Ming Dynasty entry: I am Chongzhen, the greatest emperor of all time!

Chapter 12: The nobles are still rich

Zhu Youjian didn't say a word from beginning to end.

When the Minister of Works Zhang Fengxiang, whose face was covered in coal dust and looked disheveled, and the former Prime Minister Chen Yan, who was also specially summoned, arrived, everyone was finally together.

Wang Chengen gave each person two booklets and then left the Qianqing Hall.

Close the door behind you.

The atmosphere in the entire hall was extremely strange.

The cabinet elders and the six ministers, who usually acted high and mighty, were unwilling to speak first at this moment.

He was afraid that the emperor, who looked very abnormal, would point the knife at him.

Zhu Youjian was not in a hurry and ate his steamed bread and pickles slowly.

He had done everything he could think of and just had to wait for Li Ruolian to come back.

Maybe the atmosphere was too depressing, or maybe he had something to hide.

"Your Majesty! I want to impeach Li Ruolian for framing loyal officials!" The Minister of War Zhang Jinyan suddenly overturned the brocade stool and went up to attack the newly appointed commander of the Jinyiwei.

This Jinshi who won the title of Jinshi in the fourth year of Chongzhen, who was the Minister of War, concealed military intelligence and surrendered to Li Zicheng, burst into tears.

"The corruption in the Beijing camp is not my fault, it is"

"But Minister Zhang said yesterday that the Beijing army had 100,000 soldiers capable of fighting." Zhu Youjian dipped a steamed bun in the pickle juice and interrupted Zhang Jinyan's performance.

"At that time..."

"Minister Zhang, do you still remember the seal with the inscription 'Loyalty and Diligence for the Country'? I personally gave it to you on your birthday last year."

Zhu Youjian suddenly changed the subject.

Zhang Jinyan nodded, "I remember that Your Majesty's grace was great, and he has always kept me at home."

"It's in the third compartment of the study, right ...

"How does Your Majesty know..." Zhang Jinyan's back was instantly soaked with cold sweat, and he almost screamed out loud.

Zhu Youjian stuffed the last bite of steamed bread into his mouth.

He patted the crumbs off his hands and said, "Then my dear, please don't say anything."

After these words were spoken, not only Zhang Jinyan, but everyone present was shocked.

After finally overthrowing the eunuch party and the East Factory, he had some little secrets of his own.

Why are the Jinyiwei back again?

And they made such a big noise right from the start! ?
The ministers didn't dare to speak anymore, and everyone looked at their noses and their hearts.

"The South China Sea coral that Chen Qing gave to the Queen for her birthday last year."

Zhu Youjian suddenly chuckled and pointed his finger at Chen Yan, who seemed the most stable among the people present.

"Did you buy it with the grain you didn't pay for the silver?"

"Three hundred dan of military rations for one coral, a good deal."

Chen Yan is worthy of being the chief minister of the cabinet.

He has mastered the art of showing off his face to perfection.

He was not at all panicked when facing Zhu Youjian's interrogation.

He bowed politely, "Your Majesty, please understand that 300 dan of military rations can indeed be exchanged for one coral. And Your Majesty, you know that once these corals are transported to Liaodong, one coral can be exchanged for 2,000 dan of fine grain!"

"Otherwise, there simply won't be enough food and fodder for the soldiers of the Nine Frontiers."

What Chen Yan said was very reasonable and true. Coupled with his sincere expression, he looked like someone who was willing to endure for the sake of his country.

If Zhu Youjian had not found the stolen money from Zhou Kui's house, he would have almost believed it!

"Good! It's a shame that Minister Chen didn't continue to serve as Minister of Revenue. The three hundred dan of military rations were simply exchanged for corals, which could be resold for ten times the profit. The various state officials received two tiers, the household department received one tier, the military department received one tier, the Shanxi merchants received two tiers, and the Imperial Guard Inspectorate received one tier. You took two tiers for yourself, and the remaining tier was the military rations shipped to the nine frontiers."

"Do you want me to continue?"

Chen Yan shook his head, without even explaining, and knelt down, "Your Majesty, I will die."

What if the emperor knew about it? Just the reselling of military rations and weapons alone implicated one-third of the entire court.

Once I go to jail, these people will be more panicked than I am.

Moreover, I am so old now, and most of my family members and property are in my hometown in Sichuan. Maybe I can use my life to exchange for more benefits.

Zhu Youjian ignored Chen Yan.

He wanted to see who among these people would stand up, so he took advantage of today to sort out the high-ranking officials in the court to prevent them from causing trouble when Li Zicheng attacked the city.

The Minister of Justice Zhang Xin stood silently in the corner of the hall, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the cover of "The Great Ming Code".

When he saw Chen Yan's fearless attitude, the iron-faced minister suddenly took off his official hat and said, "I resign."

Zhu Youjian sneered, "I haven't even said I'm going to investigate Chen Yan yet, and Minister Zhang is already afraid?"

"I consider myself incompetent and have failed the grace of Heaven. I implore Your Majesty to allow me to retire and return home."

These words sounded the clarion call for a counterattack.

Who in the six ministries and cabinets hadn't made some money? Even Ni Yuanlu, known for his integrity, hadn't he received enough benefits from his disciples? If the emperor continued to talk like this, no one would be in a good situation.

At that moment, except for Ni Yuanlu and the two dukes, everyone else knelt down at the same time.

"I respectfully resign from this position."

"Okay, okay." Zhu Youjian laughed instead of getting angry, "So you're forcing me to abdicate?"

"Since everyone wants to resign, I will investigate them one by one."

At this point, Zhu Youjian suddenly shouted towards the door, "Xu Feng!"

boom!
The doors and windows were thrown open suddenly, and hundreds of Jinyiwei holding embroidered spring swords climbed into the hall.

The ministers were surrounded.

This scene scared everyone.

Even Chen Yan, who had always been calm and composed, was a little surprised.

None of them expected that when facing a powerful enemy, it was the right time to use manpower.

The emperor actually took real action.

"Capture the cabinet ministers, former Prime Minister Chen Yan, Minister of War Zhang Jinyan, and Minister of Revenue Wu Lizhong."

The Jinyiwei rewarded by the system don’t care what high-ranking official you are.

As long as the emperor gives the order, even the king of heaven will catch you and show you.

For a moment, the hall was in chaos.

Zhang Jinyan and Wu Luzhong struggled and shouted.

As long as they are not killed on the spot, they will not panic at all.

On the contrary, I was even a little secretly happy.

This was captured at a royal banquet.

You can’t escape the reputation of being upright and honest!
When all the officials cry in front of the palace tomorrow, will the emperor still dare not release them?
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Please do not listen to the slander of villains!"

"A tyrant emperor! Bullying your ministers like this! It's a pity that our Ming Dynasty, which has lasted for three hundred years, is about to fall!"

Zhu Youjian pretended not to hear anything and smiled as he looked at the first Minister of Justice who resigned.

"I want you to be allowed to try the case while wearing the cangue."

"The memorial for the joint trial of the three courts still needs to be written by Xu Qing."

Then he looked at the Minister of Works.

"Thanks to the accounts provided by Zhang Qing, my Jinyiwei were able to find the evidence so quickly."

Zhang Fengxiang was completely confused. He had just followed Qingci, but the emperor not only did not arrest him, but instead criticized the account book he provided.

He has been repairing weapons and armor?
After thinking for a moment, Zhang Fengxiang suddenly understood and hurriedly opened his mouth to explain.

"When will I ..."

"The Minister of the Ministry of Processing, Zhang Fengxiang, is appointed as the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet and is in the cabinet to serve." Zhu Youjian spoke directly.

Zhang Jinyan, who was just confused, changed the subject again.

He said this very sensibly.

"I request that the Deshengmen barbican be rebuilt!"

He shook out a rolled-up blueprint from his sleeve and said, "This is the bastion method used by the Portuguese in Macau. It can withstand the Red Cannon."

The blueprints were just rescued from the ruins of the arsenal today.

"Approved." Zhu Youjian was very satisfied. "Starting tomorrow, all the craftsmen in the Ministry of Works will be under the command of Zhang Qing."

Zhang Jinyan immediately thanked him and stood up, as if his resignation had nothing to do with him.

Ni Yuanlu stepped forward to advise him.

"Your Majesty, please think twice. You treat your subjects like dirt, and I treat you like an enemy! Lord Zhang and Lord Chen are both important officials of the imperial court. You must not punish them severely!"

Zhu Youjian shook his head speechlessly.

"I haven't even considered them worthless yet, they already consider me their enemy."

At this moment, Li Ruolian, who had disappeared for most of the day, ran into the hall panting.

Handed a stack of papers to Zhu Youjian.

The latter just took a glance and laughed out loud.

"The nobles are still rich!"

The white beard of Duke Yingguo Zhang Shize trembled suddenly.

A bad feeling welled up in my heart.

He hurriedly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "This old minister is willing to personally lead the family servants to guard Desheng Gate!"

(End of this chapter)