Emperor Chongzhen returned to the Palace of Heavenly Purity for a simple lunch, then headed directly to Desheng Gate.
The capital of the Ming Dynasty had sixteen city gates—nine in the inner city and seven in the outer city. Desheng Gate was located in the northwest. Whenever the army marched out on campaign, they always used this gate. Its name meant "triumphant victory," carrying an auspicious meaning that spoke for itself.
Historically, when Li Zicheng attacked Beijing, he first assaulted Xizhi Gate. Wu Linzheng, the defending general of Xizhi Gate, used earth and stones to tightly block the gate tunnel, forcing Li Zicheng to shift his attacks to other gates before finally entering Beijing through Desheng Gate.
Chapter 43