Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

Zhu Qiyu remained silent for a long time.

What did Wang Zhen want those secret files for?

Destroying evidence?

Or is there another picture?

He recalled the gold and silver treasures confiscated from Wang Zhen's mansion after the Tumu Crisis.

At that time, Lu Zhong led his men to search for three days and three nights.

But none of those confidential files were found.

Zhu Qiyu slowly began, "Have those who have been detained been interrogated?"

Xing'an said, "The interrogation has been completed, and twelve people have confessed without hesitation."

Seven other people vehemently denied the allegations, but there was ample witness testimony and physical evidence.

There are four more people...

"I dare not move."

Zhu Qiyu looked at him: "Why don't you dare to move?"

Xing'an whispered, "Of those four, two are engaged in marriage with Xun Gui."

One of them was a distant relative of the Duke of Cheng's family.

One of the women's daughters married the illegitimate son of the Marquis of Taining.

The other two were either relatives of the Empress Dowager or...

One was a distant cousin of Empress Dowager Qian.

Zhu Qiyu sneered: "Very well."

Is the Eastern Depot my Eastern Depot, or theirs?

He rose and paced a few steps in the hall: "Issue my decree that those twenty-three people be severely punished according to the law."

Those who deserve to be killed should be killed, and those who deserve to be exiled should be exiled.

No matter who stands behind them, my Eastern Depot has no place for such parasites.

Xing'an kowtowed: "Your subject obeys the decree."

Zhu Qiyu added, "As for the remaining people, you should carefully examine them."

Keep what you can use, and send what you can't to sweep the streets.

The Eastern Depot was not a refuge, much less a place for them to make money.

Xing'an hesitated for a moment: "Your Majesty, if we dismiss them all, the Eastern Depot will only have about two hundred people left to use."

Even the capital city isn't fully covered, let alone spying on the rest of the country...

Zhu Qiyu waved his hand: "Two hundred people are enough."

Based on these people, you can recruit new personnel to rebuild the Eastern Depot.

Anyone who dares to use the name of the Eastern Depot to extort money and commit murder again will have their entire family wiped out.

Xing'an kowtowed deeply: "Your subject will remember."

"And those missing secret documents, let me investigate them."

Where did Wang Zhen take them?

Who handled it, who hid it—we must find out everything.

"If you can't find anything, you can forget about being the head of the Eastern Depot."

Xing'an trembled: "Your subject... obeys the decree."

Seeing his fearful expression, Zhu Qiyu softened his tone and said, "Get up."

I am not trying to make things difficult for you.

The Eastern Depot is my eyes and ears.

If I'm blind and deaf, how can I rule this country?

Go and tell those who stayed behind.

As long as they serve loyally, I will not mistreat them.

But there's one rule: anyone who dares to betray their own people again will regret ever being born a human!

Xing'an stood up, his forehead beaded with sweat: "Your Majesty's words will be conveyed without error."

Zhu Qiyu nodded: "Go ahead, deal with those twenty-three people first."

The execution will be carried out publicly outside the West Market tomorrow, so that the whole city can see it.

My Eastern Depot is not a place for harboring filth and corruption.

Xing'an accepted the order and withdrew.

Only Zhu Qiyu remained in the hall.

He walked to the window and looked out at the night.

The Eastern Depot, the Embroidered Uniform Guard...

These are all powerful tools left behind by Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong.

But over the years, these weapons have either rusted or been stolen and used.

Now he's going to take them back one by one.

The rear hall of the Duke of Cheng's residence.

Zhu Yi sat at the table with a gloomy expression.

His father, Zhu Yong, was the son of Zhu Neng, the Duke of Cheng, and a descendant of Yuan Xun, the leader of the Jingnan Campaign.

During the Zhengtong era, Zhu Yong rose to the rank of Grand Tutor and was in charge of the Governor-General's Office. He was a pillar among the nobles.

Zhu Yong led his troops in a fierce battle at Tumu Fortress and died on the battlefield.

According to convention, Zhu Yong's title should be inherited by him.

But now, a month has passed since he submitted his memorial requesting to inherit the title, and it has vanished without a trace.

He sent someone to the Ministry of Rites to inquire, and the Ministry of Rites said, "It is currently being verified."

When I went to the Ministry of Personnel to inquire, they said, "We await His Majesty's approval."

When I went to the Cabinet to ask, they said, "The draft has already been submitted to the Directorate of Ceremonial."

It's been a month, and they're still "sending it to the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs".

Zhu Yi knew why.

Because Zhu Qiyu did not want him to inherit the title.

Or rather, Zhu Qiyu did not want any noble son to inherit the title so easily.

That day in the imperial court, Zhu Qiyu made it very clear: those who have the ability to go up the city wall to kill the enemy and make meritorious contributions will be generously granted titles and ranks.

If you're not capable, just stay home and don't try to boss us around.

Does Zhu Yi have any ability?

No.

He is 22 years old this year. He had been studying at home all along and had never even seen a map of Beijing's defenses.

When his father died for his country, he didn't even know how to cry.

But what can he do?

That was a title his father had earned with his life, and he had to inherit it.

The curtain was lifted, and Zhang Yi walked in.

The younger brother of Duke Zhang Fu of England also looked unwell at this moment.

Zhang Yi cupped his hands in greeting: "Duke of Cheng."

Zhu Yi rose and returned the greeting: "Governor Zhang."

Zhang Yi spoke first: "There's still no news about the succession?"

Zhu Yi shook her head.

Zhang Yi sneered, "Your Majesty is trying to cut off our path."

Zhu Yi remained silent.

Zhang Yi looked at him: "Do you know what happened to the vanguard of the government troops today?"

Zhu Yi nodded: "I understand. Four hundred new recruits will be added to the Twenty-Six Guards."

Zhang Yi lowered his voice: "Those four hundred people were personally selected by His Majesty."

They were all from humble backgrounds.

A complex light flashed in Zhu Yi's eyes.

Zhang Yi continued, "Do you know what this means?"

Once those four hundred men have established themselves in the Twenty-Six Guards.

We old men were really sidelined.

Zhu Yi remained silent for a long time before slowly asking, "What does Governor Zhang intend to do?"

Zhang Yi looked at him and said, "Your father is the pillar of Xun Guizhong."

How many noble sons and soldiers died on the battlefield with him in the Battle of Tumu Fortress?

His body is barely cold, and his son cannot even inherit the title.

Can you swallow this insult?

Zhu Yi lowered her eyes: "So what if I can't swallow it?"

Zhang Yi leaned closer: "If you can't swallow it, let's figure out a way together."

We are not alone in Beijing.

Marquis Chen Hao of Taining, Imperial Son-in-Law Jiao Jing, Jing Heng...

Which of these families isn't in this situation?

We have jointly submitted a memorial requesting Your Majesty to handle the matter of the succession of the title as soon as possible.

He can't just keep all our memorials to himself and not send them out, can he?

Zhu Yi raised his head: "What happens after the memorial is submitted? What if His Majesty refuses to grant it?"

Zhang Yi sneered: "Why can't he allow it?"

Hereditary titles were an ancestral system, a rule established by the founding emperor.

His reform of the imperial clan's stipend system has already caused him a lot of trouble.

If we continue to restrict the inheritance of titles by nobles, aren't we afraid of chilling the hearts of the descendants of loyal and virtuous officials throughout the land?

"Very well, let's submit a joint memorial!"

Zhang Yi laughed: "That's more like it."

Don't worry, it's not just us.

The civil officials in the court also had grievances against His Majesty.

Wang Zhi was forced into retirement.

The Ministry of Personnel was replaced, the Six Ministries were suppressed, and the Censorate also fell silent.

But they were all dissatisfied.

"As long as we stir up trouble here, people over there will naturally respond."

Zhu Yi nodded.

Zhang Yi stood up: "I'll go make the contact right away, you wait here."

He took a few steps and then suddenly turned back: "Oh, right, there's one more thing."

His Majesty has sent the Eastern Depot to investigate us.

Be careful what you say and do.

Zhu Yi's heart skipped a beat, then she nodded: "I know."

After Zhang Yi left, Zhu Yi sat alone in the back hall, gazing absently at her father's portrait on the wall.

The portrait shows Zhu Yong dressed in armor, with a sword at his waist, and piercing eyes.

That's what he looked like at fifty, a time when he was full of vigor and ambition.

Zhu Yi sighed softly.

Father, if you were still here, how could my Duke Cheng's mansion have fallen to such a state?