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

Chapter 260 Good heavens, aren't you slapping the Crown Prince in the face?
But since things had come to this point, how could they dare to say anything?
I could only bite the bullet and say:

"Thank you, Your Highness. I will never dare to do it again."

Immediately afterwards, the Imperial Guards dragged them away and prepared to execute them.

The execution took place in the courtyard of the East Palace!
However, these Imperial Guards had already received Zhu Cilang's instructions, so their methods were extremely clever: they could neither kill them nor let them have an easy time.

It's probably to the point where you need to stay in bed for at least a month before you can get out of bed.

Although Prince Fenglin and Yebushu had already prepared themselves mentally, they were still terrified and turned pale when they were actually escorted to the courtyard to begin their execution.

The Korean crown on Grand Prince Fenglin's head was askew, swaying gently with his trembling body, and his once magnificent brocade robe was now wrinkled.

Needless to say, Yebushu was ashen-faced, his eyes filled with fear and despair, his sleeves, embroidered with exquisite patterns, clenched tightly.

It was clear that they were all incredibly nervous and scared.

But the Jinyiwei guards who carried out the execution remained expressionless, their eyes as cold as frost.

With a deep command, the board fell with a whoosh of wind.

A sharp "snap" rang out, particularly jarring in the quiet courtyard.

Lord Fenglin suddenly straightened his back, his body trembled violently, a muffled groan escaped his throat, and his forehead was instantly covered with large beads of sweat.

Yebushu, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but scream in pain and almost fainted.

Immediately afterwards, the paddle landed on their buttocks one after another, each strike carrying just the right amount of force.

It neither seriously harmed them nor broke them, yet it made them suffer greatly.

Fenglin Dajun clenched his teeth, his lips turning white from the effort, and the muscles in his face contorted in pain, probably still trying to hold back from crying out.

Yebushu, being young, was already sobbing uncontrollably, his face covered in snot and tears, pleading repeatedly:
"Spare me! Your Highness, please spare me! I will never dare to do it again!"

Unfortunately, Zhu Cilang was not here at the moment.

As the number of blows increased, Lord Fenglin could no longer endure it and began to scream in agony.

Before long, their screams grew weaker and weaker, and their clothes at their buttocks were soaked in blood and stuck to their flesh, looking quite gruesome.

When he reached the twentieth stroke, Yebushu's vision suddenly went black, and his body collapsed to the ground like a rag doll, completely losing consciousness.

A moment later, Lord Fenglin rolled his eyes and fell silent.

The executioner, a member of the Imperial Guard, frowned slightly, reached out to check the two men's breathing, and after confirming that they were still breathing, they exchanged a glance. However, the executioner did not stop, and continued to strike their buttocks with the paddle.

However, the following blows, though seemingly fierce, actually didn't use much force; they merely lightly touched their buttocks.

After all, Zhu Cilang had given instructions that no one should be killed.

After the thirty strokes of the cane were finished, the two men's buttocks were swollen high, their clothes stuck to their flesh and blood, a truly gruesome sight.

Just then, Zhu Cilang slowly walked over, holding a cup of tea. He sipped the tea while looking at everything in front of him with indifferent eyes.

Seeing that both of them had fainted, Zhu Cilang waved his hand and said calmly:

"Send them back, and send a few imperial physicians over to take a look. Don't let them die."

The Imperial Guards quickly bowed and accepted the order, then sent the two unconscious men back to the meeting hall.

When Grand Prince Bongrim was sent back to the reception hall, the Korean envoys rushed over and gasped in shock at the sight of his miserable state.

At this moment, Lord Fenglin had his eyes closed and his face was ashen white; it was impossible to tell whether he was dead or alive.

Someone couldn't resist stepping forward to check his breathing, and then breathed a sigh of relief, saying:

"It's alright, it's alright, the Great King is still alive!"

Hearing this, the others finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Immediately afterward, just as they were about to ask the accompanying Imperial Guards some questions, the leader of the Imperial Guards said in an icy tone:

"The one on the other side also received thirty strokes of the cane. His Highness the Crown Prince said that this matter is over and that everyone should behave themselves from now on."

"If such a thing happens again, all those involved will be executed!"

The Korean envoys were surprised to hear this, but they understood that this was the best possible outcome, so they nodded in agreement and dared not say anything more.

Because the Imperial Guards arrived immediately after the incident and sealed off the scene, the matter did not spread.

Like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, it only creates a few ripples before quickly subsiding.

Although some civil and military officials in the court had heard some rumors, they kept quiet and dared not discuss the matter casually, as it concerned the face of the country.

So after only a few days, the matter was forgotten as if it had never happened.

Time flies, and half a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

At the end of September, a torrential downpour swept through Beijing, with large raindrops pounding on the green tiles and the ground, splashing up sprays of water.

The rain washed over the ancient city, taking away the last trace of summer heat.

Then, the weather suddenly turned cool, as if summer had quietly left overnight, and autumn had arrived with steady steps.

Autumn is destined to pass quickly, and according to the usual weather, it should snow in a little over a month at most.

At that time, the entire Ming Dynasty will face a long winter.

On this day, naval commanders including Wu Liuqi, Wang Zhiren, Shi Lang, Huang Binqing, and Zhang Mingzhen finally arrived in the capital.

Their ships and navy were neatly moored in Tianjin Port, ready to depart for Korea immediately after their return.

Zhu Cilang naturally received the news immediately and promptly ordered a meeting with everyone.

When Wu Liuqi and the others entered the East Palace Hall and saw Zhu Cilang, they immediately knelt down with a thud and shouted in unison:
"Your subject pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince! Long live Your Highness!"

Their voices echoed loudly throughout the hall.

Zhu Cilang looked at the vast, kneeling crowd before him, slightly raised his hand, and said in a steady tone:
"Please all rise."

Everyone then stood up one by one and stood properly in place.

Zhu Cilang's gaze swept over everyone, finding them all unfamiliar faces. This was quite normal, as these people were stationed in various places year-round and rarely had the opportunity to come to the capital.

Even if he goes to the capital, he will probably have a hard time seeing His Highness the Crown Prince.

Thinking of this, he spoke:
"I have never seen you before and do not know who you are, so you should introduce yourselves first."

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately began to introduce themselves without hesitation.

"Your subject is Wu Liuqi, the General Commander of the Guangdong Navy!"

Wu Liuqi was the first to step forward. He was a burly man with a full beard and a look of boldness and determination in his eyes.

"Your subject is Wang Zhiren, the General Commander of Dinghai, Zhejiang!"

Wang Zhiren followed.

He was a bit older, around fifty years old, with some gray in his temples and his face showing the vicissitudes of time. His every move exuded composure and maturity.

"Your subject is Shi Lang, the adjutant of the Shandong navy!"

Next was Shi Lang, who looked to be only in his early twenties and was quite honest and kind.

When Zhu Cilang heard the names "Wu Liuqi" and "Shi Lang," his eyes narrowed slightly, and he glanced at the two men a few more times.

If he remembers correctly, in the original history, these two men would later surrender to the Jurchens and even help them defeat Zheng Chenggong, leaving a disgraceful mark on history.

Moreover, it seems that in the original history, Shi Lang should have been Zheng Zhilong's subordinate, so how come he has become the Shandong naval adjutant?
Of course, this was just a small matter, and Zhu Cilang didn't care.

If Zhu Cilang had encountered ministers like Wu Liuqi and Shi Lang, who surrendered to the Jurchens in history, when he first traveled back in time, he would have killed them without hesitation.

but now
No more!
He has now come to understand a principle: one cannot determine the fate of a person in the present based on things that have not yet happened in the future.

After all, these people who have left their mark on history must be capable individuals. If they can be put to good use, they will surely play a significant role. So why be fixated on things that haven't happened yet?
Furthermore, I have traveled here to change the original history of the Ming Dynasty, including the history of these people!
After everyone had introduced themselves, Zhu Cilang nodded slightly and said:
"Alright, I already know your names. Now let's get down to business."

His voice was calm and unhurried, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.

Then, Zhu Cilang recounted in detail the arrival of the Korean envoy in the capital and the court's decision to station troops in Korea.

After hearing this, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment, their expressions revealing obvious panic.

The tragic fate of Mao Wenlong immediately came to mind.

The fate of Mao Wenlong when he was stationed in North Korea is still fresh in people's minds. Now that the court wants to send them to North Korea to station troops, what should they do if a similar situation to Mao Wenlong occurs again?
Thinking of this, everyone felt a chill run down their spines.

There was no way around it; the impact of Mao Wenlong's incident back then was simply too terrible.

Zhu Cilang keenly sensed everyone's worries and knew exactly what they were worried about. He then subtly beckoned to Mao Chenglu and Mao Youjie, who were standing to the side.

The two brothers immediately understood and quickly walked up to Zhu Cilang, standing tall and straight with a determined look in their eyes.

Zhu Cilang pointed at them and said to the crowd:

"I know what you are worried about, but your worries are unnecessary. I can assure you that what happened to Mao Wenlong will never happen again."

"The imperial court has now exonerated Mao Wenlong and posthumously conferred upon him the title of Marquis. These two are his sons, and they will be traveling with you this time."

"Firstly, it was to win over any remaining troops who might still be alive from back then; secondly, it was to establish good relations with the local people. After all, Mao Wenlong had been operating in the area for many years, and many people should know about his deeds."

As soon as Zhu Cilang finished speaking, Mao Chenglu and Mao Youjie hurriedly bowed to the naval officers present. Mao Chenglu said sincerely, "I am Mao Chenglu, and this is my younger brother Mao Youjie. I hope you gentlemen will take good care of me."

Seeing this, everyone returned the greeting with clasped hands, but the worry on their faces did not disappear.

After all, stationing troops overseas is fraught with difficulties. A slight misstep could arouse suspicion from the court that the troops have ulterior motives. Moreover, the transportation of provisions and military pay is also a major problem.

They will never be able to feel at ease until these problems are solved.

Wu Liuqi frowned, hesitated for a long time, and finally mustered up the courage to ask:
"Your Highness, may I ask how the army's provisions and pay will be provided?"

His voice carried a hint of anxiety, and his eyes were fixed on Zhu Cilang, awaiting his answer.

Zhu Cilang remained calm and answered methodically:

"Some of it was transported directly by sea by the imperial court, and some was provided by Korea."

"The Ministry of Revenue and the Cabinet have already discussed this matter, and there will absolutely be no changes."

Upon hearing this, Wu Liuqi felt a great weight lifted from his heart and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

But at that moment, Shi Lang suddenly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said:

"Your Highness, I have another question, but I'm not sure if I should ask it?"

Zhu Cilang smiled and said in a calm tone:
"There's nothing you shouldn't ask. This isn't a formal court assembly. You can ask whatever you want. Even if you say something wrong, I won't blame you."

Having received permission, Shi Lang boldly said:
"Your Highness, as we all know, Korea is no less than a thousand miles away from the Ming Dynasty, and the transmission of intelligence is extremely slow. If there is bad weather, it is possible that the army will not be able to send messages to the court for several months."

"Under such circumstances, how can Your Highness ensure that the ministers in the court will not become suspicious of us?"

"I am not questioning His Highness the Crown Prince or His Majesty's trust in us, but I feel that this matter must be guarded against. If this matter is not resolved, I am afraid that we will still be apprehensive when we go to Korea."

"I fear that one day the court will suddenly send a minister to kill us!"

Shi Lang's words were quite blunt, causing everyone present to shudder.

His Highness the Crown Prince just said that the incident involving Mao Wenlong would not happen again, and the next second you say something like this. Isn't this a slap in the face to His Highness the Crown Prince?
However, Zhu Cilang was not angry after hearing this, because he knew that the impact of Mao Wenlong's incident back then was really too bad.

He didn't rush to explain anything, but simply gave Zheng Chenggong a look.

Zheng Chenggong immediately understood and then went to Zhu Cilang.

Zhu Cilang smiled, pointed at Zheng Chenggong, and said to the crowd:
"Before I talk about this matter, let me introduce you to someone. This is the eldest son of Marquis Zheng Zhilong of Zhennan, who is also my confidant and my brother-in-law. I trust him completely."

"No matter what he says or does, I will never doubt him, and this time, he will go with you."

Having said that, Zhu Cilang stopped talking.

After all, everyone present was intelligent, and there was no need to go into too much detail about some things.

Upon hearing these words, everyone suddenly understood and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Zheng Chenggong's special status was indeed the best guarantee for their trip. With him accompanying them, Mao Wenlong's incident should not have happened.

After all, back then, Mao Wenlong had no connection with the royal family, and he didn't even have a single person in the court who could speak up for him.

Ultimately, this led Yuan Chonghuan to kill him!
But things are very different now!

After all, who would dare to lay a hand on the eldest son of Marquis Zheng Zhilong of Zhennan, a confidant of the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince's brother-in-law?

To put it bluntly, even if Emperor Chongzhen wanted to do something to Zheng Chenggong, he would have to think it over carefully.

Similarly, with Zheng Chenggong around, they were no longer afraid of being impeached by the court officials at every turn.

Because His Highness the Crown Prince will handle this matter for them!
In an instant, everyone on the battlefield showed a relaxed expression.

Seeing the relaxed expressions on everyone's faces, Zhu Cilang nodded in satisfaction and continued to instruct:

"Some things are better left unsaid. Now that I've sent you to garrison North Korea, I will resolve all your problems."

"In addition, I will have my father issue an imperial edict that no one is allowed to impeach you before the Jurchens are completely wiped out, so you can go to Korea with peace of mind."

"I believe in your loyalty!"

Upon hearing this, everyone present was deeply moved and knelt down, saying:
"Thank you for your trust, Your Highness! I will go through fire and water, even at the cost of my life!"

Zhu Cilang first stepped forward and helped everyone up one by one, then continued:
"At the court assembly tomorrow, the Emperor will personally announce the appointment of the generals. You all need to prepare in advance."

"However, I can give you a heads-up: the naval commander-in-chief this time should be Wang Zhiren, the commander-in-chief of Dinghai, Zhejiang. In addition, you will be given the title of Minister of War."

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhiren was both surprised and delighted. He had originally thought that the court might appoint Zheng Chenggong as the commander-in-chief, but he never expected it would be him.

He never expected to be granted the title of Minister of War, which would make him a powerful regional official!
After realizing what had happened, he quickly knelt down with a thud and kowtowed, saying:
"Your Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince will certainly not fail in your trust!"

Zhu Cilang nodded slightly, and then briefly explained the appointments of the other people.

Everyone was overjoyed upon hearing this, as almost everyone had been promoted one or two ranks and appointed to new official positions, which was undoubtedly a great thing for them.

Even Zheng Chenggong was appointed as a naval adjutant.

Don't underestimate the position of Assistant General. It is a military officer of the third rank, and in the naval system, he is responsible for guarding important areas or commanding an independent naval force. His duties include training soldiers, managing military equipment, and executing specific combat orders in battle.

Of course, considering Zheng Chenggong's other identities, the position of adjutant general was not that important.

After Zhu Cilang gave some other instructions, everyone respectfully took their leave.

The next morning, as dawn broke, the officials began to arrive at the palace to prepare for court.

Because Chongzhen had been informed in advance, he also attended the court assembly.

In the court, since everyone knew that the main topic of discussion today was the appointment of the North Korean garrison commander, no one said much else.

Therefore, as soon as he entered the court, Chongzhen announced that he would summon Wang Zhiren and others.

After Wang Zhiren and others arrived at the palace to pay their respects, Emperor Chongzhen personally announced their appointments.

And it's exactly the same as what Zhu Cilang said yesterday.

However, considering that Zheng Chenggong was too young, in order to avoid unnecessary trouble caused by promoting him out of turn, his appointment was not made public this time, and Zheng Chenggong did not attend court today.

After announcing the appointments, Chongzhen ordered them to go to Korea to garrison troops three days later.

After all, it's almost October, and if we delay any longer, the sea will freeze over, and we won't be able to leave.

Wang Zhiren and the others naturally accepted the order respectfully.

As for Zhu Cilang, he did not express any opinion throughout the entire process and obediently acted as Chongzhen's good son.

After all, everything Chongzhen did was his own plan, so whether he spoke or not wasn't that important.

In any case, everything was under his control.

After the court session, Zhu Cilang returned to the Eastern Palace and saw Zheng Chenggong and Zheng Xiaomei standing under the corridor talking about something, and both of them looked a little strange.

Zhu Cilang walked up with a smile and said:

"What? What are you two siblings talking about?"

Upon seeing Zhu Cilang approach, Zheng Xiaomei quickly bowed in greeting:
"Your Highness, I pay my respects!"

Zheng Chenggong was about to bow when Zhu Cilang stopped him.

"Alright, alright, brother-in-law, there are no outsiders here, why are you being so polite?"

Zheng Chenggong gave an awkward smile, but his expression seemed a little off.

Zhu Cilang naturally noticed this as well, and then asked with some puzzlement:
"Brother-in-law, what's wrong? You look like you have something on your mind. If so, you should say it now, otherwise you might not have another chance once you get to North Korea."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Chenggong scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, seemingly considering how to respond.

But suddenly, at that moment, Zheng Xiaomei knelt down and said:
"Your Highness, I am guilty!"

Zhu Cilang was stunned when he saw this scene.

Not
Why did he suddenly kneel down?

So he quickly helped Zheng Xiaomei up and then asked:

"What are you doing? What crime have you committed?"

Zheng Xiaomei hesitated for a moment before stammering:

"Your Highness's secret has been told to my brother."

Ok?
Zhu Cilang was speechless upon hearing this.

He certainly knew what Zheng Xiaomei meant. Without a doubt, Zheng Xiaomei had told Zheng Chenggong the secret that she was the reincarnation of the True Martial Emperor!
To be honest, Zhu Cilang wasn't really angry. After all, there were already more than a dozen people who knew this secret, so one more like Zheng Chenggong wouldn't make a difference.

But it seems he'll have to put on a show of divine intervention in front of Zheng Chenggong next!

After all, the idea of ​​Zheng Chenggong being the reincarnation of Zhenwu the Great might be a bit hard for him to accept.

it's fine!
Once Zhu Cilang gives him a public display of divine intervention, he will accept it.

Moreover, Zhu Cilang was already very skilled at performing miracles in front of others!

(End of this chapter)