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

Chapter 259 Following His Majesty, even killing becomes justified.

When the imperial consultation that would determine the future of the nation ended, and Bi Ziyan, Wei Zhongxian, and others walked out of the imperial study, the outside world remained the same, with pavilions, terraces, and vegetation unchanged.

But in their eyes, everything is completely different.

The emperor not only gave them official positions and power, but also personally tore off the veil of the world, revealing the vast, rich, and "wild" true nature beneath.

"The sun never sets!"
This is no longer the ambition of an ordinary emperor, but the vision and spirit to survey the world and reshape the universe.

Such magnanimity is enough to overshadow the wisdom of sages and saints throughout the ages, and to shatter the prejudices held by scholars of the world.

The concept of the world that they revered throughout their lives was, in the grand scheme of Your Majesty, nothing more than a small courtyard of the imperial family.

A tremendous sense of honor at being chosen by the emperor to participate in and create history overwhelmed all the horror.

That night, the residences of several future regional officials were all brightly lit.

The fervor of the prelude to the emperor repeatedly washed over their hearts, sweeping away their last hesitations and doubts, leaving only their determination to devote themselves to this grand undertaking.

As the eastern sky began to lighten and a new day dawned, in another part of Nanjing, a group of people, equally imbued with imperial favor and filled with boundless longing for the future, had already ended their wait.

They stood solemnly in the pre-dawn chill, awaiting the emperor's arrival.

While the rest of Nanjing was still asleep, this former royal palace, which had been temporarily converted into an imperial retreat, had already awakened.

A large hall inside the mansion, usually used for meetings, was now shrouded in an invisible, chilling atmosphere.

Outside the hall, under the eaves, there was a guard every three steps and a sentry every five steps.

The captains on guard were all elites of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. They wore brand-new and beautiful flying fish robes, without a trace of armor on their bodies, but their imposing and imposing aura was more oppressive than that of the heavily armed border troops.

The gloom and suspicion that had lingered in the shadows of the past had long been washed away from their brows, replaced by a full confidence and a fierce aura tempered by blood and fire.

They were no longer rats in the gutter, no longer the imperial guards that everyone avoided.

They are the emperor's sharp blades, the emperor's open and aboveboard henchmen who patrol the world!

Inside the hall, a dozen or so figures stood upright, awaiting the arrival of the monarch.

These people were all high-ranking members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard who had made outstanding contributions in the imperial storm over the past year—commanders, commanders of the North and South Garrison Divisions, and commanders of thousands. They were all outstanding individuals, ruthless and vicious.

The leader was none other than Tian Ergeng, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who now wielded immense power and instilled fear in all officials.

Time flowed slowly in silence. The wait was agonizing, but for these elite Jinyiwei guards who were used to living on the edge and keeping watch all night, it was just a daily routine.

Their minds were already immersed in reflecting on the past year and having endless daydreams about the future.

A commander standing in the middle row unconsciously stroked the inside of his waist with his right hand, where several light but heavy banknotes were hidden.

He quickly calculated in his mind how he could exchange his new home for a multi-courtyard house inside Xuanwu Gate upon returning to the capital, how much jewelry he could buy for his wife, and how good a tutor he could hire for his good-for-nothing sons.

"The brocade-clad soldiers were confiscated, and one-tenth of their spoils were given as a reward."

This promise, made with absolute authority, is now regarded as the gold standard by the entire Embroidered Uniform Guard, serving as the fundamental driving force behind their selfless and courageous actions.

The wealth confiscated from the Qin Prince's Mansion, the Fu Prince's Mansion, the Kong Mansion, and countless salt merchants and gentry in Jiangnan far exceeded everyone's imagination.

The ten percent of the reward that drove everyone crazy was something even Commander Tian Ergeng himself "dared not accept in full," and voluntarily sealed and handed over half of it, euphemistically saying: "to share the Emperor's worries and to relieve the national treasury's burden."

This move, with its grand scale and ingenious strategy, not only demonstrated unwavering loyalty but also, in turn, made the emperor more at ease with the commanders of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Wealth is merely the most direct driving force.

What truly transformed the Embroidered Uniform Guards was an unprecedented sense of spiritual fulfillment.

Once upon a time, they were the embodiment of framing loyal officials and their lackeys. Wherever they went, they were always met with the fearful and disdainful gazes of the common people and the civil officials.

In the past two years, however, they have been cracking down on corrupt officials like the Prince of Qin and the Prince of Fu, who were wealthy enough to rival the state but made no contribution to the country. They have also dealt with the Confucius Mansion of the Duke of Yansheng, who were hypocrites who deceived the world, seized farmland, and were unworthy of their positions. They have also cracked down on those who colluded with the government, manipulated salt prices, and exploited the people.
Every action was accompanied by cheers and relief from the local people.

The list of those whose property was confiscated was posted on the notice board and received praise from the people, who sincerely praised him as an upright and just official.

This feeling... is fucking awesome!
A commander's lips unconsciously curled into a slight smile, a slang saying circulating among his colleagues echoing in his mind: "Following His Majesty, you can kill with a clear conscience!"

With fame and resources secured, a strong sense of confidence naturally follows. This confidence stems not only from morale and financial resources, but also from genuine combat effectiveness.

Commander Tian Ergeng was an absolute ruthless man.

He knew better than anyone that what the current ruler needed was a peerless sword that could cut through all obstacles and was indestructible, not a bunch of useless people who only knew how to bully and extort others!

At the emperor's behest, he actually invited the most rigorous martial arts instructors from the three major camps of the Beijing Garrison. With the new training manual personally reviewed, revised, and supplemented by the emperor, they conducted a selection and training exercise that could be described as life-or-death for the entire Embroidered Uniform Guard system, from the capital to the local garrisons!

This new understanding that "they can bring peace to the world with their pens and conquer the world on horseback" filled them with unprecedented confidence in themselves and the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

All of this ultimately boils down to one thing in everyone's heart—

The emperor gave us far too much!

It encompasses everything: wealth, status, fame, dignity, and even formidable martial arts skills sufficient to secure a livelihood.

They were picked up by the emperor himself from the gutter, cleaned, and carved into jade artifacts. This act of rebirth had already tempered their loyalty to an unbelievable peak.

Let alone the emperor issuing an order for them to go to the Liaodong front to relieve the Jurchens, even if he immediately ordered them to board ships and sail to the Western Ocean to fight those rumored red-haired barbarians and Portuguese in a real battle, they would dare to obey the order without batting an eye!
Just as everyone was filled with excitement, a long and clear announcement came from outside the hall—

"Your Majesty has arrived——!"

In an instant, all thoughts in the hall were severed.

Tian Ergeng suddenly perked up, lifted the hem of his robe, and led the dozen or so high-ranking officials of the Embroidered Uniform Guard behind him to kneel down in unison.

Immediately afterwards, a loud and fervent voice burst forth from their mouths, forming a resounding metallic sound that echoed throughout the hall!
"Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Amidst the thunderous shouts of greetings, a figure dressed in a black robe with dragon patterns stepped into everyone's view.

The emperor walked with the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger, his posture upright and imposing. Although his face was expressionless, an aura of dignified authority emanated from him, making the air in the entire hall seem to freeze.

"Flat body."

A calm yet authoritative voice rang out.

"Your Majesty, we thank you!"

Tian Ergeng took the lead again, and everyone stood up in unison, hands at their sides, heads slightly bowed.

The emperor walked to the throne in front of the hall and sat down with an imposing air. His gaze slowly swept over every resolute and respectful face below the steps. His first words were like a spring breeze and gentle rain, instantly warming everyone's hearts.

"My dear ministers, you have worked hard for more than a year."

The emperor did not list the merits of each individual, as that would be too tedious and inferior. Instead, he used a highly condensed summary to give the supreme characterization of the achievements of the Embroidered Uniform Guard over the past year.

"Domestically," the emperor said with a hint of satisfaction, "you have obeyed my decree to go south and cleanse the bureaucracy, rooting out the biggest corrupt officials in the court, increasing the national treasury by tens of millions of taels, and eliminating a great scourge for the people. I am very pleased with this achievement!"

In just a few simple words, all their hard work, risks, and achievements were encompassed.

Everyone felt a warm current welling up from the bottom of their hearts; all their efforts had been rewarded in this moment.

The emperor changed the subject, gazing at the wider world.

"Externally," his voice deepened, "we deter the Later Jin in the north, ally with the Mongols in the west, probe the Japanese in the east, and survey the various barbarians in the south... Although I am behind high walls, I can see through the winds and clouds of the world, all thanks to your eyes and ears."

Upon hearing this, Lu Wenzhao, who was standing in the queue, trembled almost imperceptibly.

He knew that the latter half of that sentence was mostly about him and his brothers who risked their lives to obtain intelligence in the icy wilderness of the North.

Tian Ergeng stepped out of the queue again, bowed deeply, and spoke earnestly, without the slightest hint of arrogance.

"It is all thanks to Your Majesty's boundless divine might and brilliant strategies. We were merely acting on imperial orders and dare not claim any credit!"

"Well said, 'Not daring to take credit.'" The emperor nodded approvingly, but the gentle look on his face slowly faded, turning into a knowing seriousness. "Now that the commendations are finished, let's talk about business."

His gaze swept across the entire room with an almost tangible intensity, causing everyone who met his eyes to feel a pang of fear.

Finally, the gaze fell on Tian Ergeng.

"Tian Ergeng," the emperor's voice was resolute, "the 'Huangming Andu Prefecture' that I have mentioned to you many times, is now set in Nanjing. It's time to finalize it."

The breaths of all the high-ranking officials of the Embroidered Uniform Guard stopped for a moment. Their bodies, which had just relaxed due to the reward, tensed up again like a fully drawn bow. This brand-new government office, which had been rumored for a long time and secretly discussed among only a handful of people, would finally no longer be just a plan on paper, but would truly stand before the world!
All eyes instinctively converged on the young yet imposing figure on the throne, awaiting the final verdict that would determine the course of history.

Inside the lobby, you could hear a pin drop.

The emperor's gaze first fell on Tian Ergeng, who suppressed the turmoil in his heart and tried his best to maintain a calm exterior.

"My decree," the emperor's voice was steady and authoritative, each word as if engraved on metal and stone, "I hereby appoint Tian Ergeng, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, as the first governor-general of the 'Huangming Andu Prefecture,' to oversee all affairs of the prefecture. This is my decree!"

"Governor-General!" In the current Ming Dynasty official system, this term was usually used to refer to a high-ranking official who controlled the military affairs of several provinces.

The weight and the immense expansion of power and responsibility implied when applied to the head of a secret service agency are self-evident.

This means that Tian Ergeng's status will completely surpass that of any previous commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, making him a powerful minister who can truly rival the Ministers of the Six Ministries, and even subtly surpass them!

A glint of disbelief flashed in Tian Ergeng's eyes, which was then overwhelmed by a deeper sense of awe and ecstasy.

He struggled to control his body, which was trembling slightly with excitement, and took a step forward, kowtowing heavily to the ground. His voice was hoarse from the extreme emotional turmoil.

"Your subject... Tian Ergeng, accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

This bow was the most important and the most willing bow of his life.

"Rise," the emperor said calmly, as if he had merely accomplished a trivial task. He watched as Tian Ergeng returned to his ranks and continued his announcement:
"Under the Andu Prefecture, four departments were initially established: the Foreign Intelligence Department, the Supervision Department, the Garrison Department, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Each of the four departments performed its own duties, and was not subordinate to any other department. They were all directly responsible to the Governor-General and to me, and no one was allowed to overstep their authority."

The unveiling of the framework of the Four Offices shocked everyone even more.

This has completely transcended the old constraints of the Jinyiwei's North and South Garrison Offices, transforming into a powerful government office with clearly defined powers and a strict structure, solely dedicated to implementing the emperor's will.

The emperor did not give them much time to digest the information. He slowly stood up and walked to the huge "Complete Map of the World" hanging on one side of the hall.

This map is a hundred times more detailed than the maps commonly seen in the palace, and it marks all the known countries and routes in the world with various symbols.

"Establish a 'Foreign Intelligence Division'!"

The emperor's voice was sharp and piercing.

"The function of the former Northern Garrison Command in gathering intelligence on the frontier will be transferred to this command! And... its scope will be expanded a hundredfold!"

Zhu Youjian stretched out his finger, not touching the map, but his fingertip seemed to carry a scorching heat as it slowly swept across a vast area several times the size of the Ming Dynasty's territory.

"My eyes and ears cannot be limited to Shanhaiguan, nor can they be focused solely on the small Liaodong region!"

"My spies must penetrate deep into the Khan's camp in Hetu Ala, and spread across the grasslands of the northern desert! They must reach the walls of Edo, and guard the vital passage between the East and West—Malacca! They must also probe the strengths and weaknesses of the Western countries!"

The emperor's tone grew increasingly impassioned, carrying an overwhelming and majestic aura that sent chills down the spines of everyone present.

"I want to know when the Later Jin will conscript soldiers and how much grain they have stockpiled! I want to know who Ligdan Khan is allied with today and who he will turn against tomorrow! I want to know what Tokugawa Iemitsu is thinking, how many ships and how many samurai he has! I also want to know how many ships and how many muskets those Western countries that call themselves 'Red-haired Barbarians' or 'Franksmen' have in the South Seas, and what their kings are plotting!"

These words were like a door to a completely new world, suddenly opened before everyone.

For the first time, they felt so clearly that the ambition of this young emperor on the throne had already surpassed that of all his ancestors, and had been set out for the boundless sea of ​​stars!

Just as everyone was awestruck by the magnificent and breathtaking blueprint, the emperor's sharp gaze pierced through the layers of people and landed precisely on the silent figure in the middle of the queue.

Lu Wenzhao!
In an instant, Lu Wenzhao felt as if his heart was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, and then began to beat wildly. His blood rushed through his body at an unprecedented speed, making his cheeks slightly hot.

It's him! His Majesty is looking at him!

The emperor smiled, his voice carrying clearly to every corner of the hall.

"Lu Wenzhao".

All eyes in the room instantly focused on Lu Wenzhao.

Lu Wenzhao felt a buzzing in his head. Before he could think, his body reacted instinctively. He strode out of the line without hesitation, knelt on one knee in the hall, and placed his right fist against his heart with perfect form.

"Chen is here!"

"Your achievements in the north are numerous and plentiful on my desk." The emperor's tone was filled with undisguised praise. "At this moment, General Man Gui of Xuanfu and Ligdan Khan of Chahar must have already led their armies to launch the final encirclement and annihilation of the Khorchin tribe. Behind this, you have made outstanding contributions by contacting various Mongol tribes, spying on the strengths and weaknesses of the Later Jin, and building the Xuanfu-Daqing intelligence network!"

With each word the emperor spoke, Lu Wenzhao's heart beat faster. The emperor knew all about the secret things he had done, things that were like dancing on the edge of a knife.

Zhu Youjian then changed the subject, asking in a slightly joking tone, "With a single imperial edict, I forcibly removed you from the list of merits that were about to bring you tremendous achievements. Do you feel even the slightest regret?"

Lu Wenzhao lowered his head even further, but his voice became even more steady and powerful: "It is the greatest honor of my life to serve Your Majesty! Wherever Your Majesty directs me, I will fight there, even if it means facing mountains of knives and seas of fire, I will not hesitate to die ten thousand times, and I will not have the slightest regret!"

These words came from the bottom of my heart.

To be honest, he was indeed left with a sense of incompleteness after missing the chance to witness the destruction of the Khorchin.

But at this moment, a premonition far greater and more alluring than that military achievement was looming over his mind, causing him to completely cast that regret to the winds!
"Very good!"

The emperor laughed loudly. He stopped keeping everyone in suspense and directly announced the appointment that would change Lu Wenzhao's life!

"I hereby appoint you as the first Director of the Foreign Intelligence Division of the Imperial Ming Andu Prefecture!"

"I want you to use your northern skills on the whole world!"

These words struck Lu Wenzhao's mind like an imperial decree, and also resonated in the hearts of all the high-ranking officials of the Embroidered Uniform Guard present!
Overwhelming joy and a heavy sense of mission surged like two raging torrents, instantly engulfing Lu Wenzhao's entire soul!

Director!

The "Huangming Andu Prefecture" initially established four departments, which is one of the four major powers that are set in stone!

He himself, a military officer who climbed up step by step from a centurion to a chiliarch, had no background or backing. Through more than a year of bloody battles in the north, he actually... rose to the top in one step!
From a commander of a thousand households carrying out specific tasks on the frontier, he rose directly to one of the highest-ranking officials in charge of all intelligence work for the Ming Dynasty!

He could almost see the endless battlefields and the boundless achievements beckoning to him on that vast world map!

"Your subject... Your subject Lu Wenzhao... obeys the decree!"

Lu Wenzhao's voice trembled slightly with extreme excitement, but he still used all his strength to slam his head heavily onto the ground.

"I am willing to die for Your Majesty! To open up vast eagle eyes for the Ming Dynasty!"

At this moment, apart from Lu Wenzhao's excited and solemn vow, there was no other sound in the hall.

The other high-ranking officials of the Embroidered Uniform Guard had extremely complicated expressions on their faces.

At first, it was an unbelievable shock. Lu Wenzhao's qualifications were only considered below average among their group. Many of the commanders and garrison commanders were of higher rank than the chiliarchs he had previously served.

However, this shock was quickly replaced by deep conviction.

They had all heard of Lu Wenzhao's achievements in the north to some extent.

That's not a task that can be easily accomplished in a wealthy place like Jiangnan, relying solely on imperial power and authority.

That was in the freezing cold, dealing with cunning Mongol princes and ruthless Later Jin spies; every piece of intelligence was obtained by dancing on the edge of a knife with one's life.

The emperor just mentioned "establishing ties with the Mongol tribes," "investigating the strengths and weaknesses of the Later Jin," and "building an intelligence network in Xuanda"—any one of these achievements alone would be enough to earn a great honor and a reward for one's wife and children!
The same thought simultaneously arose in everyone's mind:
"His Majesty truly knows everything and sees everything!"

"He doesn't care about your background, your seniority, or even who you're close to. All he cares about is what you've done for him and for the Ming Dynasty!"

A commander of a thousand men, who was of the same rank as Lu Wenzhao, looked at the tall figure kneeling in the hall. Instead of jealousy, his eyes were filled with respect and understanding.

"Lu Wenzhao earned his future with his life on the line, it's rightfully his!"

This thought represented the sentiments of the vast majority of people present.

Standing at the back of the line, several younger, less experienced centurions and captains clenched their fists so tightly that their knuckles turned slightly white.

In their eyes, there was no confusion, no speculation about the future, but a blazing fire!

Lu Wenzhao's today is their tomorrow!

With this groundbreaking and exceptional promotion, the emperor set an incredibly clear benchmark for the entire Embroidered Uniform Guard, no, for the entire future "Imperial Ming Andu Prefecture"!

Merit! Merit is the only ladder to promotion!

As long as you are willing to work diligently for the emperor, as long as you are willing to shed blood and sweat for the Ming Dynasty, and as long as you can achieve real results, then rising to prominence and being appointed as a marquis or general will no longer be an unattainable dream!

(End of this chapter)