Ming Dynasty: I am truly not the Emperor of Longevity

This Prince Yan is actually a master of hidden weapons?

Lu Chen was also a little surprised to hear Guo Shoulu's words.

Although masters of hidden weapons may not possess internal energy, they are still far superior to ordinary martial artists.

In the battles of the martial world, a master who is skilled in using hidden weapons has a great advantage over an opponent who only uses close-combat weapons such as swords and sabers.

Lu Chen had personally witnessed the woman whom "Guo Shanfeng" called his junior sister take action during the chaotic battle at the dilapidated temple on Tongbai Mountain.

In the subsequent close-quarters combat, this woman's fighting ability was not much stronger than her opponent's; she was okay in a one-on-one fight, but she had almost no chance of winning against two opponents.

But before she ran out of hidden weapons, she was able to suppress four skilled members of the Chang Le Society at the same time with them.

Wang Ziyan was a master of concealed weapons, but what about his master, Duan Chaoyong?

Could he also be a master?

Whether or not, Duan Chaoyong and his apprentice Wang Ziyan were not people who could be easily manipulated.

The transmigrator who brought "ice" to this plane and even possesses the technology to make "ice" is definitely not simple in terms of strength!

According to the boast Duan Chaoyong made to the emperor, as long as the emperor secluded himself from worldly affairs and cultivated in seclusion for two years, he could achieve immortality.

Lu Chen knew perfectly well that this was a complete and utter lie.

Emperor Jiajing has now been in seclusion in the Western Garden for over a year. Once the two-year period is over, Duan Chaoyong will likely face a fate of being torn apart by a thousand cuts and skinned alive.

Duan Chaoyong couldn't possibly be unaware of this.

Even a fool would know that this person would never sit idly by and wait to die.

In the remaining months before the emperor left the pass, Duan Chaoyong and the time traveler behind him must have been secretly preparing something!

Having finally obtained accurate information about Wang Ziyan's whereabouts, we absolutely cannot lose track of him again this time; we must find the hiding place of the person behind the scenes.

"Guo Qing, this discovery is very important."

Lu Chen thought for a moment,

"Tomorrow you only need to see them off; I will send my true experts to track them down this time!"

. . .

Ten days later.

Taiyuan Left Guard Commander's Office.

"Father, Zhao Xixian sent a secret letter back, saying that he has reached a cooperation agreement with Jinang's younger brother, Tumed Wanhu Anda."

Li Dali handed a secret letter to Zhang Yin, the commander of the Taiyuan Left Guard.

"Anda has already persuaded Jinang, and the right-wing Mongols will launch a major offensive next month, splitting their forces into two routes to attack the pass."

Jinang himself led the eastern army into the pass through Baiquankou, while Anda led the western army straight to Ningwu Pass.

After the two armies enter Shanxi, Anda's western army will head straight for Pingding Prefecture, press eastward against Jingxing Pass, and threaten Zhending.

Jinang's eastern army plundered all the way to the walls of Taiyuan, but did not attack the city; they only looted around outside the city.

Anda's movements should be much faster than Ji Nang's.

As soon as the vanguard of Anda's western army arrived in Pingding Prefecture, my father volunteered to lead the Taiyuan Left Guard to attack and rescue Pingding Prefecture.

We'll put on a show with Anda in Pingding Prefecture, and a few "battles" will break out.

According to the agreement, Anda would hand over the heads of the slaves who had died in battle since they entered the pass to my sect, so that my father could use them to report his achievements to the Ming court.

Whether they were Han Chinese or Mongolians, these people all wore Mongolian hairstyles, so no one would notice anything amiss.

Our sect has gathered 30,000 followers in Pingding Prefecture in advance. When Anda retreats, they will follow Anda out of the pass under the pretext of being captured.

These people will go to Fengzhou Beach in the Tumed region to build "bansheng" and settle down, becoming subjects of Anda, reclaiming wasteland for the Tumed tribe, planting grains and cotton, and forging ironware.

"Zhao Xixian is indeed a very shrewd man."

Zhang Yin put down the secret letter.

"Initially, I agreed to let him go to Ordos only because he was so insistent, so I let him give it a try."

Surprisingly, he actually reached a cooperation agreement with Anda!

He's right. Having three burrows is crucial. It's this that enabled me to rise again after two defeats.

Although our sect's strength is not what it used to be, war is dangerous and no one can guarantee the outcome.

It is especially important to preserve the seeds for a comeback in advance.

If these 30,000 followers can take root in the Tumed tribe, our religion will have a truly stable rear base.

Even if this uprising fails again, and we can't even hold onto our headquarters at Black Cliff in Pingding Prefecture, we can still retreat calmly to the Tumed tribe.

"Master, Left Protector."

A key member of the Maitreya sect, dressed as a personal guard, entered the study.

"Wang Ziyan has returned, saying he has something extremely urgent to report to the sect leader and the left protector."

. . .

Half an hour later.

"Father, the spies we sent into the palace back then have actually come in very handy this time!"

After Wang Ziyan left the study, Li Dali couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"That Empress Fang has actually made such a foolish move; this is a golden opportunity!"

"This woman is just trying to protect herself."

Zhang Yin, on the other hand, appeared quite calm.

"Zhu Houcong was selfish and cold-hearted by nature. One of his previous two empresses was so frightened by him that she miscarried and died from postpartum hemorrhage, and the other was deposed by him and died in the cold palace. As the third empress, how could Fang feel that her position was secure?"

According to information provided by several palace spies, Zhu Houcong's favor towards Consort Duan, Cao, has far surpassed that of other concubines in the harem in recent years.

The number of times Consort Cao was summoned to the emperor's bedchamber was more than the total number of all the concubines in the harem, including Empress Fang.

How could Empress Fang not have a strong sense of crisis?

The position of Empress is not one that can be easily relinquished; throughout history, how many deposed empresses have met a peaceful end?

"Father, Empress Fang wants Chen Furong to secretly organize the palace maids of Yikun Palace to cause trouble, and then pin it on Consort Cao, so that the Emperor will dislike her."

She never imagined that Chen Furong was a spy her father had planted in the palace ten years ago.

Li Dali laughed.

Empress Fang feared that after the emperor left the pass, he would depose her and make Consort Cao the empress.

I hope Chen Furong will launch her rebellion when the emperor's two-year seclusion ends, which coincides with the timing of our sect's uprising!

The disturbance angered the emperor, causing him to dislike Consort Cao.

This Empress Fang is still too young and hasn't seen much of the wickedness in people's hearts!

Such petty actions are hardly worthy of this grand scheme!

Even if you bring down Consort Cao, who is favored by the emperor, other rivals will still emerge in the future.

If you want to keep your position as empress secure, the best way is not to deal with the favored concubines, but the emperor!

As long as she transforms herself from Empress to Empress Dowager, who can challenge her position?

In order to ensure that Chen Furong could carry out her plan smoothly, Empress Fang would naturally provide her with convenience and cover.

This is a perfect opportunity to infiltrate the palace using the people Chen Furong has trained!

At the same time, she should try to preserve as much evidence as possible that Empress Fang had provided her with assistance.

If the emperor dies a violent death, the court will surely fall into chaos!

The crown prince was only seven years old, and it was impossible for him to rule personally after ascending the throne. As the empress dowager, she possessed enormous power.

We have evidence that she was the mastermind behind the plot to assassinate the emperor; we can use Chen Furong to blackmail her!

"If there really is only one seven-year-old crown prince, then it is indeed feasible!"

After hearing his son's plan, Zhang Yin shook his head.

"But in the capital now, there is also the emperor's younger brother, the Prince of Ying, who assists the crown prince in overseeing the country!"