Chapter 101: The Ultimate Trump Card

Chapter 101: The Ultimate Trump Card

The court was in chaos, with palace guards standing opposite each other. Officials of the Wei Faction dared not act rashly. Chen Hai raised his voice and said:

"Minister Shi Yuanxi, what a masterful scheme! You secretly allied with officials from the Ministry of War. If we’re talking about forming cliques for personal gain, who in the court could surpass you?"

Imperial Censor Zhou also spoke up: "Relying solely on words to accuse court officials of grave crimes—since when has the court become your personal playground, Shi Yuanxi?"

"When it comes to privately manufacturing weapons, who in the court could surpass you, Minister Shi?"

The charges Shi Yuanxi presented were too severe, and it stirred up a hornet's nest. The Wei Faction fiercely attacked her, even attempting to shift the blame for privately manufacturing weapons onto her.

However, the officials present were no fools. Not only had Shi Yuanxi’s case been thoroughly investigated long ago, but even if it were brought up in court now, it could never constitute a charge of treason.

Wang Ruiping’s expression darkened as he raised his voice: "At this point, Imperial Censor Zhou is still evading the issue!"

"The Emperor’s personal troops are His Majesty’s own guards, the army of the Liang Dynasty! The weapons in their hands were made by the Emperor’s decree, not by exploiting the people’s wealth!"

"In the entire Liang Dynasty, only one person has the authority to raise an army, and that is the Emperor! Yet now, you dare compare the Wei family’s privately raised troops to the Emperor’s personal guards. This alone is enough to charge you with treason!"

Imperial Censor Zhou’s face turned pale, but he still forced himself to shout angrily: "You keep talking about treason, but where is the evidence?"

"Everyone knows that the crime of treason is punishable by the extermination of one’s entire clan! How can you so recklessly accuse someone of such a grave crime?"

As these words fell, officials of the Wei Faction echoed in agreement.

"Before Luo Mingzheng was promoted to Vice Minister of War, he was just a low-ranking official. How could you possibly know such important matters?"

"Who knows if these things you’re saying are fabricated! Wielding a ledger and daring to accuse the Wei family, who governs the court on behalf of the Emperor! Who gave Minister Shi such authority?"

"Naturally, it was the Emperor who granted it!" As this voice rang out, everyone looked up.

Zhou Ying, accompanied by Yin Hai, marched into the hall.

Since her return to the palace, she had never appeared in the court, and her previous appearances were not during important occasions like the morning assembly. Yet today, at this pivotal moment, she led all the Shadow Guard into the council chamber.

She was in the hall, Empress Dowager Wei was on the throne, and in between was the young emperor.

The power once monopolized by the Wei family had now become a standoff between two factions.

Empress Dowager Wei’s expression was extremely grim. The moment she saw Zhou Ying, she angrily berated the guards below: "Who let her in!?"

The palace guard commander, who followed behind Zhou Ying, looked grim.

Zhou Ying had arrived with a large contingent of the Emperor’s personal guards to enter the hall. The guards tried to stop them, but Yin Hai directly drew his sword and held it to the guard’s neck.

He said: "Imperial Concubine Zhou enters the hall by the Emperor’s decree. Anyone who dares to obstruct today is defying the imperial decree!"

After these words, Yin Hai led the Shadow Guard in, cutting their way through.

Now, with both sides in the palace at a stalemate, Zhou Ying also had Nanny Cen, who was entrenched in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In this confrontation, neither side could gain an advantage.

The Emperor’s personal guards did not have Modified Firearms, and the palace guards could not use them either.

Without powerful weapons, the palace guards could not force them out. Yin Hai and his men were skilled fighters, and after killing several of Empress Dowager Wei’s trusted guards, they stormed into the hall.

The palace guard commander was a few steps behind, mobilizing the entire palace’s guards to enter the hall.

From the council hall, one could see a large number of people.

The officials in the court were all tense; this situation was on the brink of chaos.

Shi Yuanxi remained standing in the hall. As soon as Zhou Ying led a large contingent of troops into the hall, Xu Jinghe stepped forward and took his place by her side.

Amidst the civil officials, Xu Jinghe lifted his gaze slightly and exchanged a glance with Xia Lai.

Upon receiving the order, Xia Lai quietly made his way to the hall's entrance.

"The inner court is forbidden from meddling in state affairs. Are you storming into the hall to stage a rebellion?" Empress Dowager Wei on the throne was furious.

Zhou Ying stood her ground and said in a deep voice, "Isn't it the Wei family who has always wanted to rebel?"

Shi Yuanxi seized the moment to speak, "Accusations of treason and rebellion cannot be judged solely on one side's testimony."

She cast an emotionless glance at the Wei Faction and said, "Whether the Wei family has committed treason will be known once Fang Yun is captured."

The Shadow Guard had been keeping a close watch on the Wei family's activities. Though they couldn't get near Wei Changhong, they still had a rough idea of his movements.

At dawn yesterday, Wei Changhong left the capital and entered the Jingji Camp.

He remained there until late into the night, then rushed back to the palace without pause.

These actions were deeply suspicious.

The Shadow Guard passed the message to Shi Yuanxi at the posthouse.

Shi Yuanxi surmised that her prolonged absence and the failure of Wei Changhong's men to ambush and kill her had prompted Wei Changhong to take preemptive measures to prevent any surprises.

His entry into the Jingji Camp was a particularly ominous sign.

It suggested that Wei Changhong was on the verge of losing control and preparing to stage a military coup.

The journey to Huizhou and the incidents along the way left Shi Yuanxi no room for carelessness.

Prior to her solo journey to the capital, she personally entrusted Bai Ruimin, under escort, to You Wei and ordered You Wei to gather the army and enter the capital.

The Zhenbei army would arrive in the capital half a day after her.

Wei Changhong was ruthless in his actions. If the Huizhou incident was not exposed, it would be fine, but once it came to light, he could easily be driven to desperate measures.

After entering the court today, the disappearance of Fang Yun from the court confirmed Shi Yuanxi's speculation.

The first thing the Zhenbei army did upon entering the capital was to search the surrounding mountains to find Fang Yun's traces.

As long as they found the place where the Wei family was secretly raising troops, Wei Changhong would have to admit to the charge of treason, whether he wanted to or not!

Before the morning court began, she sent a message for Zhou Ying to lead the Shadow Guard into the hall, fearing that the Wei family, in their desperation, might directly attack the officials present.

The Wei Faction officials sneered upon hearing this. Most of the troops from the Jingji Camp and Shuntian Prefecture were under their control. Who would follow her orders to capture Fang Yun?

However, they did not expect the emperor on the throne to say, "By my decree, summon the Zhenbei army to the capital to capture the traitor Fang Yun!"

"Emperor!" Empress Dowager Wei's face changed drastically. "After the late emperor passed away, I upheld his last wishes and did not dare to slack off in the slightest."

"I never expected that the emperor would be misled by those with ulterior motives and commit such an absurd act!" Empress Dowager Wei, in her fury, looked even more terrifying.

Her icy gaze at the young emperor made him instinctively shrink back for a moment.

The move was so blatant that every official in the court saw it plainly.

Yin Hai, who stood by Zhou Ying, subtly raised his hand. Several Palace Attendants near the young emperor stepped forward, repeatedly urging the Empress Dowager to calm down, effectively isolating Empress Dowager Wei and her entourage from the throne and securing the young emperor’s safety.

Empress Dowager Wei scoffed at the scene. She averted her eyes and locked gazes with Wei Changhong below.

Wei Changhong’s face was shadowed and unreadable. He looked at Shi Yuanxi and Zhou Ying as if they were already dead. He coldly stated:

"Fang Yun was assigned to the Jingji Camp during the late emperor’s reign. In his three years with the Jingji Camp, there hasn’t been a single misstep."

"As the imperial army, the Jingji Camp is tasked with safeguarding the Empress Dowager and the Emperor."

"Fang Yun and the Jingji Camp would never betray the throne!" Wei Changhong’s gaze was icy as he directly confronted Shi Yuanxi: "If you dare to falsely accuse Fang Yun today, you’ll have to go through every soldier in the Jingji Camp!"

At this, every official in the court paled.

Many immediately grasped Wei Changhong’s intentions.

Simultaneously, a Shadow Guard rushed in and whispered the news to Yin Hai.

Yin Hai’s expression hardened as he murmured to Zhou Ying, "...Wei Changhong’s men outside have acted, rallying the capital’s troops and officers."

"The officers have locked down the capital’s streets and shut the city gates." Yin Hai’s voice was strained, laced with urgency, as he said slowly, "The capital is under martial law. No one outside can get in, and the palace is heavily guarded."

The capital’s main forces are stationed in the outskirts and can’t enter the city without orders.

The Jingji Camp’s main forces can’t mobilize fast enough to pull this off.

But the capital is the heart of the Liang dynasty. Tens of thousands of soldiers are usually stationed within the city, and with the addition of Shuntian Prefecture officers and gate guards, even after diverting troops for martial law, the numbers are overwhelming.

Far more than the palace’s three hundred Shadow Guards can handle.

Though Shi Yuanxi had prepared, the Zhenbei army was stretched thin. They had to locate Fang Yun, secure the Jingji Camp in the outskirts, and breach the city gates to enter the capital.

Even with multiple Zhenbei generals mobilized, rescuing them from the palace before Wei Changhong’s coup would be nearly impossible.

Once Wei Changhong’s troops entered the capital... the situation was dire. Shi Yuanxi, Zhou Ying, and their Shadow Guards were as good as dead.

All he had to do was kill Shi Yuanxi and Zhou Ying before the Zhenbei army arrived, then charge their commander with treason and unauthorized military action.

The court would once again fall under the Wei family’s control!

The tide turned from their favor to Wei Changhong’s control.

Yin Hai, who had fought alongside the late emperor through life and death, had seen all kinds of scenes. Only now could he control himself and deliver this news with an expressionless face.

But the act of deliberately avoiding everyone to report to Zhou Ying still made many officials in the court sense that something was wrong.

Wang Ruiping’s heart pounded wildly, and his entire body was tense as a bowstring.

He also understood that today’s events could only have one winner. If Wei Changhong won, then none of the officials who had supported Shi Yuanxi in court would have a good outcome.

In the eerie atmosphere, a large number of guards arrived.

The hall was filled with people, both inside and out, but not a single person spoke.

The officials present were deeply uneasy.

In the tense silence, Xie Yuwei stepped forward, met Wei Changhong’s gaze, and said coldly, "Minister Wei, are you trying to prove your rebellion?"

Wei Changhong sneered, "The emperor is young and inevitably swayed by those with hidden agendas. My actions aim to rid His Majesty’s circle of deceitful elements and bring clarity back to the court."

Wei Changhong had set this plan in motion the moment he learned of Wei Tianhao’s death.

Wei Tianhao's relationship with the Wei family was too close; his position as Commander-in-Chief was personally requested by Wei Changhong.

With Wei Tianhao’s downfall, the entire Wei family was implicated.

With family bloodlines on the line, even if Wei Changhong tried to pin the blame on others, it would be impossible to cover up.

Wei Tianhao held the prestigious rank of second-grade official. In the court, apart from him and Empress Dowager Wei, who could command him?

Additionally, many officials were still stationed in the Pingjiang region. With Wei Tianhao's death, the Wei family lost control over Pingjiang, and Wei Changhong couldn’t possibly wipe out all the officials in Pingjiang in one night.

The blame was destined to land squarely on his shoulders.

Now, the situation in the court was also largely out of control, especially with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Punishments, both under Xu Jinghe's control, blocking both paths.

Even if Wei Changhong wanted to retreat and wait for the border conflicts to end completely, allowing Yan Guanghai to return to the capital and the Wei family to regain the upper hand.

Shi Yuanxi, Xu Jinghe, and others wouldn’t give him a chance.

Under pressure, Wei Changhong had no choice but to forcefully suppress all matters this way.

No matter how much evidence Shi Yuanxi had, it would be rendered useless. After today, all of it would be reduced to mere scraps of paper.

Before her death, she would be saddled with all the blame.

The Wei family could also seize this opportunity to purge the court, expelling all of Zhou Ying’s followers.

Thus, power would be back in his hands.

Wei Changhong cast a glance at the Shadow Guard in the hall.

Facing the capital’s army, even armed, these few hundred couldn’t fight their way out.

Today, Shi Yuanxi and Zhou Ying must meet their end in this hall.

Empress Dowager Wei, seated on the throne, let go of all her inner rage at that moment. Wei Changhong had informed her of all the details before taking action.

Shi Yuanxi believed that controlling Wei Zhong would give her the upper hand, a notion that was utterly absurd.

They had been maneuvering around her for so long; her court outburst was just a ploy to buy time for those outside the palace.

The Wei family had prepared everything. If she were eliminated before entering the capital, it would be best.

If she still managed to infiltrate the capital, the moment she appeared in the court would be the time for the Wei family to strike.

Empress Dowager Wei, with a cold expression, turned and casually took her seat.

The trap was set; now it was just a matter of reeling in the line.

This time, she would not let Shi Yuanxi and Zhou Ying escape under any circumstances.

Wei Changhong had calculated everything, including the two thousand Shadow Guards Shi Yuanxi had left in the capital and the weapons she held.

After receiving the news of Shi Yuanxi's disappearance, Wei Changhong recalled most of the personnel he had sent out, primarily to guard against today's events.

That weapon of mass destruction, Shi Yuanxi could not use it in the palace, nor could she use it in the capital.

Didn’t she always act like she was all about charity and helping others? The capital is packed with ordinary folks; if that weapon gets used, she’ll go down in history as a villain.

With just firearms and this small crew, they’re not turning anything around.

Wei Changhong thought of everything—except one thing.

Earlier, Shi Yuanxi and Xu Jinghe had discussed, and Xu Jinghe went on a confiscation spree to fill the national treasury.

During the two months she was away, the Ministry of Revenue kept hitting roadblocks, and Vice Minister Li and Zheng Qiming, who remained in the capital, seized the chance to make their move.

They demanded the Ministry of Revenue cover the military funds across the regions.

Over the years, the Wei family’s control over the Ministry of Revenue had led to cuts in military pay, some big, some small, including the troops of the Xie and Xu families.

When Vice Minister Li raised this issue, other court factions were bound to jump in.

The three sides rarely teamed up against the Ministry of Revenue, and under heavy pressure, the Minister of Revenue had to agree to the demands to save his own skin.

The military needs of various regions naturally included the Zhenbei Army.

The money they got was peanuts compared to the military pay cuts over the years.

But in any case, this cash could cover Shi Yuanxi’s immediate needs.

This little money wasn’t nearly enough to beef up the military, but… it was enough to make double-barreled assault rifles.

Shi Yuanxi didn’t leave the capital without a plan.

When she left, the bullets for the double-barreled assault rifles were almost done, and on the way to Huizhou, they were hauling a ton of stuff, so she was stuck in the carriage.

She used that time to put the finishing touches on the bullets.

She’d done all the earlier development work with the craftsmen by her side, and the final steps were not too difficult; she turned them into a manual and had the Shadow Guard rush it to the capital with the bullets.

Before this, they had already produced many semi-finished products.

Once the craftsmen got the drawings, they finished the job using her detailed instructions.

On the eleventh day after Shi Yuanxi left the capital, the bullets for the double-barreled assault rifles could be fully reproduced by the craftsmen.

The only problem left was the cash shortage.

Luckily, everything went off without a hitch, and the money went straight into making rifle bullets.

Within two months, they produced thousands of bullets.

The craftsmen sent to You Wei had been cranking out guns since the double-barreled assault rifle was finished.

With the Liang dynasty’s limited craftsmanship, they couldn’t produce much, but because the time was stretched out, this batch of double-barreled assault rifles was bigger than the Ministry of War’s first batch of modified firearms!

There were over three thousand rifles in total.

Before Shi Yuanxi disappeared from Huizhou, they had already been secretly transported from Jizhou to the capital by the Shadow Guard.

In other words.

In this capital controlled by Wei Changhong, there were over two thousand Shadow Guards and more than three thousand double-barreled assault rifles.

Numbers-wise, Shi Yuanxi couldn’t control the Jingji Camp for years like the Wei family, who had a tight grip on the capital’s soldiers.

But all of this is based on the premise that everyone is using melee weapons or ordinary firearms.

Once a single, highly lethal weapon appears, the situation will be completely reversed.

Long ago, when Shi Yuanxi was designing bulletproof armor, she once said that the armor could only protect against ordinary firearms, that is, Modified Firearms.

For weapons of the level of the double-barreled assault rifle, the bulletproof armor would be largely ineffective.

This means that even if the Wei family cracked the method of making bulletproof armor and successfully produced it, it would not be of much use.

The emergence of the double-barreled assault rifle is true weapon superiority.

The Wei family never regarded her as a person. After learning of her abilities, their primary intent was to eliminate her.

So whether it was Empress Dowager Wei or Wei Changhong, they likely never conceived.

From the very beginning, what Shi Yuanxi wanted to create was not some Modified Firearm.

But a double-barreled assault rifle.

She engaged hunters to craft firearms, all as a cover for her true project.

...Up until this very day.

Back then, she merely presented a prototype to Zhou Ying, which immediately convinced Zhou Ying to abandon all reservations and choose her double-barreled assault rifle.

It became Shi Yuanxi's ultimate ace.

The streets blocked by the Wei family and the tightly closed palace gates will be forcibly opened by this revolutionary firearm.

Rat-a-tat-tat!!!

The council hall lies far from the palace gates, but Shi Yuanxi, standing inside the hall, barely heard the relentless barrage of machine gun fire.

The assault rifle doesn't even require much technical skill.

It's termed an assault rifle for its ability to advance under similar weaponry conditions.

Furthermore... this is the Liang dynasty.

The thunderous gunfire wasn't a figment of Shi Yuanxi's imagination; some officials present also heard it.

But before today, no one had seen this thing.

Hearing the sound, no one in the hall could discern its origin.

Until the guards outside the hall, their expressions twisted in panic, retreated to the outside of the council hall, and someone saw the blood on these guards, did the truth finally dawn on them.

The fate of the Liang dynasty had shifted.

The reporting guard cried out in alarm, "Firearms! They are firearms!"

The officials in the hall frowned. For how long have Modified Firearms existed in the capital? Why the panic over such a matter now?

Until someone looked up and saw what the people rushing into the palace were holding, their expressions turned to shock, and they shouted, "What is that?"

Wei Changhong, who always maintained an overbearing attitude in court and never took anyone seriously, showed such a shocked expression for the first time in his life.

He disregarded his own safety, shoved through the crowd, and marched forward.

Wei Changhong's dispatched troops confronted the Shadow Guard at the palace gate.

The Shadow Guard, wielding double-barreled assault rifles, barked orders for them to retreat, but the soldiers swung long swords, poised to attack.

Deputy General Zhang, under Fang Yun's command, led the capital's troops.

He had been given a death order that day: under no circumstances could any Shadow Guard enter the palace.

Unprepared for the Shadow Guard's dark, massive weapons, Deputy General Zhang felt the danger but stood his ground.

Wei Changhong's loyalists were the first to follow him into the palace.

These loyalists, wearing the capital soldiers' bulletproof armor, charged forward without hesitation, only to be cut down by a few bursts of gunfire right before his eyes.

It was a dark, two-barreled firearm, radiating terror.

In moments, most of Deputy General Zhang's forces were wiped out.

Amid the chaos, he was forced to carve a path and retreat into the palace.

When Wei Changhong looked up, he saw the Shadow Guard wielding double-barreled assault rifles, spraying bullets, while Deputy General Zhang, his face twisted in fury, managed to fire only a few shots from his modified firearm before being mercilessly gunned down by that overpowering weapon.

He saw blood splattering everywhere as Deputy General Zhang collapsed to the ground.

At the same time, Shi Yuanxi's icy voice came from behind, saying:

"The double-barreled assault firearm is a gift I have been preparing for Minister Wei since I entered the Imperial Academy."

"Does it meet Your Excellency's approval?"