The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 379 The demon monk enters the game
In the dilapidated camp for wounded soldiers in Zuoanmen閣城, Emperor Wuding saw the guard Lin Yu on his deathbed.

That day, in order to cover their teammates' retreat back to the city, the giant and Shen Lian worked together to lift the thousand-jin gate. As a result, Shen Lian was shot to death by arrows. Lin Yu was seriously injured and only wanted to stay in the wounded camp. Wu Youke and Old Song came to see him and reported that his injuries were too serious and there was no way he could be saved.

Liu Zhaosun ordered the Imperial Hospital to spare no effort in using medicinal materials and manpower to save his men's lives. Fujiwara Chiyoko fed him ginseng soup and Ganoderma lucidum every day. This dragged on for more than half a month, from Zhang Chun's rebellion to Li Xianzhong's attack on Beijing. Lin Yu, who was as strong as a brown bear, has now become skinny and no longer looks like a human. He has reached the end of his life.

In the early morning of February 18, the sound of bricks and tiles crumbling came from the Zuoanmen city wall, and the city wall shook slightly. Quick bamboo whistles sounded on the streets. The pacification soldiers were busy organizing civilians to carry stones and fill the soil to repair the city wall. Soldiers armed with muskets rushed to the top of the city one after another.

Knowing that Lin Yu did not have much time left, Liu Zhaosun, fully armored, hurried from the Yongdingmen position to see the big man for the last time. When he entered the city wall, there were still a few arrow feathers hanging on the emperor's armor. After two days of fierce fighting at the Yongdingmen position, Liu Zongmin was launching a new round of offensive.

Lin Yu, lying on the bed, looked haggard. Chiyoko held the medicine in her hand and poured it into his mouth. The medicine then overflowed from the corners of his mouth. The mixed-race woman hurriedly wiped it with a handkerchief to prevent the stains from dirtying his face.

Yang Hao was about to say something to comfort his son-in-law, but Emperor Wuding waved him away and looked up at Fujiwara Chiyoko who was crying beside him.

"How long has it been since he last ate?"

Chiyo was in a trance and didn't hear the emperor's words at all. Fujiwara Kyoji tugged at his sister's sleeve, and Chiyo let out a lost cry.

"How long has it been since he last ate?"

Chiyoko looked up at the dark roof of the tent, as if she had returned to reality from a dream.

"Three days."

Three days ago, bandits bombarded Beijing. A rocket somehow passed through Zuo'anmen and flew into the city wall, setting fire to the tent where everyone was. When the medical soldiers were transferring the wounded, Lin Yu's wound broke open again and he never woke up again.

Liu Zhaosun's throat moved, and he wanted to say something to Chiyoko, but the words were already on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back. The surroundings were unusually quiet.

Zhang Dong suddenly rushed into the tent, without even glancing at Lin Yu, and said hurriedly:

"The refugees' shield carts stretch as far as the eye can see. There are more than 100,000 refugees. They have built a mud wall higher than our city wall. They have brought in Portuguese cannons to fire at the top of the city walls. They are attacking like ants. He Kegang has died in the battle. Wang Erhu and his men are about to lose the defense."

"understood."

Liu Zhaosun waved his hand, his eyes slightly red, and everyone looked at Emperor Wuding, waiting for the emperor's order.

Emperor Wuding's eyes fell on Lin Yu and he said loudly:

"Tell Wang Erhu to destroy the bandits' earthen wall at all costs and prevent them from shooting from above. Hold out for half an hour and die at Yongding Gate. After sending Lin Yu away, I will go over to take command."

Zhang Dong agreed, gritted his teeth, turned around and walked out. Before leaving, he glanced at the dying big guy Lin.

The end of the world is coming, and the capital is really about to fall.

Will Li Xianzhong massacre the city?
Everyone was talking in low voices.

Suddenly, I heard Chiyoko's low sobs, which gradually turned into cries.

Liu Zhaosun took one last look at Lin Yu, a tear rolled down his cheek, he pressed down the gilded helmet on his head, turned around and walked out of the tent.

Pei Dahu's eyes were red and the scar on his face was trembling. The head of the servants and several guards came forward to say goodbye to their dead teammates and followed Emperor Wu Ding to the battlefield.

Seven years ago, he brought 300 Kaiyuan soldiers to Beijing to meet the emperor. At that time, he was just a small lieutenant general with no power. Outside Zuo'an Gate, he met Ke Zhen'e. The blind man Ke did not recognize Liu Zhaosun, and said that Lieutenant General Liu was destined to be lonely for the rest of his life because of the fate of Tianlang, which would bring disaster to others.

At that time, Kang Yingqian said that the blind fortune teller was talking nonsense just to extort money. Now it seems that the blind man was not lying.

From Sarhu to now, people around me have died one after another.

Death is like the wind, always by my side, and I am destined to be a lonely man.

Liu Tianxing died, Liu Jing died, Deng Qilong died, Xiong Tingbi died, Mao Wenlong died, Zhang Yan died, Shen Lian died, He Kegang died, Deng Changxiong died, Wu Xiao died, and now, Lin Yu is dead too.

Fujiwara no Kyoji comforted his sister with a few words and hurried out of the tent. The Edo mixed-race man quickly came to the side of Emperor Wuding.

Pei Dahu stopped Ma Shiying's men and asked with red eyes, "What's the matter?"

"Your Majesty, before Brother Lin fell into a coma, I have to ask you to make one thing clear to Your Majesty."

Liu Zhaosun stopped and at this moment, thunderous cheers came from the direction of Yongding Gate in the south. It should be the bandits who had attacked the city wall.

Emperor Wu Ding began to wipe the goose-feather knife that had killed countless people.

"What's the matter?"

Fujiwara no Kyoji winked at Pei Dahu who was standing beside the emperor. Pei Dahu took a step forward and whispered:
"The demon monk Shiranui is not dead."

"Oh."

Emperor Wuding said "oh" nonchalantly, his left eyelid twitching slightly. He looked towards the top of the city wall in the direction of Pei Dahu and vaguely saw a large red flag erected on the city wall.

The Qi army's flags and banners were all black, and when the red flag appeared, everyone knew what it meant.

"So, you didn't kill that old monster back then?"

At this moment, the life and death of the 400-year-old evil monk seemed uncertain. However, since the capital had fallen, Emperor Wu Ding had more time.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. The one who was beheaded that day must have been Huiran's substitute. It is said that he had many substitutes." Fujiwara no Kyoji was half Japanese, and his words and actions were very orderly. Even though the bandits had already broken into the city, he still explained seriously to the emperor.

Yes, if he didn’t have a substitute, how could he survive for four hundred years and avoid the revenge of his enemies.

"Your Majesty, this is all my fault. I failed to identify the evil monk. The evil monk is still alive, and Master Yuan is definitely in danger."

Emperor Wu Ding did not blame the Edo mixed-race children. Shen Lian was dead, Lin Yu died of illness, and Wu Xiao was trapped in Shaanxi and most likely died. After witnessing so many deaths, death seemed less scary.

"Yuan Chonghuan is a man of good fortune. Take care of yourself first. Let's go to Yongding Gate! I will personally kill Liu Zongmin and skin Li Xianzhong alive!"

~~~~~~
In March of the first year of Wuding, Handong, Nagasaki Prefecture.

In the Handong Governor's residence, the front yard outside the Sixty-fold Hall and the corridor leading to the front courtyard were filled with staff, counselors, foremen, and soldiers. Yuan Chonghuan stopped.

Crows spread rumors across the cold, bleak sky.

"Everyone, look up, I want to see your faces,"

Two or three hundred people raised their heads, their eyes filled with fear.

"Master Prefect!"

Aide Zhao Lujiao spoke on behalf of everyone.

Yuan Chonghuan looked at the uneasy and loyal subordinate in front of him.

"Commander Zhao, do you also want to persuade me?"

"It is my great honor to serve the prefect."

Zhao Lujiao couldn't help his emotions, with light in his eyes.

Yuan Chonghuan looked up at everyone, and his thin body seemed to become tall all of a sudden.

A guard sobbed softly, attracting Yuan Chonghuan's attention:
"What's your name?"

"My Lord, my name is He Longzhou."

Yuan Chonghuan patted the guard's shoulder:

"He Longzhou, live well."

"Everyone, rest assured. This official is playing chess with Master Huiran. If anything goes wrong, Commander Zhao will lead Handong from now on and guard this territory for Great Qi!"

The subordinates were reluctant to leave.

"We will remember the teachings of Magistrate Yuan in our hearts."

And my head and body, Yuan Chonghuan thought, will rot in the soil.

The crows cawed on the roof like an executioner urging his prisoners to be executed.

Zhao Lujiao opened the door and let the chief officer go to the last meeting.

~~~~~
The door of the Sixty-fold Hall slammed shut, and no one was allowed to come in until Zhao Lujiao announced the end of the game.

The corridor was silent.

This mansion, formerly the residence of the Nagasaki Bugyo, was extremely luxurious. The tall screen windows were half open, but the lights in the hall were dim, like the lair of a giant beast.

"His Majesty's whale lantern should be introduced here,"

Yuan Chonghuan was still thinking about the new plan for Handong Province, when Master Huiran, who was sitting opposite him, had already started to examine the chessboard.

Seeing the prefect approaching, the monk Shiranui turned and bowed. The two warrior monks standing beside him also smiled humbly.

The next moment, he pulled out a flintlock pistol from the gong belt around his waist, and smashed the demon monk's head into pieces before his body left the tatami...

Yuan Chonghuan tried hard to restrain his urge to kill. After living in Liaodong for many years, he was still a Lingnan person at heart, and the gene for fighting ran in his body.

But he knew in his heart that the old monster with white hair and beard before him could not be killed by gunpowder. Could he be assassinated by swords? Yuan Dudu was not sure. At least, even the most elite central guards around Emperor Wu Ding could not kill him.

Last month, Master Huiran escaped safely from the siege of two hundred Kaiyuan soldiers. Then, officials from Handong County were assassinated. The rumors about the evil monk became more and more outrageous, and the rule of Da Qi in Kyushu, Japan began to waver.

Half a month ago, the extremely arrogant Hui Ran sent an invitation to Governor Yuan, saying that the winner would be decided in a game of Go in Nagasaki. If Yuan Chonghuan won, he would withdraw from Kyushu and never care about worldly affairs again.

The quiet air is like a screen, isolating the outside world.

Yuan Chonghuan placed a white piece, posing a threat to the black piece's outpost.

(End of this chapter)