Chapter 37

Luo Yangxing, standing aside, shuddered and immediately bowed to pay his respects, saying,

"I heard! Zhou Guozhang contributes five hundred thousand taels of silver and one hundred thousand dan of grain!"

Zhou Kui looked at Zhu Youjian in utter shock.

"Your Majesty, I, I have not..."

Zhu Youjian looked at Zhou Kui, forced a smile uglier than crying onto his face, and said,

"Father-in-law, do not panic. I have already dispatched the Embroidered Uniform Guard to fetch the silver from your residence!"

Zhou Kui stared fiercely at Zhu Youjian, then glanced at Luo Yangxing.

The corners of his mouth twitched twice.

For a moment, he was utterly unable to speak.

Finally, his eyes rolled back.

He simply fainted dead away.

Zhu Youjian suppressed the anger in his heart, gritted his teeth, and said in a low voice,

"Send Father-in-law Zhou to the Taiyi Academy for proper treatment!"

"Your subject obeys the decree!"

Zhu Youjian knew his father-in-law was wealthy.

But even if he had been beaten to death, Zhu Youjian never would have expected his father-in-law to be this wealthy.

Five hundred thousand taels of silver!

One must know.

In the third year of Chongzhen, Zhu Youjian had only ennobled Zhou Kui as the Earl of Retainer!

Before Empress Zhou married Zhu Youjian.

Zhou Kui was merely a fortune-teller and physiognomist with a stall on Qianmen Street and Tianqiao!

In just a few short years.

Zhou Kui had actually amassed a full five hundred thousand taels of silver!

No wonder I have raised taxes down to the grandchildren of the common people.

The court's silver is still never enough to spend!

With such ministers around.

How could the silver possibly be enough?

Just at this moment.

A sense of crisis inevitably arose in Zhu Youjian's heart.

If I were to drive these princes and ministers to desperation, what then?!

Zhu Youjian, naturally suspicious by nature, suddenly felt many inexplicable fears in his heart!

The imperial clan must enter the capital immediately!

Regardless of whether these people wish to sit on my throne or not.

They are, after all, my own kin!

Zhu Youjian closed his eyes slightly, as if making some difficult decision.

After a long while, Zhu Youjian gritted his teeth and shouted sternly,

"Transmit my decree: summon the entire imperial clan to the capital immediately!"

Luo Yangxing looked at Zhu Youjian in some surprise and said,

"Your Majesty, the messengers sent to various regions have already departed..."

Being naturally suspicious.

Never meant being afraid to kill.

Zhu Youjian's tone suddenly grew harsh.

The eunuchs and maids around immediately fell to their knees.

"Then send swift horses again!"

"Tell the messengers to hurry!"

"These five hundred thousand taels of silver will serve as travel funds for the imperial clan to enter the capital!"

"Tell the imperial clan throughout the land that I have urgent matters to discuss with them in the capital!"

Until this moment.

Zhu Youjian had finally made up his mind completely.

If the officials of Great Ming were all like Zhou Kui.

How could Great Ming possibly not perish?!

At this moment, Zhu Youjian did not want to wait a single moment longer.

He only wanted to summon the entire imperial clan to the capital as quickly as possible.

To use these clan members to raise an elite army.

The current Zhu Youjian.

Could trust no one but his own kin!

Zhu Youjian would rather learn from Zhu Yunwen, abandon the throne to his own kin and flee overseas to vanish without a trace, than let the Jiangshan of Great Ming perish in his own hands!

Within the great hall.

Zhu Youjian's face was dark and terrifying.

Seated upon the Dragon Throne, he roared sternly,

"The situation is urgent; no delay whatsoever is permitted in the prefectures and commanderies across the land! Those who mishandle the matter shall be beheaded!"

"Upon the arrival of the edicts from the princely mansions in every region, depart immediately! Anyone intending to delay shall be stripped of rank and title, reduced to commoner status, and confined in Fengyang!"

As Zhu Youjian issued edict after edict.

The once hopelessly rotten machinery of governance finally began to creak and groan into motion.

Countless messengers and members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard set out from the Forbidden City, each holding a golden tally.

Every messenger had more than one fine steed; for the next few days, dust clouds rose everywhere outside the capital.

Even the Jingying garrison had a significant number of warhorses requisitioned.

Watching the troop movements within and without the city walls.

All the civil and military officials of the court seemed to remember only at this moment.

That the one seated within the Forbidden City.

Remained the Son of Heaven to this very day!

The Son of Heaven whose words became law!

The Son of Heaven who could take their lives and property at any moment!"

36, Zhu Yunwen: Mr. is right; I am not cut from that cloth!

At the same time.

On the streets of Jin Ling.

Zhu Yunwen sat in the carriage, his face ashen.

Carefully pondering the words Su Qiao had spoken to him.

The faces of Huang Zicheng and Watching Qi Tai kept surfacing in Zhu Yunwen's mind.

Meanwhile, Su Qiao sat before Zhu Yunwen and said in a low voice.

"Your Highness might consider this carefully."

"What does it mean to rule by doing nothing?"

"If the Son of Heaven does nothing, who holds the power?"

Who else could it be!

Naturally Huang Zicheng, Watching Qi Tai, and these scholar-officials of the Great Ming!

Su Qiao looked at Zhu Yunwen with interest and said.

"To rule by doing nothing means to let Your Highness cede power to the scholar-officials."

"To have no troubles in the world means the court must not meddle in affairs!"

"For the food in this world is limited!"