I, Emperor Chongzhen, have extended the life of the Ming Dynasty by five hundred years.

"Shut up!"

Chen Yan completely broke down and screamed like a madman.

If he had a knife, he would not hesitate to stab Zhang Wenyuan to death.

I sent you to welcome Liu Fangliang, but instead you welcomed the Chongzhen Emperor instead!

"Your Majesty... Your subject..."

"I was forced into this situation; I had no choice, no other option..."

Chen Yan panicked and became incoherent, wanting nothing more than to dig a hole and bury himself in it.

Unfortunately, the ground beneath my feet was made of stone bricks. I almost scratched myself until my fingernails bled, but the stone bricks didn't budge.

Zhang Wenyuan was somewhat at a loss, wondering what was going on.

I was just stealing your thunder, but if people didn't know better, they'd think I was going to kill your whole family!

Besides, you're being too cowardly. It's not like we've never seen an emperor before, it's just...

Without thinking, he glanced up and froze, as if struck by lightning.

Good heavens, am I seeing things? Isn't that Emperor Chongzhen?

Zhang Wenyuan rubbed his eyes hard, and cautiously raised his head again...

Although he didn't have many opportunities to meet the emperor, he would never forget that face!

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty... I deserve to die!"

Zhang Wenyuan felt like his soul had left his body, and he stammered, "It was all because of Chief Minister Chen... no, it was Chen Yan, that scoundrel, he was the one who instigated me..."

Chen Yan really wanted to slap him across the face, but his arm was already out of control.

No matter how hard I tried, my arms just kept shaking and I couldn't lift it at all.

A cool morning breeze blew, and the city gate fell into a deathly silence.

Most of the people kneeling here do not recognize the Chongzhen Emperor.

Not to mention the gentry and wealthy households, even some low-ranking officials rarely had the opportunity to meet the emperor.

Therefore, when the crowd saw Chen Yan and Zhang Wenyuan's reactions, they were still unaware of what had happened.

I just don't understand what's going on between these two.

If you're going to follow the dragon, why make such a big deal out of it?

Besides, we are all cultured people. Even if Liu Fangliang wanted to become emperor, there should be a procedure.

Usually, someone has to persuade him to take the position, then he declines, then he has to be persuaded to take the position again, then he declines again...

The process was only completed when more officials and gentry urged him to accept the offer, and he finally reluctantly agreed.

You call yourself the Prime Minister? You don't even know the most basic rules!

Sun Laiwang suddenly felt that his opportunity had arrived!

"Sun Laiwang, a Confucian merchant from Baoding, pays his respects to His Majesty!"

The shout came suddenly, and everyone looked in the direction of the sound.

Sun Laiwang was extremely nervous. Composing himself, he said, "This humble subject relies on Your Majesty's wisdom and martial prowess, and cherishes the grand ambition of bringing peace and prosperity to the people. I was born in response to the times, and heroes have come to my side to quell the chaos of the Ming Dynasty and crush our powerful enemies. In the future, I will surely achieve peace through civil administration, quell the chaos through military force, and bring tranquility through civil governance. All subjects of the land hold Your Majesty in the highest esteem, looking to you as if you were their parents!"

Zhu Youjian smiled and said, "Sun Laiwang, the Confucian merchant from Baoding, I'll remember you!"

Sun Laiwang was overjoyed and quickly kowtowed, saying, "This humble subject is fortunate to witness Your Majesty's countenance; it is truly an honor beyond measure!"

Chen Yan and Zhang Wenyuan exchanged a glance, and at the same time they saw two words in each other's eyes.

Stop! Pen!

However, this is not the end.

Because surrendering is actually a very competitive process.

If you fall behind today, it will be very difficult to catch up in the future.

So everyone introduced themselves and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"

Chen Yan had no time to stop him, let alone explain, and collapsed to the ground like a lump of mud.

It's over, it's all over.

Zhang Wenyuan gritted his teeth and shouted, "Chief Minister Chen, what is there to fear now? Let's fight!"

Just as he was about to get up, a steel knife was already at his neck.

The cold blade pressed against the skin of my neck, the chill penetrating to my very bones.

"Kneel down!"

Immediately afterwards, Li Ruolian's voice came through.

Zhang Wenyuan dared not make any more moves, and obediently knelt down, banging his head on the ground.

Li Ruolian beckoned, and the guards stepped forward, their long swords drawn, gleaming coldly.

Zhu Youjian slowly asked, "Have you noted down the names of all these people?"

Li Ruolian, still holding the knife, said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, I have remembered everything!"

"Very good, we'll search every house later, leave no one alive!"

"As you command!"

At this moment, Sun Laiwang finally realized that something was wrong and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, we are all sincerely surrendering and have no disloyal intentions!"

Zhang Wenyuan glared at him irritably: "Shut up!"

Sun Laiwang retorted, dissatisfied, "General Zhang, we've already paid money. Didn't you say you'd protect our safety?"

Zhu Youjian became interested and asked, "How much money did you pay?"

"Your Majesty, the gentry of the entire city have pooled together a total of 1.5 million taels of silver!"

"That much money?"

Zhu Youjian feigned surprise and looked at Zhang Wenyuan: "Where's the money?"

Zhang Wenyuan said irritably, "Chief Minister Chen took 1.2 million taels, and we divided the rest among ourselves."

Zhu Youjian then looked at Chen Yan: "Minister Chen, don't you intend to say anything?"

Chen Yan, with a mournful face, said, "Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me! This old minister had no choice, I was confused for a moment, no, no... this old minister was being blackmailed!"

Zhu Youjian looked at him with a smile and asked, "Who threatened you?"

"Yes, yes, Shunjun... no!"

"It's the rebel army... no, it's the rebel bandits, the rebel bandits..."

Chen Yan was already rambling incoherently. He finally managed to find the right address and continued:

"Your Majesty, the rebel Liu Fangliang has captured my family and is forcing me to surrender. He even said that if I don't give in, he will slaughter the entire city's inhabitants!"

"To avoid widespread bloodshed, this old minister had no choice but to... resort to this desperate measure..."

"That's enough!"

Zhu Youjian shouted, and Chen Yan collapsed to the ground again.

"You are my chief minister, and I trusted you so much that I entrusted you with 200,000 troops of the capital garrison. Yet you betrayed the Ming Dynasty and surrendered to the bandits. What else is there to say now?"

"Where is the Warriors Battalion?!"

Li Ruolian stepped forward: "Your subject is here!"

"Take them all down, execute them on the spot, and exterminate their entire families!"

"yes!"

After Li Ruolian agreed, she raised her knife and swung it forward.

The guards pounced on them like wolves and tigers, surrounding them completely.

These people were originally from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and they acted without hesitation.

With a series of screams, Sun Laiwang and the others had already lost their heads.

They died without ever understanding what had happened.

The morning breeze, carrying the scent of blood, felt even colder.

Looking at Chen Yan's despicable face, Zhu Youjian grew increasingly angry and ordered, "We can't let this old bastard get away with this. Find a lively place and have him executed by slow slicing!"

Li Ruolian asked, "What should be done with Zhang Wenyuan?"

"To be executed by slow slicing!"

"yes!"

Zhang Wenyuan screamed in terror and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I have something to say! I have something to say!"

However, no one paid any attention, and two captains stepped forward and dragged him away.

Zhang Wenyuan shouted, "Liu Fangliang will soon enter the city to accept the surrender. I know their movements..."

"Wait!"

Zhu Youjian stopped the man and asked, "Explain yourself clearly, what exactly happened?"

"Your Majesty, please don't kill me! I know a lot of useful information. I was the one who carried out the conspiracy between Chen Yan and Liu Fangliang..."

Zhang Wenyuan seemed to have grasped a lifeline and dared not conceal anything, truthfully reporting everything he knew.

Zhu Youjian listened quietly and then understood the current situation.

"Give him a quick death!"

"yes!"

Li Ruolian agreed and ordered the execution to be carried out on the spot.

Knowing he was doomed, Zhang Wenyuan could only say, "Your Majesty, could you grant me a request?"

Zhu Youjian sneered, "You still have the nerve to negotiate with me?"

"No, no, that's not what I meant..."

Zhang Wenyuan waved his hands repeatedly, then said, "My family members are in Liu Fangliang's hands. I beg Your Majesty..."

"Your family and property have been taken back to the capital!"

"what?"

Zhang Wenyuan was greatly puzzled and scratched his head vigorously.

Zhu Youjian said, "When you transported your family and property out of the capital and conspired with Chen Yan to betray me, did you ever think of this day?"

Zhang Wenyuan's face turned ashen, and he said, "My crimes are unforgivable!"

"This is it!"

Zhu Youjian nodded slowly: "Considering that you provided some useful intelligence before your death, I will grant you a quick death. However, your family's wealth will be turned over to the national treasury, and your family... well, let them go, exile them!"

The crime of treason should have resulted in the execution of nine generations of one's family; exile was already a lenient punishment.

Zhang Wenyuan kowtowed deeply: "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"