Ming Dynasty: He was ordered to give lectures in prison, but Lao Zhu eavesdropped and made people nu

Chapter 724 Hidden Arrows and Beacon Fire

As night deepened, candlelight flickered within the Northern Garrison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in Nanjing.

Jiang Huan sat upright at his desk, a secret report just delivered from Quanzhou clutched in his hand, his brow furrowed. The report read: "Lin Jingming, the second young master of the Lin family, is actually a spy for the Embroidered Uniform Guard, ordered to infiltrate a Japanese merchant guild."

"Lin Jingming is a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?" Jiang Huan muttered to himself, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "Then who leaked the defense map of Longjiang Pass?"

He abruptly stood up, strode into the inner room, retrieved a secret book from a hidden compartment, and quickly flipped to the page listing the officials of the Ministry of War. His fingertips traced over several names, finally stopping at "Vice Minister of War Zhao Dechang".

“Zhao Dechang…” Jiang Huan narrowed his eyes, “This man personally inspected the defenses of Longjiang Pass last month under the pretext of inspecting the river defenses.”

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door. A commander of the Imperial Guards pushed open the door and entered, whispering, "Sir, we just intercepted a message sent by carrier pigeon. It was sent to Goryeo by a Japanese spy."

Jiang Huan took the slip of paper, which contained only a few words: "The map has been verified and is correct. Proceed according to the plan in three days."

"Three days later?" A cold glint flashed in Jiang Huan's eyes. "They're going to make their move in three days!"

He slammed his fist on the table: "Immediately send men to keep a close watch on Zhao Dechang! Also, send a message to His Majesty: there may be trouble at Longjiang Pass!"

The following morning, inside the Forbidden City, Empress Ma was strolling in the Imperial Garden. The spring sunlight shone among the flowers, and she bent down to gently stroke a blooming peony, a smile playing on her lips.

Suddenly, a faint whooshing sound came from the air!
"Your Majesty, be careful!" the palace maid beside her cried out and shoved Empress Ma aside.

"Whoosh!" A flash of cold light grazed Empress Ma's sleeve and embedded itself deeply into the tree trunk behind her—it was a sharp, cross-shaped hidden weapon!
"Shuriken?" Empress Ma's pupils constricted sharply. This was a deadly weapon unique to Japanese ninjas!

"Assassins! Protect the Empress!" The guards instantly drew their swords and surrounded Empress Ma. Chaos erupted in the Imperial Garden. The Imperial Guards searched everywhere, but found only a patch of trampled grass; the assassins had vanished without a trace.

Zhu Yuanzhang rushed over upon hearing the news, his face ashen. He picked up the shuriken, lightly scratched the blade with his fingertip, and blood seeped out.

"The claws of the Japanese pirates have dared to reach into my harem!" His voice was icy, filled with murderous intent.

Empress Ma pressed down on his arm and whispered, "Your Majesty, the assassin was able to infiltrate the palace; there must have been someone working on it from the inside."

A cold glint flashed in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes: "Jiang Huan!"

"Your subject is here!" Jiang Huan emerged from the shadows.

"Investigate! I want to see who's playing tricks right under my nose!"

At the same moment, off the coast of Taizhou, a fierce wind arose and towering waves surged.

Tang He's fleet appeared and disappeared in the mist, while in the distance, a dark, imposing fleet of Japanese pirate ships was cutting through the waves.

"Lord, the main force of the Japanese pirates has been spotted ahead, at least thirty warships!" Deputy General Zhou Shichang reported urgently.

Tang He stood at the bow of the ship, the sea breeze ruffling his battle robes to reveal the precious sword bestowed upon him by the late emperor at his waist. He narrowed his eyes and sneered, "They've finally arrived."

On a massive Atakebune aboard the Japanese pirate fleet, the Japanese general Shimazu Saburo, gripping a long sword, grinned maliciously at the Ming fleet: "The Ming have indeed fallen for our trap! Order a full-scale attack and annihilate Tang He in one fell swoop!"

However, just as the Japanese pirate fleet was about to enter firing range, a deafening horn sounded from the sea!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" More than ten Ming warships suddenly attacked from the flank of the Japanese pirate fleet, their cannons roaring and sinking three enemy ships in an instant!

"It's Liao Yongzhong's navy!" Zhou Shichang was overjoyed.

Tang He drew his sword, its cold gleam reflecting on his resolute face: "All troops, heed my command! Encircle and annihilate the enemy!"

Almost at the same moment, on the northern border, smoke billowed into the sky from the beacon tower of Juyong Pass!

"The Oirat army is marching south! Their strength is no less than 100,000!" The messenger roared as he rushed into the camp.

Wang Wenlong (Wang Baobao), the deputy general in charge of the campaign against the enemy, suddenly stood up, his armor clanging. He strode to the sand table, his gaze sharp as a knife: "They've come after all."

The adjutant beside him said urgently, "General, the Oirat forces are advancing fiercely. Should we engage them immediately?"

Wang Wenlong sneered, "No rush, let them go a little deeper first."

He turned to his personal guards: "Order the garrison troops of Datong and Xuanfu to retreat thirty li as planned, and let the Oirats enter the pass!"

The lieutenant was alarmed: "General! Isn't this letting the enemy penetrate deeper into our territory?"

A profound glint flashed in Wang Wenlong's eyes: "What His Majesty wants is not merely to repel the Oirats, but to annihilate them in one fell swoop!"

Inside the Wuying Hall, the gilded bronze crane incense burner emitted wisps of ambergris smoke, and Zhu Yuanzhang's fingers tapped out a dull rhythm on the rosewood table. The candlelight cast his shadow on the screen painted with the "Ten Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" scroll, making him appear like a lurking tiger.

"Report—A great victory in Taizhou!"

The messenger's voice, carrying the salty tang of the sea breeze, rushed into the hall. Zhu Yuanzhang took the military report; the sealing wax stamped with Tang He's unique wave pattern. Unfolding the silk paper, a few grains of sand rustled down from the creases, as if one could still hear the shouts of battle.

"Liao Yongzhong's navy cut off the Japanese pirates' retreat, while Tang He led the 'Zhenhai' and 'Fubo' warships straight at the central army." Zhu Yuanzhang's fingertips traced the words "27 enemy ships destroyed," and he suddenly sneered, "That old fox, Shimazu Saburo, he's quick to run."

Empress Ma paused slightly in the celadon teacup she held: "Did you travel on that vermilion-lacquered Atate-ship?"

"Your Majesty is wise." Jiang Huan emerged from the shadows, the gold thread on his black flying fish robe gleaming coldly in the candlelight. "Chen Wu's scout ship discovered that this vessel is fleeing towards Ryukyu. On board..." He glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang, "...there appear to be people dressed in Ming dynasty attire."

The teacup clinked against the tray, producing a crisp sound. Suddenly, Zhu Yuanzhang grabbed a secret report from the table and threw it at a pillar in the palace. The pages scattered like startled crows: "Good! My Minister of War is on a Japanese pirate ship!"

Empress Ma picked up a page that had fallen to her feet. It had a hastily drawn nautical chart, and next to the mark of Quanzhou Port, there was a note in tiny characters: "Three Lin family merchant ships every ten days, mooring at Pier No. 3 at night." She suddenly remembered that when she visited her family last month, the Vice Minister of Works who presented her with Korean ginseng had been wearing a fish-shaped jade pendant unique to the Lin family at his waist.

"Your Majesty!" The sound of clashing armor came from outside the hall. The commander of the Northern Garrison rushed in, covered in blood. "Zhao Dechang is in the Imperial Prison." Before he could finish speaking, he collapsed to the ground, three crossbow bolts sticking out of his back—the fletchings of which were the distinctive indigo blue of the Ministry of War's armory.

Jiang Huan instantly drew his sword and shielded the Emperor and Empress. Zhu Yuanzhang, however, pushed aside the embroidered spring knife, squatted down, pried open the commander's tightly clenched fist, and took out a blood-stained bronze token. The xiezhi pattern engraved on the token was faintly visible in the bloodstains; it was the pass token of the Three Judicial Offices.

"Interesting." Zhu Yuanzhang slowly wiped the bronze plaque with a silk handkerchief, then suddenly swung it at the bronze candlestick in the corner of the hall. With a loud "boom," six black-clad assassins leaped down from the beam, their shurikens flashing in eerie arcs.

Empress Ma swiftly retreated behind the "Landscape Painting" screen, a soft sword sliding from her sleeve. Jiang Huan's embroidered spring knife had already severed two heads, but then the last assassin suddenly turned his blade and thrust it towards her throat—it was a death squad member!
"Leave them alive!" Zhu Yuanzhang's roar shook the windowpanes. An arrow pierced the air, precisely striking the assassin's wrist.

At the palace gate, Wang Wenlong remained in the posture of drawing his bow, his iron armor still bearing the marks of the wind and snow from Juyong Pass.

(End of this chapter)