King of Han Dynasty of Ming Dynasty

The inner courtyard of the Zhong Mansion.

As Ji Gang led the Jinyiwei step by step closer and fought with the guards of the Zhong Mansion, the guards of the Zhong Mansion fought and retreated.

The Zhong family members in the inner courtyard of the Zhong Mansion who were in the rear and had not yet had time to retreat.

At this moment, the message was also received.

As a result, the people of the Zhong family, who had been retreating in an orderly manner, suddenly became restless.

The originally orderly evacuation turned into a restless evacuation where everyone tried desperately to squeeze into the narrow secret passage in an attempt to escape.

Accompanied by a crowd of people rushing in enthusiastically, risking their lives.

As a result, the originally narrow entrance of the passage suddenly became crowded with people.

Cursing, fear and anxiety were the norm.

They all gathered at the entrance of the secret passage, and no one gave way to anyone else.

The original retreat speed was instantly reduced.

Seeing this situation, the guards who had been maintaining order were all frightened. They tried their best to persuade the crazy Zhong family members to stop being so crazy and leave in an orderly manner as much as possible.

but
Regarding the guards' advice.

The Zhong family members, who were already in fear, ignored him.

He simply ignored the guards' words of advice.

At the same time, he shamelessly scolded the guards.

Even the Zhong Mansion's housekeeper and the captain of the guard, who were in charge of the retreat, took out the so-called patriarch's token that symbolized the patriarch's power.

At this moment.

Still has no effect.

Those members of the Zhong family who had not yet retreated continued to do as they pleased.

Regarding the current situation, the old housekeeper of the Zhong Mansion and the captain of the guard are about to take action against the Zhong family members who disobeyed the family head's token, attempting to use blood to make these crazy people regain their sanity.

call out.
huh huh
It was at this moment.

I saw a series of sharp arrows with a biting chill, flying straight towards the butler of the Zhong Mansion and the captain of the guard who were about to command the people around them to take action.

"Everyone, get down."

"Silence."

"Don't move."

Wait until the sound of arrows cutting through the air is heard.

Angry shouts rang out, along with the sounds of chaotic footsteps and shrill screams.

Hear this.

The Zhong family, who had originally gone crazy, couldn't help but be stunned.

Everyone subconsciously turned their heads and looked towards the place where the noise and scolding came from.

They all wanted to see who had the guts to treat them like this. Some even looked displeased and were about to yell and curse.

However, when I looked clearly at the clothes of the people with fierce faces who were coming from the place where the sound came from.

Those who had originally wanted to scold could not help but close their mouths subconsciously, and forcibly swallowed back the words that were about to come out of their mouths.

At the same time, everyone's faces showed fear and uneasiness.

Compared to the people of the Zhong family who were frightened and did not retreat.

The butler of the Zhong Mansion and the captain of the guard, who had dodged the sharp arrows shot by the Jinyiwei and the Ming soldiers, couldn't help but change their expressions. They subconsciously looked at each other, and then nodded at each other imperceptibly.

Then they tried desperately to rush to the place where a large amount of gunpowder was buried nearby, attempting to ignite the gunpowder, kill all the members of the Zhong family, and blow up the entrance to the secret passage, completing the task assigned to them by Zhong Kairan, and also planning to give the Jinyiwei and Ming soldiers a severe blow.

Of course, it’s not that the two are so loyal, or that they are so ready to face death.

The main thing is that the lives of his family are in Zhong Kairan's hands, and he has become a hostage in the hands of others.

And as an old man who has always been following Zhong Kairan.

The two knew too well the ruthless methods of their master.

If they do not follow Zhong Kairan's instructions, or fail to complete Zhong Kairan's instructions, endless hell will be waiting for their family.

and so.

Knowing it means death.

The two did not dare to disobey in the slightest.

After all, one's death can allow one's family to live and at the same time allow one's family to live a prosperous life. Why not do it?

This is also true.

The two of them would be so determined.

Just when the two men were about to pounce on the gunpowder, the sound of two sharp arrows cutting through the air was heard again, piercing straight through the hands and feet of the two men, knocking the two men who were flying in the air away.

boom.
Then he fell heavily to the ground.

at the same time.

The Jinyiwei and Ming soldiers who besieged the Zhong family immediately rushed towards the two people lying in a pool of blood.

At the same time, Ji Gang, who was in charge of this operation, shouted at the Zhong family members who had gathered together and had not yet left:

"Don't play any tricks on me."

"Don't even think about leaving. Get out of here one by one."

"Come and stand in the yard."

"fast"

"Otherwise, don't blame us for being blind with our swords."

When speaking.

Ji Gang waved to the Jinyiwei and Ming soldiers behind him.

In an instant.

The soldiers and Jinyiwei, in unison, pulled their bows and arrows to the full moon, aiming directly at the group of people from the Zhong family who had gathered together.

In the entire narrow inner courtyard.

As the bow was drawn to the full moon, an icy murderous intent instantly filled the entire courtyard.

The pampered Zhong family had never seen such a scene before and became increasingly frightened and uneasy.

Many timid people were so scared that they wet their pants.

Faced with the soldiers and Jinyiwei who were eyeing them covetously, the trembling members of the Zhong family took small, fearful steps and obediently retreated from the entrance of President Yong's secret passage.

and.
The Zhong Mansion's housekeeper and the captain of the guard, who had been prepared to die together, were dragged out by the Jinyiwei like dead dogs and fell heavily to the ground.

but
The Jinyiwei who dragged the two out all looked extremely ugly, with cold sweat on their foreheads. There was a hint of fear in their words as they reported:

"Your Excellency, the Commander-in-Chief is truly a man of foresight."

"These bastards are really cruel!!"

"In this narrow courtyard, there are at least 800 to 900 kilograms of gunpowder buried."

"If it weren't for the commander-in-chief's foresight, warning us in advance, and making preparations in advance."

"Once these two bastards ignite the buried gunpowder"

At this point, the Jinyiwei who reported the incident shuddered unconsciously and continued:

"With eight or nine hundred kilograms of gunpowder."

"Once it's lit."

"Not only will those who have not retreated from the Zhong Mansion be killed, but we, the Jinyiwei and soldiers who don't know what's going on, are also going to lose a lot of people here."

“Don’t be too crazy.”

"I really can't believe they are so cruel and crazy to this extent."

After hearing this.

Everyone in the field couldn't help but look serious, and the scene suddenly became eerily quiet.

Even though Ji Gang was mentally prepared, his expression changed involuntarily.

Eight or nine hundred kilograms of gunpowder!

These bastards.

How many people do they want to be buried with them?

But fortunately... fortunately, there was the previous example of the crazy behavior of those people in Yuan Mansion.

He gave specific instructions before taking action and also told his subordinates to be careful.

At the same time, when entering, he also paid special attention.

Seeing someone making unusual movements, he gave orders decisively.

Otherwise, these bastards would have really succeeded.

boom…

Boom boom...

Just then.

A deafening explosion was heard, and the ground began to shake.

The sudden explosion instantly broke the silent and depressing atmosphere in the courtyard.

In an instant.

Everyone's eyes subconsciously turned to the location where the sound came from.

I saw an open area that was razed to the ground and a cloud of dust kicked up by the explosion.

I took several steps back unconsciously.

"Here comes someone."

"Go and see what happened quickly?"

"quick……"

Ji Gang, who was the first to come back to his senses from the explosion, shouted angrily at the guards around him.

Accompanied by Ji Gang's angry shout.

The soldiers following him also came to their senses in an instant. They did not dare to delay in the slightest and walked towards the door with big strides.

Da da da.
But just as he reached the gate of the courtyard.

He bumped into a Jinyiwei dressed in a flying fish uniform who was jogging along in a panic. Both of them were knocked to the ground by each other and subconsciously let out a cry of pain, which instantly attracted everyone's attention.

The person who entered in a panic was none other than Yang Huan, the head of the Jinyiwei in Xijiang, who was responsible for going to the study to arrest Zhong Kairan.

Seeing the man coming in a panic, Ji Gang also stepped forward quickly, came close to him, and shouted:
"What happened to Yang Huan's explosion just now?"

"What on earth happened to you guys?"

"Why did the explosion happen?"

"Has Zhong Kairan been caught?"

Asked several times in succession.

The question directly stunned Yang Huan, who came to report.

After a brief moment of daze, Yang Huan came back to his senses, sorted out his thoughts, and quickly said:
"Mr. Huihui."

"Something big has happened. Something big has happened."

"Zhong Kairan detonated the explosives buried in his study and committed suicide. No trace of his body was found."

"We lost more than a dozen brothers for this."

"If it weren't for my subordinates' quick reaction."

The words have not yet fallen.

Ji Gang grabbed Yang Huan's shoulders with both hands, his expression full of disbelief and his words with a hint of uncertainty, and said:

"You...what did you say?"

"Zhong Kairan ignited the gunpowder and committed suicide?"

"You saw it with your own eyes?"

"Still, tell me exactly what happened."

"Hurry up, answer me!!!"

Seeing Ji Gang’s face full of heart-wrenching anger.

Yang Huan was so frightened that he couldn't help but tremble. He lowered his head and dared not look at him, hesitatingly saying:

"Yes, it is."

"Zhong Kairan ignited the explosives in his study and committed suicide."

"I saw this with my own eyes."

Having said this, he paused, sorted out his thoughts briefly, and recounted the whole story:
"I have been ordered to arrest Zhong Kairan."

"According to the spies below, Zhong Kairan has been in the study the whole time and did not follow the Zhong family's main force to evacuate from the secret passage."

"So after entering the Zhong family, I didn't hesitate at all and led a team of people directly to Zhong Kairan's study, intending to arrest Zhong Kairan directly."

"But just when we arrived at Zhong Kairan's study and opened the door."

"Zhong Kairan, who had been sitting on the armchair in the study, stood up from the chair with a calm expression, as if he had expected us to come back."

"He smiled at us."

"Then he shouted angrily: No one in this world can judge him, not even the emperor."

"After that, just when we thought he had gone insane and were about to go up to arrest him, he threw the fire stick hidden behind him onto the ground."

"I see that the situation is not right."

"Hurry up and order all your men to retreat and be on guard against any changes."

"But the gunpowder burned too quickly. Some people reacted, but some didn't, resulting in dozens of casualties."

"And in front of all of us, Zhong Kairan was completely swallowed up by the huge explosion."

"As soon as the explosion stopped, those of us who survived rushed to the center of the explosion. All that was left was a scorched earth burned by the raging fire. There was nothing else."

Say it.

Yang Huan knelt down in front of Ji Gang, lowered his head, and said earnestly:

"My subordinates are not doing their job well."

"I beg the commander-in-chief to punish me."

See Yang Huan kneeling on the ground.

Listening to his detailed narration, Ji Gang twitched his lips, his expression became extremely interesting, and his expression became extremely solemn. He asked again:

"you sure?"

"Is it true that the person who died in the center of the explosion is Zhong Kairan?"

This statement came out.

Yang Huan, who was kneeling on the ground, was stunned for a moment. He looked up at Ji Gang who was staring at him in astonishment. He swallowed subconsciously, then nodded heavily and said:
"That person looked exactly like Zhong Kairan, and his tone of voice and demeanor were almost identical."

"And when I investigated Zhong Kairan before, I specifically checked and found that Zhong Kairan did not have any so-called twin brothers."

"If nothing unexpected happens, that person is undoubtedly Zhong Kairan."

Listen to the convincing answer.

Ji Gang was stunned for a moment, and fell into deep thought, muttering to himself in a low voice:
"This, this, this"

"Is this really dead?"

"Does he really have such courage?"

Although listening to Yang Huan's firm words.

But Ji Gang always felt that it was not so real. He always felt that there was something strange, or that there was some unknown secret hidden.

For a moment, the field fell into an eerie silence. The sound of heavy breathing lingered, but no one spoke.

After a long time.

Ji Gang came back to his senses after muttering to himself. Then he seemed to have thought of something. A glimmer of light flashed in his half-closed eyes. He then looked at Yang Huan who was close at hand with a serious expression and shouted in vain:
"impossible."

"I do not believe."

"Zhong Kairan. Such a person."

"It is absolutely impossible for someone to choose to commit suicide so abruptly."

"Clean up all the study rooms that have been razed to the ground. Even the collapsed foundations must be cleaned up for me."

"Search carefully for me, and take a good look to see if there are any traces of secret passages being dug here." (End of this chapter)