Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 263 Awaiting the King's Order

Tian Ergeng could clearly sense that within the seemingly calm body before him, a thunderous storm was brewing, enough to overturn Nanjing.

He showed no fear, but his mind was highly focused, like a fully drawn bow, ready to unleash a piercing arrow at the emperor's command.

"I hereby issue you an imperial decree." Zhu Youjian's words were like tangible shackles, intended to completely lock up this land of six dynasties' splendor.

"Immediately mobilize all forces in Nanjing, including Qin Liangyu's White-Spear Soldiers, the Beijing Garrison in the city, and all the Imperial Guards under your command, to seal off all thirteen gates of Nanjing! From this moment on, no one is allowed to enter Jinling City, but no one is allowed to leave!"

The emperor paused, and a chilling aura filled the hall.

"At the same time, I will take over all the water and land ports under the jurisdiction of Yingtian Prefecture. No sailing is allowed to sail on the Qinhuai River or the Yangtze River! From this moment on, I want Nanjing to become an iron cage from which there is no escape!"

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Tian Ergeng kowtowed without the slightest hesitation.

Zhu Youjian turned his gaze to Li Ruolian.

"Li Ruolian!"

"Your subject is here!" Li Ruolian stepped forward, his expression resolute as iron.

"I hereby order you to personally lead three hundred elite Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) and select another five hundred brave and valiant soldiers from the Beijing Garrison! Your target is only one—" Zhu Youjian pointed northeast: "Jiming Temple! Surround that mountain completely! Not even a fly is allowed to get out!"

"Your subject obeys the decree!" A glint flashed in Li Ruolian's eyes; he instantly understood the emperor's intention!
Finally, Zhu Youjian's gaze fell on Zhou Quan, the commander of the guards outside the palace gate.

"comprehensive!"

A moment later, Zhou Quan strode into the hall and knelt on one knee: "Your Majesty!"

"Zhou Quan, muster your thousand Imperial Guards and set off immediately to join forces with Li Ruolian's troops!"

"Zhu Youjian looked at Zhou Quan and said, 'Your task is to work with Li Ruolian to completely control the area inside and outside Jiming Temple. If anyone, regardless of their status or rank, dares to attack the military formation or obstruct the mission...'"

The emperor's voice suddenly rose, revealing his murderous intent:
"...Kill them without mercy!"

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Zhou Quan kowtowed deeply, then turned and left without uttering a single unnecessary word.

The three imperial edicts, like three swift bolts of lightning, silently struck down over Nanjing before noon.

……

The midday sun should be lazy and warm.

However, the sunlight shining on the bluestone slabs of Nanjing today seems to carry a lingering chill.

The first to sense something was wrong were the peddlers who roamed the streets and the vegetable farmers who drove their donkey carts into the city.

"What's going on? It's almost noon, why are there so many soldiers at Tongji Gate?"

"Not only Tongji Gate, but my brother just ran over from Jubao Gate and said that the city gates have also been sealed off by government troops, all of them armed with long spears and exuding a murderous aura!"

"What happened? Could it be that the bandits from Jiangbei have attacked?"

"Nonsense! The bandits are far from here! They look more like they're here to catch some notorious thief!"

Discussions arose in the streets and alleys, and panic spread rapidly among the people like a plague.

Then, people saw something even more terrifying.

Squads of soldiers, dressed in mandarin duck battle robes and wielding long white wax poles, with fierce expressions, quickly took over the defense of the city wall from Zhengyang Gate to Chaoyang Gate under the leadership of their respective officers.

They moved swiftly, stood in strict formation, and had eyes as sharp as eagles, deterring any idler who wanted to approach and stir up trouble.

At the same time, more and more soldiers from the Beijing garrison appeared at every street corner in Nanjing, seemingly springing up from nowhere.

They set up outposts in groups of three or five.

The once bustling streets quickly became deserted, shops boarded up their doors, and people hurriedly returned home in alarm, locking their doors tightly.

On the Qinhuai River, the painted boats remain the same, but the sounds of string and wind instruments have abruptly ceased.

The Imperial Guards' fast boats, like a pack of ferocious crocodiles, stormed into this land of pleasure. The Imperial Guards, standing at the bows, expressionless, pointed their embroidered spring knives at the panicked boatmen and courtesans, coldly ordering: "All boats, bring them to shore! Anyone who disobeys will be executed!" In less than an hour, the entire city of Nanjing transformed from a decadent and extravagant place into a heavily guarded military camp.

The air was filled with a suffocating smell, making it hard to breathe.

Under the watchful, bewildered gazes of countless people in the city, a torrent that would silence the entire city had finally assembled.

Li Ruolian and Zhou Quan rode side by side at the front of the battle.

"Lord Li, it's almost time," Zhou Quan said in a deep voice.

Li Ruolian looked up at the sky, nodded, and then raised her right hand and swung it forward sharply.

"Leave!"

The orders were passed between the officers in low voices.

The footsteps of two thousand soldiers, like the drumbeats of the King of Hell, struck heavily on the ground of Nanjing.

Countless eyes were peeping through the cracks in the doors along the roadside.

They couldn't see the soldiers' faces, only rows of moving armor and cold weapons pointing to the sky.

Where is this army going?

At first, people were speculating: Was it the Duke of Wei's mansion? Or the residence of some vassal king? Or perhaps a wealthy merchant from the south of the city?
The torrent's advance did not halt for a moment despite anyone's astonishment.

The army quickly arrived at the foot of Jiming Mountain.

Li Ruolian and Zhou Quan exchanged a glance and gave the order almost simultaneously.

"Imperial Guards, block all paths leading down the mountain and set up three checkpoints, one inside and one outside!"

"The Jingying garrison, deploy along the mountainside! Archers and crossbowmen, advance and point your arrows at the mountain path!"

"Imperial Guards, follow me! Control the main road up the mountain and build a defensive line!"

The command was executed quickly and efficiently.

The soldiers, like a pack of well-trained hunting dogs, quickly dispersed, spreading out a wide and inescapable net at the foot of the mountain.

The Imperial Guards were agile and swift, disappearing into the woods in a few leaps to block up the hidden paths known only to woodcutters and pilgrims.

The soldiers of the Beijing garrison, organized into units of hundreds, quickly occupied advantageous positions on the mountainside, drew their bows and arrows, and brought all possible forks in the road within their range.

Meanwhile, the Imperial Guards led by Zhou Quan were deployed directly in front of the main gate leading to Jiming Temple, forming a solid defensive line, with the dark muzzles of their Lumi guns aimed at the long stone steps.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the entire Jiming Mountain was surrounded by this army that had descended from the sky, forming an impenetrable fortress.

The murderous aura below the mountain had solidified into a tangible form, as if even the air itself had turned into icy molten iron.

However, atop the mountain, the Jiming Temple, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, remained peaceful and serene.

The ancient Medicine Buddha Pagoda, bathed in the glow of the sunset, appeared even more solemn and majestic.

The melodious and lingering chimes came from the bell tower, one after another, washing away the hustle and bustle of the world, as if they knew nothing of the iron and blood that had been shed below the mountain.

Through the sparse trees, one can even see incense smoke curling and candlelight shining brightly inside the temple, with faint, melodious chanting of Buddhist scriptures drifting down on the wind.

The armored vehicles below the mountain stood in rows, exuding a fierce and menacing aura.

The sound of chanting filled the air on the mountain, and the Buddha's light shone everywhere.

A sense of desolation and tranquility, death and transcendence—two completely different atmospheres combined to create an incredibly eerie scene at Jiming Mountain.

Li Ruolian reined in her horse, looked up at the ancient temple that appeared even more majestic in the sunlight, her eyes as cold as knives.

He knew that how long the bell on the mountain could continue to ring depended on when the sword below the mountain would be drawn.

Now, the sword is in hand, awaiting only the king's command!
(End of this chapter)