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

Chapter 352 Blinded by Power, Driven by Greed

Undercurrents are swirling in the capital.

With Cao Zhengchun's reinstatement, rumors circulated that Zhu Jinzhen intended to reopen the Hulong Manor, causing widespread anxiety and unease among officials and residents of several noble mansions in the capital.

"The way to govern subordinates lies in maintaining balance."

"Cao Zhengchun's reinstatement was within our expectations."

Wang Zhi's voice reached Yu Huatian's ears, who was dressed in a python robe, as if reminding him not to let his mind wander.

"His Majesty has reinstated him to the position of Director of the Eastern Depot."

“I had anticipated this long ago, when I learned that Cao Zhengchun was still alive.” Yu Huatian shook his head. He had no objection or resentment about this matter, and his thoughts were not about competing with Cao Zhengchun.

"Then why are you so restless?"

“Master Wang, in this world, people are nothing more than pursuing fame and fortune.” Yu Huatian turned around and faced Wang Zhi directly, a chilling murderous intent surfacing on his handsome, effeminate face: “But often, people’s greed is insatiable, like a snake trying to swallow an elephant.”

Wang Zhi was no fool. He had been in charge of the Western Depot for many years and was highly valued by the emperor twice.

Naturally, it was immediately obvious that Yu Huatian must have learned some news, or rather, discovered something.

"Huaixi? Or the civil service group in Jiangnan? Or perhaps those vassal kings?"

"What are they planning to do?" Wang Zhi couldn't help but wonder.

Wang Zhi was quite familiar with Yu Huatian and knew that for the other party to unleash such intense killing intent, it must be because the other party had angered Yu Huatian.

However, Yu Huatian's eyes only revealed a sinister look, and he did not answer.

Such a reaction from Yu Huatian sent a chill down Wang Zhi's spine, and a terrifying thought surfaced in his mind: "Could it be that they intend to assassinate the emperor??"

“They don’t have the guts, nor can they do it.” Yu Huatian’s voice was icy, filled with disdain: “Although some of the clueless dead men in the messages we received tonight did have such ideas, and even brought them up.”

dead?

Wang Zhi's pupils contracted, and he instantly understood.

It is likely that Yu Huatian learned of the conversation between the officials during their secret meeting and sent people to kill them.

Wang Zhi would not underestimate Yu Huatian, this young eunuch.

The fact that Yu Huatian was able to gain Zhu Jinzhen's favor and be entrusted with teaching him everything, coupled with his ruthless methods and the boldness that ordinary eunuchs lacked, meant that he was destined to go very far on this path.

"Then?" Wang Zhi wanted to ask, but realized it was inappropriate and quickly swallowed his words: "I have no intention of probing His Majesty's and the secret guards' secrets. If it is inconvenient to say, then just pretend I didn't ask."

"There's nothing inconvenient to say."

Yu Huatian shook his head and said, "Some people are still unwilling to give up and still want to try."

"They felt that since they held power and controlled half of the Ming Dynasty's wealth and military defense, if they united, even if His Majesty was furious, he would not punish them because of their numbers."

“They may have even prepared the pieces in advance, or... sacrificed them.”

A sharp killing intent and contempt flashed in Yu Huatian's deep eyes.

Those people are being too presumptuous.

Wang Zhi shook his head repeatedly: "They are still stuck in their old ways of doing things. The blood shed in Fengtian Hall today has not awakened them!"

"In the past, the change of power was always the result of the game between various parties."

"The changes of the throne are even more severe than this."

"But they forgot!"

"Or rather, subconsciously and deliberately avoiding that question."

"Our current emperor has set a precedent in history, crushing all the processes that required negotiation, calculation, and compromise with an unstoppable force, forcing them to bow down."

“Our current emperor is fundamentally different from the former emperor.”

"They are courting their own destruction!"

Although Wang Zhi did not appear today, he was fully aware of what was happening inside and outside the palace.

The cabinet deserves to die!

However, no monarch in history would have directly purged the entire cabinet.

Disciplining some, winning over others, and sowing discord among others—this is the way to maintain balance in managing subordinates.

Zhu Jinzhen, however, did not do that. He wanted to use the blood of the cabinet to warn future generations, to warn all emperors and officials of the Ming Dynasty, that if anything happened to the emperor, the cabinet would be the first to die.

Don't ask why, just ask for the result.

If the emperor dies unexpectedly, all the cabinet officials will be buried with him.

They forcibly tied the emperor's life to the lives of all the chief ministers, deputy ministers, and grand secretaries of the cabinet, and even their nine generations of relatives.

This means that the Ming Dynasty will eventually want to change its dynasty.

The plan to seize the throne became no longer feasible.

It is an age-old law that people's hearts are hard to unite. Even if the chief minister or the deputy chief minister wants to take a gamble, there will always be some cabinet members who have different ideas.

Each cabinet only requires the emperor to secretly select one person to join.

Although we cannot know all the cabinet's moves, at least we don't have to worry about the cabinet suddenly betraying us and leaving us unprepared.

For example, Zhu Houzhao.

Now that the cabinet has just collapsed, many court officials are already jumping out to speak out.

They even attempted to coerce court officials into forcing Zhu Jinzhen to make concessions or compromises?
Isn't that just asking for death?

A cold smile spread across Yu Huatian's face.

“What Wang Gong could understand, they could not.”

The word "power" is always so alluring!

Wang Zhi shook his head. Perhaps this is a case of the bystander seeing things more clearly?

His time as the head of the Western Depot was coming to an end. The rest of his days were spent paving the way for Yu Huatian, which allowed him to escape the maze of power, see the truth, and witness countless people sacrificing their lives for power!

“What the Rain Supervisor said makes a lot of sense.”

"Many people are blinded by their desire for power and cannot see reality clearly."

"And our task and responsibility is to help them recognize reality."

It wasn't until Cao Zhengchun's sharp voice rang out that Wang Zhi and Yu Huatian turned to look in the direction of the sound and saw Cao Zhengchun, who had changed back into a python robe, striding towards them with several experts from the Eastern Depot.

Wang Zhi and Yu Huatian's pupils both contracted. They looked at each other and saw the shock in each other's eyes.

Cao Zhengchun seemed to know what the other party was thinking. With a smile on his lips and his fingers delicately gesturing, he asked, "Why do you two look like you've seen a ghost when you see me?"

Yu Huatian narrowed his eyes slightly, looking Cao Zhengchun up and down: "Your Majesty is indeed incredibly capable. With your injuries, you've recovered so quickly?!"

Cao Zhengchun was brought out by him and Wang Zhi from the Imperial Library.

No one knew Cao Zhengchun's injuries better than the two of them.

But now...

Cao Zhengchun's Heavenly Gang Child Skill was surging with true energy, and his movements were powerful and imposing. He was nowhere near the weak and dying man he had been tonight, like a piece of rotten wood.

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhengchun smiled broadly and cupped his fists towards Yu Huatian with his delicate fingers, saying, "I must thank Eunuch Yu for his help; otherwise, I'm afraid I would have been waiting to die in the Sutra Pavilion!"

"You should thank His Majesty."

“Of course, I must thank His Majesty. But Eunuch Yu is also a great benefactor of Zhengchun. Please accept my bow.” After saying this, Cao Zhengchun bowed deeply to Yu Huatian, who accepted it without hesitation.

To be honest, if it weren't for Yu Huatian's help, Cao Zhengchun would indeed have been waiting to die in the Sutra Repository.

After receiving Cao Zhengchun's bow, Yu Huatian straightened his posture and said, "Chief Supervisor Cao, you have just recovered from your injuries and immediately came to visit the West Depot. What brings you here? And what did you mean by what you said when you entered?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhengchun calmly stood up, looked directly at Yu Huatian, and slowly revealed a cold smile: "What we mean is..."

"It is our duty to share His Majesty's burdens."

"Some things cannot wait until His Majesty gives the order before they are done."

"To share His Majesty's burdens?" Upon hearing this, Yu Huatian looked Cao Zhengchun up and down as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world, his suspicion clearly exposed in his eyes.

(End of this chapter)