As evening fell, the execution market of Xi'an was already packed with people.
It was time once again for Gao Family News.
Xi'an was buzzing with excitement.
In the front row, several familiar figures were seated together.
Zhu Cunji, Hong Chengchou, and Mi Qingli sat in a neat row, looking very much like schoolchildren waiting for class to begin.
Today they truly were "sitting in rows and eating fruit".
Not for the sake of rhyming jokes this time.
They were actually eating fruit.
On the small table before them was a ridiculous pile of exotic fruits from Taiwan.
Sugar apples, betel nuts, wax apples, mangoes. The more unusual the better.
Naturally, transporting these delicacies had cost a small fortune.
Since the news had not officially begun yet, the large screen was still showing advertisements. Nobody needed to stare at it seriously.
Seeing the opportunity, Hong Chengchou decided to sample one of the rare fruits.
He carefully picked up a mango.
He held it as though it were a priceless porcelain artifact, moving slowly and cautiously to peel its skin. He was so careful that not a single drop of juice splashed onto his robe.
Every motion was elegant.
Every gesture refined.
The crown princess sitting nearby could not help staring in disbelief.
"How is this man even more elegant than me?"
Zhu Cunji laughed.
"Lord Hong, Lord Mi, have you two thought about surrendering yet?"
Mi Qingli was still tightly bound with ropes.
Before him lay piles of rare and expensive fruit that he could not eat.
The sight alone was torture.
For a brief moment he was tempted.
But as a hereditary Jinyiwei Thousand-Household officer, his loyalty to the emperor could not be defeated by fruit.
He clenched his teeth.
"I will never surrender. Even in death I remain a loyal subject of the Great Ming!"
Zhu Cunji turned to Hong Chengchou.
"Lord Hong, if you surrender, you can immediately take over the position of Shaanxi Governor."
Hong Chengchou did not grit his teeth.
He did not shout slogans.
Instead he calmly continued peeling his mango with graceful composure.
"Surrender?"
"Impossible."
"You might as well execute me now."
Zhu Cunji smiled faintly and looked away.
At that moment the broadcast finally began.
Two young news hosts appeared on the screen.
"We begin with international news."
"A few days ago, a special operations team dispatched by the Gao Family Village Council successfully infiltrated Shengjing and rescued the Korean Crown Prince Sohyeon and Grand Prince Bongrim, who had been under house arrest by the Qing."
The screen shifted to footage of the Korean royal palace.
Shengjing
Bin Sheng and his team appeared in the footage.
However, every single member of the rescue squad had their faces covered with mosaic blocks.
After completing the mission they would return to work at Chang'an Factory as model laborers.
Their identities absolutely could not be exposed.
Hong Chengchou froze mid-motion while peeling his mango.
He slowly raised his head and stared at the screen.
On the screen appeared the King of Korea.
Yi Jong
He looked radiant, energetic, almost like a man in his early thirties.
With his left hand he held Crown Prince Sohyeon.
With his right hand he held Grand Prince Bongrim.
Facing the camera, he spoke with excitement.
"From today onward, Joseon will no longer serve the Qing."
"From this day forward, Joseon will forever remain a vassal state of the Great Ming."
Hong Chengchou blurted out:
"Impossible!"
Zhu Cunji chuckled.
"And why would that be impossible?"
Hong Chengchou frowned.
"Korea is weak and borders the Manchus."
"How could he dare to say such a thing? The Manchus could invade and beat him again at any moment."
Zhu Cunji grinned.
"Relax. The news will explain."
Right on cue, the second host continued.
"Although Korea borders the Qing and has long faced military threats, our village militia captured the city of Dandong several days ago and eliminated the Three Shun Kings."
Dandong
"As long as Dandong remains under the control of our militia, the Qing will not dare cross the Yalu River easily to attack Korea."
"And since our village also rescued his two sons, King Yi Jong naturally made this decision."
The crowd at the execution market burst into laughter.
"Our village militia is incredible!"
"Hahaha, those three traitors are finished!"
Someone shouted loudly.
"Why did the news hold this information so long before broadcasting it?"
Another man slapped his head.
"Are you stupid?"
"Military news must be delayed before being released!"
"If the big screen broadcasts everything immediately across all liberated areas, that would leak military secrets."
"Oh! That makes sense."
"Right. If we broadcast too early, we might endanger our soldiers."
The common people chatted happily.
But inside Hong Chengchou's heart, a storm was raging.
These rebels had actually fought all the way to Dandong.
Because of "military secrecy", he still lacked many details.
But one fact was clear.
They captured Dandong.
They killed the Three Shun Kings.
That meant they had absolutely no fear of the Manchu military.
They beat them whenever they wished.
Like a father disciplining a child.
The Manchus could never ignore Dandong.
They must have reacted.
So why had nothing happened?
Then Hong Chengchou remembered a previous report.
Mongolia had mobilized troops.
In his mind a vast strategic map unfolded.
Mongols attacking from the north.
Village militia pressing from the south.
The Manchus were trapped between two fronts.
No wonder they could not spare forces for Dandong.
Terrifying.
Absolutely terrifying.
The host continued.
"Next is domestic news."
"Our Military Academy principal and current Minister of War, Sun Chuanting, is presently stationed in Jinan, confronting the rebel leader Chuang Wang and his one hundred thousand troops."
Sun Chuanting
Chuang Wang
Jinan
"Although Chuang Wang possesses larger numbers, he does not dare launch an attack."
"His forces have been spreading a song called 'When Chuang Wang comes, there will be no taxes', attempting to deceive the common people."
"But Governor Sun has dispatched administrative teams to cities and villages to expose the lies."
"In cities the people have already awakened."
"But in rural areas many still believe the song. More time is needed."
Someone in the crowd shouted loudly:
"Why not just beat them directly?"
"Why bother explaining?"
Another man glared at him.
"Are you an idiot?"
"If our style was to beat everyone without distinction, would people like us even be standing here watching the news?"
The man froze.
He had once been a civilian forced into a bandit army.
If the militia simply killed everyone without question, he would probably already be dead.
Instead he now lived a good life.
Meanwhile Hong Chengchou thought silently:
Mongolia.
Korea.
Even the Manchus.
These rebels now influenced everything.
Across the entire realm their forces were everywhere.
What remained in the emperor's hands?
Perhaps only a tiny region around Beizhili.
Beizhili
And the capital army stationed there was notoriously weak.
Their combat power was laughable.
Which meant something terrifying.
The imperial court had already lost.
Long ago.
Hong Chengchou slowly sighed.
"Alas."
Then he turned to Zhu Cunji.
"Your Highness."
Zhu Cunji blinked.
"Yes?"
Hong Chengchou asked calmly.
"If I surrender, will I truly take over the position of Shaanxi Governor?"
Zhu Cunji grinned.
"Of course."
"Dao Xuan Tianzun personally said so."
"And Dao Xuan Tianzun's will is absolute."
"No one would dare object."
Hong Chengchou nodded slightly.
"Very well."
"I surrender."
Zhu Cunji raised his eyebrows.
"Oh?"
"That was a quick change of heart."
Hong Chengchou merely spread his hands.
He said nothing.
But Zhu Cunji clearly heard the unspoken meaning.
A wise man adapts to circumstances.
Suddenly Mi Qingli exploded in rage.
"You shameless traitor!"
"How dare you betray the emperor!"
"I despise you!"