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

Chapter 74 The Emperor's Speculation and Murderous Intentions

"Could it be... the Queen Mother?"

"Impossible. No matter how much the Empress Dowager dislikes me, she will never help an outsider..." Zhu Houzhao thought of this, but was not so sure because he thought of someone.

The same queen mother has the body of a person who brings disaster to the country and the people.

The evil queen Sun!

"Even if the Queen Mother truly agrees and colludes with foreign enemies to instigate this, how can we be sure that I will agree?"

"What are the chips they hold in their hands?"

Zhu Houzhao figured out one thing, but fell into another confusion. He knew that only by knowing what chips Temur held in his hand could he know how Temur would persuade him, the emperor, to join forces to deal with Prince Su.

"The Emperor doesn't know?"

"Things are getting interesting."

"Could it be that Temur's letter hasn't arrived yet?"

Looking at Zhu Houzhao who was frowning and thinking, with his expression constantly changing, Zhu Jinzhen also felt puzzled. At such a close distance, he could not hide the changes in Zhu Houzhao's expression and body.

He could also see that the emperor seemed to be truly unaware.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have been so shocked by his words just now.

The atmosphere in the Qin Palace fell into an eerie silence.

"I cannot give Prince Su an answer regarding Temur's information."

Seeing Zhu Jinzhen's expression change slightly, Zhu Houzhao quickly said: "However, I do have a few guesses."

"I don't want to bring up the matter of Emperor Yingzong again."

"But Temur was so confident that I would agree to cooperate with him, which is probably related to Emperor Yingzong. Perhaps Emperor Yingzong left some leverage or something with the Mongols that could serve as proof, and since this matter concerns the royal family, I had no choice but to compromise after learning of this."

"If the contents of this intelligence are true, then I can be sure that it will also involve the inner court and the six ministries of the cabinet. As for more, I don't know."

"The second is the Mingshenwu Dian."

When Zhu Houzhao said this, he sighed, "The Divine Martial Canon of the Ming Dynasty was created by Emperor Taizu Gao, a unique martial art that reaches the realm of heaven and man on earth. It was meant to be passed down through the ages. Unfortunately, not long after Emperor Yingzong's Nangong restoration, it suddenly disappeared for unknown reasons."

"The late emperor and I have searched the entire Sutra Repository but have yet to find a single clue."

"If there is anything that can make me compromise, it is only this unique skill inherited from our Zhu family."

The importance of the Ming Shenwu Code to the Ming Emperor and the Zhu family is no less than that of these vast mountains and rivers.

The change of dynasties is a normal phenomenon in the world.

If the Zhu family could continue to pass down the Ming Shenwu Code, it would ensure that the Zhu family line would never be cut off even after thousands of generations. Zhu Houzhao racked his brains but could not think of a better bargaining chip that would make him, the emperor, willing to cooperate with the Mongols than the existence of the Ming Shenwu Code.

Zhu Jinzhen narrowed his eyes and asked, "The Divine Martial Code of the Ming Dynasty is in the hands of the Mongols?"

"I don't know. This is just my guess."

Zhu Houzhao shook his head and said, "However, Temur is so confident. Considering what happened to Emperor Yingzong back then, I have reason to suspect that Emperor Yingzong, in addition to the absurd things he did back then, may have..."

Although he didn't say it out loud, Zhu Jinzhen already understood.

Given Zhu Qizhen's personality, he might really be reluctant to leave his homeland, or for some reason, he might leave the Ming Shenwu Dian, the Zhu family's family heirloom, on the grassland.

Whether it is only part of it or all of it is unknown.

"So that's how it is." Zhu Jinzhen murmured. He didn't expect that the Ming Shenwu Canon, which he had ordered people to steal even when the imperial tomb was opened, would appear in front of him in this way.

Although these were just Zhu Houzhao's guesses, Zhu Jinzhen believed them to about 70%.

Without Zhu Houzhao's knowledge, the Mongols and the Ming Dynasty wanted to put aside their feud and work together. The Mongols' bargaining chip could not be just a princess for marriage. Therefore, the Ming Shenwu Code, or some evidence of scandal that could shake the foundation of the Ming Dynasty, became the key to cooperation. Compared with the latter, Zhu Jinzhen preferred the Ming Shenwu Code to be in the hands of the Mongols.

Because Yingzong had passed away long ago, no matter how many absurd things happened back then, they are no longer of much use when talked about now that times have changed, unless the Zhu Qizhen who returned that year was a fake.

In order to cover up the truth of the matter, the royal family and Zhu Houzhao might have compromised.

An absurd thought flashed through Zhu Jinzhen's mind, but he immediately put it behind him.

"It's getting late."

"Your Majesty, please rest early. I will take my leave."

The moment Zhu Jinzhen's voice fell, his figure disappeared as if blown away by the wind.

He had gotten the answer he wanted.

Although some processes and results were somewhat unexpected.

Zhu Jinzhen didn't care.

"call!!"

Zhu Houzhao let out a long breath and then realized that his clothes were soaked with cold sweat. He was the king and Zhu Jinzhen was the minister, but when he faced Zhu Jinzhen, he felt unprecedented pressure.

It was so heavy that he could hardly breathe.

Fortunately, he finally persuaded Prince Su Zhu Jinzhen.

"Those traitors are guilty of crimes that cannot be forgiven."

"If I were to verify the facts, I would follow the example of Emperor Taizu Gao and skin all of you alive and exterminate your entire clan to serve as a warning to others." Zhu Houzhao's breathing fluctuated violently. It was obvious that after the fear, his chest was also filled with anger.

First, he mobilized troops from all sides without going through him as the emperor.

It was from Zhu Jinzhen that he learned that the Mongol Emperor Temur and he were secretly colluding to join forces to deal with Zhu Jinzhen, but the implications behind the scenes directly pointed to the inner court, the cabinet, and the six ministries.

How could Zhu Houzhao not be angry?
Once again, Zhu Houzhao kept blaming his father Zhu Youtang in his heart.

If he had not indulged himself time and time again, allowing the civil service group to continue to grow, how could it have evolved to the point it is today.

Zhu Houzhao, who was invited back to Jinghua Palace, sat at the table, staring at the candlelight in a daze.

"Mother, I hope this Mongol Yuan incident has nothing to do with you."

"I don't want Yunluo to be sad."

"But for the sake of the Ming Dynasty, I absolutely don't mind deposing the Empress Dowager."

Zhu Houzhao's eyes were filled with ferocity. Back then, when the Empress Dowager and the Cabinet had teamed up to force him to obey, a rift had already arisen between the "mother and son". It was only in these years that he had been pretending to be a loving mother and a filial son in order to balance all parties and consolidate military power.

If Empress Dowager Zhang really dared to take such a risk.

Zhu Houzhao definitely didn't mind deposing the empress dowager.

There are also the cabinet, the six ministries, and the inner court. Zhu Houzhao will not let go of anyone who dares to collaborate with the enemy and sell out the country.

But soon, Zhu Houzhao sighed again.

Although he is the emperor, he cannot act arbitrarily. He is constrained by the civil service group, threatened by the Huolong Villa, and ready to make moves by other royal palaces, as well as so many sneaky people who covet the imperial power.

Even if he wanted to kill people, he couldn't.

"Prince Su, Prince Su, sometimes I really envy you."

"If I had your invincible power and such loyal soldiers under the Su Palace, I wouldn't have to worry about the Ming Dynasty's prosperity and the world's unrest. Why would I bother with such trivial matters?"

(End of this chapter)