If I fail to overcome the tribulation, I can only return to the Ming Dynasty and become a prince.

Chapter 243 Assassination
Although Qufu is the hometown of saints, it is still just a small city. Both the people in the city and the size of Qufu County are not large.

After all, this is the hometown of saints. If there are traffickers and noisy markets everywhere, wouldn't it disturb the descendants of saints?

Therefore, as the hometown of saints, Qufu is not a big city. Naturally, it cannot accommodate the emperor's full set of troops entering the city. The army and most of the guards can only be stationed outside the city, while the emperor himself lives in the city with the emperor's grandson and Prince Zheng. In the other courtyard temporarily vacated by the Kong family.

Regarding the Kong family's failure to provide them with accommodation worthy of the emperor's status, the emperor himself was magnanimous and did not mind anything, which gave the Kong family enough face.

Zhu Zhanjuan, on the other hand, complained about this, feeling that the emperor's bodyguards were insufficient and might be in danger.

"Nonsense, this is the hometown of saints, the folk customs are simple, and the people are all taught by saints. Even if I walk on the street without any guards, there will be no danger! There is no need to talk about this matter. I will stay in Qufu these days. Here it is." Zhu Di stopped Zhu Zhankun from continuing, and said to Kong Yanjin on the side: "I'm bothering your mansion, but I'm bothering Duke Yan to set aside such a yard specially for me. If you don't want to come and worship, Kong Sheng, I will not enter the city. It will save everyone trouble if we camp directly outside the city."

Hearing what Zhu Di said, Kong Yanjin didn't know what he was thinking, but he still said quickly: "Your Majesty is serious. It is an honor for the Kong family to be able to receive the Holy Emperor. Not to mention it is just a separate courtyard. Elevating the entire Kong Mansion will make me, the Kong family, happy!"

Zhu Zhanqi naturally didn't believe Kong Yanjin's words. If the Kong family really wanted to receive the Holy Master, why should they make room for a larger place instead of just setting aside a separate courtyard, or even let the emperor All the guards could not enter the city.

Obviously, the Kong family did this to show off the emperor's face, making everyone in the world feel that even the emperor would give them the Kong family's face when they arrived in Qufu.

Although Zhu Zhanjun was unhappy, thinking of the previously arranged plan, he suddenly felt that this was good. After all, if the Kong family had made sufficient preparations to allow all the emperor's guards and honor guards to enter Qufu, it would be hard for him to make excuses. Promote next plans.

It can only be said that the Kong family is seeking death on their own, and I don’t blame him for plotting against them.

With the plan in mind, Zhu Zhanquan said nothing more, but showed concern that the emperor's guard strength was insufficient.

This gesture undoubtedly aroused Kong Yanjin's contempt, and he felt that the so-called King Zheng was just a coward in name only.

The so-called beheading of generals and flags, capturing enemy chieftains alive on the battlefield, etc., were probably the work of others, and they were used to tie this Tianhuang nobleman to put gold on his face.

Thinking of this, Kong Yanjin's contempt for Zhu Zhanchun grew even more.

However, although he despised the Zhu Ming royal family in his heart, Kong Yanjin was not stupid enough to station an army outside the city. He showed his contempt for the royal family and still entertained the emperor and his entourage very respectfully and hospitably. The Confucian family banquet was specially held to entertain the emperor, which clearly demonstrated the so-called heritage of his Confucian family.

In this regard, Zhu Zhanju can only say that the descendants of Confucius do not treat the real heirlooms such as poems, books, etiquette, etc. as treasures to show off. Instead, they insist on showing off the Confucian family banquet and treat the useless rules as treasures. , is really putting the cart before the horse.

However, he did not say what he said. He just watched the whole process with a cold eye and finished a dinner that was not a feast for the guests and the host.

After the dinner, except for Zhu Di and the two brothers Zhu Zhanji and Zhu Zhancheng, everyone else said goodbye and left the courtyard where the emperor was staying, not daring to disturb the emperor's rest.After Zhu Zhanjun and Zhu Zhanji arranged the defense of the other courtyard, they also said goodbye and went to rest.

Everything seems to be ok.

Until late at night, a cry suddenly came from the other courtyard: "There is an assassin!"

This exclamation immediately alerted the guards in the entire courtyard. A large group of fully armed guards rushed to the door of the room where the emperor slept. They blocked the door on three floors inside and three floors outside. All their bows, crossbows and swords were unsheathed. In an instant, a very tight defense was put on.

At this time, there was still a lot of excitement in the courtyard. The assassins seemed to know the structure of the courtyard very well. Although the guards were trying their best to block it, the assassins could always find angles they didn't expect to break through the obstruction and head straight towards the emperor. He rushed towards the position, as if he was going to assassinate the king.

Because there is not enough space in the other courtyard to arrange more guards, there are only about 20 guards who can stop the assassins. Therefore, it is difficult for them to effectively stop the assassins when they are not willing to fight and leave as soon as they touch him.

Until the assassin rushed to the door of the room where the emperor was, facing the fire of more than a dozen strong bows and crossbows, no matter how high the assassin's martial arts skills were, he was unable to make any breakthrough.

After two failed attempts to break through the defenses, he threw a bomb made of earthen gunpowder at the emperor's room, smashing several doors and windows, and then turned around and fled.

The bodyguard responsible for guarding the emperor immediately chased after him, and after shooting an arrow at the assassin, he still lost him.

This made Zhu Zhanquan, who hurriedly came to know about this incident, very angry. He almost drew his sword and chopped down the leader of the Jin Yiwei who was responsible for guarding. After giving him two slaps, he yelled: "What kind of assassin are you chasing! Your mission is Protect the Emperor! If the assassin has any accomplices and the Emperor makes a mistake, it will be useless if you catch the assassin!"

After scolding the leader of the Jinyi Guard, Zhu Zhanqi hurriedly entered the room where the emperor was staying to see the emperor and confirm that nothing happened to the emperor.

At this time, Zhu Zhanji also hurriedly mobilized more soldiers and horses, and surrounded the courtyard where the emperor was staying, three floors inside and three floors outside. Kong Yanjin also hurried over after learning that the emperor had been assassinated, thinking To check on the emperor.

Then he, like Zhu Zhanji, was blocked from the door.

"The emperor has an order to search the whole city to find the assassin!" Zhu Zhanju came out of the room where the emperor was sitting with a very cold expression on his face: "Brother, mobilize the troops from outside the city to enter the city and search every house. , anyone who dares to block it will be killed on the spot!"

"How is the emperor's condition?" Kong Yanjin quickly asked with concern, and expressed his desire to visit: "I wonder if I can allow the minister to visit, so as to confirm the emperor's safety!"

Facing Kong Yanjin's inquiry, Zhu Zhanzhen first gave him a cold look, and then said: "Grandpa was injured in the arm by a thunderbolt thrown by a thief. Although it was a minor injury, he still needs to rest, so this For a period of time, no one is allowed to visit without an imperial decree! My king's Jade Guard will seal this place and no one is allowed to enter! In addition, this assassination, the assassin is so familiar with the terrain, and you, the Kong family, deliberately blocked the army from entering the city to protect it, I suspect you, Kong. The family is inseparable from this matter! If anyone comes, search the Kong family first! I suspect the assassin is hiding in the Kong family!"

(End of this chapter)