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

Chapter 359 Is this a test for the Minister?

The severed head outside the Meridian Gate swayed in the wind, as if silently proclaiming that the reckoning following the Jingnan Rebellion had only just begun.

"Lord Xu, you must plead with His Majesty on my behalf!"

"In a single day, the Eastern and Western Depots and the Embroidered Uniform Guard imprisoned seven ministers of the third rank or above in the court, and the Six Ministries arrested two ministers and five vice ministers from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel."

"Twenty-seven Beijing officials, ranging from the second to the fifth rank, were beheaded outside the Meridian Gate."

"Thousands of their family members were implicated and exiled."

"If things continue like this, it's only a matter of time before the court falls into disarray and the government becomes corrupt."

No one expected that Zhu Jinzhen's executioner's blade would come so suddenly, catching them completely off guard.

Their property was confiscated, and their entire clan was exterminated.

Carts of gold and silver jewelry, and boxes of ledgers detailing treason and corruption, were piled up outside the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City as if they were free. Anyone who wanted to know could have them read aloud by the Dali Temple, the Ministry of Justice, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Eastern Depot.

In just one day, the corpses outside the Meridian Gate had piled up like mountains.

The officials in the capital were utterly terrified.

They knew that if things continued like this, and Zhu Jinzhen continued his relentless investigation, they would ultimately face certain death as well.

Even among the officials, rumors have begun to circulate.

The horrific scenes of the four major cases during the Hongwu reign may be repeated in their time, perhaps even a hundred times more tragic.

They could only bring gifts to Xu Yu, a former provincial governor from the Prince Su's household, to plead for their lives.

“Other emperors need political maneuvering, but our Emperor does not.”

"The attitude you desire is not what I have here, for I know His Majesty's power and attitude better than you do. Let alone the collapse of the court, half of the officials in the Fengtian Hall have been killed, or even if they were all killed, so what?"

"Your Majesty was able to single-handedly save the Ming Dynasty from peril back then."

"After the Jingnan Rebellion, he was invincible and unstoppable."

"This is enough to prove that it is not His Majesty who needs the Ming Dynasty."

"You think you can restrain His Majesty with your methods, and with each test, do you really think you can make history repeat itself and make His Majesty share the world with you, just like the previous emperors of the Ming Dynasty?"

"You're all seasoned foxes in officialdom, capable of deciding the life and death of thousands with a single stroke of your pen, yet you don't even understand such a simple principle?"

Xu Yu's face was full of sarcasm and disdain. Looking at the civil officials in front of him who were as anxious as ants on a hot pan, but whose faces had turned pale after his words, he couldn't help but sneer in his heart.

Power needs checks and balances, but strength does not.

Zhu Jinzhen possessed the absolute power to overthrow everything, reshuffle the deck, and make the Ming Dynasty operate entirely according to his will.

Civil service group?

A prominent family, a deeply rooted gentry and powerful clan?

It's all just a bubble under the guise of power.

With just a single thought from His Majesty, he could easily crush it completely and sweep it into the dustbin of history.

It's laughable that these people are so oblivious to their impending doom.

They were still indulging in their grand dream that the civil service and the emperor would continue to share the world.

"Xu Yu, you are also from the Xu family. Are you just going to stand by and watch the Xu family be..."

"stop!"

Xu Yu interrupted without hesitation, “Although I come from the Xu family, my master has never given me much care. Even the fact that I was able to become the Provincial Governor of Shaanxi back then was due to His Majesty’s appreciation and promotion.”

"Don't talk about favors or gratitude."

"There was never anything between us."

"As for nonsense like 'we all prosper together, we all suffer together,' let's not even mention it. Although I am only temporarily serving as the Minister of Rites, as long as you are not stupid and as long as I do not make any mistakes, I can hold this position to the end."

"I have no intention of getting involved in your dirty business."

"Besides, you don't represent the entire Xu family."

These words were utterly ruthless and completely severed all pretense of civility.

But Xu Yu didn't care at all.

He, Xu Yu, didn't need many superfluous identities. As long as he faithfully followed his emperor, he had no need for any factions or powerful families to support him. Besides, the Xu family…

It is no longer the glorious era when the family had two dukes and produced a virtuous empress.

It has long since fallen into ruin.

If Xu Pu, the head of the Xu family, had come to persuade him personally, Xu Yu might have offered some assistance out of respect for the family and within reason. But what right does Xu Liang, an unappreciated illegitimate son of the Xu family, have to represent the Xu family and speak with him?

Do you really think his positions as acting Minister of Rites and Provincial Treasurer of Shaanxi are fake?

"you……"

Xu Liang was furious at Xu Yu's arrogant attitude. Back in the capital, who wouldn't respectfully address him as Third Master Xu?
When have we ever been treated with such disrespect?
Xu Yu merely glanced at him, disregarding his impotent rage.

“Lord Xu, if you would be so kind as to say a few kind words, I…” A powerful figure from the capital gritted his teeth, held up a white jade box wrapped in brocade, and presented it to Xu Yu: “This is the sincerity of the Zhang family of Qinghe.”

The brocade box was opened, and Xu Yu took a curious look inside.

The other dignitaries and officials who had come alongside them gasped in shock.

"A thousand-year-old ginseng?"

"The Zhang family really spares no expense!"

The group exchanged glances, all seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

Only Xu Yu couldn't help but twitch at the corner of her eye.

"This thousand-year-old ginseng looks so familiar." Xu Yu pondered for a moment and suddenly realized that this was the same ginseng that his Highness had been giving to high-ranking officials as New Year's rewards over the years.

He still has a few of them hidden in a secret room in his study in Shaanxi!
Thinking of this, Xu Yu couldn't help but laugh: "I know your sincerity, but I still say the same thing: I am but a humble subject, and I dare not presume to know how Your Majesty will decide."

"I'm afraid I can't help you with the things you want me to do."

After Xu Yu finished speaking, he picked up his teacup and looked at the many people in front of him who might become his colleagues or become part of the heads floating outside the Meridian Gate. His eyes were completely devoid of emotion.

They despise these people.

They tried to bribe him with a little gold, silver, jewels, and rare treasures.

Is he using the thousand-year-old reference of the soups his emperor has distributed to nourish the body every year to test him?
Is he really that easily tested?
……

Wenhua Hall.

After serving tea and seeing off the guests, Xu Yu hurriedly went to the palace to see the emperor, carrying the preliminary list he had compiled.

"That's how it is, Your Majesty," Xu Yu replied cautiously.

Upon meeting Zhu Jinzhen, he immediately and truthfully reported all the requests made on behalf of various forces, including powerful figures in the capital and local gentry, in great detail.

"Yes, Xu Qing is very thoughtful."

"It's just a small matter."

Zhu Jinzhen found it both funny and absurd.

The powerful and wealthy officials in the capital were also desperate and grasping at straws.

They even had to plead with Xu Yu, a mere subject, to do it!

Do those people really think that Xu Yu's persuasion can change his treatment of them?
"Yes, Your Majesty is magnanimous." Xu Yu breathed a sigh of relief. Before Zhu Jinzhen laughed, his palms were already sweating. Zhu Jinzhen didn't take it seriously because he was the emperor, with the power to control everything. As a subject, he dared not be careless in the slightest.

The bloodshed outside the Meridian Gate has not yet ceased!

Even if he made the slightest mistake, Zhu Jinzhen would not treat him the same way as those others.

But Xu Yu's official career has probably come to an end here.

Those officials and powerful figures in the capital who couldn't see the reality of the situation thought that Xu Yu was like those who followed Emperor Taizong in the Jingnan Campaign, a meritorious official in the campaign, and that he had some weight in front of Zhu Jinzhen.

In fact, he and other officials from the Shaanxi faction, including Yang Qingyi, the Shaanxi military commander who was ordered to fight in the field, were just doing their duties.

If you really want to calculate it, it's mostly hard work and toil.

The real credit doesn't go to them, but to the Cangyun Army and the Tiance Mansion.

In that case, how much say and influence would they have in front of Zhu Jinzhen?
Xu Yu shook his head inwardly: "If these people had the ability to beg before Commander Yan and Li Chengen, the Grand Commander of the Tian Ce Mansion, and ask them to say a few good words for me before His Majesty, then there might be a chance they would come to me?"

"In His Majesty's eyes, the difference between me and you is probably just a matter of a single thought."

(End of this chapter)