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

Chapter 364 Colluding with Japanese Pirates: A Crime That Cannot Be Punished

The White Lotus sect caused chaos in Shandong.

The attack on the county seat resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of people.

The number of killings caused is countless.

They even openly stormed the government office, occupied the city, and murdered officials appointed by the imperial court.

Seeing that Yu Huatian understood, Zhu Jinzhen turned his gaze to Changsun Wangqing and said, "Wangqing, you will personally lead the army to Shandong. I need to hear news of the cholera outbreak being quelled within two days."

"Yes, Your subordinate obeys!"

Changsun Wangqing bowed and accepted the order.

For other armies, the route from the capital to Shandong is nearly a thousand miles.

Even if they marched day and night without stopping.

It will take at least three to five days to get there.

Not to mention, they also had to suppress the rebellious cult members of the White Lotus Sect.

However, for Changsun Wangqing and the Cangyun Army, a mere thousand miles away and a rabble of people was enough for them to quell and suppress all the unrest in two days.

If Zhu Jinzhen were to issue a direct order, even within a day, the most elite vanguard troops of Cangyun would rush directly to Shandong and quell all rebellions.

"Ok!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Jinzhen nodded and said, "This journey is long and arduous. You may use the intelligence from the Xuanjia Secret Guard, the East and West Depots, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Dragon Guard Manor. The garrisons along the way will also be under your command."

As he spoke, Zhu Jinzhen tossed out a gold token and a tiger tally from the Ministry of War.

"Yes, thank you for your consideration, Your Highness."

Changsun Wangqing accepted the items with a slight smile. Although the Cangyun Army didn't need much assistance or intelligence, Zhu Jinzhen's consideration warmed Changsun Wangqing's heart, though the sternness in his eyes deepened.

They dare to wreak havoc in the local area and slaughter civilians.

The so-called White Lotus Sect should be exterminated!
"Floods in Jiangnan caused a mutiny among the Huai River naval forces, who then colluded with river bandits to plunder the grain transport."

Zhu Jinzhen nodded and opened the reports from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War. The attached account books recorded that as many as 37 grain ships had been hijacked within a month, resulting in a loss of nearly three million shi of grain.

The most shocking thing was the secret report on the appendix.

The mutinous naval commander was none other than Yang Yuxuan's cousin, the former Minister of War.

Zhu Jinzhen hadn't expected that this person wouldn't be implicated, and what he couldn't have foreseen was that this person would dare to instigate a mutiny at such a critical juncture, showing even greater audacity than Yang Yuxuan.

Cao Zhengchun felt Zhu Jinzhen's gaze and immediately bowed, his voice trembling, "Your Majesty, regarding Yang Qing's matter, which is being used to cause trouble in Yang Yuxuan's name, could it be handed over to the Eastern Depot for handling?"

Yang Yuxuan, the former Minister of War, was a figure orchestrated by Cao Zhengchun and the Eastern Depot.

It wouldn't be wrong to call it a frame-up.

Many pieces of evidence are incomplete.

But it's not necessarily true that Yang Yuxuan, the Minister of War, was wronged.

However, Zhu Jinzhen was too lazy to deal with the entanglements involved, and simply nodded to Cao Zhengchun: "You have... never mind, I will transfer a thousand Tian Ce soldiers to accompany you, I only care about the result."

"If the mutinous soldiers are unaware of the situation or their actions are excusable, they shall be treated leniently."

"All high-ranking officers and commanders of the Huai River naval forces who participated in or failed to report such activities... shall be executed!"

Originally, Zhu Jinzhen intended to ask Cao Zhengchun how confident he was.

Although the Eastern Depot was powerful, the Huai River navy was not to be underestimated. Moreover, even a powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake. When the Eastern Depot arrived there, it would not only have to face the mutinous Huai River navy, but also the local gentry and powerful families.

But Zhu Jinzhen then thought, what kind of assurance is needed?
Why doesn't he just send the Tian Ce Mansion to accompany them and push through the entire area?
Huai River Naval Force?

Is it strong?
"Yes, Your Majesty, this servant will certainly not disappoint you." Cao Zhengchun nodded, a slight smile appearing on his face. The mutiny of the Huai River navy was inextricably linked to Yang Yuxuan, the Minister of War who had already been executed.

However, Cao Zhengchun was not entirely confident that he could handle the Eastern Depot well.

But what if he had a thousand Tian Ce soldiers accompanying him? The mere Huai River navy would be a piece of cake for Cao Zhengchun, a sure thing.
Yu Huatian cast an envious glance at Cao Zhengchun. Although he was currently temporarily in charge of the Western Depot, it was almost inevitable that he would take charge of the Western Depot in the future. But how could it compare to the joy of leading the Cangyun or Tiance Mansion out to fight?

“The Tian Ce soldiers, Cao the eunuch… Cao Zhengchun is quite lucky to have gained His Majesty’s favor.” Shangguan Haitang’s eyes were also bright. She had dealt with the Tian Ce soldiers before and knew how terrifying they were.

The Tian Ce soldiers, numbering at least a thousand, are at least a thousand Vajra Realm warriors.

Let alone suppressing a mere rebellion of the Huai River naval forces, even if local vassal kings raised troops, it wouldn't be too difficult for these thousand Tian Ce soldiers to suppress them.

Zhu Jinzhen tapped his fingertips on the table, his gaze falling on the memorial from the Fujian governor. The Japanese pirates, in alliance with local powerful families, had already breached Quanzhou Port, burned down the warehouses of the Maritime Trade Office, and even built fortresses on the coast. The memorial ended with a note in red ink: "Local gentry are secretly colluding to provide the Japanese pirates with fresh water and provisions."

"Furthermore, it is suspected that they have some kind of collusion with martial arts sects in Japan."

"Heh, what audacity!" Zhu Jinzhen put down the memorial, his eyes flashing with cold killing intent. He didn't look at Yan Yimei and the secret guards, whom he had always trusted the most, nor did he look at the Eastern and Western Depots or the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Instead, he turned his gaze to Shangguan Haitang.

The latter felt a jolt in his heart, bewildered.

Fortunately, Zhu Jinzhen quickly realized that this world was not the most powerful in the world, and Zhu Wushi's plans had not yet reached their later stages. Many things had already changed.

Furthermore, Zhu Wushi was already in the Eastern Depot's prison, so it was clearly unrelated to him.

"Japanese ninjutsu".

"Ah, Yu Huatian..."

"This servant is here." Yu Huatian immediately stepped forward. He could sense that Zhu Jinzhen's chest was filled with anger. Although he didn't understand why, he knew that Zhu Jinzhen had called his name at this moment, which meant that he was going to entrust him with an important task.

"never mind."

Zhu Jinzhen's furrowed brows suddenly relaxed, and his face was full of smiles: "I almost got caught up in my habitual thinking. Evidence? What use do I have for evidence when faced with the Japanese pirates harassing the coast?"

"Somebody come!"

Zhu Jinzhen took a deep breath and announced loudly to the outside of the hall, "Summon Qin Feng, deputy general of the vanguard battalion of the Cangyun Army, and Xiao Lie, deputy general of the Breaking Camp of the Tiance Prefecture."

Inside the Wenhua Hall, there was a deathly silence.

Only the increasingly heavy breathing of a few people remained.

They had considered that Zhu Jinzhen might be angry, but they had not expected him to be so furious.

They didn't even bother with investigation or evidence collection before sending troops to suppress and kill.

even……

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

Before long, two figures appeared in the hall like ghosts.

Qin Feng was clad in heavy black iron armor, while Xiao Lie wore silver-white armor.

"Your Majesty." The two knelt on one knee, their voices booming like thunder.

Zhu Jinzhen pointed to the red dot on the map: "The Japanese pirates in Quanzhou, as well as those powerful families who are stirring up trouble, I will give you two battalions of troops to dispatch. Within half a month, you will wipe them all out."

"According to intelligence reports, there seem to be Japanese pirates and so-called experts from Japan roaming around Quanzhou and Fuzhou."

He paused, a fierce glint in his eyes, "Remember, nip it in the bud, leave no one alive."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The two answered in unison. As they turned to leave, the sound of their black iron armor colliding with the bluestone ground was even more deafening than the thunder outside the palace.

"Yu Huatian, Qinglong, Shangguan Haitang."

“Your servants are here,” the three immediately bowed and replied.

"I'll give you ten days to find out who's colluding with the Japanese pirates." Zhu Jinzhen's gaze was deep and cold. He could tolerate mutinies and popular uprisings, but to dare to collude with Japanese pirates and wreak havoc on the Ming coast was unacceptable.

This crime warrants the extermination of his entire family, even nine generations, to appease his anger.

The emotionless, icy gaze sent shivers down the spines of the three people in the Wenhua Hall, who immediately bowed and accepted the order.

(End of this chapter)