Before the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City.
Having received news from Old Zhang, the Wanli Emperor had been waiting here for a long time. He had also brought the three Grand Secretaries, as well as ministers like Old Xu and Old Liu.
The officials, summoned from outside, were also puzzled, not knowing what was to be done.
They had only heard the Grand Secretaries say: "Just watch the show."
Soon, the layers of gates from the Imperial City to the Forbidden City gradually opened.
Eunuchs and soldiers from the Imperial Stable Bureau followed throughout.
The divine generals of the Northern Garrison Commandery guarded the gates.
The ministers saw the person approaching. Ji Xiang, grabbing Nurhaci by the scruff of his neck, brought him to the Meridian Gate and threw him at the entrance.
Originally, the Wanli Emperor, upon hearing this astonishing news, wanted to summon Nurhaci and Ji Xiang to the Hall of Supreme Harmony. But he then remembered that the Hall of Supreme Harmony had burned down in a fire...
Never mind, he could sit at the entrance. It was a pity there were no melon seeds, otherwise, it would feel like a chat.
"Nurhaci, look at Us."
The Wanli Emperor uttered a soul-calling cry to Nurhaci.
But Nurhaci's eyes were dark, and there was a bowl-sized hole on his forehead. Although his brain matter was not visible, a lot of blood had flowed out. His entire face was now red. Moreover, due to his broken spine, his body was paralyzed. Yet, he was still alive, even able to prop himself up slightly, but he could not lift his head.
"You're still alive after this? This life of yours, We feel, seems rather abnormal?"
The Wanli Emperor was also amazed by Nurhaci's formidable vitality. A normal person, beaten to this state, should have already died. Seeing Ji Xiang dragging Nurhaci in, his demeanor was like Guan Yu beheading Hua Xiong after warming wine...
The Wanli Emperor had also read the twenty-four volumes of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" left by the Jiajing Emperor during his time at home. Recently, he picked it up again to flip through it, as he was planning to write a novel. He felt that the scene just now was an excellent one.
It had a bit of the flavor of Guan Yunchang.
Daoist Ji, known as Little Guan Gong.
However, the Wanli Emperor was not alarmed, as he had seen Lord Fire beaten to a similar state before. Lord Fire also had an indentation on his head and his chest was flattened, but Chaoyang was fine.
The Wanli Emperor mused that perhaps this was the vitality of a master.
At this moment, the ministers beside him were somewhat panicked.
They didn't know what was going on.
How could the Grand Master of the Orthodox Dao, who had just been enfeoffed by the Great Ming, attack Nurhaci, who was leaving the capital?
And it seemed to be at the emperor's instigation?
The three Grand Secretaries, having already been briefed by the emperor, began to explain:
"It seems that Nurhaci truly stole the national prestige and was caught red-handed. He has finally been apprehended."
"Master Zhang just came to inform us, and in less than three to five quarters of an hour, the Grand Master captured Nurhaci and brought him into the Forbidden City."
The explanation from the three Grand Secretaries filled the other ministers with dread.
They hadn't expected that just a few days after the chaos caused by the two temples had ended, someone would again target the residual divine prestige of the nation within the temples.
It's just that...
"So that's how it is... But Nurhaci is the Commander of Jianzhou, how could he be beaten to such a near-death state... Even if he had to be captured, such powerful and thunderous methods shouldn't have been used..."
Some ministers looked displeased, feeling that Ji Xiang's actions were too rude and brutal.
"Heh, Your Excellency jests. If thunderous methods were not used, I fear he would not have been caught!"
Ji Xiang heard some of their remarks and sneered, explaining:
"The General of Dragon and Tiger can transform into water and fire, become a woman, and split into a hundred!"
"This Middle-Grade Transformation has twenty-five types, entering and exiting the realm of existence and non-existence, coming and going like shadows, transforming into stones and mud, birds and beasts, six domestic animals, escaping calamities and avoiding disasters, fleeing and hiding, making it impossible to guard against, truly a divine skill!"
"In the past few days, perhaps your concubines at home have all been his transformations!"
Ji Xiang made a jest, then added, "Moreover, the General of Dragon and Tiger, earlier on the street, bewitched the Minister of Rites of Ying Tian Prefecture, devouring his national prestige, using the sorcery of Shamanism."
"As for the 'Nurhaci' who left Shun Tian Prefecture with Shurhaci, I fear it was some illusory dharma body, or perhaps a puppet impersonated by someone else."
Upon hearing this transformation, the ministers' faces immediately showed expressions of shock.
The Wanli Emperor chuckled, "Transforming into a woman in broad daylight is indeed hard to find!"
"As for the matters of Jianzhou, they are indeed quite troublesome. Ji Xiang, your methods were indeed a bit too heavy! Be careful next time!"
However, although the Wanli Emperor spoke of trouble, his expression remained completely unmoved.
Of course, it was unmoved.
After all, Shurhaci was an insider. When his elder brother died, he would directly inherit the inheritance and position. Truly, he was ungrateful to his brother, and the younger brother took it all.
And the current Shurhaci was not far from Shun Tian, staring blankly at a sheep that had reverted to its original form. That sheep was quite intelligent and was leading the caravan ahead on its own.
Ji Xiang bowed, indicating he would be careful next time.
"Nurhaci, do you remember when your father died?"
The Wanli Emperor, with a sighing tone, sat on a small stool and chatted with Nurhaci, who was lying on the ground.
"Your grandfather and father both died at the hands of Our Great Ming army. Li Chengliang bears an inescapable responsibility for this, and We also bear an inescapable responsibility. Therefore, We later took care of you, granting you thirty imperial edicts, thirty horses, returning the corpses, and enfeoffing you as a Left Commander of the fourth rank."
"A few years ago, We also granted you a great edict as General of Dragon and Tiger, with an annual salary of eight hundred taels of silver and fifteen bolts of python brocade."
"You, ask yourself, did the Great Ming treat you poorly? Why did you harbor rebellious intentions and wish to steal the nation?"
"Did those rogue immortals and gods from Li Shanhe give you any benefits that made you greedy, thus causing such a great disaster? Tell Us in detail, and We can guarantee to spare your life."
The Wanli Emperor said this, but in his heart, he thought that after he imprisoned Nurhaci for three to five months, by the time he truly escaped, his family's assets would have long been plundered by Shurhaci. His son, Hong Taiji, was only five years old this year, a mere infant, how could he protect his foundation!
It was likely that his wife and son would both fall into the hands of his younger brother!
By then, Li Chengliang would also settle in Liaodong, and even with all your abilities, you wouldn't be able to turn the tables.
At that time, he would still be able to earn the reputation of a benevolent ruler who did not hold grudges.
Nurhaci's mouth was bleeding, but at this moment, he burst into laughter, his voice terrifying:
"The 'way of life' Your Majesty speaks of, I fear, is not a simple way of life. Even if I were to get out alive, I would die halfway, or perhaps be 'assassinated' upon returning to Jianzhou!"
The Wanli Emperor was also annoyed and retorted:
"Once you leave Shun Tian Prefecture, do you expect Us to clean up your mess? If you are incompetent, then die outside. You have committed such a grave offense, yet you are not grateful for Us letting you go, and you still expect Us to help you settle back home?"
"Then, it seems, the lands of Jianzhou might as well be managed by Us!"
"Tell Us, or not?"
"If you do not speak, according to heavenly laws, or according to the Great Ming law, you will surely be executed on the platform in the Western Market. Are you not afraid of death?"
Nurhaci shook his head: "I fear death, but I truly do not know what Your Majesty is talking about!"
The people from Li Shanhe had made Nurhaci swear a great oath. If he violated the oath, the punishment he would receive would be similar to the heavenly punishment of Shamanism.
Therefore, Nurhaci knew very well that as long as he did not reveal any information, even if his physical form was destroyed, those people from Li Shanhe could make him "live" again.
However, the next time he came back to life, the forces he had cultivated in Biao Shanhe would surely have disappeared without a trace, divided by outsiders. Everything would have to start from scratch. He didn't even know in what state he would come back to life.
He couldn't help but lament in his heart, regretful and hateful!
His life in this world would end here, and the celestial marrow he had consumed would have been wasted. Moreover, the failure of this action might leave a bad impression on those people from Li Shanhe, affecting his future path to rise.
Truly, a moment of greed had ruined great matters. If he hadn't suddenly encountered Ji Xiang, then this theft should have been a perfect conclusion.
However, there was one thing Nurhaci had to say. He knew he was doomed this time. The Wanli Emperor wanted to extract some information from his mouth. Nurhaci chuckled:
"Your Majesty! The Daoist you enfeoffed has profound magical powers. I am no match for him, but if you mention heavenly laws, he calls my cultivation evil and deviant... Hmph hmph hmph... Hahaha!"
"Shamanism is the religion of us Jurchens, how can it be called evil magic! Furthermore! The Daoist you enfeoffed, when he saw through my transformation technique, recited scriptures that could hinder the operation of a person's magical powers, affect their spirit, and summon a person's soul and will. This is the true evil magic!"
"If Your Majesty intends to kill me, why not first listen to the evil demonic chants of this Daoist, and then reconsider?"
Even in death, he wanted to disgust Ji Xiang and drag him down with him!
Nurhaci was certain that the magic Ji Xiang used to find him earlier was similar to the soul-calling magic of Shamanism, definitely not belonging to the ranks of righteous magic! Even if it wasn't evil magic, it was the art of demons and ghosts!
"A Grand Master of righteous magic enfeoffed by the Great Ming! Yet he uses demonic and evil arts to capture a criminal instead of righteous magic! If this were to spread, wouldn't it be a laughingstock of the world!"