Ming Dynasty: pacifying the rebellion and defending the border, dominating the world

Chapter 265 Unleashing a Bloodbath, Combining Kindness and Coercion
In this world, it is ultimately a dog-eat-dog world, where the strong are respected.

Wang Yuyan naively believed that by revealing her trump card, with her cultivation as a terrestrial immortal and Li Qinglu's identity as the Princess of Yinchuan, she might be able to take over Xixia without bloodshed.

However, reality told her that she had been too naive.

Of the court officials, many submitted, but a considerable number did not.

Liu Wenzhong, the Grand Secretary and remonstrating official of the Western Xia Dynasty, stepped forward and said: "Your Highness is able to reach the realm of immortals in the prime of your life, and your talent can be described as unparalleled in the world. However, it is truly absurd and unheard of for a woman to become emperor."

"This old minister urges the princess to reconsider her actions before proceeding, lest she become a laughingstock!"

A group of officials from the Secretariat, including Attendants-in-Ordinary, Grand Counselors, Attendants-in-Ordinary, and Censors, also stood up to echo the sentiment: "We second your opinion, and hope Your Highness will reconsider."

"Yes, Your Highness, if you are willing to help the Western Xia, you can use your status as a princess to assist His Majesty. Whether it is to lead an expedition against the Song Dynasty or to advance north into the grasslands to fight against the Mongols, we will support you."

"But a woman becoming empress is unprecedented in history. How can we silence the public's criticism?"

"In most countries under heaven, the harem is not allowed to interfere in politics."

"Your Highness wishes to become empress as a woman, but please forgive me for not being able to agree."

These ministers spoke vehemently and righteously, claiming to be acting in the best interests of the people and the future of Western Xia, their opposition extremely strong.

A smile slowly appeared on Wang Yuyan's face, but it was a chilling smile: "You...aren't you overestimating yourselves? I don't need your approval to ascend the throne and become Empress. What do the opinions of the world have to do with me?"

"My succession was a coup, not a succession by right of succession."

"I'm giving you two choices. Those who are willing to serve me—no, I mean, to become emperor and inherit the throne—stand on the left. Those who are not willing, stand on the right."

Wang Yuyan wore a gentle smile, charming and beautiful, captivating many young officials. However, her smile concealed a chilling coldness that sent shivers down their spines.

Two options.

Those who believed that Wang Yuyan possessed the cultivation of a terrestrial immortal and had considerable support by her side, and who recognized reality, all moved towards the left side of the court. At least 50% to 60% of the military personnel of the Western Xia Privy Council went there.

The number of civil officials was relatively small, consisting only of those who had previously echoed their sentiments.

"After I ascend the throne, I will abolish harsh laws and punishments, govern with benevolence, reduce taxes and corvée labor, and increase the salaries of all officials. The people of Western Xia will no longer be considered inferior."

"I will work diligently to govern the country, befriend distant states while attacking nearby ones, and strengthen our Western Xia."

"And these..."

Wang Yuyan glanced at the Western Xia civil and military officials standing on the right and waved her hand indifferently, "None of you can see this."

"kill!"

Wang Yuyan slowly uttered a single word.

The sound wasn't loud, but in the chaotic court, it was more startling than a thunderclap.

"choke!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than a secret guard was ordered to act, and a cold glint of a blade flashed across the scene. Before the group of dissenting Western Xia officials could even comprehend why this 'Princess Yinchuan,' who had always treated people with gentleness, was about to raise her sword against them, these old ministers, blood was already splattering everywhere, and heads rolled off one by one.

In an instant, it became as bloody as a slaughterhouse.

Standing on the right to oppose, the civil and military officials who had not yet been killed fled in panic, their faces pale. But how could they possibly withstand the encirclement and suppression of a group of Grandmasters of Celestial Phenomena, especially the most powerful one among them, the Privy Council General at the Pointing Profound Realm?

In just a few breaths, the Rizhen Palace was littered with corpses.

The air was thick with the stench of blood. The familiar faces of the ministers who had chosen the right side lay scattered on the ground, a scene resembling a hellish landscape. Those ministers who had not yet been dealt with were now pale with fright and stood frozen in shock.

Many people's legs gave way and they collapsed to the ground. Others were so frightened that their legs trembled, and a warm stream of sweat ran down their trouser legs; they were utterly terrified.

Don't talk about them.

This was the Western Xia First-Class Hall, which Li Qiushui had gathered together with experts from all over the world. At this moment, those experts were so frightened that their legs went weak, and many of them covered their mouths and gagged silently.

Fearing that any unusual movement would lead to their execution by order of the Yinchuan princess, who was like a god of death, they were all terrified.

Such a horrific scene, if witnessed by Wang Yuyan a month ago, would have either caused her to vomit uncontrollably or faint from fright. Yet now, she seemed utterly unfazed, merely coldly observing the officials in the hall.

"Those who obey me will prosper, those who oppose me will perish."

"I intend to rule the world, establish myself as emperor, and who will object?"

Such harsh measures and the bloody massacre completely shocked everyone in the court. Even Li Jingzuo was now as frightened as a quail, standing to the side with a pale face, not daring to say a word.

be opposed to??
The surviving officials swallowed hard, stealing glances at the blood that had already flowed to their feet, and at the horrific scene on the other side of the hall, which resembled a slaughterhouse in a purgatory. Who would dare to utter a single word of opposition?

The mere sight of Wang Yuyan looking at them with that calm gaze sent chills down their spines, making them feel that the next moment this seemingly gentle and serene princess might smile and have their entire family wiped out.

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

The surviving officials, disregarding the blood that flowed all over the hall, shouted in unison and knelt down in unison to welcome Wang Yuyan to the throne and become the Empress of Western Xia.

These people were already impressed by Wang Yuyan's powerful strength, and having witnessed her ruthless and decisive nature, they would not dare to be so blind.

Because those blind fools are all lying there now!

"All my beloved lords, stay safe!"

When Wang Yuyan uttered these words, her voice was calm yet trembling. No matter how much she was brainwashed by the mind-control technique, she had only become more ruthless and decisive, and had put on a layer of mental lock to be loyal to Zhu Jinzhen.

Ultimately, she was still just an eighteen-year-old girl.

When she sat on the throne, with all the officials kneeling and shouting "Long live the Emperor!", she truly ruled the world and took control of the country. The impact on Wang Yuyan's mind was unprecedented.

Fortunately, although Wang Yuyan was not very knowledgeable about state affairs, she had secret guards to help her.

The next moment, Wang Yuyan knew what she had to do.

"The position of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat is vacant, and seven or eight out of the sixteen departments have been dismissed. There is an urgent need for officials to fill the vacancy."

“The Secretariat, the Privy Council, and the Censorate should select and appoint new people.”

Wang Yuyan then glanced meaningfully at the remaining officials and said, "If any of you have suitable candidates, you may recommend them to me. This time, there is no need to avoid suspicion when recommending relatives. As long as they are truly talented, I will approve them for positions ranging from the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat to officials of the Sixteen Departments and the Censorate."

These words startled the officials, who were still filled with fear, but they were immediately overjoyed.

They had no time to grieve for their fallen colleagues.

He immediately began to calculate in his mind who among his students and former officials was truly talented and learned, and how many officials from the sixteen departments, including the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and the Censorate, had been killed.

How much of the pie will they get?

The remaining officials naturally recognized that this was Wang Yuyan—no, now their Empress—using both kindness and force, but this didn't annoy them; on the contrary, they were very supportive. After all, it wasn't them who were dying.

On the contrary, the sacrifice of those who strongly opposed them brought them better development and a huge pie of nearly 60% of the official positions in the Western Xia court that were directly vacated.

At worst, they can simply offer a toast from afar during the Qingming Festival next year to express their feelings!

(End of this chapter)