Di Ming

Chapter 424 Welcoming Prince Xin to Nanjing to Establish a New Dynasty, Offering Sacrifices at the Xiaoling Mausoleum of Emperor Taizu and Ascending the Throne. (A long chapter of 10,000 words)

"No retreat! Hold the line!" Marquis Liu Shiyan, wearing armor he hadn't worn in years, led hundreds of elite retainers from the Marquis's mansion to oversee the battle.

"The messenger has already informed Eunuch Zong and Duke Wei! Fifty thousand elite troops will return to reinforce within an hour! One hundred thousand troops will arrive within half a day! There is also the Marquis of Linhuai's navy on the river! Hold on! Anyone who retreats will be executed without mercy!"

However, the routed soldiers on the barbican were terrified by the enemy's incredibly powerful cannons and retreated like a tide. They had never fought a war before; they were good at maintaining order and suppressing bandits, but they had never actually been on the battlefield.

A platoon leader shouted, "Sir! It's no use! The enemy's cannons are too powerful! After just a few shots, several of our gun emplacements have collapsed!"

"You're courting death!" Liu Shiyan raised his hand and thrust his sword into the captain's throat. "What use are you to the imperial court!"

The captain didn't even utter a sound before being killed on the spot.

The servants also killed the fleeing soldiers at the front, slashing with knives, stabbing with spears, and bombarding with muskets.

"Pfft—Pfft!"

"Boom!"

Dozens of the patrol soldiers who fled from the city walls were killed in an instant.

The deserters were immediately stunned.

The head servant shouted sternly, "The Lord has ordered! Anyone who dares to flee again will be executed on the spot! And their family members will also be prosecuted!"

With a ferocious expression, Liu Shiyan brandished his blood-stained sword and roared, "Charge! Defend Yifeng Gate to the death! Nanjing is easy to defend and difficult to attack. As long as there is even a little resistance, the enemy will not be able to enter Nanjing!"

"If you hold the city gates, I guarantee you will all be richly rewarded! Your day is the day to serve the Emperor! Kill!"

Hundreds of guards, clad in iron armor, charged forward menacingly, and the routed soldiers could only let out a shout before turning and rushing up the city wall.

At the same time, the noble families in Nanjing, including Marquis Chang Yinxu of Huaiyuan, Marquis Tang Zhigao of Lingbi, Earl Zhao Shixin of Xincheng, Earl Fang Shihua of Nanhe, and Earl Mao Bangqi of Nanning, also donned their armor and personally led their household servants to suppress and supervise the battle.

More than two hundred years after the founding of the dynasty, these nobles who had shared the fate of the nation have finally risen from the dead, once again fulfilling their natural mission of protecting the court.

At this time, the noble class had not yet completely degenerated and remained loyal to the Ming Dynasty. They were not yet the "tiger-skinned sheep with no strength to even kill a chicken" of the Chongzhen era.

The retainers of various noble families numbered as many as two thousand. These retainers were not ordinary soldiers, but strong men who were fed fine wine and sheep and paid generously. In addition, they were well-armed and skilled in battle. Although they were called retainers, they were actually the true elite of the Ming army.

For a time, under the supervision and discipline of two thousand strong retainers, twenty thousand government troops were crammed haphazardly on the city walls in the northwest of Nanjing, around Yifeng Gate, Lion Mountain, and Yuejiang Tower.

The constables of the Five Cities Garrison also participated in the defense of the city.

The defending troops began firing their artillery at the Jinghai Navy fleet that occupied the Longjiang Shipyard.

"Boom!" Hundreds of city defense cannons fired at the same time, billowing black smoke and creating a deafening sound that reverberated throughout the entire city of Nanjing, making a huge commotion and appearing incredibly powerful at first glance.

Unfortunately, the defending forces' artillery was far inferior to that of the Jinghai Army. The shells could only hit the middle of the Yangtze River, splashing water in vain, but failing to damage a single enemy ship.

...

The Jinghai Army, which had occupied the Longjiang Shipyard, ceased firing at the Nanjing city walls.

This demonstrates Zhu Yin's benevolence. He had previously given a special order not to easily bombard Nanjing, to minimize casualties, and to be mindful of the political repercussions.

The city's garrison, though cowardly, were all locals. Every death meant loss for their families. They were all subjects of the Ming Dynasty; the fewer people killed, the better. This was a coup, not a foreign war.

How can you attack a city without bombardment? Of course, you have to wait for an inside agent to launch an attack. Zhu Yin has prepared for so long, planning down to every detail. Nanjing is still Tiger Fang's stronghold. If the attack still requires a direct assault, it would be a complete failure.

However, the Jinghai Navy was not without battle; the river defense fleet still needed to be wiped out cleanly. Ning Caiwei dispatched some small warships to bombard the river defense fleet of Marquis Linhuai, Li Tingzhu.

Li Tingzhu's river defense fleet consisted of only three thousand soldiers and a little over a hundred small and medium-sized ships. How could they possibly be a match for the Jinghai Army? In less than half an hour, several of the largest warships were hit by cannon fire.

Even the flagship of Marquis Linhuai, Li Tingzhu, was sunk. Li Tingzhu, the most arrogant nobleman in Nanjing, perished!
Li Tingzhu was a man who had to be killed. This was because he was the nephew-in-law of Consort Zheng, and his wife was the eldest daughter of Zheng Guotai. He was a true member of the Zheng faction and a thorn in Zheng's side in Nanjing.

With Li Tingzhu dead, the river defense fleet scattered and fled, no longer able to interfere with the Jinghai Army's attack on Nanjing.

On the deck of the Kuaiji, Ning Caiwei, dressed in red armor, and Xu Wenchang, wearing a Taoist robe, each held up a telescope made in Daishan and looked at Nanjing.

Both men appeared nonchalant, completely disregarding the impregnable defenses of Nanjing, surrounded by mountains and rivers.

Huya had already thoroughly studied all the intelligence and terrain of Nanjing.

Ning Caiwei put down her monocular telescope and said to Xu Wenchang, "The internal agents in the city are about to launch their attack. In your opinion, when will our army be able to control the entire city of Nanjing?"

Xu Wei's Taoist robe fluttered in the river breeze, giving him an air of otherworldly elegance and a very dashing appearance.

He stroked his beard and laughed, "In my humble opinion, our army will be able to control Nanjing by 3:45 PM at the latest. By noon tomorrow at the latest, our lord will be able to escort Prince Xin back to Nanjing and ascend the throne at Xiaoling Mausoleum."

"Therefore, after we enter the city, our first task is to prepare for tomorrow's tomb-sweeping ceremony."

He gazed northward and laughed, "By now, Zhu Shuaixin's Western Ming forces must have defeated Yang Hao's army that marched out of the pass, and Yang Hao can only retreat to Jiayuguan. Hehe, I wonder how furious Wanli will be when he receives the report of defeat. If he hears news from Nanjing, he might just die of anger."

Ning Caiwei also laughed, "When the Beijing court is overwhelmed and in a panic, the people's hearts will only lean more towards Nanjing."

"Presumably, the people of Nanjing are now on our side."

……

The city's more than one million citizens were already terrified and filled with anxiety when they heard that the enemy was coming.

However, at that moment, a message quickly spread throughout the city, reaching every corner of it like the wind:

"The ones coming are not enemies, but the troops who support Prince Xin's ascension to the throne in Nanjing, and also the Ming Dynasty's imperial army. From now on, Nanjing will once again become the capital! The people need not be afraid, because those who support Prince Xin in Nanjing are the world-renowned Mr. Zhihu and the Holy Mother Qingchen!"

The news spread like wildfire. Some said that Mr. Zhihu and the Holy Mother Qingchen descended to earth for the sake of a peaceful and prosperous Ming Dynasty. Others said that Mr. Zhihu, a star deity, descended to earth to restore order to the nation and set things right.

There were also rumors that Emperor Wanli had more money in his private treasury than he could spend, yet he still allowed eunuchs to plunder the people's wealth everywhere. He also neglected state affairs every day, indulging in wine and women in the deep palace, living a life of debauchery and debauchery. He was so tyrannical that even Hai Qingtian was killed. He was a tyrant like Jie and Zhou, and finally angered Heaven.

Even bolder rumors claim that the current Emperor Wanli has not held court for nine years, has not offered sacrifices to his ancestors for nine years, has deposed his eldest son in favor of a younger one, has heavily relied on treacherous officials, has persecuted loyal ministers, and has favored wicked concubines, making him a great tyrant, and thus is despised by the spirit of the founding emperor.

Therefore, the spirit of Emperor Taizu invited Mr. Zhihu to descend to earth, to win over the hearts of the people, and to support Prince Xin's ascension to the throne in Nanjing, thus ushering in a new era of prosperity for the Ming Dynasty.

There were also diviners skilled in astronomy who said that the emperor had lost his virtue, and that ominous signs should have appeared in the heavens, such as Mars guarding the heart of the sky, Jupiter dimming, and four planets aligning.

However, before these ominous signs could take shape, they were neutralized and countered by auspicious signs of auspicious stars shining in the sky and the sun and moon in harmony. In addition, Guanyin Mountain was blessed with "heavenly dew and seven colors in abundance," so the celestial phenomena returned to their proper places, and great fortune returned.

The auspicious stars shining in the sky and the sun and moon in harmony must surely belong to Mr. Zhihu and Prince Xin. The heavenly dew and the seven colors in abundance may belong to the Holy Mother Qingchen, because there is a shrine dedicated to the Holy Mother Qingchen at the foot of Guanyin Mountain.

Regardless of the news, one thing remains certain: the arriving army is not the enemy!

Within half a day, the news spread like wildfire throughout the city, known to everyone, young and old. Amidst the rampant rumors, the people of Nanjing were no longer afraid; instead, they began to look forward to it!
Over the years, the emperor's actions have truly chilled the hearts of the people! Countless people dare not speak out against the emperor. The emperor's reputation for incompetence has grown day by day, and the people throughout the land yearn for change.

Moreover, Zhu Yin's reputation was widespread, succeeding Hai Rui as the leading figure of the Ming Dynasty's upright officials, and shrines dedicated to him were found throughout the land. His tragic demotion did not diminish his influence; on the contrary, it increased the respect and trust of the people. His official rank changed from Vice Minister to County Magistrate, but his character became even more perfect. To the point that Zhu Yin's actions were imbued with a certain legitimacy.

If Mr. Zhihu were to support Prince Xin's ascension to the throne in Nanjing, that would be a great thing. Mr. Zhihu is a star deity descended to earth, and with the assistance of the Holy Mother Qingchen, his actions would naturally be for the sake of the nation and its people.

Moreover, Prince Xin is the eldest son of the emperor, of noble status, and should rightfully be the crown prince. Prince Xin's ascension to the throne is only natural, after all, the Ming Dynasty is still the Ming Dynasty.

Then a strange scene unfolded: the Jinghai army was at the city gates, and the people in the city actually began to get excited.

The members of the Propaganda Society were even more excited, as if they had just celebrated a joyous occasion!
The members of the Propaganda Society became another weapon of public opinion for Zhu Yin. At this time, they began to play a role that the Tiger Tooth agents could not replace: they debated the classics for Zhu Yin and Prince Xin, sought legal justification for their actions from a theoretical perspective, and controlled public opinion!

At the same time, Huya's actions shifted from public opinion campaigning to military insurgency!

In Jiming Temple near the Imperial College, several high-ranking members of Huya were discussing matters.

The people in charge were none other than Luo Yan and Fan Yi'an, who had been dismissed from their positions as directors of the field affairs bureau and transferred back to Nanjing as inspectors by Zhu Yin, as well as Tang Yangyang, the director of the intelligence department, and others.

Luo Yan was dressed in a scholar's blue robe, his expression full of coldness.

"My teacher transferred me back to Nanjing and made me sit on the sidelines for several years, all for this day! There are three thousand armed merchant corps hidden in the city, and they are elites personally selected and sent from all over the country by my teacher's wife. If we cannot take Yifeng Gate in one fell swoop, then we can only apologize and commit suicide."

"Junior Sister Tang, are all the government troops' armor ready? Have you personally checked them? Including the flags and waist badges, nothing can be wrong!"

Tang Yangyang nodded, "Don't worry, Senior Brother Luo, it's all proper official military attire. You won't be able to tell the difference even if you look at it directly. The supplies have already been delivered to various places. We'll just wait until 3:45 PM to change and assemble together, and then, under the guise of returning to the city as reinforcements, we'll support Yifeng Gate."

Fan Yi'an said, "Using the armor and banners of the government troops, under the guise of returning reinforcements, and impersonating the soldiers under the Duke of Wei, we can definitely fool that old bastard Liu Shiyan. But..."

"It's not enough to just fool him; in the end, we still need a fierce battle to take over Yifeng Gate. But Yifeng Gate has at least a thousand servants, all of whom are private soldiers from powerful families and are extremely brave. If we get entangled with them, the losses will definitely be significant."

Luo Yan sneered, "Then let the militiamen deliberately approach the servants beforehand. Once they see the signal rocket, they should all attack the servants next to them, trying to kill them with one blow!"

……

On the watchtower above Yifeng Gate, Liu Shiyan, Chang Yinxu, Tang Zhigao, Zhao Shixin, and others were observing the enemy situation, all of them looking terrified.

"The Marquis of Linhuai has died for his country!" The nobles and officials were devastated as they watched Li Tingzhu's flagship sink into the sea.

The enemy fleet on the river was truly formidable. Rumor has it that this was actually Zhu Yin's army used to support Prince Xin!?

If that's the case, should this battle continue?
Zhao Shiyan was also a member of Zheng's faction. Seeing the uncertain expressions on everyone's faces, he immediately understood the situation and warned them:

"My brothers! Regardless of whether the rumors are true or false, or what tactics the enemy employs, do not forget that we are His Majesty's subjects! With the Emperor and Father above us, our only option is to defend this gate to the death and await the return of reinforcements!"

"Any disloyal thought could bring the family to its utter ruin!"

Everyone was immediately terrified and dared not be distracted any longer.

"Lord Chengyi!" said Zhao Shixin, the Lord of Xincheng. "When will reinforcements arrive? The enemy ships are about to attack the city!"

Zhao Shiyan said, "Soon! Eunuch Zong and the Duke of Wei are only eighteen li from the city. My messenger should have arrived by now."

Suddenly, Tang Zhihao pointed at the enemy ship and said, "Did you see the large flag on the enemy ship? What does it say? Is it... Fengtian Jingnan?"

Fengtian Jingnan? Upon closer inspection, everyone gasped in shock; it truly seemed to be Fengtian Jingnan!
Immediately, an extremely eerie feeling arose in everyone's hearts.

Back then, it was Emperor Chengzu who quelled the rebellion on behalf of Heaven. And now it's happening again?
Just then, a commotion suddenly came from the south, followed by the clanging of armor. Immediately afterwards, a large banner of the Beijing Garrison appeared.

"It's the Duke of Wei's troops!" Liu Yanshi exclaimed with delight. "The Duke of Wei has returned!"

Soon, a personal guard reported back: "My lord! This is the first batch of elite troops sent by the Duke of Wei. The main army of Eunuch Zong and the Duke of Wei is still behind!"

Liu Yanshi waved his hand, "Have them obey my orders! All of them must garrison Yifeng Gate and stand guard with the servants!"

"Order!"

Soon, the three thousand men gathered together, and the armed merchants, dressed in Ming army armor, openly defended Yifeng Gate under the guidance of the secret agents.

These militiamen deliberately moved close to the household servants, mingling among them, waiting for the signal to act.

The merchant group had barely made it to the Yifeng Gate area when the Jinghai Navy warships on the river began to close in!
"Enemy ships are about to attack the city! Prepare to fire!" Liu Shiyan shouted, raising the command flag to signal the start of the attack.

However, no sooner had he finished speaking than a signal rocket, unique to the Jinghai Navy, shot into the sky with a sharp "whoosh" and then exploded with a "bang," displaying a dazzling array of colors!

Immediately afterwards, the militiamen suddenly attacked!

Some attacked the guards of the noble families around them, while others began to open the city gates!

"Pfft! Pfft!" The fierce and skilled servants didn't even have a chance to fight the Jinghai Army before they were ambushed and killed by the militia in large groups!

In an instant, more than half of the household guards were caught off guard and killed by the militia around them. The weak patrolmen, seeing the sudden change in the situation, also fled once again.

Almost simultaneously, the militiamen also rushed towards Liu Shiyan and other nobles!
"It's a spy! It's an inside man!" Liu Shiyan's expression changed drastically, but it was too late.

The three thousand-strong armed merchant corps completely occupied Yifeng Gate, and it was impossible to take it back.

Even a group of nobles were captured by the militia, and not one of them escaped.

Their core military force is their household guards, but now that their guards have been attacked and suffered heavy losses, and the patrolmen have scattered, what hope do they have left?
Yifeng Gate has fallen into enemy hands!
On the river, the soldiers of the Jinghai Army erupted in thunderous cheers.

Ning Caiwei ordered, "The agents inside the city have opened the city gates! Apart from the four thousand naval warships left to guard the city, the remaining sixteen thousand people should all disembark and enter the city according to plan!"

Immediately afterwards, flag signals were displayed on the flagship to convey Ning Caiwei's orders.

"Woo woo woo—" The Jinghai Army's horns sounded, and ten thousand native laborers rowed desperately, bringing the fleet closer to the south bank.

A quarter of an hour later, the Jinghai soldiers on the first warship went ashore.

More and more Jinghai troops landed in formation and entered Nanjing without encountering any resistance!
Immediately afterwards, the banner of "Fengtian Jingnan" (meaning "Upholding Heaven and Pacifying the Rebellion") was raised high above the city walls of Nanjing. The people of Nanjing felt both bewildered and excited upon seeing the banner.

Surrounded by Ding Hongying and others, Ning Caiwei arrived at Yifeng Gate. Gazing up at the towering city gate, she muttered to herself:
"Nanjing, I've come again."

Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.

"Students pay their respects to their teacher's wife!" A group of top spies, including Luo Yan, Fan Yi'an, and Tang Yangyang, came together to greet and pay their respects.

"No need for formalities! Rise!" Ning Caiwei's smile was dazzling. "This time, we took Nanjing without bloodshed, and you will all be awarded a major merit!"

Once more than 10,000 Jinghai troops entered Nanjing, Ning Caiwei and Xu Wei immediately went into the city to take charge. They first posted the prepared proclamation and public notices, then dispatched troops to maintain order, occupied key locations in the city, and quickly brought the entire city under control.

They didn't even touch the slightest thing!

The heaviest casualties were among the nobles' retainers. Only a few dozen patrolmen died, and those were executed by the retainers during their escape. As for the common people, not a single one died.

Upon entering the city, Ning Caiwei not only launched a powerful propaganda offensive but also immediately prepared to welcome Zhu Yin and Prince Xin into the city.

The emperor's personal items, such as the dragon robe of Prince Xin, were all prepared and transported off the warship one by one.

...

It was only at this point that Xu Xiaobai, the Duke of Wei, received news of the occupation of Nanjing.

"What?!" Xu Xiaobai, who was in the middle of a drill, was shocked when he heard the news.

Where did the enemy troops come from? Foreign barbarians or Japanese pirates?

He immediately found Zong Qin, who was also in charge of the drill, and exclaimed, "Eunuch Zong! Something terrible has happened! Nanjing has been occupied by the enemy! Please order an immediate return to the capital to suppress the rebels!"

Zong Qin smiled slightly and said calmly, "So, Duke Wei only knows that Nanjing has fallen, but hasn't heard the rumors? I'm sorry, I can't issue that order. I hope you won't either."

"What rumor?" Xu Xiaobai's heart skipped a beat, and he squinted at Zong Qin's expression. "What does Eunuch Zong mean by this?"

He suddenly took a step back and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Zong Qin took out a secret letter from his sleeve. "This is a personal letter from Mr. Zhihu, a close friend of the Duke, to the Duke. The Duke should be very familiar with Mr. Zhihu's handwriting."

Xu Xiaobai took the letter, opened it, and his expression changed drastically.

"To quell the rebellion? To support Prince Xin in establishing a separate court in Nanjing, and to ask me to rise up in response?! This... isn't this rebellion?! You..."

Xu Xiaobai could hardly believe it, and suddenly shouted sharply, "Come on!"

With a whoosh, a large group of servants surrounded them, each one exuding a murderous aura.

"Protect the father-in-law!" At the same time, a large group of Zongqin's personal guards also stepped forward to protect Zongqin.

The two sides immediately engaged in a tense standoff, on the verge of exploding.

"Hehe!" Zong Qin chuckled, sitting with his legs crossed. "What? The Duke of Wei is a close friend of Mr. Zhihu. Does he not want to support Prince Xin and Mr. Zhihu's righteous act of pacifying the rebellion?"

Xu Xiaobai's face turned ashen. "Prince Xin should indeed be the Crown Prince, and His Majesty is indeed unjust. But His Majesty is, after all, the Son of Heaven, the sovereign and father, while Prince Xin is the son, and Zhu Yin is the subject! Our Wei State is the head of the founding nobles, how can we act in such a way?"

Zong Qin sneered, "Duke, don't forget, you and Mr. Zhihu are already engaged through marriage. Mr. Zhihu is your brother-in-law. Think about it, Duke, will you lead your 20,000 elite troops to attack Prince Xin and Mr. Zhihu, or will you join forces to quell the rebellion?" "Right now, you can only control half of these 50,000 troops at most. The other half is in my hands. The elite troops of Xiaoling Guard will not obey your orders."

"Although your 20,000 troops are not bad in combat, they will not be able to retake Nanjing."

"With Prince Xin's influence and Mr. Zhihu's prestige, do you think there's no guarantee of success? In my opinion, at the very least, it will be a matter of dividing the country along the river!"

Xu Xiaobai's expression was unpredictable as he paced back and forth, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, his mind in turmoil.

This is far too big and too sudden. Young Tiger, you've got some nerve! You've put me in a real dilemma!

To raise an army in response is to gamble with the more than two-hundred-year-old Wei State Duke's Mansion!

The problem is that the Duke of Wei's family is already a dukedom, holding the highest position among officials, and there's no higher title they can bestow. Even if he responds and supports the cause, and succeeds, he will still remain a duke; he can't be made a king.

But if they fail, the entire Duke of Wei's mansion will be doomed!

The potential profits are too small, and the risks are too great!
However, he could only command these 20,000-odd soldiers. And how could Zong Qin, the eunuch in charge of the garrison, possibly retake Nanjing when he was actually one of Zhu Yin's men?

Even if he loses Nanjing, he will still be imprisoned and punished if he goes to Beijing!

What exactly?
Xu Xiaobai broke out in a cold sweat, his sword hilt soaked, finding it truly difficult to make a decision.

Suddenly a woman's voice said, "Things have come to this, what are you waiting for!"

Xu Xiaobai turned his head and saw a woman in armor walking proudly out from Zong Qin's personal guard.

The woman had willow-leaf eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes, and her appearance bore a slight resemblance to Zhu Yin; she was none other than Wu You.

"You are..." Xu Xiaobai immediately understood what was going on when he saw this unfamiliar woman.

"I am Wu You." Wu You stepped forward. "I am a ninja. With Eunuch Zong's help, it would have been easy for me to infiltrate your inner circle and assassinate you. But I didn't do it. Do you know why?"

"First, my brother is unwilling. Second, I can't bear it. After all, you are my brother's close friend and also my future husband."

"My brother said that even without Butcher Zhang, he wouldn't eat a pig with hair on. You can respond if you want, or lead your troops across the river and leave if you don't. The choice is entirely yours."

Xu Xiaobai looked at Wu You and couldn't help but smile bitterly. He sighed and said, "Child Tiger, you've been hiding your true intentions too well. You've deceived me so much."

"Fine, fine! I, Xu, will go crazy with you this once. I hope you can win!"

After saying this, he turned to Zong Qin and Wu You and said, "I am willing to support Prince Xin and follow Mr. Zhihu to quell the rebellion in accordance with the will of Heaven!"

Wu You smiled and said, "My husband has such a spirit! This is the kind of man my brother has his eye on!"

Zong Qin laughed loudly, "Good! Good! We are indeed one family! Come, pass on my military order, raise the flags, and swear to pacify the rebellion in accordance with Heaven! Support Prince Xin!"

Xu Xiaobai gritted his teeth and said, "Those who resist, behead them!"

"Raise troops!"

On the 28th day of the sixth month of the 24th year of the Wanli reign, the eunuch in charge of Nanjing and the Duke of Wei led 50,000 main troops in Nanjing to rise up in response to the call to "pacify the rebellion in accordance with the will of Heaven!"
Immediately afterwards, Xiaolingwei also announced that it had been ordered to "pacify the rebellion in Fengtian"!
……

June 28th, night.

Caishiji, Baiyun Temple.

Just as Prince Xin was staying at Baiyun Temple and hundreds of officials who came to participate in the sacrificial ceremony arrived at the nearby dock and post station, Zhu Yin, who had arrived a day earlier, finally made his move.

Three hundred fully armed private soldiers and soldiers of the Brightness Battalion, led by Emperor Kangxi, launched a surprise attack on the docks and post stations, completely blocking the land and water routes.

More than 300 civil officials from Nanjing, plus more than 100 civil officials who came from Beijing, totaling nearly 500 people, were all trapped in the post station and unable to leave, and were captured in one fell swoop.

Almost simultaneously, Zhu Yin personally led a thousand men in a surprise attack on Baiyun Temple!

The guards escorting Prince Xin to his fiefdom were caught off guard and slaughtered like chickens and dogs, with almost no chance to fight back.

Prince Xin, who had been prepared for this, broke away from the enemy's control immediately after the incident, led by his inside man Zheng Ding, and came under the protection of the Bright Camp.

The plan has now been successfully completed.

On Baiyun Mountain, Sun Chengzong, Gao Panlong, and Feng Menglong watched in horror as the private soldiers stormed into Baiyun Temple and slaughtered the guards.

What's going on? Why are the lord's private troops attacking and killing Prince Xin's entourage? Is this an attempt to rescue Prince Xin and rebel?

The three looked at each other, their faces turning pale.

They knew their lord was ambitious and extraordinary, but they never expected him to dare to do such a thing.

“My lord, this is an act of treason!” Sun Chengzong said in a trembling voice. “The Prince of Xin is, after all, a son, and my lord is, after all, a subject.”

Gao Panlong said dryly, "What should we do? Although I admire my lord, I never imagined..."

Feng Menglong remained silent.

Suddenly a voice said, "You are all scholars, don't you know the great principles of the Spring and Autumn Annals!"

"My wife!" Feng Menglong was surprised when his wife suddenly spoke up.

Zhuang Shu, holding Feng Yaoli's hand, emerged from behind the big tree, her eyes sparkling. "I know you are determined to be loyal to the emperor, but things have come to this point, can you still back down? Even if you sever ties with Zhihu and leave this place immediately, you will still be considered traitors in the eyes of the court!"

"Why not... take advantage of the current tyrannical ruler and the people's desire for change, and gamble with Zhihu! It would also be a chance to realize our ambitions!"

Do you think that someone like Zhihu would do something he's not sure of?

Zhuang Shu said confidently, "The one who understands him best is not you advisors, it's me! Zhihu always plans carefully before acting, never taking unnecessary risks or acting impulsively. He always accomplishes great things with ease, and can destroy enemy ships and fortresses in the blink of an eye!"

"If he dares to do it, then he must be very confident!"

"Hahaha!" Sun Chengzong suddenly burst into laughter, "We were actually too attached to appearances! That's right, Prince Xin should have been the crown prince, why can't we support him! The Ming Dynasty is still the Ming Dynasty!"

"Madam's words are truly a wake-up call, a wake-up call! We have read too many books of sages and have kept the principles of ruler and subject firmly in mind, yet we have become trapped in our own little world."

Feng Menglong gritted his teeth and said, "My wife is right! Then... let's do it together!"

Gao Panlong said, "Let's go! Let's go see our lord!"

Feng Yaoli looked at Zhuang Shu with a bit of confusion and asked in a childish voice:

"Mother, what is Godfather going to do?"

Zhuang Shu smiled and said, "My godfather is going to do something really big, maybe..."

She suddenly lowered her head and murmured in the child's ear, "Perhaps you will become a princess someday..."

...

Only after Zhu Yin swiftly and decisively dealt with the guards escorting Prince Xin from the Zheng family did he come to visit the extremely excited Zhu Changluo.

"Sir!" Upon seeing the familiar figure he had not seen for so long, Zhu Changluo's eyes immediately filled with tears, and he couldn't help but kneel down to pay his respects.

"Don't kneel before me!" Zhu Yin quickly helped Zhu Changluo up, overjoyed. "You've grown taller and stronger, you're like a real man now."

"Changluo, I am finally relieved to see that you are safe and sound."

Zhu Changluo wept with joy, saying, "Seeing you today, sir, is like meeting you in a dream. I cannot contain my emotions."

Zhu Yin patted his shoulder, his expression full of relief, "I have often worried about you, fearing that you would be harmed by the Zheng family. I was always worried and afraid. Now that I have rescued you, I can finally put my mind at ease."

“Luo’er, your courage to emulate Chenxiang’s rescue of his mother at Mount Hua and defy the heavenly rules is enough to show that you have truly grown up and can now protect your mother from the wind and rain.”

"Don't worry. A few days ago, lightning must have caused a fire in the palace. I have already given a secret order to rescue your mother while the palace was on fire. If nothing unexpected happens, your mother should have been rescued and taken to sea. Mother and son may be reunited within ten days."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Changluo felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and joy that he could not describe.

"Sir, my child..."

Zhu Yin said, "There's no need for words of thanks. I'm doing this not only for you, but also for the sake of all the people and the Ming Dynasty. If your father continues to cause trouble like this, the empire of the Taizu Emperor will be lost in his hands. We must stop him."

Zhu Changluo's expression turned somewhat bitter. "Sir, I know he is a tyrannical and incompetent ruler, unfit to be emperor. But I do not wish to be emperor. I truly wish to be a free and unrestrained person, traveling the world, exploring the wonders of heaven and earth..."

Zhu Yin sighed, "Luo'er, I know your aspirations. I don't want to force you. But as a prince, you also have your responsibilities. You must become emperor now. However, I can promise you that you can choose not to become emperor and leave the palace..."

"Really?" Zhu Changluo's face lit up with joy. "When can I leave the palace?"

Zhu Yin looked a little embarrassed and coughed, saying, "Well... it will take at least two or three years, and at most three or five years, before you can step down as emperor. At that time, as long as you are a descendant of the founding emperor, it doesn't matter who becomes emperor."

Zhu Changluo was immediately overjoyed. "Your son thanks you for your kindness, sir! I am not fit to be an emperor, so I can only leave this important matter of state to you."

Zhu Yin sighed, "There's nothing I can do about it. For the sake of the Ming Dynasty and its people, I can't avoid this leisure. I wonder when I'll be able to relax, read some books, and enjoy the scenery."

Zhu Changluo said with tears in his eyes, "Sir, you have had a hard life. You have worked so hard."

Zhu Yin grabbed Zhu Changluo's hand and said, "Let's go, let's set off tonight and go back to Nanjing!"

At Zhu Yin's command, the crowd surrounded Prince Xin and escorted nearly five hundred civil officials, boarding a boat to Nanjing.

He did not meet with the officials first, because it was not the best time or place to persuade them.

When they arrive at Xiaoling Mausoleum and see the tens of thousands of troops supporting Prince Xin, and see that Nanjing is already under their control, most of them will immediately submit!
In the middle of the night, Zhu Yin's fleet encountered the Jinghai Navy fleet that had come to greet them.

Early the next morning, Zhu Yin finally arrived in Nanjing.

The officials who were escorted back were horrified to see the huge fleet on the river and the banner of Fengtian Jingnan, all of which were disheveled in the wind.

The city had already made a great show of preparing to welcome him at the city gate. When Zhu Yin and Prince Xin arrived in Nanjing, the entire city was in an uproar.

Prince Xin sat in a roofless sedan chair for the people of Nanjing to admire. Zhu Yin rode a white horse beside Prince Xin's sedan chair.

The ten-year-old Holy Mother Qingchen mysteriously rode a carefully tamed deer, following Zhu Yin's white horse.

Tiger Tooth agents, who had been prepared in advance, and members of the Propaganda Society mingled in the sea of ​​people, shouting:

"Long live the Prince of Xin! Master Zhihu's auspicious star shines brightly in the heavens!"

"Long live the Prince of Xin! Master Zhihu's auspicious star shines brightly in the heavens!"

Some even shouted, "Holy Mother Qingchen! You are so compassionate and merciful!"

The entire crowd erupted in cheers, their shouts deafening.

The civil officials who had been escorted back with him were all horrified upon seeing this. Only then did they realize that Nanjing had fallen into Zhu Yin's hands the very day before!

Nanjing was controlled by Prince Xin and Zhu Yin, so could this so-called Fengtian Jingnan campaign really succeed?
Amid cheers from the city's residents, Zhu Yin and Prince Xin did not linger in the city. Instead, they announced that they would first escort Prince Xin to the Xiaoling Mausoleum for a sacrificial ceremony, with all the officials accompanying them.

Thus, the grand procession escorted Prince Xin and Zhu Yin through the massive city of Nanjing, exited through Taiping Gate, passed Xuanwu Lake, and finally arrived at Xiaoling Mausoleum at the foot of Zijin Mountain.

Upon arriving at the familiar Xiaoling Mausoleum, the officials suddenly discovered that tens of thousands of soldiers stood neatly in formation on the square at the foot of the mountain, their imposing presence overwhelming.

The one leading the way was none other than Zong Qin, the eunuch in charge of Nanjing, and Xu Xiaobai, the Duke of Wei!
As the officials were still in shock and doubt, tens of thousands of soldiers knelt down like waves of wheat swaying in the wind, shouting like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing:

"Long live Prince Xin! Long live Prince Xin! Long live Prince Xin!"

The officials looked at each other in bewilderment, and immediately understood that Prince Xin and Zhu Yin had not only captured Nanjing, but also possessed tens of thousands of troops and a fleet.

So, the Fengtian Jingnan campaign has already succeeded more than halfway!

Since the current emperor is tyrannical, then so be it.

We can support Prince Xin! Prince Xin should have been the crown prince all along!
Besides, Nanjing was originally the capital of the Ming Dynasty. With the success of the Jingnan Rebellion, Nanjing became the capital again, and they were no longer relegated to the lowly positions of bird-raising minister and flower-planting censor.

Let's see how those court officials in Beijing can still look down on the Six Ministries in Nanjing!
Only then did Zhu Yin walk up to the officials and solemnly say:
"The Emperor is incompetent and immoral, has lost the people's favor, and has offended Heaven! For the sake of the country and the people of the Ming Dynasty, I am willing to support Prince Xin's ascension to the throne at Xiaoling Mausoleum, establish a separate court, and remotely honor His Majesty as the Retired Emperor!"

"Those in favor, stand on the left! Those against, stand on the right!"

"Even those who oppose it will not be pursued by me. Gentlemen, for the sake of the country and its people, please support the new dynasty!"

Among the officials, members of Zhu's faction were the first to stand up and shout, "Support Prince Xin! Establish a new dynasty!"

For a moment, all the officials stood on the left, with only a very small number standing on the right, accounting for only 10%.

However, these minority members did not utter any insults; they simply remained silent with gloomy expressions, daring not to speak out despite their anger.

"Good!" Zhu Yin shouted, "Today, we will honor Prince Xin with a sacrifice to Emperor Taizu, and right here at Xiaoling Mausoleum, we will enthron Prince Xin as Emperor!"

After speaking, he turned to face Prince Xin, knelt down and said, "With the Xiaoling Mausoleum above, I humbly pray to the spirit of Emperor Taizu in heaven! Your subject Zhu Yin respectfully requests Your Highness Prince Xin to ascend the throne!"

All the officials who had chosen to support Prince Xin knelt down and shouted along with Zhu Yin:

"We respectfully request His Highness Prince Xin to ascend the throne!"

The Jinghai Army, along with Zong Qin and Xu Xiaobai's troops, knelt down and shouted in a thunderous voice, "We respectfully request His Highness Prince Xin to ascend the throne!"

Prince Xin's legs went weak, but he gritted his teeth and, following his teacher's previous instructions, tried to calm himself down and spoke clearly and distinctly:

"Since the officials have petitioned and the soldiers have given their support, I dare not refuse for the sake of our ancestors and the nation."

"The affairs of the country are currently in a state of turmoil, and time waits for no one. With the mausoleum of Emperor Taizu above, I dare not follow the ancient custom of declining the throne three times. I can only act expediently in this urgent situation and ascend the throne in front of the mausoleum."

This was also Zhu Yin's idea. Given the circumstances, things could change quickly, and he needed to ascend the throne immediately without delay. The whole "three refusals" and "three concessions" approach was out of the question.

Hearing the Prince's composed tone and seeing his dignified demeanor, the officials were even more impressed. They immediately cheered, "In this urgent situation, we must act expediently! Your Highness, please ascend the throne immediately!"

They all knew that the best course of action given the current situation was to declare themselves emperors immediately, without delay!
As for the enthronement ceremony and the establishment of the new era name, these ceremonies can be postponed for a few days.

Immediately afterwards, Zhu Yin stood up, took a dragon robe from his attendant, and draped it over Prince Xin's shoulders.

At the same time, Zong Qin and Xu Xiaobai personally carried over a wooden chair painted with gold lacquer and helped Prince Xin sit down.

Almost simultaneously, incense burners and other items were also set up.

Then Zhu Yin shouted again, "The Emperor has ascended the throne! Let the mountains roar!"

The officials and soldiers shouted and kowtowed together.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Thus, the distinction between ruler and subject was initially established. Zhu Changluo was now considered emperor.

After Zhu Yin finished his salutations, he said again, "I will offer sacrifices at the Xiaoling Mausoleum on behalf of the Emperor! A grand ceremony will be held at the Nanjing Imperial Palace three days later, on the second day of the seventh lunar month!"

At that moment, all the officials finished their rites and, together with the new Emperor Zhu Changluo, formally offered sacrifices at the Xiaoling Mausoleum!

...

On the 29th day of the sixth month of the 24th year of the Wanli reign, Zhu Yin, Marquis of Jiangning, Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, and Magistrate of Pengshui County, escorted Zhu Changluo, Prince of Xin, to the throne at the Xiaoling Mausoleum in Nanjing.

The news shocked the world!
...

P.S.: Here's a super long chapter of 10,000 words, more than the extra chapter for the Alliance Leader! It's just a bit late. Please vote with monthly tickets and leave reviews! Thank you! Today was mainly about updating, I'm so tired, my eyes are blurry, I'm about to collapse. Goodnight!
(End of this chapter)