Volume 2: The Capital, I’m Back Chapter 57: Daming Martyrs' Shrine
Fan Zhong raised his knife and slashed, and another head fell to the ground.
Shi Heng was beating Xu Yun violently when he saw his nephew's head fall to the ground. He collapsed to the ground, his face turning from pale to blue, and then from blue to black, almost oozing ink.
At this point, Zhu Qiyu finally understood.
He is just young and frivolous, not stupid.
In addition to supporting himself as regent, these people seemed to have done something else.
Zhu Qizhen looked at Shi Heng and said with a playful expression: " Shi Heng, it's your turn now. If you have anything to say, say it now!"
Shi Heng was now frustrated. He sighed heavily and said, "Forget it, forget it. It is fate. I have nothing to say. You can kill me or chop me up. It is all up to you!"
Zhu Qizhen asked back: "From what you said, you are still not convinced?"
Shi Heng shook his head and sighed, "Your Majesty is right. I was the one who hurriedly evacuated Datong, which led to the Oirat's early attack on Datong. I admit my guilt! Your Majesty personally led 3,000 troops deep into the desert and attacked Huanglong. I admired you from the bottom of my heart. Now that I have fallen into Your Majesty's hands, I am convinced and I only hope that Your Majesty can give me a quick death!"
Zhu Qizhen was amused and said, "You are really like a man. If you hadn't committed the crime of treason , I would not have been willing to kill you."
"If I stick my head out, I'll get a knife. If I hide my head, I'll get a knife too. I know my crime is unforgivable. Now that things have come to this, there's nothing more to say!"
At this time, Xu Yun, who was beaten black and blue, knelt down in front of Zhu Qizhen and cried, "Your Majesty, don't be fooled by this man. Shi Heng and his nephew are also one of the masterminds of the rebellion. I beg your Majesty to kill this thief!"
"Pooh!"
Shi Heng spat a mouthful of thick phlegm on his face and said angrily: "I will die today, but you, a treacherous villain, will not live either!"
After saying that, he rushed forward and beat him up again. Xu Yun was beaten so hard that he begged for mercy again and again, but no one paid any attention to him.
Zhu Qiyu could no longer hold back and stepped forward and said, "Brother, what on earth is going on?"
Zhu Qizhen ordered Fan Zhong to take out the stack of letters. Zhu Qiyu took a look at them and suddenly turned pale, at a loss.
Even though he had guessed it to be almost certain, when he saw the letters with his own eyes, he still couldn't help but shudder all over and immediately fell to his knees.
"My brother...die!"
Zhu Qizhen put away his smile and said, "I called you here alone to talk to you. During my brother's time as regent, such a big thing happened. Was he responsible for any negligence?"
"I know I was wrong, please punish me, Your Majesty!"
"Forget it!" Zhu Qizhen waved his hand and said, "You are still inexperienced. Today's incident should be a lesson for you. I will tell all the officials that it was you who discovered the conspiracy of these people and then reported it to me. This way, your contribution as regent will not be erased."
Zhu Qiyu was covered in cold sweat, panicked and excited, and was speechless for a moment.
On the other side, Xu Yun was covered in blood and had already died.
Shi Heng finally heaved a sigh of relief and said, "Your Majesty, please send this guilty minister to his death!"
Zhu Qizhen raised his hand, hesitated for a moment, and then put it down.
"Take him back first!"
Fan Zhong stepped forward, took Shi Heng away, tied him up with a rope, and led him to the back of the team.
Zhu Qizhen took Zhu Qiyu's hand and said, "Follow me into the city!"
Outside Anding Gate, the ministers had been waiting for a long time and had no idea what was happening ahead.
Hu Yi was already seventy-five years old, three years older than Zhang Fu, and his legs were numb from kneeling.
He wanted to move around, but then he thought that as the Minister of Rites, he had to set an example at such an important moment, so he forced himself not to move.
However, the emperor has not made any move yet, and no one knows how long we have to wait.
He glanced around and saw Yu Qian behind him, so he asked, "Yu Qian, what's going on?"
Yu Qian was stunned and said blankly: "How should I know?"
Hu Yi sighed and shook his head, "Forget it, it's useless to ask you."
Yu Qian got anxious and retorted: "Master Hu, please explain clearly what you mean by asking me is useless."
"If you don't want to talk about it, forget it. I won't ask."
Yu Qian is almost going crazy, what does it have to do with me? Are you putting all the blame on me?
Hu Yi muttered to himself again: "The Emperor wouldn't be talking to His Royal Highness Prince Qing... Alas..."
"Don't talk!" Zhang Fu waved his hand to stop him. "The emperor is here!"
Finally, Zhu Qizhen brought Zhu Qiyu to the front of the ministers.
All the ministers immediately shouted "Long live the emperor" to highlight the emperor's achievements in leading the army in person.
"Gentlemen, please stand up!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Zhu Qizhen looked around and said, "Since all the nobles are here, I have something to say here !"
The ministers looked at each other again. Logically speaking, they should go into the city first. Everyone has been waiting for you for so long. Can't you go back and say whatever you want to say?
Hu Yi took a step forward with his numb legs and said, "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother and the Empress are still waiting in the palace, why don't we..."
"No problem, just a few words!"
Zhu Qizhen waved his hand and Hu Yi had to retreat.
"During this period of time when I was away, King Qing and the other nobles worked together to manage the affairs of the court in an orderly manner. I am very pleased!"
After hearing this, the ministers' expressions relaxed. It seemed that the brothers had not fallen out with each other.
Since ancient times, serving the emperor is like serving a tiger, especially the power of government that the emperor cares about the most. One must be extremely careful. If one is not careful, there will be countless heads rolling and rivers of blood.
"The Prince of Qing is still young and has little experience as a regent for the first time. It is understandable that he handled some things inappropriately. However, you are the backbone of the court and the pillars of the country. Why did you watch the rebellion in the capital? Didn't you notice anything?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the ministers were in an uproar. They all knelt on the ground and shouted "Long live the emperor".
Hu Yi looked bewildered and said, "This old minister is stupid, please enlighten me, Your Majesty!"
Zhu Qizhen took out a stack of letters and threw them on the ground.
Hu Yi picked it up and took a look at it. He was immediately so frightened that his face turned pale. He lowered his head and kept silent.
Zhu Qizhen glanced around and saw Yu Qian behind Hu Yi, so he said, "Yu Qian, what did my edict say at the beginning? Now that a major case of treason has occurred, what are you doing?"
Yu Qian was confused. What was going on?
What does it have to do with me? I don't even know what happened...
He wanted to take the letter and read it, but he couldn't reach it, and he didn't dare to move, so he could only say, "I will die!"
Zhu Qizhen said bluntly: "If you want to see it, come and get it!"
"yes!"
Yu Qian leaned forward and picked up the letter. The more he read, the more frightened he became.
"Your Majesty, I dare to ask, can you convict me based on these letters alone?"
“Very rigorous!”
Zhu Qizhen nodded and waved his hand behind him. Fan Zhong understood and ordered his men to bring Shi Heng, Chahan Tai and Feng Yi forward.
"Do you need me to introduce you to someone?"
Although Yu Qian did not know Chahan Tai and Feng Yi, he knew Shi Heng. When he saw the expression on the other's face, he knew what was going on.
"Your Majesty is right. It was our failure to supervise. We are willing to accept the punishment!"
Zhu Qizhen raised his head, his face became extremely grim, and he said sternly: "If it weren't for the careful thinking of the Prince of Qing, who had seen through the conspiracy of these people, I'm afraid that you would not be here to welcome me today, but to collect my body!"
All the ministers were silent, and Zhu Qiyu was ashamed and didn't know what to do.
Zhu Qizhen continued, "Regarding the case of Cao Jixiang and others plotting treason, the Jinyiwei will be thoroughly investigated. The main culprit will be executed along with his entire clan. All the people involved will be strictly investigated! Jinyiwei commander Ma Shun is involved in the case. From today on, Jinyiwei will be managed by Yuan Bin."
Yuan Bin immediately knelt on one knee and saluted, saying, "I obey your order!"
Zhu Qizhen looked around and continued, "Kang Neng, the garrison commander of Huailai, was the first to abandon the city and flee, and then to kill innocent people and take credit for it. Yu Qian, this man is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War. You will be in charge of this case. The Jinyiwei will work together to supervise the investigation. The principal offender will be executed along with his entire clan, and the accomplices will be executed and their families will be exiled!"
Yu Qian didn't have time to think, and hurriedly bowed and said, "I obey your order!"
"Also, there are people at Huangya Pass collaborating with the enemy. I'll hand them over to you. Take care of them!"
Yu Qian felt that his brain was not enough, how come another one appeared...
"I obey your order!"
After explaining these things, Zhu Qizhen's expression eased a little, but there was still one most important thing he hadn't said.
"I personally led the army and repelled the invasion of the Wala, but due to improper command in the early stages, tens of thousands of troops were lost. The soldiers fought bloody battles but refused to turn back. This is my dereliction of duty!"
"Therefore, I have decided to build a Martyrs' Shrine to honor the soldiers who died fighting for the Ming Dynasty. From now on, anyone who dies fighting for the country will be enshrined in the shrine and receive incense from the Ming Dynasty!"
