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

Everyone was silent, and for a moment the only sound in the study was the flickering of the candlelight.

Zhu Biao stretched out his hand, and his fingers slowly crossed several key locations on the map. His tone gradually became sharper: "Lin Chuan is already keeping an eye on the whereabouts of these carriages. Our people will follow them all the way until they deliver the supplies to the final destination. Only by finding the true destination of these supplies can we thoroughly dig out the person behind the scenes."

The confidant standing by nodded and whispered, "Your Highness is right. This batch of supplies is just bait. If we act rashly, we may alert the enemy."

"That's right." A cold light flashed in Zhu Biao's eyes. "Zhu Di thought these actions could conceal his intentions, but he didn't know that we had already seen through them. He wanted to disrupt the situation in the border city to buy time for himself, but what we have to do is to eradicate his ambitions."

Another confidant bowed and asked, "Your Highness, if the other party notices something along the way, do we need to take action in advance?"

Zhu Biao's eyes were stern, and his tone was resolute: "Don't act rashly. Unless we are sure that the manipulator behind the scenes has appeared, we can't make any moves. This is a layout, and if there is any mistake, all the previous efforts may be wasted."

Everyone responded in unison: "Yes, Your Highness!"

Zhu Biao exhaled lightly and said slowly: "In the next few days, the defense of the capital must be tightened. At the same time, let the spies keep a close eye on all movements related to Zhu Di. Any clues must be reported immediately."

"My subordinates understand!" everyone responded in unison.

At the same time, the spies led by Lin Chuan were quietly moving on the post road. The night was as dark as ink, and they hid in the shadows like ghosts, their eyes fixed on the carriage team not far away.

The carriage moved forward slowly, and the escorting men in black looked extremely alert. They looked back from time to time, and even stopped several times on the way to see if anyone was following them.

"Lord Lin, they are very vigilant and seem to have noticed our presence." A spy whispered.

Lin Chuan frowned and lowered his voice: "The more vigilant they are, the more important this batch of supplies is. Pass the order down, everyone keep your distance and don't expose yourself."

The spy nodded and quickly conveyed the order.

Lin Chuan stared at the carriages with eagle eyes. He clenched his hands slowly and thought to himself, "Zhu Di...what on earth do you want to do with these things?"

Suddenly, the carriage in front stopped. A leading man in black got off his horse, looked around, and then whispered, "Keep going, be careful, don't let anyone get close."

Lin Chuan watched this scene and whispered to the spy beside him, "They really don't dare to stay easily. Keep following them and see where their final destination is."

In the Prince of Yan's Mansion, Zhu Di was sitting at his desk, and Xu Yi was standing beside him, reporting the latest developments to him.

Xu Yi stood beside the desk and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, the supplies have already set off as you ordered, and are expected to arrive at the outpost outside the border city at noon tomorrow."

Zhu Di nodded gently, put down the secret report casually, and raised a sneer at the corner of his mouth: "Very good. With this batch of things in hand, the situation in the north will be under my control. By then, even if Zhu Biao wants to fight back, he can only sigh helplessly."

Xu Yi bowed his head and responded, but a trace of worry flashed in his eyes. He hesitated for a moment, and finally said: "Your Highness, although this operation is thorough, the Crown Prince has been secretly watching our movements. I am worried that he might notice something."

Zhu Di sneered when he heard this, raised his head and looked at Xu Yi, his eyes like a knife: "So what if he noticed? Zhu Biao is just a young boy, his eyes are at most on this batch of supplies, but he doesn't know that this is just a move I made. By the time he has exhausted his energy to deal with this move, the real trick has already been put on his head."

Xu Yi was slightly surprised and asked tentatively: "Your Majesty, do you mean... this batch of supplies is just a cover?"

Zhu Di slowly stood up, stood with his hands behind his back, walked to the window of the study, and said coldly: "Of course. If there is no cover, how can he have the opportunity to jump into my trap? Zhu Biao is smart, but he is too impatient. He thinks he can see through everything, but he doesn't know that the more anxious he is to fight back, the easier it is to reveal his flaws."

He paused, looking towards the darkness outside the window, his tone becoming a little colder: "As long as this game is over, no matter how capable he is, he will be forced to deal with it. While he is busy with these superficial efforts, my real plan will be quietly unfolding."

Xu Yi was terrified when he heard this, and he immediately cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty is indeed very far-sighted. I will arrange for people to step up precautions and ensure that the supplies arrive safely."

Zhu Di waved his hand and said calmly, "Go ahead. Tell those people to be cautious and not make any mistakes at the last minute. Zhu Biao's ability is limited, but he has Zhu Han by his side, and this guy is not an easy person to deal with."

"I understand." Xu Yi bowed and retreated.

The study returned to silence, and Zhu Di stood alone in front of the window, staring into the darkness in the distance. His expression was no longer as calm as before, but a little more stern.

"Zhu Biao, if you want to fight me, you're still far from it." He whispered to himself, but a complicated smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

He returned to his desk, spread out a map, tapped a few marks with his fingers, and frowned slightly. After a moment, he said softly: "Uncle Han, I know you are helping him behind the scenes. But, how much can you see and how much can you stop next?"

Outside the window, the cold wind blew through the courtyard, and the shadows of the trees swayed, as if secretly applauding the coming storm.

It was late at night, and Zhu Di did not go to rest, but took Xu Yi into a secret room in the palace. In the secret room was a huge sand table, on which were marked the terrain of various places in the north, the distribution of garrisons, and several important post roads.

"Your Highness, regarding the true whereabouts of that batch of supplies, do I need to arrange more manpower?" Xu Yi asked, with a hint of caution in his tone.

Zhu Di lowered his head and stared at the sand table, shaking his head gently: "No need. These are just chess pieces. Whether they are intercepted or destroyed, it doesn't matter. The key is that the prince will definitely do his best to track them down. And our real goal is to control the more important situation when he is too busy to do anything else."

Xu Yi seemed to understand something: "I understand. In this case, even if the prince finds out the truth, it will be too late."

Zhu Di sneered, his eyes like an eagle: "That's right. This game has just begun, and I still have many pieces to move."

The morning sun shone through the window onto the desk. Zhu Biao had not slept all night, staring at the map with eyes as sharp as a hawk. He held a secret letter that had just been delivered in his hand. After reading it carefully, a sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"Lin Chuan's news has been confirmed. The destination of that batch of supplies is not the real destination. Zhu Di does have a backup plan." Zhu Biao put down the letter and looked at several confidants standing beside him.

Lin Chuan stepped forward and said in a deep voice: "Your Highness, according to my speculation, those people may transfer materials at the next node. According to their route, the final destination is not yet clear, but what is certain is that there is a strict hidden line behind it." Zhu Biao nodded, his eyes deep: "Zhu Di has always acted cautiously, he will not allow any mistakes. If we can catch his real deployment this time, not only can his plan be disintegrated, but he will also completely lose the trust of his father."

He pointed to several post roads on the map and said decisively, "Order the secret guards to keep a close eye on those carriages, and arrange for our people to deploy at key points. Remember, don't alert anyone."

"Yes!" Lin Chuan bowed in response.

The atmosphere in the study room suddenly became more solemn. A confidant couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, if Zhu Di's plan is more complicated than we expected, do we need to mobilize troops in advance to deal with it?"

Zhu Biao smiled slightly, his eyes becoming more calm. "No need. Since we have decided to use stillness to overcome dynamics, we must wait until he reveals his true cards. Taking action now will only give him a chance to withdraw."

Another attendant asked in a low voice: "Your Highness, if we continue to follow, will the other party notice us?"

Zhu Biao frowned slightly, and after a moment's silence, he said, "Zhu Di is extremely vigilant, but because of this, he will not easily believe that we can guess every step. His arrogance will make him underestimate our ability, and this is our opportunity."

Upon hearing this, everyone said in unison: "Your Highness is wise!"

In the Prince of Yan's mansion, Zhu Di was conspiring with several of his confidants. They gathered around a large map, and Xu Yi held the latest intelligence in his hands with a cautious look.

"Your Highness," Xu Yi said in a low voice, "The spies sent a message that the prince's secret guards have been keeping a close eye on that batch of supplies. They are deploying personnel at various nodes, seemingly trying to dig out our real plan."

Zhu Di sneered when he heard this, with a hint of sarcasm in his eyes: "Zhu Biao really can't hold back. With his personality, he will definitely do his best to track down these clues. It's a pity that no matter how fast he moves, he is just following the steps I set."

He stretched out his hand and lightly tapped a certain location on the map: "Have someone transport the supplies here. When they catch up, they will find nothing."

Xu Yi was stunned for a moment, then he showed a look of sudden enlightenment: "Your Majesty is smart! In this way, their troops will be exhausted and may even be divided internally due to misjudgment."

Zhu Di nodded slightly, his tone cold: "Zhu Biao's advantage is decisiveness, but it is also his fatal weakness. He is too eager to prove himself to his father, but he doesn't know that this is where he is most easily exploited."

"What's the next step?" Xu Yi asked tentatively.

Zhu Di stood up straight and said slowly: "Since he has already started to plan, we will play with him to the end. But remember, the final destination of this chess game is not this batch of supplies, but the capital."

Xu Yi's eyes flashed with surprise: "Your Majesty means..."

Zhu Di smiled coldly: "Zhu Biao focused on the flanks, but ignored the foundation under his feet. He thought he was in control of the overall situation, but he didn't know that the real storm was brewing behind him."

Xu Yi immediately understood Zhu Di's intention and hurriedly said, "I will make arrangements immediately and make sure His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is caught off guard!"

Zhu Di waved his hand, staring at the distant sky through the cold wind outside the window: "Zhu Biao, I have left you a way out in this chess game. If you can't even see this step clearly, don't blame me for not thinking of our brotherhood."

News came from the East Palace that the supplies had indeed been transferred to another direction at the node. The secret guards responsible for tracking them almost lost control of the target at the same time.

When Lin Chuan reported this news to Zhu Biao, his tone was full of anxiety: "Your Highness, Zhu Di's actions are faster than we expected. He obviously anticipated our tracking plan and deliberately set up a false line."

Zhu Biao clenched the secret report in his hand, a cold light flashed in his eyes: "He really has been prepared."

After thinking for a moment, he slowly said, "Send the order to withdraw all the forces deployed outside and focus on investigating his movements in the capital. Zhu Di will never bet on one road. His target must still be in the dark."

Lin Chuan frowned and asked, "Your Highness, if the King of Yan has other plans in the capital, how should we respond?"

Zhu Biao's eyes were like knives, and his tone was sharp: "No matter how deep his plot is, as long as I defend the capital, his plan will not succeed. Send a message to the emperor's uncle, asking him to help investigate from the side, and make sure to grasp the every move of the King of Yan."

"Yes, Your Highness!" Lin Chuan quickly took the order and retreated.

Zhu Biao stood in front of the window, his eyes grim, and murmured in a low voice: "Zhu Di, the situation has begun to tighten. I want to see what waves you can still stir up."

"Zhu Di made a good move. The fake line did confuse Biao'er, but he overlooked one point." Zhu Han folded the letter and handed it to Lin Chuan beside him, "Pass on my order, pay close attention to all unusual movements in the capital, especially those near the Prince of Yan's Mansion. The quieter he is, the closer his target is."

Lin Chuan clasped his fists and accepted the order: "Your Majesty, do you think the King of Yan's true intentions will be exposed in the capital?"

Zhu Han smiled and said firmly, "It must be so. Zhu Di's ambition is never limited to a certain time or place. What he wants is to win with one strike. But as long as we can see through his every move in advance, his plan is doomed to fail."

In the study of the Eastern Palace, Zhu Biao stood in front of the window, gazing solemnly at the palace wall shrouded in morning mist.

He had learned from Lin Chuan's report that the movement of that batch of supplies had been cleverly concealed by Zhu Di, which made him realize that the opponent's chess game was more far-reaching than he had imagined.

"Your Highness," Lin Chuan walked quickly into the study, holding a roll of the latest intelligence in his hand, "Our people have discovered that the Prince of Yan's Mansion has been frequently mobilizing servants recently, and has secretly recruited a group of extraordinary guards. These people are secretive and seem to be planning something."

Zhu Biao took the intelligence, quickly flipped through it, and sneered, "Sure enough, his target has always been the capital. The supplies are just bait. What can really shake my father is here."

Lin Chuan frowned and said, "Your Highness, the whereabouts of these guards are unknown. Do we need to take direct action and arrest them first to disintegrate their power?"

Zhu Biao pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "No, Zhu Di's chess game this time is very careful, and any premature action will alert the enemy. He dares to act so blatantly, he must have other tricks up his sleeve."

He placed the intelligence on the table, raised his head and looked at it with a sharp gaze: "Continue to monitor these people, and at the same time send more people to keep a close eye on any movements related to the Prince of Yan inside and outside the palace. Once there is further news, report it immediately." (End of this chapter)