The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 684 A Nighttime Conspiracy: Changes in the Capital
"Let me investigate this matter."

Lin Qiming volunteered, saying that he had always been very adept at investigative activities.

Zhu Xiong Ying shook his head. "This matter must be carried out in secrecy. I have already assigned a capable general to investigate, so as to avoid alerting the enemy. As for you, I want you to continue to strengthen the security of the capital and improve internal security checks. Your adversary, Pajiaoshi, also needs to improve its intelligence work to ensure the continued prosperity and stability of the Ming Dynasty."

"Understood. I will optimize the intelligence system based on the new situation to ensure there are no oversights."

Lin Qiming solemnly promised, showing his confidence in completing the task.

The next day, the morning sunlight slanted into the room through the gaps in the curtains. Zhu Xiong Ying sat at the head of the conference room, observing the think tank members who arrived one after another.

The meeting room was filled with a tense yet expectant atmosphere.

Everyone carried a wealth of materials, and the expressions of the attendees were all serious, because they all knew that today's topic concerned the future of the Ming Dynasty.

"Everyone,"

Zhu Xiong Ying cleared her throat and turned her attention back to herself, "As everyone knows, although the smooth progress of the conference is a good start, we must plan ahead and ensure the depth and breadth of the reforms."

The first speaker was economics expert Wang Qingzheng. He stood up, opened the document in his hand, and said, "Given the current economic situation, my suggestion is to continue to revitalize agriculture. We can encourage farmers to produce and increase output by adjusting tax policies, while promoting new agricultural technologies to maximize farmers' benefits."

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded in agreement.

Then, business consultant Li Hongyue continued the discussion: "In addition to agriculture, we also need to promote trade liberalization to attract foreign investment. Establishing a more open market mechanism will be key to enhancing the vitality of the national economy."

The meeting continued amidst lively discussions, with various innovative solutions and specific implementation steps being put on the agenda one after another.

Zhu Xiong Ying quickly scribbled in his notebook, his eyes gleaming with hope, but he knew in his heart that whether these plans could proceed smoothly depended on Lin Qi Ming's solid security in Beijing.

Meanwhile, in a small town in the south, Chen Zhong delves into the circles of the old aristocracy.

He carefully concealed his identity and, after several days of observation, discovered that these old forces were indeed restless.

He casually brushed past a local leader in a pub, chatting casually while gathering the information he needed.

Chen Zhong thought to himself: Once the key figures in this circle are exposed one by one, they will no longer be able to organize any treacherous actions.

In Beijing, Lin Qiming never let his guard down for a moment.

In the conference room, he meticulously deployed new security strategies to his subordinates, emphasizing that "security checks at all levels must be strictly enforced."

He emphasized this point and personally demonstrated the latest intelligence gathering methods.

"Our goal is to ensure that any risks are eliminated in advance."

A member of the Pajiao team reported, "Several suspicious intelligence reports from the south have been identified, and we will continue to verify them further."

"Very good, stay alert."

Lin Qiming was pleased with the team's efficiency, but still had concerns.

As Zhu Xiong Ying's trusted intelligence officer, he was well aware that the potential threat still existed.

With the implementation of various measures, the entire Ming Dynasty gradually began to get back on track.

However, late at night, as Zhu Xiong Ying was preparing to end a busy day, an anonymous letter silently appeared in his field of vision on the corner of his desk.

The letter's contents subtly reveal a conspiracy: an impending upheaval.

Holding the letter in his hand, sitting in the dim light, Zhu Xiong Ying felt a chill.

Zhu Xiong Ying stared at the anonymous letter, lost in thought for a moment without saying a word.

A moment later, he made up his mind and quickly summoned his core advisors.

The meeting room was dimly lit, and everyone's expression was extremely solemn. "We received an anonymous letter,"

Zhu Xiong Ying cut straight to the point. After briefly summarizing the contents of the letter, he glanced at everyone around the table and said, "If the conspiracy mentioned in the letter is true, then we must take immediate action."

Sitting to his right, Lin Qiming spoke first, "We need to reassess the capital's defense strategy and strengthen security in key departments. I suggest we personally develop a detailed plan and implement it as soon as possible."

"agree,"

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded. "At the same time, I hope you can take the lead in verifying all suspicious information in Beijing, and strengthen the deployment of intelligence personnel if necessary."

Lin Qiming nodded solemnly. He knew this might mean several sleepless days ahead, but for the sake of the Ming Dynasty's stability, he was willing to do his utmost.

Turning his gaze to the left, Zhu Xiong Ying continued, "Chen Zhong, how's the situation on your end? We need to speed up intelligence gathering in the south."

“Your Majesty, I have begun more frequent contact, and the trust the old nobles have in me is gradually deepening,”

Chen Zhong responded, his eyes gleaming with determination, "Recently, I learned that they are planning a large-scale secret gathering, which could be a good opportunity to investigate further."

"very good,"

Zhu Xiong Ying couldn't hide her deep concern, "But be careful and don't reveal your identity."

At this point, another member of the staff suggested, "Should we send more people to the south to assist Chen Zhong?"

Zhu Xiong Ying thought for a moment, "We can do so if necessary, but for now, our priority is to ensure smooth information flow. We must keep track of the situation in both the capital and the south."

The group exchanged glances, their shared belief unwavering: they must expose this conspiracy and nip the hidden threat in the bud.

After the meeting, Lin Qiming immediately returned to his command center and began to redeploy security measures.

His heart was taut like a bowstring; if the letter proved true, any relaxation could lead to a grave mistake.

Meanwhile, in a small town in the south, Chen Zhong quickened his pace.

In the night breeze, his thoughts were as restless as the tide.

He knew that this secret meeting could be a life-or-death moment.

Night fell over the capital. Lin Qiming stood by the window, gazing at the outline of the palace in the distance.

As night fell, a veil of mystery enveloped the city, and with it came the pressure he felt.

He knew time was of the essence, otherwise those forces lurking in the shadows might reveal their fangs at any moment.

He slowly turned around and began to sort through the recent information in his mind, especially those suspicious targets.

What exactly are these people planning?

He muttered to himself, a hint of weariness in his voice.

His fingers tapped lightly on the table as he considered his next strategy.

"Perhaps it's time to reach out to more people."

He finally made up his mind, quickly picked up his pen and wrote several letters, summoning people from all walks of life in the city whom he trusted.

Meanwhile, in a small town in the south, Chen Zhong also felt the arduousness of the task.

He stood at the entrance of a dimly lit inn, knowing full well that his position was like a knife's edge, and that one wrong step would plunge him into the abyss.

(End of this chapter)