The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 614 The Death of the Imperial Uncle
All members of the Donglin Party were dismissed from their posts, stripped of their official status, and exiled to the frontier.

Those who dared to speak out against the corrupt officials were dismissed from their posts, stripped of their official status, and exiled to the frontier.

From then on, the Donglin faction disappeared from the court, and no one dared to call themselves part of the "pure stream" (a group of upright officials).

The clear stream seemed to have vanished like smoke.

The officials in the Ming Dynasty court seem to have all become more obedient.

At this time, the internal situation of the Ming Dynasty was temporarily stable, and Wanli turned his attention to the external world, preparing to compete for maritime hegemony.

However, this will have to wait until the naval fleet returns.

Almost all of the Ming Dynasty's Fujian-style warships were dispatched, with the majority going to the southern part of the South China Sea and the remaining small portion constantly circling the American shipping routes.

At this point, the Ming Dynasty's mainland was almost entirely left with only the flying shuttle ships and centipede ships, which were unable to sail out to sea independently, so naturally they couldn't compete for maritime supremacy.

He waited until the New Year of the 28th year of the Wanli reign had passed.

The 29th year of the Wanli reign was another year of provincial and palace examinations. With the selection of this batch of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty underwent a complete transformation.

The Ming Dynasty court would certainly be more stable, and he could then focus on vying for maritime supremacy.

Spring was just around the corner, the imperial examinations were about to begin, and the naval fleet was about to return home, but he received bad news.

On the third day of the second lunar month, around 9:00 AM, in the Imperial Study of the Imperial Palace.

While Wanli was pondering the questions for the palace examination, Xiao Zhu Changxun was copying books and practicing calligraphy with Song Yingxing. None of the three spoke, and the study was quiet and peaceful.

At this moment, Li Xuancheng suddenly poked his head out and said, "Your Majesty, Luo Sigong requests an audience."

Luo Sigong hasn't come for several days. He suddenly came to see me today. Could it be that he has found some important clue?

Upon hearing this, Wanli Emperor replied without hesitation, "Summon them."

Soon, Luo Sigong rushed in with an urgent report in his hand.

The guy still seemed a little flustered.

After exchanging greetings with his subjects, he secretly glanced at Zhu Changxun before bowing and saying, "Your Majesty, an urgent report from Shaanxi."

That guy's expression definitely doesn't mean anything good.

What happened?
Emperor Wanli took the urgent report with some curiosity and his face immediately turned cold.

When the emperor's brother-in-law, Wang Bing, went on a trip, he accidentally fell off a cliff and died. The beauties from the Western Regions were so frightened that they disappeared without a trace!

Clearly, this was retaliation from the three powerful clans of Puzhou.

He killed Li Sancai and Han Kuang, and then these guys killed the emperor's brother-in-law, Wang Bing!
Moreover, this killing also severed the trail for the lamp oil.

These guys have some nerve!
If he could find the remnants of the three powerful clans in Puzhou now, he would definitely cut them into a thousand pieces.

The problem is, he couldn't find a single trace of these guys.

It was only then that he realized he should have asked the emperor's brother-in-law, Wang Bing, much earlier.

Even if it's just stirring up trouble, it's better than having all the clues cut off.

Now things are really messed up. With the death of the emperor's brother-in-law Wang Bing, not only has the trail been cut off, but he also has to face a very serious problem.

How could he explain this to Empress Wang and even Earl Wang Wei of Yongnian?

He lost all interest in the provincial and palace examinations.

The emperor's brother-in-law is in trouble, how is he going to explain this to Empress Wang and her family?
Thinking of this, Wanli couldn't help but glance at Zhu Changxun, who was standing to the side.

Xiao Zhu Changxun is looking at him right now.

The father and son looked at each other, and young Zhu Changxun couldn't help but ask, "Father, what's wrong?"

How do you say this?

Even Father doesn't know what to say, so it would be better if you spoke to him.

After thinking for a moment, Wanli handed over the urgent report in his hand.

When Xiao Zhu Changxun took it and looked at it, he was startled.

My eldest uncle died unexpectedly!

How is this going?

Obviously, something's not right.

Why was the message relayed by secret agents?

He was stunned for a long time before asking, "Father, did my uncle really die in an accident?"

That certainly couldn't have been an accident.

Emperor Wanli shook his head slightly and sighed, "Just take it as true, at least in front of your mother you should take it as true."

If the emperor's brother-in-law, Wang Bing, had truly died unexpectedly, he could at least have something to say to Empress Wang.

Otherwise, how could he, as the emperor, explain to Empress Wang that he couldn't even protect his own brother-in-law?

Another issue is who will manage the oil refining workshops over there.

Under normal circumstances, if the emperor's brother-in-law Wang Bing died unexpectedly, he should have sent Wang Bing's younger brother Wang Dong, since this involved a large sum of money, which was originally intended for the Wang family.

The problem is, the current situation is not normal.

The three powerful clans of Puzhou are secretly retaliating against him. If he sends the emperor's brother-in-law, Wang Dong, there is a high chance that he will also die unexpectedly!

If he were to kill both of Empress Wang's younger brothers, he would have no face left to hide.

The problem is, we still need to send someone to oversee the oil refinery over there. Oil refining generates a considerable amount of revenue and is also related to people's livelihoods.

Nowadays, ordinary people are used to using kerosene lamps. If there were a sudden problem with kerosene and the supply were cut off, ordinary people probably wouldn't be able to adapt.

Who should be assigned to handle such an important matter?

Emperor Wanli frowned and pondered for a while, then asked, "You must have placed quite a few people in the oil refining workshop, right?"

Of course, that's indispensable.

Luo Sigong nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I have arranged for several hundred secret guards over there."

Wanli nodded slightly, then decisively said, "You send an urgent message to your men over there to keep a close watch on the oil refining workshops and prevent any sabotage."

Furthermore, you shall order your subordinates in all the border towns to immediately convey my decree.

The Du family (brothers Du Song and Du Tong), the Dong family (brothers Dong Yiyuan and Dong Yikui), the Xiao family (brothers Xiao Rulan and Xiao Ruxun), and the Ma family (brothers Ma Gui and Ma Jin) were ordered to quickly send people to take over the oil refining workshop.

You should also have someone inform the three powerful clans of Puzhou about their situation, and instruct them to send more personal guards there to ensure that the oil refinery is well protected and managed for me.

The four companies shared 10% of the oil refinery's annual profits as compensation for their labor and effort.

The Du, Dong, Xiao, and Ma families each have more than one noble or high-ranking official; their personal guards combined number more than ten thousand.

This means sending several border garrison commanders to deal with the clandestine influence of the three powerful families in Puzhou.

Luo Sigong nodded repeatedly and said, "I understand."

Emperor Wanli nodded slightly, then waved his hand and said, "Remember, the Imperial Uncle died unexpectedly. Go."

Luo Sigong quickly bowed and took his leave.

We still need to give Empress Wang and her family an explanation for this.

Wanli frowned and pondered for a while, then said loudly, "Uncle, quickly send someone to the Summer Palace to summon the Emperor's father-in-law back to the capital."

Immediately afterwards, he stood up and said, "Xun'er, later you should send an urgent message to your mother. Remember, don't say it was sent back by the secret guards."

Do you even lie to your own mother?

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhu Changxun hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded.

Seeing this, Wanli picked him up, called to Song Yingxing, and together they walked towards Kunning Palace.

At this moment, Empress Wang, Imperial Noble Consort Qin Lan, Noble Consort Zhang, and other concubines are busy in the accounting room.

The imperial treasury was accumulating more and more silver, and the Ming army was also growing larger and larger. The soldiers' pay, rations, supplies, and so on, plus the costs of building various machines and ships, meant they had endless accounts to keep track of every day.

When Emperor Wanli carried the young Zhu Changxun in, all the concubines looked astonished.

It's still early, and it's not lunchtime yet.

Emperor Wanli had already told them that they didn't need to get up while they were busy.

The other concubines simply nodded to Wanli, but Empress Wang couldn't help but stand up and ask, "Your Majesty, why are you back so early today? Is Xun'er hungry?"

Emperor Wanli didn't know what to say, so he simply shoved the young Zhu Changxun into Empress Wang's arms.

When Empress Wang saw that Zhu Changxun looked very serious, she asked with concern, "Xun'er, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

If I feel unwell, I should go see Doctor Wan. Why am I here?

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Zhu Changxun cautiously said, "Mother, I'm fine. It was my eldest uncle who died in an accident."

After saying that, he took out the urgent report from his pocket and unfolded it.

When Empress Wang heard this, she could hardly believe her ears.

Xiao Bing died unexpectedly?!
She looked down and carefully examined the urgent report, and tears immediately streamed down her face.

However, she just silently shed tears and didn't say anything.

Ah, she is so gentle and virtuous.

Upon seeing this, Wanli sighed inwardly and then blamed himself, saying, "I shouldn't have let him go so far from the capital. He didn't need to go out and earn this hard-earned money. It's all my fault. I should have let him return to the capital a long time ago."

Xiao Bing, Xiao Bing!

What are you asking your sister to do?
Empress Wang slowly shook her head, then choked up and said, "Perhaps this is fate. He took money he shouldn't have, and this is his destiny. It's all because I didn't discipline him well."

Alas, what more can a husband say about such an understanding empress?

Seeing this, Wanli decisively said, "How about this, you allocate one million taels from the Imperial Treasury, and I will order the Embroidered Uniform Guard to bring him back and give him a grand funeral."

Furthermore, from now on, you will allocate 100,000 taels from the national treasury every month for your father's household expenses. He manages so many artisans for me and has crafted so many things, yet I haven't paid him any wages yet.”

The wages you're paying are 100,000 taels a month!

Empress Wang said instinctively, "Your Majesty, isn't this too much?"

This isn't too much, it's too little.

Wanli shook his head slightly and said, "Since Xiaobing is dead, I can no longer send Xiaodong to manage the oil refining workshop. I plan to distribute the profits from there to several border garrison commanders. This 100,000 taels a month will be considered compensation for the Emperor's father-in-law."

Oh, the oil refining workshop is no longer under the Wang family's control.

fair enough.

She really didn't want anything else to happen to her family.

Empress Wang nodded slowly and said, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

Sigh, this Empress is truly wonderful.

(End of this chapter)