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

Chapter 351 Zhao Min's Plans, the Court Officials' Unease

"Zhao Min's original plan was to ascend the throne herself, rule the world, and become the first female emperor in the world."

"Kalis's appearance disrupted her plans."

"Zhao Min wrote to inquire whether her plan could continue..."

Zhu Jinzhen shook his head and chuckled. It was indeed like the Zhao Min he knew: unwilling to admit defeat, knowing full well the dangers and obstacles ahead, she would do anything to break free of her shackles and would stop at nothing to achieve her goal.

"Your Highness agrees?" A hint of surprise flashed in Changsun Wangqing's beautiful eyes.

"Why not?"

Zhu Jinzhen casually took the secret report from the Mongol Yuan dynasty and threw it on the table: "This is the path Zhao Min chose herself. No matter how much infamy she will bear in the future, she should have expected it."

"There has never been a woman who has ruled as emperor in ancient times."

"Zhao Min is extremely familiar with His Highness's power. She still dared to make such a choice. Putting aside her ambition, her courage alone is unparalleled among women in the world!" Changsun Wangqing felt a sense of admiration for Zhao Min, who was far away in the Mongol Yuan Dynasty.

Although Zhao Min, as one of the secret guards, had only been under their tutelage for a short time.

However, as the executor of the Heavenly Sword Scheme, Zhao Min could not possibly be unaware of the terrifying power Zhu Jinzhen wielded.

If she were to stage a coup and declare herself empress in the Mongol Yuan dynasty, she would certainly not leave a good name in the history books.

because……

The Mongol Yuan dynasty was doomed.

This is something that no one can change or defy.

Zhao Min's choice to stage a coup and declare herself empress at this time will only leave her with the infamy of being a deposed empress.

"Yes."

"She knew she couldn't go against my will, nor could she stop anything."

"So they tried to find a different way to prevent more Mongol people from suffering."

"Although she is a woman, her courage and boldness are no less than those of any man in the world."

Zhu Jinzhen also had to admit that Zhao Min was indeed courageous. Putting aside everything else, the infamy that would last for thousands of years was something that ordinary people could not bear, let alone Zhao Min being a woman.

Changsun Wangqing could guess Zhao Min's thoughts and agreed with her actions, but he was somewhat puzzled. "If we continue down this path, Zhao Min will become a traitor to the Mongol Yuan Dynasty and a ruler who will bring about the downfall of the country. She will be despised by everyone and bear the infamy for all eternity."

"does it worth?"

"Is it worth it?" Zhu Jinzhen was not sure. His gaze was deep and distant, as if it were looking at Zhao Min, who was far away in the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, across the infinite void: "The Ming Dynasty and the Mongol Yuan Dynasty were neighbors. From the time of Emperor Taizu to Emperor Taizong, the two countries fought for many years and there were constant border frictions. Then there was the Tumu Crisis, which made the two countries sworn enemies."

Zhao Min was very clear about one thing: the enmity between the two countries ran deep.

"Even if I don't wield the butcher's knife, she will still worry or be afraid..."

Even if the Tian Ce or Cang Yun cavalry trample the grasslands and bring them under their control, there will always be dissenting voices in the court.

"After all, everyone understands the principle that those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts."

"The best way she could think of to better protect the Mongol people and prevent the war from spreading across the grasslands, which would cause countless people to die and be ruined, was perhaps for her to personally enter the fray, bear the infamy of national subjugation, and have the entire country surrender to the Ming?"

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wangqing's eyes flickered.

"If Zhao Min truly possessed such courage, her schemes would likely extend far beyond this."

"If the whole country surrenders to the Ming, she may be able to protect the Mongol Yuan for a while by bearing the infamy, but it is hard to guarantee that His Highness will not settle scores with her in the future, or that the Mongol Yuan people will be willing to submit, or that the Ming court officials will not object. Once there is any change, all her efforts will be in vain."

"Did you guess it?"

Zhu Jinzhen was not surprised and a faint smile appeared on his face.

"Ok!"

Changsun Wangqing nodded, both amused and exasperated. She had guessed some of it. "Zhao Min wants to rule the world as a woman, and is even willing to stage a coup to become empress before the fall of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. There's probably another reason, to give herself an extra layer of leverage." "Is Zhao Min's plan somewhat of a challenge to you, the empress? Aren't you worried, Wangqing?"

Changsun Wangqing understood Zhu Jinzhen's veiled intention to stir up trouble, but did not expose him. He was both amused and exasperated. Since ancient times, what emperors feared most was that their harems would not be filled with affection, but his own prince was actually stirring things up.
"Your Highness, do you know how?"

“Then…” Zhu Jinzhen deliberately stared into Changsun Wangqing’s eyes as he spoke, showing a hint of hesitation. But seeing that Changsun Wangqing’s phoenix eyes were calm as water, his teasing thoughts immediately vanished: “Of course not.”

The two exchanged a glance, and everything was understood without a word.

Soon, he completely forgot about Zhao Min's matter.

……

That night, countless people tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

A wave of waves has risen again.

This left many high-ranking officials in Beijing, who had spent the night in fear, utterly exhausted.

At dawn, around 5:00 AM.

Another piece of news, as shocking as a thunderbolt, almost shattered the peace of the capital.

"Wasn't Cao Zhengchun dead?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, he is not dead. News has come from the palace that His Majesty has ordered Cao Zhengchun to resume control of the Eastern Depot."

"Zhu Wushi is that good-for-nothing."

One official cursed loudly, clearly indicating a grudge against Cao Zhengchun, the head of the Eastern Depot. During Cao Zhengchun's tenure, with Zhu Houzhao's tacit approval, the Eastern Depot had become extremely arrogant and domineering.

Finally, Zhu Houzhao was gone, and then Cao Zhengchun was gone too.

They thought they could at least have some peace and quiet for a while.

Unexpectedly, Cao Zhengchun did not die, but was reinstated by Zhu Jinzhen and remained the head of the Eastern Depot!

"Is there any other news? Tell me all at once?"

"Last night, after Yu Huatian led his men into the Dragon Guard Manor, according to our scouts, one of the three secret agents of the Dragon Guard Manor, the Xuan-character agent, was secretly summoned inside. It seems that His Majesty intends to restart the Dragon Guard Manor."

"Reopen the Dragon Guard Manor?"

This news left many people stunned.

They did some quick calculations and realized that Zhu Jinzhen already had the Xuanjia Secret Guard, an intelligence organization that combined intelligence gathering and assassination. Once he ascended the throne, he would also have the Eastern and Western Depots and the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Why restart the Dragon Guard Manor under such circumstances?
Is this a complete lack of privacy for the officials?

"The three secret agents of Tiandixuan have always been Zhu Wushi's confidants, and they were personally trained by Zhu Wushi. It is said that he treated them as his own sons, and the three secret agents of Tiandixuan have always called Zhu Wushi their godfather in private."

"Isn't Your Majesty afraid?"

An official, upon thinking of this, began to have some ideas.

The existence of the Eastern and Western Depots and the Embroidered Uniform Guard was already troublesome enough. Now, the Xuanjia Secret Guard was about to monitor all officials and rise above all other departments in the court, making it extremely difficult for them to accept.

If the nature of the Dragon Guard Villa also changes, becoming Zhu Jinzhen's dog.

Then they will really be unable to eat or sleep in peace!

But how to stop it? A thousand ideas flashed through their minds, but they still came up with no solution.

Although they had little contact with Zhu Jinzhen, they at least knew that this new emperor of the Ming Dynasty was definitely someone who would respond to gentle persuasion but not force, and who would even completely defy convention.

Their old methods are completely ineffective.

Even a slight misstep could backfire and cause serious harm.

(End of this chapter)