Ming Dynasty: pacifying the rebellion and defending the border, dominating the world

Chapter 270 Zhu Jinzhen's Killing Intent

The Way of the King, the Way of the Hegemon, and the Way of Confucianism.

This was mentioned by Zhu Jinzhen during a casual conversation with Changsun Wangqing, Li Chengen, and others.

Today, hearing it spoken by Yan Yimei gave the officials under the command of Prince Su's mansion a refreshing feeling.

The so-called Way of the King, the Way of the Hegemon, and the Way of Confucianism.

For others to attempt this, it would naturally be fraught with difficulties.

Even emperors were mostly sages in their inner virtues and kings in their outward appearance, practicing the way of emperors to maintain stability and balance.

They cannot apply the so-called hegemonic and benevolent ways, or the Confucian way.

Only Zhu Jinzhen, as the strongest land-based sword immortal, wielding the Heavenly Strategy and the Azure Cloud, whose words could decide the life and death of countless people, could arbitrarily choose to follow the kingly way or the domineering way, and even adhere to Confucianism.

"Before crushing the enemy, give him a heads-up, give him time to prepare, and then crush his despair!"

The same thought popped into everyone's mind.

So, it seems that what their prince is currently practicing is... Confucianism and Taoism?
The whole world knew about the Jingnan Rebellion of Prince Su's Mansion. The emperor knew, as did all the civil and military officials, the imperial family, the princes of various regions, and even all the powerful families of the Ming Dynasty.

But so what?
Even if they knew about the Prince Su's rebellion and Zhu Jinzhen's ambition to become emperor, who could stop him?

"Xue Zhi".

"The end will be here."

“The capital is already under our control, so there’s no need to rush.” Zhu Jinzhen pointed to the location of Wanquan Commandery on the map and sand table: “You lead a light cavalry unit straight up and take Wanquan Commandery and Kaiping Guard first.”

"Wang Qing sent a reply this morning. After her Cangyun army entered Taiyuan, they adopted a strategy of spreading out in all directions. Zhen Ding Prefecture and Hejian Prefecture are already in my hands."

"Even if Tianjin puts up a stubborn resistance, it can only hold out for half a day at most."

"After you take Kaipingwei, Wangqing will lead a large army from Baoding to join forces with me in Shuntian."

Xue Zhi bowed and accepted the order, then immediately showed a worried expression: "Your Highness, those clowns..."

"It doesn't matter!"

Zhu Jinzhen waved his hand and said, "You know they are just clowns. I don't believe they can cause any trouble. They are just some wicked people who are daydreaming and having wild fantasies."

"Once the secret guards find their trail, I will uproot them all, leaving none alive."

As he finished speaking, a chilling killing intent flashed in Zhu Jinzhen's eyes.

In just a few days, the secret guards discovered traces of a group of people with ulterior motives active in Zhen Ding Prefecture, Bao Ding Prefecture, Da Tong Prefecture, and He Jian Prefecture.

This was still not enough to enrage Zhu Jinzhen.

What fueled his murderous intent was that the group of rats lurking in the shadows were causing chaos and slaughter in Zhen Ding Prefecture, and they were trying to smear Zhu Jinzhen and the Cangyun Army, hoping to incite a popular uprising, manipulate public opinion, and attack the Cangyun Army led by Changsun Wangqing.

The hidden rebels and traitors among them had mixed large amounts of highly poisonous explosives into the mixture.

If Changsun Wangqing weren't a being above the celestial realm, and if that Cangyun army weren't the most elite force in Cangyun, with their black iron shields capable of withstanding explosive impacts...

A single misstep could result in heavy losses for the Cangyun Army.

"Remember, what happened in Zhen Ding Prefecture must never happen again." Zhu Jinzhen coldly instructed, "Whether those people were coerced or were truly incited by Gu Jingnan'er to rebel at the cost of their lives."

In short, kill if necessary!

"I can feel guilty for the rest of my life, but I absolutely cannot live in fear for the rest of my life."

"We must not have regrets for the rest of our lives."

Throughout his journey, Zhu Jinzhen exercised great restraint and refrained from taking action against the people.

Even though some people in Yan'an Prefecture were incited, Zhu Jinzhen did not take action, but simply ordered the Cangyun Army to drive them away. However, what happened in Zhen Ding Prefecture made Zhu Jinzhen change his mind.

Since of his benevolence, those people don't want it, those common folk don't want it.

Then don't fall into his hands.

Otherwise, kill without mercy. "Yes, Your subordinate will certainly remember this."

Xue Zhi clasped his hands in acceptance of the order once more, his scholarly general aura vanished, replaced by a chilling and murderous aura.

Xue Zhi was fully aware of the accident that occurred in Zhen Ding Prefecture.

If these people hadn't possessed unimaginable strength, the incident in Zhen Ding Prefecture wouldn't have just resulted in a group of comrades being thrown into disarray; it could have directly caused heavy losses and countless deaths.

Such a thing is absolutely impossible and must never happen again.

"It seems His Highness is truly angry." Xu Yu glanced at Shen Bing, a hint of relief in his eyes. They had long felt that although their Highness was strict in disciplining the army, he was good to the people.

Those people are ignorant and illiterate; they will blindly follow anyone who is easily incited.

It could easily become a weapon that people want to use against them.

If one is kind and tolerant, all that will be gained is pain for loved ones and joy for enemies.

Fortunately, His Highness realized the situation in time.

Shen Bing and Ma You kept their eyes on their noses, noses on their mouths, and mouths on their hearts, but their hearts were as clear as a mirror.

"Those rebels really did ask for their own death."

"It's one thing to manipulate public opinion and attack the Cangyun Army, but to even attempt to assassinate Commander Yan? Don't they know she is His Highness's lawfully wedded princess, the future Empress?"

"If they dare to lay a hand on Commander Yan, they're doomed."

Shen Bing, Ma You, Xu Yu, and the others were all well aware of Changsun Wangqing's special status.

This person might not be a figure from the Ma clan, but at the very least, someone like Empress Renxiao Xu Miaoyun, even though Changsun Wangqing was not injured, or even affected at all.

But since those rats have chosen to take action, they should be prepared to be skinned alive.

as well as……

Ma You and Shen Bing, among others, subtly glanced at their colleagues around them.

Some people think they are incredibly smart, but little do they know they are extremely foolish.

Zhu Jinzhen temporarily suppressed his thunderous rage and calmly asked, "Secret Guard, how is the investigation going regarding the group from Zhen Ding Prefecture, those who came back from the dead, and the rats active in the shadows?"

"How many factions are involved?"

"Remnants of the Demonic Cult, or the Azure Dragon Society?"

"Your Highness, although they have the cooperation of various forces, the Secret Guard has followed the clues and found several important pawns." Yan Yimei bowed and replied, her divine thoughts falling on a few of the ministers, "Within a day, this humble general will give Your Highness a satisfactory answer."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Jinzhen was finally slightly moved: "One day?"

"one day!"

Yan Yimei replied decisively.

"Then go ahead and do it. I won't repeat the authority to act expediently."

"Do not disappoint me."

"Yes!" Yan Yimei nodded emphatically.

Some rats have been active in the shadows, thinking they are well hidden and have erased all traces, so they can escape the eyes of the secret guards. Little do they know, this is wishful thinking.

Nothing in this world is ever perfect.

People say that only the dead can keep a secret.

But in the hands of the secret guards, even the mouth of a dead man can be easily pried open.

(End of this chapter)