The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 581 Military Remonstrance
"Master Liu, this is the first time I meet you, right?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me for forgetting something. In the first year of Wuding, I met Your Majesty once in Xuzhou."

"The first year of Wuding, Xuzhou..."

The pale yellow whale oil lamps illuminated the bedroom of the Cining Palace. The concubines and empress dowagers of Emperor Wuding all sat on the dragon bed, waiting for the emperor to visit.

The retired emperor made an exception tonight and put down the pile of memorials in advance. He quickly washed up, changed into casual clothes, called Liu Rushi, and had a long talk with this extraordinary woman with a tragic fate by candlelight, in preparation for an in-depth exchange.

Three years ago, Liu Rushi, burdened with national hatred and family feuds, was disheartened and became a nun at Hanshan Temple outside Gusu City. From then on, she was always accompanied by the Buddha, with the green lamp and yellow book.

Three months ago, Chen Xin sent people to secretly visit Hanshan Temple and bribed the abbot Master Yanshe with a large sum of money.

The abbot of Yanshe ordered Liu Rushi to return to secular life immediately on the grounds that she was "young and frivolous, and not sincere in her cultivation."

Mr. Liu was taken on a pleasure boat to Wuchang Town, then headed north along the post road, passed through the customs, and finally arrived in Shenyang. As a gift from Chen Xin to the Emperor, he was sent to the Cining Palace overnight.

There was still more than half an hour before ion time, and the emperor ordered Amber to bring dried bayberries and sake, and asked everyone to make some wine to warm themselves up.

"Mr. Liu, I've heard that although you're a woman, you've read a lot and are as knowledgeable as any man. Looking at the world today, who can be called a hero?"

Liu Zhaosun picked up a green plum and handed it to the layman's bowl. Liu Rushi was speechless for a moment.

"Zhang Zicheng of Shaanxi, Zhu Changling of Jiangnan, Tokugawa clan of Japan..."

Liu Rushi interrupted, "Your Majesty is wise and powerful, and the Great Qi is thriving. Your Majesty is a hero. I've heard people talk about your achievements in Jiangnan. Although I'm meeting you for the first time today, it feels like I've seen you somewhere before."

Liu Zhaosun smiled awkwardly.

"Wise and mighty? Right now, there are many alarms in the north and south of Great Qi, and the people are living in dire straits. Soldiers, merchants, and refugees all have rebellious intentions. How can you see that he is wise and mighty, and that he is thriving?"

"I am from the south, and I don't know the situation in the north. However, when I was in Hangzhou, I heard a storyteller tell the story of 'General Xuanwu's Battle with Jin Bayala'. It shows that Your Majesty is an extraordinary person."

Liu Zhaosun and Jin Yuji smiled at each other.

Recalling something from long ago, he looked at Liu Rushi carefully and remembered the scene when he and Zhang Yan first met.

That beautiful woman was also so skilled in flirting.

Liu Rushi's beauty was comparable to that of Empress Zhang. She was blessed with the aura of a talented woman, and had the indifference and naturalness of a Buddhist nun, which made her unique.

"The Great Qi is in danger. My loyal ministers and wise generals all want to save this great ship. They are divided into two factions, one for reform, the other against it. Both sides are refusing to give in and are constantly attacking each other. I am deeply worried, so I ask you: who do you think can replace me after the fall of the Great Qi?"

A series of soul-searching questions left everyone stunned. Liu Rucong calmly replied:

"No one can replace me. A wall stands ten thousand feet high; without desire, one is strong. If Your Majesty can see through life and death, then why fear what will happen after death? If you cannot, then continue to cling to it, and why ask others?"

Liu Zhaosun was speechless for a moment, while Liu Rushi's eyes were as sharp as candlelight.

The image of Liu Kan’s dead mother and Zhang Yan’s tragic death scene appeared before his eyes, and it is still vivid in his mind.

"Will you sit back and watch them fight, killing and killing each other, and do nothing?"

The emperor was still frightened at the thought of the impending internal strife.

The slight desire that had just arisen suddenly disappeared.

"I am an outsider, and all obsessions must be broken by your Majesty."

Liu Zhaosun had no interest in meditation and preaching. After leaving Kaiyuan, the time traveler was promoted all the way from General Xuanwu to General, and from General to Duke of Protectorate. Finally, when there was no room for promotion, he had no choice but to usurp the throne and proclaim himself emperor.

Over the years, he had rarely interacted with monks and Taoists. "I am a warrior, only good at fighting. Over the years, I have stirred up chaos in the world, dragging people from one hell to another. I feel ashamed. Seeing the catastrophe coming, I was helpless."

Liu Rushi looked directly at the time traveler, her eyes as clear as water, captivating.

"Your Majesty was once a mighty being, a god descended from heaven, capable of fighting a hundred with one man. Yet, you command the finest troops in the world, yet you are as weak and powerless as a newborn babe. Isn't this a bizarre phenomenon? I truly feel pity for you and cannot bear to punish you, nor to see the suffering of these people. They say that a man is not a hero without ruthlessness, and in my opinion, Your Majesty is a true hero, a true man."

So, the hero has to die?
Jin Yu Ji and Yang Qing'er stood silently by, looking at the woman who suddenly broke in. Seeing the emperor's emotional fluctuations, everyone was full of hatred towards Liu Rushi.

Chen Yuanyuan looked at Liu Rushi with murderous eyes, and she wished she could kill her.

At this time, there was a hurried knock on the door. The emperor gave a wink, and Dongfang Zhu, who was cooking wine and distributing bayberries to the concubines, immediately put down the work in his hands and went out of the hall.

Liu Zhaosun clenched his fists. "Here it comes. Rivers of blood are about to flow again."

Everyone looked towards the door, and the Emperor said, "Please sit down and talk, Master Liu."

There was a space left on the huge dragon bed, and Liu Rushi sat down next to the two empresses dowagers and spoke in a neither humble nor arrogant manner.

"Your Majesty, there's no need to be so harsh. Reading through history books, you'll find that every ten years or so, there are records of cannibalism and famine. The Ming court was a living hell. In the Great Qi under your Majesty's rule, no one has starved to death in over a decade."

Liu Zhaosun smiled bitterly. For ancient emperors, not letting the people starve to death was already a very high requirement.

"Why did Chen Xin bring you to Shenyang and present you to me? Was it to allow him to speak freely in the court, or to allow me to spare his life?"

"I don't know, but it seems that Governor Chen and Your Majesty are not of the same mind."

Liu Zhaosun and Chen Xin are certainly not the same kind of people.

"I am neither a womanizer nor a bloodthirsty person. You have come at the wrong time. Shenyang will be flooded with blood tonight, or perhaps tomorrow night."

"Your Majesty, are you afraid of death?"

Liu Zhaosun laughed and said, "I'm not afraid. Who can kill me? The soothsayer said I have an immortal body and can live forever. I can live to at least three hundred years old."

Liu Ru was not at all surprised by the Emperor of Qi's immortality:

"Since Your Majesty is not afraid of life or death, then life and death cannot harm Great Qi."

"Hahaha!" Liu Zhaosun laughed. "Thank you, Master. This is the best news I've heard this year."

Before he finished speaking, there was a clang and Pei Dahu rushed in, shouting:

"Your Majesty, Yang Tong, Jin Yinghe, and Ge Yewen have led their troops to incursions! They have surrounded the Imperial Palace and are threatening to purge the emperor's court. Your Majesty, please execute Kang Yingqian and Chen Xin immediately and save Great Qi! Kang Yingqian, Chen Xin, and Zheng Yishi have also arrived with their troops, demanding Your Majesty quell the rebellion and execute the rebels. The two factions are facing off outside the Dazheng Palace, and other military commanders are also on their way."

"The First and Second Corps, are they in place?"

Pei Dahu said firmly: "Deng Changxiong is ready!"

Liu Zhaosun was silent for a moment. "If I don't go to hell, who will? Let's go out and meet my loyal ministers and generals!"

Lin Yu and Wu Xiao stepped forward to protect her. The Empress Dowager Cisi skillfully put armor on her husband and comforted the concubines, telling them not to be frightened.

Bumbutai drew his long sword and made a move to rush out, but was stopped by Liu Zhaosun.

"You stay here and protect the two queen mothers and Mr. Liu. I will be back soon."

(End of this chapter)