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

Chapter 260 This glory, I will not enjoy alone!

The uproar caused by Lu Wenzhao's appointment had not yet completely subsided in the hall when the emperor's gaze had already shifted away from him.

His gaze, like that of a falcon surveying its territory, slowly swept over the various faces below, each etched with emotion and awe, before finally settling on another figure with a particularly distinctive air.

As his gaze shifted, the atmosphere in the entire lobby changed once again.

If the appointment of Lu Wenzhao just now ignited the burning ambition in everyone's hearts to conquer the world, then at this moment, a cold and chilling atmosphere began to quietly spread, as if invisible frost and snow were about to freeze the newly lit flames.

The emperor's voice rang out again, "We have eagle eyes to watch over foreign countries, and we need a sharp sword to hang high over our own!"

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the hall shifted abruptly, the previous fervor vanished, replaced by a sharp and piercing killing intent.

"I hereby proclaim the establishment of the 'Supervision Department'!"

The Emperor continued, his voice echoing in the solemn hall: "The functions of the former Southern Garrison Command in investigation and imprisonment have been transferred to this command. However, its responsibilities extend far beyond this!"

He vividly sketched a chilling vision of the future for this sword that was about to be drawn.

"The first responsibility of this department is to investigate domestic rebellions and traitors! For example, in Shaanxi and the southwest, the escalating displaced people and bandits, if any of them gather to plot rebellion or raise the flag of rebellion, you must arrive before the troops, capture their leaders, destroy their foundations, and thoroughly investigate their followers. Once verified, they shall be executed without mercy!"

These words were still within everyone's comprehension; they were nothing more than a continuation and reinforcement of the traditional functions of the Southern Garrison. But the emperor's next words sent a chill down the spines of everyone present.

"Secondly, and also its core responsibility, is... to supervise the ministers in the court!"

The emperor's gaze became incredibly sharp, as if it could pierce through flesh and blood and look directly into the most hidden corners of people's hearts.

"All those who form cliques for personal gain and plot treason; all those who outwardly comply but inwardly defy, and those who use flattery and deceit; all those who obstruct the new policies and hold positions without performing their duties! They are all subject to your supervision! My court does not tolerate idlers, much less parasites!"

Before he finished speaking, he seemed to be thinking about a more distant future, and his tone became deep and majestic, filled with a resolute determination to create peace for all generations.

"I will implement a policy of requiring officials and gentry to pay taxes together, reform the salt and iron industry, reopen the maritime trade, and establish the Imperial Bank... Each of these new policies will shake the foundations of those deeply entrenched individuals, who will surely launch a fierce counterattack, using every means, both overt and covert, to obstruct me!"

"And the Censorate, this sword hanging over my head, must fulfill its duty to heal the nation, to remove the deep-seated ailments and the malignant tumors clinging to my bones! From those who hoard goods and manipulate market profits, attempting to undermine my new monetary policies; to those who collude with foreign barbarians, engaging in secret dealings to steal the weapons of our Great Ming, such as new firearms and treasure ship blueprints; and to those who write books and spread heresies, attempting to confuse the people and shake the foundations of the nation! All these people are within the reach of your swords and must be eliminated!"

These words have far exceeded the scope of what the Imperial Guard has ever done, and even crossed the boundaries of the law.

This is clearly a declaration that a force created specifically for the emperor to reform the world and clear away all obstacles for all ages, a terrifying authority that transcends the law and is accountable only to the imperial power, is about to officially descend upon the world with this edict!

For a moment, you could hear a pin drop in the hall.

Everyone's gaze unconsciously followed the supreme gaze on the throne, and finally, it converged on that man.

Liu Qiao!

It was a face that was excessively pale from being imprisoned for so long and never seeing the light of day, forming a stark and eerie contrast with his colleagues around him who were full of vigor and vitality from their rewards for their merits.

Yet, on his pale face, a pair of eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, like cold stars in the dark night, gleaming with a penetrating light that seemed to see into the depths of human nature.

Liu Qiao possesses a highly contradictory temperament, with both the somber and menacing aura left by years of interrogating prisoners and witnessing life and death, and the awe-inspiring righteousness stemming from his own integrity.

These two completely different auras intertwined and collided on him, forming a unique and powerful sense of oppression that was too intimidating to look directly at.

When Liu Qiao felt the emperor's gaze, which seemed almost tangible, his already clenched fists tightened even more.

His knuckles were white from the excessive force, as if he were suppressing a volcano about to erupt.

He was waiting, and even more so, he longed for it!
He longed for an opportunity to put into action the ambitions that had been building up in his heart for many years, and the kind of justice he believed in that was so fierce as to be almost cruel!

The opportunity has come.

"Liu Qiao!"

Liu Qiao moved almost the instant the emperor spoke, his movements swift as lightning. He strode out of the ranks without the slightest hesitation and knelt directly in the hall.

"Chen is here!"

The emperor looked at him, his eyes revealing a hint of satisfied approval and deep trust.

"I hereby appoint you as the first Director of the 'Imperial Ming Andu Prefecture Inspectorate'!"

"I am handing this sword that hangs over the heads of all the civil and military officials, no, it hangs over the heads of all the officials, gentry, and merchants of the entire Ming Dynasty, into your hands!"

To everyone's surprise, no one in the room raised any objections.

Liu Qiao was a well-known workaholic in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He was fearless in solving cases and had a variety of interrogation methods that could terrify even the most stubborn criminals.

But more importantly, it was his unyielding integrity that was almost ingrained in his bones.

Almost all the veterans of the Embroidered Uniform Guard present remembered how powerful Wei Zhongxian was back then!

He personally ordered Liu Qiao, then the Assistant Commander of the Garrison Command, to fabricate charges against Wang Wenyan. Everyone thought Liu Qiao would take advantage of the situation and rise to power, but he stood his ground and refused to obey, preferring to be dismissed and sent back to his hometown!
This unyielding spirit, unafraid of authority and power, earned him a level of respect that few others could match.

Upon hearing the appointment, Liu Qiao's entire body trembled.

He suddenly raised his head, and his eyes, as cold as stars, burst forth with an unprecedentedly brilliant light!
Liu Qiao kowtowed deeply, his voice firm and powerful!
"Your subject Liu Qiao receives the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude!"

"Your Majesty, I will hone this sword! I will make it sharp day and night, its cold light illuminating the heavens!"

"This sword will slay treacherous officials in the imperial court and eliminate rebellious bandits in the martial world! It will clear all obstacles for His Majesty's new policies and remove all the malignant sores from the bloodline of the Ming Dynasty!"

He kowtowed again, his voice filled with a frantic resolve!
"Where this sword's edge points, even gods and Buddhas will flee! Your subject would gladly die ten thousand deaths!"

……

With the appointment of the directors of the two core departments—the external eagle eye and the internal sharp sword—the hideous skeleton of the "Huangming Andu Prefecture" has been clearly revealed to everyone.

Governor-General Tian Ergeng, Intelligence Director Lu Wenzhao, and Inspector Liu Qiao stood side by side in front, representing the terrifying force that was about to sweep across the Ming Dynasty.

But the emperor was still not satisfied.

"My Andu Prefecture has eagle eyes to watch outwards and sharp swords to deter inwards... however, it is still lacking one thing."

He spoke slowly, "What's missing is... a blood-stained abacus."

abacus?

Everyone was stunned, not understanding what this newly established government office had to do with the abacus.

Just as everyone was filled with doubt and uncertainty, the emperor's gaze swept across the ranks and landed on an inconspicuous young military officer behind Tian Ergeng.

The man was no more than thirty years old, with a tall and straight figure and a military aura between his brows, which was completely out of place with the seasoned and gloomy Jinyiwei around him. He kept his head down and was so respectful that he was almost invisible.

"Zuo Liangyu".

The emperor uttered the name casually.

The young military officer named Zuo Liangyu trembled violently, quickly stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and said in a loud voice with barely suppressed excitement, "This humble general... Your subject is here!"

In an instant, apart from Governor Tian Ergeng, who remained ashen-faced, everyone else, including the newly appointed Lu Wenzhao and Liu Qiao, showed expressions of disbelief!
Zuo Liangyu?!

This name was completely unfamiliar to the vast majority of the veteran Jinyiwei present!

He was neither a veteran of the Embroidered Uniform Guard nor a renowned figure among the Imperial Guards.

Who is this person? Why did His Majesty suddenly call him out?

The emperor seemed pleased with the crowd's reaction. "I decree that another department be established within Andu Prefecture, named the 'Integrity Supervision Department'!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole room was in an uproar!

"This department does not concern itself with criminal cases or espionage. Its sole duty is to conduct secret anti-corruption investigations and collect evidence against 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!"

The emperor's tone suddenly turned icy.

"Those censors and officials of the Censorate, they stand in the court, in broad daylight, reporting on hearsay and wagging their tongues. They are shouting in the open!"

"And you," the emperor said, pointing to Zuo Liangyu kneeling on the ground, his voice sharp and cold as iron, "are to draw your swords in the shadows!"

A bolt of lightning flashed through the hearts of all the veteran Jinyiwei!
External intelligence, internal supervision, and anti-corruption inspection... weren't these the three pillars of the former Embroidered Uniform Guard's power? Now, the first two have been stripped away, and this last, most lucrative and crucial piece of power has not been handed over to any of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's own people by His Majesty, but to an... outsider!
All eyes were fixed on Zuo Liangyu.

Jealousy, doubt, resentment... a mix of emotions swirled in their eyes.

They instantly understood—this was a spy planted by the Emperor himself! A brand-new weapon of war, completely unrelated to the old power of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and obeying only the Emperor's orders!
For a moment, the expressions of many veteran Imperial Guards in the queue became complicated.

Zuo Liangyu is different from Lu Wenzhao.

Lu Wenzhao fought his way out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood with his genuine military achievements, and even if people disagreed, they had to accept that reason.

But what is Zuo Liangyu? He is an unknown commander of the Liaodong Military Command, with no outstanding achievements and no powerful background. In their eyes, he is just incredibly lucky to have been chosen by the emperor from among the crowd and promoted out of turn!

However, those who had official dealings with Zuo Liangyu during the past six months had a completely different feeling. They knew perfectly well that this young man was no ordinary person!

Others only saw his meteoric rise to power, but they didn't see the composure, maturity, and decisiveness he displayed far beyond his years after being assigned several difficult tasks by Tian Ergeng.

This person is meticulous in handling affairs, ruthless in methods, yet extremely adept at interpersonal relationships, and never oversteps the bounds of propriety.

Now it seems, how astute His Majesty's judgment was!
This kid is no ordinary creature; he's a lurking dragon!

Thinking about it this way, the initial resentment and jealousy transformed into deep apprehension and understanding, and my heart calmed down.

It is the timing, fate, and even more so, the unfathomable will of the emperor!
In fact, as early as six months ago, the emperor issued a secret edict, exceptionally transferring Zuo Liangyu, who was then a commander of the Right Wing of the Liaodong Army, to the capital and placing him under the command of Tian Ergeng.

Tian Ergeng was well aware of the Emperor's intentions and devoted himself to cultivating this young man, regarding him as a confidant. However, he never expected that His Majesty would value him to such an extent!

A 30-year-old director!

He wielded immense power to oversee the wealth of all officials in the land!
This is an astonishing blessing!
Zuo Liangyu himself was filled with excitement and his blood was boiling!

He came from humble beginnings and risked his life in Liaodong. He thought that if he were to be appointed as a general or a commander, his ancestors would be blessed with good fortune.

But the emperor recognized his talent and he rose to prominence in one fell swoop!
This act of kindness made him so grateful that he wished he could immediately lay bare his heart and soul for the emperor!
Zuo Liangyu certainly remembered what the young emperor had said to him during that secret, private audience several months earlier.

"...You are the sharpest and cleanest knife I will ever use in the future Andu Prefecture. Your eyes should not be on people, but only on the accounts!"

"The Censorate is a spear in the open, and you are a hidden arrow. Remember, if you're not ruthless, you won't stand firm! I gave you this position not so you could gather your cronies, but so you could confiscate property and exterminate your entire clan!"

"I hereby appoint you as the first Director of the Anti-Corruption Inspection Department! Zuo Liangyu, tell me, what can you do for me!"

The emperor's question jolted Zuo Liangyu from his reverie. He took a deep breath, suppressed all the distracting thoughts in his mind, and suddenly looked up, his voice resounding!

"Your subject, Zuo Liangyu, obeys the decree!"

"Your Majesty's orders are absolute! Wherever Your Majesty points, your blade will follow!"

"Your Majesty, I will forge the most greedy wolves to sniff out the flow of the nation's wealth and grain! I will also forge the most vicious jackals to tear apart those rats who embezzle the national treasury! If there is any corruption, and the evidence is conclusive, I will present the perpetrators and their accounts to Your Majesty for Your Majesty's wise judgment!"

"Your Majesty, I will never fail to live up to your high expectations!"

Zhu Youjian nodded in satisfaction; this fearless and ruthless spirit was exactly what he wanted.

……

With Zuo Liangyu's return to the fold, the three directors of the Huangming Andu Prefecture have been appointed, and together with Governor Tian Ergeng, a complete team has been formed.

All eyes involuntarily turned to Li Ruolian, the nominal number two figure in the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

A huge question lingered in the minds of all the veteran members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The two core powers of external intelligence and internal supervision were stripped away by the two newly established departments.

They just handed over the important power of anti-corruption supervision to a young outsider.

So what's left of the "Jinyiwei" (Imperial Guards) themselves?
It has completely degenerated into an insignificant empty shell, a place for welcoming and seeing off guests.

Just then, the emperor's smiling gaze fell on Li Ruolian.

"Li Ruolian".

"Your subject is here!" Li Ruolian stepped forward and replied, his expression calm and composed, revealing little emotion.

The emperor's tone became more friendly, as if he were chatting with an old friend: "You've been very busy this past year or so."

Without waiting for Li Ruolian's reply, he began to recount the events one by one, as if they were his most treasured possessions.

"In the capital, from Zhang Zheng to Luo Yangxing; from the Zhou Yanru case to the earth-shaking Meridian Gate case, you suppressed the chaos and made great contributions."

"From the confiscation of the eight major Shanxi merchants to the major case of treason in the Duke Yansheng's mansion in Qufu, and even the subsequent crackdown on grain merchants, salt merchants, and gentry throughout Jiangnan, your name appears on the files of almost every shocking case."

Every word of affirmation from the emperor made Li Ruolian's heart beat a little faster.

He knew that His Majesty was clearing his name and making a final decision on the future of the name "Jinyiwei".

Sure enough, the emperor changed his tone and his voice became solemn.

"The former Embroidered Uniform Guard had a wide range of functions, encompassing everything, but this also made it lack specialization and sharpness. Now, I am stripping it of all its eyes, ears, claws, and schemes, not to abolish it, but to..."

The emperor paused, his gaze sweeping across the entire hall, and said, word by word:

"--tempered into a steel!"

"From this day forward, the name 'Jinyiwei' will be retained! But its function will remain the same!"

The emperor's voice suddenly rose, "That is—to be my personal guard, the shield and spear of the Ming Dynasty!"

This groundbreaking new positioning instantly widened the eyes of all the old men who were worried about the future of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!
"What is a strong shield?" the emperor explained. "It is the protection of me and the royal family! You will be the most reliable line of defense around me!"

"And what is a spear?" The emperor's voice was filled with boundless expectation and a ruthless intent; this was his true core intention!
"From this day forward, the Embroidered Uniform Guard will no longer be a motley crew of corrupt officials! The Southern Garrison, the Northern Garrison, the Records Office... all departments must revolve around one core—'war'! What I want is not a group of corrupt officials who only know how to arrest people and lock up officials, but an armed force that can quell internal rebellions, punish disloyalty, and pacify all directions! It is a force that can be deployed at any time and thrown into any battlefield—the Emperor's personal army!"

The emperor's gaze sharpened as he surveyed the future commander, his tone shifting to a stern warning.

"I demand that all departments work together as one! I do not wish to see any buck-passing or shirking of responsibility, and I will not tolerate anyone who pays lip service while acting against my will or forming cliques!"

"If I find out that anyone is still using the old ways of the government offices and treating my military orders as a joke, my punishment will be far more severe than just dismissal and imprisonment!"

"I hereby appoint you as the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard! Li Ruolian, do not disappoint me!"

"I want to see an invincible and utterly loyal imperial guard!"

Li Ruolian felt a surge of heat rush from her chest to the top of her head, and her blood was boiling!
This is clearly an attempt to completely transform the Embroidered Uniform Guard from a corrupt and infighting agency with unclear responsibilities into a battle-hardened force with clear division of duties and strict discipline! It is to become the emperor's personal guard, the pillar of the Ming Dynasty, and the last reliance of imperial power!

Li Ruolian could no longer remain calm. She strode forward and kowtowed heavily!
"Your subject, Li Ruolian, obeys the decree!"

"Your Majesty, I will certainly live up to your expectations and forge an invincible army that will win every battle!"

"From your subject down, the entire Embroidered Uniform Guard will surely abandon old habits and work together! If anyone is found to be outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant and violates military discipline, I will personally punish them severely without any leniency!"

The emperor nodded in satisfaction and gestured for Li Ruolian to rise.

Immediately, his sharp, knife-like gaze shifted from the excited Li Ruolian to Tian Ergeng.

"Tian Ergeng".

"Your subject is here." Tian Ergeng's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately bowed.

The emperor's voice regained its usual calm, "You have heard my blueprint clearly. Before you return to the capital, I want you to provide me with a detailed and comprehensive plan for the establishment of the Huangming Andu Prefecture's government offices, the assignment of officials, the selection of soldiers, the enforcement of military law, and the coordination among various departments."

The emperor emphasized, "After you return to the capital, I do not want any delays! The day you arrive, this new government office must be officially established! All personnel appointments, dismissals, and division of duties must immediately begin according to the new structure you have submitted!"

Tian Ergeng understood that this was a military order!

But there was no sign of difficulty on his face. He took a deep breath and, even more composed than Li Ruolian, kowtowed to accept the order, his voice carrying the unique competence and decisiveness of an old minister:

"Sir, obey the order!"

"I will compile all the regulations and articles before returning to the capital and present them to Your Majesty! The day I return to the capital will be the day the new system is implemented!"

"We will not waste a single day, nor delay an entire hour!"

Tian Ergeng's resolute response echoed in the hall, every word resounding with conviction.

Zhu Youjian withdrew his gaze from him and slowly swept it over each of the Jinyiwei confidants present. He remained silent for a moment, and the atmosphere in the entire hall changed from the tense and exciting atmosphere just now to a solemn and quiet one.

Finally, the emperor's voice rang out again, no longer the cold, stern tone he had when issuing the orders:
"It's been over a year."

Zhu Youjian seemed to be recalling something, or perhaps sighing.

"Since I ascended the throne, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has transformed from a chronic, ill-fated force in the imperial prison to a sharp-eyed elite force spread throughout the Ming Dynasty. I have seen and remembered all your hard work. You have infiltrated the snow, maneuvered in enemy camps, and walked on the edge of a knife. I don't even know the names of many of you, but I will never forget every drop of blood you shed for the Ming Dynasty."

The emperor's gaze deepened, as if piercing through the palace and seeing those unsung figures scattered throughout the empire.

"Today, I am gathered here with you all to discuss important matters, and the reason we are able to do so is because of the countless days and nights you have spent working on this game. The reason we can play this game is because you have laid out this solid chessboard for me with your blood and sweat!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall felt a surge of emotion, an indescribable feeling of loyalty and righteous indignation rising within them.

The emperor's voice regained its firmness and strength:
"This glory will not be enjoyed by me alone!"

(End of this chapter)