Ming Dynasty: pacifying the rebellion and defending the border, dominating the world

Chapter 105: The fate of the Ming Dynasty, a proclamation to the world, and the pacification of the rebellion
There was dead silence in the study.

Neither Yan Yimei nor Zhu Houzhao expected that Zhu Jinzhen would be so angry.

Zhu Houzhao, who was practically being scolded, didn't know how to refute for a moment. How long had he, the emperor, been away from Beijing? In the absence of others, the cabinet directly issued several imperial edicts to mobilize troops.

This is completely treating him, the emperor, as a dead man!

Or has the court changed dynasties and appointed a new emperor?
Little did they know that at this moment, Zhu Jinzhen looked at the shaky Ming Dynasty luck on Zhu Houzhao, his brows furrowed even deeper, and he couldn't help but curse: "Those beasts, are they really planning to treat the troops from all sides as fat meat and feed them directly to the Mongols?"

"What...what do you mean?" Zhu Houzhao was stunned and looked at Zhu Jinzhen in confusion.

Yan Yimei, who was standing by, saw Zhu Jinzhen nod and stepped forward to explain.

Zhu Houzhao jumped up and down like crazy, roaring: "Collaborating with foreign enemies and colluding with the Mongols? How dare they!"

Zhu Jinzhen looked at his furious expression and calmed down. He said sarcastically, "It's not a question of whether they dare or not, but they have already done it. No fool would do such a thing as marching outside the Great Wall. Unless they have ulterior motives."

"Shanxi, Xuanfu, Yansui, and Datong have successively mobilized troops. Once the forces on these four fronts are depleted, the Mongols will attack with all their might. The defense line of Datong alone will be unable to stop them. The Mongols can then march north directly to the capital, and then march southward, unstoppable."

"In other words, the survival of the Ming Dynasty hangs in the balance."

Zhu Jinzhen analyzed the situation and suddenly seemed to think of something. He reminded him, "If the Mongols really invade the south again, they can go around the Helan Mountains, break through Datong and Xuanfu, and then directly attack the Ming Dynasty."

"So, guess what? When the country is destroyed, will those people jump out and take the blame? Or will they vigorously claim that it was the emperor who arbitrarily mobilized troops with imperial decree, thus giving the Mongols an opportunity to exploit their power, allowing them to trample on the people of the Ming Dynasty and trample on its land?"

"Oh, of course, I might be affected a little bit too."

"Because they need a good reason and a legitimate reason, they'll probably pin the blame on me, saying things like, 'If I hadn't been plotting something bad, I wouldn't have put you under house arrest,' and they wouldn't have taken such a risk. They're mobilizing troops to welcome back the emperor,' and so on."

"But I am certain of one thing: your reputation is definitely not much better than Yingzong's."

Zhu Houzhao's face turned pale, then flushed like a sickly blush, and then the anger visible between his brows took over his face at an incredible speed.

As an emperor, Zhu Houzhao was also very good at cultivating his qi.

I can usually keep my emotions under control.

But when he heard Zhu Jinzhen's analysis and sarcasm, especially when he said that his reputation might be the same as Yingzong's, Zhu Houzhao's defense was instantly broken. He could die, but he absolutely could not be infamous for all eternity.

Especially in such an innocent way.

Zhu Houzhao was so angry that his whole body was shaking. He seemed to have made up his mind. He stared at Zhu Jinzhen and bowed solemnly: "Prince Su, help me and save the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Jinzhen sneered and asked, "How can we help? How can we save him?"

"How do I know if this isn't an elaborate trap, waiting for me to fall into it?"

"The unusual movements on all sides and the stationing of troops in Yinchuan are clearly collusion with the Mongols. Even if I believed you, I would never gamble with the lives of the Tiance and Cangyun soldiers."

"And don't forget, your imperial edict has already reached Shaanxi. Now, all twelve guards in Shaanxi have received your imperial edict and the troop deployment orders from the Ministry of War and the Five Military Commandery. If I gather my troops and horses and take a single step outside of Shaanxi, I will be charged with treason."

Zhu Houzhao was silent for a moment. After a moment, he raised his head and asked, "Which is more important, fame or the world?"

"If, as you suspect, there are people in the court colluding with the Mongols and preparing to hand over the troops from all directions to the Mongols as a piece of fat meat, then the life and death of millions of people in the Ming Dynasty will depend entirely on your decision."

"Prince Su, Zhu Jinzhen, I only want to ask you, which is more important to you, your reputation or the people of the world?"

Zhu Jinzhen remained silent. His reputation and the safety of the people of the world were at stake.

The two scales are not equal. One person's reputation and the safety of the world, there is no need to even choose.

"You know, if I send out an army, there will be no turning back."

"If I am wrong, I will be labeled a traitor and will have no choice but to follow the same path as Emperor Taizong, fighting until I am crowned emperor after the Jingnan Rebellion."

"Even if I'm right, there are treacherous ministers in the court. Even if I obey the will of Heaven and quell the rebellion and purge the imperial court, I will inevitably end up following the same path as Emperor Taizong."

Zhu Jinzhen smiled bitterly at the end of his speech.

It's not that he can't send troops or quell the rebellion, but once he started, he couldn't retreat even if he wanted to. He was not Kou Zhong, nor was he one of those fools who were so stupid that they had the ability to compete for the throne but were willing to give up when it was within their grasp.

Even in the end, even if Zhu Jinzhen did not want to be emperor.

There will also be someone who will considerately add a piece of clothing for him.

Zhu Houzhao replied silently: "I know."

How could Zhu Houzhao not know that if Zhu Jinzhen sent troops, whether he did so under the pretext of suppressing the rebellion or under the charge of treason, there would be only one possibility in the end.

He, Zhu Houzhao, abdicated or abdicated.

Although Zhu Houzhao was torn between his own conscience and his own desires, and although he did not want to do this, the unusual movements of troops on all sides and the marching routes were so strange that almost a fool could see that something was wrong at a glance, and the safety of the Ming Dynasty was at stake.

Zhu Houzhao had no choice either.

If Zhu Jinzhen did not send troops, the Ming Dynasty would be in danger.

"I know everything."

"Prince Su, your ambition is not for the Ming Dynasty, but for the whole world."

"The martial arts performance at Tiance Mansion was your warning to me, making me realize that the gap between you and me has reached an irreparable point. Even if I give my all, it will be like an egg hitting a rock against your Tiance and Cangyun."

"The change of the Ming Dynasty's ruler was already destined."

"It all depends on whether you are willing or not."

"No matter how I struggle, it's all in vain. I'm only bringing about my own destruction."

Zhu Houzhao sighed dejectedly, speaking with a dead heart. Suddenly, he raised his head and spoke passionately, "However, the Ming Dynasty can change its master, but it must not fall at the hands of the barbaric Tatars. Otherwise, how can I face the Taizu Gaohuang Emperor, the Taizong Wenhuang Emperor, and the ancestors of the Ming Dynasty in my afterlife?"

"The Imperial Ming Dynasty's ancestral precepts: If a treacherous minister causes rebellion in the imperial court, the princes of all regions shall lead their troops into the capital, capture the minister and eliminate the traitor, ensuring that the foundation of the Ming Dynasty will be passed down for generations to come."

"Although our bloodline is distant, we are both descendants of Emperor Taizu Gao, and descendants of the Zhu family."

"Can you bear to see the foundation of our Ming dynasty go to waste?"

Zhu Houzhao bowed again, and as an emperor, he pleaded with his face: "Prince Su, even if it is not for the Zhu family, please consider the millions of innocent people in this Ming Dynasty and send troops!"

Zhu Jinzhen's expression gradually changed. He took a step forward, lifted up Zhu Houzhao, and finally uttered those eight words: "Spread the proclamation to the world, obey the will of heaven and quell the rebellion!"

(End of this chapter)