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

Chapter 175 Zhu Wusi's ulterior motives revealed
Ming Dynasty, Beijing.

With Zhu Houzhao's return, in less than three days, the entire capital was in turmoil and undercurrents were surging.

From the fourth rank to the first rank ministers, the six ministries of the cabinet, from military generals to civil officials, there were people imprisoned.

Hulong Villa.

"Li Mu, the Left Deputy Sword Master, is charged with forming a clique for personal gain and shall be executed immediately."

"Lu Ji, a sixth-rank imperial guard bearing a sword, is charged with the crime of attempting to regicide and is to be executed immediately."

"Zhou Chu, deputy commander of the Fifth Army Battalion, is charged with trafficking in military equipment and embezzling military funds. He shall be executed immediately."

"Lin Shu, Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, is charged with selling official positions and titles, taking bribes and perverting the law. He shall be executed immediately."

"Guan Dahai, Junior Secretary of the Honglu Temple, is charged with privately operating salt and iron and colluding with foreign enemies. He shall be executed immediately."

"In less than two days, our Emperor has gone on a killing spree, claiming the lives of several loyal souls. Regardless of the cabinet's pleas for mercy or the evidence I presented, the Emperor has turned a deaf ear and ignored them."

"Your Majesty, such a person is unfamiliar to me."

Zhu Wusi's expression was solemn, and he looked loyal and brave, and worried about his country and people.

"What does foster father mean?"

"Your Majesty, though young, is extremely measured in his actions. Although he used me to check Cao Zhengchun and balance the civil and military officials in the court, he would not kill without reason. He is a master of the art of ruling, but now Your Majesty's actions are reckless and without any rules."

"I doubt……"

Zhu Wusi deliberately frowned, looking puzzled but not daring.

Shangguan Haitang seemed to have guessed something. Her body trembled violently. She took a step forward and lowered her voice, "Does foster father suspect that our emperor is..."

Shangguan Haitang didn't dare to say the word fake after all.

Because, no matter whether her guess was right or not, it was a crime of treason.

Zhu Wusi nodded grimly, his expression appreciative. "Haitang, you are indeed very clever. I did have such suspicions. When I met the Emperor outside the capital a few days ago, I didn't think much of it. Until yesterday, I received a piece of news that made me even more suspicious of His Majesty's identity."

Shangguan Haitang, Duan Tianya and Gui Hai Yidao looked at each other.

"Godfather, what's the news?" Duan Tianya asked subconsciously, then immediately realized he had broken his promise and quickly added, "I'm sorry, Tianya made the mistake."

"It's okay. You should know about this."

Zhu Wusi waved his hand solemnly, closing the palace door from a distance of more than ten feet. He then took a deep breath and said, "I've heard that on the night of his return, His Majesty dismissed the eunuchs and maids and personally drafted an imperial edict."

"Imperial decree?"

Shangguan Haitang looked puzzled. "Foster father, please forgive my ignorance. Is there anything strange about His Majesty drafting the imperial edict?"

"What if this is an imperial edict to quell the rebellion?"

Zhu Wusi looked over and saw Shangguan Haitang, Duan Tianya and Gui Hai Yidao were all struck by lightning, their faces pale with horror.

Since Emperor Taizu Gao established the Hongwu era and founded the Ming Dynasty, only Emperor Taizong Wen used the name of pacifying the national crisis and clearing the court of corrupt officials to quell the crisis in the name of heaven, and that was a counterattack out of necessity.

In the current Ming Dynasty, the world is at peace, even though there is some chaos and corruption.

It is also far from the point where the local princes need to obey the emperor and quell the rebellion.

Shangguan Haitang asked anxiously, "The Imperial Edict to pacify the rebellion?"

"Godfather, is the news reliable?"

"I've confirmed it five times." Zhu Wusi held out his palm, his face extremely solemn: "I can confirm that this news is absolutely true."

Duan Tianya frowned and asked pointedly, "Foster father, was the imperial edict to pacify the rebellion addressed to the feudal lords, or... to a certain person, a certain force?"

If it was the former, Zhu Wusi's suspicion was unfounded. The fact that the emperor could issue the imperial edict to quell the rebellion and order the princes to obey the will of heaven and quell the rebellion proved that there must be a crisis in the Ming Dynasty that they, the people of Hulong Villa, were unaware of.

If it's the latter...

It's very intriguing!
On the surface, the Ming Dynasty was still peaceful and stable, and there was no need to quell the national crisis or purge the court. Not to mention Cao Zhengchun, even Liu Jin, who was at the peak of his power at the time, did not have the qualifications.

The only possibility is conspiracy.

Zhu Wusi took a deep breath and replied in a deep voice, "It's difficult for me to verify the contents of the imperial edict, but what I can confirm is that the imperial edict to quell the rebellion was sent to the border and fell into the hands of Prince Su Zhu Jinzhen."

Prince Su, Zhu Jinzhen!

A person's name, the shadow of a tree.

Even though the major spies of the Huolong Villa had not had much dealings with the Prince Su's Mansion, they had already heard of this famous First Frontier King of the Ming Dynasty and the youngest land swordsman.

"My foster father suspected that Prince Su had rebellious intentions, so he planned a fake scheme to let the fake emperor return to the capital, and then issued that unreasonable imperial edict to give Prince Su a legitimate name, and finally..." Shangguan Haitang was just guessing at first, but the more she spoke, the more she felt that her guess was probably close to the truth.

This time, Emperor Zhu Houzhao was escorted back by the Cangyun Army.

And at that time, Zhu Houzhao was "invited away" by the experts sent by Prince Su in Lanzhou Prefecture.

This reminds me of the imperial edict to pacify the rebellion.

It was hard for Shangguan Haitang, Duan Tianya and Gui Hai Yidao not to suspect that this was a conspiracy carefully planned by the Prince Su's Mansion.

"I have no idea!"

Zhu Wusi shook his head, his hands behind his back, hesitating back and forth: "If Haitang's guess comes true, it would be terrible. Su Wang Zhu Jin has a million-strong army and many talented generals under his command. If all this is really planned by Su Wang, and the Jingnan Imperial Edict falls into his hands, I am afraid the Ming Dynasty is in danger."

Zhu Wusi, with his back to Shangguan Haitang, raised the corners of his lips slightly, revealing a smile of success.

The conversation here is just a preview of Zhu Wusi's plan.

The next step is the real battlefield between him and the cabinet, the empress dowager, and all the officials.

Zhu Wusi had no idea whether he could convince those people, even though the people from the Qinglong Society promised to give their full support.

But at least, at this time, Zhu Wusi's words did convince Shangguan Haitang, Duan Tianya and others.

"What should I do?"

Shangguan Haitang's face showed anxiety. "Foster father, are we just going to sit there and wait for death? I've checked the power of Prince Su's Mansion hundreds of times in the First Manor Under Heaven. He commands two powerful armies, Cang Yun and Tian Ce. Their combat power is extremely formidable. He controls all twelve guards of Shaanxi."

"If Prince Su really raises an army under the name of Jingnan."

"Who can resist this Ming Dynasty?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Wusi turned around with a face full of confusion and embarrassment. After hesitating for a long time, he gritted his teeth and said, "Forget it. This concerns the safety of the Ming Dynasty. Even if I have to bear the infamy for eternity, I, Zhu Wusi, will take it."

After saying this, Zhu Wusi pulled out a military token from his bosom and threw it to Duan Tianya. "Tianya, this situation is urgent. I need to consult the Queen Mother and the cabinet elders immediately. If all goes well, I will ask for an imperial decree. You hold this military token and wait outside the palace. Then seal off the nine gates of the capital and make sure no news leaks out."

"Yes!"

Duan Tianya felt it was hot, but still took it.

"Begonia."

"exist."

"For the next period of time, Hulong Villa and Tianxia Diyi Villa will be under your command. I want you to cooperate with Tianya to block all information in the capital."

"Haitang will definitely live up to my adoptive father's expectations."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Wushi nodded and strode out, leaving only one sentence: "Hopefully, it's not too late."

(End of this chapter)