Late Ming Dynasty: Summoning players from Liaodong to support the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 170 A Feast at Hongmen? Leading a Hundred Madmen to Turn the Capital Upside Down

Three miles outside Yanjiao Ice City.

The snow, repeatedly trampled by tens of thousands of soldiers, had long since turned into a muddy, damp frozen wasteland. Dark red blood froze into hard ice in the biting north wind, emitting a pungent, foul stench.

A large royal procession struggled to move forward through the wind and snow.

The bright yellow canopy fluttered wildly in the strong wind, and several large flags embroidered with five-clawed golden dragons tilted precariously.

Wang Chengen, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, huddled inside the eight-bearer sedan chair, his hands twisting the whisk tightly in his palms. His face was deathly pale, devoid of any color, and his teeth chattered softly.

"Stop! Stop the sedan chair!"

Three miles away from the Ice City, Wang Chengen suddenly flung open the sedan curtain and screamed hysterically in a shrill voice.

The sedan bearers breathed a sigh of relief and quickly lowered the sedan poles. Wang Chengen scrambled out of the sedan, and as soon as his feet touched the blood-stained ice, his knees buckled, and he nearly fell into a muddy puddle.

Two eunuchs quickly stepped forward to help him up.

Wang Chengen pushed them aside, trembling as he raised his head to look ahead.

The ice city, rising abruptly from nowhere, stretched across the wilderness, exuding a chilling, deathly aura.

The city wall was over ten feet high, and within its cold, hard ice, layers upon layers of severed limbs and mutilated bodies of the Jurchens were frozen solid. The heads of Jurchens, their eyes wide open, were used as bricks within the wall, their grotesque and twisted faces appearing utterly terrifying in the dim light.

Above the city wall, a group of people in strange clothes were lying in layers.

Those men, clutching pieces of scrap metal stained with black blood, looked down at the royal procession. Some were even gnawing on raw horse meat, their mouths full of blood.

Wang Chengen swallowed hard, his prominent Adam's apple bobbing violently.

He had served in the Forbidden City for decades and had witnessed the intrigues and backstabbing in the court, but he had never seen such pure, irrational greed.

The way those people looked at him wasn't that they were looking at the Ming Emperor's envoy, but rather that they were looking at a very succulent piece of pork belly.

The image of the arrogant eunuch who delivered the imperial edict outside Guangqumen, who was ultimately slapped away by Chu Ze, flashed uncontrollably through his mind.

Wang Chengen couldn't help but shiver.

He hunched over, bowed his head low, and trudged towards the city gate, his steps uneven, treading on bits of flesh and ice.

The dozens of burly generals and imperial guards accompanying him turned ashen-faced, their legs trembling violently.

His hand rested on the hilt of the Embroidered Spring Blade, but he didn't even have the courage to draw it. He could only grit his teeth and follow behind the eunuch.

Chu Ze stood outside the city gate.

The dark robe fluttered in the cold wind, and the fine steel longsword that had slain countless Jurchens hung at his waist.

Wang Chengen put on a very ingratiating smile from a distance. He took a few quick steps and knelt down directly in the mud, bending over so low that his back almost touched the snow.

"This servant, Wang Chengen, brings you my congratulations, Lord Chu! It's an incredibly joyous occasion!"

Wang Chengen's voice was clearly obsequious, showing no airs of an imperial envoy whatsoever, and his posture was extremely humble.

He carefully took out a bright yellow imperial edict from his sleeve and held it high above his head.

"His Majesty was overjoyed upon learning of the great victory at Yanjiao! He specially ordered this servant to travel day and night to deliver the decree to Lord Chu!"

The incense table was quickly set up.

Yuan Chonghuan, Zu Dashou, He Kegang, and other Guan Ning generals knelt in unison on the ground. The armor plates clanged together, producing a dull metallic sound.

Chu Ze knelt on one knee, his back ramrod straight, his face expressionless.

Wang Chengen unfolded the imperial edict, cleared his hoarse throat, and loudly proclaimed it.

The beginning was filled with long, ornate, and laudatory passages praising Chu Ze's brilliant military strategy, his ability to reverse a defeat, and his support for the crumbling court.

Then, the main event began.

"By special privilege, Chu Ze, the Vice Commander of Guangning Guard, is hereby granted the title of Earl of Pingliao! He is awarded ten thousand taels of gold, a flying fish robe, and an embroidered spring knife! He is also granted a first-rank mansion in the inner city of the capital!"

At this point, Wang Chengen deliberately paused and raised his voice.

"Order Pingliao Earl Chuze to immediately remove his armor and, with only a few close attendants, go to the capital to meet the Emperor and receive his reward, enjoying boundless wealth and honor!"

"Furthermore, Yuan Chonghuan, the Grand Commander of Liaodong, is hereby promoted to Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince! The defense of Liaodong is critical; Yuan Chonghuan is ordered to lead the Guan-Ning cavalry to immediately break camp and return to their post outside the Great Wall, and is not permitted to linger in the capital region!"

The imperial edict was read aloud.

Yuan Chonghuan was overcome with emotion and tears streamed down his face.

The old general, who had spent half his life enduring the harsh cold of Liaodong, kowtowed heavily, his forehead hitting the ice with a loud thud, leaving a red mark.

"Your subject, Yuan Chonghuan, kowtows in gratitude for the Emperor's grace! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

He trembled with excitement, convinced that the emperor had finally come to his senses and that the Ming Dynasty was on the verge of revival.

Zu Dashou, He Kegang, and others also had beaming faces, their mouths agape.

Earl of Pingliao! It's been so many years since the Ming Dynasty produced an earl from a different surname!

Lord Chu has truly risen to prominence in one fell swoop, and even the Guan Ning Army has benefited from this.

Chu Ze slowly stood up.

He stretched out one hand and unceremoniously snatched the scroll of imperial edict from Wang Chengen's hand.

Wang Chengen's heart pounded, and he leaned closer with a broad smile.

"My lord, His Majesty is eagerly awaiting our arrival in the palace. Look how freezing it is, shouldn't we change our clothes and set off quickly?"

Chu Ze did not reply; his deep pupils reflected the eunuch's pale face.

At the edge of the retina, a string of scarlet numbers quietly popped up on the system panel.

Target: Wang Chengen's current heart rate: 168 beats per minute. Emotional state: extreme fear, extreme tension, and guilt. Chu Ze's lips twitched, revealing an extremely cold mockery.

Central command tent.

The crackling sound of the burning charcoal brazier dispelled some of the chill.

Chu Ze strode into the tent and casually tossed the bright yellow imperial edict, which symbolized supreme glory, onto the blood-stained table.

The edges of the imperial edict were immediately stained with dark red blood.

Wang Erniu carried in a basin of hot water, glanced at the imperial edict thrown into the blood of the dead, and his thick neck suddenly shrank back.

"My lord, this is an imperial edict! Are you just going to throw it away like that?"

Wang Erniu lowered his voice, placed the wooden basin on the ground, and couldn't hide the worry on his face.

"Although I'm a rough man, I also feel there's something strange about this. After winning the battle, they won't let the army enter the city to rest, forcing you to go to the capital alone. Isn't this like throwing a lamb to the slaughter?"

Chu Ze washed the blood off his hands in a wooden basin and then dried them with a piece of coarse cloth.

"Like a lamb entering a tiger's den?"

Chu Ze let out a cold laugh, his voice extremely cold within the tent.

"This was a vicious scheme that Emperor Chongzhen and his group of civil officials, including Wen Tiren, had been plotting all night."

Several trusted centurions gathered around the tent, holding their breath.

"A three-layered interlocking mechanism."

Chu Ze extended three fingers and tapped the table with his fingertips.

"The first level is a promotion in name only, a demotion in reality. They give me a nominal title of Earl of Pingliao, along with some gold, silver, and a mansion, to silence the gossip. In name, I've been promoted, but in reality, they're completely stripping me of my military power. According to the rules of the Ming Dynasty, nobles do not hold real power."

"The second layer is to lure the tiger away from the mountain. The imperial edict clearly states that we should remove our armor and enter the capital with only a few close attendants. Once we enter the capital, the nine gates will be closed, and the cannons will be mounted on the city walls. I, Chu Ze, will become a tiger with its teeth pulled, at their mercy. Whether I am killed or tortured will depend entirely on the emperor's word."

Chu Ze paused, then pointed his long, slender fingers out of the tent.

"The third layer, the most insidious: sowing discord. By bestowing upon Yuan Chonghuan the title of Grand Protector and immediately sending him back to Liaodong, it's clear they intend to completely sever ties between me and the Guan-Ning cavalry. Yuan Chonghuan is stubborn and self-willed; the court is giving him such a huge reward because they know he would never defy the imperial decree for the sake of me, a nobody who suddenly became the Earl of Pingliao. This move, cutting off his supply lines, is truly brilliant."

Outside the main tent.

The cold wind howled, whipping up large clumps of snow powder.

Yuan Chonghuan was holding a jar of freshly warmed strong liquor, preparing to enter the tent to congratulate Chu Ze.

He stood outside the heavy tent curtains and heard everything that was being said inside.

The old man's body was stiff, and his hands, holding the wine jar, trembled violently.

The wine in the jar spilled out and fell into the snow, creating a deep crater.

My passionate enthusiasm was completely extinguished by the cruel reality, leaving me feeling cold and heartbroken.

He had thought that after the great victory, the emperor and his ministers would get along well.

Unexpectedly, those high-ranking officials in the court, and that emperor himself, were so vicious!

The 100,000 Jurchen troops had just been driven back, and the crisis in the capital had only just been resolved.

Instead of offering comfort and compensation to their soldiers, they immediately turned their guns on the meritorious officials who had made unparalleled contributions!

Yuan Chonghuan took a deep breath of the cold air mixed with snow, and his lungs ached.

He didn't lift the tent flap, but silently turned around, holding the jar of strong liquor, and walked step by step into the wind and snow.

His back was hunched, his steps unsteady. The Ming Dynasty court was utterly corrupt. He had completely lost faith in the emperor sitting on the dragon throne.

Inside the tent, Chu Ze opened the system backend.

He sent the news of his trip to the capital to several core players.

In less than half an incense stick's time.

Shi Dali, Xiao Ran, Qian Lele, and the others rushed into the tent at lightning speed.

Shi Dali was still covered in half-dried Jurchen filth, holding a rusty giant sword in his hand, his face contorted violently with extreme excitement.

"Boss! You're going to the capital?"

Shi Dali's hoarse voice shook the top of the tent, and spittle flew everywhere.

"The imperial decree has been issued. Only a small number of close associates are permitted."

Chu Ze spoke calmly, observing the group's reactions.

He thought the players would see this as a trap, complain about not being able to bring a large group, and might even protest.

As a result, the brain circuits of this group of Fourth Calamities were completely beyond the realm of common sense.

At the edge of my retina, the guild channel was instantly flooded with countless red text messages.

Civil Engineering Enthusiast Zhou Keke: Holy crap! A new map! The capital city instance! This is definitely a massive DLC! I'm going to tear down the palace bricks!

Cultivation Party Member Qian Lele: So much profit! Incredible profit! In the homes of corrupt officials in the Ming Dynasty, even the wall bricks are made of gold! You could knock off any brick and exchange it for a set of top-tier equipment! We're rich! We're rich!

Breaking Bad actor Cheng Huaxue: Didn't the emperor want to bestow rewards? Let's just raid the national treasury! Let's empty the Forbidden City! I still have a few canisters of enhanced poison gas; let the Ming Dynasty officials have a taste!

PVP Assassination of Qin Jue: The Emperor's first kill should have a very high drop rate. Don't even think about taking it from me.

Shi Dali slammed his hand on the table, causing the scroll of imperial edict to bounce high into the air.

"Boss! Take me there! This rusty greatsword of mine has been itching for a fight for ages! Those Jurchen bastards are so poor, they can't squeeze anything out of them, they don't even have a decent pair of underwear! Let's go loot the emperor's gold coins!"

Xiao Ran pushed up his non-existent glasses on the bridge of his nose, sneered repeatedly, and his face was full of calculation.

"This plot is so obvious, a classic trap. The developers are practically giving us a freebie. Boss, just tell us how many people we're bringing, let's just raze Beijing to the ground!"

This group of people had no respect for imperial power whatsoever.

In their eyes, the Ming emperor sitting on the golden dragon throne was nothing more than an ultimate BOSS with a golden health bar and dropping top-quality equipment.

The Forbidden City is a super treasure trove filled with massive resources.

Chu Ze looked at the group of crazy people with shining eyes and rubbing their hands together, and a cruel smile appeared on his lips.

Since Emperor Chongzhen wanted to play dirty tricks, let's go with the flow.

He decisively brought up the system backend and frantically burned the massive amount of spiritual energy he had just seized.

Ding! Server-wide announcement!

The large-scale, multi-part main storyline expansion, "The Capital's Turmoil," has officially begun its pre-launch phase!

Expansion Pack Synopsis: The imperial court is rife with intrigue and treacherous schemes, and the emperor's power harbors hidden dangers. Chu Ze, the Marquis of Pingliao, is summoned to the capital, facing perilous circumstances. The true enemy often lurks within the glittering halls of power! Tear off those masks of deceit and seize your spoils!

Special requirements: This mission is an extremely dangerous stealth and decapitation mode. Limited to one hundred core players only!

The announcement caused an uproar among players outside the community.

Tens of thousands of people nearly fought tooth and nail in the snow to compete for just one hundred spots.

Curses and the clanging of weapons filled the air.

Chu Ze directly identified one hundred core players with the strongest combat power and the most lawless behavior in the background, including Shi Dali, Xiao Ran, Qin Jue, and Zhou Keke.

"Go change your clothes."

Chu Ze stood up and kicked the blood basin on the ground, splashing water everywhere.

"Remove your heavy armor and put on civilian clothes. Hide all your weapons well. Don't let the imperial envoy notice anything amiss."

3

Shi Dali grinned and stuffed the rusty giant sword into his wide linen robe.

He then took out the half of Huang Taiji's jade pendant from his crotch, wiped it, and stuffed it back into the deepest part of his body.

Half an hour later.

The gates of the ice city were wide open.

Chu Ze mounted a pure black warhorse.

He changed into an expensive black fox fur coat, and the long sword manifested by the system hung at his waist.

He exuded the air of a noble young master, yet he couldn't conceal the ruthlessness in his bones.

Behind them, a hundred players were dressed in gaudy coarse cotton-padded jackets, some with broken iron pots balancing on their heads.

Their sleeves were bulging, and their eyes gleamed with an undisguised green light.

Sitting in the sedan chair, Wang Chengen looked at the strange procession through the gap in the curtain, feeling that something was amiss.

The way those people looked at him seemed like they wanted to devour him alive.

"My lord, shall we set off?"

Wang Chengen shouted in a high-pitched voice, his voice weak and strained.

Chu Ze ignored him.

He gave the reins a sharp jerk, and the warhorse let out a long neigh, its front hooves rearing up high.

The gaze travels across the vast snowfield, pointing straight south.

Emperor Chongzhen.

Wen Tiren.

You think you can put a toothless tiger in a cage with a royal decree?

Little did they know that they had personally opened the gates to hell for the Ming Dynasty.

"Set off."

Chu Ze roared.

One hundred Fourth Calamities roared and screamed, shattering the ice shell on the ground as they charged wildly toward the Forbidden City.

A terrifying storm, capable of upending the entire Ming Dynasty court, has officially begun.