"Take them all!"
At Feng Jiu's command, all the soldiers rushed forward!
Several bandit leaders, including Zhang Yi, Xu Huai, and Chen Hu, were the first to be attacked and were pinned to the ground like old dogs.
Where was even a trace of the noble demeanor of an aristocratic family?
The other ministers, who were already opportunistic and lacked integrity, scattered and fled like stray dogs.
"General Lin, spare our lives! We were all misled by the slander of Zhang Yi and the others!"
"General Lin, please spare us!"
"We are willing to testify that it was the aristocratic clans that plotted rebellion and usurped power!"
The rebellious officials pleaded desperately, weeping bitterly.
Lin Yuanlong remained unmoved, not even blinking.
You were destined for a life of luxury, but you insist on walking on thin ice!
Fine, I'll grant your wish!
"Take them all away. Those with serious offenses will be beheaded and their heads displayed to the public! Those who cooperate with the investigation will be spared the execution of their entire family!"
Cooperating with the investigation will spare me from being implicated. But I will still die!
At this moment, everyone turned pale, having witnessed the ruthlessness of this Northeast King.
"General, you've already won, why..." Yang Rencheng couldn't bear to watch any longer, his eyes filled with pity.
Lin Yuanlong snorted coldly and said, "I am a rough man. I admire cultured people, but I hate those who use their writings to distort the truth! My son, Lin Yu, has achieved great fame and worked tirelessly, but because of their verbal attacks, he has become a traitor despised by everyone! Since my son has been wronged, they must die a worthy death!"
"Oh right, first I'll chop off the hands of those corrupt scholars in the Hanlin Academy, smash them to pieces, and feed them to the dogs!"
In Lin Yuanlong's eyes, his son is the most important person. Anyone who dares to let his son suffer any injustice will be killed, even if it is the Heavenly King himself!
The group of rebels were taken away.
Lin Yuanlong led everyone to the moat.
Hua Zhen remained like a statue, blocking the other end of the bridge.
"Commander Hua, I heard that the Grand Secretary is unwell and his condition is unclear. Hehe, I, Lin Yuanlong, have come to protect him. Please make way, shall I?" Lin Yuanlong said with a smile.
Hua Zhen slowly opened his eyes and glanced at Lin Yuanlong indifferently.
"Commander Lin, it seems the Grand Secretary spoke to you on the phone earlier. With your intelligence, you surely understood what he meant, right?"
Lin Yuanlong was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and said, "I understand, of course I understand! I came here precisely because I understood! I, Old Lin, was promoted by the Grand Secretary. Upon hearing of the rebellion, I brought troops to protect Your Majesty."
Hua Zhen nodded. "Alright, then I'll tell you now that the Grand Secretary is fine, you can leave now! Immediately take the Fengtian Army back to the border, and without orders, they are not allowed to enter the capital again!"
Lin Yuanlong frowned. "Commander Hua, what about my son's matter? Since the Grand Secretary is alright, why doesn't he come out to clarify things? Why let my son be slandered by these bastards from the aristocratic families and bear the name of a traitor for no reason!"
Hua Zhen said calmly, "The Grand Secretary has his reasons for doing this. Are you questioning the Grand Secretary?"
"Question? Of course I question it!"
Lin Yuanlong said coldly, "I, Lin, have spent my whole life in the military and have always been straightforward. Isn't what you're doing, Grand Secretary, just using someone else to do your dirty work, trying to frame my Fengtian Army and take the opportunity to reduce the military power of my Lin family?"
Now that things have come to this, there's no need to hide anything anymore.
Throughout history, the emperor's political acumen and loyalty have been of little importance; what mattered was holding the throne.
With the aristocratic families gone, warlords became the biggest threat, and it was inevitable that they would abandon their allies after they had served their purpose.
Hua Zhen remained silent.
Since things have come to this, there's no need to say anything more.
His duty was to protect the Grand Secretary's safety; everything else was none of his concern.
"Commander Lin, why waste words with him? We're already at the gates of the city. Once we enter the Forbidden City, you'll be crowned Emperor, the true Son of Heaven. Who cares about Hua Zhen or Pang Wensheng? As long as we sit in that position, the world will be ours!" Yang Rencheng's eyes gleamed as he fanned the flames from the side.
Lin Yuanlong clenched his fists tightly. Behind him, the soldiers stood in the bleak wind, their faces solemn, exuding a chilling aura.
At this moment, he faces the biggest decision of his life.
With hundreds of thousands of troops behind him, taking that position would be a piece of cake.
If we return to Fengfu, we'll be at their mercy.
After all, his decision to lead troops into the capital this time was a violation of the rules. Any charge of treason could immediately strip him of his position as military governor.
Furthermore, he was bestowed with the imperial yellow robe.
Taking a step back would lead to utter destruction.
Should one entrust their life and fortune to Pang Wensheng?
Lin Yuanlong hesitated.
But there's a saying that goes something like this.
Wolves roam the world eating meat, while dogs roam the world eating excrement.
If Lin Yuanlong didn't have a wolfish nature, how could he have ended up in this situation?
It's likely that even a small conspiracy by a powerful clan could be enough to cause his downfall.
He got to where he is today not only because of courage, but also because of strategy, tact, and decisiveness.
After struggling for a while, his eyes gradually hardened.
He sighed and said, "Commander Hua, please step aside. I respect you as a man of integrity and a loyal general, and I cannot bear to lay a hand on you, but I also hope you will not bring trouble upon yourself!"
Hua Zhen suddenly opened his eyes, shooting out two sharp beams of light, and said coldly, "Lin Yuanlong, do you know what you are doing? Do you know what the consequences will be if you cross this bridge today!"
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Lin Yuanlong threw his head back and burst into laughter.
"as a result of?"
What are the consequences?
"In my life, Lin Yuanlong joined the army at the age of twenty, became a legion commander at the age of thirty, received the Golden Star on his shoulder at the age of thirty-five, and became a regional commander at the age of forty. I have made outstanding military achievements and have been worthy of the emperor and the people. I have not made any great achievements, but I have never been selfish. I only want to protect my own little plot of land and only want to win a hereditary succession for my son. What have I done wrong?"
"I didn't want to get involved in the struggle between the inner court and the aristocratic families, but you forced me to!!" Lin Yuanlong's body trembled slightly as he slowly clenched his fists.
"Today, I've come this far. Fate has banished me to the Forbidden City. This is destiny. In my life, I, Old Lin, have never known what turning back means, and today is no different!"
Thump!
He took a step, a heavy step that seemed to take root in his feet, causing the white marble bridge to tremble.
kill!
The soldiers behind him also stepped forward in unison, their killing intent soaring into the sky.
Hua Zhen narrowed his eyes slightly and slowly gripped the hilt of the knife.
"General Lin, how are you any different from those traitors now? It seems that Elder Gu's concerns about you were justified!"
"What is right? What is wrong?"
Lin Yuanlong shook his head. "I come from humble beginnings, but I've never felt ashamed of it. Are kings and nobles born with special privileges? No one is born a peasant! I despise the arrogant faces of aristocratic families, and I also despise the shameless words of those literati. In their mouths, every word is about the balance of the world, ignoring the suffering of the common people, enjoying their own pleasures, feasting in their mansions, and whitewashing the truth! They spout benevolence and morality, but behind their backs are nothing but thieves and prostitutes. What a bunch of scoundrels!"
"Since they can't figure it out, then let my Lin family figure it out! My son, Lin Yu, is the chosen one. This world should, and inevitably should, fall on his shoulders!"
Every father wants to give his son the best, and Lao Lin is no exception!
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