Who killed the Ming Dynasty?

Zhu Cilang's teacup paused at his lips:

"On that day, the Emperor rejected Yang Sichang's proposal to impose additional 'suppression tax' and instead ordered Zuo Liangyu's troops to move to Xiangyang."

He took a small sip and turned his gaze to Shi Kefa.

"Did Minister Shi advise at the time that 'rather than increasing taxes, it would be better to clean up the barren lands'? Was that correct?"

The teacup clattered as it hit the table, as if the scene of the court meeting was right before my eyes.

Shi Kefa's expression hardened, and he immediately turned to Gao Hongtu:

"Please recall the contents of the documents from the discussions back then, Minister Gao."

Gao Hongtu trembled and hurriedly fumbled for a tattered page of a document in his sleeve:

"Your Highness's account is absolutely accurate! The records of the discussions at that time are still kept in the archives of the Ministry of Revenue in Nanjing."

Zhu Cilang rose from his seat and paced back and forth. The morning light streamed in through the tent flap, illuminating his handsome figure.

He lightly pressed his right hand against the jade belt, his voice clear and melodious:

"All garrison commanders must be selected from experienced, honest, and upright individuals, and will be evaluated every three years..."

Shi Kefa took out the secret book from his bosom, and moved his fingertips along the text, line by line, in accordance with the recitation.

As the last syllable faded away, he gently closed the book against his chest.

"Three hidden sentry posts on the east side of Xiaolingwei."

Zhu Cilang suddenly used tea instead of ink and began to draw on the water stains on the table.

"Each outpost is equipped with two tiger-squatting cannons, which were added in the thirty-seventh year of the Wanli reign."

Dark brown tea stains spread between the wood grain, gradually forming the landscape of Nanjing and the garrison markings.

Several pairs of official boots stepped forward simultaneously, and the ministers' breathing grew heavier as they bent down to examine them closely.

The hastily drawn tea stains surprisingly matched the military maps in my memory.

Shi Kefa took two steps back and suddenly raised his voice:

"Your Highness, I have three questions for you to answer..."

"One question: On the 16th day of the third month of the year Jia Shen (1644), did His Majesty secretly order Li Guozhen, the Earl of Xiangcheng, to burn down the Tongzhou granary?"

"Second question: When and how did Han, the garrison commander of Nanjing, develop his old injury to his left arm?"

"Three questions: How many Hongwu cypress trees still exist at the Fengyang Ancestral Mausoleum?"

Before the words were finished, Zhu Cilang's clear and melodious reply rang out:

That night, the Emperor smashed a teacup on the platform and rebuked Li Guozhen, saying, "You'd rather fund a traitor than help the people!"

Gao Hongtu checked the information in a low voice and then looked up:

"What Your Highness said is consistent with the record of the suspension of grain transport."

Zhu Cilang continued speaking rapidly:

"Han Banban's left arm was injured in the seventh year of the Tianqi reign when he was putting out a fire in the Qianqing Palace."

"Nine cypress trees planted by Emperor Hongwu still exist in the ancestral mausoleum. Emperor Chengzu cut down one of them to make a plaque for the Imperial Ancestral Temple."

Han Zanzhou, who had been keeping his head down, suddenly coughed, and Shi Kefa had already grabbed his sleeve:

"Please, sir, remove your clothes to examine the injuries."

With a rustling sound of fabric, Han Zanzhou pulled open his sleeve, revealing a ring-shaped scar on his elbow.

It was the burn mark from the beams in the fire seventeen years ago.

The ministers looked at each other in silence, and there were no more questions.

Shi Kefa straightened his clothes and led his ministers in a third kowtow, shouting in unison:

"Your Highness, we respectfully request that you move to the palace to reassure the people!"

Zhu Cilang sat upright as a rock, a wisp of lingering incense rising from the bronze incense burner.

He lowered his eyes and remained silent, letting the incense ash fall onto the scarlet carpet.

The tent was deathly silent; everyone held their breath.

—Show them strength, then observe their heart.

Shi Kefa, let me see if your loyalty is truly as flawless as your reputation.

The next moment, he looked up at Shi Kefa and suddenly launched an attack:

"I heard that Minister Shi had a secret meeting with Envoy Zuo Liangyu a month ago?"

His voice broke the stagnant air.

Gao Hongtu's face turned deathly pale instantly, and Shi Kefa's fingers, which were hanging in mid-air, froze.

The atmosphere inside the tent instantly became tense.

This is the shocking secret of Zuo Liangyu of Wuchang secretly sending envoys and knocking on the Shi residence at night. The general's secret communication with court officials is tantamount to treason.

Zhu Cilang's question at this moment was clearly a move to turn the tables.

The guard at the corner of the tent's expression changed drastically, and his right hand instantly gripped the hilt of his sword.

"An envoy did indeed come from Wuchang."

Shi Kefa stood tall, his voice booming:

"Your Majesty, I immediately ordered him to kneel and hear the imperial edict—'Any general who secretly colludes with court officials shall have his entire family executed!'"

After speaking, he suddenly pulled out a transcribed document of admonition from his sleeve and displayed it in front of everyone with a "whoosh".

Zhu Cilang glanced at the paper and nodded slowly.

He walked to the map on the tent wall, pointed to the words "Huai'an," and asked:

"If I were to order you to execute Liu Zeqing tomorrow, what strategy would you employ?"

Liu Zeqing, with 30,000 troops, was entrenched in Huai'an. Killing him could easily trigger a mutiny, and the officials held their breath.

"I have three steps."

Shi Kefa brought three fingers together and thrust them towards the map:

"First, order Lu Jiude to cut off their supply lines;"

"Second, issue a proclamation listing his twelve crimes;"

"Thirdly, we beg Your Highness to personally pardon his generals."

Before he could finish speaking, his finger suddenly pressed down on the name "Gao Jie" on the map, his eyes sharp—hinting at exploiting the infighting among warlords.

Zhu Cilang stared at the name "Gao Jie" on the map and sneered before turning back to his seat.

Then the third question was posed:

"Is Minister Shi trying to emulate Emperor Xian of Han by bestowing titles upon Cao Cao?"

This question strikes at the heart of the matter, directly pointing to Shi Kefa's desire to emulate Cao Cao's use of Zhu Cilang to command the other warlords.

Shi Kefa's dark face immediately turned bright red:

"I wish to emulate Emperor Suzong of Tang by employing Guo Ziyi!"

The sound boomed through the military tent.

Shi Kefa stood ramrod straight, his gaze unwavering, as if he wanted to convey Guo Ziyi's sincere heart to him.

The sandalwood incense in the tent suddenly stopped burning.

Han Zanzhou bowed and presented two brocade trays, one in plain white mourning clothes and the other in imperial robes, exuding majesty.

Zhu Cilang glanced at the patterns on the clothing and looked at Shi Kefa:

"Should I observe mourning for the late Emperor, or should I immediately assume the regency?"

This question struck me like a thunderbolt!

The courtiers were immediately agitated, their knees trembling slightly beneath their official robes—

If he chooses to remain in mourning, he may miss the opportunity to seize power; if he immediately assumes the reins of government, he will inevitably be criticized for being unfilial and will be subject to criticism.

Shi Kefa placed the plain white silk under his ceremonial robes and raised it to his chest:

"Your Highness, please dress in mourning clothes and attend court!"

Everyone was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized!

This strategy involves wearing plain white mourning clothes as a base layer, and then donning the imperial robes of a regent on top. This fulfills both filial piety and the power of the state, achieving two goals at once.

The dust floating inside the tent slowly settled in the slanting morning light.

Shi Kefa remained kneeling, but beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his previously taut shoulders and back relaxed slightly.

The guard's grip on the hilt of his sword loosened slightly.

Zhu Cilang gazed at Shi Kefa's flushed face, his voice calm:

"Minister Shi, please take a look at this tea stain diagram from Xiaoling Guard—"

He pointed to the undried tea stains on the table.

"The land is not yet dry, and the nation needs to continue."

"If you want to govern the world with filial piety, then wear plain white armor and the sun and moon as your helmet."

"Three questions, like a mirror, illuminate the loyal soul; three testimonies, like a tripod, forge a national treasure. Minister Shi's kneeling—"

His voice mingled with the sound of the pine trees outside the tent.

"We kneel before the land upheld by the dragon veins of our ancestral mausoleum; we kneel before the still-warm, loyal souls of the soldiers on the nine borders!"

He personally helped Shi Kefa up, feeling the weight of Shi Kefa's body and his slight trembling in his arm.

This is the weight of a loyal minister, and also the weight of a crumbling dynasty.

"Tomorrow at 3:45 AM, I will wear the mountains and rivers as my attire—plain hemp lined with gold-woven satin, with a mourning belt binding my armor and a jade belt hanging from it."

"Your Highness, please move to the palace!"

The cheers and applause rose again.

The courtiers retreated respectfully like a receding tide.

Several figures in python robes suddenly emerged from outside the tent—

Earl of Chengyi Liu Kongzhao, Earl of Xincheng Zhao Zhilong, Duke of Baoguo Zhu Guobi, and others had already prostrated themselves at the end of the scarlet carpet.

Zhu Cilang then summoned the relevant officials and nobles.