The chaos at the gates of the Forbidden City could not possibly be contained, no matter how desperately the court might wish otherwise, because within barely more than an hour, the news had already spread across the entire capital, and before long it seemed to sprout wings of its own as it flew outward to every corner of the realm, carried by merchants, travelers, rumor-mongers, and that invisible network of gossip that never failed to outrun official proclamations.
When Zhu Youjian finally heard about it, even he could not help but pause for a moment in genuine surprise, because someone had actually dared to charge the Forbidden City with blades in hand, which made him wonder whether these people had lost their minds entirely or had simply decided that death was preferable to living under heaven any longer.
Yet that moment of confusion did not last long, because Zhu Youjian was the sort of man who never allowed uncertainty to linger, and almost immediately his thoughts snapped into place as he constructed an explanation that satisfied his pride.
"This is the work of the pro-war faction," he said coldly, his face darkening as his temper rose. "They have gone so far as to send death squads to force my hand, thinking that by stirring chaos at the gates of the palace, they can compel me to issue orders to attack Shenyang. They believe they can manipulate me at will. Hah."
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, because in his mind, this was no longer merely a disagreement over military policy but a direct challenge to imperial authority, and nothing provoked him more than the sense that others were trying to push him around.
"They are going too far," he continued, his voice thick with irritation. "If I do not teach them a lesson, they will truly think I am nothing more than a clay idol they can knead however they please."
Cao Huachun stood nearby, wearing an awkward smile that he could not quite suppress, because the irony of the situation was painfully obvious to him, given that he himself had always been aligned with the pro-war camp, yet at this moment he could only keep his head low and say nothing, because speaking up would only invite disaster.
Fortunately for him, Zhu Youjian had no intention of turning his anger toward the eunuchs, as he had always shown them a peculiar degree of trust and favor, so instead he began searching for another target upon whom he could vent his frustration.
Just then, the commander of the Eastern Depot hurried in, bowing deeply before presenting his report.
"Your Majesty, we have thoroughly searched the bodies of the men who caused trouble at the palace gates," he said. "We discovered something rather interesting on them."
Zhu Youjian raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What did you find?"
The commander stepped forward and offered a small token with both hands. "This is a badge from the Wuzhen Superha unit."
The moment Zhu Youjian heard this, his expression shifted sharply, anger flashing in his eyes. "You mean to say those men were sent by the Manchu?"
The commander quickly shook his head. "Your Majesty, the Manchu are not fools. If they truly intended to carry out such an operation, they would have removed every trace of identification beforehand. The fact that we found such a token on them actually makes it less likely that they were sent by the Manchu."
Zhu Youjian froze for a brief instant, then slowly nodded as realization dawned on him. "That makes sense. The more obvious the clue, the less credible it becomes. Then who could it be?"
The commander lowered his voice slightly, as if guiding the emperor toward a conclusion. "It is not easy for officials in the interior to obtain such tokens, but for those stationed along the frontier, especially those who have recently fought battles against the Manchu and cleared the battlefield, acquiring one would not be difficult at all."
That was all it took.
In that instant, Zhu Youjian felt as though every piece of the puzzle had fallen perfectly into place, and with a surge of confidence that bordered on arrogance, he believed he had uncovered the truth with flawless clarity.
"There is only one answer," he said, his tone turning icy. "Lu Xiangsheng."
The name landed heavily in the room.
To Zhu Youjian, the logic was impeccable, because Lu Xiangsheng had been one of the most fervent advocates of continuing the campaign, and he was currently stationed at the front lines near the Great Ling River, within striking distance of Shenyang, so if an attack were launched, he would undoubtedly be the one to claim the greatest glory.
"A conspiracy always benefits its creator the most," Zhu Youjian continued, his anger now fully ignited. "Lu Xiangsheng seeks to secure his legacy by forcing my hand, even if it means branding me as a foolish ruler in the eyes of the world."
Cao Huachun could not help but wince slightly. "Your Majesty, that seems unlikely… truly unlikely…"
Zhu Youjian slammed his hand against the table. "Unlikely? Then tell me, who else could have orchestrated what happened at the palace gates?"
Cao Huachun hesitated, unable to produce an answer that would satisfy the emperor without inviting further trouble.
"Enough," Zhu Youjian snapped. "Strip Lu Xiangsheng of his position and place him under investigation. Liu Yuliang will take over command of the army."
Both Cao Huachun and the Eastern Depot commander were visibly startled by this sudden decision, and they immediately spoke up in unison.
"Your Majesty, that cannot be done."
Their reaction gave Zhu Youjian pause, because unlike the objections of civil officials, which he often dismissed out of hand, the words of his trusted eunuchs carried weight, and after a brief moment of reflection, he grudgingly conceded that replacing a commander in the midst of a campaign might indeed be unwise.
"Very well," he said at last, adjusting his decision. "Lu Xiangsheng will be demoted from Minister of War to Vice Minister, but he will remain in command of the army and must redeem himself through meritorious service."
Only then did the two men relax slightly, relieved that the situation had not spiraled into outright disaster.
Even so, the damage had already been done.
Lu Xiangsheng had been struck down a rank, and Chen Xinjia was swiftly appointed as the new Minister of War, and this news, following so closely on the heels of the bloody incident at the Forbidden City, spread across the empire like wildfire.
Meanwhile, far to the south in Hangzhou, a city famed not only for its beauty but also for its thriving economy, a different kind of storm was quietly gathering.
Within a secluded garden, a group of officials and merchants had assembled in secret, their voices kept low as they discussed the increasingly chaotic situation at court.
"Gentlemen," one merchant began, his tone cautious yet tinged with excitement, "the emperor has been making one disastrous decision after another. Across the northwest and the central plains, dissatisfaction is growing, and scholars everywhere are stepping forward to criticize the current policies and promote the idea of shared governance."
Another man, a minor official, nodded in agreement. "Indeed. The unrest is spreading rapidly. I have even heard that in Nanjing, scholars are publicly throwing coins into the streets to gather crowds and deliver speeches. It will not be long before such actions reach Hangzhou."
A murmur passed through the group, because they all understood the implications.
For years, the merchants of Jiangnan had grown increasingly wealthy, forming the early roots of a new social force that was beginning to chafe against the constraints of the old order, yet they had always lacked the opportunity to assert themselves openly.
Now, however, the situation was changing.
"This may be our chance," one of them said quietly, his eyes glinting with ambition. "If we act at the right moment, we might finally achieve what we have long desired."
He did not need to finish the sentence.
Everyone present already knew what he meant.
They had been waiting for an opening, and now, with the entire empire in turmoil, that opening seemed to be within reach.
"Then we should act as well," another merchant added. "If we join the tide, who knows what might come of it…"
Before he could say more, a sudden shout erupted from outside the courtyard.
"Jinyiwei conducting an investigation."
The atmosphere inside instantly froze.
For a brief moment, fear flickered across their faces, but it was quickly replaced by something harder, something more resolute.
Then, almost as one, they turned toward their attendants and issued a single, decisive command.
"Kill them."