Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 629 Never a Gentleman! Flattery and Hidden Worries!
Wang You's eyes were bloodshot with anger and fear, and he shouted wildly, "I am the nephew of Wang Zuo, the current Minister of State Affairs!"

"If you dare to lay a finger on me, my uncle will tear you to pieces!"

He couldn't understand it, and he couldn't accept it.

Why did Ji Gang, who was as humble as dust just a moment ago and allowed himself to be humiliated in every way, dare to undergo such a dramatic change after going out to meet with the people of Tian Shu Si?
This doesn't make sense!
“Wang Zuo?” Ji Gang savored the name, then sneered, “It’s still uncertain how long he can remain safe with his own head hanging over his shoulders.”

"You still expect him to come and save us?"

These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over Wang You's head.

His expression changed drastically, and he finally realized that something earth-shattering must have happened that he was unaware of, something that could overturn everything!

But Wang You was still unwilling to give up. Grasping at the last straw, he threatened in a hoarse voice:
"His Highness Prince Jin is about to return to the capital to ascend the throne!"

"At that time, even the current Empress will have to bow down and obey!"

"What is the Tian Shu Division anyway?"

"Ji Gang, don't be deceived by treacherous people and choose the wrong side. In the end, your entire family will be executed, and you will regret it too late!"

King of Jin?

A flicker of pity, as if looking at a fool, flashed in Ji Gang's eyes.

His Majesty the Emperor was perfectly fine, sitting high above the heavens, coldly watching the clumsy performance of these clowns.

Let alone a mere Prince of Jin, even if all the princes of the realm gathered in the capital, what could they do?

Before the current emperor, they are nothing but a bunch of chickens and dogs, who can be suppressed with a wave of their hand.

Of course, he was too lazy, and didn't need to, explain such a shocking secret to a dying man.

At this moment, Ji Gang's only thought was revenge.

He slowly stepped forward, and then, to Wang You's utter astonishment, raised his hand.

"Snapped!"

The crisp, resounding slap echoed endlessly in the deathly silent hall.

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

Ji Gang remained expressionless, slapping Wang You's cheeks repeatedly with all his might.

Every bit of humiliation suffered just now has now been transformed into a hundredfold brutality, to be returned in full.

He was disciplined, but he was never a magnanimous gentleman!

Soon, Wang You's cheeks swelled up visibly, and bright red blood trickled from the corners of his mouth. He could no longer utter a complete sentence.

Having vented his anger, Ji Gang slowly withdrew his hand. Looking at the now delirious Wang You at his feet, he sneered and said softly, "Just now, didn't you tell me to lick your boots?"

"I think you seem to really like this."

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly raised his foot and shoved the dusty, smelly boot into Wang You's mouth until it was completely full, leaving him only able to make mournful "woo-woo" sounds.

"Take him away!" Ji Gang stood up, dusted off non-existent dust from his robes, and coldly ordered, "Lock him in the manor's dungeon!"

"Tell the men below to collect all the boots in the mansion and make them lick each pair clean for me!"

Two servants dragged Wang You away, who was bleeding from his mouth and nose and convulsing, as if he were a dead dog.

Ji Gang walked out of the main hall. In the courtyard outside, his trusted men were already fully assembled, and a chilling atmosphere filled the air.

He waved his hand, summoned a trusted aide, and instructed him: "Take a team of men and stay in the capital. Gather all the spies in the capital and keep a close watch on Wang Zuo's residence. Record in detail who enters and leaves, what they say, and what they do."

The trusted confidant immediately accepted the order and left.

The Bureau of Thieves, a force feared by countless martial arts practitioners, not only has its own officially appointed personnel but also recruits many "unofficial" martial arts practitioners.

This is the only way to infiltrate various gangs and factions, and when needed, to eradicate them completely in the fastest and simplest way.

Just like how "undercover agents" were used to infiltrate gangs in later generations.

After giving his instructions, Ji Gang mounted his horse, glanced at the crowd, and said no more, only uttering two words through gritted teeth:
"set off!"

……

From Quanzhou Port in Fujian to Nanjing, the heart of the empire, the land route is winding and covers no less than two thousand miles.

Fujian has been a mountainous region since ancient times, with towering peaks and ridges. Even though the imperial court has now paved several north-south highways with modern cement, it is still not a smooth road for carriages and horses to travel on.

After all, going uphill and downhill is still essential.

Excavating tunnels is no easy task, and although progress is underway, most are not yet open to traffic.

If we're talking about speed, nothing beats sailing eastward.

Especially now that we have steel behemoths like steamships, we can enter the sea from Quanzhou, head north along the coastline, and then go down the Yangtze River. It only takes two days and nights to reach Nanjing.

The imperial court sent an order urging Prince Zhu Gang of Jin to return to the capital as quickly as possible.

Zhu Gang, however, seemed completely unconcerned upon receiving the order.

He abandoned the incomparably convenient waterway and chose the most time-consuming and laborious land route.

This move was certainly not intended to understand the people's sentiments.

What Zhu Gang wanted was precisely this "slow" pace.

This journey was a slow but grand tour, a rehearsal of his path to the throne.

He needed enough time to meet with the civil and military officials who had come to his aid along the way, to win over the hearts of those who were still observing, and to weave his power and influence, like a spider web, inch by inch, on the long road back to Jinling.

Zhu Gang has been away from the Ming Dynasty for several years.

Since Zhu Yunwen ascended the throne, he has implemented new policies, and the court has undergone a complete transformation.

He must have enough power to rival Empress Gu Panjun before he arrives in Jinling.

"A mere woman of humble origins, she only has the title of Empress, what is there to mention?" Although Zhu Gang spoke with contempt, he remained extremely wary of the woman with extraordinary abilities.

Thus, the procession, with its fluttering banners, kept stopping and starting, stretching what should have been a journey of several days into more than ten days.

Only now has this slowly advancing team reached the Ma'anshan area.

This place is less than a hundred miles away from Jinling City.

The first railway of the Ming Dynasty happened to pass through this area, and the construction was nearing completion.

Two railway tracks stretch parallel to each other across the dark sleepers, reflecting a sharp metallic luster in the afternoon sun.

A steam locomotive, still undergoing trial operation, roared past on the back of this steel behemoth, trailing a long plume of thick smoke and emitting a deafening roar.

Compared to when the project was first launched, science in the Ming Dynasty has advanced by leaps and bounds.

The invention of the generator led to the widespread use of electric lights and telegraphs, solving problems such as precise dispatching over long distances and the transmission of traffic light signals for trains. Gazing at the steel monster spewing smoke and brimming with boundless power, Zhu Gang's interest was greatly piqued.

He stood on the hillside, hands behind his back, watching the iron dragon speeding past, a look of admiration on his face.

"Such a divine object, such a groundbreaking feat, could only have been conceived by my exceptionally talented nephew."

He first let out a long sigh, then changed the subject, a barely suppressed smile spreading across his face:

"It's a pity that the heavens are jealous of talent; he was ultimately unlucky and died young."

"The family fortune he painstakingly built will ultimately only benefit me, his uncle! Hahaha... Hahahaha!"

He clapped his hands and laughed.

The imperial court has never officially announced the "death of His Majesty"; everyone is just speculating.

For someone like Zhu Gang to openly refer to someone as "dying young" is tantamount to cursing them and is a grave offense of disrespect.

However, none of the officials accompanying him offered any words of advice.

They exchanged knowing glances, their faces plastered with fawning smiles, and a torrent of flattery poured forth, as if Zhu Gang were now the supreme ruler in dragon robes.

A new emperor brings a new court; this is an eternal truth.

Since the news of the military remonstrance at the Temple of Confucius and the emperor's "discomfort" spread, the entire Ming Dynasty officialdom was like a pot of boiling water placed on a raging fire. Everyone was anxiously searching for their own way out and their patron in this scorching situation.

Prince Zhu Gang of Jin, the prince with the most noble bloodline, was undoubtedly the most stable and largest warship in everyone's eyes.

At this moment, as Zhu Gang listened to the tidal wave of compliments and words of loyalty pouring into his ears, his sense of pride and satisfaction was almost overflowing.

He enjoyed it all with great grace until the sun began to set in the mountains, at which point he waved his hand with a hint of weariness.

"I have seen enough of the scenery today."

He looked around at everyone and said, "Pass down the order to rest temporarily at Ma'anshan. After a few days of rest, we will enter Jinling again."

Upon hearing this, the previously lively and noisy atmosphere instantly froze.

The officials surrounding him all wore expressions of astonishment and bewilderment.

An official, unable to contain himself, bowed cautiously and said, "Your Highness, Jinling is just around the corner. Officials in the capital are eagerly awaiting its arrival, and the affairs of the court are in a state of great complexity. We need a pillar of strength like you to arrive as soon as possible to stabilize the situation."

"Why linger here? Why not seize the opportunity and take control of the central government?"

These words expressed what everyone was thinking.

Zhu Gang slowly turned his head and glanced at the official who had offered his advice with a detached yet profound gaze.

If we're talking about the urgency to return to Jinling, Zhu Gang's was a hundred times stronger than anyone else's.

But he also knew that the closer he got to the finish line of victory, the more patience and composure he needed to show.

Before setting off on this journey, his most trusted advisor reminded him not to be too hasty, a advice he kept in mind at all times.

After a long while, Zhu Gang let out a long sigh. His originally straight back seemed to slump a little in an instant, and his face showed a perfectly appropriate look of illness and exhaustion.

"Alas, you all are unaware of what I am doing," he said slowly. "I was ordered to go to the New World to expand the territory of my Great Ming Dynasty. I have devoted myself to this task and have long since fallen ill from overwork."

"In addition, the climate and environment overseas are very different from those in the Central Plains. Being far away from home, I suffered from acclimatization problems and developed a chronic illness, often feeling powerless."

"My purpose in returning to the Ming Dynasty is twofold: firstly, to report the situation in the New World to the court, and secondly, to seek medical treatment and invite a renowned physician to properly care for my health."

"The upheaval in the court and the rebellion of traitors were merely coincidences."

As he spoke, he placed his hand on his chest and frowned slightly, perfectly portraying the image of a clansman who was exhausted and sacrificed his life for the country.

"These past ten days have been a grueling journey back from Fujian, filled with the hardships of travel and the elements, which has exhausted the last bit of my strength."

"My body just can't take it anymore."

"We can only rest here in Ma'anshan for a few days and catch our breath."

Those present thought of Zhu Gang's loud voice and bright eyes when he spoke; there was no sign of him being terminally ill.

Now that you're putting on this act, it's almost laughable.

Furthermore, he never summoned any renowned doctors for treatment along the way.

Who would believe he's really sick?
However, the subtle meaning behind this is immediately apparent to anyone with a modicum of shrewdness.

After a brief silence, someone immediately responded loudly, understanding the unspoken message: "Your Highness has worked so hard for the country that he has come to this state. We would rather die than do that!"

"Your Highness should prioritize your own well-being; only then can the nation have a reliable support!"

Everyone agreed.

For a time, sycophantic praises of Zhu Gang for his "lofty character and integrity" and his "unwavering dedication to the court despite his illness" were everywhere.

Those who were even more shrewd immediately used the pretext of "visiting the sick" to present the precious medicinal materials and generous gifts that had been prepared in advance, thus beginning a tacit political performance.

This grand "visiting the sick" performance continued until sunset, when the officials, each with their own thoughts, dispersed contentedly.

Back at his lodging, the cacophony of flattery and loyalty from the officials he had heard during the day still echoed in Zhu Gang's ears.

The excitement and pride in his heart still burned fiercely, like oil thrown into a raging fire.

The dragon throne, symbolizing the supreme ruler of the world, seemed to be beckoning to him from afar, within reach.

Just as he was feeling pleased with himself, his strategist quietly entered, his face showing no joy but rather a solemn expression.

“Your Highness,” the strategist bowed deeply, his voice low, “forgive my bluntness, but this trip has gone too smoothly. So smoothly, in a way, that it makes one uneasy.”

Zhu Gang's smile faltered slightly, and his brows furrowed in displeasure: "Is there something wrong?"

"Your Highness," the strategist said in a deep voice, "along the way, in the prefectures and cities along the route, officials from all over came to pay their respects, and carriages and horses filled the gates, showing the utmost hospitality."

"However, most of those who came to serve were local officials or lower-ranking officials from various ministries in the capital."

"But has Your Highness considered what about those central pillars who truly influence the court and whose words can decide the fate of the nation—the ministers of state affairs and the ministers of military affairs?"

"To this day, not a single person has sent a secret envoy, not even a tentative secret letter."

"Even Lord Wang Zuo has not been heard from."

"Your Highness, don't you think this matter is too suspicious?"

Zhu Gang waved his hand dismissively: "Aren't all the key officials in the Political Affairs Department and the Military Affairs Department under house arrest in the Qin Zheng Hall by that Gu Panjun under the pretext of 'putting national affairs first'? This is common knowledge. Since they can't get out..."

"Your Highness, no!"

Before he could finish speaking, his advisor abruptly interrupted him.

……

(End of this chapter)