Chapter 68: Preparing to Make a Move

The court's appointment of officials was a failure—Wang Huazhen, just like Yuan Yingtai, directly squandered the excellent situation in Liaodong.

The Later Jin occupied Guangning, and successively took over more than forty forts that the Ming army had abandoned: Yizhou, Pingyang Bridge, Xixing Fort, Jinzhou, Tiechang, Daling River, Jin'an, Youdun Garrison, Tuanshan, Zhenning, Zhenyuan, Zhen'an, Zhenjing, Zhenbian, Daqing Fort, Dakang Fort, Zhenwu Fort, Zhuangzhen Fort, Lüyang Post, Shisan Mountain Post, Xiaoling River, Songshan, Xingshan, Qianma Ridge, Qijia Fort, Zhengan, Jinchang, Zhong'an, Zhenyi, Dajing, Daning, Daping, Da'an, Dading, Damao, Dasheng, Dazhen, Dafu, Daxing, Panshan Post, Etuo Fort, Baitu Factory, Tashan Fort, Zhong'an Fort, Shuangtai Fort, and others.

Nurhaci ordered the people west of the Liao River to be driven east of the Liao River.

After returning to court, this matter became a major subject of factional strife.

But within the Donglin Faction, there wasn't really anything difficult to decide—that was to protect Wang Huazhen. After all, Wang Huazhen was one of their own, and he was also a disciple of Ye Xianggao. If such a gentleman made a slight misstep, that could certainly be forgiven.

So who would bear this black pot? Naturally, it would be the highest military commander in Liaodong, Military Commissioner Xiong Tingbi.

Of course, some in the Donglin Faction opposed this. Because there were also those who had grown tired of Wang Huazhen—these were the pragmatic faction of the Donglin Faction, led by Han Kuang.

Just as the Donglin Faction was locked in internal strife over "protecting Xiong versus rejecting Xiong," Wang Huazhen had already realized that the Donglin Faction's edifice was about to collapse, and decisively abandoned the "Donglin gentlemen" who were still running around defending him to "restore him to the court" (while incidentally participating in framing Xiong Tingbi), turning instead to throw himself at Wei Zhongxian's feet.

Wei Zhongxian seized the opportunity to use Wang Huazhen, exposing the Donglin Faction's "embezzlement of Liaodong military pay," and in one stroke crushed the Donglin Faction's remaining strength.

In the eighth month of the fifth year of Tianqi, Xiong Tingbi was executed in the marketplace on the charge of "losing Guangning," and his head was displayed at the Nine Border Garrisons. Although Wei Zhongxian shielded Wang Huazhen in every way possible, the crimes were clearly established, and Wang Huazhen's execution was postponed until the fifth year of Chongzhen.

Afterwards, Li Ruzhen was released, but Wang Huazhen was killed. This was the Donglin Faction's counterattack—Wang Huazhen's death was not unjust, but Xiong Tingbi's death was extremely unjust.

In the whole affair, the only one who suffered was Xiong Tingbi—not only was he killed, but his head was also displayed at the Nine Border Garrisons.

And Wang Huazhen's death was not because of his crimes in Liaodong, but because of his betrayal of the Donglin Faction.

As Zhu Youxiao looked at Wang Huazhen's routine memorial, all these messy things churned through his mind.

He knew that it was time for him to make a decision—these people had to be swept out. Even if there were accidental casualties, they could no longer be kept.

If the Great Ming were allowed to continue being ravaged by these people, then there would be no saving it.

Zhu Youxiao was preparing to make his move.

"Go, summon Wei Zhongxian." Zhu Youxiao looked at Chen Hong and said with a dark face.

Chen Hong immediately trembled in fright and hurriedly said, "This servant will go at once."

After Chen Hong left, Zhu Youxiao sat on the dragon throne, his face grim, his gaze deep.

This time, when he moved, it would surely be with the force of thunder.

Soon, Wei Zhongxian walked in.

Upon seeing Zhu Youxiao, Wei Zhongxian also sensed the killing aura emanating from him, and his heart immediately leaped with joy. He hurriedly knelt and said, "This servant Wei Zhongxian pays respects to Your Majesty."

Zhu Youxiao looked at Wei Zhongxian and asked expressionlessly, "I'm having you interrogate Li Ruzhen and the others—are you confident? The men cannot be brought back to the Eastern Depot; they must be interrogated at the Court of Judicial Review. Can you do it?"

Wei Zhongxian was startled for a moment, then his heart surged with wild joy—his guess had been right, His Majesty really was going to make his move!

"In answer to Your Majesty, yes, I can." Wei Zhongxian hurriedly said in a loud voice.

He truly believed he could—this was no lie, because he had long been prepared.

It could be said that Wei Zhongxian had been busy with this very matter all these days. He knew very well what this matter meant to him, and so he was extremely, extremely eager to elevate his position.

This time was an opportunity. Once he succeeded, his power and status would both receive a leap-forward improvement.

"That's good then." Zhu Youxiao nodded, then said, "I will have you conduct the interrogation. I will send someone with the edict shortly."

As he spoke, Zhu Youxiao waved his hand, signaling Wei Zhongxian to withdraw.

"This servant takes his leave." Wei Zhongxian acknowledged, bowed, and backed out. Although he forcibly suppressed his excitement, his body was trembling with joy.

After Wei Zhongxian left, Zhu Youxiao gazed at the direction he had gone, his eyes flickering with an uncertain light.

Of course Zhu Youxiao knew what Wei Zhongxian was excited about. By having him preside over the case at the Three Judicial Offices, he was signaling his distrust of the current chief interrogator—that is, his distrust of Zou Yuanbiao.

If this were a minister of the Han or Tang dynasties, he might well kill himself. But in the Great Ming, don't even think about it—he won't commit suicide; he'll probably leap up and fight back instead.

But Zhu Youxiao was going to step on his face, and step down hard.

The court was in a state of turbulent intrigue—over the matter of selecting the new Liaodong Governor, over the matter of impeaching Xiong Tingbi, the entire court had descended into chaos like a pot of porridge.

At this moment, an imperial edict broke through the confusion—it was the case of Xiong Tingbi being framed, which everyone had long since stopped paying attention to.

Originally, everyone thought that once Yang Lian's routine memorial was submitted, and His Majesty had appointed Zou Yuanbiao as the new chief interrogator, the matter had reached its conclusion—the final result would be that Yao Zongwen and the others would be preserved, and His Majesty would punish Wei Zhongxian in some way.

While it might not kill Wei Zhongxian outright, it would absolutely cause Wei Zhongxian to lose His Majesty's trust.

But who would have thought that at such a moment, this matter would once again stir up waves.

The content of the edict was very simple. The general meaning was: everyone is impeaching Wei Zhongxian for false accusation, and as the Emperor, I naturally should hold the scales evenly, neither biased nor credulous—this is the way of a ruler. Since everyone is impeaching Wei Zhongxian, I will also give him a chance, letting him interrogate Yao Zongwen and the others. Of course, this matter need not go to the Eastern Depot; the interrogation will be conducted at the Three Judicial Offices.

As soon as this edict was issued, everyone was stunned.

What did His Majesty mean? Could His Majesty want Wei Zhongxian's life?

Whatever the meaning, no one believed Wei Zhongxian could interrogate anything out of them. Yao Zongwen and the others weren't stupid—they had already recanted once, and this time they naturally wouldn't recant again.

Seeing that they were about to be saved, recanting again at this point would be asking for trouble, wouldn't it?

Without the Eastern Depot's torture methods, how could Wei Zhongxian possibly extract anything?

Under such circumstances, naturally no one opposed Wei Zhongxian conducting the interrogation.

Shortly thereafter, news also spread from within the palace—it was Wei Zhongxian himself who had petitioned His Majesty for this.

Clearly, Wei Zhongxian was unwilling to give up. His Majesty grew angry and thus agreed to Wei Zhongxian's request.

Everyone saw hope—a hope of toppling Wei Zhongxian. As the saying goes, those who bring disaster upon themselves cannot survive; Wei Zhongxian was digging his own grave!

For a time, countless people were rubbing their hands in anticipation, waiting to finish off Wei Zhongxian.