PFC Chapter 80 Oath to Fight the Qing
Chapter 80 Oath to Fight the Qing
In the third month of the first year of the Regent's reign, after nearly a month of preparation, all the supplies for the Northern Expedition were complete and loaded onto the ships.
In addition to the main fleet of the Nanyang Fleet and captured Spanish and Dutch ships, some merchant ships were also requisitioned to transport military supplies or soldiers.
The soldiers of the three armies were fully equipped and ready to go, with high morale. In order to boost morale, Zhu Jiheng ordered Lin Qingyuan to draft a proclamation to attack the Qing Dynasty and held a rally in Luzon Port to swear an oath.
On the third day of the third lunar month, the temporarily cleared square was filled with a forest of banners and dazzling swords and spears. The Ming army's formation was orderly and silent.
Zhu Jiheng, dressed in military uniform with a long sword at his waist, stood on a high platform beneath fluttering banners. His gaze slowly swept over the soldiers, and he felt a surge of hot blood in his chest.
"Your Highness, all the soldiers have arrived. We may now read the proclamation," Lin Qingyuan said respectfully to Zhu Jiheng, holding the proclamation in his hands.
Zhu Jiheng nodded slightly, but did not immediately accept the proclamation. Instead, he stepped forward and addressed the soldiers in a loud voice:
"Soldiers! Fellow countrymen of Luzon! We have wandered overseas, enduring humiliation and hardship. What have we come here for? Is it to escape the butcher's knife of the Tartars and barely survive in this chaotic world? Is it to live under the roof of others, relying on the whims of the Western barbarians for a corner of peace?!"
"No!"
He raised his right fist and shouted, "We, the descendants of the Chinese nation, will never be slaves! The blood of the Yellow Emperor flows in our veins! The glorious Ming Dynasty is etched in our hearts! Three hundred years of our land, how can we allow it to be trampled upon by barbarians; hundreds of millions of our people, how can we allow them to be forever reduced to slavery!"
Zhu Jiheng pointed north, his voice impassioned: "Look at the land of China, ravaged by the Tartars! The Yangzhou Massacre, the Jiading Massacre—the blood and tears are still wet on our faces! They forced us to shave our heads and change our clothes, destroying our traditional attire and insulting our ancestors! They seized land and farmland, leaving the people destitute and the world filled with resentment! They usurped the throne, claiming to be divinely ordained, but they are nothing but monkeys in human clothing, their cruelty and tyranny beyond description!"
On the square, both Ming soldiers and Chinese civilians were filled with burning anger. They recalled the humiliation and helplessness they felt when they left their homes, and their longing for their homeland was intertwined with their hatred for the Qing government.
Although the indigenous allied forces did not fully understand the deeper meaning, they were also moved by the tragic and stirring atmosphere and felt a sense of shared hatred for the enemy.
Zhu Jiheng changed the subject, raising his voice: "Yet Heaven has not forsaken the Han! I, a descendant of the Great Ancestor Emperor Gaozu, a direct descendant of the Lu princes, have received the Mandate of Heaven and upheld the will of the people, reuniting the loyal and righteous overseas to raise the banner of righteousness once more! Thanks to the bravery of my soldiers and the unity of my elders, we first annihilated the Western barbarians in Luzon, and then crushed the Dutch pirates in the South Seas! The vast oceans are now the domain of my Great Ming navy!"
"Now that the rebels have been weakened and the Three Feudatories have been pacified, and Taiwan has just submitted and its foundation is not yet stable, this is a golden opportunity from heaven to restore our ancestral legacy!
He suddenly drew his longsword from his waist, pointing it straight at the sky: "My mind is made up. I will lead the royal army, gather the mighty warriors, and march north! First, I will recover Taiwan, making it my foundation! Then I will conquer Fujian and Guangdong, sweeping across the southeast! I will drive out the barbarians, restore my China! I will save the people from suffering and bring glory to the Chinese nation!"
"Soldiers!" His gaze blazed as he surveyed every resolute or excited face below the platform. "You are the pillars of our nation's revival, the bulwarks of our kingdom! Go forth with courage and determination, break through the enemy's defenses! Those who achieve merit will be rewarded with royal honors and vast fiefdoms! Those who cower in battle, desert their posts, or bring harm to the people—military law is merciless, and they will be executed without mercy!"
"All indigenous tribes who serve the army will be rewarded for their service! However, they must strictly adhere to military orders and discipline their people! Anyone who plunders the people's property, rapes women, or burns down houses will be executed without mercy! Those who serve the people and assist my royal army will also be richly rewarded by me!"
Finally, Zhu Jiheng raised his longsword high and let out a roar that shook the heavens and the earth:
"May the Ming dynasty last forever! Drive out the Tartars! Reclaim our land! The Ming army—victorious!"
"Victory!!!"
"Victory!!!"
"Victory!!!"
Like a long-suppressed volcano suddenly erupting, the entire square was instantly engulfed by a deafening roar!
The front-line infantrymen, with synchronized movements, raised their rifles and cheered, their bayonets gleaming coldly; the naval officers and soldiers waved their battle flags and roared thunderously; the indigenous warriors were also inspired, vigorously wielding their weapons and letting out primal roars.
The Chinese onlookers were moved to tears, shouting at the top of their lungs as if they were trying to unleash the humiliation and longing for their homeland that had been building up for decades. The shouts rose higher and higher, reaching the sky, and even the sea breeze seemed to be overwhelmed by the powerful momentum.
Amidst the deafening shouts, Lin Qingyuan, at Zhu Jiheng's behest, stepped forward to read aloud the proclamation calling for the conquest of the Qing:
"In the first year of the Regent's reign, on the day of Bingxu in the third month, the Crown Prince of Lu, the Regent of the Great Ming Dynasty, issued an edict to all subjects, loyal and righteous heroes, and all foreign vassals:"
It is said that the Chinese nation has a long-standing tradition of hierarchy and distinction between the civilized and the barbarian, a principle upheld throughout history. Since the fall of the Ming dynasty, the land has been plunged into chaos, filth and depravity have stained the Central Plains, and clothing has been replaced by the left-fastening of the left-fastening robe—forty years have passed! The Jurchens usurped the throne, seized the throne, and slaughtered countless people; in Yangzhou and Jiading, rivers of blood flowed. The forced shaving of heads and changing of clothing destroyed our moral order. Their oppressive rule and tyrannical exploits surpassed even those of Jie and Zhou; literary inquisitions silenced the public. They, with the nature of wolves and the power of tigers and leopards, treated our innocent people like mere weeds. This is truly an unprecedented calamity, and every person with blood in their veins is heartbroken!
I, as an eleventh-generation descendant of Emperor Taizu Gao, and a direct descendant of the Lu princes, bear the weight of my ancestors' spirits and the mandate of Heaven. I sought refuge in a remote corner of the sea, enduring hardship and humiliation. Now, relying on the blessings of Heaven, the benevolence of my ancestors, the righteous followers, and the valiant soldiers, we have pacified Luzon and quelled the rebellion in the South Seas. Our fleets cover the seas, and our armies are as numerous as mountains. Yet, I am deeply saddened by the plight of my people in the Central Plains, still suffering from fire and water; and by the stench that taints the tombs of my ancestors. Every time I think of this, my heart breaks!
Taiwan, the site of Zheng Yanping's bloody battles and the foundation upon which our ancestors established their settlements, has now fallen to the barbarian cavalry. This is truly the starting point for restoration, the front line for wiping away shame. I, the Emperor, personally command six armies, acting on the mandate of Heaven to punish the rebels, first conquering Taiwan and Penghu to secure our fundamental position. We will then sweep away the remnants and annihilate the enemy, before turning our gaze north to the Yangtze and Huai Rivers, west to the Qin and Long regions, hunting down the Youyan region, and striking directly at the heart of the enemy's heartland!
Upon the arrival of this proclamation, all near and far should know. All our remaining subjects should rise up! Officials should uphold their authority in the prefectures and counties, heroes should gather in the mountains and forests, farmers should supply provisions along the roads, and artisans should display their skills at the front lines. Those who capture or slay enemy chieftains, surrender cities and submit to the enemy, will be granted land and titles, with rewards extending to their descendants; those who aid the enemy in their tyranny and stubbornly resist will have their heads displayed in the streets, and their entire families executed!
In the past, Shao Kang restored the Xia dynasty with a single army, and Guangwu revived the Han dynasty with three thousand men. Now, I command an army of one hundred thousand, with ships stretching for a thousand miles, our strength long prepared, and my soldiers united in purpose. Furthermore, I rely on Heaven's repentance and the people's yearning for the Han; the fate of the barbarians is coming to an end, and the Ming dynasty is about to rise. I wish to borrow the force of a swift and decisive strike to rescue those drowning and burning in this dire situation, to restore our land, and to usher in a new era.
This proclamation is hereby proclaimed throughout the land, so that all may know. Wherever this proclamation reaches, gods and men alike shall bear witness!
Zhu, the heir apparent of the Prince of Lu, the regent of the Ming Dynasty
The third day of the third month of the first year of the Regent's reign.
As the proclamation was read aloud, the troops moved in order, marching in neat steps toward the massive fleet anchored in the harbor. The gangways descended, and the soldiers boarded the ships one after another. Large flags bearing the character "朙" (Ming) were slowly raised on the masts, fluttering in the wind.
After the proclamation was read aloud, Zhu Jiheng took one last look at Luzon, the city he had once regarded as the foundation for his overseas revival, and then, surrounded by his personal guards, walked toward the largest of the five-class flagships, which flew the flag of the Regent.
Princess Zheng, Consort Chen, Crown Prince Zhu Zhenlie, and Lin Qingyuan, along with a group of civil officials, all accompanied him on his departure. Before the trip, Zhu Jiheng had appointed Lin Qingyuan as the garrison commander, in charge of all military and political affairs and logistical matters during his personal campaign.
"This expedition will surely be a resounding success, and we will reclaim the tomb of the late Prince Yanping." Before boarding the ship, Zhu Jiheng turned back to the princess and said firmly, "After we return to Taiwan, I will send someone to pick you and your children up and take you back to Taiwan."
"Your Highness, please take good care of yourself. I await your good news," Zheng said gently, her voice filled with worry.
Zhu Jiheng nodded slightly, said nothing more, and turned to board the bow of the ship.
The fleet slowly sailed away from the port, its sails gradually stretching out, obscuring the sea. The cold glint of swords and spears and the vibrant colors of flags merged into a mighty torrent under the sunlight, cutting through the waves to the north.