Chapter Forty-Two: Walking Straight into the Trap

Zhu Yuanzhang is mighty—the most powerful figure to have ever emerged in the history of the Manichean Ming Cult.

Putting everything else aside, simply looking at how humble his origins were, yet he managed to ultimately become emperor—and an emperor wielding absolute power at that—is enough to reveal just how formidable Zhu Yuanzhang truly is.

In truth, the King of Ming knew very well that even with thorough preparations and a genuine uprising, he could at best mobilize no fewer than fifty thousand Cult followers. Even if he could persuade Yu Tongyuan and the others to lead the Chaohu naval forces into action alongside them, the probability of actually assassinating Zhu Yuanzhang remained exceedingly slim. The most likely outcome was that they would suffer a crushing defeat, their armor shattered and their ranks routed.

Yet, he was still determined to seize this opportunity to deal Zhu Yuanzhang a ruthless blow.

He simply wanted to see rivers of blood!

As for whose blood would flow—whether it belonged to Zhu Yuanzhang’s faction or to the numerous Ming Cult members who had been recruited—it did not matter in the least. The more people who died, the better. After all, the vast majority of the newly recruited Ming Cult followers were wretched, suffering souls on the brink of starvation. To fight for the light and to die for the light was their supreme honor. In a sense, he was doing a good deed by granting them an early release, sparing them from enduring further misery in this mortal world.

These ordinary followers were the easiest to recruit. As long as the core leadership remained intact, countless new adherents could easily be rallied in the future. As long as darkness persisted in this world, those rushing toward the light would never cease!

Actually, he also regarded Zhu Yuanzhang as a visionary sovereign who had done a commendable job after ascending the throne. Although certain flaws and issues existed, the overall performance was impressive. He had largely restored the realm that had been utterly devastated by the Yuan Dynasty. The land of Cathay was rapidly recuperating and recovering its vitality. In particular, Zhu Yuanzhang’s reconquest of vast lost territories in the north was an even greater achievement.

Yet... so what?

None of that hindered his rebellion!

None of that prevented him from wanting to eliminate Zhu Yuanzhang!

As for what would happen to the empire, plunging into chaos after Zhu Yuanzhang's death?

The greater the chaos, the better!

Only in utter chaos would there be room for them to display their talents! If not for the turbulent end of the Yuan Dynasty, Zhu Hongwu could never have become Zhu Yuanzhang; he would have lived his entire life under the name Zhu Chongba, farming the land.

As for how many people would die and how many families would be shattered once the realm fell into chaos... he cared not a whit!

Let the floods rise to the heavens!

As long as the waters did not submerge him, it mattered not!

A hundred guards emerged from the reed marshes, boarding boats to follow closely behind as the King of Ming pressed forward.

Before long, a mountain-like towering warship loomed horizontally across the lake. More than ten swift boats materialized, their elite and ferocious naval soldiers blocking the path, ordering the King of Ming’s guards to halt immediately and advance no further.

After brief negotiations, the King of Ming, accompanied by ten men, boarded the vessel with the men of the Chaohu naval forces. Upon reaching the towering warship, only the King of Ming and his left and right guardians were permitted to enter the cabin.

The seven remaining guards were left out on the deck, stared at by the Chaohu naval sentinels until their skin crawled with unease.

Let alone the guards, even the left and right guardians who accompanied him inside felt their hearts fluttering with anxiety, their steps growing unsteady. Only the King of Ming remained calm and composed. Under the watchful eyes of Yu Tongyuan, Yu Tongyuan’s brother Yu Tongyuan, and Liao Dingguo, he naturally bowed and exchanged greetings with them.

"You are the King of Ming?" Yu Tongyuan asked bluntly.

"Precisely."

"Bulls***! You motherf****** imposter! The King of Ming is afraid to die, so he sent a worthless piece of trash like you to fool me!"

Yu Tongyuan’s expression flipped instantly, a terrifying murderous intent erupting!

The legs of the King of Ming’s guardians turned to jelly, but the King of Ming showed no panic.

"Why must the Marquis of Nanan test me? I am indeed the King of Ming, genuine and without a doubt. How could someone who has walked this far be a coward? Marquis of Nanan, you are on the verge of death, and your entire Chaohu navy faces a catastrophic doom! Instead of testing me here, you would do better to urgently ponder how to resolve this mortal crisis," the King of Ming said with a placid expression.

Yu Tongyuan, Liao Dingguo, and Yu Tongyuan exchanged glances, the raging fury and murderous intent on their faces swiftly fading, replaced by joy.

"This matter is of monumental importance; how could we proceed without confirming your identity as the King of Ming?"

Seeing this, the King of Ming smiled faintly.

It worked!

It actually worked!

The Chaohu naval forces would inevitably be harnessed for his own use! This fiercely combative blade—once the sharpest weapon on the water in Zhu Yuanzhang’s hands—would now be thrust straight into Zhu Yuanzhang!

Let Zhu Yuanzhang taste the bitter fruit of his own making!

"Marquis of Nanan, being cautious is indeed proper... what are you doing?!"

Before the King of Ming could finish his sentence, his tone abruptly shifted, swallowed by boundless panic and astonishment.

Without warning, Marquis of Nanan Yu Tongyuan, along with the other two high-ranking Chaohu naval officers Liao Dingguo and Yu Tongyuan, lunged forward in a flash and subdued them at the very first instant.

Simultaneously, the Chaohu naval guards outside sprang into action, neutralizing the King of Ming's guards in a heartbeat.

"What am I doing? Naturally, resolving our own crisis," Yu Tongyuan said, patting the face of the King of Ming, who was struggling helplessly under the weight of Yu Tongyuan’s knee pressing against him.

"You will meet a wretched end! Zhu Yuanzhang will not spare you! Your only path to survival is to join us in killing Zhu Hongwu!"

Refusing to give up, the King of Ming continued trying to sway Yu Tongyuan.

Yu Tongyuan sneered. "The Crown Prince's letter has arrived."

He uttered only this single sentence, saying no more, yet it choked off the rest of the King of Ming’s words right in his throat. His head buzzed as if struck by a heavy hammer, his mind plunging into a daze.

Then, a sudden wave of realization dawned upon him.

Clearly, he had calculated everything; even the worst-case scenario should have allowed him to retreat safely. Yet, his enterprise had met with disaster before it could even properly begin.

He could not fathom where the flaw lay.

But now, it all made sense!

It turned out that Zhu Hongwu’s side had moved first! All of his meticulous calculations had fallen squarely into Zhu Yuanzhang’s trap!

This time, his defeat was not unjust.

Only... when had this Zhu Hongwu changed his temperament? According to his understanding of Zhu Hongwu, even if the emperor did not exterminate the Chaohu naval forces, he should have subjected them to a rigorous investigation for at least half a year. He would never have brought the operation to such an early close.

What on earth had happened? Had Zhu Hongwu turned over a new leaf, or had something transpired behind the scenes of which he was entirely ignorant? Or perhaps, this event was not Zhu Hongwu scheming against him at all, but purely a coincidence?

In the wake of his brief epiphany, countless new confusions surfaced, making even the King of Ming—who prided himself on his intellect—feel as though his head was about to split open.

Yet he was quite a character; he uttered not a single superfluous word thereafter, seeming to have accepted his fate.

Rebelling was inherently a hazardous enterprise, bound to send many rushing toward the light. It was only natural that even he, the King of Ming, should forfeit his life. It was simply a matter of victors and vanquished.

However... this battle would not end so easily!

Did Zhu Hongwu truly believe that capturing him alone would suffice? The underlying malady within Zhongdu City could not be resolved merely by apprehending him, the King of Ming! Even without him, as long as the darkness within Zhongdu City continued to fester, countless people would still yearn for the light! Even the emperor could not suppress them!

Yet the troubles of Zhongdu City were precisely those manufactured by Li Shanchang and even Zhu Hongwu himself. To solve the problems of Zhongdu City was to dig up the emperor's own roots and slap his own face!

Would Zhu Yuanzhang ever do such a thing?

...

"Are you truly not going to summon Tang He?"

In Zhongdu City, Marquis of Jiangyin Wu Liang asked Li Shanchang.

A sneer crossed Li Shanchang’s face. "Summon him for what? He had a hand in constructing Zhongdu City as well, yet he fell 'ill' eight or nine months ago. A man who fought campaigns north and south across the realm, built like a sturdy bear, suddenly turned into a sickly weakling, holing up at home to nurse his health and ignoring all matters concerning Zhongdu City. He thought we couldn't see through his disapproval of our construction of Zhongdu, fearing that our actions might implicate him? Since he was so terrified and avoided us at every turn, then so be it. Now that His Majesty has arrived and it is time to reap the rewards, there is no need for us to drag him along. Let him continue being 'sick'!"

"Earlier, he played the coward, terrified of being implicated. Now that the benefits have arrived, he still wants a share of the glory? It’s like tripping and falling straight onto a beauty's lap—he's just dreaming of sweet fortune!" Li Shanchang’s younger brother, Li Sanyi, blurted out with an outright curse.

Seeing this, Wu Liang said no more.

Come to think of it, they really could not be blamed; Tang He had acted despicably first. Now, he was merely reaping what he had sown...

...

"Father, is your illness cured? Shall we... open the window again to let the cold air in?"

Tang He’s son, Tang Yu, looked at his father, who was brimming with vibrant energy, and uttered a profoundly filial question.

"His Majesty is coming; my illness daren't refuse to be cured!"

With that remark, Tang He summoned the retainers of his household, donned his helmet and armor, and hurried out of the manor.

Watching his father depart, Tang Yu scratched his head. He wasn't wondering what his father was up to; rather, he was puzzled as to why his father had explicitly stated his illness didn't dare persist, yet beneath his armor, he had dressed so thinly? On such a freezing day, taking a ride through the biting wind would tax even a body forged of iron!

...

Amidst the shrill, soaring notes of suonas, Zhu Yuanzhang, accompanied by the Crown Prince, disembarked from the ship with the full ceremonial pageantry belonging to the Son of Heaven and the heir apparent. He mounted the imperial carriage and journeyed across his native soil.

The road from this point to Zhongdu City had already been swept clean with water and paved over with fresh yellow earth, rendering it immaculate and orderly. The roadsides were packed with countless common people from both Linhuai and Fengyang counties, standing on tiptoe to gaze upon the rare spectacle.

Li Shanchang, leading the officials of Zhongdu City, the Huaixi nobles residing in Fengyang, or the scions that the noble households could put forward, along with the officials of Linhuai and Fengyang counties, knelt before the imperial carriage with hearts pounding with agitation.

Zhu Yuanzhang, who had been waving and smiling warmly at the common folk, cast his gaze upon Li Shanchang...