Ming Dynasty: The Jingnan Rebellion has just been successful, and Zhu Yuanzhang has been resurrected

Chapter 183 Killing, Advancing North to the Grasslands

"You're too kind, sir!" The jailer cupped his hands in greeting, turned, and walked away.

Fang Xiaoru was different from ordinary court officials; he was also a cabinet minister. This time, Zhu Yunwen left Yingtian Prefecture and appointed six cabinet ministers to oversee the country, which made everyone realize the value of the cabinet.

In particular, the position of the Grand Secretary has not yet been decided.

There had been rumors in Yingtian Prefecture that the cabinet would have a chief minister, selected from the current six-member cabinet. The chief minister would be equivalent to the former prime minister.

No one can confirm whether this rumor is true or false. However, it's always better to believe something than not to believe it at all, because what if it's true? Then there could be big trouble.

Although Fang Xiaoru's chances of becoming Grand Secretary were very low due to his status, it was not entirely impossible.

"Hmph!" Huang Zicheng snorted coldly when he saw Fang Xiaoru.

"Brother Fang!" Qi Tai greeted Fang Xiaoru with a cupped-hand salute.

Fang Xiaoru walked up to Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai. He did not ask the jailer to open the cell door, but simply sat down across the cell door and arranged the wine and dishes he was holding.

Huang Zicheng stared at Fang Xiaoru's actions, his expression momentarily stunned. The coldness on his face slowly faded, replaced by a complex look: "Is he going to kill both of us?"

Qi Tai's mouth moved, but in the end he didn't say anything.

"Brother Huang, please don't misunderstand. I'm not here to send you on your way. I've come here to have a chat with you." Fang Xiaoru arranged the wine and dishes.

"Want to chat?"

Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with confusion. They couldn't quite understand what Fang Xiaoru meant.

Why would someone deliberately go to the Imperial Guard's prison just to chat with those two?

The two were completely confused and couldn't figure it out.

“Brother Fang, things have come to this point. Brother Huang and I are already prisoners, and we may die soon. You don’t need to hold back your words,” Qi Tai said softly, taking a deep breath.

Fang Xiaoru shook his head and said, "Brother Qi, I really just came here to chat with you and Brother Huang. I have no other purpose."

"Hmph, we have nothing to talk to you about. We are prisoners, and you are a cabinet minister. Our statuses are different now," Huang Zicheng said coldly.

Fang Xiaoru seemed not to hear Huang Zicheng's words. He filled his wine cup and handed it to Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai through the prison door, saying, "Not long ago, His Majesty defeated the Northern Yuan army in Liaodong and won a great victory."

“We just heard about this,” Qi Tai said.

"You've heard about it?" Fang Xiaoru was taken aback for a moment, then nodded: "Indeed, it's all over Yingtian Prefecture right now, you could say everyone knows about it."

Although somewhat surprised, he could understand why Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai knew about it, since the news of Zhu Yunwen's great victory in Liaodong was so widespread that it was being spread throughout Yingtian Prefecture.

"Your Majesty's abilities have been witnessed by Brother Huang and me. Perhaps the Ming Dynasty can become strong under Your Majesty's leadership, but we may not live to see that day," Qi Tai said.

Fang Xiaoru was taken aback by Qi Tai's words, his eyes filled with surprise: "Brother Qi, you..."

Qi Tai smiled and said, "What? Are you surprised that I said that?"

Fang Xiaoru took a deep breath, slowly exhaled, and said, "When His Majesty returns, I will personally plead with him on your behalf."

"No, I don't care!" Huang Zicheng shook his head.

He knew very well that he was different from Fang Xiaoru and Qi Tai. He was too deeply bound to Zhu Yunwen, and in the end, he would definitely not be able to continue to be active in the court. The best outcome would probably be to retire and return to his hometown.

Of course, everything depends on Zhu Yunwen letting him go. If Zhu Yunwen is unwilling to let him go, he will inevitably lose his head in the end.

"Brother Huang, His Majesty's excellence, are you really not moved at all?" Fang Xiaoru looked at Huang Zicheng, knowing that Huang Zicheng was Zhu Yunwen's teacher and had a close relationship with Zhu Yunwen.

However, the problem now is that Zhu Yunwen has already run away and his whereabouts are unknown. It is uncertain whether he is dead or alive. Under such circumstances, is it still necessary for Huang Zicheng to be so persistent?
Huang Zicheng lowered his head and remained silent. Zhu Yunwen's abilities did indeed leave him with mixed feelings, but he absolutely could not admit it.

Qi Tai remained silent for a moment, then looked up at Fang Xiaoru with a solemn expression: "Brother Fang, do you think Brother Huang and I still have a chance?"

"Huh?" Fang Xiaoru was taken aback upon hearing this.

Huang Zicheng's face changed, and he looked at Qi Tai angrily, his expression extremely ugly: "Qi Tai, what do you mean by that?"

Qi Tai remained calm and said, "It's nothing. Some things are already quite obvious, and even the Imperial Grandson Yunwen himself has given up, hasn't he? Under such circumstances, is there any point in us continuing to persist?"

Huang Zicheng's expression was uncertain, and he seemed unsure of what to say.

If it were before, he could still reprimand Qi Tai, but not long ago Jiang Huan brought a letter from Zhu Yunwen, which clearly stated that Zhu Yunwen had completely given up.

Qi Tai looked up at Fang Xiaoru.

Fang Xiaoru took a deep breath and said, "I will do my best in this matter!"

"We will not reveal the whereabouts of the imperial grandson, Yunwen!" Huang Zicheng said blankly.

"Okay!" Fang Xiaoru nodded, feeling extremely happy at that moment.

He never expected to gain so much from visiting Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai at the imperial prison. If Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai also surrender to Zhu Yunwen, he will no longer be fighting alone.

Perhaps, he might even dream of becoming the Grand Secretary someday.

Wherever there are people, there is a world of intrigue and conflict, and the imperial court is no exception.

Although no one said it, and although he, Xia Yuanji, Xie Jin, Hu Ying, Yang Shiqi, and Yao Guangxiao were all cabinet ministers, among the six, he had the lowest chance of becoming the Grand Secretary. No one said this, but he could clearly feel it.

At Xia Yuanji's residence!
Fang Xiaoru, Huang Zicheng, and Qi Tai drank heartily. Without Zhu Yunwen, the three of them regained their previous close relationship and drank to their hearts' content.

After leaving the imperial prison, Fang Xiaoru went straight to Xia Yuanji's residence. He needed to inform Xia Yuanji and the others about Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai's intention to surrender to Zhu Yunwen, so as to prevent Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai from being killed before Zhu Yunwen returned.

Although the possibility is not very high, this is not something to be taken lightly. If Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai were killed, he would be very upset.

If he goes it alone, he might not be ostracized, but he probably has little hope of becoming the prime minister.

"Lord Fang, what is it?" Xia Yuanji asked.

Fang Xiaoru said, "Lord Xia, good news! I just went to the imperial prison and met Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai. They now want to pledge allegiance to His Majesty!"

"Hmm?" Xia Yuanji was taken aback upon hearing this, frowned, and said, "Lord Fang, you're not joking, are you?"

He had tried many times, but Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai were now determined to die and there was absolutely no chance of them being won over. Furthermore, the reason he doubted Fang Xiaoru's words was because Fang Xiaoru was currently drinking.

What if Fang Xiaoru was just talking nonsense because he was drunk? Wouldn't this whole thing be an utter farce?
Fang Xiaoru said seriously, "Lord Xia, although I have been drinking, I can tell you with absolute certainty that what I said is true. If you don't believe me, you can send someone to the Imperial Prison to confirm with Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai."

Xia Yuanji stared at Fang Xiaoru for a while, then summoned a servant from his residence: "Go to the imperial prison and ask Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai if they intend to surrender to His Majesty!"

"Yes, sir!" The servant nodded, turned around and trotted away.

After Xia Yuanji finished doing all this, he turned to Fang Xiaoru and said, "Lord Fang, let's sit down and talk this over. How exactly did you manage to convince Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai? Is there anything wrong with this matter?"

Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai were not afraid of death before, but now they just surrendered. He instinctively felt suspicious.

In particular, Fang Xiaoru and Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai were good friends who had worked together for many years. Now that Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai have been captured, there is a high chance that they will be killed.

As a close friend, who knows if Fang Xiaoru would do something extreme to save his friend?

Fang Xiaoru hesitated for a moment, then said, "Lord Xia, I suspect this matter is related to the grandson of the Emperor, Yunwen!"

Previously, he was also very puzzled, unable to understand why Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai would suddenly bow their heads so decisively.

Afterwards, he recalled carefully that when Qi Tai was persuading Huang Zicheng, he mentioned that even Zhu Yunwen had given up, and he accurately captured that sentence.

"Imperial grandson Yunwen?"

"What does this have to do with the imperial grandson, Yunwen?"

Xia Yuanji was taken aback, his doubts growing even stronger.

Fang Xiaoru remained silent for a long time before finally saying softly, "Lord Xia, I hope you will not spread what I am about to say!"

Xia Yuanji met Fang Xiaoru's gaze, nodded, and said, "Okay!"

Fang Xiaoru took a deep breath and said, "I suspect that His Majesty already knows where Prince Yunwen is hiding, and Prince Yunwen is also very clear about this."

"Hmm?" Xia Yuanji frowned, but did not interrupt Fang Xiaoru.

"The loss of the throne must have been a great anger for Prince Yunwen. However, His Majesty's victory on the grasslands has made him resign himself to his fate. He knows that he can no longer sit on the throne. Therefore, he wrote letters to Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai," Fang Xiaoru said eloquently, his eyes bright.

"This..." Xia Yuanji frowned and said, "Do you have any evidence for these things?"

“Some of them are my deductions, and some are supported by evidence,” Fang Xiaoru said.

"What evidence do we have?" Xia Yuanji asked.

“When I went to see Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai just now, I heard Qi Tai say with his own voice that the grandson of the Emperor Yunwen has given up,” Fang Xiaoru said.

Xia Yuanji was silent for a moment, then looked up at Fang Xiaoru and said, "Lord Fang, I hope this is not the way you intend to help your friend get away."

Fang Xiaoru's face showed a bitter expression, and he said, "Lord Xia, have you forgotten that I was the one who told you that Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai had entered Yingtian Prefecture?"

Xia Yuanji said, "Lord Fang, I was just taking precautions. Let's leave it at that. We'll discuss Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai when His Majesty returns."

"Hmm!" Fang Xiaoru achieved his goal and didn't press the matter further.

Some things, once spoken out, reveal a truth that is actually quite unpleasant; it's best not to break the ice.

After all, he and Xia Yuanji were both cabinet ministers, and they would be working together in the future. A chaotic cabinet was certainly not what Zhu Yunwen wanted to see.

Beiping.

After a night's rest, Zhu Yunwen prepared to march his troops toward the grasslands.

His goal was very clear: to conquer the grasslands. Now that the Northern Yuan invasion had been repelled, it was time to get down to business.

"Your Majesty, do you really intend to conquer the grasslands?" Zhu Gaochi was somewhat bewildered.

Conquering the grasslands—that's truly an audacious idea.

"Yes, do you think I'm joking? Don't worry, the grasslands are nothing to worry about." Zhu Yunwen smiled and patted Zhu Gaochi on the shoulder.

"Conquering the grasslands, isn't that easy?" Zhu Gaochi hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped himself.

If conquering the grasslands isn't difficult, then what is?

However, looking at Zhu Yuntong's confident expression, a thought popped into his mind: it seemed that Zhu Yuntong would soon be able to conquer the grasslands.

"That's all, let's go!" Zhu Yunwen mounted his horse.

"My lord, believe in His Majesty, his very existence is a miracle!" Zhu Di said.

"Father," Zhu Gaochi looked at Zhu Di in front of him. No one knew better than him how proud Zhu Di was, but now he could feel the respect Zhu Di had for Zhu Yunwen.

"Boom!"

Zhu Yunwen led the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry and the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, along with Lan Yu, Zhu Di, Zhu Gaoxu, and others, and left Beiping, plunging into the grasslands.

There was no sound of horns, no sound of drums.

Everything seemed so ordinary, yet it was like the calm before the storm.

"His Majesty's efficiency is too impressive; he just went straight into the grasslands like that?"

"Brutal, truly ruthless! His Majesty just charged into the grasslands like that."

"Your Majesty really wants to conquer the grasslands! I wonder if Your Majesty will be able to do it in the end!"

"Your Majesty, keep going! If Your Majesty can truly conquer the grasslands, what level will the Ming Dynasty's national strength reach? Will it rival the Tang Dynasty in its heyday?"

"Of course! However, I estimate that our Great Ming will surpass the Tang Dynasty by then, because now His Majesty is leading the expedition in person. Moreover, you have all witnessed the strength of the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry and the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry!"

"Hey, I wonder if those Northern Yuan traitors will regret it when they realize that their invasion has brought them utter destruction."

"."

(End of this chapter)