Da Ming: The system granted me immortality; I clock in every day.

"Shi Heng!"

Zhu Qizhen shouted sternly.

"Your subordinate is here!" Shi Heng instinctively straightened his back.

"A secret report has arrived from the capital. Prince Xin, Zhu Qijun, is colluding with generals of the capital garrison, plotting to seize the throne while the Emperor is seriously ill!"

Zhu Qiyu slammed the silk cloth onto the general's desk, his expression murderous.

Upon hearing this, Shi Heng gasped.

A prince rebelling? That's a capital offense!

"Your Highness, what should we do?"

Shi Heng swallowed hard. As a border general, if he dared to lead troops into the capital without an imperial decree, it would be a serious crime of treason.

Zhu Qiyu saw through Shi Heng's concerns.

He sneered, took the gold medal representing his imperial envoy's status from his waist, and slammed it heavily onto the table.

"Are you afraid of being accused of unauthorized deployment of border troops?"

Zhu Qiyu stared intently at Shi Heng.

"Let me tell you. My brother is on the verge of death, and the fate of the Ming Dynasty is about to change. If Prince Xin ascends the throne, what good will come of it for you generals who investigated the military settlements on the border and cut off the financial resources of those noble relatives?"

Shi Heng felt a chill run down his spine.

Over the past four years, they have followed Prince Cheng, Cha Juntun, and have offended all the nobles in the capital.

If Prince Xin gains power, these people in the Nine Border Regions will be purged sooner or later.

Seeing that the time was right, Zhu Qizhen turned around and grabbed the sandalwood abacus.

"Clatter!"

He slammed down an abacus bead.

"I won't lecture you on grand principles of loyalty to the emperor and serving the country. Let's settle some accounts."

"Prince Xin is plotting a rebellion, and his accomplices are all those bloated nobles and members of the imperial family in the capital. Their private properties, estates, shops, gold, silver, and jewels are countless. I hereby swear an oath today!"

Zhu Qiyu's eyes were sharp as he scanned the several Datong deputy generals who had rushed to the tent upon hearing the news.

"All those who followed me into the capital to quell the rebellion are meritorious officials in the pacification of the rebellion! The private property of Prince Xin's accomplices will not be confiscated by the Ministry of Revenue; all of it will be distributed as rewards to the officers and soldiers of the three armies based on their merits!"

"Whoever takes the head of a traitor will be ennobled and appointed a general, their descendants protected! This is a perfectly legitimate way to make a fortune and gain official position in the capital—would you do it or not?!"

Inside the large tent, there was a deathly silence.

A moment later, a burning desire for wealth and power simultaneously ignited in the eyes of Shi Heng and the other fierce border generals.

Following Prince Cheng back to the capital to quell the rebellion would not only be the greatest contribution in saving the emperor, but would also allow for the legal confiscation of the assets of those noble and powerful families!

This is a million times more worthwhile than fighting the Oirat people in the northern frontier!

"This humble general is willing to follow Your Highness to the death! To purge the court of corrupt officials and punish the traitors!"

Shi Heng knelt on one knee and roared.

"I swear to follow Your Highness to the death!"

The generals inside the tent shouted in unison, their killing intent soaring to the sky.

Zhu Qiyu nodded in satisfaction, quickly regaining his composure as an iron-fisted accountant.

"Datong Garrison needs to be heavily fortified against the Oirats. Shi Heng, you immediately muster 30,000 elite cavalry, each with two horses, and bring ten days' worth of provisions. Tonight at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM), break camp and head south!"

"No disturbance should be made to the prefectures and counties along the way. If any obstacles are encountered, they should be closed; if anyone obstructs the way, they should be killed without mercy! Within five days, I want to see the walls of the capital!"

"Yes, sir!"

That night, horses neighed and the wind howled outside Datong Town.

Thirty thousand iron cavalry, like a black torrent, took advantage of the cover of night, broke through the wind and snow, and headed straight for the capital.

Zhu Qiyu rode a magnificent black horse, his cloak fluttering in the wind.

On the side of the saddle hung a large abacus made of rosewood, carefully wrapped in a leather case.

He glanced back at the receding border, his gaze resolute.

Your Majesty, you sent your humble servant to survey the land at the Nine Borders. Your humble servant has thoroughly assessed the military power and the hearts of the people.

Today, I, your humble servant, will lead these debt-collecting soldiers back to the capital to take over the accounts of the Ming Dynasty.

At the same time, in the capital, at the Prince Xin's residence.

The night was deep, and the wind and snow concealed many unspeakable crimes.

Inside the council hall in the backyard of Prince Xin's mansion, the charcoal fire in the brazier was burning brightly.

Prince Xin, Zhu Qijun, wore a dark gold brocade robe with dragon patterns and sat upright at the head of the table.

His face was flushed with an unusual redness from excessive excitement.

He gripped the back of the chair tightly with both hands, as if it were the dragon throne in the Qianqing Palace.

Below the steps stood Chen Dayuan, the military commander of the Beijing Garrison, and several other military officers responsible for guarding the nine gates of the capital.

"Your Highness, everything has been taken care of."

Chen Dayuan clasped his hands in a fist salute and lowered his voice to report.

"I have already distributed the 300,000 taels of silver to my subordinate commanders under the guise of year-end rewards. Before nightfall tonight, the guards of the nine gates, including Desheng Gate, Anding Gate, and Chaoyang Gate, have all been replaced by our trusted confidants."

"Once the palace's death knell tolls, all nine gates will be locked immediately, and no soldiers will be allowed to enter the city!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Qijun burst into laughter, picked up the wine cup on the table, and drank it all in one gulp.

"Excellent! Lieutenant General Chen is indeed efficient!"

Zhu Qijun's eyes gleamed with fervent ambition.

"The Emperor is seriously ill, and Gu Yannian has been feigning illness and staying indoors these past few days, not even going to the Grand Secretariat. It seems that the old man has sensed the tide has turned, knows the situation is hopeless, and is hiding in his residence like a coward!"

A prince nearby stepped forward and smiled obsequiously:

"Your Highness is blessed with great fortune, and is the one everyone hopes for. Over the years, the Emperor has favored that old scoundrel Gu, forcing all the officials and us members of the imperial family to live like beggars. Everyone has long harbored resentment."

"As long as Your Highness issues a call, people will surely flock to you."

Zhu Qijun snorted coldly and slammed his wine cup heavily on the table.

"Does His Majesty think that filling the national treasury makes him a wise ruler? Doesn't he realize that if the silver in the treasury can't be spent, it's just a pile of dead goods! The first thing I'll do after I ascend the throne is open the imperial granary and bestow generous rewards upon everyone! I'll also bring back all those military families who have suffered hardships on the nine border regions to the capital to enjoy a life of luxury!"

The crowd's eyes lit up, and they all knelt down, shouting, "Long live the Emperor!"

"Don't rush to change your mind; this matter must not be taken lightly."

Zhu Qijun raised his hand, signaling everyone to stand up.

"Wang Zhen in the palace has always been fiercely loyal to the Emperor. The edict that passed the throne to Zhu Qiyu must be hidden in the Qianqing Palace. Tomorrow morning, General Chen, you will take a thousand elite imperial guards and, under the pretext of protecting the Emperor, take over the defense of the Forbidden City."

"No matter what, you must find that imperial edict and destroy it for me!"

"Yes, sir! But what if we encounter resistance..."

A murderous glint flashed in Chen Dayuan's eyes.

Zhu Qijun's face instantly turned ferocious, and he gritted his teeth as he spat out four words.

"Kill them without mercy!"

On the surface, the capital city appeared calm that night, but undercurrents were surging beneath.

Meanwhile, in Xuanwu Lane, inside the study of the Grand Secretary's private residence.

Gu Yannian was sitting upright in front of the chessboard, playing against himself by the dim light of a candle.

The black and white pieces are crisscrossed on the board, and the atmosphere of battle is already set.

"Smack."

Gu Yannian placed a black piece steadily in the upper right corner of the board, blocking the last escape route for the white piece.