Ming Dynasty: Is a mere unruly commoner rebelling against heaven?

Chapter 39: The Camp Crusher Arrives!

Wang Shu held his tablet and stood behind Liu Jian.

Wang Shu's first confrontation with Zhu Youcheng resulted in a complete defeat for Wang Shu.

Although Liu Jian was somewhat disappointed, he still smiled and nodded at Wang Shu as a sign of comfort.

Liu Jian took the initiative to give up his position, allowing Wang Shu to stand in the second position among the civil officials, while he stood behind Wang Shu.

"Grand Secretary Wang, don't worry, there will be plenty of time in the future."

As they brushed past each other, Liu Jian whispered words of comfort in Wang Shu's ear.

Wang Shu nodded: "I heard that it was Grand Secretary Liu who recommended me to His Majesty. I am very grateful."

"Grand Secretary Wang is too polite. Selecting virtuous and capable individuals is my duty," Liu Jian replied courteously.

At this moment, Xu Pu, who had been standing in the first position among the civil officials but had remained silent, also turned around.

"Grand Secretary Wang, congratulations on joining the cabinet. We will be colleagues from now on."

Xu Pu gave Wang Shu a slight smile.

Wang Shu cupped his hands: "Please, Chief Secretary Xu, take care of me in the future."

After Wang Shu's failure, the last bit of hope in the hearts of the civil and military officials was extinguished.

More than a hundred officials kneeling on the ground wept bitterly.

Although they knew the chances were slim, their survival instincts still drove them to kowtow and beg Zhu Youcheng for mercy.

"Your Majesty, spare us! Please have mercy, Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty! I didn't dare to spend a single tael of those silver! It's just that my family was too poor when I was young!"

"Your Majesty, I want to report! I want to report that others have also embezzled! Please spare my life, I'll say anything!"

"..."

Zhu Youcheng looked at them coldly, unmoved.

"Jinyiwei, East Depot, West Depot, listen to my orders!"

"Your subordinates are listening!"

All the Jinyiwei, East Depot agents, and West Depot agents present knelt down, awaiting Zhu Youcheng's orders.

Huai En, Wang Zhi, and Mou Bin also knelt before Zhu Youcheng, respectfully awaiting orders.

"Escort all the prisoners to the outside of the north city wall of the capital."

"The rest of the officials, great and small, will follow me to the top of the north city wall."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The Jinyiwei, East Depot agents, and West Depot agents escorted the one hundred and eighty-one officials and the families of Ma Wensheng and Qiu Yue towards the north city wall.

Although the civil and military officials in the court did not know what Zhu Youcheng intended, they obediently got up and followed behind the depot agents towards the north city wall.

Zhu Youcheng got up and sat on the imperial carriage.

The little eunuch from the Directorate of Palace Affairs quickly carried Zhu Youcheng out of the palace.

The emperor's departure from the Forbidden City to the capital was a major event within the palace.

From the moment Zhu Youcheng issued the order, the entire Forbidden City began to take action.

The eunuchs of the Directorate of Palace Affairs and the Directorate of Imperial Equipage organized the emperor's procession as quickly as possible.

Wang Zhi, the Grand Supervisor of the Imperial Horse Directorate, also mobilized the Imperial Guards of the Tengxiang Four卫 to protect Zhu Youcheng.

There were even more secret agents from the Jinyiwei, East Depot, and West Depot.

Before Zhu Youcheng left the palace, they had already cleared all obstacles on the road from the Forbidden City to the north city wall of the capital.

All civilians and officials, avoid!

All windows along the street, close!

All businesses along the street, close!

The entire street was swept clean, and no idlers dared to linger there.

Such a large operation was only to ensure Zhu Youcheng's travel safety.

Along the way, three hundred Wu骧 Left Guards and three hundred Wu骧 Right Guards led the way.

Then three hundred Teng骧 Left Guards and three hundred Teng骧 Right Guards brought up the rear.

Five hundred little eunuchs from the Directorate of Imperial Equipage displayed the emperor's regalia.

Huai En, Mou Bin, and Wang Zhi stood on either side of Zhu Youcheng's imperial carriage, providing close protection.

Zhu Youcheng sat in the imperial carriage, calmly surveying the surrounding scenery.

This was his first time leaving the palace to experience the lives of the Ming Dynasty's people up close in the capital.

He saw that the buildings along the street, with their flying eaves and bracket arches, extensively used materials such as brick, stone, glazed tiles, and hardwood, and were built with great care.

However, no building along the street was more than three stories high.

This ensured that even if someone stood on the roof, they would not be able to see any of the palace scenes.

Soon, Zhu Youcheng's entourage arrived at the foot of the north city gate of the capital.

The general guarding the city was so frightened when he heard that the emperor was coming that he almost lost his soul.

He quickly led all the soldiers and waited early at the bottom of the city tower.

Zhu Youcheng stepped down from the imperial carriage, and the soldiers guarding the city knelt down to salute.

"General of the Three Thousand Camp骠骑, greets Your Majesty!"

Zhu Youcheng didn't even look at them, and calmly walked up the stone steps to the city: "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The soldiers guarding the city were all breathing heavily with excitement. They never imagined that one day they would be told to rise by the Emperor of the Great Ming.

This alone was enough for them to brag about for the rest of their lives.

Zhu Youcheng ascended the city wall, followed by Huai En, Wang Zhi, Mou Bin, and other close attendants.

Then came Xu Pu, Wang Shu, Liu Jian, Xie Qian, Li Dongyang, and other Grand Secretaries and Ministers.

After that were the other civil and military officials.

After all the officials had ascended the city wall, they saw the one hundred and eighty-one officials and the families of Ma Wensheng and Qiu Yue standing on the vast open space outside the city wall.

Next to them were the depot agents who had escorted them.

The officials did not understand what was happening and could only wait patiently.

Zhu Youcheng stood on the city wall, his gaze calmly gazing at the distant horizon.

"Your Majesty, this is..."

Huai En asked in a low voice, filled with doubt.

Zhu Youcheng raised his hand, stopping Huai En from continuing.

"Listen."

Huai En was puzzled.

Listen?

Listen to what?

Suddenly, Huai En noticed that the entire ground seemed to be trembling faintly.

At the same time, a magnificent sound of horses' hooves, from small to large, from far to near, rang in their ears.

Everyone looked up in horror, and suddenly saw a black tide surging on the distant horizon.

When they got closer, they realized that it was not a tide, but a dense, thousands upon thousands, an endless stream of black horse black armored cavalry!

Everyone on the entire city wall was terrified and their minds were shaken!

"Your Majesty, this..."

Mou Bin's eyes widened, and he felt his hands trembling slightly.

Zhu Youcheng raised a smile at the corner of his mouth: "Let your people all come back."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Huai En and Mou Bin lay on the city wall, shouting loudly to let the Jinyiwei and East Depot agents quickly return to the city.

Wang Zhi just made a gesture, and the West Depot agents immediately ran towards the city.

In an instant, the depot agents outside the city all entered the city.

The officials who remained in place did not know why and looked around in confusion.

The officials on the city tower, when they saw the surging cavalry tide getting closer and closer, all widened their eyes and opened their mouths.

The shaking of the ground became more and more violent!

The roar of the hooves became louder and louder!

Among the officials outside the city, someone finally turned around, and then he saw the most terrifying sight of his life.

Thousands upon thousands of black horse black armored cavalry, holding knives and halberds, were charging towards them at full speed.

The galloping of the horses made the ground tremble violently, even making them unable to stand still.

More and more corrupt officials outside the city discovered the surging cavalry, and each of them was scared out of their wits, their livers and gallbladders were torn apart!

"Ahhhhh!!!"

"Run!"

"No! Don't!!!"

"..."