Zhu Yuanzhang Returns from Modern Times

Chapter 60 Beheading

"The superior said that he was busy issuing the imperial edict of apology and had no time to spare. He said that you should be handed over to Fengyang Prefecture and that you would be sent on your journey today."

Yu Tongyuan said to Ming Wang with an expressionless face.

Ming Wang was stunned, and the smile that had just appeared on his face froze in an instant!

transfixed.

For a moment, my eyes lost focus.

After a moment, he suddenly raised his head and stared at Yu Tongyuan.

"You said... Emperor Zhu is going to issue a... Repentance Edict?!"

Yu Tongyuan frowned, paused, and nodded, "Yes, the one who takes the throne must issue an edict of repentance!"

After confirming this answer from Yu Tongyuan, Ming Wang was suddenly silent.

The whole person was in a daze, absent-minded, as if he had gone stupid.

Even when Yu Tongyuan had him taken to the Fengyang government office and handed over to the Fengyang prefect to be beheaded, he did not have any special reaction.

His entire heart was filled with an indescribable huge shock.

He had already made preparations for Emperor Zhu to supervise his execution.

Moreover, during the time when Yu Tongyuan and others were away, he even carefully thought about and decided what he would say to Emperor Zhu when he was executed.

As a result, the emperor did not come to supervise his execution!
It would have been fine if he didn't come to supervise his execution, but the reason was that the emperor was busy issuing an edict of repentance and had no time to execute him!

Issue a confession of guilt!
This is a confession of guilt!

Emperor Wu of Han waged wars abroad year after year, engaging in excessive military spending. In the end, the people of the country were filled with resentment.

Seeing that chaos was about to break out, Emperor Wu issued an edict of self-criticism in Luntai, which instantly calmed the public anger.

The current Emperor Zhu is a figure similar to Emperor Gaozu of Han and Emperor Wu of Han.

Before, when he heard that Zhu Yuanzhang had arrived in Zhongdu City, he immediately ordered the release of prisoners and forced labor, executed Ding Bin, gave them porridge, skinned Li Shanchang's nephew alive, and shouted "Long live the people..."

These were enough to shock him and make even this unruly man convinced.

Who would have thought that now I would hear that Emperor Zhu would actually issue a self-criticism edict!

This... is this still the Emperor Zhu in our impression, who was born a beggar, has little knowledge, and is very suspicious?

Zhu Yuanzhang's move really caught him off guard.

Countless thoughts were spinning rapidly in his mind, and he was in a daze.

From being sent to the government office, Zheng Shiyuan expedited the beheading, to being sent to the guillotine, he did not have any special feelings.

It was not until the executioner began to spray wine on the ghost-head sword in his hand that he woke up from his dream.

"There are so many heroes in the world! I underestimated the Emperor!
With such an emperor around, how could the people not be loyal to him? Who else could bring disaster to the world?

Holy King!

This is the Holy King!
Impressed!

I’m really impressed!!!”

He suddenly shouted loudly, looking a little crazy.

After shouting, he stretched his neck and waited for death to come.

The next moment, the ghost-headed sword suddenly chopped down.

The head rolled down, and blood gushed out...

Along with the beheading of Ming Wang, many core members of the Ming Cult were also arrested.

Without exception, all of these people had their crimes publicized and their heads chopped off.

After the Ming King and a group of Mingjiao members were beheaded, news spread that the emperor was going to issue an edict of repentance, which undoubtedly caused a great shock.

Li Shanchang, who had been ill at home, was so shocked when he heard the news that he sat up suddenly!
He ran out immediately.

I wanted to go and stop the emperor from doing this.

But after reaching the bedroom door, he stopped again, stood there in a daze for a while, and then moved back step by step.

Lying dejectedly on the bed.

He pulled the quilt over his head, as if to block out all the troubles in the outside world.

Zhu Yuanzhang was really cruel in this matter!
So heartless!
Not only did he publicly announce that construction would no longer be carried out, he also issued a self-criticism edict.

Although he said that he was guilty, it actually showed his firm determination to abandon the capital city!
He has even prepared the edict of repentance. How difficult would it be to ask him to continue building Zhongdu?

It can be said that there is no hope at all!

He was deeply shocked.

After a long time, Li Shanchang, who felt he was about to suffocate, suddenly threw back the quilt, exposed his head and took a deep breath.

Light also appeared before my eyes.

He clenched his hands tightly inside the quilt, his knuckles turning white.

The expression on his face also became firm, to the point of being a little ferocious.

Zhongdu City must continue to be repaired!
The Ming Dynasty must establish its capital in Zhongdu City!

Zhu Yuanzhang has to agree to this matter. If he doesn’t agree... then I will force him to agree!
It depends on who can prevail!!!

……

In the south of Zhongdu City, there is a solemn and majestic building.

The overall shape is circular and is divided into two layers.

Each floor is surrounded by a circle of white marble railings, and the main body of the building is covered with glazed tiles.

On the top layer, there is a large round stone in the center.

Its name is Tianxin Stone.

This circular altar covers a vast area.

Even so, there are still palace walls and other buildings around it that have not been completely built.

If these were built as well, it would appear more solemn.

The name of this building is Circular Mound, where emperors offered sacrifices to heaven.

Yingtian also has a Circular Mound. At the beginning of the founding of the country, the Circular Mound was built outside the Zhengyang Gate, on the south side of Zhongshan Mountain, and the Square Mound was built outside the Taiping Gate, on the shady side of Zhongshan Mountain.

The most important thing in the country is to sacrifice to the army.

Zhongdu City was originally built as the new capital of the Ming Dynasty.

Then there would naturally be no shortage of circular mounds and square mounds for sacrifices.

The Circular Mound is used for offering sacrifices to heaven, and it is solemn and majestic in itself, and it is even more solemn and majestic now.

Because Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, was leading civil and military officials to offer sacrifices to heaven here and prepare to issue an edict of repentance.

Around the Circular Mound, in addition to the guards on duty, there were also a large number of people watching.

Zhu Yuanzhang held three large incense sticks, lit them, bowed three times respectfully, and then inserted them into the large bronze tripod in front of him.

The green smoke rises up, as if it can connect heaven and earth.

Then, in full view of everyone, Zhu Yuanzhang, who was at the top of the Circular Mound, knelt directly on the Tianxin Stone.

He began to read the confession of sin he had written to God.

Zhu Yuanzhang was very familiar with the edict of repentance, because in his previous life, after dealing with the affairs of Zhongdu City, he issued an edict of repentance on this Circular Mound.

The congratulatory message was also included in the collected works of Ming Taizu.

Kneeling here again, making a confession of guilt, and reading the Zhongdu prayer to heaven and earth written by himself, he felt a trance as if time had been repeated for a moment.

"In the past, when the Yuan government was in chaos, heroes emerged one after another, and the people could not bear their lot, and the suffering could not be stopped.

I am grateful to the Lord of Heaven and the Emperor of Hou Tu for their pity for the hardships of the people. They have entrusted me with tasks and bestowed upon me civil and military talents, many of whom are capable.

For the past eight years, we have eliminated disasters from the people..."

This edict of repentance was written by Zhu Yuanzhang himself.

The fact that I can still write it out again word for word in this life shows that this confession of repentance has been deeply engraved in my heart.

Not to mention reading it while looking at it, he can recite it even without looking at it.

But as Zhu Yuanzhang read on, his voice became lower and lower.

Finally couldn't read any further.

Before his eyes emerged the image of the imprisoned laborers, emaciated and even cannibalistic, a horrific scene of hell on earth.

Outside Zhongdu City, a dozen or so graves had been dug up, revealing countless bodies of the dead.

Not long ago, he thought that this edict of repentance was very well written and could be used word for word.

But now, I feel that this confession of guilt is so pale and powerless.

It is simply difficult to express even a fraction of my inner feelings!

Minister of Rites Niu Liang, who was listening solemnly to the emperor's edict of repentance, secretly marveled that the emperor had unknowingly acquired such writing skills. He was a little puzzled and raised his head slightly to look upwards.

What is your Majesty doing?
Why did you stop suddenly?
This is not in accordance with etiquette! Just as I was thinking this, the next moment, something even more unethical happened.

Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a while, and suddenly, he threw away the prayer letter in his hand!!!
Such a scene made Niu Liang's heart tremble violently.

It was as if the prayer text thrown away by the emperor did not fall on the ground, but fell on his heart.

At this moment, his eyes widened!
What is the emperor doing?
This was a sacrifice to heaven and a confession of guilt. How could he have thrown away the prayer?
I subconsciously wanted to remind him, but Zhu Yuanzhang's voice had already sounded.

"Oh my God, we were wrong!
We were really wrong this time!
I really didn't expect that such a good Zhongdu would be built into this state!

I really didn't expect that they would treat people like this!

They don't implement our policy at all!
I never thought that building Zhongdu City would cause so many deaths and destroy so many families!
This is also due to our failure to monitor effectively. Only now did we find out about these covered-up things!

Let’s admit our mistake here!

Admit your mistake to God.

We also apologize to the people who died in vain because of our construction of Zhongdu.

I was wrong, I'm sorry, I'm late!

I promise to you, God, and to the many people who suffered because of the construction of Zhongdu, that Zhongdu City will never be built again!

never!

Those who built Zhongdu, and those who died because of it, will definitely be properly resettled!!!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was low and penetrating, with an unprecedented firmness.

Having said this, he stood up.

Just when the Minister of Rites Niu Liang, whose expression was twisted into a knot, breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that this unethical thing was finally coming to an end.

Zhu Yuanzhang picked up a bowl of wine and knelt down again.

Slowly pour the wine in your hand onto the ground.

"This kneeling is for the people of our Ming Dynasty who died for the construction of Zhongdu. This bowl of wine is also for you all.

I, Zhu Yuanzhang, would like to apologize to you here!!!"

After saying this, he kowtowed to the ground.

Zhu Biao, who was wearing a dragon robe, as well as Zhu Gang and Zhu Di, were greatly shocked.

He immediately knelt down.

King Qin Zhu Chong was slow to react, but when he saw his elder brother and the others kneeling, he also knelt down and kowtowed to the ground.

The officials also knelt down.

Niu Liang, the Minister of Rites, was so anxious that he wanted to stamp his feet on the spot.

Nonsense!

This is really nonsense!
This is a sacrifice to heaven, and I am issuing a self-criticism edict. It would be fine if I were to issue a self-criticism edict in plain words, but how can I also sacrifice to the people on this Circular Mound?
And kneel down, toast and apologize to the dead souls of the people?

Do the common people deserve it?

What is the emperor doing?!

It's messed up!
It's all chaos!

Looking at the Crown Prince, several princes, and many officials, they all knelt down and kowtowed.

Many soldiers knelt on one knee with their weapons in hand.

He was extremely anxious and wanted to call everyone to stand up and stop them from doing so.

But in the end, I didn't dare to do it.

However, he did not kneel.

He still maintained the same posture as when he offered sacrifices to heaven, standing with his body bowed.

He couldn't control other people, but as the Minister of Rites, he had to insist when the emperor did something that was seriously against the etiquette!

No matter how difficult or conspicuous it is, you must stand!

From the emperor to the generals and soldiers, everyone knelt, except the Minister of Rites Niu Liang who stood.

For a moment, it stood out like a crane among chickens, extremely eye-catching!
Most of the people who were watching around the Circular Mound had already known through propaganda that the emperor was going to issue a self-criticism edict.

And being enveloped by this grand and solemn ceremony, one unconsciously becomes solemn.

But after the emperor began to offer sacrifices to heaven and issued an edict of repentance, they could not understand what the emperor meant.

Fortunately, the emperor's plain words soon came through.

Now, all the people understood.

Looking at the extremely noble emperor wearing a dragon robe, kneeling on the ground in front of everyone.

He loudly apologized to God and to the people, and everyone was moved!

This is the emperor, the most honorable person!
It has always been others who are at fault, and the emperor does not allow anyone to make mistakes.

But now, the emperor admitted his mistake.

Moreover, if you really think about it, this mistake was not the emperor's fault.

The emperor's original intention was good, and he had already provided them with many benefits. However, when it came to the lower levels, many people like Li Shanchang distorted the meaning of the plan.

But the emperor still admitted his mistakes to these people who were as humble as grass in front of God.

What a holy king!

What a good saint!

When he saw the emperor, he offered sacrifices to God, then knelt down again to offer wine to the souls of the people who died while building Zhongdu, and kowtowed to apologize.

The shock in the hearts of the common people was definitely greater than that of the officials present.

Many people were stunned.

It was as if countless things filled many people's chests at once.

It made many people's eyes sore and filled with tears in an instant!

These peasants have never been taken seriously.

Especially in the previous Yuan Dynasty, it really was like weeds.

Anyone can bully them at will.

No one cares about their life or death, not even the emperor!
But the current emperor really saw them and really took them to his heart.

Not only did they punish the corrupt officials who bullied them, they also vented their anger on their behalf and shouted "Long live the people" to them.

Now he even kneels down to pay tribute to the dead souls of the people!

With tears in their eyes, they couldn't help but kneel down in front of the kneeling emperor.

They knelt willingly!

Gusts of wind swirled through the bare branches, making a humming sound, as if countless ghosts were crying.

It seemed like countless people were laughing.

Among the kneeling crowd, there was a bald man in black clothes, with his palms clasped together in front of his chest, kneeling very low.

I have never bowed so low before a Buddha statue.

It looks like he's about to kneel down...

……

"Father, what should we do about Duke Hanguo?"

After the sacrifice was over and they returned to Zhongdu City, it was a long time before Crown Prince Zhu Biao gradually recovered from the shock of his father's self-criticism edict.

After some thought, he looked at his father Zhu Yuanzhang and asked this question, mentioning Li Shanchang, a person he did not want to mention.

If the affairs of Zhongdu City are to be handled properly, Li Shanchang is someone who cannot be avoided.

After all, he was responsible for the construction of Zhongdu City, and it was built into this state according to his wishes.

He needs to take the main responsibility.

Even though his father had already dealt with his nephew Ding Bin and nephew Li You, and raided his brother Li Cunyi's house before.

And then he made a series of other actions, and every time he cut Li Shanchang's body.

But these are from the side.

On the positive side, Li Shanchang also needs to be dealt with.

Otherwise, it doesn't make sense.

Zhu Biao also knew that his father was very conflicted about how to deal with Li Shanchang.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t have kept this matter a secret until now.

But now it's time to make a decision!
After hearing Zhu Biao's words, Zhu Yuanzhang did not speak immediately.

After a long silence, a murderous look suddenly spread across his face, and he slowly spoke: "Li Shanchang deceived his superiors and subordinates, acted recklessly, and took human life lightly. His crimes are heinous and he deserves to be skinned alive!"

Zhu Biao was instantly shocked and broke out in a cold sweat!
(End of this chapter)