Zhu Tian: Starting from the World of Zongwu

Chapter 421 Ji Xuanfeng: Do you think my new concubine is pretty?

Zhao Guangyi was stunned. "Brother, the situation is unclear now, and you're already taking sides?"

Zhao Kuangyin chuckled, "If the situation is clear, then what's the point of taking sides?"

"So which side do you want to stand on, big brother?"

Zhao Guangyi subconsciously lowered his voice, "I've analyzed a lot of intelligence, and I can roughly judge that, unless something unexpected happens, this new emperor and the commander of the Xuanyi Guard will stand in opposition to the entire Great Zhou family!

All the officials in the court, whether civil or military, who have any weight, basically come from aristocratic families. Most of the power and wealth are in the hands of this power class.

Which side are you going to stand on, Big Brother?

Zhao Kuangyin did not hesitate at all, "Stand on the side of the emperor!"

Zhao Guangyi frowned, "But our Zhao family is also an aristocratic family. If the emperor wants to take action against the aristocratic families, we will naturally stand on the opposite side of him!"

"So what?" Zhao Kuangyin said with a smile, "When one reaches a certain level of power, one no longer distinguishes right from wrong, only one's stance.

The Great Zhou was too big. Even if the emperor wanted to take action against the aristocratic families, he could not kill them all at once. There would always be some useful people left to maintain local rule.

Rather than surrendering only when a knife is at your neck, it’s better to start standing in line now! "

Zhao Guangyi swallowed his saliva and said, "Brother, have you thought it through?

For hundreds of years, several generations of emperors in the past hundred years have thought about solving the problem of aristocratic families, but in the end they all failed without exception.

You can use force to conquer the world, but you cannot rely solely on killing to govern the country.

The Royal Family is powerful, and the Xuanyi Guards are formidable, but without the support of the aristocratic families, the entire world will be in chaos in an instant.

When all the prefectures and cities are filled with rioters, no matter how powerful the Xuanyi Guards are, can they really kill all the people?

Besides, the aristocratic families in various places are not pushovers either.

Our Zhao family has the support of a grandmaster behind it, and other top aristocratic families may not be without backers. For example, which of the top military families in the imperial capital does not have a grandmaster behind them?

If the aristocratic families were forced to huddle together for warmth, their power would be so strong that even the Xuanyi Guards would be wary of them.

"Brother, we are already part of the aristocratic family. If we change our ways and side with the Emperor, it would be fine if the Emperor wins, but if we can't win and the situation gets stalemate, the fate of our Zhao family will most likely be to be thrown out as a pawn to appease the anger of the aristocratic family."

He stared deeply at Zhao Kuangyin, "Brother, two-faced traitors never have a good ending!"

"You're right!" Zhao Kuangyin nodded and smiled, "Traitors will definitely not have a good end!

But what does this have to do with us? My Zhao family has always been loyal to the Great Zhou and the emperor. We will fight wherever the emperor points. How can I be a traitor?

On the contrary, those wealthy and powerful families who have been reaping the blood and sweat of the people of the Great Zhou for hundreds of years have forgotten where their power comes from and who they are loyal to. If you call them traitors, they are the ones who are traitors! "

Zhao Guangyi stopped talking, feeling a little irritable, and just smoked in silence.

After a long time, he said helplessly: "Brother, you have always been cautious. Even when the old emperor restricted the Xuanyi Guards before, you just watched from the sidelines and never expressed your opinion. Why are you so determined to take sides this time?

In this situation, if one person doesn't take the initiative, our Zhao family will be doomed!"

Zhao Kuangyin looked up at the sky, as if making his final decision, "Because if I don't handle it right, I will be doomed, so I have to choose a side as soon as possible!

As I said, times have changed!

The old emperor passed on the throne inexplicably, and died in a strange way. What do you see from this?"

"What did you see?" Zhao Guangyi's face was a little strange. "It's obvious. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that the retired emperor was killed by the new emperor. It's just that no one dared to say it directly."

"Yes, anyone with a discerning eye can see it clearly!" Zhao Kuangyin took a deep breath, "But even so, the new emperor still did it blatantly, and did it unscrupulously, not caring about the rumors outside at all.

What does this mean, you say?

Zhao Guangyi raised his hand and touched his chin. "Does this mean he's very confident in his own abilities and doesn't care about outside opinions at all?"

Zhao Kuangyin nodded, "Not only that, I also saw Taizu's attitude from it!"

He lowered his voice, his tone trembling slightly.

"Taizu has not been involved in worldly affairs for over two hundred years, and this time, the new emperor suddenly ascended the throne without any warning. I can see Taizu's impatience!

Taizu, I am very dissatisfied with the current situation in the Great Zhou!"

The two words "Taizu" sounded like thunder in Zhao Guangyi's ears, making him look pale with fear.

"Brother, are you saying that Taizu is going to launch a purge?"

Zhao Kuangyin did not answer, but continued to ask: "Now, do you have any opinion on my decision?"

Zhao Guangyi shook his head. He was completely convinced of his elder brother's vision and pattern.

"In that case, go down and make some preparations. Tomorrow I will be leaving for the Imperial Capital to report to the Emperor!"

......

In the spring of March, the grass grows and orioles fly.

After ending his honeymoon, Song Xuan returned to the imperial capital. Before he had time to go to the commander's office to work, the emperor sent a message to call him to the palace.

In the imperial study, Emperor Ji Xuanfeng was drinking lotus seed soup, whispering something while drinking.

Beside him, a tall and beautiful woman was listening quietly with a gentle expression, showing admiration from time to time.

Seeing Song Xuan being led to the door by Eunuch Cao, Ji Xuanfeng waved to the woman. Then the pretty woman bowed respectfully and left the imperial study with Eunuch Cao.

After the door was closed, Ji Xuanfeng casually handed Song Xuan a cigarette and winked slightly with satisfaction, "How about it, beautiful, right?"

Song Xuan nodded and said, "Which girl is this?"

"Marquis Changqing's youngest daughter." The emperor lit a cigarette and said, "She was brought into the palace last month."

He blew out a smoke ring and said, "I was busy practicing before and had no interest in women. Your wedding a few years ago stimulated me, so I found someone I liked and gave it a try..."

Song Xuan became interested, "Oh? How does it feel?"

Ji Xuanfeng spit out the circles under his eyes and sighed: "I feel a little regretful."

"What do you regret?"

"I regret not knowing the good of women earlier!"

Song Xuan was slightly stunned and looked at Ji Xuanfeng, and then the two old perverts started laughing.

Regardless of their status, as long as they are men, women are an eternal topic among men.

Of course, when men communicate, women are always just the beginning. After laughing, Song Xuan asked while smoking a cigarette, "Your Majesty, did you call me here just to show off that you have a new woman in your harem?"

"It's not just that, there's something I want to hear your opinion on!"

As he spoke, he handed Song Xuan a memorial, "The Qingzhou incident has dragged on for over two years, and the court has been arguing for a long time about how to deal with the remaining evildoers. Now we have finally come up with a plan like this.

You were the one who originally took charge of this matter. Tell me what you think?"

Song Xuan took the letter and saw a few big words written in the most eye-catching place.

'Eight million people were killed!'

Chapter 422 I just want to ask one question: Do they have any choice?

In the imperial study, the faint scent of ambergris wafts in the air, making people feel relaxed and happy.

Song Xuan was looking at the memorials, while Ji Xuanfeng spoke from time to time to express the opinions of the ministers in the court.

"The civil officials were relatively unanimous. All the soldiers, yamen runners, constables, and government officials from Qingzhou should be killed without mercy. The common people who shaved their heads could be spared the death penalty and sent to the northwest to open up wasteland!"

"The opinions of the military officers were mixed. Some believed that treason should not be forgiven lightly and that the people of Qingzhou could no longer be trusted. They advocated keeping the land but not the people!

Some felt that killing them all was too cruel, and advocated killing half and leaving the other half as a deterrent.

"Of course, I simply ignored these opinions of killing embryos. The military generals are even more ruthless than the civil officials. They wish all the people of Qingzhou would die and free up the entire state. The profits they could gain from this are simply unimaginable!"

"The memorial you are reading now is a relatively moderate opinion among a pile of memorials. If you have no objection after reading it, then I will issue an order to do so!"

The Xuanyi Guards do not interfere in general court affairs.

But after all, this matter was handled by Song Xuan himself. As for the subsequent handling opinions, Ji Xuanfeng still had to listen to Song Xuan's plans.

Song Xuan nodded and looked at the memorial in his hand very carefully, revealing a thoughtful look from time to time.

Ji Xuanfeng stopped talking and smoked silently.

After smoking three cigarettes and drinking two cups of tea, Ji Xuanfeng finally couldn't help but speak, "It's just a memorial, why are you taking so long to read it?"

Song Xuan sat on the chair, leaning forward, his hands folded on his knees, his eyes fixed on Ji Xuanfeng, "This involves eight million lives, it's better to be cautious!"

Ji Xuanfeng was a little surprised. "Back in Qingzhou, you killed a million people with just one sword. With your murderous nature, how could you still care about human life?"

"This is different!"

Song Xuan's tone became more serious, "I went to suppress the rebellion. I can't say that all the people I killed deserved to die, but at least none of them were wronged!

Since I stepped into Qingzhou, I have been killing my way through cities from south to north. This period of time is not short. I gave the Qing army the opportunity to surrender and escape, but even so, many troops chose to be loyal to Huang Taiji.

Therefore, I didn't feel any psychological burden when I killed them. Their deaths were not unjust at all!"

Song Xuan paused for a moment and continued, "But now it's different. I've already killed all of Huang Taiji's diehards. The yamen runners, constables, merchants, and hawkers mentioned in the memorial are at most fence-sitters, and can be killed or not."

Ji Xuanfeng raised his head slightly, "So you mean, don't kill?"

Song Xuan shook his head. "They still have to be killed, but we can't just execute them all without distinction."

He spoke slowly, "When I was a small second-class Xuanyi Guard, in Mingzhou and Qingzhou, I dared to use my power to the fullest. I didn't need to worry too much and just rushed forward.

Because I know I have a strong backer, so I just need to do my job and the mess that follows will be sorted out for me.”

"But it's different now. Now, I am someone else's supporter. My words, actions, and even small decisions may affect the life and death of countless people.

Just like you and I here, a few simple words involve the lives and deaths of eight million people.

In the eyes of the civil and military officials in the court and even His Majesty, these eight million people are just a number that can be easily erased, but to me, these are eight million lives, involving millions of families.

They have parents, children, and aspirations for life and aspirations for living.”

Ji Xuanfeng said: "But, they are involved in treason!"

Song Xuan asked in return: "I just want to ask, do they have any choice?"

"From the beginning to the end, I have read the memorial about the people who are to be killed. Most of them are ordinary people at the bottom of society. They can't read or write, and they don't have any special abilities. Their biggest wish is to survive under the knife of the Qing army with their parents, wives and children.

When I entered Qingzhou to quell the rebellion, they did not stop me, and after I left, they did not continue to cause chaos.

When Huang Taiji rebelled, they had no ability to change anything. When the Great Zhou army subsequently suppressed the rebellion, they did not dare to stop it. From the beginning to the end, they had no power of choice.

They didn't get a chance to enjoy the good times, but now they're being used as a warning to others. Is that fair?"

Ji Xuanfeng listened quietly, his brows sometimes furrowed, sometimes relaxed, his eyes flashing with light, as if he was constantly thinking and exploring.

After a long while, he finally spoke: "Tell me what you think. Who should be killed and who shouldn't be killed? Come up with a rule."

Song Xuan placed the memorial in his hand on the table and sneered, "All I see on it are some petty officials, peddlers and hawkers. Where are those children from aristocratic families?

What about those gentry and wealthy merchants?

These people are the ones who determine the fate of Qingzhou, and they are the group that Huang Taiji needed to win over to make the choice. But why don’t I see any of them in this memorial? "

Ji Xuanfeng smiled and said, "You didn't see it because these people are in another fold!"

As he spoke, he threw out a merit book and chuckled, "Look, this is the list of rewards given by my ministers based on their merits."

Song Xuan took a look and laughed too, "Great, they've suddenly become the heroes who opened the city gates to welcome the royal army, and the loyal and good people who slept on straw and tasted gall in the Qing camp but their hearts were with the Zhou.

What a Spring and Autumn style of writing, what a loyal and good man of the Great Zhou!"

Ji Xuanfeng sighed, "As you can see, the civil and military affairs of the Great Zhou are already mostly rotten. Cleaning it up is no different from conquering the world all over again."

As he spoke, he poured a cup of tea for Song Xuan, "So next, Xuanyiwei, it's time to move!"

Song Xuan put the merit book into his sleeve and said, "That's perfect. There's no need to investigate anymore. I can just arrest people according to the list. It saves a lot of trouble!"

Ji Xuanfeng nodded and said, "What are you going to do with those eight million people? Are you not going to kill them?"

Song Xuan shook his head, "Some still have to be killed!

For example, the Europeans in the far west of Qingzhou played a significant role in Huang Taiji's rebellion. They even got their firearms and other supplies from there. As for this restless group..."

Song Xuan's smile was somewhat cold. "My opinion is, keep the land but not the people! The vacant land is perfect, and we can send the remaining prisoners there to open up wasteland!"

Ji Xuanfeng nodded and watched Song Xuan leave. He glanced at Eunuch Cao who was standing outside the door with his body hunched.

"Send an order, summon Marquis Changqing to the palace!"