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

Chapter 517 Disposal, Curtain Falls

This involves colluding with foreign enemies and betraying Ming Dynasty intelligence.

It caused a great uproar in the imperial court, and many officials were furious about it.

"Those idiots, for a little bit of profit, they were willing to betray the court. They deserve to be killed, to be torn to pieces."

"Since the Taizu Emperor banned the seas, how many people along the coast of our Great Ming have paid lip service to it while secretly disobeying it?"

"It's different. They are outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant. Many people have their reasons. From the reign of Emperor Taizu to the reign of Emperor Taizong, the court actually turned a blind eye. The Embroidered Uniform Guard is not just for show, and the court cannot really cut off the livelihood of all coastal people."

"The common people are able to go to sea to make a living, but the local gentry and clans along the coast are becoming more and more unruly and unrestrained. They even dare to sell intelligence about our Great Ming's conquest of Japan?"

"Your Majesty, I request that you thoroughly investigate all the prefectures and counties along the coast of our Great Ming Dynasty, and see how many local gentry clans and gangs still have only interests and clans in their eyes, and no regard for the country."

Zhu Jinzhen looked at the noisy court and slowly uttered the word "Approved".

"The Kaiping Prince's Mansion was destroyed by fire and burned to the ground. After investigation by the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review, it has been confirmed that the Prince of Taiping, his wife, and the Prince of Taiping's heir have all perished."

“The lineage of the Prince of Taiping has thus come to an end, and I intend to abolish his fiefdom.”

"What do you, my esteemed ministers, think?"

How should we look at it? Of course, we should turn a blind eye!
Those who can now stand in the imperial court are either loyal subordinates of Zhu Jinzhen or the most cunning of the cunning. Otherwise, they would not have been able to escape the purge of the court back then. Naturally, they could guess that the sudden fire at the Taiping Prince's Mansion at such a critical moment, and the fact that it burned for a day and a night, was clearly related to the matter in Japan.

Otherwise, it would be an absolute coincidence.

However, many things are understood by everyone, and no fool would jump out to cry foul for the Prince of Taiping's Mansion. Naturally, there was a chorus of agreement in the court.

Even if the Taiping King's entire family were wiped out, it wouldn't change anything.

They colluded with foreign enemies and betrayed the Ming Dynasty.

This alone means that not only the Prince of Taiping's mansion, but even the nine great border princes at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty would have to die.

"There is one more thing today."

Zhu Jinzhen's gaze was calm, as if reclaiming a vassal state was a trivial matter that he would casually dismiss. He looked at the assembled officials and said, "Although the mutiny in Jiangnan has been quelled, Prince Ning, by manipulating public opinion and raising the banner of rebellion, caused turmoil in Jiangnan. Furthermore, due to his own selfish desires, he dared to interfere in the imperial examinations and participate in cheating. His crimes are simply unforgivable."

"Ministry of Justice, Court of Judicial Review, according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, how should this be handled?"

The rebellion in Jiangnan was quelled in less than a day after Qin Yiyan led the Tian Ce soldiers to Jiangnan. They faced suppression from over ten Land Immortals, hundreds of Celestial Phenomena, and thousands of Tian Ce soldiers at the Finger Profound Realm.

The mere Prince Ning did not even stir up the slightest trouble.

The few hundred thousand ragtag followers he had barely managed to muster were either killed on the spot or captured. All the guest elders of the Prince of Ning's mansion were also wiped out by the Tian Ce experts ordered by Qin Yiyan.

Prince Ning himself, along with other vassal kings who had colluded with him, had been escorted to the capital several days earlier.

Awaiting Zhu Jinzhen's decision.

Now that Zhu Jinzhen has brought it up, the officials in the court naturally understand that it is time for Prince Ning and his ilk to fall from grace.

"Your Majesty, the crime of treason is unforgivable. Although Prince Ning is a member of the royal family, his wolfish ambitions are obvious. Moreover, he disregards the stability of the Ming Dynasty and has raised an army in rebellion. I believe that he should be executed according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty to serve as a warning to others," He Jian replied, bowing.

Every word and phrase made the way the officials in the court looked at He Jian change.

Many people's expressions changed drastically.

This is not the first time that Prince Ning's faction has rebelled.

What madness has He Jian gone mad at, openly demanding the execution of Prince Ning in the imperial court as a warning to others?
The smarter ones quickly guessed the reason, lowered their heads, and dared not speak.

"What about you?"

Zhu Jinzhen did not make a decision, but looked at the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

"Your Majesty, Prince Ning has ultimately committed a grave error. As the saying goes, the emperor is subject to the same laws as the common people. According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, he should be punished severely to serve as a warning to others." The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review shared the same view on Prince Ning's case. "What about the other princes?"

"This……"

He Jian and the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review exchanged a glance. He Jian then replied, "Your Majesty, the Secret Guard, the Ministry of Justice, and the Court of Judicial Review have thoroughly investigated the matter of Prince Ning's rebellion. Prince Yong was deceived by Prince Ning and can be dealt with accordingly."

“The Prince of An and the Prince of Nanping conspired with the Prince of Ning. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing and should not be let off lightly.”

"In my opinion, although they are not the masterminds, they should still be severely punished according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty."

"Your humble servant seconds this," the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review replied, bowing.

Upon hearing this, anyone in the court who wasn't stupid knew that the decision regarding the handling of Prince Ning and the other princes involved in his rebellion would definitely not be the opinion of the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review.

"In that case."

Zhu Jinzhen took a deep breath and spoke coldly: "Issue an imperial decree to depose Prince Ning, strip him of his title, demote him to commoner status, and exile him to the Nurgan Military Command. All descendants of Prince Ning's family within three generations shall be exiled to Lingnan, and the women shall be forced into the Imperial Music Bureau. Prince Ning has abused his power for personal gain, manipulated the civil service examinations in Jiangnan, and committed the heinous crime of treason. His crimes are unforgivable; he shall be given a cup of poisoned wine."

“The Prince of Ning’s personal guards and all those involved in the rebellion will be dealt with according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty.”

"Although Prince Yong was deceived, he eventually realized his mistake, but he was still involved in the treason. He was stripped of his title and demoted to Marquis of Linning. He was ordered to stay in the palace for five years to reflect on his mistakes and was not allowed to leave without imperial decree."

“The Prince of An and the Prince of Nanping have failed to repay the Emperor’s favor and instead harbored rebellious intentions. Their royal titles have been stripped, and they have been given poisoned wine. The men in the Prince of An’s mansion have been exiled to Lingnan, and the women have been forced into the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment district).”

Inside the Fengtian Hall, the echoes of Zhu Jinzhen's handling of the Prince of Ning and many other vassal kings reverberated.

The Prince of Ning instigated a popular uprising, which involved the people of Jiangnan and nearly caused chaos. His punishment was the most severe, which was not surprising to almost all the civil and military officials. The only one who was slightly surprised was the revocation of the hereditary title of the Prince of Ning's lineage.

But this isn't without precedent.

Treason is a heinous crime, and anyone who dares to participate should be prepared to lose their head. Prince Ning was only demoted to a commoner, which many ministers considered an act of leniency... what a load of rubbish.

The Nurgan Regional Military Commissioner?

Is that a place fit for human beings?

Let alone being exiled, even a normal person would find it difficult to survive in that poor, remote, and freezing place.

What is the difference between the relocation of the Nurgan Regional Military Commission and the demand for the life of Prince Ning?
Although the officials were inwardly complaining, they could all see that Zhu Jinzhen on the dragon throne had shown leniency. Otherwise, if the crimes of Prince Ning were listed in detail, even the execution of his entire family would not have been unjust.

The Nurgan Commandery.

Whether they live or die is no longer that important.

Although Prince Ning was stripped of his title, his fiefdom was revoked, and his royal rank was revoked, at least he was not given a derogatory posthumous title; otherwise, he would probably have been infamous for eternity after his death.

The handling of Prince An and Prince Nanping did not cause much of a stir.

A cup of poisoned wine would be a dignified way to die.

The most unexpected thing was the handling of the most powerful Prince Yong.

Surprisingly, he was only demoted and made to reflect on his actions. His fiefdom was not revoked, nor was he ordered to move out of the Yongwang Mansion. There were no other punishments whatsoever!

But soon, the officials in the court understood why Zhu Jinzhen had treated Prince Yong leniently. One reason might be that Prince Yong had indeed been deceived and had come to his senses.

The most important reason is...

Prince Yong had no sons.

All the princes of the Ming Dynasty had no sons and their fiefs were abolished. Prince Yong had no heir, so whether or not his fief and princely residence were taken back was actually the same.

(End of this chapter)