Chapter 58: Assassination

While the Brocade Guard were carrying out massive arrests across the three clans of Lü, Chen Lin led Zhu Yuanzhang and his entire household out of the palace toward the villa.

This time, Zhu Jiong and Zhu Shuang did not accompany them, as they were kept behind by Zhu Yuanzhang to assist Zhu Biao in managing state affairs. Only Zhu Di’s family was brought along.

Chen Lin drove the Great Wall pickup truck, with Zhu Yuanzhang in the front passenger seat and Zhu Di sitting in the back. There were only three people in the vehicle, plotting how to deal with Japan along the way.

The original battered pickup truck was driven by Mao Xiang, carrying Chen Xiaolan, Empress Ma, and three young brats.

Xu Miaoyun and her children followed behind in a carriage because the expectant mother suffered from motion sickness.

"In the early stages, I think we should first use our existing small naval vessels to harass the islands off the coast of Zhejiang. It will serve both as troop training and as a way to weaken the Japanese pirates' strength. Once you build those steam-powered warships you mentioned, we can wipe them out in one fell swoop," Zhu Di said.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded. "That is the right train of thought. We will recall the Navigating Marquis Zhang He from Fujian and place him under your command. He is one of the few generals in the Great Ming with naval warfare experience. You should follow him closely during this period and learn how to deal with the Japanese pirates properly."

"This subject obeys your decree."

However, Chen Lin interjected, "Then who will take over the defense of the Fujian coastline?"

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed. "It is a pity that Marquis Zhenghai Wu Zhen died early; otherwise, he would have been a top-tier naval commander of the Great Ming."

"For now, we can only have Marquis Zhenghai’s son, Wu Zhong, temporarily take charge of the Fujian coastal defense. Like father, like son; We believe Wu Zhong can handle it."

Chen Lin shrugged. Navigating Marquis, Marquis Zhenghai—he knew none of them.

Yet since their peerages contained the word "sea," they were presumably generals with naval combat experience.

Zhu Yuanzhang asked again, "As for the craftsmen in the Ministry of Works researching the fire oxen, We have already issued a decree placing them entirely under your jurisdiction as the Vice Minister of Works. When will you begin researching that steam-powered warship you spoke of?"

Chen Lin kept his eyes fixed ahead because there was a pothole in the road. "Anytime. I'll print out the materials later and let them research it first."

Mentioning printing, Zhu Yuanzhang asked again, "Can that printer of yours print paper currency?"

"Print paper currency!?"

Chen Lin’s eyes lit up. "Good idea, Old Zhu. We certainly can give it a try, but a printer won't do; we'll need a printing press. By then..."

As he spoke, the truck's tire sank into a pothole. With a violent jolt, Zhu Yuanzhang’s head slammed into the roof of the car.

"What the heck, can't you drive a bit slower?" Zhu Yuanzhang rubbed his head and complained.

"Who told you not to wear a seatbelt..."

The three men simply thought it was due to poor road conditions and paid little mind. Who could have anticipated a sudden roar—an explosion!

It wasn't a blown tire; the entire vehicle was directly blasted more than a meter into the air. The three men inside, along with Shi Dazhuang and the others standing in the truck bed, were all sent spinning in a daze.

"Assassins!!!"

Following a startled cry from Mao Xiang who was driving the vehicle behind, a group of figures in black suddenly rushed out from both sides of the road, frantically shooting with bows and arrows.

The accompanying guards were instantly peppered down by the dozen, and the situation plunged into chaos.

"Protect His Majesty, protect His Majesty~~~~"

Mao Xiang hurriedly got out of the vehicle and led the guards in a counterattack, but there were too many men in black, and their assault was too sudden. The hundreds of guards were actually suppressed.

Empress Ma tightly hugged Zhu Xiongying and hurriedly rolled up the car windows.

In the carriage behind, Xu Miaoyun also clutched Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui with a terrified expression.

At that moment, Shi Dazhuang and five family retainers fought through their injuries, pulled out pistols, and fired wildly at the men in black.

Gunshots rang out—one shot per man—and the tide of battle instantly turned.

In less than ten seconds, the men in black scattered and retreated in a flurry.

"Maintain defense, keep defending!!"

Mao Xiang didn't even have time to marvel at the magic of the pistols. He hurriedly ran over to the overturned Great Wall truck. Shi Dazhuang and the others also gathered around, gazing nervously at their surroundings and maintaining constant vigilance.

"Quickly smash the car windows!!"

Amidst the panic, Zhu Yuanzhang was dragged out covered in blood, followed by Zhu Di. But when it was Chen Lin's turn, he got stuck because he was wearing a seatbelt, and no one present knew how to unfasten it.

"Get out of the way!"

Chen Xiaolan ran forward like a madwoman, snatched the knife from Mao Xiang’s hand, cut the seatbelt, and finally pulled Chen Lin out.

Yet when the crowd looked closer, their worlds collapsed.

Zhu Yuanzhang had been blown beyond recognition and was breathing by a mere thread.

Zhu Di’s leg was broken, and his chest had caved in.

Chen Lin’s legs were limp, his nasal bridge was fractured, and his face was covered in blood.

"It's over, it's all over..." Mao Xiang was so terrified that he collapsed directly onto the ground, shivering uncontrollably.

At that moment, Empress Ma and Xu Miaoyun finally regained their wits and ran forward anxiously. But when they saw the horrific state of their own men, their eyes rolled back and they fainted simultaneously.

Only Chen Xiaolan remained relatively calm, because she knew her young master was capable of returning from the dead.

However, her young master was currently unconscious. If the Emperor and the Prince of Yan didn't receive her young master's finishing blows, they would truly die.

Thinking of this, Chen Xiaolan hurriedly started slapping faces, pinching philtrums, and pinching inner thighs. After a frantic bout of effort, she finally managed to wake her young master up.

"Hiss~~~~"

A searing pain washed over him, and Chen Lin almost passed out again.

"Young master, hurry, do it quickly!" Chen Xiaolan prompted hurriedly.

Enduring the intense agony, Chen Lin looked around.

Chen Xiaolan instantly understood and quickly whispered a few words into her eldest brother's ear.

Shi Dazhuang’s gaze turned fierce. He raised his pistol and shot one of the guards in the thigh. "Everyone turn your backs to me right now, immediately!"

Mao Xiang finally snapped back to his senses and hastily waved at the guards to turn around, forbidding them from peeking.

Meanwhile, Chen Lin, dragged by Chen Xiaolan, propped himself against the overturned pickup truck. "Wake Old Zhu up first. I need to die by his hands for this to be worthwhile."

Hearing this, Chen Xiaolan unleashed a barrage of vicious face-slaps on Zhu Yuanzhang.

No response? Then keep slapping...

Slap, slap, slap. Zhu Yuanzhang’s face was already unrecognizable, and now it swelled up even further.

"Cough, cough, cough~~~"

After a bout of light coughing, Zhu Yuanzhang finally regained consciousness.

"Hiss~~~~"

A heart-piercing pain struck him fiercely, instantly clearing Zhu Yuanzhang's mind quite a bit.

"Meizi, Grandson, are they alright!!"

"Your Majesty, rest assured, the Empress and the Imperial Grandson are both fine."

Bang~~

While Zhu Yuanzhang was still in a daze, a loud bang echoed. Zhu Di, still unconscious, had his head blown wide open!!

"You—"

"What 'you'? Hold the knife steady and aim for my heart."

Zhu Yuanzhang finally came to his senses. "Oh, oh, oh, We understand, hiss~~~"

Another wave of intense pain struck, and Zhu Yuanzhang nearly rolled his eyes and fainted once more.

Slap, slap~~

Chen Lin directly dealt Zhu Yuanzhang two slaps while aiming his gun at the old man's head. "Hurry up!"

"You!! Fine, you just wait for Us, We'll stab you to death!"

Slash!

Chen Lin looked at the blade plunged into his chest, blood coughing from the corners of his mouth.

"You... cough, cough, cough... old bastard, did you do that on purpose? You missed the spot, pull it out quickly and stab it straight into my heart!!"

Zhu Yuanzhang felt a bit embarrassed. "Sorry, sorry, We'll do it over again."

Chen Lin clutched his chest. "You just wait!"

Slash!

A single blade thrust dead center into the heart. Holding onto his final breath, Chen Lin unloaded a barrage of shots directly into Zhu Yuanzhang’s body.

"Ah, ah, ah~!!"

"You bastard.... couldn't you aim for the head? You're settling a personal grudge! Even as a ghost.... We won't let you go....."

And with that, both of them kicked the bucket together.......