Ming Dynasty: A mere unruly commoner is rebelling against the heaven?

Chapter 36 Your Majesty, I am innocent!
After receiving the order, the three did not leave immediately.

Wang Zhi thought about it and asked in a low voice.

"Your Majesty, what should be done with the families of the 176 officials?"

Hearing Wang Zhi's words, Huai En and Mou Bin both pricked up their ears, waiting for Zhu Youtang's orders.

After all, in addition to the families of the 176 officials who were detained in the Western Factory.

The families of Liu Wei and Liu Ji were also imprisoned in the Dongchang Prison.

Zhu Youtang took the pen and wrote the secret letter while giving orders impatiently.

"Except for the clansmen of Ma Wensheng and Qiu Yue, the families of the others, the males were sent to the frontier army, and the females were sent to the Jiaofangsi."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Wang Zhi nodded in acceptance of the order, his expression unchanged.

No matter what order Zhu Youtang gave, he would not have any doubts and would just carry it out firmly.

Even if Zhu Youtang really wanted these family members to be buried with him, Wang Zhi would just nod expressionlessly and do as he was asked.

Huai En also nodded, knowing what he should do.

Mou Bin secretly breathed a sigh of relief and felt a lot more relaxed.

Zhu Youtang's thought process saved at least thousands of lives.

Your Majesty is so magnanimous and generous, you are truly the most benevolent ruler of the Ming Dynasty.

At this time, a young eunuch from the Imperial Household Department walked into the Qianqing Palace and reminded in a low voice.

"Your Majesty, it's time to go to court."

"Well, let's go."

Zhu Youtang stood up and handed the secret letter to Wang Zhi: "Send this letter to Changtong."

"Yes."

Zhu Youtang took the lead, walked out of the Qianqing Palace, sat on the dragon chariot, and headed towards the Fengtian Gate.

Huai En and Mou Bin were accompanying him.

Wang Zhi called a guard from the Western Factory and asked him to deliver the letter to Changtong, and then followed Zhu Youtang's dragon chariot.

When Zhu Youtang's dragon sedan passed through the Fengtian Gate, the young eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department hurriedly sang the ceremony.

"The emperor has arrived!"

"Long live my emperor! Long live!"

Zhu Youtang stepped down from the dragon chariot, sat on the dragon throne, and slowly glanced at the ministers kneeling on the steps.

Zhu Youtang did not say anything, and the ministers did not dare to stand up, just kneeling on the hard tiles.

Everyone was puzzled as to what Zhu Youtang meant.

After a moment's silence, Zhu Youtang finally spoke: "Stand up."

All the civil and military officials then breathed a sigh of relief and stood up.

But as soon as they stood up, they saw the three evil gods standing below Zhu Youtang.

The three evil heads, Wang Zhi, Huai En and Mou Bin, had gloomy faces and stared coldly at the civil and military officials, like three wolves staring at a flock of sheep.

All the ministers felt a chill in their hearts and lowered their heads quickly, not daring to face the murderous looks of the three men.

All the officials in the capital were really afraid of these three people, especially the director of the Western Factory, Wang Zhi.

This man caused the biggest stir in the capital. One hundred and seventy-six officials were confiscated from their homes without any leeway.

The momentum was so great that it suppressed the old Dongchang masters.

Compared with the West Factory, everyone felt that the East Factory had become more handsome.

What the officials didn’t know was that the East Factory was actually planning a major case that would affect tens of thousands of people in the capital!

Zhu Youtang looked at all the officials and said, "Do you have anything important to report?"

All the officials looked at each other, but no one dared to step forward and speak.

Zhu Youtang waited for a while, and seeing that no one came out, he couldn't help but sneer.

"Oh? It seems that my kingdom is very peaceful, and there is not even a single thing that needs my attention."

Liu Jian, the Minister of Rites and cabinet minister, had no choice but to stand out from the team.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report."

"explain."

"The preliminary selection of the National Beauty Contest has ended. According to the data reported by the Ministry of Rites, a total of 5236 beauties have been selected for this selection."

"After three rounds of screening, there are still 368 girls who meet the criteria and are returning to the capital from the two capitals and thirteen provinces."

The requirements for selecting concubines in the Ming Dynasty were very strict. First of all, multiple rounds of screening were carried out in the local area. For each concubine, they had to observe her behavior, appreciate her appearance, listen to her voice, touch her breasts, smell her armpits, and touch her skin.

Only after everything is qualified can she be sent to the harem, and after being trained by the female officials of Chuxiu Palace for another month, she will proceed to the next round of screening.

Generally, only about three hundred people can be sent to Chuxiu Palace.

The selection was originally under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites, and Liu Jian's report on this matter was in compliance with the law.

Zhu Youtang nodded: "I understand, is there anything else?"

"No...no more."

Liu Jian lowered his head and quickly stood back in the team.

"Anyone else?"

Zhu Youtang looked at the other officials below the stairs.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report."

"Accurate."

Next, some officials came to report on some minor matters.

All officials seemed to have reached a tacit agreement and never mentioned the 176 retired officials whose properties were confiscated.

Zhu Youtang didn't want to go around in circles with these old foxes anymore, so he went straight to the topic of today.

"My Lords, aren't you at all curious about the more than 170 retired officials whose property I have confiscated these days?"

All the civil and military officials were silent. No one dared to reply or plead for him.

The lesson learned from the person who pleaded for the Zhou family last time is still fresh in my mind.

No one wants to risk his life for no reason.

"Since none of you ask, I will tell you myself."

Zhu Youtang stood up and walked to the steps.

"Bring them all up to me!"

Zhu Youtang suddenly shouted loudly, scaring everyone so much that they trembled all over.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

As Zhu Youtang's order spread to the Fengtian Palace Square, teams of Western Factory guards, Eastern Factory guards, and Jinyiwei flags escorted the arrested and imprisoned officials to the Fengtian Palace Square.

These officials were all dressed in prison uniforms, shackled and chained, with disheveled hair, and looked extremely miserable.

Some people still had undried blood stains on their bodies, and there were obvious signs of torture.

Seeing this scene, the officials in the Fengtian Temple Square felt their hearts sank!
isn't it?
Come again?

They were all familiar with these people. Five days ago, both sides were colleagues in the court, but five days later, one of them had become a prisoner.

The few people in the lead are well-known to all officials in the court.

Former cabinet chief Wan An, former cabinet elders Liu Wei and Liu Ji, former Minister of Revenue Ye Qi, former Minister of War Ma Wensheng...

All four of them had blood stains on their bodies, and Ma Wensheng looked the worst.

His legs were covered in blood and flesh, and he was completely unable to walk independently.

He could only move with the help of the two Western Factory guards behind him.

There was only one person who was unfamiliar to the officials. He looked young and was being held by the Embroidered Uniform Guards, following closely behind Ma Wensheng.

He looked as miserable as Ma Wensheng, both of his legs were disabled, and he had to rely on the two Jinyiwei behind him to move.

A total of 181 officials were brought to the court, and not one was missing.

Many wives, children and family members were also brought up with him.

The six people at the front are the three former cabinet ministers Wan'an, Liu Wei and Liu Ji, and the two former chancellors Ye Qi and Ma Wensheng.

The last one is the young man.

Ma Wensheng was taken to the palace, and when he saw Zhu Youtang, he immediately cried out for justice.

"Your Majesty! I am innocent!!!"

"I am dedicated to guarding the pass for the Ming Dynasty, and I have no second thoughts!"

"Although there are some things that are against the rules, the situation is critical and we have to act according to the circumstances!"

"Your Majesty, I am not guilty of this! Your Majesty!!!"

"Now that the Tartars have retreated, I have done my share of hard work, Your Majesty!"

"I beg Your Majesty to look into this matter clearly!!!"

"Your Majesty, I am innocent!!!"

(End of this chapter)