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

Chapter 225 Old Zhu fainted from anger
Agriculture is the foundation of a nation, and grain production is of paramount importance to a country.

Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang's greatest passion was hoarding grain.

Today, granaries across the land are full, which is Zhu Yuanzhang's proudest achievement.

But now Zhu Xiong Ying wants to exchange the grain that he has painstakingly accumulated for some useless wool, which makes Zhu Yuanzhang extremely angry.

Zhu Yuanzhang angrily rebuked Jiang Huan in front of him: "Why are you only bringing up such an important matter now? Does my word no longer carry weight?"

"What use are you lot to me!"

Jiang Huan lowered his head, his forehead covered in sweat.

Sure enough, I shouldn't have taken this thing out. Taking it out only made me the one who suffered in the end.

When the Imperial Guards of Yingtian Prefecture brought this news, Jiang Huan was already scared half to death.

Just as he was about to tell Zhu Yuanzhang about this, the messenger from the Embroidered Uniform Guard told his son, Crown Prince Zhu Biao, to postpone the matter for a while longer.

This put him in a very difficult position. No matter what, he was one of the commanders personally appointed by Zhu Yuanzhang.

If someone can appoint themselves to this position, they can also kick them out of it.

Over the years, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has offended many people. Once they step down from that position, the only outcome will be death.

After much deliberation, Jiang Huan finally decided to tell Zhu Yuanzhang about it.

However, just as he heard Zhu Yuanzhang boasting about his attack, he realized that he had chosen a very awkward time.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me, this was personally ordered by His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang fell silent.

It turns out that Zhu Biao agreed to this. Why would Zhu Biao do such a thing? Although both he and Crown Prince Zhu Biao doted on Zhu Xiong Ying, who was both capable and shrewd, this matter concerned food and the survival of the Ming Dynasty. How could they not distinguish between what was important and what was not?

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly: "I don't care about the reasons, I just want the grain!"

"You immediately take the Embroidered Uniform Guard to the provincial administration offices in Henan and Shanxi and tell them that no one is allowed to touch our grain without my order!"

Just as Jiang Huan was about to leave after receiving the order, another member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard rushed over with a scroll in his hand.

"Your Majesty, Commander, something terrible has happened!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Huan's heart skipped a beat.

What I fear most right now is hearing that sound. Something just happened, and so little time has passed. I can't believe something else has happened.

The Imperial Guard officer said, "Your Majesty, a shocking case has been discovered in the provincial administration offices of Shanxi and Henan. The grain stored in the granaries in both places is severely depleted, especially in Luokou Granary, where less than one-third of the grain remains!"

"His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Grandson are thoroughly investigating this matter!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang fainted.

Jiang Huan's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly shouted, "Your Majesty, what's wrong? Someone, quickly summon the imperial physician!"

Soon, the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau arrived.

"My lords, don't panic, Your Majesty. This is just a sudden surge of anger, nothing too serious. I'll prescribe some calming medicine in a moment. But you must all persuade His Majesty not to have any major emotional fluctuations, otherwise his condition will worsen!" After the imperial physician left, a coughing sound came from inside, and Zhu Yuanzhang's voice came out again.

"Jiang Huan!"

Jiang Huan hurriedly ran over: "Your Majesty, the summer vacation is here."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were icy cold: "No wonder Xiong Ying suddenly moved grain from Shanxi and Henan. Perhaps Xiong Ying has already received some information. Immediately transfer the Jinyiwei men under your command to investigate this matter. In addition to Henan and Shanxi, the granaries in other places should also be thoroughly investigated. All officials involved in this matter should be skinned alive!"

"Dare to touch our grain, or you'll die!"

"The people of our Great Ming have worked so hard for so many years, and all the grain they have painstakingly saved has been devoured by these giant rats!"

Jiang Fan looked at Zhu Yuanzhang in front of him and said, "Your Majesty, now that the Crown Prince is in Yingtian Prefecture, I believe nothing will happen!"

"Why don't we wait for news from Yingtian Prefecture? The Embroidered Uniform Guard has already begun inspecting grain in various places. I believe we'll have results soon!"

Zhu Yuanzhang hesitated for a moment. As his successors, Crown Prince Zhu Biao and Grandson Zhu Xiong Ying should have to face these matters, but Zhu Yuanzhang felt a little uncomfortable.

He killed countless people throughout his life, rising from a beggar to become the emperor he is today.

He knew very well that few of the officials in the court would respect him.

They believed he was illiterate and of humble origin.

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't intend to get too involved with these civil officials. He only hoped that one day the people of the Ming Dynasty would no longer go hungry, and that Zhu Biao would be left with a stable and powerful Ming Dynasty. Who could have imagined that all the grain he had worked so hard to accumulate over the years would be gone?

The extent of his anger is evident.

Zhu Yuanzhang took a deep breath and immediately decided to return to Yingtian. After what had happened, he had no desire to go on any more inspection tours.

Now, what he wants to do most is to return to Yingtian Prefecture as soon as possible and personally cut off the heads of these corrupt officials.

Jiang Huan was stunned for a moment. According to the plan, they were supposed to inspect many places in the south, but now this incident had suddenly occurred. It seemed that His Majesty Zhu was going back to kill people: "Your subordinate obeys!"

As the capital of the Ming Dynasty, Yingtian Prefecture was a place where human affairs came and went in an endless stream.

The bustling crowds created a lively atmosphere.

The Jinyiwei and Xichang agents were constantly coming and going on the streets, arresting people everywhere. Before long, the Ministry of Justice prison was full, followed by the Jinyiwei's Zhaoyu prison. After the Zhaoyu prison was full, the residences of these officials who had committed crimes were used as temporary detention centers.

Inside a tavern, many people were drinking and watching the Imperial Guards and the Western Depot coming and going outside, arresting many people in official robes every now and then. They couldn't help but sigh, "Goodness, what have these people done? Why are they arresting so many? I don't think even when the monks and Taoists rebelled, they arrested so many people."

The sudden arrest of so many people, especially officials, suggests that the Ming Dynasty is about to undergo a major upheaval.

At this moment, a scholar-looking man said, "His Majesty and his grandson are cruel and tyrannical, showing no respect for scholars whatsoever. They confiscate property and exterminate entire families for the slightest matter, showing absolutely no compassion!"

"These officials have worked tirelessly for the Ming Dynasty, and they've only committed some minor offenses. Why make such a fuss!"

Before he could finish speaking, someone at the next table snorted coldly.

"This man seems to be a scholar, how can he be so unreasonable? These people have committed serious crimes, I think it wouldn't be an exaggeration to execute their entire families!"

(End of this chapter)