NOVEL NEXT Chapter 25
25: Wei Zaode’s”loyalty” made Zhu Youjian laugh. Help is coming!
Chongzhen Dynasty.
Three days later, it was already February 12.
After Zhu Yuanzhang’s reminder, Zhu Youjian opened the court meeting with the theme of”helping with military expenses”.
Although he believed in Zhu Gaoxun’s words, Zhu Youjian still wanted to see with his own eyes whether these civil officials and nobles were really useless.
In the final analysis, Zhu Youjian’s self-esteem was at work.
He wanted to make some achievements before the three ancestors arrived…….At least make some money, to prove that your court is not so worthless, right?
“Your Majesty, it is time to attend the court session.”
When the emperor attended the court session, he usually went from the Jinshen Hall to the Fengtian Hall, which was the Huangji Hall at that time. Outside the gate was the Fengtian Gate and the Jiulong Bridge.
Civil officials could enter the Huangji Hall, but officials of lower ranks could only attend the court session in the square inside the Fengtian Gate.
“Let’s go. Are all the ministers here?”
“this……”
Wang Chengen hesitated to speak. The emperor was obviously in a better mood these two days. He didn’t want to ruin Zhu Youjian’s mood with these things.
Even if Zhu Youjian went to court later and saw the situation with his own eyes, his inner thoughts were that the happier the emperor would be….
Realizing that something was wrong, Zhu Youjian’s face suddenly turned ugly.
He wanted to save face in front of the three ancestors, but he didn’t expect these bastards to be so uncooperative.
This was not just a matter of not attending court, but the dignity of the royal family was completely lost by him!
If the three ancestors saw this, I’m afraid my evaluation in their hearts would be greatly reduced…….
For a moment, Zhu Youjian was ashamed and angry, and his heart was really furious.
Wang Chengen lowered his head and saw Zhu Youjian’s face change, and couldn’t help but sigh.
The group of civil officials in the court, who talked about benevolence and morality, were all power calculations in their hearts and full of business in their stomachs. They really deserved to be killed!
But he was just a eunuch, a slave of the emperor…….What can be done?
The master and servant came to the Huangji Hall. Zhu Youjian glanced at them and his expression immediately became as ugly as it could be. In the Huangji Hall, the ministers on duty could be counted at a glance. The ones with slightly higher status were the cabinet chief Wei Zaode and the father-in-law Zhou Kui…….
This was the case inside the main hall, not to mention the outside of the Huangji Hall.
The square outside the hall was empty, in stark contrast to the crowded appearance of the grand court meeting last year.
Zhu Youjian sat down on the dragon chair with a dark face, glanced at Wei Zaode and said,”Wei Zaode, where are all the officials?”
Zhu Youjian could imagine that there might be fewer civil servants in the hall, but he didn’t expect that there were so many fewer!
Obviously, the news that Li Zicheng attacked Taiyuan Prefecture and went straight to Shuntian Prefecture had scared these termites out of their wits.
Faced with the matter of issuing a military aid, these people dared to disobey the order.
Since you are unkind, don’t blame me for being unrighteous.
Zhu Youjian had already sentenced these people to death in his heart, and laughed coldly:”Wang Chengen, all the officials who should have arrived today but have not arrived will be recorded in my book!
” When the three ancestors come, I will start with you people to confiscate your property.
Seeing that Zhu Youjian was on the verge of going berserk, Wei Zaode hurried out of the class and kowtowed, and began to persuade him:”Your Majesty, yesterday the imperial edict for aid to the court came down, and all the civil and military officials were worried.
Now many people are still selling their belongings in the market to help the court with its military expenditure…….
”
“Your Majesty, I have something to say, but I don’t know whether I should say it or not…….”
In the past, Wei Zaode was good at rhetoric and had a talent for debate, and he was always able to keenly perceive Zhu Youjian’s thoughts. Therefore, he could always cater to Zhu Youjian’s thoughts and was very much liked by Zhu Youjian.
Wei Zaode was very clear about his position in Zhu Youjian’s mind, so he thought that this time would be the same, and the emperor would definitely listen to him.
But Wei Zaode didn’t know that Zhu Gaoxun had already told Zhu Youjian about his deeds.
Zhu Youjian saw that at such a critical moment, Wei Zaode was still using clever words and pretending to talk about him, and he immediately felt annoyed.
But Zhu Youjian did not scold Wei Zaode. Instead, he wanted to hear what this talented but unethical guy had to say,”Well, let me see what you have to say.”
“His Majesty…….”Wei Zaode kowtowed, his face full of righteousness,”I think we shouldn’t initiate the military aid. Nowadays, people’s livelihood is declining, everything is in trouble, and the ministers’ families are not doing well! Just like this military aid, most of the court officials sold their property. If it gets out, it may cause unrest in Shuntian Prefecture, which is not good for the court!”
“What a tough life!” Zhu Youjian looked at Wei Zaode coldly, and said with a smile:”I remember that it was Wei Qing who took the lead in providing financial assistance last year, right?”
“Your Majesty, the present is different from the past. The current priority is to stabilize people’s hearts, protect the capital, and plan a way out…….”
“Enough!” Zhu Youjian sneered and said,”I think you, Wei Qing, have long been ready to welcome the new dynasty and do not want to die…….”
Before Zhu Youjian could finish his words, Wei Zaode was terrified and cried to the sky,”Your Majesty! Why do you say such heart-breaking words? The sun and the moon can bear witness to my sincerity! Since I entered the cabinet, I have worked hard for the court and have not dared to slack off……..Your Majesty’s words make me sad…….”I resign! Please grant me your majesty’s approval!”
Zhu Youjian’s words really shocked Wei Zaode. How did the emperor become so smart that he could guess his inner thoughts? Ever since Li Zicheng captured Taiyuan Prefecture and threatened Shuntian Prefecture, Wei Zaode saw that the ship of the Ming Dynasty was already shaky and could be destroyed at any time.
In his opinion, he was the prime minister at the age of forty, and there was still a lot of good times in the future…….He is extremely talented and eloquent, and he will surely make Li Zicheng appreciate his talent. He may even become a general or a prime minister! Only a fool would remain silent along with the broken ship of the Ming Dynasty. It is the choice of a smart person to wait for an opportunity to make a comeback.
Wei Zaode buried his head tightly on the floor tiles of the Huangji Hall, and it was obvious that he had made up his mind. When Zhu Youjian disagreed, he knelt on the ground and could not get up.
Zhu Youjian was about to agree to Wei Zaode’s request, but his father-in-law Zhou Kui jumped out,”Your Majesty, I only have a thousand taels of wealth left, and I am willing to present it to Your Majesty! My Ming Dynasty is mighty in the world, and I wish the Ming Dynasty will prosper!”
“Your Majesty!” Wei Zaode took the opportunity to say,”I have always been incorruptible. Yesterday, I sold my property and got a thousand taels of silver. I am willing to offer it to Your Majesty. Please allow me to resign!”
When he said this, Wei Zaode’s face was full of pain.
One thousand taels of silver is not a small amount for him! But it is worth it to be able to get out in time!
“Your Majesty! Duke Wei is a loyal minister. Your Majesty is forcing a fair minister like this?”
Zhu Youjian looked closely and found that the person who spoke was Luo Yangxing
, the commander of the Jinyiwei! He had a knife in his hand, but he was mixed with civil officials and spoke for them. It was ridiculous! No wonder the three ancestors looked at him with disappointment in the previous group meeting!
He, the emperor, was such a failure!
Following Luo Yangxing’s advice, the remaining officials in the Huangji Hall knelt on the ground and pleaded for Wei Zaode.
Looking at this group of guys who were in collusion with each other to force him, Zhu Youjian was really angry to the extreme, and for a while he didn’t know what to do.
At this moment, a light curtain popped up in front of Zhu Youjian.
【Group assistance has begun. Emperor Tiancheng Zhu Gaoxun is about to arrive with 10,000 reinforcements. Please prepare yourself, Emperor Chongzhen Zhu Youjian. 】