Huangming

Chapter 137 Golden Platform Shooting Strategy, Black Armor Star Luo

Qianqing Palace.

Dong Nuan Pavilion.

The snowstorm has stopped, and the winter sun is warm.

Zhu Youxiao soon learned who had been recommended as the top candidate by the imperial court.

"Your Majesty, the results of the court's recommendation have been released today in the East Court Chamber. Yuan Keli, the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Stud, has been ranked first." Censor Cui Chengxiu knelt on the ground, looking at the emperor with a fawning expression.

Wei Chao received the imperial recommendation slip and presented it to the emperor.

Zhu Youxiao was not surprised that Yuan Keli was ranked first.

just
How many people voted against it?
Zhu Youxiao took the ticket, glanced at it, and his expression remained unchanged.

Eight to one.

In other words, eight out of the nine ministers were obedient.

"Who is it that has sided with Yuan Yingtai?"

The voting was anonymous, and the emperor could not see the results.

However.
Rules are rules, but they still need people to implement them.

Choi Seong-soo could identify the specific person who voted by looking at their handwriting.

Moreover, during the previous evaluation, Zhou Jiamo was the one who shouted the loudest, and his attitude was naturally known to everyone.

Cui Chengxiu immediately said, "Your Majesty, it is Zhou Jiamo, the Minister of Personnel."

"It's him!"

Zhu Youxiao narrowed his eyes slightly.

This old bastard seems to be ungrateful.

For the sake of a clean reputation, he didn't even want to be an official anymore.

Although it did not come to the point of direct resistance, Zhu Youxiao was already dissatisfied with the government's laziness and inaction.

I paid you to be the Minister of Personnel, not for you to lie down and do nothing!
Zhu Youxiao was already preparing to remove Zhou Jiamo from office.

The Minister of Personnel was arguably the most powerful of the Six Ministries, and Zhu Youxiao intended to bring this position under his own control.

If Zhou Jiamo were sensible, he could tolerate him and let him work a little longer. But since he wasn't sensible, he would find someone else.

If you don't do it, plenty of others will!

"Your Majesty, I may draft an edict to impeach Zhou Jiamo!"

When Cui Chengxiu saw that the emperor was preparing to deal with Zhou Jiamo, he quickly stepped forward to pledge his loyalty.

Just half a month ago, he was a low-ranking official in the Ministry of Rites, and he had basically not made any contributions.

The things I've done can be counted on one hand:
On the second day of the second month of the forty-fifth year of the Wanli reign, he went to commend Prince Deduan for donating his salary to relieve disaster.

On the 26th day of the seventh month of the 46th year of the Wanli reign, he went to the Dexing Prince's Mansion to preside over the funeral rites.

Then it was gone.

On the 22nd day of the tenth month of the first year of the Taichang reign, an examination was held to select officials for the Censorate. Cui Chengxiu was among the candidates, but he was not expected to be selected as an Imperial Censor so quickly.

As a result, the emperor personally selected him and appointed him as the Supervising Censor of Henan Circuit.

Such divine grace is boundless; how could a great nation not repay it?
"I have heard that Chancellor Zhou is frugal and simple, but he is too rigid and stubborn. People say that he is clean in his administration and has no visitors. Does Censor Cui have any evidence against him?"

If Zhou Jiamo had truly been involved in embezzlement and bribery, Zhu Youxiao would have removed him long ago, instead of keeping him alive until now.

The Imperial Guards investigated him for a long time, but they couldn't find any evidence of him embezzling or accepting bribes.

Cui Chengxiu pondered for a moment and said, "Minister Zhou's residence is extremely expensive every day. His land output cannot support these expenses. He must have accepted bribes, but it is difficult to find out for the time being."

Seeing the emperor's brow furrow slightly, Cui Chengxiu changed the subject and said, "Even if we can't impeach him for embezzlement and bribery, we can impeach him for forming cliques and engaging in corrupt practices!"

"Oh?"

Cui Chengxiu's words aroused Zhu Youxiao's curiosity.

"how do I say this?"

Cui Chengxiu truthfully stated, "Zhou Jiamo's second son, Zhou Yanxi, married Zheng Ji's granddaughter. Zheng Ji was the Minister of Personnel in Nanjing. What is this if not forming a faction through marriage between two Ministers of Personnel?"

That's a valid reason.

However, the reason is somewhat weak.

After all, no evidence of any transfer of benefits between them was found.

Seeing that the emperor had not yet spoken, Cui Chengxiu revealed everything he had done in his investigation of Zhou Jiamo.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. In August of this year, Minister Zhou proposed to increase the Liaodong tax, which is an exorbitant levy that is harmful to the country. His character and conduct are not up to the task of serving as a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Personnel!"

This Cui Chengxiu is quite the schemer.

Zhu Youxiao finally made a statement.

"Then impeach me!"

If Zhou Jiamo were perceptive, he would understand the emperor's meaning upon seeing the impeachment by Cui Chengxiu and other censors.

Those who know what's good for them will either submit their resignations or beg for retirement.

In this way, he can at least maintain some dignity.

If you don't want to be respectable.
If you want to add a crime, why don't you have any trouble?
For an emperor to get rid of a subject is easy, isn't it?

How many people, for the sake of power, want to climb the social ladder and become his favored ministers? As long as he gives the word, Zhou Jiamo's crimes, even if they don't exist, will magically appear.

"I accept your order!"

After accepting his assignment, Cui Chengxiu slowly withdrew.

After Cui Chengxiu left the East Warm Pavilion, Wei Chao stepped forward and whispered to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, Guerrilla General He Gang, Xuanfu Guerrilla General Ma Shilong, Shitang Road Guerrilla General Man Gui, Qianzong Cao Wenzhao, and my brother Cao Wenyao are already waiting for Your Majesty's summons in the Qianqing Palace."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao's eyes lit up, and he immediately said, "Let them in!"

These people were all people whom Zhu Youxiao had painstakingly selected from among the names of schools in the border regions, people he remembered.

These individuals are all generally capable and loyal.

If Zhu Youxiao's promotion of Yuan Keli was a leapfrog promotion, then for these people it was a promotion beyond the rank of official.

Soon, guerrilla commander He Gang, guerrilla commander Ma Shilong from Xuanfu, guerrilla commander Man Gui from Shitang Road, centurion Cao Wenzhao, his brother Cao Wenyao, and others nervously entered.

"Your humble servant He Gang (also known as Ma Shilong, the guerrilla commander of Xuanfu; Man Gui, the guerrilla commander of Shitang Road; and Cao Wenzhao, the centurion) (Cao Wenyao, the commoner), pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

Their voices were loud, but within that loudness lay a hint of excitement and doubt.

Having mastered such skills, their purpose was to serve the emperor.

How could they not be excited to finally meet the legendary Emperor of the Ming Dynasty?
As for the doubts
It's quite simple: they didn't believe their reputation was great enough for the emperor to know about them.

How could His Majesty know their names and even summon them?
Zhu Youxiao noticed their confusion and asked with a smile, "What is it that puzzles me? Why have I summoned you all?"

Ma Shilong stepped forward and said, "This is also what we are wondering about. How could Your Majesty know our names when we are of such lowly status? It is truly strange!"

Zhu Youxiao laughed heartily and said:

"The world is in turmoil, and this is the time for military officials to make their mark. I have been searching for talented generals and have sent people to look for them. I have learned of your virtuous reputations and have specially summoned you to the capital to entrust you with important responsibilities!"

Boom~
The people kneeling in the Qianqing Palace were completely dumbfounded, as if they had been struck by lightning.

Are they known for their virtue?
He has no reputation whatsoever!
"Your Majesty, what virtue or ability do we possess to be so trusted and summoned to the capital? We are deeply humbled!"

bang bang bang~
Whether out of excitement or fear, Ma Shilong, Man Gui, and others kowtowed desperately.

Zhu Youxiao rose from his throne and personally helped everyone up, saying, "I know your loyalty and your abilities. Are you not loyal ministers and good generals? Are you unwilling to die for me and for the Ming Dynasty?"

Guerrilla commander He Gang, Xuanfu guerrilla commander Ma Shilong, Shitang Road guerrilla commander Man Gui, Qianzong Cao Wenzhao, his brother Cao Wenyao, and others all knelt down and declared: "Your subjects are willing to die for Your Majesty and for the Ming Dynasty!"

joke!

With His Majesty's high regard and exceptional treatment, how could they not be willing to die for him?

If they are blessed with such divine grace and still do not serve the Ming Dynasty to the death, then even if the Ming Dynasty's previous emperors could spare them in the underworld, their own ancestors would not spare them either!
Having been highly praised by the Ming emperor, they had no choice but to serve the Ming dynasty to the death.

"Good good!"

Seeing that the brainwashing was quite effective, Zhu Youxiao was very satisfied.

He continued, "I will naturally not hesitate to give important positions to loyal and capable men; all generals, please accept your titles!"

Upon hearing this, everyone felt their minds go blank, and in the East Warm Pavilion, they were so shocked that they could hardly recognize themselves.

"Gentlemen, heed my decree!"

It was only after Wei Chao said something that everyone realized what was happening.

Everyone knelt down to receive the imperial decree.

Wei Chao immediately read out the imperial edict:

"The Emperor, by the Will of Heaven, decrees:

I believe that the selection of generals is crucial to the safety of the nation. Guerrilla General He Gang is loyal, brave, and resolute; Guerrilla General Ma Shilong of Xuanfu is shrewd and strategic; Guerrilla General Man Gui of Shitang Road is brave and skilled in battle; and Qianzong Cao Wenzhao and his brother Cao Wenyao are all proficient in archery and horsemanship and have repeatedly made contributions on the frontier.

I hereby appoint He Gang as Assistant Commander of the Divine Machine Battalion, Ma Shilong as Assistant Commander of the Five Armies Battalion, Man Gui as Assistant Commander of the Three Thousand Battalion, Cao Wenzhao as Garrison Commander of the Western Mountain Elite Battalion, and Cao Wenyao and the others as Captains of the Elite Battalion. Each will lead their own elite troops to reorganize the military preparedness of the Beijing Garrison and protect the capital. You must all diligently perform your duties, train your soldiers rigorously, and not fail my expectations. This is my decree!

Wei Chao held the imperial edict in a yellow silk handkerchief and read it aloud in a shrill voice. All the generals below the steps prostrated themselves and kowtowed.

He Gang's scar between his eyebrows trembled slightly, Ma Shilong's short beard shook a little, Man Gui's dark face turned red, and the Cao brothers were breathing heavily.

His sudden promotion from a lowly position in the border garrison to a key post in the capital is truly a testament to the Emperor's boundless grace.

When the people were summoned by the emperor, they thought they were being sent to the capital to die.

Unexpectedly, it brought glory to the family.

Everyone looked at the emperor before them, their eyes filled with loyalty.

At this moment, Zhu Youxiao, the sun of the Ming Dynasty radiating the brilliance of imperial grace, had firmly occupied the hearts of these people.

At this moment, only two words resonated in their hearts: loyalty!
Seeing that they had already received the decree, Zhu Youxiao said calmly, "The Beijing Garrison has been corrupt for a long time. I intend to use you as blades to cut away the rot and bring forth new life. Liaodong is in danger. I am waiting for you to train elite troops, kill the Jurchens, and display my might! You were all appointed by the Taizu Emperor. Do not disappoint the Taizu Emperor, and do not disappoint me!"

Before he could finish speaking, Man Gui bowed deeply and said, "Your Majesty, we are willing to die for you!"

The others kowtowed and declared, "We are willing to die for Your Majesty!"

Zhu Youxiao was very satisfied with the attitude of these people.

The officers and generals he summoned to the capital all shared a common characteristic: they were capable and loyal, but had not yet distinguished themselves.

Under his extraordinary influence and bathed in imperial grace, they would naturally become staunch supporters of the emperor from this day forward, wholeheartedly supporting him, the emperor of the Great Ming!
And this group is just the beginning!
There are still many people he wants to promote and give important responsibilities to.

To save the Ming Dynasty, we must rely on these loyal and capable people!
At the same time, Zhu Youxiao also had his reasons for promoting these people to the Beijing garrison.

This was to inject new power into the Beijing garrison.

He was neither a nobleman nor a civil official, but a commoner military general from humble origins with no background or connections.

These are perhaps the people he, as emperor, is most worthy of his trust.

Once these people have entered the capital garrison, the emperor will go out of the city to inspect it and see how much fighting power the capital garrison, which he has spent so much effort to reorganize and rebuild, has!
Has my money been wasted?
(End of this chapter)