Da Ming: I told you to die for your cause, why are you actually going to die?

Chapter 242 Fourth Brother, why not kill Zhang Biao and relieve Father's burdens! [Bonus Chapter 35 for Monthly Tickets]

In the southern grasslands, in an unnamed river valley.

The stench of blood, mixed with the smell of grass clippings and dust, permeated the dry air.

The battle had just ended, and the elite cavalry under Prince Yan, Zhu Di, were cleaning up the battlefield, collecting spoils, and finishing off any remaining Northern Yuan soldiers who had not yet died.

Zhu Di, clad in bright armor stained with blood and dust, stood on a slightly elevated earthen slope, his cold gaze sweeping over the battlefield strewn with corpses.

The saber in his hand was already chipped, and there were several deep scratches on his armor, showing how fierce the battle had just taken place.

Just half an hour ago, he personally led the vanguard and defeated a Northern Yuan cavalry force of about a thousand men.

The battle went relatively smoothly. These Northern Yuan cavalrymen appeared fierce, but they crumbled at the first contact, more like a small scouting or raiding force.

"Your Highness, we have beheaded over four hundred enemies, captured more than two hundred warhorses, and the rest have scattered."

A general covered in blood stepped forward to report, his face beaming with the excitement of victory.

Zhu Di nodded slightly, just about to order the troops to rest briefly before expanding the search area and eliminating the remaining enemy forces.

suddenly!

A dull, dense tremor came from the ground.

Like a rumble of thunder in summer, it gradually becomes clearer and more audible as it approaches.

"Oh no! It's a large cavalry force!"

The experienced veterans of the Yan army immediately changed color.

Zhu Di suddenly looked up and saw that on the horizon on both sides of the valley, countless Northern Yuan cavalrymen were surging out like a tide.

Their numbers far exceed those of the defeated troops from before; they are probably no less than five thousand.

They waved various tribal flags and howled like a pack of wolves, closing in on the Yan army from three directions, which had just fought a battle and had not yet fully regrouped.

[I fell into a trap! ]

Zhu Di's pupils suddenly contracted, and he instantly understood.

That thousand-strong team we just saw was nothing but bait!

[They are pawns deliberately used to exhaust them and lower their guard!]

The real killer move is the main force, hidden in the rear, waiting in ambush!

"Form ranks! Circular defensive formation—!"

Zhu Di remained calm in the face of danger, and with a voice as loud as a bell, immediately issued orders.

Although the seasoned elite Yan army was astonished, they did not panic.

They immediately centered their forces around Zhu Di's central army, rapidly contracting their formation with spearmen and swordsmen on the outside and archers on the inside, attempting to form a solid defensive circle.

However, the Northern Yuan cavalry arrived too quickly.

They were clearly ready to strike, like arrows released from a bow, giving the Yan army no time to fully form ranks.

"Waaaaah—!"

The mournful sound of horns rang out, and the Northern Yuan cavalry began to accelerate, like two iron pincers, fiercely crashing into the flanks of the Yan army's formation, which was not yet fully closed.

Arrows rained down like locusts, and Yan soldiers fell to the ground, constantly struck by arrows.

"Protect the Prince—!"

The guards roared and used their bodies and shields to protect Zhu Di in the center.

Zhu Di's face was ashen as he gripped his saber tightly.

He could see that the enemy had a numerical advantage and was well-rested, while his own side had just finished a battle, was exhausted, and had not yet stabilized its formation, making the situation extremely unfavorable.

If we fight head-on, even if we manage to break through, we will inevitably suffer heavy losses.

"Prepare to break out! Head southeast! Tear open a gap!"

Zhu Di made a decisive move, choosing a direction where the enemy's forces appeared to be relatively weak, and prepared to concentrate all his strength to fight his way out.

At this critical moment.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

A series of war drumbeats, completely different from the Northern Yuan's horn-shaped war drums and much more powerful and stirring, came from the southeast like thunder.

Immediately afterwards, a massive cavalry force appeared on that high slope, as if descended from the heavens.

This cavalry force was extremely well-equipped. Most of the soldiers wore light armor made of leather or inlaid with iron plates, carried powerful bows on their backs, and had curved swords at their waists. They were skilled horsemen and had a fierce and wild demeanor.

They were flying the flags of the Ming Dynasty, but their style was different from that of ordinary Ming soldiers, and they carried a wildness reminiscent of nomadic tribes.

On the leading banner, a striking character 'Ning' was prominently embroidered.

"It's His Highness Prince Ning! It's the Three Guards of Doyan!"

Among the Yan army, someone let out a joyful shout.

Zhu Di also saw the flag, and the young but already remarkable figure beneath it.

His seventeenth brother, Zhu Quan, the Prince of Ning, had just been enfeoffed in Daming.

Zhu Quan stood at the front of the formation, his long sword pointing forward, his voice clear yet carrying an undeniable authority:
"Three Guards of Duoyan! Follow me—to defeat the enemy!"

"kill--!"

His response was a war cry as loud as a tsunami.

Those Mongol mercenaries, known as the 'Three Guards of Doyan,' were like tigers unleashed from their cages. With their skillful cavalry tactics, they split into several groups and cut into the battlefield like sharp blades.

They did not engage in direct confrontation with the Northern Yuan cavalry.

Instead, they used their exceptional mobility to constantly harass and cut off enemy forces from a distance with bows and arrows, specifically targeting the flanks and junctions of the Northern Yuan army to disrupt their offensive rhythm.

One of the most elite cavalry units, like a sharp arrow, led by Zhu Quan himself, charged straight at the rear of the Northern Yuan cavalry that was besieging Zhu Di's main force.

In an instant, the balance of power shifted!

The Northern Yuan army thought victory was assured, but they did not expect such a strong force to suddenly appear from their flank and rear. Moreover, the force was so fierce and the tactics were so cunning that it threw them into chaos.

How could Zhu Di let such a golden opportunity slip by?

He immediately ordered: "All troops, attack! Join forces with Prince Ning and launch a pincer attack from both inside and outside!"

"Kill--!"

The Yan army soldiers, who were originally struggling in the battle, were greatly encouraged and launched a fierce counterattack against the chaotic Northern Yuan army as if they had been injected with chicken blood.

The battle turned into a one-sided massacre.

Under the combined attack of the elite forces of Yan and Ning, the Northern Yuan army completely collapsed, abandoning a large number of corpses and supplies, and fled in disarray into the depths of the grasslands.

Zhu Di did not order a deep pursuit; in grassland warfare, it was an ironclad rule not to pursue a desperate enemy.

He reined in his warhorse, his gaze complex as he looked at the three guards of Doyan, who were galloping across the battlefield, relentlessly pursuing the fleeing enemy.

These Mongol cavalrymen were indeed renowned for their fighting prowess; their archery skills and tactical execution were even superior to those of his most elite Yanshan cavalry.

If I could possess these 'Three Guards of Duoyan', then...

Just as Zhu Di was pondering his next move, a loud voice suddenly rang out.

"Fourth Brother! Are you alright?"

Zhu Quan rode up, a concerned smile on his young face. His armor was gleaming, and he showed no signs of fatigue, as if the fierce battle just now was merely a warm-up for him.

"It doesn't matter."

Zhu Di composed himself, a look of gratitude on his face: "Seventeenth brother, if it weren't for your timely rescue today, I'm afraid I would have suffered a great loss. I will remember this favor."

"Fourth Brother, what are you saying!"

Zhu Quan laughed heartily and waved his hand, saying, "It's only right for brothers to help each other."

"When I was enfeoffed in Daning, I heard that my fourth brother was here to quell the Tartars, so I thought I would come and see. I just happened to run into these ignorant fellows besieging my fourth brother. How could I just sit idly by?"

He spoke eloquently, but a hint of doubt arose in Zhu Di's heart.

[Just happened to run into you?]

[The southern grasslands are so vast, and my route for this expedition was quite secretive. How could my seventeenth brother have 'coincidentally' appeared here? And with the entire main force of the Doyan Three Guards?]

Could it be... that he's been secretly monitoring my movements? Or perhaps... acting on a secret order from my father, spying on me?

As soon as this thought crossed Zhu Di's mind, he felt a chill rise from the bottom of his heart.

My father is still worried about me after all...

"Fourth Brother, I heard you've become quite enthusiastic about farming lately? What's wrong, is there a food shortage in Yan?"

Seeing Zhu Di's ever-changing expression, Zhu Quan seemingly ignored him and changed the subject: "If you really have nothing to eat and don't want to ask your father, I have some grain. Would you like some?"

Zhu Di paused for a moment, then said with a wry smile, "I appreciate your kindness, Seventeenth Brother, but there's enough grain in Yan. We're growing grain to ease Father Emperor's burden!"

"oh--!"

Zhu Quan drew out the last syllable, then looked at Zhu Di with a half-smile and said, "Fourth Brother is still the most filial! However..."

He paused, then feigned a sigh and said:
"If we're talking about relieving Father's burdens, I think Fourth Brother should just kill that Zhang Biao! I get so angry just hearing about that madman; he's made Father faint several times! I've wanted to kill him myself!"

"It's a pity I came to Da Ning to take up my fiefdom, so I didn't have the chance."

"Seventeenth Brother, stop talking nonsense!"

Zhu Di's face immediately darkened, and he said with slight displeasure, "As princes, how can we so easily speak of killing officials appointed by the court?!"

"If this gets back to Father's ears, we'll both be punished by him!"

"Yes, yes, yes, it was my fault for speaking out of turn. Fourth Brother, please don't tell Father."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Zhu Quan excused himself, saying he needed to return to Daning to prevent a sneak attack by the remnants of the Northern Yuan. He then took some of the spoils of war and the still well-disciplined Doyan Three Guards and left, quickly disappearing into the depths of the grassland.

Zhu Di gazed in the direction they had left, his smile gradually fading, leaving only a solemn expression.

Without further delay, he immediately ordered the entire army to quickly clean up the battlefield and then break camp and return to Beiping.

The Prince of Yan's residence, a secret room.

The flickering candlelight illuminated Zhu Di's somber face and Yao Guangxiao's all-seeing eyes.

Zhu Di told Yao Guangxiao everything about the ambush on the grassland, Zhu Quan's "coincidental" arrival with the three guards of the Doyan tribe to provide reinforcements, Zhu Quan's boast of wanting to kill Zhang Biao, and his own doubts.

Yao Guangxiao, holding his Buddhist prayer beads, listened quietly, pondered for a moment, and then slowly said:
“Your Highness’s concerns are not without merit. The timing and location of Prince Ning’s appearance this time are too coincidental. Furthermore, his words clearly indicate a probing intent.”

"This shows that the emperor's suspicion of the princes is growing, especially after Zhang Biao uncovered so many secrets."

"Zhang Biao?"

Zhu Di frowned: "What earth-shattering thing has he done recently?"

Yao Guangxiao then briefly summarized the major events that had recently occurred in Yingtian Prefecture:
How Zhang Biao investigated the Grand Canal, how he implicated the Prince of Zhou's Mansion, how he used the "Imperial Ancestral Instructions of the Ming Dynasty" to audit Jiujiang Guard, how he implicated the Prince of Qi, how he was assassinated in Jiuzhou Guard, how he exposed Commander Geng Zhong's conspiracy, and how, in the end, Geng Zhong was silenced, Lan Long became a cripple, and the evidence might be burned...

Zhu Di's brows furrowed more and more as he listened, especially when he heard about the "Bi'an tattoo," "assassins," and "the possible mastermind behind it all," at which point his expression became extremely serious.

"This Zhang Biao... he's truly a madman who stirs up trouble!"

Zhu Di commented, his tone carrying a subtle hint of admiration:

"However, if everything he found out is true, then the power and methods of the person behind this are truly terrifying!"

He suddenly recalled his eldest son Zhu Gaochi's earlier analysis, which stated that Zhang Biao's investigation of the canal transport was a pretext, and his real target might be auditing the garrisons, thus warning the Prince of Yan's residence to "clean up the mess." Now it seemed that Gaochi's analysis had hit the nail on the head!
Zhang Biao has great ambitions and profound schemes!
"Master, in your opinion, what will Zhang Biao do next?" Zhu Di asked.

A glint of wisdom flashed in Yao Guangxiao's eyes:

"The trail to Raozhouwei seems to have gone cold, but given Zhang Biao's personality, he would never give up easily. He must still have some clues that we don't know about."

"This humble monk speculates that his next step is most likely to be... Wuchang."

Wuchang?

Zhu Di's gaze sharpened: "The sixth prince's fiefdom?"

"good."

Yao Guangxiao nodded: "The Chu Prince's Mansion is also closely connected with the Grand Canal and is located in a strategic location. More importantly, His Highness the Chu Prince... had a very close relationship with the late Crown Prince."

"If there are truly hidden circumstances surrounding the Crown Prince's death, His Highness the Prince of Chu might know something, or perhaps he himself might be a target, or... a breakthrough point."

Zhu Di paced slowly, his mind racing, connecting all the information:

The Emperor's suspicions, Prince Ning's surveillance, Zhang Biao's frantic investigation, the possible mastermind behind the Crown Prince's assassination, and the intricate connections between regional princes and the Grand Canal and military supplies...

He abruptly stopped, a resolute glint and the wisdom of a powerful ruler flashing in his eyes:
"In that case, our Prince Yan's Mansion should act in accordance with Gao Chi's previous advice and Zhang Biao's veiled 'warning'!"

"First, immediately expedite the cleanup of our 'traces' in all garrisons, especially those related to the transfer of unexplained funds and arms—cut them all off!"

"We must clear ourselves of all charges before Zhang Biao's fire reaches us!"

"Secondly, the matter of sweet potatoes is listed as the top priority of the Prince's Palace!"

"Concentrate all resources, and under my personal supervision, we must see a production volume that will shake the court before next spring!"

"This is our biggest asset for securing our future, and even... for taking things further!"

"third!"

Zhu Di's gaze was deep: "As for Zhang Biao... we don't need to take the initiative to contact him, but we should keep a close eye on his movements."

“If necessary, we can secretly provide some ‘clues’ that are ‘insignificant’ but happen to be of help to him.”

"Although this man is mad, he is a rare and sharp weapon. If used well, he can clear many obstacles for us."

"Fourth, when dealing with Prince Ning, and even other princes and brothers, one should maintain a friendly demeanor, and may even show weakness appropriately."

"We cannot let Father Emperor think that our Prince Yan's Mansion is all-powerful and harbor resentment."

Yao Guangxiao listened to Zhu Di's well-organized plan, his eyes showing approval, and he clasped his hands together in prayer.

"Amitabha, Your Highness is wise and far-sighted, I admire you."

"This is the way to survive in chaotic times, and even to plan for great undertakings. The dragon lies hidden in the abyss, waiting patiently for the winds to turn."

Zhu Di walked to the window and looked at the dark night sky in the south. He seemed to be able to see the turbulent capital city and the mad figure who was stubbornly moving forward in the darkness.

[Zhang Biao...go ahead and cause trouble.]

The more murky this stagnant water becomes, the better.

Once you expose this truth and expose the biggest mastermind behind it all...

A cold and confident smile curved at the corners of Zhu Di's mouth.

That will be the time when I, Zhu Di... truly take center stage!

On the other side, in Wuchang City.

Relying on his memory and careful reconnaissance, Song Zhong circled around several times and finally found the back door of Zhao Meng's thousand-household residence in the southeast corner of Wuchang City just before midnight.

Instead of knocking on the door rashly, he knocked seven times on the door panel with varying degrees of pressure, following the code that Chen Qianxiang had given him years ago.

There was a moment of silence, then a low voice came from inside: "Who is it?"

"A deliveryman, delivering aged vinegar from Shanxi."

Song Zhong responded with the coded message.

The door creaked open a crack, revealing a slightly tired but sharp-looking face—it was Zhao Meng.

"Brother Song... Brother Song?! It's you! What happened to you? Come in quickly!"

Zhao Meng, both surprised and astonished, pulled Song Zhong into the courtyard, quickly closed the door, and even peeked out warily.

"Don't even mention it, we ran into some trouble on the way."

Song Zhong mumbled something, carefully observing Zhao Meng.

He felt that Zhao Meng's enthusiasm was a bit excessive, and his eyes were somewhat shifty, not as open and honest as before, which made him suspicious.

But thinking of Qianxiang's entrustment and their current desperate situation, he suppressed his unease.

"Mengzi, to make a long story short, I'm here for Qianxiang! He's missing, do you know where he is?"

Song Zhong asked anxiously.

Zhao Meng's face instantly filled with grief, indignation, and worry:

“Brother Song, I’m also very worried about this! Brother Qianxiang… he hasn’t come home since he went on duty at the garrison five days ago, and I can’t find him!”

He slammed his fist against the wall: "I suspect... I suspect he was killed by those people!"

"That group of people? Which group?" Song Zhong pressed.

Zhao Meng lowered his voice, fear showing in his eyes:

"It's those corrupt officials in the garrison! They're smuggling weapons and running rampant! Brother Qianxiang must have discovered something to deserve this!"

"Brother Song, you're on duty by Chief Jiang's side, you have to stand up for Brother Qianxiang!"

Upon hearing this, Song Zhong's suspicions lessened somewhat.

But he remained cautious and didn't reveal Zhang Biao and the others' presence. Instead, he followed up on Zhang Biao's words and asked, "Do you have any evidence? Did Qian Xiang leave anything behind?"

Zhao Meng's eyes flickered almost imperceptibly, and he sighed:

"Brother Qianxiang left some things with me, some copies of accounts, pointing to Commander Wang and his men."

"I've hidden the things in a safe place."

"Brother Song, you've come at the right time. It's not safe here. Let's find another place. I'll give you the things, and you can figure out how to report it!"

Song Zhong's nerves tightened once again.

Zhao Meng's behavior was too hasty and completely inconsistent with his usual character of being rough but meticulous and calm in the face of adversity.

"Change locations? Where to?" Song Zhong asked calmly.

"Go to one of my villas outside the city; it's absolutely safe there!"

Zhao Meng urged, "We shouldn't delay, Brother Song, we need to leave quickly, I'm afraid they've already set their sights on this place!"

Just then, Song Zhong keenly heard a very faint sound, like the clinking of metal, coming from the inner room.

He felt a chill run down his spine, and his gaze swept across the courtyard, noticing what appeared to be a figure moving in the shadows of the corner of the wall.

[No! This is a trap!]

Zhao Meng has betrayed us!

He's keeping me occupied here while his accomplices surround me! That so-called villa outside the city will probably be my final resting place!

Song Zhong's back was instantly soaked with cold sweat.

He forced a tired but trusting smile onto his face:

"Alright! Mengzi, I believe you! Let's go now and avenge Qianxiang!"

As he spoke, he casually moved toward the door, his right hand stealthily reaching for the green signal stick that Zhang Biao had given him, a symbol of safety.

He needs to create chaos to slip away.

However, Zhao Meng seemed to have noticed his little trick, his expression suddenly changed, and he shouted sharply, "Attack!"

"Crack-!"

In an instant, seven or eight men in black, armed with powerful crossbows, emerged from the inner hall and the wall. The cold crossbow bolts gleamed in the moonlight, firmly locking onto Song Zhong.

"Zhao Meng! You!"

Song Zhong's eyes were bloodshot, his heart filled with overwhelming anger and despair at being betrayed by his brother.

"Brother Song, please don't blame me!"

Zhao Meng's face contorted with rage and a hint of struggle: "They kidnapped my wife and children! I... I had no choice!"

Before the words were even finished, the sound of the crossbow being pulled rang out.

At this critical moment——

“Swoosh—bang!”

A blinding red light, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, suddenly rose from the rooftop opposite the mansion, exploding into a small red flower in the night sky!

It's a red signal flare!

This indicates danger and rescue is needed!
This sudden turn of events startled all the men in black, who instinctively looked up in the direction of the signal flare.

In that very instant when they were distracted...

"boom!"

"boom!"

Two muffled gunshots, unlike any of this era, rang out from the opposite rooftop.

Two men in black, armed with crossbows, fell to the ground with a horrifying bloody hole in their foreheads.

"There's an ambush! Take cover!"

The leader of the men in black screamed in terror, and the formation immediately fell into chaos.

Seeing this, Song Zhong suddenly lunged towards the shadows of the courtyard wall, simultaneously throwing a dart hidden in his sleeve, knocking over the nearest lantern and plunging the courtyard into darkness.

"Catch him! Don't let him get away!"

Zhao Meng roared in exasperation.

In the chaos, Song Zhong, relying on the terrain he had scouted beforehand and his agile skills, moved like a cat through the darkness, dodging stray arrows, and charged toward the low wall on the other side of the mansion.

He heard the sound of pursuing footsteps and Zhao Meng's angry roar behind him, as well as the occasional, precise and deadly gunshots from the opposite rooftop. Almost every shot was accompanied by the scream of a pursuer.

It's Lord Zhang!

[It must be Lord Zhang who was worried and secretly followed us!]

A warm feeling and a sense of determination welled up in Song Zhong's heart; he had to escape.

He struggled with all his might to climb over the low wall and landed in the dark alley outside. He dared not linger for a moment and, under the cover of night, fled for his life in the opposite direction from Osmanthus Alley.

He had to lure the pursuers away and absolutely could not bring the danger back to Cuilian.

Behind them, the chaos and gunfire at Zhao Meng's residence quickly drew the whistles of patrolling soldiers further away, alarming the entire southeastern region of the city.

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(End of this chapter)