Iron Dynasty Chapter 1095

The atmosphere grew heavy, thick with unspoken tension.

Luo Hong regarded Luo Xin, who had just issued a command, with utter disbelief. A furious roar escaped him, "How dare you! I am the patriarch of the Luo family. As a member of our family, you dare to defy your leader's decree? Do you seek expulsion from the Luo clan?"

"Elder Brother, if Father were alive, he would surely stand with me. The Great Yu Empire's era has long since ended, and so too has the age of powerful families. This Empire now belongs to its millions of citizens, irrespective of their gender, age, or social standing. It is this very principle we have upheld alongside the Emperor for so many years."

Even as Luo Xin spoke, guards had already stormed through the entrance, their weapons leveled directly at Luo Hong.

Failing to sway his brother, Luo Hong painfully shut his eyes. His supposed journey to Yizhou had been a fabrication; his true intention was to compel Luo Xin's compliance.

Although the incident involving Ge Yiren had compelled him to act prematurely, he now recognized a crucial truth: this endeavor was doomed to fail from its very inception.

"Proceed, escort me to Qingzhou. In doing so, you, Luo Xin, will secure yet another significant achievement. Henceforth, the position of patriarch within the Luo family shall undoubtedly be yours. How perfect would that be."

With a few chilling sneers, Luo Hong spread his arms wide, adopting a posture of surrender to the waiting soldiers.

Luo Xin's heart was a tempest of conflicting emotions. Luo Hong was, after all, his elder sibling. While the principle of 'justice over kinship' sounded noble, its practical application proved agonizingly difficult.

However, failure to act would expose the Luo family to dire consequences. As Luo Hong himself had implied, the summons to Qingzhou for a military deliberation was, in essence, a crucial test.

When treason was afoot, no emperor would show leniency to suspected rebels. Even a few nights of hesitation, or a delayed departure, would inevitably lead to impeachment by other officials.

"Elder Brother, you were misguided in this matter. Upon our return to Qingzhou, I shall implore the Emperor on your behalf. Your younger brother firmly believes you were merely led astray by deceitful individuals," Luo Xin managed to say, his voice strained with difficulty.

Luo Hong's spirit sank. "Since you have chosen Xiao Ming over me, why utter such preposterous words now? Are you ignorant of Xiao Ming's disposition? Never mind, there's no need for further discussion. This is likely my predetermined fate."

Luo Xin's heart ached even more profoundly at these words, yet he saw no alternative. He understood with stark clarity that only by apprehending Luo Hong could this crisis be contained to the absolute minimum.

Nodding deeply, Luo Xin commanded with a trembling voice, "Take Luo Hong away. He will be transported to Qingzhou come morning."

Acknowledging the order, the guards promptly escorted Luo Hong from the chamber.

Left alone, Luo Xin sank into his seat, dejected. The brutal struggle for power had, for the first time, instilled in him a chilling sense of vulnerability. It was precisely this precariousness that forbade him from making even a single misstep, for failure meant plunging into an abyss.

…

Qingzhou.

Xiao Ming was engrossed in reviewing intelligence reports from various operatives, relayed via telegrams. Li San stood faithfully by his side. His temporary office had been relocated to a side chamber within the Imperial Study.

"Your Majesty, the repercussions of Ge Yiren's apprehension continue to ripple outwards. Numerous influential figures are exhibiting signs of unrest, yet they appear to be collectively awaiting a specific development?" Li San inquired.

Xiao Ming's gaze drifted towards the southwest. "They are awaiting word concerning Luo Hong, for they understand that without substantial military backing, forcing my hand towards a shared rule of the Empire is an impossibility."

Scarcely had the words left his lips when Qian Dafu hurried in, presenting two telegrams to Xiao Ming.

"Your Majesty, Luo Xin has dispatched a telegram. He reports the detention of Luo Hong in Yizhou and intends to escort him to Qingzhou tomorrow," Qian Dafu announced with a smile. Luo Xin's decisive action was, to all observers, the pivotal element everyone had been anticipating.

This was because any rebellion from the Southwest Army would likely plunge the Empire into widespread chaos. However, the prevailing sentiment was not acute worry about outright defeat. The Empire's industrial capacity, particularly its vital military factories, remained concentrated in the north.

While an initial conflict might result in a protracted stalemate, the Southwest Army would inevitably falter in the long run. Yet, such a protracted internal struggle would undoubtedly weaken the Empire significantly.

"I declared as much – this Luo Xin, despite his occasional temper, can grasp the gravity of critical situations."

Xiao Ming's tightly knit brows began to relax. His concerns, however, differed markedly from Qian Dafu's; he was aware that even if Luo Xin harbored intentions of rebellion, he would be incapable of causing significant disruption.

The Imperial Chief Scribe held a unique position within the established hierarchy. Though seemingly of minor rank, the role wielded considerable influence. Should any military region falter or err, the Chief Scribe was empowered to immediately notify the General Staff. Upon receiving authorization, the Chief Scribe possessed the authority to dismiss the errant commander.

His apprehension stemmed from the potential need to directly confront Luo Xin, should circumstances necessitate such extreme measures.

“Precisely. As long as the military refrains from intervening, the Empire will avoid widespread turmoil this time. However, a minor disturbance appears inevitable,” Qian Dafu remarked, his gaze drifting to another telegram.

Reading this message, a chilling smile touched Xiao Ming’s lips. He addressed Li San, “The secret guards stationed in Lin’an report that Ren He’s entire family has absconded. Furthermore, many individuals on our watchlist have also vanished. These include officials, factory personnel, and academy students. Before his apprehension, Ren He dispatched a telegram, which likely served as the signal for their escape.”

Li San’s countenance grew serious. “If that is the case,” he stated, “we must erect checkpoints without delay to apprehend them. Allowing these individuals to reach overseas territories and fall into the hands of Europeans would undoubtedly prove detrimental to the Empire.”

“When Ren He was apprehended, I had already instructed the security bureaus in various locales to initiate action. Yet, this top-down purge will likely breed further resentment towards the Empire among the populace,” Xiao Ming admitted with a sigh.

For some, their sole concern lies in personal gain, disregarding the nation and the world entirely. Anyone obstructing their interests is branded an enemy.

This current upheaval, whether involving the remnants of the Merchant Parliament or figures like Ge Yiren, will undoubtedly ignite a deep-seated animosity towards him. Should an opportunity arise, they would surely defect to the enemy’s side, tirelessly slandering the Empire through any means necessary.

However, after ascending to the throne and reigning for many years, he has gradually come to understand a fundamental truth: when a policy is enacted, it inevitably benefits some while disadvantaging others. Catering to everyone’s desires is an impossibility.

With this realization, he instructed Li San, “Since Luo Xin has unequivocally declared his allegiance, let us proceed. Order the immediate arrest of all individuals implicated in this affair, and pursue the remnants of the Merchant Parliament with relentless vigor.” Xiao Ming’s voice was sharp and cold.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Li San had been anticipating this command. With a swift affirmation, he turned and departed.

After Li San’s exit, Xiao Ming turned to Qian Dafu. “It is time to disseminate the news of the Cao father and son’s capture to the public. I intend for the world to witness the ignominious fate awaiting these traitors.”

Qian Dafu smiled. “I’ve heard that the Qingzhou newspaper agency possesses a new technology capable of reproducing a person’s likeness onto paper. It would be most effective to employ this method to display these traitors’ visages to the entire world.”

A smile played on Xiao Ming’s lips. The technology Qian Dafu alluded to was the camera, a recent acquisition by the newspaper agency. Now, merely by perusing the daily gazette, he could stay informed about rudimentary devices like cameras, obviating the need for explicit inquiries.

Indeed, with the relentless march of industrial progress, such commonplace contraptions, representative of nineteenth-century technological advancements, would only proliferate further.