My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Chapter 250 Chongzhen: I am determined to abolish these feudal lords today!

After thinking for a long time, the King of Qin still couldn't figure it out, so he simply stopped thinking about it.

In his view, the emperor must have already figured out how to resolve this matter, otherwise he would never have so easily formed the Ming Dynasty Zhu Family Army.

The specific solution will become clear when the emperor summons us.

Not long after, at the Eastern Palace.

Night fell like a giant black ribbon, gently enveloping the area. All around was deathly still, save for the occasional cry of a night bird, which only accentuated the tranquility of the atmosphere.

The guards stood ramrod straight, like statues, their vigilant eyes scanning the surroundings.

Suddenly, at that moment, a very light footstep broke the silence, sounding particularly abrupt in the quiet night.

The guard quickly turned his head and saw a lithe-figure Imperial Guard coming towards them.

After verifying his identity, the Imperial Guard swiftly pulled a secret letter from his robes, handed it over with both hands, and said in a low voice:

"It must be presented to His Highness the Crown Prince."

The guard nodded, took the secret letter, opened the palace gate behind him, and went inside.

At this moment, Zhu Cilang was still awake, sitting upright at his desk, reviewing the memorials submitted from various places.

Although the cabinet usually helps with these matters, he still needs to review them personally on many occasions.

The candlelight flickered, casting a dim, yellowish glow on his face and outlining his handsome features.

Just then, a soft knock sounded on the door, followed by Ma Bao's voice.

"Your Highness, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has just delivered a secret letter. Would you like to take a look now?"

Ma Bao whispered.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Cilang initially showed a hint of doubt, but quickly replied:
"Bring it in!"

Immediately, the study door was pushed open, and Ma Bao walked in with a secret letter in both hands. After handing the letter to Zhu Cilang, he left and closed the door behind him.

Zhu Cilang casually tore open the envelope, unfolded the letter, and his eyes swept over it quickly like lightning before he revealed a look of sudden realization.

It turned out to be a secret report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard regarding the content of the conversation at the prince's banquet.

Zhu Cilang read it word by word, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up, revealing a faint smile. The smile was tinged with disdain, as if he were mocking the farce of a group of ignorant children.

In his eyes, the grand pronouncements of these vassal kings at the banquet, fueled by alcohol, were nothing more than drunken grumbling and not worth mentioning.

He's not that petty; he wouldn't take something like that to heart.

Immediately afterwards, Zhu Cilang casually placed the secret letter on the table, leaned back in his chair, and tapped the tabletop rhythmically with his slender fingers, producing a crisp sound.

He naturally knew about the news of the Prince of Qin's arrival in the capital, and to this day, all the surviving princes of the Ming Dynasty have arrived in the capital.

This means that the next step is to meet with these vassal kings.

After a brief consideration, Zhu Cilang finally decided to schedule the audience for tomorrow afternoon.

Firstly, tomorrow is the day of court, so I might not have time in the morning.

Secondly, he had to inform Chongzhen first, since this matter concerned the Ming imperial family, and Chongzhen, as the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, had to personally intervene.

Thinking of this, Zhu Cilang stretched and then walked towards his bedchamber.

Time flies, and before we knew it, it was the next morning.

As dawn broke, the morning light, like a soft veil, gently fell upon the earth.

Zhu Cilang got up early, washed up briefly, and then set off for the palace in a sedan chair.

As soon as they stepped into the palace gate, they saw Wang Chengen running towards them.

Upon reaching him, Wang Chengen, panting heavily, said:
"Your Highness, His Majesty instructed yesterday that he will not attend court today, and you will temporarily take charge of all affairs of the court."

Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible hint of helplessness flashed in Zhu Cilang's eyes.

But then he nodded, indicating that he understood.

Before long, all the ministers gathered in the court.

The imperial court was solemn and dignified, with its carved beams and painted rafters exuding an aura of authority.

The ministers, dressed in their official robes, stood in neat rows, like rows of tall, straight pine trees.

They waited for quite a while, but Emperor Chongzhen didn't appear; instead, Zhu Cilang arrived.

Everyone was taken aback, but then they realized something and one of them shook his head and sighed.

It seems the emperor really doesn't plan to hold court anymore!

After the ministers had paid their respects to Zhu Cilang, Wang Chengen cleared his throat, his high-pitched voice echoing in the empty court hall.

"When there is something to do, we will start to act, but when there is nothing to do, we will retreat."

The sound was like a horn, heralding the start of today's court assembly.

The main topic of today's court assembly was the winter preparations for troops in various regions.

Although it's only September now, the weather in Jiubian has already started to get cold, and it's estimated that it will snow next month. We can't be careless about getting through the winter.

Fortunately, Zhu Cilang had already begun to deal with these matters, so he remained calm and carried out various arrangements in an orderly manner.

After some discussion, the matter was quickly settled.

However, all the ministers knew that there was actually an even more important matter to deal with at the moment.

That was the matter of the vassal kings entering the capital.

Yesterday, when the King of Qin and the King of Su entered the capital, although they did not travel with the ceremonial regalia of princes, their procession was grand and attracted attention wherever they went. Anyone who wasn't blind would know that it must be a prince entering the capital.

Furthermore, since Zhu Cilang did not intend to deliberately conceal it, the ministers naturally learned of this matter as well.

However, matters concerning the imperial family have always been private affairs of the royal family, and as subjects, they could not inquire rashly, so they could only pretend to know nothing.

After the court assembly ended, Zhu Cilang went straight to the inner palace.

Upon reaching the gates of the inner palace, he stopped and turned to Wang Chengen, saying:
"Go and announce that I request an audience with His Majesty."

Zhu Cilang was so cautious because he was afraid that barging in would disturb Chongzhen's private affairs.

That would be incredibly awkward!

Wang Chengen nodded, then quickly walked inside.

Not long after, Wang Chengen returned and said respectfully:

"Your Highness, His Majesty requests your presence."

Zhu Cilang nodded, and then followed Wang Chengen inside.

A moment later, they arrived at a pavilion.

Emperor Chongzhen, dressed in casual clothes, was sitting comfortably in the pavilion.

Tea sets were laid out on the stone table in the pavilion, and the aroma of tea rose gently. Chongzhen looked serene, as if the troubles of the world were none of his concern, and there was even a hint of laziness in his eyes.

Zhu Cilang stepped forward a few paces, bowed, and said:
"My son has met my father."

Emperor Chongzhen raised his hand, gesturing for him to sit down, and then asked with a smile:

"Was today's court assembly successful?"

Zhu Cilang nodded slightly and replied:

"Everything is going well."

After a pause, Zhu Cilang continued:

“Father, I have come here today to tell you something else. Just yesterday, the Prince of Qin and the Prince of Su arrived in the capital.”

"At this point, all the vassal kings of the Ming Dynasty have entered the capital, and I intend to summon them this afternoon."

Upon hearing this, Chongzhen's eyes flashed with surprise, for he knew nothing about this matter.

However, Chongzhen quickly regained his composure and then looked at Zhu Cilang, asking:
"how do you want to do it?"

Zhu Cilang said:

“This matter is of great importance. I believe that Your Majesty should meet with these vassal kings together with me, so as to show that you attach great importance to it.”

After thinking for a moment, Chongzhen found it reasonable and nodded in agreement.

"Alright! I agree!"

Seeing this, Zhu Cilang added:
"There is one more thing, which is that I hope Your Majesty can reprimand these vassal kings a little when the time comes, and then I will step forward to explain the matter of the overseas enfeoffment of kings."

Upon hearing this, Chongzhen instantly understood Zhu Cilang's intention, and then smiled and said:

"Are you trying to make me play the bad cop and you play the good cop?"

Zhu Cilang touched his chin somewhat shyly and responded with a smile:

"Father understands me best; this is exactly what I meant."

Emperor Chongzhen shook his head helplessly, finding it somewhat amusing. However, he knew that this wasn't the first time he had taken the blame, so he stopped dwelling on it.

Afterwards, Zhu Cilang explained in detail to Chongzhen some strategies for dealing with the princes when they met. Chongzhen listened attentively and nodded from time to time.

After all matters were settled, Zhu Cilang took his leave.

Meanwhile, the vassal kings also learned that the emperor and the crown prince would be summoning them that afternoon.

This made their already uneasy hearts even more anxious.

Although they had known this day would come, they were still somewhat afraid when it actually arrived.

Because they knew in their hearts that this meeting might determine the future of themselves and even their entire family.

For a moment, everyone was restless and uneasy.

After lunch, the sun was high in the sky, and its intense sunlight shone on the earth, enveloping the whole world in heat.

Zhu Cilang and Chongzhen went together to the Taihua Hall to meet the various vassal kings.

At the same time, dozens of princes, led by eunuchs, entered the Forbidden City.

It is worth mentioning that Emperor Zhu Yujian of Tang was also among them.

Zhu Yujian is now the Imperial Clan Court Minister, nominally in charge of the princes of the imperial clan. Therefore, other princes treat him with utmost respect and courtesy.

Zhu Yujian was equally humble and polite, without the slightest airs.

This is because he knew in his heart that although he had the title of Imperial Clan Commander, the Tang Prince's lineage was now reduced to only his branch, which was really weak and powerless. Only by maintaining good relations with all parties, especially by clinging to the emperor and the crown prince, could he gain a foothold.

This is one of the reasons why Zhu Cilang trusted him so much.

Immediately afterwards, the princes followed the eunuchs through the palace, their fear growing with each step they took deeper. Inside the Forbidden City, everywhere they looked, were heavily armored soldiers, each over eight feet tall, as robust as a bear, radiating a palpable aura of killing intent, like demons descended from hell.

Most of these vassal kings had never set foot in the palace before. Seeing the solemn scene before them, they mistakenly assumed that the palace was always like this, and were immediately terrified.

But that's not actually the case. In the past, there weren't so many armored soldiers in the palace. These armored soldiers were elite troops that Zhu Cilang specially transferred from the Tengxiang Five Guards. His purpose was to give these vassal kings a taste of their power and dampen their arrogance.

This tactic worked as expected. Apart from Prince Zhu Yujian of Tang, who remained calm, all the other princes were terrified and turned pale.

Many people's steps trembled slightly, like leaves shivering in the cold wind.

Soon, the vassal kings arrived outside the Taihua Hall to wait.

Shortly after, Li Ruolian hurriedly entered the Taihua Hall and reported to Emperor Chongzhen and Emperor Zhu Cilang:

"Your Majesty and the Crown Prince, the vassal kings have arrived and are waiting outside the hall for an audience."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded slightly and said in a deep voice:

"Bring them in."

With this command given, dozens of vassal kings entered the Taihua Hall one by one.

The hall was spacious and bright, resplendent in gold and jade, with glazed tiles shimmering with an eerie light under the sunlight.

The princes had different expressions; some were ashen-faced, filled with fear, like lambs about to be slaughtered.

Some looked flustered, their eyes darting around, like guilty thieves.

Some remained calm and composed, seemingly unfazed by the scene before them.

When they saw Emperor Chongzhen and Emperor Zhu Cilang seated high in the hall, they all knelt down with a thud, bowed their heads, and shouted:
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty, may the Emperor live ten thousand years! Your subject pays respects to His Highness the Crown Prince, may he live a thousand years!"

Normally, these princes were of equal status to Zhu Cilang and would not need to perform such a grand ceremony. However, given the special circumstances, they were filled with fear and thought that kowtowing more might bring them some protection. Therefore, they disregarded formalities.

Besides, the crown prince is the future emperor, so it's always good to kowtow more often!
Emperor Chongzhen gazed silently at the kneeling princes below. His eyes were deep and calm, like a bottomless lake, making it impossible to fathom his thoughts.

After a long silence, Emperor Chongzhen finally spoke:
"Everyone, get up."

Upon hearing this, the princes all stood up, then stood with their hands at their sides, not daring to be the slightest bit careless.

In the past, they were the real local emperors in their respective fiefdoms, but in the imperial palace and in front of Emperor Chongzhen, they could only be docile lambs.

Emperor Chongzhen's gaze swept over the crowd, and he continued:
"Many of you are people I do not know. Please state your names."

So the princes stepped forward one by one and began to introduce themselves.

"Your subject is Zhu Cunji, the Prince of Qin."

"Your subject is Zhu Shihong, the Prince of Su."

"Your subject is Zhu Qiugui, the Prince of Jin."

"Your subject is Zhu Chuan, the Prince of Dai."

"Your subject is Prince Gui, Zhu Youlang."

The sounds rose and fell, echoing in the hall, each carrying its own trepidation and unease.

Zhu Cilang had little interest in the other princes, but he glanced at the Prince Gui, Zhu Youlang, a few more times.

After all, this man was quite famous in the history of the Ming Dynasty, and he was the last emperor of the Southern Ming Dynasty to claim the throne, namely the Yongli Emperor.

Of course, none of this will happen now that Zhu Cilang has traveled through time.

After the princes had introduced themselves, Emperor Chongzhen nodded slightly and then said:

"You must already know why I summoned you to the capital. Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong have been massacring the Ming imperial family and princes in Henan, Shanxi and other places. No fewer than 10,000 members of the imperial family have died at their hands."

"Li Zicheng and Zhang Jianzhong are not only traitors to my Great Ming, but also enemies of my Great Ming imperial family. Therefore, I have decided to form the Great Ming Zhu Family Army to fight against these bandits."

The princes were already aware of this matter, so upon hearing it, they all bowed and replied:

"Your Majesty is holy."

At this moment, they knew the situation was dire, so they dared not voice any dissent, and even their voices carried a hint of awe and obedience.

However, the next second, Chongzhen suddenly changed his tone and said coldly:

"Besides this matter, there is another thing I want to discuss with you today."

"As you all know, the Ming Dynasty's treasury is now empty and can hardly afford the enormous expenses of the imperial clan. Tell me, how should we solve the problem of the Ming Dynasty's imperial clan?"

These words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples.

The princes were jolted, for their worst fears had come true.

As expected, in addition to forming the Ming Dynasty's Zhu Family Army, the emperor also intended to take action against the imperial clan during his trip to the capital.

This statement clearly indicates an intention to weaken the power of the regional military governors!
What do they say about this?
For a moment, the hall was completely silent. Everyone lowered their heads and remained silent, no one daring to speak first. A tense and oppressive atmosphere permeated the entire Taihua Hall.

Seeing that no one responded, Emperor Chongzhen turned his gaze to Prince Zhu Yujian of Tang and said:

"Your Majesty, as the Director of the Imperial Clan Court, please share your thoughts."

When Zhu Yujian was called out, his heart tightened as if an invisible hand had gripped his heart.

But he couldn't remain silent when the emperor questioned him, so he had no choice but to step forward and cautiously say:

"This matter rests entirely with Your Majesty's wise decision. Whatever Your Majesty decides, we will obey without question and dare not disobey."

Upon hearing this, Chongzhen sneered and said:
"Then, according to your suggestion, I will confine you in the capital, providing you with good food and drink, and after your deaths I will revoke your titles and make your descendants commoners. What do you think?"

what?
Upon hearing this, the princes were instantly horrified, their faces turning deathly pale as if struck by lightning.

They never expected that Emperor Chongzhen would propose such a harsh punishment.

In their view, although these princes were subject to many restrictions when they were in their fiefdoms, they were still the rulers of their own territories and could basically do whatever they wanted within them.

However, if one were confined to the capital, it would be like being a caged bird, with every move under the emperor's watchful eye. The slightest mistake could bring disaster upon oneself, making life worse than death.

Moreover, after their deaths, the court would revoke their titles and make their descendants commoners. How could they accept that?

For a time, many princes were filled with regret, wishing they hadn't gone to the capital.

Just as everyone was filled with fear and the atmosphere in the Taihua Hall was so oppressive that it was almost suffocating, Chongzhen's voice rang out again.

"But in the end, you are still members of the Ming imperial family, with the blood of the Taizu Emperor flowing in your veins. How could I bear to treat you like this?"

"I have been thinking about this day and night, and I have come up with another solution."

"That is, after we have pacified Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong and the Jurchens, we will enfeoff you all overseas."

"As long as you all stay away from the Ming Dynasty, the problem of the imperial clan will naturally be solved!"

These words were like a thunderclap, exploding loudly in the silent Taihua Palace.

Upon hearing this, the vassal kings were immediately shocked, their eyes wide with disbelief, their expressions freezing instantly, as if they had been frozen in place by a spell.

A moment later, one of the vassal kings spoke, his lips trembling slightly and his voice quivering:

"Your Majesty, are you...are you going to exile us overseas?"

"What wrong have we committed to deserve this punishment?"

"Even if we die, we are willing to die on the land of the Ming Dynasty!"

This statement was immediately echoed by the other feudal lords.

This is because, in their long-held perception, overseas lands were all wild and desolate places, filled with miasma and unknown dangers and terrors.

Sending them there was tantamount to exile; it was an unbearable humiliation and punishment.

Emperor Chongzhen quietly observed the reactions of the vassal kings, his expression calm yet exuding an undeniable authority. He then coldly said:

"If you are unwilling to go, I will not force you."

"But from this day forward, the Ming Dynasty will never again have hereditary princes."

"I will implement the Han Dynasty's policy of bestowing favors upon the remaining vassal kings, and your descendants will inherit titles with a lower rank."

“Prince becomes Prince of the Second Rank, Prince of the Second Rank becomes General Who Guards the State, General Who Guards the State becomes General Who Assists the State, and so on, until he becomes a commoner.”

"Whether you prefer to go overseas as a free and hereditary prince, or stay in the Ming Dynasty as a vassal king, the choice is yours. I will not force you."

"In short, I am determined to abolish this vassal state today!"

"The Crown Prince will discuss the rest with you in detail. The Crown Prince's words are my will."

Having said that, Chongzhen gently flicked his sleeve and rose, then turned and left with steady steps.

He had limited knowledge of the overseas enfeoffment, and he was also quite annoyed by these disgruntled vassal kings. He felt that staying any longer would only add to his troubles, so he simply handed over the follow-up matters to Zhu Cilang.

In any case, this matter was originally proposed by Zhu Cilang, so it is most appropriate to hand it over to him to handle.

When Chongzhen was about to leave after saying only a few words, the princes were momentarily stunned.

No, why did you leave halfway through your sentence?

But they dared not stop him, and could only hurriedly kneel down to respectfully see Chongzhen off.

"Congratulations to Your Majesty!"

After Chongzhen left, the princes turned their attention to Zhu Cilang, but this time their eyes held a complex mix of emotions.

Apart from Prince Zhu Yujian of Tang, the other princes all harbored some degree of contempt for this young crown prince.

In their view, Zhu Cilang was still young, just a wet-headed child, how much opinion and ability could he have?
Zhu Cilang naturally understood this principle, but he pretended not to notice anything and slowly spoke:
"The reason you are unwilling to grant fiefdoms overseas is probably because you believe that overseas lands are all barren lands, is that right?"

His voice was clear yet steady, echoing in the spacious Taihua Hall.

Upon hearing this, the princes exchanged bewildered glances, and for a moment no one uttered a response.

But sometimes silence is the best answer.

Seeing this, Zhu Cilang did not offer any further explanation, but simply clapped his hands lightly.

The next second, two agile Imperial Guards carried a huge scroll steadily into the hall.

The scroll is over a meter wide, giving it a heavy and weighty feel.

At Zhu Cilang's instruction, the Imperial Guards carefully and slowly unfurled the scroll.

Immediately, a magnificent world map was displayed before everyone's eyes.

On the map, mountains and rivers resembled flowing veins, and continents and oceans were like giants of heaven and earth, all clearly presented with delicate strokes and precise markings, making it quite spectacular.

Zhu Cilang knew in his heart that it would be difficult to persuade these short-sighted and conservative princes with just empty words.

That's why he created this world map, hoping to let them see the vastness of the world firsthand and break their preconceived, narrow-minded perceptions.

(End of this chapter)