Ming Dynasty: I am truly not the Emperor of Longevity

"Duan Chaoyong is dead, so neither His Majesty nor Father should have access to this thing."

Guo Shoulu thought for a moment,

"But actually, there is another place where this harmful evil thing exists."

The place where Prince Yan left the capital to fetch medicine was also the location of the mastermind behind the assassination attempt on His Highness.

"Minister Guo, the reason I summoned you here today is precisely for this matter."

Lu Chen nodded.

"You still don't know where I ended up following Prince Yan when I sent people to track him down!"

After leaving the capital, Wang Ziyan went to two places. One was the Taiyuan Left Guard Commander's Mansion, which was the residence of the traitor Zhang Yin.

Another place is Black Cliff in Pingding Prefecture!

However, at that time I did not know that Zhang Yin was the leader of the Maitreya Sect, nor did I know that Black Cliff was the headquarters of the Maitreya Sect.

Duan Chaoyong and his disciple Wang Ziyan were actually members of the Maitreya sect, sent to the capital by Zhang Yin.

The six assassins who attempted to kill me at the Marquis of Wuding's residence were also Maitreya Cult experts sent by Zhang Yin.

"How could Zhang Yin be so audacious?!"

Although Guo Shoulu had long suspected that the mastermind behind Duan Chaoyong and his apprentice was not simple, he was still taken aback.

"The Maitreya sect is engaged in rebellious activities."

Zhang Yin had already rebelled twice during the Hongzhi and Zhengde reigns, and later he was even able to change his name and become the commander of the Taiyuan Left Guard.

Each of these crimes is a heinous offense deserving of a thousand cuts and the extermination of nine generations of one's family.

Too many lice don't itch, too much debt doesn't worry.

Is there anything Zhang Yin wouldn't dare to do?

Lu Chen snorted coldly.

"The court is unaware of Duan Chaoyong's true background, and I have no intention of revealing it to the public."

Zhang Yin assassinated the governor-general and openly launched a rebellion.

Even if we add two more charges—that Duan Chao used evil substances to refine "red lead" elixirs to bewitch His Majesty and that he sent assassins to assassinate the Marquis of Wuding—it wouldn't make his crimes any more serious.

With the Shanxi governor Liu Nie in control of Taiyuan and the purging of the religious bandits within the city, Zhang Yin had lost the initiative and it was almost impossible for him to take Taiyuan.

He had only one option: to lead the men of Taiyuan Left Guard to Pingding Prefecture.

According to the intelligence currently available, Zhang Yin's core fighting force consists of the banner troops of Taiyuan Left Guard and several thousand able-bodied men on Blackwood Cliff.

There are only about 10,000 soldiers capable of fighting.

Even if they managed to recruit some civilians while the imperial army was away suppressing the rebellion, these people would hardly be able to form a fighting force in a short period of time; they would just be a rabble.

Once Zhai Peng's army arrives to quell the rebellion, Zhang Yin will be unable to hold the entire Pingding Prefecture.

Before long, Zhang Yin will lead his main force to abandon Pingding Prefecture and retreat to the Black Cliff headquarters.

It was a mountain city built on a "nao" (a hill), a strategically important location that prevented the government troops from maneuvering effectively, no matter how many troops they had.

Zhai Peng wouldn't be so foolish as to let the government troops use piecemeal tactics on the narrow mountain road.

The best course of action would be to besiege the area, but Zhang Yin has been operating in this place for at least ten years, so his grain and supplies reserves must be very plentiful.

The hilltop, as large as a county town, must have a water source. Even if it didn't exist originally, the Maitreya sect has built many reservoirs to collect rainwater over the years.

Cutting off water and food is probably not an option.

In my opinion, the most feasible approach is to surround the enemy with a large force and launch a psychological warfare campaign.

Even the most fortified city can be breached from within.

Among the cult members, there must be many who were deceived and coerced.

Being isolated and besieged for a long time, even with ample food supplies, will inevitably lead to low morale.

At this point, as long as the imperial court makes a promise to only punish the ringleaders and not to question the coerced followers, it will surely be able to dismantle this seemingly indestructible mountain city from within.

However, if the imperial court were to publicly announce this matter, because it involves the plot to murder the emperor's elder brother and the emperor himself, the religious rebels who joined Zhang Yin's uprising would believe that they would have no chance of being pardoned.

With no way out, they will only be determined to fight the government troops to the death, needlessly increasing the casualties of the government troops, which is very detrimental to suppressing the rebellion.

Guo Qing, I have summoned you today because I intend to have you lead a troop from the capital garrison to Pingding Prefecture.

Your father has long been in charge of the capital garrison. Now that you have inherited the title of Marquis of Wuding, you should also gain experience in leading troops.

Seniority is highly valued in the military; without military achievements, it is difficult to gain the respect of the troops.

This suppression of the rebellion is a great opportunity for us to gain experience.

Of course, I know very well what kind of people the Beijing garrison is, and I don't expect them to be able to fight any tough battles.

I'm sending you to Pingding Prefecture, not only for training but also for another mission.

If the cultists on Blackwood Cliff used any weapons that the government troops did not possess, this must be recorded in detail and reported back to the capital to Gubing.

If possible, try to seize the goods and send them to the capital.

. . .

Pingding Prefecture, Black Cliff.

"Your subordinates respectfully welcome the leader."

Zhang Yin entered the council hall, and Li Dali, along with three elders, bowed to him.

Just a few hours ago, Zhang Yin led nearly 5,000 troops from the Taiyuan Left Guard to attack the Ming army positions besieging Blackwood Cliff. Li Dali and others also led their elite followers down the mountain to launch a pincer attack.

The Ming army's position was quickly lost, and the defeated soldiers retreated to their camp built on three small hills not far away.

These camps were also well-fortified, and the Maitreya sect was unable to conquer them in a short time, resulting in a stalemate between the two sides.

However, this time it was the Ming army's camp that was surrounded.

By evening, after the fighting had largely subsided, Zhang Yin finally went up to Blackwood Cliff.

Where is Protector Zhao?

Zhang Yin looked around but didn't see Zhao Xixian.

This man's martial arts skills are weak. It would be understandable if he didn't appear when leading troops down the mountain to attack the Ming army, but now that I've come up the mountain, how can this Right Protector not show up?!

"Reporting to the Master, after the young master learned that the Ming army had secretly investigated Blackwood Cliff, he sent someone to Blackwood Cliff to order me and Protector Zhao to stay behind and go to Taiyuan to oversee the uprising."

Bai Sheng quickly replied.

"After discussing it with me, Protector Zhao decided that I would stay behind at Blackwood Cliff while Protector Zhao would go to Taiyuan to assist the young master."

I've also sent Gao Jian and Feng Jing to escort them. As long as they don't encounter a large Ming army force, small groups of Ming scouts won't be a match for them.

"Father, Elder Bai already told me about this when I arrived at Blackwood Cliff."

Li Dali also explained.

"However, when we arrived at the military camp outside Taiyuan Left Guard City, no one had seen Protector Zhao."

At that time, the Ming army was already besieging Black Cliff, and the Ming generals could also guess that we might send people to Taiyuan. It was really hard to say what we would encounter along the way.

Even with two masters of internal energy escorting them, there's no guarantee that nothing will happen.

The son thought that either Zhao Hufa had an accident on the way and failed to reach Taiyuan safely.

Either they arrived late due to some accident, and before they could act together with Li Tong after entering the city, Liu Nie took the initiative and they were trapped inside Taiyuan City.

Either way, the odds are probably against them now.

Did Zhao Xixian bring any large items with him when he drove the Blackwood Cliff?

Zhang Yin turned to look at Bai Sheng.

"Reporting to the Master, the situation was urgent at the time. After discussing it with me, Protector Zhao set off very quickly."

Bai Sheng quickly replied.

"I remember he only carried a small personal bag, as did Gao Jian and Feng Jing; it was probably just some dry food for the road."

"In that case, regardless of whether Zhao Xixian is still alive or not, the things he secretly made should still be on Blackwood Cliff."

Zhang Yin thought for a moment.

"Let's go check out Zhao Xixian's place!"