Ming Dynasty: I am truly not the Emperor of Longevity

Taiyuan, the office of the Shanxi Provincial Governor.

"Your Excellency the Governor."

Luo Wenyuan, the commander of the Taiyuan Vanguard, pointed to the map with his finger.

"The Yingze Gate to the south, the Fucheng Gate to the west, and the Zhenwu Gate are guarded today by this humble Taiyuan Vanguard."

The Zhenyuan Gate and Gongji Gate to the north were guarded by Commander Ma's Taiyuan Right Guard.

Only Chengen Gate to the south, Yichun Gate to the east, and Yinghui Gate were in the hands of Zhang Yin's Taiyuan Left Guard.

Since the Taiyuan Left Guard has colluded with the White Lotus Rebellion and plotted a rebellion, they will be very vigilant. If the Imperial Guards of the Standard Battalion or Commander Ouyang were to seize the gate, there would likely be a bloody battle.

Perhaps the governor could issue a decree to me and Commander Ma to arrange a troop rotation, so that we can lead men to the three city gates to relieve them.

The eight gates of Taiyuan were originally guarded by our three guards on a rotating basis. Our people going there would not easily arouse the suspicion of the rebels.

Once we capture Chengen Gate, Yichun Gate, and Yinghui Gate, we can close the eight gates of Taiyuan, isolating the city from the outside world, and first eliminate the rebels inside the city.

Taiyuan was a vital city with strong defenses.

Even if the rebels outside the city discover that something has happened inside, with their few thousand men, they won't be able to shake Taiyuan City in the slightest.

Once the war begins, within just a few days, tens of thousands of imperial troops within Shanxi will be able to gather at the city walls and annihilate the rebels.

"This plan is exactly what I wanted to do."

Liu Nie considered it for a few seconds, then agreed.

"I will write the official documents for the two of you to change your posts immediately."

Commander Ouyang, gather your men and ambush them on the route that the Taiyuan Left Guard must take back to camp after their rotation.

Once it is confirmed that the guards at all three city gates have passed through, take immediate action and capture them first.

I personally lead the standard battalion and provide support from the center.

"There's no time to lose. The three of you should go back immediately to make arrangements. We'll take action in one hour!"

. . .

Taiyuan, outside Chengen Gate.

A carriage that had just left the city stopped not far outside the city.

"Remember, keep heading south, and no matter what news you hear, never come back."

Li Tong jumped off the carriage, glancing reluctantly at Chu Nanyin inside.

"Nanyin, as long as you and the baby in your belly are safe, I can die in peace."

After saying that, Li Tong took out a jade pendant from his pocket, rubbed it in his hands, and put it into Chu Nanyin's hand.

"This jade pendant was given to me by my mother before she passed away, so that I could give it to her daughter-in-law in the future."

Actually, I've wanted to give it to you for a long time.

As you know, my father was against me marrying you. It was only after my grandfather spoke up that he reluctantly agreed to let me take you into the family.

Your father knows about this jade pendant. If he sees you wearing it, who knows what might happen.

Today we part ways, and I don't know if I'll ever have the chance to see him again in this life. I don't want to care what my father thinks anymore.

Nan Yin, I've made you bear the title of concubine for the past two years, I'm sorry to have wronged you.

From this day forward, you are my wife, Li Tong's wife, my only wife for this lifetime!

"My lord."

Chu Nanyin gripped the jade pendant tightly, feeling as if she had something stuck in her throat, but she didn't know what to say.

To be fair, although my motives for getting close to Li Tong were impure, this uneducated and incompetent man had been really good to me over the past two years.

At this moment, he knew that his return would likely be fraught with danger, but he could only watch helplessly.

Should we try to persuade him to leave with us?

Chu Nanyin was stunned by her own sudden thought.

Back then, the young lady wanted to send someone to Taiyuan to infiltrate the Maitreya Sect and secretly monitor Zhao Xixian for her.

The plan to get close to Li Tong, become his woman, and infiltrate the home of the Maitreya Cult leader was something she proposed herself.

If it weren't for the prostitute, I'd be buried a few feet tall by now.

No, there won't even be a grave. A woman of the night like me, once she dies, will just be wrapped in a straw mat, dragged to a mass grave, and hastily buried in a shallow pit.

After a few heavy rains, the corpses would be dug up and eaten by wild dogs.

These are scenes I witnessed firsthand after following the young lady.

The young lady saved his life and taught him a lot of skills.

During those years spent in prostitution, I had seen too many men and thought I would never fall for any man again in my life.

I don't think there's anything wrong with using this honey trap.

But what was that feeling just now?

Why am I feeling so terrible?!

"Young Master, something seems amiss at Cheng'en Gate?"

Just then, Cai Zhongqian, who was driving the carriage, pointed to the city gate and shouted,

Why would the city gates be closed in broad daylight?

This man was Li Tong's trusted attendant, and Li Tong sent him to escort Chu Nanyin south.

"They really are closing the city gates!"

Li Tong turned his head and saw that the city gate was indeed closing, and even the drawbridge was slowly rising.

"Something has happened in the city!"

Chengen Gate is guarded by our Taiyuan Left Guard; this means the imperial court has taken action!

I'm afraid it's not just Chengen Gate; Yichun Gate and Yinghui Gate on the east side have probably also encountered trouble.

Those two bastards, Ma Yi and Luo Wenyuan, must have betrayed us, otherwise the imperial court would have had to take action against all eight city gates of Taiyuan at the same time.

The troops inside the city are simply not enough!

"The city gates are now closed; there's no going back."

Cai Zhongqian asked,

"How about I escort the young master to our Taiyuan Left Guard's barracks outside the city?"

"I'll ride my own horse to the barracks outside the city!"

Li Tong gritted his teeth and untied the reins from the carriage. He had been traveling with Nan Yin, with his own horse tied to the back of the carriage.

"You must leave now, without stopping for even a moment!"

Remember, never come back!

"Zhongqian, I'm entrusting my wife to you."

"My lord!"

Chu Nanyin could no longer control herself and blurted out,

Come with us!

With his grandfather and father gone, the young master's only chance to turn the tide is to strike first, take control of Taiyuan City, and coerce the Taiyuan Right Guard and Taiyuan Front Guard into a joint uprising!

The imperial court has now taken the initiative, seizing the advantage and controlling all the city gates of Taiyuan.

Ma Yi and Luo Wenyuan also turned against him.

Even if my lord reaches the military camp outside the city now, what can he do? With only a few thousand men, how could he possibly break into Taiyuan City?

"While the court is still unaware that we've left the city, we still have time to escape!"

"Nanyin, there are still more than four thousand soldiers in the barracks outside the city. How can I just leave?"

Li Tong shook his head.

"I know that we can't go back to Taiyuan City."

My grandfather is in Shuozhou, his fate unknown, but my father will surely be alright.

My sect still has tens of thousands of followers at its main altar in Blackwood Cliff, including several thousand able-bodied men. We have ample reserves of weapons and provisions, and the mountain stronghold is strategically located, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

If I can take these four thousand people with me, I can hold out until my father and the six elders return from the capital.

At that time, Father will naturally take charge.

"My lord, I know I cannot dissuade you."

Chu Nanyin stepped down from the carriage, grabbed Li Tong's hand, and pressed it to her lower abdomen.

"Before we part, let's touch our unborn child one last time."

"Nanyin, I promise you, after Father returns."

Li Tong's eyes reddened, and he hugged Chu Nanyin tightly.

"I will definitely head south to find..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Tong suddenly felt everything go black and lost consciousness.