Chapter 133: The Great Ming and the Jianzhou Barbarians Each Lay Their Schemes

After he dismissed everyone — including Wang Cheng'en, Fang Zhenghua, and Xu Xianchun — only Chongzhen and the tightly bound Yuan Chonghuan remained in the cell of the Imperial Prison.

To be absolutely safe, Xu Xianchun had efficiently added two more loops of rope before withdrawing, ensuring that no matter what, Yuan Chonghuan could not break free and pose any risk to Chongzhen.

Though Yuan Chonghuan had been brutally worked over, he still raised his head to look at Chongzhen and asked, "Has Your Majesty moved against the Kong family? If so, the realm will surely be thrown into turmoil — does Your Majesty not care at all?"

Chongzhen merely sneered. "This realm is Ours. Even if it rots, it is none of your concern, Governor-General Yuan. We came today only to tell you this: what you thought We would not dare to touch, We insist on touching, just to show you — so you can depart with your mind at ease."

Suppressing the shock in his heart, Yuan Chonghuan asked, "Your servant has some questions he wishes to ask Your Majesty. Otherwise, this guilty minister will not die in peace."

Chongzhen, however, laughed.

"No need to ask.

We will tell you directly. Originally, you would have killed Mao Wenlong, then colluded with the Jianzhou barbarians.

After Mao Wenlong's death, the barbarians would have bypassed the Mongols, and when you came to relieve the capital, you would have made a show of effort without real results. After We had you brought into the capital, you would have been sliced to death.

You have a son — he did things even more thoroughly than you, swearing brotherhood with rebels and even attempting to assassinate Us on behalf of the Jianzhou barbarians.

After that, the barbarians would have breached the passes, slaughtered Our countless Ming subjects, and seized this fine land. Now that We have said this, do you understand?"

Yuan Chonghuan was inwardly horrified. Startled, he said, "Your Majesty, though your guilty servant deserves death ten thousand times over, how would I dare let the Jianzhou barbarians strike at the capital's gates?

Furthermore, my young son at home is only a few years old — how could he possibly collude with the Jianzhou barbarians?"

Isn't your son Yuan Chengzhi? That bastard, for the sake of an ugly wretch named Wen Qingqing, betrayed Our A'jiu — his heart deserves execution!

The angrier he got, the more Chongzhen's fury rose, and he spoke: "Those are all matters of the future. As for how We know, it is entirely thanks to our Exalted Founder, the Hongwu Emperor, who conveyed it to Us in a dream.

Otherwise, how could We possibly have known that you would go to Liaodong and try to kill Mao Wenlong?"

Yuan Chonghuan, who had never believed in gods or spirits, could not help now but suspect that spirits truly existed — otherwise, how could this matter of the Hongwu Emperor sending a dream be explained? How else could Chongzhen know so many things?

The Depot and the Guard? Though the Depot and the Guard had far-reaching powers, they could not have informed the Chongzhen Emperor before he himself had even gone to Dongjiang, allowing the Emperor to arrange countermeasures in advance.

Beset by suspicion, Yuan Chonghuan asked, "Then why has Your Majesty come to tell this guilty minister these things? I know I am certain to die, so there is no need for Your Majesty to trouble yourself with a visit."

Chongzhen, however, laughed. "We truly did come to see you. Not only that — We have a matter that requires your cooperation."

Yuan Chonghuan was curious. "This guilty minister is now a prisoner. I wonder what matter I could still be of service to Your Majesty in?"

Chongzhen said, "Word of your being brought to the capital has already been sealed off by Our orders. You need only write a letter telling that dog-slave Hong Taiji that Mao Wenlong has been eliminated by you, and that he may safely and boldly proceed to strike Joseon."

Yuan Chonghuan, however, laughed wildly.

"Your Majesty, you think far too naively.

If it were merely this guilty minister alone, of course the Jianzhou side could be deceived. But the land of Liaodong is now like a sieve — who knows how many there are running errands for the Jianzhou barbarians?

Even the Depot and the Guard in Liaodong — can Your Majesty truly trust them?"

Chongzhen laughed. "Of course We do not simply believe whatever they say. However, there is one point on which We are far stronger than you."

Yuan Chonghuan said, curiously, "This guilty minister is all ears."

Chongzhen said, "What makes Us stronger than you is that We have a brain, and you do not. We never expected that dog-slave to fall for it in the first place — what We want is precisely for him not to fall for it. Give me a straight answer: will you write this letter or not?"

Yuan Chonghuan said, "What this guilty minister has committed is already a crime warranting the extermination of nine degrees of kinship. Even if I write this letter, what benefit could this guilty minister possibly gain? Your Majesty should think of another method."

Chongzhen nodded and said, "Mm. We indeed did not misjudge you — you are a man of mettle. However, you are a man of mettle who sells out his country."

As he finished speaking, Chongzhen's expression gradually twisted into savagery, and he practically roared in a low voice: "You bastard, just you wait. What We want, We will certainly obtain.

As for you — if We do not slice you the full three thousand six hundred cuts, then count your dog-self lucky!"

After this outburst, Chongzhen ignored Yuan Chonghuan entirely and strode straight out of the cell.

When he saw Xu Xianchun and the other two waiting at a respectful distance outside the cell, Chongzhen said, "We do not wish a single word of what was just said to ever come out of Yuan Chonghuan's mouth."

Xu Xianchun immediately bowed and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty: due to your servant's negligent oversight, Yuan Chonghuan inadvertently consumed something yesterday and has long since gone mute, never to speak again."

Chongzhen cast an approving glance at Xu Xianchun, grunted an acknowledgment, and said, "Be more diligent in the future — do not let such a thing happen again.

Also, find someone to forge a letter stating that Yuan Chonghuan has already eliminated Mao Wenlong, and deliver it to that dog-thing Hong Taiji."

Xu Xianchun remained bowed. "Your servant obeys the decree."

While Chongzhen was scheming against the Jianzhou barbarians here, over on the barbarians' side, they were likewise scheming against Dongjiang.

Inside the barbarians' makeshift palace in Shenyang, Hong Taiji looked at the men before him — Daishan, Amin, Dorgon, and the others — and felt a considerable headache.

His two most loyal dog-slaves, Fan Wencheng and Ning Wanwo, had perished one after another, and even the half-baked Bao Chengxian who remained had vanished without a trace. Judging by the report from Oboi, who had returned missing a hand, he was basically as good as gone too.

Lacking these few Han Chinese slaves who were utterly loyal and devoted wholeheartedly to the Great Jin, and having to rely on the muscle-brained lot before him, Hong Taiji felt this was nothing short of heaven's punishment upon himself.

But no matter what, slaves were slaves in the end. Without Fan Wencheng, there would be a Chen Wenfan; without Ning Wanwo, there would be a Ning Wowan.

Among these Nikan, there were plenty of slaves who wanted to be dogs for the Great Jin — no shortage of one or two. Once some days had passed, he would simply choose some new ones carefully, and that would be that.

His mood somewhat improved by this thought, Hong Taiji spoke: "According to reports from our spies, Yuan Chonghuan is beyond saving. Yet that savage Mao Wenlong hasn't suffered the slightest mishap and continues to ceaselessly cause trouble for our Great Jin.

Brothers, let us discuss what approach to take."

Daishan was the first to speak. "Reporting to the Great Khan: in your slave's humble opinion, our Great Jin has suffered heavy losses this winter. If we cannot recoup them from Joseon or the Mongols, I fear the days ahead will be hard."

Amin, who had long held the title of Ming Jianzhou Guard Commander, spoke up: "What is so difficult about this? Simply raise the entire army and strike at Joseon.

In any case, the Ming savages dare not come make trouble for our Great Jin right now. Once our great army arrives, will Joseon not fall at the first blow?"

To celebrate this book surpassing three thousand average subscriptions, The Tyrant will update every two hours starting Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM, until Sunday midnight. That is all — I'm off to write and stockpile chapters.

(End of Chapter)