Chapter Twenty: The Worst News Yet, Urgent Dispatch from the Capital
“Eh?”
Zhu Jinzhen and Yang Ning looked toward outside Jiayuguan in astonishment, one after the other.
“A spectacle that swallows heaven and earth.”
“An overwhelming aura, like a thousand mountains looming ahead.”
“Interesting—a terrestrial immortal?”
Zhu Jinzhen’s eyes brightened. Such a grand scene, such a powerful aura beyond the gate of Jiayuguan—could it be a terrestrial immortal who had come from afar? Could it be a master dispatched by the Mongol Yuan or the Liao dynasty he had been anticipating?
Yet this person’s aura was vast and filled the heavens and earth, drawing in yin and yang, but there was no trace of murderous intent. It was rather peculiar.
“Your Highness.”
Yang Ning’s eyes burned with eagerness, ready to leap into action.
Since stepping into the realm of terrestrial immortals, he had yet to experience a truly exhilarating battle.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t find an opponent.
But all the terrestrial immortals under the Su King’s mansion were either comrades or brothers-in-arms.
He couldn’t very well turn on his own brothers.
“If nothing unexpected occurs, it should be that old man from Mount Wudang,” Zhu Jinzhen said with a smile when he saw Yang Ning still rubbing his hands in anticipation. “Fine, go and take a look. If the visitor is a guest, do not lose your manners.”
“Yes.”
Though Yang Ning accepted the order, he did not leave immediately.
A faint smile appeared on Zhu Jinzhen’s face. “If it’s a hostile visitor, Wang Yingtang and the others will join forces. Then just find a spot to bury them.”
“Your servant obeys.”
Yang Ning bowed and swiftly left the Tiance Mansion, soaring into the sky, heading toward the terrestrial immortal outside Jiayuguan whose aura was as vast and imposing as a mountain.
After watching Yang Ning depart, Cao Xueyang asked with concern, “May I ask, Your Highness, why the furrowed brow?”
Had something gone wrong?
Li Cheng’en, Qin Yiyan, and Cao Xueyang all felt a stir in their hearts.
But recalling Lu Xiaofeng’s earlier reaction, they did not think they had revealed any flaw.
“She brought back bad news.”
Zhu Jinzhen did not conceal anything. The Tiance Mansion was his absolute loyal stronghold, and those he trusted most. He handed the letter that had been in Zhao Min’s arms moments ago directly to Cao Xueyang.
Cao Xueyang glanced at the letter and immediately stood stunned in place.
“This…”
---
“The Mongol Yuan want to join forces with the Ming royal family to deal with Your Highness?” Cao Xueyang felt as if struck by lightning. Everyone knew the Mongol Yuan and Ming were mortal enemies, yet the content of this replaced letter from Zhao Min spoke only one thing.
Temür was using terms they did not understand or could not fathom.
In exchange for Zhu Jinzhen’s disappearance.
Li Cheng’en, Zhu Jianqiu, Qin Yiyan, and others gathered around, all their expressions darkening as they read the letter.
Zhu Jinzhen murmured, “Temür seems very confident he has persuaded the Emperor to abandon me.”
“But where does he get such confidence?”
This question referred both to the confidence expressed in Temür’s letter and to what backing or support Temür had that made him so sure the Ming royal family would forsake Zhu Jinzhen, making it possible to eliminate him afterward.
The former was obvious: the Mongol Yuan and Ming were sworn enemies.
Zhu Jinzhen could not fathom where Temür’s confidence came from. Even if there were intrigues between nations, Temür should not be so assured—unless there was some secret that neither he nor the world knew.
The latter...
It was not that Zhu Jinzhen underestimated Temür. Even if the Mongol Yuan rose again, even if this was their all-out war, Zhu Jinzhen was 99% certain he could crush them.
“Your Highness, did she bring back any more detailed information?” Cao Xueyang frowned deeply, worry etched on her face. The information in this letter was extremely unfavorable to her lord.
Zhu Jinzhen shook his head. “No.”
“Your Highness, perhaps—”
“No.” Zhu Jinzhen cut her off immediately. “I know what you want to say, but she still has a great role to play. We cannot expose her prematurely over such a minor matter. The Mongol Yuan capital is full of experts. Even if she’s exposed and obtained news, she won’t be able to pass it on.”
No one understood the terrors of the Mongol Yuan homeland better than Zhu Jinzhen.
Baspag, Sihanfei, Meng Chixing, the Secret Sect King of the Esoteric Buddhism—there were more than a handful of terrestrial immortals, and that old monk Baspag was near the Celestial Realm, beyond the reach of ordinary terrestrial immortals.
For a terrestrial immortal to come out alive was as difficult as ascending to heaven.
“Your Highness, aside from the Mongol Yuan, we must also strengthen defenses against the Emperor’s side.”
“You worry the Emperor will truly agree to ally with the Mongol Yuan?”
“Throughout history, great功高盖主—merit exceeding the sovereign—is the greatest taboo of emperors. Your Highness commands heavy troops and protects the Ming’s peace, but the Emperor must resent you. Were it not for your strength, I fear…”
Zhu Jinzhen’s pupils flashed dangerously. “If the Emperor truly makes such a foolish decision, I won’t hesitate to make him understand that sometimes rumors aren’t just words, but also swords and spears.”
“Your Highness, do you mean to—”
Li Cheng’en, Cao Xueyang, Zhu Jianqiu, and Qin Yiyan trembled violently, staring at him in shock.
“What has happened will happen again; what has been done, will be repeated.”
“The Founding Emperor left the ancestral law of the Ming: ‘If there is no loyal minister in court and traitors within, one must raise troops to punish them, to cleanse the side of the sovereign.’ If the Taizong Emperor could do it, why cannot I?” Zhu Jinzhen sneered. He was no fool who, holding hundreds of thousands of troops, would willingly bind his own hands and march to death because of the Emperor’s few lies.
If Zhu Houzhao truly was unkind, then don’t blame him for being unrighteous.
---
He could safeguard the people of Shaanxi and the Ming’s peace, so naturally he could also crush the disloyal and claim the throne in the name of the Jingnan campaign.
“Prepare.”
“This matter has awakened me. While we plot, others may not give us enough time to prepare fully. If the day truly comes...”
“Raise the army for the Jingnan!”
Zhu Jinzhen’s voice brimmed with ambition and determination.
All the soldiers of the Tiance Mansion, without exception, bowed deeply, “Yes, Your servant and all will devote our lives.”
“Swear to follow Your Highness to death.”
“Swear to follow Your Highness to death.”
“Swear to follow Your Highness to death.”
Within the Tiance Mansion, the soldiers stood united as one.
A satisfied smile blossomed on Zhu Jinzhen’s face. “With you all, I am truly fortunate.”
“Report!”
“Your Highness, urgent news from the capital.”
At this critical moment, a hurried voice echoed through the Tiance Mansion.
“Urgent news from the capital?”
“Speak!”
“According to the secret agents of the Black Armor Guard, the Emperor disappeared from the inner palace the day after issuing an edict to inspect the nine border regions. Cao Zhengchun, the overseer of the Eastern Depot, claims the Emperor is ill, but our intelligence confirms the Emperor has actually left the palace.”
“Left the palace?” Zhu Jinzhen raised an eyebrow. “Could it be that our Emperor is imitating the Founding Emperor’s practice of traveling incognito to inspect the people’s conditions? Or... has he followed Lu Xiaofeng and the others here to us?”
A sudden thought flashed through Zhu Jinzhen’s mind.
“Your Highness, do you think Lu Xiaofeng will—?”
“Send someone to follow him. If the Emperor is indeed traveling incognito and has arrived at Jiayuguan early, then I need not be so anxious.” Zhu Jinzhen revealed a cold smile. If Zhu Houzhao really came alone onto his turf, then the one who should panic wouldn’t be him, but Zhu Houzhao.
“Yes, Your servant takes the order.”
Li Cheng’en nodded and immediately dispatched men to make arrangements.