Zhu Yuanzhang Returns from Modern Times

Chapter 64: See if their necks are harder or their knives are harder

Good job!
It looks really good!

I had just given the order to execute Niu Liang when these people rushed over!
It's obvious what this is intended to do.

These pieces of shit!
"Tell them all to get out of here! Don't beg for mercy for Niu Liang!

Anyone who pleads for Niu Liang will be thrown to death next to the big pit where the laborers are buried!

Let us all come together to pay tribute to the people who died tragically!"

There was murderous intent in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes.

Everyone wants to force him as the emperor. Do they really think that he is incapable of lifting a knife?
The people are the foundation of the Ming Dynasty. Harming the people is not allowed. I must make this clear to all officials in the world!

If words alone cannot explain it clearly, or if many people are unwilling to understand, then I will use a knife to explain it to them so that they can understand the principle.

And keep it deeply in mind!
He wanted to see whether these people's heads were harder or his knife was harder!

When Eunuch Wang went out to convey the emperor's order to Zhan Tong and others, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Liu Ying, also went with some Embroidered Uniform Guards.

"Gentlemen, please go back, His Majesty will not see you.

His Majesty said that anyone who pleads for mercy for Niu Liang will be thrown to death next to the big pit where the laborers are buried!

Let us all come together to pay tribute to the people who died tragically!"

When Eunuch Wang said this, he was originally very emotional and secretly vowed that he would make the emperor change his mind.

In that instant, it was like being hit on the head with a stick, and stars appeared in my eyes.

How dare the emperor say such words?

How dare you treat these loyal and patriotic people like this?!

How cruel!

However, this wake-up call was quite effective, allowing many people to suddenly come to their senses.

For example, Zhu Mengyan, the Deputy Minister of Rites, was not very willing to make this trip.

However, Niu Liang was the Minister of Rites, his immediate superior, and the Minister of Personnel, Zhan Tong, led the way, and the other officials from the Ministry of Rites who had accompanied His Majesty to Zhongdu also came together.

In this situation, no matter how unwilling he was, he couldn't show it and had to follow the crowd.

At this moment, when he heard what Eunuch Wang said, his calves unconsciously became weak.

He made the decision in an instant, secretly paying attention to his surroundings, prepared for things to go wrong and fainting from exhaustion at any time.

Don't get involved in this mess anymore.

The twenty or so officials who came over subconsciously turned their eyes to the Minister of Personnel, Zhan Tong, who was standing in the front.

If the sky falls, there will be tall people holding it up.

Zhan Tong was the highest-ranking official present, and he was the one who brought everyone here.

Now that we have encountered this situation, it is natural that Zhan Tong has to make the decision.

Feeling so many eyes on him, Zhan Tong was greatly encouraged, but at the same time, he also felt the pressure doubled, as if he was being stabbed in the back.

What happened before his eyes was completely beyond his previous considerations.

He had previously thought that if he brought people here, even if he could not plead for Niu Liang, the emperor would at most say some unpleasant words.

He won't really do anything to me and others.

Who would have thought that after coming here, I wouldn't even see the emperor.

I heard these words relayed by the eunuch...

He wanted to do whatever it took and plead for Niu Liang, asking the emperor to pardon Niu Liang and revoke this chaotic order.

He really wanted to stick his neck out and argue with the emperor, telling him that he was just pleading for Niu Liang, and if he had the guts, he could just throw himself and the others over there and throw them to death...

All kinds of impulsive thoughts rolled back and forth in my chest.

But after seeing Liu Ying and those Jinyiwei standing there with an expressionless face.

In the end, I didn't dare say these words.

Other emperors might have just spoken in anger and not dared to really throw so many people to death, but the current emperor really dared!

The atmosphere was so oppressive that it was almost suffocating.

It was so cold that sweat was coming out of Zhan Tong's forehead.

Under the gaze of everyone, he finally spoke, causing those who came with him to feel nervous.

Zhu Mengyan, the Deputy Minister of Rites, began to sway from side to side, and was on the verge of falling.

"We are not here to plead for Minister Niu, but rather to ask for your swift return as Your Majesty has been away from Yingtian for quite some time."

Zhan Tong said seriously.

The officials who came with Zhan Tong felt their hearts rise to their throats, but suddenly they fell back into their stomachs.

They hurriedly followed suit.

It was as if they all came here for this matter.

Even Zhu Mengyan, the Deputy Minister of Rites who was about to faint, recovered in an instant.

He also agreed and said that he would like to ask for instructions on what etiquette and standards should be used for the next ancestor worship ceremony.

The scene seemed very lively for a while, and no one mentioned the matter of Minister of Rites Niu Liang.

It was as if everyone had collectively forgotten about him, as if this person didn't even exist in this world...

"Damn, what a bunch of wimps!"

After Zhu Yuanzhang learned what was happening outside, he curled his lips and cursed.

With disdain.

He really thought that people like Zhan Tong were tough. He was ready to kill people, but they just knelt down.

"Biao'er, see, this is the virtue of those court officials.

When you are weak, they are strong. When you take a step back, they want to take ten steps forward!

He is used to taking advantage of others.

But once you become strong, they will become weak and will not dare to go so far.

If I were a little bit weaker in today's matter, I wouldn't be able to kill Niu Liang!

What we want to do will be discounted.

The people-oriented approach will be inherently flawed from the very beginning.

If you want to get something done, you will inevitably encounter resistance, especially if you want to change the atmosphere of rampant corruption and corrupt officials that has existed since the Yuan Dynasty.

If you want to take a path that puts the people first, there will definitely be a lot of people who oppose you.

They will obstruct in various ways.

Then a bloody struggle is inevitable.

Niu Liang was the first, but definitely not the last.

Biaoer, today I will tell you clearly about putting people first, sharing the world with the people, and breaking the three-hundred-year cycle of dynasties.

It is not just talk, it needs to be put into action.

This is not a matter of treating each other to a meal or writing an article.

You can't be so gentle, so calm, so kind and humble.

This matter requires bloodshed and struggle!
We must use struggle to eliminate these obstructions!
When tough measures are necessary, they must be taken, and there must be no thought of compromise."

Zhu Yuanzhang once again seized the opportunity to educate Crown Prince Zhu Biao.

I want to change some of my eldest son's understandings and views.

Zhu Biao nodded slowly, a thoughtful look on his face.

Obviously, I haven't completely gotten over this matter yet. I'm still thinking about it and feeling it.

Zhu Gang and Zhu Di were also thoughtful.

Even Qin Wang Zhu Chong, who usually doesn't use his brain, seems to be thinking at this moment.

Zhu Yuanzhang was quite satisfied with this...

……

Xue Xiang, the Minister of Works of Zhongdu, was unable to sleep or eat. Since Zhu Yuanzhang came to Zhongdu, he had basically not slept a wink in the past few days.

In a short period of time, he looked much more haggard.

Just say you can’t do this!
Just say that Li Shanchang’s approach won’t work.

I have persuaded Li Shanchang many times, both openly and secretly.

Li Shanchang just wouldn't listen!
Look, something's wrong now, right?
He also said that the sky would not fall and no matter what happened, he could handle it.

Looking at it now, he can't hold on at all!
Now, when Xue Xiang thought of Li Shanchang, he wanted to jump up and down and curse.

I have been badly cheated by this guy!
While secretly cursing Li Shanchang, he also kept cursing himself for being stupid. He couldn't walk when he saw the construction drawings and the great project of building Zhongdu.

It would be great if I could learn from Marquis Zhongshan and get sick every now and then, and not get involved in this matter.

As I thought about it, I couldn't help but raise my hand and slap myself twice.

After seeing what happened to Ding Bin, Li You, Zhu Xiang, and even Li Shanchang, he has been waiting for his own blow.

But until now, His Majesty has not yet reached a conclusion.

This made him feel extremely tormented.

Especially after receiving the news today that the Minister of Rites Niu Liang did not kneel when Your Majesty knelt to offer sacrifices to the souls of the people, and refused to admit his mistake when he saw Your Majesty afterwards, and kept saying that the people were lowly, and then was thrown to death by Your Majesty's order beside a large tomb filled with innocent and unidentifiable civilians, I couldn't help but shudder.

This torment reached its peak in an instant.

Death is not the most terrifying thing. The most terrifying thing is knowing that you will die, but not knowing when death will come, and the torment of waiting for death to come...

……

"Father, how do you plan to deal with Xue Xiang?"

Crown Prince Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and asked...

(End of this chapter)