Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 118 Commit yourself to the country and be loyal until death!
"Asshole, damn it!"

In Prince Xian's palace, Zhu Yunwen was furious.

The face, which was usually gentle and humble, was distorted by extreme anger and hatred.

"Fang Xiaoru, I have treated you well, always treating you as my teacher and always as my student, yet you actually betrayed me!"

He drew the sword from the wooden rack next to him, and with a swish, the sword came out of its sheath.

Immediately afterwards, a cold light flashed, and the sword slashed fiercely on the table.

Click!

The long table was split in two by the sword.

"Fang Xiaoru, if I don't kill you, I will not be a human being."

Zhu Yunwen's roar echoed back and forth in the palace.

All the palace maids, eunuchs and servants outside were terrified.

King Xian was known for his filial piety and benevolence. He was always kind even to the servants in his palace. How could he have ever lost his temper so badly?

Beside him, Huang Zicheng offered comfort.

"Fang Xiaoru is not a good son. Seeing that the King of Wu is powerful, he betrayed His Highness Prince Xian. He is extremely despicable and shameless. Your Highness does not need to worry about such a villain."

What Fang Xiaoru said and did in Juxian Tower had spread throughout the capital.

He once again used his own reputation to endorse the King of Wu, proving that the King of Wu had amazing poetic talent.

All the doubts surrounding the King of Wu disappeared from then on.

The poetic talent of King Wu was amazing and attracted people all over the world.

What made Huang Zicheng most angry was that it was he who revealed the news of Zhu Yunhuan's visit to Luo Guanzhong in Juxian Building to Fang Xiaoru.

Fang Xiaoru had previously vowed that he would destroy the reputation of the King of Wu this time.

Unexpectedly, it actually helped him become famous!
It’s ridiculous that I believed Fang Xiaoru’s nonsense before!
It was obvious that Fang Xiaoru was exposed at the opening ceremony of the Ming Military Academy.

His fox tail that was on the side of King Wu was exposed.

But I was blinded by my own greed and believed him again, and he stabbed me in the back again!

When Huang Zicheng thought of this, he felt as if his heart was being cut by a knife.

I was betrayed because I was not careful in choosing friends. It turned out to be like this!
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunwen slowly turned his head and looked at Huang Zicheng with a fierce look in his eyes, like a devil coming out of the world.

Suddenly, he unsheathed his sword and pointed it at Huang Zicheng.

"It was you...it was you...it was you who asked Fang Xiaoru to go to Juxian Tower and help Zhu Yunhuan become famous! You and Fang Xiaoru are both shameless traitors. It's a pity that I trusted you so much in the past, regarded you as my teacher, and treated you like my own elder."

He looked like a madman, with hatred and anger surging in his red eyes, as if ready to burst out at any time.

The fact that Fang Xiaoru asked Zhu Yunhuan to write a poem reminded Zhu Yunwen that it was Huang Zicheng who gave Zhu Yunhuan a hand by giving him a poem in the Jinluan Palace...

If Fang Xiaoru betrayed him, then what about Huang Zicheng?

Is it the same for Huang Zicheng?

Could it be that the two of them teamed up to play a trick on me?

That’s why Zhu Yunhuan was able to rise to great heights.

In the past, he was very respectful to Fang Xiaoru and Huang Zicheng, calling himself "student" in front of them, and believed that they were both his right-hand men.

Now they can help me become the crown prince. When I become emperor in the future, I will have to rely on them to govern the country, so I should treat them with courtesy.

But today, Fang Xiaoru completely enraged him.

If we say that Fang Xiaoru spoke for the King of Wu at the opening ceremony of the Ming Military Academy that day, we can still find a reason to explain it.

But what happened in Juxian Building was completely exposed.

Fang Xiaoru even told people everywhere that the King of Wu was talented and he was not as talented as him!
"Your Highness, anyone in the world may betray you, but I won't." Huang Zicheng tried his best to calm himself down: "Your Highness and I have long shared honor and disgrace. We suffer together and prosper together."

"Even if I change my allegiance to King Wu now, he still won't tolerate me."

Zhu Yunwen's hand holding the sword trembled slightly, but his anger did not subside.

"In that case, Grandfather Emperor asked you to interrogate Wang Bi and other noble generals, why didn't you kill them all?"

He roared and yelled: "They are all Lan Yu's people, that is, Zhu Yunhuan's people, but you don't kill them, but deliberately protect them. What is your intention?"

Huang Zicheng closed his eyes and sighed: "I have already explained the reason to His Highness."

Zhu Yunwen sneered: "Who knows if this is an excuse you made up?"

"In short, this king wants those people to die!"

"If you are truly loyal to this king, then go to the trial immediately and sentence them all to death."

"Then kill them all with lightning speed!"

"This..." Huang Zicheng's face showed a very complicated expression: "Your Highness, this matter..."

"Go!" Before he could finish his words, he was suddenly interrupted by Zhu Yunwen's angry shout that was as loud as firecrackers.

"If you are unwilling to do anything, how can I know if you are truly loyal?"

He pointed his sword at Huang Yunwen's chest, anger filling his red eyes.

Huang Zicheng sighed softly, opened his mouth, and wanted to say something, but swallowed it back.

Wang Bi and many other military generals and nobles have been imprisoned for such a long time, but the King of Wu and His Majesty the Emperor have never asked about the progress of the case.

There was not even a single urging.

It turned out that he was still thinking about how to make a clever excuse if the other party asked.

At this point, Huang Zicheng gradually saw through Zhu Yunhuan's intentions.

This was to use him to temper the arrogance of the military generals and nobles headed by Wang Bi, and to grind away the rebellious spirit in them, and then recruit them for his own use.

If we continue to detain them without trial, we would be helping the King of Wu.

This boy is extremely intelligent and has superb skills.

His own plan actually fell completely into the opponent's plan.

The only way to break the impasse now is probably to fight to the death.

Military generals and nobles such as Wang Bi were still imprisoned in the prison, and he was the judge appointed by His Majesty.

Simply sentencing Wang Bi and others to death and reporting it to the court is obviously futile.

After all, no matter what crime the person is convicted of, he can be released with mercy.

Under the imperial power, no matter how serious the crime is, it can be forgiven.

On the contrary, it will make Wang Bi and others more grateful to Zhu Yunhuan and they will be loyal to him from then on.

Unless Zhu Yunhuan executed Wang Bi and others first and reported to the emperor later, all his plans would fail.

He will lose a great help.

Many generals in the army who were on good terms with Wang Bi and others harbored resentment towards Zhu Yunhuan.

But in this way, Huang Zicheng would not be able to escape death.

Even the whole family, young and old, will be buried with him.

"Well! Then I will risk the lives of my entire family to help His Royal Highness Prince Xian and save the Ming Dynasty!"

Huang Zicheng brushed his hands, rolled up his robe, knelt down, and then kowtowed three times respectfully.

"From today on, there is no longer a teacher-student relationship between me and His Royal Highness Prince Xian." "I killed Wang Bi and other military generals and nobles on my own initiative, and it has nothing to do with His Royal Highness Prince Xian."

After saying this, he stood up, his long gown soaked with tears, and bowed respectfully again: "Your Highness Prince Xian, Zicheng is leaving, Your Highness, take care!"

He turned and left, and when he walked outside, he saw countless eunuchs and palace maids standing outside waiting.

King Xian was angry and they were all frightened.

Huang Zicheng walked up to an old palace maid, snatched the broom from her hand, and then bent it hard, and the broom handle broke into two pieces.

He said loudly: "From today on, I will sever all ties with King Xian and we will have no connection at all from now on!"

After he finished speaking, he walked away at the speed of a meteor, amid countless shocked and puzzled gazes.

"Who can I borrow the sword from? I cry to the heavens and almost drop my crown. Today, I, Huang Zicheng, pledge my life to my country and die in service of loyalty. Whether it succeeds or fails, I will only depend on God's mercy!"

He always firmly believed that everything he did was for the Ming Dynasty and for the people of the world.

I firmly believe that helping Zhu Yunwen win the position of crown prince and ascending the throne is the best choice for the Ming Dynasty and the world.

Never realized my mistake.

At this moment, when a few words are spoken, there will be sonorous sounds that echo long and far.

Different concepts and positions, who is right and who is wrong?
……

Inside the house, the long sword in Zhu Yunwen's hand hung limply to the ground.

Tears rolled down the corners of my eyes.

"Teacher!" he muttered to himself, "I was forced to do this."

"Zhu Yunxun's mind and strategy are too high. If I don't do something to divert his attention, then my plan will be discovered by him."

"Teacher, don't worry. I will kill him at my mother's birthday party to offer sacrifice to your spirit in heaven."

He and Fang Xiaoru only spent a short time together and did not have any deep feelings for each other.

But Huang Zicheng had been with him for many years, and they still had some friendship.

Just for the sake of a throne, sacrificing a teacher, what does that matter?

Although Zhu Yunwen felt a little guilty, he was soon consumed by desire!

For the throne and the Ming Dynasty, he would do anything!
……

Huang Zicheng walked out of Prince Xian's palace and did not take the sedan chair. Instead, he strode quickly all the way to the Ministry of Justice.

When he reached the door, he was stopped by the guards from the Ministry of Justice.

He straightened his clothes and said loudly:

"Huang Zicheng from the Imperial Academy has been ordered to come here to try Wang Bi and his gang for treason!"

The guard did not dare to delay and reported it immediately.

Soon, Yang Jing, the Minister of Justice, came out with a group of officials to greet them.

Given Huang Zicheng's official position, he shouldn't have to do this.

But Huang was handling the case on orders, so that was different.

Furthermore, Wang Bi and other military generals and nobles had been imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice for a long time, which made Yang Jing feel uneasy.

At the beginning, he dared to go to the King of Wu at night to ask for the blue jade. Firstly, it was indeed his duty, and secondly, he was forced by King Xian to do so.

At that time, it seemed that King Xian was more likely to become the crown prince than King Wu.

He would rather offend the King of Wu than the King of Xian.

Thirdly, even if Lan Yu was sent to the Ministry of Justice, he would either be convicted quickly or released soon.

Although imprisoning him in the Ministry of Justice would cause trouble for himself, it was still acceptable.

Now that the political situation has changed drastically and the King of Wu has taken control of the power, Wang Bi and other military generals and nobles have been imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice, which is like a hot potato.

Now that Huang Zicheng finally came to try the case, Yang Jing was overjoyed.

"Sir Huang, I've been looking forward to seeing you here for a long time, and finally you are here!" Yang Jing said enthusiastically.

Unexpectedly, Huang Zicheng showed no emotion at all and did not even greet him. He raised his hands and headed towards the palace: "I am here to try Wang Bi and his gang for treason."

Yang Jing was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "No hurry, have a cup of tea first."

Wang Bi was the Marquis of Dingyuan, and there were also many other military generals and nobles of noble status.

The case of treason involving them was a major case for the court.

As the Minister of Justice, Huang Zicheng came to try the case and he would also sit in as a juror.

Therefore, he wanted to sound out the other party first to see how the other party planned to try the case and how to convict Wang Bi and others.

Should we lift them up high and put them down gently, or should we really convict them of serious crimes and sentence them to death?

However, Huang Zicheng looked very businesslike, as if he had no intention of discussing it with him at all.

Yang Jing was already feeling a little angry.

In terms of rank, as the Minister of Justice, he is a second-rank official.

Huang Zicheng, as an editor in the Hanlin Academy, was just a minor official of the sixth rank.

Although Hanlin officials cannot be treated as ordinary officials, no matter what, they cannot be compared with him, the Minister of Justice.

If the other party had not come here to investigate the case under imperial orders, Yang Jing would have been angry with him immediately.

At this moment, he suppressed his anger and put on a smile.

Unexpectedly, Huang Zicheng still refused to buy it.

"No need for that. I dare not delay because of the emperor's order. Sir Yang, get ready immediately. I will come to the court now."

The smile on Yang Jing's face suddenly froze.

Wang Bi and others have been detained for so many days, but you have remained indifferent and have not come to try the case.

I asked someone to urge you several times to come to the trial as soon as possible, but you didn't even respond.

Now he has come in a hurry, as if he was eager to put out a fire. He is unwilling to say even one more word or discuss things with you. It is simply unreasonable!

This doesn't give any face at all!
"Humph!" Yang Jing waved his sleeves and snorted coldly, "Then please invite Master Huang to the court."

"it is good!"

Huang Zicheng strode forward and went straight to the lobby of the Ministry of Justice.

Coming here today, I have put life and death aside.

He could not escape death because he killed Wang Bi and others without authorization.

At this point, what's the point of getting close to Yang Jing and others and talking about the ways of the world?

Huang Zicheng walked to the lobby and sat down at the top.

He took a deep breath and put aside all emotions. He straightened his official uniform and sat upright. There was murderous intent in his eyes and he looked very imposing.

Huang Zicheng slammed the gavel and said loudly:

"Ascension!"

"Bring someone to commit the crime!"

……

(End of this chapter)