"It's over, it's over. Originally, the White Lotus Sect was just a tool for them to extort money..."
"The so-called doctrines, and the Holy Mother, were all fabricated by them!"
"But now, this fabricated thing is the most likely thing to cost them their lives."
"No, it's not just a simple trip to hell, but a death so terrible that not even their ashes will be scattered."
"This is the brainwashing doctrine and virtual gods that took us generations to define."
"Everything about this White Lotus Sect, it wasn't solely the work of that damned cult leader; it was all a collective effort."
"But now, what are we supposed to do?"
"In the Great Ming Empire, under the rule of the biggest mob boss and his invincible iron fists, any force or gang is as fragile as paper."
"What are we ants caught in the crossfire supposed to do now? How can we save ourselves?"
"Damn it, you guys tell me, will the cult leader surrender?"
After the White Lotus Sect branch leader finished speaking, he looked at his strategist.
However, the strategist, with a mournful face, shook his head repeatedly and replied, "No! Our cult leader is probably crazy by now. Otherwise, how dare he assassinate the Empress? That's declaring war on the authorities!"
"It's over, it's over! We're all finished!"
Hearing the strategist's words, those who were already terrified became even more fearful.
Just then, an angry roar suddenly erupted from the crowd.
"Damn it, we can't just sit here and wait for death! Why don't we fight them?"
As soon as his words fell, everyone in the hall was stunned.
The next moment, everyone present simultaneously looked at the burly man who had just spoken, their gazes as if they were looking at an idiot.
Fight? How to fight?
Fight whom? The official government of the Great Ming Empire?
Are you out of your mind? That's an empire unified with a million troops and the hearts of the people!
Don't you read the official gazettes? Don't you go out to the grassroots and spread your faith and recruit followers?
Don't you pay attention to how many soldiers are stationed in each county, prefecture, and province?
This new, vast empire was built on the remains of the Mongol Empire, and after annihilating countless surrounding small nations, it finally became a unified empire.
Damn it, let alone a head-on confrontation, we can't even hide well!
If it were just about killing a high-ranking official, the authorities wouldn't be able to do much even if they were serious. We could hide in the deep mountains and old forests for a few years, let the storm pass, and then we'd be fine.
"But now, we killed the Empress. Even if the authorities pursue us for ten, twenty, or thirty years, they'll still be after us."
"Besides, you, Zhang Laosan, are all alone. If you die, you die. There's nothing to fear."
"But we are different. We all have large families to support. If we die, a whole group will die."
"If this doesn't work and that doesn't work, then what do we do? Sit here and wait to die?"
Upon hearing the burly man's words, everyone once again looked to their strategist and advisor.
Suddenly, the strategist's brow relaxed, and he said with great joy, "I know!"
"What?" "What?" "Speak quickly!" "Speak quickly!"
Under everyone's questioning, a sinister smile appeared on the strategist's face.
Next, he uttered a ruthless answer that no one had expected.
"Don't we know about one of the cult leader's secret lairs? Send a reliable person to give the address to the local authorities!"
What? Does the strategist mean betraying the cult leader?
At this moment, the whole hall was silent.
The next moment, everyone was overjoyed.
"Brilliant, brilliant! This idea is truly wonderful..."
"Immediately contact the Jiangnan Provincial Governor's Office and give them the address of the secret lair we know!"
"Yes, Leader!"
Coincidentally, other White Lotus branches that had received the news did the same.
They provided all information related to the White Lotus cult leader, both personal and material, to the local authorities.
They hoped to secure a sliver of survival in this crackdown.
The officials who received the information did not dare to delay. After receiving the information, they directly dispatched troops to surround and raid the suspected lairs.
These provincial governors were also afraid now!
Who didn't know the Emperor's terrifying power!
Although this operation was only aimed at the White Lotus Sect and the Caitongtian merchant firm this time, anyone who believed that was a fool.
This operation was a disaster for them, who held local military and political power.
The cult leader of the White Lotus Sect, that scoundrel, truly deserved to go to hell.
Who did you have to provoke but the Empress, making innocent people like us worry and be frightened.
At this moment, they were afraid that this operation would eventually lead to them being implicated!
Please, please, White Lotus Sect, surrender quickly! And you, pig-headed cult leader of the White Lotus Sect, quickly step forward and surrender!
At this time, not only were these high-ranking officials anxiously searching, but even the internal members of the White Lotus Sect were actively looking for their cult leader.
They were willing to fight and die for their faith, but they did not want to die so miserably...
Why did the cult leader have to provoke the Emperor's wrath!
The Son of Heaven's rage could lead to millions of deaths.
Millions of believers might all perish under the Emperor's fury.
"Cult leader, where have you hidden? Come out quickly!"
"Cult leader, come out quickly and surrender to the authorities like a hero!"
"Damn it, we fought for our faith, not for you! Where the hell are you running off to?"
"Everyone, let's find him together!"
"Yes, let's find him together!"
Chaos reigned within the White Lotus Sect. Many people were looking for their cult leader to force him to surrender.
Otherwise, they would all be dragged down by him.
However, what terrified everyone was that the cult leader of the White Lotus Sect had disappeared.
No one knew where he had gone, nor where he was hidden.
As time ticked by, the provincial governors grew impatient and finally began to mobilize the army.
Facing soldiers in black armor, armed with bows and arrows, swords and spears, the White Lotus followers in various regions cried out in terror.
"Help! Save me... save... save..."
"I don't want to die! I don't want... I don't want... to die!"
Under this terrifying crackdown, the White Lotus Sect, which had once rivaled Buddhism and Taoism in terms of the number of followers, was now on the verge of collapse.
However, after days of major operations by the governors of the thirteen provinces, there was still no trace of the White Lotus cult leader.
Tens of millions of people scoured every possible hiding place in Shandong, Jiangsu, Hangzhou, and so on, from top to bottom.
Yet, they still couldn't find him.
Upon receiving this result, the governors of the thirteen provinces panicked, the central court panicked, Crown Prince Zhu Biao panicked, and Zhu Yuanzhang also panicked.
Everyone panicked!
Because there were only a few days left until Wu Tao's final deadline. Once the poison spread throughout the body, even divine beings would be of no use.
"Quick, quick, conscript more militia to help search!"
"And, and, double the reward amount, otherwise we're all doomed!"
"..."
Inside the Fengfeng Hall.
Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao, father and son, surrounded Wu Tao and the imperial physicians, anxiously asking, "Is there any way to sustain the Empress's life? Seven days, just seven days, can you give us seven more days?"
Wu Tao and the imperial physicians collectively shook their heads.
"Three days, can it be three days? No, one day, give us one more day, we'll definitely catch him, one day, can you maintain it for one more day?"
At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang's tone was bordering on pleading.
However, Wu Tao and the imperial physicians still shook their heads.
"Your Majesty, we have truly done our best. The most famous physicians in the entire capital are all here, alas..."
Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang's expression turned cold, and he was about to say something else.
The chief eunuch Huang Minghao suddenly appeared. He ran over, sweating profusely, but with a smile on his face.
"..."
What's going on? Is there any good news?
Seeing this, everyone speculated in their hearts.
"Your Majesty!"
Before he even got close, Huang Minghao shouted, "Your Majesty, good news! The cult leader of the White Lotus Sect has been found! He is within Suzhou Prefecture!"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao, father and son, were overjoyed and quickly stepped forward.
"Really?"
"When was he found?"
"..."
Amidst the urgent questions, Huang Minghao nodded with a smile and said, "Your Majesty, Crown Prince, it's true!"
"The Suzhou General mobilized all the troops under his command and finally captured the cult leader of the White Lotus Sect and his accomplices in a dilapidated temple."
"Among these people is a Miao person, a poison master who concocted the poison. After our preliminary interrogation, it has been confirmed that the mixed poison on the Empress was personally made by him."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone was extremely excited.
"Bring him here immediately! We're running out of time!"
"Your Majesty, it has already been arranged."
"The Suzhou General has dispatched the Han Blood Horse to escort them, and they are now on their way to the capital!"
Good! That's great! The Empress will be saved!
At this moment, everyone in Fengfeng Hall wore expressions of relief.
Heaven bless Great Ming!
Heaven bless the Empress!
"Notify me, I will personally go to wait!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Several days later, under the personal supervision of Zhu Yuanzhang, the prisoners were transferred back to the imperial palace.
With the joint efforts of several interrogation experts, this poison master finally handed over the antidote.
Empress Ma was saved!
"..."
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