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

Chapter 318 News of the Emperor's Death

Cangyun's arrival in the capital foreshadowed the end of the Zhengde Emperor's era.

The Ming Dynasty and its capital city are about to change hands.

Yan Yimei took the lead, leading a portion of the secret guards and the Cangyun Army. Without needing Zhu Jinzhen to issue another order, she took over all the defenses of the inner city of the Forbidden City. With the cooperation of the secret guards planted in the palace, she quickly took control of the entire palace.

Although there were many hooligans and thugs who were blinded by greed, as well as some people with ulterior motives who wanted to create chaos and take advantage of the situation, they were all met with the iron-fisted suppression of the Cangyun Army, the Tian Ce Mansion, and the Secret Guard.

They couldn't cause any trouble at all. Apart from leaving behind a large number of corpses in a short period of time as a warning to others, the capital city remained as prosperous and bustling as ever.

Even public security is much better than before.

After all, anyone who sees several Masters of the Finger Profound Realm patrolling a street from time to time, accompanied by several or even a dozen Vajra Realm experts, would never dare to have any extraneous thoughts, no matter how delusional or reckless they may be.

Zhu Jinzhen had no intention of committing further killings.

The overall situation has been decided.

There can't be any more surprises!
In addition, the Cangyun and Tiance armies have strict military discipline. Xiao Luoyang and Li Wuyi of the Tiance Mansion both adhere to Zhu Jinzhen's orders not to harm the innocent or disturb or invade the people.

Therefore, after the Cangyun Army and the Tian Ce Mansion took over all the defenses of the capital according to the two men's arrangements, they sent people to patrol the various districts, in addition to suppressing and killing some petty scoundrels who wanted to take advantage of the chaos to cause trouble in the streets.

The people of the capital, who were initially filled with fear, were surprised to find that the Cangyun Army and Tiance soldiers, who had terrified countless people, actually did not harm them in the slightest.

The chaos and panic that originally arose from the entry of the Jingnan army into the city.

It was also quickly wiped out without a trace.

……

When Zhu Jinzhen's carriage arrived at the foot of the Forbidden City.

Zhu Houzhao's trusted eunuch, following a pre-rehearsed route, smeared two onions on his eyes, and was then struck on a crying point by Yu Huatian with a gentle touch. He tumbled and crawled out of the palace, shouting, "Your Highness Prince Su, this servant requests to see Your Highness Prince Su!"

"Let him come over."

As Zhu Jinzhen's voice rang out, Yan Yimei, who had only symbolically blocked the way, waved her hand, and the secret guards and Cangyun Army blocking the way quickly made way, but only ten steps away from Zhu Jinzhen's carriage.

Upon seeing this, Eunuch Sun cried out the words that most people were already prepared for, yet still broke down on the spot, nearly causing them to faint: "Your Highness Prince Su, Zhu Wushi and the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet have plotted a rebellion. Upon learning that your army was at the city gates, they went so far as to contemplate regicide. His Majesty... has passed away!"

It's going to happen!

The accompanying officials were terrified, and tried to curl themselves up like quails.

"Hiss!? Did I hear that right?"

"Am I hallucinating?"

"Have Zhu Wushi and the other cabinet ministers gone mad?"

"No way? King regicide? They dare to commit king regicide?"

"How dare they?"

"Could it be that they're desperate and want to drag His Majesty down with them?"

"That shouldn't be the case. It's possible that Zhu Wushi is all alone, but Chief Minister Yang and Grand Secretary Li have huge families and businesses. Do they really not want to abandon their entire families?"

Many officials, unaware of the situation, were so shocked by the news that they gasped and nearly fainted. Many others were filled with suspicion and bewilderment.

However, after being reminded by others, many people suddenly realized that Yang Yanhe and others' stance on killing the emperor might be because they had already failed in their rebellion and now knew that their death was imminent. Their reasons for their madness before death made many people realize the truth.

Rebellion is a capital offense punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family.

Killing one's lord is a capital offense punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family.

Based on their understanding of Zhu Jinzhen, Zhu Wushi and the other cabinet ministers were bound to die, and their families were likely doomed as well. So, in their final moments, Zhu Wushi would try to drag the emperor down with him, which seemed... rather unbelievable.

But they couldn't think of any other reason.

Surely it couldn't be that the emperor was tired of living, or afraid of being humiliated, and knew he was about to be dethroned, so he wanted to die before Zhu Jinzhen's army entered the city, right? Seeing this, Princess Yunluo, who was hiding behind the city, also wanted to wipe away her tears and come out to put on a show.

Unfortunately, her acting skills were really not good, and she was stopped by the Empress Dowager and Yang Ning.

Only Zhu Wushi, despite having his cultivation crippled, had a better foundation than Yang Yanhe and the others. Hearing the whispers outside, he almost jumped out and started cursing.

Zhu Wushi admitted that he had rebelled.

But he did not commit the heinous regicide, nor did he admit to it.

I'd rather die than admit it.

……

The atmosphere in the palace quickly became extremely oppressive after Eunuch Sun spoke.

The murmurs of the surrounding officials gradually subsided.

The ministers and vice ministers of the six ministries, those who knew the inside story, were all anxiously watching Zhu Jinzhen's reaction. They knew that no matter what they said or thought, it would be useless.

The next Ming Dynasty was ruled by Zhu Jin, who single-handedly controlled the world.

The fate of the emperor, and how the cabinet and officials would react, rested entirely on Zhu Jinzhen's decision.

However, Zhu Jinzhen's reaction was quite strange.

He simply nodded and said, "I understand."

"Yang Ning."

Yang Ning appeared in a flash, landing ten feet away from Zhu Jinzhen's carriage, and bowed deeply: "Your subordinate is here."

Zhu Jinzhen calmly ordered, "Bring Zhu Houzhao's body to the Fengtian Hall, along with Zhu Wushi and the cabinet members."

Upon hearing this, those who knew the inside story were all taken aback.

Shouldn't we deal with Zhu Wushi and the cabinet first, at least by accusing them of regicide?
Even the historians, who had plenty of ideas in mind, were confused.

"Yes!"

Although Yang Ning was also completely confused, he still did as instructed.

"I know what you're thinking, but I can't be bothered to care about your little schemes."

Zhu Jinzhen lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out. His calm gaze swept over the officials and imperial guards around him, making everyone feel an unprecedented sense of oppression.

Live in a place that nourishes the spirit, and move around to nourish the body.

As the Prince of Su of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Jinzhen commanded a million soldiers and was an absolute ruler. Even without displaying any martial arts prowess, his thunderous abilities, such as repelling an immortal from the upper realm with a single sword strike outside the capital and summoning an immortal from afar, had already astonished everyone.

Even without displaying any imposing presence, its calm sweep carries the force of a thunderbolt.

Even in this freezing weather, the officials were still drenched in cold sweat.

Everyone understood that this was Zhu Jinzhen's warning.

Unlike Zhu Houzhao and the previous emperors of the Ming Dynasty, he did not care about the thoughts of his officials, the so-called popular will, or the general trend, nor did he care about the unity of the emperor and his ministers. Anyone who dared to violate his taboos would be disregarded.

Even if one is a hereditary duke, one can still hold a high position, such as one of the Three Dukes, the Grand Secretary, or the Minister of the Six Ministries.

He will show no mercy.

Because from the moment Zhu Jinzhen stood in the Forbidden City, he was the embodiment of the general trend, the will of the people, and the emperor, and he would not compromise with any person, force, or thing because of any factor or external force.

They are not qualified either.

(End of this chapter)