Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

Zhu Biao's eyes were cold as he pointed at several locations on the sketch and said, "There are three passages in the warehouse, one main gate and two secret passages. We will split our troops into three groups. We will only make a feint attack on the main gate to attract their attention. The real breakthrough point is in these two secret passages."

He looked at Lin Chuan, his tone low and firm: "You lead the secret guards to sneak in from the secret passage on the west side and control the interior. Another team will enter from the secret passage on the east side and completely block their retreat. When they are in disarray, I will go straight to the core from the main gate."

Lin Chuan clasped his fists and said, "I obey your orders!"

Zhu Biao slowly stood up, and the long sword at his waist made a crisp sound. He looked through the window and looked into the distance: "This is the last battle, I will make sure they have nowhere to hide."

As night fell, the atmosphere in Ping'an County became more and more eerie. Outside the warehouse, there were faint patrols of sentinels, their faces solemn, their hands tightly grasping machetes, obviously on guard.

The shadow guards were stalking in the dark like ghosts. The people led by Lin Chuan quietly arrived at the entrance of the secret passage on the west side. He lowered his voice and said to the people behind him: "Act according to the plan, fight quickly and decisively, and never expose yourself."

At the same time, Zhu Biao deployed guards disguised as caravans outside the main gate of the warehouse. They talked in low voices, like ordinary goods traders, but each of them hid weapons and waited for Zhu Biao's order.

"Your Highness, Lin Chuan has arrived at the designated location." A guard reported softly.

Zhu Biao nodded, his eyes steady: "Okay, wait for them to send a signal, and we will act immediately."

Inside the warehouse, there was a faint sound of metal colliding. Dozens of craftsmen were busy among the piles of weapons, while the supervisor sat at a wooden table, looking through the account books. He frowned and muttered to himself, "What's going on? The goods from last night haven't been delivered yet. Is there a problem?"

Just as he was hesitating, he suddenly heard a sharp whistle. Before he could react, a chaotic sound of footsteps came from the secret passage on the west side.

"There are enemies!" As soon as the sentry shouted, he was stabbed in the throat by the secret guard.

Lin Chuan led his men to rush in quickly and took control of the western area at lightning speed. He whispered, "Seal all exits and search for account books and weapons!"

The warehouse was in chaos. The guards and craftsmen tried to resist, but were quickly suppressed by the secret guards. At the same time, Zhu Biao heard the signal and decisively ordered: "Attack!"

The guards at the main gate suddenly overturned the disguised truck, drew their weapons and rushed into the warehouse. Before the guards could organize a defense, they were caught off guard by the sudden attack.

Zhu Biao kicked open a wooden door in the warehouse and glanced around coldly. His eyes quickly fell on the account books in the center and the wooden boxes filled with weapons.

He bent down to pick up a bill, glanced at it quickly, and said in a cold voice: "These weapons were sent to several important towns in the north."

Lin Chuan rushed over from the back, holding a yellowed booklet in his hand: "Your Highness, this is the personnel list found in the warehouse, involving many dignitaries in the capital. They not only provided funds, but also secretly supported the circulation of this batch of weapons."

Zhu Biao took the list, his eyes as sharp as a knife. He said coldly: "What a secret gang, daring to forge weapons privately, it is clearly a conspiracy."

At this time, a secret guard came with the warehouse leader and threw him to the ground. The man's face was covered in blood, and he shouted in horror: "Your Highness, spare me! I am just following orders, and this has nothing to do with me!"

Zhu Biao sneered and drew his sword to his throat: "Who told you to do this? Tell me, and I may let you die more easily."

The leader trembled and said, "It's... it's Liu... Liu Tang! He is a... a powerful person in the capital, and he is also the man behind this matter!"

Zhu Biao's eyes shone, and he murmured in a low voice: "Liu Tang...it turned out to be him."

Lin Chuan asked in a low voice: "Your Highness, what is the origin of this Liu Tang?"

Zhu Biao's eyes flashed with a cold light: "He is a minister of the court. He is good at hiding himself on weekdays. I didn't expect that he was one of the masterminds of privately casting weapons."

He stood up and said in a cold voice: "Take everyone away, seal the account books and weapons, and report this matter to the emperor's uncle immediately."

Zhu Han received Zhu Biao's secret report in the capital, and his expression was icy. He stood with his hands behind his back and whispered: "Liu Tang...it seems that the deepest cancer in the court has finally surfaced."

The secret guard asked in a low voice: "My Lord, what should we do next?"

Zhu Han's eyes were like lightning, and his tone was as sharp as the cold wind: "We have collected enough evidence of Biao'er's actions. Immediately arrange for personnel to completely wipe out the remaining members of Liu Tang. If necessary, I will take action myself."

Zhu Han stood in the courtyard of Prince Jing's mansion, his eyes fixed on the secret report in his hand. His brows were furrowed, as if he was thinking about a complicated chess game.

The head of the secret guard Lin Chuan walked over quickly and whispered, "Your Highness, the message from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has been delivered. This is the last piece of evidence about Liu Tang. All the account books and weapons found in the warehouse have been sent to the palace. The emperor has begun to have doubts."

Zhu Han slowly rolled up the secret report and said coldly, "Liu Tang is indeed a man of few talents. He is deeply involved in the private forging of weapons. If he didn't have a bigger backer behind him, he would never dare to act so recklessly."

Lin Chuan hesitated for a moment and whispered, "Your Highness, if it is really as Your Highness expected, there may be more powerful people in the court involved in this matter. Should we expose it directly next?"

Zhu Han shook his head, his eyes cold and sharp: "Don't act too hastily. Although Liu Tang is the key, he is just a chess piece on the chessboard. If you want to move him, you must first see the whole chess game clearly. Especially Zhu Di, his recent actions have forced me to be on guard."

Lin Chuan was shocked and asked in a deep voice, "Your Highness, do you mean that this matter is related to the King of Yan?"

Zhu Han did not answer directly, but whispered: "The Prince of Yan has always acted in secret, but his goal has never changed. Although Biao'er has shown his edge now, if he confronts Zhu Di head-on, it will only leave loopholes for the enemy. We need to peel off their disguise step by step, and finally catch them all in one fell swoop."

Lin Chuan nodded: "I understand, what should we do next?"

Zhu Han pondered for a moment and said slowly: "Liu Tang will show up in the palace. I will go to the palace in person to test my brother's attitude. At the same time, you will secretly mobilize people to keep a close eye on Liu Tang's every move. If he makes any unusual moves, report immediately."

"Yes, I obey your command." Lin Chuan took the order and left.

The next day, Zhu Han changed into court clothes and entered the Forbidden City. In the imperial study, Zhu Yuanzhang was reviewing memorials, his brows revealing a bit of fatigue. Hearing that Zhu Han wanted to see him, he raised his hand and said, "Let brother Han in."

Zhu Han walked into the study, saluted Zhu Yuanzhang, and said solemnly: "Brother Emperor, I came here today to discuss Liu Tang's affairs."

Zhu Yuanzhang put down the pen in his hand, his eyes slightly focused: "Liu Tang? Brother Han, where do you think his problem lies?"

Zhu Han looked directly at Zhu Yuanzhang and said in a deep voice: "Liu Tang appears loyal, but in fact he secretly colluded with craftsmen to forge weapons privately. These weapons not only flowed into the civilian population, but were even dispersed to several important cities in the north. If Biao'er hadn't investigated it personally, this matter would probably still be buried deep underground." Zhu Yuanzhang frowned slightly, with a hint of coldness in his eyes: "Forging weapons privately? Such a big thing, but it was not discovered earlier. Is there no one left in the court who can be used?"

Zhu Han bowed slightly and said in a steady tone: "Brother, this matter involves so many people that I think we should not act rashly. If we want to thoroughly investigate Liu Tang, we must find out all his accomplices."

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly, his tone full of majesty: "You are right, but if we don't kill one person to warn the rest, I'm afraid more people will follow suit. Brother Han, what's your plan?"

Zhu Han's eyes darkened slightly, and he said slowly: "I suggest that we keep our troops in place for the time being. On the surface, we should relax our vigilance against Liu Tang, but secretly send people to monitor his actions. As long as he reveals a flaw, we can follow the clues and find out the forces behind him."

After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes gradually softened. He nodded and said, "Okay, I'll leave this matter to you. Biao'er has performed well this time, so I'll let him come to the palace to see me later."

Zhu Han secretly breathed a sigh of relief and bowed: "I obey your command."

At the same time, in Liu Tang's mansion, he was standing in the study with a gloomy face. On the table was a secret letter, the content of which was simple but shocking.

"The warehouse was raided, and the clues point to me..." Liu Tang clenched the letter and said coldly, "Zhu Biao is really a tough opponent."

A close confidant asked in a low voice: "Sir, what should we do next? If the emperor tracks us down, I'm afraid we will have a hard time escaping."

Liu Tang sneered, "Difficult to escape? Humph, that depends on who strikes first. Pass on my order and have the Prince of Yan's spies take action. They have been hiding in the capital for many years. It's time for them to take effect."

The confidant was slightly startled: "Sir, if the King of Yan's men take action, I'm afraid it will attract more attention..."

"So what if it attracts attention?" Liu Tang slammed the table with a fierce look, "As long as I can implicate the prince and make the emperor suspicious of him, I will not sit still and wait for death, even if it means we will lose everything!"

As night fell, Zhu Biao was reading intelligence in the study of the East Palace. Lin Chuan walked in quickly, his expression solemn: "Your Highness, the spies reported that Liu Tang's mansion has strengthened its defenses recently, and some unidentified people have been coming in and out frequently."

Zhu Biao put down the file in his hand, his eyes calm, "It seems that he has noticed our actions."

Lin Chuan nodded: "I am worried that he will take the risk and attack you."

Zhu Biao sneered: "If he dares to take action, it will be his biggest mistake. I have already laid a trap, waiting for him to fall into it."

Lin Chuan hesitated for a moment and asked in a low voice: "Your Highness, if Liu Tang is really related to King Yan, how do you plan to deal with it?"

Zhu Biao's eyes were stern, and he said in a deep voice: "Let's not talk about the matter of the Prince of Yan for now, the emperor's uncle will make the arrangements. Our target is Liu Tang. As long as he falls, the power behind him will collapse no matter how strong it is."

He stood up, with his hands behind his back, and said in a low and firm voice: "Lin Chuan, keep a close eye on Liu Tang's every move, especially his contact with the outside world. If necessary, take him down at all costs!"

"I understand!" Lin Chuan clasped his fists and accepted the order.

Zhu Han stood in the courtyard of Prince Jing's mansion, holding the secret letter that had just been delivered, with a stern expression. He looked up in the direction of the palace in the distance and murmured in a low voice: "Liu Tang is getting anxious, Biao'er's plan is starting to work."

Lin Chuan emerged from the shadows and clasped his fists, saying, "Your Highness, the news just came back is that there are spies coming in and out of Liu Tang's residence, and they are suspected of deploying operations against the Eastern Palace. Their manpower is being secretly mobilized, and the target seems to be clearly pointed at His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Zhu Han's eyes flashed with coldness when he heard this. He put down the letter in his hand, turned around and said slowly: "Zhu Di is always so impatient. He doesn't understand that the more exposed he is, the more he will lose. He sent someone to deal with Biao'er, which just gave us a chance to turn the tables on him."

Lin Chuan asked in a low voice: "Your Majesty, should we strengthen the defense of the East Palace next?"

Zhu Han shook his head slightly: "Defenses must be strengthened, of course, but that's not the point. The point is to make them feel that the operation is going smoothly, so that they will be completely exposed when they are in high spirits."

Lin Chuan's eyes lit up: "I understand. Your Majesty means to set a trap and lure them into it?"

Zhu Han smiled slightly, with a hint of coldness in his eyes: "That's right. I have ordered people to arrange clues to attract their attention. As long as they take action, we will take action immediately."

He approached Lin Chuan and said in a low but firm voice: "You take a team of elite soldiers and ambush around the East Palace. Make sure to capture everyone alive. Don't let anyone escape. After tonight, we will make sure that Liu Tang and the people behind him will never stand up again."

Lin Chuan bowed and accepted the order: "I will arrange it right away."

Inside the Eastern Palace, Zhu Biao stood in front of the desk, looking steadily at the map on the table. He pointed at several key locations around the Eastern Palace and whispered to the guards beside him, "According to the emperor's uncle's deployment, these locations must be guarded. No matter who approaches at night, they must be notified."

The guard clasped his fists and accepted the order: "Yes, Your Highness!"

Zhu Biao turned around and looked at Lin Chuan who was standing beside him. His tone was a little cold and stern: "Although the plan of the emperor's uncle is thorough, Liu Tang's people will definitely fight to the death. Tonight, we can't let down our guard at all."

Lin Chuan nodded: "Don't worry, Your Highness. I have arranged an ambush. As long as they take action, there is no chance of survival."

Zhu Biao nodded slightly, but there was a trace of thought in his eyes: "But I always feel that there is a deeper conspiracy behind Liu Tang. It is impossible for him, a minister alone, to mobilize so many forces."

Lin Chuan asked in a deep voice: "Your Highness, do you mean that there are other people secretly controlling this?"

Zhu Biao's eyes were stern and his tone was low: "It is probably related to the King of Yan. If so, tonight's action is just the beginning, and the real game has just begun."

Late at night, there was silence outside the East Palace. The guards on duty patrolled back and forth, and the shadows of the secret sentries were vaguely visible, covering the entire East Palace under strict protection.

In the alley in the distance, a group of men in black quietly sneaked in. They moved lightly, their eyes were sharp, and they held short blades in their hands, which showed that they were well-trained.

The leader whispered, "The goal is clear. We only need to get the secret letter in the East Palace. Others don't have to do anything. But if we are discovered, we will kill them on the spot."

The men in black nodded, quickly split into small groups, and approached the East Palace. However, as soon as they entered the restricted area of ​​the East Palace, the air around them seemed to freeze instantly. (End of this chapter)