Who killed the Ming Dynasty?

Song An was extremely agitated at this moment, his voice filled with hatred:

"Liu Zeqing, who held the position of General of Huai'an, did not think about protecting the territory and the people, but instead let his fierce army slaughter the women and children of Huai'an."

"Your Highness and I witnessed his atrocities and nearly lost our lives under his sword..."

When he mentioned the word "butcher's knife," Song An slammed his hand on the table, making the teacup clang loudly.

He detailed the numerous atrocities committed by Liu Zeqing's troops, including killing innocent people and claiming credit for their crimes.

In particular, it was mentioned that in order to accumulate military merit, Commander Wang had more than thirty old and weak people tied up and beheaded as bandits.

Huang Degong gripped the knife hilt, seemingly unable to contain himself:

"Liu Zeqing's actions deserve the punishment of being slowly sliced ​​to death!"

"Back when we were suppressing Zhang Xianzhong, this scoundrel dared to kill post station workers and act as a bandit. Now he's turning his butcher's knife on our elders."

He suddenly turned around and clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"If Your Highness grants my request, this humble general is willing to lead troops there and cut out that filthy bastard's tongue and hang it on the gate of Huai'an."

Before he finished speaking, Huang Degong had already turned towards the palace gate, as if he was about to immediately lead his troops straight to Huai'an.

How could Zhu Cilang not harbor resentment?

He also wished he could immediately tear Liu Zeqing to pieces.

But this anger was instantly suppressed by a colder reality:

"General, wait!"

He suddenly stood up and blocked Huang Degong's path.

"The four towns north of the Yangtze River are mutually supportive. If we punish Liu Zeqing now, Gao Jie and Liu Liangzuo will surely rebel. At that time, internal strife will break out before the foreign invaders arrive."

A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"I will still use Liu Zeqing's knife. I will settle the blood debt he owes in the future."

Huang Degong stopped in his tracks, took a heavy breath, and finally walked back.

A gentle breeze blew into the hall, lifting a corner of the map on the table and making a rustling sound.

Zhu Cilang turned to look at Han Zanzhou and took out three rolls of yellow silk from his sleeve:

"Han Daban, I entrust you with an important task. Set off immediately and contact the generals of the other three towns."

He pressed his index finger on the first strip of yellow silk.

"Prince Fu already has six official seals in Nanjing. All I can offer him now are three things."

"The honorary title of 'General Governor of Lianghuai' bestowed upon Liu Liangzuo, the 'Seven Phoenixes Imperial Decree' bestowed upon Gao Jie's mother, and—"

He paused briefly, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

"Liu Zeqing was promoted to Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, and was allowed to take 20% of the cargo ships passing through Huai'an as funds to support the army."

These short-selling rewards are merely a temporary expedient to stabilize the situation.

Those three vicious wolves in Jiangbei are all armed and independent. We need to win them over one by one now so that we can find an opportunity to defeat them one by one in the future.

Han Zanzhou looked grief-stricken, his eyes slightly red, and his hand holding the yellow silk stopped in mid-air.

Zhu Cilang suddenly grabbed his wrist:

"Put your family feud aside for now. Your nephew Yuanming and I were destined to be friends. He died an innocent and tragic death, and I will give you an explanation."

He saw the old eunuch's grief; it was not only Han Zanzhou's family feud, but also a microcosm of this crumbling world.

Han Zanzhou pressed the yellow silk to his chest, his voice slightly choked with emotion:

"Even if I have to crawl, I will crawl through the three towns and eighteen camps."

The setting sun slanted into the hall, casting long shadows.

Zhu Cilang suddenly turned to Song An, who was standing on his left:

"Song An is promoted to the position of trial commander of the Eastern Palace Guard, temporarily commanding three hundred elite troops assigned by General Huang. He will be officially appointed by the Ministry of Personnel after the Southern Capital is established."

This person is loyal, reliable, and exceptionally courageous.

Incorporating him into the Crown Prince's faction would not only reward him for his service but also serve as the first step in cultivating trusted confidants.

Before he could finish speaking, he slammed his hand on the corner of the table:

"Gao Jinzhong, Wang Bazong, and their men who killed innocent people and claimed credit for their crimes were all escorted to Nanjing in prison carts."

"I intend to hold a joint trial by the three judicial departments at the Xiaoling Guard training ground!"

Zhu Cilang's gaze was deep and unfathomable.

This move, ostensibly to enforce the law, is in reality a deterrent.

He wanted to see if Liu Zeqing would still dare to openly defy the laws of the imperial court.

A glint flashed in Song An's eyes, and he cupped his hands in greeting, saying:

"Your Highness, please prepare the tiger-head guillotine. I want to stuff Commander Wang's fingers back into his mouth one by one in front of the people of Nanjing."

Zhu Cilang then fixed his gaze on Huang Degong's towering figure and gave a deep order:

"General Huang, lead three thousand iron cavalry as the vanguard, and twenty thousand elite troops in formation to bring up the rear. We will take the route through Chuzhou and head straight for Nanjing."

"At 3:45 AM three days from now, I will be able to see Swallow Rock!"

"This subordinate obeys!"

"We are to pave the way for His Highness before 3:45 AM!"

Huang Degong's voice was booming, and as he turned around, his iron boots crushed the broken porcelain on the ground.

The setting sun cast his shadow on the map, like a blood-stained war god.

......

It was midsummer, and the wheat fields were shimmering like shattered gold.

Dust billowed up on the official road as tens of thousands of elite soldiers, clad in iron armor, surged eastward like a mighty torrent.

Despite being covered in dust, the soldiers stood in orderly ranks, exuding a chilling aura.

Banners fluttered, iron hooves pounded the earth, and thunderous roars swept across the fields.

Zhu Cilang leaned against the brocade cushion and lifted a line of the carriage curtain.

Outside the window, the kneeling officials and the willows of the post station were blurred silhouettes, leaving only the heavy echo of iron hooves striking the ground, each sound embedding itself in the soul.

Huang Degong, his silver armor gleaming in the sun, steered his horse through the ranks, like a cold blade moving among dark dragon scales.

After three consecutive days of rapid travel, we were covered in dust and grime.

As dusk turned golden, the outline of Yingtian City's battlements finally came into view.

Zhu Cilang suddenly knocked on the carriage wall, the sound like shattered jade:

"Station—"

The military order was given, and the deafening roar abruptly ceased.

The warhorses at the front neighed and reared up, and a young soldier subconsciously licked his chapped lips.

Three miles away, the lights of Nanjing's city gates lit up one after another, like sparks falling on a giant chessboard.

Beneath those dazzling lights lies a den of dragons and tigers, and also the central hub of the world.

Every step felt like walking on the edge of an abyss; their only bargaining chips were their sense of righteousness and their 20,000 armored soldiers.

"The Crown Prince orders—set up camp according to the terrain!"

The guards rode their horses and shouted orders, which echoed throughout the area.

Zhu Cilang lowered his eyes, brushed the dust off his sleeve, and waited quietly for Han Zanzhou in the twilight that was gradually rising in Jinling.

......

Before dawn the next day, it was still dark.

The sound of the watchman's drum outside the tent sometimes came from afar, sometimes from near.

Zhu Cilang's fingertips caressed the golden dragon embroidery on the cuff of his sleeve—

This is an old item that was recently found in the old eunuch's baggage. The gold thread has faded to dark brown, and there is old incense ash between the stitches.

Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats broke the silence before dawn.

The moment the guard lifted the felt curtain, the night wind swept in grass clippings, mixed with the smell of dust and sweat.

Zhu Cilang raised his eyes.

Han Zanzhou's robe was dripping with mud and water, and his shoes were completely wet.

Song An followed closely behind, a half-wet willow leaf tucked between the gaps in his armor, clearly indicating that he had rushed over overnight from the banks of the Qinhuai River.

"Your Highness!"

Han Zanzhou raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, a smile playing on his lips, and bowed, saying:

"The generals of the three towns have jointly submitted a petition, expressing their willingness to raise their banners and support Your Highness, and to serve you with utmost loyalty to uphold the throne."

He respectfully presented the joint statement.

Zhu Cilang remained calm and composed, merely glancing at the memorial he received.

"Han Banban braved wind and rain, narrowly escaping death countless times, and ultimately fulfilled his mission!"

He nodded in approval, but there was no surprise in his eyes; self-interest is the best persuasion tool.

He had long seen through the intentions of the three towns—

The generals of each town had long since degenerated into local warlords, wielding large armies and establishing their own independent regimes.

Compared to the well-established Prince Fu, a young crown prince is obviously easier to control.

They could seize power by supporting the emperor, and also claim the moral high ground; with such calculations,

Why would the three towns abandon what is near and seek what is far, to snatch chestnuts from the fire for Prince Fu?

Zhu Cilang suddenly raised his eyes, his tone abruptly turning cold:

"Has Gao Jinzhong, a subordinate of Liu Zeqing, been escorted back to camp after killing Liang Maogong Wang and his men?"

Han Zanzhou turned to look at Song An, his face showing reluctance:

"this......"

Song An, his face flushed, rushed forward:

"Your Highness, we have brought it back..."

He gritted his teeth.

"But they're heads!"