The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 791: There is no place for two tigers in one mountain

How can I allow others to snore beside my bed? There can't be two tigers in one mountain. Besides, the purpose of the rock singer coming to this Eastern world is to deal with No. 00001.

Regardless of whether the feudal system is withdrawn or not, the battle between time travelers has long been inevitable.

"The Earl of Liaoyang has requested the removal of his fiefdom and the return of his soldiers to the fields. He has also requested from the Ministry of Revenue oxen, seeds, and compensation for his soldiers, requiring a total of 30 million taels of silver. I have summoned you all here today to discuss the removal of the fiefdom."

August 18, the fourth year of Chongzhen, Huangji Hall.

Zhu Youjian took the memorial submitted by Liaodong and, in front of all the civil and military officials, waved his red pen and announced a showdown with Liaodong.

"The annual tax revenue of the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty is only 20 million taels. The Marquis of Liaoyang is asking for 30 million taels. How ridiculous! Since he has voluntarily withdrawn from the vassal state, I have thought again and again and decided to grant his wish. As for the 30 million taels of relief silver, I will not give a single penny."

After Emperor Chongzhen finished speaking, all his ministers were shocked.

"Your Majesty, please think twice!"

"The Jiannu rebels have not yet been pacified, and the Liaodong region is in flames. If anything were to happen, the heavens would collapse and the earth would split. In this extraordinary time, we must not grieve for our loved ones while pleasing our enemies!"

"The Marquis of Liaoyang was a veteran of four dynasties, having served under Wanli, Taichang, Tianqi, and Chongzhen, and had made illustrious military achievements. Yet, if he were to resign one day and be abandoned by Your Majesty, wouldn't that chill the hearts of all the loyal ministers in the world?"

·····
A veteran of four dynasties? Three emperors died at his hands!

As the time traveler had predicted, no one supported the decision to abolish the feudal system. Zhu Youjian concluded that most officials, both high and low, in the capital had accepted bribes from Qi Meng; otherwise, they wouldn't have risked their lives to speak up for the Earl of Liaoyang.

"It seems that none of you, my dear ministers, are in favor of reducing the power of the feudal lords?"

The ministers were silent.

Zhu Youjian's eyes fell on the cabinet ministers. "Sirs, the ministers have praised the Earl of Liaoyang to the skies. Did he accept money from Qi Meng? The Imperial Guard will investigate carefully. What do you think of the cabinet? Should we withdraw the Liaoyang garrison or not?"

Shangshu He Ruchong, Qian Xiangkun, Wen Tihen, and Wu Zongta looked at each other and then at the Prime Minister Zhou Yanru. The latter was constantly winking at the Earl of Jiading, signaling the father-in-law to come out and persuade the emperor.

Zhou Kui was calm and composed, as if he had seen nothing, staring at the ground below him thoughtfully.

Zhu Youjian nodded and smiled, "Good! Good! Good! The Zuo Zhuan says, 'Dou Gu Yu Tu, when he was made chancellor, destroyed his own family to relieve the distress of the State of Chu. Since all of you, my dear ministers, oppose the abolition of the feudal system, then let us destroy our family to relieve the distress and provide some silver to the national treasury, so as to satisfy the Liaoyang Marquis's appetite for thirty million taels.'"

When they heard about the donation, all the officials lowered their heads to their shoulders. Zhou Kui even screamed in shock as if it was a conditioned reflex:

"No money, no money!"

Zhu Youjian ignored this weird father-in-law and looked up at the Prime Minister.

"Lord Zhou?"

"what?"

"You are loyal and upright, and you have worked hard to save this difficult time. I rely on you deeply. Why don't you say a word at this time?"

Zhou Yanru had no choice but to kowtow and said loudly:

"Your Majesty is wise and intelligent, and you have diligently upheld the cause of culture and governed the country with all your heart. Our Great Ming is beginning to show signs of rejuvenation. The Liaoyang garrison today is like the Jingnan Rebellion, before the Prince of Yan launched his rebellion. If we press them too hard, the Earl of Liaoyang possesses the finest soldiers and generals in the land, and his followers are spread across the two capitals and thirteen provinces. A single move could have repercussions on the entire system. Therefore, I believe that we must be cautious in our plans to reduce the power of the vassal states."

"So, Mr. Zhou is also against abolishing the feudal system?"

Zhou Yanru said ambiguously:

"Your Majesty, regarding the matter of withdrawing the feudal lords...it's fine to withdraw them, but it's also fine not to withdraw them."

Zhu Youjian smiled and waved his hand to signal Zhou Yanru to leave.

Wang Chengen stepped forward and whispered, "Master, Commander Luo's agents have discovered that Zhou Yanru accepted ten carts of silver and twelve beautiful women from Jianzhou..."

Zhu Youjian was stunned when he heard this: "What? He even has the guts to eat Tartar girls, this..."

He signaled Eunuch Wang to stop talking and looked at the elegant Zhou Yanru with a complicated expression.

"What about the other ministers? What opinions do you have on abolishing the feudal system?"

He Ruchong, Qian Xiangkun, Wen Tiren, Wu Zongta and other cabinet members came forward one after another and said something similar to Zhou Yanru, expressing their opposition to the abolition of the feudal system.

The hall was silent and still. The officials standing in the back row yawned. Things used to be slow, both memorials and carriages. Suddenly, there was a loud bang, and the emperor slammed his desk and stood up.

"Call Jinyiwei Commander Luo Yangxing forward!"

The atmosphere suddenly became tense. Luo Yangxing was in charge of the Jinyiwei inside and outside the capital. He was originally a playboy who relied on his hereditary power. Since Emperor Chongzhen ascended the throne, he attached great importance to the Jinyiwei. He reorganized the internal and external affairs and purged many thousand households and hundred-households who had colluded with the Earl of Liaoyang. The Jinyiwei was reborn, and Luo Yangxing also became powerful.

A fat man in a purple dragon robe stepped forward and kowtowed to the emperor.

"Where is Shen Lianren?"

Luo Yangxing hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, he has been captured and is outside the palace."

Zhu Youjian waved his hand and said, "Bring him and Wei Zhongxian up here."

Luo Yangxing stammered: "Your Majesty, this..."

Shen Lian was Qi Meng's old subordinate, and Wei Zhongxian was the sworn brother of Liaoyang Bo. To attack both of them would mean breaking with Liaozhen.

Some ministers received the news in advance and began to whisper.

Zhu Youjian ignored them and shouted, "Shen Lian is nominally the deputy commander of the Northern Pacification Division, but he's actually an undercover agent planted by the Earl of Liaoyang within the Imperial Guard! As for Wei Zhongxian, he's Qi Meng's sworn brother. It's now clear that both of them are involved in Emperor Guangzong's death in January and the drowning of the previous emperor in the Western Garden."

As Zhu Youjian spoke, he took out his pistol and began to load bullets calmly.

After a while, Shen Lian was escorted to the palace.

Zhu Youjian threw a secret letter in Shen Lian's face:
"Shen Lian, this is the twenty-second time you've passed on information to the Earl of Liaoyang! Tell him I'm not planning to withdraw the vassal state, so he can rest assured."

Shen Lian threw himself to the ground, weeping bitterly, "My eighty-year-old mother has suffered a stroke and is paralyzed. I'm taking care of her at home. I went to bed at midnight last night and arrived late for the court meeting today. I have no idea what Your Majesty is talking about. This must be a traitor's frame-up!"

Zhu Youjian sneered and continued:
"I'm asking you, in the seventh year of the Tianqi reign, the late emperor was enjoying the Western Garden. The pleasure boat didn't sink in the morning or in the evening, so why did it sink after the late emperor boarded the boat? Luo Yangxing investigated, and it was you who was guarding the Western Garden that day. Tell me!"

Shen Lian hesitated, "I don't know what your majesty is talking about."

"How dare you speak harshly when you are about to die!"

Zhu Youjian slammed the table and stood up.

"I don't know, Your Majesty, please forgive me..."

Zhu Youjian roared angrily: "I ask you, how did Emperor Guangzong die! I have learned that the palace maid who delivered the medicine back then had an affair with you!"

Above the main hall, you can hear a needle drop.

Zhu Youjian drew his pistol and said amiably:

"Lord Shen has taken the trouble to personally serve my mother. I am deeply moved."

"This dynasty governs the world with filial piety. You have an old mother to support, but I have none. Alas!"

"You have a mother's inheritance, but I have none. Duke Zhuang of Zheng and I are deeply saddened."

Everyone is familiar with the story of Duke Zhuang of Zheng defeating Duke Duan in Yan. Duke Zhuang was a filial son in the Spring and Autumn Period. From what Emperor Chongzhen said, it seemed that he wanted to let this filial son go.

"The Earl of Liaoyang was a ruthless man. He poisoned Emperor Guangzong to death and ordered the eunuchs to sink the pleasure boat. You are responsible for both of these heinous crimes!"

Zhu Youjian put the muzzle of the gun to Shen Lian's forehead and said word by word:

"Shen Lian! I didn't kill you before, but the time was not right. Now that I have decided to reduce the power of the feudal lords and kill the Lord of Liaoyang, you can go to the underworld and continue to serve my mother. Go to the underworld and be a filial son!"

Shen Lian fell to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably:

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I am guilty! I shouldn't have been deceived by the Qi thieves..."

"That's not a reason!"

boom!
(End of this chapter)