Ming Dynasty: I am truly not the Emperor of Longevity

No!

If the entire territory of Shanxi falls into the hands of this mysterious time traveler, the Ming Dynasty will be in a very passive position.

With the entire Shanxi province as his base, this person would have the ability to mass-produce advanced weapons that were ahead of their time and arm their army.

This person knows about "Blackwood Cliff," and even if the plane and era he lived in before his transmigration were not exactly the same as Lu Chen's, the difference wouldn't be significant.

Of course, unless this person was an expert in a certain field before transmigrating, they wouldn't be able to produce very advanced weapons due to the limited industrial base.

Even so, given the capabilities of Ming Dynasty craftsmen, as long as they had the design concept and sufficient logistical support, it was entirely possible for them to create flintlock guns and mass-produce them.

This person was likely familiar with various tactics used in flintlock musket formations, such as three-volley firing and firing in formation.

If given time to build a modern flintlock musket force of several thousand, or even tens of thousands, in Shanxi, it wouldn't be so easy for the Ming government army to recapture Shanxi.

Not only that, this person may also lead an army eastward to attack the capital.

snort!

Lu Chen snorted coldly.

I absolutely cannot allow this mysterious time traveler to control Taiyuan City and take over the entire Shanxi!

Unfortunately, as the Prince Regent, he only had the authority to review the cabinet's draft proposals, and the troops he directly controlled were only the seven hundred men of the Prince Ying's Palace Ceremonial Guard and the Pasture.

The Ming Dynasty's armies across the country were completely unable to be mobilized by themselves!

Now, Jinang and Anda's 100,000 Mongol troops have invaded Shanxi, and the area around Taiyuan will soon become a battlefield.

Even if one wanted to use the Embroidered Uniform Guard to summon Zhang Yin to the capital to question him about the case of the "Mongolian spy" impersonating the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Deng Huai, the deputy commander of the Taiyuan Vanguard, colluding with Ji Nang, the other party would have ways to evade the question.

Before the Mongols withdraw their troops, I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to extend my reach to Taiyuan!

Fine!

Since the area around Taiyuan would become a battlefield, many foreign troops would inevitably enter the region and fight against the Mongols.

Although he, as the Prince Regent, had no authority to mobilize troops, there would certainly be a large number of guest troops remaining in Taiyuan Prefecture when the Mongols had just withdrawn.

I could easily manipulate things secretly and give these visiting generals a crucial piece of intelligence.

The intelligence revealed that Zhang Yin, the commander of the Taiyuan Left Guard, colluded with Ji Nang and secretly built a mountain stronghold in a place called "Black Cliff" in Pingding Prefecture.

They trained a private army in the mountain stronghold, privately manufactured weapons and armor, and plotted a rebellion.

As for where this information came from, let's not worry about that for now!

Let's talk about whether the intelligence is true or not!

In the sixteenth year of the Zhengde reign, Wang Yangming was enfeoffed as the Earl of Xinjian for his great merit in suppressing the rebellion of Prince Ning, which was only about twenty years ago.

Lu Chen felt that these guest army generals would not miss the opportunity to make great contributions in suppressing the rebellion and be granted the title of earl!

Since we can't stop them from launching an attack, let's strike first!

I want to see for myself whether Zhang Yin, the commander of the Taiyuan Left Guard, and the time traveler behind him can withstand the attack of these guest troops who have just fought a bloody battle with the right-wing Mongol army!

. . .

West Garden, Thunder Altar, Alchemy Room.

"Did the cult leader really say that?"

Duan Chao stood with his hands behind his back in front of the alchemy furnace.

"To make a move before the emperor leaves the pass?"

"Yes, Master."

Wang Ziyan walked behind Duan Chaoyong.

"The cult leader's order was for Chen Furong to organize the palace maids of Yikun Palace to assassinate the emperor before he left the pass."

"That's excellent."

Duan Chaoyong burst into laughter.

"If the master doesn't give this order, it won't be easy for us, master and disciple, to get through this."

Originally, I planned to tell the emperor that he had achieved immortality on the day his two-year seclusion ended.

Whether the emperor believed it or not is another matter.

For more than a year now, the emperor has become completely dependent on the "red lead" elixir, taking it every single day.

Even if he believes he hasn't achieved immortality, he wouldn't be willing to kill me.

However, I have recently felt that the emperor's temper has become increasingly violent after each time he takes the "red lead" elixir. He will severely punish even the palace servants around him for the slightest mistake.

In the past month alone, more than ten palace maids and eunuchs have died from being flogged.

I am very worried that after the emperor comes out of the pass, he may not believe my words and think that he has not achieved immortality. Will I be able to control my temper?

If the emperor were to fly into a rage and issue an edict to have us beaten to death, then things would be in serious trouble.

The palace is heavily guarded; you and I, master and disciple, probably have no chance of escaping.

Now that the leader has decided to assassinate the emperor before leaving the pass, we don't need to take that risk.

"Master, Empress Fang's original plan was simply to have Chen Furong incite the palace maids to cause trouble."

Wang Ziyan continued,

"Her goal was nothing more than to displease the emperor and pin the blame on Consort Cao, causing Consort Cao to fall out of favor."

With Chen Furong in charge of managing the palace maids of Yikun Palace, and with Empress Fang's cooperation, it was indeed not difficult for her to incite the palace maids to cause trouble.

But causing trouble and assassinating the emperor are completely different things!

The consequence of causing trouble might only be some punishment. After pinning the blame on Consort Cao, Empress Fang could take the opportunity to exonerate them and give them a lighter punishment.

Although I suspect that Empress Fang will most likely choose to silence them, these palace maids were unaware of this beforehand and believed that they would not be severely punished.

But if it's about assassinating the emperor, then it's a completely different story!

All the palace maids involved in this matter would know that this was a heinous crime punishable by a thousand cuts and the extermination of nine generations of their family.

It won't be so easy for Chen Furong to organize palace maids to assassinate the emperor.

"Normally, of course it wouldn't be easy!"

Duan Chaoyong laughed.

"If Chen Furong were to personally persuade the palace maids of Yikun Palace, I reckon that upon hearing about the plan to assassinate the emperor, the first thing these palace maids would think of is to inform on him!"

Even the palace maids who were particularly close to her and very loyal would only advise her to give up the idea, keep her secret, and pretend they hadn't heard her.

"Don't even think about getting them involved in the assassination attempt on the emperor!"

"What good plan does Master have?"

Wang Ziyan asked in a low voice.

Why didn't those palace maids dare to participate?

Duan Chaoyong snorted coldly.

"It's nothing more than two points."

First, they are worried about the consequences; second, they lack motivation!

Since that's the case, let's solve their worries and provide them with sufficient motivation!

They feared two things: that they would surely die and that their families would be implicated.

You should meet with Chen Furong as soon as possible and tell her about the cult leader's plan, so that she can finalize the list of palace maids to participate in the operation.

Before the operation, I will arrange for the families of these palace maids to be transferred and settled in advance.

On the one hand, it lets them know that the court will not be able to find their families after the operation; on the other hand, it also uses their families as hostages.

In addition, we need to give them enough motivation!

That is to make them feel that they will die at the hands of the emperor sooner or later!

You should discuss the specifics with Chen Furong and ask for her opinion.

This woman has been in the palace for over ten years; she must know how to drive these palace maids to their doom.

"Let them risk their lives to perish together with the emperor!"