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

Chapter 488 Summoning the Ministers, Publicly Opening the Time-Traveling Gate

"I'll say it again: if there's still one person on the Japanese islands who can stand and breathe when you return in triumph, I'll consider you incompetent."

"Yes, I will definitely fulfill my mission."

Bai Qi's generals bowed and accepted the order.

They were a butcher, a god among men, and their order to kill the barbarians terrified all the barbarians. Chang Yuchun was also a notorious figure who could stop a child from crying.

In addition, there were the strategies and logistical support from Jia Xu and Cheng Yu.

They could guarantee that wherever the army passed, not only would those breathing be exhumed, but even those lying on the ground would be dug up, their bones crushed and their ashes scattered; earthworms would be split upright, and ant nests would be filled with boiling water.

A living person, breathing?

It's simply impossible.

……

The next day, there will be a large court meeting.

As usual, Zhu Jinzhen summoned the Ministry of War and the Five Military Commissions to work with the Cabinet to draft a proclamation to punish the Japanese pirates. He also briefly explained how many troops the Ministry of War and the Five Military Commissions would need to mobilize to assist in this expedition against Japan, from the commander-in-chief to the deputy commander-in-chief and the vanguard general.

Regarding the campaign against Japan and the subsequent massacre of the city, all the officials were already aware of Zhu Jinzhen's arrangements, which were certainly not simple.

But I never expected it to be so ruthless.

The imperial court erupted in chaos.

"Good heavens, Bai Qi is the commander-in-chief, Ran Min is the deputy commander-in-chief, the Prince of Kaiping is the vanguard general, the Prince of Weiwu assists him, and there is also Jia Xu, who has been given free rein to use poisonous schemes by imperial decree, and Cheng Yu is also paired with him."

"His Majesty clearly has no intention of letting the Japanese live!"

"His Majesty is afraid that Japan will not be destroyed, and he has even transferred four battalions of the Tian Ce Army and four battalions of the Cang Yun Army to cooperate. Even in the war to destroy Annam, there were only three thousand Tian Ce soldiers. How fortunate are these mere Japanese devils!"

"With the commanders-in-chief, deputy commanders-in-chief, and vanguard generals appointed by His Majesty, wouldn't all the eggs in Japan be shaken to pieces?"

"Last time, the Japanese pirates invaded the coast of our Great Ming Dynasty and slaughtered tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of people. These mere island sluts dared to offend the might of our Great Ming Dynasty. To destroy their country, exterminate their race, and wipe out their descendants is the proper way to uphold the might of our Great Ming Dynasty."

The officials discussed it amongst themselves, but most were simply shocked and didn't have many other thoughts.

They shared in the glory of the Ming Dynasty's prosperity.

The more ruthless and forceful the Ming Dynasty or Zhu Jinzhen's methods were, the more they liked them.

Now, let alone Zhu Houzhao, even if all the emperors of the Ming Dynasty, including the founding emperor Zhu Yuanzhang and the Taizong emperor Zhu Di, returned, they would not have many court officials supporting them.

Everyone wants to be a capable minister who governs the country well, be ennobled and appointed as prime minister, leave a lasting name for posterity, and become a pillar of the nation.

Not to mention the allure of the Investiture of the Gods.

These were things that no other emperor besides Zhu Jinzhen could give them.

In an instant, calls for battle were heard throughout the imperial court.

Even some conservative civil officials spoke out, feeling that Zhu Jinzhen was a bit too conservative, and put forward several very "constructive" suggestions.

……

Qianqing Palace.

After the court session ended, the ministers of the six ministries were all kept behind.

Bai Hu of the Northern Garrison, Cao Zhengchun of the Eastern Depot, Yu Huatian of the Western Depot, Shangguan Haitang of the Dragon Guard Villa, and Zhang Mao, the Duke of Yingguo, were all summoned to the Qianqing Palace.

The group stood inside the hall, looking down at their toes, their hearts filled with unease, wondering why Zhu Jinzhen had specifically kept them behind.

Soon, Zhu Jinzhen, having changed out of his court robes, walked in.

"Come here, give me a seat."

"The reason I have summoned you here is because there is a matter concerning the fate of the Ming Dynasty."

"There's still plenty of time, no need to stand on ceremony, please sit down."

Zhu Jinzhen then instructed Cao Zhengchun to have the imperial kitchen prepare some snacks, lest the ministers of the Six Ministries, who had been hungry all day, have their stomachs rumbling like thunder. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

The British duke and the six ministers exchanged glances and bowed in gratitude.

"It's still about the issue of talented individuals that we discussed at the previous court meeting."

"The Six Ministries and the Cabinet have submitted several memorials in succession, but none of them have satisfied me."

Zhu Jinzhen's gaze swept over the crowd, a slight smile on his face, and he slowly uttered, "Therefore, I have decided to bring in some talents from other worlds."

"puff!"

Zhang Mao, the Duke of England, and Xu Yu and the other six ministers, spat out all the tea they hadn't even swallowed.

At this moment, Zhang Mao disregarded his impolite behavior in front of the palace and quickly stood up, bowing deeply: "Your Majesty, what do you mean by bringing in talents from other worlds? Could it be like the Prince of Kaiping, the Prince of Weiwu, or that Lord Wu'an?"

"Duke of England, His Majesty probably didn't mean that."

"Is there a world beyond this world, a heaven beyond the heavens?"

The ministers whispered among themselves, clearly shocked.

Zhu Jinzhen looked at them and slowly nodded: "Whether it is Chang Yuchun or Bai Qi, they are historical figures who have appeared before. The talent I am referring to from outside the world is not outside the Ming Dynasty, but the world outside of our world."

"You are all highly learned individuals, and you should also know that Buddhism speaks of the three thousand great chiliocosms, and Taoism speaks of the thirty-six heavens and the three realms and ten directions."

"They are all largely the same with minor differences."

Zhang Mao and the remaining civil officials from the six ministries, including Cao Zhengchun and Yu Huatian, all nodded silently.

They had some understanding of these things, more or less.

However, I always thought it was nonsense, or something fabricated by Buddhism and Taoism.

Judging from Zhu Jinzhen's words now, it seems... there really is a heaven beyond heaven, with three thousand great worlds, thirty-six heavens, and the three realms and ten directions.

"It seems you guessed it."

"good."

Zhu Jinzhen nodded slowly, and with a wave of his right hand, a phantom portal appeared out of thin air in the Qianqing Palace: "Before I launched the Jingnan Campaign, I encountered a visitor from outer space. I obtained this item from him, which can open the portal to the world and travel beyond it."

Upon hearing this, everyone's pupils contracted.

Zhang Mao, Cao Zhengchun, Qinglong, and others all knew that this absolutely involved the core secrets of the Ming Dynasty, and was also a signal released by their own emperor.

That is, I only let you know these things because I trust you.

As you can see, none of the generals of Tian Ce and Cang Yun, including Li Chengen and Xue Zhi, showed any unusual behavior, as if they already knew everything.

As for the extraterrestrial visitor mentioned by Zhu Jinzhen, and the strange door that they obtained from the other party that could open the portal to the world, they were all perfectly aware of it.

Extraterrestrial visitors are not uncommon; during Zhu Jinzhen's last rebellion, even celestial beings descended to earth.

This gateway to the world was in Zhu Jinzhen's hands; they naturally didn't want to know what would happen to the outsider that day.

"Beyond this world lies a realm of unfathomable mystery."

"Through this gate, I have connected two worlds."

Zhu Jinzhen held up two fingers, a strange expression on his face, which made the hearts of the officials in the Qianqing Palace skip a beat.

The men exchanged glances, and finally, it was the Duke of Ying, Zhang Mao, the veteran official, who asked the first question:

"May I ask, Your Majesty, what kind of world is that?"

"How does it compare to my Great Ming Dynasty?"

"No, it's about how the Ming Dynasty compares to the surrounding nations of the past. Is there any chance that the Ming Dynasty can be defeated in a single battle?"

(End of this chapter)