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

Chapter 317 Entering the Capital, Bloodshed Abounds?
Outside the capital.

As the immortals departed, the Xuanjia Guards appeared from all directions and began to quickly clean up the battlefield.

Figures flickered back and forth like ghosts.

The sight made the eyelids of the capital's garrison soldiers on the city gate twitch wildly.

"The Xuanjia Secret Guards truly live up to their reputation."

"Even the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Lord Qinglong, I estimate is only on par with them, right?"

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard will be a thing of the past from this day forward."

"Everyone points to the Xuanjing, and the secret guards under the command of Prince Su's mansion are even more terrifying than rumored."

The guards on the city gates, as well as the many people standing on the higher pavilions inside the capital or peeking from some hidden corner outside the capital, were all terrified.

Although Zhu Jinzhen's subordinates Changsun Wangqing, Yang Ning, and Yan Yimei raised their hands to suppress and kill the immortals, they slaughtered all the immortals in the lower realm.

However, they are too far removed from ordinary people and forces, and it is almost impossible for them to have any dealings with them in their entire lives. But the Xuanjia Secret Guard is different.

It's obvious to anyone with eyes that this is an organization under Zhu Jinzhen, similar to the "Jinyiwei" and "Dongchang," that combines espionage and assassination.

The moment Prince Su leads his army into the capital, the nature of the Xuanjia Secret Guard will change once again.

There will inevitably be an additional duty to supervise all officials and monitor the entire country.

Ordinary people are fine, but some martial arts practitioners are already starting to have headaches.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard is gradually losing power, and with the rise of martial arts, the upper limit of martial power in this world has increased. Various countries are standing side by side, and many other factors mean that only large and powerful martial arts sects can compete with it.

Most martial arts practitioners, even those who haven't reached the Vajra Realm, wouldn't take the Embroidered Uniform Guard too seriously.

In their eyes, even if they committed crimes in the Ming Dynasty, as long as they were not caught, they could still live a comfortable life, whether they changed their appearance, disguised themselves, or fled to other countries.

Unless someone has committed a heinous crime, even if the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Six Doors issue a warrant for their arrest, there is usually no further action taken.

But what if the Xuanjia Secret Guard replaced the Jinyiwei?

So even the slightest mistake is enough for a Grandmaster of the Mystic Realm to personally hunt you down?
The scene sent chills down the spines of many martial arts spectators, who began to tremble slightly.

In contrast to these people were the Cangyun Army and Tiance soldiers brought by Zhu Jinzhen, as well as some border troops drawn from the Twelve Guards of Shaanxi and some soldiers drawn from the border troops that were later used to suppress Datong, Xuanfu and other places.

"Even immortals were slain by the sword, and the Jingnan Rebellion was over."

"Time flies! Before we knew it, we had already arrived in the capital with His Highness."

"As long as Your Highness sits on that dragon throne, we will be rewarded according to our merits and rise to prominence."

"This must be the easiest rebellion in history, right?"

The soldiers were excited, their faces beaming with barely concealed thrill.

With the capital city so close at hand, its gates opened, and the people and officials inside were ready to line up and welcome them. How could they not be excited?

"Your Majesty, we respectfully welcome Prince Su."

"Long live His Highness Prince Su!"

The officials who had been waiting for a long time, along with most of the ministers of the six ministries, stood by the roadside in a welcoming posture.

The people of the capital followed suit, kneeling on both sides of the street and shouting, "Long live the Prince Su!"

Yan Yimei led the way, followed by Xiao Luoyang and a portion of his secret guards. Behind them on horseback were soldiers from the Cangyun Army and the Tiance Mansion, with Zhu Jinzhen's carriage coming from the rear.

Horses trample the capital!

That iron will and power completely shocked all the officials and common people in the capital who were waiting to greet them.

Many so-called experts and spies mingling among the common people were terrified by the aura emanating from Yan Yimei and Xiao Luoyang, as well as the Cangyun and Tiance soldiers passing by.

Powerful, invincible.

Although their aura was restrained, none of them were below the Vajra Realm, and the leader was led by dozens of terrestrial immortals and celestial beings.

Such a scene was something they couldn't even dream of. Now it had become a reality, happening right before everyone's eyes, and the shock it brought was no less than the impact of Changsun Wangqing, Yang Ning, and Yan Yimei's previous performance when they slew the immortal.

Furthermore, it was because Yan Yimei's reverse-blade sword had drunk the blood of immortals and severed their heads.

Even though Yan Yimei didn't glance at them, and her reverse-blade sword remained sheathed at her waist, it still caused some of the people who had previously harbored resentment and ulterior motives to subconsciously lower their heads, afraid to look up, lest the blade that could even kill immortals slice through their necks at any moment.

"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Su!"

"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Su!"

The soldiers on both sides of the city gate also paid their respects with great excitement.

They all knew that while they could still address Zhu Jinzhen as Prince Su, it wouldn't be long before, perhaps tomorrow, or even this afternoon, they would have to address him as His Majesty the Emperor.

"You are all subjects of our Great Ming Dynasty, there is no need for such formalities."

Zhu Jinzhen's voice rang out. He lifted the carriage curtain, glanced at the figures of hundreds of officials on the main street in front of him, and, without surprise, did not dismount from the carriage. He simply said in a calm tone, "I am going to the palace. All of you ministers may accompany me."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

The officials trembled and bowed their heads in response.

Having been trapped in the capital for some time, they knew more about many things than ordinary people and the general martial arts world. They understood what the arrival of Prince Su in the capital meant for the civil and military officials of the court.

None of the cabinet members were present today.

They could also understand that perhaps the rumors weren't entirely false.

"Luoyang, send people to take over the defenses of the capital and the imperial palace."

"And incidentally, clean up the unhealthy practices in the capital."

"Yes."

With Zhu Jinzhen's order, Xiao Luoyang turned his horse around, selected the 13,000 soldiers from the Cangyun and Tiance armies who had been arranged beforehand, and quickly handed them over to Ji Li, the current garrison of the capital. Then he led the remaining troops toward the other gates of the capital.

Although the nine gates of the capital region had long been under Zhu Jinzhen's control.

The Imperial Guards and the Thirteenth Battalion had long been taken over by Changsun Wangqing and Yang Ning.

But with Cangyun and Tiance arriving, the defense of the capital city naturally needs to be replaced.

Zhu Jinzhen was not worried that the Imperial Guards and the Capital Garrison could threaten him, but he clearly trusted the Tian Ce and Cang Yun armies that he had brought with him more.

The officials at the city gate, as well as the soldiers of the capital garrison and the city defense forces, all lowered their heads and remained silent.

Zhu Jinzhen's order was exactly what everyone expected.

One emperor and one courtier.

This is a truth that everyone understands.

"The outcome is already decided!"

Isn't it obvious?

An imperial censor glanced at the frenzied crowd around him, lowered his voice, and said, "Given the fact that His Highness Prince Su's general ascended to heaven and slew immortals outside the capital today, coupled with His Highness Prince Su's strict military discipline, and the fact that no looting, burning, or killing occurred along the way, his status in the hearts of the people in the capital is probably the same as, or even higher than, that of the founding emperor, Emperor Taizu Gao."

His words served as a reminder to his other colleagues.

If Prince Su, with his power and popular support, cannot stabilize the situation, then so many emperors who have come and gone in the past would probably not be able to hold their positions.

Upon hearing this, all the officials nodded in agreement.

Only a small number of people, with sorrowful faces and trembling legs, followed Zhu Jinzhen's entourage towards the palace, as if heading to the execution ground, filled with anguish and despair.

Although Zhu Jinzhen's main targets in this campaign were Iron-Blooded Marquis Zhu Wushi and the cabinet, how many of these people could be separated from the cabinet and Zhu Wushi?
Therefore, all we can do now is pray that this Prince Su will not be as cruel as Emperor Taizu Gao and raise his sword against the officials!
otherwise……

Today, not only the cabinet, but also the court will be stained with blood.

(End of this chapter)