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

Chapter 130: You will no longer be my servant, but a dignified and important minister of the state!

Zhou Quan's figure disappeared into the deep night outside the East Warm Pavilion.

Zhu Youjian watched him leave quietly until the corner of his robe was completely swallowed by darkness. He had intended to take advantage of this momentum to summon another key figure in his plan.

However, a sudden wave of fatigue washed over me.

From the bloodshed at the Meridian Gate to his arbitrary decision at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and to tonight's entrustment of Zhou Quan, every single event has taken a tremendous toll on his mind.

He waved his hand, indicating that Wang Chengen did not need to make any more preparations.

"Let's take a break."

Wang Chengen did not ask any further questions, but simply bowed and agreed.

That night, Zhu Youjian slept exceptionally soundly, without waking up in the middle of the night to ponder the state affairs that could have crushed any emperor.

The next day, it was bright.

The Jingyang Bell in the Forbidden City, which should have rung precisely at dawn to wake the officials, remained unusually silent.

Zhu Youjian indulged in the luxury of sleeping in until he naturally woke up, a privilege he had only enjoyed since his transmigration.

When he opened his eyes and saw the already dazzling sunlight streaming through the window, he was momentarily disoriented.

But soon, the familiar sandalwood scent at his nose and the statue-like figure of Wang Chengen standing respectfully in front of the bed pulled him back to reality.

He is the emperor.

The Chongzhen Emperor of the Ming Dynasty!
After a quick wash, a breakfast that wasn't lavish but was exquisitely prepared was served: a small bowl of crystal-clear rice porridge, several refreshing side dishes, and two golden-yellow steamed buns specially made by the imperial kitchen.

Zhu Youjian ate very slowly and quietly.

He needed this moment of tranquility to sort out his thoughts, which had already begun to race.

After finishing the last bite of porridge, he wiped his mouth with a hot towel, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes to rest for a moment.

Then, he opened his eyes, and all the laziness and fatigue in them vanished.

He casually instructed Wang Chengen beside him:

"It is said that it is Tian Ergeng."

……

While waiting for Tian Ergeng to arrive, Zhu Youjian's thoughts had already wandered far away.

From Zhou Quan to Tian Ergeng, from the Imperial Guard to the Factory Guard, what he wanted to reorganize was the entire violent machine that protected him and represented the extension of his will.

These reform plans were not a whim of his, but rather the result of more than half a year of repeated deliberations in his mind, with every detail undergoing countless revisions and improvements.

He had deeper and more complex considerations about Tian Ergeng and the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) with its blood-soaked butcher's knife.

The massacre in front of the Meridian Gate was ordered by him, and Tian Ergeng carried it out perfectly, like the fiercest and most obedient vicious dog.

But Zhu Youjian knew very well that vicious dogs could be used to bite people, but not to govern the country.

If it were merely a matter of bestowing upon him a title like "Supervisory Bureau" and allowing Tian Ergeng to continue leading the Embroidered Uniform Guard to conduct audits and confiscate property, it would be nothing more than a change in name only.

If this continues, it will only breed a monster with boundless power and endless desires, one that even the emperor cannot control. Once this unbridled beast begins to turn on its master, the consequences will be unimaginable.

From Zhu Youjian's personal perspective, the true core of reform lay not in deregulation, but in the balance between control and deregulation.

He had already decided on an eight-character strategy in his mind:

"Decentralization, specialization, centralization, and profit sharing."

To meticulously divide that overly complex and lawless power.

Each part should have its own specialized function, no longer a chaotic mess; with a rigorous system and a brand-new structure, this beast should be put into a visible and tangible cage; finally, its loyalty should be rewarded and its efficiency stimulated with clear and institutionalized benefits.

What he needs to do is not to throw away this sharp knife.

Instead, they recast a more suitable scabbard for it.

Then the blade itself was also thoroughly modified.

This transformed it from a heavy sword that could only be used for slashing into a set of weapons that could precisely dissect boils, remove bones, and cut flesh... a true physician's blade.

And Tian Ergeng was the one who wielded the knife.

What Zhu Youjian had to do was teach this butcher how to become a surgical master.

Just as he was pondering this, the eunuch's distinctive, drawn-out voice came from outside the hall.

"Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Tian Ergeng, requests an audience—"

……

When Tian Ergeng stepped into the Qianqing Palace, it was exactly 9:00 AM.

The sunlight was perfect, casting bright spots of light through the huge windowpanes onto the mirror-like gold-brick floor.

He was dressed in a brand-new flying fish robe, and the embroidered spring knife at his waist was polished to a gleaming shine. Every step he took carried with it a lingering smell of blood and an air of authority that commanded great power.

Last night at the Meridian Gate was the pinnacle of Tian Ergeng's life.

The knife in his hand could so swiftly and thoroughly slash at those civil officials who used to be high and mighty, looking down on others.

The thrill of having the power of life and death, the glory of being a close advisor to the emperor, intoxicated him, but also made him... uneasy.

He knew very well that, historically, the emperor's henchmen rarely met a good end.

When the birds are gone, the good bow is hidden; when the cunning rabbit dies, the lackeys are cooked.

His current glory is built on His Majesty's trust, but how long can this trust last? Once the court stabilizes, what means will those civil officials who hate him to the bone use to retaliate against him?
At that time, will Your Majesty still protect yourself as you do today?
With such mixed feelings, Tian Ergeng knelt down at the edge of the patch of light, half of his body in the light and half in the shadow.

"Your subject, Tian Ergeng, pays his respects to Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"

His voice was loud and clear, full of energy, but it couldn't hide the hint of unease hidden deep in his eyes.

"Flat body, give me a seat."

Zhu Youjian's voice was devoid of emotion.

Tian Ergeng thanked him and carefully sat down on a chair to the side, only sitting on one-third of the chair, his back straight, like a javelin ready to be drawn at any moment.

He thought His Majesty would reward him for his achievements yesterday, or give him a more bloody and direct task.

However, the emperor's first words stunned him.

"Minister Tian, ​​what kind of official do you think the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is in the eyes of the court officials?"

A bead of sweat appeared on Tian Ergeng's forehead. He hesitated for a moment, then forced himself to say, "Yes...yes, he is an official whom the court officials fear."

"Fear?" Zhu Youjian laughed, but the laugh was cold. "That sounds nice. In their hearts, you, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard under your command, are nothing more than my servants, the emperor's henchmen, and cruel officials who cannot be brought to the table. Is that right or wrong?"

These words were like sharp needles, piercing the most hidden and tender part of Tian Ergeng's heart.

He craved power, he craved money, but he also craved...fame.

No official wants to be remembered in history as nothing more than a cruel official and his lackeys.

His face paled instantly, his lips moved, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Zhu Youjian slowly stood up and walked to Tian Ergeng.

"Tian Ergeng, let me ask you this: do you want... a different way of living?"

"I'm giving you a chance to no longer be my servant chief, but a dignified and important minister of the state!"

Tian Ergeng suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with disbelief and shock.

Zhu Youjian ignored his shock and paced around, his voice echoing in the empty, warm pavilion, carrying a strange magic that seemed to be building a new world.

"I intend to establish a brand new government office above the Embroidered Uniform Guard, named the 'Imperial Ming Security Commissioner'!"

"This prefecture is neither under the jurisdiction of the Cabinet nor the Six Ministries; it is directly under my control. And you, Tian Ergeng, are the first governor-general of this 'Imperial Ming Governor-General'!"

Tian Ergeng's mind completely exploded.

The Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard held the official rank of the third grade, which sounded prestigious, but it was a recognized favored private post, a personal tool of the emperor.

As for the "Governor-General of the Imperial Ming Andu Prefecture"... although he was not sure of the specific rank, just hearing the name carried a grand and dignified national aura!

This is a huge leap from private to public!
“Of course,” Zhu Youjian’s voice pulled him back from his ecstasy, “power and responsibility must be commensurate. I will also establish new rules for the new Governor’s Office.”

He stretched out his finger and began to draw a completely new power map for Tian Ergeng.

"Under the Governor's Office, there are four major departments, each with its own responsibilities, and no one may overstep their bounds."

"First, the 'Foreign Intelligence Division.' The functions of the former Northern Garrison Command will be transferred to this division, and it will be upgraded. Its function will no longer be limited to keeping an eye on a few generals on the border, but will extend my eyes and ears to Hetu Ala beyond the Great Wall, to the Mongolian grasslands in the northern desert, to Japan in the East, and even to the various foreign countries in the South Seas! I need to know every troop movement of the Later Jin, to know who Ligdan Khan is allied with, and to know how many ships the Tokugawa Shogunate has built! This is an opportunity to make unparalleled contributions to the country, and I entrust this opportunity to you."

Tian Ergeng's breathing became rapid.

This is no longer the trivial task of the Embroidered Uniform Guard! This is the achievement of a minister who expands the territory!

"Secondly, the 'Internal Security Division.' The functions of the former Southern Garrison Division have been transferred to this division. It is specifically responsible for investigating domestic rebellions and traitors, such as the displaced people and bandits in Shaanxi and the Southwest, as well as... major cases of court officials forming cliques and plotting treason!"

Tian Ergeng held his breath, listening with unprecedented focus.

“Third, the ‘Integrity Inspection Bureau’.” Zhu Youjian’s lips curled into a playful smile. “You’re probably familiar with this. I ordered you to investigate and confiscate the property of traitors and audit embezzlement, and you did a good job. Now I’m going to turn it into a permanent office. It will be specifically responsible for conducting secret investigations and collecting evidence on all officials in the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty, especially those in key departments such as finance, engineering, and military supplies! Unlike the hearsay reports from the censors of the Censorate, who shout in the open, you will draw your swords in the shadows!”

Tian Ergeng's eyes lit up instantly!
This is true, immense power!

This means that he holds the power to protect half of all officials in the country!
"Finally, there's the 'Imperial Guard'," Zhu Youjian concluded. "From now on, the Imperial Guard will no longer be a government office, but the sole armed force under your Governor's Office. They will be responsible for arrests, protection, and carrying out... top-secret missions personally ordered by me. They are my fist!"

After he finished speaking, Tian Ergeng went from being shocked to being completely stunned.

He felt as if His Majesty had forcibly torn open a gap in his eyes, behind which lay a world of power he had never imagined—a world that was far wider and far more…legitimate!

Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard had great power in the past, it was like a tangled mess of hemp thread. It tried to manage everything but managed nothing well, and it was hated by everyone!

This so-called Governor's Office had its powers clearly defined, with each line pointing to a specific goal.

Towards foreign powers, he achieved unparalleled feats; to domestic powers, he safeguarded the nation's security; and to officials, he held the power of integrity and the power of life and death!

Zhu Youjian looked at him and slowly said, "Tian Ergeng. What I am giving you today is a legitimate supervisory power that covers the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty, and extends deep into the Mongolian Plateau and the South Seas! This power is more than ten times greater than before, and it is also more legitimate! But you must remember," he emphasized, "the greater the power, the stricter the rules must be. What I am giving you is a sword for investigating cases, not a pen for judging cases."

"Do you understand?"

Tian Ergeng's body trembled slightly.

He got it.

He understood it completely!

His Majesty is not diminishing his power, but rather giving him a higher, more secure, and more terrifying form of power!

He was about to kneel down and swear allegiance, but Zhu Youjian waved his hand, indicating that he did not need to.

"I know you still have concerns in your heart." Zhu Youjian's gaze seemed to see through people's hearts. "You are afraid that you will become a lone minister, an enemy of all officials, and end up with a disgraceful end." Tian Ergeng's face turned pale again.

This was his deepest fear.

Zhu Youjian walked to his side, gently patted his shoulder, and lowered his voice:
"Tian Ergeng, you must remember this. The officials hate you because they fear you. They fear you because their own hands are not clean. You are a knife that I personally plunged into this corrupt bureaucratic system! The more they hate you and curse you, the sharper and more valuable you are!"

"As long as I am alive, you will not be a cruel official, but a loyal minister who eliminates evil for the country and eradicates traitors for the people!"

A lone...courageous...loyal...minister!

These four words made Tian Ergeng tremble all over!

The official recognition he had longed for, yet dared not even hope for, was bestowed upon him so casually by His Majesty!

This instantly elevated him from being the adversary of all the bureaucrats to the position of the only loyal minister fighting alongside the emperor!

At this moment, all his fear of the future and his apprehension of civil officials were thrown to the winds!
A scholar dies for a confidant!

His Majesty's words are enough!

“Of course,” Zhu Youjian changed the subject, and began to offer the final and most practical temptation, “Just having a hollow title is not enough to make you work for me on an empty stomach.”

"I will give you another set of regulations. All proceeds of corruption seized by the Anti-Corruption Inspectorate shall be divided into four parts. Thirty percent shall be turned over to the national treasury to replenish the budget; thirty percent shall be put into my personal treasury for unforeseen needs; thirty percent shall be allocated to a newly established 'Royal Award Fund'; and the last ten percent shall be used as the operating expenses of your Anti-Corruption Bureau and for the compensation of its personnel."

"And this 'Royal Reward Fund'," Zhu Youjian said, looking into Tian Ergeng's eyes, word by word, "will be jointly managed by you and me! It is specifically used to reward meritorious personnel. You, Tian Ergeng, have the autonomy to decide its specific allocation!"

Tian Ergeng's eyes instantly turned red.

He and his gang of captains were, in the end, just rough men who risked their lives for money. In the past, when they were making money, they always had to do it secretly and in fear.

Now, His Majesty has given them a legitimate opportunity to make a fortune!
The more money they recover for the country, the more they can get for themselves!

This is no errand; it's a gold mine that can never be fully exploited!

Looking at Tian Ergeng, Zhu Youjian offered the final, and most reassuring, reassurance.

Zhu Youjian's voice became incredibly solemn at this moment, as if every word carried the weight of metal and stone:

"I make you a promise. As long as you don't cross the three red lines I've drawn—don't meddle in military power, don't frame true loyalists, and don't establish your own faction—no one in this world can touch you! If you become corrupt, I'll cleanse you! If you grow weary, I'll grant you a peaceful end!"

There was no imperial gold medal, no glamorous token.

But this promise, these few words that were spoken lightly yet carried immense weight, moved Tian Ergeng's heart more deeply than any tangible reward.

His tall frame trembled slightly at that moment.

Tian Ergeng could no longer hold back. He bent down and pressed his forehead heavily against the cold, hard gold brick, performing a full prostration.

"Your subject, Tian Ergeng, is willing to be Your Majesty's loyal minister and your sharpest blade! I would gladly give my life, even unto death!"

His voice was hoarse and choked with emotion, yet it was filled with unprecedented fervor and determination.

This fervor did not stem entirely from a momentary emotion. Countless thoughts flashed through Tian Ergeng's mind like lightning, eventually converging into an unshakeable conclusion.

These days, he has been by the emperor's side and has witnessed firsthand the young emperor's methods.

He knew all too well that this emperor showed no mercy, and that his resolve and ruthlessness far surpassed those of previous emperors.

But at the same time, he was extremely protective of his own!

As long as you are doing things for him and doing things that he approves of, even if your methods are a bit outrageous, even if you offend the entire court, His Majesty will definitely support you and will never treat you unfairly!
This is a style of doing things that is completely different from that of all previous emperors.

It wasn't bought with favors or maintained by emotions, but rather a cold, clear, yet incredibly solid contract.

You create value for me, and I will grant you security and glory!
As for the well-worn historical tale of "when the birds are all gone, the good bow is put away; when the cunning rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is cooked," Tian Ergeng even found it somewhat laughable at this moment.

He knew perfectly well that such an outcome would either be due to the emperor's old age and fear of powerful ministers, forcing him to eliminate them to ensure the safety of future generations; or it would be due to the emperor's impending death and fear that his descendants would be unable to control these arrogant and unruly generals.

But what about His Majesty before us?
He was extremely powerful, extremely capable, and... he was so young!
A young and ambitious ruler with the ambition to restore his kingdom will never run out of birds and rabbits, and he will naturally need to keep using his bow and dogs.

Tian Ergeng had no doubt that his sword could serve His Majesty for at least another twenty or thirty years.

When that time comes, I will be old and weary, and His Majesty's words, "I promise you a peaceful end," will be the most reliable guarantee in the world.

not to mention……

Tian Ergeng let out a sigh of satisfaction and awe in his heart.

Your Majesty, you've really given too much!

Power, prestige, immense wealth, and a future that would make him a legend.

All of this has completely bound him, and the fate of the entire Huangming Andu Prefecture, to His Majesty's throne and new policies.

Once you understand all of this, all doubts and fears vanish in an instant, leaving only a sense of security and reassurance from being seen and having a price tag.

Tian Ergeng stood up with the emperor's help, his tall body still slightly hunched, and his weathered and fierce face now showed a hint of almost holy fanaticism.

Zhu Youjian didn't say anything more to him, but turned to look at Wang Chengen, who had been holding his breath the whole time, as if he didn't exist.

"Otomo, have you written it all down?"

Wang Chengen seemed to awaken from a terrifying dream. He bowed, his hands trembling slightly, but he tried his best to keep his voice steady: "Your Majesty, this servant... has remembered every word."

“Just keeping it in mind isn’t enough.” Zhu Youjian walked to the desk, sat down again, and said with a deep, unfathomable gaze, “Pen and ink, yellow silk, bring them here.”

Wang Chengen was startled and immediately understood His Majesty's meaning.

This is to establish rules and regulations, and to formulate a decree!

He dared not be negligent in the slightest, quickly unrolled a new roll of yellow silk, personally ground the ink, and respectfully handed a purple-haired wolf-hair brush to the emperor.

However, Zhu Youjian did not accept the answer.

He simply looked at Wang Chengen and said calmly, "I say, you write."

Wang Chengen understood instantly.

"By imperial decree, Tian Ergeng, Governor-General of the Imperial Ming Protectorate..."

Zhu Youjian's voice rang out unhurriedly in the quiet East Warm Pavilion.

He recounted, in the most concise and unambiguous language, the functions, responsibilities, reward and punishment mechanisms, and even the handover process with the Three Judicial Offices that he had just discussed with Tian Ergeng.

Each word was like a nail, firmly fixing this brand-new and terrifying institution to the institutional framework of the Ming Dynasty.

Tian Ergeng stood aside, listening to his destiny, his heart pounding with every word the emperor spoke.

He knew that when the ink on this roll of yellow silk dried completely, he, Tian Ergeng, would no longer be himself, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard would no longer be the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

A ghost, a legitimate ghost called "Huangming Andufu", is about to break free from the Jinyiwei and shroud the entire sky of the Ming Dynasty!

As the last character was written, Wang Chengen slowly put down his pen, his forehead covered in a fine layer of sweat.

He carefully dried the yellow silk, rolled it up, tied it tightly with a ribbon, and then presented it to Tian Ergeng with both hands.

Tian Ergeng stretched out his hands, those hands that had once held a knife and chopped off countless heads, hands as steady as a rock, were now trembling slightly.

What he received was not a thin roll of yellow silk.

It was clearly the rest of his life, the honor and disgrace of his family, and the status he had dreamed of but dared not even imagine!
He clutched the secret edict tightly in his hand, tucked it into his robes, and pressed it against his chest, as if he could still feel the warmth of the ink that had not yet faded.

Then, he knelt down again, ready to express his gratitude and accept the order.

"Don't rush to express your gratitude." Zhu Youjian's voice rang out again, this time with a hint of cold killing intent. "My An Du Prefecture cannot be an empty office from the very first day it is established."

"I want you to handle your first case. Use this case to... serve as a sacrifice for your 'Anti-Corruption Inspectorate'!"

Tian Ergeng suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with a fierce light: "Your Majesty, please give your instructions! I will gladly die ten thousand times over!"

Zhu Youjian's gaze seemed to pierce through the many walls of the Forbidden City, reaching towards the distant southeast.

"Lianghuai Salt Fields".

He slowly uttered four words.

"My new policy, the Salt Ticketing System, is about to be implemented. However, in the Lianghuai region, the corruption of the salt administration has long since rotted to the core. Salt merchants collude with the salt transport commissioners to embezzle salt taxes and smuggle official salt, causing the national treasury to lose more than ten million taels of silver every year!"

"I want this knife of yours. I'll cut right in here!"

The emperor's voice suddenly became incredibly sharp.

"I don't want you to alarm anyone. I'm giving you one month to use all the resources of your Andu Prefecture to investigate! To dig deep!"

"What I want is irrefutable evidence that will ensure everyone involved in this will never be able to escape punishment!"

“One month later,” Zhu Youjian said, looking at Tian Ergeng, “I want to see their incriminating evidence piled up in this East Warm Pavilion!”

"Can you do it?"

Tian Ergeng felt a surge of heat rush from the soles of his feet to the top of his head!
His Majesty has already chosen the target for him! It's still a truly momentous case that will shake the court and the country!
This is no mere assignment; it is clearly a tremendous favor bestowed upon him by His Majesty, a gift to Tian Ergeng, his first and most outstanding achievement!
He could already imagine the upheaval that would occur when he uprooted the so-called "Unbreakable Man of Huainan" and tore a hole in that massive network of corruption! And the immense prestige that Tian Ergeng and his newly established Governor's Office would gain!

"His Majesty!"

Tian Ergeng kowtowed heavily, his forehead striking the gold brick with a dull yet resolute sound.

"My lord, take the order!"

"If I cannot dig them all out, I am willing to offer my head!"

Zhu Youjian nodded in satisfaction. "Go."

"I await your good news."

Tian Ergeng stood up, bowed slightly, and steadily and powerfully withdrew from the East Warm Pavilion.

The moment he turned and walked out of the palace gate, the bright sunlight shone on his flying fish robe, reflecting a dazzling light.

Tian Ergeng raised his head, clutching the burning hot imperial edict tightly in his arms, and squinted at the cloudless clear sky.

he knows.

From this day forward, that murderous butcher of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is dead.

Those who survived were the emperor's chosen loyal ministers, the governors of the Imperial Guard, and a blade of state about to be cleaned and made to drink blood again...

Its first target was the salt merchants!
A cruel yet excited smile spread across Tian Ergeng's lips.

　I was a little nervous because the update was late.

　　However, given the update volume over the past few days, and the fact that today's update is still 20,000 words!

　　I have no need to issue an edict of self-reproach!

　　Also, let me tell you all, this book did alright, so I really wrote it with extreme caution.

　　In the past, I could easily write 20,000 to 30,000 words a day, but in the last few days, I've deleted no less than 70,000 words that I had already written.
　　Sigh, I don't have much to repay everyone for their subscriptions, monthly tickets, and tips. I'll keep writing; there should be another chapter later.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)