The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 583: Old Minister (Death of Kang Yingqian)
The new Prime Minister Lu Xiangsheng did not expect at first that he would be able to take control of the court so early.

What Lu Xiangsheng did not expect was that the cabinet chief Kang Yingqian became a victim of the civil unrest in Shenyang.

Lu Xiangsheng suspected that this might be a self-torture tactic by the retired emperor, designed to weaken both the radicals and conservatives. However, Kang Yingqian's close relationship with the retired emperor made this possibility extremely unlikely.

After Emperor Wuding issued his decree to suppress the rebellion, his ministers showed little reaction. Military affairs couldn't be left to soldiers and the military alone. The only people the retired emperor could rely on were Lu Xiangsheng and the centrist ministers who stood behind him. These ministers were dissatisfied with the existing system of the Great Qi Dynasty and also resented Chen Xin's radical retrogression (including but not limited to welcoming the heir to the throne of the Yansheng Duke).

The centrists formed the majority in the empire's vast bureaucracy.

"The rebel leader has been captured. We implore Your Majesty to execute him as soon as possible to comfort the officials and civilians who lost their lives!"

As a representative of the centrist faction, Lu Xiangsheng did not express his opinion until the emperor had deployed the various troops and began to arrange civil affairs. Then he said this.

This is not to kick someone when he is down. Lu Xiangsheng has no relationship with Yang Tong, Kang Yingqian and others, so it is even more impossible for him to plead for them.

If we can plead for the murderers, then who will plead for the officials and civilians who died last night?

Everyone is destined to die. Yuan Chonghuan can die, Yang Hao can die, Zhang Yan can die, so why can't Kang Yingqian die?

The two factions involved in the Shenyang Rebellion, whether radical or conservative, must now sacrifice their blood to Shenyang and the world.

Liu Zhaosun remembered what he had said to Kang Yinggan. The emperor had promised to let the old man work hard for a few more years and then let him enjoy his old age.

"Military Supervisor Kang went to the Guild Hall last night to persuade Chen Xin to stop forcing the emperor to abdicate. He was inexplicably dragged into the rebellion and caused a huge mistake. I feel so sorry for him."

Lu Xiangsheng banged his head on the ground, making a thud. After a while, he said with red eyes:
"We all know that Prime Minister Kang is innocent, but so what? The people of Shenyang won't believe it, and the people of the world won't believe it either. They won't believe he is innocent! The remnants of Yang Tong and others are spread all over the place, and they regard Prime Minister Kang as their mortal enemy! If Your Majesty still has a soft spot for mercy, you will be betraying the Great Qi and the world. I believe that all those who participated in the rebellion must be executed. Right now, the two factions are at loggerheads, and we must not side with one side. Otherwise, rebellions like last night will continue, and the consequences will be disastrous."

Lu Xiangsheng's words resonated with all the ministers. The civil and military ministers knelt on the ground and threatened to die, urging the emperor to make a decision as soon as possible.

"If the thieves are not executed, the world will be in chaos, and countless lives will be lost. We, your servants, do not want to live in humiliation. We beg you to shed blood five steps away today! We will die in remonstration to Your Majesty!"

This was the first time that Liu Zhaosun was threatened by his ministers in this way.

Chen Xin is to be executed, but what about Kang Yingqian?

Does Yang Tong want to die?
There were also Korean general Kim Young-ha and Zheng Yishi, the general stationed in southern Liaoning.

If these people were killed, it would be a serious blow to Da Qi, even if it was not a serious blow to its vitality.

He hesitated and wanted to make a final effort.

"The Huainan mutiny and the Shenyang rebellion can be quelled by me alone with the First Corps. Why are you forcing me like this? Everyone, please stand up!"

Lu Xiangsheng angrily said, "Your Majesty is strong enough to lift a tripod and fight a hundred men on his own. Your courage is unmatched. I, your servant, feel inferior to you. However, Your Majesty is only one man, not a supernatural being. To be honest, the affairs of the world cannot be handled by Your Majesty alone! Forgive my arrogance, but if Your Majesty continues to act recklessly and go against the tide, you will soon be isolated and destitute!"

After Lu Xiangsheng finished speaking, he dropped the memorial in his hand and ran headfirst into the pillar of the hall.

Liu Zhaosun shouted loudly, and in a panic, he picked up the table and threw it out, barely blocking the Prime Minister.

A moment later, more people prepared to hit the pillar.

"enough!"

The emperor roared.

"Pei Dahu, Liu Xingzuo, convey my decree. Tomorrow at noon, Kang Yingqian, Chen Xin, Yang Tong, Zheng Yishi, and others will be executed by slow slicing in front of the Dazheng Palace! The remaining accomplices will be detained in the imperial prison and will be dealt with after trial."

The Emperor looked murderously at the ministers in the hall and said through gritted teeth, "Are you all satisfied with this treatment?"

Lu Xiangsheng was hit by a table, and blood flowed from his forehead. He led the ministers and loudly thanked them, "Our emperor is wise!"

Liu Zhaosun kicked the dragon throne away, snorted, and left.

The high priest and Dongfang Zhu were pale, looked at each other, and hurriedly followed. Both were frightened by the scene before them. The idea of "dying for one's own good" was not something that missionaries and eunuchs could understand.

Lu Xiangsheng knelt on the ground and waited for the emperor to leave before he slowly stood up. Before he could even stand, he fainted.
After retiring from court, the retired emperor immediately put on casual clothes, took Dongfang Zhu and Zhang Dong, and went to the death row of the imperial prison to visit his old partner.

After entering the imperial prison cell, Kang Yingqian had been tortured beyond recognition.

"Lao Kang, I'm here to see you."

Zhang Dong opened the prison door himself. The emperor helped up the blood-covered Kang Yinggan and touched his nose with his finger. He was breathing weakly.

"How did it become like this? Others may not know, but you don't know either? Inspector Kang did nothing wrong!"

Liu Zhaosun suppressed the rage that wanted to smash the prison door with a punch and glared at Zhang Dongdao.

Zhang Dong hadn't slept all night last night, and today he was patrolling everywhere with his men. He was already exhausted. He coughed twice and said hoarsely:

"Your Majesty, many people have been harmed by the rebels. Now the whole city is saying that it was Supervisor Kang who was forcing Your Majesty to abdicate, so they fought and killed people. In order to escort him, two of our people were beaten to death by the people and sent to the imperial prison..."

"General Liu, General Liu..."

Liu Zhaosun vaguely heard someone calling him, and quickly waved his hand to tell Zhang Mazi to stop talking, and listened carefully with his ears perked up.

"General Liu,"

Dongfang Zhu pointed at Kang Yingqian lying in the arms of the retired emperor. Liu Zhaosun leaned over and put his ear close to the old man's mouth.

I heard Lao Kang still talking intermittently:

"I'm old, and I can't help you anymore... So many people died yesterday. Back in Kaiyuan, when the Jiannu retreated, I advised you to kill the wealthy. Remember?"

The emperor stared at the gradually dull old eyes and nodded vigorously.

Kang Yingqian used all his strength and smiled with his eyes narrowed as usual.

"Sometimes, killing someone isn't necessarily a bad thing. You didn't listen to me last time, so this time, I'll kill you first and ask for your permission later."

Liu Zhaosun held the old man as if he were holding a piece of rotten bones. It was the first time he felt that the body of a dying person was so light.

"Last night, it was I who instigated Chen Xin to go to the Cining Palace and fight Yang Tong. Da Qi will never have peace unless they are dead. Now both sides can be at peace. No one will hinder you. General Liu, the system of Da Qi cannot be changed. Your old team cannot be moved. You have seen Chen Xin's face, and the people under him are even more terrifying... We must use this opportunity to regain power as soon as possible, and then use the doctrine of the mean to gradually transition and get through this..."

The sound was weak and thin, and gradually stopped.

There was sand in Liu Zhaosun's eyes. Zhang Dong winked at Dongfang Zhu, and the two of them slowly left the cell.

Kang Yingqian's body gradually became cold and finally turned into a cold corpse. After a long time, Liu Zhaosun put the body down, stood up and pushed open the half-closed prison door. Zhang Dong and Dongfang Zhu were waiting outside.

"Are the others still alive?"

Zhang Dong quickly said, "Chen Xin and Yang Tong are still alive. Jin Yinghe and Zheng Yishi committed suicide last night."

Upon hearing that Jin Yinghe was dead, the emperor was slightly stunned and recalled the scene of the night attack on the Bordered Blue Banner in Hunjiang.

General Yiliu, who was as strong as a bear, also went to another world with Kang Yingqian.

"Give Yang Tong the poisonous white silk and let him end his life. Send his body to the Meridian Gate tomorrow morning and execute him by slicing."

After saying that, he walked outside. Dongfang Zhu followed behind him and said cautiously:

"Your Majesty, will you not see him?"

The emperor stopped, hesitated for a moment, and shook his head.

"He's gone. Let Yang Tong's family go to the prison tonight to see him for the last time."

(End of this chapter)