The Holy Emperor of Ming

Chapter 129 Killing the Prince
"Your Majesty won't really do anything to us, will he? We are all one family. If he is too harsh on us, where will the dignity of the Ming Dynasty be?"

"Oh, those princes in Jin were captured and brought to the capital in prisoner carts. Your Majesty, do you care about the dignity of the royal family?"

"Yes, Your Majesty is so powerful and young that he doesn't care about face at all.

This time, the kings of Jin will not have an easy time, and I’m afraid many of us will also be punished.”

"It would be fine if we were just scolded, but what if His Majesty wants to treat us like he did to the kings of Jin?"

"That shouldn't be the case. Didn't I say that everything will only happen in Jin?"

"But we are different. Strictly speaking, His Majesty is treating us as a family matter. Who can interfere?"

"Oh, by the way, have the King of Nan and the King of Ping been summoned by His Majesty?"

“It seems that there is none.”

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More than a dozen kings discussed this and that, but there was not a single word that could reassure everyone.

The more he spoke, the more uneasy he became.

In the end, they could only disperse helplessly.

There were not just one or two such discussions, but many, most of which centered on the prince.

After all, the prince is the descendant of those princes.

Only the first generation princes, such as the Prince of Nan and the Prince of Ping, did not participate in such occasions.

After all, they are the emperor's uncles and have the closest relationship, so there are always some differences.

"Jiuer, if you have the chance this time, you must do your best to show yourself in front of His Majesty, do you understand?" Prince Ping looked at his teenage son Zhu Houxu and said in a dignified manner.

"Okay, I understand." Zhu Houxu lowered his eyes and said sullenly.

"Humph." Upon seeing this, Prince Ping was immediately displeased and began to scold, "How can a dignified prince be so submissive? It really makes me lose face."

After hearing the reprimand, Zhu Houxu lowered his head and looked even more dull.

King Ping was even more angry, he raised his hand and slapped him, "Pa" sounded directly on the face, "Useless trash."

Zhu Houxu remained indifferent after being slapped.

King Ping snorted coldly and cursed, "Get out."

Seeing his son's back as he walked out, he became even more angry. He really had no talent in martial arts.

Another place.

“Gucheng, your majesty will meet with the kings tomorrow. I can get some information from my thirteenth brother.

Your Majesty will probably take big actions against the kings this time, and capable members of the royal family will also be used by Your Majesty.

You know the Purple-Robed Marquis of Jin. That Purple-Robed Marquis is indeed from our Zhu family.

And with your strength, as long as you are willing, you may not be inferior to Marquis Zi Yi.

By then, your lineage may be able to return to the ranks of vassal kings." The Southern King said meaningfully to the person in front of him.

This man was dressed in white and had an extraordinarily handsome face. He looked like the blue sky and white clouds, untainted by dust, and had a lonely temperament.

Hearing this, he smiled slightly and said, "I'm quite willing to compete with Purple Robe Marquis in swordplay."

"Hehe." King Nan laughed and didn't say much on this issue. He just looked at the other party.

"Your Majesty's character is known to the world. The kings will not feel good this time. Aren't you worried?" Ye Gucheng still did not respond, but just asked.

“Oh, after all, I am your majesty’s uncle and the first generation prince. There are indeed some dirty things in the palace, but not many.

The ones who should be worried are the other princes, not me." The Southern King said with a confident smile.

"Okay, then I'll see how His Majesty will treat the kings?" A hint of strangeness flashed across Ye Gucheng's cold eyes.

···
Not only were these kings feeling uneasy, the entire capital city had long been attracted by the kings' visit.

Many people know what most of the Zhu family's princes are like.

They are also watching to see how Your Majesty treats these vassal kings?

Severe punishment should be certain.

After all, your Majesty has that temper, and all the kings in Jin who committed crimes were brought to the capital in prison carts. It is obvious that your Majesty will punish them severely.

But how strict is it?
Many people are looking forward to it.

Some people want to be stricter, some want to be less strict, and some want to keep the overall situation stable no matter what.

Amidst countless discussions, time slowly passed to the next day.

Early in the morning, all the princes, dukes, and their princes went to the palace. The only one who was not a king was Zhu Wusi.

Of course, none of these kings dared to underestimate him in the slightest.

Some just flatter.

The kings came to the large square in front of the Fengtian Palace, where many Jinyiwei were already standing.

Soon, the three princes of Jin, a dozen dukes and their princes were also brought here, wearing prison uniforms.

Seeing this scene, many people felt even more uneasy.

But at this time and in this scene, no one dared to say anything and just waited quietly.

At the same time, many officials couldn't help but shift their thoughts to the Fengtian Hall while working.

"Your Majesty shouldn't be too strict." Liu Jian suddenly said with some concern.

Li Dongyang and Xie Qian were silent, not knowing what to say.

"Maybe." Li Dongyang said after two breaths.

···
In front of the Fengtian Hall, the kings didn't have to wait long before Zhu Houzhao arrived.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you!" More than seven hundred people knelt down and saluted.

Zhu Houzhao never liked people kneeling, but this time he did not stop them, and he didn't even let them stand up.

His eyes, filled with anger, scanned these people.

No, it's the many beasts among them. 'What does Zhu Houzhao want to do? Insult us?'

Prince Ning Zhu Chenhao was kneeling, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

There were also many kings who secretly frowned and were unhappy.

Until an aura of dominance, like the coming of the sun and the moon, rose up and pressed down on them like a heavy rock.

Most of their displeasure and dissatisfaction immediately disappeared, and they all lowered their eyes, not daring to look directly at the figure above them.

"Uncle Thirteen, please stand up and stand aside first." Zhu Houzhao spoke, his tone revealing his anger.

Zhu Wusi responded, stood up and walked to the side, standing there with his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart.

"I have never liked people kneeling, because I hope that all of my people in the Ming Dynasty are upright and strong men.

And you are all my relatives. Logically speaking, I don’t like to make you kneel.

But do you know why I didn't let you get up?"

Zhu Houzhao shouted loudly, and every word sounded like thunder, carrying tremendous pressure.

Some kings felt terrified and in awe just by hearing this.

"Because there are too many beasts among you who are not worthy of being members of my Zhu family.

I know a saying: If you can't even clean up your own house, how can you clean up the world?

Today, I have plenty of time, so I will clean up our Zhu family first."

Zhu Houzhao did not intend to answer the kings. His tone was burning with anger. His momentum was like a surging sea, which made it difficult for many kings to breathe.

Many kings broke out in cold sweat and almost collapsed to the ground.

"Let's start with the criminal kings in Jin." Zhu Houzhao pointed at the criminal kings in Jin who were wearing prison uniforms and looked different from the others.

Prince of Jin Zhu Zhiyang and others had already collapsed to the ground, trembling all over.

"Prince Jin, Prince Dai, Prince Shen, and a dozen other princes, you are so brave!
Smuggling Jiannu and Mongols, collaborating with the enemy and selling out the country.

They occupied the people's land, killed people, abducted women, and even colluded with bandits to rob the people.

You all deserve to die." Zhu Houzhao said one sentence after another, and he was so angry that his breathing became rapid, and his aura fluctuated, which was even more terrifying.

"Your Majesty, spare me, spare me!"

"Your Majesty, we are a family, and our surname is also Zhu. Your Majesty, please spare my life."

····
The kings of Jin heard the tangible murderous intent and immediately kowtowed and begged for mercy without caring about anything else.

"Shut up."

Zhu Houzhao shouted angrily, suppressing all other voices.

"You still have the nerve to beg for mercy? Do you deserve to be named Zhu?
You are not worthy at all, let alone being a family with me.

Take them all aside and behead them tomorrow."

Zhu Houzhao cursed angrily and waved his hand. The Jinyiwei immediately stepped forward and took these collapsed kings aside.

Seeing that Zhu Houzhao was going to kill three princes and a dozen dukes so easily, the other kings all felt a chill and fear throughout their bodies.

Zhu Chenhao shook his hands and swallowed.

The King of Nan, the King of Ping, and the others also trembled all over.

Zhu Houxu, who was kneeling beside Prince Ping, moved his dull eyes and looked at his father with a strange look in his eyes.

The trembling movement was so clear and bright in his eyes.

Father, are you afraid too?

Even Zhu Wusi, who was most expectant of this, frowned.

This was the largest-scale killing of vassal kings in the more than 100 years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty.

But no one dared to stand up and say anything more.

“Issue an imperial decree to abolish the titles of Prince Jin, Prince Dai, and Prince Shen, and demote them to generals of the state.

Choose an innocent person from among your descendants to inherit the title.

All these princes will have their titles abolished and demoted to lieutenants of the state, and one of their descendants will be chosen to inherit the title. "Zhu Houzhao said without question.

Wei Jinzhong immediately responded.

The kings who were still kneeling below breathed a sigh of relief.

It would be better if he was not completely deposed and demoted to a commoner.

Seeing the emperor's murderous look, they really didn't doubt that the emperor would directly depose all the kings of Jin and reduce them to commoners.

But after I breathed a sigh of relief, I felt heavy again.

Although the punishment was not completely abolished, all princes and dukes were demoted four ranks, which was indeed severe enough.

"After I deal with the criminal kings in Jin, I will settle your accounts."

Zhu Houzhao took a step forward and glanced at the remaining kings.

Among the six or seven hundred people, most were trembling all over.

"hehe."

Suddenly, Zhu Houzhao laughed in anger, "What a great vassal king of the Ming Dynasty!
How many of you are worthy of being king?

How many of you have not oppressed the people?
Stand up and let me see."

The roar of thunder exploded between heaven and earth.

The kings and princes kept their heads down and dared not show their heads.

Isn't it normal to oppress the people?

The princes are not allowed to engage in business, politics or military service. How can they become rich and powerful without oppressing the people?
Even those who believe that they do not oppress the people have no confidence that their government has not done such things.

(Chapter two.)
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(End of this chapter)