In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 1071 Rebels Everywhere
The black smoke grew increasingly thick in the direction of the Left Army Commander's Office.
Like ink spilled on the sky, it surges and churns upwards.

The smoke from the Central Military Governor's Office formed a continuous column, obscuring most of the morning light.

The group followed Yue Zhongda and ran away, but before they got close,
Then I felt a wave of heat even more intense than before hitting me.

It forced people to instinctively take a half step back!

From a distance, the western side of the Left Army Commander's Office Archives was already engulfed in flames.

The wooden roof had long since collapsed, and crimson flames were shooting out of the doors and windows.

Like ferocious fire dragons, they licked at the surrounding buildings.

The documents and files were engulfed in flames, crackling and popping, the ashes of the burning paper mixed with sparks.

Sweeped high into the sky by the heatwave, they then fell like black snowflakes.

The air was filled with a strong smell of burning.

It choked people, making their throats tighten and causing them to cough violently.

The pine and cypress trees near the archives had their branches and leaves charred black by the scorching heat.

Every now and then, a spark would fall onto the branch, igniting a small cluster of flames, which would then be quickly extinguished by the cold wind.

"Traitor! How dare you burn down the archives of my Left Army Commander's Office!"

Yue Zhongda rushed to the archives, his eyes bloodshot, looking like a madman.

He roared, his voice hoarse with anger, completely devoid of its usual composure:

"Gather everyone, pour water on it! Smother it with sand! Fight the fire at all costs!"

Yue Zhongda roared, picked up a wooden bucket full of water, and splashed it violently onto the fire.

The water splashed through the air in an arc before landing on the flames, instantly turning into a cloud of white mist.
But not even a single spark could be extinguished; instead, it was evaporated even faster by the heat wave.

Seeing this, he grabbed another handful of dry sand.
They rushed to the edge of the fire, desperately trying to throw sand into the burning doors and windows.

"Sir! Danger!"

The soldiers around him tried to pull him back, but Yue Zhongda shook them off.

"Get out of the way! These files record the merits of countless soldiers."

If it's all burned, how can we explain it to the court! How can we explain it to our comrades who died in battle!

Yue Zhongda's eyes were wide open, his face contorted in a ferocious expression.

He abruptly pushed aside the soldiers blocking his way.
He charged directly toward the burning gate of the archives.

The door frame was already charred black and could collapse at any moment.

But he showed no fear and plunged into the thick smoke.

"grown ups!"

The soldiers cried out in alarm, wanting to rush to their aid, but were driven back by the wave of heat that swept over them.

They could only watch helplessly as Yue Zhongda's figure disappeared into the thick smoke.

A moment later, Yue Zhongda rushed out of the fire carrying a bundle of documents that were half-burned.

His hair was singed and curled by the sparks, and several new burns appeared on his face.
Black soot mixed with blood streaks smeared on his face, making him look extremely disheveled.

The edges of the bundle of documents were blackened by fire, and sparks still danced on them, burning his arm.

But he held on tightly, refusing to let go.
Only after reaching a safe area did they throw the document on the ground and stomp on it to extinguish the sparks.

"Quick! Go get them! Save as many as you can!"

He roared, ignoring his injuries, and turned to rush back into the fire.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps sounded.

Zhu Shou arrived hastily with several assistant commanders from the Left Army Commandery. Upon seeing the scene before him, his expression instantly turned grim.

"What happened?! How could the archives be on fire?!"

He spotted Yue Zhongda, who seemed to have gone mad, at a glance.
Just as he was about to ask a question, he saw Yue Zhongda rushing towards the fire again.

She quickly strode forward and grabbed his arm.

"laugh!"

The moment her fingertips touched Yue Zhongda's black nails, a scalding, burning pain shot through her.
Zhu Shou instinctively released his grip, his palm already scalded red.

Only then did he notice that Yue Zhongda's armor had been heated red by the fire, and still had embers sticking to it.

"Don't rush in!"

Zhu Shou shouted sternly, his voice carrying an undeniable authority:
"The archives have been mostly burned down; going in would be a pointless death!"

The most urgent task is to control the fire and prevent it from spreading to other areas!

Yue Zhongda was stopped by his shout, and his body stiffened abruptly.
The madness in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by deep anger.

He was breathing heavily, his chest heaving violently.
"My lord, there are traitors! There are traitors causing chaos!"

Yue Zhongda's voice was hoarse, and he gritted his teeth:

"The Central Military Commander's Office caught fire, and then the Left Military Commander's Office caught fire next."
This was premeditated; it was a feint!
They want to cause trouble in the imperial city, disrupt the sacrificial ceremony, and undermine the foundation of the nation!

Zhu Shou's face was so gloomy it could drip water.

As he watched the fires raging simultaneously in both mansions, he knew in his heart that this was no accident.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, and said in a deep voice:
"I see!"

He turned to the generals behind him and gave the following orders:

"Split your forces immediately! Some will continue to extinguish the remaining fire in the archives, and must prevent the fire from spreading."

Another group sealed off the area around the Left Army Governor's Mansion, rigorously searching for any suspicious persons.
Once discovered, confiscate it!

"Yes!"

The generals responded in unison and immediately split up to take action.

Zhu Shou then looked at Yue Zhongda, noticing his body covered in wounds and his armor gleaming red, and said in a deep voice:

"You step back and bandage your wound first; leave this to me."

Yue Zhongda shook his head, his voice still hoarse:

"This humble general is unharmed!"

As he spoke, he picked up a bucket of water and rejoined the firefighting team.

The movements were no longer as frantic as before.
Yet it still carried a resolute determination that disregarded life and death.

The flames continued to burn, and the wooden structure of the archives continued to collapse with tremendous noise.

Those archives that record the northern expedition in the twenty-first year of Hongwu's reign and the Yunnan campaign in the twenty-second year,

It too gradually turned to ashes in the raging fire, drifting into the sky with the thick smoke.

Like those past events that have been deliberately erased, they can never be retrieved again.

Yue Zhongda watched all this, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

There was lingering fear, relief, and a touch of indescribable heaviness.

My task is complete.

However, this fire also foreshadowed that the chaos in the capital would become increasingly uncontrollable.

Meanwhile, deep within Puzikou City outside Yingtian City, the atmosphere was equally somber.

This strategically important military location was now shrouded in thick smoke.

Unlike the raging fire at the Left Army Commander's Mansion,
The fire here wasn't particularly fierce, but it was accompanied by an eerie quiet.

Flames burned slowly inside the archives.

Black smoke billowed out through the cracks in the doors and windows, like a slowly writhing venomous snake.

In front of the archives, Xu Zengshou, the commander of Yingtian Guard, stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in armor.

He was just over twenty years old and had a handsome face.

Yet, his brows carried a composure beyond his years.

He watched the rising black smoke silently, his expression unreadable, neither pleased nor angry.
Only a fleeting glint of ruthlessness occasionally flashed deep in his eyes.

Beside him stood a man dressed in a coarse cotton-padded jacket and wearing a straw hat, who was none other than Shen Zhengxin, who was disguised as a driver delivering iced tea.

His face still bore the lingering fear.

His hands trembled slightly, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat.

He had just followed orders and lit the kindling in the archives.
Although the process went smoothly, the thought that he had burned top-secret government archives made him uneasy.

Once the matter comes to light, it will be a heinous crime that will implicate nine generations of one's family, and he couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.

"call"

Xu Zengshou took a deep breath, and the smell of burning in the air made him frown slightly.

He turned to look at Shen Zhengxin, his tone calm and devoid of emotion:
"Was the matter handled cleanly?"

Shen Zhengxin quickly bowed and replied:
"Yes, sir, I have done everything you instructed."
The ignition source was placed at the heart of the pile of files.

They used slow-burning gunpowder, so it wouldn't ignite immediately. By the time it was discovered, the files would likely be mostly burned.

His voice trembled slightly, clearly indicating that he hadn't yet recovered from the tension.

Xu Zengshou nodded and did not ask for further details.
"Very good, you should leave now. If you wait any longer, the city gates will be sealed off, and you won't be able to leave."

Shen Zhengxin felt relieved and quickly bowed:
"Thank you, sir! I'll be going now!" Xu Zengshou stared in the direction he had left, remaining silent for a long time.

Until Shen Zhengxin's figure completely disappeared,

He slowly withdrew his gaze and looked again at the burning archives.

The black smoke continued to rise, mirroring his heavy heart.

He knew that once he took this step, there would be no turning back.

"grown ups."

Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, his personal guard cautiously spoke up:
"The fire is getting bigger and bigger. Should we send someone to put it out?"

Xu Zengshou shook his head, his tone calm:

"No need. Go and report the fire at the archives to Marquis Yongding."

Let's say a sudden fire breaks out, the flames are fierce, and it's feared that it will be difficult to extinguish.

We are doing everything we can to contain it and prevent it from spreading to other areas.

"Yes!"

The guard responded and turned to leave hastily.

Deep within Deng Huo Lane in the north of the city, the festive atmosphere is completely different from that on the streets; it is eerily quiet.

Only a large, black door stood there, with no markings on the lintel.
Only the two green lamps hanging under the eaves swayed slightly in the cold wind.

This is the location of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's secret prison!
Deep within the secret prison, the tunnels wound downwards, with oil lamps embedded in the walls every few feet.
The flames flickered, casting long shadows on the damp stone wall, sometimes bright and sometimes dim.

An indescribable smell permeated the air, a mixture of damp earth and cold, hard rust, so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

The office located deepest underground.
Ji Gang was sitting at a simple wooden table, organizing the documents on it.

He was dressed in the uniform of a centurion of the Imperial Guard, with a jade belt around his waist.

His face wasn't exactly handsome, but it exuded a capable and efficient air.

His movements were steady, and his eyes were focused.

He was a completely different person from the tearful Ji Gang of a year and a half ago.

Now that Mao Xiang has been reinstated, he has not only been given an important position,
He was even directly transferred to the most secret prison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Responsible for handling and organizing the most confidential documents and correspondence of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Such trust is extremely rare among the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"Da da da"

A burst of hurried footsteps broke the silence of the secret prison.

Approaching from afar, with an urgent tone.

Ji Gang looked up and saw Commander Da'erma striding in with a solemn expression.
Two bodyguards followed behind him, their steps hurried and their breathing rapid.

"Listen up, everyone! A sudden fire has broken out in the Imperial City and Puzikou City. Rebels have disrupted the sacrificial ceremony!"

All personnel involved were mobilized to investigate and examine the two locations; there must be no errors!

After saying that, Da'erma turned and left without looking back.

The several commanders of the Embroidered Uniform Guard who were looking at the documents suddenly stood up.
Without saying a word, he picked up his longsword and followed, giving orders as he went:
"Quickly, gather all personnel and recall everyone currently outside the capital. Conduct a thorough search of all four gates of the city!"

The underground area quickly returned to calm, and the several clerks exchanged bewildered glances.

A moment later, they couldn't help but gather around, their tone ingratiating:

"Commander Ji, you are close to Lord Mao, do you know why?"

An older clerk tentatively asked.

"Yes, Commander Ji, a fire broke out on the day of the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven. This is too strange. Do you know which group of rebels is behind it?"

Another young clerk echoed this sentiment.

Ji Gang showed a perfectly measured hint of helplessness on his face and shrugged:
"I don't know the details either. Just do your job well and don't ask questions you shouldn't ask."

"Yes"

Everyone agreed and sat back down, but their minds were no longer on the documents.

Ji Gang sat for a while, then picked up the organized documents.

Carrying an oil lamp, he turned and walked towards the deepest part of the secret prison.

The whispers of the clerks behind them gradually faded away, and the light in the tunnel grew increasingly dim.

Because it was deep underground, it got warmer the further you went in, but Ji Gang felt ice-cold all over.

The gentleness on his face had vanished, replaced by an almost icy calmness.

His eyes were deep and unfathomable, revealing not a trace of emotion.

Walk another hundred steps or so along the winding tunnel, and you'll reach the archives of the secret prison.

It was even more secluded here than outside, and the oil lamps on the walls burned brighter, yet they couldn't illuminate the shadows in the corners.

Rows of tall wooden bookshelves were neatly arranged, reaching all the way to the top of the cave.

The surface was densely covered with documents and files.

The covers were marked with different years and numbers, and they smelled of decaying paper.

Ji Gang walked to the door of the archives.
He raised his hand and pushed, and the heavy wooden door slowly opened.

He stepped inside, closed the door behind him, and shut out all the sounds from outside.

Despite having made preparations, being in the archives at this moment...
Ji Gang's heart was still pounding, and his palms were slightly sweaty.

He took a deep breath and walked deeper into the bookshelf.

Following the clues they had received beforehand, they went straight to the third row of bookshelves on the west side.

This place contains military reports and archives from the 18th to the 23rd year of the Hongwu reign (1389-1395), which was also part of his mission.

On the tall bookshelves, the archives are arranged by year and region, with clear labels.

By the light of the oil lamp, Ji Gang carefully flipped through the thick files, his fingertips brushing against them.

Before long, he found the files marked with reports of the Northern Expeditionary Army and military mobilizations in Yunnan.

The cover has turned yellow and the edges are somewhat worn.

Upon seeing these files, Ji Gang's breath hitched slightly.
A complex emotion welled up inside me.
There was tension, there was fear, but more than anything, there was a resolute determination to burn one's bridges.

Mu Jinghe's words of advice involuntarily surfaced in his mind; the woman's voice was clear, cold, and firm:
“Commander Ji, if this succeeds, a powerful figure will pave the way for you and help you escape the Embroidered Uniform Guard. But if it fails, we both know the consequences. Whether you are willing or not is up to you.”

Ji Gang took a deep breath, suppressed his distracting thoughts, and took out a sealed oil paper package from his pocket.

Upon opening the oil paper package, one finds fine black powder inside—the specially made gunpowder.

He carefully sprinkled gunpowder onto the military reports and files.
Spread evenly from the top to the middle shelves of the bookshelf.
Ensure that every critical file is protected from the flames.

Gunpowder powder fell onto the paper, making a faint rustling sound that was particularly clear in the archives.

Having done all this, Ji Gang stood up straight.

Looking at the file in front of him, which had been sprinkled with gunpowder, his eyes became incredibly resolute.

He took out a tinderbox, blew on it, and
The faint light flickered in his eyes, reflecting the determination on his face:

"I am a scholar who came to the capital to take the imperial examination. I cannot spend my whole life in the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

He muttered to himself, his voice echoing in the empty archives.

With a slight tremor, but even more so with unwavering determination.

He brought the tinderbox close to the topmost file.
The gunpowder powder there is the thickest and easiest to ignite.

The flame licked at the paper, then instantly came into contact with the gunpowder.
With a whoosh, a ball of ghostly blue flame ignited.
The fire was not fierce, but it had a persistent burning power and slowly spread downwards.

Ji Gang did not linger. After confirming that the fire had stabilized, he turned and quickly walked towards the door.

He didn't open the door immediately, but instead listened to the sounds outside by pressing his ear against the door panel. After confirming there was nothing amiss,

He slowly opened a crack and slipped out.

They closed the door gently, as if they had never been there.

He carried the oil lamp and retraced his steps, his movements steady.
His face returned to that gentle expression.

It was as if everything he had just done in the archives had nothing to do with him.

Ji Gang returned to his desk and sat down again.

I picked up a document and got back to work.

After an unknown amount of time, a faint smell of smoke drifted over.

Ji Gang suddenly raised his head, the movement so large that...

This caused the remaining clerks to turn their attention to this area.

"What's wrong, Commander Ji?"

A clerk asked in a low voice, while picking up the kettle to refill his tea.

Ji Gang's eyes were sharp, his nose twitched, and he looked around:
"Where's that smell of smoke coming from!"

"Smoke?"

Everyone present looked bewildered and started sniffing the air.

Before anyone could react, Ji Gang suddenly stood up, his expression changing drastically:
"Where's that smell of smoke coming from! Quick, find it! Quick, find it!"

(End of this chapter)