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

Chapter 463 Thunderous Fury, Disappointing Handling
"Your Majesty, have any major events occurred in the court during your seclusion?"

When Changsun Wangqing was held in Zhu Jinzhen's arms, she showed none of the ruthless demeanor she had displayed during her time in power, where she frequently ordered the confiscation of property and the extermination of families. Instead, she wore a gentle, warm smile.

"The situation in the court is relatively stable."

"A little bit of scabies, nothing to worry about."

If outsiders heard these words, they would probably criticize them harshly.

The court officials have been purged in batches over this period of time, and local officials have been replaced one after another. The Ministry of War and the Five Military Commissions have killed all the garrison commanders and various corrupt military officers and generals who embezzled military pay and drank the blood of soldiers. The mass graves outside the capital are almost overflowing.

The eunuchs and palace maids in the harem were also executed one after another.

Changsun Wangqing naturally kept Zhu Jinzhen's instructions firmly in mind and did not forget them. She knew that her mother-in-law, the current Empress Dowager Li Yuyao, was kind-hearted and could not bear to see blood.

Changsun Wangqing simply ordered Yan Yimei to transfer her former female guards to the palace. Any palace maid who was disloyal, had affairs with eunuchs or guards, would either be killed or expelled from the palace.

The thirteen inner court offices were cleaned up by the Eastern Depot and the Western Depot in turn.

Changsun Wangqing had only one attitude: inside and outside the court, there only needed to be one voice, and that was Zhu Jinzhen's.

Zhu Jinzhen naturally understood, even though Changsun Wangqing spoke of it lightly.

As long as it doesn't shake the foundation of the Ming Dynasty or threaten Zhu Jinzhen, it's not considered a big deal.

Zhu Jinzhen then inquired about his seclusion and also showed concern for Changsun Wangqing, since Changsun Wangqing had been working tirelessly on state affairs during his seclusion.

……

The civil and military officials who received the news that Zhu Jinzhen had left the pass were naturally overjoyed.

During this period, they worked day and night for the sake of political achievements.

They just wanted a spot on the Investiture of the Gods list, even if it was just another empty promise from Zhu Jinzhen.

But many people know that this turmoil in the capital is likely to be significant.

after all……

The next day.

Inside the Forbidden City, on the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Zhu Jinzhen sat upright on the dragon throne, his face calm, holding several memorials in his hand, his expression unreadable. Civil and military officials lined up on both sides, holding their breath. The new emperor had been on the throne for less than two months, and today was the first time he could truly rule from behind the curtain.

However, he had already used iron-fisted methods to purge the former officials of the Zhengde era and most of the corrupt officials in the court.

I'm afraid the morning court session will not be peaceful either.

"Long live my emperor."

"No courtesy, just stay on your own."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Cao Zhengchun, Yu Huatian".

Zhu Jinzhen finally spoke, his voice not loud, but it resonated throughout the hall.

Cao Zhengchun, the head of the Eastern Depot, and Yu Huatian, the head of the Western Depot, stepped forward and knelt on the ground, saying, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects."

"I ordered you to quell the rebellion, and this is what you brought back?" Zhu Jinzhen slammed a memorial to the ground as if it had hit them hard in the face. "In the past month or so, the Empress and I have bestowed rewards, increasing the number of Grandmasters at the Finger Profound Realm in the Eastern and Western Depots by at least five hundred. Yet, your efforts to quell the rebellion have instead caused a civil uprising in Jiangnan. Is this your explanation to me?"

Cao Zhengchun and Yu Huatian touched their heads to the ground, saying, "Your subjects deserve to die ten thousand times over!"

"Useless!" Zhu Jinzhen stood up abruptly, flicked his dragon robe, and looked at Yan Yimei: "Duke Ningguo, tell them, what should be done if civilians are coerced during the Secret Guard's suppression of the rebellion?"

"Your Majesty, investigate thoroughly, find the mastermind behind this, and execute all those involved without exception!"

Yan Yimei's voice was cold and clear, landing like thunder. It made Cao Zhengchun and Yu Huatian's vision go black and their bodies tremble uncontrollably. It wasn't because they were afraid, but because they knew that their actions were ultimately wrong.

They were worried that the situation would escalate further, and although they were still trying their best to investigate, they made a big mistake by not controlling the civil unrest and taking complete control of Jiangnan in time.

Yan Yimei's words were telling them something.

If the secret guards were to handle this matter, their first choice would be to suppress all the people who were coerced and the dissenting voices, leaving the question of whether someone was innocent or not until the truth came out.

However, they stormed the government office and openly defied the imperial court.

Even if many of them were indeed innocent civilians, they were no longer innocent when they chose to do so. If the Eastern Depot and Western Depot were to raise their swords in Jiangnan, causing rivers of blood to flow, and report this to Zhu Jinzhen, he would at most give a grunt to indicate that he knew, and would not take any action.

Even if the memorials impeaching them could pile up into a small mountain, Zhu Jinzhen would turn a deaf ear to them.

However, they hesitated to act rashly and instead chose to investigate the mastermind behind the scenes, failing to suppress and control the changes in Jiangnan immediately, which led to the situation escalating further.

It almost escalated to the point of being completely out of control.

"Azure Dragon!"

Zhu Jinzhen did not continue the conversation, but instead looked at Qinglong, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Qinglong trembled and bowed deeply: "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty."

"The Jiangnan region has mutinied, and Prince Ning has raised the banner of rebellion, claiming that there are treacherous officials in the court and that the emperor must be cleansed of these corrupt ministers. Is this how you Jinyiwei perform your duties?" Zhu Jinzhen's eyes were filled with displeasure, and his gaze towards Qinglong revealed undisguised disappointment.

Qinglong's heart sank to the bottom in an instant.

"Your Majesty, regarding the matter of Prince Ning, this sinful subject has no way to refute it!" Qinglong touched the ground with his head, covered in cold sweat, showing none of the high spirits he had displayed a few days ago when he slew the terrestrial immortal.

The corruption in Jiangnan is largely the fault of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The incident stemmed from a leak within the Northern Garrison Command, which spread rumors that Zhu Jinzhen intended to take action against Prince Ning and all the other Ming princes, and even that he planned sweeping reforms. As a result, even before Zhu Que arrived in Jiangnan, Prince Ning and the entire Jiangnan gentry and powerful families, along with the government, had already made thorough preparations.

Otherwise, no matter what, a proper investigation of Prince Ning would not have escalated to the point where the people of Jiangnan were filled with resentment.

It was a scene of officials forcing the people to rebel.

Prince Ning, together with more than a dozen Ming princes and members of the imperial family, shouted the slogan that the Embroidered Uniform Guard was ruthless, used any means to frame and fabricate evidence, and that the court had such treacherous officials, so they had to be purged.

"waste!"

Zhu Jinzhen's voice was soft, yet it was like thunder, making the palace beams vibrate.

All the officials knelt down in unison: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"

Zhu Jinzhen ignored them and instead stared coldly at Qinglong: "What are the Embroidered Uniform Guards afraid of? You are my personal guards, representing me. The Prince of Ning, together with a few other princes, can make you hesitate to act rashly and slink back home."

"What use are you to me?"

"Or is it that in your heart, the vast Ming Dynasty has run out of soldiers and generals, and your Northern Garrison Command has to bear the pressure of the mutiny in the six prefectures of Jiangnan?"

"They are manipulating public opinion. Why don't you petition the Ministry of War and the Five Military Commissions to mobilize troops?"

Upon hearing this, the Ministry of War and the Five Military Commissions felt like they had been caught in the crossfire.

Qin Yiyan looked at the kneeling Qinglong, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. He then bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, if you grant me 30,000 Tian Ce soldiers, I can pledge to quell the chaos in Jiangnan within three days."

The Prince of Ning, the chaos in Jiangnan—public resentment was boiling over.

For Qin Yiyan and the commander of the Tian Ce Mansion, it was no big deal at all.

The Azure Dragon and the Embroidered Uniform Guard were still stuck in the old mindset, hesitant to act for fear of harming others, afraid of this and that.

The Tian Ce Mansion, however, has no taboos.

Zhu Jinzhen didn't speak, but merely glanced at Qin Yiyan and said calmly:
"Someone is coming."

"The Azure Dragon will be impaled and given fifty heavy lashes. He will also be removed from his post as Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. All affairs of the Northern Garrison will be temporarily handled by the Deputy Commander, White Tiger. Vermilion Bird has performed his duties poorly and will be demoted to Assistant Commander."

"The rewards for the Northern Garrison Command this year will be reduced by 30%."

"Yes."

"Your Majesty, thank you for your grace."

Although Qinglong was forked away by the Tian Ce soldiers, his face showed gratitude, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He clearly heard that he had only been temporarily dismissed from his post, and that Baihu was only temporarily in charge of the Jinyiwei affairs.

In other words, he still has the possibility of being promoted to Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard again.

As for the reduction in rewards, Qinglong felt the pain, but after all, he had only recently started serving under Zhu Jinzhen and had no idea what it really meant.

Otherwise, the Azure Dragon wouldn't be so calm.

(End of this chapter)