Chapter 66: The Ministry of War

Fu Tao looked at Zhu Xu, then glanced at Fu Changzong, and said, "The Ministry of War."

"The Ministry of War?"

Zhu Xu's eyes narrowed slightly, a cold glint flashing through them.

Empress Zhang treated him like a mother, so Duke Zhang Guo naturally was his grandfather. He would not allow anyone to touch Empress Zhang, nor would he allow anyone to touch her father!

Fu Changzong's brow furrowed as well, and he looked sternly at Fu Tao, asking, "Where did this news come from? Who else knows?"

Fu Tao said hurriedly, "It was someone from the Ministry of War who came to deposit silver at the Huitong Trading Company, and I overheard it by chance."

Fu Changzong's expression also turned hesitant, and he turned to look at Zhu Xu.

Zhu Xu narrowed his eyes, hands clasped behind his back, fingers tapping against his wrist, thoughts churning in his mind.

The current Minister of War was Zhang Heming, who had taken over from Gu Bingqian not long ago. What was he really planning—was this just an accidental misstep?

"Cao Wenzhao!"

Suddenly, Zhu Xu walked out of the secret chamber and called out toward the outside.

"Your Highness."

Cao Wenzhao walked in, bowing with clasped fists.

"Go, have Ni Wenhuan investigate and see what the Censorate over there wants to do." Zhu Xu said. If the Ministry of War wanted to use Zhang Guoji to make some trouble, the Censorate's cooperation would be indispensable.

"Yes, Your Highness." Cao Wenzhao saw this and knew the matter was serious, so he immediately strode quickly toward the outside.

"Xu'er," Fu Changzong walked to his side, looking outside with a thoughtful expression as he said, "This matter should first be reported to Her Majesty the Empress."

Zhu Xu narrowed his eyes and nodded vaguely.

Fu Tao looked at Zhu Xu's profile. He had spent considerable time with Zhu Xu recently, and he paid the most attention to his expressions—the moment he saw it, he knew.

His Highness Prince Hui was angry.

Before long, Cao Wenzhao ran back and said, "Your Highness, news has come from Ni Wenhuan's side. Some Censors in the Censorate have united, wanting to strip 'improper' noble titles, planning to start with Duke Zhang Guo."

Listening to Cao Wenzhao's words, Zhu Xu's mouth twitched, his expression caught between crying and laughing.

In the late Ming court, the courtiers were all a bunch of oddities—the upright and incorruptible did foolish things, the treacherous villains did evil things, and those who were rational and intelligent either resigned or were thrown in prison, none meeting a good end. The entire court was never idle, yet rarely did anything of substance succeed.

And now, a group of incorruptible Censors who claimed to serve the country and the people wanted to purify the court and suppress the consort clans, starting with the father of the current Empress.

Fu Tao looked at Zhu Xu, his expression changing as he said, "Your Highness, if the Censorate does this, I'm afraid all the imperial relatives, even the feudal princes, will unite and make a scene before the Emperor."

Zhu Xu shook his head slightly and said, "That's not all. If this matter blows up, it will become a confrontation between the pure stream and the imperial house, and in the end it will turn into the entire court pressing the Emperor, heh."

Fu Changzong kept his brow tightly furrowed, sighing inwardly. The court was surging with storms, never settling for even a moment. Even those who genuinely wanted to get things done were bound hand and foot, hard-pressed to accomplish anything.

"Cao Wenzhao!"

Suddenly, Zhu Xu called out in a loud voice.

Cao Wenzhao's expression changed abruptly, then he immediately dropped to one knee and said in a deep voice, "Your subordinate is here!"

Zhu Xu's expression was stern, his gaze piercing as he said, "Fetch my princely robes, and assemble fifty Imperial Guardsmen, on standby at all times!"

"Yes!" Cao Wenzhao acknowledged and turned to leave.

Fu Changzong and Fu Tao both had strange looks in their eyes. Fu Changzong looked at Zhu Xu and quickly urged, "Xu'er, this matter requires caution—do not act rashly."

Zhu Xu nodded slightly, anger surging in his heart.

He was truly angered this time, and he could vaguely empathize with the helplessness of Zhu Youxiao and the later Chongzhen Emperor.

All the civil and military officials were devoted to the country, yet the state of affairs grew ever more difficult with no relief, until the fall of the nation.

Zhu Xu had formed a plan in his mind, so he directly walked out of the Fu residence, bringing two guards, and rode in a carriage straight for the Ministry of War.

"Your Highness."

Not far from the Ministry of War, Cao Wenzhao caught up.

Zhu Xu changed into his princely robes inside the carriage, then stepped down.

He was seven years old this year, with rosy lips and white teeth, wearing a Tongtian Crown on his head, a yellow brocade five-clawed python robe, a green jade belt carved with qilin patterns at his waist, and embroidered floral shoes on his feet.

Just this outfit alone revealed his noble status without question!

"Let's go."

Zhu Xu looked at the Ministry of War's gate not far away and waved his hand.

Cao Wenzhao wore a gold-inlaid fish-dragon robe with an embroidered spring knife at his waist, and behind him followed fifty Imperial Guardsmen with orderly steps and imposing bearing.

Such a group appearing on the street naturally drew attention, especially coming right after the court's 'robbery.'

From a distance, the Ministry of War's guards saw Zhu Xu's group and all froze in bewilderment.

Although Zhu Xu was noble as the youngest brother of the current Emperor, enfeoffed as Prince Hui, very few people within or outside the Great Ming knew of him. Those who did know only knew such a person existed, but nothing had ever been spread about him.

Therefore, he was nearly invisible. The group of people looked at his python robe yet still stood dumbfounded.

"Y-you, who are you..." The guard watched Zhu Xu heading straight for the Ministry of War's gate, startled, and stepped forward to challenge him.

"Charge!"

Zhu Xu shouted coldly. Cao Wenzhao immediately stepped forward, kicked down that guard, and led the men straight in, barging through roughly.

"Who are you people—this is the Ministry of War..."

Zhu Xu stepped over that man's belly and walked through the Ministry of War's gate, shouting loudly, "Search for me—find that person!"

"Yes!"

The fifty Imperial Guardsmen split into two rows and charged directly toward both sides of the Ministry of War, kicking down doors one by one to find people.

"You, who are you!"

Zhu Xu went straight for the Ministry of War's main hall, and along the way people cried out in confusion before turning to panic.

But they were all kicked aside by Cao Wenzhao, who escorted Zhu Xu all the way to the Ministry of War's main hall.

Zhu Xu sat in the Ministry of War's main hall, expressionless, reaching over to pick up the tea beside him.

Cao Wenzhao stood at his side, his face equally fierce.

In another side chamber, a guard rushed in frantically, shouting: "My lord, my lord, something terrible has happened, something terrible…"

Zhang Heming was just tallying up the goods 'plundered' yesterday. Hearing this, he snorted coldly and said: "No manners at all. Open your mouth!"

The guard knew Minister Zhang's temper well, and quickly slapped his own mouth, then said urgently: "My lord, His Highness Prince Hui has barged in."

"Prince Hui?" Zhang Heming was taken aback for a moment before remembering who that was. He quickly pieced the matter together, and his brow furrowed involuntarily. They had only just seized Zhang Guoji, and hadn't yet had time to fabricate evidence and a personal memorial. Now His Highness Prince Hui was bringing people over—was this the Empress's intention?

Before long, Zhang Heming strode into the main hall, calling out from a distance: "Your subordinate Zhang Heming pays respects to His Highness Prince Hui."

Zhu Xu held a teacup, gently rubbing it as his gaze sized up Zhang Heming before him.

He was already a man of seventy, with a gaunt face and piercing, spirited eyes, slightly hunched as he bowed with both hands raised in salute.

Speaking of this Minister in history, he was also an odd character—meddling in Liaodong affairs, looking down on Xiong Tingbi while supporting Wang Huazhen. Wang Huazhen happened to be an incompetent fool, and Zhang Heming passionately supported him in court. Within days, Wang Huazhen abandoned Guangning and fled.

Feeling deeply ashamed of himself, he volunteered to be exiled to the frontier, but in the end didn't dare go—he ran to Shanhai Pass and dared not take another step forward.

He had also curried favor with Wei Zhongxian, which allowed him to travel north and south with a flourishing official career, serving successively as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, Minister, Minister of War, Minister of War in the Southern Capital, and so on. It wasn't until Chongzhen ascended the throne that he was impeached and, in fear and worry, resigned from office.

When he returned to his hometown, Li Zicheng besieged the city. At the age of eighty-four, he led his brothers and family onto the city walls—and they all died in battle!