Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 67 The Young Emperor's Grandeur and Madness (Third Update, Please Read On)

The morning court session ended in an atmosphere of extreme repression.

After the officials, feeling as if they had been granted a pardon, filed out in an almost fleeing manner, Zhu Youjian returned to the edge of the Danbi steps and looked down at the empty hall below.

Golden sunlight streamed in from outside the palace gates, casting long streaks of light and shadow on the smooth, mirror-like gold bricks, dividing the hall into countless areas of alternating light and shadow.

Zhu Youjian stood on the line between light and darkness, his face expressionless.

"This world is like this room."

He suddenly spoke, as if talking to himself, or as if addressing someone behind him.

"It looks magnificent and orderly, but in places where the sun doesn't shine, there's a lot of dirt and insects hidden."

Wang Chengen bowed and stood three steps behind him, even his breathing was soft, he knew that the emperor did not need anyone's answer at this moment.

Zhu Youjian's gaze passed through the main hall and looked towards the sky outside the Forbidden City.

"They thought I just wanted to polish the floor to make them look cleaner."

His smile carried a hint of mockery, but also a touch of confidence.

"They were wrong."

"I want this entire house to be torn down, every piece of wood and every brick to be taken out and laid out in the sun to dry properly!"

"Then, rebuild it according to my wishes."

These words, though spoken in a plain tone, contained a will powerful enough to make the entire empire tremble.

This was Zhu Youjian's true purpose.

It's not an improvement, it's not a repair.

It's... a complete reshaping!
Wang Chengen's heart skipped a beat.

He had followed this man from the Prince Xin's Mansion to the Forbidden City, and thought he understood his master's forbearance and decisiveness very well.

But only now did he realize that what he had seen was perhaps just the tip of the iceberg.

This young emperor's inner grandeur and madness far exceeded everyone's imagination!
"Let's go."

Zhu Youjian withdrew his gaze and turned to walk towards the rear hall.

"Go to the Qianqing Palace. My two good ministers must be getting impatient."

……

Qianqing Palace, West Warm Pavilion.

This was where the emperor handled his daily affairs, but at this moment it seemed somewhat unusual.

All the palace maids and eunuchs were dismissed and moved a hundred paces outside the hall, leaving only Wang Chengen standing beside the emperor like a shadow.

The warm pavilion was filled with the finest ambergris incense, the smoke curling upwards, yet it couldn't dispel the tense, almost stagnant atmosphere in the air.

Two people were kneeling on the ground.

One was Zhou Quan, the director of the Western Depot.

The other was Tian Ergeng, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

They were all people entrusted with important responsibilities by Zhu Youjian.

They controlled the most feared secret service agency in the Ming Dynasty, and held supreme power granted by the emperor to monitor all officials and even the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

They are the two sharpest swords hanging over the heads of the entire bureaucracy.

But at this moment, the two swords knelt on the ground, not daring to lift their heads.

Zhu Youjian did not ask them to get up, nor did he say a word to them. He sat behind his desk, slowly flipping through the memorials, occasionally picking up his pen to write a few imperial comments.

He seemed to have forgotten their existence.

However, Tian Ergeng and Zhou Quan knew that the emperor hadn't forgotten; rather, he wanted them to remember him at all times.

No matter how powerful you are outside, no matter how many princes and ministers you strike fear into, before me, you are forever nothing more than a knife without your own will. Your power is given to you by me; I can give it, and I can take it away at any time!

Sweat seeped from Tian Ergeng's forehead, sliding down his weathered face and dripping onto the carpet in front of him, leaving a small, dark stain.

He considered himself to be resolute and unwavering, remaining calm even if Mount Tai collapsed before him.

But in the presence of this young king, he felt like a naked child, all his thoughts and schemes laid bare before those calm eyes.

Finally, Zhu Youjian put down his vermilion brush.

He picked up the teacup beside him and gently used the lid to skim off the foam on the surface of the tea, with elegance and composure.

"Get up."

He said calmly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Tian Ergeng and Zhou Quan felt as if they had been granted a pardon. Their voices were hoarse as they stood up shakily, but they still bowed their backs and dared not look directly at the emperor's face.

Zhu Youjian stared at the teacup in his hand and slowly spoke.

"Tian Ergeng".

"Your subject is here!" Tian Ergeng's heart tightened suddenly.

"You handled the Shanxi merchants case well," Zhu Youjian said. "Quick, accurate, and ruthless. You didn't give those people any chance to collude and retaliate. I'm very satisfied."

Upon hearing this, Tian Ergeng felt relieved and was about to express his gratitude when the emperor suddenly changed the subject.

"but……"

These two words were like two icicles, instantly piercing Tian Ergeng's chest.

Zhu Youjian raised his eyelids and looked at him directly for the first time. His eyes were calm as water, yet unfathomable.

You're only half right.

Tian Ergeng broke out in a cold sweat again and immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty, I am foolish and ignorant, please give me your instructions!"

Zhu Youjian ignored his actions and continued, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard is my sword, and you have done a good job in that regard. You kill whoever I tell you to kill, and you do it without hesitation."

"But my sword cannot only be used to cut people." Zhu Youjian gently placed the teacup on the table, making a crisp sound.

"It must also be my eyes and ears!"

"I want it to be able to see places that no one else can see, and to hear sounds that no one else can hear."

"do you understand?"

Tian Ergeng knelt on the ground, his body trembling slightly.

The emperor was giving him a warning, a warning that in recent days he had only played the role of executioner and had not provided enough in-depth intelligence!

The emperor wanted more than just an obedient sword.

What he needs is the core of an intelligence network that can give him a comprehensive understanding of the situation!

"Your Majesty, I understand!" Tian Ergeng's voice carried a hint of shame and lingering fear. "Your Majesty, I will do my utmost to investigate the affairs of the world and will not dare to slacken in the slightest!"

Zhu Youjian remained noncommittal, turning his gaze to the other side, to Zhou Quan, who had remained silent.

"comprehensive."

"Your subject is here." Zhou Quan's voice was gentler than Tian Ergeng's, but equally full of reverence.

"Why do I want to reopen the Western Depot?" Zhu Youjian asked.

Zhou Quan immediately replied, "I will share Your Majesty's burdens, oversee both internal and external affairs, and purge treacherous officials!"

“Well said.” Zhu Youjian nodded. “Supervise both inside and outside the court. This ‘inside’ refers not only to civil and military officials, but also to…”

His voice paused slightly, and his gaze glanced almost imperceptibly at Tian Ergeng kneeling on the ground, but then his words took a turn.
"...including the Forbidden City."

boom!
It was as if a thunderclap had exploded in Tian Ergeng's mind. He instantly understood the profound meaning behind the emperor's summons of the two of them at the same time, and his simultaneous reprimand of them.

Checks and balances!

This is the most basic and most important aspect of the art of ruling!
The emperor trusted no one.

He used the Embroidered Uniform Guard to monitor the officials, and then used the Western Depot to monitor the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

These two intelligence agencies were like two hunting dogs in his hands; he wanted them to fiercely tear apart the enemy, but also to keep them in check.

"Your Majesty understands!" Zhou Quan immediately knelt down, standing next to Tian Ergeng. "The entire Western Depot is Your Majesty's household servant. We will certainly guard Your Majesty's gates and never allow any villains to deceive Your Majesty!"

Looking at the two most feared secret service leaders of the Ming Dynasty kneeling before him, Zhu Youjian finally showed a hint of satisfaction.

This is the effect he wants.

He wanted them to always maintain the deepest awe for him, to always guess and speculate about his thoughts, and to never dare to be the slightest bit negligent or disloyal!

"Everyone, get up."

He waved his hand, his tone softening somewhat.

"I know you are all intelligent people, and intelligent people should do intelligent things."

He stood up and walked to the "Map of the Ming Dynasty" hanging on the wall.

"I have summoned you here today not to reprimand you, but to entrust you with a truly important matter."

His finger pointed to the center of the map—the capital city.

"First, the capital city."

Zhu Youjian's voice became deep and powerful.

"The Six Ministries and Nine Ministers, the Censors and Censors—I need to know about every banquet they hold, every secret meeting they hold, and every conspiracy they organize. What they say, who they meet, and what they intend to do—you must compile these into the most detailed documents for me, and report them daily."

"I will make sure they have no secrets from me anymore."

Tian Ergeng and Zhou Quan were both taken aback. This meant that the entire officialdom of the capital was to be placed under unprecedented transparent surveillance!
Zhu Youjian's finger slowly moved north, pointing to a series of important border towns, including Shanhaiguan, Datong, and Xuanfu.

"Second, border towns."

"Those generals and deputy generals, they hold heavy troops and are called the pillars of the country, but in reality, most of them are warlords. Who do they communicate with, who do they trade with, do they bleed their soldiers dry, do they harbor bandits to enhance their own power, do they... flirt with those people outside the Great Wall?"

"I also need to know these things."

"My army can only have one master. That master is me!"

Finally, his finger traced the long canal southward, eventually landing heavily on that incredibly fertile land.

"Third, Jiangnan."

Zhu Youjian's tone became exceptionally cold.

"Especially in Songjiang, Suzhou, and Yangzhou. Those self-proclaimed upright officials, led by the Donglin Party, and the big salt merchants, controlled the empire's purse strings and also the public opinion of the country."

"They must be cursing me behind my back right now, plotting how to stab me in the back, or even push me into the water!"

"Go check."

"Investigate their land, their businesses, their taxes, and their collusion with local officials."

"I will not touch them for now. But I need to know just how deep their roots run. I need to know where I should strike when it's time to strike, and where to strike most accurately and ruthlessly!"

The capital, border towns, and Jiangnan.

These three directions, like three sharp knives, precisely pierced the three lifelines of the entire Ming Dynasty civil official group and local powerful families: the power center, military strength, and economic foundation!

Tian Ergeng and Zhou Quan were terrified.

They felt like they were fools, always realizing things too late!
And this time I finally understood that the Shanxi merchants case was just an appetizer!
The emperor's real feast is only just beginning to be prepared.

And they are the chefs who prepare the ingredients for this grand feast!
Zhu Youjian turned around and looked at them again, his eyes flashing with a heart-stopping light.

"You will be directly responsible to me."

"I give you power, I give you money, and I give you my complete trust."

"I only want one result."

"I want this Ming Dynasty to have no dark corners left in my eyes!"

　If you don't give me a ticket by midnight, do you expect the imperial guards to knock on my door at night?!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)