Local government officials dispatched horsemen to spread the word throughout the streets and alleys, and even into villages:
"Those who surrender themselves will be pardoned! If they do not cause harm again for three years, the imperial court will never break its promise!"
Except for the six bandit leaders Liu Liu, Liu Qi, Qi Yanming, Liu San, Zhao Fengzi, and Xing Laohu, who were not pardoned, the others who surrendered themselves were restored to their original status, and the court did not pursue their crimes.
This has always been the policy promoted by the imperial court and has never changed. Many bandits, unable to withstand hunger, cold, and illness, surrendered themselves.
As expected, the imperial court kept its word, properly resettled them, and sent them back to their hometowns.
The first group of bandits who surrendered have already returned home for the New Year.
News of Lu Xingjian's ambush of Liu Liu and Liu Qi at Bazhou Ferry with artillery has slowly spread.
Liu San and his men, who had already quietly led their remaining troops to Bazhou, were even more panicked.
After Liu Liu and Liu Qi were defeated, who was the person who had previously written to invite them to attack Beijing together?
Perhaps these two are still holding back their strength, waiting to avenge their previous defeat.
Liu Liu, Liu Qi, and others were experienced and had been operating on the Hebei and Shandong plains for over a year, yet they were utterly defeated by the artillery.
He had no idea what awaited him as he approached the capital for the first time.
However, upon receiving the latest confidential information, his confidence increased even further.
...
With the arrival of the seven-day Lantern Festival holiday, all the Imperial Guards stationed at the Li family's gate were withdrawn.
Upon hearing this news, Li Dongqian's mood did not improve much.
Meng Yue, a eunuch serving the emperor, came to deliver a message: "If the empress and the princes are unharmed, the Grand Secretary can be granted the posthumous title of Duke Wenzheng."
"Otherwise, the entire Li family should just wash their necks and wait."
This is already a blatant threat.
Li Dongqian and Madam Lu looked extremely grim.
Now, it has come to a point where it's a matter of life and death.
The couple also had a serious argument.
"Madam, are you satisfied now?"
Madam Lu sneered, "Regretful?"
Li Dongqian's face turned ashen. "The victor is king, the loser is villain."
He only regretted that the highest posthumous title for a civil official, "Duke Wenzheng," was so close and within reach.
Which powerful minister doesn't want to be remembered for generations?
Although Li Dongqian had no bloodline left behind, he still adopted a son from his younger brother's family, named Li Zhaofan.
Standing outside the door, Li Zhaofan listened to the couple's reckless behavior, feeling a deep sense of desolation.
They were old and didn't have many years left to live, yet they insisted on opposing the imperial power.
It doesn't matter if I die.
But he was still young, his wife had just given birth to a son for him, and he had also taken a beautiful concubine. He was living a wonderful life, so how could he bear to die with this old couple?
Without further hesitation, Li Zhaofan approached the Li family steward to discuss a plan to save themselves.
...
Suburban Sacrifice Day.
Lu Xingjian's imperial entourage left the capital in a grand procession, heading south to the Circular Mound Altar and the Great Sacrifice Hall to offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth.
Banners fluttered along the way, and carriages and horses moved about.
Lu Xingjian closed his eyes and clenched his fists.
Today is the best day for Prince Rong to take action.
Will he show up?
How are Wanwan and the child?
He used every trick in the book he could think of.
I'm afraid Prince Rong is too timid to take action.
...
Prince Rong and his entourage had just left the capital in a carriage.
In recent days, Beijing has relaxed its restrictions, allowing vehicles and pedestrians to enter and exit freely without inspection.
Prince Rong was exceptionally cautious. On the day of the suburban sacrifice, when everyone's attention was focused on the imperial carriage leaving the city, he finally set off.
After leaving the city, the carriage did not stop and headed directly south.
The waiting men were halfway there: "Your Highness, Liu San and Zhao Fengzi have led their men and are ready. Shall we make our move?"
Prince Rong narrowed his eyes and looked in the direction of the Altar of Heaven.
A sinister glint flashed in his eyes: "Make your move!"
In any case, this was his last attempt.
Although the chances of success are slim, he has Lu Xingjian's wife and children in his hands. Can he really just ignore them?
He has a chance to live.
If Lu Xingjian truly disregards the lives of his wife and children and insists on killing him, it can only be said that Lu Xingjian is inherently ruthless and born to do great things; it is destiny, and he has no choice but to accept it.
Prince Rong and his entourage were in a private residence on the outskirts of the capital, where they could faintly hear the earth-shaking sound of cavalry galloping by.
A sense of pride and pride welled up within me.
Besides Liu San's forces, Zhao's forces also quietly headed to the capital.
With the combined forces of two cavalry units, especially the two most ferocious ones, how could those incompetent officials of the imperial court possibly stand a chance?
He would ascend the throne immediately upon Lu Xingjian's death.
With the tide turned against them, the Beijing army that had originally been loyal to Lu Xingjian naturally had no choice but to acknowledge him as the new emperor!
The Prince Rong's frustration dissipated considerably.
These days, anxiety and panic have kept him on edge, and his hair has turned quite a bit white.
It's all that bitch Su Wanwan's fault!
They've all become his slaves, yet he still speaks eloquently and spreads alarmist rumors!
The sounds of fighting could be heard in the distance.
There was even the sound of cannons roaring.
Prince Rong's heart was lifted into the air.
In the last battle at Deshengmen, he was the one who had ambushed with cannons, but he still lost.
This time, the cannons were in Lu Xingjian's hands.
What will happen?
Soon, a scout reported: "Liu San and his men have been ambushed! Judging from their clothing and accents, they are Liaodong border troops!"
Prince Rong gritted his teeth: "How many people?"
"Approximately five thousand elite cavalry."
Prince Rong gasped.
Wouldn't that mean that most of the elite troops from Liaodong have been mobilized here?
Aren't we afraid that the nomadic tribes of the grasslands will take the opportunity to invade our borders?
The cost of maintaining 5,000 elite cavalry is extremely high. The cost of equipping and training one elite cavalryman is about a hundred times that of an infantryman.
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