bookrandom Chapter 1368
Chapter 1368
Seeing that there seemed to be no other choice, the many deserters, still in shock, could only turn around trembling, covering their heads and looking around fearfully and warily.
After they stopped, the gunshots behind them indeed ceased. They breathed a sigh of relief, as if they had escaped a disaster. Following Lan Yu's instructions, they sparsely regrouped into the ranks, their faces all deathly pale.
Lan Yu's face was also ashen as he gritted his teeth and glanced at his own defeated and terrified soldiers.
Then he spurred his horse forward a few steps, looked at Zhu Yunwen with an extremely complicated expression, and said, "Your Majesty... what a skillful maneuver!"
"Everyone in the world is criticizing you for squandering money in pursuit of some illusory elixir of immortality... Who would have thought that there's actually a huge story behind this!"
"You win! With such a wonderful thing, the entire Ming Dynasty will belong to you completely from now on!"
"That's really impressive!!"
Lan Yu knew that Zhu Yunwen's musket was pointed at him, and whether he wanted to admit defeat or not, he would still lose. So he had no choice but to soften his tone.
Of course, this inevitably includes genuine feelings and reflections.
before today.
He would never believe it, not even if he were beaten to death, that Zhu Yunwen, a grandson of the emperor who had been oppressed in the Eastern Palace for so many years and had no resources other than himself... could actually acquire such strength in such a short period of time.
He couldn't help but marvel at this achievement.
Zhu Yunwen, while keeping his flintlock pistol aimed at Lan Yu, gave a nonchalant smile and teased, "Uncle, you don't call me 'that little brat' anymore, do you?"
As soon as Zhu Yunhuan said this.
All the nobles and military officers of Huaixi, including Lan Yu, showed unnatural embarrassment and fear on their faces. Before witnessing the absolute power that Zhu Yunwen now controlled, they had not taken this young emperor seriously. In private, they spoke without restraint and without any scruples, treating him as an easy child to manipulate. They had all said such things to varying degrees.
Is this some kind of retribution later?
However, Lan Yu was only embarrassed for a moment before he immediately understood: he had already accepted the charge of treason, so why would the other party need to find such a trivial pretext to interrogate him?
They calmed down immediately.
He simply unfastened all the weapons hanging from his waist, tossed them aside, then dismounted and knelt in submission: "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven of our Great Ming Dynasty, and your humble servant would never dare to offend you."
The fact that Emperor Zhu Yunwen did not kill him immediately indicates that there was room for maneuver.
Since there is still room for maneuver.
Putting aside arrogance and adopting a humble attitude is the best choice.
The rest depends on what tricks he's up to.
So it is.
As Lan Yu knelt, the other dukes, marquises, military officers, and their soldiers also obediently disarmed themselves, dismounted, and knelt to pay their respects: "Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!!!"
At the entrance of the Alchemy Department, a deafening roar of "Long live the Emperor!" suddenly echoed. Everyone knelt down in a sea of kneeling figures, creating a truly spectacular sight at first glance—in the face of absolute power and skill, admitting defeat is not shameful.
Zhu Yunwen then temporarily lowered his hand that was holding the gun.
He glanced at the dukes, marquises, earls, generals, and military officers who were prostrating themselves before him and shouting in submission... and a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.
Although this result was exactly what he had expected.
But now that a knot in his heart that had been hanging over him for so long was finally untied, Zhu Yunwen naturally felt as if he had just passed through a great mountain and let out a long sigh of relief with a calm expression.
Meanwhile, standing half a body length behind Zhu Yunwen were Ma Sanbao, Duke Xu Huizu of Wei, Xu Miaojin, Vice Minister of War Ru Chang, and others.