Chongzhen's domineering

Chapter 36 A Frightened Bird: Self-Preservation
Zhu Jue was preparing to build a telescope when he was bombarded with impeachment memorials from the outer court!
The Donglin Party and the Qi-Chu-Zhe Party went mad, frantically impeaching Wei Zhongxian's confidants.

The claims that Li Kuilong sold official positions and Tian Ji cheated in the imperial examination are old news; he already knew them.

There are things he doesn't know.

For example, Cui Yingyuan was originally a street ruffian like Wei Zhongxian, but thanks to his connection with Wei Zhongxian, he was promoted to the position of Assistant Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

For example, Zhang Ruitu entered the cabinet by writing inscriptions for shrines in his honor, which was utterly shameless.

For example, Li Guopu served as an official for only ten years because he was a fellow townsman of Wei Zhongxian. He spent six years in the Hanlin Academy before entering the Court of Imperial Sacrifices as a sixth-rank Left Vice Minister, and was then promoted to Minister of Rites and entered the cabinet without any special appointment!

There's also the story of Xue Zhen saving Wei Zhongxian from a fire by claiming that the grain and fodder were on fire, and then petitioning the late emperor to build a shrine for Wei Zhongxian, which led to him being appointed Minister of Justice.

It's said that Li Yongzhen cultivated relationships with foreign officials and accepted bribes, among other things.

After reading the memorial, Zhu Jue felt a surge of annoyance.

The Donglin Party and the Qi-Chu-Zhe Party loved to play this game, frequently using a deluge of impeachment memorials to eliminate dissidents.

These guys probably felt that since Wu Chunfu had been imprisoned, their intention to deal with Wei Zhongxian was quite clear.

Wei Zhongxian was so frightened that he personally delivered the memorial to the emperor.

Right now, this guy is standing to the side with a nervous expression.

He was genuinely afraid that the young emperor would dismiss all his godson, godson, and other close confidants.

Then he'll be all alone, without hands or feet, what use will he be?

Seeing this, Zhu Jue said irritably, "Look at the kind of people you're using!"

Sigh, there's nothing I can do about it.

Birds of a feather flock together. I am a petty person, so naturally only petty people will fawn over me. Those who think they are gentlemen don't even bother to associate with me.

Wei Zhongxian sighed inwardly, then cautiously said, "This servant knows his crime, Your Majesty, what do you think we should do?"

What can I do?

Did they really dismiss all of Wei Zhongxian's confidants at once?
That certainly won't work.

At this point, he had no one he could use to take over the outer court.

If he were to remove all of Wei Zhongxian's confidants, then the Donglin Party and the Qi-Chu-Zhe Party members who were supposed to come out of seclusion would probably do so. At that point, the outer court would be filled with people from the Donglin Party and the Qi-Chu-Zhe Party, and he would have no choice but to take action.

Everything depends on timing. If you act recklessly before the time is right, you're just messing around.

Zhu Jue frowned and pondered for a while, then decisively said, "Keep all the impeachment memorials in the palace and do not issue them."

You really protected my people!

This means they'll keep my hands and feet and let me work.

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhongxian repeatedly bowed and said, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

Do you think that I can get away with just keeping the impeachment memorial in the palace?

The Donglin Party and the Qi-Chu-Zhe Party were cunning; they knew very well that these impeachment memorials could not possibly impeach so many people.

They're trying to scare people!
If your subordinates can't be intimidated, they'll resign on their own initiative.

Perfect timing, I also need some sensible people to make room for me.

I won't remind you, but anyone who can be scared away is definitely disloyal to you, so keeping them around is useless.

If you find out that forcing someone to stay will not only do you no good, but will actually do you harm. You can betray others, and others can betray you, especially those who are disloyal to you.

Zhu Jue thought about it carefully, then simply raised his hand and waved it.

Wei Zhongxian quickly bowed and took his leave.

At this moment, in the cabinet office, Han Kuang and Feng Quan were summoning all the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet for questioning.

Han Kuang asked, feigning concern, "You haven't embezzled or broken the law, have you?"

This question was asked.

Are you threatening us?
These days, how many officials don't embezzle and break the law?

Even if we just go with the flow and casually accept a little something, we'll still be caught and impeached relentlessly!
Upon hearing this, Huang Lijie, Zhang Ruitu, and Li Guopu's expressions changed.

Upon hearing this, Shi Fenglai and Lai Daozong tried to appear composed, but the worry in their eyes was faintly visible.

They roughly understood what Han Kuang meant.

They're telling them to get out of here right now, otherwise they'll probably be impeached for corruption next time.

Shi Fenglai and Lai Daozong were both from Zhejiang, and were fellow townsmen with the Zhejiang faction in the court, so no one impeached them this time. The problem is, Han Kuang was a member of the Donglin Party, and a veteran of the Donglin Party at that. During the Wanli, Taichang, and Tianqi reigns, this guy had a lot of open and covert struggles with the Qi-Chu-Zhe Party.

Moreover, they hadn't joined the Zhejiang Party, and the Zhejiang Party in the central government might not even protect them.

How could they not be afraid?

Huang Lijie, Zhang Ruitu, and Li Guopu are even more in a different situation. They have all been impeached this time, and they have no connection with the Donglin Party or the Qi-Chu-Zhe Party. If they really take action, they will definitely not show any mercy.

If he is impeached and dismissed from office, he will be thrown into prison to hand over his ill-gotten gains.

Who would want to go into that imperial prison?
Wei Zhongxian was an extremely selfish and self-serving man. In order to protect himself, he would definitely betray them without hesitation.

Huang Liji thought for a moment, then sighed softly, "I'm getting old, it's time for me to retire."

He's sixty years old; he's definitely getting old.

The others were similar; only Feng Quan in the cabinet was in his thirties, while the others were at least in their fifties.

This means to protect oneself wisely.

Anyway, they don't have any real power.

It turns out that when Tianqi was alive, Wei Zhongxian was in charge, and the cabinet was just a yes-man.

The cabinet is now controlled by Han Kuang and Feng Quan, and they have little to do with the power. There is no need for them to risk their lives to stay.

If they resign now, at least they can return home in glory. But if they stay here and do nothing, they might become corpses one day!

It's best to play it safe.

Upon hearing this, the others nodded slightly in agreement.

These guys actually got scared away like that!
Historically, this was indeed the case. Once Wei Zhongxian fell out of favor, the eunuch faction scattered like leaves in the wind. Those who could escape fled, and those who didn't were mostly executed by Emperor Chongzhen.

At this moment, Wei Zhongxian seems to have fallen out of favor, yet he also seems to have fallen out of favor.

They really couldn't figure out what the young emperor was thinking.

However, they didn't want to gamble their lives on it.

Xu Dahua, Wu Chunfu, Zhou Yingqiu, Xu Zhiji, Cui Wensheng, and others were all imprisoned in the imperial prison.

Choi Seong-soo, on the contrary, escaped disaster because he returned to his hometown to observe mourning for his parents. The choice is obvious.

Zhu Jue didn't try to stop them when he saw their resignation memorials. Let them go if they want; it will free up some positions for them.

He had no time to deal with matters of the outer court at the moment, because Wang Zheng had already produced a prototype of the steam engine.

He had just finished dealing with the memorials and couldn't wait to go to the steam engine factory.

The steam engine factory was the first to be built and the first to be topped out. The main structure of the factory building is now complete, but the inside is still empty. There is only a huge table or platform in the middle, and a wood-burning stove next to the platform. That's all.

When Zhu Jue walked into the makeshift factory, he couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.

Wang Zheng actually managed to get a copper kettle used for boiling large bowls of tea to be used as a boiler to generate steam!

I must say, once the lid of that copper kettle is sealed, only the spout can release steam, making it quite suitable as a simple boiler.

Actually, things weren't much better when the West was developing the steam engine. The first steam engine was powered by a pressure cooker!

Putting that aside for now, as long as the steam engine can work, that's fine.

Zhu Jue looked at the connected copper pipes and then asked, "Liangfu, how is it? Are you ready?"

of course.

Wang Zheng nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, the water has boiled. All we need to do is open the valve to release the steam."

Didn't you try it first?

Zhu Jue looked at the heart-shaped handle and simple valve that he had made based on his instructions, and decisively said, "Try opening the valve."

Upon hearing this, Wang Zheng immediately picked up a thick cloth, pinched the heart-shaped handle, and twisted it forcefully.

With a "whoosh," the copper rod that was generating power in the middle of the steam engine stretched out with a "clang" and then fell back down with a "thud."

A rhythmic clanging sound rang out, like the beating heart of an industry.

The steam engine was successfully developed, and now steamships, machine tools, and other equipment have power!
The Ming Dynasty will awaken like a heart resuscitating, embarking on the path of an industrial empire.

Upon seeing this, Zhu Jue couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.

The Ming Dynasty's powerful processing foundation is indeed still intact. As long as the power provided by the steam engine is added, the Ming Dynasty will surely return to the top of the world!

(End of this chapter)