I, Emperor Chongzhen, have extended the life of the Ming Dynasty by five hundred years.

At midnight, Zhu Youjian finally arrived at the Ming army camp outside Baoding City.

Upon receiving the news, the sentry on duty hurriedly returned to camp to report. Before long, Zhao Yong led his men to greet him.

"Your subject, Zhao Yong, the vanguard commander of the central army camp, kowtows to Your Majesty for ten thousand years!"

Zhu Youjian looked around and asked, "Where is Chen Yan? Why hasn't he come out to greet me?"

Zhao Yong hurriedly reported, "Your Majesty, Chief Minister Chen has temporarily taken over Baoding and has already entered the city!"

Zhu Youjian's face darkened. He said, "When the army goes on an expedition, it should try to keep its distance from the people in the city. I have not given him any order to enter Baoding!"

"Your Majesty is unaware that He Fu, the prefect of Baoding, is colluding with the enemy. Chief Minister Chen was worried about something happening in Baoding, so he led troops into the city."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian realized that something was wrong!

"In the camp, besides you, who else is there?"

"Your Majesty, the main generals have all entered the city with Chief Minister Chen. In the camp, the highest-ranking officer is me, a mere adjutant."

"I ask you again, how many troops did Chen Yan bring with him when he entered Baoding?"

"Chief Minister Chen only brought 20,000 to 30,000 elite troops into the city, while the rest of the troops were stationed outside the city in batches. I have 56,000 men on my side, most of whom are logistics soldiers escorting grain and fodder."

Zhu Youjian increasingly felt that something was wrong.

Chen Yan led his elite troops into the city and dispersed his main force, leaving only the logistics troops in the main camp. What was his intention?

Where is He Fu now?

"They are currently being held in the camp!"

"What else did Chen Yan tell you?"

"Your Majesty, Chief Minister Chen left in a hurry, only saying that he should deal with the matter in Baoding first... Oh, and Chief Minister Chen also said that Prefect He is cunning, and that no one should approach him except for his three meals a day, and that one should not believe his lies or be incited by him!"

Zhu Youjian frowned deeply: "Minister He is upright and incorruptible, how could he be colluding with the enemy? Take me to see him!"

"yes!"

Zhao Yong got up and led the way, heading deeper into the camp.

At this moment, Li Ruolian stepped forward and whispered, "Your Majesty, be careful, it might be a trap!"

Zhu Youjian lowered his voice and asked, "How much do you know about this Zhao Yong?"

Li Ruolian shook her head and said, "I have never had any dealings with him."

Zhu Youjian suddenly thought of Miao Gang, so he waved his hand and said, "Miao Gang, come here!"

"yes!"

Miao Gang, who was already following behind, hurriedly urged his horse forward upon hearing this.

"What are your orders, Your Majesty?"

Zhu Youjian pointed forward and asked, "How much do you know about Zhao Yong?"

"You mean him?"

Miao Gang breathed a sigh of relief and said, "We call him Zhao the Barbarian behind his back!"

"Why? Is he a barbarian?"

"They're not barbarians, they're just too reckless. They're always the first to charge into battle, all bravado and no brains."

Zhu Youjian asked, "So you're saying this person has no guile? Why did Chen Yan leave this person to guard the camp?"

Miao Gang thought for a moment and said, "It's probably because Zhao Yong is not easy to fool. He is absolutely loyal to His Majesty and often contradicts his superiors in public due to differences in tactical concepts."

Zhu Youjian roughly understood the situation, and at this moment, Zhao Yong had already arrived at a tent.

Upon hearing that His Majesty had arrived in person, the guards all kowtowed and paid their respects.

Zhao Yong lifted the tent flap, ordered someone to light candles, and then brought He Fu over.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

He Fu, with his hands bound, staggered into the tent.

Hearing that Emperor Chongzhen had come in person, he didn't believe it at first, but now that he saw it with his own eyes, he immediately knelt down and cried bitterly.

Zhu Youjian said, "Get up!"

He Fu stood up, but his hands were tied.

Zhao Yong stood aside, unmoved, seemingly waiting for instructions.

Miao Gang, being quick-witted, immediately called for people to untie He Fu.

Zhao Yong said with dissatisfaction, "Chief Minister Chen said that this person cannot..."

"Shut up!"

Miao Gang was of the same rank as him, and although he has now been dismissed, in the heat of the moment, he didn't have time to explain.

Zhao Yong was puzzled, but he still believed in Miao Gang's actions.

He Fu cried out in tears, "Your Majesty! I have been wronged! That traitor Chen Yan has falsely accused me of treason! My heart is set on serving the country, and Heaven and Earth can bear witness. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly and clear my name!"

Zhu Youjian's expression was solemn as he slowly spoke: "Tell me the whole story in detail, without concealing anything."

"yes!"

He Fu nodded repeatedly, his voice choked with emotion: "Your Majesty, I have always been dutiful and conscientious, and I have done my utmost to defend Baoding Prefecture in the face of the rebel army's massive invasion..."

Zhu Youjian said impatiently, "Let's skip the pleasantries and get to the point!"

He Fu nodded again and then said, "Three days ago, Chen Yan suddenly summoned me to the camp, saying that he had important matters to discuss. Who knew that as soon as we met, he accused me of colluding with the enemy and imprisoned me here without any explanation."

"I had my doubts, so I questioned him directly, asking if he had already surrendered, and he simply admitted it!"

"Having come to this point, I knew I was not going to live, so I cursed him severely and then waited for death."

"Your Majesty, I am willing to die, but if Baoding Prefecture falls into enemy hands, the capital will be in grave danger! I am guilty for failing to see through Chen Yan's treacherous plot and for failing to stop his evil deeds in time. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"

Zhao Yong looked completely bewildered, seemingly unable to understand what had happened.

Wasn't it said that He Fu was colluding with the enemy?

How did it suddenly become that Chen Yan was a traitor?

What's going on?

Zhu Youjian was burning with anger, yet he remained calm: "Minister He, there's no need to blame yourself. This is not your fault. Chen Yan is a wolf in sheep's clothing, daring to betray the court. I will not let him off lightly!"

"But, Your Majesty..."

Zhao Yong couldn't help but say, "These are all Prefect He's words. Now that Prefect He and Chief Minister Chen each have their own version of events, how can we tell the truth?"

Zhu Youjian asked, "Does Chen Yan have any evidence to support his accusation that He Fu is a traitor?"

Zhao Yong thought hard for a moment, then shook his head.

"But I have evidence of his infidelity!"

Zhu Youjian had already concluded that Chen Yan's actions were a prelude to surrendering the city to the enemy.

Only this explanation makes sense; otherwise, there is no way to explain why he suddenly entered the city.

It seems that this old scoundrel not only intends to rebel, but also to eliminate the obstacles in the way of the rebel army, helping them to take the capital in one fell swoop. His methods are too ruthless!

"Zhao Yong!"

"Your subject is here!"

Zhu Youjian, with a stern face, asked, "Do you know where Chen Yan has stationed our main force?"

"Mainly located in the southeast and southwest of the city, it is divided into five camps, and the commander of each camp is a confidant of Chen Yan."

"Now take stock of your troops and go to each camp to proclaim my decree: Chen Yan has rebelled, all his military orders are hereby repealed, and everyone is to await further instructions. No one is to move without authorization. Anyone who disobeys, whoever they may be, will be executed on the spot!"

Zhao Yong's expression hardened, and he knelt on one knee: "Your subject obeys the decree!"

Zhu Youjian then asked, "We are all brothers-in-arms. If someone truly defies the imperial decree, would you dare to take action?"

Zhao Yong lowered his head and said in a deep voice, "To disobey an imperial order is to be a traitor. And if you are a traitor, there is no longer any camaraderie between us!"

Zhu Youjian looked up at the night sky and sighed with relief. Fortunately, he had rushed over overnight.

At this point, Baoding Prefecture should not have been lost yet; otherwise, Zhao Yong and the Ming army camp would no longer exist.

"Warriors, follow me into the city and quell the rebellion!"