In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 754 A strong fortress is often breached from within.

On the official road, a group of people staggered and swayed as they surged forward.

The long line of torches was particularly noticeable in the field of vision, stretching from afar to near.

Shen Guogong Deng Zhen walked at the very front of the procession.

Dressed in the armor of a duke, holding a long sword, he listened to the clanging of armor around him, his face solemn.

The changes in Beijing all illustrate that

The struggle has reached its most critical moment, and the palace is also preparing to get serious.

Especially today, news came from the palace.

Marquis Mei Yi of Runan successfully entered the capital and is now imprisoned in the Embroidered Uniform Guard's office.

Whenever he thought of this, a shadow would flash across Deng Zhen's eyes, and he wished he could kill the people from the north who were handling things for him.

With so much time and so much preparation, they still couldn't stop one person. What a waste!
Now we're in a passive position everywhere, and we have no choice but to overturn the table.

Mayor Deng sighed, gripping the reins tighter, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
Despite all the resentment in my heart, I've finally come to this point.

It was rushed, far too rushed.

Fighting has begun throughout the capital region, with incessant bloodshed.

In some places, open warfare even broke out, and there were even rebellions by soldiers and civilians who stormed the government offices.

The entire capital region is in complete chaos.
The three thousand soldiers he led were a last-ditch effort, a combined effort from both inside and outside the army.

Deng Zhen didn't know if anyone else had arrived.
But he had already prepared himself, treating himself as a lone force.

Suddenly, a bright spot appeared abruptly on the official road ahead.

Deng Zhen's eyes instantly pierced through.
The soldiers around him also noticed something was wrong and quickly gripped their long swords.

The sound of hooves suddenly became rapid, and more than ten cavalrymen charged forward to investigate.

Soon, they hurriedly returned.

The leader had a serious expression and spoke solemnly:
"Reporting to Duke Shen, there are over a hundred cavalrymen blocking our way ahead."

Deng Zhen frowned slightly, a shadow of gloom flashing across his mind.

He didn't speak, but instead tugged at the reins, leading the soldiers onward.

Soon, Dengzhen saw a group of people blocking the official road.

When he saw the leader, a look of astonishment and a touch of absurdity flashed in Deng Zhen's eyes.

He knew the person in front of him all too well.
They had fought side by side in several major battles in the past two years, and he was one of the juniors he admired most.

Upon seeing him, Mayor Deng breathed a sigh of relief, finally understanding why the northerners had been unable to stop Mei Yi.

It would be absurd to try to stop this person from doing his job.

Shaking his head, Deng Zhen showed a hint of helplessness as he spurred his warhorse forward:

"Yun Yi, when will you arrive in the capital?"

The newcomer was Lu Yunyi, surrounded by soldiers from the vanguard scout unit who had followed him.

More than a hundred people stood on the official road.

It has an imposing presence, like one man guarding a pass against ten thousand.

When Lu Yunyi saw the person who had arrived, he felt a pang of emotion. The changing times could be so sudden and unexpected.
"This humble general pays his respects to Duke Shen. I have just arrived in the capital today."

What are you doing here?

"This humble servant is here on His Highness the Crown Prince's orders to investigate the trade routes. May I ask, Duke Shen, what brings you here with your troops so late at night?"

Deng Zhen smiled softly and glanced at the hundred or so people around him:
"The Crown Prince will only send you a hundred men?"

"The capital region is right under the emperor's nose; it is peaceful and the people are healthy. A hundred people are enough," Lu Yunyi said loudly.
"What brings Duke Shen out of the camp so late at night?"

"I am heading to the capital to be stationed for defense. Please make way."

Deng Zhen smiled and spoke, his eyes remaining calm but turning slightly colder.

"Please show me the transfer order and other documents, Duke Shen."

"What? With me here, do we still need such cumbersome paperwork?"

"of course."

"What if I don't have it?"

"Then please ask Duke Shen to return to camp."

The two made no attempt to conceal their voices during their conversation.
This immediately froze the atmosphere between the two armies to an extreme.

The warhorse beneath him seemed to sense the oppressive atmosphere, pawing restlessly and snorting.

The quiet, oppressive atmosphere gradually dissipated.
Duke Shen, Deng Zhen, looked at Lu Yunyi with a hint of emotion in his eyes and asked:

"How is Lingyun? I heard that the winters in Da Ning are extremely cold. I wonder if she can get used to living here."

Lu Yunyi answered with a smile, as if he were reuniting with an old friend after many years:
"Don't worry, Duke Shen, it's already summer in Da Ning, and life in the city is quite comfortable."

Furthermore, trade between Daning and other regions was flourishing, and there was no shortage of certain goods.

"That's good. I've heard that you've been opening up trade routes in Da Ning. You're indeed a capable person. I admire you."

The next moment, Deng Zhen changed the subject:
"Was it you who led the men to escort Mei Yi back to the capital?"

The atmosphere, which had been slightly relaxed, suddenly became heavy and terribly oppressive.

Lu Yunyi shook his head:
"Reporting to the Duke, it was my subordinates who led the escort."
When the Marquis of Runan left Daming, I was still in the mountains and forests of the Jurchens in Liaodong.

"Oh?"

Deng Zhen frowned slightly. "Are you sure you can rest assured?"

Lu Yun smiled and nodded:

"A capable and attentive subordinate can save a superior a great deal of time and effort."

Such matters need not be handled personally by this humble servant; they will naturally manage them well.

Deng Zhen nodded with a complex expression and a touch of emotion:

"Others would love to have all the power in their hands."

But you're different; you wish you could distribute all the things you have on hand.

I have no one as capable as you under my command.
Otherwise, things wouldn't have turned out this way.

"The Duke of Shen praised it."

Deng Zhen nodded, and calmly drew the long sword from his waist.

The sharp longsword gleamed silver-white in the candlelight.

It's clearly an exceptionally sharp knife.

"I can't understand it. Someone as capable as you..."
How could they be content to remain subservient to others for long? And they never think of themselves?
Even if you don't think about yourself, you should at least think about your family.

After saying that, Deng Zhen suddenly fell silent.

After a long while, he finally let out a self-deprecating laugh:
"I almost forgot, you have no children yet."

They still don't know what it's like to inherit a family legacy. No wonder... no wonder indeed.

Deng Zhen's voice was filled with emotion as he let out a long sigh:

"I'm giving you one last chance. Make way and join me in cleaning up the court of corrupt officials."

Lu Yunyi smiled, no different from usual, except that he silently drew the long sword from his waist:

"Duke Shen, everything is fine in the capital. Why don't you go back now and save face?"

Deng Zhen didn't say anything more, but waved his hand gently.

The soldiers around him swarmed forward, engulfing him in their presence.
"Everyone says you are unparalleled in battle, but I am also learned from my family and have made great achievements in the army. Today, let's settle this once and for all."

Lu Yunyi shook his head, gently pulled on the reins, and the entire group of over a hundred people slowly retreated.

The soldiers who rushed forward were surprised to see him act this way.
If we retreat now, that would be the best outcome.

But Duke Shen, Deng Zhen, had a serious expression and spoke in a deep voice:
"Line up to meet the enemy!"

Although the soldiers had doubts, they still acted as they had in their daily drills.
Infantry in front, cavalry behind!
The next moment, the hundred or so people who had been slowly retreating suddenly moved.

They pawed at each other and charged forward without any hesitation.

The sound of horses' hooves echoed, and the dust they kicked up made them appear and disappear in the darkness.

Many people looked shocked. How dare more than a hundred people charge into the fray?
But before this idea could take hold,

Even more intense shouts of battle erupted from all around!
"kill--"

Duke Shen, Deng Zhen's expression changed, and his gaze swept over...

Suddenly, countless torches lit up the surrounding world and surged forward in a swarm.

Even the thunder of hooves could be heard behind them.

The hundred or so people in front had somehow grown to several hundred, and enemies came from all sides in an instant!
Morale faltered for a moment.
But Deng Zhen was also a veteran of many battles.
With a quick glance, he took in the number of attackers and let out a loud shout:
"The enemy force numbers no more than two thousand. Form ranks and meet them!"

"Brothers, do not panic!"

"Meet the enemy!"

"kill--"

As the shouts of battle grew more intense, the two torrents collided violently.

"boom",
The white clouds drifting in the sky paused for a moment.

The sound of metal clashing against metal rang out instantly, and blood gushed out immediately! Shouts of battle rose high, and swords and spears clashed.

The tranquility of the night sky was completely shattered.

Lu Yunyi took the lead, his body rising and falling with the gallop of his warhorse.
His face was no longer warm; it was now cold and aloof!
He swung his long sword relentlessly, the ripped flesh spurting blood.

You can see the stark white bones that are extremely clear even in the darkness.
Each swing of the blade was often accompanied by a piercing scream.
As more and more people died at his hands
Lu Yunyi's expression became increasingly calm.

People with different principles cannot work together. Since we cannot reach an agreement, the matter will only be resolved when one side falls.

The struggle over policy directions has always been like this.

In a wheat field not far from the battlefield, Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaoxu lay prone behind a small mound.
Each person held a pair of binoculars, cautiously observing the battlefield ahead.

Whenever someone fell, their cheeks would twitch.
They seemed somewhat afraid, yet couldn't help but look.

"Boss, why are we killing each other?"

Zhu Gaoxu couldn't understand why they were fighting each other when they were all on the same side.

He had this question in his mind in Henan, and he couldn't find the answer even after thinking about it all the way there.

Zhu Gaochi watched silently, somewhat bewildered by the infighting unfolding before him.

But since my younger brother asked the question...

Even if he doesn't know, he has to give a reason, otherwise the older brother will lose face.

"Just like last time when we were eating melons at the Prince's Mansion, you wanted to eat more, and I wanted to eat more too, but one melon wasn't enough to share."

Zhu Gaoxu blinked, still somewhat confused:
"Just buy another one."

Zhu Gaochi glanced at him, gave a light snort, and began to speak eloquently like an adult:

"There is only one world. If you have more, I will have less. I cannot give in or back down."

"hold head high"

Zhu Gaochi's eyes darted around, and he asked:

"Boss, have you heard the story of Kong Rong sharing pears?"

"I heard... what happened?"

"You're the eldest, so you should give way to me. Learn from Kong Rong, who ate the younger ones himself."

Zhu Gaochi glared at him:
"That's a scam, don't believe it."

Zhu Gaoxu rolled his eyes and kept his eyes fixed on the battlefield ahead.

Nearly five thousand people were fighting together, all dressed in black armor.
It made it difficult for him to clearly see who won and who lost.

"Second brother, now that we're so far away, I don't feel so nauseous anymore. How about you?"

"I?"

Zhu Gaoxu straightened his neck and glared:
"I'm not disgusting at all."

"Lying through one's teeth"

Zhu Gaochi muttered to himself, offering a reminder:
"Keep a close eye on things. If things look bad, we'd better run."

"it is good"

Zhu Gaochi was clearly aware of the seriousness of the matter.
He didn't refute it, but nodded emphatically.
The fighting outside the capital continues.

Meanwhile, in the capital, thousands of soldiers poured out of the imperial city and headed in all directions!

At this moment, the entire workshop was completely surrounded by the Imperial Guards, and the atmosphere was extremely tense!

The atmosphere inside the Lu Mansion at No. 1 Zhangde Street was somber.

Lu Zhongheng sat in the main hall, his brows furrowed ever since nightfall.
He listened to the orderly footsteps coming from outside, his eyes filled with astonishment.

How could this be? Why did they suddenly launch an attack?
Has His Majesty gone mad?
At this moment, Feng Tiemu rushed in, his face no longer calm, but rather somewhat panicked:
"My lord, the entire Zhangde Street has been sealed off by the Imperial Guards, and there are even people lingering in front of our gate!"

"what?"

Lu Zhongheng suddenly straightened up, a look of absurdity flashing in his eyes:
"How could this be? The palace is about to take action, why didn't anyone come to inform us?"

Feng Tiemu looked anxious and stomped his foot angrily:
"My lord, at this point, there's no need to dwell on this matter."

It's clear that the palace is preparing to capture the leader first, ignoring the rebellions outside.

"My lord, hurry, or it will be too late!"

"What if he's not here to arrest me?"

A glimmer of hope flashed in Lu Zhongheng's eyes; he still harbored illusions.

Feng Tiemu shook his head violently, looked at the two young masters beside him, and instructed:
"Come quickly, follow the Marquis through the secret passage. This old servant will arrange for some men to block them. They'll be here shortly!"

Lu Zhongheng's two sons also snapped out of their daze and quickly stepped forward:

"One of you support one side, Dad. Let's go."

A look of resentment flashed in Lu Zhongheng's eyes, and his heart was burning with anger.
So hastily, he didn't get to use almost any of his preparations!

But as it grew brighter outside, a knocking sound came from the heavy door:
"Open the door! Open the door!!"

Upon hearing the voice, Lu Zhongheng completely abandoned any remaining hope, his eyes growing increasingly dim.

"Let's take a walk."

Feng Tiemu ordered the guards to block the gate.
He led the father and his two sons towards the backyard.

They soon arrived at a rockery. Feng Tiemu stepped forward and pressed down on a protruding rock.

With a soft "click",
A rumbling sound followed, and a deep, dark hole appeared on the artificial hill:
"My lord, young master, please go in first. This old servant will cover the rear."

Lu Zhongheng stood before the cave entrance, taking one last look back at the extravagant mansion.
Breathing heavily, he took one last look before crawling inside.
The wooden pendant was placed at the end, and after confirming that no one was following,

They then closed the cave entrance and gave chase.

The cave entrance was neatly constructed, and the path underfoot was paved with intact bluestone slabs.
Candles were lit on both sides to illuminate the way ahead.

"Father, can we run away?"

Looking at the deep darkness ahead, the Imperial Son-in-Law, Commander Lu Xian, asked tremblingly.

Lu Zhongheng had regained his composure and said in a deep voice:

"Don't worry, this tunnel belongs to the former Yuan dynasty's powerful and influential families, and it leads directly outside the city."
I discovered this when I entered Yingtian back then, but I never revealed it to anyone, not even the imperial court knew.

Outside the city, your father has prepared enough money.
Let's leave Yingtian and head to Lianghuai to find Duke Han!

Hearing this, Lu Xian relaxed a lot.

A sense of loss welled up inside me.

It's really hard to leave the capital like this.

He wasn't the only one with these feelings; Lu Zhongheng felt the same way.

Even his eyes seemed somewhat vacant.

After all, it's the place I've lived in for twenty years.
It's really undignified of them to flee in such a sorry state.

The group fell silent and began walking briskly along the road.

After walking for nearly half an hour, the tunnel began to change noticeably:

"We're almost there, be careful."

Lu Zhongheng reminded him.

Before long, the group arrived at a heavy iron gate.

Lu Zhongheng stepped forward, took out a key from his pocket, and inserted it into the large hole.
With a "click," the door lock opened, and Lu Zhongheng yanked the door open.

A burst of intense light flooded in, illuminating most of the cave entrance.

Lu Zhongheng squinted, waiting for his sight to return.
He was stunned by what he saw and stood there dumbfounded.

Lu Xian looked over as well, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

Ahead was a spacious room, and some wooden crates could be seen piled up in the corner.
Now that it has been opened, the gold and silver treasures inside have been revealed.
To their astonishment, a middle-aged man dressed in a flying fish robe stood silently in the room.

He looked at them with a half-smile.

Mao Xiang, Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!

"Lord Ji'an, it's late at night, where are you going?"

"Mao Xiang! What are you doing here?!"

Lu Zhongheng's pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints as he roared in fury!

Mao Xiang crossed his arms in front of him, looking at him with a half-smile, and gestured with his chin toward his back.

Lu Zhongheng's body stiffened, and the hairs on his body stood on end.
He slowly turned his head to look behind him.
Feng Tiemu stood there silently, a long knife already in his hand, calmly looking ahead.

"You! You're a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Lu Zhongheng's face suddenly turned red.
I suddenly understood, and a sense of frustration rose from the bottom of my heart.

If Feng Tiemu was a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard...

What about his actions over the past few years?
Plotting out loud?

Feng Tiemu, devoid of his usual humility, spoke in a calm tone:
"My lord, you've worked hard all these years."

"Hahahaha." Mao Xiang suddenly burst into laughter, laughing with unbridled joy:

"Seize him!"

(End of this chapter)