The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 139: Swear to Kill All Traitors
Jinyiwei Beizhenfusi Prison.

According to folk legend, it is no less than the eighteen levels of hell.

The horror of the torture in the imperial prison is so terrifying that it makes people shudder.

For court officials, being thrown into the imperial prison was even more terrifying than being taken to the execution ground.

It's actually rare that this place is full of prisoners.

In fact, there were not many emperors in the Ming Dynasty who frequently used the imperial prison.

During the Hongwu Dynasty, the emperor personally ordered the arrest of many criminals, but at that time there was only the Jinyiwei, and there was no such thing as the Northern Pacification Prison.

It was not until the Yongle reign that the Northern Pacification Office was established to manage the imperial prison. This shows that the only emperor in the Ming Dynasty who frequently used the imperial prison was Emperor Yongle.

The next few emperors all listened to the civil servants and talked about benevolence, righteousness and morality to everyone, so the imperial prison became deserted and only a few people were imprisoned.

During the Chenghua reign of Emperor Xianzong and the Zhengde reign of Emperor Wuzong, imperial prisons were again used on a large scale. However, those who frequently used them were the eunuchs Wang Zhi and Liu Jin, not the emperor.

After Jiajing ascended the throne, he began to restrict the imperial guards and there was no large-scale imperial prison for more than a hundred years.

During the Tianqi reign, the imperial prison began to become overcrowded again, but the one who frequently used the prison was the eunuch Wei Zhongxian, not the emperor of the time.

In other words, it was Emperor Yongle who actually used imperial prisons to suppress civil officials and control the power of the court, and it was also Emperor Yongle who truly created the prosperous Ming Dynasty.

The eunuchs Wang Zhi, Liu Jin and Wei Zhongxian also used the imperial prison to control the power of the court. However, any one of them would be dissatisfied with the eunuchs in power, so the times when eunuchs controlled the power of the court were always chaotic.

In fact, many things are neither good nor bad in themselves; it mainly depends on the person who uses them.

Wanli began to build a large-scale imperial prison again, and now it was filled with people from the three major wealthy families in Puzhou.

He hated traitors who collaborated with the enemy and betrayed his country to the core, and after receiving his oral order, Lu Yi let loose and tortured them madly.

There were cries and wails in the imperial prison, it was like hell on earth.

Early in the morning, just after the hour of Mao, when the sky was still a little dark, Wanli arrived at the imperial prison.

He didn't feel anything about the crying and wailing inside. He was merciful in not executing all the traitors by slow slicing.

No matter how badly these people were tortured, they deserved it and he would not have any sympathy for them.

Now, what he cares most about is how to wipe out these traitors who collaborate with the enemy and betray the country.

All those of the three powerful families in Puzhou who were not in official circles had gone into hiding in advance. He hadn't caught any of the eight imperial merchants. What should he do?

It seems that the only hope now is this old man Wang Chonggu.

The question is, will this old man confess?
He was sitting in the gloomy and terrifying torture chamber, frowning and thinking, when the jailer had already dragged Wang Chonggu in.

Wang Chonggu is so old that he is about to die. If torture is really used, I am afraid that this old man will be buried early.

When Wanli saw that Wang Chonggu looked like he was about to die, his brows furrowed even deeper.

When Wang Chonggu saw that it was the young emperor who was interrogating him, he even pretended to kneel on the ground and said respectfully, "This old minister pays homage to His Majesty."

Why does the word "old minister" sound so offensive?
Wanli asked coldly, "Wang Chonggu, where are the relatives of your three families hiding? Will you confess them or not?"

Wang Chonggu was puzzled and said, "Your Majesty, I have often heard that holy emperors always rule the world with benevolence and righteousness. I dare to say that Your Majesty's massive inquisition is not the right way to govern the country."

Old man, who are you fooling?
You feel sad when you see your relatives being tortured, right?
Wanli sneered, "Who told you that? I heard that severe punishments should be used in troubled times.
You are also a scholar. You have read "The Book of Lord Shang", right? How did the Qin State sweep across the world and unify the world? Was it because of benevolence and righteousness?
Shang Yang once said, "Benevolence and righteousness are not enough to rule the world. A sage king does not value righteousness but laws. The laws must be clear and the orders must be carried out. That's all."

You still tell me that I should rule the world with benevolence and righteousness? Doesn't the world need laws? How can I talk about benevolence and righteousness to traitors like you who collaborate with the enemy and betray our country? "

This little emperor can no longer be fooled?
Wang Chonggu tried to argue, "Your Majesty, I have not colluded with the enemy and betrayed my country. My family is in business. After the Longqing agreement, the horse market opened, and many people went there to do business. This is not colluding with the enemy and betraying my country."

Do you still want to fool me?

Wanli mocked him, "You know best what happened during the Longqing meeting. You also know best whether you have collaborated with the enemy and betrayed your country. Don't think I don't know what you have done.

I know exactly how you three powerful families made your fortunes. You had been secretly communicating with the Northern Tartars long before Longqing's meeting. The reason why the Northern Tartars became increasingly powerful was thanks to you.

I am too lazy to talk to you any more, so I just want to ask you, where are the relatives of your three families hiding? Will you tell them or not?"

It seems that this little emperor really can't be fooled.

Then let this kid know the consequences of dealing with us.

Wang Chonggu said seriously, "Your Majesty, just mentioned the State of Qin, so I will tell you about it. I have read the Book of Lord Shang, and Lord Shang said that benevolence and righteousness are not enough to rule the world, and the State of Qin did not rely on benevolence and righteousness to sweep across the world and unify the world."

However, unifying the world and governing the world are not the same thing.

I wonder if Your Majesty has ever read "On the Failures of Qin" by Jia Yi of the Han Dynasty, which is listed at the end of "Records of the Grand Historian: The First Emperor of Qin".

Mr. Jia once said that the King of Qin had a greedy heart and acted in a self-motivated manner. He did not trust his meritorious officials and was not close to the scholars and people. He abolished the kingly way and established private love, burned documents and implemented cruel laws. He first used deception and force and then benevolence and righteousness, and started the world with tyranny.

Why is it that one man caused the destruction of seven temples, died at the hands of others, and became the laughing stock of the world?

If benevolence and righteousness are not practiced, the situation of attack and defense will be different.

Does Your Majesty understand what Mr. Jia said?

Brutal punishments and cruel laws are only applicable when the world is not yet stable. Once the world is unified, it must be governed by benevolence and righteousness.

The King of Qin did not understand this principle, and therefore, the Second Qin Emperor was tyrannical and perished! "

Oh, you still dare to threaten me?
You said that if I abuse cruel laws and brutal punishments, our country will be destroyed, right?
Do I still need to be righteous and moral when dealing with you, a bunch of traitors who collaborate with the enemy and betray our country?
Wanli was quite annoyed and said, "Don't think I don't know the little tricks you're playing. Do you think I'll let you go just because you spread rumors and tricked those fools into writing petitions for mercy?"

You probably don't know how reckless those young people are.

Wang Chonggu pretended to be righteous and advised, "Your Majesty, remembering the past is a lesson for the future. The Song Dynasty fell because of the unjust killing of loyal and good people. If Yue Fei and Di Qing had not died, how could the Song Dynasty have fallen?"

You still say that I killed loyal and good people in vain?

If you tell lies so many times, you start to believe them yourself, right?

You old traitor, you are a traitor to your country. You are a piece of shit!
Wanli's anger suddenly rose.

He pointed at Wang Chonggu's nose and cursed: "You old bastard, you still have the nerve to call yourself a loyal and honest person?

I have never seen such a shameless person.

Why did the Song Dynasty fall?

Who were Yue Fei and Di Qing fighting against?

If there were no enemies, would the Song Dynasty perish?
You clearly know that the Western Xia, Liao, Jin, and Yuan dynasties all rose to power because they occupied the Hetao area.

However, for your own selfish interests, you three families pushed the Longqing Concordat hard, handed over the Hetao area to the Northern Tartars, and did not allow the border troops to burn the wasteland, allowing the Northern Tartars to rise up!
You, a traitor who collaborates with the enemy and betrays your country, have the nerve to call yourself a good man. You old bastard, do you think you are invincible if you are shameless? "

Uh, this.

Wang Chonggu was speechless after being scolded.

You old bastard is doing it knowingly.

Seeing this, Wanli gritted his teeth and said, "I'm going to ask you one last time. Where are the relatives of your three families hiding? Will you confess or not?"

This, can I recruit?

Isn’t the reason I made this arrangement so that the three families can continue?
Wang Chonggu feigned helplessness and said, "Your Majesty, this old minister doesn't know either. I'm dying, why would they tell me where they're going?"

What I mean is, I'm already dying of old age, so come on, no matter how you torture me, I won't confess.

I won’t confess even if you kill me!
You old man!
Wanli was furious and said, "Don't think that if you don't confess, I will do nothing. I swear to kill all of you traitors who collaborate with the enemy and betray our country!

If you don't confess, I will send secret guards to hunt you down. If it doesn't work in one year, I will send them down in ten years. If it doesn't work in ten years, I will send them down in a hundred years. I will leave a legacy for my descendants to follow suit. The descendants of your three families will find out who is responsible and kill them all until they are all gone!"

Why does this kid hate our three families so much?

When Wang Chonggu heard this, he also got angry.

You little bastard, do you think you can catch him?
Let me tell you, you cannot kill anyone in the imperial prison. If you dare to kill them, our descendants will definitely destroy your country and your race!
You're asking me one last time, right?
Then I'll warn you one last time.

Wang Chonggu thought about it carefully, then said gloomily: "Your Majesty, speaking of the Qin State, there is a saying that Your Majesty does not know if you have heard of it, 'Even if there are only three households in Chu, it will be Chu that destroys Qin!'"

You old bastard, you mean that if I dare to kill people from your three families, your relatives who are hiding will try every means to destroy the Ming Dynasty, right?

In history, the eight imperial merchants you cultivated were the culprits of the demise of the Ming Dynasty!
Can I let you go?
Wanli said coldly: "Alright, then you can go to the eighteen levels of hell and wait, and see if I can kill all of you traitors who collaborate with the enemy and betray the country."

(End of this chapter)