Chapter 53: One on the Left, One on the Right

Nearly a hundred men’s blood filled the large sea bowl that Wang Cheng’en had brought, dripping over its rim. The wine mixed with blood trickled down the edge, bathed in flickering lamplight, creating an eerie, ritualistic atmosphere.

Inside the main hall of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, an oppressive silence reigned. Each person silently, almost fanatically, took the sharp sword passed from the hand before them. With a ruthless, self-inflicted gesture, they sliced their palms, letting their blood drip into the bowl.

Had a faint-hearted person witnessed this scene, they might have collapsed in terror.

Time passed slowly amid this strange spectacle.

As the last person completed the ritual, everyone ceased their actions and stood quietly, eyes fixed upon Zhu Youjian. He picked up a prepared cup and filled it with the blood-wine mixture from the bowl. Following his lead, the others also took cups, drawing the blood-wine for themselves.

When all had raised their cups, Zhu Youjian drank deeply, the iron-rusted taste filling his mouth. Without hesitation, the others followed suit, sharing in the solemn communion.

These over a hundred officials and military commanders, many barely acquainted with each other, were thus forged into an inseparable, unyielding iron unity by the emperor himself, with a simple yet forceful act.

There was no other way. As the supreme sovereign, the emperor’s personal example compelled his loyal ministers to dedicate everything for the grand goal called the revival of Han.

Moreover, for many, this was the very ambition burning in their hearts.

Until the group left the palace, their minds lingered on the unforgettable scene inside the hall.

Though their excitement was barely containable, they maintained silence—no loud noises, no chatter. Only brief glances exchanged before dispersing quietly.

A silent organization united by a shared purpose is the most formidable force.

...

Three days later.

The Palace of Heavenly Purity.

Zhu Youjian convened his ministers for court assembly, announcing his intention to embark on a royal inspection tour that very day.

The hall was filled with several hundred officials; apart from a small group who had been forewarned, most were stunned and bewildered.

Just as political affairs in the capital had begun to improve, the emperor’s sudden decision to tour outside the city raised many questions: what was his purpose?

But after the initial shock, the court’s concerns swiftly shifted to a more pressing matter.

Once the emperor left the capital, no matter how great the prestige he had amassed in just a month, a power vacuum was inevitable.

It was foreseeable that the ensuing struggle within the court would escalate to extreme intensity.

Thus, it became imperative to seize the moment and choose sides quickly.

Otherwise, regardless of whether the emperor returned victorious, those who failed to secure their positions would be doomed to meet a tragic end.

Any hope of sitting on the fence and reaping benefits was sheer fantasy; the moderates would be the first to perish.

The officials’ minds churned restlessly.

Meanwhile, several senior ministers in the cabinet, upon hearing the news of the emperor’s departure, were struck with dread and desperation. They hurriedly gathered the officials and knelt, pleading with His Majesty to reconsider.

Their expressions conveyed agony deeper than mere personal grief.

The imperial faction, eunuchs, and military nobles also quietly stepped forward to counsel restraint.

Across the court, ministers implored the emperor.

Yet before the kneeling crowd, Zhu Youjian merely instructed that all affairs remain unchanged during his absence.

Without further ado, he left the Palace of Heavenly Purity and proceeded to Mount Wansui.

At the Mount Wansui training grounds, Zhu Youjian’s escort had already assembled.

The formidable Shenwei Battalion, clad in black, formed ranks directly ahead, flanked on both sides by thousands of elite soldiers selected from the capital’s garrisons and the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

At this moment, over five thousand troops brimmed with fervor. Numerous heavy supplies—red barbarian cannons, foreign muskets, firearms, and heavy cavalry armor—were neatly loaded onto wagons.

Zhu Youjian, clad in light armor atop a tall steed, gave a faint nod.

“Set out.”

At his command, the five thousand-strong force surged forth, departing Mount Wansui and leaving the palace behind.

The ministers who had just cried out in despair within the Palace of Heavenly Purity now remained silent, not a single one stepped forward to plead.

Some feudal loyalists, ignorant of the full situation, initially considered forming groups to kneel along the palace avenue to petition.

But seeing that neither the civil officials nor the rising imperial faction in court intervened, and recalling the recent vivid memory of a third-rank official being trampled to death before the Xuanwu Gate, they dared not be the first to act.

Though for varying reasons no one formally protested, the departure of the emperor still demanded proper ceremonial farewell from his ministers.

Outside the palace, along the broad Tianjie Avenue, every official of rank knelt on either side, bidding farewell to the imperial procession.

At the same time, many eyes fixed upon the direction of the emperor’s advance.

When the procession moved toward the West Gate, Huang Liji and Li Guopu couldn’t help but subtly twitch their eyes.

Westward likely meant toward Hebei.

As the imperial convoy slowly vanished down Tianjie Avenue, those who had knelt along the sides gradually rose.

The emperor had left the capital.

With that restraint gone, the power struggle within the city would now intensify dramatically.

Setting aside those officials who had yet to choose a side, those at the forefront exchanged wary glances.

Huang Liji caught a look from the imperial faction across the street, sensing a different mood.

He gave it little thought and slowly turned away.

One faction stood to the left, the other to the right.

Though separated by only a single avenue, they were as incompatible as fire and water.

From each side’s perspective, there was no right or wrong.

There was only a simple, brutal fight for survival.

...

Outside the capital.

Beyond the West Gate.

Xiao Hongzi spurred his horse ahead of Zhu Youjian’s sacred carriage, then knelt and asked, “Your Majesty, where to next?”

Though they had prepared for this inspection tour, no one yet knew the final destination.

But that mattered little—wherever His Majesty wished to go, they would follow.

“To Zhending Prefecture in Hebei first,” Zhu Youjian replied.

He had already studied the map. The best route from the capital to Shaanxi was: capital — Zhending Prefecture, Hebei — Pingding Prefecture, Shanxi — Pingyang Prefecture, Shanxi — finally crossing the Yellow River into Shaanxi.

Originally, passing through Baoding in Hebei would shorten the journey.

But Zhu Youjian was well aware that Huang Liji and Li Guopu, two prominent figures in the cabinet, hailed from Daming Prefecture and Baoding Prefecture respectively.

He had no intention of wasting time in Hebei.

Under the era’s transportation conditions, even traveling nonstop from the capital to Shaanxi would require a full twenty days.

Since he had resolved to address urgent matters in Shaanxi, not a single second on the road could be squandered.

Thus, bypassing Baoding Prefecture was the optimal choice.