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

Chapter 301 Heads Rolling By, Overjoyed

Hejian Prefecture, the prefectural government office.

Xiao Wu leaned against the railing and looked out. The gloomy weather had the air of dark clouds pressing down on the city, as if a storm was about to break out. It was just like Hejian Prefecture today. Beneath the seemingly calm surface, a terrible storm was brewing.

In an avalanche, no snowflake is innocent.

Dismissal from office, confiscation of property, and extermination of the entire clan.

This is something that is constantly being repeated in Hejian Prefecture, Baoding Prefecture, and Tianjin today.

Countless drops of blood flowed beneath the blades of the Secret Guards and Cangyun.

In Hejian Prefecture, the ranks ranged from Prefect to Prefect, down to Assistant Prefect, County Magistrate, Registrar, and Judge. In the Guard Commandery, the ranks ranged from the Third Rank Guard Commander to the Third Rank Assistant Commander and the Fourth Rank Vice Commander.

The garrisons in Tianjin, Hejian, and Baoding were all subjected to a massive purge.

The Zhang, Xu, and Chen families, the Qingyu Marquis's Mansion, and a host of other powerful families—anyone found to have colluded with the Qinglong Society, the Heavenly Mark, or remnants of the Demonic Cult, and directly or indirectly involved in the plot to murder Zhu Jinzhen—would be executed regardless of their status or position.

In just one day, dozens of trips of people were transported by oxcart at the vegetable markets in Hejian and Baoding.

However, it is precisely this kind of killing that has brought about a more peaceful and tranquil situation.

When Zhu Jinzhen took charge, the Cangyun Army revealed its true colors.

Those individuals or families who consider themselves clever and well-established know what true freedom from taboos really means.

A marquis's residence, a prince's residence?
A high-ranking official of the second rank or even the first rank in the imperial court?
The family once held high-ranking positions, and its disciples and former officials were scattered throughout the court and the country.

It was useless against the Cangyun Army and the Secret Guard.

Even if someone brought out the imperial edict bestowed by the founding emperor, demanding to be spared death or punishment, the secret guards would still kill them without hesitation.

The imperial edict bestowed by Emperor Taizu Gao was indeed equivalent to a death-exemption token.

However, the final interpretation of the pardon certificate rested with the emperor and the Zhu family.

Based on the numerous irrefutable pieces of evidence verified by the secret guards, even if ten imperial edicts could grant them ten reprieves, they still wouldn't have any chance of escaping death.

Some tried to plead for her, but even bringing in the Grand Secretaries and the Minister of Rites was of no use. The envoy from Changchun Island appeared before the secret guards with an arrogant expression, wanting to take Madam Zhang away. In the blink of an eye, all his martial arts skills were crippled, and he became a prisoner.

They knew that Prince Su, or rather, the Cangyun commander Changsun Wangqing, was truly enraged, and anyone who dared to plead for him would only have to stay with them.

These powerful and influential families who were on good terms with each other all fell silent for a time, and no one dared to plead for any family or individual.

Hejian Prefecture is not far from the capital.

The news had already set off an explosion throughout Beizhili the next day, and then spread to the capital at an alarming speed, reaching the ears of Zhu Houzhao and all the officials.

……

Inside the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Qianqing Palace.

When Zhu Houzhao heard the news from Hejian Prefecture, he only sneered.

He had long witnessed the corruption of the Ming Dynasty, but without military power, even as emperor, he was subject to various constraints and could not act as freely as Zhu Jinzhen.

But when the next piece of news came from Yu Huatian of the Western Depot, Zhu Houzhao was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter: "Divine Marquis, Teacher, and all the ministers of the Ming Dynasty, according to the Jinyiwei's investigation, Prince Su's Jingnan army is less than a hundred miles outside the city and will be at the city gates before sunset."

"Okay, okay!"

"I have waited far too long for this day!"

Zhu Houzhao jumped up from the dragon throne with joy and paced back and forth in the Qianqing Palace, his face full of expectant smiles.

The others were speechless and bewildered.

You are about to die, Your Majesty.

What are you so happy about?
Zhu Houzhao seemed to sense something, and revealed a playful smile. He looked at Zhu Wushi and the other cabinet ministers, bowed slightly, and clasped his hands in a salute: "My time has come. When spring comes next year, I, no, I, Zhu Shou, will definitely go to your graves, offer a cup of wine, and express my gratitude."

"Yu Huatian!" Yu Huatian was taken aback. He had already pledged allegiance to Zhu Jinzhen and was now considered a member of the Prince Su's household, not a servant of the emperor. However, considering that even his own prince was willing to let Emperor Zhengde die peacefully in his sleep, he sighed inwardly and still chose to obey the order.

Let Emperor Zhengde end his life with dignity.
"The servant is here."

"Draft the decree: I myself am guilty, but the blame lies with all the people. If all the people are guilty, the guilt lies with me..." Zhu Houzhao began to read the edict of abdication with excitement. Eunuch Sun's hands trembled as he ground the ink, and Yu Huatian helped draft the decree.

Zhu Wushi and the others could only watch helplessly, unable to do anything.

These past few days, Zhu Houzhao has been making sarcastic remarks every day. They already know Zhu Houzhao's fate. According to the procedure that Zhu Jinzhen had already set, Zhu Houzhao will 'suddenly die' today.

Once Zhu Jinzhen succeeds in suppressing the rebellion and ascends to that position, Zhu Houzhao will appear in public under a different identity.

A person whose identity has absolutely no connection to the emperor's and can never have any connection to him, living openly and legitimately under the sunlight of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Wushi, along with the four Grand Secretaries including Grand Secretary Yang Yanhe, were all victims of this coup and rebellion.

Or……

A discarded piece.

Yang Yanhe ignored Zhu Houzhao, who was as excited as a monkey, and instead turned around and bowed to the empty Qianqing Palace: "General Yang, there is still one thing I do not understand. May I ask the general to appear and enlighten me?"

"What's the matter?"

Yang Ning's voice resounded throughout the Qianqing Palace.

The next moment, his figure gracefully landed and appeared in front of everyone.

This ability to appear and disappear without a trace is so powerful that no matter how many times you see it, everyone can feel its overwhelming strength.

This time, Yang Yanhe didn't pay much attention, but asked, "In less than half a month, Prince Su has swept through most of the Ming Dynasty with his forces from Cangyun, Tiance, and Shaanxi. Now he is only a hundred miles away from the capital. Before I die, I have a question."

“Prince Su is like Emperor Gaozu, Emperor Wenzong, or even more so.”

"With his skill, courage, power, and military strength, he could easily suppress all those who dared to disobey in the Ming Dynasty. Why then is he so determined to start by purging the court with the blood of the cabinet?"

Yang Yanhe couldn't understand this, nor could the other Grand Secretaries.

Even if the whole world rebelled, the power Zhu Jinzhen wielded would simply amount to killing everyone in the world.

No matter how sharp a writer's pen may be, it can never be sharper than a knife.

No matter how powerful the civil official group was, they were nothing but chickens and dogs in front of the Prince Su's mansion, utterly vulnerable. Zhu Jinzhen could have easily killed them all without any excuse, until no one dared to question or criticize him.

Based on Yang Yanhe's understanding of the civil service group, his many colleagues, and the scholars of the land.

When Zhu Jinzhen raises the butcher's knife, the officials who are usually so arrogant and reckless will surely become as docile as quails and dare not make any rash moves.

The ability to adapt to changing circumstances was a skill that all officials in the Ming Dynasty were well-versed in.

"this problem……"

Yang Ning gazed at Yang Yanhe, who was full of expectation, and finally slowly shook his head: "I cannot answer you. No one but Your Highness can answer you. As for what Your Highness is thinking, it is beyond my comprehension."

"You are, after all, the Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty. Although you conspired with Zhu Wushi and others to overthrow the Ming and seize the imperial regalia, your crimes are unforgivable. But I think..."

"If you are fortunate enough to meet His Highness before you die, perhaps you can unravel the mystery in your heart."

"Is that so?" Yang Yanhe smiled bitterly, bowed to Yang Ning again in return, and asked, "Then in your opinion, General, when will His Highness Prince Su arrive in the capital?"

"Uh-huh?"

Yang Ning suddenly turned and looked towards the Qianqing Palace, or rather, outside the capital: "Your Highness has arrived!"

"Boom!"

The sound of iron hooves trampling the ground broke the tranquility of the capital.

(End of this chapter)