The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 180 Public opinion can melt metal, and accumulated slander can destroy bones.

The news that Duke Lan Yu of Liang had sent the official in charge of the Ministry of Rites and the envoy from Japan to the Five Cities Military Command and imprisoned them quickly spread throughout Yingtian Prefecture.

The officials of Yingtian Prefecture were extremely surprised to hear this news.

Today, Lan Yu can be said to be the person Zhu Xiong Ying trusts the most.

Although Lan Yu lost his adopted sons and his control over the army is far less than before, his power is now at its zenith.

Especially during the time when Duke Xu Da of Wei was recuperating at home, among the few cabinet ministers in the court, the only military officer who could be considered a leader was Duke Lan Yu of Liang.

Many military officers in the court were close to Duke Liang, Lan Yu, but Lan Yu never responded.

Several civil officials gathered in a restaurant, clinking glasses and exchanging toasts.

"Have you all heard? The Japanese envoy and the officials of the Ministry of Rites have actually been detained by that brute Lan Yu."

The others nodded.

What happened on Yingtianfu Street spread extremely quickly.

"How could I not have heard about this? It's those Japanese who were courting death. I heard that the Japanese pirates in the southeast are extremely serious. Even His Highness the Crown Prince has inquired about these matters in court. Yet these guys still didn't know their own mortality and just walked right into it!"

These people were well aware of what had happened on the street that day. They were not speaking up for the injured old man, but rather because they felt that the Japanese envoys were far too arrogant.

At this moment, one of the people rolled his eyes and suddenly whispered.

"Gentlemen, this envoy from Japan is nothing of great importance; it's just a tiny, insignificant country."

No matter what, it will never amount to anything. The biggest problem now lies with Duke Lan Yu of Liang. Everyone was very puzzled when they heard this. Duke Lan Yu of Liang was Zhu Xiong Ying's most trusted person.

Putting aside his relationship with Zhu Xiong Ying, the military power he currently holds is of paramount importance in the capital.

"What do you mean by that, Brother Li?"

The official surnamed Li said in a low voice.

"Now the cabinet is only controlled by a few senior ministers, and the current cabinet is similar to the one that used to be the prime minister's. Among the military generals, there is only one Lan Yu!"

"If Lan Yu gets into trouble because of this and is kicked out of the cabinet, then things will get interesting!"

After everyone finished listening.

Then his eyes lit up. This was indeed a good idea. Duke Lan Yu of Liang was extremely impatient, and this was a good opportunity to deal with him.

If we can provoke Duke Lan Yu of Liang, everything else will be easy.

Currently, besides Lan Yu, there is only one other person in the entire cabinet: the twelfth prince, Zhu Bai, who represents the Zhu family imperial clan.

However, the twelfth prince, Zhu Bai, is still young and cannot play any role, which means that the only ones who can truly make decisions in the court are the civil officials.

Wouldn't they easily seize power then? These people immediately had such thoughts.

One person frowned.

"This matter is probably not easy to handle. Given the extent of His Highness's trust in the Duke of Liang, he may not necessarily punish the Duke of Liang."

The official surnamed Li said with a smile.

"Have you all ever heard the saying, 'Many voices can melt metal, and accumulated slander can destroy bones'? Some things are not something that His Highness the Crown Prince can do as he pleases!"

"Now that the Japanese envoy has been detained, what will the other envoys think?" "If all the envoys from these countries went to the Crown Prince's place to appease him, what choice would be made?"

After listening, everyone nodded. Although His Highness the Crown Prince now has the power to oversee the country, the Ming Dynasty is still ultimately under His Majesty's rule.

If things get out of hand in the court, coupled with the discontent of these rebellious states, I'm afraid His Highness the Crown Prince won't be able to hold onto his position as regent. Each of them had their own thoughts.

At this moment, the official surnamed Li said in a low voice.

"Actually, there is another way. Although these two Duke Lan Yu are skilled in battle, he is extremely impatient."

If we use this as a starting point, we might be able to force him to comply!

Several people nodded.

Minister of Rites Ni Yuanlu went directly to the Wucheng Military Command and saw the Japanese envoy and Liu Huai, the head of the Ministry of Rites, who were imprisoned there.

When Liu, the head of the department, saw that Ni Yuanlu, the Minister of Rites, had actually appeared in this place, he was extremely excited. Indeed, he was still very important.

"Sir, are you here to save us?"

"My lord, I must complain to His Highness the Crown Prince. That brute Lan Yu is truly hateful! I am an official appointed by the court to receive the envoy, but these people have imprisoned us!"

"If that were all, we would be fine, but they've even imprisoned the imperial envoys. If these envoys have any complaints, it will definitely cause trouble for our Great Ming!"

Minister of Rites Ni Yuanlu's face was extremely grim.

It wasn't because of Duke Lan Yu of Liang, but because of the stupid things their own officials had done.

Although they had nothing wrong with siding with the envoy in some ways, in front of so many officials from Yingtian Prefecture, wasn't this damaging the image of the Ming Dynasty among the people? For that reason alone, it would be difficult for me to help him.

"Don't think these people won't dare offend me," said Koizumi Kameshiro, the envoy from Japan, angrily.

"You're an official from the Ministry of Rites of the Ming Dynasty?"

"Isn't the Ming Dynasty supposed to be the Celestial Empire?"

"Is this all the magnanimity you have? It was clearly your people who were at fault first, yet you dared to tie up our envoy from the Great Japanese Empire. I'm warning you, our envoy from the Great Japanese Empire is protected by the Yamata no Okami. If you provoke us, the Great Japanese army will surely invade the Ming Dynasty."

Minister of Rites Ni Yuanlu looked at the Japanese envoys with unhurried demeanor, his eyes filled with disgust.

"It seems that you envoys think your Japan is very powerful?"

Higo Kameda nodded subconsciously, his eyes filled with pride.

In his view, Japan has gone through the Warring States period and is now trending towards unification. The power of all the countries is now concentrated together, and their strength has greatly increased.

If they could gather all the troops in the country, they could muster at least 70,000 to 80,000, or even more than 100,000 warriors. With these warriors, which country in the world would dare to oppose them? As for the Ming Dynasty, they didn't even have a navy or decent ships, so how could they possibly contend with them?

Ni Yuanlu said slowly and deliberately.

"The reason for summoning all the envoys this time is to demonstrate the majesty of the Celestial Empire."

"Our Great Ming Dynasty has listed you as non-conquerable nations only because of your unwavering loyalty. If you think that this makes our Great Ming Dynasty easy to bully, then don't blame us for being impolite!"

"My Great Ming Dynasty has a million soldiers, while your Japan is just a tiny island. It would be as easy as turning my hand to destroy you!"

(End of this chapter)