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

Chapter 380 Sudden Wealth, Urgent Delivery

"Your Majesty, Xu Yu requests an audience."

"Xuan."

Although Zhu Jinzhen did not ascend the throne, as he comprehended the art of bestowing divine titles upon the emperor and studied the methods of governing the court, his dragon aura and imperial majesty increased day by day.

The palace maids serving in the Wenhua Hall were often so frightened by Zhu Jinzhen’s unintentional glances or the emotions he revealed that they would become paralyzed.

"Your subject, Xu Yu, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

After Xu Yu entered, he bowed deeply.

"No need to be formal."

Zhu Jinzhen waved his hand and said, "Minister Xu, have you come here to see if the preparations for the enthronement ceremony are complete?"

"Your Majesty has keen insight."

“This time, we need to add some other rituals.” Zhu Jinzhen thought of the previous battle report and said, “This is the Tian Ce battle report between Annam and Siam. Take a look.”

“Your subject has overstepped his bounds.”

Xu Yu respectfully accepted the battle report and began to read it, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

"Congratulations to your majesty, congratulations to your majesty."

"The Tian Ce Prefecture conquered Ava and the Bai Gu Dynasty in succession, then took Annam in another battle, and recovered the old territory of Jiaozhi, demonstrating the might of my Great Ming Dynasty..."

"stop."

Zhu Jinzhen waved his hand to interrupt Xu Yu's flattery and shook his head, saying, "What I mean is, on the day of the enthronement ceremony, we need to set aside some time for some different 'programs,' understand?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Yu immediately looked down again.

Upon seeing the battle report that "the King of Annam surrendered with a jade disc and a sheep in his arms, shirtless," he immediately smiled knowingly and bowed again, replying, "Understood, Your Majesty. Rest assured, the Ministry of Rites will immediately begin coordinating."

"Ah."

Zhu Jinzhen nodded and said, "Make some time for this ceremony. I have a feeling it will be more lively than ever before..."

Xu Yu was taken aback. There was another expert?

He quickly realized that Myanmar and Annam were Xu Changhai's battlefields.

However, to the north lies the Cangyun Army, commanded by Xue Zhi, the deputy commander of the Cangyun Army.

Beyond the Wusizang Commandery lies the territory of the Kunlun slaves. The Grand Commander of Tian Ce could not possibly return empty-handed, given that he leads a larger and more powerful elite force.

and……

Meanwhile, on the Mongol side, there are still two cavalry units fighting.

With this in mind, Xu Yu had already made up his mind. He bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, please rest assured that the Ministry of Rites will make the arrangements before the enthronement ceremony."

"So best."

Zhu Jinzhen smiled and nodded, then inquired about the etiquette of the enthronement ceremony, the items prepared, whether the expenses were sufficient, and whether additional funds were needed.

There are hints of the nouveau riche's attitude about them.

but……

Who told the Embroidered Uniform Guards to work so hard to prove themselves to their new master, Zhu Jinzhen?
Seeing that the Embroidered Uniform Guard had gone mad, the Eastern and Western Depots also got involved.

In just over half a month, the number of people in the capital whose homes were raided and whose families were exterminated was comparable to the number of people killed in the four major cases of the Hongwu reign. The silver obtained from the raids piled up into dozens of mountains of gold and silver in the palace and the private treasury that Zhu Jinzhen had appropriated for himself.

It contained over 3.5 billion units of gold, silver, and various rare treasures.

It gave Zhu Jinzhen the feeling that he could never spend all the money.

Xu Yu was naturally aware of this situation, but she still shook her head decisively, indicating that it was enough.

After all, Zhu Jinzhen had already approved enough funds.

Any more than that, and it's not luxury, it's extravagance and waste.

……

After Zhu Jinzhen's repeated iron-fisted purges, the situation in the capital changed several times a day. From the initial atmosphere of fear and unease among officials, many people later discovered that as long as they did not cross the line, some corrupt officials would turn a blind eye even if the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern and Western Depots had verified the evidence.

At first, the officials thought Zhu Jinzhen was worried that if he killed too many people, there would be no one left in the court. But it wasn't until more corrupt officials were dragged out of the Meridian Gate to be beheaded, their homes confiscated, and they were exiled as a show of force that those who still harbored illusions realized belatedly that they were wrong.

Zhu Jinzhen did not mean that there was no need for investigation; rather, the "embezzlement" of some officials should not be equated with corruption.

The imperial court allocated millions of taels of silver for disaster relief, bridge and road construction, and river embankment repair. Some officials took a portion of it, yet they handled the tasks perfectly, neither shortchanging the people nor failing to meet the imperial court's orders.

Only a very small portion was caught.

Those who truly get things done.

Zhu Jinzhen turned a blind eye and let the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern and Western Depots let them go.

As for those who harbored illusions, they were all high-ranking officials who received a million taels of silver for disaster relief from the imperial court, but after layers of exploitation at the local level, only less than 100,000 taels remained.

Those who truly suffer are mostly those in the imperial court who don't know how to restrain themselves.

An official stepped out of the courtyard and, gazing at the still prosperous capital, suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu: "This bloody massacre is finally over!"

For two consecutive days, no more officials were beheaded or had their homes confiscated.

I haven't heard of any powerful or influential family being raided or exterminated.

But his heart, which had just begun to ease, was suddenly gripped again by a group of eunuchs who appeared at the street corner. "Oh no, could it be that the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard have reported my past affair of forcibly taking seventeen concubines?"

Fortunately, his worries were unnecessary.

These eunuchs and imperial guards were only responsible for relaying messages and informing people of the date of the coronation ceremony.

Such incidents were constantly unfolding throughout the capital.

Suddenly, a messenger arrived from outside the capital to report.

"Urgent message, make way."

A battle report delivered by urgent messenger?

The people of the capital made way for him, while curiously looking around, wondering if something had happened on the border.

"A battle report delivered by urgent dispatch?"

"Strange, there has been no news of any country around the Ming Dynasty recklessly starting a war, so why is there suddenly an urgent war report delivered by express courier?"

"Could it be..."

Some people looked suspiciously in the direction of the palace.

He wondered if some powerful noble, aristocratic family, or prince had once again courted disaster.

But there was still more doubt. After all, the surrounding countries of the Ming Dynasty had been too frightened to make any rash moves after Zhu Jinzhen defeated the Mongol Yuan and the Liao Dynasty in one battle a few years ago. Now, Zhu Jinzhen was at the height of his power.

Surely no fool would launch an invasion at this time.

……

Inside the palace.

Before Xu Yu had even left, he heard the urgent battle report delivered over 800 li.

I was a little nervous at first, but when I learned it was a battle report from Annam, I laughed.

Zhu Jinzhen had anticipated this.

The secret guards' intelligence transmission was faster than the urgent 800-li courier service.

Although he knew about the situation in Annam, this matter could not be circulated solely through intelligence within the Secret Service; the proper procedures still had to be followed.

Therefore, Zhu Jinzhen had already learned of the Annam war report through the secret guards before it arrived in Beijing by express courier.

Soon, news spread from inside the palace.

"Xu Changhai, the commander of the Tian Ce Prefecture, led his army south, winning battle after battle. He first conquered the Ava Dynasty, then destroyed the Baigu Dynasty, and all of Myanmar came under the rule of our Great Ming."

"The Tian Ce Prefecture conquered Annam in one day and captured seventeen cities in one night. Tian Ce strategist Zhu Jianqiu led the Tian Ce soldiers to achieve the unparalleled feat of destroying a country in one day and successfully recovered Jiaozhi."

After such battle reports were sent out, they were confirmed by various forces and the people of the capital.

It completely ignited the entire capital city.

(End of this chapter)