Chapter 68: The Order

Luo Yangxing immediately gave the order: "Prepare the Divine Machine Division!"

Rank upon rank of musketeers stood in formation. In the morning light, the pitch-black muzzle of the firearms gleamed with a cold light.

However, that cavalry unit did not charge forward. Instead, they hovered in the distance, periodically making provocative gestures.

"Another strategy to lure the tiger away from the mountain," Yang Huan sneered. "Prince Fu is surely planning to take the opportunity to break through from elsewhere."

Before his voice had even faded, the sound of a horn rang out in the distance. Immediately afterward, responses echoed from all four directions.

"This is bad!" Cao Bianjiao's expression changed drastically. "We've fallen into their trap!"

On the distant hills, large numbers of rebel troops suddenly appeared. Occupying the high ground, they brandished powerful bows and strong crossbows.

"Form ranks!" Luo Yangxing shouted sternly. The imperial guards quickly adjusted their formation to meet the threat.

Yet the rebels did not attack. Instead, they lit wolf-smoke signal fires on various hilltops.

"This is... this is signaling the local militias everywhere!" Yang Huan suddenly realized.

A scout rushed over in a flurry. "Reporting! The local militias everywhere are responding and gathering toward this area!"

Cao Bianjiao immediately issued an order: "Transmit the command to all units to prepare for a breakthrough!"

At that very moment, the distant rebels suddenly parted, making way for a passage. A figure clad in bright yellow dragon robes slowly emerged.

"It's Prince Fu!" the generals cried out in shock.

Zhu Changxun stood upright on his horse and said in a clear voice, "Soldiers, why act as accomplices to tyranny? You might as well join me in establishing a great enterprise!"

Yang Huan shouted harshly, "Cease your demagoguery and bewitching the public!"

Ignoring him, Zhu Changxun continued, "How can the heroes of the world willingly submit to others? Those who follow me shall share in wealth and nobility!"

For a moment, a ripple of restlessness stirred among the imperial guards. Some began to whisper among themselves.

"Silence!" Luo Yangxing shouted sternly. He turned to the generals and declared, "Anyone who shows wavering loyalty will be executed on the spot without exception!"

Seeing this, Zhu Changxun sneered, "Are the running dogs of the Embroidered Uniform Guard even worthy of discussing loyalty and righteousness?"

Just as the two sides stood in a standoff, the sound of hoofbeats suddenly rolled in from afar. A cavalry unit was galloping rapidly from the east.

"It's reinforcements!" Cao Bianjiao's eyes lit up.

However, that cavalry unit suddenly wheeled their horses around and charged off in the opposite direction.

"Hahaha!" Zhu Changxun laughed loudly. "Your reinforcements have already defected!"

Luo Yangxing's face turned ashen. "Pass down the order: fight to the death and do not retreat!"

Suddenly, Yang Huan pointed into the distance. "Look over there!"

A massive army had appeared at the edge of the horizon, advancing steadily toward them. Banners fluttered in the wind, creating an imposing and terrifying momentum.

Zhu Changxun squinted for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Well timed! I want to see who dares to make an enemy of the heroes of the world!"

Cao Bianjiao immediately ordered, "Form ranks to meet the enemy!"

The two armies confronted each other, the tension as taut as a drawn bow. In the morning light, countless flashes of swords and blades shimmered.

Suddenly, a commotion arose within the distant army. Following that, a unique banner was hoisted aloft.

"That is..." Yang Huan squinted. "That is the banner of Later Jin!"

Zhu Changxun laughed heartily. "It seems even Heaven is aiding me!"

Luo Yangxing shouted sternly, "This subordinate is willing to lead a band of death-defying soldiers to charge out!"

Cao Bianjiao shook his head. "No, we are already completely surrounded."

Watching the army continually gathering in the distance, Yang Huan murmured, "This truly is an inescapable net of heaven and earth."

Zhu Changxun rode his horse forward. "Soldiers, it is still not too late to surrender!"

The unrest among the imperial guards intensified. Some began to cast down their weapons.

"Halt!" Luo Yangxing drew his saber. "Whoever dares to shake the army's morale shall be executed without pardon!"

Zhu Changxun sneered. "Do you really think you have any say in the matter now?"

The distant Later Jin army had already begun to move. Dividing into multiple columns, they slowly closed in.

Watching all this, Cao Bianjiao suddenly smiled. "In that case, we fight to the bitter end!"

Yang Huan also drew his sword. "This subordinate is willing to die alongside the General!"

Zhu Changxun sighed and shook his head. "Why bother? Those who understand the times are brilliant men!"

At that exact moment, the sound of a horn rang out in the distance. Everyone froze.

"This is..." Luo Yangxing listened intently. "This is the horn of the capital!"

Sure enough, a new army appeared on the distant horizon. Bearing the banners of the Chongzhen Emperor, they were advancing at a rapid pace.

On the dew-kissed grass, columns of imperial guards were forming their ranks. Cao Bianjiao stared at the distant hills, his brow deeply furrowed.

"My lord, the reinforcements have arrived," a scout reported in a low voice.

Before Luo Yangxing could speak, a uniform sound of marching footsteps was heard. The imperial guard soldiers dropped to their knees one after another. "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

As Yang Huan observed the array before him, he calculated silently in his mind. With Zhu Changxun's rebel forces occupying the high ground and the Later Jin cavalry flanking them, the situation was indeed perilous.

"Your Majesty, this subordinate suggests..." Before Cao Bianjiao could finish his sentence, a horn sounded sharply in the distance.

Standing upon the hill, Zhu Changxun looked down at the assembled imperial guards below, a mocking smirk curling his lips. "Let us see who the true Son of Heaven is!"

"Charge!" At the command, the rebel forces began to rush down from the hills.

Cao Bianjiao immediately readjusted his formation. "Divine Machine Division, ready!"

Ranks of musketeers raised their matchlocks, taking aim at the charging rebels.

At that very moment, the Later Jin cavalry suddenly launched an attack. Instead of charging the imperial guards, they directly struck the flanks of the rebel forces.

"This..." Zhu Changxun's expression changed dramatically. "What is the meaning of this?"

A Later Jin commander laughed aloud. "Prince Fu, did you really think we came to help you? As for the grand trend of the world, who wins and who loses—we are well aware!"

Seeing this, Luo Yangxing was overjoyed. "Heaven assists us! Pass the order, full army attack!"

Chaos instantly engulfed the battlefield. Caught between attacks from the front and the rear, the rebel formation was quickly thrown into disarray.

Watching his crumbling army, Zhu Changxun gritted his teeth in fury. "A fine Later Jin, a fine perfidy!"

Seizing the opportunity, Yang Huan led a troop directly toward Zhu Changxun's position.

"Protect His Majesty!" rebel commanders rushed forward, but it was already too late.

The imperial guards flooded the hills like a tide, completely shattering the rebel defensive line.

Surveying the surrounding situation, Zhu Changxun suddenly burst into wild laughter. "Since it has come to this, let us perish together!"

Pulling a flint lighter from his robes, he moved to ignite the gunpowder stored nearby.

"Stop him!" Yang Huan roared, lunging forward through the air.

The two tumbled onto the ground, wrestling fiercely. The flint lighter slipped from his grasp, falling into the damp mud.

Zhu Changxun attempted to struggle, but was firmly pinned down by the imperial guards.

Luo Yangxing stepped forward. "Prince Fu, if you please."

Zhu Changxun lifted his gaze to the sky and let out a sudden laugh. "Ah yes, victors are kings and losers are bandits—so it has always been."

The Later Jin commander rode up. "Your Majesty, may our forces..."

Cao Bianjiao immediately blocked his path. "This is a domestic affair of our Great Ming. Please exercise self-respect, esteemed allies."

The Later Jin commander laughed heartily. "Easily said, easily said. However, Your Majesty must remember this favor."

The sounds of slaughter on the battlefield gradually subsided. The rebel forces either surrendered or fled.

Yang Huan looked at the captured rebel banner and sighed. "A grand dream, awakened at last."

As Zhu Changxun was escorted down the hill, passing by Yang Huan, he suddenly spoke, "Yang Huan, where do you think I went wrong?"

Yang Huan was silent for a moment. "Your Highness's mistake lay in dreaming. This realm naturally has its rightful master."

Zhu Changxun gave a bitter smile. "Indeed, I should not have dreamed. But is this realm truly his?"

Luo Yangxing immediately rebuked him harshly, "Silence! Take him away!"

Watching Zhu Changxun being led away, Cao Bianjiao turned to the generals and gave his orders, "Pass the word down: clear the battlefield and tally the casualties."

The Later Jin cavalry began to withdraw. Before leaving, their commander cast a meaningful glance at the imperial guards.

Yang Huan walked over to a corpse and knelt down. It was a young rebel soldier, his hand still tightly clutching a small banner.

"Why did these people follow him in rebellion?" Yang Huan muttered to himself.

Luo Yangxing replied from nearby, "Probably because they, too, desired a different sort of world."

Cao Bianjiao walked over. "Enough of that. There is still plenty of aftermath to handle."

In the distance, the morning sun had risen. A new day had begun, but for some, everything had ended.

Yang Huan stood up and brushed the dust from his clothes. "Indeed, it is time to clean up the mess."

Luo Yangxing suddenly asked, "Do you think he truly acted for the common people of the world?"

Yang Huan shook his head. "Who knows? Perhaps even he himself did not know."

Cao Bianjiao interrupted their conversation. "Stop dwelling on it. Let us escort the prisoners back to the capital first."

On the battlefield, the imperial guards gathered the spoils of war. A soldier discovered a journal in the spot where Zhu Changxun had been stationed.

Luo Yangxing took the journal, flipped through its pages, and his expression turned complicated. "Some things are better left unknown."

He tossed the journal into a bonfire. The pages quickly turned to ash, scattering away with the wind.

Gazing at the drifting ashes, Yang Huan remarked, "This rebellion has ended just like that."

Cao Bianjiao shook his head. "Ended? No, this has only just begun."

Luo Yangxing looked around. "True enough. The Later Jin's assistance today will not come without a price."

Yang Huan sighed. "This game of chess is being played on a truly massive scale."

The sound of hoofbeats echoed from afar as a messenger galloped up. "My lords, a dispatch from the capital."

Luo Yangxing took the letter and read it, his expression instantly turning solemn.

"What is it?" Cao Bianjiao asked.

Luo Yangxing handed the letter over. "The local militias are showing new movements."

After reading the letter, Cao Bianjiao let out a heavy sigh. "This realm truly finds no peace."

Yang Huan took the letter and scanned it. "It appears we are about to face new troubles."

Gazing into the distance, Luo Yangxing agreed, "Indeed, this play has only just begun."

A cold wind blew, stirring the fallen leaves on the ground. The blood on the battlefield had not yet dried, and a new storm was already brewing.

Cao Bianjiao suddenly asked, "What do you think this world will eventually become?"

No one answered his question. In the distance, dark clouds were gathering, seemingly portending the arrival of a violent tempest.

Observing the escorted Zhu Changxun, Yang Huan spoke in a low voice, "Perhaps we shall soon know the answer."

Deep within the imperial prison, the clanking of iron chains echoed against the cold stone walls. Zhu Changxun knelt on the ground, fetters binding his hands and feet securely.

Luo Yangxing held an iron whip, pacing back and forth before him. "Speak, who else was involved in the treason?"

"Bah!" Zhu Changxun spat a mouthful of blood-stained saliva. "If you have the ability, just kill me!"

Cao Bianjiao delivered a kick to his abdomen. "Still stubborn?"

Yang Huan stepped out from the shadows. "Your Highness, why endure this fleshly torture further? You might as well..."

"Traitor!" Zhu Changxun interrupted harshly. "Are you even worthy of calling me Highness?"

Luo Yangxing brandished the iron whip, and blood instantly bloomed across Zhu Changxun's back. "Every lash is a chance for repentance."

"Hahahaha..." Zhu Changxun looked up and laughed aloud. "Do you think this is the end?"

Cao Bianjiao grabbed him by the hair. "Those militias—what is the truth behind them?"

A flash of cunning crossed Zhu Changxun's eyes. "You will find out soon enough."

Yang Huan handed over a roster. "These are the secret letters confiscated from the Prince Fu's estate. The names of all participants are listed here."

"Bullshit!" Zhu Changxun roared. "Those are fabricated by you!"

Another lash from Luo Yangxing cracked down. "Still won't admit it? What about this?" He displayed a letter bearing the seal of the Later Jin.

Zhu Changxun's expression finally shifted. "That is..."

"Three hundred thousand taels of silver," Yang Huan said coldly, "is the proof of your collusion with the Later Jin."

Zhu Changxun suddenly began to struggle violently. "What do you understand? This realm... ah!" Before he could finish, another whip-strike landed on his body.

Cao Bianjiao picked up a red-hot branding iron. "Unwilling to talk? Then we'll use harsher methods."

"Wait!" Zhu Changxun finally revealed a look of terror. "I'll talk... I'll talk..."

Luo Yangxing signaled his subordinates to record the statement. "Speak, and start from the beginning."

Gritting his teeth, Zhu Changxun said, "Three years ago, someone did come to find me..."

As the interrogation deepened, a massive treasonous network gradually surfaced. Local militias, members of the Donglin Party, and Later Jin secret envoys—their intricate relationships were exposed one by one.

"And?" Luo Yangxing's whip sliced through the air. "Where did those weapons come from?"

Unable to form complete sentences anymore, Zhu Changxun could only spit out fragmentary place names.

Recording on the side, Yang Huan's expression grew increasingly grim. "All these places are..."

"Are what?" Cao Bianjiao pressed.

"They are all strongholds of Western activities." Yang Huan replied.

Blood seeped from the corners of Zhu Changxun's mouth. "You think... capturing me will quell this storm?"

Luo Yangxing prepared to question him further when hurried footsteps echoed from outside. An Embroidered Uniform Guard strode inside. "My lord, the local militias..."

"What about them?" Cao Bianjiao asked.

"They... they have begun burning their ledgers and weaponry!"

Zhu Changxun suddenly broke into a frantic, manic laugh. "It's too late... it's all too late..."

Luo Yangxing grabbed him by the collar. "What else is there that we don't know?"

"You will never know..." Zhu Changxun's voice turned eerie. "This game of chess was laid out long ago..."

At that moment, his body began to convulse violently.

"No!" Yang Huan rushed forward. "He's biting his tongue to commit suicide!"

Cao Bianjiao immediately pried open his mouth, but it was too late. A foul-smelling dark blood gushed from Zhu Changxun's mouth.

"Call a physician! Quickly call a physician!" Luo Yangxing shouted.

Zhu Changxun's eyes bulged wide, a bizarre smile still lingering at the corners of his mouth. His final words vanished among the bloody bubbles in his throat:

"This world... is bound to change after all..."

Yang Huan checked his pulse and shook his head. "He is dead."

Luo Yangxing kicked over the interrogation table in rage. "Damn it! We won't be able to extract any more information!"

Cao Bianjiao gazed at the corpse on the ground. "At least... we learned a few things."

"Too little," Yang Huan sighed. "The secrets he took to his grave are likely far greater than what he revealed."

Urgent reports came from outside once more. "My lords! The militias in Nanzhili, Zhejiang, Shandong, and other regions have all begun to..."

Luo Yangxing cut him off sharply. "Say no more! Deal with the matters here first."

Cao Bianjiao looked at the pile of confessions. "How many heads will these documents cause to roll?"

"The problem is," Yang Huan picked up a document, "these people are still holding official posts in the court."

The iron gates of the imperial prison were pushed open, and a chilling wind carrying a foul stench of blood billowed outward. Several prison guards carried Zhu Changxun's corpse away.

Luo Yangxing looked at the blood-stained floor. "Clean up. Prepare to interrogate the next one."

"Who is next?" Cao Bianjiao asked.

Yang Huan opened the roster. "Li Yuzhen, Director of the Ministry of War."

"That Donglin partisan?" Luo Yangxing narrowed his eyes. "Make sure he makes a full confession regarding his collusion with the Later Jin."

Cao Bianjiao picked up the branding iron. "We mustn't let him seek death this time."

Looking at the dense list of names on the roster, Yang Huan remarked, "If we interrogate them one by one like this, who knows when it will end."

"Then we will do it one by one," Luo Yangxing picked up his whip. "We have plenty of time."

Outside, a new prisoner was escorted in. The clanking of iron chains echoed once more against the stone walls of the imperial prison.

Li Yuzhen knelt on the ground, fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead. Torches cast flickering shadows against the stone walls deep inside the prison.

"Speak, how many more members of the Donglin Party remain in the court?" Luo Yangxing's voice was devoid of any emotion.

Li Yuzhen raised his head, his eyes darting restlessly. "I... I can tell you, but..." His gaze drifted toward the door.

Understanding the cue, Yang Huan immediately ordered this level of the prison to be cleared. The footsteps gradually faded, leaving only a few core interrogators in the empty corridor.

"Speak!" Cao Bianjiao commanded sternly.

Li Yuzhen took a deep breath. "Vice Minister of War Zhang Shize, Director of the Ministry of Rites Wang Zheng, Auxiliary Secretary of the Ministry of Works Zhao Tingyu... they are all our people."

Luo Yangxing rapidly recorded the names on paper. "Who else?"

"Nanjing... down in Nanjing, Inspector-General of Yingtian Yang Jiaxuan was ostensibly arrested, but in truth he secretly defected to Prince Fu long ago."

Yang Huan sneered. "We already know all of this. Tell us something of value."

Li Yuzhen clenched his teeth. "The Westerners... they provided us with massive amounts of silver and firearms through missionaries in Macau."

"Elaborate," Luo Yangxing paused his brush.

"There is a missionary named Adam Schall, he..." Li Yuzhen broke into a violent fit of coughing. "Water... give me water..."

Cao Bianjiao brought a bowl of water, which Li Yuzhen drank greedily before continuing. "Adam Schall superficially teaches astronomy and calendar science in the imperial palace, but in reality, he is our liaison with the Westerners."

"Why would they help you?" Yang Huan asked.

A bitter smile crossed Li Yuzhen's face. "Was it not for missionary privileges? They want to preach freely in Great Ming and build churches."

Luo Yangxing's brow furrowed even deeper. "Aside from the Westerners, who else?"

"Japan... Japanese merchants are also involved. They transported supplies through Zheng Zhilong's maritime trade network."

Cao Bianjiao slammed his fist against the wall. "A fine Zheng Zhilong! No wonder he acts with such unbridled impunity at sea!"

Li Yuzhen continued, "Not just him, even the Grand Coordinator of Water Transport Gao Qiqian was bribed. At least thirty percent of the annual grain transport flowed into the hands of the militias."

"In other words, the court's lifeline is controlled by you people?" Yang Huan asked coldly.

Li Yuzhen shook his head. "Not entirely. Although some took the silver, they did not truly follow willingly. For example..." He abruptly stopped speaking.

"For example whom?" Luo Yangxing pressed.

"For example... Minister of War Chen Xinjia. He took the silver, but he has been stalling and took no actual action."

Cao Bianjiao let out a cold snort. "A fence-sitter!"

Li Yuzhen suddenly crawled on his knees toward Luo Yangxing. "My lord, I have told you everything I know. Can you... can you spare my life?"

Without answering, Luo Yangxing demanded, "What is the truth regarding the Later Jin?"

"That..." Li Yuzhen hesitated. "It was mediated by Mao Wenlong, the Regional Commander of Dongjiang. Superficially he resists the Later Jin, but in reality..."

"In reality what?" Yang Huan pressed.

"In reality, he takes money from both sides! The court gives him military provisions, the Later Jin give him silver, and he plays both sides, fighting and pausing as it suits him."

Luo Yangxing's expression turned exceedingly grim. "Are you saying even the border defense is..."

Li Yuzhen nodded. "Not just Mao Wenlong, even the Regional Commander of Ningyuan, Wu Sangui, also..." Before he could finish, a commotion erupted outside.

"My lord!" A prison guard rushed in. "Wu Sangui's confidant has arrived with a report, saying he intends to..."

Luo Yangxing cut him off harshly. "Silence! Take him away first!"

As Li Yuzhen was dragged away, he was still shouting, "My lord! I know many more things! Such as the secret pact between Prince Fu and the Later Jin, such as..."

Once Li Yuzhen was removed, Yang Huan spoke, "This news is likely to stir up an earth-shattering wave."

Luo Yangxing looked at the confession in his hands. "At least a third of the officials in the imperial court are implicated in this."

"Those Westerners..." Cao Bianjiao gritted his teeth, "daring to play such tricks on Great Ming soil!"

Yang Huan suddenly said, "Wait, he mentioned a secret pact between Prince Fu and the Later Jin..."

Luo Yangxing immediately stood up. "Go, bring him back!"

However, at that very instant, a miserable scream echoed from outside. The three men rushed out of the interrogation room to find Li Yuzhen collapsed on the ground, foaming at the mouth.

"He poisoned himself!" Yang Huan examined him and stated, "It was poison concealed in his teeth."

Luo Yangxing kicked the corpse in anger. "Damn bastard!"

Cao Bianjiao stared at the body on the floor. "He said so much, yet at the most critical moment..."

"No!" Yang Huan said suddenly. "Don't you find it strange? Why would he reveal so much, only to poison himself at the end?"

Luo Yangxing narrowed his eyes. "You mean..."

"He was diverting our attention," Yang Huan analyzed. "We already knew the names of those officials. He used those known facts to cover up something more important."

Cao Bianjiao frowned. "Something more important?"

"Yes," Yang Huan nodded. "Such as the secret pact between Prince Fu and the Later Jin that he mentioned, and Wu Sangui..."

Luo Yangxing immediately gave the order: "Pass down the command to investigate Wu Sangui thoroughly!"

"And," Yang Huan added, "have someone keep an eye on Adam Schall to see who else he contacts."

At that moment, another urgent report came from outside: "My lord, a letter has arrived from Ningyuan, stating that Wu Sangui..."

Luo Yangxing and the others exchanged glances, seeing the heavy gravity mirrored in each other's eyes.

"It seems," Cao Bianjiao said in a deep voice, "a much larger storm is coming."

Yang Huan looked at Li Yuzhen's corpse on the ground. "He took the most vital secrets to his grave, but he also provided us with some clues."

Luo Yangxing picked up the confession. "Wu Sangui, Adam Schall, Prince Fu's secret pact... all of these must be investigated immediately."

"My lord!" Another Embroidered Uniform Guard strode in quickly. "Zheng Zhilong's fleet is moving northward!"

Cao Bianjiao struck the wall with his fist. "Are these people uniting to rebel?"

"No," Yang Huan shook his head. "I fear their plot is even larger than mere rebellion."

Luo Yangxing looked at the confession in his hands, then down at the corpse. "Send the order: all personnel are to act immediately. Remember, we must do so before they can unite..."

Before he could finish, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside once more.