The Mysterious Ming Dynasty: The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom

These words were spoken.

The 100,000 soldiers and civilians in Tianjin were eagerly awaiting their return.

Since Sichen established the Sacred Treasury, all its proceeds have been handed over to the government and rationed under military control, thus equalizing wealth and initially solving the problem of hunger.

They cracked down extremely hard on things that involved deceiving superiors and concealing information from subordinates.

They don't have the guts to cheat or falsify.

However, the phenomena of slacking off and cheating are rampant.

This situation was somewhat alleviated after the Palace of Saints was built.

Faith remains the most powerful weapon of our time.

At this moment, to the left of the nine-story rammed earth platform of the Palace of Saints, adjacent to the military camp and close to the Haihe River, a massive academy has begun construction.

Every day, Sichen sees a multitude of people in the Palace of Saints, all brimming with enthusiasm.

Some people prayed to Heaven.

Others come to the Palace of Saints to pay homage.

They even planned to build a shrine for Sichen.

That's what word-of-mouth is all about!

The kindness of a great and virtuous teacher can never be repaid, even after generations.

How could something carved in stone, sworn to the heavens in the name of Zhonghuang Taiyi, be false?

Cao Youyi cupped his hands and said, "Congratulations on your ascension to the throne."

"So many people use the guise of doing good deeds to commit all sorts of shady acts. Yet not one of them possesses the compassion of someone in a position of power."

Si Chen waved his hand, "Alright, now it's up to the White Horse Cavalry to work tirelessly."

Jiazi stood behind him with his hand on his sword, saying, "I will go and do it immediately."

The last time, they invited prominent figures from surrounding counties to attend the ceremony at the Liesheng Palace.

At that time, some people flattered and fawned, while others politely declined.

This time, no one could stop the enthusiasm of the Torchbearers and Ashbringers, and other families who valued both farming and scholarship.

This land has always been exceptionally tolerant of those who are eager to learn and make progress.

Even the freezing weather could not deter his desire to learn.

Within a day, the news spread throughout the prefectures and counties.

By the time all parties received the news, the die was cast.

Duke Zhu Chunchen, unusually free from the leisurely pleasures of banquets and dances, gazed upon Tianjin and asked, "If a person does not covet fame, profit, or power, what do you gentlemen think his intentions are?"

Grand Secretary Chen Yan held the leaflet sent by the White Horse Cavalry, his fingers turning white. "How can there be such people in this world?"

Marquis Xue Lian of Yangwu, along with other ministers Wei Zaode, Fan Jingwen, and Li Jiantai, the Left Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Luo Yangxing, and palace eunuchs Cao Huachun, Gao Qiqian, and Wang Dehua, all stuck their heads out to peek.

Zhu Chunchen said, "Unless, he has greater ambitions."

Luo Yangxing, the Left Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, nodded. "It can be confirmed now. There is no doubt that Si Chen's lineage is that of a remnant of the Way of Peace."

Let's see what kind of knowledge he's spreading.

The Spring and Autumn Annals, the Book of Peace and National Rejuvenation, and the Song of Original Way to Save the World, along with the techniques of wooden oxen and flowing horses.

As always, it was exactly the same as his temperament.

In the past, during the time of the immortal Han dynasty, Zhang Jiao instigated the Yellow Turban Rebellion, ending the Han dynasty's mandate of heaven. Must we, too, produce a great and virtuous teacher today?

"This is an open conspiracy, and we cannot stop it," Duke Cheng said with a smile. "However, what do these matters have to do with us?"

He is challenging all the clans in the world for fame.

Let them fight it out themselves.

Duke Zhu Chunchen of Cheng spread his hands.

If he doesn't have the courage, he shouldn't recklessly get involved in the vortex.

"Can."

The group exchanged glances, reached a consensus, and agreed on their terms.

Zhu Chunchen raised his wine cup, "Nothing much to do today, let's listen to music in the brothel, and then the music continues, and then the dancing begins!"

Luo Yangxing, the Left Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, turned and left the place, informing Wei Shichun, the Earl of Xuancheng, of the news.

Subsequently, Marquis Guo Peimin of Wuding, Earl Wei Shichun of Xuancheng, Marquis Li Kaixian of Fengcheng, and Earl Li Guozhen of Xiangcheng arrived together and gathered at the Duke of Ying's residence.

Zhang Shize, dressed in a python robe, sat in a grand chair, gazing silently at the swirling snow outside the window.

The four men stepped forward together, "My lord."

"Although we are outmatched, we still have the strength to fight."

Why ignore it?

"His Majesty is ready to issue an order to mobilize all troops in the land to defend the capital."

They were all prepared to die.

But Zhang Shize calmed down instead.

Zhang Shize slowly stood up, grabbed a mink cloak and draped it over his shoulders. "That's the emperor's business. What does it have to do with me? Come with me."

As Zhang Shize stood up, the surrounding shadows seemed to move as if they were alive.

That was the shadowy night, walking step by step.

Marquis Guo Peimin of Wuding, Earl Wei Shichun of Xuancheng, Marquis Li Kaixian of Fengcheng, and Earl Li Guozhen of Xiangcheng exchanged a glance and said, "Let's go."

The group arrived at the ancestral hall of the Duke's mansion.

The golden plaque bears the four characters "Da Ming Shi Zhong" (大明世忠).

The imperial edict, signed with the highest authority, was presented to the loyal and capable military officials who pledged their utmost efforts to quell the rebellion.

Apart from that, it was completely empty.

The table was covered in dust, with only a portrait of his ancestor left to be enshrined there.

Wei Shichun was shocked. "What's going on?"

"I have dismissed all my servants and sent the ancestral tablets to Tianjin. I can't let my ancestors suffer along with their unworthy descendants," Zhang Shize said frankly.

Marquis Guo Peimin of Wuding stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "My lord, do we have a chance?"

If we could use the help of a great and virtuous teacher to preserve the ancestral tablets, that would not be so bad.

Zhang Shize said, "He welcomes all comers. Perhaps one day I will also be able to sit in the Pantheon."

Earl of Xuancheng, Wei Shichun, said, "In that case, I should go and pay him a visit myself."

Zhang Shize took out his private seal, raised his hand and handed it over, saying, "I'm afraid he won't easily see outsiders now. You should take this seal with you."

Thank you.

"We're all family, no need to be so polite."

Among the nobility, marriage alliances were very common, and strictly speaking, they were all relatives.

Zhang Shize then said, "Now that I'm here, there's something I'd like to ask you all to do to help me."

"Please give your orders, Your Excellency."

"I want a forged imperial edict, and the seal of the Rear Army Commandery."

The four men cupped their hands in greeting. "This is simple. After the self-immolation at the Marquis of Xining's residence, the palace guards have long been rendered ineffective. The four of us will retrieve the imperial edict now."

The Xining Marquis's lineage had intermarried with the royal family for generations.

The fact that the princess married into the Marquis's household as the Marquis's wife, rather than marrying the princess as a prince consort, was the basis for her command of the imperial guards and the emperor's trust.

With the Marquis of Xining setting himself on fire, this power was dispersed and fell into the hands of various nobles.

Duke Zhang Shize of England raised his eyes, his eyes bloodshot. "After the fall of the capital, you will take one person's life as a sacrifice."

Everyone immediately stood up. "Who?"

Zhang Shize said, "Wu Xiang! Wu Sangui's father is right here in the capital."

After our ancestor became paralyzed, Liaodong was out of control.

Under the control of civil officials, they had long been bred to have the nature of tigers and wolves.

When hungry, they submit; when full, they soar like eagles.

They deserve to die the most.

Do not underestimate the political impact of the demise of prominent figures of this era; it means that the disciples and in-laws accumulated by generations of British officials will be leaderless.

He even suspected that they were involved in his own family affairs.

Everyone fell silent for a moment.

Finally, Earl Wei Shichun of Xuancheng bowed and said, "It's just killing someone, isn't it? I'll do it!"

Zhang Shize brought out a jar of fine wine. "Please, everyone."

"Today, we won't leave until we're drunk!"

"We won't leave until we're drunk."