Chapter 308: The Emperor's Flight

Such a tremendous commotion instantly jolted the entire city into alertness—even those still drowsy and half-asleep on their beds were startled into tumbling to the floor, frantically asking one another what on earth had happened as if possessed.

Before long, many common folk could no longer contain their curiosity and began inquiring about the situation among themselves.

The timid ones cracked open their windows and craned their necks to peer around, while the bolder ones opened their doors and stepped directly into the streets—only to find people with the same idea filling every street, everyone staring at one another in bewilderment, utterly clueless as to what had occurred.

The deafening roar just now still rang in their ears, yet the sky that should have been brightening had eerily darkened—heaven and earth dimmed, flames shot skyward, dust filled the air, and it was as if the world itself were splitting apart, ten thousand homes leveled flat—a scene of apocalypse.

Just as everyone was at a loss, the yamen runners of the Shuntian Prefecture and the Troops and Horses Office of the Five Wards received orders from above and went door to door, pounding on the homes of the common folk.

"Old Zhu, put down that butcher knife of yours—the new Earl is personally giving a speech at the execution grounds, go take a look!"

"Manager Zheng, leave that mess of yours for now and hurry to the execution grounds—there's something to see!"

"Don't ask unnecessary questions—you're going whether you like it or not!"

Most people had wanted to go anyway, while some had to be dragged and pulled before they'd leave their homes—but when they reached the streets, they found countless garrison soldiers already lined up in formation, fully armed, every face grim and severe.

Seeing these officers and men in gleaming armor and bright uniforms, many felt their panic inexplicably subside by no small measure.

At the execution grounds at this moment, people had packed the area half a street away, a veritable sea of humanity. Having received word, Wang Xiantong arrived in full armor, his right hand gripping his sword hilt tightly as he shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Everyone, do not panic! This was merely a fire caused by improper storage of goods in the government warehouses—nothing of great consequence!"

"His Majesty has already issued an edict to dismiss and investigate the officials responsible. The court will conduct a thorough inquiry into this matter. I, the Earl, will personally lead soldiers into the streets to assist the relevant offices—you may all resume your lives as before, everything as usual!"

The moment Wang Xiantong finished speaking, murmurs erupted throughout the crowd.

"Hmph, not a big deal? The entire Lü family is buried under their residence, and six-tenths of the whole street has been destroyed."

Upon hearing this, a wealthy merchant in a red silk robe sneered coldly a few times. Whatever was going through his mind, he raised his voice and shouted with barely concealed glee:

"Hmph, truly incompetent! They can't even handle such a trifling matter—what use are those factory and guard agencies? Do you know how many innocent families have died because of their negligence?"

"Indeed—who knows if the current Emperor isn't competing with the people for profit and has drawn Heaven's punishment!" Several men of unknown origin behind him chimed in agreement.

These days, nearly every household worshipped various deities—their only psychological comfort in these calamity-ridden times. Upon hearing the words "Heaven's punishment," their faces changed dramatically, seized by terror.

"You rat! With this Earl standing here, how dare you sow discord and spread alarmist nonsense!" Wang Xiantong's eyes narrowed as he bellowed.

Without caring who stood behind this man, Wang Xiantong leaped off the platform, strode into the crowd, and hauled the wealthy merchant up onto the stage like a chick. Drawing his blade, he cut the man down without a second word.

"If anyone dares spread rumors again, regardless of their station, they shall meet the same end!" Wang Xiantong raised a plump head and brandished it at the crowd.

Spurred on by the bloody spectacle, the murmuring in the crowd diminished considerably. Those with ulterior motives, seeing Wang Xiantong's utter ruthlessness, dared not speak further.

Watching those who slipped away in secret, Wang Xiantong curled the corner of his mouth but made no move to stop them.

After these men fled, they breathed sighs of relief, thinking they'd escaped disaster—but when they looked up, they saw the agents who had been lying in wait all along grinning coldly at them, and blood sprayed on the spot.

"Everyone, hear me out!" At this moment, two young men dressed as scholars stepped forward. The one in front was youthful in appearance, but his voice was steady and forceful as he spoke: "Do you all still remember the Wanggong Factory incident in the capital during the Tianqi years? Its words still ring in our ears!"

The one who stepped forward was none other than Xia Wanchun, who had come to the capital for the imperial examinations. He cried out with impassioned fervor: "The court has promulgated proper statutes, clarifying the law and rectifying itself, benefiting the common people—this is a great good! Naturally, it would provoke those with ulterior motives to plot mischief, magnifying small matters into great grievances!"

Qu Changwen laughed heartily and strolled forward, saying: "Brother Xia speaks truly! The Wanggong Factory incident of the Tianqi years was precisely a vicious scheme by treacherous court officials who could not bear their own losses—and the people suffered for it. In my view, this incident is the same—surely the work of those same villainous cliques!"

"Everyone must not readily believe the rumors circulating in the streets!"

After the two finished speaking, another group of examination candidates in white robes emerged from the crowd, shouting with agitation:

"We are scholars who have come to the capital for the examinations—we worry for our sovereign and our nation, and dare to be first in all under heaven! Today we swear here: no matter how the capital's turmoil unfolds, we shall remain steadfast and unwavering, not leaving the capital by so much as a step!"

"Well said, brother! We all declare our resolve today—to devote our lives to the good of the state and to serve His Majesty with loyalty!"

Because the Chongzhen Emperor had previously treated scholars very poorly, the Battalion Commander of the city garrison beside Wang Xiantong instinctively stepped forward and asked: "My Lord, shall your subordinate drive them away?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiantong considered for a moment, then shook his head and said: "No need! Scholars are not the Donglin—they cannot be painted with the same brush. Moreover, since these young men have come to the capital for the examinations, they cannot all be rebels. Besides, the court above and below will still need such men to serve His Majesty."

"Your subordinate understands."

The Battalion Commander nodded and waved his hand, signaling the soldiers who had stepped forward to withdraw.

Because the explosion was relatively far from the Forbidden City, and the palace halls were frequently repaired and extremely sturdy, most places felt strong tremors but not the sensation of the earth splitting and mountains shaking.

The palace attendants found this morning's events rather amusing—when the explosion's effects reached the imperial palace, the Chongzhen Emperor was having breakfast with Empress Zhou at Kunning Palace.

The two had just been smiling and chatting about this and that when everyone suddenly felt a slight tremor beneath their feet. As they stood bewildered, the Emperor swiftly threw down his chopsticks and bowl and shot out like an arrow from a bow with a "whoosh."

The Chongzhen Emperor hadn't said a single extra word, nor even shown an extra expression—he simply rose and bolted straight for the palace doors, his speed so astonishing it left onlookers in awe.

After running out, the Chongzhen Emperor didn't idle either—he dared not linger near the palace buildings. His first instinct was to sprint to the nearest open ground, and only when the tremors gradually subsided did he dare return.

The Chongzhen Emperor was now holding an emergency court assembly at Huangji Hall.

Speaking of what had just happened, the Chongzhen Emperor had been truly frightened—that feeling of being unable to keep one's footing was far too terrifying. At the time, he had thought he was experiencing an earthquake not recorded in history.

And judging from the initial tremors, the intensity was at least above magnitude six. Given the palace's wooden structure, the Chongzhen Emperor didn't believe it could withstand an earthquake of that strength.

If he hadn't run out quickly, history would have recorded it thus:

On some day in the nineteenth year of Chongzhen, the Chongzhen Emperor was dining at Kunning Palace when a great earthquake suddenly struck, and the Chongzhen Emperor, unable to escape in time, was crushed to death in Kunning Palace.

From then on, Chongzhen would have become the first emperor in history to be killed by an earthquake in his own palace.

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