277: Bloody purge!

Lu Jiuyuan reached out and patted Yunluo's head, then turned to look at the still-shaken Zhu Houzhao and the Empress Dowager.

"Your Majesty, the rebellion has just been quelled. We must use thunderous means to seize this opportunity to sweep clean and eliminate future troubles forever."

His voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable decisiveness.

Zhu Houzhao took a deep breath, a hint of excitement flashing in his eyes: "Uncle... what should I do?"

"Chief Grand Secretary Yang Tinghe has controlled the imperial court for many years and is deeply entrenched. Zhu Wushi's rebellion is a perfect chance to purge the court and promote our own people."

"However, we still need to completely control the military power. Only with military power in the capital can we fully implement our plans."

"The three major camps in the capital region—the Shenji Camp, the Wujun Camp, and the Qianying Camp—their commanders have all defected to the rebels. Keeping them would surely lead to disaster."

Zhu Houzhao's mind had somewhat calmed now, and a fierce glint flashed in his eyes upon hearing this: "Uncle is absolutely right! These three generals must be killed!"

"They indeed must be killed, but when we kill them, we must also establish our might. Houzhao, do you dare to charge into the camps with me and slay the rebels?" Lu Jiuyuan asked.

There was no hesitation on Zhu Houzhao's young face, only excitement.

Charging into the camps with his maternal uncle was a golden opportunity to solidify imperial power and establish prestige. With an unwavering pillar like his uncle by his side, what was there to fear?

"What is there to not dare! I will go with my uncle on this journey!"

Zhu Houzhao straightened his back, fully displaying his imperial majesty, "I want to see with my own eyes the fate of those traitors who betrayed their lord for glory!"

"Good!" A hint of approval flashed in Lu Jiuyuan's eyes. "No time to lose, lest things change. Empress Dowager, please remain in the palace to stabilize the people's hearts."

The Empress Dowager tightly grasped Lu Jiuyuan's hand, tears in her eyes but full of trust: "Be careful! Houzhao, listen to your uncle!"

Lu Jiuyuan nodded, his gaze sweeping over everyone present: "Four Great Constables, those whose injuries are not severe, go to Six Doors. Temporarily lead men to stabilize the capital. If anyone commits crimes or incites chaos, kill them!

Cheng Shifei, Yunluo, you two protect the Empress Dowager! Oh, and the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill has no five-time limit; you can use it freely.

Haitang, gather the remnants of Tianya, stabilize Dragon Guard Manor, and await takeover! Remember to protect Su Xin."

"Yes!" Everyone responded in unison, their blood boiling even with their injuries.

Lu Jiuyuan wasted no more time, grabbing the Emperor's arm. With a flicker of his body, he shot out of the Hall of Celestial Purity like a Roc spreading its wings.

The three major camps of the capital region were the elite of the Great Ming imperial army, stationed in three directions outside the capital, forming a defensive triangle to guard the capital region.

At this moment, at the Shenji Camp's station.

Inside the central army tent, the smell of blood was pungent. Commander Sun Jizong was drinking with several trusted generals, but the atmosphere was not relaxed.

In the middle of the night, they had already purged dissidents, their hands stained with blood.

They had received news that Zhu Wushi had entered the imperial palace, but what happened next was still unknown.

"Brother Sun, Lord Protector... can he succeed?" a deputy general asked in a low voice.

Sun Jizong took a sip of wine, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes: "Whether he succeeds or not, we have no retreat. Since we chose Lord Protector, we can only go all the way."

The shouts of battle from the palace direction have stopped. Lord Protector must have taken control of the situation. We just need to hold the camp steady and await Lord Protector's orders..."

Before he finished speaking, a sudden clamor and commotion erupted outside the tent!

"What's going on?" Sun Jizong stood up abruptly.

Just then, with a "boom" a loud bang, the tent door of the central army tent, along with the surrounding wooden palisade, was shattered by an overwhelming force!

Amidst flying splinters, a dark-robed figure, like a demon god descending, stepped in. It was Lu Jiuyuan!

Behind him followed Zhu Houzhao, the Emperor, with a stern expression and wearing a Dragon robe.

"Sun Jizong!" Zhu Houzhao shouted sternly, "You and others colluded with the rebel Zhu Wushi, attempting to conspire against the throne. What is your crime!"

Sun Jizong and the generals in the tent were greatly alarmed. They never expected that it wasn't an envoy from Zhu Wushi who arrived, but the Emperor himself!

Even more terrifying was the dark-robed man beside the Emperor, whose aura was like an abyss, making their hearts palpitate.

"Your... Your Majesty..." Sun Jizong subconsciously took a step back, his hand reaching for his waist saber, "How dare you, who are you, to impersonate Your Majesty and trespass into a vital military camp?"

"Impersonate?" Lu Jiuyuan sneered, too lazy to waste words. His gaze, like lightning, locked onto Sun Jizong:

"Zhu Wushi has been executed. Your Majesty has personally come to quell the rebellion. Why do you not surrender now? What are you waiting for?"

"What? Lord Protector is dead?" The generals in the tent burst into an uproar, their faces filled with disbelief.

Sun Jizong's eyes flickered. He suddenly drew his waist saber and roared, "Nonsense! You dog-thief, to impersonate His Majesty and attempt rebellion! All soldiers, listen to my command, seize these rebels!"

Lu Jiuyuan took a step, as if shrinking the ground into an inch, and instantly appeared before Sun Jizong.

Sun Jizong was also a fierce general in the army, with decent martial arts. Seeing this, he roared and swung his saber, the blade wind fierce, directly slashing at Lu Jiuyuan's face.

Lu Jiuyuan did not dodge or evade. He merely casually raised his right hand, his index and middle fingers pressed together, and with incredible precision, clamped the heavy and powerful blade!

"Clang!"

The sound of metal clashing rang out. The hundred-refined steel waist saber was firmly clamped by Lu Jiuyuan's two fingers. No matter how much force Sun Jizong exerted, it remained motionless!

Sun Jizong's face turned pale with horror. He tried to change his move, but Lu Jiuyuan's fingers tightened slightly.

"Crack!"

The waist saber snapped in response!

Immediately after, Lu Jiuyuan flicked his finger, and half of the broken saber transformed into a cold light, disappearing into Sun Jizong's glabella at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye!

Sun Jizong's movements froze, the horror in his eyes solidified. His body swayed, then he fell to the ground with a thud, dead.

Over a dozen personal guards had just drawn their sabers when they were already decapitated, without the slightest power to resist.

All of this happened in a flash of lightning. The other generals in the tent hadn't even had time to act before they saw their commander and personal guards all killed on the spot!

Lu Jiuyuan's gaze swept over the cowering generals, his voice icy: "Who else wants to join him on the road?"

The invisible Killing Intent pressed down on everyone, making them unable to breathe. No one dared to meet his gaze, and no one dared to move a muscle.

Zhu Houzhao took a deep breath, stepped forward, and declared loudly: "The rebel Sun Jizong, colluding with Zhu Wushi and plotting treason, has now been brought to justice!

You all were deceived by him. I, considering your ignorance, will temporarily not pursue the matter! Effective immediately, the Shenji Camp will be personally taken over by me! Where is the Deputy General?"

A general officer quickly stepped forward and knelt on the ground: "Your humble servant Wang Huan, greets Your Majesty! I am willing to obey Your Majesty's command!"

"Good! Wang Huan, temporarily assume the position of Commander of the Shenji Camp, stabilize morale, tally the troops, seal off the Imperial City, and await my orders!"

"Your humble servant obeys the decree!"

With the Shenji Camp as an example, the subsequent events went much smoother.

Lu Jiuyuan, with the Emperor, rushed towards the Wujun Camp and the Qianying Camp with overwhelming force.

At the Wujun Camp, the commander attempted to resist stubbornly, rallying his personal guards to form a defensive line.

Lu Jiuyuan, with Zhu Houzhao, charged in as if entering an uninhabited land, taking the head of the chief general amidst thousands of soldiers, and with a palm strike from a distance, blasted the commander, armor and all, into pieces!

The bloody display completely intimidated the Wujun Camp soldiers, and the Emperor successfully took control.

At the Qianying Camp, the commander, seeing the unfavorable situation, tried to flee but was caught by Lu Jiuyuan, who killed him and his personal guards cleanly.

The generals of the Qianying Camp, seeing the Emperor and Lu Jiuyuan descend like divine soldiers and their commander dead, knelt down and surrendered.

Within just half a day, the three major camps of the capital region were all brought under the Emperor's control!

"Issue my decree!" Zhu Houzhao's voice boomed, echoing across the training ground, "The capital region is under martial law! Seal all nine gates! Without my personal edict, no one is allowed to enter or exit!

Furthermore, I order the remnants of Dragon Guard Manor, Six Doors, and the purged remnants of the Eastern Depot to cooperate, according to the roster, in apprehending Zhu Wushi's remaining loyalists. Better to mistakenly arrest than to mistakenly let go!"

"We respectfully obey Your Majesty's sacred decree!" A thunderous, mountain-shaking response rose.

Imperial power returned, its blade drinking blood.

Zhu Houzhao, supported by Lu Jiuyuan, took control of the three major camps of the capital region with thunderous momentum, like a fierce tiger unleashed, revealing the fangs of an Emperor.

The capital, Imperial Prison.

This place originally belonged to the Imperial Guards, but now it was jointly taken over by the Emperor's trusted aides, Six Doors, and the purged remnants of the Eastern Depot.

The pawns Zhu Wushi had planted in the past were either eliminated or defected.

The dim lights illuminated the mottled, old bloodstains on the walls. The air was filled with the smell of rust and decay, now augmented by a strong scent of fresh blood.

Rosters from Dragon Guard Manor's secret vault, Eastern Depot archives, and confiscated properties were rushed to this location.

The names listed on them ranged from Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet and Ministers of the Six Boards to border generals and provincial governors. Anyone who had close dealings with Zhu Wushi or was implicated in the "Startled Wild Goose" plan was on the list.

"Your Majesty has decreed! All individuals involved in the list, regardless of rank, are to be immediately arrested and imprisoned! They are to be strictly interrogated to expose their accomplices. Better to mistakenly kill than to let anyone escape!"

The cold decree echoed through the Imperial Prison.