Chapter 120: The Magnanimity of the Newly Ascended Human Emperor

“Protect the Emperor! Protect the Emperor!” Jin Ying, the Chief Supervisor of the Directorate of Ceremonial, feigned panic as he shouted. Neither Jin Ying, Zhu Qizhen, nor Liu Mian, the Commander of the Northern Garrison Police, nor any of the nobles and military officers present paid any real heed to the feeble Yang Shiqi, yet they went through the motions as required, maintaining appearances.

“What are you doing? Do you intend to bring shame upon me? I am the Son of Heaven, the supreme ruler, the sovereign of all under heaven! Do you think I lack the magnanimity to tolerate a momentary anger from Minister Yang? Bring Minister Yang back to his residence at once and care for him well. If anything happens to him, I will have your heads!” Zhu Qizhen shouted, putting on an air of deep concern.

“Could you be more perfunctory?” The civil and military officials sneered disdainfully at Zhu Qizhen’s clumsy act but had no choice but to watch his performance silently.

Four eunuchs immediately stepped forward to support Yang Shiqi back to his mansion.

“Four are not enough. Bring twelve more, making sixteen in total. Group them in fours to serve Minister Yang around the clock. Assign four imperial physicians to him. Should I hear any news of Minister Yang starving himself to death, hanging himself, dying of severe illness, or suffering any injury, I will have your heads!” Zhu Qizhen said harshly.

Truly ruthless! Not even allowing a man to die on his own terms!

Between life and death lies great terror. The officials gritted their teeth in fury but dared not utter a word, fearing Zhu Qizhen’s vile tactics might be turned against them.

Zhu Qizhen would never let Yang Shiqi go—not because of right or wrong, but because of political stance. Who told you, the honorable Minister Yang, to cling so tightly to power? Did you really think you were untouchable?

“You threaten the entire court like this—aren’t you afraid the whole nation will rebel?” Empress Dowager Zhang, shocked by Zhu Qizhen’s sinister methods, clenched her teeth and asked coldly.

“The whole nation rebel? Then I will have them all killed! Our glorious founder of the Ming dynasty said it best: ‘Political power stems from the barrel of a gun.’ The gun is in my hand. Those who obey me shall prosper; those who oppose me shall perish!” Zhu Qizhen roared coldly.

He shouted madly, as if releasing all the frustrations he had bottled up since ascending the throne.

“You’re mad!” Empress Dowager Zhang screamed hysterically.

“You are simply ignorant! Once inside the palace gates, deep as the sea, secluded within the imperial courtyard, how could you understand the sufferings of the common people? The common folk? You say the whole nation will rebel. I ask you—who are the people?” Zhu Qizhen’s expression turned serious, as if his earlier madness had never been his own.

“The common people are the people,” Empress Dowager Zhang answered immediately.

“The common people are the people... The Empress Dowager is both right and wrong! To me, the common people are indeed the people, but in the eyes of the nobles and literati, the common people are not the people!” Zhu Qizhen stated firmly.

“What do they consider the people then?” Empress Dowager Zhang asked instinctively.

“The scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants. In the eyes of these nobles and literati, farmers are not people, merchants are not people, craftsmen are not people, soldiers are not people, low-ranking officials are not people. Only they themselves are the people! They constantly claim to be struggling against the people for profit. Neither I nor my father nor the ancestors of the Ming ever truly competed with the people for profit. It’s just that their own interests were harmed, so they raised the banner of ‘struggling against the people’ to fight for their own power and wealth.”

“You say the entire nation will rebel. If they do, will they dare? In the past, they manipulated public opinion and deceived the masses, but my Embroidered Uniform Guards and mounted troops are everywhere across the Ming. My newspapers will be circulated throughout the land, completely cutting off their ability to manipulate opinion and deceive the people. Will they dare to rebel? As for the real common people of Ming, I have grain crops yielding a thousand jin per mu. I can ensure that the people shall never suffer hunger again. I will make sure they eat their fill and wear warm clothes, three solid meals a day. The people will be grateful to me and will never follow these troublemakers.”

“A scholar’s revolt fails within three years. Even if given thirty years, it would still fail. Do you think the armies of my Ming are just for show? Do you think my sword is dull?” Zhu Qizhen said coldly.

“But the civil officials have no army to rebel with. What about the nobles and military generals? You threaten them with such sinister means—won’t they rebel?” Empress Dowager Zhang had completely torn the veil with Zhu Qizhen and shouted.

“No! With the immortal weapons granted by the Immortal Lord in hand, fighting one against ten thousand is no longer a legend but a reality.”

“A nation, however large, that loves war will perish! Even the mighty Qin fell after only two generations!” Empress Dowager Zhang retorted stubbornly.

“As for the nobles and military generals, I will not take away their military power. On the contrary, I will strengthen it. I intend to revive the enfeoffment system of the Western Zhou. Those with great ambition who refuse to live under others shall be allowed to establish their own states!”

“You’re destroying the legacy of our ancestors in one fell swoop!” Empress Dowager Zhang roared viciously, as if she could bite Zhu Qizhen to death.

“Short-sighted and ignorant! Don’t mistake ignorance for personality! I allow them to found states, but have I said they must do so within the borders of Ming? Bring out the map and the sand table!”

A large world map sand table was carried in by over a hundred Embroidered Uniform Guards. This was generated by the Treasure Distribution System; Yang Xin had neither the time nor energy to craft such a map with earth techniques.

“This is Ming, this is the Wala tribe, these are the Western countries, these are the Southern and Western seas. Yes, this is the region reached by the fleet led by the Three Treasures eunuch during the Yongle era, though they only made it as far as the Red Sea coast. This is the American continent, this is the Australian continent, this is Champa, where rice can be harvested three times a year, and this is Japan...”

“Except for the civilized Western countries, the other regions are inhabited only by indigenous peoples, with no established states. These areas are easily acquired...”

“Your Majesty, are there conditions for founding states overseas?”

“Of course. The northern nomadic tribes have always been a thorn in the side of our Central Plains. The founding of our Ming was to overthrow the Yuan dynasty. Even during Yongle’s reign, several campaigns against the Mongols failed to destroy them. During the Xuande era, the Mongols weakened and the Wala tribe rose. Anyone wishing to establish a state overseas must first divide the steppe. I don’t care if you are the legitimate heir or a younger son, you must lead your people to occupy a corner of the grasslands and be enfeoffed as king. I want the grasslands fully incorporated into Ming territory... The details can be discussed after the court adjourns!”

“Can we civil officials also raise armies and establish states overseas?”

“Certainly. All subjects of Ming, from high officials to common folk, may divide territory and found states beyond Ming borders. Whoever conquers the land owns it!”

After finishing, Zhu Qizhen withdrew, watching the officials with bloodshot eyes fixed on the world map sand table, knowing he had successfully laid his bait.

“This matter is of great importance and requires long-term planning. But there is an urgent task that must be undertaken immediately!” Zhu Qizhen stood and loudly proclaimed, “Invite the Immortal Lord of the Xianyue Gate, Master Yang!”