Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 483 The Powerful Minister's Deadly Trap: A Fatal Provocation!
"I have come here today specifically to request an audience, hoping to see Lord Zaisang one last time before he enters the Kingdom of Heaven, to reminisce about our past friendship, and to honor our acquaintance before his passing."

Upon hearing this, the air in the hall seemed to freeze instantly, becoming so silent it was suffocating.

Huda's hands, which had been freely roaming over the bodies of the Hu women, suddenly stopped, his knuckles trembling with anger.

He suddenly squeezed hard.

The two women dressed in non-Han Chinese attire, whose faces were originally as beautiful as flowers, instantly had their expressions contorted with pain.

They clenched their teeth, not daring to utter a single groan, for fear of angering Zaisang, who often took pleasure in abusing women, and could only endure it in silence.

The two women's brows were filled with suppressed pain, and their originally charming expressions were veiled by a complex interplay of light and shadow.

Against the backdrop of her stunning beauty, she exudes a captivating vulnerability and pathos, seemingly able to stir the wild, hidden desires deep within a man's heart.

Huda's gaze was like a sharp blade piercing Zhu Su, his eyes blazing with fury, as if he wanted to devour him alive.

No one would look happy if they were told they were going to die without cause.

Not to mention a powerful figure like Huda, who enjoys all the riches and honors of the world.

Who would dare to speak to him like that under normal circumstances?
Huda's chest rose and fell slightly, his anger simmering like a volcano, though he did not erupt on the spot.

But that tense expression was like an arrow on a bowstring, foreshadowing an explosion that could erupt at any moment, like a thunderclap.

Zhu Su, however, seemed completely oblivious to the unusual atmosphere, remaining calm and composed as he continued, "If Lord Zaisang has any unfulfilled wishes, he may entrust them to me now."

"Though I am of humble status, I am willing to give my life to fulfill your last wish."

“Your Excellency is a hero of our time, with lofty ambitions that far surpass those of ordinary people. Since I met you, I have been deeply impressed by you.”

"If I can do my best to help you, it would be a great fortune in this life."

Upon hearing this, Hu Daida was so enraged that he laughed loudly, but his laughter was filled with a chilling coldness and echoed in the hall: "Hahaha, Cao Zhu, you came to visit me just to send me off to my death?"

He stood up abruptly.

"Do you perhaps want to test the sharpness of my precious sword? Or do you want to personally experience the feeling of being unable to live or die?"

A murderous intent suddenly arose in his words.

Zhu Su remained unmoved and calm, gently shaking his head: "Lord Zaisang has misunderstood."

“I have come here with no intention of cursing you, nor will I utter a single falsehood.”

"Lord Zaisang's life is hanging by a thread. The day the Ming delegation arrives at the capital of Beshbaliq will be the day he dies."

"As a doctor, it is my duty to save lives and treat illnesses. At this moment, I am even more worried about the safety of Lord Zaisang. I only wish to do my best to help Lord Zaisang turn misfortune into good fortune."

He looked directly at Huda and said, "If Lord Zaisang is willing to listen to my humble opinion, perhaps not only can my life be saved, but the Eastern Chagatai Khanate can also regain its former glory and reproduce the supreme glory of Genghis Khan!"

"Otherwise, I can only prepare a coffin to collect Lord Zaisang's body and handle his funeral arrangements."

Hu Daida narrowed his eyes slightly, his sharp gaze fixed on Zhu Su.

Zhu Su stood in the hall, upright and motionless.

"Fine!" Hu Daida sneered and sat back down on the folding chair.

"I'd like to hear what brilliant ideas you, Physician Cao, have to offer."

"If you're talking nonsense, I'll show you the cruelest and most terrifying punishment in the world, torturing you for seven days and seven nights, making it impossible for you to even see the King of Hell, and making you regret ever being born!"

Zhu Su remained outwardly calm upon hearing Hu Daida's threatening warning, but inwardly he was secretly overjoyed.

Although he appeared calm and composed, he was actually on edge, with cold sweat trickling down his forehead.

This visit is like dancing on a knife's edge; a slight misstep could cost you your life.

Fortunately, the experience of being accused of "treason," being wanted by the Ming Dynasty, and living a life of wandering had already tempered Zhu Su's will.

Those turbulent years allowed him to witness the wickedness and unpredictability of the world.

It also taught Zhu Su to suppress his fear and remain calm in life-or-death situations.

Now that Huda had allowed him to speak, Zhu Su had a chance to perform.

Zhu Su smiled slightly and said loudly, "This humble subject is originally from the Central Plains and knows the current Emperor Zhu Yunwen of the Great Ming Dynasty very well."

"This man harbors great ambitions and desires to unify the four seas and conquer all directions."

"He had already publicly declared that he would let all nations under heaven be bathed in the teachings of the sage, let the dragon flag of the Ming Dynasty fly over the lands where the sun and moon shine, and make all nations under heaven submit to the Ming Dynasty."

His tone gradually lowered, and he said meaningfully, "Your Excellency must have already noticed that the Ming Dynasty has been frequently deploying troops and generals to the border, training its troops and practicing military formations. At the same time, it has been secretly ordering the various tribes of the grasslands to gather troops and press on the border."

"The purpose of the mission's visit is now quite obvious."

"The goal is to force Beshbaliq to submit and pledge allegiance to the Ming Dynasty."

Huda snorted coldly, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes, and said, "So what?"

Zhu Su raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a faint smile, and said, "Of course, you are free to ignore it, sir."

"After all, even if Beshbali surrenders to the Ming Dynasty and becomes a vassal, given your high status, the Ming court will most likely grant you high-ranking positions and generous salaries, and your wealth and honor will remain as before, or even greater."

His tone suddenly changed: "Surrendering to the Ming Dynasty, on the surface, may not seem like a bad thing for you, sir."

"However, if you truly think that way, you are greatly mistaken!"

"Once Beshbali surrenders to the Ming Dynasty, it will be your death day, sir!"

Upon hearing this, Hu Daida's gaze suddenly turned cold, his killing intent as sharp as frost, almost piercing to the bone.

Seeing this, Zhu Su dared not be mysterious or keep him in suspense, and immediately continued, "There are two reasons for this."

"Firstly, the current Ming Emperor Zhu Yunwen is most wary of powerful ministers who seize power."

Zhu Su spoke in a low, resolute tone, which made people believe him without even realizing it.

“In the Confucian system of rites and rites of the Han people, if the power of the ministers is too great, it will shake the foundation of the monarch, cause the social order to be disordered, and a national crisis will follow.”

"When Zhu Yunwen was still the Crown Prince, he personally led a large army on a distant expedition to Japan. At that time, the Japanese general controlled the government, and the imperial power existed in name only. He was merely a puppet."

"But when Zhu Yunwen led a large army to conquer Japan, he dismissed the general, beheaded the powerful minister, and supported the Japanese king to resume his rule."

"The intention is clear: to prevent powerful ministers from usurping the emperor's authority."

"And you, Lord Zaisang," Zhu Su paused for a moment, his gaze toward Hudada carrying a profound meaning, "you are a pivotal figure in Beshbalik, highly valued by the Great Khan, and have contributed to his ascension. You come from the renowned Bulaji family of the Dugrat tribe, and your power and prestige are unparalleled in the world."

Even the Great Khan must show you deference.

"But in Zhu Yunwen's eyes, this was a case of a minister being arrogant and domineering, with power over the emperor but little control, a sign of 'the tail being too big to wag' and 'the minister deceiving the emperor.' He would never allow such a minister to exist under his rule."

"The power held by Lord Zaisang is evidence of a crime in the eyes of Emperor Yuntong of the Great Ming Dynasty, and it is enough to be fatal."

“Even if the Khan trusts you, Zhu Yunwen will still kill you.”

Zhu Su took a short breath and continued, "Secondly, everyone in the Ming Dynasty knows that the current emperor, Zhu Yunwen, is fond of beautiful women."

"The Da Ming Daily, along with many other magazines from Da Ming, has already spread to Beshbali. Lord Zaisang must have heard of it as well."

"Zhu Yuntong not only made a woman of commoner origin and exceptional beauty his empress, but also went on a large scale to search for beautiful women among the common people to fill the harem."

"Now he has three thousand beauties in his palace, yet he is still not satisfied. He frequently sends envoys to the countryside to find more extraordinary beauties among the people."

"Since ancient times, the Western Regions have been famous for their beautiful women, and Zhu Yunwen has long coveted them."

He once declared in public: "I have two wishes. First, to pacify the four seas, so that all nations may bow down, all directions may unite, and the dragon flag of the Ming Dynasty may never fall. Second, to obtain two beauties from the Western Regions and bring them into the palace. This will be enough for me."

Zhu Su looked at Hu Daida with a deep gaze and said, "Lord Zaisang must know who the 'two beauties of the Western Regions' that Zhu Yunwen mentioned are."

"As far as I know, the elder of the two beauties has already made an engagement with Lord Zaisang, and they will be married on an auspicious day."

"Based on this alone, Zhu Yunwen would find it impossible to tolerate you."

"His ambitions lie in the world, and his heart is set on beautiful women. If he knew that the woman he desired was already taken, and that she had fallen into the hands of a powerful minister, how could he, with his stubborn, lustful, and suspicious nature, have given up so easily?"

Zhu Su's tone suddenly softened, yet carried a chilling undertone of persuasion: "Of course, if Lord Zaisang were willing to break off the engagement and offer up a beauty, perhaps he could win Zhu Yunwen's favor for a time and temporarily save his life..."

"Zhu Yuntong has gone too far!" Before Zhu Su could finish speaking, Hu Daida suddenly roared like thunder, interrupting his statement.

The roar stunned the atmosphere in the hall, and the two beautiful Hu women beside him trembled with fear.

In Beshbali, who doesn't know that Zaisanghudaida is a lustful glutton?
He had dozens of concubines in his mansion, and countless beautiful maids, but he regarded them as his private property and forbid others from touching them.

The so-called "two beauties of the Western Regions" were people that everyone envied and could not match.

They were the two beloved daughters of the Black Emperor, and although they were not born to the Queen Consort, they were favored from a young age because of their unparalleled beauty.

The eldest daughter was named Gulizaba, and the second daughter was named Dinaruoya.

The two were not yet of marriageable age, but their beauty was already evident; their faces were as radiant as the morning sun, and their looks were like those of celestial beings.

They were already well-known in Beshbali.

Rumors circulate that either of them could captivate a man's soul with a single smile, causing countless young talents to become so infatuated that they lose their appetite and can only think of her endlessly.

Every time they appeared in the palace, even if their faces were covered and only their bright, lively eyes were visible, they would attract the attention of the court officials and be sought after by the sons of noble families.

Huda once saved Heirhuj's life on the battlefield and later fully supported him in ascending to the throne.

Because of this life-and-death friendship and the merit of supporting his ascension to the throne, he took the opportunity to propose marriage to the Great Khan, wanting to marry Gulizaba.

Although the Black Fireman was reluctant, he understood that the leader of the Dugrat tribe had both military power and popular support, and needed to be won over, so he agreed to the marriage.

Gulizaba is still young, and although the engagement has been arranged, the wedding has not yet taken place.

But in Huda's heart, he had already regarded her as his own possession.

Anyone who dares to harbor any illusions about Gulizaba is his enemy.

Upon hearing that Zhu Yunwen dared to covet the woman he cherished, a surge of anger welled up within him, almost consuming him.

His already sharp eyes were now like cold, gleaming blades, fixed intently on Zhu Su, as if he were about to draw his sword and end his life at any moment.

Seeing this, Zhu Su was secretly delighted, but on the surface he pretended to be advising her and said slowly, "A beauty may be beautiful, but she is still just a woman."

"Lord Zaisang has lofty ambitions; how could he let a woman ruin the overall situation?"

"In my humble opinion, if a beautiful woman can turn hostility into friendship and misfortune into fortune, it is not impossible."

"Lord Zaisang, why don't you take the initiative to present it to the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty..."

"Shut up!" Huda shouted again, his voice filled with uncontrollable murderous intent.

Then, he leaned forward abruptly, staring coldly into Zhu Su's eyes, and said, word by word, "Is everything you've said fabricated? What evidence do you have to prove it?"

Zhu Su remained calm and replied with his hands clasped, "Lord Zaisang, this humble subject has uttered not a single falsehood."

"Zhu Yuntong considers himself to be the most talented in literature and has always enjoyed composing poems and essays. I'm sure you've heard something about this, sir."

"He once wrote a poem in private to express his admiration for the two beauties of the Western Regions. I can still recite this poem in its entirety to this day."

He paused deliberately, as if recalling something, and then slowly recited:
"In the spring chill of spring, she remains unmarried; the two peerless beauties shine like the moon."

“Her starry eyes seemed to speak, hidden in the snow; her emerald sleeves fluttered lightly, stirring the heavens.”

"In my dreams, I ride a golden saddle across the northern desert, my heart follows the jade flute into Kunlun."

"If a single glance could captivate Chang'an, I would gladly ride a dragon-drawn chariot on a tour beyond the Great Wall."

This poem was naturally prepared in advance by Zhu Su.

Born into royalty, he was well-versed in literature from a young age and possessed a solid foundation in literary cultivation. For Zhu Su, composing such a seven-character poem was quite simple.

In any case, Huda was of Hu origin. Even if he had some knowledge of the Central Plains language, he would still find it difficult to understand the profound meaning of Han poetry, let alone distinguish its merits and demerits.

As long as the form is done well enough and the words sound elegant, it is enough to deceive people and confuse right and wrong.

as predicted.

Upon hearing the poem, Hu Dada's expression changed drastically, veins bulged on his forehead, and he roared angrily, "What a Ming emperor! What a Zhu Yunwen! How dare he covet my fiancée! He has insulted my dignity! I swear I will never forgive him!"

His outburst of rage was so powerful that it shook the roof tiles in the hall.

This shows how much resentment this incident evoked in him, and it was by no means a mere pretense.

Seeing this, Zhu Su was secretly pleased, knowing that his plan had been remarkably effective. However, he remained calm and composed, his expression still grave, and advised in a low voice:

"The Ming Dynasty is now strong and powerful, with an invincible momentum."

"When the nobles and nobles of Beshbali heard about the delegation's visit, they all rushed to welcome them, and many even expressed that Beshbali should submit to the Ming Dynasty."

"Although Lord Zaisang holds a high position and wields great power, if he forcibly makes an enemy of the Ming Dynasty, officials throughout the court and the country will not be convinced."

……

(End of this chapter)