Huangming

Chapter 433 The Chaos is Hard to Control, the Nine Borders are in Peril

The muffled thud of the arrow piercing the throat still lingered in the air, and the scene was so quiet that only the sound of dust being swept away by the wind could be heard.

Nobody expected it, nobody expected it.
Someone actually dared to murder the imperial envoy in the street!

Ma Shilong was the first to react.

He rushed to Zhang Heming's side like a madman, his hands trembling as he lifted the imperial envoy's body.

He hurriedly checked Zhang Heming's breath, but his palm only felt a cold, lifeless stillness, without even a faint breath.

"Minister...Minister!"

Ma Shilong's voice carried a hint of anxiety.

No one responded.

Zhang Heming's eyes were still wide open, and blood was still gushing from the bloody hole in his neck, staining the crimson official robe on his chest and also staining Ma Shilong's hands.

The Ming Dynasty's envoy to pacify the border died outside the gates of the Zhenguo Mansion in Xuanfu.

The faces of the Beijing garrison soldiers turned deathly pale instantly, then ashen.

Killing the imperial envoy is treason!
It is an unforgivable crime, punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family!
Wang Guoliang's servants panicked. Some of them quietly retreated, their knives hanging down, their eyes filled with fear.

Ma Shilong suddenly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Wang Guoliang not far away, and his hand swiftly drew the ring-pommel sword from his waist.

"Wang Guoliang!"

"You have committed the capital offense of murdering the imperial envoy in the street! Surrender immediately!"

Wang Guoliang stood frozen in place, his face ashen, his lips still trembling slightly.

He stared at Zhang Heming's corpse, then at the murderous intent in Ma Shilong's eyes. His lips trembled, and it took him a long time to finally manage to utter a single sentence:

"If I said... I didn't do this, would you believe me?"

"letter?"

Ma Shilong sneered, pointing the blade forward.

"The imperial envoy died before your very eyes, and your servants were right where the arrows came from. How can you expect me to believe you?"
Whether you did it or not, take him back to the capital and the three judicial authorities will find out the truth through a joint trial!

Wang Guoliang, just surrender!
If you really didn't do it, the truth will surely come out!

As soon as he finished speaking, the Beijing garrison soldiers on both sides immediately moved.

The archer nocked an arrow and drew his bow, the arrowhead aimed directly at Wang Guoliang and his servants.

The musketeers prepared to pull the triggers, a series of clicks echoing as the dark muzzles of their guns emanated a deadly chill.

Looking at the scene before him, Wang Guoliang lost all hope.

Hey ~
It's no use saying anything now.

Zhang Heming died in front of him, and even if he had a hundred mouths, he couldn't explain it.

He took a deep breath, his chest heaving, and suddenly knelt down before Ma Shilong, his voice filled with despair:
"Deputy General Ma, please spare my life!"
I was forced into it!

Someone really wants to harm me, wants to harm Xuanfu!

"Cooperate with the investigation, and the imperial court will naturally clear your name."

Seeing Wang Guoliang surrender, Ma Shilong breathed a sigh of relief.

To Ma Shilong's surprise, as soon as Wang Guoliang finished speaking, he suddenly rolled backward, his movements so fast that they were unlike those of a general who had been pampered for many years.

"Protect the commander-in-chief!"

The captain of the household guards behind him roared, and a dozen strong guards immediately rushed forward, holding round shields and forming a human wall to protect Wang Guoliang behind them.

His grandma’s!

Is this another scam?
Wang Guoliang, it seems you really are plotting a rebellion!

"Loose the arrows! Fire!"

Ma Shilong roared angrily.

In an instant, arrows flew through the air like locusts, their whistling sounds piercing the air.

The roar of the muskets was so loud it hurt people's eardrums. Lead bullets hit the ground, kicking up clouds of dust, and also hitting the servants who couldn't dodge in time.

Someone was hit by an arrow, clutching their chest and collapsing to the ground, blood seeping through their fingers.

Someone was hit in the arm by a lead bullet, screamed and fell to the ground, the knife in his hand clattering to the ground.

Under the cover of his servants, Wang Guoliang scrambled backward, his face covered in dust and blood, his former general's dignity long gone.

As he watched his servants fall one by one, and the Beijing garrison soldiers charged in like tigers descending a mountain, his defensive line on the verge of being breached, a sudden surge of ruthless determination welled up within him.

"Don't retreat!"

He suddenly stood up and roared.

"The imperial envoy is going to uproot our Xuanfu!"
He wants to reduce the number of troops and take back all our food and pay, leaving everyone without food!

Now they're even accusing us of treason and want to behead us all!
Brothers!
We are not rebelling; we are seeking justice for the soldiers of Xuanfu!
Go!

"If we hold Xuanfu City, we still have a chance to survive!"

These words, half true and half false, acted like a shot of adrenaline, piercing the hearts of the servants.

They were originally Wang Guoliang's confidants and were extremely loyal to him.

Hearing Wang Guoliang say this, I suddenly realized that I was not a "traitor," but someone who was "seeking survival" and demanding justice!

Instantly, their fear vanished.

With righteousness in his heart, he became decisive in both killing and ruthlessness.

"Come on!"

The servants roared and charged at the Beijing garrison soldiers with their knives raised. Even with an arrow in their chests, they clung tightly to the legs of the soldiers, urging those behind them to keep charging forward, shouting slogans like "Kill the Imperial Envoy, Protect Xuanfu!"

Although the Beijing garrison was elite, it couldn't withstand the large number of household servants.

At first, they could suppress the enemy with muskets and bows and arrows, but the muskets were slow to reload, and it took time for the bows and arrows to finish a volley. Soon, the enemy was thrown into disarray by the tide of servants.

Ma Shilong's troops were forced to retreat repeatedly, eventually reaching the gates of the Zhenguo Mansion.

"Retreat inside the mansion! Close the gates!"

As more and more servants surged forward, Ma Shilong knew that continuing the fight would only result in greater casualties, so he could only grit his teeth and give the order.

The Beijing garrison soldiers quickly retreated into the Zhenguo Mansion, and several strong soldiers worked together to push the heavy vermilion gate shut with a creaking sound.

Outside.

Wang Guoliang's servants were still frantically banging on the door, shouts of killing, crashing sounds, and screams of agony mixed together, making the walls of the Zhenguo Mansion tremble slightly.

Ma Shilong leaned against the door, panting heavily, looking at the disheveled state of his soldiers.

Everyone was injured, and quite a few had broken arms and legs.

Fortunately
The body of Imperial Envoy Zhang Heming was rescued.

just
Zhang Heming's death had a huge impact on Xuanfu.

A misunderstanding that could have been resolved was turned into an irreversible situation by that sudden, hidden arrow.

The nine border regions may be thrown into chaos as a result.

And he, as the deputy commander of Xuanfu, will probably not escape punishment either.

The Ming Dynasty Code clearly states that if local officials involved in a case fail to apprehend the murderer in a timely manner, they will be dismissed and imprisoned for "negligence," or accused of "conspiracy," and their entire families will suffer the consequences.

and.

Even if they could capture Wang Guoliang, he still wouldn't be able to clear his name of guilt.

With the imperial envoy dead, the mission to pacify the border was fundamentally ruined. Even if His Majesty doesn't hold him accountable, his career is essentially over, let alone any future achievements.

"Damn it! If I had known this would happen, I should have defied orders and stopped the imperial envoy in the mansion!"

Ma Shilong was filled with deep regret.

He should have known long ago that Xuanfu was a very deep place. Wang Guoliang seemed to be seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages, but when he was forced into a desperate situation, he had no rationality left.

And
Xuanfu is only four hundred li from the capital, a journey that can be completed in a day by fast horse. If news of the unrest here reaches His Majesty's ears, the court and the public will surely be shaken.

Fortunately, the Chahar tribe in the north, having already split into several factions after Ligdan Khan's capture, was too preoccupied with its own affairs to move south.

If they were to take advantage of this opportunity to attack, with internal rebellion and a powerful enemy outside, Xuanfu would likely be doomed.

"Sir, we're running low on musket ammunition, and the rebels outside are still banging on the door!"

A junior officer from the Beijing Garrison rushed over, his voice filled with anxiety, and his face betrayed his panic.

Ma Shilong took a deep breath, struggled to his feet, dusted himself off, and his eyes regained their resolve:
"Hold the Zhenguo Mansion and wait for Qi Jin and Chen Ce's Sichuan and Southern troops to arrive! As long as we hold out until reinforcements arrive, we still have a chance to survive!"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers beside him gained confidence.

And this moment.

Outside the gate of Zhenguo Mansion.

Wang Guoliang leaned on a blood-stained longsword, barely supporting his swaying body.

His official robes were soaked in blood, indistinguishable as to whether they belonged to him or his servants. His face was covered in dust and bloodstains, his former majesty gone, leaving only a deathly stillness in his eyes.

"Black Cloud Dragon...you beast!"

He cursed under his breath.

Only now did he realize that Hei Yunlong had never intended for him to turn back from the very beginning.

Forging secret letters, inciting mutiny, and finally killing Zhang Heming with an arrow—every step was a trap, designed to drive him to the brink of despair.

But it was too late to regret it.

The Criminal Code of the Great Ming Dynasty stipulates the following regarding murder:

"Anyone who kills an official sent on a mission by imperial decree shall be beheaded, regardless of whether he is the ringleader or a follower."

Moreover, the actual punishment for treason is far more severe than the legal provisions suggest.

Back then, a minor official in Jizhou offended the imperial censor patrolling the border and was executed by slow slicing for "great disrespect." How much more so would killing the imperial envoy pacifying the border be an act of cruelty?
Killing the imperial envoy is a crime of treason.

The ringleader was executed by slow slicing; all male members of his father's, mother's, and wife's families aged sixteen and above were beheaded; and the women and children were exiled into slavery...

Hey ~
Wang Guoliang sighed deeply.

He doesn't want to rebel!
All he wanted was to keep his position as general, protect his family's property, and let his wife and children live a peaceful life.

But now?

Zhang Heming died in front of him, and it was his brother-in-law Hei Yunlong who killed the imperial envoy. Even if he had a hundred mouths, he couldn't clear his name.

"General, we can't break down the door. What's our next step?"

A servant ran over and asked, but there was a hint of fear on his face.

Killing the imperial envoy is tantamount to treason. Although it is to seek justice for Xuanfu, what should we do if His Majesty sends a large army to suppress it?

Wang Guoliang looked at the gate of Zhenguo Mansion, slowly raised his hand, wiped the bloodstains from his face, and his eyes gradually changed from initial confusion and fear to fierceness.

"What else can be done?"

His voice was eerily calm.

"The imperial envoy is dead; we have no way out."

To not rebel is to die.

"If we rebel, perhaps there's still a glimmer of hope."

He raised his long sword, the tip pointing at the gate of the Zhenguo Mansion, his roar piercing through the chaos outside:
Brothers!

We are not rebels, but have been driven to desperation by the imperial court!

Today, we either fight our way in or die here!
Go!

Seeing the ferocity in his eyes and remembering the punishment they might face, the servants finally stopped hesitating, raised their knives and axes, and launched an even more ferocious attack on the gate.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Seeing that Wang Guoliang was finally willing to rebel, Hei Yunlong finally felt relieved.

He strode forward, a smile he could hardly hide on his face, and reached out to pat Wang Guoliang on the shoulder:

"Brother-in-law, it should have been done long ago!"

However, before his hand could even touch the other man's official robe, Wang Guoliang suddenly dodged to the side, his movement so fast it seemed to carry the wind.

Hei Yunlong's hand froze in mid-air before he could see Wang Guoliang's appearance clearly.

His brows were furrowed, his lips were tightly pursed, and the murderous intent in his eyes was almost tangible.

"Brother-in-law, Xuanfu is our territory!"

Hei Yunlong wasn't embarrassed. He withdrew his hand, casually adjusted his clothes, and continued:
"His Majesty sent a pedantic imperial envoy with a few tattered legal articles, thinking he could straighten out our rules? How laughable!"

He paused, and seeing that Wang Guoliang's expression hadn't softened, he leaned closer, lowering his voice but still sounding excited.

"But brother-in-law, if you're going to rebel, you have to make a proper show of it."

First, mobilize all the soldiers in the various garrisons of Xuanfu. The officers of Chaigoubao in the west and Wanquan Right Guard in the middle are all your old subordinates, and they will respond to your call!
"Quickly send messages to Datong and Shanxi Town. If they join the rebellion, even if the court has Liaodong troops, they won't be able to handle our situation!"

"Brother-in-law, brother-in-law!"

Wang Guoliang suddenly spoke, his voice as cold as ice, filled with barely suppressed anger, his chest heaving violently.

How many times have I told you?

In Xuanfu Town, one must be addressed by their official title!
I am the Commander-in-Chief, and you are the Lieutenant General of Dushikou.

"No respect for elders! What kind of behavior is this!"

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured on the head of a dark cloud.

The smile on his face vanished instantly, and a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes, but he didn't dare to actually contradict him.

He knew how furious Wang Guoliang was at that moment, and if he provoked him any further, he might really be cleaved in two by the other party.

He lowered his head dejectedly, tucking his hands into his sleeves, and his voice became much quieter:
"Yes, Commander."

Wang Guoliang's anger intensified as he looked at Wang Guoliang's feigned compliance.

If looks could kill, Hei Yunlong would have been torn to pieces a thousand times over.

From forging secret letters to inciting a mutiny, and finally killing Zhang Heming with an arrow, every step pushed him toward his death.

But now that the die is cast and the arrow has been shot, no matter how much he hates it, he can only grit his teeth and accept it.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his surging emotions, and his gaze swept over the timid servants around him. His voice became deep and calm.

"The best course of action now is to concentrate our forces to besiege the Zhenguo Mansion."

Either annihilate Ma Shilong's Beijing garrison or drive him out of the prefectural city.

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the distant streets and alleys, before continuing:
“Then send trusted confidants to inform the military commanders and guerrillas in key locations that ‘the imperial envoy is mistreating the border troops and is deliberately framing us, so we are forced to protect ourselves,’ and tell them to quickly bring their troops to join us.”

The messages also had to be sent to the border towns of Datong, Shanxi, Yansui, and Ningxia.

They said that an uprising had already begun in Xuanfu, and hoped that they would join together in raising the banner of righteousness to force the court to offer amnesty.

"in addition."

"We're not rebelling! We're seeking justice."

In reality, he didn't have the resources to rebel.

The actual number of soldiers capable of fighting in Xuanfu was less than 50,000, and the number he could control was less than 30,000, with even fewer than 10,000 warhorses.

In addition, there is a lack of unity among the people.

If they were to confront the Liaodong troops and the Beijing garrison directly, it would be like an egg hitting a rock.

However, from the very beginning, he never intended to overthrow the Ming Dynasty.

Instead, we should highlight the "united front value".

If many towns along the nine borders respond, and the imperial court cannot suppress them, it will have no choice but to offer them amnesty.

This is his only way to survive.

Wang Guoliang continued to give instructions:

"In Datong, send your most trusted guard to deliver the message, and make sure he personally hands it over to the Datong garrison commander."

Wang Guoliang is trying to find value for himself in the united front effort.

Inside the Zhenguo Mansion, Ma Shilong realized that he could not defend it.

The Zhenguo Mansion was never built as a fortress to defend against enemies.

It was originally the Prince Gu's Mansion in the early Ming Dynasty, and was changed to the Zhenguo Mansion during the Zhengde period. Although it has a vermilion gate and a high wall of blue bricks, it has no arrow tower or watchtower, and even the parapet on the top of the wall is built low.

At this moment, the gate had been smashed open by Wang Guoliang's servants, leaving several cracks and flying splinters.

The west wall of the courtyard was rattling loudly as it was struck by several logs, and the plaster was falling off in clumps.

Only about 700 soldiers of the Beijing garrison remained in the courtyard. Their muskets and ammunition were exhausted, so they could only fight with long swords against the servants who had scaled the wall.

"Sir! The southwest corner wall has collapsed! The rebels have stormed in!"

A rearguard soldier roared, slashing down a servant with his longsword, but was pierced through the shoulder by a spear from behind and fell heavily to the ground.

Ma Shilong swung his knife and cut the ropes binding his arms, then looked up.

The servants in the courtyard surged in from all directions like a tide, and the defense line of the Beijing garrison was broken into pieces.

The Zhenguo Mansion can't be held any longer. If this drags on, let alone waiting for reinforcements, all seven hundred of them will die here.

at this time.

A guard rushed over, covered in sweat, with half a broken arrow still stuck in his armor.

"General!
East Gate!

The East Gate is still in our hands!

The brothers guarding the east gate have withstood the rebels' attack; retreat to the east gate quickly!

"Is the East Gate still there?"

A glint suddenly appeared in Ma Shilong's eyes.

His three thousand garrison troops had to be divided and deployed in order to control Xuanfu City.

Eight hundred men were stationed at the East Gate, six hundred at the South Gate, five hundred at the West Gate, and the remaining seven hundred guarded the Zhenguo Mansion.

In retrospect, while the decision to disperse his forces put the Zhenguo Mansion in danger, it also left him a way out.

"Pass down the order! Leave fifty men to cover the rear, the rest of you follow me to the east gate!"

Ma Shilong made a decisive decision, his voice so loud it drowned out the sounds of battle.

"Listen up, brothers covering the rear! Just hold out for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. There's no need to fight to the death. Meet up at the east gate!"

"Yes!"

The soldiers of the Beijing garrison responded in unison, their previously weary eyes regaining their fighting spirit.

The fifty men covering the rear quickly formed a sword and shield formation, blocking the courtyard gate. With their long swords flashing, they temporarily blocked the servants' charge.

The others protected Ma Shilong and retreated towards the alley behind the mansion leading to the east gate.

Outside the gate of Zhenguo Mansion.

Wang Guoliang was standing under an old locust tree.

Hei Yunlong rushed over from the alley entrance, his face showing excitement mixed with anxiety:
"Brother-in-law... no, Commander!"

A scout reports that Ma Shilong has led his men to flee towards the east gate!

"This humble general will immediately lead some men to pursue him and execute him to prevent future troubles!"

“No need to chase.”

Wang Guoliang slowly shook his head.

Hei Yunlong froze, his excitement vanishing instantly, replaced by utter bewilderment:
Why not chase after them?
Ma Shilong was a general in the Beijing garrison. Killing him would weaken the court's power and also break the morale of the Beijing garrison soldiers!

What's the point of killing him?

Wang Guoliang countered with a question.

“We’ve already made a huge mess by killing Zhang Heming. If we kill Ma Shilong too, we’ll solidify the charge of ‘treason’ with no room for maneuver whatsoever.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the servants around him. Most of them wore expressions of fear, clearly terrified of the Beijing garrison soldiers.

"Moreover, Ma Shilong's soldiers are from the Beijing Garrison, well-equipped, and have fought in Liaodong; they are all capable fighters."

Although we outnumber them, our fighting strength is inferior to theirs. If we were to pursue them and fight to the death, it would likely be a losing proposition.

Hei Yunlong opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something more, but was stopped by Wang Guoliang's gaze.

"Moreover, this East Gate was a way out that I deliberately left for him."

His plans were far more shrewd than Hei Yunlong's.

By sparing Ma Shilong's life and allowing him to escape with his remaining troops, a message could be sent to the court:
Although Xuanfu was in chaos, the killings were not completely wiped out, and there was still room for negotiation.

This also allowed the imperial court to know the "strength" of Xuanfu through Ma Shilong's words.

Even the Beijing garrison could be forced to retreat; if we were to try to suppress them by force, we would inevitably pay a heavy price.

“What we want is not to exterminate them, but to leverage their ‘united front value’.”

"If we hold Xuanfu City and then contact the border towns of Datong and Shanxi, as long as a few towns along the nine borders respond, the court will not dare to easily send troops. At that time, His Majesty will weigh the pros and cons and will naturally choose to appease them."

Only through appeasement can our sins be forgiven and our wealth and glory preserved.

At this point, Wang Guoliang's eyes suddenly sharpened, much like a wolf eyeing its prey on the grasslands:

"If we can force His Majesty to offer amnesty, our Xuanfu Town can emulate the story of the regional military governors at the end of the Tang Dynasty."

During the late Tang Dynasty, the regional military governors (jiedushi) controlled the army, government, and finances, and the imperial court dared not easily provoke them.

My Xuanfu Town will become such a 'regional town' in the future!

Hei Yunlong's eyes lit up as he listened, and his previous confusion vanished instantly.

"The commander-in-chief is wise!"

As long as we hold Xuanfu and rally the other border towns, the imperial court will have to concede sooner or later!

Wang Guoliang didn't say anything more, but just stared in the direction of the East Gate.

With Ma Shilong's departure, the chaos in Xuanfu truly began.

Whether his "dream of becoming a regional military governor" can be realized depends on the reactions of Datong and the border towns in Shanxi.

but
Before that, he had important things to do.

That is what unites the people of Xuanfu Town.

If morale cannot be stabilized quickly, Xuanfu will fall into chaos before Qi Jin and Chen Ce's reinforcements arrive.

The so-called "united front value" is never something that can be achieved by shouting slogans, but rather by grasping the lifeline of the grassroots.

If you feed him and help him survive, he will support you.

Think about this.

He turned to his personal guards and shouted:
"Pass on my order: immediately go to the eunuch's residence and capture Liu Kun!"

Take them to the South Training Ground, and at noon, behead them in public!

The guard was taken aback for a moment, then bowed and agreed.

Liu Kun was a supervising eunuch sent by the Directorate of Ceremonial. He usually acted arrogantly in Xuanfu, embezzling military pay, soliciting and accepting bribes, and even the generals had to give him some leeway.

But now that we're ready to 'seek justice,' there's nothing to hold back anymore.

Liu Kun, on the contrary, became the best "target".

Killing him would both vent the soldiers' anger and change the label of "treason" to "seeking justice."

Just after noon.

Two burly bodyguards dragged Liu Kun, who was bound hand and foot, through the streets and alleys.

Liu Kun was still wearing his gold-embroidered eunuch robe, but he had lost his former imposing manner. His hair was disheveled, his face was covered in dust, and he kept cursing.
"Wang Guoliang! You traitor! You dare to touch our family! His Majesty will surely exterminate your entire clan!"

"Are you trying to rebel? We are the garrison eunuchs, and we have His Majesty's backing!"

But none of the soldiers or civilians on the street spoke up for him.

An old soldier recalled that last winter, Liu Kun withheld his winter coat, causing his son to freeze to death.

One vendor recalled that he forcibly collected "filial piety money," forcing him to sell his daughter.

Even the most timid women had heard of his despicable acts of abducting women.

Not long after.

The South Training Ground was already packed with people.

Wang Guoliang stood on the high platform, the banner of "General of Xuanfu Garrison" flying behind him. His gaze swept over the sea of ​​heads below, his voice booming:

Brothers!

Fathers!

We, the people of Xuanfu, guard the North Gate, shedding blood and sweat, but how are we doing?
Military pay was embezzled, rations were diverted, and they couldn't even afford winter clothes.

Who did this?

He pointed to Liu Kun, who was being held down on the ground, and his tone suddenly became more forceful:

"It's this eunuch!"
He exploited us in Xuanfu, pocketing our hard-earned money and treating our lives like dirt!
When the imperial envoy arrived, instead of helping us, he wanted to settle scores with us.

Can we accept such a court and such officials?

The audience fell silent, then someone who had been deliberately planted below shouted in agreement:

"We can't accept it!"

Moreover, these voices grew louder and louder, gradually merging into a chorus of shouts.

"We can't accept it!"

"We can't accept it!"

"We can't accept it!"

Liu Kun was so frightened that he trembled all over. He tried to explain, but his bodyguard covered his mouth.

Noon arrived quickly.

Wang Guoliang raised his hand and waved: "Slay!"

The demon-headed blade fell, and blood splattered three feet high.

The soldiers below the stage were stunned for a moment, then erupted in thunderous cheers, shouting "Well done!"

Wang Guoliang looked at the scene and a hint of joy flashed in his eyes.

The first step was successful.

But the key to winning people's hearts and minds lies in the second step!
He raised his hand again to quell the cheers, and after they subsided, he continued:
"Everyone!
We are not rebelling!

We demand justice from the imperial court!

Let the imperial court pay the back wages owed over the years, and let the people of Xuanfu govern Xuanfu!
Now, open the treasury to provide relief to the people and reimburse the soldiers' pay and rations.
"Let me tell you all, this is our own grain, our own money. If the imperial court dares to suppress us, we'll be back to starving and freezing to death!"

At the command, the gate to the treasury was pushed open with a creak.

Inside, the grain bins, silver ingots, and cloth were piled up, gleaming alluringly in the sunlight.

The guard in charge of distributing the supplies shouted loudly:

"Each military household will receive one shi of grain and five qian of silver!"

Each household will receive half a shi of grain!

Come and collect yours, register by household, no fighting allowed!

The crowd instantly became excited.

The old soldier held the grain sack tremblingly, tears streaming down his wrinkled face.

He hasn't received his full amount of grain for many years.

The young soldier clutched the silver ingots, a long-lost smile on his face, as he thought about sending some money home.

Even the street vendors received half a bolt of cloth, constantly chanting "Hello, General Wang."

Hei Yunlong stood aside, watching the people scrambling for grain and provisions, and couldn't help but sigh. He leaned close to Wang Guoliang and whispered:
"General, it's a real waste to give so much money and food to these lowly people."

Wouldn't it be better if we kept the supplies ourselves to recruit more soldiers?

Wang Guoliang glanced at him sideways and said:

“Wasted?”
If Xuanfu falls, we'll all lose our lives. Who will get all this money and grain then?

"and"

"Do you think I really want to support them?"

Without these people, what can we use to negotiate with the imperial court?
Qi Jin's Sichuan troops and Chen Ce's southern troops will arrive in the blink of an eye. Then we'll be all alone, and we won't even know how we died!

Hei Yunlong was rendered speechless and could only shut his mouth in embarrassment.

He watched as more and more people below the stage held up grain sacks and shouted, "Follow General Wang to seek justice!"

Although he was unwilling, he knew that Wang Guoliang was telling the truth.

The afternoon sun shone on the streets and alleys of Xuanfu City, and the panic of the past was gradually replaced by a kind of fervor.

Soldiers carrying swords and spears patrolled the streets, shouting, "Protect Xuanfu, demand back pay!"

The locals spontaneously set up tea at the door to quench the thirst of the patrolling soldiers.

Even the garrison soldiers who had hesitated before came to join him, saying they wanted to follow Wang Guoliang to "seek justice".

Wang Guoliang stood on the high platform, looking at all this, a smile of triumph playing on his lips.

But he did not become complacent.

He knew it.

These people were not loyal to him, but to the silver in their hands and the grain in their bosoms.

But so what?
As long as he can stabilize Xuanfu, and as long as he can show the court that "Xuanfu is not to be trifled with," he has a chance to survive.

just
He also understood that this was merely a stopgap measure.

When the grain is used up and the silver is spent, what kind of faces will these people who are shouting for "justice" today have when the imperial army arrives at the city gates?
He dared not think too deeply, and could only grip the hilt of his sword tightly, placing all his hopes on the fact that "the imperial court dares not launch a direct attack."

And he
It's about demonstrating your own value!

now.

Outside Xuanfu City.

Ma Shilong and his remaining troops have already escaped.

However, Ma Shilong did not go far from the prefectural city, but rested ten miles outside the city.

"General, if we don't leave now, we risk being discovered by the mutinous soldiers!"

The guard whispered a reminder, his voice still tinged with lingering fear.

When they broke out of Zhenguo Mansion, the Jingying soldiers, though elite, could not withstand the overwhelming onslaught of the rebel army. Nearly half of their seven hundred brothers were lost. If it weren't for the desperate support of the East Gate garrison, they probably wouldn't have been able to escape Xuanfu City.

Ma Shilong felt very heavy-hearted.

He is the deputy commander of Xuanzhen. Where can he go?

not to mention.
Four hundred miles away lies the central government of the Ming Dynasty.

He stopped the unrest.

therefore.

After pondering for a moment, Ma Shilong said:
"If Xuanfu is in chaos, the capital will be in jeopardy."

"The most urgent task is not to flee, but to stabilize the situation."

He dismounted and spread out a tattered map in the makeshift thatched hut. By the dim light of the lantern, his fingertip landed on the markings for the eastern and western routes of Xuanfu:
"The three military officers who confessed their crimes earlier, Zhou Tong, Wu Qian, and Zhao Chengye, were willing to admit their mistakes and thus had the intention to submit to the imperial court."

Send someone to contact them and tell them that I, Ma Shilong, am waiting for them outside the city. If they are willing to bring their troops to surrender, the court will forgive their past transgressions!

The guard quickly agreed, but was about to turn around when Ma Shilong called him back:
"Tell them that Wang Guoliang killed the imperial envoy, which is a heinous crime of treason. If they dare to join the rebellion, they will face the extermination of their entire family!"

His tone suddenly became more forceful, and a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.

These three adjutant generals control nearly 30% of Xuanfu's military strength. If they can be won over, they can at least stop Wang Guoliang's outward expansion.

After arranging the liaison matters, Ma Shilong's gaze fell back on the words "capital" on the map, and his heart sank even more.

"Also, a message delivered by urgent courier!"

He suddenly looked up at the guards behind him.

"Select the two fastest riders. If one horse collapses from exhaustion, replace it with a courier horse. Make sure to deliver the news of the Xuanfu mutiny to the Ministry of War in the capital and the camps of Qi Jin and Chen Ce in Jizhou overnight!"

Two strong messengers immediately stepped forward to receive the order.

They removed their armor, wearing only light shorts and leather pouches with the words "Urgent Report" sewn onto their backs, and mounted their two strongest warhorses.

"Don't worry, General! Even if we have to run all the horses to death, we will definitely get the message out!"

Before he finished speaking, the two warhorses had already disappeared from Ma Shilong's sight like arrows released from a bow, their hoofbeats fading into the distance on the empty official road.

Ma Shilong watched their retreating figures, his fists clenched tightly.

just now.

time is life.

If the generals of Datong and Shanxi Town realize this and join Wang Guoliang in rebellion, the Nine Borders will be engulfed in flames. At that time, not only will Xuanfu not be pacified, but the entire northern border will be in chaos.

The night is getting darker.

The post horses on the official road have been replaced time and time again.

The messenger dared not rest for a moment; the bit made the warhorse neigh, and sweat streamed down its belly.

When he passed a post station along the way, he didn't even have time to drink a sip of hot water. He just grabbed the prepared post horse, jumped on it, and continued galloping.

They marched continuously for several hours.

The messenger's horse suddenly buckled in the legs, collapsed to the ground, and foamed at the mouth.

This is the third post horse to die from exhaustion.

With practiced ease, he switched to a spare horse and continued galloping towards Beijing.

late at night.

The messenger finally arrived at the gates of Beijing.

"Urgent report from Xuanfu! 800 li express delivery!"

He roared at the city wall.

The captain guarding the city dared not delay and immediately used a basket to pull up the messenger and the post horse.

After confirming his identity and the urgent report, the messenger was led by the city guards, changed to a fast horse, and galloped towards the Ministry of War's office.

It was nearly midnight, and the capital city was already quiet, but there were still people on duty in the Ministry of War's office.

It was Liang Zhiyuan, the Assistant Director of the Bureau of Personnel.

It's his turn to be on duty tonight.

The subordinate official arrived in a hurry, accompanied by a messenger.

"Physician! Hurry! Urgent report from Xuanfu! 800 li express!"

The messenger knelt down with a thud, trembling as he pulled an urgent report from his pocket.

Liang Zhiyuan rubbed his dry eyes, his sleepiness instantly dispelled by the urgent message.

He composed himself, took the secret report, and shook out the letter inside. In the flickering candlelight, the words "Imperial Envoy Zhang Heming assassinated," "General Wang Guoliang of Xuanfu occupies the city and plots rebellion," and "Ma Shilong leads his remaining troops to break out of the siege" made his face change drastically!
"Sigh~"

Liang Zhiyuan gasped and stood up abruptly.

"The General Commander of Xuanda has rebelled... This is going to turn the world upside down!"

He dared not delay for a moment, and immediately spread out the memorial paper and picked up the wolf-hair brush.

He frowned, his pen moving swiftly across the paper. Though he wrote hastily, his handwriting remained neat and beautiful.

Liang Zhiyuan first briefly outlined the core of the urgent report.

"On the 25th day of the fifth month of the second year of the Tianqi reign, Wang Guoliang, the general of Xuanfu, murdered Zhang Heming, the imperial commissioner in charge of pacifying the border, and plotted rebellion in the city. Ma Shilong, the deputy general, led 700 remnants of the Beijing garrison to break through the siege and is now stationed outside Xuanfu City, urgently awaiting the dispatch of troops by the imperial court."

Adding information on the movements of Zhou Tong, Wu Qian, and other adjutants, and finally providing preliminary response suggestions:
"Quickly dispatch the Sichuan and Southern troops under Qi Jin and Chen Ce of Jizhou to reinforce the area, and order the generals of Datong and Shanxi to strictly guard the border to prevent the spread of the rebellion; also send the Embroidered Uniform Guard to the vicinity of Xuanfu to spy and capture the escaped rebels."

After finishing writing, Liang Zhiyuan took out the Ministry of War's "Official Seal of the Ministry of War" from the copper box in the corner of the desk, dipped it in cinnabar, and heavily stamped it on the signature of the memorial. The bright red seal was as blood-red as it was on the plain white paper.

He then wrote the four characters "Eight Hundred Li Urgent" vertically in red ink on the cover, and added a small note next to it: "Received at the Ministry of War's duty office at 3:45 AM," before the manuscript was considered complete.

As Liang Zhiyuan picked up the memorial, he realized that his back was soaked with cold sweat. The night wind seeped in through the cracks in the window, making him shiver.

"Prepare the horses! We're heading to the Office of Transmission!"

Liang Zhiyuan strode out of the duty room, where horses were already prepared.

He mounted his horse, the sound of its hooves echoing through the deserted streets.

soon.

He then went to the Office of Transmission.

Upon seeing that it was the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War himself, carrying a memorial marked "Eight Hundred Li Urgent," the gatekeeper of the Office of Transmission quickly raised his hand to signal passage and loudly announced:

"Liang, the Vice Minister of War, brings an urgent report from Xuanfu!"

Soon, Liang Zhiyuan was brought into the Office of Transmission.

Tu Qiaoqian, the Left Vice Minister of the Court of State Affairs on night duty, had just been woken up and was rubbing his sleepy eyes when he saw the large red characters on the cover of the memorial. He instantly woke up.

He took the memorial and first brought it close to the candlelight to check whether the Ministry of War's seals were intact.

The seal is clear and there is no trace of forgery.

Upon further verification of the memorial format, it was found that the cause, process, and suggestions were clearly organized and conformed to the "urgent report" standard.

Finally, the "Secret Reports Received by the Office of the Commissioner of State Affairs" was opened, and it was written in the book: "On the 25th day of the fifth month of the second year of Tianqi, at the fifth quarter of the hour of Zi, a secret report of treason in Xuanfu was received from Liang Zhiyuan of the Office of the Ministry of War, delivered by express courier at a speed of 800 li."

He picked up his pen and drew a red circle at the end, then took the purple seal of the Ministry of Justice from the desk and stamped it next to the red seal of the Ministry of War on the cover of the memorial.

"Quickly! Send someone to the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs! Take the inner post road, not a moment can be wasted!"

Tu Qiaoqian handed the memorial to the clerk beside him, looking very anxious.

The office of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs was located in a corridor outside the Forbidden City, and it was quiet at this time.

The eunuch Shi Yuanya, who was in the court, had just dozed off in his chair, still clutching the documents he hadn't finished organizing, when he was suddenly awakened by footsteps outside the door.

Seeing that it was an official from the Office of Transmission who brought the secret report, he quickly stood up, took the memorial, and glanced at the cover. His face instantly turned deathly pale, and his hands began to tremble.
"Xuanfu...treason?"

He dared not act rashly and immediately summoned the young eunuch:
"quick!

Go to the backyard and invite the ancestor!
"Tell them there's a secret report from Xuanfu, delivered with utmost urgency; delay means execution!"

The little eunuch took off running towards the backyard.

Not long after.

Wei Chao, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, arrived wearing a plain cloak, his hair still slightly disheveled.

He had only been asleep for less than an hour when he heard "Xuanfu 800 li urgent message," and without even having time to put on his shoes properly, he rushed to the duty room in his cloth shoes.

Wei Chao took the memorial, quickly glanced through it, and his brows furrowed more and more.

Wei Chao then went to the Wenyuan Pavilion and met Li Ruhua, the cabinet minister who was on duty there.

"Mr. Li Ge, for important matters, please vote first!"

Seeing the urgency of the situation, Li Ruhua pondered for a moment, then took a blank ticket and picked up a red pen.

By candlelight, his pen paused slightly before he wrote down his proposed opinion:

"The situation in Xuanfu is urgent; we request Your Majesty to issue an imperial edict immediately."

First, the troops of Qi Jin and Chen Ce of Jizhou, including soldiers from Sichuan and the south, were mobilized to rush to Xuanfu overnight.

Second, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Luo Sigong, is ordered to send 100 elite cavalrymen to Datong and Shanxi Town to spy on their movements. If any generals are found to have defected to the rebels, they may be executed first and reported later.

Third, the cabinet ministers, Minister of War Wang Zaijin, and Minister of Revenue Li Changgeng were summoned to the palace overnight for a meeting.

Having received the draft proposal, Wei Chao and Li Ruhua hurriedly headed to Donghua Gate.

At this time, Donghua Gate was already closed, with only two guards holding halberds standing outside. When they saw Wei Chao and Li Ruhua arrive, they quickly stepped forward to greet them.

Wei Chao took out his "Night Transport Token of the Directorate of Ceremonial" from his waist and showed it to the guard:
"There is an urgent secret report from Xuanfu, which needs to be presented to His Majesty in person."

The guards checked the tokens and dared not stop them. They immediately pushed open the side door and led them into the palace.

The palace road was quiet, with only the sound of footsteps echoing in the night.

The palace lantern carried by the young eunuch cast its glow slowly across the blue bricks, illuminating Wei Chao's hurried figure.

Upon arriving at the side hall of the Qianqing Palace, the eunuchs guarding the hall, recognizing Wei Chao, quickly approached quietly.

"Please wait a moment, Your Majesty. This servant will go and wake His Majesty right away."

Two eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial immediately knelt in the outer hall of the sleeping quarters and shouted into it:

"Urgent military intelligence from 800 li away: The General Commander of Xuanda has murdered the Imperial Envoy and is plotting rebellion. Your Majesty, please review this report immediately!"

The eunuch in charge of the hall called out three times, but there was no response from inside the hall.

Just as they were about to enter the inner palace to awaken the emperor, a sound finally came from inside.

"I understand."

And at that very moment.

Awakened by the noise, Zhu Youxiao realized that things in Xuanzhen were in trouble.

Zhang Heming's appeasement efforts backfired, leading to Wang Guoliang's alleged rebellion.

Zhu Youxiao, who had just sat up from the imperial couch, gave a wry smile.

Zhang Heming.
You died at the worst possible time!

PS:

A massive chapter of 10400 words!
My monthly pass is about to expire, hurry up and cast it!
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(End of this chapter)