The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 854 Liu Wuji's Decision to Kill

In the spring of the 21st year of Guangde, Crown Prince Liu Wuji led the attendants of the Eastern Palace from Tianxin City, headed north along the post road, and arrived at Tianjin Wei on the eighth day of March.

On the eighth day, the prince disembarked at Zhangjiawan Wharf. Before the imperial edict was delivered to the government office, he summoned the Governor-General, the Provincial Governor, and the Military Supervisor of Tianjin to inquire about the new policies in public.

Tianjin struggled to implement its new policies, with its enforcement ranking last among provinces. Local officials were subservient to the crown prince, while Governor-General Zhang Ying (Zi Dunfu) was evasive, creating an awkward situation.

"Your Highness, let's go back to the government office and talk about this."

The staff around Liu Wuji reminded him that Governor Zhang was a Jinshi in the fifth year of Guangde. In the early years of Guangde, he was sent to Jingxiang as a seventh-rank county magistrate. Later, with the support of Liu Yufei, he was promoted to the position of governor and governor-general. He was one of Liu Yufei's close friends. It would be strange if the new policy could be implemented in Tianjin with such a person as an official.

Liu Wuji said disdainfully: "My father sent me to the north to tackle these tough problems!"

The staff member explained continuously, "Tianjin is the territory of the rebels, and the various factions are intertwined. Among Liu Yufei's students and former officials alone, seven or eight out of ten are here. If one move is made, the whole body will be affected. We must not act rashly."

Liu Wuji laughed and said, "Hundreds of thousands of rebels were wiped out by me with a wave of my hand. How many armies does a mere Tianjin Governor have? I'm not as lenient as my father! Those who should be killed will be killed! Those who should be arrested will be arrested!"

~~~~~~~~~
On the ninth day of the third lunar month, Zhang Ying hosted a welcoming reception for the Crown Prince in the back hall of the Governor-General's Office. The Governor, the Military Supervisor, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Guards were present. The Crown Prince's guards stood guard at the entrance to the office.

As soon as the banquet began, something felt off. Everyone was completely silent, a terrifying stillness like the silence before a storm.

Zhang Ying raised his glass to toast Liu Wuji, but the prince acted as if he hadn't noticed. He just looked around and suddenly asked,
"Zhang Dunfu! Do you admit your guilt?"

Zhang Ying looked confused and quickly put down his wine glass.

"Five years after the new policies were implemented, all provinces have already exceeded their targets. However, in Tianjin, you have less than half the number of councillors, and your public property disclosures are fraudulent! I heard that Governor Zhang's declared assets are less than 100 taels. Could it be that you are Hai Rui of the Ming Dynasty reincarnated?"

Zhang Ying saw that the situation was not right and quickly explained, "Your Highness, please be wise. The Zhang family is a humble family. Only a few generations ago did we produce a Jinshi (Jinshi) like me. I have served as an honest official over the years, and my family really has no savings. As for the formation of the parliament, it was the local gentry who were ignorant and refused to participate. In the years since the Princess' rebellion, people's livelihood has been in decline..."

Zhang Yingtao was still making endless excuses when Liu Wuji slammed the table and stood up, pointing at his nose and cursing:
"A traitor who abandoned his country and family! A villain who murdered countless people! And she's also called the eldest princess?! Whose princess is she? Do you still want her to be a princess?"

Zhang Ying was sweating profusely and stammered, "Your Highness, that's not what I meant. The implementation of the new policy is indeed difficult. The gentry are resisting the parliament, and I have no choice..."

Liu Wuji interrupted Zhang Ying again, demanding, "Father knew you were a rebellious old subordinate and spared your life. I never thought you would still pursue this treason! Do you think your father's imperial sword isn't sharp enough? Or do you think a weak Crown Prince like me can be bullied?"

Speaking of being weak and powerless, the East Palace staff couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Your Highness, I dare not. The Crown Prince is invincible. He suppressed the rebellion in three months. Hundreds of thousands of rebels were no match for him..."

"That's enough! Stop talking about this useless stuff! Tell me what secret order you got from Liu Yufei?"

The Doucai wine glass in Liu Wuji's hand slammed heavily to the ground, and broken porcelain pieces flew everywhere.

Only then did Zhang Ying realize that Liu Wuji's inspection of the new policy was fake, and his real intention was to eliminate dissidents and settle personal grudges with him.

"No, there are no secret orders!"

"You dare not take responsibility for what you did, huh? Now that Liu Yufei has been executed, you're trying to deny it! To tell you the truth, I found something in her mansion before I came to Tianjin. I'll interrogate her carefully later! I'm not afraid you won't confess!" "Prince, calm down! I'm an official appointed by the court, the governor appointed by Emperor Guangde. Da Qi governs by law, and everything is governed by the law. How can you make such a false accusation? If we have to prosecute, we should return to Tianxin City and let the three judicial officials do the judging."

Zhang Ying was trembling all over and his face turned pale, but he still suppressed his inner fear and argued loudly.

Liu Wuji laughed out loud as if he had heard a very good joke: "A criminal like you, even I find it funny when you speak of the law!"

"Somebody come!"

Before he finished speaking, the guards of the Eastern Palace armed with firearms rushed in and surrounded the ministers at the banquet. Several muskets were simultaneously pointed at the sweat-covered forehead of the Tianjin Governor.

"Prince, you can't do this!"

Zhang Ying knew that the Crown Prince and the eldest princess were incompatible, and he also knew that the Crown Prince intended to suppress the eldest princess's remaining followers. However, he relied on his position as the Governor of Tianjin and the trust of Emperor Guangde. He had also arranged for the censor to write a petition to plead for him, begging the emperor to give him more time to implement the new policy.

Everything was ready, but he didn't expect Liu Wuji to attack him directly on his own territory and try to kill him.

Seeing that he had controlled Zhang Ying, Liu Wuji turned to the trembling Tianjin officials and said loudly:
"The imperial court is about to sign a contract with the foreigners, which will delay business with Europe! This is just to make things difficult for the emperor and Da Qi!"

"As the Tianjin Governor, Zhang Ying has failed to show consideration for his father and the emperor, nor for the people. The new policies have been delayed, hindering the great cause of the ages! Do you acknowledge your guilt? Arrest this disloyal man! Interrogate him thoroughly! Ask him if he has any accomplices! Determine where Liu Yufei's secret order is!"

The last few words announced Zhang Ying's death sentence in public.

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that this ruthless and decisive prince was not really trying to implement any new policies, but rather was looking to settle personal grudges and use the new policies as an excuse to completely wipe out the remnants of the eldest princess's followers.

A bloody storm is coming.

The guard dragged Zhang Ying to the front of the lobby without saying a word.

Soon, screams like pigs being slaughtered were heard in the distance.

Everyone looked at each other and lowered their heads. No one dared to look at this cruel prince, even for a moment.

The guard took out the wine jug and wine glass he carried with him and filled the prince's cup with wine, which Liu Wuji drank in one gulp.

"During my father's twenty-one years on the throne, he has always been thinking about returning power to the people! Enlightening the people! Seeking benefits for the people of Great Qi!"

"Over the years, the Emperor has devoted countless efforts to implementing the New Deal, working tirelessly day and night, reviewing thousands of memorials every day. I wonder how much effort he has put in! What about you? You're all so arrogant! Your memorials are all so beautifully written, and now you can't even do a simple public disclosure of officials' assets! You've made life miserable for the people of Daqi! And you still talk about sharing the worries of the Emperor and Father, and bringing peace to the country and the people for generations to come!"

"During the time of Taizu, all of you would have been imprisoned!"

A group of officials left their seats and knelt down, saying that they deserved death and begged the prince for forgiveness.

Seeing that Zhang Ying had been eliminated and the beating had achieved its effect, Liu Wuji decided to call it a day. He waved his hand and said in a gentle tone:
"You have all worked diligently, and even if you haven't achieved any merit, you have certainly contributed. I will personally petition my father, the Emperor, to intercede for you. You must also consciously distance yourself from any ties with the rebels and work together to implement the new policies. If you continue to shirk your responsibilities and pretend to obey, don't blame me for being rude!"

(End of this chapter)