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

Chapter 272 A sudden thought came to mind, why aren't you laughing anymore?
Lichun Garden, Fairy.

A beauty that could topple kingdoms and cities?

The familiar name made Zhu Jinzhen's brow furrow, giving him a strange and strong sense of déjà vu, and an involuntary guess popped into his mind.

"Could that 200,000-tael Yangzhou 'slender horse' be Lin Xian'er?"

Zhu Jinzhen wasn't curious about Lichun Garden in Yangzhou.

He had noticed this place when his secret guards were gathering intelligence across the land.

However, the Jurchens of the Later Jin Dynasty were still living like savages in Jianzhou, and there was no such person as Wei Xiaobao in Lichun Garden, at least not when the secret guards investigated three years ago.

On the contrary, it was the Yangzhou "slender horse" who resembled Lin Xian'er that made Zhu Jinzhen feel disgusted once again.

He still remembered that Lin Xian'er had once openly expressed her admiration for him.

However, such a thought only flashed through his mind for a brief moment. Zhu Jinzhen didn't care whether the fairy was Lin Xian'er or not. On the contrary, the industry of raising thin horses moved him somewhat.

"Yangzhou Slender Horses"

"I'm afraid cases of forcing women into prostitution are all too common."

Zhu Jinzhen closed his eyes and pondered whether to ban or eliminate the industry altogether.

From the intelligence gathered by the secret guards and Xu Yu's report just now, Zhu Jinzhen could clearly "see" a hugely profitable gray industry chain that spread throughout the Ming Dynasty.

Although the Ming Dynasty was prosperous, countless people still struggled to make ends meet or even starve. If a family had a son, he could help with farm work. However, daughters were not considered as useful.

The concept of valuing sons over daughters is deeply rooted in this era.

It would be easy to ban or even eliminate the shady industry of Yangzhou "slim horses".

However, Zhu Jinzhen also had to admit that the Yangzhou "slender horse" industry could sometimes provide a humble way of survival for women who had no other choice.

Although compared to the persecuted women, the number of women who survived by being chosen by matchmakers or forced into prostitution was probably less than one in a hundred.

The term "skinny horse" sounds elegant, but it actually refers to the shady practice of human trafficking, leaving women trapped in this system with no chance of escape.

Zhu Jinzhen has only one attitude towards human trafficking.

kill!

"Yimei, have the secret guards investigate how many forces are involved in the 'skinny horse' industry in Jiangnan, no, in the entire Ming Dynasty." Zhu Jinzhen gave the order calmly, revealing no emotion whatsoever, as if it were merely a passing interest.

However, Yan Yimei, Xu Yu, Ma You, Shen Bing, and others who knew Zhu Jinzhen well knew that the more Zhu Jinzhen kept his emotions hidden, the more serious the matter was.

"It seems some more people are in trouble."

Xu Yu and Ma You exchanged glances, seeing the smiles in each other's eyes.

Shen Bing's lips couldn't help but curl upwards.

As the prefect of Lanzhou, he was furious when he learned of these sordid practices. However, he was of low rank and had no influence over areas outside of Lanzhou.

If His Highness were to take action, it would be equivalent to the ironclad laws of the future Ming Dynasty.

Anyone who dares to touch it will only face death.

"Yes, I will obey your orders."

Yan Yimei nodded and stepped aside.

Zhu Jinzhen threw the intelligence report on the secret guards onto the table.
"The gold and silver were packed into boxes, and some were transported back to Lanzhou."

"Another portion will go north with the army, which will replenish the national treasury."

"Xu Changhai, Yang Qingyi, and Li Chengen, as well as Wang Qing, will be dealt with in the same way. A small portion will be sent back to Lanzhou Prefecture, and the rest of the gold and silver will be packed into boxes and prepared to be transported back to the capital."

At this point, Zhu Jinzhen was too lazy to pretend anymore that he was only trying to quell the rebellion and not going there for the throne.

Changsun Wangqing's Cangyun Iron Cavalry has already crossed Ningwu Pass.

Zhu Jinzhen's Cangyun and Tiance troops had already advanced into Datong, and most of the Ming Dynasty was under his control. Even a three-year-old child wouldn't believe that Zhu Jinzhen didn't want to be emperor.

"It's Your Highness."

"The confiscated shops, house deeds, land deeds, etc., were exchanged for gold and silver and taken back."

A crazy fishing plan popped into Zhu Jinzhen's mind, but he forcibly suppressed it. Otherwise, if he had his secret guards sold off the shops, house deeds, land deeds, and various properties while simultaneously fishing for wealthy merchants, luring them in to be killed, it wouldn't be long before the gold and silver he possessed increased at least tenfold.

However, if he did that, it would be fine if word got out, but if word got out, Zhu Jinzhen's name would probably be ruined.

"Tsk, Wan Sanqian, the Hua family of Jiangnan, seems like a suitable front man?"

"If that doesn't work, how about the Sun Moon Cult?"

Zhu Jinzhen considered the matter, but ultimately suppressed his petty and treacherous schemes. Once he ascended the throne, he would be able to implement sweeping reforms to the Ming Dynasty.

The land belongs to him.

All the wealth in the world also belongs to him.

There is absolutely no need to use these underhanded tricks.

……

The capital of the Ming Dynasty.

Qianqing Palace.

Although Zhu Houzhao was under house arrest, his treatment was significantly better than that of Zhu Wushi, Yang Yanhe, and Li Dongyang. Although he was not free, he still had whatever he wanted.

Every day, he could also go to Zhu Wushi and Yang Tinghe to show off.

By the way, tell them where Zhu Jinzhen's Jingnan Army is, how far away their death is, and so on.

Frenziedly jumping in and unleashing damage.

Zhu Wushi was so angry that he wanted to slap the young emperor to death several times.

Yang Tinghe and the others were also furious.

Yang Ning, who was stationed in the capital, took all these situations into account. He did not stop them, treating it as a way to pass the time each day. He watched with great interest and even specifically instructed people not to block intelligence from entering the capital.

"Your Majesty, urgent reports from Tianjin and Datong."

A young eunuch burst into the Qianqing Palace, carrying a sealed letter with wax. He knelt down after running into the main hall and said, "Your Majesty, an urgent message has arrived from Datong Prefecture. General Li Huaimin led his troops in a bloody battle for half an hour, but they were unable to stop the Jingnan Iron Cavalry of Prince Su's Mansion. Datong Prefecture has now been captured."

"Tianjin Wei resisted with all its might, but was still no match for them. It has now been taken over by the Cangyun commander, Changsun Wangqing."

Upon hearing the news of the fall of Datong and the suppression of Tianjin, Zhu Houzhao showed a bitter smile but was not particularly moved. From the day Zhu Jinzhen took charge of the Jingnan Campaign, he had heard similar reports and urgent requests for help every day.

On the contrary, Zhu Wushi, Princess Yunluo, the Empress Dowager, Yang Yanhe, Li Dongyang and others in Qianqing Palace were shocked.

Less than two days had passed since Ningwu Pass fell and Taiyuan changed hands.

Zhengding Prefecture and Hejian Prefecture were successively trampled by the Cangyun Iron Cavalry, and in the blink of an eye, Tianjin Wei had also fallen.

Datong Prefecture was also occupied by Prince Su's troops.

The former is only about 200 li away from the capital, and the latter is slightly farther away but no more than 600 li away. At Zhu Jinzhen's speed, he will definitely be able to bring his troops to the city in three days at the fastest and no more than five days at the latest.

That is to say...

With the Ming Dynasty set to fall, their deaths were only five days away at most.
"Imperial Uncle, Teacher, Grand Secretary, why do you three look so worried? Back then, when the Grand Secretariat, together with the Six Ministries, threatened me and called a deer a horse, how powerful and spirited you were!" After receiving the memorial, Zhu Houzhao immediately walked briskly to the three men, a mocking smile on his face: "Why aren't you smiling now?"

"Is it because you can't laugh?"

"How about I give you all a smile?"

True to his word, Zhu Houzhao gave Zhu Wushi and the others a mocking smile.

"Is my royal brother driven mad?" Princess Yunluo asked with concern.

Zhu Wushi trembled with rage and sneered, "How long can Your Majesty be so smug? When Prince Su's army besieges the city and tramples the capital, won't you and we all meet the same end?"

"Oh?"

"really?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Houzhao showed no fear, but instead revealed a meaningful, sly smile.

(End of this chapter)