Who killed the Ming Dynasty?

Zhu Cilang (Zhu Kunyao) concealed the melancholy in his eyes and spoke calmly:

"Lord Lian, please be wise. I grew up in the capital and thus have heard some of the old news from the court and the countryside. However, the city has fallen and my family has been scattered. Now I am just a down-on-his-luck scholar, barely managing to survive."

The crown prince is the foundation of the state and must not be easily exposed when the situation is unclear.

Moreover, who would believe that a young man imprisoned is the foundation of the nation if he only makes empty promises?

However, the imperial seal and edict are ultimately inanimate objects; Zhu Cilang himself is the most important evidence of his father's entrustment of the empire.

As long as one is alive, there will always be a chance to break the deadlock.

A more pressing question naturally arose in his mind, so he took the opportunity to ask:

"But... Lord Lian is a high-ranking official of the court, a pillar of the nation, so why... is he also trapped here? And what was the meaning behind the 'salary' and 'flag offering' that the soldier mentioned earlier?"

Han Yuanming, his chubby body eagerly approaching, his eyes wide open, awaited Lian Guoshi's reply.

Lian Guoshi turned to look at the two of them:

"You two gentlemen are unaware that the 180,000 taels of silver that were transported from Nanjing to Huai'an vanished without a trace this morning at the Qingjiangpu Wharf, right under my nose."

His bloodshot eyes stared blankly into the void.

"What's astonishing is that all 180,000 taels of silver turned into stubborn rocks."

"A stubborn rock?"

They both gasped in surprise. They unconsciously looked at each other, their pupils reflecting each other's horrified faces.

Zhu Cilang certainly didn't believe that silver could turn into stone, but this bizarre event, which far exceeded common sense, made him feel that things were definitely not simple.

Five days ago.

The Ministry of War in Nanjing urgently dispatched military orders via fire stamp.

He ordered the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War to oversee state affairs and to escort 180,000 taels of silver for military pay to Huai'an as soon as possible.

No one could have imagined that the 180,000 taels of silver would turn to stone right before everyone's eyes.

This left Lian Guoshi completely baffled.

Upon hearing the report, the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner Lu Zhenfei was furious. He immediately sealed off the docks and arrested all the canal workers, peddlers, and dockworkers on duty that day, and imprisoned them in the government jail.

They said they wanted to find out the truth in this chaotic place.

Zhu Cilang then remembered that he had been arrested during this massive manhunt.

The government prison was overcrowded, so they were thrown into this abandoned granary.

Huai'an, a place that guards the throat of the Grand Canal, is the residence of the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner.

As the absolute core of the Ming Dynasty's Grand Canal transport, the status of Huai'an Prefecture is self-evident.

Han Yuanming gasped, his round face turning deathly pale.

"This...this is not...a ghost or a god..."

"spirits?"

Lian Guoshi's gaze swept over Han Yuanming.

"Nephew Han, are you aware that this 180,000 taels of silver is crucial to the defense of Jiangbei?"

"The imperial court ordered me to personally supervise the delivery of the troops to the General Liu Zeqing, who was stationed in Shandong."

He pointed sharply towards the door.

"It is hateful that Liu Zeqing's 30,000 troops are abandoning Shandong and fleeing south overnight."

His voice was filled with suppressed anger.

"His subordinate general, Gao Jinzhong, has stationed 500 cavalry at the West Gate of Huai'an. Ostensibly, they are there to assist in defense, but in reality, they are there to collect the wages. If the wages are not received by noon today..."

He stared intently at Zhu Cilang and uttered the second half of the sentence:

"I fear something terrible might happen!"

Zhu Cilang was deeply shaken.

This was no ordinary transfer; it was the lifeline that maintained the four towns north of the Yangtze River (the four major military defense lines) and protected half of Nanjing's territory.

After the fall of the capital, Liu Zeqing led his remaining troops to retreat and occupy Huai'an.

Minister of War Shi Kefa designated the Huai River (Huaihe River defense line) and Sizhou (Sizhou, present-day Jiangsu) as defense zones.

Four towns were established:

Liu Zeqing was stationed in Huai'an, Gao Jie was stationed in Sizhou, Liu Liangzuo was stationed in Fengyang, and Huang Degong was stationed in Luzhou.

These four towns formed the last barrier protecting Nanjing.

He carefully considered his response and replied:

"Young Master, please be at ease. Governor Lu is known for his integrity and will surely investigate thoroughly. However... has anything unusual occurred during the transport?"

Lian Guoshi's eyes were vacant.

"I personally escorted it, and the seal is intact."

He abruptly changed the subject, saying resentfully.

"Lu Caotai is indeed upright, but Gao Jinzhong actually falsely accused me of embezzlement."

"They threatened that if the pay wasn't received by noon, they would sacrifice the 120 heads of the people at the dock that morning to appease the flag."

His chest heaved violently.

"The lead seal is intact, the silver has been fossilized... This is beyond human capability. This is... Heaven's will to destroy our Great Ming!"

One hundred and twenty heads were sacrificed to the flag!

Heaven has forsaken my Great Ming Dynasty!

Every word struck a heavy blow to Crown Prince Zhu Cilang's heart.

When the capital fell, he followed Emperor Chongzhen's last edict, disguised himself as a refugee, and went to Nanjing.

Having lost all their guards along the way, they barely made it to Qingjiangpu Wharf, hoping to find a small boat to go south.

Unexpectedly, he was suddenly surrounded and arrested by constables in black uniforms at the dock, and was hit on the back of the head with a club...

Even more bizarrely, in the chaos, he actually "met" Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang... When he woke up again, he was no longer the original owner, but a soul from four hundred years in the future.

At this moment, he is deeply embroiled in this shocking case involving 180,000 taels of military pay and 120 lives.

Identity lost, unable to prove oneself.

Imprisoned, his life hangs by a thread.

The mysterious theft of 180,000 taels of military pay must be part of a shocking conspiracy.

With only two hours left until noon, every breath was counting down.

Zhu Cilang's gaze swept over the damp granary, his thoughts deep.

The Jia Shen Incident brought about the downfall of the country.

Li Zicheng fled to Shanhaiguan after his defeat, while Dorgon's army with queues was rushing south.

He was the last heir to the throne of the Ming Dynasty.

We must survive!

If the truth cannot be found and the suspicion cannot be cleared, then at noon, it will be the time for him, and also the time for the crumbling Ming Dynasty, to be beheaded.

The guillotine is already hanging high.

At that very moment.

"Clang!"

The wooden door was pushed open again, and strong sunlight shone in, blinding Zhu Cilang.

He subconsciously raised his hand to cover his eyebrows, and through his fingers he glimpsed the outstretched hands of two bailiffs.

"You three, come before the court!"

They were escorted through winding corridors, with the bailiffs constantly poking their waists with iron rulers to urge them to hurry.

In the open space in front of the government office, hundreds of "prisoners" were sweating profusely under the scorching sun.

Someone used withered branches to spell out the character "冤" (meaning "injustice") crookedly on the brick surface, which was then crushed into powder by the yamen runners with an iron ruler.

The courtroom was solemn and imposing.

The plaque inscribed with "Frugality in Seven Provinces" hanging high appeared blurry in the shadows.

The man sitting behind the table had a gauze hat with slightly trembling corners, a thin face, and was rubbing his temple with his left hand.

This should be the head of the Caohe River – Lu Zhenfei.

The general on the left is clad in iron armor, and a scar running diagonally across his left eyebrow twists and contorts with the twitching of his facial muscles.

Based on what Lian Guoshi said, this person is most likely Gao Jinzhong.

The two rows of officials under the Grand Canal Supervisor held their breath and focused intently.

"Snapped!"

The gavel slammed down, and Lu Zhenfei began his interrogation.

The interrogation, as expected, reached a stalemate.

Lu Zhenfei and his subordinates took turns questioning him, Lian Guoshi defended himself with grief and indignation, and Han Yuanming rambled on incoherently, bringing up his uncle Han Zanzhou.

Zhu Cilang adhered to his identity as a "refugee," claiming that he only sought to cross the Yangtze River to the south and knew nothing about the military pay.

The scarred general on the left was losing patience at a visible rate.

"Roadway Platform!"

He suddenly stood up, walked to the sandalwood table, and placed his hands on it:

"This humble general has come to collect 180,000 taels of silver as ordered by General Liu."

He leaned forward, casting a shadow over Lu Zhenfei.

"Now the pay has vanished without a trace. If we return empty-handed today, I fear my head will have to be sacrificed to the command flag first."

"Gao Yourong is at ease."

Lu Zhenfei's tone was steady, but a hint of fatigue was visible.

"This governor has already sent letters to Yangzhou and Fengyang prefectures to assist in the investigation. In ten days, at most ten days... we will give General Liu an explanation."

Upon hearing the name "Gao Yourong," Zhu Cilang finally realized that this scarred general was none other than Gao Jinzhong, a guerrilla general under Liu Zeqing.

That wicked star who threatened to sacrifice human heads to raise a flag.

"Ten days?"

Gao Jinzhong's cold laugh pierced the courtroom, his right thumb rubbing the hilt of his knife.

"Does the transport commissioner think that the 30,000 starving soldiers heading south from Linqing can wait for several more ten-day periods?"

He slammed his hand on the wooden table, causing the water in the celadon brush washer to splash.

"In my humble opinion, how can we get these unruly vagrants to talk without resorting to severe torture?"

Before he finished speaking, he drew his goose-feather knife from his waist with a "whoosh".

A flash of cold light, and the tip of the knife was already pointed directly at Han Yuanming below the hall. The voice suddenly rose:

"Guards! Drag this scoundrel out. If he doesn't confess after three gong strikes, execute him on the spot as a warning to others!"

The choice of this target is illogical and chillingly arbitrary; it is purely a means to establish authority and is an open provocation against Lu Zhenfei's authority.

"Yes, sir!"

Two bodyguards rushed forward and grabbed Han Yuanming's arms.

This sudden threat of death caused Han Yuanming to break down instantly.

"Ah—! Spare me! General Gao, spare me!"

"My uncle is Eunuch Han! Lu Caotai, save me! Junior Marshal..."

Tears streamed down his face as he struggled desperately, his howls shattering the silence in the hall.

"Gao Yourong!"

Lu Zhenfei stood up, his face ashen.

"This is the imperial court, not your military training ground. Without a trial and written confession, without clear evidence, how can you arbitrarily execute a criminal? Do you even respect the law?"

"The law? Hahaha."

Gao Jinzhong was not afraid at all; instead, he grinned and his tone became even more arrogant.

"I doubt the railway authorities have received the Nanjing express delivery yet?"

He took a step closer.

"His Highness Prince Fu has recently assumed the regency. With the new dynasty now established, it's time to change the way people walk on the bluestone path of the Grand Canal Administration Office."

These words immediately caused a suppressed commotion in the hall.

The magistrate's ironclad plan fell to the ground with a clang, and the expressions of his subordinates changed drastically as they exchanged bewildered glances.

Zhu Cilang suddenly realized:

Liu Zeqing's troops clearly supported Prince Fu, Zhu Yousong, in their support of the new emperor in Nanjing, which was a meritorious act of following the emperor's rise to power.

Shi Kefa once advocated "establishing a virtuous ruler" and wanted to support Prince Zhu Changfang of Lu, but Lu Zhenfei's attitude was ambiguous.

Zhu Yousong was already overseeing the country in Nanjing at this time. Gao Jinzhong's arrogance was actually a show of force and a warning to ministers like Lu Zhenfei who had "unclear stances".

"you......"

Lu Zhenfei's expression changed drastically, and he was so angry that he couldn't speak. He was clearly struck where it hurt by this political threat.

Gao Jinzhong ignored him and turned to look at Han Yuanming:

"Shut up! Drag him out and behead him as a warning!"

He then looked at the crowd outside the hall.

"If no one confesses, all those outside the hall will be dealt with in the same way until the whereabouts of the pay are revealed."

Han Yuanming's wailing had turned into intermittent sobs as he was dragged backwards out of the hall. His desperate gaze first fell on Lian Guoshi, then finally settled on Zhu Cilang.

"Wait a minute!"

Just then, a clear and firm young voice rang out from below the hall.