I slaughtered my way through the border at the start, I am the Great Ming's Night Raider!

Chen Yuan remained silent.

"Duke Zhu Yong of Chengguo arrived in Nanjing ten days ago," Xu Huizu continued. "He lives in his villa in Nanjing and rarely goes out. But every day, many people go to see him—commanders of various garrisons in Nanjing, officials of the Six Ministries, and even... former servants of the Prince of Han's mansion."

"How did the Duke find out?"

"Nanjing is my territory." Xu Huizu laughed, a cold smile on his face. "Although I am old, I am not blind or deaf. I know what Zhu Yong wants to do. I also know what the remnants of the Prince of Han want to do."

"Why is the Duke..."

"Why don't you take action?" Xu Huizu interrupted him. "Because there's no evidence. Zhu Yong is a Duke; without solid evidence, I can't touch him. The remnants of the Prince of Han's faction are hiding in the shadows, making them even harder to catch."

He stood up and walked to the wall, where a map of Nanjing's defenses hung: "Nanjing has more than forty garrisons, nominally with 200,000 troops. But in reality, no more than 80,000 are capable of fighting. The rest are either vacancies or old, weak, sick, and disabled. In recent years, the court's focus has been on the north, and things in Nanjing... have become lax."

Chen Yuan looked at the map, his heart heavy.

Two hundred thousand becomes eighty thousand; that's a huge shortfall.

"After Zhu Yong arrived, he made contact with the commanders of at least ten garrisons." Xu Huizu pointed to several points on the map. "These garrisons are all in strategic locations. If he wanted to rebel, he could control Nanjing within a day."

"Does Your Excellency have a solution?"

"Yes, but I need people." Xu Huizu turned around. "I've been operating in Nanjing for many years and have quite a few loyal people. But Zhu Yong is a Duke, a very high-ranking official, and many are still hesitant. I need... a reason. A reason that can make them decide to follow me."

"What reason?"

Xu Huizu stared at Chen Yuan: "You."

"I?"

"Yes." Xu Huizu walked back to his desk. "You are the imperial envoy, representing the court. If something happens to you in Nanjing, such as being assassinated or attacked... then there will be a legitimate reason. It will be justified to purge the court of corrupt officials and eliminate treacherous ministers."

Chen Yuan understood.

They're using him as bait.

"Does the Duke think... Zhu Yong will take the bait?"

"He'll definitely take the bait," Xu Huizu said. "You're the Grand Princess's man, here to investigate him. He can't sleep if you don't die. So, as soon as you make a public appearance, he'll definitely make his move."

"and then?"

"Then..." A cold glint flashed in Xu Huizu's eyes, "I have a reason to wipe him out along with the remnants of the Prince of Han's faction."

The study was quiet for a moment.

Chen Yuan picked up his teacup and slowly took a sip.

The tea was top-quality pre-rain Longjing, fragrant and sweet, but he couldn't taste it.

He was weighing his options.

Using it as bait is dangerous.

But if we don't do it, Nanjing might descend into chaos. If the front lines are already fighting and the rear is in turmoil, the Ming Dynasty will be in real danger.

"Okay." He put down his teacup. "I'll do it."

A hint of approval flashed in Xu Huizu's eyes: "As expected of someone... valued by the Grand Princess. You have guts."

"But I have one condition."

"explain."

"I need to know the Duke's specific plan," Chen Yuan said, "when, where, how to lure him in, how to capture him. I can't be baited without knowing the details."

Xu Huizu smiled: "Of course. I've already made the arrangements."

He walked to his desk and spread out a piece of paper: "Three days later, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, Nanjing's civil and military officials will hold a ceremony to worship Confucius at the Confucius Temple. This is customary, and Zhu Yong will definitely go. As the imperial envoy, you must also go. At that time, I will arrange for someone to 'assassinate' you on the road. Of course, it will be fake, just for show. But in this way, Zhu Yong will become a suspect—everyone knows he's at odds with you. Then, I will have a reason to search his residence and the garrisons that he's been in contact with..."

"Will you be able to find anything?"

"Yes," Xu Huizu said confidently. "I've already arranged for some things to be placed in his villa—a dragon robe, an imperial seal, and letters exchanged with the remnants of the Han King's faction. Once they're found, he's doomed."

Chen Yuan looked at the old Duke with a sense of awe.

This method is ruthless and ruthless.

"Those remaining followers of the King of Han..."

"Take them all down," Xu Huizu said. "I've already located their stronghold in Nanjing. We're just waiting for Zhu Yong's incident to happen before we act."

The plan was meticulously crafted. But Chen Yuan felt it was going too smoothly.

"My lord, Zhu Yong isn't a fool. Do you think he'd be so easily fooled?"

"He won't," Xu Huizu laughed. "So, we need to add fuel to the fire."

"How do I add it?"

Xu Huizu took out a letter from the drawer: "This is a secret letter from Zhu Yong to his son, which I intercepted. The letter says that he wants to contact the commanders of various garrisons on the day of the Confucius ceremony to discuss 'important matters.' I 'accidentally' let Zhu Yong know about this letter, and it was discovered by the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Chen Yuan took the letter and glanced at it. It did indeed resemble Zhu Yong's handwriting. But... it was too similar, almost unreal.

"This letter..."

"It's true," Xu Huizu said. "Zhu Yong did write this letter. I was able to intercept it because I have people around him."

Chen Yuan understood.

This is a game of chess, where everyone is a piece, and everyone thinks they are the player.

"Then what does this humble official need to do?"

"It's very simple," Xu Huizu said. "Three days later, go to Confucius Temple. When you're attacked on the way, act out a scene. Then... wait."

"What are you waiting for?"

"Wait for me to close the net."

It was already dark when I left the Duke of Wei's mansion.

As dusk settles over Nanjing, the Qinhuai River is teeming with painted boats, filled with the sounds of traditional music and laughter.

What a peaceful and prosperous scene!

But Chen Yuan knew that this peace was fake.

There are undercurrents beneath the surface, ready to erupt at any moment.

Uncle Zhao was waiting outside. When he saw him come out, he came up to him and asked, "Young master, how was it?"

"The Confucius Temple ceremony will be held in three days," Chen Yuan said briefly. "There will be assassination attempts along the way."

Uncle Zhao's expression changed: "Then..."

"It's fake," Chen Yuan said. "It's acting. But be careful, the fake might turn into real."

The two found an inn to stay in.

The inn is located on the banks of the Qinhuai River. You can see the painted boats on the river and hear the soft singing of the singing girls as you open the window.

Chen Yuan stood by the window, looking at the bustling city outside, but his thoughts were on the North.

By now, the fighting must have broken out in the capital, right? Has Wang Ji led his troops out of the city? The Grand Princess is all alone in the palace, facing so many crises, can she hold on?

And Chen Jin... what is that child doing now?

"Young Master," Uncle Zhao knocked and entered, "the Azure Dragon Society has sent people."

The man who arrived was a lean, wiry man in his thirties with shrewd eyes. He introduced himself as Zhou, the head of the Green Dragon Society in Nanjing.

"Master Wei instructed me to obey Young Master Chen's orders." Hall Master Zhou bowed. "What are your instructions, Young Master?"

Chen Yuan thought for a moment: "Help me investigate a few people."

"Who?"

"The commanders of the various garrisons in Nanjing," Chen Yuan said, "especially those who have recently been in contact with the Duke of Cheng. I need to know their backgrounds, how many people are in their families, how much land they own, what their hobbies are, and whether they have any dirt on them."

"That's easy," Master Zhou smiled. "There's nothing in Nanjing that the Green Dragon Society can't find out. I'll give you an answer in three days."

"And another thing," Chen Yuan said, "keep an eye on the Duke of Cheng's villa. I need to know who he meets each day, what he says, and where he goes."

"clear."