Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 498 Old Zhu Suffers a Setback! Merit and Punishment!

"This is impossible!" Old Zhu roared, his voice like thunder, startling everyone around him.

His eyes widened, and he asked incredulously, "Is the information you're giving me really reliable?"

The soldier who came to deliver the message was taken aback at first, but then replied firmly, "It is absolutely true! The dragon flag of our Great Ming is now flying high on the walls of Beshbaliq, and the entire city has surrendered."

"Could it be a trap to lure the enemy?" Old Zhu frowned, his voice low, but he still didn't believe it.

He ordered a map to be brought out, staring at the location of Beshbali, his eyes filled with doubt and resentment.

Beshbali was not a small tribe, but a powerful kingdom in the Western Regions, spanning thousands of miles, with great strength and fortified cities.

Even if every member of a delegation is a formidable warrior, how could they possibly take it down so easily?

If that were the case, wouldn't all his painstaking planning, troop deployment, and leading thousands of elite troops on a long-distance raid have been pointless?
Then what kind of military god is Zhu Yuanzhang?
The founding emperor, a man of great stature, personally led his army but ended up just "watching the show"?
Was the meritorious official under Sun Tzu beaten to it and made the first contribution?
Old Zhu was filled with resentment and unwillingness, and for a moment, he found it hard to accept this sudden ending.

“Your Majesty, why don’t we go to Beshbalik ourselves? Seeing it with our own eyes will allow us to distinguish the truth from the falsehood,” Sha Qiyang suggested in a low voice. “Even if it is a trap, we are not afraid to fight.”

Yes, the enemy is at the city gates; let's see what happens.

Old Zhu snapped out of his reverie, his gaze sharpening. He nodded emphatically, raised his hand, and said in a deep voice, "Order the entire army to set out and advance to Beshbaliq!"

Two days later, the army arrived at the walls of Beshbaliq.

Before even approaching the city gate, one could see banners obscuring the sun, drums and music filling the air, and red silk and gold curtains draped throughout the streets.

The welcoming procession was neatly lined up, creating a solemn and enthusiastic atmosphere.

Before the city gate, Chen Cheng, along with Hei De'er Huozhe, Sha Mi Chagan, and many high-ranking officials from Beshbaliq, stood in neat rows, bowing respectfully to welcome the arrival of the Supreme Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

Previously, the new army scouts had already gone ahead to inform the city that Zhu Yuanzhang was about to arrive in person.

Upon learning this shocking news, Chen Cheng, Huo Liancheng, Li Boyue, and others were all horrified.

Throughout history, no emperor of the Central Plains has ever set foot in the Western Regions.

Although Zhu Yuanzhang had abdicated, as the founding emperor and supreme emperor, his status was unparalleled, and his prestige and position were no different from those of the reigning emperor.

If anything goes wrong on this trip, not only will the Western Regions be in turmoil, but even if they achieve great merit, they will be implicated and charged with deceiving the emperor and failing to protect him.

Fortunately, heaven had eyes, and the journey was smooth sailing without any disturbance.

Knowing the gravity of the matter, Chen Cheng dared not be negligent in the slightest. He immediately ordered Shamichagan to personally arrange matters in the city, commanding the entire city to be decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, to burn incense and purify the roads, and for the three armies to be arrayed in formation, to welcome the arrival of the Supreme Emperor of the Great Ming with the highest honors.

On this day, the streets of Beshbali were deserted as people burned incense and knelt in worship.

Countless eyes converged on the city gate to welcome the legendary founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

Upon seeing Zhu De's entourage appear on the horizon, Chen Cheng immediately ordered the welcoming music to be played without hesitation. The drums and music resounded, and the ceremony was solemn.

Before the city gate, banners fluttered and dust swirled.

The music pierced through the wind and sand, slowly reaching Old Zhu's ears.

Looking up, he saw a huge welcoming procession lined up neatly below the city. Everyone was dressed in their finest attire, solemn and dignified yet full of smiles, all waiting for his arrival.

Old Zhu tightened the reins, but his expression showed no joy. He only muttered to himself, "Beishibali, they really did capture it..."

The voice was barely audible, yet heavy as a mountain, devoid of any joy, instead carrying a hint of bitterness and resentment.

He was the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, a military legend who dominated the battlefield for more than a decade, and the most skilled strategist in the world.

This time, he personally led the expedition, pouring his heart and soul into it, with several thousand elite troops on a long march, all for the sake of winning a decisive battle, establishing great military achievements, and proving to the world and his grandson Zhu Yunwen that he, Old Zhu, was still the supreme emperor who could govern the world and bring peace to the four seas.

When it comes to warfare, Zhu Yuanzhang was still the number one in the world!
But now, without a single battle or arrow fired, Beshbalik has already surrendered.

All of this was thanks to just two civil officials under his grandson's command.

"Two envoys appointed by Tong'er!" Old Zhu smiled bitterly to himself, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.

Several thousand elite soldiers marched thousands of miles, spending countless sums of money, but in the end, the war ended without them even drawing their swords.

If it were anyone else, they might be delighted with this "victory without a fight," but for Zhu Yuanzhang, it was nothing short of a resounding slap in the face.

The founding emperor of the mighty Ming Dynasty made a strategic blunder, failing to impress his grandson and instead appearing quite incompetent.

That was a mistake!

Old Zhu was naturally unwilling to accept this.

But the reality before him left him no choice but to acknowledge it.

The city gates swung open, colorful ribbons hung in the air, and the people lined the streets, their cheers deafening. Old Zhu's expression slightly hardened as he led his new army slowly into the city. The citizens and officials lined the streets to welcome him with fiery enthusiasm, impeccable manners, and utmost respect.

Although the new army did not move its troops, it remained highly vigilant and maintained strict security along the way.

Only after gradually taking over key checkpoints in the city, controlling military and food depots, and confirming that the situation was safe, did they slightly relax their vigilance.

In the main hall of the imperial palace in Beshbali, Old Zhu sat at the head of the table.

Below, the Black Fireman and the Sami Chagan, dressed in their finest attire, knelt solemnly and performed the three bows and nine kowtows, their foreheads touching the ground.

They had already performed a grand salute when they were greeted at the city gate, and they still dared not be negligent in the slightest when they performed the salute again.

After the ceremony, Shamichagan held the royal seal with both hands, bowed, and said in a high voice:
"Your subject, Shami Chagan, is willing to lead all the subjects of Beshbaliq to submit to the Great Ming Dynasty from this day forward and become its subjects forever."

"I humbly beseech Your Majesty to have mercy on me, to accept me, to accept Beshbali, and to protect the people of this region."

His voice was sincere, and his words revealed a hint of fear, but also showed utmost respect.

Yoshigaki stepped forward, accepted the seal with both hands, and presented it respectfully.

Old Zhu took it, pondered for a moment, carefully examined the seal face, and then looked at the words "Shami Chagan" below.

After a moment, he put down the seal and laughed loudly, "Very good. You were able to make such a decisive and wise decision with the people of Beshbalik, which not only saved the lives of countless people, but also stabilized the overall situation in the Western Regions."

"This loyalty and foresight is a great achievement."

"The Ming Dynasty will not forget you."

Upon hearing this, Shamichagan felt a great sense of relief.

Previously, Chen Cheng had said that by cooperating with him, he could force the son of the father, Khan Hei, to abdicate and he could become the Great Khan.

Shamichagan believed it.

But little did they expect that Chen Cheng wanted far more than he had previously said.

But once Shamichagan was on the "ship," he had no way out and had to accept the conditions proposed by Chen Cheng.

In recent days, Shamichagan has been fearing that Chen Cheng will "discard his usefulness after he has served his purpose." This is because Chen Cheng has been extremely aggressive during their "negotiations."

Upon hearing these words from Zhu, Shamichagan was immediately moved and repeatedly kowtowed in gratitude: "Thank you for your supreme grace, Your Majesty! Your humble servant will serve you with my life!"

Old Zhu nodded slightly, though he still felt somewhat depressed, he didn't show it.

Success or failure, gains or losses, should always be considered in the context of the bigger picture.

At this moment, Beshibali truly returned to the Ming Dynasty.

Hei De'er Huo Zhe lowered his head and brows, respectfully pleading guilty. His voice trembled with regret: "This sinful subject, Hei De'er Huo Zhe, was foolish and ignorant in the past. He dared to attempt to contend with the army of the Great Ming Dynasty. He was truly overestimating his abilities and his crime is unforgivable."

"Fortunately, Envoy Chen patiently and earnestly enlightened me, making me realize my mistakes and turn back from the wrong path."

"Now, I, your guilty subject, have passed the throne of the Great Khan to my eldest son, Shamichagan. He will lead all the people of Beshbaliq to sincerely submit to the Great Ming and forever obey the Emperor's command."

His voice lowered, as if he were speaking, or perhaps pleading: "I humbly beseech Your Majesty to have mercy and, considering that this sinful subject has promptly turned back from the brink and repented for his past mistakes, forgive my transgressions."

The man with the dark hair lowered his eyes, his voice tinged with a sense of desolation: "This sinful subject is old and has little time left. I only wish to spend my remaining years in peace and enjoy my old age. I have no other desires."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang's face suddenly darkened, his gaze sharp as a knife, and he coldly snorted: "Since you know you are guilty, you should repent and think about how to atone for your sins!"

"Since you have submitted to the Ming Dynasty, you should do your utmost to assist the Ming envoys and wholeheartedly persuade the people of Bieshbali to truly submit to the Ming Dynasty and become its obedient subjects. You must never harbor any intention to be an enemy of the Ming Dynasty again. This is your responsibility to atone for your sins, and you cannot shirk it!"

Old Zhu paused slightly, then continued his warning: "If you dare to use any excuse to shirk your responsibilities, or even secretly disobey, we will not let you off lightly and will punish you severely!"

Upon hearing this, the man with the black hair trembled.

At this moment, Old Zhu changed his tone and became much calmer, saying, "If you are truly willing to serve and make contributions to the Ming Dynasty, we will not hesitate to reward you."

“In the future, your wealth and honor will be as great as when you were the Great Khan.”

Upon hearing this, the man with the dark hair felt a sudden shock, and a fine layer of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

He thought that after stepping down, he could settle things peacefully and quietly spend the rest of his life, and even harbored some thoughts of passive resistance.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang's words struck him like a thunderbolt, shattering any lingering hope he might have had.

In just a few days, one unexpected event followed another.

The unexpected death of his beloved youngest son, Mahama, devastated him.

Immediately afterwards, the eldest son, Shami Chagan, secretly joined forces with the Ming Dynasty delegation to force him to abdicate.

These successive blows, like a violent storm, left him exhausted, and for a time he felt like a piece of rotten wood, losing all interest in the world and only wanting to remain silent.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang's thunderous words were like a sharp blade hanging over his head, leaving him with no way out.

The man in the dark had a complex mix of emotions, but dared not show it on his face.

He bowed deeply and said, "Your humble servant obeys the imperial decree and will do his utmost to assist the mission and persuade my people to submit to the Great Ming. I will not slacken in the slightest."

Hei De'er Huo Zhe knew in his heart that whether it was to protect himself or for the safety of his entire family and clan, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree.

Moreover, although facing great changes and feeling somewhat disheartened, the Black Fire Warrior did not want to die.

In fact, his will to survive remained strong.

It should be noted that in his early years, the Black Fireman, in order to ascend to the throne of the Great Khan, hid and fled for a full fifteen years.

If he had been even slightly weak-willed, he would have collapsed long ago.

It is precisely because of the many hardships he has endured that the Black Fireman still wants to live a good life.

After all, even if he is no longer the Khan, his life will still be secure.

After meeting with Shamichagan and Heideerhuozhe, Old Zhu summoned Chen Cheng, Huo Liancheng, and Li Boyue.

This audience was quite different from the previous ones. The emperor dismissed all irrelevant people, leaving only Jiang Huan, Ji Yuan, and a few trusted attendants by his side. The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became heavy.

As the three men entered, Zhu Yuanzhang's expression suddenly darkened. He said, "You three are incredibly audacious! You dare to forge an imperial edict, secretly borrow silver from the Great Ming Bank, and arbitrarily mobilize troops. Do you know that this is a heinous crime?"

The three men were startled and hurriedly knelt down, pleading for forgiveness in unison.

Chen Cheng and Huo Liancheng lowered their heads and remained silent, while only Li Boyue raised his head and frankly said, "Your Majesty, this matter was entirely initiated by your humble servant. Envoy Chen and Vice Envoy Huo only agreed to carry it out reluctantly after being persuaded by your humble servant."

"If Your Majesty does not wish to punish them, I am willing to bear the consequences myself. I only beg you to forgive them!"

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered, "Li Boyue, do you think that by recapturing Beshbaliq, you can atone for your crimes and escape punishment?"

"Do you all know that the foundation of the Ming Dynasty lies in its strict discipline and rigorous laws?"

"If all officials of the court acted as arbitrarily and recklessly as you, how could the dynasty be stable? How could the court be maintained?"

His voice rose: "Although Beshbalik has a territory of a thousand miles, most of it is desert and Gobi, and the population is sparse."

"Given the current strength of our Great Ming Dynasty, there are plenty of ways to reclaim this land. Why should you overstep your bounds and disregard the law?"

His words struck like a thunderbolt, sending chills down the spines of the three kneeling men.

Old Zhu's gaze swept across the area like a sharp blade, finally settling on Li Boyue. He rebuked him by name, saying, "Li Boyue, as the magistrate of Jiayu Pass County, you are a local official of the Ming Dynasty. How dare you abandon your post, join the delegation without permission, and do such a thing that disrupts the court and disregards the law! Where does such behavior place the discipline of the court and the laws of the Ming Dynasty?"

As the emperor's rebuke grew increasingly severe, Li Boyue felt terrified. He pressed his forehead to the ground, not daring to raise his head, for fear of further angering the emperor.

Chen Cheng and Huo Liancheng also held their breath and dared not utter a sound.

Old Zhu's gaze swept over the three of them again, but he did not announce any punishment measures.

In fact, he also felt somewhat troubled.

The three men's act of falsely conveying imperial edicts and acting without authorization is indeed a serious crime.

However, the recapture of Beshbaliq, which expanded the territory of the Ming Dynasty by thousands of miles, was also an undeniable and illustrious achievement.

Throughout history, the "punishment" for officials who "defied imperial orders and performed meritorious service" was often more bark than bite, with merits usually offsetting demerits and only minor punishments given as a warning.

As an emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang was well aware of this principle.

However, the laws of the land must not be abolished, and the order of the court must not be disrupted.

If this is not punished, future generations may follow suit, shaking the very foundation of the Ming Dynasty.

At this moment, Zhu was weighing the options in his mind: how to determine the crimes of the three men in a way that would both uphold the dignity of the court and not discourage the meritorious officials.

Just as he was pondering this, a guard came to report.

……

(End of this chapter)