Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 117 This must be the last chance.
The fervent loyalty of a small family was nothing more than a tiny ripple in the great river stirred up by Zhu Youjian himself.

He used a corrupt official's ill-gotten gains to make an absolutely worthwhile investment, which earned him the sharpest knife in his hand from top to bottom, along with even more loyalty.

However, for Zhu Youjian, winning people's hearts was not the end, nor even a memorable victory. It was merely an appetizer to sharpen his blade before the main banquet.

As the loyalty of countless 'Wang Wu's' had become a fait accompli and he sheathed it, his gaze had already transcended the blade itself, landing on the target the blade was about to strike, and... on the deeper crisis that urged him to sharpen the blade to such a fine point!
On the emperor's desk lay two distinct files, yet both pointing to the same destination.

One document was just submitted by Tian Ergeng, the final conclusion regarding the confiscation of Luo Yangxing's property.

Those documents still seemed to exude the lingering stench of blood and money. Zhu Youjian used his imperial brush to draw annotations on them, each stroke seemingly dissecting the intricate commercial connections between the Luo family and the wealthy merchants, officials, and nobles in the capital.

Each line points to a mansion that appears majestic and solemn, but is in fact already decaying and dilapidated.

The other document is a newly updated map of Liaodong and southern Mongolia by skilled cartographers from the Directorate of Ceremonial.

In the picture, the Later Jin flag resembles a hideous bloodstain, looming over the Liaoshen Plain.

Zhu Youjian's gaze slowly shifted between the two documents.

The fact that Luo Yangxing was arrested, though coincidentally, was like pulling out a nail that had long been rotten inside his flesh.

The process of removing the flesh was certainly bloody and mangled, but for the massive, terminally ill body of the Ming Dynasty, it was ultimately just a superficial wound.

The real carbuncles are those tissues that have begun to rot from the depths of the bone marrow; they are those groups that appear to share the fate of the nation, but in reality, have already inserted their roots into the arteries of the dynasty, greedily sucking the last drop of blood!

Not only the Luo family, but also nobles, corrupt officials at all levels who held their positions without doing their jobs, and even those imperial relatives who were closest to him by blood but had long regarded the country as their private property!

Now, his gaze has finally settled once again on this group of nobles who occupy the capital and think they are safe and sound.

……

The tiger on the map, named Later Jin, is also staring at the interior with hungry and cruel eyes.

This fierce tiger could break free of its shackles at any moment, detour through Mongolia, and deliver a cruel blow to the weakened Ming Dynasty. This shadow hangs over its head like the sharpest sword.

"time……"

Zhu Youjian's long fingers slowly traced across the cold geomantic map. What his fingertips touched was not the cold paper, but a murderous intent that could be triggered at any moment.

The alliance with Mongolia against the Jin dynasty was initially successful, and Mao Wenlong burned down the Jin dynasty's entire backside.
Each step was like a sharp knife, stabbing Huang Taiji in the ribs.

"What I lack most is time!"

In the depths of Zhu Youjian's heart, a voice was screaming wildly, almost bursting out of his chest.

Huang Taiji was not a fool, but in his anger and frustration, and with the situation becoming increasingly unfavorable to him, would he abandon all his established strategies, try to achieve his goal in one decisive battle, forgo a steady and methodical approach, and instead choose the most reckless and fatal strike?
Let's launch a long-distance raid ahead of schedule, bypassing all the fortified cities and crossing the southern desert, bringing the flames of war directly to the gates of the capital!

At that time, it was uncertain whether Man Gui could stop Zhu Youjian.

But relying on these bloated and complacent nobles in the capital, we certainly can't hold it!

Taking a deep breath, Zhu Youjian was certain that he had stirred up the storm, and the Later Jin would not give the Ming Dynasty time, much less him, the new emperor who had stirred up the storm.

And these parasites will not be able to delay him even for a moment longer!
Every moment of hesitation he makes could become the death knell for Huang Taiji's army besieging the city!
In the midst of this anxiety that was almost burning away reason, Wang Chengen's figure slid in like a silent cat. He bowed and kept his voice as low as possible, as if afraid of disturbing the tense atmosphere in the hall that could erupt at any moment.

"Your Majesty, Duke Zhang Weixian of England is requesting an audience outside the palace."

……

When Zhang Weixian entered the East Warm Pavilion, he felt an invisible pressure coming from all directions.

From the day His Majesty ascended the throne, he stood firmly on the side of this young emperor. He witnessed firsthand the downfall of Shanxi merchants, grain merchants, and people like Zhou Yanru, and he also saw the immense effort the emperor had put into rectifying the court and restoring national prestige.

In less than a year, one event after another allowed Zhang Weixian, an old minister who had witnessed Wanli's laxity and Tianqi's incompetence, to truly see the dawn of a "restoration of the dynasty".

He deeply admired the young king and was willing to go through fire and water for him.

However, behind him lies a vast web of kinship, marriage, personal relationships, and interests.

The relatives, friends, and colleagues in the network were almost blind to the emperor's ambitions.

Their eyes seemed to be covered by a thick layer of grease from the glory of their ancestors and more than two hundred years of wealth, unable to see the flames of war in Liaodong or hear the cries of anguish in the Northwest.

They were all still immersed in the comfortable old dream of Emperor Wanli counting the imperial treasury's silver and Emperor Tianqi hammering wood.

The sole motivation behind everyone's actions and thoughts is still that belief that Zhang Weixian is extremely familiar with, yet increasingly disgusted with—to preserve the wealth, honor, and privileges of his own family.

Zhang Weixian could see the ambition in the emperor's eyes—the flames that yearned to reshape the world and recreate the Ming Dynasty!

But...those idiots just can't see it!
He sighed inwardly, his hands clenched tightly under his sleeves, his nails almost digging into his flesh.

Zhang Weixian walked to the imperial desk, suppressed all his complicated thoughts, lifted his robe, and knelt down heavily, his forehead touching the cold floor tiles.

His voice was hoarse, carrying a hint of helplessness that even he could hear.
"This old minister...on behalf of the meritorious officials of the capital, begs forgiveness from Your Majesty!"

Zhu Youjian played with a warm, smooth jade paperweight in his hand, as if he were simply admiring the naturally formed patterns on it.

Zhang Weixian had no choice but to continue speaking despite his reluctance.

His statement was filled with deep helplessness and lingering fear. As a member of the imperial party, he should have distanced himself from those short-sighted people, but the web of personal relationships and the chain of interests meant that pulling one thread would affect the whole body, and he could not easily extricate himself.

“Since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has taken swift and decisive measures to rectify the court.” Zhang Weixian’s voice was deep. “First, the eight major Shanxi merchants colluded with the enemy and harbored bandits, and overnight they were wiped out, their century-old foundations turned to dust. Then, the grain merchants in Jiangnan hoarded grain and tried to blackmail the court. As a result, heads rolled around, and the waters of the Qinhuai River were stained red.”

"Some time ago, news of Mao Wenlong's minor victory and considerable gains in southern Liaoning reached the capital. His Majesty bestowed great rewards upon him, greatly boosting morale and public spirit. However..."

He paused, lowering his voice even further.

"And... the Luo family."

"They were wiped out without warning. From conviction to confiscation of property, it only took a few days. Not even a shred of room for maneuver, not a shred of dignity, was left behind!"

Zhang Weixian felt he couldn't continue. He didn't know how to beg Zhu Youjian for forgiveness and ask the emperor to forgive those nobles who were still unrepentant!
The downfall of the Luo family was like a heavy hammer, shattering the last vestiges of hope for the nobles.

If the Shanxi merchants and grain merchants of the past could be considered outsiders, then the fate of the Luo family, this "family of imperial guards," this "insider" with whom they had such deep-rooted interests, truly made them feel the pain acutely.

Fear, like a plague, spread wildly through those luxurious mansions.

What made them even more desperate was that several timid and distant earls, on the morning after Luo Yangxing's property was confiscated, tried to pack up their valuables and leave the capital, hoping to escape the storm by going to their ancestral property in Nanjing.

As a result, they were politely asked to return by the new army of the Beijing Garrison at both Deshengmen and Chaoyangmen.

The general's excuse was utterly clumsy—"The capital has been in turmoil lately, and there are concerns that bandits may harm you gentlemen. Therefore, I have been ordered to request that you return to your residences to rest."

This move, like a blinding flash of lightning, instantly illuminated the confused and hopeful minds of the nobles!

The Shanxi Merchants Case! The Grain Case!
They finally recalled with horror that every action the emperor took was not a sudden outburst of rage, but a thoroughly planned and executed move!
First, they weave an invisible net, secretly collecting all evidence and cutting off all escape routes. Only after all the prey are in the cage and it is confirmed that there are no more loopholes, do they launch a thunderous attack, giving no one any chance to react or struggle!

Could this current move to prevent nobles from leaving the capital be the final signal that the net is closing?! The emperor must already have his eyes on them! And perhaps the executioner's blade is already sharpened, hanging over their heads, waiting to fall!
The nobles were truly panicked.

This time, it wasn't a sense of shared sorrow over the downfall of a political enemy, but rather a profound and clear-sighted fear of my own impending fate!
Under this lucid fear, as if they could foresee their own end, these pampered good-for-nothings finally unleashed all their wisdom for survival.

They sifted through the dusty archives of history, grasping at what they considered a self-righteous straw—the only lifeline they could think of.

Zhang Weixian raised his head and squeezed out a sentence with difficulty:

"...They said that they were grateful for the Emperor's boundless grace and could not bear to see His Majesty toiling for the country and worrying about money and grain. They wished to follow the precedent set by the Wanli Emperor and raise a sum of 'atonement money' to share His Majesty's burdens and relieve the national treasury's financial difficulties, in order to atone for... to atone for the past 'lack of strict household management'!"

The words "atonement money" were like three of the finest and coldest silver needles, gently piercing Zhu Youjian's ears.

A hush fell over the warm pavilion.

Zhu Youjian kept his head down, staring at the paperweight, motionless.

Just as Zhang Weixian was about to be crushed by the silence, a sound, almost like an illusion, escaped from the emperor's throat.

"Ha ha……"

At first, it was just a suppressed chuckle in my chest.

Then, the laughter seemed to break free of its restraints, its tone rising, becoming clear and no longer concealed.

"Hehehehe..."

Finally, the laughter pierced through the oppression, broke free of the restraints, and turned into a wild laugh that resounded throughout the entire warm pavilion!
"Hahahahahaha——!"

Zhu Youjian tilted his head back, leaned against the back of the dragon throne, and laughed so hard that his shoulders trembled violently. There was no joy in his laughter, only absurdity and mockery that went deep into his bones!

Atonement money? Atonement money! This was truly the most ridiculous joke he had ever heard since he ascended the throne! It was utterly absurd!

The nation's stability and the lives of hundreds of millions of ordinary people struggling on the brink of life and death are, in the eyes of these corrupt nobles who are parasites on the country, something that can be put on a price tag!
The nobles still thought he was the greedy and lazy Emperor Wanli who hid in the deep palace counting silver.

They still think this world is a business that can be settled with a few stinking coins?
Do you think you can spend a few dollars to cover up your heinous crimes of seizing military farms, monopolizing people's livelihoods, and even colluding with the enemy to supply the enemy?
Want to pay a protection fee in exchange for a certificate that allows you to continue to leech off the Ming Dynasty and suck its blood with a clear conscience?
dream!!
The laughter abruptly stopped.

The change was so abrupt, as if the maniacal laughter had never happened.

Zhang Weixian looked up and saw a kind face. Zhu Youjian slowly stood up, walked to Zhang Weixian himself, and helped the old Duke up with both hands, speaking gently.

"Duke, please rise! I am very pleased that they have such a kind heart!"

Zhu Youjian supported Zhang Weixian's arm and made him sit on a brocade stool beside him, his expression resembling that of a truly benevolent monarch who cared for his meritorious officials.

"They understand my difficulties and are willing to share the burden for the country. This is a good thing, a great thing for those who are loyal to the emperor and love their country!" Zhu Youjian smiled and glanced at Zhang Weixian's face.

“However,” he changed the subject, but still maintained his gentle tone, “this term ‘atonement money’ is inappropriate. They are all descendants of founding nobles who have made great contributions to the country. To talk about ‘sins’ would be too hurtful to their relationship. I think it would be better to call it ‘repayment’.”

He paused, picked up a cup of tea that had long since gone cold, took a small sip, and seemed to be thinking seriously.

"Since it is about 'repaying the debt,' then the sincerity of the heart should be the measure, not the amount of money. If I set a price and said how much each family should pay, what would I become? I would appear to be a merchant who takes advantage of the situation, trying to squeeze money out of the pockets of the descendants of meritorious officials."

Hearing this, Zhang Weixian felt no relief whatsoever; instead, cold sweat soaked through his undershirt.

Zhu Youjian put down his teacup, his kind smile growing even wider. He looked at Zhang Weixian and slowly uttered the words that would determine the fate of countless people.

"Alright then, old Duke. Go back and tell them that I have no fixed amount for this contribution. Let them... name their own price."

"Yes," Zhu Youjian said, as if talking to himself, yet also explaining to Zhang Weixian, "They know in their hearts who has a wealthy family and who is struggling financially. They know who is truly repentant and willing to give everything to board my ship of reform and elimination, and who is merely paying lip service, only wanting to offer a pittance to fool me and try to get away with it..."

He extended a finger and gently tapped it in the air, his gaze piercing and penetrating.

"Once this silver is presented, I will understand it at a glance."

At that moment, a bone-chilling cold shot straight up from Zhang Weixian's tailbone!

This is not giving the nobles a chance; it is clearly the most brutal selection process.

This multiple-choice question about setting your own price could very well be a death trap!

Setting the price too high can be devastating, but setting it too low... well, that's just asking for trouble!

Finally, Zhu Youjian added one more sentence, his voice regaining its imperial majesty, yet also carrying a hint of trust in Zhang Weixian:

"Old Duke, I trust you, but I don't trust them. This is an opportunity, an opportunity to choose sides. I want to see how many of these nobles are truly wise enough to see the bigger picture, and how many... are just plain stupid!"

Zhang Weixian, drenched in cold sweat, left the East Warm Pavilion as if both relieved and walking on thin ice.

He didn't know how he got out; he only felt that every step he took was like walking on a knife's edge.

He had to return immediately to deliver the emperor's benevolent decree to his relatives and friends who were still wavering between hope and fear.

This must be the last chance!

……

The moment Zhang Weixian stepped out of the palace gate, the gentle mask on Zhu Youjian's face vanished instantly.

He spoke slowly and deliberately, addressing the shadows:

"Pass it on to Tian Ergeng!"

Less than half an hour later, Tian Ergeng, still carrying the lingering smell of blood and rust, appeared before the emperor.

Zhu Youjian didn't even look at him. He simply picked up the secret file on the table, which the Embroidered Uniform Guard had been investigating for a long time, and threw it heavily in front of him.

“Tian Ergeng, this document,” Zhu Youjian’s voice was as flat as a drawn steel knife, “is not detailed enough!”

Tian Ergeng suddenly knelt down on both knees, his head hanging even lower.

"I demand a completely new register!"

"I demand that every single penny of theirs be exposed! Which family has tens of thousands of acres of hidden farmland outside the capital? Which family has several shady shops in Tongzhou and Tianjin? Which family's silver vault is hidden under the artificial hill in the back garden? Which family's priceless jewels are hidden in the lining of the bed in the mistress's bedroom? I demand a detailed list of their assets, accurate to the cent!"

Zhu Youjian slowly stood up, walked to Tian Ergeng, looked down at him, and his eyes flashed with a terrifying yet excited light.

"I'd like to see for myself just how much their offer differs from the figures in my ledger!"

He paused for a moment, and a cold smile slowly spread across his lips.

"For every tael of silver they save, I will personally make up for it with a noble title and a head!"

Tian Ergeng's body trembled slightly. He suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with undisguised excitement and cruelty, like a ravenous beast that had finally heard the crisp sound of its master loosening the chains.

The emperor's patience finally ran out completely!
　The Emperor has finished the extra chapter!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)