The most reckless man in the Ming Dynasty.

Chapter 318 Shocking Incident
Zhu Chenhao is very panicked now.

Because many officials looked at him with eyes full of fear and suspicion.

After all, only Zhu Chenhao could do such a thing as assassinating Marquis Zhongshan by any means necessary.

Civil officials and gentry are different. Their base is in the court. Only when the court is stable can they ensure the stability of their interests. Therefore, civil officials and gentry will not raise assassins or send people to assassinate. Such extreme methods will only lead to chaos in the court!

The base of civil officials and gentry is in the court. They can fight in the court, form cliques to attack dissidents and exclude dissidents. This is the most common method used by civil officials and gentry.

As for assassinating political enemies, they would never do such a thing, because once they did so, it would undoubtedly undermine the unspoken rules of the court.

Today I send someone to assassinate you, and tomorrow your allies send someone to assassinate me. How can we continue the fight? Will everyone stay at home and remotely control the political situation?

It's simply not realistic!

So looking at the entire court, the only person who has no taste and no bottom line, and has the ability to raise assassins, is Prince Ning Zhu Chenhao.

After all, that's what he did in Nanchang. He raised a large number of death warriors disguised as bandits and when he encountered officials and gentry who were unwilling to submit to him, he would directly send people to assassinate and exterminate their entire clan, and then blame the situation on the bandits!

This assassination case looks extremely similar to this one, with almost no difference.

In that case, who else should I suspect if not you, Zhu Chenhao?

Zhu Chenhao had no words to express his pain and could only secretly hope that Lord Tang could survive this disaster and clear his name.

Emperor Zhu Houzhao also noticed this and subconsciously waved to Zhu Chenhao.

The latter immediately stepped forward and bowed, but before he could open his mouth, a word from the Emperor frightened Prince Ning so much that he fell to his knees.

"Prince Ning, does this matter have anything to do with you?"

Zhu Chenhao's forehead was covered with cold sweat after hearing this, and he immediately explained: "Your Majesty, I have had some contact with Lord Tang, so why would I send someone to assassinate Lord Tang?"

Occasionally we come and go.

This sentence is the limit.

To go on further would be tantamount to colluding with court officials.

Zhu Houzhao looked at this guy coldly, with thoughts racing in his mind.

Indeed, according to common sense, it is impossible for Zhu Chenhao to do this.

The savage was pretending to be friendly with this guy and even deliberately took his woman as his wife. The two were on good terms, so how could he suddenly send someone to assassinate the savage?

If Zhu Chenhao wanted to rebel, he had to win over the barbarians, after all, the barbarians controlled the Beijing army!

Since they were already on good terms, there was no way Zhu Chenhao would do this, and there was no need for him to do so!
Otherwise, if the barbarian really died and the emperor replaced him with a trusted general to lead the Beijing army, would Zhu Chenhao have to bribe and win him over again?
So, no matter what, Zhu Chenhao had no reason to do this.

His suspicion can be ruled out for the time being.

"Better not!"

Zhu Houzhao spoke in a cold voice.

"Otherwise, I won't care about any blood relatives!"

In fact, His Majesty the Emperor has made up his mind.

If the savages were really gone, the first thing he would do would be to eliminate Zhu Chenhao.

Without the help of the barbarians to suppress everything, Zhu Houzhao was worried that he would be in trouble, so he could not wait any longer. He had to kill Zhu Chenhao first. As for other royal family princes, he would continue to follow the barbarians' plan and wait until the military generals and nobles were strong enough to compete with the civil officials and gentry, and then he would enfeoff them as princes overseas and expel them from the court!

Zhu Chenhao felt the Emperor's murderous intent and was plunged into extreme fear.

But he knew he didn't do this, so he remained calm.

However, Mou Bin hurried over at this moment, glanced at Zhu Chenhao who was kneeling on the ground, and reported in a low voice: "Your Majesty!"

"Hmm? Did you find out?"

"The caravan that helped those assassins sneak into the capital was none other than the caravan from Prince Ning's Mansion!"

As soon as these words came out, the whole place was in an uproar!

Everyone looked at Zhu Chenhao with unfriendly eyes, even Emperor Zhu Houzhao was no exception!
He stared at Zhu Chenhao who was still in a daze, then raised his foot and kicked him hard!
"Okay!"

"You damn bitch!"

"I was almost fooled by you!"

Indeed, according to common logic, Zhu Chenhao had no reason or motive to assassinate Zhongshan Hou Tang Hao.

But this can eliminate his suspicion and become his own umbrella of protection.

Zhu Chenhao was kicked over and suddenly woke up. He knelt down and argued: "Your Majesty! I really didn't participate in it!"

"This is clearly a frame-up! Someone wants to take this opportunity to get rid of me, Your Majesty!"

I have to admit that Zhu Chenhao is still quite wise.

He knew very well that he did not do that, it was not him who did it, but the problem was within his caravan. That could only prove that there was something wrong with the caravan, and it became a perfect means to frame him!

What a ruthless method!

Zhu Chenhao explained anxiously, filled with grief and indignation.

When Zhu Houzhao saw this situation, he felt confused for a moment.

Could it be true, as Zhu Chenhao said, that this was a frame-up by others?
First, Zhu Chenhao had no motive, and the death of the savage would be extremely disadvantageous to him!
Secondly, Zhu Chenhao’s performance showed that he was indeed unaware and was completely kept in the dark.

Thirdly, there are too many people in the capital who want Zhu Chenhao dead! Who among the gentry in the court doesn't want to get rid of this damned and domineering rebel king?
Zhu Houzhao subconsciously looked at Yang Tinghe.

After all, the barbarians died and Zhu Chenhao was executed, so the people who benefited the most were the civil officials and gentry.

Yang Tinghe, the leader of the gentry, has become the most suspicious person at this moment.

Feeling the Emperor's stern gaze, Yang Tinghe trembled and quickly stepped forward to explain: "Your Majesty, no one dares to assassinate court officials. This is a vile act that will shake the foundation of the country!"

"Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, there has never been a precedent of an important official being assassinated!"

Yang Tinghe seemed to be saying something insignificant, but Zhu Houzhao understood it.

Yang Tinghe was telling him that civil officials and gentry would not do this. They would never resort to such despicable means as assassination to kill an important official in the court in order to achieve their own goals.

After all, there has never been a precedent of an important official being assassinated in the court since the founding of the Ming Dynasty. If the civil officials and gentry wanted to do so, they would have done so long ago, not to mention that they have been in control of the government for decades!
Between the Wang Zhen of the past and the Liu Jin of now, who is not more hateful than Tang Hao, Marquis of Zhongshan?
But did the civil officials and gentry assassinate them?

No!

This is not in line with the way civil officials and gentry behave.

Therefore, civil officials and gentry also have a bottom line, and they will not choose assassination.

So who is it?

For a time, Zhu Houzhao was extremely confused.

The people who helped the killer sneak into the capital were the caravan of Ning Wang Zhu Chenhao!
But Zhu Chenhao was completely unaware of this and seemed to have been framed by others.

As for the civil officials and gentry, suspicion can basically be ruled out; they will not choose such an extreme method!
Who is the mastermind behind this...
Zhu Houzhao looked at Mou Bin and said in a deep voice: "Seal off the Ning Wang Mansion, arrest all personnel, and torture them severely!"

After a pause, Zhu Houzhao pointed casually and it was Prince Ning Zhu Chenhao.

"Including him!"

Hearing this, Mou Bin nodded.

He came here to report just for Zhu Chenhao!
"take away!"

The Jinyiwei soldiers stepped forward and lifted Zhu Chenhao up.

Zhu Chenhao continued to beg and argue, but unfortunately no one was willing to listen to his explanation.

Your intention to rebel is obvious, and the Jinyiwei has found solid evidence. How can you, Zhu Chenhao, deny or argue?

Even if it wasn't you who did it, it was done by your followers. Wait for death!

Just at this moment, a white-haired old imperial physician walked out of the ward, walked up to the emperor, and whispered a few words.

Zhu Houzhao's pupils shrank and he hurriedly followed him into the ward.

When everyone saw this, they were all worried.

If nothing unexpected happens, this should be the Marquis of Zhongshan waking up.

But whether he escaped from danger or had a final moment of consciousness leaving behind some last words is unknown.

Everyone present was so nervous at the moment that they didn't even dare to breathe.

Prince Xing Zhu Youji had a solemn expression, having already sensed the impending storm.

He knew very well that Zhu Chenhao would not do this, because that meant someone had taken action against Zhu Chenhao, and would also take the opportunity to get rid of Zhongshan Hou Tang Hao. Unfortunately, this was not the usual method used by civil officials and gentry!
In other words, there is another force hiding in the dark, stirring up trouble!

Zhu Youjun has not yet figured out who this emerging force is, but he knows one thing for sure: once Zhongshan Marquis Tang Hao dies, Ning Wang Zhu Chenhao will surely die, and even their clan princes will suffer as a result!

This damn mastermind wants to drag everyone to be buried with Zhu Chenhao!
The cabinet chief, Yang Tinghe, also had a grim face.

This time, Prince Ning Zhu Chenhao was doomed to die.

But this is not the point. The point is that once Lord Tang dies because of this, the existing political structure of the Ming Dynasty will be broken again!
All the hard work and efforts that Zhongshan Hou Tang Hao had put in for so long would be destroyed in an instant!
Because, if he dies or dies, no one can inherit his political legacy, no one is qualified!
Now that Marquis Zhongshan has died, who will take charge of the capital's army?

Tangmu?
He did not have the prestige, nor could he suppress those arrogant and powerful generals.

Qiu Yue?
By the same token, he was born as a frontier general, so Tang Mu, Chen Jizu and others would not obey him!
So no matter what, there will be big problems with the Beijing army alone.

And who should be in charge of the East China Sea trade?
Once Zhongshan Marquis Tang Hao dies, all the forces will not only covet the interests of Japan, but also the interests of the East China Sea trade!

When Tang Hao was around, no one dared to covet anything. Even if they really wanted to get a piece of the pie, they had to obey the orders of Zhongshan Hou and let him preside over the distribution of benefits!

But now, Marquis Zhongshan is dead, and these huge benefits have become ownerless!

Who would be willing to give up?

Thinking of this, Yang Tinghe couldn't help but sigh.

As for Wang Ao, Fei Hong, Yang Yiqing and others, they were in extreme fear.

Everyone hates Marquis Zhongshan, and everyone curses Marquis Zhongshan!
But now, when Zhongshan Marquis Tang Hao was suddenly assassinated, all the gentry in the court suddenly realized that the Ming Dynasty seemed to be about to fall into chaos, and it was the kind that could not be stopped at all!
Just those soldiers from the Beijing Army who killed people without blinking an eye were enough to give them a headache!

Not to mention the royal princes, military generals and nobles who are eyeing us covetously!

At this moment, all the ministers missed Zhongshan Hou Tang Hao very much!

"Lord Tang, for the sake of Ming, we must hold on!"

Just when everyone was feeling anxious, His Majesty the Emperor came out with blood on his hands and a dull and numb expression.

"Marquis Zhongshan... has passed away!"

(End of this chapter)