In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 723 Key Witness, Courage to Go to Anything
A day passes in the blink of an eye.
The news of Zhang Quan's investiture as Marquis of Yongding was still spreading and was a hot topic of discussion among the common people and the government.

Especially this morning when the imperial court issued an edict.
After the news spread that Zhang Quan, the Marquis of Yongding, had been appointed as the military officer stationed at Puzikou City,

This caused a huge uproar in the entire court, making many ambitious people eager to get involved.

In the Ming Dynasty today, as long as one is favored by the emperor...
On the first day, he might have been just an ordinary vice-commander-in-chief.

The next day he would become one of the most powerful people in the entire capital.

Such a meteoric rise to power, whenever it happened in the capital, would always stir up a wave of loyalty to the emperor!
Officials from the six ministries and military officers from the Governor's Office would be filled with unimaginable excitement.

This same excitement was also evident in Yu Tongyuan.

As a fellow Vice Commander-in-Chief, he believed he had sufficient merit and a sufficiently wealthy family background.

It was just a tiny bit of an opportunity that was missing.

At this moment, he paced back and forth in the main hall of the mansion.
He had calmed down after hearing the news from the Marquis of Yongding yesterday, and instead felt a strong longing.

If Zhang Quan could be ennobled as a marquis, so can he!
Especially at this critical juncture,
Although he was a member of the Chaohu Navy, he should have been loyal to the Huaixi nobility, and that was what he had done in the past.
Especially when his elder brother was still alive, he was practically the backbone of the Huaixi nobility group.

But now, with the passing of his elder brother,

He was delayed in receiving a title of nobility, and there were already signs of his family's decline.

This trip away from the capital to build city walls is a case in point.

This caused him to miss many important events in the capital.

Thinking of this, a resolute glint flashed in Yu Tongyuan's eyes.

Since the palace has extended an olive branch, there's no reason not to seize it.

A glint of expectation flashed in his eyes.
The hope is that this event will help the family to revitalize.
At least having a noble family member in the household can reduce the number of people who would covet it.

Yu Tongyuan looked anxious. It was already the second day, why hadn't the person returned yet?

The land route from Yingtian to Chongming Island is nearly 600 li (approximately 300 kilometers).
However, combining waterways and land routes is much faster, with two days being enough for a round trip.

Originally, Yu Tongyuan didn't pay much attention to this matter.

It doesn't matter if it's late, but what happened yesterday really shocked him.

I hope things will go smoothly and without any problems.

The waiting time always feels long.
The sun quickly set, and night fell.

Yu Tongyuan remained seated in the main hall, his deep-set eyes thoughtfully analyzing the situation.
The more he thought about it, the more spacious his mind became, and he could almost see a bright future, which made him increasingly anxious!
As midnight approaches, the entire city of Yingtian is at its quietest.
Due to the curfew, except for the imperial city,
Only the carts and horses of the Yingtian Trading Company were running in the streets and alleys of Yingtian, preparing goods for tomorrow.

And it was in this moment of utter silence that...
A carriage swayed along Zhangde Street and stopped in front of the Yu residence.

A man jumped down from the carriage and nimbly went to knock on the gate.
Upon receiving the news, Yu Tongyuan rushed out.

At a glance, I spotted two figures, an old man and a young man, inside the carriage!
It was Li Cunyi and his son Li You!
The two men, dressed in plain clothes, were now bound hand and foot in the carriage, their eyes covered with a black cloth.

They probably realized the carriage had stopped, and they started to struggle!

Upon seeing them, a flicker of excitement flashed in Yu Tongyuan's eyes, and he clenched his fists tightly.
"Well done, settle them in the back room!"

"Yes!"

The carriage slowly moved away from the front yard and headed towards the back gate.
And on a large tree not far away, a telescope protruded from the leaves.

Upon seeing this, the person in hiding was somewhat excited.
"Hurry back and report to the lord, the person has arrived in the capital!"

"it is good"

A voice came from under the tree.
Immediately following was the sound of hurried footsteps.

Fifteen minutes later, the rapid sound of horses' hooves outside the large workshop ceased.

Mao Xiang, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, dismounted and gave orders to the dozen or so men behind him:
"Dismount and proceed on foot, concealing your whereabouts!"

"Yes!"

The group let out a low shout.

They knew better than anyone how deep the waters were in Zhangde Street.

It's late at night now, and if the sound of horses' hooves were to be heard, it would instantly attract countless eyes!

Before long, the group arrived at the back gate of the Yu residence and met their waiting party.

"My lord, the carriage went in and hasn't come out. The people are still in the manor."

"it is good!"

Excitement flashed in Mao Xiang's eyes.

"Knock on the door!"

"Yes!"

"dong dong dong"

A crisp sound rang out in the backyard.
Who is it?

The old voice of the gatekeeper rang out.

When the gate opened, the gatekeeper saw a dozen or so burly men dressed in black outside. His heart stopped, and his face turned deathly pale.

"Come"

Before he could even utter a cry of surprise,
A member of the Imperial Guard shoved the token in his face.

"Commander Mao of the Embroidered Uniform Guard has arrived and requests to see your master. Go and inform him immediately!"

Yu Tongyuan arrived quickly.

He was tall and wore a magnificent long robe.
The joy on his face vanished, replaced by gloom.

He looked at the group of people standing in the back courtyard, his voice chilling:
"Lord Mao, are the Embroidered Uniform Guards monitoring the Yu residence? Isn't that against the rules?"

When the Embroidered Uniform Guard was last reopened, the imperial court made a three-point agreement with the emperor in the palace.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was not allowed to monitor officials of the fourth rank or above, military officers, or nobles!

But rules are rules, it's just that the Embroidered Uniform Guard never followed them.

Now that the Embroidered Uniform Guard had come knocking on his door in such a real way, Yu Tongyuan felt a sense of humiliation!
Knowing he was in the wrong, Mao Xiang smiled apologetically and quickly cupped his hands in greeting.

"Governor Yu, please forgive the suddenness of this matter."
It was one of his men patrolling the area who happened to see it and then came to report it.

My immediate thought is that the matter I asked you to handle a few days ago has yielded results.

He rushed here immediately, and begs for Governor Yu's forgiveness!

Yu Tongyuan's face remained gloomy:

"It won't happen again."

"Nature, nature"

Mao Xiang smiled and apologized, then tentatively asked:

"Governor Yu, may I see the person?"

"follow me"

Yu Tongyuan turned around and led him to the west wing.
A dozen guards were already standing in the small courtyard in front of the gate, vigilantly watching their surroundings.

Upon seeing the group approaching, his expression suddenly became tense.
The group breathed a sigh of relief only after Yu Tongyuan appeared.

"Open the door." Yu Tongyuan waved his hand, his expression solemn.

At this moment, Yu Qilun also heard the commotion and rushed over.

Ever since Lu Yunyi broke both of his arms,
He rarely left his home, which caused his originally rough skin to become fair.

Thanks to the good doctor's treatment,
His arms are now only slightly bent and scarred, and not noticeable.

Yu Tongyuan walked to the door, saw him, and glared at him:
"go back!"

Yu Qilun stopped in his tracks, somewhat bewildered, and stood frozen in place.
He cautiously observed the crowd and noticed that these dozen or so unfamiliar people all exuded an aura of power.
There was also a chilling coldness, like that of a venomous snake.

"Father, what's wrong?"

"Go back and rest!" Yu Tongyuan's face was grim, and his voice became much harsher.

Even if Yu Qilun was stupid, he knew the situation was serious, so he turned and left.
The speed was much faster than when we arrived.

"Governor Yu, is it appropriate for such matters to be known by a junior?"

This also allowed them to experience the treacherous nature of court intrigue early on.

Mao Xiang, standing behind Yu Tongyuan, spoke with a smile.

Yu Tongyuan turned around abruptly, his gaze sharp and piercing, his voice deep and resonant:
"This matter was solely the work of this governor; no one else knew about it."

"Don't even think about dragging anyone else into this, Lord Mao."

Mao Xiang glanced at him with some surprise, then nodded slightly:
“Governor Yu’s deep love for his son is rare in the capital.”

"Humph"

Yu Tongyuan snorted coldly and stepped into the house.

The room was small, but neatly decorated, giving it an air of cleanliness.

Li Cunyi and Li You were tied together and placed on a bed.

Hearing the noise, it struggled violently again.

Upon seeing the two men, Mao Xiang's eyes immediately turned greedy and filled with longing.

With these two, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is sure to steal the spotlight this time!
And his power will increase even further!
His breathing became slightly rapid as he slowly walked forward.

He scrutinized the two men closely, as if examining a precious treasure. "Excellent... truly remarkable! Governor Yu is indeed incredibly resourceful, managing to bring them here so quietly."

Yu Tongyuan frowned sharply:

"Master Mao, be careful what you say."

"It's alright, now that the person is in our hands..."
There was absolutely no chance they could escape, so hiding their identities was no longer important.

Mao Xiang stepped forward and ripped off Li Cunyi's black blindfold.
Li Cunyi was so blinded by the sudden light that he could not open his eyes and kept them tightly shut.

But he soon saw a smiling face.

His pupils suddenly contracted, and his eyes widened sharply.
"Mmm...mmm."

Li Cunyi began to struggle violently.
I was inexplicably kidnapped on Chongming Island, and the drive was bumpy and I don't know how long it took.

The first thing I saw after regaining my sight was Mao Xiang!

Even if Li Cunyi turned to ashes, he would still remember this face!

Mao Xiang took in the changes in his expression and said with a smile:
"Lord Li, we meet again."

"Mmmmm. Mmmmm."

Li Cunyi struggled to sob, looking at Yu Tongyuan standing behind him.

The fear in his eyes quickly turned into anger, and the sobbing intensified; it was obvious he was cursing.

Mao Xiang removed the burlap shoved into his mouth, and a fierce curse immediately erupted:

"Yu Tongyuan, you traitorous bastard!"
He's actually mixed up with the Imperial Guards! Let me go back right now!

I can pretend nothing happened!

Yu Tongyuan's expression remained unchanged, while Mao Xiang chuckled as he stuffed the burlap back into his hands, his eyes revealing a sinister glint.
"Lord Li, since you've fallen into my hands..."

There is absolutely no reason for you to go back.

While they haven't been tortured yet,

Think carefully about how you're going to explain this to me. Take him away!

A dozen or so Imperial Guards rushed over and dragged the two away from the house!

Mao Xiang looked at Yu Tongyuan and said with a smile:
"Many thanks to Governor Yu this time. His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince will see your merits today."

I hope Governor Yu will become the next 'Marquis of Yongding'. Farewell!

Mao Xiang turned and left, but Yu Tongyuan remained standing there.

One hand in front of him, the other behind his back, he couldn't calm down for a long time.
The second "Marquis of Yongding" was the goal he had been striving for for nearly ten years!
Now, there is finally hope!
As night approached, the area outside the Wuying Hall was brightly lit.

But inside the hall, only a few lamps were lit.

Zhu Yuanzhang, who was already sixty-two years old, sat on the dragon throne at the head of the table.

With arms resting naturally on the armrests at both sides, the posture is relaxed.
But his expression was serious, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

After a long while, hurried footsteps sounded from outside the hall.
A hunched figure walked in.

Until he reached the lower seat, where the faint candlelight illuminated his scarlet robe,

Only then did I realize that it was Wen Cheng, a eunuch from the Imperial Palace Administration.

Wen Cheng stood to the lower end, bowed slightly, and spoke softly:

"Your Majesty, Lord Mao has brought the person back, and they have just returned to the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters."

For some reason, after the words were spoken,
A sudden gust of cold wind swept through the main hall, adding to the chill.

"No one's intercepting us?" a booming voice echoed.

Wen Cheng's expression tightened, and he spoke with slight hesitation:
"Your Majesty, regarding the section of road from the Yu residence to the imperial city..."

Some were scouting, while others were lying in ambush.

But for some reason, they didn't take any action.

Zhu Yuanzhang, half his face hidden in the darkness, twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a mocking smile:
"How many men did Mao Xiang take with him?"

"Thirteen people."

“They are cowards. None of the thirteen dared to make a move. I am ashamed for them.”

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice suddenly rose, filled with anger.

What angered him more than the failed assassination attempt was the lack of courage to go all in.

However, his anger vanished quickly, and Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes turned cold.
"Since they dare not make a move, I will not be polite."

"Pass down the order: arrest everyone who shows up, leave no survivors, regardless of whose side they are!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Wen Cheng's heart tightened, and he felt slightly nervous.
Everyone said His Majesty was getting old, but he knew that His Majesty was even more ruthless than before.

"Wei Chen retire."

Wen Cheng bowed and slowly withdrew, and the hall returned to deathly silence.

Zhongzheng Street, in a quiet alley,

More than twenty figures surged in from the alley entrance like ghosts.
They moved quickly and silently.

They stopped in front of an unassuming, dilapidated wooden door.
The two men in the lead, holding crossbows, crouched down and aimed at the wooden door in front of them.

Behind them, a dark figure suddenly rushed up the low courtyard wall and jumped over it!

Two sharp whooshing sounds followed by a muffled groan rang out.
The old wooden door creaked softly as it was slowly opened.

The scene inside the courtyard came into view.

The courtyard was small and somewhat dilapidated. A millstone sat on one side of the courtyard, along with some other miscellaneous items.
Two men in black were lying on the ground nearby.

Each of them had a sharp throwing knife stuck in their throat, and blood was still gushing out.

Through the paper windows of the houses ahead, one could vaguely see some figures inside.
They gathered around a long table, chatting and laughing, deliberately keeping their voices down.

The leader, dressed in black, stepped forward and made several hand gestures.

Then a dozen or so people took out crossbows and positioned themselves in various locations in the courtyard, aiming at the people inside the house through the paper windows.

The other ten or so people rushed to the door and drew their long knives!

"Three two. one"

As the three hand gestures were made, the crossbows fired instantly.
A whooshing sound rang out in an instant, and the intact window paper was torn to shreds.

The figures that were moving around in the room suddenly froze.
"who!"

A gasp rang out, before anyone inside could scream in terror.

More than ten people rushed in and began hacking and slashing without saying a word, blood splattering in the air.
Some of them spilled out through the torn window paper.

Half an hour later, a group of more than twenty people quietly left, closing the gate behind them as they went.

Similar scenes occurred on Zhongzheng Street, Fudong Street, Min'an Lane, and Qingliang Street in Dagongfang, with screams echoing everywhere, but no one paid any attention.

Even the imperial guards patrolling the city turned a blind eye to it.
At the beginning of Shen Shi (3:00 AM),

The gate of the residence of Feng Kezhao, the Prefect of Yingtian Prefecture, was pounded on.
"Master, something terrible has happened! Wake up!"

Feng Kezhao groggily opened his eyes.

The shouts echoed in his ears, and he quickly realized he wasn't dreaming.

In an instant, Feng Kezhao regained his senses, his gaze sharp, and he abruptly sat up.
"What's up!"

His voice was hoarse, tinged with the hazy drowsiness of sleep, yet authoritative.

"A murder has occurred on Zhongzheng Street, more than thirty people have died! The city defense troops have come and want you to go and take a look immediately," the steward outside said anxiously.
Feng Kezhao instantly regained consciousness, his pupils suddenly contracting.
He quickly stood up and hurriedly put on his clothes.
"What's wrong, sir?"

The lady, awakened from her sleep, asked a question somewhat groggily.

"Something's happened. Keep an eye on the house."

After uttering those words, Feng Kezhao tore off his coat and hurriedly left.
Before long, Feng Kezhao rode his horse...
Led by the city garrison, they arrived at No. 12 Qingxiang Lane, Zhongzheng Street.
As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, the overwhelming stench of blood made Feng Kezhao hold his breath and almost vomit.

In the courtyard, a row of corpses were neatly arranged.
"What's going on?"

Feng Kezhao found the scene before him somewhat unbelievable.

It's been so many years since such a serious murder case occurred in the capital.

At this moment, Kong Rui, the prefectural magistrate of Yingtian Prefecture, who was examining the corpse, walked up with a feathered arrow in his hand, his expression serious.

He didn't waste any more words.
Instead, they pulled Feng Kezhao to a corner and showed him the arrow pointing upwards.
"Sir, the weapons!"

Feng Kezhao's body tensed abruptly, and his pupils contracted sharply:

"you sure?"

Kong Rui took a deep breath, his expression filled with apprehension:

"It's confirmed, and the dead were also armed with military equipment."

"what?"

Kong Rui pointed to the body, and Feng Kezhao could then see it clearly.
They had everything: long swords, iron hammers, and crossbows.
Feng Kezhao even saw three muskets.
"What...what on earth happened?"

Kong Rui took a deep breath and lowered his voice:

"Sir, the government office cannot handle this matter. We must find a way to get rid of it."

(End of this chapter)