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

Although the Warriors Battalion was brave, the difference in numbers was simply too great.

If they directly confront each other, there is no advantage, and they should switch to a defensive stance.

Fortunately, the county government office was relatively easy to defend and difficult to attack, so the rebel army organized by Fan Liuyang could not break through for a while.

He Fu looked outside nervously and said, "It was my oversight that led Your Majesty into danger. I deserve to die a thousand deaths!"

Zhu Youjian, however, remained unconvinced: "My lord, there's no need to be nervous. I have my own plans. If I can't even pacify a small place like Dingxing, how can I possibly pacify the entire country?"

He Fu was filled with remorse. How could Dingxing County have such a huge hidden danger, and he, as the prefect, was completely unaware of it? What a huge oversight!

If something were to happen to His Majesty today, how could he explain it to the people of the world?

At this moment, Hong Niangzi walked over carrying a knife.

He Fu was startled and quickly stepped in front of Zhu Youjian.

"Madam Li, what are you doing?"

With a face full of disdain, Hong Niangzi said, "If I wanted to kill him, I would have done it long ago. Why would I wait until now?"

Zhu Youjian patted He Fu on the shoulder, signaling him to move aside.

"Your Majesty, be careful..."

"It's alright!"

Zhu Youjian nodded, then asked, "Madam Li, thank you so much for today!"

"snort!"

Hong Niangzi snorted irritably and said, "I'm not your bodyguard, I have no responsibility to protect you. I just want to avenge the old troupe leader, don't flatter yourself!"

"I know all this, but I still want to express my gratitude!"

"I won't stand on ceremony with you!"

Hong Niangzi waved her hand and said, "I only ask you, what do we do now?"

"What does Mrs. Li think?"

"I think? I think we should just fight our way out! They may outnumber us and look like a huge mob, but they're just a bunch of idiots. Kill a bunch of them, and the rest will run away!"

Zhu Youjian shook his head and said, "I know the enemy's strength, but I don't want to make unnecessary sacrifices."

"Your Majesty, they've already rebelled, and you still have the heart of a bodhisattva?"

"I'm not talking about the rebels, I'm talking about them!"

Zhu Youjian pointed to the guards in front and corrected them, "Including Lady Li, I don't want any of you to suffer any harm. It's not worth it!"

"But……"

Hong Niangzi was somewhat puzzled and hesitated before saying, "If we don't fight with our lives, how can we quell the rebellion?"

"No rush, no rush, let's wait a little longer!"

"What are you waiting for...?"

Before he could finish speaking, the sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from outside.

Da-da-da, da-da-da...

The sound of horses' hooves grew louder as they approached, accompanied by shouts. Soon after, a commotion broke out outside.

Hong Niangzi then realized what was happening and said, "I knew you were so calm! You'd already mobilized troops!"

As I spoke, I felt somewhat displeased, as if my earlier worries had been unnecessary.

Zhu Youjian said, "You underestimate me too much. Do you really need to mobilize troops for such a trivial matter?"

"Could it be rebels outside?"

"You don't need to worry about it, they're my Imperial Guards!"

Hong Niangzi asked in confusion, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Zhu Youjian nodded and said, "There are corrupt officials in Dingxing County, so the Embroidered Uniform Guard should handle the investigation."

How many Imperial Guards can come?

"The key to victory lies in quality, not quantity. Just you wait and see!"

After Zhu Youjian finished speaking, he suddenly changed the subject: "However, I do have a question I would like to ask you."

Hong Niangzi asked, "Are you asking me for advice? I'm illiterate, so I can't ask for advice!"

Zhu Youjian smiled and then asked, "Xie Jinrong just said he wanted to capture me and then join Li Zicheng. Wouldn't that make him one of you? Why don't you help him?"

"Who's on his side?"

Hong Niangzi was furious and said, "Although I, Hong Niangzi, am a woman, I am a woman of integrity. I followed King Chuang to conquer the world for the sake of the people. How can I be compared to such a scoundrel?"

"Alright, I understand!"

Zhu Youjian nodded and said nothing more.

The noise outside grew even more chaotic, with someone shouting, "All traitors, kill them all without mercy! Don't let a single one escape!"

Immediately following were more screams of agony, and the sound of steel knives chopping through bone.

Upon hearing this, Li Ruolian hurriedly stepped forward and bowed in greeting.

"Your Majesty, Commander Luo has arrived!"

"Um!"

Zhu Youjian nodded and ordered, "Open the door!"

"yes!"

The county government gate slowly opened, and the slain rebels cried out in despair, hiding everywhere.

Seeing the door open, they rushed in, but no longer resisted. They threw down their weapons and knelt on the ground.

"Your Majesty, I, Luo Yangxing, have arrived late to rescue you. Please forgive me!"

Luo Yangxing, holding a long knife, knelt on one knee, his body and face covered in blood.

Zhu Youjian said, "You may dispense with the formalities, sir!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Luo Yangxing stood up, pointed his sword at the rebels, and asked, "Your Majesty, what should be done with these people?"

"My policy towards rebels has always been to execute only the ringleaders, while accomplices are treated leniently, except..."

Zhu Youjian looked around and saw that these so-called rebels were actually local people.

They were not ordinary people. Judging from their clothes, some were guards, some were shopkeepers or employees, and some were clearly street thugs.

If it were impoverished people who couldn't get enough to eat and couldn't survive, then rebellion would be somewhat understandable.

However, the reason these people rebelled was probably simply for money!

"Kill them all!"

Luo Yangxing's heart skipped a beat, and he asked, "Kill them all?"

"Yes, leave no one alive!"

"As you command!"

Luo Yangxing shouted, "His Majesty has decreed that all rebels be killed without mercy!"

After saying this, he took out his long sword and walked up to the nearest person.

The man was trembling with fear, and yellowish-white fluid was spilling all over the ground from his crotch.

brush!

Luo Yangxing swiftly brought down his knife, splattering blood everywhere.

Then, the second, the third...

The Imperial Guards went on a killing spree, and the county government compound was filled with screams of agony, the ground stained red with blood.

Hong Niangzi frowned and said, "These people are all commoners, why not spare their lives?"

Zhu Youjian looked at Hong Niangzi with a deep gaze and said slowly, "They are different from you. You would have starved to death if you hadn't rebelled. That was out of necessity, and it's understandable. But they are different. Some of them are in it for money, and some are in it for personal gain. They are just following the crowd and aiding and abetting evil. If we let such people go today, they will surely become a great threat in the future."

The matchmaker added, "Perhaps some people were coerced?"

Zhu Youjian smiled faintly and said, "Among them, some may be making mistakes for the first time, and some may have been coerced into it, but what can be done? A single wrong thought can lead to utter ruin. If we do not punish them severely today, more people will follow suit tomorrow. At that time, the country will cease to be a country, and the people will cease to be people."

"You are the emperor, whatever you say goes."

Hong Niangzi understood the reasoning behind it, but she was still somewhat unconvinced.

Moments later, the Imperial Guards slaughtered the rebels, leaving the entire county government compound in ruins and filled with the heavy stench of blood.

Luo Yangxing personally escorted one person forward, who was none other than Fan Liuyang.

"Your Majesty, all the traitors have been executed, and their leader has been captured and is awaiting punishment!"

Fan Liuyang trembled with fear, wanting to beg for mercy, but he couldn't utter a single word.

He's still completely bewildered. It's just buying an official position, isn't it?

How did I suddenly become a traitor? Oh no, my entire family is doomed!

Zhu Youjian asked, "What about Xie Jinrong? Has he been caught?"

"When we entered the city, we saw someone hurrying out, so we stopped him and questioned him. This person was none other than Magistrate Xie Jinrong!"

After Luo Yangxing finished speaking, he waved to someone behind him.

"Bring it up!"

Two captains escorted Xie Jinrong forward and threw him to the ground.

Fan Liuyang turned his head and glanced at them, his face turning pale with anger. He gritted his teeth and said, "You told us to risk our lives, and you ran away?"

Xie Jinrong pushed him away and said weakly, "What's the use of saying all this now that things have come to this!"

Fan Liuyang, as if possessed, shouted, "You ruined my family and caused my death! You...you will die a horrible death!"

Xie Jinrong retorted, "If you hadn't coveted power, how could you be where you are today? Besides, don't you know how you acquired your vast wealth? Even without what happened today, you wouldn't have fared well!"

Fan Liuyang seemed to wake from a deep dream and suddenly burst into tears.

It wasn't that I realized I was wrong, but rather that I realized I was going to die!

Xie Jinrong looked at Zhu Youjian, his heart filled with despair, and said, "The victor is king, the loser is villain. I accept my defeat wholeheartedly and only wish for death!"

Zhu Youjian did not speak, but looked at Hong Niangzi and waved his hand in greeting.

Upon seeing this, Hong Niangzi was initially surprised, but then felt grateful.

She slowly drew the two swords from her waist and walked up to Xie Jinrong.

"Xie Jinrong, do you recognize me?"