Zhu Weitang pays his respects

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

The imperial court launched a fierce manhunt for the members of the True Dragon Society. The Imperial Guard and other imperial institutions were on
high alert , and by the next day, nearly ten True Dragon Society hideouts had been located throughout the capital.
These hideouts were disguised as residences, KTVs, and even foreign trade companies;
they were easily missed without close inspection. Worse still, when the Imperial Guard entered, they encountered
fierce resistance. In the Ming Dynasty, where arms were strictly controlled, these people possessed formidable firepower, including
military submachine guns and handguns. Caught off guard, the Imperial Guard suffered heavy casualties.
In the capital,
firepower stormed in, and with overwhelming firepower, the bandits had no chance of resistance. After breaking down the doors, they found nothing but
corpses ammunition and food, they all bit open their poison sacs and committed suicide. Some of the bodies were riddled
with bullets, making it impossible to identify their origins.
These rebellious individuals were desperate criminals, fanatically loyal to the True Dragon Society. They knew that
falling into the hands of the royal family would mean certain death; the Imperial Guard had countless methods to torture them for interrogation.
Therefore, they had prepared to commit suicide, taking some with them and preparing poison, ensuring they wouldn't be captured alive
even when they were out of ammunition
and food. After attacking more than ten hideouts, they found nothing—corpses everywhere, not a single survivor. Even more shockingly, all the computers and
other data had been destroyed, leaving no trace. A thorough search also failed to find Zhu Man'er.
These people were likely lower-ranking members of the True Dragon Society; the fact that they were equipped with such heavy firepower was truly
worrying .
The capital city, a strategically important location, is home to not only global corporations but also powerful government departments
. Any event occurring here attracts national attention, even the slightest disturbance, drawing worldwide scrutiny.
These rebels can recklessly use firearms, and it's unknown how many troops they have
or what other weapons of mass destruction they possess. To
put it bluntly, if they do, the consequences would be unimaginable. The Imperial Guards, as a regular army, cannot act as arbitrarily. They must consider the consequences and avoid harming innocent civilians. Under these circumstances
, their weaponry is limited. If they encounter exceptionally powerful and reckless rebels, they
will be at a significant disadvantage.
A day and a night have passed, and the Imperial Guards have suffered over a hundred casualties with nothing to show for it. Every fierce
battle yields nothing but corpses.
This humiliation infuriates them. Even Jia Xuyao apologizes to Xu
Ping and leads his men to search the capital. The disparity in firepower only adds to their anger and helplessness; they cannot use weapons of mass destruction as recklessly as
these rebels.
The various families closely connected to the royal family also received the information, and their best members poured in to join the search.
This didn't require any imperial orders, because they all knew that if the True Dragon Society succeeded in its rebellion,
these so-called royal relatives would be the first to be implicated. While ostensibly a search, the main focus was actually on protecting
their own safety; who knew if they might be unlucky enough to be targeted by the True Dragon Society?
In the hotel's large room, Zhang Shengyang had just retrieved Xu Ping's sketches and hurriedly ran back to the palace to deliver them.
For Zhu Weiquan, the True Dragon Society's harassment was a headache, but compared to that, his own life was more
important. If he could survive, he could eventually deal with these troublesome troublemakers.
Zhang Shengyang had also brought the video footage from the Imperial Guard's on-site investigation, partly
to amuse Xu Ping and to inform him about the True Dragon Society's evil deeds.
On the table sat an exquisite bluestone tea tray, the tea set being the finest imperial purple clay teapot,
treasures considered priceless even among the common people. The tea leaves were top-grade Monkey Hand tea, growing on cliffs
inaccessible , harvested only by monkeys. Due to their limited quantity, even the imperial court received only
about a pound as tribute each year.
Steam rose from the teacup; a cup of fragrant tea could calm the mind and soothe the spirit. Xu Ping sipped slowly, watching everything on the screen as if it were a
movie . While the scene of carnage might be horrifying to others, it
was child's play to Xu Ping.
After reviewing the information, Xu Ping suddenly felt bored. With Jia Xuyao, his informant, not around,
there was nowhere to flaunt his divine abilities, and he lacked the motivation to put on an act.
Just as Xu Ping was feeling listless and about to go for a walk, the room phone suddenly rang. Xu Ping
was startled, as the phone hadn't rung once since he moved in. This unexpected first ring was
quite surprising, especially since Zhu Weiquan didn't seem to need to contact him this way later.
Out of curiosity, Xu Ping answered the phone. The voice on the other end was very anxious: "Grand Elder, you, you must
retreat ! There's a hidden door behind the wardrobe in the room that leads directly to the rooftop. There's a helicopter there that can take you away."
"How ridiculous! Has the Royal Grand Hotel been openly surrounded?" Xu Ping sneered. "
I doubt you have the capability. If you did, would you have waited until now to make your move, trying to trick me into going to the rooftop with a single phone call
? Although I don't know what makes you so confident in dealing with me, I am curious what you
traitors fuss."
The voice on the other end of the line paused for a moment, then smiled slyly: "Unfilial descendant pays respects to
the Ancestor . I didn't expect you to be so discerning. I told you such petty tricks wouldn't fool you."
"How many people are lying in ambush on the rooftop?
Are they just trying to trick me into going up there for a heart-to-heart talk?" Xu Ping felt a pang of unease at the mention of "Ancestor," but still coldly replied, "Withdraw them now. I don't care what you're
up to , but if you disturb my peace, be careful, I'll show no mercy."
"Ancestor, you flatter me!" The phone switched to a different voice, sounding strangely busy, as if
some . "This unfilial descendant, Zhu Weitang, pays his respects to Ancestor.
We, his descendants, were overjoyed to learn of Ancestor's descent to earth, but alas, we are all burdened with sin and cannot go to pay our
respects. Please forgive us, Ancestor."
"What do you want?" Xu Ping's tone was utterly cold. "Actually, I'm too lazy to ask, because
it would make me seem like I have too much free time. Since you want me on the rooftop, I'd like to see what tricks you have up your sleeve."
"Weitang wouldn't dare. Weitang simply wished to pay his respects to Ancestor upon learning of Ancestor's descent to earth."
"No need for a formal visit. You are all my descendants, and all direct descendants of the royal family. How you fight is your
business; I will not interfere." Xu Ping lowered his voice and said, word by word, "However, remember my words: first, you
are not allowed to disturb my peace; second, no matter how you fight, you cannot shake the foundation of the Ming Dynasty. Understand?"
"Wei Tang understands. With your words, Ancestor, I am at ease." Zhu Wei Tang's voice
sounded much more magnanimous: "If Ancestor doesn't interfere, I feel confident of victory. The Ming Dynasty will last for thousands
of years, and naturally, the capable will rule. If the Zhu royal family doesn't fall into the hands of others, Ancestor, being of
divine status, will not blame me for my petty cleverness. This time, my suspicion is rather petty."
"Just do what you need to do. As long as the person on the throne is surnamed Zhu and is my descendant, that's enough." Xu
Ping said sternly, "Whether it's father and son turning against each other or brothers killing each other, the one who can ascend the throne must be the most capable
. Since ancient times, it has been the victor who is king and the loser who is villain. I don't want a prince who grew up in a peaceful era to sit on the dragon throne. I both
expect you to stir up a great upheaval and expect your elder brother Wei Quan to have the aura of a ruler to completely
wipe . No matter who wins or loses, an emperor who grows up in bloodshed is what I look forward to the most."
"Wei Tang understands. Listening to the ancestor's teachings is like heavenly music to my ears. Wei Tang will not disturb the ancestor's leisure any longer." Zhu
Wei Tang hung up the phone after saying that.
Xu Ping was somewhat bewildered, unable to figure out what this guy's intentions were. He hung up so easily;
could it be that he wanted to say hello?
The internal phone line at the Royal Hotel was definitely not safe. Judging from the tone of the call, it was
being transferred outwards. As a hotel used by the royal family, its security measures were always extremely tight; it was impossible for them to be so careless.
This matter would likely be reported to Zhu Weiquan soon.
After hanging up, Xu Ping's face was somewhat gloomy. Although he spoke with an air of composure, he was truly distressed.
What could be more painful than watching one's descendants kill each other? Even though time had passed and they were now strangers,
that feeling still made Xu Ping feel like a stone was pressing on his heart.
The people on the hotel rooftop seemed to have left, but the mole inside the hotel responsible for connecting the phone wasn't
so lucky. After all, the person inside was still somewhat vigilant, and he was arrested shortly afterward. This time,
his attempt to commit suicide by biting poison was impossible. Learning from past mistakes, the Imperial Guard had already subdued him,
removed the poison from his mouth, and immediately sent him to the imperial prison to extract useful clues.
Given the hotel's situation, a thorough investigation was necessary from top to bottom. With the True Dragon Society involved and Xu Ping present,
the head of the department, Zhang Shengyang, was in charge. Upon arrival, he arrested all suspects, executing those who had neglected their duties
on the spot without hesitation. Xu Ping greatly admired his ruthless methods.
Several powerful remote-controlled bombs were found on the rooftop,
but for unknown reasons, they were abandoned. Those personnel had already fled, and before leaving, they inexplicably damaged a military helicopter hidden in the hotel, ready for
immediate deployment.
The arrogant behavior of the man who truly possessed dragon power was so outrageous that Zhu Weiquan, upon waking and receiving the news, was furious. He roared, "
Damn it! That stray dog Weitang is too arrogant! Not only did he kidnap my daughter, but he also dared to attack the Ancestor
! This is utterly rebellious!"
"Weiquan, be careful you don't die young again. If you suddenly have a cerebral hemorrhage or something and pass away prematurely, I can't save you."
Xu Ping's voice was calm. "I suppose you also eavesdropped on Weitang's conversation with me. As a royal
hotel, it has basic security features. Are you afraid that I will side with Weitang?"
"Yes, Your Majesty is wise." Zhu Weiquan pondered for a moment, then smiled bitterly and said, "Although I am the Emperor,
and nominally he is a traitor, we are both descendants of the Zhu royal family. I have to consider the Ancestor's thoughts.
If you have even a moment of reluctance, I don't know what to do."
"I will not interfere in your feud; I will observe from the sidelines." Xu Ping shook his head. "Whether you
win or lose is a matter of your own lives, and I imagine you will both be willing to gamble everything. My stance is very clear: I
will absolutely not interfere in your entanglements. I can defy fate for you, but if you die at
the hands of your brother, I will not save you, because I firmly believe that an emperor with bloodstained hands is most suitable to rule the world.
Rebellion or uprising, as long as the person sitting on the dragon throne is my descendant, that's enough."
"The ancestor's divine will is truly enlightening, and it also leaves Wei Quan feeling quite helpless." Zhu Wei Quan
felt indeed helpless. This did not mean that he could not quietly wait for the opportunity to defy fate; during this time,
he still had to be careful to guard against assassinations by the True Dragon Society.
"So now you understand my cold-blooded ruthlessness?" Xu Ping sneered, his voice chilling. "Whoever
has the ability to sit on the dragon throne is the most suitable person to rule the world. I promised you that I would definitely
do what I promised. But if you don't live to see that moment, or if you die at the hands of your own brother after your life is extended, then that is your
incompetence. I hate two kinds of people who become emperors: one is a saintly and wise ruler who spouts morality and benevolence, and the other is an
incompetent and foolish ruler. If you have been so terrified of death that you can't even
defeat your own rebellious brother after being emperor for more than ten years, then I can say that you have only yourself to blame."
"The Ancestor's teachings are correct, Wei Quan understands." Zhu Wei Quan's spirits were shaken by these cold-blooded words.
A long-lost resolute spirit stirred within him, making his blood boil again. He immediately hissed, "Ancestor, watch closely!
Soon, two princes will be regents. However, even lying on my sickbed, Wei Quan still possesses the spirit to command the nation. Wei Quan
will let the Ancestor know that among this generation of imperial heirs, only Wei Quan is capable of ruling the Ming Dynasty. Let the Ancestor know that
Wei Quan is the best candidate for the throne."
"Hmm, then I'd like to see." Xu Ping nodded, finally revealing a satisfied smile.
After the communication ended, Zhu Wei Quan lay on his sickbed, his expression uncertain, but now displaying a resoluteness
rarely . It was this very courage that had driven him to resolutely fight for the throne, and it
was his extraordinary will and methods that allowed him to reach the pinnacle of power.
Could it be that he's been living in comfort for too long, afraid of death for too long, that's why he's always so timid and hesitant, feeling restrained and
constantly worried?
Zhu Weiquan pondered for a long time before finally opening his eyes, his face slightly excited as he murmured, "Ancestor,
indeed, there are things I can never learn from you. Such cold-blooded ruthlessness reminds me once again what it means to be heartless."
" The imperial family is the most powerful in matters of the heart. Your imperial strategies, your detached and indifferent spirit—these are all things that Wei Quan should learn.
Wei Quan wants to prove to you that I am your most outstanding descendant, the best heir to continue your imperial legacy
."
Xu Ping's cold-blooded attitude reassured Zhu Wei Quan, and he gradually regained
the courage he once had to disregard everything. Although he was still pale, his face showed a newfound determination. For the first time,
besides waiting for his lifespan to end, he had something else on his mind.
A gentle knock on the door interrupted Zhu Wei Quan's thoughts: "Come in!"
The door opened, and two boys, around twelve or thirteen years old, walked in together. Although still young, they were already
quite tall. Dark-skinned and somewhat thin, yet remarkably robust, both men, dressed in formal princely robes
and exuding spirit, knelt before the sickbed upon entering, shouting in unison, "Mingyuan, Minghao,
pay your respects to Father Emperor."
"My two good sons, you've finally returned," Zhu Weiquan said with a relieved smile, his voice hoarse. "
Pingsheng, you've performed exceptionally well in the Imperial Guard's daily training. I was very
pleased . Our royal bloodline is the most noble in the Ming Dynasty. As princes, we must not only be superior to ordinary people
, but also stand out from the crowd. You've achieved
that." The two princes were delighted by the praise, smiling shyly, but dared not approach their father with affection.
After all, they were ruler and subject, father and son, and ruler and subject, and a distance had always existed between them. Moreover, the palace rules were strict, and
they dared not overstep their bounds. Furthermore, Zhu Weiquan was currently ill, and they dared not act rashly, fearing for their safety.
Empress Mu Lingyue's only son, the legitimate prince Zhu Mingyuan, and Lu Yinxue's youngest son, Zhu Minghao, were once
infants crying for milk in swaddling clothes. Now, they had grown into such energetic and spirited young men,
their vitality a testament to the beauty of youth.
Seeing them, Zhu Weiquan felt a pang of remorse, realizing how cruel his
initial experiments had been. Since placing his hopes on Xu Ping, his thoughts had become less extreme
, and he often felt an uncontrollable sense of guilt. Yet, seeing the two brothers standing together so harmoniously,
he couldn't help but recall old memories.
These were half-brothers, while he and his younger brother, Zhu Weitang, were full brothers.
Both were intelligent and favored by their father, the emperor. Unfortunately, he had always been in poor health, and their father preferred to pass the throne to his
equally intelligent and strong brother, as ensuring the continuation of the royal family was, besides ability, the most important
responsibility .
The Emperor's considerations were correct. From his own perspective, he would naturally also care about the important task of ensuring the continuation of the imperial line.
His own unwillingness to accept defeat led to a complete falling out between his brothers from the moment he decided to seize the throne, inevitably implicating his other half
- . Ultimately, he won. Having weathered countless bloodshed
, he showed no mercy at the moment of his ascension. He not only ruthlessly exterminated the princes and powerful families who supported his brother, but also sought to eliminate his brother, Zhu Weitang, to
prevent future troubles.
Unfortunately, Zhu Weitang was also exceptionally capable. Having been a strong contender for the throne
, he was not easily swayed and ultimately fled overseas, joining the True Dragon Society. The years have proven Zhu Weitang
's abilities, as in just over a decade he has successfully taken control of the century-old True Dragon Society, becoming
its leader. The True Dragon Society, with its deep-rooted power accumulated over a hundred years, possesses considerable influence. Zhu Weitang's ability to achieve
all indeed remarkable, but the process must have involved unimaginable hardship.
Those who followed him rose to prominence, but some who held great power were stripped of it.
Out of old affection, Zhu Weiquan granted them a lifetime of wealth and honor, but left them idle. The saying
"a new emperor, a new court is inevitable, but the practice of
discarding those who have served their purpose is not uncommon. Those who manipulate power have all done the same thing: discarding the useful tools after the usefulness of their tools
is over. The events of that year were fraught with peril, and winning the throne involved not only ruthlessness but also a great deal of luck.
Even now Zhu Weiquan still feels a lingering fear, because his younger brother was no ordinary person to be underestimated.
Looking at his two sons now, Zhu Weiquan couldn't help but recall those long-buried events, and even began
to have wild thoughts, wondering if, when he too passed away, his two sons
would repeat the tragedy of brothers turning against each other in their struggle for the throne.
"Father, what are you thinking about?" Zhu Mingyuan, more lively now, asked boldly.
"Nothing, Father was just thinking how fast time flies. You were all
little children , and now you're all so grown up." Zhu Weiquan quickly dismissed the jumbled thoughts in his mind and kindly
instructed, "Go back and spend some time with your mothers. Today, Father will issue
a decree . Starting tomorrow, you can share Father's burdens and learn how to govern personally."
"Yes!" Zhu Mingyuan was clearly eager, his youthful energy seemingly boundless. As the Empress's son,
everyone believed he had a greater chance of succeeding to the throne. Although the Ming Dynasty favored the virtuous over the eldest son, with his status as the legitimate heir
and abilities no less than Zhu Minghao's, he remained the strongest contender.
"Father, is there still no news of Sister Man'er?" Zhu Minghao was worried. After all, she was his own
sister , and he had been loved and pampered by both of them since childhood. With Zhu Man'er's whereabouts unknown, he had no mind to think about
regent matters.
"Rest assured, if even a single hair on Man'er's head is lost, I will wage a world war to make the entire True
Dragon Society pay the price." At this moment, Zhu Weiquan's murderous intent was palpable, as ruthless as when he fought for the throne
. He would kill any enemy, regardless of who they were.
After the official imperial edict was issued, the two princes immediately assumed the responsibility of regents, with Zhu Weiquan
strategizing behind the scenes. All decrees were issued through the two princes. This sudden move at
such stunned many, especially since Zhu Man'er's whereabouts were still unknown. The emperor's seemingly overly calm demeanor
was perplexing.
However, the two princes began to attend to state affairs, primarily dealing with the
inexplicable . As for the pursuit of the True Dragon Society, it was no longer just the Imperial Guard; the capital's Imperial Army
was now under full martial law, and various assault teams had joined in, intensifying the search
after .
News was kept strictly under control. While ordinary people were unaware of what had happened, prominent families and...
High-ranking officials and nobles had also received a whistleblower's tip and strengthened their vigilance against the potential mischief of extremist organizations like the True Dragon Society
.
The royal family had many things to consider, but the True Dragon Society was different; they could do anything without restraint, and who knew if these
madmen would suddenly target high-ranking officials?
Inside the Lu family compound, Lu Yinxue frowned slightly, shaking her head and sighing intermittently. Her beautiful face was filled with unspeakable
worry. Her daughter had been missing for two days, and she had spent those two days in tears. After all, the True Dragon
Society's purpose was too clear—to target the royal family. Her daughter was in their hands, her fate unknown.
Under such circumstances, she couldn't eat or sleep, constantly waiting for news of her daughter.
Zhu Ke'er, worried about her younger sister, had also lost weight. Although she was very sensible and often comforted her mother,
she couldn't help but shed tears when her heart was filled with worry. Two days without news; anyone would be anxious in that situation.
Fearing the True Dragon Society might take advantage of the situation, both the Lu and Mu families were completely surrounded by the Imperial Guards. For the time being,
they could only stay at home and wait for news. Lu Yinxue, after all, was a woman, a mother, and she also had
a vulnerable side. Faced with this helpless situation, her first thought was to seek help from her man. Unfortunately
, the Imperial Guards' security was too tight, and she couldn't find a way to secretly contact Xu Ping.
Her military uniform, no longer crisp and clean, was covered in blood, making her look like a gruesome corpse. Luo Yan
walked in without even wiping the blood from her face. Her beautiful face showed both guilt and icy coldness: "Sister Yinxue, don't worry,
Man'er will definitely be alright."
"Still haven't found her? You need to be careful too." Lu Yinxue instantly burst into tears, knowing that her
younger sister had been relentlessly pursuing those traitors for two days. The bloodstains on her body indicated a fierce battle,
but they still hadn't found Zhu Man'er's whereabouts.
Nearly a thousand members of the True Dragon Society have been eliminated. The Imperial Guard's Special Service Company and the Imperial Guard Division have
been mobilized in full force , but unfortunately, Zhu Man'er has still not been found. Under these circumstances, the group is both furious and increasingly uneasy.
The Emperor is truly enraged this time. After the fruitless search, he has begun to search every nook and cranny: the palace, the Mu and Lu
families, and even the Imperial Guard's camps. The infuriating thing is that these people seem to have vanished into thin air,
leaving no trace.
The royal family must be mindful of the consequences, so even with all their forces deployed, they must remain discreet, which has resulted in a
very slow search.
That very night, a video appeared online. The title of the video was
shocking the content was even more horrifying.
In a dark, enclosed space, more than a dozen masked, burly men were gang-raping a
delicate young girl. No matter how desperately the girl cried and begged for mercy, her screams were drowned out
by the triumphant laughter of the men. The girl's genitals were red, swollen, cracked, and bloodied. Her virginity had been violated, and she was repeatedly violated by these burly
men . The video lasted for over an hour, ending with the girl barely alive.
This video caused a global uproar because the victim was Miaomiao, Zhu Man'er's personal maid. The video's widespread
dissemination was a blatant slap in the face to the royal family.
Fortunately, it wasn't Zhu Man'er; if a royal princess had suffered such a fate, it would have been utterly
disgraceful . The royal family and technical experts from the engineering academy immediately launched an investigation, eventually determining that the video
was uploaded from a small African country. Local personnel quickly apprehended the traitors of the True Dragon Society and extradited them back to the country, but the operation resulted in
heavy casualties after a fierce battle.
Meanwhile, the video provided new clues. Judging from the shaky footage, it didn't appear to be on
land ; the sealed room resembled the hold of a cargo ship, proving that Princess Zhu Man'er was no longer in the capital. Meanwhile, the Imperial Guard's investigation made new progress. They discovered a secret passage dug under the guise of a sewer
in a rebel camp of the Imperial Guards. This passage led directly outside the capital and had a quick route to the docks, further proving that Princess Zhu Man'er had been abducted from the capital and had likely reached the sea. Following this lead, although they couldn't pinpoint the exact target, they confirmed that unidentified individuals had indeed sailed out to sea. The Imperial Guards immediately ordered the Navy to continue the pursuit and activated the naval system to search for ships in the area, ordering them to remain stationary and await inspection. At this moment, a turning point finally appeared. A foreign cargo ship recklessly continued its journey, trying to leave Ming Dynasty territorial waters as quickly as possible. Because the princess was in bed, they couldn't intercept it with firepower, but the Navy immediately deployed troops from various locations to surround and block it. Zhu Man'er's whereabouts were known; although her fate was unknown, it was better than her remaining missing forever. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, then anxiously awaited good news from the front. The siege of the True Dragon Society in the capital remained fierce, and the Imperial Guards were under martial law. With attention diverted, Lu Yinxue began to stir, wanting to seek help from the omnipotent man in her heart. However , remembering that he had already been abducted and taken to the sea, even with his supernatural powers, he was too far away to help in the immediate crisis, and she felt utterly helpless . Inside the Qianming Palace, after witnessing the appalling video, Zhu Weiquan's face was terrifyingly grim. If it weren't for Miaomiao, if the girl being violated was Zhu Man'er, this would be the greatest disgrace the royal family had suffered in four hundred years, a complete loss of face. This was a threat; even though the video had begun to be controlled within the Ming Dynasty, it was still spreading like . The princess's personal maid's identity was too special; such a highlight couldn't possibly fail to attract public attention. What was even more infuriating was that the video had spread throughout the world in a very short time, making it a true disgrace to the royal family. "Your Majesty, we've intercepted that cargo ship." Zhang Shengming approached, his face as cold and terrifying. " We found over a dozen members of the True Dragon Society on board. They were clearly holding out with a sliver of hope, each strapped with explosives, fighting desperately against the Imperial Guards. These dozen or so ruthless individuals managed to inflict dozens of casualties on the Imperial Guards. There was even one armed with a rocket launcher that attacked our warship." "What about Man'er's whereabouts?" Zhu Weiquan was more concerned about this. Generals must die on the battlefield, and soldiers will inevitably perish. Those soldiers, having joined the Imperial Guards, should have been prepared to sacrifice themselves for their country. When their remains return home, they will be revered by the people, and their families will receive a pension that will ensure a lifetime of comfort. "We found Miaomiao's body on the ship, but we couldn't find Li Haidong or Princess Man'er." Zhang Shengyang

His face was grim, and he spoke with a murderous intent, "When the navy boarded the ship, there were no survivors. However, there are indications that
Princess Man'er was indeed on board, but she was taken away by a submarine when the Imperial Guards issued the search order." "
They even have submarines now. The True Dragon Society is really getting more and more ambitious. Wei Tang, you've done a good job."
Zhu Weiquan's expression suddenly turned serious. The clue he had painstakingly tracked down had been cut off.
What's even more infuriating is that even if the True Dragon Society had submarines, they should be overseas. There was indeed intelligence proving that the True Dragon Society
had purchased a large number of weapons and was maintaining some so-called mercenaries overseas. However, the Ming Dynasty strictly controls
arms to be filled with the sounds of gunfire, but for even submarines to be able to enter Ming Dynasty
waters proves that Zhu Weitang had been planning this for a long time.
In terms of advanced submarine technology, the Ming Dynasty is definitely one of the best. No
submarines , and the strict coastal defenses would not allow foreign submarines to infiltrate. This means the submarine that came to pick them up
wasn't from abroad, but rather a result of internal strife within the Ming Dynasty. Besides a traitor within the Imperial Guards in the capital,
there were also men under Zhu Weitang in the navy belonging to the Imperial Guards.
They were careless; initially, they only used satellite positioning to locate the sea surface, failing to activate radar for a comprehensive scan of the seabed.
Now that the cargo ship has been intercepted, it's useless. Zhu Man'er has likely already left the country under Li Haidong's control.
Following her wouldn't be easy given the Ming Dynasty's overseas influence, and overseas operations would certainly
invite open attacks from the True Dragon Society, not to mention the unpredictable international repercussions.
Moreover, the True Dragon Society's elaborate kidnapping of the princess must have ulterior motives. Although Zhu Man'er is a royal
princess, she ultimately cannot shake the foundation of imperial power. After all this planning, they might as well take a gamble and see if they
could turn the Beijing artillery into a group that could launch missiles at the palace—that would be much more satisfying.
Of course, Zhu Weitang certainly doesn't have that ability; if he did, given his deep-seated hatred from years ago, he would have done it long ago.
After all, when he fled overseas seeking political asylum, he was like a stray dog, not only humiliated but also unable to protect
his family. Most of those who followed him died under Zhu Weiquan's butcher's knife. Of course, some
survived, and others endured humiliation and lay low.
"Your Majesty, an unidentified signal has been intercepted, specifically requesting to speak with you." At this moment, Jia Xuyao rushed
in , his face stern and his tone tinged with anger.
An unidentified signal intrusion meant that his people were also in the military communications department. This was definitely a demonstration,
a provocative demonstration. Now, Zhu Weiquan remained calm and smiled composedly, "It's
undoubtedly my good brother. Bring him in."
He had gone to great lengths to kidnap the princess, and now that the capital was in chaos, he should show his face. Otherwise, it would be
a futile effort, no matter how much he did.
Zhang Shengyang and Jia Xuyao had worked together for over ten years and had developed a certain tacit understanding. They exchanged a glance, and the Imperial Guard
immediately split into several groups and got to work. One team immediately connected to the signal source, while another team commissioned
other institutions and the engineering college to immediately investigate it. Finding the source would mean knowing Zhu
Weitang's whereabouts immediately; everyone understands the principle of "capture the king first."
Jia Xuyao led his team out immediately, their target naturally being the military communications department, which had a mole. The fact that they had the authority
to connect to such an unknown signal source proved that the mole had high authority, which made Zhu Weiquan even more unhappy.
The signal source connected, and the scene flashed to a small house with a distinctly foreign feel. A grand chair gently swayed
beside the fireplace. Sitting in the chair was a thin, middle-aged man with a weathered face but particularly sharp eyes,
radiating a chillingly fierce light. Even with a gentle smile, he didn't exude any
kindness; he possessed an air of superiority and indifference.
The man, dressed in an ordinary Han robe, greeted me with a smile in the brief moment the image became clear: "
My dear brother, it's been over ten years. Your condition doesn't seem much better than mine. I can still sit up,
but you're lying in a hospital bed. Don't you think I should be gloating and saying 'karma'?"
"Weitang, now is not the time to boast," Zhu Weiquan replied calmly, his smile utterly composed.
"Now you should explain your purpose. I truly don't understand your motives for going to such lengths to kidnap the princess. Even if
she is my daughter, she is willing to sacrifice herself for the sake of the Ming Dynasty. You and I are equally ruthless.
Do you think kidnapping Man'er will threaten me?"
"Your Majesty is right, so I didn't expect that at first. I'm not that naive,"
Zhu Weitang chuckled. "Even if I had someone rape your daughter, it wouldn't vent my hatred. That girl's
video was just a game my men couldn't resist playing. I know that even if I did that, it wouldn't shake your
heart of stone. At most, it would just make you lose face. In the end, you'd get the royal family's relentless
revenge and the united condemnation of the Ming people. It would only make you gain public support, which wouldn't be worth it.
" "Is that so? Then why are you doing this useless thing?" Zhu Weiquan sneered. "Although
there are many , and the instability of overseas territories forces the royal family to keep a low profile temporarily, it doesn't mean that the Ming Dynasty is afraid of
anyone. Once you do something to Man'er that makes the royal family lose face, I guarantee that the Ming army will dare to tear up
any convention, and the land you live on will be trampled underfoot. I guarantee that there will be no place for you in the whole world."
"Yes, I understand all of this. I'm not stupid; of course I believe the Ming Dynasty has the strength." Zhu Weitang appeared
nonchalant. "After all, you are the emperor now, and I am a rebel. Our statuses are naturally incomparable.
Although I have quite a few people within the Ming territory, it's just small-scale fighting. Compared to you, who commands the country, my
forces are nothing more than a drop in the ocean for the Imperial Guard. I have that much self-awareness."
"As for your intention to send troops and use nuclear weapons," Zhu Weitang paused, then sneered, "Unless you
abandon your defense forces and send out all your troops, if you have that kind of courage, I, Your Majesty, would gladly admit defeat.
Otherwise, the True Dragon Society's two hundred years of experience is not to be underestimated. If you want to use weapons, we have them too. Although
I know I'm certainly not as advanced as the Ming Dynasty, I am confident I can
fight the Ming Imperial Guard, known as the Iron-Blooded Army."
"Speak, what do you want?" Zhu Weiquan knew his younger brother was no fool; this move must have
a deeper meaning. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sacrificed the influence he had cultivated in the capital for so long to kidnap Zhu Man'er.
And Zhu Weitang was right; even if the Imperial Guards could conquer distant lands, if the True Dragon Society were to truly go all out...
" If the jade and stone are burned together, the serious consequences will cause the Ming Dynasty to crumble in the storm.
" "Brother, your men are really proactive." Zhu Weitang didn't answer, but looked at the
flickering computer beside him and shook his head, saying, "I know that the technology of the Ming Dynasty is advancing rapidly and is very advanced. With
a behemoth like the Engineering Academy as the backbone, technology is constantly improving. But do you think I
didn't prepare anything since I dared to chat with you so easily? Those people in the Military Communications Department should have been captured by you, but it's a bit too slow to arrest them
now . By the time we finish our leisurely chat, they will probably be able to trace
the signal source from some unknown islands in the Pacific."
This is too arrogant. This means that he also has people in the Engineering Academy, and even other scientific and technological talents are
protecting him. Zhang Shengming was trembling with anger. This incident proves that the Imperial Guard
has been incompetent, because the responsibility of pursuing and suppressing the True Dragon Society has always been borne by the Imperial Guard.
The True Dragon Society had been operating overseas. Although they were considered rebellious, everyone believed they lacked the strength to launch a counterattack against the Ming Dynasty,
so everyone lowered their guard. While a few members were found causing trouble in the Ming each year, these were minor incidents
. No one expected the True Dragon Society to have so many people lurking in the capital alone; the number in other areas was terrifying to even
imagine .
Even more frightening was the unknown number of their people in the Ming Dynasty, and these individuals were not
simply ordinary civilians or wealthy people; they included people from various government departments. The Imperial Guard and the Imperial Household Department had been
infiltrated. Now, the imperial institutions were facing an unprecedented crisis of trust, which was the greatest threat to the royal family.
"Your men have their own things to do," Zhu Weiquan said calmly. "Weitang, stop showing off your
so-called power. While this investigation might not completely eradicate you, your men
will certainly face imprisonment. Of course, the Imperial Guard has plenty of ways to make them suffer and extract useful clues.
You should worry about digging deeper and deeper. If you uncover too much, your losses will be significant,
especially since your True Dragon Society doesn't have many men."
"Your Majesty is right. Let's get back to the point!" Zhu Weitang turned around, his face solemn. "
Actually, Your Majesty has overlooked something. There's no need to worry about a traitor like me, who's like a stray dog.
To put it bluntly, haven't you been sending people to investigate me all these years? If I hadn't been vigilant, I would have been dead long ago.
Do you think someone like me needs to worry about the so-called royal face and being condemned by everyone? It's all
irrelevant to me."
"Is that so? Then you can try." Zhu Weiquan's expression turned serious, and he said decisively, "Don't even
think about using Man'er to blackmail me. As my daughter, she is of noble birth, but
she also has the responsibility to sacrifice for the country. If something happens to her, I, as her father, will be heartbroken, but I will never
compromise with a cult like the True Dragon Society for her sake."
"Is that so? Do you think I don't know about your experiment at the Royal Medical College? Pretending to be a benevolent father." Zhu Weitang
sneered disdainfully, "Someone as heartless as you, I naturally wouldn't be so short-sighted as to think that kidnapping
your daughter would make you compromise. Besides, I know you're willing to sacrifice anything for power, so that's
not surprising ."
"Speak plainly, what exactly do you want?" Zhu Weiquan was furious and couldn't help but roar, "Zhu Weitang
, if it weren't for my momentary negligence back then, you would be dead by now. Even if you control the True Dragon Society now
, you're nothing but a stray dog. What right do you have to negotiate with me? All you can do is bark obediently
overseas ."
"Back then, hmph, you were too busy consolidating your throne to even think about hunting me down,"
Zhu Weitang scoffed disdainfully, then said in a sinister tone, "That video was a warning to you. You were willing to
endure the humiliation allow the royal family to lose face before dealing with me. But there's one person who might be different. The Ming Dynasty
has been around for four hundred years. If such a scandal shocks the world, if every ordinary person in the world can admire
the golden branch and jade leaf body of my dynasty's princess, I imagine that person would be even more furious than you."
"You also know about the news of the ancestor's Nirvana, so you should know his temper." Zhu Weiquan's
heart skipped a beat, but on the surface, he remained calm: "Once such a thing happens,
the ancestor, who has been watching coldly, might suddenly become enraged. If he becomes bloodthirsty in his fury, I'm afraid it won't just be you;
even if all the members of the True Dragon Society are royal descendants, he will still kill them without hesitation."
"That's right, Your Majesty is getting smarter and smarter." Zhu Weitang chuckled. "I naturally know that
the forces on the surface can't defeat you, and launching a counterattack against the Ming Dynasty won't be easy. I received a warning from the Ancestor before,
but I've already said that there's nothing to worry about for a traitor like me. What about the Ancestor? If it weren't for
saving your own life, would you respect him so much? Zhu Weiquan, you know that better than anyone else."
He paused, his contempt fading, and suddenly said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty,
let I want to make a deal with you. From now on, you can't
mobilize troops or personnel from anywhere except those within the capital, nor can you use missiles or other firearms. As for weapons,
at most you can use ordinary pistols. We can settle this in a primitive way that won't disturb the people."
"You're dreaming!" Zhu Weiquan roared in anger. "I possess the entire empire, command a million Imperial Guards
, and have three armies at my command. How could I possibly make such a ridiculous agreement with you?"
"Is that so? I expected my brother to react this way." Zhu Weitang remained silent for a moment, then suddenly
sneered , "The capital's air defense system is said to be the most advanced in the world. It's
impossible for outside missiles to get in, but that doesn't mean I can't show you my strength. From now on, for two hours, brother,
wait for the surprise I have for you."
The screen went black in an instant. Zhu Weiquan was furious, so angry that he closed his eyes and fainted.
He didn't understand why his younger brother Zhu Weitang had such confidence. It was definitely not
as worried Zhu Weiquan the most was what his brother meant by mentioning the ancestor. Could it be that he had
some means to make the ancestor favor him?
Two hours later, Zhu Weiquan did not wake up, but major events had occurred all over the capital. The Imperial Guards
were already exhausted, and the Imperial Army was also rushing around dealing with the chaos.
Even though Zhang Shengming and Jia Xuyao immediately imposed a full curfew, and the palace and the Military Affairs Bureau were all on high alert,
But the capital city, so vast, could only protect so many areas at once; the sudden turn of events caught them completely off guard.
First, the Lu family, the Mu family, and other prominent clans who had assisted Zhu Weiquan in the coronation battle
were attacked almost simultaneously. Without exception, they were all hit by slingshots thrown from the outer walls. While the casualties weren't high,
they certainly startled these high-ranking officials and nobles. And although the casualties were described as low, quite a few people actually died. However, those truly
in positions of power only suffered minor injuries and shock; the deaths were mostly insignificant servants.
Even more heinous were the famous generals who had helped Zhu Weiquan seize the throne and led troops into Zhu Weitang's palace, all of whom were attacked. The
highly meritorious old gentleman Liu Cong, even after retiring to his hometown, was persecuted. Despite having guards always by his side
, his entire family was wiped out, and his death was filmed, causing further panic.
Meanwhile, the lurking True Dragon Society rebels once again wreaked havoc, committing countless bloody crimes
. All of this took only two hours. In those two hours, countless familiar names began to surface; one after another
, notorious villains, once forgotten, reappeared in the Imperial Guard's sights.
When Zhu Weiquan awoke again, he was enraged by the overwhelming news. Soon after, the signal came through
again angry he almost fainted. So timely! Could it be the imperial physician, or
were there members of Zhu Weitang by his side? When did the True Dragon Society, once like rats in the street, develop to this state
?
The thought alone is chilling. If the True Dragon Society is truly this powerful, then who
can be trusted by their side
? On the screen, Zhu Weitang sneered, "How about it, Your Majesty? You can protect yourself, but how many places
can protect? You've wiped out quite a few of my True Dragon Society members, but are you sure we only
have that many? Are you now extremely angry and starting to suspect Zhang Shengyang and Jia Xuyao? Their
incompetence makes them suspicious of colluding with me. And at this point, you don't know
who can be trusted."
Zhang Shengyang and Jia Xuyao were instantly enraged. The True Dragon Society's actions had already made them feel
humiliated , and now their attempts to sow discord were even more despicable. They knew the Emperor was both suspicious and ruthless; if he
truly harbored resentment, it might bring unwarranted disaster.
However, Zhu Weiquan remained unmoved. He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "None of this matters.
A subject country. Show me what you're capable of. As for that promise made in jest,
even if I agreed, I would still go back on my word. Don't you think that's ridiculous?"
"Of course I know. Talking about integrity with you is something only a fool would do." Zhu Weitang's tone was extremely serious, and he
finally sneered, "However, I still refuse to accept defeat at your hands back then. As for the ancestor, you don't need to pretend.
If he hadn't saved your life, would you respect him like this? The agreement I proposed is still valid. If you don't
agree , I have plenty of ways to either disrupt the feng shui of the capital or, when your death is imminent,
defy the natural order and assassinate the ancestor, leaving you no chance of survival."
"Assassinate the patriarch? Do you have the ability?" Zhu Weiquan sneered. Just then, more bad news
arrived: something had happened at the Royal Medical Academy as well. More than half of the members of that experimental group had been assassinated, and
the core technical data had been burned to ashes.
Zhu Weiquan felt a sweet taste in his throat, but he swallowed the blood and forced himself
to face Zhu Weitang with a sinister expression, his eyes still darkening.
"I may lack the ability, but our ancestor was at the Celestial Realm; I doubt anyone could match that." Zhu Weitang
laughed . Seeing Zhu Weiquan's expression change, he knew the news had reached him, and his face immediately contorted with malice.
"Sending assassins won't work, but are you sure our ancestor can dodge missiles? If three
long-range missiles are launched at him, do you think he can escape?"
"You dare? He's your ancestor! Such treason! Even if you seize the throne, how can you expect
the people to believe you?" Zhu Weiquan's defenses began to crumble. The casualties in the Royal Medical Academy's experimental group
were still being tallied, meaning his only hope now lay with Xu Ping.
This was Zhu Weiquan's deepest pain. If that plan could continue, at least he would have
double protection. Now, with only one of his lifelines remaining, it was a devastating blow.
"Is that so? Do you think I need to talk to you about so-called morality when it comes to a traitor like me?"
Zhu Weitang smiled coldly, then suddenly a cunning look appeared on his face. He said with a smile, "Brother, you've been busy
sending people to trace my signal source, but how come you can't find any indication that the signal source is being split?
Someone was listening to our conversation."
"You..." Zhu Weiquan never expected Zhu Weitang to say such a thing. He was already somewhat flustered, and
now he was completely at a loss.
The screen flashed, showing the familiar room. Xu Ping sat calmly, sipping tea, listening to the brothers'
heated a still pond, revealing no emotion.
Fortunately, nothing too abrupt had been said, but Zhu Weiquan was still terrified and quickly greeted him
, "Greetings, Ancestor."
Zhu Weiquan's biggest worry now was whether the old monster knew about the experiment. He was even more worried that it wouldn't matter if the old monster didn't
know , because if Zhu Weitang let slip anything, the secret would be lost.
"Not bad, not bad." Surprisingly, Xu Ping smiled and
clapped . "Not bad, not bad. You two are both outstanding individuals. Your elder brother, as emperor, truly has
the courage to risk everything for the country. And your younger brother, as a traitor, is also cunning. This threat is indeed very well-timed,
and I am quite pleased to see your ruthlessness. I am very gratified."
"Ancestor, Weitang is right, isn't he?" Zhu Weitang smiled calmly. "If it weren't for the sake of
his life , I think my elder brother wouldn't respect you so much. You are an emperor who knows the dark side of human nature best,
and you know that those in power are ruthless. Otherwise, you wouldn't have carved those words on the dragon bed. So, your unfilial descendant
thinks it's understandable that you would use him as a threat. The so-called imperial mind and courage must
include the spirit of sacrificing everything. Right now, Weitang is a traitor, so using you, his ancestor, as a threat is not excessive at all."
"Weitang is right, Weiquan. What about you?" Xu Ping said with a smile, even praising him, "
The so-called saintly morality is just a set of laws created by successful people, and it's also a performance for the world. The real..."
" A ruler who rules the world must be ruthless and disregards everything. As the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, being a wise ruler is just an act for the world.
Which real emperor isn't a cold-blooded and ruthless character? I agree with Weitang's statement."
"Grandfather, he is ultimately a traitor, so naturally he has no scruples." Zhu Weiquan was getting anxious, his murderous intent fully revealed
. "As the emperor, I must consider the face of the royal family and the stability of the country. If he kidnapped Man'er
to blackmail me, then absolutely not. I will never let him succeed for my daughter's sake. But if he does
something despicable and vile, then it will be the face of the royal family that is lost. This is an irreconcilable enmity. I swear I will tear him
to pieces."
The two brothers were tearing each other apart like this. Xu Ping's sudden appearance made Zhu Weiquan a little flustered, but after calming down
, he understood what was going on.
Having been on the run for many years, his younger brother Zhu Weitang was well aware of the darkness of human nature. His ability to take down the True Dragon Society
must have involved ruthless methods, making him more courageous and possessing unimaginable boldness than his brother. He knew that displaying ruthlessness
wouldn't displease the ancestor; on the contrary, it would demonstrate the grandeur of a ruler and
earn the old monster's appreciation.
This bastard, so direct, but it was indeed the side the old monster most wanted to see.
"Grandfather, isn't my threat quite effective?" Zhu Weitang's tone was surprisingly relaxed. "Besides
bombarding you with firearms, I can also have my niece gang-raped, and then release those images to the world so
everyone can see how alluring the royal princess's body is. Doing so would naturally bring shame upon the royal family, and
the first to suffer would be my elder brother sitting on the dragon throne. Of course, as a rebel, I feel
it's normal for me to do such a heinous thing. What do you say?"
"Indeed, you'll stop at nothing. You're quite the traitor." Xu Ping nodded, approvingly
smiling. "This would indeed cause the imperial authority to lose face, and your reputation among the people to plummet. Of course,
you're not afraid of the stigma you've accumulated as a rebel. This stigma is actually a good opportunity for you to gain notoriety
."
"Indeed, I knew our ancestor was the most reasonable person in the world. My rebellion is naturally
audacious , and I don't need to consider morality or righteousness at all. That's my advantage." Zhu Weitang laughed heartily
. "To be honest, I'm a rat crossing the street now and can't easily show my face. Otherwise, I really want to hear
your teachings in person. You truly deserve to be the greatest emperor since the founding of the Ming Dynasty. You understand the dark side of human nature better than anyone else
."
The traitor and the old monster were chatting so congenially, and it seemed they were getting along very well. This situation left Zhu Weiquan
somewhat dumbfounded. However, he knew that the emperor Xu Ping admired was definitely not a moral saint. So even if his younger brother was a traitor, he was
of the same lineage as him, and it was normal for him to be admired for doing such a thing.
Zhu Weiquan couldn't hold back any longer and roared, "Zhu Weitang, if you have the guts, then go ahead and do it! If Man'er
is unfortunately violated by you, as her father, I will absolutely tear you to pieces.
If As the Son of Heaven, I will never compromise with you. No matter what you use as leverage, even if it costs me
my life, I will not let you succeed!"
"Good, Weiquan, I knew I hadn't misjudged you. Now you're acting like an emperor." Xu Ping couldn't help but laugh heartily
. "Truly inseparable! Both brothers are outstanding figures in the world. It's like saying, 'Why was there a Zhuge Liang when there was a Yu?' You
can sacrifice your daughter, so you can sacrifice our distant ancestors even more. And you're even willing
to give up . I greatly admire that first point. You have guts, not bad."
Zhu Weiquan breathed a sigh of relief. Sure enough, this attitude would win over the old monster. In fact, he said this
somewhat against his will.
However, Zhu Weitang immediately sneered and said, "Ancestor, don't try to be a good old man. Weitang is
a rebellious man with no scruples. The conditions he just proposed weren't without their risks. Making you listen to us is also
to tell you something: since Weitang can't even spare you, he's naturally capable of doing even more
heinous things. Don't think you can always sit on the sidelines and watch."
"Oh, interesting, tell me about it." Xu Ping looked on with a cheerful expression, seemingly very much
looking forward !
"For example, if Weitang has no hope of revenge, then the stability of the Ming Dynasty is none of my concern," Zhu Weitang
said coldly. "Isn't the Ming Dynasty's Imperial Guard very strong? But the True Dragon Society's more than a hundred years of accumulation is not to be underestimated.
Weitang has the ability to attack all of the Ming Dynasty's overseas territories, not to mention
destroying the oil fields and other resources that the Ming Dynasty has accumulated through war. When the place is in ruins, I don't believe that Your Majesty can manage it. It will definitely be a serious blow to
the prestige ."
"Get to the point!" Xu Ping frowned and couldn't help but say, "These are all matters of authority. Just tell me a
way to threaten me. Besides, overseas resources can't shake the foundation of the Ming Dynasty. At most, it will just
be a matter of rebuilding. What's so scary about that?" "
The Ancestor is absolutely right," Zhu Weiquan immediately echoed, saying disdainfully, "This kind
of childish stuff is not worth mentioning. To put it bluntly, I wouldn't care. Weitang, since you dare to make such a confident statement,
why don't you just say what other abilities you have?"
"Our ancestor is truly extraordinary; I anticipated this attitude." Zhu Weitang's face darkened, becoming somewhat
distorted. "The capital is a crucial place. I've already spoken; my brother will naturally investigate. Those three missiles will be
discovered . This is merely a pretext. If you don't agree to my conditions, I will do something even more
treasonous. The palace has a powerful anti-aircraft system that I can't handle, but I can bomb the Wanlie Pagoda. Of course,
to threaten our ancestor, I won't spare the tombs of our beloved concubines, or the gates of Guigu Mountain. I'll bomb as many as I can,
and I won't spare any of the so-called holy sites of the Ming Dynasty related to you."
Xu Ping was slightly taken aback, his voice hoarse as he said, "Zhu Weitang, you've calculated well. Either way, being caught
means certain death. As a traitor, no matter how treasonous you are, it doesn't matter. Your threat is indeed making me a little irritated."
"You're talking nonsense! I don't believe you have the ability." Zhu Weiquan
became anxious upon seeing Xu Ping's thoughtful expression.
"Heh, Weitang is unfilial, resorting to such a desperate measure." Zhu Weitang showed no remorse, chuckling lightly,
"After all, I am a traitor. Fulfilling filial duties, protecting the royal family's reputation, and setting a moral example are all the
Emperor 's responsibility. As a traitor deserving of everyone's wrath, Weitang feels he has done a very good job, especially during my escape..."
From the moment I left for overseas, my elder brother no longer acknowledged that I was a member of the Zhu royal family. "
Indeed, Wei Quan, what do you say?" Xu Ping's tone was utterly indifferent: "Do whatever you want,
without regard for my existence. I have already said that I am a dead man who should not exist in this world. I will absolutely not interfere with your
thoughts. As an emperor, you must have your own courage and must not be swayed by external forces."
"This is an internal strife within the royal family, unlike a national war, which naturally cannot be known to the outside world." A fierce glint flashed in Zhu Wei Quan's eyes, but
he smiled calmly and confidently: "Wei Tang, the conditions you proposed are acceptable, at least they will not affect
the stability of the country and the reputation of the royal family. However, it is impossible to make me compromise with me with mere threats. Our ancestor is here, and
we are all his descendants. I believe he will be impartial. Besides threats, what other
conditions ?"
"Is that so? Isn't this threat enough?" Zhu Wei Tang sneered: "If you agree to my conditions, then the
day I conquer the capital will be the day I ascend the throne. You can refuse, but I will definitely do more things to drive you crazy
. In any case, for me, whether you agree or not, I will not let this go."
"Weitang, your argument is unrealistic. You might as well state your conditions," Xu Ping interjected,
rubbing Even if Weiquan dies, a prince will succeed him. It's not your turn. Besides, the emperor's tragic death allows you
, a rebel, to ascend the throne so easily. Don't you think such thoughts are delusional?"
"Our ancestors were wise indeed. I know my rebellious nature. To think I could contend for the throne is wishful thinking.
Even if I could kill my brother, the noble families of the Ming Dynasty wouldn't support my ascension." Zhu Weitang didn't deny it, but this
time his face was truly contorted, and he breathed heavily with hatred: "I was unwilling to accept my defeat back then.
I won't die in peace if I don't have a chance for revenge. My brother isn't much stronger than me, but he was
ruthless back then. Now, I just want a chance for revenge, to prove that I, Zhu Weitang, shouldn't have failed back then, and that
my talent far surpasses my brother's."
"Then just say it straight. What other way do you have to get me to agree?" Zhu Weiquan, his
temper , roared, "As the supreme ruler, I cannot get you to agree to my conditions through threats alone.
I possess the entire realm and have the time and ability to slowly torture you, this traitor. If your conditions are insufficient,
I will hunt you down and will not agree to your childish words. I will eliminate you even at the greatest cost."
"Of course I know that. Otherwise, why do you think I would let the Ancestor know about our affair?"
Zhu Weitang smiled confidently and said, "I am now a traitor. Even if I succeed in the assassination, I have no
chance of ascending the throne. I am aware of that. So I no longer covet the dragon throne. What I want is
an easier opportunity to assassinate you. Just like the conditions I proposed before: no use of
troops , no use of any missiles or other firearms. My brother, you have 150,000 Imperial Guards in the capital alone
, not to mention other forces. Don't you even have that much confidence?"
"Then tell me, why should I agree to your request?" Zhu Weiquan sneered. "The Ming Dynasty is the world's maritime
superpower, possessing the most advanced navy and air force in the world. If I were to disregard everything, wiping out your True Dragon Society
would only be a matter of time. If those so-called pacifists dare to defend you, I
won't let them off the hook once we break off relations. Therefore, it seems unnecessary for me to agree to such a childish promise."
"So conditions are very important." Zhu Weitang then revealed his true intentions. "I naturally know that transactions
require conditions. My first condition is that if you agree to my request, I will not harm our ancestors, nor
will disrupt the feng shui of the capital, nor will I indiscriminately kill innocent people to create trouble for you. My second condition is that if
I fail, I will hand over all the information on the True Dragon Society's members to you. Furthermore, I will mobilize the True Dragon Society
to assassinate other anti-government cults. If I fail, the True Dragon Society will disappear, and I
will also solve your problem of being isolated overseas."
"Is that so? Who would believe a traitor like you who's capable of anything?" Zhu Weiquan
said dismissively . Although the destruction of the True Dragon Society was something every emperor had wanted to see, he was indeed tempted, but he couldn't easily
agree.
"I will first hand over these people's information to the Ancestor for safekeeping." Zhu Weitang's tone shifted, a hint of
madness in his smile. "I imagine the Ancestor will be very interested in our brotherly rivalry. If you agree
, I won't touch anything related to the Ancestor, and more importantly, I will hand Man'er over to
the Ancestor . My brother, with your immense power in the capital, do you really fear that I, a mere True Dragon, would rebel?"
"Absolutely absurd!" Zhu Weiquan said angrily. "So what if you break the contract? You've already said
you're a rebellious traitor without any scruples. Why should I believe you?"
"Everything is up to the Ancestor's judgment!" Zhu Weitang said coldly. "There's already an unfair relationship between us, and
frankly, I find it hard to trust you. However, the Ancestor would prefer to see an emperor willing to face all difficulties
, so I'm willing to take a huge risk and entrust everything to the Ancestor as my gamble."
"Indeed interesting. Wei Tang's boldness has impressed me." Xu Ping smiled with satisfaction. "Wei Quan, whether
you fight him or not is your business. As I said before, you should consider it yourself."
Although the old monster said this, he clearly appreciated this desperate move. Upon hearing this, Zhu Wei Tang
immediately sneered, "Ancestor, my imperial brother is too afraid of death now. I think he dares not agree to my demands
. For him, right now, he just wants to live a life of ignominy. Even if it means destroying half of the Ming Dynasty, he cannot risk his life."
"Hehe, that's his business. He can decide for himself!" Xu Ping's expression remained calm as he chuckled. "
However, Wei Tang, your threats haven't been enough, proving that you're not truly heartless. If I
were you, I wouldn't do these things to wreak havoc on the world. Forget about the Ghost Valley Sect; I
'd blow up all the ancestral tombs too. That way, even if you lose, your imperial brother will have no face to rule the world."
"Our ancestor's teachings are indeed true. I, Weitang, am ashamed." Zhu Weitang was slightly taken aback, then
burst into a somewhat hysterical laugh: "I thought my elder brother was afraid of death, and that my methods were ruthless enough. I didn't expect our ancestor to be
even more thorough than I was. I, Weitang, have truly learned a lot. Although I, Weitang, have a plan in mind, I am truly
inferior to our ancestor."
Zhu Weiquan, his temper flaring at this moment, angrily said: "Ancestor, as an emperor, I, Weiquan, for the sake of future generations..."
I'll be reckless for once and accept Wei Tang's bet. I refuse to believe that his mere True Dragon Society can cause
any trouble. I, the dignified Emperor, am not enough to deal with him
. If that were the case, the Ming Dynasty should have been overthrown long ago. "
Alright, then you two brothers can have a good fight." Although Xu Ping had maintained a
calm demeanor turned ferocious at this moment. "As for when your bet will begin, that's entirely up to me
. There must be a good balance of power between you to restrain you. I won't take sides, but since you've already
decided, I can act as the mediator. Whoever dares to break their promise and act recklessly will be punished by
me ."
"We will obey the decree of our ancestor." At this moment, the two brothers were more united than ever before. Zhu Weitang smiled smugly
, while Zhu Weiquan was filled with anger. Although this move was risky, Zhu Weitang had done
too much lately, to the point that he felt deeply uneasy. Rather than dragging it out, it was better to cut the Gordian knot quickly. Moreover,
the chance to wipe out the True Dragon Society in one fell swoop was not often.
"Weitang, your suggestion is good, but its authenticity is uncertain!" Xu Ping first looked at Zhu Weitang
and said sternly, "When your agreement takes effect is up to me. No,
the list of True Dragon Society members and Princess Zhu Man'er must be sent to me first. Then I need to think of ways to restrain
you. After all, the so-called True Dragon Society is just a bunch of clowns who can't be brought to the table. What if you abandon the True Dragon Society and resort to underhanded tactics
?"
"Ancestor, are you so heartless towards your descendants?" Zhu Weitang smiled, but then said,
"No problem, Ancestor is right. The so-called agreement between my brother and me has no credibility to speak of. With
you presiding, I feel at ease. I agree with Ancestor's move, but the primary condition for an emperor is
to be trustworthy . What means can Ancestor use to ensure that my brother won't resort to underhanded tactics?"
"That's even simpler," Xu Ping chuckled, stating bluntly, "If Wei Quan, with so many people at his disposal, still
can't deal with you, then how can he be worthy of being an emperor? When his death is imminent, I simply won't extend his life
. His task now is to stay alive. If he's still alive when the time comes, I'll extend his life. If he
doesn't demonstrate the abilities befitting an emperor, then I won't care whether he lives or dies."
"Agreed!" Zhu Weitang nodded, "I trust the ancestor's wise judgment. If I can prove he lacks
the ability to be emperor, I imagine the ancestor wouldn't want a useless person ruling the world. Brother, what do you think of this bet?"
"What our ancestor wanted was peace for the Ming Dynasty. As for our fratricide, he would consider it
insignificant ." Zhu Weiquan, however, felt a sense of relief and said, "I do need our ancestor to extend my life. But
just because our ancestor doesn't care about you rebels doesn't mean he'll watch the Ming Dynasty be destroyed by cannon fire. If I can wipe out the True Dragon Society
in one fell swoop it seems like a good option. I can promise you, the capital will become
the battlefield where I prove my abilities." "
If Weiquan breaks his promise, I will not extend his life." Xu Ping nodded. Seeing that Zhu Weiquan had compromised,
he immediately said, "However, Weitang's words are ultimately just empty promises. You should hand over that list and Zhu Man'er to me first
. To be on the safe side, Weiquan should know your birth date and time, so you must give me a lock of your hair.
If you break your promise, I must punish you. This is to be responsible to Weiquan."
"Hair? What does our ancestor want my hair for?" Zhu Weitang was slightly taken aback, his eyes flickering as if he were
feigning ignorance.
"If I don't abide by this bet, I'll have no chance of survival, so you'll have to stake your life too."
Zhu Weiquan understood and immediately smiled sinisterly, "Your birth date and time should be enough.
With just a strand of hair, taking your life from afar would be a piece of cake for the Ancestor. I
'll check your DNA as soon as your hair arrives. If you dare to cheat, the Ancestor will definitely have the ability to make you wish you were dead,
and might even make you childless."
"That's exactly what I mean." Xu Ping nodded and smiled, "Of course, if I'm to uphold fairness, I'll naturally
have something to control you. Anyone who dares to break the agreement shouldn't blame me for being ruthless."
"Fine, fair!" Zhu Weitang wasn't frightened; instead, he smiled coldly. "We're both
gambling with our lives. In fact, what our ancestor cared about was whether the Ming Dynasty could last for thousands of generations. You should also know that
our ancestor saved your life because he thought you were suitable to be the emperor. Now I'm going to prove that you're not worthy at all."
Zhu Weitang was clever. He knew that even killing all the princes and grandsons wouldn't threaten the terminally ill Zhu Weiquan.
So he turned his attention to Xu Ping, which indeed forced Zhu Weiquan to compromise, because Zhu Weiquan wouldn't
give up any chance to live.
"Ancestor, Weitang is going to make preparations." Zhu Weitang glanced at the computer screen and
said with a smile, "The people from the Engineering College are quite capable. Give them a few more minutes and they'll find Weitang's hiding place. I can't say
much . Weitang will immediately have the items delivered to Ancestor."
The fratricidal wager was thus established. Zhu Weiquan, not wanting to show weakness, sneered, "Fine, I
'd like to see what kind of traitor you are. With your so-called True Dragon Society, I
can easily wipe it out with the forces of the capital."
Xu Ping chuckled, "Alright, then so be it. Weitang, hand over everything you're supposed to hand over.
Anyway 're not allowed to use firearms or mobilize troops from outside the capital. Apart from these two points, you can
use any means necessary. As for harming innocent people, that's too ridiculous to mention. I'd like to see which of you brothers is
more capable. Any means are fine."
"Alright, Ancestor, just wait and see what I'm capable of!" Zhu Weitang laughed wildly, and as soon as the agreement was made,
a mad light began to flash in his eyes.
As soon as Zhu Weitang finished speaking, the unknown signal source immediately cut off. Zhu Weiquan, who had been holding on for so long, felt
completely powerless . As soon as he relaxed, he gasped for breath, feeling utterly exhausted.
"Weiquan, isn't it unpleasant to be threatened?" Xu Ping shook his head dismissively: "
The emperor guards the country's gates, and the monarch dies for the state. Anyway, without me, you won't live much longer. Since the True Dragon Society has existed for so
many years and is a major threat to the court, why not take this opportunity to wipe them out in one fell swoop? Your capital has many soldiers and generals.
Are you afraid that these remnants from overseas can gather together and storm the palace?"
"What the Ancestor says is also what I think. Rather than letting Weitang get away with it, it's better to take this opportunity to wipe them out ."
"Catch them all." Zhu Weiquan closed his eyes, catching his breath for a long time before his voice became smoother: "Today, Weiquan has finally had
an epiphany , a complete awakening. Before, Weiquan was always afraid of death, so he hesitated in everything he did. If I didn't have that
commanding spirit I had before, what would be the use of living? I'd just be a useless piece of trash. So this time, I will definitely succeed and let
our ancestors know that I, Zhu Weiquan, am the unparalleled ruler of the Ming Dynasty."
"It's good to have that kind of courage. Then you should rest!" Xu Ping's mind was also in turmoil, and he needed some
time to sort things out.
The call ended, and an absurd and crazy bet was made, and it was even made under Xu Ping's supervision
. Thinking about it, it was truly laughable.
Inside the Qianming Palace, Zhu Weiquan lay for a long time. Even though he was exhausted, he didn't choose to rest. Instead, he
opened his eyes and said with a bitter smile, "You all saw it. It's true that the Ancestor saved me, but he was also
a cold-blooded and ruthless person. If I showed even the slightest incompetence, he would despise me. He is my
ancestor that's true, but his heart of stone is something that ordinary people can't learn.
Even I had moments when I couldn't bear to do what he did."
"Your Majesty," Jia Xuyao said, clasping his hands in a gesture of respect. "I think the Ancestor's wisdom is beyond question." He
couldn't help
but sigh, "Although we are his subjects, I feel that the Ancestor saw the dark side of human nature too clearly. Although it is praiseworthy, thinking about it still makes me shudder. The thoughts and intentions of a sage emperor
are truly beyond the comprehension of us ordinary mortals."
"Your Majesty, are you really going to gamble with that traitor?" Zhang Shengyang couldn't hold back any longer and said angrily, "Your Majesty , as
the supreme ruler, has no need to compromise with those traitors. With the strength of our Great Ming, if we were truly willing to send troops to conquer them,
I doubt any fool would dare to harbor the True Dragon Society's traitors. At that time, Zhu Weitang would inevitably become a stray dog, and we could
wipe them out in one fell swoop. It's only a matter of time."
"Yes, but what I lack most is time." Zhu Weiquan narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth, saying, "Weitang
has made a good move. He knows he can't threaten me, so he turns to threatening the Ancestor. With the Ancestor's majesty, he might be
furious and not be threatened by him, but for the Ancestor's safety, I have no choice but to compromise with him. Moreover, this is
n't necessarily at least there's a chance to wipe out the True Dragon Society in one fell swoop."
"Your Majesty, don't you think the True Dragon Society has acted far too powerfully?" Jia Xuyao pondered for a long time, then suddenly
said in a sinister voice, "From the moment Princess Man'er was kidnapped, the more we investigated, the more alarmed we became.
They have people in the Imperial Guard and the Royal Guard Division. The True Dragon Society has always been elusive, and in an instant, they had people in almost every department
. Aside from an internal traitor, they managed to enter the country with such a large number of people without being detected. Even if they used smuggling
methods, it's impossible to do it so stealthily."
"That's right!" Zhang Shengyang, to avoid suspicion, also said angrily, "Especially since it includes
notorious figures like Li Haidong. If they didn't have someone to help them, how could the True Dragon Society, with its capabilities, have managed to get so
many people into the country undetected?"
"I've considered it. There must be a traitor in the capital colluding with them." Zhu Weiquan's eyes
flashed with . "From now on, you two have the authority to mobilize the Imperial Guards. You must
find that traitor for me as quickly as possible. This person must hold a high position in the capital, and if he is an official, his rank is definitely not low. Since Weitang dares to
gamble with me like this, he must have made thorough preparations. From now on, you must guard against the large-scale return of the True Dragon Society members to the country.
Also, the Imperial Guards in the capital to enter a state of full martial law. There must be no oversight."
"Yes!" The two men naturally guessed this as well. If there wasn't a resourceful insider, how could Zhu Weitang
have such a series of large-scale actions? To be honest, this series of actions had already made people feel uneasy.
"And another thing!" Zhu Weiquan thought for a moment, still feeling uneasy, and said with a grim expression, "The safety of our ancestor
cannot be ignored either
. Order the entire Python Commando Team to move into the Royal Grand Hotel. Major General Luo Yan will be temporarily granted the privilege of commanding other commando teams. Remember to ensure absolute safety and not let this traitor threaten our ancestor's safety."
Both princes agreed, understanding that Zhu Weiquan had only agreed to the bet out of desperation. If he were in good
health, he would never have yielded to such provocation.
The imperial edict was conveyed through the two princes, and the capital, which had been peaceful for many years, instantly entered a state of war preparedness. Even
more perplexing was that all firearms were sealed off, leaving only anti-aircraft equipment as a precaution. Other
military regions were not redeployed, but the entire Ming Dynasty remained on high alert to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the chaos to launch more surprise attacks.
The weapons command system in the capital was completely shut down. In this way, Zhu Weiquan made a grand show of force and prevented
any traitors from using these weapons and missiles to threaten the safety of the capital. It should be known that even if a single missile were misused
, the consequences would be unimaginable. Zhu Weiquan had begun to take his rebellious younger brother's abilities seriously
. Judging from this series of actions, he had no doubt that his brother possessed the capability to launch missiles.
With other military regions across the country prepared for both naval and air defenses, the capital no longer needed to worry. With the
air defense system in place, there was no fear that Zhu Weitang would break his promise and target the old monster.
Imperial edicts were issued one after another. Even though he was very weak lying in his sickbed, Zhu Weiquan still rediscovered his former
sense of power—the feeling of commanding the nation and holding the universe in his heart.

URL 1:https://www.sex3p.com/htmlBlog/192178.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=192178&aspx=1

Last access time:

Previous Page : Da Ming Xia 2830

Next Page : Reconstituted Families

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

Zhu Weitang pays his respects

comment Open a new window to view comments