I, Emperor Chongzhen, have extended the life of the Ming Dynasty by five hundred years.

Amidst everyone's astonishment, Huang Mao finally came to his senses.

"Your Majesty, I have been wronged! I beg Your Majesty to do me justice!"

Zhu Youjian winked at Li Ruolian: "Untie Magistrate Huang!"

"yes!"

Li Ruolian stepped forward and with a swift stroke, the rope came off.

Huang Mao stumbled and crawled to Zhu Youjian, and shakily pulled out a booklet.

"Your humble servant, Huang Mao, the Assistant Magistrate of Dingxing County, has impeached Magistrate Xie Jinrong for colluding with merchants to seize land from the people and murder more than twenty people. All his crimes are recorded in the book. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"

Xie Jinrong shouted, "Huang Mao, stop talking nonsense! I have been incorruptible for two years, how could I...?"

"So you're completely incorruptible, aren't you?"

Zhu Youjian suddenly interrupted and said, "Huang Mao, I am aware of your impeachment."

Then, he beckoned, and Li Ruolian understood and took out a booklet as well.

"Magistrate Xie Jinrong has seized twelve residences and 1.2 million taels of silver!"

Xie Jinrong's body trembled, and he shouted, "You, you... dare to confiscate my property?"

Upon hearing this, Fan Liuyang looked at him as if he were a fool and said, "Magistrate Xie, even now, don't you understand?"

Xie Jinrong had been trying to argue, but after hearing these words, his last glimmer of hope was shattered.

From He Fu's sudden visit to the appearance of Emperor Chongzhen, it all points to one thing!

"Manager Fan!"

After Xie Jinrong figured it out, his fear subsided.

"Please speak, Magistrate Xie!"

"Are your men ready?"

Knowing he had no other way out, Fan Liuyang hardened his heart and said, "I am not very capable, but I have no shortage of men. The area outside the county government office and all the intersections are under control. We are just waiting for the magistrate's order!"

Upon hearing this, everyone present gasped in shock.

This is rebellion!

He Fu angrily retorted, "Xie Jinrong, even on the verge of death, you still show no remorse?"

"Hahaha!"

Xie Jinrong laughed loudly, then suddenly his face darkened, and he said, "Since death is imminent, what is there to repent for? Today, either I die, or you die, and... Your Majesty the Emperor!"

He paused here, then slowly looked around.

"Your Majesty is truly quite willful, daring to conduct an incognito inspection with only a dozen or so people?"

He Fu's expression changed drastically, and he pointed at Xie Jinrong, saying, "You, you...you're going to rebel again?"

"Prefect He, you and His Majesty have come to investigate my accounts. Haven't you considered the possibility of a complete breakdown in the score?"

"Fine, Xie Jinrong, you're really going to rebel!"

"At this point, if we don't rebel, are we just going to wait to die?"

He Fu was greatly alarmed. He suddenly realized that if Xie Jinrong really rebelled, and His Majesty only brought a dozen or so guards, then it would be dangerous!

I came in such a hurry that I forgot that a cornered dog will jump over the wall!

"Your Majesty, it's dangerous here. You should retreat first; I'll hold them off!"

Zhu Youjian waved his hand and said, "Xie Jinrong, if you really want to lay a hand on me, have you thought about the consequences?"

Xie Jinrong sneered, "Your Majesty is truly audacious. Li Zicheng has already reached Juyong Pass, and instead of staying in the capital, why are you running around? If I were to capture you and then go to join Li Zicheng, I would surely obtain an official position and secure a life of wealth and honor!"

"Still want to join Li Zicheng? It's not that I look down on you, but do you have any connections?"

"Your Majesty need not trouble yourself with that. Manager Fan is from Shanxi, from the Fan family, one of the eight great Shanxi merchants. Have you heard of them? Well, you are the emperor above us, you certainly haven't heard of these merchants. To tell you the truth, the Fan family and the rebel army have long had business dealings. Helping to make connections is no problem at all."

Zhu Youjian looked at Fan Liuyang and asked, "The Fan family really has connections everywhere. It seems Manager Fan has done quite a bit of business with Li Zicheng, hasn't he?"

Fan Liuyang hurriedly said, "Your Majesty misunderstands. I am merely a member of a collateral branch of the Fan family. The Fan family has people managing things in Shanxi and Shaanxi, so it is not my place."

"Have I heard that all the salt you stored in the warehouse in the north of the city was sold overnight? Can Dingxing County even handle that much salt?"

"Your Majesty is well-informed. That batch of salt was indeed sold to other places, but not to the rebel army."

"Oh? Where did such a large shipment go?"

"It's alright to tell His Majesty; they were sold to the northern grasslands."

"Mongol?"

Zhu Youjian smiled and shook his head, then said, "A county magistrate and a salt merchant, both are my good subjects!"

Xie Jinrong, his face dark, ordered, "Zhang Zian, make your move!"

Zhang Zian was terrified and stammered, "Your Excellency, this is His Majesty...His Majesty!"

Xie Jinrong retorted angrily, "If this county falls, you won't escape either!"

"But, this, this..."

"Think about how much benefit you've taken over the years? Which of your men is clean? Let me tell you, no one's going to escape today. If you want to live, listen to me and do it!"

"yes!"

Zhang Zian gritted his teeth and beckoned the constables to come forward.

Xie Jinrong then said, "Capture the Ming Emperor, and you will all come with me to join Li Zicheng. I guarantee you wealth and honor!"

"Then let's fight! Brothers, follow me!"

Zhang Zian shouted, raised his knife, and led the charge.

brush!

Li Ruolian shouted loudly, "The rebels of Dingxing County have committed regicide and treason! They must be killed without mercy!"

Before he could finish speaking, a cold glint flashed, and Zhang Zian clutched his neck tightly before slowly collapsing to the ground.

The one who made the move was none other than Hong Niangzi, who killed Zhang Zi'an with a single slash.

Seeing this, the others were so frightened that they all backed away.

Xie Jinrong hurriedly shouted, "There's no turning back now. The only way to survive is to rebel! Charge forward!"

Hong Niangzi held a knife in one hand, slowly moved forward, and stared intently at Xie Jinrong!

Everyone was at a loss and had no choice but to bite the bullet and go forward!

Hong Niangzi was agile and her sword flashed like lightning; wherever she went, people were either killed or maimed.

Her eyes were cold and resolute, and every slash was precise and deadly, as if she were seeking justice for the former troupe leader and the people who had suffered over the years.

Li Ruolian was not to be outdone and led more than a dozen warriors to charge in.

These men were all elites selected from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and they were fearless in battle. Dealing with them was as easy as cutting melons and vegetables.

The county government office was thrown into chaos, filled with the sounds of fighting.

The constables of Dingxing County had never seen such a scene before, and they all screamed and fled in all directions.

Seeing this, Xie Jinrong knew that the situation was hopeless and quickly slipped away in the chaos.

Fan Liuyang followed closely behind, and the two escaped from the county government office one after the other.

Xie Jinrong hurriedly asked, "Where are your men?"

They're all outside, I'll go call them!

"Hurry! Any later and we'll all die!"

Fan Liuyang nodded and hurriedly ran towards the street, where he met his butler.

"Sir, what's wrong...?"

"Stop talking nonsense, how many men did you bring?"

"There were probably over a hundred people, but I didn't count carefully."

Fan Liuyang looked behind the butler and saw that there was a huge crowd of people.

"Listen up, everyone! The dog emperor is right here in the county government office! If we kill the emperor and rebel today, and join the Great Shun army, it will be a great achievement, and from now on, we will enjoy endless wealth and glory!"

These people included guards from the Fan family, shop assistants, and thugs recruited from the streets.

Especially in the casinos run by the Fan family, there are gamblers everywhere, willing to risk their lives for a little money.

But at the time, we only said we were going to fight, not that we were going to rebel!

They were stunned when they heard that they were going to rebel and kill the emperor.

If I had known it was a rebellion, I wouldn't have charged this price!

Some people have already quietly retreated, preparing to escape.

Seeing this, Fan Liuyang shouted, "I warn you, the rebellion is a fait accompli, and no one can escape! If you want to live, follow me and charge in to capture the Ming Emperor; otherwise, you will all be guilty of a crime punishable by the extermination of your entire family!"

The group exchanged bewildered glances. They had thought they were going to fight, but now they'd inexplicably become traitors. Where could they go to seek justice?

"We are all citizens of the Ming Dynasty, how can we rebel? You... you have to pay more!"

Fan Liuyang looked in the direction of the voice and saw that the speaker was a scoundrel who often went hungry and had a lot of petty theft.

"No problem, I'll give you three times the price!"

"Three times isn't enough, that's too little!"

"Five times!"

"Still not enough!"

"Ten times, is that alright?"

"That's more like it!"

After some haggling, the group picked up sticks, sickles, and kitchen knives, and charged toward the county government office with murderous intent.