Chapter 69: An Ending and a Beginning

The commotion outside was fierce, but the Forbidden City seemed unaffected by it.

Another round of maiden selection had been completed, and everyone in the palace knew that this imperial residence would soon welcome its new mistress.

Many eunuchs and palace maids were busy with this matter, while also scrambling to find connections everywhere, hoping to be transferred to serve the new mistress in the future.

Workplace pressure inside the palace was also considerable, though none of this had much to do with Zhu Youxiao, the Emperor.

Zhu Youxiao was at this moment receiving his ministers.

Three people had been summoned this time: Xu Guangqi, Qi Jin, and Bi Maokang.

Zhu Youxiao looked at these three men and nodded with satisfaction.

These three were the pillars of his future new army — Bi Maokang would oversee the Hundred Crafts Institute, while Xu Guangqi and Qi Jin would respectively take charge of troop training and the Capital Camps.

Zhu Youxiao said with a smile, "Do my three beloved ministers already know one another?"

"We have met." The three exchanged glances, then bowed.

Zhu Youxiao nodded and continued, "Xu Aiqing has been training troops in Tongzhou, and for this new army I intend to station it in Tongzhou as well. Qi Jin will be responsible for selecting and training soldiers, and this new army I will place under the Capital Camps, listed separately as its own guard station. I've already thought of a name — the Tiger Roar Battalion. Qi Jin, you shall be its Guard Commander."

"Your servant obeys the decree." Qi Jin replied respectfully.

Zhu Youxiao turned to look at Xu Guangqi and said with a smile, "Xu Aiqing, you too have trained troops in Tongzhou, so you know the difficulties involved. In the Capital Camps, you must give Qi Jin more support, and if there are any difficulties, remember to come find me at any time."

In truth, Zhu Youxiao had no intention of keeping Xu Guangqi in the Capital Camps for long — a talent like his would be somewhat wasted there.

"Your servant obeys the decree." Xu Guangqi naturally had no idea of Zhu Youxiao's intentions, but he was pleased that His Majesty supported troop training. With his spirits so lifted, he agreed with exceptional alacrity.

Zhu Youxiao turned to look at Bi Maokang again, sighed, and said, "Bi Aiqing, the Hundred Crafts Workshop is where I intend to gather the finest craftsmen in the realm, with the goal of assembling the best artisans to forge the finest firearms and the best equipment. It's just that many ministers don't understand, and the impeachment memorials they've submitted these past days have already been numerous."

In truth, Zhu Youxiao knew full well in his heart that even if these people knew what the Hundred Crafts Workshop was for, they would still impeach him endlessly.

Indeed, it was precisely because they knew what the Hundred Crafts Workshop was for that they would impeach him.

If it were merely a place of imperial amusement, they would at most censure him for wasting silver and living extravagantly — but if the Hundred Crafts Workshop truly produced military equipment, then many people would find that unbearable.

Because the profits involved were simply too enormous — how much could each person embezzle?

Everyone had a scale in their hearts, and naturally they wouldn't say they wanted to line their own pockets, so smearing the Hundred Crafts Workshop was only to be expected.

"Though Aiqing has entered the post of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, most of your work is at the Hundred Crafts Workshop. I imagine the criticism directed at you from the court will be considerable, so you must be mentally prepared." Zhu Youxiao looked at Bi Maokang and spoke slowly.

Bi Maokang was taken aback for a moment, but thinking of how the outer court viewed the current Emperor, his resolve immediately hardened: "Rest assured, Your Majesty. For the sake of the Great Ming, I will not take these matters to heart."

Zhu Youxiao nodded — this was in fact exactly what he hoped to see, for he certainly didn't want his chief scientist to be scared off.

"Since you all understand, then return and make your preparations!" Zhu Youxiao looked at the three men and said with a smile.

"Your servants take their leave." The three acknowledged in unison, then turned and walked out.

After the three had gone, the smile on Zhu Youxiao's face slowly faded. He stepped to the doorway and gazed into one direction, his expression gradually turning grave.

A court trial was taking place there — that would be an ending, and also a beginning.

The Court of Judicial Review.

Wei Zhongxian looked at Zou Yuanbiao and Yang Lian, cupped his hands with a smile, and said, "Gentlemen, this humble one will not stand on ceremony."

"Director Wei, please!" Zou Yuanbiao said with a smile, stroking his beard, showing not the slightest sign of displeasure toward Wei Zhongxian.

Squinting at Zou Yuanbiao for a moment, Wei Zhongxian smiled and walked up to the presiding seat. He suddenly slammed the gavel and barked, "Court is now in session!"

The yamen runners of the Court of Judicial Review below all struck their water-and-fire staffs and shouted loudly, "Awe-inspiring! Awe-inspiring!"

Wei Zhongxian nodded with satisfaction and called out loudly, "Bring in Yao Zongwen."

"Bring in Yao Zongwen." The runner at the door shouted.

Shortly after, people outside brought Yao Zongwen up.

Yao Zongwen at this moment had long since lost the disheveled appearance he'd had at the Eastern Depot — both his mental state and his physical condition were like those of a different man.

But when he saw Wei Zhongxian seated at the head of the court, his body suddenly stiffened. Though he had long known that today's presiding judge would be Wei Zhongxian, he still felt an instinctive fear.

With a man held in the Court of Judicial Review, it was naturally very easy for the civil officials to pass messages, and Yao Zongwen had long since received word.

As long as he didn't confess, he could not only preserve his safety, but also topple Wei Zhongxian. After being released from prison, he would be promoted and his name would resound throughout the realm.

Yao Zongwen's mind was racing — on one side was the temptation of safety and promotion, on the other was the threat of Wei Zhongxian. How should he choose?

Thinking of the confession Wei Zhongxian had made him write, Yao Zongwen's heart twitched.

But Yao Zongwen also knew that since even oral testimony could be invalidated, a written confession being invalidated was hardly impossible either.

"Yao Zongwen, this humble one asks you — did you accept three thousand taels of silver from Liu Guojin and submit a routine memorial falsely accusing Xiong Tingbi?" Wei Zhongxian looked at Yao Zongwen and demanded loudly.

Impoverished censors selling their impeachment memorials was hardly anything new in officialdom — there was even a going rate. Basically, you paid the money, and I impeach on your behalf.

But Yao Zongwen hadn't needed to do that. His impeachment of Xiong Tingbi was essentially because he genuinely wanted to destroy Xiong Tingbi, while also demonstrating his loyalty to the Donglin Faction.

Only now, he would never admit it. Since he'd already made up his mind, he naturally couldn't back down.

Yao Zongwen directly stepped forward two paces and shouted loudly, "Eunuch dog! You frame me, and today you still dare sit there interrogating me?"

"I am a proper disciple of the gate, a reader of the sages' books, with nothing to be ashamed of before heaven and earth. How could I endure your humiliation? Today, I, Yao Zongwen, will wash away this disgrace with my blood."

"Wei Zhongxian, you persecute the loyal, you blind the wise sovereign, you glare like an eagle and lurk like a wolf — heaven will take you soon enough! Today I proclaim to the world with my blood: Wei Zhongxian is the number one scourge of the Great Ming!" Yao Zongwen roared at the top of his lungs, veins bulging on his face.

"Today I, Yao Zongwen, go on ahead! Wei Zhongxian, I'll be waiting for you in the Nine Springs!"

After saying these words, Yao Zongwen suddenly charged headfirst toward the pillar in the great hall not far away.