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

Chapter 319 Zhu Jinzhen: A Man of Great Integrity and Loyalty

In the Fengtian Hall.

The clouds parted to clear the way, and all the officials bowed their heads.

The East and West Depots and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, including high-ranking officials from the Six Doors, were all present.

Zhu Jinzhen was no stranger to the Fengtian Hall.

He had come here several years ago, but back then he was the one who inherited the throne with the golden seal and the imperial edict.

"More than five years have passed, and I have returned!" Zhu Jinzhen looked at the magnificent Fengtian Hall, and even with his composure, he couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion.

Since he inherited the title of Prince Su and drove back the invading Mongols and Liaodong, he has been guarding the borders of the Ming Dynasty and protecting its peace for many years.

Although Zhu Jinzhen had already fantasized about stepping into the Golden Palace and ruling over the vast land of the Ming Dynasty long before he came to the capital to inherit the title of prince, he still dreamed of it.

Now that he has stepped into the Fengtian Hall again, the throne that once made him so eager no longer holds the same allure!

clatter! clatter! clatter!
Every step Zhu Jinzhen took toward the golden steps felt like a blow to everyone's hearts.

His steps were light and graceful, yet they sounded like thunder in the ears of the onlookers.

Everyone's face was extremely solemn. Emperor Zhengde, Zhu Houzhao, had died suddenly, and according to the eunuch Sun, who was acting as Zhu Houzhao's double, it was the desperate act of Zhu Wushi, the Iron-Blooded Marquis, and the cabinet.

This alone was enough to shake the entire court.

No one will forget that the Prince Su standing before them was fighting under the banner of Fengtian Jingnan.

Now the emperor has died suddenly in the palace, and the murderers are pointing directly to the cabinet and imperial relatives.

In any case, it seems that a bloodbath is inevitable today!

When Zhu Jinzhen sat down on the throne representing the supreme imperial power of the Ming Dynasty, many civil and military officials in the court had their pupils shrink, and several figures in the civil official group were eager to make a move.

"Gentlemen, it seems you have a problem with me sitting in this position?" Zhu Jinzhen naturally noticed these people and glanced at them coldly.

A civil official gritted his teeth, stepped forward from the crowd, and bowed deeply: "May I ask, Prince Su, do you intend to emulate Emperor Taizong and ascend to the throne in the name of pacifying the rebellion?"

This statement can be described as frank and outspoken.

The officials present were all taken aback, astonished by the man's audacity.

Zhu Jinzhen nodded calmly: "I am a relative of the Ming Dynasty. Emperor Taizong was able to become emperor by pacifying the rebellion. Now that the emperor has died suddenly, can't I follow suit?"

"Your Highness Prince Su wants to emulate Emperor Taizong. Aren't you afraid of drawing criticism from the people?" The civil official, with a resolute look in his eyes, raised his head and questioned him.

"Ah."

"It seems that there is no shortage of fools everywhere."

Zhu Jinzhen chuckled lightly and gave the other man a deep look: "You want to emulate Fang Xiaoru?"

The people's hearts are with the world, and the world is criticizing it?
Others may be afraid, but why should Zhu Jinzhen be afraid?

The pen is indeed in the hands of scholars, and even Zhu Jinzhen was not confident that he could silence public opinion on this matter.

But the knife was in Zhu Jinzhen's hand.

If you can't silence public opinion, then don't bother; just eliminate them directly.

With the descent of immortals, the clashes with celestial beings, and the acquisition of many secrets from the upper realm from Du Zi, Zhu Jinzhen became less concerned with the various forces in the mortal world and the petty scheming of the civil official group.

If anyone objects, just kill them.

"Your Majesty..." Zhu Jinzhen ignored him, his gaze sweeping coldly over the officials in the Fengtian Hall, and said indifferently, "Apart from him, who else thinks there is a problem with me sitting in this position? Feel free to step forward and let me see."

Yu Huatian's delicate phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and a chilling killing intent emanated from his handsome, effeminate face.

Inside the Fengtian Hall, numerous Xuanjia Secret Guards, as well as the Cangyun Army and Tiance soldiers who had taken over the work of the Imperial Guards, remained silent, their hands gripping their guns and swords tightly.

The discerning officials all sensed something was amiss and secretly prayed that no fools would dare to jump out and court death.

The man before them was not the young Emperor Zhengde, whom they could control.

Instead, it was Prince Su, who fought his way out of the battlefield with his armor and weapons, leading an invincible army all the way from Shaanxi. Zhengde might not touch them, but this prince was truly daring to kill.

However, whatever you fear will come true.

Perhaps it was because they had been under Zhu Houzhao's rule for a long time, or perhaps it was because they had become accustomed to the indulgence of Emperor Xiaozong.

Or perhaps he wanted to take a gamble, betting that Zhu Jinzhen wouldn't dare kill a loyal minister.

"I dare to object, but even if Prince Su were to emulate Emperor Taizong, Your Majesty has now died suddenly in the palace, the cause of death is unknown, and the murderer has been brought to justice. It is unreasonable for you to sit on that throne now." An old minister spoke passionately, seemingly for Zhu Jinzhen's sake, and spoke of this matter with great sorrow.

"I second the proposal."

"The most urgent task at present is to handle His Majesty's funeral arrangements and to find out the real culprit and clear His Majesty's name. No matter how eager Prince Su is to ascend the throne in front of the coffin, he must first go through the Ministry of Rites to select an auspicious day and prepare to offer sacrifices to the ancestral temple and Heaven and Earth, and announce it to the world."

"It is truly improper for Prince Su to sit down so hastily!"

With one person taking the lead, several others stepped forward from among the officials, speaking righteously, passionately, and earnestly admonishing Zhu Jinzhen, as if they were all thinking of his best interests.

Seeing that Zhu Jinzhen did not seem to be angry, many of the officials began to have their own thoughts.

Only a few ministers from the six ministries, including the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Justice, remained, their heads practically bowed to their crotches.

"During the time of Gu Jing's rebellion, the secret guards sent an interesting message."

Zhu Jinzhen suddenly laughed, a very bright smile. Looking at the officials who had jumped out, he said leisurely, "At that time, Emperor Taizong, after the Jingnan Rebellion, declared himself emperor. Fang Xiaoru, a former official of Emperor Jianwen, wanted to show his integrity and cursed Emperor Taizong for being disloyal, unbenevolent, unfilial, and unjust."

“I remember that the biography of Fang Xiaoru, as recorded in the historical documents of the Taizong era, states that on the day of Dingchou, Qi Tai, Huang Zicheng, and Fang Xiaoru were killed, and their clans were exterminated.”

"My ministers, am I mistaken?"

Upon hearing Zhu Jinzhen's question, although the officials were puzzled, some still stepped forward to answer.

"Your Highness's historical knowledge is excellent, not a single detail is wrong."

The period from Emperor Taizong's Jingnan Rebellion to the Zhengde era was only a little over a hundred years. Many of the veteran officials present even had family members who survived the Jingnan Rebellion.

They were extremely familiar with the trivial matters surrounding the Jingnan Campaign.

Not to mention, there were several historians among the officials present.

Although the historians did not understand why Zhu Jinzhen mentioned Fang Xiaoru, they echoed the other officials, indicating that Zhu Jinzhen's reading of the History of Ming was indeed flawless.

"However, according to my secret guards' intelligence, the recent rumors circulating in the Jiangnan region about Fang Xiaoru's fate are not about exiling him to the barbarians, but rather a fabricated unofficial history to highlight Fang Xiaoru's loyalty and insinuate Emperor Taizong's cruelty." Zhu Jinzhen looked at some officials who suddenly trembled, seemingly aware of the matter, with a half-smile.

"The story mentions that Emperor Taizong, under the pretext of 'purging the court of corrupt officials,' ordered Fang Xiaoru to draft an edict of accession to the throne to appease the people. If Fang Xiaoru agreed, he could have mountains of gold and silver, and high-ranking official positions and generous salaries would be at his disposal."

Ignoring the officials whose expressions had changed drastically, Zhu Jinzhen laughed and said to himself, "That unofficial history mentions that on the day Emperor Taizong entered Nanjing, Fang Xiaoru pointed at Emperor Taizong's nose and cursed him, 'You unfilial son Zhu Di, plotting to usurp the throne,' which enraged Emperor Taizong, who asked him, 'Aren't you afraid that I will exterminate your entire clan?'"

"Guess how Fang Xiaoru in that unofficial history answered?"

Zhu Jinzhen's gaze fell on the officials who had been jumping the loudest earlier.

(End of this chapter)