In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 759 Enemies in the Capital, Father-in-law and Son-in-law Meet (Supplement: 619)

The soldiers in the central army began to swing their long swords outwards.

The atmosphere froze for a moment.
Everyone stood there, stunned, not knowing what had happened.
Some soldiers who had their heads chopped off didn't even understand what had happened until their dying moments.
Why would their colleagues brandish knives at them? Why did they die so inexplicably?

This stunted state lasted for nearly five breaths. By the time the troops in front and rear reacted, over a hundred men had been killed or wounded.

The bodies lay on the ground, blood flowing out, and you could see the blankness in their eyes.

Soon, this bewilderment turned into shock.
Long-term training had given these soldiers of the Zhongdu Garrison some reflexes, and they drew their long swords, looking at their colleagues in front of them with incredulous eyes.

"Meet the enemy——"

It wasn't until a loud voice rang out that many people finally realized what was happening.

The enemy was neither in front nor behind, but right in the middle of the formation.

Lu Yunyi rode a warhorse, holding a long sword, his brows furrowed.
Looking at the central army positioned in a fighting stance ahead, a hint of absurdity flashed in his eyes.
There were enemy troops in the garrison headquarters.
If this gets out, it will cause a huge uproar.

After all, the troops stationed in Fengyang were guarding the city.
His Majesty and the Crown Prince return to pay homage to their ancestors every few years and also stay in the Fengyang Imperial City for extended periods.

At that time, the guards were the soldiers of the garrison.

At this moment, Marquis Zhou Dexing of Jiangxia looked at a middle-aged general and rebuked him angrily:

"Jiang Yong, what are you doing!"

The general named Jiang Yong subtly cast his gaze over, his lips pressed tightly together, his expression cold.

“My lord, you may not crave wealth and honor as a high-ranking official, but your brothers cannot.”

Zhou Dexing frowned, his pupils trembling violently.

The man before him was his trusted confidant, who had been fighting alongside him since he was young.
When he returned home, they even arranged for him to be appointed as the deputy commander of the garrison.
It could be considered the most leisurely and prestigious position in the entire Ming Dynasty.

How did it become like this?
Before Zhou Dexing could figure it out, Li Shanchang, who had stepped out of the carriage, was helped by those around him...

He tore off the black cloth covering his head, as well as his leg irons and handcuffs, regaining his usual composure.

His white robes stood out starkly in the darkness, attracting countless glances.

A ruthless glint flashed in the eyes of one of the soldiers. He suddenly drew his crossbow from his waist and aimed it at Li Shanchang.

But Zhou Dexing felt every hair on his body stand on end, and he cursed:
"The Korean prince must not be harmed!"

Upon hearing this, many generals realized what was happening.

He quickly pressed his hand down, ordering all the soldiers to put away their bows, crossbows, and long arrows.

Although Li Shanchang committed treason,
But since he has not yet arrived in the capital and has not been convicted by the three judicial authorities, he is still the number one duke of the Ming Dynasty.

Moreover, Zhou Dexing was very clear that...

There is only one person in the entire world who can convict the person before me.
Anyone else who does this is overstepping the bounds.

Lu Yunyi understood these things after he shouted them out, and his expression changed slightly.
If an army has one more person like this who can neither be killed nor injured, it will take a lot of effort to win.

However, Lu Yunyi did not panic.

In any case, the escort team had already reached outside the capital.

Even if you pile them up one by one, you can still catch people.

Lu Yunyi looked at Xu Zengshou beside him and gave the order:
"Order the brothers to be on high alert against the rebel reinforcements!"

Xu Zengshou immediately understood.
If there was no one to provide support, why would they launch the attack so close to the capital?

Just as Xu Zengshou turned to leave, preparing to give the order,

The rapid sound of horses' hooves came from the north.
A dozen or so armored soldiers rushed back, their faces extremely grim.

"Reporting to the Marquis, the south gate has opened, and at least three thousand soldiers have poured out of the barbican."

Whether this was good or bad, his subordinates tried to question him, but received no response.

When the soldier reported this, he was already utterly bewildered.
In any other time, such an event would have been enough to conclude that the visitors were rebels.

But today, people are coming from the capital. How could there be rebels in the capital?

Zhou Dexing felt his lips go dry upon hearing this.

He abruptly turned his head, his gaze piercing Lu Yunyi, and asked in a deep voice:

"Has nothing changed in the capital?"

He now strongly suspects that the entire capital has been taken over by the rebels.

Lu Yunyi also had the same suspicions.
After all, the fact that rebels poured out of the capital was too alarming.
But his gaze was sharp, and he said with certainty:
"Reporting to Your Excellency, the overall situation in the capital is fine."

It must be a problem with the guards at the south gate; they're acting in concert with those inside.

A wave of fear washed over Zhou Dexing. Fortunately, these people had thought they were being too clever for their own good.
If it weren't for those shovel nails, they might already be in the city by now.

Although doubts still lingered in my mind, and I couldn't understand why the rebels would be so foolish.

But Zhou Dexing calmed down and said in a deep voice:
"Lu Yunyi, the problem with the central army arose from the garrison command, and I will resolve it personally."
"I beg you, Lord Lu, to stop the invading army from the north. I implore you."

Lu Yunyi glanced at some soldiers and generals of the Central Army.
Knowing he wanted to clean house, he nodded slightly.

"Please rest assured, Marquis Jiangxia, my troops will hold off the enemy and buy time for the front and rear armies."

"Thank you!"

Marquis Jiangxia breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at the central army group with a murderous glint in his eyes.
Then he slowly drew his long sword from his waist and let out a loud shout:
"Brothers, let's clean house today!"

"kill--"

The two sides instantly engaged in a chaotic battle.
The vanguard and rear guard attacked from both sides, relentlessly advancing forward.
Shouts of battle suddenly filled the night, and the stench of blood filled the air.

Lu Yunyi glanced back at Li Shanchang, who was standing in the central carriage.
I noticed that his expression remained unchanged, as if he had everything under control.

Lu Yunyi didn't dwell on his feelings, leading over a thousand men forward to leave the battlefield.

They arrived at the main road ahead, preparing to intercept the rebel army coming from the city.

He slowly drew his long sword, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes as he watched the three thousand soldiers charging towards him.
This is really never going to end. How many rebels are still in the capital?
"Line up to meet the enemy!"

Once the order was given, the more than a thousand men quickly completed their formation.

These soldiers were the elite troops of Beiping; a month ago, they might have been panicked and disoriented.

But after the fierce fighting in Henan in the previous days,

Facing this kind of scene again, I was already quite familiar with it.

Lu Yunyi remained completely unmoved, simply taking out a telescope from his saddlebag.

He carefully examined the approaching rebel army.
He soon met an acquaintance.

"This"

Lu Yunyi's lips twitched slightly. He looked through the telescope again and finally confirmed that it was true.

The leader of the army was his father-in-law.
Deng Ming, former Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard
At this moment, he was wearing black armor, his face was serious, and there was a middle-aged general whose name was unknown beside him.

The chaotic sound of horses' hooves ceased. Deng Ming frowned as he looked at the tumultuous scene of battle unfolding before him.

When he saw the face of the person who had intercepted him, his expression suddenly became complicated:
"Did you discover the clues?"

Deng Ming was completely unpretentious, even more straightforward than Deng Zhen.

Lu Yunyi rode his warhorse to the front of the formation and gently shook his head:
"No, it's because the shovel nails you used were too strange and gave away your location."

"Shovel nail?"

A hint of doubt flashed in Deng Ming's eyes. What was that?
According to the plan, the ambush should be launched upon entering the city to ensure the plan's success.
But...
The fact that the mission was launched so hastily before even reaching the capital greatly displeased Deng Ming.

At this moment, the middle-aged general beside him, upon hearing the soldier's report, flew into a rage and slapped him across the face.
"Who gave you permission to make these decisions on your own?!"

The soldier was slapped to the ground and stammered, unable to speak.

Deng Ming looked puzzled and asked:
"what happened?"

The middle-aged general took a deep breath:

"It was our people who took it upon themselves to release them, in order to sabotage the carriages and horses and allow them to enter the city quickly."

Deng Ming's forehead veins throbbed, his breathing became rapid, and he gripped the reins tightly.

Such foolish behavior was still unacceptable to Deng Ming!

He now understands why the attack was launched ahead of schedule—it was all because his own people were too stupid!

At this point, Deng Ming was powerless to be angry.
He looked at Lu Yunyi, his expression somewhat complicated:

"I never expected to meet you again under these circumstances. How has Lingyun been doing in Daning?"

Lu Yunyi answered loudly:
"They are doing very well, Lord Deng."
At this point, you have no chance of success.
"It would be better to surrender and let it go, thus avoiding unnecessary casualties." Deng Ming smiled and shook his head.

"Yunyi, you are still too young."
So many people risked execution to commit treason, all for the sake of avoiding being killed.

Whether they surrender or remain inactive, their heads will roll sooner or later.
"If that's the case, why not give it your all?"

Lu Yunyi fell silent. Given the current level of killing in the palace,
Every single one of you here will be identified and punished.
Only when that time comes will we truly be powerless to resist.

Moreover, these people were able to appear safely at the south gate.

It's not uncommon for people to turn a blind eye.

Perhaps some people in the city are dissatisfied with the way things are being done in the palace.

Even outside the city, the complex situation still left Lu Yunyi feeling mentally exhausted.
He collected his thoughts, gripped his longsword tightly, his face resolute, and spoke with a firm and resounding voice:
Each serves their own master and fulfills their own duty.

"Lord Deng, if you want to rescue them, you'll have to get past me first."

A hint of satisfaction flashed in Deng Ming's eyes. He nodded slightly and slowly drew the long sword from his waist.

Regardless of who wins or loses
After this incident, I advise you to carefully consider your future path and whether what you did was truly worthwhile!

As soon as he finished speaking, Deng Ming waved his hand.
"Brothers, charge into battle and rescue the Duke of Han!"

"kill--"

The shouts of battle crashed down on the already turbulent lake like heavy stones, adding even more chaos to the world.

Lu Yunyi raised his long sword high and also let out a loud shout:
"Brothers, those who resist the rebels and achieve meritorious service by killing the enemy will be richly rewarded!"

"kill--"

More than a thousand men began their charge, brandishing their long swords without hesitation.

Just a few breaths later, the two collided violently.
In an instant, chaos ensued.

Shouts of battle and the clash of weapons filled the air!
Just as the two collided violently,
In a dark wheat field far away,

Xu Zengshou stared intently at the chaotic battlefield ahead, then gently waved his hand:
"Go around to their side and attack from behind."
The cannons fired immediately after the ambush troops charged out, to startle the horses and disrupt their morale!

"Yes!"

The messenger beside him, his eyes gleaming, quickly ran away.
Soon, a group of people slowly approached the battlefield from the darkness.

They were dressed in black armor and their faces were covered with black cloth.

They gradually moved away from the battlefield, then slowly approached from the rear.
On the battlefield, Lu Yunyi wielded a long sword.

Leading over a hundred personal guards, he rampaged through the battlefield.
The long sword swung incessantly, each strike accompanied by a scream or the sound of metal breaking.

He looked at the Ninghe King's longsword in his hand, his eyes gradually brightening!

A fine knife can cut through iron like mud!
In the midst of the battle, Deng Ming saw Lu Yunyi and the long sword in his hand.

His previously fierce expression suddenly froze.
"Where did this knife come from?"

Deng Ming led his men and rushed towards Lu Yunyi's location, shouting questions.

Lu Yunyi flicked his long sword and smiled lightly:
"Lord Deng, it was obtained from the Duke of Shen, and it is indeed very useful!"

"Damn it!"

Deng Ming, breathing rapidly, shouted to his bodyguard beside him:

"Go, take the knife back!"

"Yes!"

The guards rushed out immediately.
He ignored the soldiers gathering in front of him, as if all he saw were long swords.

Just then, a loud shout suddenly came from the official road to the north.
Before the people in front could turn around to look, two deafening cannon shots rang out.

"boom--"

In an instant, the clouds dispersed and the earth trembled!

The entire battlefield seemed to freeze for a moment, followed by the neighing of warhorses!

The sound of cannon fire was particularly jarring in the darkness.

The nearly two thousand warhorses in the battle formation were so frightened that they all scattered in panic.
Its forelegs were raised high, and it neighed restlessly.

"kill--"

The next moment, before the warhorse could even settle down,
Groups of soldiers charged out from the wheat fields on both sides of the official road.
They brandished their long swords and spears and charged straight into the battlefield!

Behind them, on the official road, more than a thousand soldiers launched their charge.

Xu Zengshou, spear in hand, charged ahead on horseback.
When Deng Ming turned around to look, he was stunned. His expression changed drastically, and his heart sank to the bottom.

Why are there so many people?

For a moment, a sense of regret returned.
He was furious with the person who had placed the nails without permission.

Perhaps we are only one step away from success.

Yingtian Imperial City, Five Military Commands Office.

After the incident, the place was brightly lit all day long.

All the governors and officials were still in the yamen, busily working.

Even officials and clerks below the rank of governor were not allowed to leave the yamen (government office).

It was only because the matters and people involved were shocking and unconventional.
In the Central Military Command, General Lan Yu sat behind a long table, silently looking at the documents in his hands, his face solemn.

The operation these past few days has been like pulling up a radish and bringing out a whole bunch of mud.

Even civil officials who had no connection with him were implicated, which greatly shocked the court officials.

At this moment, what Lan Yu was looking at was a letter from someone connected to Fei Ju, the Marquis of Pingliang.

Among them were not only military generals, but also high-ranking officials from various regions.

Even the palace eunuchs were implicated.
If it weren't for a swift and decisive strike, targeting the leader first, who knows how much more chaos might have ensued.
While Lan Yu was pondering how to deal with these people...
Shi Zhengyu, the commander of the personal guards, walked into the yamen with a solemn expression.

He ignored the strange looks from the officials and walked straight to the head of the table.

He bent down beside Lan Yu and whispered:

"My lord, something has happened outside the city."

Lan Yu's gaze suddenly sharpened, and she abruptly raised her head:

"What's the matter?"

"There are rebels in the escorting party for the Duke of Han, and they are fighting right now."

Moreover, enemies were emerging from the south gate.

It was confirmed that the three thousand guards at the south gate were led by Deng Ming, who had been missing for some time.

"South Gate?"

Lan Yu's eyes flashed with a fierce light, his brows furrowed into a deep frown, and a barrage of thoughts and ideas burst forth.

Shi Zhengyu's expression was solemn:
"Yes, today the commander guarding the south gate is Yuan Hui, the commander of the Tiger Guard Left Guard."

He's not at the city gate now; he's probably with the rebel army.

"absurd!"

Lan Yu remained silent for a long time before slowly uttering two words, his eyes filled with killing intent.

The Tiger Guard Left Guard was one of the Twelve Upper Guards, responsible for the defense of the palace.
Given the current special circumstances, he was assigned to guard the south gate.

Now that the storm is about to subside, this has happened. Can the Twelve Guards of the Upper Guard still be trusted?
Lan Yu considered many things in an instant, and asked in a deep voice:
What orders are there from the palace?

"General, His Highness the Crown Prince has instructed you to handle the matter as you see fit, but you must not harm the Duke of Han."

Shi Zhengyu answered.

A dark glint flashed in Lan Yu's eyes. He abruptly stood up and said in a deep voice:
"Inform Xu Huizu about this matter and have him lead the imperial guards out of the capital to quell the rebellion."

"Yes!"

Shi Zhengyu tentatively asked:

"General, are you not going out of the city?"

Lan Yu's eyes turned cold, and she said in a deep voice:
"Take a full complement of trusted men to guard the imperial city and go tell Mao Xiang about this matter."
"Have him bring over the list of all the suspicious individuals in the Twelve Guards of the Upper Guard, and check them one by one!"

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)