radicalducati Page 200
Page 200
Cao Zhengchun was equally speechless; who could have imagined that the Green Dragon Society would come to this?
282 - Are you even worthy?
Just as the Crown Prince of the Southern Kingdom was talking with Cao Zhengchun on the city tower.
Zhu Wushi led the Thirty-Six Heavenly Generals of the Dragon Guard Manor, surrounded by four secret agents, and slowly stepped forward.
"Nephew, how have you been lately?"
Although the Prince of the South was not Zhu Wushi's biological nephew, he was still nominally his junior.
Chapter 148 Three Hundred Thousand Troops
At this moment, Zhu Wushi was beaming with pride and full of self-satisfaction.
Leading an army of 300,000 men straight to the capital of the Ming Dynasty, such an earth-shattering act was unprecedented since the founding of the dynasty by Emperor Taizu.
In Zhu Wushi's view, changing dynasties was just a matter of lifting a finger.
At this moment, he was more concerned about what the people who forced him to leave back then would think.
Is it trembling with fear, or unbearable remorse?
"Is this what the Imperial Uncle intends to do?"
The Prince of the South avoided the topic and went straight to the point.
At this moment, he was still impersonating Emperor Zhu Houzhao.
Others might be fooled, but Zhu Wushi's eyes were the only ones who could be deceived.
"Enough! Zhu Heng, you may deceive the world, but you cannot deceive me."
Zhu Wushi, clad in a dragon robe, had already proclaimed himself emperor.
"You've been lying low in the Prince's mansion for years, plotting to get rid of that fool Zhu Houzhao."
"A perfect substitution!"
"Do you really think that my Imperial Guard Manor can't uncover such tricks?"
"For many years, I have thought that the small Southern Prince's Mansion, even with Ye Gucheng's help, could not stir up any trouble."
"Who would have thought you would be so ruthless and depraved, colluding with the Azure Dragon Society!"
"Speak! Did you murder the late Emperor Zhu Houzhao?"
Zhu Wushi would never care about Zhu Houzhao's life or death; he already knew that such a person no longer existed in this world.
Such questioning is merely a pretext!
After all, the person in front of him was bearing the title of Emperor Ming.
Despite the vast disparity in strength, Zhu Wushi still sought to claim the moral high ground.
"How dare you! How dare you speak ill of my sacred name!"
The Prince of the South remained calm and refrained from clarifying the truth of his identity for the time being.
"Who is willing to serve me and execute this traitor?"
Cao Zhengchun took a step forward.
"This old servant is willing to go!"
He devoted his entire life to resisting Zhu Wushi.
Now that my nemesis has returned, it's the perfect time to fulfill my wish.
The current situation is unlikely to end well.
Why not have a grand and satisfying battle with your lifelong rival!
Currently, besides Liu Bowen and Wang Shouren, who are the protectors of the country, the Crown Prince of the South is also present.
Cao Zhengchun was the one with the highest cultivation level.
Since he volunteered, that was naturally the best thing to do.
"That traitorous rebel Zhu Wushi, dare you fight me?"
Upon receiving the order, Cao Zhengchun leaped off the city wall.
"Peerless cultivation! I never imagined you, a eunuch, would be hiding such profound abilities!"
Zhu Wushi saw through Cao Zhengchun's true intentions at a glance.
"I am the Son of Heaven, how can I stoop to the level of you commoners?"
"Four guards, seize this castrated dog."
The four guardians—Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow—moved upon receiving the order.
"Hmph! After I've dealt with these juniors, I'll come and see what Zhu Wushi is capable of!"
Cao Zhengchun sneered repeatedly, circulating his Heavenly Gang True Qi and charging forward.
He is a peerless master, how could he be afraid of these four people?
Of the four, the strongest is only a Grandmaster, while the rest are only first-rate.
However, the four of them joined forces, secretly employing a combined attack formation, and their teamwork was seamless.
Although Cao Zhengchun was highly skilled, he was unable to escape for a time.
"Useless! You can't even handle a few of my servants."
Zhu Wushi chuckled and turned to look at the city tower.
"Zhu Heng, since you are so stubborn, don't blame your royal uncle for being ruthless."
"Ten generals, convey my decree: attack the city immediately."
"Anyone who aids and abets evil shall be killed without mercy!"
"After the city falls, all those who resist will be exterminated along with their entire families!"
These words were tantamount to an order to massacre the entire city.
Upon hearing this, the soldiers guarding the city walls wavered.
If we hold out to the death, we may not win; if we lose, our entire clan will be wiped out.
If they fail to defend themselves, they may escape the calamity of extermination, but they will not escape the crime of treason.
Moreover, the Imperial Guards are still in the city; how could they possibly let them go?
Both sides are dead ends, leaving one in a dilemma.
Soon, the defending troops figured it out—
A desperate fight might endanger one's family; surrendering would only mean taking one's own life.
In addition, the Dragon Guardian Manor had already planted spies to secretly incite and undermine the morale of the troops.
The more than 10,000 defending troops had lost all will to fight.
The ten generals, upon receiving the order, immediately mobilized their troops and prepared for a strong attack.
However, just as the first batch of siege ladders were placed on the city wall, a sudden gust of wind swept through and destroyed them all.
The rebels suffered heavy casualties, and their offensive was thwarted.
"Outrageous! Zhu Wushi, how dare you slaughter the capital!"
A clear voice rang out, and Wang Yangming, dressed in a Confucian robe, stood beside Zhu Heng.
"Internal disputes within the royal family are not something that ministers should interfere with."
"But you dare to speak of massacring the city! With me here today, you will never be able to breach the city!"
Wang Yangming ranked thirty-fourth on the Nine Provinces Heavenly Dao Battle Power Ranking.
His cultivation level has reached the late stage of the Celestial Realm.
Although he has not reached the supreme mythical realm, he cannot truly defeat ten thousand men single-handedly.
However, it relied on its location in the capital and the natural defenses of the city walls.
Zhu Wushi's attempt to conquer the Ming capital has become significantly more difficult.
Zhu ignored his own strength, having only just entered the realm of terrestrial immortals.
They had virtually no chance of competing with Wang Yangming.
"Wang Yangming, you truly are a loyal and devoted protector of our Great Ming Dynasty."
"I ask you now, did the Azure Dragon Society collude with the heirs of the Southern King and the Xingxian King to plot a rebellion?"
"Why did you stand idly by during the transition of imperial power, when the whereabouts of the late Emperor Zhu Houzhao became unknown?"
Zhu Wushi was furious and demanded an explanation in a stern voice.
Wang Yangming remained calm and composed as he answered:
"As the founding emperor said, as long as the empire belongs to the Zhu family, it doesn't matter who becomes emperor; it's all about ability."
"What I have done is merely to uphold the ancestral teachings."
"As for you, it's understandable that you wish to ascend to a high position."
"But why did you incite 300,000 border troops to march south, causing such widespread suffering?"
"They even threatened to..."
"With your behavior, do you still deserve to be called a descendant of the Zhu family?"
"Do you still have the honor of being worthy of the founding emperor?"
283-The Three Absolute Heart Swords
This rebuke was delivered without any mercy, in front of an army of 300,000.
Zhu Wushi immediately lost face.
However, Wang Yangming's abilities far surpassed his.
For a moment, Zhu Wushi's face turned as red as a pig's liver.
"Fist God, we are now entirely in your hands."
After hesitating for a long time, Zhu Wushi bowed to a burly man behind him.
"Kid, have you thought this through?"
The Fist God grinned, his words laced with disdain.
"It's a deal! As long as you help me capture the capital."
"From this day forward, you will be the Chief Protector of the Ming Dynasty!"
"Furthermore, one can share in the imperial aura of the Ming Dynasty!"
Zhu Wushi knew what the other party wanted and made a promise in front of everyone.
"Gagaga...Wonderful, wonderful!"
The eccentric boxer laughed repeatedly, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked, and his neck twisted as if he were warming up.
"Everyone says the people of the Central Plains are of unyielding spirit, but I never expected they couldn't even handle a Celestial Realm cultivator, requiring my intervention."
"Very well! I'll seize the dragon's aura of the Ming Dynasty once I've obtained it."
"This fist technique, if mastered with the Void Technique, can only reach a higher level!"
This person is a top expert from Yunzhou, and his martial arts talent is said to be no less than that of Wuming from Yunzhou.
He began learning Japanese martial arts at the age of twelve.
He had already grasped the essence of the art by the age of fifteen and mastered the ultimate martial art of the Void!
The supreme master of Japanese martial arts, revered by the world as the god of martial arts!
His junior brother, Jue Wushen, once set a record for the fastest fall from grace.
This time, someone lured him out of the mountains to assist Zhu Wushi by claiming that the dragon energy of the Ming Dynasty could help him break through.