Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

Yu Qian bowed his head and said, "Your Highness, this is a matter of great military importance, and we must not let the secret be leaked. Let's discuss it in court."

Zhu Qiyu nodded: "Okay."

He knew it was nothing more than a shortage of garrison personnel and food supplies in the capital, but Yu Qian was afraid that saying it in public would affect morale.

After a pause, Zhu Qiyu continued, "Minister Yu, now that Minister of War Kuang Ye has died at Tumu Fortress, you will temporarily take charge of the defense of the capital."

After the court assembly, I reported to the Empress Dowager that you have been appointed Minister of War.

Yu Qian bowed his head again: "Your subject obeys the decree."

After speaking, Yu Qian walked back to the queue.

Zhu Qiyu looked down and asked, "Is there anything else?"

Immediately someone stood up and shouted: "Your subject, Chen Yi, Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, has a memorial to present."

The treacherous eunuch Wang Zhen seized power, disrupted the government, and misled the emperor.

As a result, the 500,000-strong army was routed in an instant, and the emperor was captured by the enemy.

His sins reach the heavens, and he could not atone for them even by death.

Your Highness, I humbly request that Your Majesty uphold justice and issue this decree throughout the land.

Their corpses were to be dismembered in the marketplace, their entire clan exterminated, and their property confiscated to fund the army!

Only in this way can we comfort the wronged souls of the soldiers and quell the anger of the people.

"We second that proposal!"

As soon as Chen Yi finished speaking, more than a hundred officials in the court knelt down and shouted, requesting the execution of Wang Zhen's entire clan. Some even wept bitterly.

After the Tumu Crisis, almost everyone pointed the finger at Wang Zhen, the eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, and many people in later generations also believed this:

It was Wang Zhen who instigated Zhu Qizhen to personally lead the expedition.

It was Wang Zhen's desire to return to his hometown to bring glory to his ancestors that caused the army's movement to be delayed.

Wang Zhen changed his marching route because he was afraid that the army would trample his farmland.

In the end, it was Wang Zhen's insistence on stationing the army at Tumu Fort that led to the tragedy.

In short, all the blame lies with Wang Zhen; Zhu Qizhen was just a young emperor who was deceived by treacherous people.

Zhu Qiyu sneered inwardly; he now knew his emperor brother very well.

You could say he's arrogant, or that he's bad at games and loves to play, but you can't call him "stupid."

Seeing Zhu Qiyu hesitate, Chen Yi, his face filled with grief, cried out again, "Wang Zhen's crimes are unforgivable! If Your Highness does not punish him according to the law and exterminate his entire clan, I am willing to die here!"

"We will all die here today!"

Zhu Qiyu frowned; this was a coup attempt.

Based on his past life's behavior, I really wanted to say, "Then you should all die."

But that won't work now. He is now just Prince Zhu Qiyu of Cheng, and he still needs these civil officials to help him ascend the throne.

However, Zhu Qiyu did not make a statement; he was waiting, waiting for that famous incident.

Seeing that Zhu Qiyu remained silent, Ma Shun, the deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, stepped forward and sternly rebuked him: "The Grand Eunuch has already died for the country, why are you all so relentless?"

Zhu Qiyu's eyes lit up, thinking to himself, "You've finally come out."

Sure enough, someone immediately pointed at Ma Shun and angrily rebuked him: "Wang Zhen's accomplice, his crime deserves to be punished."

As he spoke, the man raised the tablet in his hand and struck Ma Shun on the head.

Zhu Qiyu knew this person, Wang Hong, a supervising secretary in the Ministry of Revenue, who was known for his fiery temper.

Ma Shun was also a complete fool; a dignified member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard couldn't even defeat a civil official.

A moment later, Ma Shun was knocked to the ground, and then more than a dozen people rushed up and punched and kicked him.

Several imperial guards tried to rescue Ma Shun, but they were also pushed to the ground and beaten up.

The hall immediately descended into chaos.

A burly general rushed in from outside the hall and stood guard in front of Zhu Qiyu.

Jin Ying looked shakily at the courtiers inside Zuoshun Gate who had already lost their minds, and quietly took a few steps back.

Xing'an was equally terrified, but he stepped forward and stood in front of Zhu Qiyu.

Zhu Qiyu looked at the ministers below and the eunuchs beside him with great interest.

He understood that these ministers had only two purposes for putting on this show today.

One reason is the backlash caused by the suppression from Wang Zhen's group in previous years; they really want to take down Wang Zhen.

Another reason was that they wanted to see how their regent would treat these eunuchs.

If Zhu Qiyu agreed to their suggestion, it would be tantamount to completely breaking ties with the eunuch clique led by Wang Zhen.

This also means that Zhu Qiyu is under his control.

After all, to put it bluntly, the court in most dynasties was a system of checks and balances between civil officials, military generals, and eunuchs.

Now, most of the military generals in the capital have died at Tumu Fortress.

If the eunuchs are suppressed, wouldn't the entire court be controlled by these "adults"?

How could I, who was supposed to cooperate with their performance, turn a blind eye?

"Oh no, I can't let my persona fall apart." After thinking to himself, Zhu Qiyu tried to leave Zuoshun Gate with a "panicked expression."

In the rush, he "accidentally" pushed Kim Young toward the civil official who was about to kill him.

"Which bastard is it, our family..."

Before Jin Ying could speak, he was pinned to the ground by the civil official, who was now enraged.

At the same time, a hand grabbed Zhu Qiyu; it was Yu Qian: "Your Highness, you must not leave."

Zhu Qiyu was just putting on an act; upon seeing this, he immediately stood next to Yu Qian.

As more Imperial Guards poured in, the hall gradually quieted down.

Several people were lying on the ground: Ma Shun, Mao Gui, Wang Changsui, and Jin Ying, who was pushed down by Zhu Qiyu last.

The four men were dressed in tattered clothes and had already died.

Several other Imperial Guards were seriously injured, but their lives were not in danger.

When the Imperial Guards entered the palace, they saw Ma Shun and the others lying on the ground, and all of them drew their swords and faced the civil officials who had attacked them.

"Stop!" Zhu Qiyu shouted, stopping the Imperial Guards.

This is why Yu Qian told Zhu Qiyu not to leave.

If he leaves, a battle between the Imperial Guards and the court officials will likely break out on the spot.

After all, without a conviction, their actions constituted "unprovoked" murder, and the Imperial Guards had the right to imprison them.

At the same time, Zhu Qiyu loudly proclaimed: "Wang Zhen and his cronies should be executed, but the murderer is innocent!"

Upon hearing this, not only were the Imperial Guards stunned, but even the assembled officials were immediately dumbfounded.

Some people were excited, while others were deep in thought.

While this is exactly what they wanted, it seems to be going too smoothly?

Ignoring their surprised looks, Zhu Qiyu turned to the burly general before him and asked, "What is your name?"

The burly general immediately bowed and said, "Your Highness, I am Lu Zhong, Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Commander of the Great Han General."

"Lu Zhong?" Zhu Qiyu murmured the name. It was another familiar face. He would be the one to lead the Golden Knife Case in the future. He was somewhat clever, but unfortunately not clever enough. However, he was good enough for now.

Zhu Qiyu then said to Lu Zhong: "From now on, you will be promoted to the position of Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and temporarily assume the position of Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

You are to handle Wang Zhen's case. Thoroughly investigate his associates, and remember, exterminate their entire clan.

Lu Zhong was stunned for a moment, then immediately knelt down and said excitedly, "Your subject accepts the imperial decree and thanks you!"

Then Zhu Qiyu said to Xing'an beside him, "There's no way to continue the court session, so let's adjourn it."

In addition, Yu Qian was instructed to organize personnel to discuss strategies for repelling the enemy at the Wenhua Hall.

After saying this, Zhu Qiyu seemed to be frightened and quickly walked out of Zuoshun Gate.

Xing'an hurriedly announced loudly, "His Highness has decreed that Minister Yu and relevant ministers should gather at the Wenhua Hall to discuss strategies for repelling the enemy. Court is adjourned!"

After the announcement, Xing'an also ran out.

For a moment, only a group of ministers remained inside Zuoshun Gate, looking at each other in bewilderment.