Ming Dynasty: I am truly not the Emperor of Longevity

"These White Lotus rebels are truly impossible to eradicate!"

Ding Xian, the commander of the Right Guard of Baoding, sneered.

"Since the Northern Song Dynasty, the White Lotus Sect has frequently rebelled and caused chaos!"

Among the heroes at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, many came from the White Lotus Sect, but they were all wiped out by Emperor Taizu.

After that, the White Lotus Sect went underground again and split into several branches.

During the reigns of Hongwu, Yongle, Jingtai, Chenghua, Hongzhi, and Zhengde, White Lotus rebels rose up in rebellion.

After the imperial court sends troops to suppress them, it won't be long before they rise again and start causing trouble once more.

Today we are attacking the mountain stronghold. The bandits are using standard weapons from the government army, and many of them are even wearing iron armor.

These are just as good as the ones we have!

I observed them carefully; the thieves' advances, retreats, attacks, and defenses were quite methodical, clearly not a rabble.

They really do look like they've received formal training from government troops.

"In that case, it's quite possible that the contents of those three anonymous letters are all true."

Pan Bingyi nodded and said,

"There are at least several thousand, possibly more than ten thousand, cult bandits in this village!"

For a White Lotus sect stronghold to establish itself and grow to such an extent in Pingding Prefecture, which is under the jurisdiction of Taiyuan Prefecture, Pan would be the first to disbelieve that it did not have the protection of a powerful local authority.

Those capable of doing this are few and far between in the entire Taiyuan Prefecture.

Zhang Yin, the commander of the Taiyuan Left Guard, was indeed one of them.

Today we will attack the mountain head-on, and the bandits on the mountain will surely send someone to Taiyuan City to report the news.

A stronghold of this size must have a secret way of getting down the mountain, so surrounding the main gate won't help.

This place is only two hundred li from Taiyuan City. The bandits have been operating here for many years, so they must have a fast way to travel. At the latest, Zhang Yin will know that we are besieging Blackwood Cliff.

"Perhaps someone had already gone to Taiyuan to deliver the message as early as three days ago, when we set off from Jingxing Pass."

Ding Xian stood up.

"It would only take them a day or two longer to march from Taiyuan to here. Adding the time it takes for messengers, in the worst-case scenario, Zhang Yin's Taiyuan Left Guard rebels will be able to reach Xingxingtan the day after tomorrow."

"At that time, the bandits in the mountain stronghold will also come down the mountain to counterattack, and we will be attacked from both sides."

"What Lord Ding says is absolutely right."

Dong Zhou agreed.

"On the battlefield, there is no room for carelessness; we must be prepared for the enemy's mistakes!"

We must be prepared that Zhang Yin's main rebel force will arrive here the day after tomorrow!

Tomorrow we can send soldiers to feign an attack on the first gate; there's no need to commit heavy troops or break through it.

Half of the troops were left to keep watch, while the rest of the soldiers focused on reinforcing the camp and building defensive fortifications!

At the same time, people were to be dispatched by express courier to the capital and Shuozhou to report to the court and the governor-general the discovery of a large stronghold of the White Lotus Sect.

Starting the day after tomorrow, we will hold our ground here and wait for the imperial army to arrive.

The greatest credit for suppressing the White Lotus Rebellion belongs to us none other than ourselves!

. . .

Blackwood Cliff, Council Hall.

"After a day's fighting, we suffered fewer than a hundred casualties, while the Ming army suffered at least three or four hundred!"

Bai Sheng picked up the teacup and took a sip.

"A mere few thousand garrison soldiers dared to attack Blackwood Cliff."

Once the leader arrives with his army, we will lead our troops down the mountain and attack from both sides, and we will surely behead Ding Xian, Dong Zhou, and Pan Bingyi.

Protector Zhao, there's no need to be so anxious. Why don't you have a cup of tea too?

Just then, a member of the Maitreya sect hurriedly entered the council hall. This man was the messenger sent to Taiyuan.

"This is to inform Protector Zhao and Elder Bai."

The messenger looked somewhat flustered.

"Since the sect leader is not in Taiyuan City, and neither is the left protector, I have no choice but to hand the letter over to the young master."

The young master was shocked after reading the letter and ordered his subordinates to return to Blackwood Cliff immediately to report.

According to the young master, Fan Jizu, the governor of Xuanfu and Shanxi, summoned the leader to Shuozhou to report on his duties and achievements. The leader had already set off from Taiyuan the day before the Ming army's night raid on Blackwood Cliff.

Fan Jizu ordered the sect leader to travel light and quickly reach Shuozhou. Although the young master immediately sent his trusted confidants on fast horses to chase after him, it was almost impossible for them to catch up.

The young master felt that Fan Jizu's summoning of the sect leader to Shuozhou was a trap, intended to harm the sect leader.

I just hope that Fan Jizu won't make a move as soon as the leader arrives in Shuozhou, so that his trusted confidants will have a chance to meet the leader in Shuozhou City.

Now that the Ming court has taken action against our sect, the young master believes that starting an uprising is of utmost urgency.

With neither the sect leader nor the left protector present, the Taiyuan Left Guard is leaderless. The young master is still young and knows he lacks the necessary experience. He would like to ask Protector Zhao and Elder Bai to stay behind at Blackwood Cliff and go to Taiyuan to help him take charge of the situation.

When his men arrived near Xingxing Beach during the day, they discovered that the Ming army was attacking the mountain stronghold.

We had no choice but to go around to the back of the mountain and take that hidden path up the mountain.

It wasn't until it was completely dark that we finally reached the top of the cliff, which took quite a bit of time.

"Guardian Zhao, Elder Bai, the situation is extremely critical. Please make a decision as soon as possible!"

"The Ming army is already attacking the mountain, and the leader has been summoned to Shuozhou by Fan Jizu. I'm afraid his fate is uncertain!"

Zhao Xixian walked up to Bai Sheng.

"Elder Bai, although the Left Protector conveyed the sect leader's order to the five elders before they went to the capital, instructing the two of us to stay at Blackwood Cliff and not to leave without permission."

But the situation has deteriorated to such an extent that we must take expedient measures!

The young master is young and has never held an important position in the sect. It is indeed a bit too much to ask him to lead the uprising of Taiyuan Left Guard on his own.

Elder Bai is highly skilled in martial arts, deeply respected within the sect, and capable of maintaining order. He is the best candidate to go to Taiyuan to assist the young master.

"In my opinion, it would be more appropriate for Protector Zhao to go to Taiyuan."

After a moment of silence, Bai Sheng finally spoke.

"Although Protector Zhao is not much older than the young master, his abilities have been evident to all since he joined our sect. The sect leader and the left protector have also praised him highly."

The cult leader also said that when the young master's sister is a few years older, he will betroth her to you as your wife.

I am over fifty years old. Although I have martial arts skills, my mind is no match for you young people.

"There are too many unexpected situations to handle while leading the uprising in Taiyuan Left Guard. Protector Zhao, you are more suitable to go!"

"Now is a critical moment for the survival of our sect; how can we, as juniors, fear difficulties?!"

Zhao Xixian said with righteous indignation,

"However, the Ming army has already surrounded the mountain. Even at night, there must be many scouts at the foot of the mountain monitoring the movements on the mountain."

The journey from Pingding Prefecture to Taiyuan City was not necessarily peaceful.

Although I have been diligently practicing the techniques taught by the Master for the past two years, I have remained at the stage of just finding the feeling of Qi and have been unable to make any further breakthroughs.

Although I have learned some martial arts skills, I am of average talent and I am afraid that I might not even be able to defeat the Ming army's night scouts in a one-on-one fight.

Whether they will arrive in Taiyuan safely is still uncertain.

"It's alright!"

After hearing Zhao Xixian's concerns, Bai Sheng laughed.

"There are five more experts on Blackwood Cliff who have cultivated internal strength. Although they have only reached the minor level of internal strength, they are still quite far behind me and the other elders."

However, he could easily take on ten ordinary Ming soldiers.

I have ordered two of them to accompany Protector Zhao; they will surely ensure your safe arrival in Taiyuan!