In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 939 Who killed whom? I killed myself!

"Get out! Get out of here!"

"You can't even find out the life story of a mere eunuch? What use are you to the imperial court!"

Beneath the Miaoyin Pavilion, inside the underground office of the Embroidered Uniform Guard,
Mao Xiang roughly swept all the documents on the table to the ground.
The angry roar made the beams and pillars vibrate.

His eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at the commanders and centurions before him.

These are all core members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

There were even battle-hardened elites transferred from other places.
Half a month has passed, and the capital has been turned upside down, but not a single useful clue has been found.

"Wei Hua, are you a traitor?!" Mao Xiang stared intently at Commander Wei Hua.

Wei Hua stiffened, sighed helplessly, and remained silent without replying.

"Wang Tong, are you a mole?!"

Wang Tong, the newly appointed commander of a thousand households, also sighed with his head down.
These days, the commander has lost his former composure and is almost driven mad.

They investigate everyone they meet and suspect everyone they meet.

At this moment, Du Pingping, who had been sitting quietly not far away, slowly stood up.
He had just returned from Kunming, Yunnan a few days ago.
As the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he had to be present for such important events concerning the court and the people.

"Lord Mao, I believe this matter requires careful consideration."

Let's put the matter of the mole aside for now; there will be plenty of opportunities to investigate it thoroughly later.
The most urgent task now is to find out the eunuch's background.

Who instructed him, and who were his accomplices?

"Investigate? How do you investigate!"

Mao Xiang managed to calm himself for a moment, then slumped into a chair, rubbing his temples and closing his eyes.

"The capital has been thoroughly searched for half a month, but nothing has been found!"

Du Pingping pondered for a moment, then said softly:
"The eunuch set the fire on a fire-month, fire-day, and fire-hour."

I do not believe that a palace eunuch could be so knowledgeable about such timing techniques.

There were very few people in the capital who knew this method.

Temples, Taoist temples, folk fortune tellers, as well as the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Observatory.

Instead of wandering around like a headless fly,

"Why not start with these people and find those whose behavior is suspicious?"

Mao Xiang's eyes suddenly lit up, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his deep-set eyes:
"Okay! Let's investigate using this method!"

"Search every single monk and Taoist priest in the capital!"

Du Pingping nodded, and then added:

"My lord, you must be careful with your approach and avoid causing a great uproar."

If those monks and Taoists are talking nonsense,

If word gets out, the imperial court might blame the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"Um"

Mao Xiang nodded in agreement:

"Alright, let's investigate like this for now. You may all leave!"

After all the Imperial Guards had retreated,
Mao Xiang rested his forehead on one hand and let out a long sigh:
"Tinglan, if you hadn't come back to help me, I really wouldn't have been able to clean up this mess by myself."

Du Pingping smiled slightly, her somewhat plump body squeezing back into the chair:

"My lord, you are just being overly concerned."

"Given the capabilities of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, investigating someone's background shouldn't be difficult; it's just that lately, with so many things piling up, they've been overwhelmed."

Mao Xiang nodded helplessly:

"There have been too many things happening lately, and I'm really at a loss as to how to handle this chaotic situation."
Furthermore, His Majesty has been in a very bad mood lately, and I am scolded every time I enter the palace.

Du Pingping nodded thoughtfully, and then said:
"My lord, I have another way that might be able to find out the background of that eunuch."

"Oh? Say it quickly!"

Mao Xiang suddenly opened his eyes, his face showing surprise.

He instantly realized that Du Pingping's remarks about Cha Sengdao in front of everyone were just a diversionary tactic!

Du Pingping lowered her voice:
"This humble official has reviewed the eunuch's file."
He took two hours off to leave the palace that day, which means that he intended to return to the palace after setting the fire.

This also coincides with the direction he turned back after setting the fire.
So, having accomplished such a great feat, why would he risk returning to the palace?

Mao Xiang frowned slightly and said decisively:
"report."

"Your Excellency is wise."

Du Pingping nodded:
"When he returned to the palace, he would surely report to the person in charge, informing them of the success or failure of the matter, and at the same time seek refuge under a big tree."

We only need to check the schedule after the eunuch set the fire.

By observing who he comes into contact with on a daily basis, one can roughly narrow down the range of suspects.
Then we will hand these lists over to the Imperial Palace Administration.
Let them investigate; that way, we'll have an explanation.

At least if His Majesty asks, we can pass the buck and breathe a sigh of relief.

Mao Xiang instantly perked up and sat up straight:
"Good! That old bastard Wen Cheng has been making sarcastic remarks to me these past few days."
This time, he should taste what it's like to be in trouble!

Seeing that Mao Xiang had adopted her suggestion, Du Pingping breathed a sigh of relief and then said:

"My lord, we now have a starting point both inside and outside the territory."

We must seize this opportunity to quickly root out the mole within our ranks.

Otherwise, our every move will be under someone else's watchful eye, making it impossible for us to get anything done.

Mao Xiang was taken aback for a moment, then raised an eyebrow and chuckled:

"So what you just said was a deliberate lie to them?"

"Exactly." Du Pingping nodded.

"Having a mole among us means that our every move will be known to others. That is the most urgent matter."

Mao Xiang nodded in deep agreement; he knew all too well the importance of an inside man.
During last year's raid on the party of traitors
It wouldn't have gone so smoothly if it weren't for the spies we'd planted.

But now, someone has actually used this method on the Embroidered Uniform Guard, which makes him somewhat embarrassed and angry.

Who do you think did this?

Du Pingping frowned and said in a deep voice:
"I don't know, my subordinate."

"You don't know? There's something you can't find out?"

Mao Xiang looked at him meaningfully.
This commander, who was away from home for most of the year, didn't even know how many spies were under his command. In terms of intelligence network, Du Pingping was far more knowledgeable than him.

Du Pingping looked helpless:
"There are too many people who could do this, and even more who have the motive."

Suspicion was rampant throughout the government and the public.

To be frank, I must tell you the truth.

The current imperial court has six ministries, nine ministers, and five military commanders.
Six dukes and more than twenty marquises are all suspects.

Even the princes and concubines deep within the palace had motives.

Finding the mastermind behind this is as difficult as climbing Mount Everest.

As he said this, he subtly clenched his hands at his sides, and his voice lowered:
"That eunuch had only been in the palace for ten years, yet he left not a trace; all the documents were destroyed."

I dare say that his plan could not possibly be flawless. It must have been discovered by someone with ulterior motives who not only acquiesced to it but also cleaned up his mess.

These detached bystanders have no way of investigating.

"call"

Mao Xiang's expression darkened further; he had already anticipated this.
To be able to do things so cleanly,

It was not the result of one person's efforts, but rather the result of a group of people working together in perfect harmony.

Whether it was the prior preparations or the numerous obstacles encountered by the Embroidered Uniform Guard during their investigations,

These people are all accomplices.
But there is no evidence, and no way to investigate.

"Why did His Majesty insist on moving the capital in the first place?" Mao Xiang murmured to himself.

Du Pingping, sitting at the lower end of the table, suddenly looked up, staring blankly at Mao Xiang, her pupils contracting sharply.
How could Mao Xiang not understand the trick of feinting to the east while attacking in the west?

Having worked as an undercover agent for so many years, even in a moment of panic, he should still be clear about the ins and outs of the case.
How could I be so at a loss now?
Could it be that he was also an accomplice? Or a bystander?
Du Pingping felt her lips were dry.

He suddenly realized that he had shown off his talent so soon after returning to Beijing.
Not only did they steal the spotlight from their superior, but they also wanted to find out the real culprit.

Wouldn't that be making an enemy of the entire government and the public?
"I need to be more careful and not show off like this anymore."

Du Pingping muttered to himself, and the next moment, his pupils dilated again, and his whole body went cold:

"Me too, I'm an accomplice?"

In April, the Imperial Palace of Emperor Ōten should be adorned with swaying willows and fragrant flowers.
At this moment, however, it was shrouded in a chilling aura!

There were three times as many guards at the Meridian Gate as usual.
The armor gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

The soldiers' eyes were sharp as knives, staring intently at everyone entering or leaving the palace gates.

On the imperial road in front of the Wuying Hall,

The bluestone slabs were swept spotless, yet not a single person could be seen.

Wen Cheng, the Junior Minister of the Imperial Palace, held up the corner of his robe and clutched a scroll of documents in his hand.
Their footsteps were so light that they were barely audible.

The journey from the Imperial Palace to the Hall of Martial Valor is only about half an incense stick's time.

He walked until cold sweat beaded on his forehead. Outside the Wuying Hall, Marquis Guo Ying, who was on duty, nodded slightly to Wen Cheng and pushed open the hall door.

A faint scent of ink mingled with the cool air wafted towards me.

Only two candles were lit inside the hall.
The dim, yellowish light illuminated the documents piled on the desk, obscuring the figure of the person behind it.

Zhu Yuanzhang was dressed in a red casual robe.
His gaze fell on the memorials on the table, but he hesitated to move the vermilion brush in his hand.

His hair was already somewhat gray, with a few strands of silver hanging down at his temples.

His usually bright and piercing eyes were now as deep as a still pool, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

Hearing footsteps, he didn't look up, but simply said:

"Come in."

Wen Cheng bowed deeply, his knees almost touching the ground:
"Your subject Wencheng pays his respects to Your Majesty."

"Has it been investigated?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was somewhat hoarse and tired, yet it still exuded an undeniable authority.

"Your Majesty, the investigation is still ongoing."

Wen Cheng quickly stood up, holding the document in both hands and handing it forward:
"Lord Mao Xiang said that the Embroidered Uniform Guard has made some progress in the case of the eunuch of the Imperial Horse Administration setting fire to the palace. He specifically requests His Majesty's instructions on whether the Imperial Palace Administration should assist in the investigation."

Zhu Yuanzhang finally raised his head, his gaze falling on the document.

But he didn't take it immediately; a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard investigated for half a month without making any progress, and instead pushed the responsibility onto the Imperial Palace Administration, which was clearly an attempt to avoid suspicion.

"read."

Zhu Yuanzhang uttered a single word, his gaze returning to the memorials on the table.

However, the memorial was clearly still on the same page as before, indicating that he hadn't read a single word.

Wen Cheng composed himself, unfolded the document, and spoke in a calm voice:
"The Embroidered Uniform Guard discovered that Chen Zhong, an eighth-rank supervisor of the Imperial Horse Administration, had taken two hours of leave on the day of the arson and intended to return to the palace to report afterward."

It is speculated that he would have needed to report the arson to someone.
Therefore, we request the assistance of the Shen Gong Jian (a government office) in investigating Chen Zhong's work schedule over the past ten days.

Identify the people they come into contact with daily, narrow down the scope of suspects, and then conduct a detailed investigation.

Furthermore, Chen Zhong had been in the palace for ten years.

All documents were found without copies, suggesting they were destroyed by someone else. The Imperial Household Agency needs to examine the palace's archives to find any trace of them.

After he finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

Zhu Yuanzhang's fingers tapped lightly on the table, the rhythm slow, yet it made Wen Cheng's heart beat faster and faster.
He knew all too well that His Majesty was suppressing his anger.

Zhu Yuanzhang finally spoke, his tone calm but tinged with coldness:

"The Imperial Palace Administration was originally an office responsible for managing palace affairs. When did it become a servant of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Wen Cheng bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty, please calm down! Lord Mao Xiang said that the Imperial Palace Administration is more familiar with palace affairs than the Embroidered Uniform Guard, making it easier for them to investigate."

This was also to avoid suspicion, lest outsiders say that the Embroidered Uniform Guard had trespassed into the palace and broken the rules.

Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled and didn't pursue the matter further, ignoring the feigned sincerity in those words.

He picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and
The tea had long since gone cold, but I still swallowed it.

He knew in his heart that Mao Xiang was not incapable of being investigated, but rather that he dared not be.

Within the palace, a single action can have far-reaching consequences.

As the investigation progresses, it might eventually lead to his son or his concubine.

Opponents of moving the capital were widespread throughout the government and the public.

How could there be none in the deep palace?

"That's right."

Zhu Yuanzhang put down his teacup, his voice becoming more serious:
"Go investigate. No matter who is involved, as long as they are even remotely connected, don't let them get away with it."

Wen Cheng's heart tightened, and he quickly replied:

"Yes! Your Majesty, I obey!"

"Your Majesty, may I ask whether the scope of the investigation is limited to the Imperial Horse Stables, or extends to all palaces?"

Zhu Yuanzhang fell silent, leaning back in his chair.

His gaze swept over the Ming Dynasty geomantic map hanging in the hall, and a complex expression appeared in his eyes.

"Check them all."

Wen Cheng inwardly groaned, but still bowed:

"Your Majesty, I understand! I will certainly investigate thoroughly and will not show any favoritism!"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and waved his hand:

"Go down. Be careful when you investigate. There are many people in the palace, so don't cause panic."

"Yes."

Wen Cheng bowed deeply and slowly retreated until he was out of the palace gate before daring to straighten up.

Although His Majesty did not say it explicitly, his reaction indicated that the people involved in the case were far more powerful than he had imagined.

If the Imperial Palace Administration were to conduct this investigation, it would likely offend half of the imperial palace.
If things go wrong, he himself could lose his life.

"Alas, these are troubled times."

Inside the Wuying Hall, Zhu Yuanzhang watched Wen Cheng's departing figure.
He picked up a piece of white jade from the table and stroked the patterns on it.

The sun outside the hall gradually began to set in the west.
Long shadows are cast on the ground through the window lattice, like invisible shackles.

He recalled Wen Cheng's words, the destroyed documents, and the mole that the Embroidered Uniform Guard couldn't uncover.

My anger flared up again, but I could only force myself to suppress it.

He is the emperor of the Ming Dynasty; he cannot panic or lose his composure.
Even if the sky were to fall, he would hold it up.

"Someone is coming."

Zhu Yuanzhang shouted.

Marquis Guo Ying of Wuding entered and bowed in greeting:

"His Majesty."

"Has the Crown Prince sent any memorials today?"

Zhu Yuanzhang asked, his tone softer than before.

Although Crown Prince Zhu Biao survived the fire at his residence in Shanxi, he could not let it go.

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince ordered the Shanxi Military Command to send a memorial early this morning."
It is said that spring plowing in Shanxi is going smoothly, and sweet potato planting is already more than 10% complete.

It was also mentioned that unidentified individuals have been active in Shanxi recently, and local garrisons have been ordered to increase vigilance.

Guo Ying answered respectfully.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, feeling somewhat relieved.

Seeing that His Majesty remained silent, Guo Ying hesitated for a moment before asking:

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Palace Supervisors and the Embroidered Uniform Guards are conducting business in the palace. Should I send someone to keep an eye on them?"

"Need not."

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head:
"Although Wen Cheng is cautious, he also knows his limits. Let him investigate, and you can just watch from the sidelines."

"Yes"

"Guo Ying, tell me, who did this?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice echoed in the hall, carrying a hint of chill that was barely perceptible.

Guo Ying couldn't help but narrow his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, it must be the work of the rebels."

Zhu Yuanzhang countered, "Are there still traitors?"

"Anyone who disobeys the imperial decree is a rebel."

"What if all the civil and military officials in the land disobey my orders?"

“Then all civil and military officials were considered rebels.”

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and shook his head:

"Guo San, you're wrong this time."
When I first raised my army, I knew that the general trend of the world could not be defied, and that only by going with the flow could we achieve twice the result with half the effort.

If all the civil and military officials in the land disobey my orders and oppose me,
Then what difference is there between me and the foolish Yuan emperor?

Guo Ying felt a chill run down her spine; she had been with him for thirty years.
He knew all too well that His Majesty was already furious to the extreme, but as the emperor, he had no choice but to suppress it.

"Your Majesty, most people are foolish and put themselves first in everything. Their opposition should not be taken seriously."

The relocation of the capital is the foundation for the Ming Dynasty's continued existence for ten thousand years; it must not be abandoned.

Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes, his two white eyebrows slightly raised, and the crisscrossing wrinkles on his face made him look like a patient old dragon.

"Guo San, even the Shang and Zhou dynasties, at their peak, lasted only a thousand years. How can the Ming dynasty have a foundation that will last ten thousand years?"

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, his gaze deep, his voice heavy, and his weariness barely concealed:
"But I know that if we remain in Nanjing, the Ming Dynasty will eventually lose its northern foundation and perish within a hundred years."

The northern empire, painstakingly conquered, will inevitably be handed over to others sooner or later.
"This capital city must be moved."

(End of this chapter)