Chapter 48: Killing Intent

After receiving the report from Xu Xianchun and the other two, Chongzhen felt he had been utterly foolish and naive.

"Pulling up a radish brings out mud" is no longer enough to describe the current situation — this is more like pulling up a radish and uncovering a giant sinkhole.

What has surfaced so far is probably just the tip of the iceberg on this vast web of interests, isn't it?

What should I do?

I originally thought that by heavily relying on the Depot and the Guard, and under intense surveillance and pressure, the court would bend to my will as I pleased.

Now it seems I was still too young.

Look at the names on this list: Grand Secretary Zhou Yanru of the Grand Secretariat, former Grand Secretary Ye Xianggao, Vice Minister of War Hou Xun, former Vice Minister of Rites Qian Yiqian, even the Left Regional Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Luo Yangxing, along with some low-ranking eunuchs and palace maids — all are implicated.

Since I can't figure it out, I might as well stop thinking about it.

Gritting his teeth and steeling himself with ruthless resolve, the Chongzhen Emperor made a clean-cut decision — Since We have the Depot and the Guard, the common people, and the soldiers' loyalty, you scum can just go die for Us!

Slaughter them until heads roll and blood flows like a river — let's see if you vermin still dare to jump around then!

After Wei Zhongxian also came to report the results of the investigation into the palace guards, palace maids, and eunuchs, the enraged Chongzhen Emperor gave the order with savage satisfaction: "Wang Cheng'en, draft the edicts.

Grand Secretary Zhou Yanru, for secretly colluding with the palace and conspiring in rebellion, is to be executed by lingchi by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. His nine degrees of kinship shall be exterminated to the last!

Vice Minister of War Hou Xun, for sending men to assassinate the Son of Heaven — a crime equal to rebellion — is to be executed by lingchi by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. His nine degrees of kinship shall be exterminated to the last!

Left Regional Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Luo Yangxing, for secretly communicating with outside forces with intent to rebel, is to be executed by lingchi by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. His nine degrees of kinship shall be exterminated to the last!

Imperial physician Chen Renzhong of the Imperial Academy of Medicine, for conspiring to poison the Son of Heaven, is to be executed by lingchi by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. His nine degrees of kinship shall be exterminated to the last.

Former Vice Minister of Rites Qian Yiqian, for secretly colluding with numerous officials with intent to rebel, is to be executed by lingchi by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. His nine degrees of kinship shall be exterminated to the last.

Former Grand Secretary Ye Xianggao, though retired and returned to his hometown, still secretly communicated with Grand Secretaries and conspired in rebellion. Though the man is already dead, his grave is to be opened, his corpse flogged, and his ashes scattered to the wind.

His nine degrees of kinship shall be exterminated to the last!

Imperial Academy student Wang, for assassinating the Son of Heaven — a crime beyond pardon — is to have ten degrees of kinship exterminated!

Further edict: The martial law in the capital is lifted. Guard duties at the city gates are to be handed over to the Five Wards Military Command, which shall patrol the capital jointly with the Embroidered Uniform Guard forces under Tian Ergeng.

They must ensure stability in the capital. The Capital Camps are to return to their garrisons immediately and must not disturb the localities.

Violators shall be executed!

Edict: The Duke of Ying, Zhang Weixian, for his devoted service to the state, is granted the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince and ordered to reorganize the Capital Camps.

Edict: The Embroidered Uniform Guard is to be split into three divisions. The first shall retain the original duties of palace guard and ceremonial escort. Wei Liangqing is promoted to Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, commanding this division.

The second shall be specifically responsible for surveilling all officials and the various feudal princes. Xu Xianchun is appointed to command this division.

The third shall be specifically responsible for surveilling the people's livelihood throughout the realm. Its powers of arrest and interrogation are abolished. Tian Ergeng is appointed to command this division.

Further edict: The Eastern Depot shall no longer surveil officials and other such duties. It shall be specifically responsible for intelligence outside the Great Ming. Eunuch Cao Huachun of the Directorate of Ceremonial is appointed to command it.

The Western Depot shall secretly investigate unlawful acts within the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot. Its powers of arrest and interrogation are abolished. It shall not act privately without an edict. Eunuch Wei Zhongxian of the Directorate of Ceremonial is appointed to command it."

This string of edicts came down in rapid succession — either exterminating nine degrees of kinship in a murderous fury, or splitting up the Depot and the Guard to strengthen or weaken their functions — leaving everyone utterly baffled as to what the Emperor really intended.

But for Chongzhen, since he had already decided to raise the butcher's blade against the disobedient, he might as well deal with all this dogshit at once! From now on, each office would have clearly defined duties, and if anything went wrong, he could directly hold the responsible chief accountable.

However, just as Chongzhen finished speaking, Empress Zhou, who had come back from the rear palace to attend to Chongzhen, was secretly anxious. She said to Wei Zhongxian and the others, "You may withdraw for now. We have words to speak with His Majesty. You will be called back in shortly."

Seeing this, Wang Cheng'en, Wei Zhongxian, and the others all bowed and lowered their heads, withdrawing outside the door and moving far away to ensure they could not hear the voices inside.

Seeing that they had all withdrawn, Chongzhen said to Empress Zhou, "What matter does the Empress wish to discuss with Us?"

Empress Zhou, however, knelt to the ground and said to Chongzhen, "Your Majesty, I have heard all the decrees you issued today. I have come to beg Your Majesty to retract your orders and postpone these actions."

Chongzhen walked over, pulled Empress Zhou up with one hand, and said, "No. This matter absolutely cannot be delayed."

Hearing this, Empress Zhou said to Chongzhen, "Your Majesty, this is not a matter I should interfere in. I am well aware of the ancestral precept that the rear palace must not meddle in governance.

But to slaughter so many at once — will the subjects of the realm not view Your Majesty as a tyrant like Jie or Zhou? If the realm falls into turmoil, what then? Why not proceed gradually, Your Majesty — first execute the chief culprits, then deal with the rest?"

Hearing this, Chongzhen knew Empress Zhou was worried about him. He thought it over — what did he care about the rear palace not meddling in governance? He wasn't that original, ill-fated Chongzhen anyway.

So Chongzhen said to Empress Zhou, "The Empress need not overthink this. These people spied on the palace, first poisoning Our Imperial Brother, and now attempting to poison Us. If We do not eliminate them, who knows how many more will follow their example.

Aside from wagging their tongues and scheming behind the scenes, these people can accomplish nothing at all.

It is as the Tang Emperor Taizong said: the sovereign is the boat, and the people are the water. The water can carry the boat, but it can also capsize it.

With the hearts of the realm's people and soldiers in Our hands, these wretches are no more than rats skulking in the shadows. What have We to fear?

As for how later generations will judge Us — if the Great Ming is destroyed at their hands, then you and I, husband and wife, will be remembered as King Zhou and Daji.

But if the Great Ming's dynastic line endures, We shall naturally be a wise sovereign of the age, and the Empress shall be a virtuous empress of the age."

Hearing this, Empress Zhou knew Chongzhen's mind was made up. Seeing his confident and assured demeanor, she admonished him no further. After inquiring after his health, she took her leave and returned.

Chongzhen then summoned Wei Zhongxian and the others back in and ordered Wang Cheng'en to draft the edicts according to the plan just laid out and affix the seals.

One imperial edict after another was issued from the palace, and the capital took on the aspect of a city bracing for an impending storm.

Grand Secretary Zhou Yanru had already been thrown into the Imperial Prison. Then, to everyone's shock, the entire family of Embroidered Uniform Guard Regional Commander Luo Yangxing and the entire family of Vice Minister of War Hou Xun were all arrested and thrown into the Imperial Prison.

Right on their heels, Imperial Academy student Wang, along with his classmates and teachers, were all thrown into the Imperial Prison together. Because Student Wang's nine degrees of kin were in other provinces, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had already dispatched men to arrest them in chains.

Men were also dispatched to arrest the nine degrees of kin of former Grand Secretary Ye Xianggao and former Vice Minister of Rites Qian Yiqian.

The most wretched was Ye Xianggao — even though he was already dead, his coffin was to be opened, his corpse flogged, and his bones ground to dust and scattered.

As for the merchants in the capital, they were like startled birds. Over a dozen great merchant houses had already had their men seized by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The rest were so terrified they stayed obediently in their homes or inns, not even daring to go out and gather news.

Even the business in the pleasure quarters seemed to wither overnight, devoid of the usual gallantry and refinement of officials and literati drinking and making merry.

Among those living within the inner and outer walls of the capital, who was a fool? Even the street thugs all hid in their homes and refused to come out. Overnight, the entire capital seemed to become a ghost town.

Big shots, please spare this tyrant, alright? With tips like this, if there are more, I'll work myself to death and still never repay it...

(End of Chapter)