Chapter 196: Loyal soul’s message, Emperor’s tears.

Tang Buping held a long blade, strolling leisurely as if in his own garden, while the White Lotus Sect members shouting and charging in front of him only left behind a trail of corpses.

Heads rolled on the ground!

Standing on the bloody ground with his broken blade, Tang Buping stared at the straight blade, its tip slightly upturned, and a blood groove running down to the hilt, resembling a goose feather. Frowning, he muttered in a low voice, “Is this a Yanling blade?”

With a sudden movement, the knife slashed out, and a thin red line sprayed from the throat of a cultist, who collapsed in front of Tang Buping.

“It seems there’s more behind this than just the White Lotus Sect!”

Tang Buping’s eyes darkened as he gazed at the cultists. While the White Lotus Sect could perhaps organize a significant number of people and form a force, they certainly couldn’t obtain a large number of Yanling blade.

The main types of sabers in the Ming Dynasty were the Yanling, Liuye, and Xiuchun.

The Imperial Army, the Embroidered Uniform Guard(Jinyiwei), and the Security Bureau mainly equipped the Spring Autumn saber.

Cavalry and infantry in the army were primarily armed with the Willow Leaf saber.

Officials, soldiers, and guards were mainly equipped with the Yanling saber.

All these sabers were without exception forged by the imperial court. The White Lotus Sect, focused on preaching and converting people, could not have possibly obtained these weapons from the Weaponry Bureau.

If it was just a stroke of luck, finding a single Yanling blade could be understandable. After all, who hasn’t lost something at some point…

But this is not just one or two sabers; there are hundreds, maybe even more.

Tang Buping killed several people in succession and entered the main hall of the government office. Spotting Qiu Dalai, who had just cut down a civilian, he flung his blade with a flick of his wrist.

Qiu Dalai turned around and swung diagonally, chopping down the blade thrown by Tang Buping.

“Unexpectedly, you do have some skills.”

Tang Buping was somewhat surprised. He stepped forward, and as a cultist swung at him, Tang Buping stepped back and kicked the assailant’s wrist.

Crack.

The sound of bone breaking was startling.

Tang Buping caught the falling Yanling saber, slicing through the air, and the screaming cultist was left with only a hoarse voice.

Qiu Dalai did not expect his opponent to be so formidable. Hearing the sounds around him and realizing escape was futile, he gritted his teeth and said, “It seems our plan has failed, but what of it? The more people die, the sooner Maitreya will descend to earth!”

Tang Buping shook his head slightly. Maitreya?

Forget it, there’s no true Buddha in this world!

Suffering in this world comes again and again, over thousands of years, countless civilians have died, yet the so-called Maitreya has never appeared.

If there really is a Maitreya, Tang Buping would like to see whether it’s his neck that’s stronger or his own blade faster!

“You kicked me seven times, I’ll return the favor with seven kicks, fair and square,” Tang Buping said coldly.

Qiu Dalai laughed loudly, then tore a strip of cloth from the refugee’s clothes and slowly wrapped it around his blade-holding right hand, saying, “I should have killed you when I had the chance!”

Tang Buping looked up at the empty rafters, then said to Qiu Dalai, “If you had acted earlier, I wouldn’t have needed to endure those kicks. Tying the blade like this reduces its versatility, not very wise.”

Qiu Dalai, with a serious expression, tied the cloth tightly, focusing his gaze on Tang Buping. The strength of the man in front of him was extraordinary. If he didn’t secure the blade, it might fly away with a single strike.

“Enough talk!”

Qiu Dalai shouted as he charged forward, his long blade chopping down with immense force. Tang Buping’s pupils shrank slightly, but he didn’t dodge, meeting the attack with his own blade.

Clang!

Boom!

Qiu Dali staggered backward, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, looking at the footprint on his chest, his face pale.

Tang Buping’s knife moved like a serpent, brushing past Qiu Dali’s wrist, and then a powerful kick sent Qiu Dalai flying onto a table, which broke apart with a crack…

Qu You looked towards the bustling Yangchun Street, feeling elated. Once across the Yangchun Bridge and into the crowd, he would be safe.

In a few days, when the situation calmed down, it wouldn’t be difficult to leave the city in disguise.

Just as Qu You stepped onto the bridge, he saw the smiling faces of Huang Zicheng, Jing Qing, and others. In a panic, he jumped into the river.

Huang Zicheng stood on the bridge, looking down at the struggling Qu You in the water, shouting, “Brother, do you need help?”

Qu You then remembered that Huang Zicheng had never seen him before…

Finally getting ashore, before he could flee, Qu You saw the grinning Xiong Wucheng.

Yu Xin, without using the force of the garrison, quelled the White Lotus Sect’s rebellion with just over twenty people from the Security Bureau and three thousand young and strong refugees. They killed more than 230 cultists and captured Qu You, Wu Yuan, and 200 or so cultists they were brought to the city gate by Yu Xin, where they were beheaded in front of the civilians and refugees.

“White Lotus cultists, bring disaster to the nation and people. Anyone who dares to join or support the White Lotus Sect will be executed without mercy, according to the imperial law! I hope everyone takes this as a warning and refrains from causing trouble, harming others and themselves!”

Yu Xin shouted loudly.

Compared to mere words, the sight of decapitated heads was a far more effective warning.

For a time, Dingyuan was solemn.

Yu Xin was drafting a memorial when the clerk Xie Gang hurriedly entered the hall, saying, “My lord, many grain merchants have come to the city gates, hoping the court will purchase at a high price.”

“High price? Why should it be high? One tael of silver for two stones of rice, let them leave the rice and go.”

Yu Xin had no time to deal with these trivial matters. The White Lotus Sect’s ability to control Dingyuan was a very dangerous sign. If the court did not come up with countermeasures early, it would become a great menace.

The rebellion of more than five hundred cultists was just in Dingyuan alone.

How about outside of Dingyuan?

Currently, the most followers of the White Lotus Sect are not in Fengyang Prefecture, but in Henan, Shandong, and North Zhili.

Once these followers form a force and rebel against the imperial court, the consequences are unimaginable.

The harsh policies of Zhu Yuanzhang and the governance strategies of Zhu Yunwen have been continuously harming the interests of the scholars and gentry. These policies have prompted the scholars and gentry to lean towards the White Lotus Sect in terms of their stance, even actively providing cover, support, and even joining the White Lotus Sect themselves.

The White Lotus Sect has its roots among the common people, which is an area of weak control by the imperial court. If the scholars and gentry within the cities provide support to the sect, then the influence of the White Lotus Sect among the common people should not be underestimated.

Yu Xin wrote down his worries in a memorial and handed it to Xiong Wucheng, saying, “This memorial must be delivered to the capital as quickly as possible.”

After receiving the memorial from Yu Xin, Xiong Wucheng took out a stack of papers from his bosom and called over Tang Buping. He handed them over, saying, “You go to the capital in person and deliver the memorials of Elder Yu and myself. If possible, report the situation in Dingyuan in person.”

After Tang Buping secured the documents, he left the county office and rode his horse out of Dingyuan City.

Yu Xin frowned and asked, “Since when does comrade Xiong write memorials?”

Xiong Wucheng laughed and said, “Don’t mock me for being a military man. Military men also have their ways of writing memorials.”

“Alright, has Qu You confessed?”

Yu Xin changed the subject.

Xiong Wucheng shook his head and said, “Qiu Dalai was kicked three times to death by Tang Buping, and Wu Yuan, after being tortured, begged for mercy hundreds of times but still didn’t know who Gu Jin is. Qu You, however, is tough. No matter how he is tortured, he won’t speak.”

Yu Xin walked to the center of the hall and said in a deep voice, “Seeing that he was in a hopeless situation, Qu You abandoned his followers and fled alone. This alone is enough to prove that he has the will to live. If pushed to the brink of death, he will speak.”

Xiong Wucheng nodded heavily and said, “If that’s the case, I will interrogate him personally!”

Imperial Palace, outside Wuying Hall.

Grand Secretary Xie Jin and Minister of Works Zheng Ci sought an audience. Shuangxi looked at them with some difficulty and said, “His Majesty only rested for two hour yesterday, and he just finished his lunch. He’s still in his midday nap for another quarter of an hour. Could the two of you wait a moment?”

After hearing this, Xie Jin and Zheng Ci exchanged a glance, both somewhat worried, but the matter they were reporting was too important to delay.

While they were hesitating, Zhu Yunwen’s voice came from inside the hall: “Let them in.”

Shuangxi quickly invited Xie Jin and Zheng Ci into the hall.

Zhu Yunwen, mustering his energy, offered seats to the two and directly asked, “Minister Zheng is also here. Is there any news from Zhang Xianzong?”

Zheng Ci’s eyes reddened. He stood up, walked forward, knelt on the ground, and then presented a memorial, saying, “Your Majesty, Zhang Xianzong, he, he has devoted himself to the nation!”

“What?!”

Zhu Yunwen’s expression changed, and he stood up.

Shuangxi quickly took the memorial and presented it to Zhu Yunwen.

Zhu Yunwen unfolded the memorial and looked down, a sense of sorrow enveloping him.

“Minister of Revenue’s secretary Song Li reported from Xuzhou. Minister of Works’s vice minister Zhang Xianzong was ordered to inspect the waterways and maintain the dykes to protect the people… Thunderstorms and continuous heavy rain caused the river to rise sharply, a crisis for the nation… after addressing his injuries, he rushed to another place, standing on the long dyke, his heroic spirit enduring…”

“Now the strategy of diverting water is showing initial effects, and places like Kaifeng, Suqian, and Huai’an no longer face major concerns… Thanks to the virtue of the sage, the people’s fortune is secured. I request to erect a monument and write a biography for Minister Zhang, to honor him for future generations…”

The memorial slipped from Zhu Yunwen’s hand. He still remembered promising Zhang Xianzong that upon his return, he would personally host a banquet for him!

But now?!

“Your Majesty, the Vice Commander of the Security Bureau, Xue Xia, seeks an audience.”

An eunuch reported.

Zhu Yunwen steadied himself and said, “Let him in.”

Xue Xia hurried into the hall, knelt before Zhu Yunwen, and shouted, “I, Xue Xia, have failed in my duty. Please punish me, Your Majesty!”

Zheng Ci looked at Xue Xia and became tearful.

To protect Zhang Xianzong, Zhu Yunwen had sent Xue Xia, a real power figure in the Security Bureau!

He hadn’t failed in his duty; Zhang Xianzong’s death was not his fault.

Zhu Yunwen knew this too, but no matter what, Xue Xia had not managed to keep Zhang Xianzong safe!

“Your Majesty, Minister Zhang left a letter before his death, asking me to ensure it reaches your majesty.”

Xue Xia took out a leather pouch from his bosom, retrieved the precious letter, and held it above his head with both hands.

Zhu Yunwen personally walked over and looked at the letter’s seal:

“Your servant Zhang Xianzong bows, for Your Majesty only.”

Zhu Yunwen opened the envelope, took out the letter, and upon reading it, quickly turned away, tears rolling down his cheeks.

“Knowing my time is short, with no tomorrow, I fear I cannot fulfill my promise to attend Your Majesty’s banquet, failing you, my first sin. Diverting the river northward to Shandong will harm the people along its course and cause siltation, my second sin. Not reaching Kaifeng to uncover the truth about the Huai River, my third sin…”

“I recommend Minister of Revenue’s secretary Song Li, a man of great talent in hydrology. If he is employed, most of the nation’s water disasters can be alleviated… Vice Commander Xue took great care of me, my injuries were not his fault. I implore Your Majesty not to implicate a loyal man…”

“May Your Majesty be wise and cherish the people, leading our great Ming to a glorious era, enduring like the sun and moon… Your servant Zhang Xianzong bows!”

Zhu Yunwen waved his hand and said in a low voice, “You all may leave.”

Xie Jin, Zheng Ci, Xue Xia, and Shuangxi exited Wuying Hall.

Zhu Yunwen’s hand holding the letter trembled slightly. He looked down, and two tears fell on the letter.

The ink, blurring.

Zhu Yunwen’s heart had never been so profoundly struck by such a force.

This force, vast as heaven and earth!

This force, eternally verdant!

In his heart, there was no individual, no small family, only the people, only the nation!

Even in his dying moments, he was still recommending talents to him!

Even in his dying moments, he was still protecting others!

Even in his dying moments, he was still concerned about the great Ming, sending his last life’s advice—a final, resonant counsel!

Zhang Xianzong, he was a loyal minister of the great Ming!

Zhu Yunwen wiped away his tears. Even the strongest of emperors have moments of vulnerability, not out of weakness, but because this loyalty pierces the heart, shining like the sun and moon!