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

Chapter 341 Northern Garrison Command, Azure Dragon's Choice
Beizhen Fusi.

Since Zhu Yuanzhang established the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and later Zhu Di added the Northern Garrison Command, this place has always been a place that corrupt officials in the court, as well as criminals and ordinary people in the Ming Dynasty, were terrified of.

Yu Huatian's visit overnight alarmed the entire Northern Garrison Office.

The commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Qinglong, personally led the two deputy commanders of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Zhuque and Baihu, to welcome them.

Qinglong bowed to Yu Huatian, who had just alighted from his sedan chair, and said, "Eunuch Yu, what brings you here so late at night?"

Yu Huatian glanced indifferently at Qinglong and the Imperial Guards behind him, then walked into the Northern Garrison Command on his own.

Although the Northern Garrison Command is still the Northern Garrison Command.

However, the one in real control was no longer the commander Qinglong, but his own prince's secret guard, so Yu Huatian didn't hold back.

"Ok?"

Some Imperial Guards tried to stop them, but Zhuque swiftly stopped them, shaking his head at him and the other Imperial Guards.

As the emperor's personal guard, it was also an intelligence agency that had existed since the founding of the Ming Dynasty.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard had an astonishing number of information channels.

I wouldn't dare say I'm all-knowing or have expertise in every aspect.

But at least in the capital, right under the emperor's nose, almost nothing can escape the eyes of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

This includes Yu Huatian gaining Zhu Jinzhen's favor and leading a group of Western Depot agents into the Eastern Depot's prison, and even... the conversations inside the Eastern Depot's prison.

"Please come in." Qinglong frowned and led the way.

Soon, Qinglong led Yu Huatian to a reception room in the Northern Garrison.

Yu Huatian flicked his cloak, sat down, and looked directly at Qinglong, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard:

"Based on the intelligence of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, I think I don't need to waste any more words; you have already guessed my purpose."

"Enough with the nonsense."

"Azure Dragon, I have come here tonight with only one question."

Upon hearing this, a tense atmosphere instantly filled the reception room of the Northern Garrison Command.

Many of the Imperial Guards instinctively placed their hands on their Embroidered Spring Blades.

Standing silently behind Yu Huatian like a shadow, Ma Jinliang, Tan Luzi, and other experts from the Western Depot kept a watchful eye on Zhuque and Baihu, preventing the two most powerful members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard besides the commander Qinglong from suddenly launching an attack.

Qinglong frowned. "What do you want to ask?"

Yu Huatian's gaze sharpened as he stared intently into Qinglong's eyes, asking each word carefully: "Your Majesty has successfully quelled the rebellion, and the previous Emperor's will has passed the throne to you. How will the Embroidered Uniform Guard conduct itself?"

All other organizations in the Ming Dynasty, including the civil and military officials and all institutions, sided with Zhu Jinzhen, and no one could say anything about it.

But the Embroidered Uniform Guard was different...

As is well known, the Embroidered Uniform Guard was the emperor's personal guard.

Qinglong, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, was promoted by Zhu Houzhao himself, along with Zhuque, Baihu, and Xuanwu, who were not present.

They were all taken over from Zheng Dongliu, the former commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

He was also always loyal to Zhu Houzhao.

Previously, when Zhu Wushi conspired with the cabinet to rebel, attempting to deceive the public and call a deer a horse, the first thing he did was to control the nine gates of the capital, the Imperial Guards, and the Beijing Garrison. The second thing he did was to control the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

In recent days, Qinglong and the Embroidered Uniform Guard have been making constant underhanded moves.

The Imperial Guards present all changed their expressions upon hearing Yu Huatian's question.

Everyone instinctively turned their gaze toward their commander, Azure Dragon, including Vermilion Bird and White Tiger.

Because, everyone knows that.

Qinglong's answer next will not only determine his life or death, but may also determine the life or death of the entire Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Although Qinglong was straightforward, he was not stupid and naturally understood.

only……

He didn't know how to answer.

Yu Huatian wasn't in a hurry. He glanced at the sky outside and leisurely sipped his tea. The other Imperial Guards, however, were secretly anxious.

Is there anything to hesitate about?

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was naturally the Imperial Guard of the Ming Dynasty, the emperor's personal guard.

Why can't they just be loyal to whoever is the emperor?
Besides...

Do they have a choice?

Thinking of the secret guards who had previously controlled the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the power they had inadvertently displayed, and the Cangyun Army and Tiance Mansion stationed less than three streets away from the Northern Garrison Command, many Embroidered Uniform Guards were already as anxious as ants on a hot pan.

The Vermilion Bird and the White Tiger exchanged glances, both seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes and a hint of ambiguity in their expressions.

……

After three rounds of tea.

Yu Huatian slowly shook his head and said, "Commander Qinglong, does a question really require so much thought?"

Azure Dragon gave a bitter laugh, feeling the expectant gazes from all directions.

He took a deep breath, stood up, and replied, "I've thought it through!"

"Oh? I'd like to hear more about it."

Yu Huatian put down his teacup.

"The Embroidered Uniform Guards are loyal to the Emperor!"

"His Majesty left a will bequeathing the throne to His Highness Prince Su. As long as His Highness Prince Su does not mind and still recognizes the Embroidered Uniform Guard as the Emperor's personal guard, the Embroidered Uniform Guard will remain as before, loyal only to His Majesty the Emperor."

After Qinglong finished speaking, he met Yu Huatian's gaze, his eyes filled with composure.

"Clap clap clap!"

"Qinglong, you made a wise decision."

Yu Huatian smiled and clapped. At this moment, many figures in iron armor outside the Northern Garrison Command retreated rapidly like a tide. It wasn't until the sound of their departure rang out that Qinglong, Baihu, Zhuque, and the hidden experts in the Embroidered Uniform Guard felt a chill run down their spines and cold sweat broke out instantly.

There's a lingering sense of unease, as if you've unknowingly brushed with death.

The white tiger, with its head bowed, looked at the vermilion bird beside it, its eyes questioning, "What was happening outside just now..."

"It's either Cangyun or Tiance."

The look of fear still lingered in Zhuque's eyes.

They don't need to know whether the commotion was caused by Tian Ce or Cang Yun.

All you need to know is that if Qinglong had answered incorrectly just now, the entire Northern Garrison would have faced annihilation.

Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard was feared by corrupt officials and江湖人士 (jianghu figures).

Yes, family members know their own affairs.

No matter how powerful the Embroidered Uniform Guard was, it was ultimately just an intelligence agency.

Faced with a single charge from the army, the entire Northern Garrison Command would be utterly destroyed. If it were the Cangyun Army or the Tian Ce Army, they would not only be destroyed, but would be trampled into dust.

Although Qinglong's expression changed repeatedly, he remained calm.

As one of the top experts in the Great Ming Dynasty's Finger Xuan Realm, he naturally had some vague senses about the area outside the Northern Garrison Command, but he couldn't imagine how many people were there.

"Your Majesty's ascension to the throne has not changed the Ming Dynasty."

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard will remain the same Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"only……"

Yu Huatian glanced past Qinglong and looked at the group of Imperial Guards behind him, saying meaningfully, "There are some bad apples and some with ulterior motives in the Imperial Guards, so we need to clean them out."

Upon hearing this, the Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, and White Tiger's expressions changed drastically.

The Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) has a long history of uneven quality, and they are powerless to change it. The rules set by the founding emperor, Taizu Gao, are not something they can alter. But the second half…

(End of this chapter)