Volume One, Chapter 12: They’ve Made Their Move!
“I have my own arrangements,” Zhu Youjian interrupted him. “Just go and handle it.”
“Your servant…” Huang Daozhou wanted to say more.
Zhu Youjian suddenly spoke sternly, “What? You can’t even manage this? Could it be that he has some leverage over you?”
Huang Daozhou trembled all over. “I dare not!”
“Then go,” Zhu Youjian sat back on the dragon throne. “Remember, if he escapes, I will hold you solely responsible!”
Cold sweat beaded Huang Daozhou’s forehead. “Your servant obeys the order.”
As he was about to leave, Zhu Youjian added, “By the way, your Donglin faction has been quite active recently.”
Huang Daozhou halted in his tracks. “Your Majesty, why do you say that?”
“The gatherings in the southern city are quite lively,” Zhu Youjian said with a meaningful tone.
Huang Daozhou’s heart skipped a beat: How does His Majesty know?
“Go now,” Zhu Youjian waved his hand. “I await your good news.”
Huang Daozhou bowed and exited the hall, his forehead drenched in cold sweat.
Zhu Youjian watched his retreating figure and opened the system interface:
[Urgent Intelligence Report: Huang Daozhou’s expression is abnormal, suspected of guilt.]
“Heh,” Zhu Youjian sneered coldly, “these old foxes.”
At that moment, Wang Cheng’en hurried over. “Your Majesty, news from the Eastern Depot.”
“Speak.”
“Luo Yangxing has caught wind of the situation and is preparing to leave the city overnight.”
A cold gleam flashed in Zhu Youjian’s eyes. “He dares!”
“Should we…?” Wang Cheng’en hesitated.
“No need,” Zhu Youjian sneered. “Let him leave first. I want to see what tricks they can play.”
Outside the hall, Huang Daozhou hurried down the steps, his mind racing.
He knew this was a trap, but he did not know for whom it was set.
Zhu Youjian stood inside the hall, gazing at the distant palace walls. Each of these people wanted to play tricks, but they didn’t know who the true hunter was.
“Wang Cheng’en,” he suddenly spoke.
“At your service.”
“Go and tell Wei Zhiren that tonight will be very lively.”
Wang Cheng’en understood. “Your servant obeys.”
Huang Daozhou hurried along the palace path, his steps quickening. He had to decide soon: obey the emperor’s orders or...
His gaze fell on the Meridian Gate in the distance. There, perhaps, lay his only way out.
Zhu Youjian remained standing, then checked the system interface again:
[Latest Intelligence Report: Huang Daozhou has sent someone to notify Luo Yangxing. Immediate action recommended.]
“No rush,” Zhu Youjian said calmly. “Let them leave first.”
Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside.
“Your Majesty!” a eunuch ran in. “The Jinyiwei report—”
“What is it?”
“Luo Yangxing is leading a team heading south!”
A cold smile curled Zhu Youjian’s lips. “Just as expected.”
He turned to Wang Cheng’en. “Issue my order: have the Eastern Depot prepare. Tonight, there will be quite a spectacle to watch.”
“Your servant obeys.”
Huang Daozhou had already arrived outside the Meridian Gate. He glanced back at the towering palace walls, his mind resolute.
“Sir,” a retainer whispered, “Commander Luo is ready.”
Huang Daozhou nodded. “Let’s go.”
Zhu Youjian sat on the dragon throne, watching the system’s continuous updates:
[Huang Daozhou has left the palace. Luo Yangxing is mobilizing troops. Donglin faction members are in position.]
“These people,” he sneered, “really think I don’t know their intentions?”
Wang Cheng’en cautiously asked, “Your Majesty, shall we act now?”
“No,” Zhu Youjian waved him off. “Let them go. When they all reveal their true colors, we’ll catch them all in one net.”
Outside, the sun rose higher, casting golden light.
Zhu Youjian stood by the window. The distant city gates were open, and crowds began to surge.
He knew how many were secretly conspiring amid the bustling throng.
But none of that mattered.
What mattered was that they were all under his control.
“Wang Cheng’en,” he suddenly spoke.
“At your service.”
“Do you think these people will regret it?”
Wang Cheng’en was puzzled. “Regret what?”
“Regret having tried to play such tricks,” Zhu Youjian sneered.
Just then, the system issued another alert:
[Urgent Intelligence: Wen Tiren has left the Li Residence, moving toward the outskirts.]
A cold gleam flashed in Zhu Youjian’s eyes. “Let them go.”
He turned and walked into the inner hall. “Tonight will be lively.”
Huang Daozhou had already reached the southern part of the city. Troops were stationed, ready to receive Luo Yangxing.
“Sir,” a retainer whispered, “the Eastern Depot agents seem to be—”
“Ignore them,” Huang Daozhou interrupted. “Follow the plan.”
Zhu Youjian stood inside the inner hall, watching the system updates:
[Intelligence Update: Huang Daozhou has reached the designated location. Luo Yangxing is moving south. Donglin faction members are in position.]
“Excellent,” he sneered. “All within my grasp.”
Wang Cheng’en carefully asked, “Your Majesty, should we inform the Eastern Depot—”
“No need,” Zhu Youjian waved. “Wei Zhiren knows what to do.”
In the distance, horse hooves sounded. Luo Yangxing led a contingent slowly approaching from the north.
Huang Daozhou stood within a southern mansion, watching the approaching movement. He knew that after tonight, everything would change.
What he did not know was that even further away, the Eastern Depot had already laid an inescapable trap.
Zhu Youjian checked the system interface again:
[Intelligence Station Recommendation: The time has come. Immediate action advised.]
He only sneered. “Wait a little longer.”
Night gradually fell, and the southern city grew quiet.
Huang Daozhou stood by the window, watching distant torches. Those were Luo Yangxing’s troops closing in.
But he failed to notice that in the darker shadows, countless eyes were fixed on this place.
Zhu Youjian stepped outside the hall, watching the darkening sky.
“Your Majesty,” Wang Cheng’en whispered, “the Eastern Depot reports all is ready.”
“Good,” Zhu Youjian nodded. “Let them proceed as planned.”
Inside the southern mansion, Huang Daozhou paced anxiously.
“Sir,” a retainer hurried in, “Commander Luo has arrived.”
Huang Daozhou nodded. “Invite him in.”
Luo Yangxing entered swiftly, his face dark. “Sir Huang, time is of the essence, we must—”
Before he could finish, a commotion erupted outside.
“Trouble!” the retainer panicked. “The Eastern Depot agents!”
Huang Daozhou’s expression changed drastically. “How is this possible—”
Luo Yangxing shouted fiercely, “Sir Huang, you—”
At that moment, the gate thunderously collapsed. Countless torches flared, illuminating the entire courtyard.
Wei Zhiren led a squad of Eastern Depot enforcers charging in. “By imperial decree, capture the rebels!”
“Protect the commander!” Luo Yangxing’s guards shouted.
Blades flashed and shouts rang out within the courtyard.
Watching all this, Huang Daozhou suddenly smiled bitterly. “So that’s how it is…”
Zhu Youjian stood inside the hall, listening to the system’s relentless updates:
[The battle has begun. Eastern Depot holds the upper hand. Next step recommended.]
“No need,” he said calmly. “Everything is going according to plan.”
The fight in the south raged on.
Wei Zhiren led his enforcers, gradually tightening the encirclement.
“Sir!” one enforcer ran in. “Huang Daozhou and Luo Yangxing—”
“What is it?”
“They… they have disappeared!”
Wei Zhiren’s face darkened. “What?!”
At that moment, the sound of galloping horses echoed in the distance, growing faint.
“Issue my order!” Zhu Youjian commanded sharply. “Seal the city gates and conduct a thorough search!”
Wang Cheng’en bowed deeply and hurried away. The flickering candlelight cast shadows on Zhu Youjian’s grim visage.
“Wei Zhiren!” he called again.
Wei Zhiren quickly stepped forward. “Your Majesty.”
“Dispatch Eastern Depot enforcers to pursue separately. Focus the search on the southern district. Any suspicious persons found, kill on sight!”
“Your servant obeys.” Wei Zhiren turned to leave.
“Wait,” Zhu Youjian suddenly said. “What about that batch of military supplies outside the city?”
“I’ve already sent men to investigate,” Wei Zhiren replied. “But…”
“Speak.”
“That place appears to be Huang Daozhou’s estate.”
Zhu Youjian sneered. “So they really are all in cahoots.”
At that moment, hurried footsteps came from outside.
“Your Majesty!” a eunuch ran in. “Luo Yangxing’s guards have started a fight in the southern city!”