Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 217 Running water never stagnates, and a frequently used door hinge never rusts.

Zhu Youjian set off from the "Xingzai" camp on the outskirts of Qufu with less than 800 imperial guards, embroidered guards, and cavalry.

The main force of the army that had brought annihilation to the Confucius Mansion remained in place for the time being; their mission was not yet complete.

Qufu at this moment is no longer the carnage it once was, a battlefield of carnage with heads rolling and rivers of blood flowing.

Countless ragged but bright-eyed farmers gathered in front of the former Confucius family estate, measuring, registering, and receiving their own land deeds under the supervision of the Imperial Guards and soldiers.

"Dividing the land and distributing the fields is really busy"—this plain language, shouted from who knows which soldier, has become the most beautiful folk song on this ancient land.

A primal and direct celebration belonging to the grassroots is unfolding.

The morale of the army escorting the emperor's carriage was at an unprecedented high.

Every soldier's face was filled with fervent worship.

This kind of worship stems not only from spiritual inspiration, but also from substantial material satisfaction.

They witnessed firsthand how the emperor used swift and decisive methods to crush the sage's mansion, which had hung high above the world for two thousand years and weighed heavily on everyone's heads, into dust.

Immediately afterwards, they personally participated in a feast of dividing up the spoils.

The emperor was not stingy at all; he directly ordered that a portion of the mountain of gold and silver treasures confiscated from the Confucius Mansion be used to reward the three armies.

Every ordinary soldier who participated in the operation received a real twenty taels of silver.

For these soldiers who received only one or two taels of silver a month, the impact of real money was far more direct and effective than any empty slogans.

And when they distributed the land deeds to the people who kowtowed repeatedly with this sense of satisfaction, the heartfelt support and gratitude they received filled them with an unprecedented sense of honor.

On one hand, there was the silver bestowed by the emperor; on the other, the respect offered by the people.

This dual incentive of material and spiritual rewards made them deeply understand a principle: following this emperor meant money and prestige!

Compared to the army's high morale, the city of Yanzhou ahead seemed rather quiet.

As the army approached, they could see from afar that the gates of Yanzhou were wide open and the banners on the city walls were neatly arranged, yet there was not a trace of tension or vigilance.

Outside the city gate, the wide official road was swept clean and spotless, with clear water sprinkled on the street and yellow earth used as paving, displaying the highest level of etiquette to welcome the emperor.

At the very front of the road, led by Prince Lu Zhu Shouhong, a large group of civil and military officials from Yanzhou Prefecture were already kneeling in a dense mass, holding their breath as if they had been waiting for a long time.

This scene was completely different from the southward march that the army had experienced before.

There was no sense of impending doom, no feigned politeness, and none of the tense atmosphere that had been present outside Qufu.

All that exists is utter and unconditional obedience.

Zhu Shouhong knelt at the very front of everyone, his body trembling slightly uncontrollably.

Although he had already made the wisest choice, merit could not bring him any sense of security at this moment.

The fates of Prince Qin, Zhu Cunshu, and Prince Fu, Zhu Changxun, repeatedly reminded him of this emperor's 'uniqueness'.

Just a few days ago, the Duke Yansheng, whose lineage spanned two thousand years, was executed by dismemberment right under his nose.

This emperor, whose thoughts were unfathomable, seemed to have no affection whatsoever for the imperial family.

How will he deal with himself? This vassal king who "knew the times" at a critical moment?

Is it a reward? A warning? Or... a complete reckoning, taking away his credit for being pragmatic, along with his vast estate of the Prince of Lu?
Zhu Shouhong dared not think about it, because every thought was accompanied by an immense fear of life and death.

He could only bury his head deeply to express his most humble submission.

The sound of horses' hooves grew louder as they approached, eventually stopping in front of him.

Zhu Shouhong could feel the warm breath from the warhorse and smell the faint ambergris and the faint smell of blood on the person on the horse.

An invisible pressure, like Mount Tai pressing down on him, made it almost impossible for him to breathe.

Zhu Shouhong heard a calm voice.

"Get up."

Immediately, a pair of black military boots with cloud and dragon patterns came into his view.

The emperor dismounted and personally helped him up.

The moment the emperor's hand touched Zhu Shouhong's arm, his extremely tense nerves seemed to loosen slightly.

Zhu Shouhong stood up with the help of the force, but still dared not raise his head, instead bowing his body in even greater fear.

The emperor's gesture was far too...friendly.

This affability seemed all the more bizarre and unfathomable to a monarch who had just slaughtered another top nobleman.

"King Lu, you have done very well."

Zhu Youjian's voice remained calm, as if he were simply stating a fact, without revealing any emotion.

However, this simple comment struck Zhu Shouhong like an immense blessing. He felt his legs go weak, and his body, which had just straightened up, was about to kneel down uncontrollably again.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness!" He quickly kowtowed again, his voice trembling with undisguised relief and joy at surviving a calamity.

……

The Prince of Lu's mansion was not decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, nor was a grand banquet held.

As night fell, only a few bright candles were lit in an elegantly furnished study.

Several landscape paintings by famous artists from previous dynasties hung on the wall, and elegant sandalwood incense burned in a bronze incense burner in the corner. There was no singing or dancing, no entertainers, and not even any extra servants.

Zhu Youjian and Prince Lu, Zhu Shouhong, sat facing each other, with a small table between them and two cups of tea, steaming gently.

Tian Ergeng, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, stood like an iron-cast door god outside the study door.

The atmosphere inside seemed private and warm, but in reality, every breath of air was tense.

To Zhu Shouhong's surprise, the emperor did not discuss the Kong family case, nor did he discuss any state affairs.

He simply picked up his teacup, his posture relaxed, as if he were truly just a younger relative visiting.

"On my journey here, I have seen that the city of Yanzhou is clean and tidy, and the people are in good spirits. This is quite different from what I saw in Shandong." Zhu Youjian took a sip of tea and looked down at the bookshelf, where various classics, histories, philosophical works, and collections of literature were neatly arranged.

"I've heard that Wang Shuya is fond of literature and dislikes extravagance. He has even established schools, built bridges and roads in the city, and has a good reputation for virtue."

Zhu Shouhong was flattered and immediately bowed, his posture extremely humble, his tone even more modest: "Your Majesty is too kind. I... am but a mediocre person. As a member of the imperial clan, I receive a salary from the court, yet I have not made any contribution, and I feel ashamed. All I have done is to share Your Majesty's burdens and to do my duty in the slightest."

He paused, carefully observing the emperor's expression, his voice carrying a perfectly measured hint of desolation and loneliness: "Furthermore, I... have no sons, and the vast palace is usually deserted and quiet. Only by focusing my energy on these trivial matters can I pass the time. I have no other ambition than to be able to peacefully and steadily look after Yanzhou Prefecture for Your Majesty. That would be the greatest blessing of my life."

These words were flawless.

This not only showed that he had no ambition, but also implied that he was idle and harmless. The core idea was: I just want to be a wealthy and leisurely person and live out the rest of my life in peace. I beg Your Majesty to let me go.

Zhu Youjian listened quietly, his face expressionless.

Only after Zhu Shouhong finished speaking did he slowly put down his teacup, the bottom of which made a soft sound as it hit the table.

Then, the emperor smiled.

"Uncle Wang, you're too modest."

Zhu Youjian's eyes suddenly sharpened in that instant, as if they could see through people's hearts: "In this matter of the Kong family, Uncle Wang grasped the timing perfectly. His decisiveness and shrewdness are not something that an idle person could do."

Zhu Shouhong's heart suddenly clenched.

"In my opinion, the Prince is not only not mediocre, but also a capable official and a talented person!" Zhu Youjian leaned forward slightly, staring intently at him. "Such a talent is being wasted on just staying in this corner of the country, guarding only Yanzhou Prefecture."

Zhu Shouhong's breathing suddenly stopped.

The emperor, in an uncompromising tone, uttered a shocking statement:
"Return to the capital, Uncle. Come to court; I have a great use for you."

Zhu Shouhong was stunned; his mind went completely blank.

The next moment, he fell heavily to his knees again with a "thud," this time truly terrified, even his voice changed tone.

"Your Majesty! Absolutely not! Absolutely not!" He pounded his head on the ground. "Emperor Taizu established an ironclad rule that princes are not allowed to leave their territory without an imperial edict, let alone... let alone enter the capital to interfere in court affairs! This is the ancestral rule of our Great Ming Dynasty for two hundred years! Your subject... Your subject dares not disobey! Please, Your Majesty, rescind your decree! Your subject would rather die than obey the edict!"

This is no longer just breaking the rules! This is challenging the very political foundation of the Ming Dynasty!

Historically, any vassal king who dared to covet central power, whether by choice or by force, ultimately met a tragic end, with his life and his entire clan wiped out!

Zhu Di did succeed, but did Zhu Shouhong have the ability to quell the rebellion?

What exactly is this emperor trying to do?!

Is he trying to put himself in a dangerous position, making himself a target for all the feudal lords and civil officials in the land?!
Zhu Youjian did not help him this time.

He looked down at Zhu Shouhong, who was kneeling on the ground trembling like a leaf, his smile gone, replaced by a cold calm.

"The rules set by Emperor Taizu are the rules set by Emperor Taizu."

The emperor's voice was not loud, but it resonated clearly in every corner of the study, as if carrying the sound of metal and stone.

He paused, looking at Zhu Shouhong's face, which was filled with fear and confusion, and spoke each word as if announcing the arrival of a new era:
"Now, my rules are the only rules!"

The whole world seemed to fall silent at that moment.

Zhu Shouhong knelt on the ground in a daze, with only that one sentence echoing repeatedly in his mind.

"My rules are the rules."

The impact of this statement far surpasses the thunder of a thousand horses and the cruel punishment of slow slicing.

The whole world seemed to fall silent at that moment.

Zhu Shouhong understood instantly, or rather, he fell into a deeper confusion.

A madman... The emperor before us is truly a complete madman!

Throughout history, has any emperor ever acted in such a way? Disregarding ancestral laws and regulations, is he attempting to completely overturn the ancestral order of the past two hundred years?!
Zhu Youjian looked at his deathly pale face and violently trembling body, but showed no impatience whatsoever. "Uncle," Zhu Youjian's voice returned to calm, as if he were chatting with a family member, "do you know what my Great Ming Dynasty was like when the Taizu Emperor established these rules? And what is it like now?"

Zhu Shouhong looked up blankly, not understanding what was going on.

"Emperor Taizu established the rule that princes should not interfere in politics because of the lessons learned from the weakness of the Song imperial family and the internal strife among the Mongol princes. At that time, the country had just been pacified and everything needed to be rebuilt. What was needed was an absolutely stable central government. This rule was correct at the time."

Zhu Youjian placed the teapot back on the small table, his gaze deep as he looked at Zhu Shouhong: "But more than two hundred years have passed. The ship of the Ming Dynasty is old and worn, with some parts even leaking. Yet the people on board are still clinging to nautical charts from more than two hundred years ago, telling me not to deviate from the course! They don't realize that the river has long since changed, and there are many more reefs. If I continue to cling to that old chart and refuse to change course, the only outcome will be running aground and sinking!"

His voice suddenly turned sharp, each word like a knife:

"Running water never stagnates, and a frequently used door hinge never rusts! This world, this realm, including my Great Ming Dynasty, is moving forward! Without change, without progress, without stagnation, the ultimate fate will be elimination, attack, and even—the destruction of the nation!"

"Your Majesty...you flatter me!" Zhu Shouhong finally found his voice and instinctively retorted, "Although our Great Ming has suffered from disasters, its territory spans thousands of miles, its population is in the hundreds of millions, and its dynasty is long-lasting. It is still the Celestial Empire! The barbarians are subdued, and all nations come to pay tribute...how could it have come to the point of...the destruction of our nation?"

In his view, the emperor's words were simply alarmist.

The Ming Dynasty had its problems, but which dynasty didn't?
Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse; no matter what, the Ming Dynasty is far from being "destroyed."

"The Celestial Empire?" Zhu Youjian sneered. "Uncle, your vision is limited to this land of nine provinces. Do you know that in the unseen far west, there is a continent called 'Europe'?"

Zhu Shouhong looked completely bewildered.

"Those barbarians and Portuguese there are piloting warships that are more robust and equipped with more powerful cannons than our Ming Dynasty's Fujian ships, and they are dividing up the world!"

Zhu Youjian's voice was low, yet it was filled with a powerful and moving force.
"Their fleet has reached Malacca, occupied Luzon, and even in India, the Mughal Empire, which once sent envoys to pay tribute to Emperor Taizong, has now become a money bag for those red-haired barbarians! Their wealth is expanding at a speed that even I find alarming! Their firearms are being upgraded at a speed that even I find astonishing!"

"They have their eyes on the whole world! And in their eyes, my Great Ming Dynasty is nothing more than the biggest and fattest piece of meat!"

What you perceive as a gathering of nations paying tribute may, in their eyes, merely be a desperate struggle for survival before being swallowed up!

Zhu Shouhong was completely stunned.

The farthest place he had ever heard of and believed to exist in his life was the Western Regions and the former Mongol Yuan territory.

The emperor's vision of dividing the world was completely beyond his comprehension.

Zhu Youjian didn't give him much time to think. He abruptly changed the subject, like a bucket of cold water being poured over his face, pulling him back to the harsh reality.

"Now that I've covered the distant past, let me tell you something more recent. Uncle, what do you think would have happened if I hadn't left the capital or gone to Shaanxi half a year ago, and had allowed the refugees to rise up everywhere?"

Zhu Shouhong's lips moved as if the phrase "refugees rise up everywhere" was about to be uttered.

"Yes! Just as you think!" Zhu Youjian seemed to see through his thoughts. "The disaster victims will spread like wildfire across the Northwest, then to the Central Plains and the capital region! At that time, war will rage everywhere, the national treasury will be empty, there will be starving people everywhere, and rebels everywhere wielding hoes! Uncle, think of this for me again—"

He leaned down, staring intently at Zhu Shouhong, his voice as cold as ice.

"By then, do you think that hungry wolf from beyond the Great Wall, who has always coveted our beautiful land, will miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?"

"The Later Jin will enter the pass as easily as taking candy from a baby!"

Shocked!

If the vision of "Europe dividing the world" still seems somewhat distant and unreal.

So, the four words "Later Jin entered the pass" were like a branding iron that contained all the nightmares of the entire Ming Dynasty, and they were burned hard on Zhu Shouhong's heart and burned into the depths of his soul!
He seemed to have been drained of all his energy by the terrifying scene, kneeling there blankly like a clay or wooden sculpture. His eyes were vacant, his pupils dilated, and his mind was like a pot of boiling porridge, with countless thoughts churning and colliding within it.

madman……

Savior……

Europe...dividing the world...

Refugees rose up everywhere... the Later Jin entered the pass...

ransacking homes...training troops...

Ancestral rules...regulations...

Each of these words carried immense power, stirring up a tidal wave in his mind, yet they could not coalesce into a complete, comprehensible form.

He tried to grasp one of the threads, only to find that the thread had pulled out countless more tangled knots.

An eerie silence fell over the entire study.

Zhu Youjian did not urge Zhu Shouhong. He quietly walked back to his seat, sat down again, picked up the cup of tea that had cooled down, and took a sip.

Zhu Youjian's patience was itself a kind of overwhelming confidence. He tore open a completely new, bloody world and forcibly stuffed it into the mind of this pampered prince.

It will take time to process this.

The candlelight flickered uneasily in the stillness, occasionally bursting into a tiny spark. Even the drifting clouds in the landscape painting on the wall seemed to freeze in place.

Time slips away, bit by bit.

An hour.

For Zhu Shouhong, this hour felt like a bloody storm raging in his mind.

He was no longer the pampered Prince Lu, but a prisoner forced to piece together the truth from the ruins of his memories.

He recalled the Shanxi merchants case at the beginning of the emperor's reign.

At the time, everyone thought this was just the new emperor trying to establish his authority, to warn those merchants who were colluding with the enemy, and to replenish the depleted national treasury.

But looking back now, wasn't that the first blow the emperor wielded, the first bloody haul of wealth from outside the national treasury?

Following this was the reorganization of the Beijing garrison and the training of the new army.

He had heard that the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the New Army in the capital had undergone a complete transformation in a short period of time, becoming extremely menacing.

At the time, he felt that he was under the emperor's nose, and that thunder and rain were all acts of imperial favor.

Zhu Shouhong now understood that they were using money swindled from Shanxi merchants to feed the henchmen who belonged only to the emperor!

Then, where did those claws reach?
Jiangnan!

This prosperous land of fish and rice has historically been the territory of civil officials and gentry, who have always been impenetrable to any influence.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard and the New Army marched south with great force, managing to keep the entire Jiangnan granary from making any rash moves, thus providing a continuous supply of military provisions and food for the people in the north.

Such tactics are incredibly domineering!
Then came the news that even he found unbelievable—Zheng Zhilong had submitted to the emperor!

A maritime tyrant who dominated the southeastern coast and whose power even the government forces couldn't overcome actually submitted directly.

At the time, he thought it was just the imperial court's power spreading far and wide and Zheng Zhilong's eagerness to be appeased. Now, thinking back, he wondered what kind of sharp coercion and enticement were behind it!

Finally, and what chilled him to the bone the most was the fate of the King of Qin and the King of Fu.

That was the direct bloodline of Emperor Taizu Gao, a prince of the same clan as him!

They were so easily treated like two boils, and cleanly and neatly popped open!

The methods were ruthless, and the response was swift!
One by one, these isolated incidents that he had heard of but never truly understood were connected by a cold thread!

Zhu Shouhong's body began to tremble uncontrollably.

The ruthlessness, the far-sightedness, and the unwavering will of this grand-nephew before him are probably even greater than those of Emperor Taizu Gao!
Emperor Taizu rose from humble beginnings and was decisive in his actions, but he still had brothers and comrades around him and retained a sense of human warmth and compassion.

But the emperor before us, all alone, sitting high on the dragon throne, could be so ruthless to his own relatives and clansmen without batting an eye!
He lacked the human touch of Mao Zedong; he possessed only a cold, absolute will—those who obey me prosper, those who defy me perish!

Anyone or anything that hinders his ultimate goal of saving the Ming Dynasty, whether it be a parasite on the country or a member of the Zhu family, will be crushed to dust without hesitation!

however……

Zhu Shouhong also had to admit a fact that made him extremely ashamed.

It was under this almost demonic iron fist that the Ming Dynasty, which was in turmoil, truly changed in just over a year!

It has been revitalized!

At least now, no one in the government or among the people talks about the Jurchens of Liaodong anymore; they only feel a deep-seated fear in their hearts!

When this conclusion took shape irrefutably in his mind, Zhu Shouhong was still filled with fear, but even more so with awe after being completely overwhelmed by the immense power.

He slowly raised his head again.

That face, which was originally filled with fear and confusion, now only showed a clarity as if it had survived a catastrophe, and a resolute determination tempered by fire.

"I understand."

Zhu Shouhong's voice no longer trembled, but its hoarseness revealed an unprecedented strength and determination.

"Your Majesty, as long as the Zhu family's empire can be preserved, as long as the Ming Dynasty can not perish... Your Majesty may take my life, this Prince Lu's mansion, and everything I own at any time!"

"Your subject, Zhu Shouhong, will obey without question!"
……

Zhu Youjian stayed at the Prince of Lu's residence for only one night.

The next morning, before dawn, he was already fully prepared to set off.

Before leaving, he simply patted Zhu Shouhong on the shoulder and resumed his calm tone.

"Uncle, rest assured and wait for the imperial decree in Yanzhou. The time to serve the country is not far off."

Having said that, he mounted his horse and, surrounded by a group of imperial guards, led the Iron Torrent on another journey.

Zhu Shouhong led his entire household to respectfully see the emperor off to the ten-mile-long pavilion outside the city. Only when the sun, moon, and dragon flag, representing the emperor, completely disappeared on the distant southern horizon did he dare to straighten up.

Beside him, a chief steward of the prince's mansion who had served him for decades asked in a trembling voice, "Your Highness, where is His Majesty headed?"

Zhu Shouhong did not answer, but simply gazed into the distance in the direction the army had departed—due south!
His pupils suddenly shrank.

Southern Zhili...

Jiangnan!

(End of this chapter)