Henry Clark pulled out the arrow without the slightest hesitation and flung it back. The arrow, still stained with his fresh blood, whistled through the air and struck the attacker squarely in the face. At the same time, his hand swept to the side, clamping down on the neck of a cavalryman. With a sudden burst of strength, he single-handedly lifted the burly man—who weighed over a hundred jin—into the air, let out a thunderous roar, and smashed him hard toward the enemy. Two cavalrymen were knocked off their horses in an instant.

Just then, a spear suddenly appeared at his side, aiming for his ribs.

Henry Clark twisted his body sharply.

But he was a bit too slow; the spearhead instantly sliced open a gash under his ribs, and blood spurted out at once.

He let out a beast-like roar, swung his fist, and smashed it onto his opponent’s arm. Amid the other’s screams, he actually broke the arm with a single blow. However, the heavy blood loss made him start to feel dizzy. His energy needs far exceeded those of ordinary people, so he was especially sensitive to blood loss. After all, energy was mainly delivered through the blood, and healing this kind of laceration consumed much more energy than an arrow wound.

“Your Majesty, you must go!”

Matthew Turner rushed to his side, swinging his saber to deflect a spear for him, and shouted anxiously.

“I don’t have that habit! I have brought the world to this state through my own incompetence, causing suffering to the people and devastation everywhere. If I die, it is my own fault. You, my loyal officials, do not abandon me even as the nation teeters on the brink of collapse, and are willing to die by my side—how could I dare to forsake you? At worst, I die today, but to die with you all, I have no regrets!”

Henry Clark grabbed a spear, knocked a cavalryman off his horse, and shouted at the same time.

“Fine! At worst, we die today. We will not have failed the country that has nurtured its scholars for three hundred years.”

Matthew Turner roared.

Suddenly, a series of cannon blasts erupted behind them. Almost simultaneously, shrill whistles streaked overhead, and then, among the Shun army cavalry ahead, flesh and blood flew everywhere. The sound of the city gates opening came from behind, followed by the shouts of battle. Henry Clark looked back to see a large force of infantry and cavalry pouring out of Jizhou City, charging toward them.

“For three hundred years, the country has nurtured its scholars. How could we really stand by and watch the Emperor die at the gates? What would that make us?”

On the walls of Jizhou, an old man stood there, smiling bitterly as he spoke.

Chapter 006: The Emperor on the Move

“Your servant, Prefect of Jizhou, John Thompson, pays respects to Your Majesty.”

“Your servant, Military Commissioner of Jizhou, Philip Clark, pays respects to Your Majesty.”

...

Covered in blood, Henry Clark looked grimly at the crowd of fence-sitters kneeling before him. Clearly, letting the Emperor die at the city gates was too outrageous—even these men, who had at least read the classics, knew that if they really did that, their names would be reviled for generations. Besides, whoever became their new master would never trust such ministers.

That was important.

So, in the end, the gates of Jizhou were opened.

“Rise, my loyal subjects. How many troops does Jizhou still have available?”

He took a deep breath and asked.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, these are all we have left.”

Philip Clark replied cautiously.

“Just these?”

Henry Clark looked speechlessly to either side. There were only four or five hundred men in total, fewer than a hundred cavalry among them, and most were old or weak—hardly elite soldiers. If not for the cannons holding the line, they probably couldn’t have scared off those few hundred Shun troops. Jizhou was supposed to be one of the top military strongholds north of the capital, once guarded by Qi Jiguang. Even though shocking things had happened here before, having only this many troops was still a bit much.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, all of Jizhou’s troops are with Richard Bennett.”

Philip Clark said.

“Richard Bennett, that traitor has wasted my favor.”

Henry Clark sneered.

He now remembered that Richard Bennett was the commander of Jizhou. Clearly, Philip Clark also knew that Richard Bennett had surrendered at Juyong Pass. Still, if he had time, he could have gathered a few thousand men from around Jizhou—this area was a complete and extensive defensive system, and Jizhou wasn’t the only garrison.

But now, he had no time.

“Prepare food at once, gather all the cavalry in Jizhou, and escort me to Shanhai Pass!”

He gave the order immediately.

“As you command!”

Philip Clark and the others quickly replied.

They couldn’t wait for him to leave—everyone knew he would have a lot of trouble if he stayed.

“Sir, more troops are approaching outside!”

Just then, a lookout on the city wall suddenly shouted.

Henry Clark quickly turned and rushed up the wall. Sure enough, more troops were approaching outside, but still not many—just a few hundred cavalry. Soon, they arrived at the city gates. The leading official spurred his horse forward, and Edward Harris, standing beside Henry Clark, looked at him and exclaimed with delight, “Your Majesty, it’s Governor Song!”

“Open the gates!”

Henry Clark ordered at once.

Governor Song was surely James Morgan, the last Governor of Shuntian. His base was in Miyun. After Richard Bennett surrendered to Li Zicheng at Juyong Pass, James Morgan’s forces scattered, and he led a group to hide nearby. When the Qing army entered the pass, he surrendered to the Qing and was highly valued. His son, Song Luo, became a famous minister in the Kangxi era. Of course, that wasn’t important—what mattered was that Henry Clark knew this man would never surrender to Li Zicheng.

That was enough.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I am incompetent—I deserve to die a thousand times over!”