Di Ming

Chapter 461 Triumphant Return to the Capital: The Scoundrels Vanquished in an Instant; The Banners Change at Xiaoling Mausoleum, the Veteran General Returns to the Southern Dynasty. (Long Chapter of 10,000 Words)

Defying the imperial edict? Defying the edict of Emperor Taichang? The generals, who had not yet received the edict to express their gratitude, were in a dilemma as they faced Qi Jiguang, who held the imperial edict from the Southern Dynasty.

Their wives and children are mostly in the north!

They never dreamed that someone like Qi Jiguang would secretly defect to the Southern Dynasty!
At that moment, Yin Yuanlu suddenly stood up and roared:

"Qi Jiguang! How dare you rebel and betray the emperor! You have a lot of nerve! Generals! Seize Qi Jiguang! I am the supervising officer, representing the emperor, listen to me—ah!"

Before he could finish speaking, he screamed in agony as a bloody sword tip emerged from his chest. Behind him, a bodyguard with an unfamiliar face held the sword hilt steadily, his fingers not trembling at all.

Yin Yuanlu's eyes bulged out, and in an instant, he defecated and urinated. He struggled to turn around and looked at the person who had attacked him from behind, only to see a pair of sinister eyes.

He had no idea that this person was not Qi Jiguang's personal guard, but a Tiger Fang spy impersonating the commander-in-chief's personal guard!
This prefectural government office was not only completely controlled by Qi Jiguang's personal guards, but also by the Tiger Tooth secret agents.

The spy twisted his sword, kicked out, and simultaneously drew his sword to dodge.

"Pfft—" Blood gushed out in a torrent, and Yin Yuanlu died instantly. His body fell into a pool of blood, his eyes wide open in death, his face frozen in horror.

His last thought before dying was not resentment, but the memory of the millions of gold and silver he had not yet spent.

So unwilling!

Thus, the eunuch who held the imperial envoy's seal was slaughtered like a chicken.

He killed the spy who was supervising the army, sheathed his sword, and stood there as if nothing had happened.

Qi Jiguang waved his hand, and his personal guards carried away Yin Yuanlu's body. Qi Jiguang then shouted sternly:

"Those who disobey the imperial decree will suffer the same fate as Yin Yuanlu! The retired emperor is incompetent and tyrannical! Eunuchs and court ladies hold power in the Northern Dynasty! The legitimate dynasty of the Ming has already been established in the Southern Dynasty! You should all quickly abandon the darkness and embrace the light! Do not ruin yourselves!"

The remaining majority of generals, including Liu Ting and Chen Lin, immediately kowtowed and said, "Your subject accepts the imperial decree and expresses gratitude!"

As a result, only one-third of the generals, such as Ma Gui and Li Rubai, were still hesitating to accept the imperial decree. They were all northerners.

"General!" Ma Gui looked extremely troubled. "It's not that we are unwilling to accept the Southern Dynasty's imperial edict, but our parents, wives, and children are all in the North. If we were to abandon the darkness and embrace the light..."

Qi Jiguang's cold and stern face finally revealed a smile that seemed to thaw out of an iceberg. "You think I haven't considered your families? If so, then I have no face to force you to pledge allegiance to the Southern Dynasty!"

"Once you arrive in Nanjing, you will see your families!"

"To tell you the truth, Zhu Yin, the regent of the Southern Dynasty, has already secretly sent people to bring your families safely to Nanjing! This applies to all officers above the rank of garrison commander without exception! As for those below the rank of garrison commander and the soldiers, the Northern Dynasty cannot pursue the matter!"

What? Ma Gui, Li Rubai, and the others were both surprised and delighted. Their parents, wives, and children had all been secretly taken away? What incredible abilities! They believed that Qi Jiguang wouldn't lie to them.

With the commander-in-chief, general, deputy general, brigade general, and garrison commander all surrendering to the Southern Dynasty, the entire army naturally changed sides. The Northern Dynasty would then be unable to pursue the crimes of lower-ranking officers like captains and lieutenants, nor could it implicate the families of ordinary soldiers. Otherwise, the Northern Dynasty would lose all morale.

While Ma Gui and the others felt relieved, they couldn't help but feel horrified by Zhu Yin's scheming and cunning.

Hundreds of thousands of elite troops were easily brought under their control, greatly increasing their military strength. The crisis in the Southern Dynasty was resolved effortlessly. Beijing suffered a tremendous loss, losing everything, both materially and in terms of prestige!
How long did Zhu Yin plan this? How could the Northern Dynasty possibly defeat someone like him?
Without any further hesitation, Ma Gui, Li Rubai, and the others kowtowed and shouted in unison like thunder:
"Your subject accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude!"

Many of them had followed Zhu Yin in his campaigns and were unwilling to fight against him. They were only forced to participate in the southern expedition because they were ordered to do so.

Now that the entire army has switched sides and returned to Zhu Yin's command, they can still protect their parents, wives, and children, which is naturally something they couldn't ask for more.

As for their guilt and remorse towards the Northern Dynasty... while they weren't entirely absent, they weren't particularly strong. The court's suppression of military officers and its disdain for warriors had long harbored resentment among them.

The happiest person among them was Li Rubai, the Shandong General. He already considered himself an old friend of Zhu Yin and was even more unwilling to become Zhu Yin's enemy.

He was relieved that his wife and children in Shandong could be brought to Nanjing. As for his father, Li Chengliang, who had been reinstated as the General of Liaodong, and his elder brother, Li Rusong, the General of Gansu, they were both regional commanders who held military power. At present, the court was in a period of great turmoil, and at most, they could only be suspicious and wary of them, but dared not do anything to them.

With all the generals obediently accepting the imperial decree and expressing their gratitude, the southern expeditionary army was transformed into a loyalist force for the Southern Dynasty.

"Good!" Qi Jiguang waved his hand and said loudly, "Then we are still on the same side! We are still comrades-in-arms, still subjects of the Ming Dynasty! Only, subjects of Lord Taichang! We are still the Ming army! Still the royal army! There is no need to change the flags!"

"The Regent wrote to me, saying that from now on, the Southern Dynasty will restore the martial spirit of the Chinese nation, and the rank of officials will not be determined by their civil or military status, but only by their official rank! The humiliating situation where a seventh-rank civil official can boss around a high-ranking general and a fourth-rank civil official can treat a military general as a slave will never happen again!"

"The Regent says this is equality between civil and military officials! Isn't this the glory we've been longing for?"

"All soldiers will not only receive increased pay, but there will be no delays in payment! Those who perform meritorious service will be rewarded! Those who are wounded or killed will be generously compensated!"

"Gentlemen, you have come at a very opportune time. Our surrender and allegiance come at the perfect time for military action, a chance for men to make their mark!"

"The Regent will reform the nobility system, restoring viscounts and barons, all with real fiefs and land grants! Even lower-ranking officers and soldiers will have hope!"

The generals were all thrilled to hear that civil and military officials could be treated equally. This was an incredible surprise!

Their greatest frustration was being bullied by civil officials. Often, a seventh-rank county magistrate would boss around a deputy general or vice-general. Despite being several ranks apart, they acted like master and servant.

Military officers were restricted from writing memorials by civil officials.

To put it bluntly, the military generals of the Ming Dynasty were practically lackeys of the civil officials! Even if they became generals and commanders-in-chief, holding the highest rank among military generals, in the eyes of the noble civil officials who had passed the imperial examinations, they were still considered vulgar and uncouth warriors who were not worthy of respect!

Soldiers who guard the border for the country, braving wind and rain, are nothing but commoners and lowly soldiers, utterly beneath our notice!
Whenever they think of this, every one of them feels utterly disheartened. They risked their lives to serve their country, only to end up with a worthless, stepchildish life!
When merit was earned, the rewards mostly went to civil officials. When blame was imposed, military officers became the scapegoats!

Most of the military pay and expenses were embezzled by civil officials, and the military officers who received only a small share became scapegoats. Whenever soldiers protested for unpaid wages, the civil officials would make the military officers take the blame, kill them to quell public anger and appease the army.

But this is the rule of the dynasty. The emperor always trusts his disciples. What can be done? Even if they are filled with resentment, they can only endure it and be suppressed.

But now that we've switched sides and submitted to Nanjing, are we really going to treat civil and military officials equally? I simply can't believe it.

"Everyone, stand up and speak!" Qi Jiguang gestured with his hands for support, then sat down with an air of authority, and said with a sigh:
“Many of you are comrades-in-arms who have known me for many years, and many of you are generals from Qi Jiguang’s army. You know me very well.”

"I have been studying since I was a child, and I once wanted to take the imperial examinations. So I am well-versed in the classics and history, and I am proficient in poetry, prose, calligraphy, painting, music, chess, and other arts. I am confident that my poetry and calligraphy are no worse than those of some self-righteous scholars. I consider myself to be both a scholar and a warrior, and that is not an exaggeration. Back then, I thought I could use my literary talent to get along with the civil officials and make them not see me as a mere warrior."

"Therefore, I have taken the initiative to curry favor with them, attending their poetry gatherings, literary gatherings, and drinking parties, hoping to gain their favor and have them say, 'Qi Yuanjing is a scholar-general and a refined commander.' If I can get such a comment, my wish will be fulfilled."

At this point, Qi Jiguang's expression turned somewhat wistful, "What a pity! Back then, I exhausted all my efforts hoping to gain the approval of the civil officials. In the end, all I received was humiliation!"

“Wang Daokun falsely accused me of embezzling 180,000 taels of military pay and demanded that the court dismiss me. Tang Yaoqin fabricated the story that Qi Jiguang’s army killed innocent people and claimed credit for them, deliberately pinning the crimes of the Japanese pirates on me. In court, he rebuked me, saying, ‘This military man is bloodthirsty and ignorant of the king’s rule.’”

Xu Guo ridiculed me, saying, "What does a warrior know about refined matters? He's just imitating others." When I carved the inscription "Shou Yu" on the Great Wall of Ji, Wang Shizhen criticized me for "following the crowd and drawing tigers, merely pretending to be cultured."

"But what right do these civil officials have to look down on us? While we are suffering from the freezing cold, you are still enjoying your books in your warm chambers! The country is entrusted to them, but all they know is to act selfishly and form cliques to eliminate dissent. What good are they to the affairs of the country?"

"Tu Long, a renowned scholar from Zhejiang, took me to the Dongyuan Poetry Gathering in Nanjing. Tu Long had great respect for military generals, and at the gathering, he composed the 'Song of the Long Sword' to praise me, saying: 'With the spear held horizontally, blood congeals in the sheath, yet it surpasses even the most cunning scholar.'"

"And guess what happened? It angered the civil official Chen Younian. Chen Younian showed no respect whatsoever, publicly declaring that I was a crude and uncouth military man, unqualified to participate in the poetry gathering. This man then composed a poem on the spot to insult me: 'My armor still bears the stench of frontier dust, you barbarian slave understand poetry but not warfare. A strong general exchanges his bloody blade for a writing brush, how laughable is the white-browed scholar of Jiangzuo!'"

"Listen to this! We warriors fight for our country on the frontier, and yet they see us as so worthless!"

"I was furious, and in public I wrote a poem in response: 'A million words of blood-forged fortress, why bother with pedantic scholars to judge its superiority!'"

"Then I ordered the soldiers to form ranks, strike their shields, and recite poetry, their voices echoing throughout the Qinhuai River. As a result, they then falsely accused me of being 'arrogant and rude'."

"I still remember Chen Younian's poem vividly. I am not a narrow-minded person, but I have remembered Chen Younian's poem for twenty years!"

"Do you know why? Because this poem is not just cursing me! It's cursing all the soldiers in the world!"

"After this incident, I have seen through the true colors of these civil officials. Even if we are highly talented and learned, capable of writing poetry and books and well-versed in the classics and history, in their eyes we are still just crude and vulgar warriors! We can never be considered respectable! It's as if being a military man is inherently lowly, a natural inferiority to them! Even scholars whose literary talent is not as good as mine can look down on me with a clear conscience! Is there any justice in this world?"

Upon hearing this, the generals recalled their own experiences of being insulted, ridiculed, and looked down upon by civil officials, and they all felt a deep sense of empathy and resentment. They couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction as they reminisced about General Qi's scathing rebuttal to Chen Younian at the poetry gathering.

Li Rubai said with deep feeling, "My father fought for the country for decades and was fortunate enough to be ennobled as a count. But he was a general-level count with 100,000 troops under his command, yet he was still publicly reprimanded by a seventh-rank imperial inspector and lost all face."

"General!" Liu Ting said, "I too have been reprimanded by the county magistrate, which made me very angry, but I dared not speak out. Since Mr. Zhihu has said that civil and military officials will be equal from now on, then we will no longer have to be obsequious to civil officials!"

“Yes!” Ma Gui said, “We no longer need to be mindful of the whims of civil officials! This alone is enough to make us abandon darkness and embrace the light!”

Qi Jiguang said, "The Regent said that civil officials in the court have the Grand Secretariat, and military officials should have the Grand Military Commission. He has restored the Grand Military Commission, making it equal to the Grand Secretariat. In the future, we military men, once we enter the Grand Military Commission, will be in the same position as the prime minister! In fact, military men will even be qualified to enter the Grand Secretariat! This is the ancient way of becoming both a general and a prime minister!"

Upon hearing this, the generals were overjoyed and felt increasingly hopeful.

Xiao Ruxun, however, was perceptive and couldn't help but ask, "General, many things in this world are simply a matter of give and take. The Grand Tutor wants to promote equality between civil and military officials, and to determine rank based solely on official position. This is certainly a great thing for us military officers, and it will also help revive the ancient martial spirit of our China. But... how can the civil officials be willing to accept this?"

"They hold power in both the central government and local areas. If they are unwilling to allow military generals to challenge their authority, they will inevitably unite in opposition..."

"So what if they oppose me?" Qi Jiguang sneered. "Right now, there are people in Nanjing secretly rebelling against the regent, intending to take advantage of the regent's sacrificial ceremony at Xiaoling Mausoleum to carry out some kind of purge of corrupt officials. The regent is just waiting for them to jump out on their own. Now, it's about time."

Li Rubai asked, "Should we go to Nanjing to help the Grand Tutor quell the rebellion, or stay in Zhenjiang and await orders?"

"No rush." ​​Qi Jiguang had already made up his mind. "First, we will station ourselves in Zhenjiang City. You will each take good care of your troops and wait for the Grand Tutor's order and the Emperor's decree. If we can meet at the right time, that would be even better."

"Furthermore, block the news; it must not be leaked out of Zhenjiang City! All officials in the prefectural government office must be detained!"

"I will obey the general's orders!"

Just as Qi Jiguang finished giving his instructions, his nephew Qi Jin entered the hall covered in snowflakes. "Uncle, it's snowing outside. This snow started falling suddenly. The weather was unpredictable before, but now it's suddenly cold."

"The snow in Jiangnan is colder than in the north; it seems even more unbearable. They say the north is colder, but the cold here is strangely intense."

This is Qi Jin's first time in Jiangnan, and she is not used to the snowy weather there.

Qi Jiguang laughed and said, "Although the south of the Yangtze River is not as cold as the north, it is more humid, which northerners find very difficult to get used to. The cold here is quite different from the north. You will get used to it."

Only then did the generals realize that the weather had suddenly turned cold, and their armor felt exceptionally chilly.

The old general went outside and saw that the bloodstains on the ground at the doorway had been covered by snowflakes. Looking up, he saw a flurry of snowflakes falling gently.

Although it will be the dead of winter in a few days, and it's not unusual for it to snow at this time, judging from the current situation, it's hard to guarantee that there won't be a snow disaster by the end of the year, or at least it will be a year with a lot of snow.

The snow season has arrived in Jiangnan.

Many of the guards at the yamen gate were shivering and stamping their feet. Most of them were from the north and were not used to the damp and cold snowy season in southern China.

Qi Jiguang said, "Send the order to distribute cotton-padded clothes immediately! Quartermaster! Before dark today, all soldiers must wear cotton-padded clothes."

Qi Baoguo, who was involved in logistics, walked over and said in a low voice with a gloomy face:

"Father, there's a problem with the cotton-padded coats. I discovered that many of them are made of rotten cotton that's been sitting for years, offering poor warmth. Each coat, supposedly worth eight qian of silver, is probably worth less than three qian; at least five qian have been embezzled from each one. There are nearly two hundred thousand new cotton-padded coats in the army; they've embezzled one hundred thousand taels just from these coats alone. They'll take any money they can get their hands on..."

Qi Jiguang's expression was as cold as the snowy day before him as he spoke:

“I know, but I can’t do anything about it. This is a task jointly handled by the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of War of the Northern Dynasty. It’s not just the cotton-padded coats; even the gunpowder and armor are problematic. Your father is powerless and can only pretend not to know.”

Qi Baoguo said, "But these cotton-padded coats are not very warm, and the army doesn't have charcoal or coal for heating. Most of the soldiers are from the north, so they might catch a cold..."

Qi Jiguang said, "I didn't expect the snow season to come so quickly. Let's not make this public for now, lest it shake the morale of the troops. Distributing cotton-padded coats is better than nothing. Let's deal with this for a while, and I'll ask Zhihu for new cotton-padded coats immediately!"

When the generals learned about the cotton-padded clothes, their faces turned grim. Some even cursed loudly.

Just as Qi Jiguang was about to comfort his generals, a personal guard came over and reported: "General Qi, my wife has sent a caravan, which is already waiting at the foot of the mountain west of the city."

This person is not a true bodyguard, but a Tiger Fang agent acting as a liaison.

"Oh?" Qi Jiguang's expression brightened slightly. "Caiwei brought cotton-padded clothes?"

The agent laughed and said, "General Qi is truly a brilliant strategist. My wife has sent over 100,000 cotton-padded coats and 20,000 shi of coal. My wife knows that the Northern Dynasty will definitely try to fool the soldiers with warm clothing."

"In addition to these, there were also medicines, milk candy, dried meat, antifreeze oil, and other items."

Qi Jiguang couldn't help but burst into laughter, looking around at his generals and saying, "Did you all hear that? What is caring for soldiers? This is caring for soldiers!"

"Lady Regent, I had long anticipated your difficulties!"

"Where does the hope of the Ming Dynasty lie? In the South, not in the North!"

Upon hearing this, all the generals raised their hands in celebration.

The agent then said, "Commander Qi, my wife has a handwritten letter here."

After speaking, he took out a letter and respectfully presented it.

Qi Jiguang opened the document, raised his thick eyebrows, and then laughed heartily, "Tomorrow morning, I will personally lead 20,000 cavalry to Nanjing! The rest of the army will remain temporarily stationed in Zhenjiang!"

"The Regent has returned victorious and is almost in Nanjing! I will personally go to greet him!"

…………

On the afternoon of the second day after Qi Jiguang was stationed in Zhenjiang, Zhu Yin also led his army, along with 30,000 Cuan family prisoners of war, to the outer city wall south of Nanjing.

After nearly a month of marching, they finally returned to the capital from Sichuan.

Zhu Yin led his army into the outer city through Fengtai Gate and arrived at the Grand Training Ground east of Yuhuatai, where he waited for Xu Wei to lead the officials out of the city to welcome him.

Amidst the swirling snow, the Regent sat upright on his horse, gazing at the majestic city of Nanjing, with 20,000 troops and 30,000 prisoners of war behind him, exuding an imposing aura.

Zhu Yin looked towards Zhongshan again, only to see a vast expanse of snow and wind, and the world seemed to stretch endlessly.

Zhu Yin, wearing a fox fur cloak, listened to the bells of Baoguo Temple on Yuhuatai, the snowflakes on his face melting into water droplets.

Suddenly, the city of Nanjing was filled with the crackling sound of firecrackers. Immediately afterward, the booming of bells and drums rang out, and then the Zhengyang Gate in front of them opened wide, revealing a large entourage of ceremonial guards and officials who, amidst the music, marched in orderly ranks.

Amidst the snow-covered landscape, a bright yellow jade carriage stood out prominently—it was the emperor's entourage.

It turned out that Emperor Taichang had come out to greet him personally.

This was also within Zhu Yin's expectations. This disciple would definitely come out to greet him personally.

On either side of the jade carriage were Xu Wei, the Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall who was in charge of the cabinet, Xu Xiaobai, the Duke of Wei, Zong Qin, the Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial, and others, followed by the Nine Ministers, Vice Ministers, and civil and military officials of the seventh rank and above, totaling a thousand people. They marched across the Zhonghe Bridge in a grand procession and headed south to welcome them.

"Let's go!" Zhu Yin cracked his whip. "Let's go and greet the Emperor!"

Zhu Yin, of course, wouldn't wait in place; instead, he took the initiative to approach.

After the grand welcoming procession, a dense crowd of Nanjing residents stood before the city wall, cheering amidst the sounds of bells, drums, and music.

The news of Zhu Yin's return to the capital caused a sensation throughout Nanjing. At this moment, the news that She Chongming and An Bangyan had been captured, that the Regent had won a great victory, and that both major chieftains had been wiped out could no longer be concealed.

Upon seeing She Chongming and An Bangyan in the prison cart, the people of Nanjing were all relieved. Previously, rumors had been circulating throughout the city that the Grand Tutor had suffered a major defeat in Sichuan, and even that he had been killed in battle, causing widespread panic.

It was only then that they realized it was all a rumor. The Grand Tutor not only hadn't been defeated, but he had also decisively crushed the combined armies of the She and An clans, totaling 100,000 men, completely annihilating these two deeply rooted, thousand-year-old chieftaincies!
I heard that Yongning and Shuixi were slaughtered so badly that rivers of blood flowed and heads rolled everywhere. The relatives and associates of the An and She families were also arrested and taken to the capital.

When the people saw a large number of prisoners appearing outside the city, along with a herd of elephants, they had even less doubt about Zhu Yin's achievements.

The rumors of military defeat spread by the anti-Zhu faction were also debunked.

The court officials who had plotted a coup to purge the emperor's inner circle were suddenly thrown into panic. This was because Zhu Yin had deliberately concealed information from them, and even reports of victory were not publicly released.

Although they deliberately spread rumors of defeat, because Zhu Yin deliberately concealed the news, they did not know that Zhu Yin had won a great victory in Sichuan. They thought that even if there was no defeat, the war was not going well, and they originally planned to deliberately cut off the supply lines.

To everyone's surprise, Zhu Yin returned so quickly. And he returned to the capital with the glory of a great victory!

With even greater prestige and reputation!
But the die was cast, and there was no turning back. Now, the only option was to proceed with the planned coup at Xiaoling Mausoleum!
This is a rare opportunity. If this chance is missed, Zhu Yin's power will become increasingly secure, and he will control more and more troops, making things even more difficult in the future.

Li Tingji, Minister of Revenue; Fan Lun, Minister of Rites; and Wen Chun, Censor-in-Chief—these three high-ranking officials were the masterminds behind the "Purge of the Emperor's Entrenched Officials."

In addition to the three ministers, there were also high-ranking officials of the third rank, such as Zhong Zhenji, Vice Minister of War; Dong Xianming, Vice Minister of Works; Xu Yuanchun, Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies; Xu Shen, Vice Minister of Justice; and Wang Yingjiao, Commissioner of the Court of State Affairs. There were also more than 150 court officials of the seventh rank or above, such as Gu Xiancheng, Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel.

A quarter of the civil officials participated in the "purge of the emperor's inner circle" and are preparing to launch a joint attack today to eliminate Zhu Yin with overwhelming force!
In Southern Zhili and other provinces, from the governors and provincial officials to the prefects and magistrates, many local officials secretly participated, intending to cooperate with the anti-Zhu faction ministers in the court to seize local power and eliminate officials who supported Zhu Yin.

More than two hundred local officials participated in the overthrow of Zhu Yin, and their influence was considerable. Four or five months ago, they switched sides and pledged allegiance to Nanjing, which played a positive role. Now, less than half a year later, dissatisfied with Zhu Yin, they have joined in the overthrow of him, demonstrating their double-dealing.

At this moment, Li Tingji and the others were on tenterhooks, sweating profusely despite the heavy snow. After Zhu Yin left the capital, they secretly plotted to overthrow him, as if Zhu Yin were a fish on a chopping board, waiting to be slaughtered.

But now that Zhu Yin has returned to the capital in triumph, the whole city is in an uproar. They only need to glance at Zhu Yin riding his horse from afar to feel an indescribable pressure.

Li Tingji couldn't help but look at the key figure of the day, Duke Xu Xiaobai of Wei!
Currently, in the entire city of Nanjing, the number of troops under the control of the Duke of Wei is second only to Zhu Yin. In particular, the five thousand elite soldiers of Xiaoling Guard are the Duke of Wei's direct subordinates.

Xu Xiaobai, dressed in the ceremonial robes of a duke, followed closely beside the emperor's carriage. Sensing Li Tingji's gaze, he couldn't help but turn and give him a wink.

It means: Don't worry, I'm reliable.

Seeing the resolute look in Xu Xiaobai's eyes, Li Tingji felt much more at ease. Indeed, with Zhu Yin so domineering and wielding absolute power, how could the Duke of Wei not hate him? If Zhu Yin were to reclaim the throne of the eldest branch of the family, would the Duke of Wei still hold such a superior position?
Both morally and logically, the Duke of Wei should stand on the side against Zhu.

Alright! Let's settle this at Xiaoling Mausoleum!
The day is now to set things right and restore order to the court!

Li Tingji glanced at Fan Lun and Wen Chun, and the three senior officials nodded in tacit agreement. Then, with indifferent expressions, they followed the welcoming procession forward, silently watching the emperor's jade carriage.

Let today's snow cover the sins of the traitor Jiang Ning!

As Zhu Yin drew ever closer, Xu Wei couldn't help but smile from the bottom of his heart.

My lord, you have finally achieved a resounding victory over the rebels. This heavy snowfall is a good omen.

Xu Wei's expression was meaningful as he glanced at Li Tingji without leaving a trace.

Soon, the emperor's jade carriage came to a steady stop. Emperor Taichang, wearing the Tongtian crown, personally stepped down from the carriage and walked briskly towards the young regent with a joyful expression.

"gentlemen!"

Zhu Yin tossed his riding whip behind him, took off his sable cloak, leaped off his horse, and strode towards the young emperor, laughing, "Your Majesty!"

In many people's eyes, their meeting at this moment was more like that of a master and disciple than a ruler and his subject. They appeared to be very affectionate.

However, in the eyes of Li Tingji and others, the more enthusiastic and affectionate the emperor appeared, the more at ease they felt.

This was because they had previously instructed the emperor to do this, in order to lull Zhu Yin into a false sense of security.

At least in their view, the emperor was very good at disguising himself.

"The wind and snow are fierce, Your Majesty, why do you need to personally come out to greet me? I am ashamed—" Zhu Yin bowed and saluted.

"Sir, you may rise!" Emperor Taichang returned the greeting with a cupped hand. "Sir, your service is invaluable, and I have always regarded you as my lord. Today, you have returned in triumph despite the snow, presenting the captives to the Xiaoling Mausoleum. How could I not personally come out to welcome you?"

As soon as the emperor finished speaking, Xu Wei and other ministers also bowed and saluted, saying in unison, "Welcome back to the capital in triumph for the Regent Grand Tutor!"

Zhu Yin said, “Gentlemen, no need for formalities! Today it snows heavily, and His Majesty has personally traveled out of the city. We should have escorted His Majesty back first, but since Xiaoling Mausoleum is nearby, according to custom, when a victorious army returns, the captives should be presented before the mausoleum. Therefore, let us go to Xiaoling Mausoleum first. What does His Majesty think?”

Emperor Taichang said, "That is the proper way; we should first offer sacrifices at Xiaoling Mausoleum."

Soon after, the prison carts carrying She Chongming and An Bangyan appeared before the crowd. Upon seeing the Ming Dynasty emperor and his ministers, She Chongming and An Bangyan, whose mouths were gagged, glared angrily, which drew a flurry of comments and criticisms.

Next, the 30,000 Guolu prisoners of war were held by the army at the Great Training Ground. Then Zhu Yin, with only the two bandit leaders, She and An, and more than a hundred Guolu nobles, headed towards Zhongshan.

Because they were going to the imperial tombs for a sacrificial ceremony, Zhu Yin and his entourage could not bring a large army up the mountain, leaving them with only five hundred personal guards. This appeared to be their weakest point in terms of defense.

Few people knew just how formidable Zhu Yin's five hundred personal guards were. Lan Cha, in particular, was a match for a hundred men. Ding Hongying could also hold off dozens single-handedly. These five hundred guards alone could protect Zhu Yin and help him break through enemy lines and escape, even against ten thousand enemy soldiers.

Li Tingji and others' expectation that five thousand Xiaoling Guards could capture and kill Zhu Yin was a naive assumption based on a lack of understanding of the enemy's situation.

After crossing the Shangfang Bridge and passing the Shanchuan Altar and the Dasi Altar, the group arrived at Xiaolingwei at the foot of Zijin Mountain after about half an hour. They saw that the surrounding area was full of Xiaolingwei soldiers, with their swords and spears as white as snow and their flags bright.

This is the duty of the Xiaoling Guard. Whenever Nanjing holds a sacrificial ceremony at Xiaoling Mausoleum, the entire Xiaoling Guard is mobilized to serve as guards and ceremonial troops. Therefore, this scene is not surprising at all.

Seeing that the Xiaoling Guards had a tight security presence over the entire mausoleum area, Li Tingji and the others breathed a sigh of relief.

That's it!

Zhu Yin only had a few hundred personal guards by his side, how could they be a match for the five thousand guards of Xiaoling? Not to mention that the emperor announced four major crimes against him and ordered the garrison to arrest him.

Although the emperor was Zhu Yin's puppet, he still possessed the righteousness of an emperor. Sometimes, this righteousness is precisely what is most fatal.

"Clang—clang—" Suddenly, a long, melodious bell rang out from Yungu Temple on Zhongshan Mountain, its sound captivating and moving.

Upon hearing the bell, Li Tingji and the others smiled slightly in unison.

The bell tolled at just the right time; wasn't it the death knell of the Jiang Ning clan?

It's time to get started. Let's do it right here.

Upon reaching the path to the spirit road, Li Tingji suddenly stood before the imperial carriage and shouted sternly, "His Majesty has decreed! Punish the traitor Zhu Yin!"

Minister of Rites Fan Lun also shouted, "Duke of Wei! The day to serve the king and eliminate the traitor is today! Punish the treacherous minister Zhu Yin! Move out!"

Xu Xiaobai suddenly waved his hand and shouted loudly, "Protect the Emperor! Declare martial law on the spot!"

"Yes, sir!" The Xiaoling Guards, who had been waiting in the wings, immediately surrounded the emperor's carriage, making it impossible for anyone to get through.

At the same time, thousands of Xiaoling guards, with swords drawn and bows nocked, sealed off the area around the Sacred Way with murderous intent!

Many officials who were unaware of the truth were stunned.

Even the prisoners, including She Chongming and An Bangyan, were stunned. Then, She Chongming and his men burst into gloating laughter!
Hahaha! Zhu Yin presented us, the children of Xiaoling Mausoleum, as prisoners, and what happened? We were actually turned against and subdued!

Karma, karma!

Immediately afterwards, more than a hundred court officials stood up in unison, glaring angrily at Zhu Yin and shouting their curses:

"Traitorous minister! You usurper of the country! You've finally met your match!"

"Cao Cao and Dong Zhuo!"

"Jiang Ning! You have deceived the emperor, plotted rebellion, and seized power for yourself. Do you know your crimes?!"

"A tyrant and a traitor! He is domineering and arrogant! Everyone has the right to kill him!"

"Now, before the Xiaoling Mausoleum, let us borrow the divine power of Emperor Taizu to slay this scoundrel!"

More than a hundred court officials joined together in righteous and stern rebukes and curses, their momentum overwhelming and their power unstoppable.

The other ministers looked at each other, completely at a loss.

Seeing that the situation was completely under their control, Li Tingji confidently addressed the imperial carriage, which was being protected by the imperial guards, and said loudly:
"Please grant me a royal decree, Your Majesty!"

Wen Chun also shouted loudly, "Please grant Your Majesty's decree!"

As planned, this is when the emperor himself will step forward and announce Zhu Yin's four major crimes!

Emperor Taichang alighted from his jade carriage, surveyed his surroundings, his gaze sweeping over Zhu Yin, Xu Xiaobai, and the others, and spoke in a slightly childish voice:
"Li Tingji, Fan Lun, Wen Chun, and others have plotted a rebellion, disrupted the court, and committed the unforgivable crime of treason!"

What? Li Tingji and the others were struck dumb.

The emperor actually betrayed us? How is that possible? Does he willingly want to be a puppet?
More than a hundred court officials who had participated in the campaign to overthrow Zhu were suddenly silenced, as if they had fallen into an ice cellar!

What's going on? The other court officials were also completely bewildered, while many others showed expressions of joy.

Wen Chun suddenly shouted, "The Emperor is being coerced by treacherous officials! The Emperor is worried about the Empress Dowager's safety! This is not the Emperor's true intention! Duke of Wei, quickly order Zhu Yin to be captured and killed!"

Li Tingji suddenly realized what was happening and shouted sternly, "I request that the Duke of Wei order the execution of the traitor!"

At this moment, Zhu Yin and Xu Wei watched everything calmly, as if they were completely detached from it. They had already laid out several backup plans, making everything foolproof; now they were merely watching the show.

"Hahaha!" Xu Xiaobai suddenly drew his sword and laughed three times, then bowed to the emperor and said, "Your Majesty, I request your decree!"

Emperor Taichang sneered, pointing coldly at Li Tingji and the others, "Seize Li Tingji and the other treacherous officials who have rebelled against the emperor! Lock them all up and hand them over to the Grand Tutor for punishment!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Xu Xiaobai accepted the order, grinning maliciously as he waved his hand. "Come on! Take them all down!"

"Understood!" A large group of guards from Xiaoling rushed forward and captured Li Tingji and the others. But for some reason, they didn't capture Gu Xiancheng, as if they had forgotten about him.

This scene stunned She Chongming and the others once again. Their initial schadenfreude instantly turned into biting mockery, making them feel nauseous!

However, at that moment, a thunderous roar suddenly came from the east.

A thunderous roar, like ten thousand horses galloping, echoed, seemingly making even Zhongshan Mountain tremble.

Everyone looked eastward in alarm and saw a large cavalry force rushing in through the heavy snow, covering the sky and the earth.

A flag fluttered in the wind, bearing the prominent character "戚".

What is this? Many people looked horrified.

Li Tingji suddenly burst into loud laughter, "Hahaha! It's General Qi! Qi Jiguang's army has arrived! With their arrival, everything will be destroyed!"

Fan Lun laughed heartily, "Duke of Wei! You didn't expect this, did you? Qi Jiguang's army has arrived! It's not too late for you to pull back from the brink! Release us, capture Zhu Yin! We'll give you another chance!"

She Chongming and the others once again revealed their gloating expressions.

Zhu Yin is finished! He's really finished this time! Hahaha!
Xu Xiaobai asked in surprise, "Really? General Qi's army has arrived?" Suddenly, he revealed a strange expression and exchanged a smile with Zhu Yin.

Wen Chun roared, "You will all surrender immediately, confess your crimes and submit to the law, and you will still have a chance to live! Once General Qi arrives, these bandits will be annihilated!"

As they spoke, a large contingent of northern cavalry arrived before them, led by an old general in magnificent armor, none other than Qi Jiguang.

Qi Jiguang rode up on horseback, then nimbly leaped off, knelt down a short distance away, and shouted:
"Your Majesty, I, Qi Jiguang, have arrived late to rescue you; Your Majesty has been frightened!"

Emperor Taichang smiled and said, "General, you may dispense with the formalities. I am very pleased that you have changed your banner and returned to the court."

Qi Jiguang said, "Thank you, Your Majesty! This old minister has over 100,000 troops and is willing to serve the court on the battlefield."

He then clasped his hands in greeting to Zhu Yin and said, "This old general greets the Regent Grand Tutor!"

Zhu Yin felt a surge of warmth upon seeing his adoptive father, and with a smile, he cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Zhu Yin greets the General. The General has come a long way and must be tired!"

Li Tingji, Fan Lun, and a group of others stared blankly at the scene, completely dumbfounded, their faces ashen.

Was Qi Jiguang a man of Zhu Yin?
The prisoners, including She Chongming and An Bangyan, who had just been overjoyed, were once again dumbfounded!
……

P.S.: A nearly 10,000-word chapter! I'm so stupid! So stupid! Really! I can't take it anymore! I need to rest, my head is spinning… I'm going to cry! Please vote for me! Thank you, goodnight!
(End of this chapter)