Huangming

Chapter 116 The Imperial Edict Shakes the Mist, Bloodstained Blades Purge the Camp

At dawn, the Qianqing Palace was shrouded in the thick darkness of night, with only the candlelight from the East Warm Pavilion flickering in the cold wind.

The emperor sat upright behind his desk, the garrison register of the capital garrison spread out beside him, its surface gleaming coldly in the candlelight. Wei Zhongxian stood to one side, his hands hanging down, the golden python pattern on his robe appearing and disappearing in the shadows. Qi Jin and others stood with their hands on their swords, the clanging of their armor creating a soft, rustling sound, as if an undercurrent was stirring within them.

When the emperor decided to reorganize the capital garrison, most people were not surprised.

They already knew about this.

Qi Jin and the others even felt that taking action only today was far too slow.

Although Zhu Chunchen knew that the emperor wanted to investigate the Beijing Garrison, he did not know how far the emperor would investigate.

To know.
The Beijing Garrison was a source of wealth for the nobility; a thorough investigation of it would have a huge impact.

Cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents.

I'm afraid some people will cause trouble during the rectification process!
Just as Zhu Chunchen's mind was racing, the emperor suddenly asked him a question:

"Does the Duke know that the Beijing Garrison has a full strength of 200,000, but how many soldiers does it actually have now?"

Zhu Youxiao's sudden words caused Zhu Chunchen to tremble. He knelt down with a thud, his forehead almost touching the ground: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty does not know."

The number of soldiers in the Beijing garrison is a very sensitive question.

Even as a duke, he dared not touch the great interests involved.

silence.

There was a long silence.

Zhu Chunchen slightly raised his head and stole a glance at the emperor. Seeing the young emperor's displeasure, he quickly changed his words:

"However, I heard from insiders in the Beijing Garrison that the actual number of soldiers in the Beijing Garrison is around 60,000."

"Sixty thousand?"

The emperor slammed the teacup to the ground, sending shards of porcelain flying.

"The 140,000-strong troop quota has all become a hole for you to embezzle funds!"

The emperor's words made Zhu Chunchen tremble.

Not
Did His Majesty summon him at dawn really to interrogate him?
Zhu Chunchen's face turned deathly pale.

He was so scared that he almost ejaculated from his crotch.

"I'm innocent!"

"Injustice?"

Zhu Youxiao sneered and threw all the impeachment memorials against the Duke of Cheng's family for their crimes, as well as the secret report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, at the head of Duke of Cheng, Zhu Chunchen.

"Look! See if I've wronged you?"

Zhu Chunchen's head was buzzing; he was almost knocked unconscious by the dozens of memorials from the emperor.

He casually picked up a memorial to read, and his heart sank. The memorial impeached him for embezzling salaries without working, seizing farmland, exploiting soldiers, and selling military ranks.
Each charge was accompanied by evidence.

When I did that kind of thing, wasn't I extremely discreet?

How did His Majesty find out everything?

Trembling.

Zhu Chunchen trembled all over.

"This isn't right, is it? Who's trying to frame me?"

Zhu Youxiao's gaze turned cold as he warned, "Even now, the Duke is still trying to deceive me? Do you want to add another charge of deceiving the emperor to the list?"

Upon hearing this, the East Warm Pavilion immediately began to stir with excitement.

bang bang bang~
Zhu Chunchen kowtowed repeatedly, his voice muffled, and he pleaded for mercy in a pitiful voice, "Your Majesty, I know my crime, I know my crime."

"Confess your guilt?"

Zhu Youxiao snorted coldly, dissatisfied with Zhu Chunchen's attitude, and said, "When you were reorganizing the Four Guards, you also said you knew your crime, but how did you repay me? How much effort did you actually put into reorganizing the Four Guards?"

Tap tap tap~
The burly general outside the door had already entered the East Warm Pavilion and was about to arrest him.

Cold sweat seeped from Zhu Chunchen's forehead.

Gollum~
He swallowed hard, turned to the two burly generals behind him, and said hastily, "Your Majesty, I am willing to atone for my crimes and make amends by reforming the capital garrison!"

He understood the emperor's unspoken message: if His Majesty wanted to deal with him, there was no need to summon him personally.

This time
That was to give him an ultimatum.

If he doesn't know what's good for him, he'll probably end up in a very bad situation.

At best, their lives would be in danger; at worst, the Duke of Cheng's mansion would be ruined!
Zhu Youxiao said coldly, "Words may sound nice, but actions speak louder than words."

The emperor's cold words made Zhu Chunchen even more nervous. He was afraid that the emperor would arrest him and imprison him at that moment. If that happened, he would really have no chance to turn things around.

"Your Majesty, I am a Duke, a meritorious nobleman of the Ming Dynasty, and my fate is intertwined with that of the nation. I beg Your Majesty to consider the merits of my ancestors and trust me this one more time. If I dare to deceive Your Majesty this time, I beg Your Majesty to execute me by slow slicing!"

Having said such harsh words, Zhu Youxiao was willing to give him the opportunity to take the blame—or rather, to redeem himself through meritorious service.

He personally stepped forward and helped Zhu Chunchen up, saying, "The glory of the Duke of Cheng should not be squandered in your generation. To share the fate of the country depends on whether you can keep the Ming Dynasty in your hearts. If you only care about your own families and do not care about the country at all, what will happen if I abolish the Duke of Cheng's mansion?"

Threat!

A naked threat!

However, with irrefutable evidence laid out before him, Zhu Chunchen didn't dare utter a single rebuttal.

"Your subject will certainly serve with utmost sincerity."

Zhu Youxiao patted Duke Chengguo Zhu Chunchen on the shoulder and said, "You are a descendant of the pillars of the Ming Dynasty. Like the Duke of Yingguo, he is able to understand the big picture, the overall situation, and know how to follow the trend. I can forgive your past actions, but if you dare to act against the tide after I ascend the throne, don't blame me for being ruthless."

After giving Zhu Chunchen a dressing down, Zhu Youxiao returned to his throne and looked at the people in the warm pavilion.

Today, he will use swift and decisive measures to completely resolve the matter of the Beijing Garrison.

Thinking of this, the emperor turned his gaze to Wei Zhongxian, lightly tapping his fingertips on the imperial desk, his voice as sharp as ice scraping bone: "Wei Zhongxian, the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard shall, from this day forth, thoroughly investigate all evidence of corruption in the Beijing Garrison. Anyone involved in cases of embezzlement, military equipment, or land, regardless of who is involved, shall be severely interrogated."

He leaned forward, the candlelight casting eerie shadows in his eyes, making everyone present carefully control their breathing.

"But you must remember that those who commit serious crimes are skinned alive as a warning to others, while those who commit minor crimes are allowed to sign their confessions. You must keep a record in your mind of who should lose their heads and who should be spared."

After speaking, he threw a secret report at Wei Zhongxian's feet.

Wei Zhongxian's fingers twitched slightly beneath his python robe. He immediately knelt and picked up the secret memorial: "This old servant understands. Violations will be investigated, and the law will be strictly enforced. Among the officials, those who commit crimes should be killed or arrested. This servant will not show any mercy. As for those nobles' household servants..."

He glanced at Zhu Chunchen, whose face was ashen, and said in a sinister tone, "It's a good opportunity to teach our masters a lesson."

"wrong."

Zhu Youxiao sneered and said, "It's not to teach them a lesson, but to let the world see clearly that my sword is only for cutting down claws that have stretched too far!"

Everyone was terrified, especially Zhu Chunchen, who felt that the emperor was warning him, so he lowered his head even further.

If there were a crack in the ground in the East Warm Pavilion, he would definitely crawl into it.

Zhu Youxiao then turned his gaze to generals Qi Jin and Tong Zhongkui, and said to them, "Minister Qi and Minister Tong, immediately take the tiger tally and be on standby in the Four Guards Camp."

He traced the numbers of empty pay on the register of soldiers in the capital garrison with his fingertips, and on his desk, the cold light of the unsheathed Yongle sword reflected on his brow bone.

"Any noble's servants or soldiers of the Beijing Garrison who dare to gather in crowds to obstruct the inspection shall be executed on the spot without reporting to higher authorities, as a warning to others!"

"I will obey your orders!"

Qi Jin, Tong Zhongkui, and Qin Bangping all clasped their hands in acceptance of the order.

His Majesty has treated them exceptionally well these days.

They gifted him a manor, provided him with ample pay, sent him wine and meat, and valued his military men.
With such high regard for these lowly soldiers, how could they not be willing to die for their country?

Anyone who dares to disobey the orders of the Ming Emperor must first ask the swords in their hands if they agree!

Wei Zhongxian had long disliked the Beijing garrison. Those nobles really thought they were something special, and sometimes they even dared to order him around, even as the Grand Secretary of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

We gave them too much face!
He interjected menacingly, saying, "This old servant wants to see whether their necks are tougher or the iron brushes of the Eastern Depot are sharper."

"The rectification is just the beginning."

The emperor suddenly pulled out a blank edict and spread it out, the vermilion ink as deep red as blood.

"I'll give you half a month to replace all the vacancies where people are drawing salaries without working with able-bodied men who can draw a strong bow."

Zhu Youxiao paused for a moment, his pen tip hovering over the two characters "Xuanfeng".

"From now on, on the first and fifteenth of each month, I will personally oversee the martial arts competitions at the training grounds. If any elite fighters cannot be selected, then someone who can be selected will be chosen to lead them!"

Zhu Youxiao was serious about reorganizing the Beijing garrison and attached great importance to it.

Anyone who dares to make any underhanded moves inside, anyone who dares to defy this general trend!
No matter who it is, he will never let them off easily!
Kill those who deserve it, let them go! There's no room for leniency.

Finally, Zhu Youxiao turned his attention to Zhu Chunchen.

"My dear minister, you say you want to atone for your crimes through meritorious service. Well then, I would like to ask you: Does the Duke dare to commit murder?"

Zhu Chunchen knew that he had no other choice.

He knelt on the ground, his forehead making intimate contact with the blue bricks on the floor of the East Warm Pavilion.

"Your Majesty, if anyone dares to disobey Your Majesty's orders during this reorganization of the capital garrison, I will kill them without hesitation! If anyone harbors any selfish motives, I beg Your Majesty to skin me alive and stuff me with straw."

Seeing that Zhu Chunchen had added another way for him to die, what could Zhu Youxiao say?
It all depends on whether you want to be subjected to slow slicing and skinned alive.

He continued:
"Immediately lead the personnel from the Four Guards Battalion, the Directorate of Ceremonial, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Revenue to the Beijing Garrison to check the Yellow Register and count the number of personnel. You will be in charge of this investigation."

Zhu Chunchen's throat bobbed, and before he could respond, the emperor suddenly leaned forward, his voice low yet piercingly cold: "I'm giving you this last bit of face. If you dare to play any more tricks..."

The Yongle sword on the imperial desk was pushed forward half an inch, its cold light reflecting his sinister smile.

"I wouldn't mind melting down your Duke Cheng's 300-year-old imperial edict and casting it into a guillotine."

Wei Zhongxian gave a sinister laugh at the opportune moment, the gold thread of his python robe gleaming coldly like a venomous snake in the candlelight: "Duke Zhu, though my eyes are cloudy, I am most adept at counting heads for His Majesty."

Qi Jin and the others clasped their fists together, their armor clanging loudly: "The soldiers under my command have prepared the racks, just waiting for these parasites to fill their lives!"

With these people cooperating with the emperor, Zhu Chunchen was terrified.

His Majesty has warned him repeatedly, and if he continues to ignore it...

I am afraid.
The Duke of Cheng's mansion is truly becoming history.

He didn't want to become the eternal sinner of the Duke's mansion.

Zhu Chunchen's knuckles clenched white as he lay prostrate on the ground. When he looked up again, his eyes were filled with ruthlessness: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will go and reorganize the Beijing Garrison. I guarantee that I will handle the task perfectly. If there is any resistance, I will kill them all!"

Not crazy, not live.

Now, his only option is to move closer to the sun of the Ming Dynasty; otherwise, he faces certain death.

"Hahaha!"

Zhu Youxiao laughed loudly and said, "This is my true confidant, the Duke of Cheng of the Ming Dynasty. Go! Go and reorganize the Beijing Garrison for me! I'm waiting to hold a victory celebration banquet for you!"

The crowd responded in unison, "We will certainly live up to His Majesty's high expectations!"

"Your humble servants take their leave!"

Everyone turned and left.

Wei Zhongxian turned around, his sinister smile still lingering on his face. He licked his dry, chapped lips, already knowing that the imperial prison, which had just been emptied today, would soon be filled with prisoners again, and who knew how many more heads would fall on the execution platform in the capital.

but
Just right.

He just wants to see rivers of blood!
Zhu Chunchen was the first to step out of the East Warm Pavilion.

The biting wind of a winter morning is like a knife cutting into your face.

But the fear and confusion in his eyes had dissipated.

Only now did he truly realize that the Ming Dynasty was really different.

The emperor's ambitions far surpassed those of the previous monarchs.

If he still thinks of living a life of idleness and complacency, then he is not doing what he used to do, and is instead absorbing the essence of the nation.

With His Majesty's current methods and determination, he will truly sweep them into the dustbin of history.

We share the same fate as the nation.

If one is of no use to the country, what right does one have to share its fate?

"Your Majesty, it's time for breakfast."

In the East Warm Pavilion, Wei Chao, who had been watching from the sidelines the whole time, looked at the emperor with a fawning smile.

He genuinely wanted to become Wei Zhongxian and share the emperor's burdens.

However.
People have self-knowledge.

He might not be capable of committing murder or interrogation.

If it fails, my life could be in danger.

It's fine now; I don't offend anyone, and I can just focus on serving the Emperor.

Zhu Youxiao, lost in thought, nodded and said, "Serve the meal!"

In this reorganization of the Beijing garrison, he appointed Zhu Chunchen to take the blame.

As for killing Zhu Chunchen...
It's not that it's impossible, it's that there's no need for it.

Ultimately, he still needed to rely on the nobles; compared to the civil officials, these nobles had a closer relationship with him as emperor.

You must be able to distinguish between your enemies and your friends.

What he needs to do now is not to suppress the nobles.

On the contrary, he wanted to support the nobles and let them grow to the point where they could rival the civil officials.

Just like before Tumu Fortress.

Let them gradually reclaim the power they have lost, and let the Ming Dynasty gradually return to the right track.

but.
Supporting the nobles was Zhu Youxiao's own idea; however, whether the nobles could regain their former glory depended on themselves.

As the saying goes: rotten wood cannot be carved, and mud cannot be plastered on a wall.

If you don't have diamonds, don't do porcelain work.

Only when they have the ability can they reclaim the power they lost in the past.

If they continue to live a life of idleness and complacency, even if he were to place the power of the former nobles into their hands, they still wouldn't be able to hold onto it.

The current nobles can't even compare to the civil officials.

They still have a long way to go.

The emperor was filled with many thoughts and worries about the country.

Zhu Chunchen, who had been reprimanded by the emperor, received the imperial order and immediately led the troops of the Four Guards, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Revenue in three groups to head straight for the garrisons of the Five Armies, the Three Thousand Battalions, and the Divine Machine Battalion.

Before the night had faded, torches suddenly lit up the camp of the five armies, illuminating the soldiers' anxious expressions.

Zhu Chunchen, his face cold, slammed the yellow register heavily on the table and shouted sternly:

"By imperial decree, a roll call is being conducted! All those on the register, line up immediately; those who are missing, report within three breaths, or you may live!"

The Ministry of War official opened the military register, the Ministry of Revenue official checked the grain and salary ledgers, and the Embroidered Uniform Guards stood on both sides with swords in hand, their eyes scanning the crowd like hawks.

Soon, the officer of the central army stepped forward, sweat beading on his forehead, and cautiously looked at Zhu Chunchen.

“Your Excellency, I was promoted by you.”

Upon seeing the man's face, Zhu Chunchen immediately recognized him; it was indeed through this man's connections that he had risen to the position of battalion commander in the central army.

But he remained cold-faced.

"I demanded that you state the number of soldiers on the register. Didn't you hear what I said?"

So what if someone is someone you personally promoted?

He's barely able to protect himself, how can he possibly care about protecting the people under his command?

The tone of Duke Zhu Chunchen's words made the officers' hearts sink, but looking at the soldiers of the Four Guards Battalion who were eyeing them menacingly, and the wolves-like agents of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot, they dared not have any thoughts of resistance.

They were fully armed and armored, while the others were driven out of the barracks early in the morning with only cotton-padded clothes.

It is impossible to resist.

He could only hope that the Duke of Cheng would forgive his sins out of consideration for their past relationship.

Call ~
He took a deep breath and, in a trembling voice, announced that there were indeed soldiers present.

"Your Excellency, the Central Army Camp actually has more than 6,300 soldiers."

The Ministry of Revenue official opened the yellow register, shook his head slightly, and said, "Reporting to the Duke of Cheng, the Central Army has 56,000 registered soldiers, but the actual number of soldiers is less than 20% of the registered number."

The numbers are so ugly.

How can I possibly save you, my old subordinate?

(End of this chapter)