Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 232 Qi Tai pleads guilty, secrets and doubts!

sunny.

The winter wind is not always cold and biting.

For example, the wind that blows today is very warm and gentle.

The breeze blows.

Curl up the hair around the ears.

Qi Tai knelt on the ground and recounted his collusion with Huang Zicheng.

"One misstep can lead to eternal regret; when you look back, you are already a hundred years old."

He slowly closed his eyes, a look of pain on his face.

"I was the first place winner of the provincial examination in Yingtian Prefecture in the 17th year of Hongwu. The following year, I passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi. I was first appointed as the Director of the Ministry of Rites, and soon after, I was appointed as the Director of the Ministry of War."

"Huang Zicheng and I were both admitted to the imperial examination in the same year, and we were classmates, so we have always been very close friends."

"When I was a student, I thought I was extremely intelligent and beyond the reach of ordinary people. After I won the first place in the provincial examination in Yingtian Prefecture, I became even more arrogant."

"I have had a heart to serve my country since I was young, and I have been determined to manage my family, govern the country and bring peace to the world."

"When I was the head of the Ministry of Rites, I felt that the Ministry of Rites was not enough to showcase my talents and ambitions, so I actively worked and was finally transferred to the Ministry of War."

"During my time at the Ministry of War, I worked diligently, carefully, and conscientiously, and never made any mistakes."

"I know the names of all the generals above the rank of thousand households on the border, the money and food of each garrison, and the inventory of military equipment. I can recite them all by heart."

"All my colleagues in the Ministry of Rites praised it."

"But I have no background in the court, let alone any support, so I have not been promoted for many years."

"That day, His Majesty summoned all the ministers to discuss the issue of appointing a crown prince. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince stepped forward and tried his best to stop His Majesty from appointing Prince Feixian as the crown prince, which caused a sensation in the court and the country."

"But I think His Royal Highness is too arrogant and looks down on others."

"Although he has some talent, he lacks the 'madness'."

"Besides, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was born to the Chang family and has close ties with the nobles of Huaixi."

"The civil officials in the court all privately believe that Your Majesty relied on the nobles of Huaixi to rise to power in the past, and now the court is full of nobles of Huaixi. They form cliques and factions and do not take other officials into consideration at all. If they are not restricted, the country will no longer be a country in the long run."

"So, although the civil officials in the court did not say it explicitly, they all believed that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince should never be made the crown prince."

“I hold the same view.”

When he said this, Yang Jing, Yuan Tai, Zhou Zhiqing and the other three suddenly looked embarrassed.

All three of them are civil servants.

Moreover, he had a conflict with Zhu Yunhuan over Zhu Yunhuan's arrest of Lan Yu, and they had even joined forces to break into the Prince of Wu's Palace.

"Qi Tai, stop talking nonsense, confusing right and wrong, and trying to sow discord between court officials and His Royal Highness. You deserve death!" Yuan Tai shouted angrily, "You keep talking about this and that, but you haven't said anything about your crime. Why don't you confess quickly?"

"If you continue to talk nonsense, you will be punished immediately!"

Qi Tai looked up at him blankly.

Yuan Tai was furious and shouted, "Qi Tai, you are so arrogant even now. If you don't use severe punishment..."

His voice suddenly stopped.

Because Yuan Tai suddenly discovered that Zhu Yunhuan, who had been lying in the rocking chair, was looking at him.

His eyes were indifferent and calm like autumn water.

Silently.

There was no anger, no rage, and the expression on his face was calm.

Just a faint look.

But that was clearly just an ordinary and common look, but in Yuan Tai's eyes, it was as if thousands of swords were raining down from the sky and thunder was everywhere.

The power of heaven is vast and terrifying.

In an instant, Yuan Tai broke out in cold sweat.

In an instant, the collar of his clothes was soaked.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was personally judging the case and did not say anything to stop Qi Tai from speaking, so how could he have the right to make comments?

Thinking of this, I naturally couldn't say any more.

He lowered his raised hand and bowed to Zhu Yunhuan, saying, "When I was confronted with the evil words of this traitor, I was so angry that I acted disrespectfully and frightened His Royal Highness. I beg Your Highness to punish me."

Zhu Yunhuan did not reply.

The place was very quiet.

Zhu Yunxun retracted his gaze and turned to look at Qi Tai: "Go on."

"After that, rumors spread in Jinling City that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince should be made the crown prince. I thought it was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince who did it, so I hated him even more."

"Later, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince recruited Yang Shiqi, arrested Lan Yu, the Duke of Liang, and used the words of the late Crown Prince to arouse His Majesty's love and care for him, thus turning the tide in the fight for the throne."

"But I am becoming more and more disgusted with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"I had no roots in the court. When the civil officials were befriending Huang Zicheng and Prince Xian, I did nothing." "At that time, although Huang Zicheng and I were on good terms, we were just friends. We were not involved in the court politics, let alone the dispute over the crown prince."

"Later, secret agents from the north brought news that the Northern Yuan Dynasty was going to invade the Ming Dynasty, and the King of Qin and the King of Jin used this as an excuse to leave the capital."

"At that time, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was planning to establish the Ming Military Academy and ordered that no nobles or generals were allowed to leave the capital without permission."

"I am the head of the Ministry of War. After receiving news that the Northern Yuan might march south in large numbers, I prepared money, food, horses, and weapons in case of emergency. Unexpectedly, I received an order not to strengthen the defense of the northern border."

"I think that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince does not pay attention to the affairs of the court, ignores the risks on the border, ignores the millions of ordinary people, and only cares about his own struggle for power. Such a person, even if he has extraordinary talent, has no heart of benevolence and righteousness, and can never be made a ruler."

"It was from that time that I finally made up my mind and took the initiative to find Huang Zicheng. With his introduction, I joined the Feixian King's sect and wanted to help Feixian King overthrow His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"Later, Concubine Lu died, King Xian went mad, and was completely defeated in the battle for the crown prince. His Royal Highness was soon officially appointed as the Crown Prince."

"Huang Zicheng still did not give up and wanted to borrow troops from Japan by taking the opportunity of his diplomatic mission to Japan."

"Before he left for Japan, he came to me and told me what he was thinking."

"At first, I was terrified and thought he was crazy."

"But he listed many of His Royal Highness's 'crimes'."

"He condoned the tyranny of the tax commissioner, suspected the Crown Prince of killing his adoptive mother, Concubine Lu, and persecuted his elder brother..."

"The so-called 'Grandson's New Deal' is even more frightening..."

"I agree with his idea. I think if His Royal Highness ascends the throne and takes power, the Ming Dynasty will also decline quickly like the Sui Dynasty."

"As a scholar, I believe that I must not let down what I have learned since childhood, and I must not forget the words of the sages. I must shoulder the responsibility of protecting the country and saving the people of the world."

"Compared to the dangers brought about by the invasion of the Japanese army, I am more afraid of the terrible consequences of His Royal Highness ascending the throne."

"After weighing the pros and cons, I finally agreed to Huang Zicheng's request."

"Tell him that as long as he convinces Japan to send troops, once Japan lands on our territory, I will fully cooperate in the name of the head of the Ministry of War and tell Japan all the military deployments in exchange for the Japanese army to march straight in and force Your Majesty to appoint a new crown prince..."

"I thought I was doing all this to save the world!"

"But I didn't expect it to turn out to be a big mistake."

Qi Tai slowly closed his eyes, and two lines of tears rolled down.

Zhu Yunhuan listened to him quietly and asked with a smile: "Since you think that everything you have done is to save the people of the world, why do you think you are wrong now?"

Qi Tai bowed and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince has shown extraordinary talent many times before, but I didn't take it seriously."

"There are so many talented people in the world. If they do not cultivate themselves and improve their moral character, the more talented the emperor is, the more ambitious he is, and the more he wants to do something earth-shattering, the greater the damage he will bring to the people of the world."

"But His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's expedition to Japan changed my perception."

"What shocked me the most was not that Huang Zicheng's conspiracy was exposed and he was arrested, nor that Japan was defeated in one battle, but that the Ming army was invincible."

"But His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was able to bring all the soldiers who went to the battle back safely."

"It is incredible that no one died during the expedition to Japan."

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince did just that."

"I didn't believe it at the time. After the new army returned to the court, I used my position as the head of the Ministry of War to conduct a thorough investigation, but I found that there was no fraud."

“Since then, I’ve realized I was wrong.”

"Later, when His Royal Highness the Crown Prince held great power, he launched major reforms. Although his policies were drastic, they were all aimed at the fundamental problems."

"Reforming the military system, reducing the million-strong army, and defeating the Northern Yuan Dynasty... All of these seemed impossible to me at the time."

"But His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was very familiar with it and accomplished it effortlessly."

"It was only then that I realized that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's abilities had transcended the ordinary and reached the level of a sage, a god, and could not be measured by common sense."

"Since then, I have been suffering every day, thinking about whether I should surrender to the court."

"I know Huang Zicheng very well. No matter how hard I torture him, he will never reveal me."

"And what I planned with him, no one else knows except the two of us."

"As long as I don't turn myself in, I'll be safe."

"But I can't do it. My conscience curses me every day."

"If it's wrong, it's wrong."

"Although Japan was ultimately unable to set foot on the Central Plains, and Huang Zicheng and I's plan also failed, this does not mitigate our guilt."

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has ordered the whole country to arrest traitors and expose Huang Zicheng's followers. The government and the people are in turmoil. If I don't stand up, I will watch the world in turmoil and innocent people die in vain. How can I still read the books of sages? How can I still be a human being?"

Qi Tai slowly took off his official hat, put it on the ground, kowtowed and said, "I am a sinner Qi Tai, please punish me, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Zhu Yunhuan picked up the teacup, took a sip of tea, and said, "So, the reason you stood up is because you don't want to see the government and the public making a fuss over arresting Huang Zicheng's accomplices?"

"Then how do I know if this is a conspiracy between you two to push you out as the scapegoat in order to protect other accomplices?"

Qi Tai slowly raised his head, glanced at the three judges beside him, and said, "Your Highness, I have a few words from the bottom of my heart. They are confidential and cannot be said in front of them. Please ask Your Highness to dismiss the attendants."

……

(End of this chapter)