Ming Dynasty: I am truly not the Emperor of Longevity

Pingding Prefecture.

Inside a seemingly ordinary inn.

"Your subordinate greets the Left Protector."

The innkeeper bowed to Li Dali.

This place is a secret stronghold of the Maitreya sect.

After several days of arduous travel, Li Dali and the two elders finally arrived in Pingding Prefecture.

They traveled the route through Jingxing Pass, Pingding Prefecture, and Taiyuan City.

The original plan was to first travel west from Pingding Prefecture to Taiyuan to report to Zhang Yin on the failure of the assassination attempt in the capital.

But as soon as they entered Pingding Prefecture, they realized something was wrong.

Pingding Prefecture, which was originally lax in military preparedness, is now filled with soldiers patrolling and checking passersby.

Fortunately, the three of them had prepared a travel permit in advance, which allowed them to get through the situation.

The Maitreya Cult has been operating in Pingding Prefecture for nearly twenty years, with numerous secret strongholds in the prefecture capital and various towns within its borders.

Since the situation was unusual, the three of them did not go into the city, but instead came to this inn, intending to find out what was going on first.

"We left Blackwood Cliff for some time and have only just returned to Pingding Prefecture."

Wu Nian asked,

"What's going on here? Why are there so many soldiers?"

"Reporting to Elder Wu."

The innkeeper quickly replied,

Five days ago, the guest troops from Zhengdingwei, Dingzhouwei, and Baoding Youwei, who were originally transferred to assist in the defense of Jingxing Pass during the Mongol invasion, suddenly arrived in Pingding Prefecture for some reason.

They didn't stay in the state capital, but went directly to the vicinity of Gorilla Beach to set up camp.

Early the next morning, the three guards' five thousand troops began their attack on my sect's headquarters at Blackwood Cliff.

"What?!"

Li Dali was greatly surprised.

"How is the battle going? Has Blackwood Cliff fallen?"

"Left Protector, there's no need to worry. The Blackwood Cliff headquarters is surrounded by sheer cliffs on three sides, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. How could a mere five thousand garrison soldiers possibly take it down?"

The innkeeper didn't look nervous.

"On the first day, the government troops launched a fierce attack on Blackwood Cliff and suffered considerable losses, with at least three or four hundred casualties."

Starting the next day, they only launched occasional probing attacks, and to this day, they have not launched any large-scale attacks.

However, these several thousand garrison soldiers set up camp on three small hills near Gorilla Beach. Subordinates secretly scouted the area from a distance and found that they had been fortifying their camp for the past few days.

"These three guest armies intend to stand stalemate with Blackwood Cliff at Gorilla Beach while waiting for reinforcements."

Wu Nian thought for a moment,

"They also know very well that with this small number of people, it is impossible to take Blackwood Cliff. A direct assault would only result in heavy losses."

Although I don't know how they set their sights on Blackwood Cliff, they should have been able to figure out my sect's background by the first day of the battle.

It is certain that they had already sent a telegram to the capital that Blackwood Cliff was the headquarters of our sect, and at the same time, they would also notify Shuozhou and Taiyuan.

The two sides fought for a whole day. Although the government troops suffered heavy losses, our sect was not without casualties as well.

If I were the commander of the government troops, I would spare no expense to capture a few prisoners for interrogation.

In this way, the government troops probably already know that the sect leader is the commander of the Taiyuan Left Guard.

"The Three Guards' attack on Blackwood Cliff took place four days ago."

Li Dali frowned.

"If the messenger sets off on the same day, he can reach Taiyuan the next day, and by then he will probably have reached the capital and Shuozhou as well."

Elder Bai and Protector Zhao, who remained on Blackwood Cliff, would surely send someone to Taiyuan to deliver a message to Father, and their speed might not be slower than that of the government army's messengers.

Father should have received news of the government troops' siege of Blackwood Cliff three days ago; he would certainly have taken action!

"Our sect's foundation has been exposed; the leader has no choice but to act decisively and lead the Taiyuan Left Guard in an immediate uprising!"

Elder Pan spoke up.

"The army can travel from Taiyuan to Black Cliff in two days by rapid march. If the leader came here directly, he should have already arrived in Pingding Prefecture."

Since he didn't come, it's likely that the leader used the troops of the Taiyuan Left Guard to directly capture Taiyuan City.

"My father told me long ago that if the time comes to raise an army, the most important thing is to capture Taiyuan immediately!"

Li Dali nodded.

"Taiyuan is a fortified city, and also the place where my Li family rose to prominence."

If Taiyuan can be captured, in addition to the imperial treasury, the city also houses the wealthy Jin vassal state.

Having acquired countless riches accumulated over 170 years by the Jin princes, my father was able to quickly gather my followers in various places.

With over 5,000 men from the Taiyuan Left Guard as the backbone, they amassed an army of over 100,000 and swiftly occupied central Shanxi, and even the entire province, before the imperial court could react.

Blackwood Cliff is a strategically important location, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and has thousands of well-trained and well-equipped young and strong followers.

Let alone a mere five thousand garrison soldiers, even tens of thousands of troops could only besiege them; they couldn't possibly launch a direct assault.

There's no need for Father to rush to send troops to rescue Black Cliff; stabilizing the situation in Taiyuan City is far more important.

"Left Protector, shall we go to Taiyuan to see the Sect Leader, or should we head to Blackwood Cliff first?"

Elder Pan asked.

"Let's go to Taiyuan!"

After thinking for a moment, Li Dali made a decision.

"Blackwood Cliff is impregnable; whether we go there or not, we will not suffer any losses."

My father has just taken Taiyuan and is in dire need of reliable people who can help him.

Moreover, I must first report what happened in the capital to my father.

"Let's get going without delay!"

. . .

Xinzhou, Zhenwuwei Camp.

"Since it is the Governor-General's order, I, Chao, shall obey it."

Chao Xuan, the commander of Zhenwu Guard, cupped his hands to Zhang Yin and said...

"Chao immediately assembled his troops and headed to Pingxingguan to assist in the defense."

Lord Zhang, please head south as soon as possible and do not delay.

"I am preoccupied with military duties, so I will not trouble you any further."

Zhang Yin cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Chao Xuan.

"After we defeat the Tartars, I, Zhang, will drink with Lord Chao until we are thoroughly drunk."

After saying this, Zhang Yin turned and walked out of the camp with his attendants, mounted his horse, and continued galloping south.

This was already the third Ming army camp they had passed on their way south.

At each stop, Zhang Yin used forged documents bearing Fan Jizu's seal to transfer these Ming troops to distant locations under various fabricated pretexts.

Once they return to Taiyuan, there will be no large Ming troops in the area of ​​several hundred miles north of Taiyuan for a short period of time.

. . .

The next day, in Taiyuan, outside Chengen Gate.

"The Prince of Jin's mansion was burglarized; several priceless treasures were stolen?"

Seeing that the city gates were closed even in broad daylight, Li Dali did not immediately reveal his identity. Instead, he asked an old man who had just returned from the city gate.

"Because of this, Taiyuan City closed eight city gates and launched a city-wide manhunt for thieves?!"

"Absolutely true!"

The old man tucked the few copper coins he had just received from the other man into his pocket.

"I came here yesterday and the day before, but the city gate has been closed."

According to the soldiers at the city gate, His Highness Prince Jin was furious about the theft at his palace and personally issued an order for the Shanxi governor's office to conduct a closed-door search and arrest of the thieves and recover the stolen treasures.

I really don't know what kind of treasure was lost. I wish this old man could have the chance to see it too.

"Left Protector, this situation is very strange."

Watching the old man's departing figure, Wu Nian whispered,

"Is it really the cult leader who controls Taiyuan City?"

"No, something's not right!"

Li Dali pondered for a moment.

"Today, those guarding Chengen Gate are the men of Taiyuan Vanguard!"

According to the shift schedule, it should be our Taiyuan Left Guard guarding this gate this month.

Even if the Taiyuan vanguard and his father raised an army together, there was no reason for them to change the city gates!

Let's go to the military camp of Taiyuan Left Guard outside the city.

Something terrible has likely happened inside the city!