Simulates history, but Chongzhen is the Divine Emperor at the beginning

Chapter 63 The final choice!

[When Zhu Zhongcheng arrived at the Prime Minister's residence with the imperial edict demanding his death, he would always recall the time when you took him to "eliminate insects" in Changchun Garden...]

At night, you were in the Prime Minister's residence arranging matters related to next year's spring plowing in various provinces. You were very serious, because as long as the Divine Emperor didn't directly dismiss you, you would still be the Prime Minister of the two capitals and thirteen provinces.

[You must govern according to your position. As long as you are still Prime Minister, you cannot slack off. After all, your confrontation with the Divine Emperor was only a private act, while the political affairs of the world are matters of life and death for hundreds of millions of people. You cannot sacrifice public interests for personal gain!]

You are always so inhumane...

The aged Zhu Zhongcheng stood at the door, holding the imperial edict. He watched you busy at the table. He hesitated several times to speak, but ultimately, unable to resist the imperial order, he cautiously called out to you.

“Brother Zhou…”

You looked up in surprise, and seeing it was Zhu Zhongcheng, you immediately frowned, "This is a business occasion, there's no need to address each other by title!"

Zhu Zhongcheng: Zhou Zhiwu?

Zhu Zhongcheng was speechless for a moment, but then he said sternly, "Prime Minister Zhou! You're in trouble!"

"His Majesty has ordered me to deliver an imperial decree to you, asking you to celebrate His birthday the day after tomorrow! One hundred and nineteenth birthday! The location is... Changchun Garden!"

【what? 】

[As soon as the news came out, your heart couldn't help but tremble: When did the Divine Emperor master the art of Dou Zhuan Xing Yi?!]

[Another unusual time for a birthday celebration, and another time at Changchun Garden...]

[Your face is bitter: Finally... it's time for a showdown! ]

"In fact, you've long anticipated this day. After all, you're only sixty years old this year, and you still have plenty of time to spend with Him, but He can't wait any longer... If His aging isn't a deliberate act, then it must be because He gave in first."

"But you didn't expect He would be so humorous as to perform a celestial shift on you. What's the point of holding a birthday party in Changchun Garden? Do you want Zhu Zhongcheng to perform a worm-killing and sun-shooting on you?"

【And the timing was so sudden...】

[Hmm? Doesn't seem so sudden?]

[After careful consideration, you are shocked to discover that if the "Changchun Garden Gengchen Coup" of that year is used as the starting time, then this year's Divine Emperor's birthday is exactly thirty years from now!]

On December 24, the seventy-third year of the Chongzhen reign, the Divine Emperor held a banquet at Changchun Garden for his eighty-ninth birthday... And now, on December 24, the one hundred and third year of the Chongzhen reign, the Divine Emperor will hold another banquet at Changchun Garden for his one hundred and nineteenth birthday.

[In the face of the "thirty-year agreement" made that year, He did not break it, but actually persisted until the agreed time, not even a day later...]

Thinking of this, you can't help but sigh: Who says the Divine Emperor hasn't improved? Isn't this a sign of improvement? Back then, He broke Yuan's "five-year plan to pacify Liao" prematurely, but now He has meticulously upheld your "thirty-year agreement" to the very last day!

[Your Majesty has made great progress...]

With a half-mocking, half-serious sigh, you calmly accepted the imperial edict under Zhu Zhongcheng's extremely worried gaze.

[It is indeed calm, because you have already mentally prepared for the arrival of this day... It is just a death after all, what is there to be afraid of?]

[Everything is as you expected. All you should do is step forward and accept your death...]

"Brother! You can't go!"

At this point, Zhu Zhongcheng gritted his teeth and angrily said to you, "I don't understand! Why would His Majesty not tolerate you?"

"For the past thirty years, you have diligently governed the affairs of the land for Your Majesty, punishing corruption, enforcing laws, strengthening the military, distributing land equally, providing disaster relief, caring for the people, clearing rivers, and subduing foreign invaders..."

"Your achievements are so great that even Yi Yin, Duke Zhou, Huo Guang, Kong Ming, or even Zhang Taiyue could not compare to yours!" ["You are the popular and highly regarded Prime Minister of the Ming Dynasty. Hundreds of millions of people in the two capitals and thirteen provinces enjoy peace and prosperity thanks to you! To be frank, what does this prosperous era have to do with Your Majesty? Your Majesty is nothing!"]

[In his excitement, Zhu Zhongcheng's shocking words left you stunned: "Brother, you..."]

Zhu Zhongcheng seemed frightened by himself, but since he had already said it, he decided not to act anymore. He knelt on one knee before you, his eyes gleaming brightly as he said in a deep voice, "The Prime Minister's achievements far surpass your Majesty's! Your Majesty, not only does not accept your gratitude, but instead plots to murder loyal officials. How can you be called a king?"

"He doesn't look like a human king!"

[“And the Prime Minister is the sage of our time whom everyone hopes to see!”]

"When I left the palace last time, I saw His Majesty emaciated and emaciated. It looked as if his time was numbered. This old scoundrel has finally given up!"

"Although I've been out of office for many years, I still hold considerable prestige within the Ministry of War. With just one order from the Prime Minister, I will immediately mobilize three thousand Jinyiwei and one hundred thousand elite troops from the Beijing Army to attack the Forbidden City! I'll eliminate this old villain for the Prime Minister!"

You were stunned. Watching the reckless Zhu Zhongcheng constantly spout these outrageous words, you were instantly overwhelmed with confusion...

Seeing you falter, Zhu Zhongcheng feared you might be timid, so he gritted his teeth and said, "Prime Minister, don't worry about the troop movement failing. The Imperial Guards have been replaced several times. The current ones are all from good families who grew up under the Prime Minister's guidance. They have admired you for years and despised the old villain for many years. As long as we make it clear that the old villain wants to do something detrimental to you, they will be infuriated and obey the Prime Minister's orders!"

"The same goes for the Beijing troops. They are all good families who grew up during the Prime Minister's reign. The Prime Minister's sunshine and rain have nurtured their growth. Now that we are attacking the old thief, they will have no second thoughts!"

[“Everywhere in the world are people who have received favors from the Prime Minister, and they are all loyal to him!”]

"Prime Minister, please give the order!"

Listening to his trembling voice, your original intention of obediently accepting death gradually changed... If the king orders his subject to die, must he die?

[No! You should kill me first!]

[The story of "false accusations" cannot be repeated in this ancient land! ]

[Since a lifetime of being a loyal subject hasn't been enough to change that old villain's mind, I can't blame you now...]

Zhu Zhongcheng's words also gave you immense confidence: First, the Divine Emperor has long been aging and looks like he's about to die. Now that he's unable to hold back any longer, he's confronting you directly, which means he's at his weakest!

[Secondly, your thirty years of management have earned you a very high reputation throughout the Ming Dynasty. The Jinyiwei and the Beijing Camp are forces you can trust and control. If they truly rebel, the chances of killing the Divine Emperor will be very high!]

[Reason after reason strikes your uneasy heart, causing your unwavering loyalty to gradually waver...]

[Finally, you slowly walked out of the Prime Minister's Residence, looking up at the distant North Pole "Emperor Star" guarded by the stars.]

The Imperial Star dimmed and began to crumble, as if foreshadowing the end of the old dragon in the Forbidden City...

[You know, you have reached the node of destiny, and different choices will lead you to different endings.]

【…】

[Ding! At this juncture of fate, you've developed a strange thought, and your original intention to die for loyalty is gradually wavering... Your choice: (?)]

A: The enemy is in Changchun Garden! You damned bastard emperor, you're so shameless! Look, I'm bringing a hundred thousand troops to celebrate your birthday! If I can't free the world from your brutal rule, then let the Ming Dynasty burn!

[B: The emperor orders his subjects to die, and they must die! I've been loyal for a lifetime, what's the point of waiting a little longer? Die then! Follow the imperial decree and go to Changchun Garden to pay my respects to the Divine Emperor. Remember not to bring your five- or six-barreled rifle... Ugh! Don't bring your three-barreled rifle!]

C: Kairun! Killing the God-Emperor is very possible, but it's also a bit unlikely... and submitting to death isn't really what you want... After all the choices, you think escaping is the most effective, so between "yes or no," you choose "or"!

……

(End of this chapter)