PFC Chapter 106 3 The Ming Cult secretly enters the capital!
Chapter 106 3 The Ming Cult secretly enters the capital!
Chapter 106 Three Thousand Ming Cult Members Secretly Enter the Capital!
Zhu Houzhao thought to himself, "No wonder Zhuge Zheng wanted to keep Wuqing in the palace. So that's the reason."
This Zhuge Zhengwo never said before that Wuqing was a woman, and—Zhu Houzhao looked at Wuqing again.
She was also a very beautiful woman.
While Zhu Houzhao was sizing up Wuqing, Wuqing was also observing Zhu Houzhao.
She never imagined that the handsome young man before her was the emperor who ruled the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Houzhao's youthful appearance made it difficult for her to associate him with the emperor who destroyed the Uriyangkhai and the Shaolin Temple.
Zhu Houzhao's appearance made Wuqing's breathing become somewhat rapid.
Zhu Houzhao looked at the mangled legs and asked, "What happened to your legs?"
Wuqing's face paled, and he said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, when I was six years old, my entire family was wiped out by thirteen murderers, which left me crippled in both legs."
"Can it still be cured?" Zhu Houzhao asked, frowning.
Wuqing shook his head: "It's been too long. The meridians have become necrotic and can't be cured."
"Your meridians are severed? Then how did you cultivate martial arts?"
Zhu Houzhao was somewhat puzzled. He knew that Wuqing's lightness skill and hidden weapons were very famous, and he had the reputation of "traveling a thousand miles without legs and being undefended by a thousand hands", but he did not know that Wuqing's meridians had been severed.
Logically speaking, one should not be able to practice martial arts after their meridians are severed.
Wuqing explained, "Your Majesty, I mastered the Qi-Breaking Divine Skill under the guidance of my senior master, the Hermit of Heavenly Robes."
"My lightness skill is unique, it does not pass through the meridians, and I only use hidden weapons to injure people. Moreover, I am proficient in all kinds of mechanisms. I have rarely been defeated."
Wuqing knew that Zhu Houzhao was testing her abilities, and she tried her best to prove that she was not weak.
But she was really not used to doing these self-aggrandizing things, so she was a little tongue-tied and felt extremely flustered.
"I understand. Relax, don't be nervous. I'm not going to eat you."
1
Zhu Houzhao comforted Wuqing, and he roughly understood what Wuqing meant.
In fact, Zhu Houzhao never doubted Wuqing's strength. A person who could sit firmly in the position of the leader of the Four Great Constables could not be a mediocre person.
However, his ruthless arrangement was the same as Shangguan Haitang's: to go to the harem to personally protect those concubines who were powerless to even kill a chicken.
"I've already told you about your mission to enter the palace, haven't I?" Zhu Houzhao asked.
Wuqing nodded, bowing her head slightly: "Yes, Uncle Shi sent me to the palace to be his personal bodyguard—to protect His Majesty."
Zhu Houzhao smiled and shook his head: "Heh, I am not lacking in defense forces."
"Go to the inner palace and protect the concubines. It will be much easier for you since you are a woman."
Wuqing felt a pang of disappointment. She had thought she was there to protect Zhu Houzhao, but in the blink of an eye, she had become one of Zhu Houzhao's concubines.
However, as a subject of the Ming Dynasty, she had no right to refuse.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey your command."
"Go."
"Your humble servant takes his leave."
With a sense of regret, Wuqing left the Cining Palace.
Protecting the emperor's concubines was ultimately not as important as protecting the emperor himself.
However, since it was Zhu Houzhao's order, she would do her best no matter what!
Bright Summit.
Zhang Wuji followed the secret passage and arrived at the headquarters of the Ming Cult.
The Ming Cult members stationed along the way bowed to Zhang Wuji in turn.
"Greetings, Master."
Zhang Wuji waved his hand, indicating that there was no need for such formalities.
As he walked, he asked, "Have the Left and Right Guardians of Light, as well as the Four Dharma Kings who protect the Dharma, all arrived?"
"Reporting to the Master, after receiving your letter, the entire Ming Cult has returned to Bright Peak and is ready to serve you."
Zhang Wuji nodded and walked into the hall, where he indeed saw Yang Xiao, the Left Envoy of Light, and Fan Yao, the Right Envoy of Light.
Also present in the hall were six people: Dai Qisi, the Purple-Robed Dragon King; Yin Tianzheng, the White-Browed Eagle King; Xie Xun, the Golden-Haired Lion King; and Wei Yixiao, the Green-Winged Bat King.
Yin Tianzheng was Zhang Wuji's maternal grandfather, and Xie Xun was Zhang Wuji's godfather.
"Zhang Wuji greets all the seniors, maternal grandfather, and godfather."
Zhang Wuji bowed to the six people in turn. Although he was the leader of the sect, these people were all his seniors, and he often regarded himself as a junior.
Yin Tianzheng chuckled and said, "Ji'er, you summoned us in such a hurry because of the duel between Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng in the Forbidden City, right?"
"Exactly."
Zhang Wuji said solemnly, "I'm sure everyone is aware of the situation within the sect; the donations from the followers are decreasing."
"It's not that they don't want to take responsibility, but that they don't have much silver left. All their silver has been taken away by the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty!"
"Moreover, the money earned from the various businesses within the sect is being levied exorbitant taxes by the imperial court—all of this is our hard-earned money!"
"Without money, what will the tens of thousands of followers eat and drink?"
"Faced with a tyrant and incompetent ruler like Zhu Houzhao, the Ming Cult cannot stand idly by; we must take action!"
Zhang Wuji's words made the Brightness Envoys and the Four Dharma Protectors present nod slightly, expressing their deep agreement with his words.
In particular, Yang Xiao, the Left Guardian of the Brightness Sect, who usually assists Zhang Wuji in managing the entire Ming Cult, knows exactly how badly the sect's finances have deteriorated.
If things continue like this, the Ming Cult will eventually fall apart due to internal financial problems.
"So, you want to use the duel between Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng at the Forbidden City as a pretext to take action against the Emperor?"
Fan Yao, the Right Envoy of Light, tentatively spoke.
"Exactly."
Zhang Wuji nodded: "Ye Gucheng's high-profile challenge has caused quite a stir in the martial arts world, and their duel will inevitably attract the attention of the imperial court."
"They'll be in the open, while we'll be in the shadows, catching the young emperor completely off guard!"
At this point, Zhang Wuji suddenly smiled and said, "Moreover, there is another hidden story behind the duel between Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue."
"What's the hidden story?"
The Purple-Robed Dragon King, Dai Qisi, asked疑惑地问道：“Could it be that they also intend to assassinate the Emperor?”
"That's right!"
Zhang Wuji said excitedly, "Ye Gucheng was persuaded to take action by Zhu Chongyao, the heir of the Southern King. He will assassinate the emperor during the duel!"
"Zhu Houzhao had no heir. As soon as he died, the officials that Zhu Chongyao had bribed immediately supported Zhu Chongyao to ascend the throne and become emperor."
"After the matter was accomplished, Zhu Chongyao promised Ye Gucheng that he would be appointed as the Imperial Preceptor."
"And just recently, Zhu Chongyao and I reached an agreement that as long as the Ming Cult helps him seize the throne."
"After the deed is done, Zhu Chongyao will designate the Ming Cult as the state religion. The imperial court will not only allocate 500,000 taels of silver to the Ming Cult annually, but also promise that the Ming Cult will never have to pay taxes!"
"What?! You're telling the truth?! Is there really such a good thing?!"
The Green-Winged Bat King, Wei Yixiao, stared in shock, his spirits jolted.
This is a once-in-a-century opportunity for the Ming Cult!
Zhang Wuji smiled broadly: "How could I dare to lie when it involves such important matters of the Ming Cult?"
"At that time, we'll also be able to get a government job."
"Alright, let's do it this way!" Xie Xun, the Golden Lion King, said impatiently.
High risk, high reward—they felt it was worth taking a huge gamble!
"Alright, let's not delay, let's set off as soon as possible!"
Zhang Wuji decisively ordered, "Esteemed seniors, immediately lead three thousand followers to the capital!"
"Remember! You must keep your disguise intact and absolutely not reveal your identity beforehand, lest you alert the enemy!"
"Yes, Master!"
Under Zhang Wuji's orders, the two Bright Envoys and the four Dharma Protectors immediately led three thousand Ming Cult members, disguised, to the capital!
As the martial arts world was in turmoil, the local warlords gradually began to feel dissatisfied.
The policy of surveying and registering all the land in the country deeply harmed their interests.
These feudal lords themselves possessed vast territories, which were exempt from taxes, and the data on these territories had remained unchanged for over a century.
However, over the years, the local vassal kings have continuously sent people to reclaim wasteland, and the arable area of the vassal territories under their control is now far greater than it was back then.
Their hidden income each year is unknown.
But now, Zhu Houzhao is investigating the amount of land in the country and demanding that the vassal kings also pay taxes.
This is like a steel knife engraved with the words "stripping away the feudal lords" being chopped off at their heads!
How many years? How many years?!
They had never paid taxes since the founding of the dynasty by Emperor Taizu, and now Zhu Houzhao was demanding that they pay taxes with a single official document. How could this not make them angry?
Especially as the nationwide land survey deepened, their past misdeeds were about to be uncovered, which made them feel extremely panicked.
The relatively wealthy kings of Shu, Chu, Zhou, De, Qin, and Ning spent their days in their palaces, anxiously scratching their heads, yet utterly helpless.
Just then, a memorial sent to the imperial palace gave these vassal kings a jolt.
The heir apparent of the Prince of Nan submitted a memorial to Zhu Houzhao, requesting to enter the capital for an audience and spend the Mid-Autumn Festival with him.
This reason is utterly absurd. After all, there are so many festivals every year. If they could return to the capital just by celebrating a festival, they wouldn't have to wait so long for the emperor to issue an edict allowing them to enter the capital.
However, this act of submitting a memorial to His Majesty requesting permission to enter the capital gave them a glimmer of hope.
Zhu Houzhao's order to allow Zhu Wushi, another prince, to enter the capital for an audience gave them great hope.
Soon, the quick-witted Prince Ning, Zhu Chenhao, began communicating with other vassal kings through letters.
In his letter, he implied that the princes could jointly submit a petition to the capital requesting an audience with the emperor.
Once they enter the capital and stand before Zhu Houzhao, he probably won't have the nerve to treat them so harshly anymore.
After all, they were all Zhu Houzhao's uncles, and some were even his grandfathers.
We're all relatives, there's no need to be so ruthless, right?
Didn't your ancestor Zhu Di also serve as a prince in his early years?
Why would a vassal king make things difficult for another vassal king?