Emperor Chongzhen was too extreme.

Chapter 33 A Clash at Xuanwu Gate (2.6k words, please read and vote)
Leading the way were dozens of armored cavalrymen.

These cavalrymen surrounded the emperor, followed by hundreds of young eunuchs armed with swords. The leader of them was Xiao Hongzi, who had captured the suicidal censor in the court a few days earlier.

They saw the Emperor arrive with his personal guards.

The civil officials also quickly fell silent, and the group knelt on the ground, completely blocking the road leading to Xuanwu Gate.

The poor officials' alliance naturally dared not cause any unnecessary conflict at this time, and immediately all knelt down.

However, they knelt on the side, so they wouldn't block the path of His Majesty's personal guards.

As the horse's hooves slowly approached, one of the civil officials, a third-rank salt commissioner, quickly crawled forward on his knees, grabbed the leg of the warhorse ridden by Xiao Hongzi, and shouted loudly:

"Your Majesty! It is dangerous outside the palace! If you were to be startled, what would become of the Ming Dynasty and its millions of people?!"

"For the sake of the country and its people, you must not do such a dangerous thing!"

"We, your subjects, are paid by your sovereign and should therefore serve you faithfully. For the safety of the nation and for Your Majesty's health, we are willing to risk our lives to plead with Your Majesty to rescind the order to leave the palace!!"

The Poor Officials Alliance was about to speak up in rebuttal.

But he noticed that the leader, Xiao Hongzi, didn't pay any attention to the salt commissioner who was clinging to his horse's leg; he just glanced back at His Majesty.

They seem to be waiting for His Majesty's instructions.

His Majesty, riding a tall horse in the center and wearing light armor with dragon patterns, gently raised his hand and pointed.

Xiao Hongzi immediately understood, and suddenly spurred the horse's belly. The warhorse neighed and raised its front legs high to break free of its restraints, then stomped straight down.

The iron-soled hoofs struck the salt commissioner squarely on the head, sending him sprawling and bleeding profusely.

Xiao Hongzi did not stop, and continued to urge his warhorse to trample on its head.

A few breaths later, the salt commissioner met his end with his brains splattered out.

For a moment, everyone present was shocked.

No one expected that the emperor would, without saying a word, immediately allow the eunuchs to crush a court official to death.

The civil service officials are now filled with deep regret.

If only time could turn back.

They would do anything, at any cost, to prevent such a monarch from ascending to the throne.

What a foolish, tyrannical, and absurd ruler he was!
Does he really not care at all about his reputation in history books, or the posthumous title he receives after his death?!

The Poor Officials Alliance, while shocked, was also deeply moved.

Because in their opinion.

The Emperor's actions, besides being swift and decisive, also took into account the potential casualties that could result from a conflict between them and the civil service.

This means the emperor has to bear all the blame and infamy all by himself!
Who wouldn't be willing to die for such an emperor?!
You treat me as a national hero, and I will repay you as a national hero!

Just as everyone was shocked and terrified.

On horseback, Xiao Hongzi drew his sword with a "whoosh," his eyes flashing with a sinister light as he glared at the group of officials blocking the road out of the palace.
"His Majesty has issued an edict ordering him to leave the palace for an inspection tour. Anyone who dares to obstruct him is deceiving the Emperor and will be executed without mercy!"

Say it.

Xiao Hongzi and the dozen or so cavalrymen behind him said no more, and spurred their horses forward, charging straight toward the group of officials kneeling on the ground.

For these officials who dared to obstruct the emperor's journey...

One of the main reasons they dared to kneel there blocking the way was that they were certain the emperor, due to various constraints, would not dare to kill them at will.

But that salt commissioner whose brains were practically splattered out just now had shattered their last hope.

You should know that not just anyone is qualified to stop a horse's hooves; there are rules to follow.

secretly.

The Salt Commissioner, a third-rank official, was mostly a figurehead; if something really happened, it wouldn't have a significant impact on them.

But on the bright side.

The Salt Commissioner held a high rank and was in charge of salt and iron affairs, a position that the emperor could not easily dismiss.

But the emperor paid no heed to this.

If they keep blocking the way, they might actually get trampled to death by the horses' hooves.

Everyone is afraid of death.

Besides, he still has so much money and concubines at home that he hasn't had a chance to enjoy yet, how could he die so easily?
Therefore, seeing the charging iron hooves, the group hurriedly dodged to the sides.

Those older people at the very front of the line had to scramble and crawl, using both hands and feet, just to avoid being hit.

despite this.

However, a few officials who were not fast enough were knocked away on the spot by the charging warhorses.

Although they may not have died on the spot, the risk of dying from a serious injury is still very high these days.

After a fierce battle.

Seventeen-year-old Hongzi looked down at the officials below him, who were behaving in a disgraceful manner. He steered his warhorse back to the front of the Divine Might Camp, dismounted, knelt on one knee, and shouted:

"Your Majesty, all those who blocked the road have been dealt with by this servant!"

Zhu Youjian spoke calmly and expressionlessly: "Leave the palace."

Eight hundred guards from the Divine Might Battalion shouted in unison, "Yes!" The group, in perfect unison, escorted Zhu Youjian and the dragon banner out of the palace.

From beginning to end.

The Divine Might Battalion did not make a single unnecessary sound.

Facing the emperor who had already walked out of Xuanwu Gate, the civil officials were overwhelmed with pain and regret and fell into silence.

The members of the Poor Officials Alliance also took a deep look at these people before slowly leaving.

They were quite aware that this victory had almost nothing to do with them; it was as if His Majesty had taken all the responsibility upon himself.

Therefore, in order to repay His Majesty's kindness, they must strengthen their own power as soon as possible.

After a moment of silence, some civil officials tentatively brought up the matter of the "Beijing Garrison".

But some elderly men with gray hair and beards silently shook their heads.

They also hoped that the Beijing garrison could stop His Majesty from leaving the palace.

But in reality...

With His Majesty's skill, he probably already anticipated this.

Inside the Five Military Commander's Office.

As the commander of the Beijing Garrison, Zhang Weixian, in name only, summoned all the generals of the garrison under the pretext of holding a meeting to discuss matters concerning the Beijing Garrison.

Inside the Governor's Office, nearly a hundred generals and officials of all ranks sat in the room.

Although most of these generals didn't think much of the Beijing Garrison Commander behind his back, they still had to show him proper courtesy.

Just as the generals were chatting about some pointless nonsense in the governor's mansion, several soldiers suddenly rushed in and whispered something in their ears.

Several generals' expressions changed slightly, and they immediately got up to leave.

At this moment, Zhang Weixian, who was in the main seat, slowly spoke up: "What are you all trying to do? We are discussing important matters of the Beijing Garrison, why are you suddenly getting up to leave?"

The men bowed to Zhang Weixian and said, "We have urgent business in the camp and must leave now. We will apologize to Duke Zhang another day!"

talking.

The guards brought by these generals also silently stepped forward, and the group prepared to leave immediately.

As generals in the Beijing garrison, these men were not actually required to follow Zhang Weixian's orders.

There is no other reason.

Although they were in the Five Military Commands, their actual official positions were in the Ministry of War, or they were simply civil officials.

In short, the subordinate relationships within the Five Military Commands were extremely chaotic.

Therefore, for both public and private reasons, they don't need to pay any attention to Zhang Weixian.

But Zhang Weixian suddenly stood up and called out to them in a drawn-out voice, "Wait a minute."

then.

Zhang Weixian slowly took out a bright yellow imperial edict from his bosom: "His Majesty has issued a decree."

Everyone was taken aback, and then immediately knelt down.

"Fengtian Chengyun Emperor, the imperial edict said:

"I am going to leave the palace for an inspection today. The Beijing Garrison need not deploy any soldiers for protection. Zhang Weixian will remain in the Beijing Garrison and not move a single soldier. This is my decree."

The generals who were about to leave suddenly looked up at Zhang Weixian, but Zhang Weixian only finished reading the imperial edict and looked at them with a playful expression.

At this time.

Zhang Weixian's confidants in the Beijing garrison immediately raised their heads and shouted, "Your subject obeys the decree!"

Then came another chorus of "Your subject obeys the decree."

After exchanging glances, the generals knelt down in unison and shouted, "Your subjects obey the decree!"

Then everyone returned to their seats, looking rather dejected.

Even if they had ten more lives, they wouldn't dare to openly defy the imperial decree in public.

The matter of Tian Ergeng serves as a deterrent to everyone.

It must be admitted that the newly enthroned emperor's authority has gradually permeated the hearts of the officials.

Moreover, they currently lack a true leader to guide them.

Ever since.

After the imperial edict was read aloud, cheerful meeting sounds rang out again inside the government office.

Although no one showed much outward sign of anything unusual, everyone knew what the imperial edict and His Majesty's departure from the palace truly meant.

the other side.

Surrounded by the Divine Might Camp.

Zhu Youjian arrived at his first destination during this inspection tour outside the palace—the Commandery of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

　In the early Ming Dynasty, the Five Military Commissions wielded immense power, but in the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty, they were completely sidelined by the civil service and became extremely chaotic internally.
　　On the first day of the month, I'm also asking for a guaranteed monthly vote, haha. To avoid the chapters becoming too outrageous, this chapter is only 2.6k words, or 2.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)