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

Chapter 335 Yu Huatian Enters Heavenly Prison
The Eastern Depot, the Heavenly Prison.

Yu Huatian strode towards the depths of the prison, followed by his capable henchmen from the Western Depot, who would become the three heads of the Western Depot in the future: Ma Jinliang, Tan Luzi, and Ji Xueyong.

Every single one of them was a master at the Vajra Realm or above.

"Who is coming?"

Although the Western Depot has declined in recent years, both the Eastern Depot and the Western Depot are loyal dogs under the emperor's command, so they naturally understand each other. However, the prison guards in the imperial prison do not recognize Yu Huatian, the soon-to-be-appointed head of the Western Depot, and ask him routine questions.

"Step aside."

Ma Jinliang strode forward, shoved aside the prison guards, and said, "Our Chief Supervisor of the Western Depot has come on His Majesty's orders. How dare you block his way? You have some nerve."

His Majesty?

The prison guards were stunned, especially when they saw the order from the Eastern Depot's chief supervisor in Yu Huatian's hand. They broke out in a cold sweat and quickly bowed and stepped aside.

"I dare not accept this. I was unaware of your arrival, sir, and have failed to greet you properly."

"I hope you will forgive me, sir."

Since Cao Zhengchun, the head of the Eastern Depot, disappeared and Liu Xi temporarily took over the position, the Eastern Depot has been in a state of panic. Although the prison guards could not recognize Yu Huatian, they recognized the hand order of the head of the Eastern Depot.

Even if it's unclear why the token of the Eastern Depot's chief supervisor ended up in the hands of someone from the Western Depot.

But he wisely didn't ask.

……

The Heavenly Prison has seven levels.

The prisoners here are all heinous criminals, all of whom are about to be executed.

Those officials and civil servants who stirred up trouble in the court today, thinking themselves clever, are almost all here now, having escaped being killed on the spot. Their relatives are imprisoned around them.

When the agents of the Western Depot pushed open the prison door, a glimmer of hope flashed in the eyes of these prisoners who had been in despair.

Yu Huatian flicked his cloak, and a Western Depot agent, with great tact, knelt down and let Yu Huatian sit on his back: "I am honored by His Majesty's favor and have been entrusted with this case."

"Gentlemen, surely you won't put our family in a difficult position?"

Although Yu Huatian was asking questions with a smile on his lips, his expression was chilling and intimidating.

A civil official pointed at Yu Huatian and said sternly, "Prince Su has not yet ascended the throne, yet you dare to address him as His Majesty. He... Yu Huatian, do you even have any respect for His Majesty Emperor Zhengde?"

"Palm mouth."

Yu Huatian shook his head slightly, and Tan Luzi instantly stepped forward.

Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!
Several large slaps landed hard on the face of the official who had asked the question, making him dizzy and disoriented. Most of his teeth were knocked out, and his cheeks were red and swollen.

Yu Huatian said with a contemptuous tone, "You have no right to question our family."

"We ask, you answer."

"Or, you could consider first going through the 297 kinds of tortures in the Imperial Guard prison and the Eastern and Western Depots."

"Then choose to confess."

Upon hearing this, the prison fell silent instantly.

Even the official whose cheeks were swollen and whose teeth had fallen out dared not cry out in pain again, and endured it all.

"Yu Huatian, since ancient times, has believed that the law does not apply to high-ranking officials..."

"idiot."

Yu Huatian didn't even bother to listen to the nonsense. With a wave of his hand, Tan Luzi, with a ferocious smile, went up and attacked the official from the Ministry of Personnel who had spoken.

"Nah..." The official from the Ministry of Personnel pointed at Yu Huatian and Tan Luzi, his eyes blazing with fury, wanting to unleash a torrent of abuse, but seeing Tan Luzi raise his hand, he could only swallow his pent-up resentment. "Whose rule is it that high-ranking officials are exempt from punishment?"

"Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty by Emperor Taizu Gao, who established the Hongwu era, has there ever been such a law?" Yu Huatian's voice was very soft, as if he were talking to himself, or as if he were asking the person next to him.

“Reporting to the Grand Supervisor, in the laws of our Great Ming Dynasty, there is no law that stipulates that punishment does not apply to officials.” Ma Jinliang replied in a low voice, and as if he had thought of something, he added, “Even when Emperor Jianwen wanted to restore the old system of Zhou rites, he never mentioned this punishment. It seems that only the Great Song Dynasty…”

"Heh, interesting."

Upon hearing this, Yu Huatian seemed to be reminded of something, as if he had just woken up from a dream. He looked at the official with a meaningful gaze: "The Ming Dynasty has nurtured scholars for over a hundred years, yet you, as an official of the Ministry of Personnel of the Ming Dynasty, are studying the laws of the Song Dynasty?"

"Are you betraying your country and loyal to the Song Dynasty, or are you... colluding with foreign enemies and intending to sell out your country?"

"or……"

"Are you a spy planted in the Ming Dynasty by the Song Dynasty?"

"hiss!!"

Gasps of shock rippled through the crowd. Regardless of their status, everyone was stunned by Yu Huatian's reasoning and instinctively moved away from the official from the Ministry of Personnel.

These people were punished, and some even faced execution.

However, since it's not the final moment, they still haven't given up hope and still hold onto a sliver of expectation.

They weren't afraid of getting involved with spies who colluded with the enemy and betrayed their country. It was already a capital offense, or even the extermination of nine generations of their family. Whether or not they had this charge made little difference.

but……

They are afraid!

With just a few words, Yu Huatian branded them with the crime of treason and betrayal, or even as spies for other countries. Even if they were to die, they would likely bear eternal infamy and be despised by future generations.

"So it turns out they were spies planted by another country. No wonder they had such a strong opinion about Your Highness's attempt to seize power and become emperor. They tested you several times and even tried to force you to make concessions."

Ma Jinliang drew his twin swords from his back with a clang, turned his neck, and stared coldly at the official from the Ministry of Personnel, as if he were ready to behead him on the spot if they disagreed.

"Bang bang bang!"

“Rain Transformation… no, Grandfather Rain, Lord Rain Supervisor.”

"Injustice!"

"I only misspoke in a moment of anger and eagerness to win. I am by no means a spy from another country, and I have no objection to His Highness Prince Su's succession to the throne. I hope that Commander Yu will understand!"

The official from the Ministry of Personnel was so frightened that he kept kowtowing and begging, completely changing his previous arrogant demeanor, fearing that he might say something wrong or be secretly harmed by Yu Huatian.

As an official in the Ministry of Personnel, he lived through the eras of Liu Jin and Cao Zhengchun.

He knew better than anyone just how ruthless and cruel these eunuchs were.

He just misspoke, and now he's been accused of treason and betrayal. If he doesn't beg for mercy, he might be accused of plotting a rebellion, confirming his status as a traitor.

"Sigh, you're still stupid!"

"Even now, you still don't know to address me as Your Majesty."

Yu Huatian shook his head and waved his finger forward.

The next moment, Ma Jinliang's sword flashed across the Eastern Depot's prison.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the official who was still pleading was beheaded on the spot. His blood splattered on the mottled cells of the prison, and onto the faces, bodies, and surrounding prisoners. Many of them screamed in fright or fell to the ground.

Yu Huatian, however, remained unmoved, as if Ma Jinliang had merely swatted a fly. After a few breaths, he calmly looked at the other survivors and said, "His Majesty has given us a death order, and time is running out. I don't want to waste any more words. I just want to ask once: was the test of His Highness in court your own decision, or was it instigated by someone?"

(End of this chapter)