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

Chapter 340 Fear and Speculation

Were the Eastern Depot and Western Depot terrifying?

For the civil service, it's not actually something to be terrified of.

But that depends on one thing.

The emperor's meaning.

Take Liu Jin, the leader of the Eight Tigers who caused an uproar in the Ming Dynasty not long after Zhengde ascended the throne, for example. He was able to act so recklessly, arbitrarily frame court officials, and even suppress officials.

What appears to be a calamity caused by eunuchs is actually a power struggle between Zhu Houzhao and his officials, as anyone with discernment knows.

Whether it's the Eastern Depot or the Western Depot.

Even the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Six Doors.

They were nothing more than vicious dogs kept by the emperor, knives in the emperor's hand.

But that's also the scariest part.

As the emperor's sword and vicious hounds, the Eastern and Western Depots and the Embroidered Uniform Guard often possessed terrifying privileges, sometimes even able to touch the cabinet.

"Lord Shen, are you worried that Prince Su, no, our new emperor, will use this as an excuse to cause trouble?"

“The interests have been reshuffled, and no one knows what our Emperor is planning.” Shen Zhou slowly shook his head, neither agreeing nor doubting, and was very hesitant: “But, even the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet have been taken down by our Emperor, and I’m afraid the Six Ministries, Three Departments, Five Courts, and the Censorate will also be hard-pressed to escape the purge.”

"Yu Huatian, perhaps, is that knife."

Shen Zhou was secretly lamenting his predicament. Even if the Secret Guards investigated the case and it involved a wider range of people, he wasn't too worried because the Secret Guards wouldn't act like the Eastern Depot and the Western Depot.

They would stop at nothing to win the favor of their master.

Everything has a traceable origin.

But the Eastern Depot and Western Depot had no bottom line and acted despicably. They could drag a death row inmate into a case without any evidence and falsely accuse you of treason and collusion with the enemy.

Shen Zhou had no doubt that he would be added to Zhu Jinzhen's death list without even realizing it.

The next day, the people from the Western Depot were able to present him with a long list of 'evidence' that he could not refute.

"What should I do?"

"Yes, Lord Shen, although we have never dealt with the people from the Western Depot, judging from the style of Cao Zhengchun, Liu Jin, Liu Xi, and the past actions of Wang Zhi and others from the Western Depot, those who have been valued by our new emperor are probably not easy to deal with."

"The Western Depot has been in decline for many years, but I never expected that Yu Huatian would suddenly emerge again!"

"Or should we strike first?"

"Have you gone mad from frequenting brothels? That Yu Huatian is favored by His Majesty, so how could he be an ordinary person? Moreover, he is currently enjoying the Emperor's favor. Why not strike first?"

Xiao Shu, the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, listened to his colleagues' arguments and worries, his brows furrowed, and he let out a long sigh: "My biggest concern is still Yu Huatian! He hasn't yet become the Director of the Western Depot, but even when he was in the Eastern Depot's prison, his subordinates already addressed him respectfully as 'Director.' If he's eager to make a name for himself and become the Director of the Western Depot, I fear he might frame someone, fabricating baseless charges to gain favor with His Majesty!"

The officials present dared not speak about other matters.

However, in terms of framing, confiscating property, exterminating families, and fabricating charges, they believed that the Eastern Depot, Western Depot, and Embroidered Uniform Guard were absolutely the most professional, no less so than Yan Song, the former Minister of Rites.

"Report."

"My lord, there is urgent news!"

Suddenly, an old voice came from outside the door.

The crowd was already on edge, and many were startled by the sound.

Only Shen Zhou's expression changed slightly, and he said, "Enter."

Soon, a man dressed in black strode into the room, ignoring the stares of the others, and approached Shen Zhou, saying, "My lord, we have just received news that Yu Huatian entered the palace overnight."

"What??"

Shen Zhou was greatly alarmed.

"Tell me the details."

"Yes." The man, dressed in black and with an aged voice, quickly explained the news he had just received.

Upon hearing this, the others also perked up their ears and listened intently to the other party's report.

"You mean, Yu Huatian obtained a list from the imperial prison and rushed to the palace to see His Majesty overnight??" Shen Zhou's scalp was about to explode, and his gaze towards the gullible man in front of him was filled with panic.

"Yes."

"Moreover, according to our spies, Yu Huatian entered the palace and walked out with a murderous aura about an incense stick's time later."

He entered the palace carrying a list, and left exuding a murderous aura?

Shen Zhou, Xiao Shu, and the other officials present exchanged glances, all seeing the chill in each other's eyes.

Suddenly, another figure gracefully landed outside the door.

"Report, Your Excellency, Yu Huatian has suddenly left the palace and is heading towards the Northern Garrison Command."

"What is Yu Huatian doing at the Northern Garrison?" Shen Zhou's pupils contracted, and he paced back and forth in surprise and uncertainty, subconsciously muttering, "Since the palace has not mobilized a large number of troops, it proves that things have not yet reached the point of no return."

"But Yu Huatian left the palace with a murderous aura, but instead of returning to the Western Depot, he went to the Northern Garrison overnight?"

"Is it possible..."

The moment Shen Zhou looked up, his gaze met that of Xiao Shu, the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Both of them saw the solemnity and shock in each other's eyes.

The next moment, the two said almost in unison: "Yu Huatian wants to borrow the power of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?!"

"Since Yu Huatian brought the list into the palace, it means that the other party must have found something, or that the mouths of those people in the prison finally couldn't be kept and revealed something."

Xiao Shu's analysis made Shen Zhou nod repeatedly: "Indeed."

"Let's leave aside what's on the list and who's involved for now."

“Yu Huatian’s rush to the Northern Garrison overnight is definitely not just because he needs the Embroidered Uniform Guard.” Xiao Shu fell silent after saying this.

The matter was certainly not simple, but he couldn't quite figure out Yu Huatian's purpose for this trip.

There is too little useful information.

"Three possibilities."

Shen Zhou picked up where Xiao Shu left off, holding up three fingers: "Firstly, Yu Huatian is not yet the official director of the Western Depot. He has limited manpower, and the things he dug out from the Eastern Depot's prison are substantial. He needs to rely on external forces."

"Since Cao Zhengchun disappeared and Liu Xi started causing trouble, the Eastern Depot has been in complete chaos."

"Therefore, Yu Huatian chose the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Xiao Shu and the others nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

"Secondly, the list in Yu Huatian's hands involves a wide range of people. He has not yet taken charge of the Western Depot and has not been blinded by his achievements. He wanted to win over other forces to help each other, so he chose the Northern Garrison Command."

When Shen Zhou uttered his second guess, the room fell into a deathly silence.

If his guess is correct, at least several people in this house tonight will be implicated.

But no matter how flustered they were, they could only listen quietly.

The sky, after all, hasn't fallen.

"Third..."

Shen Zhou took a deep breath, his face turning pale: "Yu Huatian received instructions from His Majesty to cooperate with the Embroidered Uniform Guard in an operation, targeting..."

"Are they court officials???"

Xiao Shu accepted Shen Zhou's guess with a trembling voice.

The latter nodded heavily, his body trembling.

"If that's really the case, then the capital... will be awash in blood!"

(End of this chapter)