Who killed the Ming Dynasty?

Chapter 115 Jingzhou Must Not Be Lost

Zhu Cilang held a lotus seed in his hand, but his gaze turned to the map on the table:

"Hao Ying's ironclad troops still fly the left-hand flag, while the enemy camp on the opposite bank has already set up the red-barbarian cannons."

Zhang Youyu's Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice tightened.

"More importantly..."

"According to the lieutenant, the false envoy brought a gilded wooden box containing the official seal of the false Shun 'Shannan Jiedushi'—"

"They actually granted Hao Xiaozhong the right to establish his own government and military headquarters!"

Suddenly, the river water beneath the deck surged into a whirlpool, causing the celadon cups on the table to clang and rattle.

Zhu Cilang's finger slammed into the Han River on the map of Jingxiang, a cold glint flashing in his eyes:

"You mean—"

The knife left a deep mark on the location of Jiangling City.

"Hao Xiaozhong wants to exchange my Jingzhou for the rebel Li Zicheng's military governorship?"

Zhang Youyu was about to open his mouth.

"Take it—!"

Zhu Cilang's dagger was already embedded in the characters "Jingzhou" on the map.

"Don't even think about it!"

"Your Majesty, I dare to report..."

Zhang Youyu took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and continued:

"The enemy's strength is currently like looking at flowers through fog, and the Beijing garrison only has twenty-odd loyal and brave men... It would be better to temporarily conceal our strength and wait until we can see through their true strength before we have room to maneuver."

Zhu Cilang gazed at the surging river mist outside the porthole, his fingertips tracing the dragon pattern on the dagger.

A thousand thoughts surged within him like a turbulent sea, and after a long while, he slowly spoke:

"Jingzhou is the key to the fate of the nation; it must not be lost! Minister Zhang..."

He suddenly spun around, step by step approaching Zhang Youyu, his thin lips close to his ear.

In an extremely low voice, barely audible to the two of them, he revealed the breathtaking plan.

The river wind outside the cabin whipped the sails, and Zhang Youyu's face instantly turned pale. He gasped for breath, his voice hoarse:

"Your Majesty, is this strategy... perhaps... too risky and excessive?"

Zhu Cilang strode back to his desk and suddenly grabbed the wolf-hair brush from the desk:

"Is Zhang Qing perhaps afraid?"

Zhang Youyu's body trembled, and he knelt down on the deck with a thud:

"Since Your Majesty has entrusted the nation to me, I would not hesitate to sacrifice my life, even at the cost of my life."

Zhu Cilang raised his hand and spread out the five-colored silk brocade on the table, a cold, hard smile curving his lips:

"Excellent! The late Emperor once inscribed your name on the imperial screen, and seeing it today, I am certain that I did not misjudge you."

"Immediately implement this strategy!"

"Your subject... obeys the decree!"

After Zhang Youyu prostrated himself and kowtowed, he got up and backed out of the cabin, his steps slightly unsteady.

Zhu Cilang paused with his brush, causing the brocade on the golden nanmu table to tremble slightly.

A drop of ink fell on the character "天" (heaven) in the phrase "奉天承运" (By the Mandate of Heaven), spreading out as a black spot.

After a while.

The cabin door opened slightly, and Zhu Cilang, dressed in a moon-white scholar's robe, gracefully walked onto the deck.

Her loose hair was casually tied back with an indigo cloth, a few strands of hair falling across her forehead, and her cuffs were still stained with undried ink.

He looked every bit the scholar from the Wuchang Academy.

The lieutenant general stood with his arms crossed, his military boots impatiently grinding against the deck, his face full of contempt.

"The military guards endure hardship!"

Zhu Cilang clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, his demeanor as warm and gentle as spring.

The lieutenant glanced at him sideways, his face full of arrogance:

"Stop talking nonsense, are you in charge?"

Zhu Cilang, gentle as spring, still smiled:

"General, please calm down. The Chief Seal Master is already on board..."

Before the words were finished—

"Boom!"

The hatch suddenly burst open!

The wooden door hinges vibrated like a dragon's roar.

An invisible pressure instantly filled the deck.

Zhang Youyu, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, dressed in a crimson official robe of the second rank, wearing a gold crown and pearls, and with a jade tablet at his waist, stepped out of the gate.

General Zhang Wu followed closely behind, holding aloft a gold-lettered token that read "As if the Emperor were personally present."

He held the gilded cloud-patterned imperial edict box in his left hand, and suddenly unfolded an ivory fan with his right palm. The four golden characters "Loyalty, Diligence, Chastity, and Forgiveness" written by the emperor on the fan surface split the mist.

When the black official boots stepped onto the deck, the entire ship seemed to sink by a third.

Eight armored guards surged out from both sides like dark clouds pressing down on a city, their movements perfectly synchronized, their goose-feather scabbards striking each other with a thunderous rhythm as they moved at high speed.

Lieutenant General Wang Jing strode forward, his words like thunderclaps, his commands booming like lightning:

"The Imperial Envoy is here!"

"Minister Zhang, the Vice Minister of Revenue, is on imperial inspection tour; Hao Xiaozhong, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Jingzhou Garrison, kneel down immediately to receive the imperial edict!"

The sound of the waves startled several water birds perched on the bow of the boat, causing them to flap their wings and hurriedly fly towards the center of the river.

With a clang, the eight armored guards drew their goose-feather sabers half a foot from their sheaths.

A chilling blade flashed, cleaving through the thick fog and creating a terrifying killing formation.

"This humble servant...this humble general will immediately...immediately announce this!"

The lieutenant had clearly never seen such a scene before. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to his knees on the diving board with a "plop," his forehead almost touching the ground. In his panic, his iron boots tripped on the cable and he nearly fell into the river.

The soldiers with guns in the back stood frozen like puppets, the three in the front row slammed their knees to the ground, and the soldiers in the back row all knelt down upon seeing this.

Zhang Youyu flicked his wrist, the bone fan unfolded, and his voice was as clear as tearing silk, exuding an awe-inspiring presence:

"No need for announcement! I, the Imperial Envoy, wield the Imperial Sword and oversee military affairs. I shall now examine your military records."

Before the words were finished, the imperial edict box was slammed heavily onto the sandalwood table brought by the armored guards.

"You shall lead the way immediately. I shall face Vice Commander Hao directly—this imperial edict is here. Anyone who dares to delay shall be punished for disobeying the imperial decree."

The general's Adam's apple bobbed wildly as he swallowed a mouthful of fear:

"This humble general obeys. Minister Zhang, please... please follow this humble general."

He bowed and stepped back, his previous arrogance completely gone.

The moment Zhang Youyu stepped onto the pier in his black official boots, the river mist quietly dissipated along with the imperial edict box.

Zhu Cilang lowered his head and tucked his sleeves, quietly disappearing into the ranks of his entourage.

"Clear the way!"

Wang Jing roared again.

The sound was like thunder, startling the crows hiding in the mist into scattering and flying away, their feathers scattering the water vapor in the air.

The blazing sun pierced through the clouds, and the thick fog quickly dissipated.

Sunlight streamed down, illuminating a huge blue stone plaque above the water gate—

The four powerful characters in Yan style calligraphy, "雄峙江汉" (Majestic Overlooking the Yangtze and Han Rivers), were written by Xia Yan, the Grand Secretary during the Jiajing reign, and now they gleamed in the sunlight.

The general rode swiftly, his armored vehicle clashing against the pier with a series of chaotic sounds.

Sunlight pierced the barbican, illuminating the three-story arrow tower in every detail.

Zhu Cilang's eyes narrowed—behind the parapet stood three enormous Hongyi cannons, their muzzles menacingly pointed at the river.

After walking about a hundred steps through the alleyway where the blue bricks are peeling, the view suddenly opens up before you.

A mansion stands before you, with a golden plaque above the gate that reads "Mansion of the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Jingzhou Town".

When the lieutenant entered to report, Zhu Cilang followed Zhang Youyu into the general's mansion, with Wang Jing and Zhang Wu following closely behind as guards.

Faded dragon pillars support the eaves, and the aroma of incense mixed with the musty smell of wood wafts over.

Eight soldiers from the Beijing Garrison, armed with knives, stood in formation at the gate of the mansion.

In front of the main hall, two rows of soldiers in red armor slammed their gun butts to the ground.

"Hao Xiaozhong! Kneel down immediately to receive the imperial edict—!"

Wang Jing's thunderous voice rang out again.

At this moment, inside the hall, the lieutenant was whispering urgently in the ear of the general in the main seat.

Upon hearing Wang Jing's voice, the officer seemed to pause almost imperceptibly for a moment.

A flicker of consideration crossed his eyes, then he rose, strode down the steps, his armor still on, and knelt on one knee.

"Welcome, Your Excellency! Your humble servant, Hao Xiaozhong, has arrived late to receive the imperial decree!"

Zhu Cilang looked at him coldly. This person's hair was braided with eagle tail feathers, and three silver rings hung from his left ear, which was already unusual.

Upon closer inspection, one can see a fierce glint in an amber left eye, wolf bones embedded in the iron armor shoulder, and a ferocious lion head buckle on the belt—the whole body exudes the fierceness and wildness of the frontier.