Early the next morning, the army set off the camp.

Zhu Houzhao no longer yelled at riding a horse, avoiding causing trouble for himself and others.

When Chen Xi saw Zhu Houzhao, he found that the other party's face was full of fatigue. Chen Xi thought that Zhu Houzhao had already felt relieved after suffering from illness for a night last night, but he had to hold on for the sake of face.

After a symbolic request for instructions, the soldiers and horses started to move. Today, Chen Xi had no intention of riding a horse, so he would rather hide in the carriage and rest.

The weather is good today, and the sun emerges from the clouds from time to time to show its face. The breeze blows on its face, bringing the breath of grass, which makes people feel energetic.

Unfortunately, under such circumstances, the speed of the troops was still not fast. Chen Xi sent someone to inquire, but the front army deliberately slowed down.

Chen Xi did not force the marching speed to be as fast as the emperor was leading the troops, so it was not easy to be able to go to Xuanfu in person. It was also the capital along the way, so it was nothing to walk slowly. At worst, the war could slow down...

Chen Xi could only try his best to find reasons to convince himself. He knew that this kind of marching was inappropriate. He had just left the capital and delayed the marching because of Zhu Houzhao's illness. Chen Xi calculated silently that if he marched like this, it would be good to walk fifty miles a day. If Zhu Houzhao had to order a rest in the middle, his speed would be greatly reduced.

As expected, at noon, Zhu Houzhao ordered the entire army to camp on the ground on the grounds of being unwell. After a morning, he traveled a total of twenty miles.

Chen Xi couldn't help but go to see the saint. He wanted to urge him, but he didn't see Zhu Houzhao himself. Gao Feng, who was blocking him at the door of the imperial tent, said that Zhu Houzhao had just taken medicine and was resting and could not disturb him.

Chen Xi felt sad: "What's this? Before going to the battle, I was full of ambitions and threatened to be unable to return. As a result, I was dragging on the road as soon as I set off. I was still in the camp and I was helpless."

Before seeing Zhu Houzhao, Chen Xi could only wait patiently.

In the end, Zhu Houzhao was the commander of the entire army. The emperor did not allow him to leave, and Chen Xi could not overthrow the entire army and let the entire army set out to continue moving forward.

It was not until dusk that Zhu Houzhao woke up and gathered Chen Xi, Hu Lian and others in a similar manner, as if he admitted his mistake and said, "It's all because I was infected with the cold and my body was not troubled and delayed the march. But it would be better to be slower. In this way, the entire army would not be too tired, and I can go to war immediately after the border."

Zhu Houzhao excused his laziness in this way. If he was sick, he could delay the road at will, and he would find many reasons for this. Chen Xi thought sadly: "The plan to go to the expedition has been arranged, but the emperor himself fell out of the chain. Because of you, the war was postponed. If something happened in the end, you would definitely not take the responsibility on yourself."

Zhang Yuan seemed very considerate and comforted: "Your Majesty is at ease to recuperate, it is not too late to leave tomorrow, or just stop and rest for a few days..."

Zhu Houzhao waved his hand: "It's not necessary to take a few days off. You should leave tomorrow. Since you have been camping for a long time today, you won't mobilize troops to set off again. I'm just going to have a rest."

...

...

On the second day of the march, I only walked for half a day, and the journey was only twenty miles, and at this time it was only sixty miles away from the capital.

Chen Xi felt very helpless, but he could only accept it.

That night, when Chen Xi was processing official documents in the Central Army's tent, he accidentally learned that Zhu Houzhao did not stay in the tent to recuperate that night, but instead spent all the time and drank.

Perhaps Zhu Houzhao's condition improved after the evening, Qian Ning took the opportunity to find some women to "help Zhu Houzhao liven up". Zhu Houzhao was very excited and held a banquet, but he started to have a fun and sing every night in the leopard room in the capital.

No matter how bitter Chen Xi felt in his heart, there was no way to deal with it.

Hu Lian came over that night to see Chen Xi and roughly explained the situation on Zhu Houzhao... In Hu Lian's opinion, Zhu Houzhao's actions were really harmful to the royal face.

Hu Lian said: "Shangshu Chen would better rush over and persuade Your Majesty immediately. How can you marching and fighting be like this?"

Chen Xi's tone was quiet: "Your Majesty said that you will not be able to march in the future?"

Hu Lian didn't understand for a moment, and Chen Xi continued: "Since Your Majesty hasn't said that it will delay the marching, then just think that Your Majesty is recuperating. We pretend to be confused and nothing happened."

Hu Lian was anxious: "This time, His Majesty is in charge of the army. What should we do if there are any deviations during the march?"

In Hu Lian's opinion, the current situation is very similar to that of Yingzong's expedition. After Yingzong led his troops to Juyongguan, he also delayed all the way. As a result, he was targeted by the Oirats and mobilized strong troops to encircle them from all sides, so that the Ming army was finally wiped out in the Tumu Fort area.

Chen Xi looked at Hu Lian, "There should be no accident. I have already reminded all the outposts, fortresses, and cities in the outer gate to keep a close eye on the movements of the Tatars. If the main force of the Tatars appears south of my Daming Pass, I will advise you if you don't say it!"

Hu Lian didn't expect Chen Xi to react like this and was stunned for a moment.

Chen Xi found that his tone was a little heavy, so he stood up and patted Hu Lian on the shoulder, and said, "Everything should be done step by step. Your Majesty should not be a problem. Let's set off on time tomorrow morning!"

Hu Lian had no choice but to go back to the account to rest first.

As a result, the next morning, the troops were ready, and only Zhu Houzhao's tent was quiet. Chen Xi went to ask for instructions to set up the camp, but was stopped by Dai Yi, Gao Feng and others.

"Mr. Shen, Your Majesty's illness has not yet recovered. Maybe... he needs a day or two before he sets off on the road." Gao Feng said.

Chen Xi was furious: "Just let me go in and make a comment to Your Majesty. Don't stay here. You have to rest and go back to Beijing to rest. You can rest as long as you want!"

Gao Feng looked at Chen Xi in disbelief, "Mr. Shen, what are you saying? Your Majesty is sick, which is a result that no one wants to see."

Chen Xi said with a stern face: "Since Your Majesty is sick, I will just go back to Beijing and go to the grassland next year. Why should I stay at this place sixty miles away from the capital? There is no village or shop here, but what can I bear if something happens?"

Dai Yi smiled and said with a pity: "Mr. Shen is too worried. This is the important place in the capital. Our people are everywhere. What will happen?"

Chen Xi asked with a dark face: "Why would you like to ask the two father-in-laws, the tribes on the grassland have never been a precedent for bypassing the pass and killing the land under our feet?"

This sentence changed Dai Yi and Gao Feng's faces and didn't know how to answer. After all, the Oirats and the Tatars had both rushed to the foot of the capital, let alone a place sixty miles away from the capital.

Chen Xi said again: "I want to meet Your Majesty. If Your Majesty does not see you, then the empress will order the army to be withdrawn immediately. This time, the expedition will be officially terminated, and the battle will be fought again next year!"

Dai Yi, Gao Feng and others were a little nervous when they heard this.

Most people in the court can give up when dealing with this battle, but Chen Xi cannot do it. This war must be carried out by Chen Xi. If Chen Xi angers Chen Xi, they will inevitably be punished.

Gao Feng said in embarrassment: "Mr. Shen, you have to be reasonable. It's not our reason. It's because His Majesty is infected..."

"yes."

Dai Yi was also trying hard to persuade, "Your Majesty needs rest now, you..."

Chen Xi pushed Dai Yi and Gao Feng away and rushed into the tent. The guards wanted to come over to stop him, but no one could shake Chen Xi's determination. At this moment, the curtain was suddenly lifted from inside, and someone walked out, but Concubine Li was dressed in men's clothes.

Dai Yi and Gao Feng saluted quickly. Concubine Li glanced at Chen Xi with a smile on her face: "Mr. Shen is so majestic... Your Majesty invites you in."

Chen Xi snorted coldly and followed Concubine Li into the tent. After he got in, he found that except Concubine Li, there were only Zhu Houzhao and Xiao Tiaozi in the tent. At this moment, Zhu Houzhao's face was pale and his eyes were black, just like a giant panda. She sat on a wooden bed covered with a wool felt, wrapped in a thick brocade quilt, and looked at Chen Xi with a sad look.

"I wish you goodbye to Your Majesty." Chen Xi stepped forward and said patiently.

Zhu Houzhao said: "Shangshu Chen, I heard what you said outside... I am sick now and did not rely on intention to refuse to leave. Now I am tired. Can't I stay for a short time and have a good rest?"

Chen Xi asked: "Your Majesty can you tell me how far it is from the capital to Juyongguan, and how far we are from the capital now?"

Zhu Houzhao said impatiently: "Now is not the time to talk about these things. I just want to ask, whether I am in a state of discomfort. Is it related to how far away I am? Have I said I won't move on? Now I'm just a temporary rest."

Chen Xi said seriously: "Since Your Majesty doesn't know, let me explain it... At this time, the army was only sixty miles away from the capital, but because it was starting from the south of the city, it was still seventy miles away from Juyong Pass. Although our current location is not as good as the front and the village or the shop behind, if the Tatars attacked, this place is not a safe place..."

Zhu Houzhao frowned: "Shangshu Chen, I know what you mean. You want to say that I have delayed the march, right? But the problem is that I am really unwell. Do you have to ignore the facts and force me to rush on the road?"

Chen Xi asked again: "Your Majesty, can you tell me why Emperor Yingzong was in danger when he led his troops to fight?"

"I don't want to hear this. There is no comparison. This is within Juyong Pass and is very far away from the border. How could there be Tatars killing?" Zhu Houzhao said angrily.

Chen Xidao: "When Emperor Yingzong led his troops to the army, his subordinates probably said the situation was similar to today. It is said that there could not be any Tatars attacking in the heart of the Central Plains, but in the end it was between the inner and outer gates, that is, to the south of Xuanfu, and only a few hundred miles from the capital, the Tumu Fort boundary was in trouble..."

Zhu Houzhao's emotions were almost out of control and he didn't want to listen at all. He felt that his body was bigger than everything. Isn't it natural for the emperor to stop and wait for him to rest? In fact, he ate, drank and had fun all night, and walked out of the capital for 60 miles and couldn't walk.

Concubine Li smiled and asked, "It's a bit alarmist to say this, right? It seems that there were many signs of the Tumu Fort disaster at that time, but it was not entirely due to the slow marching. Now in order to speed up the marching, Lord Shen used these things to tell His Majesty that it might be arguing that it would disrupt the morale of the army?"

Zhu Hou took a look at Concubine Li. Although he felt that Concubine Li was inappropriate in talking to the ministers in front of him, it was rare that someone came out to speak for him and did not stop drinking.

Chenxidao: "Everything must be prevented from getting worse. In terms of marching, there is no shelter from the city, and there are sixty or seventy miles of open areas in front and back. It takes a few days to station. It is a taboo for military strategists. It is easy to conduct surprise attacks after finding out the situation for the enemy. There is no terrain available here. In the hard battle... the outcome is unpredictable."

Zhu Houzhao's face looked very bad and asked, "As far as Shangshu Chen is concerned, even if I fall ill, I will insist on marching?"

Chen Xi sighed: "There will be many situations during the march. If the commander is sick, he will delay the march indefinitely. I dare to ask Your Majesty, if something happens, who should I blame?"

Zhu Houzhao said: "Then you can't put the blame on me, right? Do I hope so?"

Chen Xidao: "Your Majesty is sick, just lie in the carriage and rest. The whole army seizes the time to go to Juyongguan. At that time, Your Majesty will have to rest for a few days. Now he has only been sent for two days, and he will stop walking for less than sixty miles. If the people of the world know what they would think? What would the soldiers on the nine sides think? Will they think that the court has the determination to go to war with the Tatars? If even the court is passive and lazy, how can they ask them to sacrifice their lives and fight for His Majesty?"

Zhu Houzhao's face was very bad, but she was persuaded by Chen Xi.

The two things Zhu Houzhao cares about the most are his throne and life, and the other is his reputation, which is purely for fear of face and suffering.

What Shen Xi is talking about now is exactly what they are talking about.

It is very dangerous outside the city blockade, and many unpredictable accidents will occur; people in the world will think that you are a foolish monarch, and you have been staying on the road for only two days after going to war, without any courage.

Zhu Houzhao waved his hand: "I am sick, will the people in the world not understand? Shangshu Chen, I know that this time I was sick, I delayed the march, but this time it was my Ming army that took the initiative to attack, not the Tartars. In my opinion, at most, the dispatch period would be postponed by a few days. Now you have to force the army to go on the road, or even forcefully break into my tent, which makes me... very disappointed. You go back first."

Chen Xidao: "Your Majesty, if you refuse to order the entire army to set off, then I will adjust your plan and postpone the use of troops... Your Majesty's dragon body is important, so it is better to return to Beijing here and send troops again in a few months or even a year!"

When Zhu Houzhao heard this, even if she was angry, she would not be able to find any fault.

You need to rest yourself. Now you are asked to go back to the capital to recuperate. Anyway, you said you don’t need to rush to send troops. Since it’s okay to delay a few days later, you might as well delay it for a year or two.

Xiao Taozi and Lifei next to him looked at the monarch and ministers' complaints, which was a little difficult to understand. Why did Chen Xi argue with Zhu Houzhao in such a way of making a fuss about it? You should know that this emperor has no good temper.

Zhu Houzhao was finally discouraged: "Okay, order the entire army to set off. I will not give up. I want everyone in the world to know that even if I am sick, I will go forward and push forward to the front. This determination is hard to shake!"

...

...

Zhu Houzhao finally agreed to continue the march.

Although the army was not fast, it would not stay in the place for too long.

Chen Xi did not ride a carriage again this time, but chose to ride a horse. When the emperor was slacking off, he had to stand up and set an example for the entire army.

Even so, I still didn’t walk the entire journey at the end of the day. I still had to camp in the wild that day and only arrived at Juyongguan the next day.

Chen Xi had no choice. After stationing, he calculated that it was about twenty miles away. He was very upset and brought a living ancestor to the battle, which made him very confused, but he felt a little comforted: "If it were those cautious emperors, it would be impossible for him to agree to send troops to the grassland. It was not only for me to fulfill Zhu Houzhao, but also for me to fulfill me. I should understand these problems in him."

That night, Chen Xi stayed in the Central Army's tent to handle official duties. After the update, two old eunuchs appointed by the court, Zhang Yong and Ma Yongcheng, came to report.

Neither of them set out from the capital, but first went from other places to the capital, and then chased them from the capital to the army.

Zhang Yong had been staying in the palace before, but Zhu Houzhao arranged for his men to visit Jiangnan before the New Year. Chen Xi probably guessed that Zhu Houzhao was interested in going to Jiangnan for a trip, and sent someone to take the lead in advance and find some delicious and fun things to come back.
To be continued...