Yongli Ming Dynasty

Chapter 224 Villain
In front of the colorful tent, all the officials bowed and shouted to serve the country.
Shi Lang stood in the crowd and followed everyone in shouting "Salute"
Shi Lang looked at Zheng Chenggong opposite him, but a trace of pity flashed in his eyes. He had previously reported to the court the situation that Zheng Zhilong had tried his best to persuade him to surrender in Zhangzhou. His purpose was to anger the court and use the power of the court to eliminate the Zheng family.

Zheng Zhilong died in Zhangzhou. Although he did not kill Zheng Zhilong, Zheng Zhilong died when he captured Zhangzhou. He and the Zheng family had already had a rift at this time.
In this battle in Fujian Province, the Shi family made great contributions and is now catching up with the Zheng family. In addition, with the death of Zheng Zhilong, the Shi family and the Zheng family will be like water and fire in the future. Therefore, Shi Lang reported Zheng Zhilong's situation in Zhangzhou to the court, hoping to eliminate the Zheng family in one fell swoop.

As long as the Zheng family is deposed, the Shi family will be able to take over the Zheng family's banner, unite the Fujian generals around the Shi family, and become the new generation of leaders of Fujian Province.
Although the imperial court was extremely dissatisfied with the Zheng family at this time, His Royal Highness the Regent valued Zheng Chenggong very much. Whether His Royal Highness the Regent really loved talents or did not want Fujian Province to be in turmoil again, he still did not deal with the Zheng family in the end, letting the Zheng family escape. It was really a pity.

Zheng Hongkui also bowed and shouted to serve. Looking at Zheng Chenggong in front of him, Zheng Hongkui felt a little relieved.

Zheng Hongkui would certainly not be welcomed in the new dynasty, but fortunately, His Majesty the Regent thought highly of Zheng Chenggong. As long as Zheng Chenggong was still valued by His Majesty, the Zheng family would not be completely in decline in the court.

Zheng Hongkui looked at Shi Fu and others behind His Highness the Regent, and a gloomy look flashed in his eyes. Shi Jia was originally the deputy general of his Zheng family. Now, by betraying the Zheng family and forcing his elder brother to be killed, he suddenly won the appreciation of His Highness the Regent and became very popular.

The Shi family betrayed the Zheng family and won a duke and an uncle. Now their status is catching up with the Zheng family. They have become the most prominent family in Fujian Province. The Shi family will definitely be the enemy of the Zheng family in the future. We need to remind Da Mu to be on guard against the uncle and nephew of the Shi family.
Everyone in the field had different thoughts, but Zhu Lang didn't care about what everyone thought. After meeting with the Zheng family, he met with Huang Ting, Zhou Hezhi and other middle-level generals in the army, and praised them.
After this meeting, the crowd under the colorful tent finally began to move again, heading towards Fuzhou City not far away.

At the gate of Fuzhou, a colorful tent was erected, and hundreds of Fuzhou gentry and common people knelt on both sides of the gate, waiting for the Ming army to enter the city.
The reason why Ma Baoshifu and others refused to enter the city after they captured Fuzhou was that they wanted His Royal Highness the Regent to personally enter the city today to accept the surrender of Fuzhou.

Zhu Lang neither encouraged nor opposed the ceremony planned by the ministers. Zhu Lang did not need this ceremony of entering the city to accept the surrender to confirm his own achievements.

Zhu Lang's achievements came from defeating Bolo, conquering Fujian Province, and the tens of thousands of imperial troops under his command, not from such a ceremony of accepting surrender and entering the city.
As long as the news of the battle in Fujian spread, he would naturally become famous without doing anything and become the orthodox leader of the Ming Dynasty that everyone in the world expected.
This ceremony was not so much for Zhu Lang as it was for the civil and military officials who participated in the battle of Fujian Province. With their hard work, His Royal Highness the Regent finally restored the old capital and entered the city to accept the surrender. Naturally, these meritorious officials should be rewarded and promoted.

Zhu Lang arrived at the city of Fuzhou, accompanied by Lu Daqi, Jiao Lian, Li Mingzhong and other Guangdong civil and military officials, as well as Zhang Kentang, Shi Fu, Huang Ting and other Fujian officials.

Lu Daqi, Su Guansheng and other former officials of Fujian Province looked at the familiar Fuzhou city wall with excitement on their faces.

After half a year of hasty escape, they finally returned to the imperial capital of the previous dynasty with dignity. The officials of Fujian Province were also delighted, following Zhu Lang and accepting the cheers and salutes from the people on both sides of the city gate.

Zhu Lang smiled and waved to the people outside the city. After receiving a round of cheers, he planned to go into the city.
After the conquest of Fujian Province, he had to go to Fuzhou once, but it was just a visit to Fuzhou. After discussing all matters in Fujian Province, Zhu Lang would soon return to Guangdong Province and would not stay in Fujian Province for long.
In fact, after the conquest of Fujian Province, there were constant petitions from Fujian gentry and former officials, requesting Zhu Lang to move the capital to Fuzhou to show the restoration of the country. However, these petitions were intercepted by Lu Daqi, Su Guansheng and others before they were delivered to the imperial court.
Seeing that the imperial court was gaining strength and even the Tartars were defeated by the imperial court, the gentry in Fujian Province naturally hoped that the imperial court could move the capital back to Fujian Province.
Once Fujian Province becomes the imperial capital again, not only will tributes from all sides flow into Fujian Province, but the imperial court will also be stationed in various parts of Fujian Province to ensure the safety of the people of Fujian Province. Moreover, if the imperial court moves back to Fujian Province, the scholars of Fujian Province will naturally be able to take advantage of the situation and rise to prominence.
The gentry in Fujian Province had good intentions, but they were just thoughts.

At this time, not to mention Qu Shisi, Jiao Lian, Li Mingzhong and other Guangdong officials who supported the civil and military affairs, even Lu Daqi and other former Fujian officials would not agree to move the capital back to Fujian.

Now the imperial court actually controls Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, and nominally controls the southwestern provinces such as Huguang, Yunnan, and Guizhou. No matter how you look at it, there is absolutely no reason to move the imperial court to Fujian, the far east. On the contrary, Guangdong, located in the southwest and with abundant financial resources, is the perfect place to control several southwestern provinces.

Moreover, Fuzhou was close to the front line. If the imperial court seized Fujian Province, the Qing army might invade Fujian at any time to retaliate. With the example of Emperor Longwu, how could the imperial court establish the capital in such a dangerous place where war could break out at any time?
After receiving several cheers from the crowd, Zhu Lang led the civil and military officials into the city. However, just as Zhu Lang was about to enter the city, he suddenly discovered that among the people kneeling at the city gate, there was a man wearing a second-grade golden pheasant court dress, who was also kneeling in the crowd.

Zhu Lang looked surprised, stopped and called Deng Mingwu over. When Deng Mingwu saw Zheng Xuan kneeling by the city gate, he immediately knew what His Highness the Regent wanted to ask, so he also whispered about Zheng Xuan's origins.
After listening to Deng Mingwu's introduction, Zhu Lang's face flashed with disgust. He glanced at the ministers behind him, but suddenly stopped and asked Deng Mingwu to bring Zheng Xuan.
At this time, Zhu Lang stopped, and although the ministers behind him did not know what was going on, they naturally followed and stopped in front of the city gate.

After Deng Mingwu left, Zheng Xuan was quickly brought to the city gate. The officials in front of the city gate were also shocked to see Zheng Xuan wearing the second-rank robe.
Zhang Tongchang and other officials from Guangdong Province looked puzzled, wondering where this important official came from. However, some officials from Fujian Province who knew about Zheng Xuan's deeds looked at the gray-haired old man in front of them with strange expressions.
"Zheng Xuan, former Minister of Works during the Longwu Dynasty, pays respect to His Royal Highness the Regent."

"Your Highness led the army in person, defeated the Qing invaders, captured and killed the invaders, and intimidated the barbarians. He is truly a wise and heroic ruler that our Ming Dynasty has never had before."

"Your Highness has saved the country from danger and saved the people from disaster. Your achievements are comparable to those of Emperor Taizu and your accomplishments are comparable to those of Emperor Guangwu. I congratulate Your Highness and the court. Our Great Ming has found another holy ruler in this time of crisis. There is hope for revival."

When Zheng Xuan arrived in front of him, he knelt down and paid homage to him. He praised Zhu Lang non-stop, comparing him to a wise and holy ruler who had never been seen in history.

Zhu Lang looked at Zheng Xuan, who was kneeling in front of him with a flattering look, and suddenly said

"I heard that when the Qing invaders entered the city, you also knelt in front of the city gate like this."

When Zheng Xuan heard this, his expression suddenly changed. He stopped his flattering words and sweat broke out on his forehead.
Behind Zhu Lang, Zhang Tongchang and others who didn't know Zheng Xuan's background at first, when they heard what Zhu Lang said, their expressions changed immediately, and a look of disgust flashed across their faces.
Those who already knew Zheng Xuan's identity, when they heard what His Majesty the Regent said, looked at Zheng Xuan kneeling on the ground, and a trace of pity flashed in their eyes, knowing that it would be difficult for Zheng Xuan to get away with it. Zheng Xuan's forehead was covered with cold sweat, but before he could open his mouth to explain, His Majesty the Regent in front of him spoke again.

"I heard that when Bolo entered the city, you knelt in front of the city gate for several days, but in the end you were still driven back home and failed to get an official position in the Qing court."

"You want to save your life and become an official, which is understandable. There have been shameless people like you in every generation, but you were once a second-rank minister of the Ming Dynasty. You are so servile and submissive, which brings shame to the scholars of the world."

After the Qing invaders arrived in Fuzhou, Zheng Xuan went out of the city and knelt down to surrender. Zheng Xuan originally thought that since he was such a high-ranking official and so humble and obedient, he would definitely be valued by the Qing court. Maybe he could be used as a role model by the Qing court and continue to serve as an official in the Qing court and continue his power.

But Zheng Xuan knelt in the mud for a long time, and the prince did not show any courtesy, so Xu ordered him to leave. Bolo even sent someone to tell him that if your position in the Ming Dynasty is too high, it is inconvenient to use you now, so leave immediately.
Bolo made Zheng Xuan kneel in front of the city gate for several days. In fact, he used Zheng Xuan to let the people in the city know that even the so-called high-ranking officials of the Ming Dynasty had to kneel before the Qing court and beg for their lives.

After using Zheng Xuan to humiliate the gentry in the city, Bolo simply threw Zheng Xuan aside.

After the Qing Dynasty was defeated by several dynasties, the shortage of civil officials in the court was no longer as severe as before. Some former officials of the Ming Dynasty even rushed to serve in the Qing court.

This Zheng Xuan was the Minister of Works in the Longwu Dynasty. If he was really recruited into the court as a role model, shouldn't he also be made a minister? His position in the court might not even be higher than that of a minister. What's the point of recruiting Zheng Xuan at this time? Are they going to give themselves a high position? It's ridiculous.
The ministers standing behind him were all looking down at Zheng Xuan who was kneeling on the ground. Zheng Xuan felt the gazes of the crowd and became more and more flustered. He was sweating profusely.

"My lord, my lord..."

Under the gaze of hundreds of people, Zheng Xuan was already confused. He hesitated for a long time but said nothing.
Before Zheng Xuan could think of how to defend himself, His Royal Highness the Regent in front of him spoke again.

"Although you have been servile and fawning on the Qing invaders, they still treat you like a worn-out shoe in the end. This shows that even the Tartars would look down upon a disloyal and unrighteous villain like you."

After hearing what His Royal Highness the Regent said, Zheng Xuan was completely horrified. He couldn't help but kowtow repeatedly and begged for mercy.
"My family and children were all in the city at the time, so I was confused for a moment. I am guilty, I am guilty..."

Zhu Lang's disgust intensified when he heard what Zheng Xuan said.
Is your home in the city?

When the Qing invaders captured Fuzhou, there were many people who committed suicide in Fuzhou, such as Cao Xuequan, and those who vowed not to surrender to the Qing after being arrested, such as Zhu Jizuo, not to mention the ministers who escaped from the city.

Among these people, only Zheng Xuan's family was trapped in the city and could not move, so he had to surrender to the Qing.
When Zhu Lang heard this, he lost his patience with Zheng Xuan and said coldly

"Whether you are guilty or not, the court will make the final decision, so there is no need for you to tell me."

Zheng Xuan looked at the young man in the dragon robe in front of him, and he was finally terrified. If His Majesty the Regent wanted to spare his life, it would only take a word. As long as His Majesty the Regent gave the order, who in the court would dare to question it?
Now His Majesty the Regent wants to hand him over to the Three Courts for trial, which clearly shows that he does not want to spare his life and is ready to hand him over to the court for execution. With his current reputation, he will definitely be sentenced to death if he is brought to the court.
Zheng Xuan was trembling all over, but Zhu Lang ignored Zheng Xuan and continued to speak.

"I want to restore my country. I am willing to employ anyone who is loyal to the imperial court and willing to drive out the Qing invaders, regardless of whether they are wise or foolish, old or young. But I will not employ a smart person like you who surrendered to the Qing when the Qing came and surrendered to the Ming when the Ming came, and who is so good at protecting himself."

"Although our Ming Dynasty has lost half of its territory, this official robe is not something that everyone can wear. Come, take off his official robe. Don't let this villain defile our Han family's clothes!"

As soon as Zhu Lang finished speaking, Deng Mingwu and other imperial guards stepped forward and stripped Zheng Xuan of his official robe.
Zheng Xuan was wearing a white inner garment, with dishevelled hair, kneeling on the ground with a look of horror on his face. Zheng Xuan looked at the soldiers who were holding his arms, and he finally felt completely desperate.
He knew that he was finished, not only him, but the entire Zheng family was finished.
After His Majesty the Regent designated him as a traitor, all the officials, clerks, and common people would rush over to tear him and the entire Zheng family into pieces.

Moreover, no one would plead for the Zheng family anymore, and everyone would applaud. His Highness the Regent did not sentence him to death himself, but gave him a punishment more horrible than death.
The officials in the rear were also shocked when they heard what His Royal Highness the Regent said. After today, not only Zheng Xuan, but also Zheng Xuan's lineage would be completely cut off. Who would let their family have any relationship with the villain and traitor appointed by His Royal Highness the Regent?

The ministers also knew that although His Royal Highness the Regent seemed to be dealing with Zheng Xuan today, he was also using Zheng Xuan to warn everyone present that the Gui Regent court would never tolerate a traitor like Zheng Xuan. If someone betrayed the court in the future, not only the person himself, but also the family behind him would be implicated.
The officials of Fujian Province looked at the back of His Royal Highness the Regent, and a trace of awe flashed across their faces.

Today was the first time that the officials of Fujian Province met this Regent. In this short period of time, although everyone did not see what subtle methods this Regent had, through his speeches, the officials of Fujian Province also realized that this Regent was decisive and had a clear position. He was definitely not someone who could be deceived or dealt with.
Zheng Xuan was completely terrified and kept struggling to beg for mercy, but Zhu Lang no longer cared about Zheng Xuan on the ground and led his ministers directly towards the city.
In front of the city gate, Zheng Xuan kept kowtowed and wailed, with blood on his head, but the Regent in front of him did not stop at all and disappeared into the city gate.
(End of this chapter)