Chapter 693: In My Heart, He Is Already a Dead Man

Zheng Xuhong's expression changed instantly.

He understood what Zhang Yu meant. Now that the allied forces had finished fighting in Japan, the Great Ming had its hands free.

If Joseon could get through this peacefully, then it would pass peacefully; if it could not get through peacefully, the Great Ming would not hesitate to use force.

Reaching the point of using force was the worst-case scenario for Zheng Xuhong. Joseon had no way to resist the Great Ming, and could not even resist the remnants of the surrendered Japanese forces.

Those Japanese who had surrendered to the Great Ming would certainly come killing the moment the Great Ming gave the order. Those Japanese might not be able to defeat the Great Ming, but with their level of martial strength, defeating Joseon would be more than enough.

Under such circumstances, Joseon simply had no possibility of resistance, and in the end the result would still be the same.

Zheng Xuhong's face was very dark, and in his heart he was deeply unwilling.

Although Li Feng had told him many things, and Zhang Yu had also told him many things, in Zheng Xuhong's heart, he truly had not yet made up his mind to betray the King of Joseon.

In Zheng Xuhong's view, the people of the Great Ming were not necessarily reliable either. If he could choose, he would still prefer to side with the King of Joseon.

Having served together as lord and minister for so many years, they understood each other well. The King might be cowardly, but he treated them very well, and had always been generous with rewards and favors. Perhaps the King sometimes did foolish things, but he could still be considered a good King.

Zheng Xuhong did not want to betray him, and even less did he want to help the Great Ming seize Joseon's realm.

But Zhang Yu's words made Zheng Xuhong hesitate.

Zhang Yu looked at Zheng Xuhong's appearance and did not speak, sitting there quietly.

No matter how Zheng Xuhong chose, the result was the same for Zhang Yu — no one could make any change.

After a long while, Zheng Xuhong raised his head and said: "What will happen to the King?"

"The King?" Zhang Yu looked at Zheng Xuhong and said with a smile: "You don't think I want to kill your King, do you? The Great Ming would not do such a thing. What do you take the Great Ming for?"

"The Great Ming will wait until your King has passed away — after all, the Great Ming is not in a hurry. It is only because Joseon has no successor and is not particularly friendly toward the Great Ming that the Great Ming has made such arrangements."

"Even so, the Joseon royal family will not hold the position of a vassal king in the future. Even that Crown Prince in the Great Ming — the same applies to him."

"Our Great Ming Emperor possesses the four seas and has a broad mind — would He stoop to argue with the likes of you? The Great Ming Emperor need only speak one sentence to accomplish anything."

"If our Great Ming Emperor wants Joseon, it is also a matter of a single sentence." Having said this, Zhang Yu stood up and said: "How does Joseon compare to Japan? How does Joseon compare to the Jianzhou barbarians? Where are Japan and the Jianzhou barbarians now?"

"Our Great Ming Emperor is Heaven. On this land, no one can refuse our Great Ming Emperor!"

Zhang Yu turned around to look at Zheng Xuhong and said: "The reason Joseon can receive such treatment is because Joseon has been loyal for so many years, because Joseon's royal family has always been respectful to the Great Ming. Otherwise, do you think it would be like this now?"

Zhang Yu's words were pure nonsense.

The relationship between the Great Ming and Joseon was indeed good, but when the Great Ming had just been founded, it was completely different. Joseon's designs on Liaodong's territory had not lasted just a day or two — they had been beaten for it.

Only after being beaten did Joseon settle down.

Others might not know these things, but Zhang Yu knew them clearly in his heart. These Joseon people feared might but did not cherish virtue — only by beating them into submission would they be of any use.

Zhang Yu said these things to Zheng Xuhong precisely to tell him plainly: do not harbor vain hopes.

"In that case, I am willing to follow Lord Zhang's instructions." Zheng Xuhong said after thinking for a moment.

"Don't worry. As long as Joseon remains stable, the Great Ming will not do anything." Zhang Yu stood up and said with a smile: "We will handle your matter immediately. Tomorrow I will enter the palace — you need not worry."

"Yes, Lord Zhang." Zheng Xuhong quickly agreed: "Thank you, Lord Zhang."

Zhang Yu nodded, stood up without saying anything more, turned around, and walked out.

Li Feng quickly followed him out.

After walking a few steps, Li Feng said with a grim face: "This Zheng Xuhong cannot be trusted. My identity has been exposed — he may no longer believe me. If he has some scheme, it could ruin our plans. Why not just ignore him? Or simply do him in, and let him die by suicide to atone for his crimes like Zhang Fu?"

"No." Zhang Yu shook his head and said: "He must live."

"I can see his ambition too, but it's useless. Playing these tricks before us won't even make it onto the stage. Who can he tell? The King of Joseon? And what could the King of Joseon do even if he knew? Would he dare to arrest me and punish me?"

"At this point, there is no need to keep up pretenses — we can lay our cards on the table. So we have nothing to fear, and there aren't many days left anyway."

"Alright." Li Feng nodded and said: "I will keep a close watch on him."

"Protect yourself," Zhang Yu patted his shoulder and said: "I don't know whether he will choose to risk everything on one throw, but that possibility does exist. If they really fight with their lives on the line, you still need to keep your own life safe."

Li Feng nodded and said: "I understand. But for the Great Ming, this life of mine counts for nothing."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yu's face sank. He stared at Li Feng and said: "Your life indeed counts for nothing, but a sacrifice must be worth it."

"For the sake of people like them, it is not worth it. Joseon is just a piece of meat on the Great Ming's chopping board — the Great Ming can cut it however it pleases. You must understand: your sacrifice is simply not worth it."

"To throw away your life for something that is certain to succeed — that would make your life too cheap. The Imperial Academy trained you for so many years, not so you could die here like this."

"If you die here like this, you would fail His Majesty's cultivation of you!" Zhang Yu patted his shoulder and said: "Think it over carefully."

Having said this, Zhang Yu turned around and walked out.

Returning to the Great Ming embassy, Zhang Yu looked at Song Xiang who had come up to greet him and said directly: "It should only take a few days. Are your people ready? Once the moment comes, we make our move."

"Will it work?" Song Xiang said with some worry.

"How could it not work?" Zhang Yu said with a smile: "As long as we throw Hanseong into chaos, there is nothing that won't succeed. Tell Lin Dechang — this matter must be handled properly, and no mistakes can be made."

"Tomorrow I will enter the palace to see the King of Joseon and finish this matter.

At the same time, tell the people over there that they may make their move against Kim Jeong-min. This man can no longer be kept. Have them do it openly and aboveboard. Don't stay in the dark so long that they forget how to do things in the light."

Song Xiang shot Zhang Yu a look and said: "How can assassination ever be open and aboveboard? What about Grand Prince Bongnim? Aren't you planning to meet him?"

"No meeting." Zhang Yu waved his hand and said: "In my heart, he is already a dead man."

"I understand." Having said this, Song Xiang turned and walked out, saying: "Don't worry, I will make the arrangements. After you enter the palace tomorrow, I will make my move on my end."

Sunrise and sunset — in the blink of an eye, a night had passed.

At dawn the next day, Zhang Yu had someone prepare his clothes.

Song Xiang was not by his side attending to him, and Zhang Yu was not surprised.

This matter was too important — Song Xiang could not leave; she had to keep watching.

Once he was ready, Zhang Yu left the residence and headed directly for the Joseon royal palace.

At this moment, the King of Joseon was in a complete mess.

With Zheng Xuhong not by his side, the situation was growing increasingly dire. Kim Jeong-min was pressing him aggressively, and the King of Joseon did not know what to do for the moment.

Upon receiving word that Zhang Yu had arrived, the King of Joseon's heart sank even further.

The last time, the Ming Prince Fu came here and used both threats and bribes, urging him to resolve Zhang Fu's matter as quickly as possible.

And what happened? The very next day, Zhang Fu's entire family was dead.

This time, the matter has blown up so big that Ming has sent people again.

Especially after Ming's victory over Japan, this affair has become even more uncontrollable. Once Ming starts making a fuss, this time he would probably suffer a great loss.

But when envoys from the Ming court come, he cannot very well refuse to see them.

Just as the King of Joseon was about to go out to meet Zhang Yu, someone outside relayed a message: "Your Majesty, Grand Prince Bongnim requests an audience."

The King of Joseon's eyebrows twitched.

What is this son of his doing here at a time like this?

Rumors outside say the Crown Prince cannot return, that Ming intends to keep him there. The news has spread like wildfire; the ministers all know of it, and naturally the King of Joseon knows as well.

Under such circumstances, these sons of his have been scrambling about these past days — the King of Joseon understood that well enough. What comforted him was that his second son had never made a move.

But who would have thought that at this very moment, his second son would come.

This made the King of Joseon frown somewhat.

What is he coming here for at a time like this?

Could it be that he wants to seize some advantage amid the chaos?

"Let him in." The King of Joseon said with a furrowed brow.

Before long, Grand Prince Bongnim walked in from outside.

He came to the King of Joseon's side and bowed respectfully: "Your Majesty."

Glancing at his son, the King of Joseon nodded and said: "What business do you have coming here?"

"Your son has come regarding Lord Zheng's matter." Grand Prince Bongnim said without a flicker of embarrassment: "Your son believes there is something suspicious about this affair. Whether it concerns Lord Zheng or Lord Zhang Fu's matter, I always feel someone is scheming behind the scenes."

"If Lord Zheng now walks the same path as Lord Zhang, your son fears he would fall into the trap of the mastermind behind the curtain."

The King of Joseon's brows rose.

Though he was not that clever, he was not that stupid either.

After all this time had passed, at this very moment, he had begun to sense something was off.

This affair seemed to have been arranged by someone — everything appeared to have been set in place.

The first person the King of Joseon thought of was Kim Jeong-min.

The timing of Kim Jeong-min's emergence was simply too well calculated, and all the events were being driven by them. From the perspective of who benefits and who acts, Kim Jeong-min and his faction gained the most, so their suspicion was also the greatest.

Casting a rather gratified look at Grand Prince Bongnim, the King of Joseon said: "Then what do you think should be done about this matter?"

Right now the King of Joseon had no particularly good solution. If his son could come up with a good plan, that would be the best possible outcome.

Grand Prince Bongnim thought for a moment and said: "The only thing about this matter that gives cause for concern is the Ming side. But your son believes that the Ming side is actually not a problem."

"How so?" The King of Joseon's heart jolted, and he hastily sat up straight.

What he was worried about right now was precisely the problem on the Ming side. If there was no problem on the Ming side, he could act with full freedom — for instance, moving against Kim Jeong-min.

After all, Kim Jeong-min and his people had not yet fully grasped real power, and there was no way he would hand over actual authority either.

Since they did not know when to advance and when to retreat, then he would simply have them killed. Catch them off guard and eliminate them. As long as Ming did not interfere, he was still confident he could get rid of them.

Under such circumstances, as long as he could appease Ming, everything would be easy to handle. If his son had a way, that would truly be for the best.

"Your Majesty, what Ming worries about is nothing more than the matter of colluding with Japan." Grand Prince Bongnim said with a look of complete confidence: "Now that Japan no longer exists, what does Ming still have to worry about? Japan was defeated in the war, we won, and Japan no longer exists."

"Even if Ming pays attention to this matter, they will not take it too seriously. After all, this is our Joseon's internal affair. As long as it is explained clearly, your son believes Ming will absolutely not interfere excessively. At most, we give some benefits to the people Ming sent, so they will not go around spouting nonsense."

The King of Joseon was startled, then suddenly enlightened, and a look of joy appeared on his face.

What his son said made sense.

The things Ming worried about no longer existed; as for Joseon's internal affairs, they should not want to interfere either.

Give them some benefits and keep them from talking nonsense — that would suffice. Especially that Prince Fu; he is greedy for wealth and lustful. If given some benefits, he should settle down.

"My son is truly talented!" The King of Joseon said excitedly: "Perfect timing — the Ming envoys have arrived. Come with me to receive them."

"Very well." Grand Prince Bongnim nodded and rose to his feet, saying: "Your son will accompany Father to go."

At the same time, Kim Jeong-min also left his residence.

Glancing at the man beside him, Kim Jeong-min asked: "Are you certain? Is the news true?"

"Of course it's true." The man hastily said: "The Ming envoys have already entered the palace. Grand Prince Bongnim, Zhao Chenqi, and the others have hooked up with Zheng Xuhong. As long as Zheng Xuhong's life is spared, they will fully support Grand Prince Bongnim."

"Grand Prince Bongnim has already persuaded the Ming court and given the Ming envoys many benefits to let Zheng Xuhong go. Once they soften their stance, and the King is determined to protect Zheng Xuhong, we will have no hope of taking Zheng Xuhong. Moreover, once they join forces, they will probably not let us off."

Kim Jeong-min's expression turned extremely ugly, black as the bottom of a pot.

If things were truly as the man before him said, then he and his people were finished. The King would absolutely not spare them this time!

"I must enter the palace!" Kim Jeong-min said with a grim face.