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

Chapter 127 I have finished speaking. Who agrees? Who disagrees? (10 updates)
I don't know how much time passed, perhaps a moment, or longer.

In short, the wind suddenly stopped.

The officials, those pillars of the Ming Dynasty who were usually so eloquent and eloquent, stood frozen in place like a flock of quails stunned by thunder.

No one dared to touch it, not even a finger.

Their gazes, filled with a deep-seated fear, passed over the horrifying hell on earth composed of dozens of corpses and heads, and converged in the distance.

Beneath the Meridian Gate tower, there stood a figure who remained silent throughout.

The Ming Emperor, Zhu Youjian!

He stood there quietly, his bright yellow dragon robe gleaming coldly against the gloomy sky devoid of sunlight.

The emperor's two beams of light, like extremely refined and substantial sword light, pierced through the sparse crowd, crossed the vacuum of fear, and landed with unparalleled precision on the core circle of Donglin, led by Qian Longxi and Qian Qianyi.

In that instant, Qian Qianyi felt as if his heart had been gripped tightly by a cold, large hand, and it almost stopped beating.

"My dear ministers," Zhu Youjian's voice rang out again. This time, his speech slowed down, and each word seemed to be carved from ice, striking the hearts of all the officials.

He paused deliberately, seemingly enjoying the sight of these adults, who were usually so high and mighty, holding their breath and trembling with fear at the slightest pause caused by his words.

"Today's events have surely made some things clear to you all."

"Some people always think they are very clever, that they can manipulate the winds and clouds, control people's hearts, and treat others as pawns and the world as a chessboard."

The emperor's voice was still not loud, but it carried a chilling power that made Qian Longxi, Qian Qianyi, and other cabinet and six ministries leaders feel as if their blood had been frozen in an instant.

The emperor knows everything!

The thought echoed wildly in each of their minds like the most vicious curse.

The emperor didn't name anyone, but those words instilled even more fear in them than a direct insult.

Not naming names means that this suspicion can fall on each and every one of them!
“But little did you know,” Zhu Youjian’s voice drifted over, carrying a hint of mockery as if from the depths of hell, “that when you gaze into the abyss, the abyss… also gazes into you.”

Qian Qianyi's back was instantly soaked with cold sweat.

He understood!
The emperor deliberately allowed things to develop to this point!

He knew from the very beginning that they were pulling the strings behind the scenes!

Those who died today were pawns they could sacrifice at will.

So, next time, who will this razor-sharp butcher's knife be slashed at?
……

Everyone thought that this bloody spectacle, this terrifying display of power, was finally coming to an end.

Their only thought was to get out of this hell on earth as soon as possible, go home, change their probably soaking wet pants, and drink a few pounds of strong liquor to drive away the chill that had seeped into their bones.

However, just when everyone thought they were about to be free, Wang Chengen, who had been standing motionless like a statue beside the emperor, suddenly took a step forward.

His sharp and clear voice, like an awl, pierced the frozen air in the square and shattered the last shred of hope among the officials.

"Your Majesty has a decree——"

"The morning court session shall proceed as scheduled!"

"With all officials in attendance, proceed to... the Hall of Supreme Harmony!"

what? !

All the officials, including Qian Qianyi, suddenly looked up, their faces filled with even more intense horror than when they had witnessed the massacre!

crazy!

This emperor has completely gone mad!

After such a tragic event, with these officials on the verge of mental collapse, he actually... insisted on attending court immediately?!

What does he want to do? !

Nobody knows.

The fear of the unknown is the most extreme form of fear.

Watching the emperor turn away indifferently, his dragon robe tracing a resolute arc against the blood-red backdrop, the officials, like livestock whipped by an invisible lash, followed him with leaden legs, reeking of blood and filled with fear.

……

Huangji Palace.

The building is adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, resplendent in gold and jade. Huge golden pillars with coiled dragons support the towering dome, upon which nine dragons breathe clouds and mist, exuding majesty and solemnity.

In the past, every morning court session was filled with solemnity and order, with civil and military officials standing respectfully according to their rank.

But today, it's different.

The still magnificent Hall of Supreme Harmony stands in stark contrast to the disheveled and distraught state of the officials, whose robes are even stained and smelly. This creates a bizarre and horrifying scene.

The main hall was eerily quiet.

The officials were like a flock of lambs who had just escaped from the slaughterhouse, and were herded into a magnificent altar.

They kept their heads down, not daring to whisper to each other or make any unnecessary movements. They didn't even dare to look at the young emperor sitting high on the dragon throne.

Zhu Youjian sat on the dragon throne, his expression as calm as if he had just woken up from a light sleep. He tapped the armrest of the dragon throne lightly with his fingertips, making a soft "tap, tap, tap" sound.

He gave no one a chance to catch their breath, to calm down, or even to make private eye contact.

The emperor got straight to the point.

"Wang Chengen," the emperor said calmly.

“This servant is here.” Wang Chengen bowed and stepped forward, holding a scroll of imperial edict made of yellow silk that had been prepared beforehand.

"read."

One word, no room for argument.

Wang Chengen unfurled the imperial edict, and his emotionless, shrill voice began to echo in the empty hall. He read it slowly and clearly, ensuring that every word was etched into the ears of all the officials present.

"The emperor is destined to be carried by heaven, and the edict says:"

"The maritime ban is an old problem from the previous dynasty, which has led to an empty treasury and the impoverishment of the coastal people. Now I have made up my mind to lift the maritime ban. In Songjiang Prefecture, a 'Great Ming Maritime Trade Office' shall be established to oversee all maritime trade in the country. All goods of our Great Ming, such as silk, tea, and porcelain, that wish to be exported shall be purchased by the Office; all spices, treasures, and rare goods from overseas that wish to enter the country shall be sold by the Office. The profits obtained shall not go to the Ministry of Revenue, nor pass through the Grand Secretariat, but shall all go to... the Imperial Treasury! So be it!"

The first strike of the day in the imperial court!

This strike precisely targeted the pockets of the entire Jiangnan gentry group and the coastal smuggling nobles and officials!
"Competing with the people for profit," "Ancestral rules cannot be violated," "The separation of the national treasury and the imperial funds is a path to chaos"... These reasons, which in the past would have been enough to drown the emperor in spittle, now seemed to be silenced.

Qian Qianyi's lips trembled. He was the representative of the gentry in Jiangnan. How many of his family members, his students and friends had become incredibly wealthy through that murky maritime trade!
If this strategy is implemented, it will be tantamount to cutting off the fuel supply at the root of the problem!
He wanted to step forward and even die to remonstrate with the enemy!

However, the sight of those still-bleeding heads outside the Meridian Gate, those faces with unseeing eyes, kept flashing before his eyes.

He opened his mouth but couldn't utter a single word; his throat felt as if it were filled with molten lead.

Zhu Youjian's gaze swept over him indifferently, landing on him and lingering for a moment.

"Minister of Revenue, Wang Yongguang."

When his name was called, Minister Wang jumped in surprise and stepped forward shakily, saying, "Your subject... Your subject is here." "This matter will be handled jointly by the Ministry of Revenue and the Embroidered Uniform Guard. I want to see the procedures within three days."

"Your subject... obeys the decree." Wang Yongguang's voice was hoarse, like a broken gong.

The emperor looked away, as if he had only done a trivial matter.

Wang Chengen's voice rang out again.

"Another imperial edict: The salt administration has long been plagued by malpractices, with hereditary salt permit holders and salt merchants monopolizing the market, causing losses to both the national economy and the people's livelihood. From this day forward, the hereditary salt permit system is abolished! The 'Salt Ticket System' is implemented! All merchants of the Great Ming Dynasty, regardless of their background, may purchase salt tickets from the 'Salt Administration Bureau' designated by the Ministry of Revenue. With these tickets, they can collect salt from designated salt fields and transport it throughout the country. They only need to pay the full amount of salt tax at the place of production! So be it!"

Second knife!

If opening the sea was like cutting into the south, then this salt decree was like stabbing the heart of the major merchant and gentry groups in Lianghuai and Shanxi! It was digging up their roots! In the past, if this decree had dared to be brought to the court, it would have been enough to trigger a political earthquake that could have brought down the cabinet!
But today...

Only a few elderly ministers with white hair and beards swayed and almost fell to the ground. In their eyes were despair and anger!
But, still, there was complete silence.

The emperor's gaze did not even linger on them.

"Next," he said calmly.

Wang Chengen took a deep breath, his voice becoming even sharper.

"Another imperial edict: In order to broaden the channels for public opinion and understand the people's sentiments, a special system of 'secret memorials' is hereby established! All governors-general and governors in the provinces, and officials of the fifth rank and above in the capital, may submit sealed memorials directly to me through the 'Secret Memorial Office' under the Embroidered Uniform Guard to report on government affairs and expose illegal activities! Memorials need not be registered by the Office of Transmission, nor need to be drafted by the Grand Secretariat, and will go directly to the Emperor! So be it!"

The third knife!

This strike isn't about money, it's about power! It's about the civil service's monopoly on information, the very foundation of their survival!

Utter terror!
At that moment, all the officials in the hall, regardless of faction or background, felt a shiver from the depths of their souls!

what does this mean?
This means the emperor's eyes will be everywhere! Your colleagues, your subordinates, even the friends you drank with yesterday could become pairs of eyes watching you, writing secret reports that reach the emperor's ears!

The Cabinet's power to draft proposals and the Office of Transmission's power to review them were completely undermined! The firewall of the entire bureaucratic system was riddled with holes by this decree!
Officials will live in constant fear, and the emperor's heart will truly become as deep and unfathomable as a prison!

"next."

"Another imperial edict: In order to cleanse official corruption and verify finances, the 'auditing' functions of the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard are hereby expanded! An 'Accounting Department' shall be established in the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and scholars proficient in mathematics shall be selected to audit the accounts of all government offices throughout the country! All taxes, engineering projects, military pay, and surcharges shall be investigated in one fell swoop, regardless of whether they are imperial relatives, nobles, or officials, inside or outside the capital! The audit results shall be directly accountable to me! So be it!"

The fourth knife!

This time, a knife was held to everyone's neck and their wallets!
The imperial guards that civil officials feared most have transformed. They no longer hold instruments of torture, but also the iron abacus for settling the nation's finances and the book of life and death for recording the stains on officials' moral character!

When they looked again at Wang Ji, who was like a shadow in the corner, his cold face seemed to have transformed into a death knell, and in his hand were ledgers filled with evidence of their corruption!

"next."

"Another edict was issued: the lowly status of entertainers, lazy people, and beggars was abolished, and all were converted into good citizens..."

"Another edict was issued: the system of registering artisans was abolished, and government-run workshops were replaced with a purchasing system..."

"Another imperial edict: It is strictly forbidden for clans to set up private courts or abuse private punishments. All criminal cases shall be under the jurisdiction of the prefectural and county governments..."

One by one, line by line.

Each imperial edict was like a sharp scalpel, precisely cutting into the already rigid and decaying body of the Ming Dynasty. Every cut inevitably touched upon a huge and stubborn interest group.

Any one of these national policies, if brought up in the past, would have been enough to trigger months or even years of court debates, factional infighting, and bloodshed!
But today.

Inside the Forbidden City, which had just been baptized with blood and fear.

After each announcement, the emperor would pause, scan the entire room, and ask calmly:
"Gentlemen, do you have any objections?"

Inside the main hall, there was only deathly silence.

You can hear the needle drop.

Finally, when Wang Chengen finished reading the last imperial edict and closed the edict, not a single one of the nearly one hundred officials of the Ming Dynasty in the entire court assembly raised any objection.

All the new policies were passed in an eerie silence, and finally, in a trembling voice that was so faint it was almost inaudible, yet forced to utter, "We... second that policy!"

It wasn't until the bell rang to signal the end of the court session that the officials walked out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony like zombies, only to seem to come alive again when the outside air blew in.

Qian Qianyi and Qian Longxi were practically helped up by their servants as they barely managed to board their sedan chairs.

……

The sedan chair started moving slowly, shutting out the noise and light from the outside world.

In this enclosed, cramped, and dimly lit space, the extremely tense nerves finally had a chance to relax.

After a long while, Qian Qianyi's body suddenly began to tremble violently and uncontrollably.

It wasn't because of the cold, but because of a belated, bone-deep sense of horror that almost froze his entire soul!
A stunning plan!

This is a damn insane scheme, with every step meticulously planned and executed from beginning to end, leaving no room for error!

He began frantically reviewing everything that had happened today, no, everything that had happened in the last few months.

One detail after another that he had previously overlooked, one suspicious point after another that seemed unbelievable at the time, are now being connected like countless clues by an invisible hand!
He suddenly remembered something!

He had only taken it as a joke about the imperial examinations at the time!

No wonder everyone's saying that some people bribed their way into getting a chance to take the imperial examination!

Not at all!

The emperor knew everything all along!

The emperor used the bloodiest and most shocking methods to create the ultimate fear in the hearts of all his subjects!
Killing chickens to warn monkeys?
Do not!
Qian Qianyi let out a mournful wail in his heart.

That's not just killing the chicken to scare the monkey! That's killing the monkey to warn those self-righteous monkey breeders!

Thinking about this, Qian Qianyi already felt dizzy.

Finally, all those new policies, all those new policies!

Opening of the fishing season! Salt ticketing system! Secret memorials to the emperor! Audits by the imperial guards!
These are national policies powerful enough to overturn the existing political structure of the Ming Dynasty and uproot the foundations of countless gentry and noble groups! These are absurd policies that they used to desperately try to resist!
Today, on this morning soaked in blood and fear, at this moment when everyone is in a daze and their souls are out of their bodies, they all passed through without any hindrance!
One link leads to another, one cut follows another.

Precise, ruthless, meticulous, leaving no room for error.

At this moment, Qian Qianyi slumped on the velvet cushion in the sedan chair, his clothes soaked with cold sweat. He felt as if he had been stripped naked and thrown onto the icy plains of Liaodong!

He finally understood completely.

From the very beginning, they were not actually playing a game against that young emperor.

They weren't even qualified to be the emperor's rival!

Qian Qianyi closed his eyes, and two lines of tears finally slid silently down his cheeks from those eyes that he thought had seen through the ups and downs of official life.

"What a brilliant... far-sighted strategy!"

"What a brilliant... a hidden path stretching for miles!"

　Where are my tickets?!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)