Emperor Zhengde

Chapter 46: Kill the Domineering Censor

Zhu Houzhao seemed to have a premonition that things might change at this time. He thought that even if he had the military power in his hands, it might not be enough. He had to use the soldiers to avoid failing to deter the villains in the Forbidden City.

Zhu Houzhao then summoned Liu Jin and Zhang Yong again and said, "I have written two secret edicts. You two must immediately take my edicts and seals to the regiment camp and the imperial guards. Except for the officers and soldiers who stay at the city gates, all officers and soldiers must immediately ask Duke Yingguo Zhang Mao, Marquis Taiping Zhang Jie, and Minister of War Xu Jin to bring them into the palace! Listen to my orders! If anyone disobeys, you two can execute them first and report later!"

"I obey your order!"

Liu Jin and Zhang Yong hurriedly took the yellow silk that Zhu Houzhao had written on the spur of the moment and stamped the secret decree and seal and left.

The so-called secret decree was just a way of issuing orders temporarily created by Zhu Houzhao. The court officials might not recognize it, but it would naturally be effective for the officers and soldiers.

After all, there are still defenses.

Moreover, Zhu Houzhao also believed that most of the officers and soldiers who had been lectured by him on the parade ground not long ago should now know that His Majesty the Emperor is their real commander!
Not long after Liu Jin and the others left, Zhu Houzhao heard a shout from outside the palace, saying, "Your Majesty, please move to the Qianqing Palace and execute Liu Jin and the other eunuchs!"

Zhu Houzhao immediately started thinking, and wondered when these civil servants appeared. Why did they become alert before he started killing people?

Zhu Houzhao thought to himself that it seemed that the eunuchs were indeed in collusion with the civil servants. The death of Emperor Hongzhi might really be related to these senior eunuchs and civil servants. He did not take their lives directly because he wanted to catch them all in one fell swoop and then interrogate them strictly. But perhaps it was precisely because of this that they felt they still had a chance to turn the tables.

At this time, Gao Feng, Ma Yongcheng, and Wei Bin also came over: "Your Majesty, it seems that things are not going well outside!"

"I know that when the enemy comes, we will fight back with our generals and when the water comes, we will block it with earth. I don't believe that these scholars can stir up much trouble. Now I don't have to be afraid of them anymore! Gao Feng, open the door!"

As Zhu Houzhao was speaking, Guo Rong's voice was heard outside:

"My Lords, His Majesty has said that no one is allowed to disturb His Majesty without His Majesty's summons! Anyone who violates this will be killed without mercy!"

"You are just a warrior, what qualifications do you have to stop me? Get out of my way. I want to advise His Majesty!"

At this time, the voice of Liu Jian, the chief minister of the cabinet, came from outside.

Then, a group of people shouted, "Yes, we want to advise Your Majesty!"

Gao Feng was so scared that she didn't dare to open the door. She turned around and looked at Zhu Houzhao: "Your Majesty, do you really want to open the door?"

"Useless thing! I'll open it myself!"

Zhu Houzhao hurriedly opened the door as he spoke. At that moment, the whole room became bright and a group of civil servants appeared in front of Zhu Houzhao.

Zhu Houzhao asked with a sullen face: "What do you want to do? Do you want to rebel?"

"Your Majesty, I am an old minister," the chief minister of the cabinet, Liu Jian, stood up first and was ready to start speaking.

Zhu Houzhao immediately slapped the cabinet chief Liu Jian on the vicious face, causing Liu Jian's old flesh to fly off:

"You bastard! You are my subject, but when you see that I don't pay you a respectful visit, you start to nag me. So, do you take me, your father, seriously?!"

The originally noisy scene became quiet because of Zhu Houzhao's angry shout and the heavy sound of the slap.

Everyone's eyes dropped to the ground in shock.

How is this possible! This is incredible!
This was totally unexpected!
His Majesty actually slapped the Prime Minister on the spot!

Deputy Prime Minister Li Dongyang looked up at Zhu Houzhao with some confusion. He suddenly felt that the 15-year-old emperor in front of him was a little strange, especially when he saw Zhu Houzhao's serious and murderous eyes, he even couldn't help but feel a lingering fear.

The Third Assistant Minister Xie Qian was also horrified. He never expected that His Majesty the Emperor would suddenly slap the First Assistant Minister Liu Jian in the face. Even the late Emperor did not dare to say a word loudly to the First Assistant Liu Jian, but now His Majesty actually took action!

Prime Minister Liu Jian felt pain in his cheeks as if they were pricked by needles, as if his bones were dislocated, and cold air leaked out of his mouth. At this moment, he was very angry and very surprised. He never expected that the Emperor would suddenly slap him in the face, and the reason was that he spoke directly without performing the ceremony first.

It has been so many years, and no one has ever scolded and beaten me like this. After all, although I am not the prime minister, I am the prime minister in reality and have been in charge of the cabinet for more than 20 years. Even the late emperor would give me some face.

Prime Minister Liu Jian felt humiliated. Like Li Dongyang, he even felt that Zhu Houzhao was a stranger. He almost couldn't help yelling at Zhu Houzhao.

However, the etiquette between the monarch and his subjects is the great moral code of ethics. Even if Liu Jian, the chief minister of the cabinet, was angry, he could not refute that Zhu Houzhao was wrong in his attack.

However, the chief minister of the cabinet, Liu Jian, did not want to perform the ceremony at this time. He knew that if he surrendered at this time, he would no longer be able to control the emperor Zhu Houzhao.

In order not to lose in momentum, the chief minister of the cabinet, Liu Jian, remained silent.

At this time, Sanfu Xie Qianchao, the chief of the Ministry of Rites, gave Sun Meiling a look.

Sun Meiling, the Minister of Rites, knew that this was the time when censors like him were needed to stand up, the time for him to be directly recognized, and also the best time to make Liu Jian, the chief minister of the cabinet, remember him.

Therefore, Sun Meiling, the Minister of Rites, stood up:

"Sun Meiling, the Minister of Rites, pays respect to Your Majesty. The Prime Minister is the Prime Minister of the whole country, a veteran of four dynasties, and a minister entrusted by the late emperor. He has always been loyal to the country, has virtue in the Confucian community, has made contributions to the country, and has been a teacher to Your Majesty. Now that it is not a court sacrificial ceremony, the Prime Minister will speak to Your Majesty as a teacher. It is not too much to not attend the grand ceremony! Please be lenient, Your Majesty, which is the mind of a wise monarch!"

"Liu Jian, the chief minister of the cabinet, did not show courtesy to the emperor and his father. This is really a domineering and rude act. As a censor, you did not impeach him, but instead defended him. You are even more vicious! Guo Rong, execute these disloyal ministers immediately! I wonder who dares not to respect me!"

Zhu Houzhao shouted loudly, and Guo Rong had already drawn his sword: "I obey your order!"

Immediately, the blade came out like a meteor, and the blade directly wiped across the neck of Sun Meiling, the Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Rites. Blood immediately spilled out, and Sun Meiling's head fell to the ground, his eyes still showing an incredible look. He didn't expect that he was just showing off, but in the end he attracted the Majesty's butcher knife.

All the civil servants present were shocked. A few censors wanted to say a few more words, but when they saw Guo Rong's bloody knife, they involuntarily took a step back.

Zhu Houzhao glanced at Guo Rong at this time and gave him an affirmative look. He thought that this guy was really a promising talent. He was steady, accurate and ruthless with his sword, and he would not hesitate at all when he asked him to chop anyone!
At the same time, Zhu Houzhao coldly asked the cabinet chief Liu Jian and other civil officials: "Why, you all don't want to be ministers of the Ming Dynasty, you all want to be a pen holder standing here?"

After Zhu Houzhao asked, he shouted, "Guo Rong!"

thump!
Before Zhu Houzhao could say anything, the cabinet chief Liu Jian first prostrated himself and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you!"

The other civil officials also fell to their knees and prostrated themselves on the ground: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you!"

The chief minister of the cabinet, Liu Jian, now had to perform the great ceremony. He was still really afraid that Zhu Houzhao would really let the warrior who had just killed a Du Jieshi Zhong give him a blow as well.

The civil servants present did not expect that His Majesty would suddenly become so ferocious. They were bleeding before they even had time to say a word!
Thanks to the book friend Qingsong Qingsong for the 3000 starting coins reward. Thank you to the book friend Yanyu Zhuiyun for the 200 starting coins reward.

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(End of this chapter)