Xie Ming

Old Ma joined the group eager to make a name for himself, and Xiao was delighted and pleased.

In order to ensure that the logistics, supplies and provisions of the hundreds of thousands of troops would not be in short supply, Xiao Jingchuan set up a banquet and forcefully rejected Zeng Ji's expression of the Southern Party's intention to support the court. He was willing to antagonize the court and use the matter to make his stance clear and resolute.

This method indeed yielded positive results.

With Ma Weimin firmly committed to the partnership, he had no more worries.

The two sides agreed on 200,000 shi of grain and fodder, and quickly reached an agreement.

After finishing his business, Old Ma, unlike his usual carefree demeanor, became serious and went off to carry out his duties.

The soldiers were about to leave quickly, so they spurred their horses eastward to find Ma Minglu. The two Mas then prepared to lead their troops out of the city.

Meanwhile, Xiao Lang's work was also causing trouble.

Immediately after Ma Weimin left the mansion, he summoned Changting and issued an edict. A handwritten letter was rushed to Minglu's hands.

Seeing the letter is like seeing the person in person. Ma Minglu is also insightful and considerate of the overall situation, so there is no need for negligence.

And so, things just went on like this, in this way and that.

The two worked together to raise grain.
It is hoped that the supply of military horses and provisions can be guaranteed in the next two months.

The branches fork in two directions, and the conversation goes in two separate ways.

This plan is near Nanjing, and Xiao felt that the key location had just been finalized.

Within two days, Zeng Ji returned to Hangzhou in a panic, and his misfortune was also reported.

After all, he is a petty person driven by self-interest.

He curried favor at the Duke of Nanjing's mansion and made a clean getaway.

The reasons given for promising to guarantee military supplies were completely forgotten in the end.

Not only that, in order to absolve themselves of any responsibility, they also rushed to shift the blame entirely onto Xiao Lang.

In response to Xiao Chu's arrogant and hostile words, he embellished them and poured them all out on the cabinet, the Southern Party, Qiu Weizhen, Ma Shiying, and others.

Upon hearing this rumor, the court officials, led by Qiu, were still ambiguous about Xiao's attitude, wavering between betraying him and trying to win him over.

But now things have gotten worse. Trouble has been brewing because of what you say. Zeng Ji stirred things up, and now it seems that Nan Ting has given up on Xiao Duoduo.

Complaints and hostility grew increasingly palpable.

They were already at odds with each other.

Upon receiving this news, Qiu Zhizhong of the Embroidered Uniform Guard also felt extremely troubled and perplexed.

Unfortunately, Xiao Lang is away, and it's not convenient for anyone to meet with him and discuss the matter.

In the face of a sudden and urgent situation, Qiu and Yao made a joint assessment in Hangzhou.

Feeling that the situation was about to spiral out of control, we must intensify our efforts to ensure the success of the overall plan.

Judging from the current situation, Emperor Hongguang, Zhu Cilang, is ill and his days are numbered. He will not last much longer, and his death is not far off.

In order to quickly grasp the situation, the cabinet intensified its efforts and made even more urgent preparations for the new monarch, without any delay or negligence.

At this time, a storm is brewing. On the surface, things are calm, but underneath, a fierce struggle is already underway.

In order to gain the upper hand, Qiu and Yao were unwilling to sit idly by and wait for their doom, so they hastily devised a plan internally.

Given this situation, if the Hongguang Emperor were to collapse, the most likely, and worst-case scenario, would be a succession from brother to brother. The cabinet would likely try to rally support and install Zhu Cijiong as the new emperor.

After all, his attitude towards Xiao was terrible, so he could be used to break the external situation.

In response, Qiu and Yao decided to eliminate the potential threat first!
Recently, the Third Prince Zhu Cijiong has been staying in a large, secluded mansion east of the Hangzhou Imperial Palace.

For fear of unpredictable events or unforeseen circumstances, their daily lives were always overseen by eunuchs from the inner court.

Food and clothing were delivered by dedicated palace servants.

Qiu Zhizhong, having learned of this situation and having been investigating for some time, and with spies planted throughout the palace, could perhaps begin poisoning the food and drink.

Once the thought arises, there's no time to wait.

Two days later, under the secret order of Zhizhong, a spy in the palace cleverly tricked the delivery of food under the pretext of delivering a meal. The food was poisoned and delivered to the residence of the Third Prince, Zhu Cijiong.

Originally, this secret plan was devised by reliable personnel, and everything seemed foolproof.

Logically, without anyone noticing, the deed can be accomplished.

But how can I bear it?
Fate is cruel.
Although human resources are available, the timing is not right.

In the end, things still went wrong. Who could have predicted that?

On that very day, Zhu Cijiong's household had some kind of quarrel with a servant, and he didn't touch the poisoned food that was delivered at noon.

When the servants in the house took away the food, he felt it was a waste to eat such a delicacy, so he secretly swallowed some poison and died on the spot, foaming at the mouth.

This has truly brought disaster upon them!

The news caused a huge uproar, and cabinet members were terrified upon hearing it.

That afternoon, the inner court was immediately purged of those involved in the case.

The commotion caused chaos and panic, leaving everyone terrified.

Fortunately, the spy was quick-witted and repaid the debt with his life.

Before anyone could find out, he committed suicide by swallowing poison in the palace.

This completely cuts off the cabinet's path to investigation.

Only then was Qiu Zhizhong spared from being implicated.

However, we cannot afford to relax our guard. At this critical juncture, even on the night Zhu Cijiong was poisoned, we do not know whether it was due to the brothers' concerted efforts or some other strange spiritual connection.

Emperor Hongguang, who had been in a coma for a long time, suddenly woke up in the palace.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Hongguang, Zhu Cilang, became extremely suspicious.

Despite the gravity of the situation, the Imperial Guard was not mobilized. Instead, the cabinet members personally issued an imperial edict to launch a large-scale campaign to eliminate traitors in Hangzhou.

Clearly, because of Xiao Lang's involvement, Zhi Zhong has already been suspected.

The cabinet, especially led by Qiu Weizhen of the Southern Party, used his influence to accelerate the elimination of dissidents.

For a time, the atmosphere in the court and among the people was tense and everyone was in danger, and disaster struck Hangzhou.

During this crackdown, the inner court also underwent serious rectification.

It is likely that Qiu Weizhen and Wang Zhixin have also made progress in their collusion based on mutual interests.

Many of Zhi Zhong's eyeliners were removed.

Those implicated were either executed or imprisoned.

For those who seek personal gain and profit, we must go to extremes to correct them. What are wrongful convictions and miscarriages of justice? Their deaths are not worth regretting.

So, in just a few days, things completely changed.

With a change of personnel and a complete overhaul, both the inner court and the imperial court underwent a dramatic transformation.

Inside the palace, Wang Zhixin seized the opportunity to establish absolute rule. In the imperial court, the Northern faction of Ni and Li, whose foundations were already weak, was completely uprooted and lost all power.

The Southern Party members almost completely monopolized the court.

Although, until now, because of his usual meticulousness in handling affairs, this disaster has not yet reached him.

However, given his prior relationship with Xiao Qian, he fears he will be neglected by the emperor and his life will be in grave danger, his future uncertain.

A thousand pounds are suspended by a thread, and icicles fall from the precarious eaves.

Fish swimming in a boiling cauldron know there is no day left; birds overturning their precarious nests do not wait for the wind.
In a state of constant fear and trepidation, Qiu Zhizhong endured the tense situation in Hangzhou until early July.

More than half a month passed.

During this period, Emperor Hongguang woke up intermittently three times.

However, whenever his ailing body could not bear it, he would only stay awake for a moment or two before drifting off into a drowsy state again.

He is weak and confused, unable to perform his duties.

Aside from the hasty order to eliminate traitors issued at midnight half a month ago, no further decrees have been issued from the palace.

There is little guidance available for matters of state within the inner court.

Xiao Wai Ren's feelings were also unbearable to deal with.

Of course, the members of the Southern Party would probably be happy with this situation.

Under the guise of a campaign to eliminate traitors, this group of people not only filled in the gaps and strengthened their power, but also became increasingly dependent on the officials in the court.

As the moral decay worsened, even some ordinary people who had long been neutral, as well as those who were idle and lazy, could not protect themselves without taking a stand.

Absurd beyond belief, truly absurd beyond belief. (End of Chapter)