Zhu Yuanzhang Returns from Modern Times

Chapter 223 The Korean envoy who killed the Han envoy must be executed immediately! Those who offend the mighty Han, no matter how far away, shall be punished!

Not to mention Li Chenggui, even Mu Ying's expression was equally stern.

Fortunately, the situation is no longer the worst it could be.

They have already taken control of the capital, hold the Empress Dowager in their hands, and have also appointed a new King of Goryeo, whom they also control.

They now have the corresponding confidence.

Without these, things would be truly difficult.

"Go and invite the Empress Dowager out so that she can come up to the city wall with us."

"We must stabilize the situation here in the capital. Those Imperial Guards who have already surrendered must not be allowed to rebel. Take them all under control and keep a close watch on them!"

Mu Ying issued a series of orders.

The situation is urgent now, and the worst thing is that someone inside the capital might take the opportunity to cause trouble, colluding with those outside to open the city gates and let Cui Ying's people into the city.

If that happens, things will become a bit difficult.

If we can eliminate this problem, the rest will be much easier.

After a tense period of preparation, the troops outside had arrived near the imperial city.

On the capital city wall, the Queen Dowager of Goryeo was also ready. She took a deep breath, gathered her strength, and prepared to curse the traitors.

But then, a sound came from inside.

"It's me! The Ming envoy is safe!"

Upon hearing this voice, Mu Ying, Li Chenggui, and the others were all taken aback, clearly surprised by this unexpected news.
The person who arrived was not Cui Ying, but Ping An!

"Brother Bao'er?"

Mu Ying breathed a slight sigh of relief, but also raised her voice to ask, her voice filled with joy.

"Brother Wenying! Brother Wenying!"

Upon hearing Mu Ying's voice and seeing her half-revealed by the torchlight atop the imperial city, Ping An was filled with excitement.

He finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Although he knew his brother Wenying's abilities very well, he felt that he wouldn't be caught off guard and fail miserably.

But some worries still lingered in my heart.

There are many unexpected events on the battlefield.

Only after seeing Wenying and confirming that she was alright did I finally feel truly relieved.

"Brother Bao, what are you doing here?"

While Mu Ying was happy about this, she was also a little curious.

"I've taken care of all those Tartars."

I felt I needed to do something else, so I came to find you, Brother Wenying.

Upon hearing this, Mu Ying breathed a sigh of relief.

Upon seeing Ping An arrive, he already understood that none of the Northern Yuan Tartar envoys would escape unscathed.

Hearing Ping An say it himself at this point, there's even less reason to worry.

"Brother Bao, I'll trouble you one more time. The men who went to kill Cui Ying failed, and Cui Ying escaped."

"Bao'er, go find Cui Ying and take care of this person."

"Haha, Wenying, you mean this guy, right?"

"I've already chopped this guy's head off, it's right here!"

Ping An laughed and lifted a bloody head from the side of the saddle.

Upon hearing this, Mu Ying's face lit up with joy.

Yi Seong-gye, and even the Queen Dowager of Goryeo, were overjoyed and in high spirits.

This is such a wonderful surprise!
"Your humble servant humbly inquires, sir, how did you kill the traitor Cui Ying?"

Before Mu Ying could speak, Li Chenggui couldn't help but ask first.

"After I killed those Tartars, I led my men to the armory, intending to take control of it."

When we got there, we happened to run into some Goryeo soldiers who also wanted to take control of the armory, and then I led my men to kill them.

Their leader was not spared either.

Editor Jin said, "The one leading the group is Cui Ying."

"Haha, good! Bao'er, you did a great job! You've made a great contribution this time!"
This has solved our biggest worry!

We're having a headache because Cui Ying's guy ran away, and things are going to get complicated now.

But you, Bao'er, solved it!

Mu Ying laughed heartily, feeling very pleased.

Yi Seong-gye's mouth stretched from ear to ear, he was overjoyed.

This time, the surprise was truly enormous and exhilarating.

Now all their last remaining worries have been eliminated.

It's clear that their operation was truly aided by divine intervention!

With Jin Tao around, there's absolutely no need to worry about Ping An killing the wrong person, or that he didn't kill Cui Ying.

With the alarm lifted, Mu Ying ordered the city gates to be opened so that Ping An and the others could enter.

The two sides met up and put the heads of Li Yuanfang, Cui Ying, and the Yuan Tartars together—a huge pile.

It makes people feel comfortable and relieved...

……

The numerous upheavals that occurred in Kaifeng could not be kept secret.

However, many people are unaware of the specifics of what happened.

The next day, when the court officials entered the palace for the morning court session, they discovered that the person sitting on the throne was no longer the ten-year-old child!

It was Wang Yao, who was in her twenties!
Wang Yao not only sat upright on the throne, but was also dressed as a king.

What horrified many of the Goryeo officials even more was the presence of a pile of heads displayed there.

And right at the front was none other than Li Renren!
This situation has caused a great deal of shock and disbelief in many people.

So this is what caused the chaos last night!
Some court officials simply did not attend court.

These are some choices made after realizing that something was wrong.

I want to wait and see how things go at home before making a decision.

Unfortunately, their wish was not fulfilled.

Because the Goryeo court specially dispatched people to inform them to come and pay homage to the new king immediately.

Of course, if you really don't want to come, that's fine too.

Then we won't need to go to the imperial court anymore.

Under these circumstances, how could those who didn't understand what was happening and wanted to stay at home and observe the situation possibly sit still?

They all headed towards the palace as quickly as possible.

If something like this happens and you really don't go, it won't just be a simple matter of being dismissed from your post.

The more likely scenario is that they will lose their lives.

This is clearly not what they wanted to see.

Many people have already begun to regret their actions.

If I had known it would turn out this way, I wouldn't have hesitated at all.

You should visit the new king as early as possible to leave the best impression.

Instead of what is happening now, where they are likely already remembered by the new ruler.

After most of the court officials had arrived, Yi Seong-gye announced Yi In-im's numerous crimes, including regicide, collusion with the Northern Yuan, killing the Ming envoy, and installing Shin Don's son on the throne.

Then it was announced that he would be demoted to a commoner.

The crimes of Choi Young, as well as other members of Lee In-im's faction who had been captured and executed, were announced.

Following this, the Empress Dowager's decree and the Ming Dynasty's edict appointing Wang Yao as the new King of Goryeo were read aloud and displayed in public to convince the people.

In this situation, who would dare to raise any objections?
Therefore, the matter was quickly approved, and all the court officials kowtowed to the new King of Goryeo.

Mu Ying, holding a staff, stood beside the King of Goryeo.

After the ceremony was completed, the new Goryeo king rose and led the Goryeo officials in a deep bowing ceremony to Mu Ying, who was holding a staff.

Thus, the matter of bestowing the title of Emperor Gao was completely settled.

This matter will not be repeated.

Subsequently, the new Goryeo king bestowed titles and rewards upon Yi Seong-gye and others in order to appease the people...

After these things were done, many people in Goryeo felt that everything was done and they could now leave the court.

But actually it doesn't.

"There is one more thing to do today, something even more important than my coronation!"

King Wang Yao of Goryeo spoke solemnly.

These words aroused suspicion among the many Goryeo officials present, who wondered what the Goryeo king was up to.

To say something like that at this time is truly astonishing.

What could be more important than his ascension to the throne?

"Li Renren is a ruthless and insane man who harmed the envoys of the Ming Dynasty."

This led to the envoy of the Great Ming Dynasty meeting his demise in our Goryeo.

Such things are heartbreaking and terrifying.

Now that Li Renren has been executed, how can we not pay homage to this envoy of the Celestial Empire who was murdered by Li Renren's insane cruelty and the Tartars' brutality and scheming?

How could we not comfort their spirits in heaven? After hearing the words of the new king of Goryeo, the Goryeo officials suddenly realized that there was something even more important he was talking about.

With the Ming envoy standing to one side holding the imperial staff, and in this situation where the execution of Li Renren, Cui Ying, and others, and the installation of a new king on the throne, was orchestrated, the situation was quite different.

It would be truly unreasonable for them not to conduct appropriate rituals for the Ming Dynasty envoys.

So everyone chimed in, agreeing that the King of Goryeo was right.

He said that this matter should be handled with the highest standards to comfort the spirits of the imperial envoys and atone for their sins.

……

A high-ranking sacrificial site in Goryeo, used for worshipping mountains, rivers, and ancestors, now displays the tablets belonging to the Ming Dynasty envoys.

As for sacrificial offerings, they are different from ordinary meat, fruits, and vegetables.

They are individual heads.

The heads of Li Renren, Cui Ying, and other Goryeo people, as well as the heads of Yuan Dynasty envoys, were all intact.

Mu Ying, holding a staff, personally presided over the sacrificial ceremony.

The King of Goryeo and his civil and military officials knelt on the ground.

They bowed deeply before the memorial tablet of the Ming Dynasty envoy.

"Brother Cai, and all the generals and soldiers of my Great Ming, your heroic spirits are not far away!"

We have come on His Majesty's orders to avenge you and comfort your spirits in heaven.

You are heroes of the Ming Dynasty!

His Majesty has not forgotten you, and neither have we!
The Southern Yue killed the Han envoy and slaughtered the people, dividing the region into nine commanderies. The King of Wan killed the Han envoy and had his head displayed at the northern gate.

The Korean envoy who killed the Han Chinese must be executed immediately!

Those who offend the mighty Han, though far away, shall be punished!

Mu Ying raised her voice and spoke, the faint clanging of metal against metal echoing in the background.

Upon hearing this, Ping An and the other Ming Dynasty envoys were filled with excitement and couldn't help but straighten their chests.

A strong sense of pride and other emotions arose spontaneously.

The many people kneeling on the ground, including King Goryeo and Yi Seong-gye, and the many Goryeo people on the mainland, felt their hearts tighten and were horrified!
It was subjected to an extremely strong impact.

The mighty Han is back!

The mighty Han, which had suppressed the surrounding tribes for hundreds of years, and even after it disintegrated, any one of the divided lords could easily crush the surrounding tribes, has returned!
Unfortunately, they lived in the same era as it.

Most importantly, they were not even part of the powerful Han Dynasty, but rather a small country closely following the Han Dynasty in its rise to power.

It is often said that the Yuan Dynasty was brutal and domineering, but when compared with the actions of powerful dynasties like the Han Dynasty, it becomes clear that the Mongols' domineering behavior was far inferior to that of the Han Dynasty.

The domineering nature of the Han Dynasty was an inherent and natural consequence.

It is a domineering style that still resonates with readers today, carrying a majestic righteousness that is irresistible.

They couldn't muster any resistance.

Compared to the mighty Han Dynasty, what the Mongols did was merely the tip of the iceberg.

The two sides are simply not on the same level.

I originally thought that the mighty Han dynasty only existed in history books, and that the Central Plains would never see another dynasty as powerful as the Han.

But who would have thought that the Ming Dynasty would stand up and send out its strongest message to the outside world!

His methods and decisiveness were in no way inferior to those of the mighty Han Dynasty!

This is just the beginning; there will likely be many more issues to come.

What Mu Ying and his group had done was already enough to shake many Koreans to their core.

Upon hearing Mu Ying's words, something seemingly hidden deep within their bloodline suddenly surfaced.

Combined with what Mu Ying and the others had done before, and intertwined with history, it gave them a tremendous shock.

In particular, the other party did not mention the Ming Dynasty, but rather the powerful Han Dynasty.

This gives us even more to ponder and makes us feel deeply moved.

From now on, they'll have to keep a low profile.

When facing the Ming Dynasty, we must never be careless or disrespectful in the slightest!
This thought arose almost simultaneously in the minds of King Wang Yao of Goryeo, the newly appointed regent Yi Seong-gye, and many other Goryeo officials.

This sacrificial ceremony had a greater impact on them than all the previous ones combined.

A gentle breeze swept by, pushing and blowing the scepter, and causing the soul-summoning banner to flutter.

It seems that the spirits of Cai Bin and other Ming Dynasty envoys are smiling with satisfaction in heaven.

It's as if the sages of the Han Dynasty, a thousand years ago, are now echoing across time and space...

……

"Your Excellency, I have a request that you would be grateful for."

Three days later, the situation in Goryeo had stabilized, and Yi Seong-gye, who had successfully replaced Yi In-im as the regent, arrived at the residence of Mu Ying and other Ming envoys.

After exchanging pleasantries, Lee Seong-gye looked at Mu Ying and began to speak with some trepidation.

"If you are unwilling to ask, then there is no need to say it. Saying it will only make things more difficult."

Mu Ying's words left Li Chenggui speechless.

He clearly hadn't expected Mu Ying to give such an answer, which completely stumped him.

"Well... it's not exactly an unreasonable request."

These past few days, your humble servant has been deeply impressed by Your Majesty's envoy, and I have developed a profound admiration and respect for his actions.

Therefore, he wished to become the envoy's godfather and requested the envoy's permission.

Hearing Li Chenggui's words, Ping An, who was standing to the side, was immediately dumbfounded.

He turned to look at Lee Seong-gye. This guy looked at least ten years older than Moon Young-ge, didn't he?
And now, he actually wants to become Wenying's godfather?!

What is this guy thinking?

What a thick skin!
Not only Ping An, but Mu Ying, who was also involved, changed her expression after hearing what Li Chenggui said.

"Although the envoy is younger than me, judging from his actions, his abilities are beyond my reach."

Since meeting the envoy, I've felt increasingly close to him, as if he were my father.

I've learned a lot of valuable things from the ambassador these past few days.

These are things I could only understand from my father.

Therefore, I have this idea, and I humbly request Your Excellency to grant it.

"I will certainly treat my godfather with utmost respect and would never dare to be disrespectful in the slightest!"

As Li Chenggui spoke, he began to address Mu Ying as his godfather.

Ping An was stunned and shocked by this action.

Can this still be done?

These Koreans... they're truly shameless! Absolutely shameless!
What are these guys thinking?

How can someone have such a thick skin?

Wenying will definitely not agree!

Didn't you see that Wenying also had a look of disbelief on her face?

Furthermore, Yi Seong-gye's current status and position are not ordinary; he has become their regent minister.

Under these circumstances, it would be difficult to make Wenying take him in as her godson.

"Alright, since you are so sincere, then I will accept you as my adopted son."

After a moment, Mu Ying looked at Li Chenggui and spoke.

Yi Seong-gye, who had already given up hope, was both surprised and delighted upon hearing Mok Young's words.

Without saying a word, he immediately knelt down and kowtowed deeply to Mu Yingbang, performing a grand ceremony.

He cried out: "Your son greets his godfather."

This scene completely stunned Ping An.

My feelings are incredibly complicated.

Wait... Wenying actually agreed?
He actually adopted such a son?

The key point is that this adopted son's identity is still so special.

What... what is Wenying thinking?

In fact, Mu Ying's feelings were also very complicated when she looked at her son, who was even older than herself.

I just feel disgusted.

However, when he came, his adoptive father had said that if Yi Seong-gye wanted to recognize him as his adoptive father after the matter was accomplished, then he should agree to it and take in such an adopted son.

Since his godfather had given his instructions beforehand, he was bound to accept it at this point.

Of course, compared to the awkwardness that arose from taking in such a godson at this time, Mu Ying was more shocked by her godfather's brilliant strategy.

My own godfather is truly a god.

How did he know that Yi Seong-gye was so shameless that he would want to recognize him as his godfather after the deed was done?
Can't figure it out!
I really can't understand it!
……

"Since Father Emperor is preparing to take action against the Northern Yuan Kingdom, the Liang King in the southwest cannot be ignored either."

We need to send people in advance to make the necessary preparations.

Inside the Wuying Hall, Crown Prince Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and spoke.

"So, according to your opinion, who would be the most suitable person to go?"

If it were a crown prince from another dynasty, hearing the emperor ask such a question, he would certainly have many thoughts and hesitate.

But Zhu Biao wouldn't; he knew all too well how his father treated him.

He clearly already had someone in mind, and upon hearing this, he didn't hesitate and said, "I think Marquis Yongjia, Zhu Liangzu, is quite suitable..."

(End of this chapter)