From the Ming Dynasty, we will conquer the world

Chapter 71: Too much bullying, lawlessness (first update)
The then Prime Minister Fu Zongshu and the Imperial Preceptor Zhan Bieye were beheaded by a mysterious man during a banquet.

This news not only shocked the capital, but also the whole world, because there were so many shocking things in it.

First of all, given the identities of Fu Zongshu and Zhan Bieye, who would dare to assassinate them in the capital?
Secondly, although Fu Zongshu has always been a low-key person, his identity as a disciple of Yuan Shisan is enough to make people in the martial arts world look up to him.

It is generally acknowledged that Zhan Bieye's martial arts skills are not inferior to the "Six Greatest Masters in the World", and are even better than them.

Who on earth has the strength to sneak into a heavily guarded place like the Prime Minister's Mansion and kill these two world-class masters, as well as Yuan Shisanxian's guardian, the "Three Great Opening and Great Closing Gods"?
Then, what does "mysterious man" mean?
The capital city is a place where many talented people are hiding. Is it possible that for such a big matter, there is not a single top-notch expert who can come out to take charge of the matter and investigate the identity of this person?

At least, that's what Emperor Zhao Ji thought.

In his mind, this top master would preferably be an old man who likes to wear a white robe, has a gaunt appearance, an immortal look, is about sixty or seventy years old, and is famous in the martial arts world for his spear skills.

Almost immediately after the incident happened, Cai Jing asked Zhao Ji to issue an imperial decree to thoroughly investigate the Shenhou Mansion.

Zhao Ji certainly knew about the conflict between his two important ministers, but he still issued the imperial edict to Cai Jing.

He certainly did this not because he doubted Zhuge Zhengwo.

If Zhuge wanted to kill Cai Jing, Zhao Ji would really think about it, but the ones who died were only Fu Zongshu and Zhan Bieye.

He believed that with Zhuge's wisdom, he would not reveal his flaws so easily in front of Cai Jing.

Zhao Ji issued the imperial edict only because he saw that Zhuge Liang not only protected the murderer who killed people in the street, but also hired this person as a retainer in his mansion. He wanted to use this to give him a warning.

In fact, Cai Jing did this kind of thing too many times. So what does it matter if he just sheltered an individual criminal?
What really made Zhao Ji feel uneasy was the attitude Zhuge showed in this matter. It was too positive and proactive, and it was totally unlike the Taifu he knew.

It was this strangeness that made Zhao Ji feel an indescribable panic, so he issued an imperial decree, ordering Fang Yingkan to investigate the Shenhou Mansion.

But to Zhao Ji's surprise, after one night, Cai Jing not only did not mention the imperial edict at all, but he even took the initiative to apologize, saying that he was old and his eyes were blurry, and he dared to suspect Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge was even more out of character. He was not humble at all and even acted as if he was accepting it calmly, as if he was waiting for Cai Jing to kowtow to him in front of the emperor.

Afterwards, Zhuge even declared that the matter of Fu Zongshu was masterminded by Cai Jing, and that Fang Yingkan had led his troops to surround the Shenhou Mansion last night, saying that he was acting on the orders of the emperor.

Fortunately, although he was old, he had sharp eyes and a clear mind. He saw at a glance that this was a forged edict from Cai Jing. He saw through the conspiracy of this traitor and was not deceived.

Speaking of this, Zhuge Zhengwo stamped his feet repeatedly, tears streaming down his face.

"The heart of this old minister is evident to the sun and the moon. How could the emperor not know this? It must be this traitor who forged the imperial edict!"

When Zhao Ji heard the words "forged edict", he couldn't help but look embarrassed and pretended to be hesitant.

After all, it was really absurd for him to send Fang Yingkan to investigate a current Taifu based only on Cai Jing's one-sided statement without providing any evidence.

Seeing Zhuge's over-the-top and inquiring attitude, Zhao Ji really didn't know how to respond, so he simply kept silent and tried to get away with it.

"Forehead……"

Generally speaking, at this point, with the tacit understanding between Zhao Ji and Zhuge Liang as the ruler and his subject, many things are self-evident.

But today, Zhuge Liang seemed not to have received Zhao Ji's hint. He still refused to give in. He stomped his feet again, leaned forward and grabbed Zhao Ji's sleeve.

He wiped his tears with his sleeves and choked up:

"How could I, an old and loyal minister, end up in such a situation, to be invaded by a young man who relied on his father's influence? This is really too much!

If it weren't for Cai Yuanchang's support, how dare you insult me ​​like this! Your servant Zhuge Zhengwo, please execute Cai Jing!

In Zhao Ji's heart, Zhuge Zhengwo was like an elder who liked to nag but had a good heart and always paid attention to his manners and demeanor.

When had he ever seen Zhuge Zhengwo look so weak? He felt sad.

In addition to feeling sad, Zhao Ji also felt a strange sense of familiarity.

He couldn't help but glance at Cai Jing. This kind of words and this kind of expression seemed to be your specialty, Cai Yuanchang...

However, although Zhao Ji did not express his opinion on Zhuge Zhengwo's statement, he still believed it to about 70% in his heart.

Although Cai, Fu and others were in cahoots with each other, Fu Zongshu was promoted to prime minister only after Cai Jing was demoted to grand tutor. In front of Zhao Ji, the two of them usually showed dissatisfaction with each other, but they tolerated each other for the sake of the country.

Therefore, in Zhao Ji's view, it was extremely reasonable for Cai Jing to harm Fu Zongshu in order to regain the power of prime minister, and then put the blame on Zhuge Zhengwo, a pillar of the country and the court.

After all, an upright and honest man like the Taifu is easily wronged in the court.

Alas, if I hadn't defended him, how could the Grand Tutor have fought against people like Cai Yuanchang and Fu Zongshu...

Thinking of this, there was no need for Zhuge Zhengwo to say more, as Zhao Ji himself had already filled in the whole story.

Cai Jing killed Fu Zongshu naturally for the power of prime minister, and to kill Zhan Bieye, hadn't he been very close to Lin Lingsu recently?

In order to gain the support of this "Kinmen Feather Guest", it is normal to kill Zhan Bieye.

Even Zhao Ji could come up with such an idea, which shows how arrogant and domineering Cai Jing was.

However, although Zhao Ji was well aware of Cai Jing's usual style of doing things, he really could not find another person as easy to use as Cai Jing.

Taifu Zhuge is indeed upright, but he is too upright.

If the two of them were only together for a short while, Zhao Ji would still be able to remember all the good things about Zhuge Zhengwo and barely endure his endless preaching and nagging.

If they stayed together for a long time, Zhao Ji would soon become bored.

Forget it, forget it. Wait until you have had enough fun and it is time to focus on government affairs, then you can depose Cai Yuanchang and appoint Master Zhuge.

After making up his mind, Zhao Ji held Zhuge Zhengwo's hand and said a few words of comfort in a slow voice.

Finally, he patted his chest and assured the old tutor, who was loyal to the country and worked hard day and night, that such incidents would never happen again.

As he spoke, Zhao Ji turned his head and glanced at Cai Jing in front of Zhuge Zhengwo, with a stern look, the meaning of which was self-evident.

Although Cai Jing had already made up his mind that he would act like an ostrich until his death in front of Zhuge Liang, he could not help but feel like vomiting blood when Zhao Ji glared at him.

Normally, he was the only one who framed others. When had he ever been framed by others?
Or is it a frame-up that is so simple and direct that it is almost clumsy?
Fortunately, Cai Yuanchang is still Cai Yuanchang after all. Even though Zhuge Zhengwo humiliated him and Zhao Ji suspected him, he still did not do anything out of line. Instead, he played his role faithfully and trembled under Zhao Ji's gaze, his voice trembling:

"The minister obeys the order."

After getting the assurances from the two men, Zhao Ji didn't even say a polite word about investigating the murderer. He put the matter behind him, returned to the palace, and prepared to start today's fun.

Of course, before leaving, he did not forget to take Cai Jing with him.

Looking at the two people's departing backs, Zhuge's eyes were as dark as a dry well, with neither sadness nor joy.

Zhuge Zheng I know very well that Cai Jing has always been a vindictive person. His tolerance in front of the emperor only shows one thing:

This Grand Master was planning a truly fatal killing.

Before yesterday, even though the Grand Tutor's Mansion and the Divine Marquis' Mansion had been fighting each other to the death in secret and had a blood feud, they still maintained the utmost restraint on the surface.

The two sides have not yet completely torn off this last piece of fig leaf and launched an all-out war without any scruples.

However, after Cai Jing "drank heavily" the celebratory wine, this already fragile tacit understanding and balance was completely gone.

A true total war is imminent.

But so what?
Thinking of this, Zhuge flicked his long sleeves and strode away.

Although in front of the emperor, the two loyal ministers who endured for the country tacitly did not mention the "celebration wine" last night.

However, the fact that Zhuge Shenhou easily knocked out "God Oil Grandpa" Ye Yunmie and other masters, and overwhelmed the heroes in the Grand Tutor's Mansion, causing many masters to bow down and drink "celebration wine", had already spread out of the capital along with the news of the death of Fu Zongshu and Zhan Bieye.

This time, the world was not just shocked, it was absolutely astonished.

On the northern battlefield, in a heavily guarded military tent, Qiao Feng heard about this and shouted in delight, drinking three jars of wine in a row.

Although Zhang Sanba, the deputy leader of the Beggars' Sect standing nearby, wanted to stop it, it was too late. In the end, he could only smile helplessly, stroke his beard and sigh, and said with sincere admiration:
"Mr. Zhuge, if he didn't make a statement, it would be nothing. But once he made a statement, it would shock the world. After this incident, the morale of the righteous people in the world has been greatly boosted. However..."

At this point, Zhang San's father looked worried, pondered for a moment, and murmured:
"From now on, the situation in the capital will only get more intense. Mr. Zhuge has revealed his true colors this time, but I don't know who Cai Jing will find to deal with him. And there is also Prince Zuo Wu who has been keeping his troops inactive..."

When the name "King Zuo Wu" was mentioned, even Qiao Feng was shocked.

People in the world know very little about this prince who was a member of the royal family but was awarded the title of nobility for his military achievements.

It was not until the great war between the Song Dynasty and the Western Xia Kingdom that Zhao Lie, who was not yet the "King of Zuo Wu", came to prominence. With just one move, he killed all the "Four Evil Men in the World" belonging to the Yipintang of Western Xia.

This move also attracted the master behind the scenes of Yipintang, Li Qiushui, the Western Xia concubine who came from the Xiaoyao Sect and was known as the "Three Xiaoyao Elders" together with Wuyazi and Tianshan Tonglao.

This man's skills were so profound that it was generally recognized in the martial arts world that he was no less powerful than the "Tien Shan Tong Lao" Wu Xingyun, the owner of Ling Jiu Palace. However, even such a great master was still defeated by King Zuo Wu.

After this battle, the Western Xia army was completely defeated and suffered heavy losses. It lost Hetao and a large area of ​​northwestern land. Zhao Lie, who was originally an ordinary royal family disciple, was also named King Zuo Wu by the government because of his military achievements.

It was only then that people all over the world knew that this royal disciple had been traveling the world under various identities. He not only absorbed the knowledge from hundreds of martial arts schools to form his own, but also made the acquaintance of many martial arts masters.

It is said that King Zuo Wu once obtained the "Shao Wu True Classic" from the former chief leader of the "Twelve Linked Docks Waterway of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River", "Zhu the Great King" Zhu Xiawu, which enabled him to use the unique skills of Shaolin and Wudang to a level that was far superior to the leaders of the two factions.

After the war with Western Xia, this King Zuo Wu, who already had a great reputation, just devoted himself to martial arts in the palace and never interfered in political affairs, thus gaining a very good reputation throughout the world.

However, Qiao Feng and others knew that this man was actually an ambitious person. He not only secretly won over many martial arts sects, but also sheltered and recruited many evil masters. His ambitions were not small and his plans were very big.

However, Qiao Feng soon relaxed, and with a strong and powerful hand, he patted Zhang San's father heavily, saying proudly:

"Mr. Zhuge is a very capable person. This move must have a profound meaning. Let's just focus on doing the job at hand.

If there is a real change in the capital, at worst, we can bring him to Junshan as well."

Although the words were a bit rough, the principle was still the same. Zhang San's father nodded slightly, and his worries faded a little.

After all, Mr. Zhuge's meticulous planning is well known to the world. Since he dares to act in this way, he must have something to rely on.

A similar conversation also took place in Prince Zuo Wu's palace.

"Zhuge Zheng, I must have something to rely on to do this."

A middle-aged man with a handsome face and a body as slender as a bamboo said affirmatively.

He was wearing a black robe, which made his complexion look even more jade-like. The robe was a little dusty, and it was obvious that he had just come from a very far distance.

Even though he had traveled thousands of miles under the stars and the moon, he was still as handsome and well-maintained as ever. His demeanor was even better than that of Zhan Bieye, who had studied Taoist guidance techniques and sought the secret of immortality.

Just looking at his face, you can't tell at all that this man is the "world's number one assassin" and the "King of Extinction" Chu Xiangyu, who has sneaked into the palace three times to assassinate the current emperor.

Chu Xiangyu is a cousin of the current emperor Song Huizong Zhao Ji. He wanted to accomplish something earth-shaking since he was young, so he practiced martial arts and studied military tactics diligently, but because of this he was feared by the emperor.

According to common sense, Zhao Ji had Zhuge Zhengwo as his support and should not have been afraid of Chu Xiangyu. However, Chu Xiangyu was too close to the King Zuo Wu, who was both talented in civil and military affairs and had a good reputation.

This is what Zhao Ji really could not tolerate.

The emperor, whose reverse scale was touched, showed amazing action and determination. He did not dare to directly become an enemy of King Zuo Wu, so he started with Chu Xiangyu, falsely accusing him of plotting treason and usurping the throne, and sent out masters from the palace.

By the time Zhuge Zhengwo learned the news and wanted to find a way to turn the situation around and save Chu Xiangyu, his entire family had been completely wiped out.

Although Zhuge knew that Chu Xiangyu was usually a martial arts villain who relied on his extraordinary martial arts to do whatever he wanted and commit evil, but in this matter, he was indeed an innocent person, so he did not personally take action to hunt him down.

Therefore, the King of Extinction was able to escape and plan those three shocking assassinations.

In these three assassination attempts, he once escaped from the encirclement of thousands of elite soldiers, and once fought against more than 20 masters of the Palace led by Zhan Bieye and Lin Lingsu. Although he did not win, he still escaped in style.

The only time Chu Xiangyu was defeated was when he met Mr. Zhuge, who was really hard to sit still and watch. He was defeated miserably after a hundred moves of fighting.

　This chapter has 4,000 words. There will be another chapter with 4,000 words later.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)