who was the adoptive father of Empress Xiaoci. Emperor Gaozhu had originally been merely a ceremonial guard under Guo Zixing’s command. His first fortune came from killing Guo Zixing’s own son and forcibly marrying Guo Zixing’s daughter as a concubine, inheriting Guo’s political legacy as a son-in-law to reach the pinnacle of life.
This first fortune was hardly honorable. Emperor Gaozhu had always been wary of his concubine Lady Guo. Despite her merit in bearing children, she remained only at the rank of Consort Hui and was never allowed to manage the inner palace.
Consort Guo Hui had obediently borne children for the Zhu family her entire life—three sons and two daughters. One daughter even married into the family of Marquis Wuding, the natal family of Noble Consort Guo Duanjing. Originally thinking that her honesty and duty would allow her to enjoy her twilight years in peace, she never expected that Emperor Gaozhu would not spare her in the end, ordering Consort Guo Hui to be buried alive with him upon his death…
At the time, to prevent the vassal princes from posing a threat to the Crown Prince Grandson, Emperor Gaozhu specifically issued an edict commanding the vassal princes not to return to the capital for the funeral, but to remain in their respective domains to mourn.
Prince Gu was Consort Guo Hui’s youngest son. Knowing his awkward birth circumstances, he had been sensible since childhood, studying literature and practicing martial arts, not daring to cause trouble. After being enfeoffed, though he lacked Prince Yan’s earth-shaking achievements, Xuanfu was one of the nine crucial border regions of the Ming Dynasty. He organized the renovation of the Great Wall and led troops to guard the frontier. Since his enfeoffment, Xuanfu had been peaceful—Prince Gu had made great contributions.
Prince Gu felt that by honestly guarding the frontier, when his father passed away, he might be able to use his merits to bring his trembling mother, Consort Guo Hui, to Xuanfu to enjoy her grandchildren and live out her years in peace. However, he received the devastating news of his mother’s burial sacrifice.
Father dead, mother buried alive—such human tragedy would probably cause ordinary people to collapse on the spot. Fortunately, Prince Gu was strong and helplessly accepted this cruel reality.
However, acceptance did not mean submission. Prince Gu lacked Prince Yan’s grand ambitions. If faced with the reduction of vassal powers, he could give up military authority and become an idle prince. But he also understood why his mother, despite her lifetime of obedience, still had to be buried alive—wasn’t it to consolidate the new emperor’s position, to clear out the inner palace and remove any constraints on the new emperor?
Ultimately, it was all to pave the way for the new emperor.
Now Prince Yan was at his doorstep. Prince Gu commanded tens of thousands of elite府兵, the kind who had guarded the frontier for years. Local military commanders gathered at Prince Gu’s mansion, waiting for his command to immediately intercept Prince Yan’s “rebel forces.”
With current strength, Xuanfu was fully capable of battling the Yan forces and blocking Prince Yan’s advance into central China. But Prince Gu, harboring years of resentment, had his own calculations: Why should I risk everything, even my life, to intercept Fourth Brother’s army for that little emperor in Nanjing?
Are we even close? Doesn’t the little emperor want to reduce vassal powers? He forced Prince Xiang’s entire family to death and reduced five brothers to commoners, imprisoning them in Fengyang as prisoners.
To protect this little emperor, my mother suffered her entire life and still had to be buried alive, never enjoying a day of happiness.
After this nephew took the throne, he constantly pointed his blade at the imperial clan, attacking uncles and princess aunts indiscriminately. Who could endure this?
Perhaps if Fourth Brother takes the throne, my days might be better.
Therefore, Prince Gu Zhu Sui simply abandoned his post and left, taking his府兵and the prince’s mansion family toward the capital. The Yan forces effortlessly gained the crucial military position of Xuanfu…
On the twenty-seventh of the seventh month, Master Dao Yan used a stratagem to cause internal strife among the garrison at Songting Pass, leading them to kill their commander and surrender.
By August, the Yan forces approached the domain of Prince Liao Zhu Zhi, who guarded one of the nine crucial borders of the Ming Dynasty.
Prince Liao Zhu Zhi was born to Korean tribute woman Consort Han. Since Consort Han died early, she avoided the fate of burial sacrifice. Prince Liao was not particularly close to Prince Yan. When Emperor Jianwen reduced vassal powers, he first targeted Prince Yan’s younger brother, Prince Zhou Zhu Su, making an example of him to intimidate others. Many imperial family members and princes submitted memorials pleading for the medical-obsessed Prince Zhou, but Prince Liao chose to protect himself wisely and did not petition the court on his behalf.
The nine great vassal princes guarding the nine borders of the Ming Dynasty, due to their constant confrontation with the Northern Yuan, protecting the Ming frontiers, were all valiant warriors, and their府兵were all battle-tested elites. Prince Liao’s strength was comparable to Prince Gu’s. He deeply despised Prince Gu’s “cowardice and incompetence”—to flee to the capital without even resisting, abandoning his armor and weapons, truly disgracing the reputation of the nine great vassal princes of the nine borders.
Therefore, when Prince Yan rebelled, Prince Liao sharpened his weapons and prepared thoroughly for battle with Prince Yan. First, to protect his own domain, and second, to demonstrate loyalty to the little emperor, so that even if reduced in the future, the process might be gentler.
Prince Liao calculated wishfully, sleeping in armor and resting with weapons ready, waiting to fight a hard battle with Fourth Brother.
Meanwhile, a thousand li away in the capital.
Ming Imperial Palace, Kunning Palace.
Hu Shanwei led Princess Ying to see Empress Ma.
Princess Ying was Lady Guo, eldest legitimate daughter of Marquis Wuding Guo Ying, and niece of Noble Consort Duanjing. Previously, the Guo family had been so distinguished, one of only five remaining old noble families after Emperor Gaozhu’s great purge. However, Emperor Jianwen disliked the Guo family because Second Miss Guo had become the side consort of Prince Yan’s heir, so he did not favor or employ Guo family members. Even when selecting companions for the Crown Prince, four of the five great noble families in the capital had grandsons selected, only the Guo family was left out, seemingly destined for decline.
Empress Ma followed her husband’s lead. Since her husband deliberately cold-shouldered the Guo family, she could not be too warm toward Princess Ying Lady Guo, this imperial aunt, maintaining politeness mixed with distance.
Princess Ying first performed the grand ceremony of subject to sovereign, after which Empress Ma returned half the courtesy, treating it as family ceremony.
Princess Ying Lady Guo said: “Today I seek audience with the Empress due to urgent military matters. However, His Majesty manages countless affairs daily and has no time for an audience, so I could only ask Palace Director Hu to arrange this meeting with the Empress.”
Empress Ma frowned. “The inner palace must not interfere in politics. How can the Princess not know this?”
Hu Shanwei handed an opened letter to Empress Ma. “The military situation is urgent. After this servant reviewed it, I felt it was extremely valuable, so I brought Princess Ying to see the Empress.”
Empress Ma did not trust Princess Ying, but trusted Hu Shanwei’s judgment. She opened the letter and immediately changed color, taking the letter to Qianqing Palace to find Emperor Jianwen.
This letter was written by Second Miss Guo, the side consort of Prince Yan’s heir, to her elder sister Princess Ying, mostly casual family conversation. One passage mentioned that Uncle Prince Liao was a person cold on the outside but warm within. Though he had not petitioned for the deposed Prince Zhou, when Prince Yan’s heir returned to Yan territory with his family and passed through Prince Liao’s domain, Uncle Prince Liao hosted a feast, showing warm concern and even providing military escort.
Second Miss Guo also sighed in the letter that though she was Prince Yan’s side consort, she had always lived in the capital and had never seen what Prince Yan’s mansion in Beiping looked like. She had thought the nine great vassal princes operated independently without mutual influence, but now it seemed the rumors were false—hearing is believing, seeing is truth. The real relationships between the imperial uncles were actually quite good.
After reading this, Emperor Jianwen’s expression changed dramatically. These imperial uncles were truly cunning—some played good cop, some bad cop, nearly deceiving him again. This Prince Liao, where was the desperate effort to intercept the Yan forces mentioned in his memorials? Clearly he wanted to lead his army to join the Yan forces and collaborate!
Fortunately, the heir’s side consort Lady Guo inadvertently revealed the secret, and Princess Ying demonstrated great righteousness by delivering the family letter to the palace. Emperor Jianwen immediately issued an imperial edict, sending it by urgent courier to Prince Liao Zhu Zhi’s domain at Guangning.
At Guangning, Prince Liao was conducting a pre-battle rally. The fighting spirit of the Liao forces was stirred up, ready for a final battle with the Yan forces who rebelled under the banner of “pacifying difficulties.”
Just as Prince Liao was about to order battle formation, a shrill voice rang out: “Imperial edict arrives!”
Prince Liao thought Emperor Jianwen was sending provisions to comfort the troops, and immediately knelt to receive the edict.
The messenger declared: “By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Prince Liao Zhu Zhi must immediately withdraw from his domain and return to the capital to await orders. There must be no error. Thus it is decreed!”
Prince Liao was stunned, suspecting he had misheard. “Eunuch, what are you saying?”
The messenger snorted coldly. “His Majesty orders Prince Liao to immediately return to the capital. Do not engage the Yan forces directly. Will the Prince not receive the edict? Does Your Highness intend to disobey orders?”
Prince Liao had no choice but to withdraw his forces. Forget intercepting the Yan army—he could not even defend the city. That very day he evacuated his domain, handing over the excellent territory to Prince Yan.
Thus Prince Yan effortlessly occupied Liao territory.
Prince Liao fled to the capital with his household. Before reaching the city, his tens of thousands of府兵were intercepted by Duke Cao Li Jinglong, who demanded they lay down weapons and camp in the suburbs, awaiting arrangements.
Seeing Li Jinglong’s arrogant manner, Prince Liao’s suppressed anger exploded at that moment, slapping this nephew across the face.
With a sharp crack, half of Li Jinglong’s face swelled. “You… you dare hit me!”
Prince Liao was after all a son of Emperor Gaozhu and had his pride. He looked down on even Prince Yan—how could he regard Li Jinglong? He spat. “By rank, this prince is a vassal prince while you are merely a duke. By generation, I am your uncle and you are my nephew. No matter how you argue, this prince has the right to hit you!”
Li Jinglong was furious but Prince Liao was correct—both by rank and generation, Prince Liao could hit him. He could only seek justice from Emperor Jianwen, who comforted this vassal-reduction specialist: “Prince Liao has a violent temper. Just bear with it.”
Prince Liao entered the palace for an audience with Emperor Jianwen, expressing his complete loyalty. “…This subject’s loyalty is evident to sun and moon! Now this subject’s wife and children are in the capital, and this subject cannot bear to abandon Liao territory’s excellent lands. Please allow this subject to lead former troops to campaign against the Yan forces! Recover our territories!”
Having cultivated his domain for many years, Prince Liao had developed feelings for that land and was reluctant to hand it over to Prince Yan, wanting to lead troops to reclaim it.
Seeing Prince Liao’s sincerity, and having hostages in hand so Prince Liao dare not break faith, Emperor Jianwen wondered if he had been overly suspicious and wronged him?
He was somewhat tempted, but remembering Second Miss Guo’s letter—better to believe it exists than not—he still did not agree to Prince Liao’s request.
Just as Prince Liao left the palace, urgent military intelligence arrived from the front:
One of the nine great vassal princes of the nine borders, Prince Ning Zhu Quan, led his domain’s military and civilians, along with his famous Mongol cavalry “Duoyan Three Guards,” to join Prince Yan’s rebellion army. Two great threats now conspired together!
Actually, Prince Ning only wanted to wait and see but was forced into the alliance—the process was comparable to Lin Chong of the eight hundred thousand Imperial Guards being forced up Mount Liang.
Prince Ning Zhu Quan’s strength was second only to Prince Yan. His domain Daning bordered the Northern Yuan, positioned at the strategic fortress of Xifeng Pass. To the east lay Prince Liao Zhu Zhi’s territory, to the west the domain of Prince Gu Zhu Sui who had actively abandoned his city and fled—truly a crucial military position. Because Zhu Quan’s territory bordered Mongolia, through his mediation, Mongol tribes declared separation from the Northern Yuan, switching allegiance to embrace the Ming Dynasty, becoming three garrison commands called the “Duoyan Three Guards.”
These Mongol cavalry’s characteristics were exceptional fighting ability… and loyalty to whoever fed them.
When Prince Ning provided military pay, they followed Prince Ning. When Prince Yan sent Master Dao Yan and his disciple Ma Sanbao to persuade them, promising more grain and military pay, they followed Prince Yan. While Prince Ning was outside the city negotiating with Prince Yan, they surrounded Prince Ning’s mansion and placed the prince’s family under house arrest.
Prince Ning was also trapped by cunning Fourth Brother. Seeing the situation was hopeless, he could only announce joining the rebellion army, following Fourth Brother to “serve the king.”
But Emperor Jianwen did not know the process, only the result that Prince Ning led elite cavalry “Duoyan Three Guards” to defect to Prince Yan in rebellion. He immediately flew into rage, immediately summoning Prince Liao Zhu Zhi back and scolding him harshly:
“Things have come to this—what do you have to say? You still claim you and Prince Yan are innocent? If I had not recalled you, would you have also led your army to defect to Prince Yan?”
Facing these three deadly questions, Prince Liao felt more wronged than Dou E! Looking at this young emperor, Prince Liao thought: I wanted to support you, but you treat good intentions like donkey liver and lungs.
Forget it, I won’t interfere anymore. The more I manage, the more trouble it causes. Better to learn from Prince Gu—abandon the city and flee from the start for a clean break!
You and Fourth Brother can fight it out. I’ll sit on the mountain and watch tigers fight. Regardless of who becomes emperor, they’re all Zhu family people.
Thus, the only vassal prince who had clearly supported Emperor Jianwen became silent, remaining dejected daily, awaiting the final outcome.
From the night of the sixth of the seventh month when the Yan forces seized Beiping, through swallowing the territories of Prince Gu and Prince Liao consecutively, Prince Yan’s mansion controlled the northeast and northwest within one month, occupying three of the nine crucial borders. Their momentum was unstoppable, shocking court and country.
Prince Yan Zhu Di slowly advanced toward central China. Villages scattered ahead, and the throne lay before him.
Why had the court failed to organize central armies to suppress the rebellion throughout this month?
Because Emperor Jianwen had been meeting constantly this month, seeking the best candidate to serve as commander-in-chief.
The court became as noisy as a marketplace daily, with Emperor Jianwen wavering left and right, unable to make decisions. He felt everyone had advantages and everyone had flaws.
Among the candidates was Duke Cao Li Jinglong, the emperor’s own cousin, a vassal-reduction specialist. But his shortcoming was lack of experience in major battles—only minor skirmishes, mostly conducting military exercises, drilling troops and formations.
Duke Weiguo Xu Huizu. Son of a famous general, valiant in battle, who had campaigned with his father Xu Da since childhood. He had experience in major victorious battles and was completely loyal to the court, currently the most popular candidate for northern expedition commander to suppress the rebellion.
But his obvious flaw was: he was Prince Yan’s biological elder brother. Emperor Jianwen worried this second Duke Weiguo might switch sides to support his brother-in-law Prince Yan.
Marquis Changxing Geng Bingwen. The only surviving old general from the founding era of the Hongwu Dynasty, having survived the Four Great Cases: the Blank Seal Case, Hu Weiyong Rebellion Case, Li Shanchang Rebellion Case, and Lan Yu Rebellion Case—only Geng Bingwen survived them all. Moreover, Emperor Jianwen’s own elder sister Princess Jiangdu had married Geng Bingwen’s eldest legitimate son, ensuring absolute loyal devotion.
The flaw was his age was truly advanced—was old Lianpo still able to eat?
Duke Qian Mu Sheng. Son of a famous general, like Xu Huizu both military second-generation particularly capable fighters with combat experience. Moreover, Mu Sheng’s mother, the Duchess Dowager of Qian Lady Geng, was Marquis Changxing Geng Bingwen’s eldest legitimate daughter, so loyalty was unquestionable.
But the flaw was that the Mu family’s hereditary guardianship of Yunnan was a rule established by Emperor Gaozhu. Once Mu Sheng was deployed, Yunnan would certainly fall into chaos, leaving the Ming Dynasty facing enemies on multiple fronts, adding frost to snow.
Minister of War Qi Tai. Supreme commander of Ming military forces, testament minister. But Qi Tai was a presented scholar graduate, capable of writing essays and studying military strategy, but had never seen blood, lacked combat experience, and could not lead battles.
The great court sessions were deafeningly noisy while Yan forces advanced south, pushing into central China. Emperor Jianwen truly could not wait for ministers to argue to a conclusion, so he simply decided on the safest choice: old General Geng Bingwen, feeling that his elder sister’s father-in-law would certainly not harm family.
Though his age was somewhat advanced and his physical strength for battlefield combat was lacking, commanding armies in battle should present no problem.
Therefore, Emperor Jianwen appointed sixty-five-year-old Geng Bingwen as commander-in-chief, leading three hundred thousand northern expedition troops to march north and intercept the one hundred thousand Yan forces.
Emperor Jianwen thought: three hundred thousand against one hundred thousand, three people fighting one—we’re sure to win! Clenched fist!