Chapter 58

Hong Chengchou spoke thus.

Instead, it spared Zhu Youjian trouble!

Only then did Zhu Youjian, expressionless, slowly rise to his feet and walk to the weapon rack behind him.

He drew the sword once used by Zhu Di during his campaign in Mobei.

"Clang!" The sound rang out as he threw it before Hong Chengchou.

Then Zhu Youjian stared fiercely at Hong Chengchou and shouted loudly,

"Take this sword and kill me!"

Zhu Youjian's words came straight at them, slamming hard against the hundred officials.

Looking at the long boots embroidered with golden dragons before them.

For the first time, these court ministers felt what true imperial pressure was.

This was a feeling unseen for decades.

At that moment, the Minister of Revenue, Zhang Fengyi, suddenly recalled Jiajing fifty years ago, on his deathbed!

Zhang Fengyi had originally been a jinshi in the forty-fifth year of Jiajing.

In a daze, Zhang Fengyi seemed to see that man.

Or rather.

The Zhu Youjian before him already clearly possessed an imperial aura surpassing that man!

Since Jiajing, the Son of Heaven of Great Ming had never been like today's Zhu Youjian!

The entire Qianqing Palace instantly fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone looked at one another, daring not to raise their heads.

Hong Chengchou even pressed his head directly to the ground.

"Your servant dares not!"

To speak the truth, Zhu Youjian wanted nothing more than for Hong Chengchou to truly pick up that sword and stab him to death.

Whoever wants this mess can have it.

Seeing Hong Chengchou remain silent.

Zhu Youjian turned his gaze to the crowd behind Hong Chengchou and said sternly,

"Whoever holds resentment against the Father-in-Law of the State, rise up, take this sword, and kill me!"

"Tell future generations that Great Ming fell because rulers and ministers fought over profit!"

"Let future generations see how much promise the rulers and ministers of my Chongzhen reign possess!"

Zhu Youjian dared not guarantee anything else.

If any of the hundred officials took up a sword and killed him,

the heavy cap of national ruin and family destruction could instantly be pinned firmly upon the shoulders of all these civil and military officials.

And he, on the contrary, would gain the sympathy of future generations!

55, Hong Chengchou, transferred to Liaodong!

Inside the Qianqing Palace.

Civil and military ministers all fell into a deathly silence.

Zhu Youjian took a deep breath, sat on the dragon throne, and sighed, saying,

"As for the silver in the private treasury that you, my esteemed lords, are curious about where it came from,"

"I can now tell you."

"This silver was borrowed by me from the common people!"

"Since this silver was borrowed, when Great Ming has quelled the internal and external wars and peace returns to the world, I will repay this silver in full to the common people!"

As soon as these words were spoken, several censors behind him instantly exploded.

"Your Majesty, with the dignity of the Son of Heaven, how can you deign to borrow silver from the people to quell rebellion!"

"Great Ming is rich across the four seas; please, Your Majesty, return the silver to the people. Your Majesty, the Son of Heaven, is brave and mighty; why need the trifling wealth of the common people!"

Before the words had even finished.

Zhu Youjian could not help but snort coldly and say,

"Nonsense!"

"Huang Taiji has already reached Jingcheng; you tell me this money is not needed?"

"Wang Chengen!"

Wang Chengen, standing far away, trembled at the mention of his name, then stepped forward and clasped his hands, saying,

"Your servant is here!"

Zhu Youjian said sternly,

"Drag this person out through Wumen and beat him to death!"

All civil and military officials were stunned by these words, and the several censors nearby immediately shouted loudly,

"Your Majesty, the founding ancestor of our dynasty decreed in the ancestral instructions that Great Ming does not kill censors. Minister Wu was merely..."

Before the officials speaking for that censor could finish their words.

Hong Chengchou detected the hidden meaning in Zhu Youjian's words.

He instantly seized upon Zhu Youjian's statement and shouted loudly,

"Did Your Majesty just say that when the world is settled, the silver will be returned to the common people?"

As soon as these words were spoken.

All civil and military officials instantly came to their senses.

At this point, why bother caring whether that fool lives or dies!

Never mind whether Zhu Youjian's note is a blank one.

At the very least, this silver hasn't been thrown into the water!

Not defaulting is far better than letting Zhu Youjian default on this debt after things have soured!

In an instant, Duke Zhang Zhiji immediately raised his voice and said

"Grand Councilor Hong, Your Majesty is wise and divine; how could he break faith with the people?"

"Indeed, Grand Councilor Hong, your concern is excessive. The realm is settled, the four seas are at peace; how could the Son of Heaven begrudge such trifling gains?"

One after another, high hats were immediately thrust upon Zhu Youjian's head.

The censor who had just been dragged away by the Eunuchs immediately flew into a rage.

Damn it!

I was speaking up for you just now!

"Hong Chengchou! You old rascal, you dare to trick me!"

"That is our... Crack!"

Before that censor could speak.

The two members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard holding him immediately, with swift eyes and quick hands, dislocated the censor's jaw.

"Mmm-mmm-mmm!"

Hearing the ministers' flattery, Zhu Youjian slowly rose to his feet and said expressionlessly

"Since I have decided to borrow this silver."

"I have no intention of defaulting on this debt!"

"As long as the Great Ming endures, I will certainly acknowledge this debt, and I will certainly repay it!"

Upon hearing these words, Hong Chengchou immediately understood the deep meaning in Zhu Youjian's words.

If the Great Ming remains.

Then naturally this money will be repaid.

But if the Great Ming is no more.

Then all their retirement funds must accompany the Great Ming into the grave!

In an instant.

Hong Chengchou immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

This move was too vicious.

And too brilliant.