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

With the Shandong turmoil completely over, Liu Zeqing was escorted back to the capital.

Zhu Youjian's face was gloomy as he stared intently at the other person without uttering a word.

Liu Zeqing cried, "I was confused for a moment, I was confused for a moment! I beg Your Majesty to have mercy..."

After he had finished crying, Zhu Youjian slowly spoke: "Have I ever mistreated you?"

"Your Majesty has never mistreated me; it was I who was blinded by greed and committed a grave error..."

"That's enough!"

Zhu Youjian was even more furious, and angrily rebuked, "Back when the Jurchens invaded, Yang Zhaoji sent you to their aid. I still remember you leading troops in a fierce battle against the Jurchens, fighting from dawn till noon, and finally achieving a great victory. At that time, you were full of vigor and high spirits, but were you ever glorious?"

"But what happened next? What did you do?"

"In the fifth year of Chongzhen's reign, you were impeached for embezzling soldiers' pay. I did not punish you, but instead allowed you to make amends through meritorious service."

"In the thirteenth year of Chongzhen's reign, I ordered you to send troops to intercept the rebel Li Zicheng, but you found various excuses to stay away from battle."

"I ordered you to reinforce Kaifeng, but you ran away after just a brief encounter with the rebels! You said you fell off your horse and broke your leg, but I saw you retreat very quickly! And you looted the people along the way; I've remembered all of that!"

Liu Zeqing knelt on the ground, unable to lift his head at all.

Zhu Youjian continued, "In the seventeenth year of Chongzhen's reign, if I hadn't personally led the expedition, could you have expected to defeat the rebel Li Zicheng?"

"The Liaodong war is over. Now the Jurchens are defeated, and Liaodong has been recovered. I ordered you to deal with those rebellious officials from Joseon who fled south. What are you doing? You're busy withholding the soldiers' pensions!"

"You've led troops for years, you should know better than anyone that those soldiers who fought so bravely were the pillars of their families. After they died in battle, how would their wives, children, and elderly parents survive?"

"You even dare to steal money from the dead? Aren't you afraid of divine retribution?"

Liu Zeqing was so ashamed by the scolding that he could only keep saying, "I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong..."

Zhu Youjian, tired of his tirade, turned and took a sip of tea before continuing, "I gave you a chance. If you had admitted the problem and handed over the silver when the Eastern Depot went to investigate, there would have been room for maneuver. But now, nothing I say will change anything. If you don't die, I will have failed the countless soldiers!"

Liu Zeqing knew he was doomed, so he said, "Your Majesty, I have a request..."

Zhu Youjian was furious: "You still have the nerve to make demands? What right do you have to make demands of me?"

"No, Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

Liu Zeqing stammered, "Your Majesty, I am willing to plead guilty, but... I beg Your Majesty, could you please not punish me for treason?"

Zhu Youjian's expression softened slightly, and he said, "So you still have some shame?"

Liu Zeqing lowered his head again: "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. I confess my guilt..."

Zhu Youjian sighed helplessly and asked, "I also want to ask you, why has the war in Korea been delayed for so long? Is it because you are unwilling to send troops, or is there some hidden reason?"

Liu Zeqing hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, this matter is quite strange. I was just about to submit a report..."

"Get to the point!"

"Yes, yes!"

Liu Zeqing agreed and continued, "The Korean rebels are entrenched in the Busan area, numbering about 20,000 to 30,000. I originally thought that taking them down would be a piece of cake, but after several attacks, I realized that the situation was not right. Those people broke away from the control of Korea and went to Japan to receive military and equipment assistance."

Zhu Youjian frowned and said, "Even if Japan sends troops, you shouldn't be unable to defeat them! I have given you the elite troops of Dengzhou and Laizhou, and you also have a navy. How can a mere twenty or thirty thousand Korean rebels leave you helpless?"

Sweat beaded on Liu Zeqing's forehead as he said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, the problem lies here... those rebels actually have rifles!"

"A rifle?" Zhu Youjian's eyes sharpened. "What rifle?"

"It's...it's the flintlock rifle that the Warrior Battalion uses!"

"What did you say?"

Zhu Youjian suddenly stood up, his eyes flashing with cold light.

"Besides the Warrior Battalion, other garrisons only had a small number of flintlock muskets. How did they end up overseas?"

Liu Zeqing prostrated himself and kowtowed: "I am also completely baffled! But those rebels are indeed well-equipped. Not only are their rifles long-range and accurate, but their artillery is also formidable, no less powerful than the artillery in my army! I initially underestimated them, and several of my attacks were repelled, resulting in the loss of many men..."

Zhu Youjian's face was ashen as he slowly sat back on the dragon throne and fell into deep thought.

After a long pause, he finally said, "You mean, someone is smuggling arms to Japan?"

Liu Zeqing dared not raise his head and said in a low voice, "I dare not speak presumptuously, but this matter is indeed strange. The Korean rebels were originally nothing but a rabble, but since they surrendered to Japan, their fighting strength has increased by leaps and bounds, which is by no means ordinary..."

Zhu Youjian remained silent for a moment, then suddenly sneered: "Looks like there's a traitor among us! Luo Yangxing!"

Luo Yangxing stepped forward: "Your subject is here!"

Zhu Youjian, his face grim, said, "Investigate this matter thoroughly immediately! Flintlock guns are vital national weapons; each one is numbered. Find out for me who is reselling arms and secretly colluding with foreign enemies!"

Luo Yangxing bowed and replied, "Your subject obeys the decree!"

Zhu Youjian then looked at Liu Zeqing and said coldly, "Although your crime is unforgivable, you did report this matter in a timely manner. I can promise you I won't treat it as treason, but you withheld military pay, delayed military operations, and avoided battle out of fear of the enemy. Your crimes are inescapable! Guards!"

The guards outside the hall responded in unison, "Present!"

"Take him away and behead him tomorrow at noon! Display his head throughout the nine border regions as a warning to others!"

Liu Zeqing trembled, but dared not beg for mercy again. He simply kowtowed heavily, saying, "Your Majesty, I... thank you for your grace..."

Zhu Youjian sat on the dragon throne, pondering for a long time, then raised his head: "Summon Wei Zaode!"

Wang Chengen hurriedly went out to deliver the imperial decree, and a moment later, Wei Zaode entered the palace.

Zhu Youjian said directly, "Although the rebellion in Shandong has been quelled, there have been significant changes in the officialdom, and a capable person is needed to take charge. Do you have any suitable candidates to recommend?"

Wei Zaode hesitated for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "Your subject recommends Li Yan, the prefect of Zhending."

"Oh?" Zhu Youjian raised an eyebrow slightly. "What's the reason?"

Wei Zaode said solemnly, "Li Yan is indeed a man of great talent. During his three years as prefect of Zhending, he encouraged agriculture and sericulture, developed water conservancy, and reduced taxes, which led to a rapid recovery of people's livelihoods. Last year, Zhending suffered a severe drought, and he opened the granaries to distribute grain and organized the people to draw water for irrigation, saving 80% of the harvest. Now the people of Zhending live in peace and prosperity, and merchants come and go in an endless stream."

"More importantly, Li Yan is well-versed in military affairs. The garrisons in Shandong have just undergone a major reshuffle, and the morale of the soldiers is unstable. Sending an ordinary civil official would likely be difficult to gain their trust."

A hint of approval flashed in Zhu Youjian's eyes, and he asked, "It seems you approve of him to some extent?"

Wei Zaode replied, "Your Majesty, this man is honest, upright, and incorruptible. Last year, when a powerful local tyrant seized farmland, he upheld the law impartially, remaining unmoved even when the tyrant tried to plead with high-ranking officials in the court."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian nodded: "Very well! Issue an imperial decree to promote Li Yan to Left Provincial Administration Commissioner of Shandong, and order him to assume his post immediately!"

Just as Wang Chengen was about to accept the order, Zhu Youjian added, "He will also be granted the title of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, bestowed with the Imperial Sword, and given the authority to act as he sees fit. After the various garrisons are reorganized, they will also be placed under his unified command for training."

Wei Zaode's expression changed slightly, and he hesitated before saying, "Your Majesty, military and political affairs are intertwined, shouldn't we...?"

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures."

Zhu Youjian's gaze was deep as he said, "The war in Korea is not going well. Japan is making moves, and I'm afraid there will be another fierce battle."

Wei Zaode suddenly realized what was happening and quickly bowed, saying, "Your Majesty is wise!"