Chapter 14

"May I ask, Your Majesty, is an interrogation required?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's body trembled slightly as he turned away, facing the assembly of ministers, and waved his hand, saying,

"Interrogate? What is there left to interrogate!"

"Hasn't he already said everything?!"

"Await the imperial decree!"

"Yes!"

Hearing this, Su Qiao was so delighted he nearly laughed out loud.

Immediately, he clasped his hands in salute to the Embroidered Uniform Guard before him and said,

"No need for you all to exert yourselves; Su Mou shall go with you all!"

Having spoken, Su Qiao departed with an air of indifference.

Truly leaving the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the entire court of ministers staring in stunned silence.

Seeing the assembly of ministers standing like wooden chickens, Zhu Yuanzhang shouted in a rage,

"We shall not discuss this matter today! All of you shall submit memorials instead!"

"Dismissed!"

Having spoken, Zhu Yuanzhang climbed onto the dragon carriage in a huff and then headed in the direction of the Qianqing Palace.

Leaving only Zhu Yunwen standing there, dazed.

"Grand Imperial Grandfather, Grand Imperial Grandfather, what has happened to you?"

The ministers dispersed.

Only then did Huang Zicheng and Watching Qi Tai dare to approach Zhu Yunwen, helping him up from the ground.

"Highness the Crown Prince, rest assured; this youth Su Qiao, who shows no respect for his sovereign, is surely doomed to death this time."

"Fortunately, he spoke more and more absurdly as he went on; his later words angered the Imperial Countenance, so his earlier words will likely be rendered void as well."

Hearing Huang Zicheng analyze it thus,

Zhu Yunwen's eyes instantly lit up.

"Is what Mr. Huang says truly so?"

Huang Zicheng immediately smiled and said,

"Rest assured, Your Highness; has anyone who entered the Imperial Prison ever come out alive? This youth Su Qiao is surely doomed to death!"

Hearing Huang Zicheng say this,

a sudden look of ruthlessness flashed across Zhu Yunwen's face.

He gritted his teeth and said,

"Good, good, kill him! He must die!"

"Grand Imperial Grandfather should have ordered someone to take him directly to Wumen and behead him just now!"

14, Old Zhu: "Is this kid starting to sing now?"

Inside the Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang, who had been rendered completely disoriented by Su Qiao's words, finally managed to open the chat group.

He frantically sent messages to Chongzhen on the other end.

Emperor Taizu Gao:

"You little rascal, tell us clearly now: did the Fourth Son really seize Zhu Yunwen's Jiangshan? We can spare you!"

Emperor Sizong Lie:

"... Ancestral Grandfather, these are your words, so I shall speak."

Emperor Taizu Gao:

"Our word is as good as nine tripods; could we deceive you? Speak quickly!"

Emperor Sizong Lie:

"Then Ancestral Grandfather, do not be angry; your subject shall speak now."

"In the thirty-first year of Hongwu, in the intercalary fifth month, Ancestral Grandfather you... you passed away."

"Crown Prince Zhu Yunwen ascended the throne, granted a general amnesty to the realm, and changed the era name to Jianwen."

"On the very day Zhu Yunwen ascended, he conferred with Huang Zicheng, Fang Fang Xiaoru, and Watching Qi Tai to formulate a strategy for reducing the fiefs, deciding to tackle the easy first and the difficult later."

Zhu Yuanzhang paid no attention whatsoever to when he passed away.

After all, everyone must die eventually.

Thus, seeing that he died in the thirty-first year of Hongwu,

Zhu Yuanzhang's heart was almost completely unmoved.

After all, by that year, he was nearly eighty years old.

But after the four words "tackle the easy first and the difficult later,"

Zhu Yuanzhang could no longer hold it in; in an instant, he felt all his blood surge to his brain.

He immediately recalled that outburst of "wild words" from Su Qiao.

Good boy!

You really got it right!

Emperor Taizu Gao:

"Continue speaking."

Emperor Sizong Lie:

"Yes..."

"In the eighth month of the thirty-first year of Hongwu, Zhou Wang Zhu Su was reported by his own son for harboring treacherous intentions, seized by Cao Duke Li Jinglong and brought to the capital, stripped of his title to become a commoner, and exiled to Yunnan."

"In the eleventh month, he ordered Vice Minister Zhang Bing of the Ministry of Works to travel to Beiping to monitor Yan Wang."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded repeatedly.

Old Zhu never expected this at all.

Su Qiao actually saw it with such accuracy.

Starting with the easy before the difficult was one thing.

But after stirring up trouble, he even sent people to Zhu Di's door to monitor him.

Wasn't this specifically meant to humiliate our fourth son?

At this moment, Chongzhen had not yet finished speaking.

"In the second month of the first year of Jianwen, Zhu Yunwen issued an edict ordering all princes across the land not to command the civil and military forces of their Wang Fu. In the third month of the same year, he ordered the troops under Xie Gui and Zhang Xin to relocate to Beiping, and Geng Geng Bingwen's son to relocate to Shanhai Pass."

"In the fourth month, Zhu Yunwen, citing crimes such as privately printing Baochao banknotes, plotting rebellion, and torturing and killing criminals, ordered the arrest of Xiang Wang Zhu Bai and his transport to the capital."

"Unable to clear his name, Xiang Wang Zhu Bai, therefore, therefore donned the crown and robes of a king rallying to the throne at Xiang Wang Fu, held a bow and arrows, rode a white horse, and leaped into a fire, committing suicide amidst the flames..."

Even though Zhu Yuanzhang had long prepared himself mentally.

But when Old Zhu saw his own son forced to wear the crown and robes and burn himself to death on horseback.

He still felt a sensation of the world spinning and dizziness.

"In the same year, in the fourth month, Qi Wang and Dai Wang were stripped of their titles and reduced to commoners due to crimes, and placed under house arrest in Fengyang."

"In the sixth month, Min Wang was stripped of his title and reduced to a commoner, then exiled to Zhangzhou."

"When news of Min Wang's demotion reached Yan Wang Fu in the sixth month, Chengzu declared he was following Heaven's mandate to quell the calamity, and raised an army from Beiping..."

When Zhu Yuanzhang saw this brief report of Zhu Di raising an army.

He finally felt a weight lift from his heart.

If Zhu Yunwen had pushed things to this extent.

If Zhu Di did not rebel, Zhu Yuanzhang would have cursed Zhu Di for having no backbone!

Forcing an uncle to his death.

Exiling an uncle.

If Zhu Yunwen had started by stripping Yan Wang directly.

Where would there be any need for all this?

Simply send people to fight Zhu Di directly; if Zhu Yunwen lost, Zhu Di would ascend the throne; if Zhu Yunwen won.

There would likely be no need even to strip the fiefs.

All the other feudal princes would voluntarily surrender their military power and place themselves at Zhu Yunwen's disposal!