Emperor Chongzhen was too extreme.

Chapter 97 Before and After Meals, the Story of the Slaughter of the Feudal Lords

Late at night.

The city of Yan'an Prefecture was still brightly lit.

Li Zicheng looked at the heavily guarded city gate in front of him.

He silently removed his armor, washed his face with water, changed his clothes, and then entered the city.

He came to surrender to the emperor, but before he could even catch a glimpse of the emperor's carriage, he was chopped into mincemeat by the guards.

Fortunately.

Although it was already very late, there were still some people with anxious expressions who looked like officials constantly going in and out of the city gate.

The prefectural city was not under a complete curfew.

After being questioned, Li Zicheng also managed to sneak in.

After entering the prefectural city.

Li Zicheng followed in the footsteps of those officials until he arrived near the government office.

Looking ahead, he saw a large number of guards and the dragon banner symbolizing imperial power.

Li Zicheng slowly walked to the outermost edge of the cordon and knelt down, loudly proclaiming:

"Li Zicheng, a postman at Yinchuan Post Station in Mizhi County, could not bear the humiliation and killed four fellow villagers, five members of the county post station manager's family, and thirty-seven members of a local gentry family in a fit of rage."

"I've come to turn myself in!"

Li Zicheng's voice was loud, and he was trying his best to attract more attention.

His thoughts at that moment were very simple.

We're all going to die anyway.

Why not take this opportunity to attract more attention? Maybe we can even get it featured in the county annals.

After saying this, he knelt quietly on the ground and waited for the guards at the door to drag him away.

But to Li Zicheng's surprise, the guards merely glanced at him and then uttered a casual remark:
"Someone take him to the yamen."

Li Zicheng: ?

I killed dozens of people by myself, and you want me to turn myself in at an ordinary government office?!

Then all that commotion was for nothing, and all that traveling all night was for nothing!
He immediately became anxious: "I know I have committed a capital crime, but I am unwilling to die at the hands of the yamen runners, so I have come to surrender to Your Majesty. I wish to see Your Majesty one last time before I die!"

The guard said impatiently, "Does His Majesty not appear before you whenever you wish?!"

If it were under normal circumstances...

The guard did indeed turn around and go inside to report, after all, His Majesty had instructed that if any talented person requested an audience, he should be informed.

Whether this man named Li Zicheng can be considered a talent is another matter, but he certainly has a lot of guts.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned.

His Majesty went out of the city to inspect the fields today and hasn't returned yet.

As the guards spoke, they prepared to drag Li Zicheng away.

But Li Zicheng had come here to see the emperor, and immediately, somewhat anxiously, he shouted loudly:

"Those officials are not qualified to judge me. I want to see the Emperor!"

Just then, Li Zicheng started shouting.

The royal procession surged in from the other side of the street.

When the guards on duty saw that His Majesty had returned, they hurriedly pressed Li Zicheng down and made him kneel on the ground.

The eunuchs leading the way at the front of the imperial procession saw that Li Zicheng was being held down but was still struggling.

He frowned and asked, "Why is this person making such a fuss?"

The guards quickly stepped forward to explain.

After listening to the details of the incident, the eunuch who led the way pondered for a moment before turning around and reporting the matter to Zhu Youjian inside the carriage.

Zhu Youjian listened to his subordinate's report and nodded slightly: "Bring him to the government office to see me."

For Zhu Youjian

After finishing all the matters in Shaanxi, he will set off for Yansui Military Town.

Therefore, having more brave and courageous members in the team is not a bad thing.

of course.

First, we need to determine whether Li Zicheng was truly courageous or just an opportunist seeking fame and fortune.

And this moment.

Li Zicheng, who was pinned to the ground, heard the eunuch's voice from the front saying that the emperor was actually preparing to receive him personally. He was stunned and stopped struggling.

He originally came to the prefectural city only to turn himself in and end his life.

But to his surprise, the emperor actually asked to see him.

Let alone the emperor.

If it weren't for the recent imperial order for disaster relief, Li Zicheng would have barely even met the magistrate of Mizhi County.

the most important is.

Li Zicheng suddenly grasped at a glimmer of hope, like a drowning man grabbing a straw.

Yes!
Legally speaking, he did indeed commit a heinous crime.

Whether he should die or not was entirely up to the emperor.

For a moment, Li Zicheng was filled with excitement.

Although Li Zicheng had indeed prepared himself to die before he arrived.

But now that the hope of survival is right in front of us, who wouldn't want to live?!

Not long after.

As Zhu Youjian returned to the temporary palace in the government office, Li Zicheng was also brought along.

now.

The person who can decide their own destiny with a single sentence is just ahead.

But Li Zicheng, kneeling on the ground, didn't even have the courage to look up.

The invisible pressure in the room made him feel a little suffocated. Li Zicheng himself was afraid that he might do something wrong and suddenly displease His Majesty.

The officials and gentry in Xi'an Prefecture have all been killed by His Majesty!

Just as Li Zicheng was extremely nervous, a calm voice suddenly came from ahead.

"Tell me about how you killed the official in anger."

Li Zicheng was ultimately an honest man.

Although he knew that the answer he was about to give would likely determine whether he could save his life, he still did not exaggerate the oppression he was under at this moment.

He simply recounted the entire story from beginning to end without embellishment.

After listening, Zhu Youjian instructed his subordinates, "Send someone to Mizhi County to investigate whether what he said is true."

"If it's true, spare his life and let him go to the border to atone for his crimes; if it's false, execute him by slow slicing and display him to the public."

Done.

Zhu Youjian then got up and left, leaving Li Zicheng kneeling on the ground with a blank expression.

My life was saved just like that?!
And there's even a chance to redeem himself through meritorious service?!
Recalling what His Majesty had just said about redeeming himself through meritorious service, Li Zicheng felt that chill from fate once again engulf him.

He trembled all over, and the thought of dying for His Majesty had already arisen in his heart.

prior to.

When he was so humiliated in the county, not a single person ever stood up for him, not even once.

But His Majesty, after hearing about his deeds, was actually willing to give him a chance to redeem himself.
So what if we go to the border and kill people?!

Having already killed dozens of people, Li Zicheng no longer finds this a particularly difficult task.

He took a deep breath, and coupled with a sense of destiny in his mind, Li Zicheng made up his mind at that moment:
Once I reach the border, I am determined to achieve great things there to repay His Majesty's kindness!

soon.

Li Zicheng was then taken away and temporarily stayed with the guards in the imperial procession.

After gradually calming down, Li Zicheng started chatting with these people.

When asked how he joined the imperial court, Li Zicheng answered with a touch of pride:

“I personally killed dozens of gentry members in Mizhi County. Afterwards, I was unwilling to die at the hands of those soldiers, so I came here specifically to surrender to His Majesty!”

"I never expected His Majesty would be willing to give me a chance to redeem myself!"

"Dozens of people?!"

Hearing the surprise in his fellow soldiers' voices.

Li Zicheng was about to reply, but the other party's next words stunned him instantly.

Before or after meals?

Li Zicheng: ?

What does "before meals" or "after meals" mean?!
Li Zicheng was caught completely off guard.

A good while passed before he finally understood that the other party had really only asked whether those dozens of people were killed before or after the meal.

Li Zicheng: ...

It's no wonder he lost his composure; he had only heard rumors about His Majesty.

Who would have thought that just anyone in the imperial entourage possessed such abilities?!
Seeing Li Zicheng standing there dumbfounded, his comrade patted him on the shoulder: "Keep up the good work."

"A couple of days ago, there was a guy named Zhang Xianzhong. He performed well in battle and was quite intelligent, so His Majesty sent him directly to the Yansui military town."

"So if you work hard, after His Majesty returns from Shaanxi, you two might both become generals."

"We're all going to follow His Majesty back to the capital anyway, and Shaanxi will be short-handed by then."

Listen to this.

After a long silence, Li Zicheng felt a surge of excitement in his heart.

That sense of destiny surged within him once more.

The youthful ambitions and audacity that once filled him with youthful ignorance surged forth again at this moment.

Li Zicheng clenched his fist.

Some even said they couldn't wait to go to the border immediately.

He didn't know the young man named Zhang Xianzhong.

But if even a commoner like him can gain His Majesty's favor, why can't I?!

As for how to attract His Majesty's attention like Zhang Xianzhong...

Since His Majesty has ordered him to go to the border to atone for his crimes and perform meritorious service, he should naturally kill as many invading enemies as possible!
The next day, early in the morning.

Sun Chuanting traveled all night, sleeping only an hour or two on the road, and finally arrived at the Hanzhong Prefecture and entered a border county within the prefecture.

As far as he knows.

There are dozens of registered lieutenants in this county, totaling several hundred people.

Lieutenant Fengguo—the title sounds impressive, but in reality, he's just a nobody by the roadside.

They belong to the lower-ranking members of the imperial clan with impeccable lineage.

therefore.

Without taking any rest, Sun Chuanting led his men directly to the areas where the lower-ranking members of the royal family gathered.

after all.

After all matters within Shaanxi are resolved.

His Majesty is about to begin dealing with border affairs.

Sun Chuanting originally came to Shaanxi only to save more people.

As a result, not only can the people be saved, but they also have the opportunity to follow His Majesty in achieving great deeds.

Moreover, Sun Chuanting knew this.

With Your Majesty's unparalleled abilities, once you arrive at the Yansui military town, it will certainly not be just a simple matter of guarding the pass.

Who knows, it might even help the Ming Dynasty expand its territory!
To achieve great deeds and expand one's territory—what ambitious man could resist such temptation?!
Sun Chuanting licked his lips, his fingers trembling slightly.

He couldn't wait any longer.

Therefore, the remaining vassal kings within Shaanxi must be dealt with as quickly as possible.

And just right.

To facilitate management, local government offices often confined lower-ranking members of the Ming dynasty's imperial family to a specific area.

This saved Sun Chuanting a lot of trouble.

at this time.

The lieutenants of Fengguo in the county watched as the dragon banner, a symbol of imperial power, appeared beside them.

My heart was first filled with fear, followed by resentment.

They had long heard about the emperor's arrival in Shaanxi to kill the Prince of Qin.

Moreover, in the past two days, there have been continuous rumors that the emperor intends to kill all the members of the imperial clan in Shaanxi!
Although they and the King of Qin are completely different concepts.

In some ways, the lower-ranking members of the royal family aren't even considered human, but they are still members of the royal family in name, aren't they?
So when the dragon banner appeared, everyone thought that the emperor had sent an imperial envoy to kill them!
For a time, people's hearts were unsettled.

Hundreds of thin, lower-ranking members of the royal family surrounded the imperial envoy in an instant.

to be frank.

In this day and age, the lower-ranking members of the imperial family who still obediently remain within the territory of the Ming Dynasty are actually very loyal to the emperor.

Because any disloyal ones would have already fled north to join the foreign tribes.

But these people never imagined that, after living such miserable lives, the emperor would still turn his sword against them.

Are there really emperors this ruthless?!

Looking at the unfriendly faces around him, Sun Chuanting sat on his horse.

He immediately shouted in a very direct manner:

"I am the imperial envoy! I have been ordered by the emperor to lead you to execute Prince Rui, Zhu Changhao!"

"After Prince Rui's death, all the property in his mansion, except for grain, will be divided among you, with 30% going to you!"

"Not only Prince Rui, but all other vassal kings within Shaanxi have been ordered to be executed! Thirty percent of their wealth will be given to you as well!"

"Moreover, after the matter is accomplished, the emperor will grant you special permission to no longer strictly adhere to ancestral rules. You may engage in commerce, farming, or military service in the future!"

Everyone:?
Hundreds of people were completely dumbfounded upon hearing this.

The emperor issued an edict ordering them to execute a prince?!
They even promised them they wouldn't have to strictly adhere to ancestral customs anymore?!

And it was a completely legal robbery and murder, with 30% of the loot remaining afterward?!
Damn it!

Who was it that was plotting against the Imperial Envoy?! And who was it that was trying to frame His Majesty behind his back?!

Step forward! I'll be the first to kill him!!
Just as everyone was breathing heavily, Sun Chuanting spoke again:

"This decree was issued because His Majesty was concerned about your suffering and because those vassal kings committed numerous evils."

"This is tantamount to His Majesty taking all the blame and condemnation upon you!"

This statement came out.

Gratitude towards the emperor, jealousy towards the vassal kings, and a desire for wealth—a mix of emotions clashed within these people.

In the end, it turned into everyone kneeling on the ground, tears streaming down their faces, shouting from the bottom of their hearts, "Long live the Emperor!"

The crowd was instantly enraged, and everyone wished they could rush to the city and kill Prince Rui on the spot.

at this time.

Sun Chuanting's competence was then demonstrated.

He immediately led these people to the county government office.

After taking out the weapons, armor, and horses from the county government office.

Then, from among these people, those who were familiar with the lower-ranking members of the imperial clan in neighboring counties were selected to go there and read the imperial edict.

One person tells ten, ten tell a hundred.

Therefore, it only takes half a day.

Sun Chuanting then assembled a force of several thousand members of the imperial clan within Hanzhong Prefecture.

Although the group looked somewhat disorganized, many of them were carrying farm tools as weapons.

But its fighting power should not be underestimated.

For these lower-ranking members of the royal family...

They'd be willing to kill those princes even if they weren't paid.

Not to mention now: grab enough from the emperor, keep enough for the collective, and the rest is all yours!

Who wouldn't risk their life?!
at the same time.

Inside the Prince Rui's Mansion.

Zhu Changhao was kneeling in front of the prayer mat, continuously rolling prayer beads in front of the golden Buddha on the jade throne.

Although he was chanting Buddhist scriptures about compassion, Zhu Changhao was thinking about extremely cruel killings.

There was no other way; he was terrified that the emperor would come and rob his mansion of its gold and silver treasures.

Those things are his lifeblood! Nobody is allowed to touch them!
Zhu Changhao understood perfectly that the Prince of Qin had simply not met with the emperor in time.

If such a trivial matter could lead to the emperor's complete extermination of an entire clan, how could the remaining vassal kings in Shaanxi possibly survive?!
With this thought in mind.

Zhu Changhao grew increasingly agitated, so he summoned a trusted subordinate from his residence and gave him instructions:

"Go and deliver a message to the other princes for me, and tell them that as long as that person is in Shaanxi, none of them will have a peaceful day."

“I know that he is about to set off for Yansui Military Town, so I am willing to take the lead and work with a few of my clansmen to fight for a way out for everyone.”

The trusted confidant accepted the order and turned to leave.

But less than half an hour after he left, he reappeared in front of Zhu Changhao in a panic.

"It's terrible, Your Highness! The enemy has broken into the city! The city gates can no longer be defended!"

　The typhoon hit, and I got soaked in the downpour while eating lunch today. As a result, I unsurprisingly caught a cold this afternoon.

　　I'm a little dizzy after taking the medicine, so I guess this will be the only chapter today.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)