Ming Dynasty: Moral blackmail? I, Emperor Chongzhen, have no morals!

The four eunuchs first kowtowed deeply to Wang Huamin, then took the wine cups from the eunuchs of the Inner Court and drank them down in one gulp. The four men leaned on each other, their fingers digging deep into their palms due to the intense pain in their abdomens.

After a while, Li Wen and the four eunuchs from the Eastern Depot stopped moving, and traces of blood seeped from the corners of their mouths.

Wang Huamin stepped forward and checked each of them. After confirming that there was no possibility of survival, he slowly walked out of the granary. The two eunuchs from the Inner Court who followed him stayed where they were and bowed to see Wang Huamin off.

As soon as Wang Huamin left the granary, a huge fire broke out inside, and with the help of the wind and kerosene, it quickly spread to all sides.

Two eunuchs from the Inner Depot, the director of the Eastern Depot, and four eunuchs from the Eastern Depot—a total of seven people—were mercilessly consumed by the fire.

Under the firelight, Wang Huamin remained expressionless. After feeling the intense heat of the fire for a while, he pulled on the horse's reins, mounted the horse, and galloped towards the capital without looking back.

The next morning, just as the sky began to lighten and the dew still clung to the branches.

Early risers in the capital were already busy with their work, and wisps of smoke rose from their chimneys, filling the city.

Inside the palace, a group of young eunuchs were sweeping the main hall and corridors with brooms in hand.

Having not slept a wink all night, Wang Huamin arrived outside the Qianqing Palace, awaiting the emperor's summons.

Before long, the gates of the Qianqing Palace slowly opened, and a young eunuch hurriedly approached Wang Huamin: "His Majesty summons Eunuch Wang to enter!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Huamin hurriedly walked towards the Qianqing Palace. As soon as he entered the warm pavilion, he saw Zhu Jian, dressed neatly, sitting behind a table: "This servant, Wang Huamin, greets Your Majesty!"

"Is it all done?"

"It's done!"

"Go to the Imperial Treasury and collect 20,000 taels of silver in the name of the Eastern Depot!"

"As you command!" Wang Huamin said, then got up and left.

After Wang Huamin left, Wang Chengen slowly approached Zhu Jian: "Your Majesty, the memorials from the Ministry of Justice have been delivered to the Wuying Hall today!"

"knew!"

As noon approached, Wang Dehua, who was in his duty room at the Directorate of Ceremonial, was still pondering the selection of personnel for the Eastern Depot when he suddenly heard a shout.

Wu Daozheng, a detective from the Eastern Depot, staggered up to Wang Dehua: "Godfather, Supervisor Li... Li Wen has been burned to death in the Tongzhou granary!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Dehua abruptly stood up, his eyes wide: "You... what did you say?"

"Just now, the Tongzhou supervising eunuch reported that the supervisor and six eunuchs from the Eastern Depot were burned to death in the civilian granary handed over by Beixincang!"

Upon hearing the clear answer, Wang Dehua slumped onto the couch, waving his hand weakly: "I understand, go back!!"

How could Li Wen, as the head of the Eastern Depot, be burned to death in the granary for no reason? Wang Dehua didn't believe it was done by people from the two dukes' mansions, after all, he was the head eunuch of the Eastern Depot, not just some random eunuch.

After a moment's thought, Wang Dehua suddenly remembered what the emperor had told him a few days ago. A chill ran down his spine, and cold sweat poured down his forehead. Could it be... could it be...?

Thinking of the Inner Court, Wang Dehua's throat bobbed, but he still got up and walked towards the Wuying Hall. This matter definitely needed to be reported to the emperor. Since the emperor hadn't told him on his own initiative, he was waiting for him to learn the news and then report it to him.

Wang Dehua sighed deeply and shook his head inwardly. Without the ability to reach that position, he would ultimately die...

Wang Dehua is now far more terrified than he was under Cao Huachun. Back then, although he was suppressed, things still went relatively smoothly. Now, as the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, he has to be even more cautious...

When Wang Dehua arrived outside the Wuying Hall, he waved to the young eunuch on duty at the gate: "Is His Majesty here?"

"Reporting to Eunuch Wang, His Majesty said that you can go straight in upon arrival!"

Wang Dehua took a piece of silver from his pocket and stuffed it into the little eunuch's hand: "Thank you for your hard work!"

Wang Dehua never imagined that he, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, would one day have to bribe other eunuchs. He dared not gamble on who the real Inner Court eunuch was in the palace...

"Thank you, Eunuch Wang!" The little eunuch did not refuse, thanked him, and put the money into his pocket.

Wang Dehua arrived at Wuying Hall with trepidation. The little eunuch's words made him even more certain that the emperor knew something, and perhaps the emperor had instructed the Inner Court to handle this matter.

If the emperor were dissatisfied with the head eunuch of the Eastern Depot, he could dismiss him with a single word; there would be no need for him to instruct the Inner Depot to burn the head eunuch of the Eastern Depot alive. Now it seems that something major is about to happen in the court, something of utmost importance...

Wang Dehua entered the east wing of the Wuying Hall and saw Zhu Jian reading a memorial. He bowed and knelt, saying, "This servant, Wang Dehua, greets Your Majesty!"

"Get up!" Zhu Jian said without even looking up.

"Your Majesty, this servant reports that Li Wen, the chief eunuch of the Eastern Depot, along with six other eunuchs from the Eastern Depot, were found burned to death in a civilian granary in Tongzhou!" After saying this, Wang Dehua secretly glanced at Zhu Jian's attitude out of the corner of his eye.

"Send five hundred taels of silver to each of their homes! Are there any good candidates left for the position of Director of the Eastern Depot?" Zhu Jian said calmly, without any emotion.

"Your Majesty, this servant believes Wang Huamin is capable!" Wang Dehua dared not recommend anyone else of his own. From the moment he last met Wang Huamin, he had a nagging feeling that this man could be considered the Ming Dynasty's number one spy...

"Is he also one of your trusted confidants?" Prosecutor Zhu asked curiously.

Wang Dehua repeatedly denied it: "No...no...both he and I are His Majesty's people!"

"Speak of your own trusted confidants! You're in charge of the Eastern Depot! It's just that the choice of its commander needs careful consideration!"

Wang Dehua thought for a moment, then tentatively asked, "This servant thinks that Wu Dao, the official in charge of criminal investigations at the Eastern Depot, is perfectly suited to be the head of the Eastern Depot!"

"Then let's go with him! You go and teach Wu Daozheng a lesson, make sure he learns the rules and regulations of the Eastern Depot!"

"yes!"

Wang Dehua's fate is now largely confirmed, and the Eastern Depot's regulations mentioned by Zhu Jian are at least half the reason for Li Wen's death! As the head of the Eastern Depot, if he still wants to play both sides, his final fate will be death.

This also reflects the emperor's attitude towards him. The emergence of the Inner Depot indicates dissatisfaction with the existing Directorate of Ceremonial, at least in its handling of cases...

As Wang Dehua left the Wuying Hall, he pondered. Perhaps if Li Wen, the director of the Eastern Depot, had directly convicted Xun Gui of "treason," he might not have died! But now, his death had sealed Xun Gui's treasonous involvement in the civilian granaries...

Li Wen's death was the ultimate distortion of the logic of power: if the emperor wants you dead, your death becomes someone else's crime!

Upon arriving at the Eastern Depot, Wang Dehua immediately summoned Wu Daozheng, the chief executioner: "From this day forward, you will be in charge of the Eastern Depot! Continue to handle the matters that Li Wen failed to accomplish!"

"Yes!" Wu Daozheng bowed.

In Wu Daozheng's eyes, Li Wen was a "good person," but unsuitable to be the head of the Eastern Depot. He might be better off in the Laundry Department, where he could treat his subordinates better...

"Investigate and determine the matter of the two warehouses being burned down quickly. Do not conceal anything. Report directly to His Majesty!" Wang Dehua continued to instruct Wu Daozheng.

"Yes, son will heed his godfather's teachings!"

"Go and do your job!" With that, Wang Dehua got up and left.

After Wang Dehua left, many eunuchs from the Eastern Depot came to Wu Daozheng's side: "Congratulations, Chief Supervisor! You've been promoted by your godfather!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Daozheng whirled around and slapped the fawning eunuch across the face: "This governor is acting on the orders of His Majesty!"

Wu Daozheng was very clear that he was under the emperor's command. Although his godfather Wang Dehua had taken good care of him, he could not say this. If he did not understand his own position, he would be the second Li Wen!

"Yes! Yes! I misspoke!" The eunuch who had been beaten quickly admitted his mistake. If the emperor found out, even their godfather might suffer!

After speaking, Wu Daozheng glanced at the instruments of torture around him: "Change all the instruments of torture today! Make sure all these people confess tomorrow!"

"Yes!" A group of people hurriedly went to the Ministry of Works to replace the instruments of torture with larger and more cruel ones...