Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 628 Turning Against Each Other Ruthlessly: It's My Duty!
These words acted like a fuse, instantly igniting the raging fire that had been building up inside Ji Gang.

He whirled around, and the eyes that had just been filled with humility now gleamed with the ferocity of hungry wolves, as he roared viciously, "Are you blind?!"

"Didn't I already give instructions that today's banquet for distinguished guests is to be held in the manor, and no one is to disturb the event?"

"You've barged in and disturbed Lord Wang's enjoyment. Can you afford to take responsibility for that?"

"Get down here and take fifty lashes!"

He was kneeling on the ground, suffering humiliation, the most humiliating moment of his life, when a servant happened to witness it!
This made Ji Gang feel so ashamed and furious that his murderous intent almost burst out of his skull.

"Master, spare my life!" The steward was terrified and knelt down, scrambling and crying out, "The people here have the token of the Heavenly Pivot Division. Even if I had the greatest courage in the world, I wouldn't dare to stop them!"

"what?"

The three words "Tian Shu Si" exploded in Ji Gang's ears like a thunderclap from the heavens!

He sprang up from the ground almost like a spring.

The previous feelings of humiliation and anger were instantly replaced by a deeper fear.

"People from the Heavenly Pivot Division?! Why didn't you say so sooner! Quick, lead the way!"

Tian Shu Si!
That was His Majesty's personal guard, formed by drawing absolutely loyal individuals from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Ministry of Justice, the Imperial Guard, and the New Army.

Some loyal members of his anti-theft division were also selected to join.

But once you enter the Tian Shu Division, things will be different.

Especially when they go out on business.

Currently, some of the people from the Tian Shu Division are accompanying the Emperor on his inspection tour of Shandong, while the rest are stationed at the palace to guard the central government.

The only ones who can mobilize them, besides His Majesty himself, are the current Empress, the Imperial Concubine, or a joint edict from the Military Affairs Department and the Political Affairs Department!
Any one of them is a figure of immense influence that Ji Gang needs to look up to!

The arrival of the Tian Shu Division guards here must signify something significant.

In that instant, he could no longer care about Wang You, who was behind him with an equally surprised and uncertain expression. His heart was pounding like a drum, and he rushed towards the front hall.

Upon reaching the corridor of the study, they saw several Tian Shu Si guards dressed in blue robes, their auras heavy and composed, standing solemnly outside the door like cast iron statues.

Inside the study, a figure could be vaguely seen sitting comfortably.

"Is it a big shot from the Tian Shu Division?" Ji Gang's shock deepened.

He forced himself to calm down and quickly stepped forward.

The guards recognized him and let him pass without expression, but they stopped all the servants who followed him without any politeness.

The moment Ji Gang stepped into the study and his gaze fell upon the scene inside, his pupils suddenly contracted to the size of pinpoints!
He was struck dumb, frozen in place, all color drained from his face, leaving only an expression of extreme horror and utter disbelief.

On the desk where he usually handled official business, sat a figure that looked remarkably like him.

Despite being dressed in casual clothes, his majestic and imposing imperial bearing was still undeniable.

The person who arrived was none other than the current Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yunwen!
Ji Gang's mind went blank, as if his soul had been ripped from his body. He just stared at the figure, unable to react for a long time.

"What?" Zhu Yunwen slowly raised his eyes. "Have you forgotten your manners since you've seen me?"

Pfft!
Ji Gang knelt down straight down, but almost collapsed to the ground.

The ecstasy of surviving a disaster, the fear of being deceived, the excitement of regaining what was lost... countless emotions instantly overwhelmed all his defenses.

He prostrated himself on the ground, tears streaming down his face, and respectfully said:

"Your Majesty, I, Ji Gang, Director of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Ministry of Justice, pay my respects! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

"It's rare that you still recognize me!" Zhu Yunwen's voice was indifferent as water, yet contained a hidden chill, striking Ji Gang's heart. "I've heard from others that you've been very busy these past few days, scheming everywhere. Are you looking for another towering tree to shelter you under?"

Though the words were spoken softly, they struck Ji Gang like a thunderclap.

He shuddered violently, realizing that the Emperor had seen through his little tricks.

At this moment, any attempt to defend oneself is tantamount to digging one's own grave; only complete surrender offers a glimmer of hope.

"Your Majesty, I have failed in your grace and deserve to die! I deserve to die!" He dared not raise his head, but instead slammed his forehead heavily against the cold gold bricks, making a dull thud.

"Get up." Zhu Yunwen waved his hand casually, a half-smile playing on his lips, and said softly, "How does it feel? Wagging your tail for others, being a dog to be trampled on, must not be pleasant, right?"

These hurtful words made Ji Gang tremble like a leaf in the wind.

He hastily wiped away the tears and cold sweat from his face, his voice choked with emotion, and managed to utter only three words: "Your subject is ashamed."

"With me here, you will never have to be someone else's dog." Zhu Yunwen's voice returned to calm. "You only need to be a good subject and do the tasks I assign you, that's enough."

He stood up and said, "Alright, I didn't come here today to chat with you. I have a task for you to handle."

Upon hearing this, Ji Gang grasped at a straw and immediately prostrated himself again, saying, "Your Majesty, I am willing to go through fire and water for you, even if it means sacrificing my life!"

“My imperial uncle, the Prince of Jin, is ill,” Zhu Yunwen said calmly. “He has set off from his fiefdom in the New World to return to the Ming Dynasty for medical treatment, and he is currently on his way back to the capital.”

"I want you to personally lead a group of people to welcome him and give him a proper 'medical checkup'."

"Make sure he can complete his final journey without any worries."

"After the matter is accomplished, I will issue an edict to posthumously confer titles and honors upon him for his unparalleled contributions to the expansion of our Ming Dynasty's territory."

Ji Gang froze, his blood seemingly freezing in an instant. He was to be sent to kill the Prince of Jin?

This is no ordinary task; it is the murder of a member of the royal family, a heinous crime that could lead to his utter destruction and eternal damnation!

Before he could recover from his shock, Zhu Yuntong's icy voice rang out again: "Remember, this matter is to be handled in your personal name, Ji Gang."

"I will not give you any written orders, and afterwards you will never admit to having anything to do with me."

"To the people of the world, the Prince of Jin died on his way home."

"As for how he got sick and when he will die, that depends on your methods."

"Did you understand?"

"Your Majesty!" Ji Gang looked up in shock, instinctively wanting to push him away. "Prince Jin is, after all, a prince of the current dynasty. This time, his return to the capital is known throughout the land. He is escorted by government troops in all the prefectures and counties along the way. The grandeur of his procession is almost comparable to that of the imperial carriage."

"Without His Majesty's decree, I fear I would have no chance of getting close, let alone..."

"Can't it be done?" Zhu Yunwen's voice suddenly turned cold, interrupting him.

The voice was devoid of any warmth, only the monarch's decisiveness and indifference remained: "Since that's the case, then there's no need to proceed."

After saying that, he turned and walked outside.

As soon as the footsteps sounded, Ji Gang instantly realized that this was not a command to be chosen, but a test of life and death.

The emperor employed him to do these dirty, shady jobs.

If he loses even this much value, then what awaits him is an even more tragic end than that of the Prince of Jin! In a flash, the desire to survive overwhelmed everything!
"Your Majesty!" Ji Gang scrambled forward, grabbing Zhu Yunwen's leg tightly and crying out with tears streaming down his face, "Your Majesty, I can do it!"

"Your Majesty, I will certainly accomplish this! Please, Your Majesty... please, Your Majesty, give me another chance!"

There is still a glimmer of hope; perhaps the emperor will spare him because he can still help with the matter.

If we don't do it, we'll surely die!

There's no need to think about this multiple-choice question anymore.

As for the government troops escorting them... it's actually not difficult.

Ji Gang wielded a power beyond the bounds of the imperial court's laws.

In recent years, he has been ordered to suppress the underworld and thieves, and secretly recruited a group of vicious and desperate criminals.

This was also tacitly approved by Zhu Yunwen.

After all, simply cracking down on them will only cause greater chaos.

It would be even better if they were willing to submit to the imperial court and become its pawns.

This force, which obeys only Ji Gang, is enough to help him accomplish this task.

Zhu Yunwen stopped and looked down at Ji Gang at his feet, the coldness in his eyes gradually fading.

He spoke slowly, his tone reassuring: "Alright, if that's the case, then do your best to handle it."

"As long as you handle this matter cleanly and efficiently, leaving no trace, and make the whole world believe that the Prince of Jin died of illness... I will naturally not forget your contribution."

Ji Gang felt a chill run down his spine and instantly understood the implied meaning.

This is His Majesty's promise.

As long as he handles things perfectly and doesn't give anyone any ammunition against him, the emperor will let him go.

A surge of overwhelming joy at surviving a calamity welled up within me. I kowtowed deeply, my voice trembling with emotion: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your boundless grace!"

Zhu Yunwen nodded slightly and uttered two words in a calm tone: "Go and do it."

After saying that, he turned and walked away.

As he reached the threshold, Zhu Yunwen paused slightly, adding casually, "By the way, there's no need to see off that 'distinguished guest' of your residence."

"Take him down immediately, don't let him escape and leak the news, or he'll disrupt my plans."

He turned his head, his eyes flashing with coldness: "And his cousin Wang Zuo. Immediately dispatch your most trusted confidants to keep a close watch on Wang Zuo's residence day and night, and find out for me everything about everyone who enters and leaves his residence, who they associate with, what they say, and what they do."

By now, Zhu Yunwen has firmly grasped the evidence of Wang Zuo's collusion with traitors and his treacherous intentions through channels such as telegram interception.

But he was in no hurry to close the net.

Wang Zuo is not the only fish lurking in the deep waters of the capital.

These cunning old foxes lurking in the capital rarely used telegraph communication to coordinate their efforts.

After all, the capital city is only so big, and there is no need to use telegraph communication.

Although they were unaware that the telegrams were being monitored, they understood the importance of avoiding sending messages through other channels.

As for officials from other regions, it was a last resort.

Ultimately, letters were still too slow.

Moreover, even if letters are used, there is a risk of them being leaked or falling into the hands of others.

It's not as secure as a telegram.

However, if they are both in the capital, it would be safer to talk face to face.

Ji Gang was deeply shaken and instantly understood the Emperor's intention.

His Majesty went to great lengths, personally getting involved in this grand scheme, all for the purpose of uprooting the intricate web behind Wang Zuo!
Recalling the information revealed in Wang You's words, it became clear that his uncle, Wang Zuo, had already been secretly colluding with the Prince of Jin.

What else could it be but courting death?
A chilling fear gripped Ji Gang's heart like a venomous snake.

He dared not imagine what kind of utter ruin he would have suffered if His Majesty had arrived even a fraction later, and he had actually agreed to Wang You's request and boarded the doomed ship of the Wang family!
Cold sweat instantly soaked through his inner shirt. He quickly bowed his head, his voice trembling slightly from lingering fear: "Your subject obeys the decree!"

Zhu Yunwen said no more, and his figure quickly disappeared outside the door.

……

After respectfully seeing the emperor off, when Ji Gang straightened up again, the traces of humility and deference on his face had vanished, replaced by a chilling coldness and resoluteness.

His body, which had been trembling with fear just moments before, now stood ramrod straight, like a blade that had been sheathed, its sharpness concealed, but its killing intent hidden.

"Issue the order!" Ji Gang shouted, "All trusted men in the mansion, assemble immediately in the front courtyard and follow me on my mission!"

After giving his instructions, he strode back towards the magnificent hall where the singing and dancing had taken place.

Inside the hall, Wang You was reclining on a soft couch, holding a cup in one hand and tapping his hand to the rhythm of the music with the other, enjoying the graceful dance of the dancers. He was in high spirits and quite content.

Seeing Ji Gang return, he didn't even lift his eyelids, and lazily asked, "What, did the people from the Tian Shu Division leave? Did they convey any new instructions from the palace?"

After asking the question, he seemed to think it was a bit redundant. Without waiting for Ji Gang's answer, he chuckled to himself: "Actually, the Tian Shu Division of today is no longer the same as the Tian Shu Division of the late emperor."

"His Majesty has passed away, and they are like a tiger skin without a tiger's body. They look intimidating, but they can be easily torn apart."

"Don't be fooled by the Empress's current imposing presence. Once Prince Jin arrives in the capital and dons the dragon robe, won't she, a mere woman in the inner palace, have to obediently abdicate and yield the throne?"

As he spoke, Wang You glanced sideways at Ji Gang, beckoned him like a servant, and said imperiously, "What are you still standing there for? Get over here and give me a leg massage!"

A cold smile suddenly appeared on Ji Gang's face.

Instead of moving, he shouted loudly, "Guards!"

Ji Gang's voice was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, instantly drowning out the string and wind instruments in the hall.

"Take down this traitor Wang You, who has committed such a heinous act of speaking ill of the emperor and disrespecting the empress, right here and now!"

Before he could finish speaking, two burly men, who had been hiding behind the screen and were as big as iron towers, came out and pounced on him like hungry tigers. In an instant, they pinned the still-stunned Wang You to the ground!

Wang You's expression shifted from astonishment to ferocity. He was pinned to the ground, yet he still struggled and roared, "Ji Gang, are you insane? How dare you touch me?"

"Crazy?" Ji Gang sneered, slowly walking up to him and looking down at him with eyes as if he were looking at a dead object: "Traitors and rebels should be killed by everyone. Moreover, as the Director of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, it is my duty to arrest you traitors and rebels."

……

P.S.: I was so busy, I almost forgot to update again!

(End of this chapter)