nucmednet Chapter 656 The storm is coming
Chapter 656 The storm is coming
Just as Chongzhen was hesitating, Wang Chengen entered the palace and reported: "Luo Yangxing, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, requests an audience."
What was he doing here at this time? Emperor Chongzhen didn't know what Luo Yangxing wanted to do, but the reports from the Embroidered Uniform Guard were all confidential and important matters, and could not be neglected. He could only put aside what Yang Sichang said for the time being and summon Luo Yangxing to an audience.
Luo Yangxing, slightly plump, usually had a smiling face like a Maitreya Buddha, and a calm demeanor. But today, he seemed somewhat agitated, with beads of sweat visible on his forehead. He entered and immediately knelt on the ground with a thud, his voice trembling as he said, "Your Majesty, I am incompetent. A major criminal in a treason case has escaped, and we have lost a commander and dozens of his men..."
Emperor Chongzhen was feeling irritated. Why did all these troublesome things have to come at once? He said impatiently, "Get up first, and tell me slowly, what exactly happened?"
Luo Yangxing dared not rise, but knelt on the ground and replied, "Your Majesty, do you still remember that major case involving remnants of the previous dynasty that was uncovered eight years ago?"
Emperor Chongzhen closed his eyes and recalled the events of that time, vaguely remembering what had happened.
"I remember that this group claimed to be descendants of the Right Chancellor of the Yuan Dynasty, and they were lurking within the territory of the Ming Dynasty, only to one day rebel against the Ming and restore the Yuan..."
"Your Majesty's extensive knowledge and remarkable memory are truly admirable," Luo Yangxing said. "Although we wiped out the entire bandit family, a young boy escaped. He was said to be the only descendant of this group, passed down through generations. Eight years later, this boy has grown into a young man and has appeared today at the Northern Garrison Command..."
"Appeared at the Northern Garrison Command?"
Both Emperor Chongzhen and Yang Sichang were greatly surprised.
Luo Yangxing swallowed hard and said with difficulty, "That's right. It's been identified without a doubt that he is one of the subordinates of Liu Ye, the general of Qionghai Town, and he participated in today's talks with Minister Yang..."
Emperor Chongzhen muttered, "How dare this fellow be so audacious as to harbor a criminal ordered by the imperial court?"
"Whether Liu Ye was aware of this, I have no idea," Luo Yangxing said cautiously. "To avoid provoking Liu Ye, I did not openly arrest them in the name of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Instead, I waited until they left the Northern Garrison Command, then disguised myself and carried out the attack in a secluded corner. The result was a complete annihilation; dozens of skilled men perished. There were no corpses at the scene, only large pools of blood..."
"Can you confirm that it was Liu Ye who did it?" Chongzhen pressed.
"I...did not witness it with my own eyes, so I dare not speak recklessly."
Taking the opportunity, Yang Sichang said, "Your Majesty, why bother looking for evidence for such a matter? How many people in the capital could wipe out dozens of elite members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and still escape unscathed? Besides, these people were on a mission to arrest wanted criminals. Apart from Liu Ye, who else would risk such a dangerous act of violence in the street to defy the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"
Luo Yangxing added, "Your Majesty, when I was inspecting the scene, I heard from people in Shuntian Prefecture that they saw a large group of people moving around and heard the sound of muskets firing. Those people claimed to be from the Qionghai Army, and that the muskets accidentally discharged..."
"The truth is about to be revealed," Yang Sichang exclaimed excitedly. "To persecute the Imperial Guards in the capital and harbor a traitor is a capital offense. Such a lawless person has revealed his rebellious nature. Your Majesty, issue the decree to execute Liu Ye in the capital. We must not let this tiger return to the mountains!"
With the bombshell news brought by Luo Yangxing, and with Yang Sichang's encouragement, Chongzhen hesitated for a long time before finally making up his mind.
"As Wenruo said, you will be fully responsible for this matter. You must make thorough arrangements and ensure that no word gets out."
Yang Sichang loudly replied, "Your subject obeys the decree!"
Wenyuan Pavilion.
Wen Tiren was reviewing memorials sent from various places, occasionally picking up his pen to write down his own proposals, when he suddenly felt his right eyelid twitching incessantly. So he put down his pen and gently rubbed his eye.
Upon seeing this, Wang Yingxiong, the Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion sitting opposite him, asked solicitously, "Is Your Excellency unwell?"
"No, it's just that my right eye keeps twitching, I don't know why?"
Wang Yingxiong said in surprise, "There is a folk saying that a twitching left eye means good fortune and a twitching right eye means bad luck. Your Excellency, have you been having any troubles lately? It would be best to be careful."
Wen Tiren waved his hand, "It's alright, it's just a rumor, how can we believe it to be true?"
Even though I said that, I started to have doubts. Could something really be wrong?
At this moment, a young eunuch came to the Wenyuan Pavilion to deliver a message: "His Majesty's decree: All Grand Secretaries shall not leave the palace before 5 PM today. Your meals shall be delivered by the Imperial Kitchen."
A few simple words sent chaos into the Wenyuan Pavilion. It was already dark at dusk, long past the clock-out time. What was the emperor up to? There was no tradition of working late into the night in the Ming Dynasty officialdom, and they wouldn't even accept a meal as a reward.
"What is Your Majesty doing? Has something major happened?"
"If something important has happened, why is the cabinet unaware of it and still waiting in the Wenyuan Pavilion?"
……
Wen Tiren had a bad feeling. The fact that cabinet members were forbidden from leaving the palace, and that he, the Grand Secretary, was completely unaware of it, meant something serious was happening, and it wasn't good news.
After the cabinet members finished their discussion, they all turned their attention to Wen Tiren. Wen Tiren understood and said, "Please be patient, everyone. I will go to the Qianqing Palace to inquire about the situation."
After leaving the Wenyuan Pavilion, Wen Tiren hurriedly went to the Qianqing Palace to request an audience, but Wang Chengen replied with difficulty: "Your Excellency, His Majesty has instructed that no one shall be seen before 5 PM."
"Can't I do it either?" Wen Tiren felt as if his heart had fallen into an ice cave.
As a subject, the emperor's favor was paramount, and Wen Tiren had always been mindful of this, acting in accordance with the emperor's wishes and constantly trying to discern the emperor's intent, which he had consistently done admirably. But what happened today? He had taken the initiative to request an audience, yet was refused entry! Had his standing in the emperor's eyes drastically diminished, and had he lost the emperor's favor?
Wang Chengen noticed his disappointment and comforted him, "Your Excellency, please don't overthink it. His Majesty has made a very important decision and is quite troubled. He doesn't want to talk to anyone right now."
Wen Tiren forced a smile: "His Majesty's decision-making is absolute, which is to be expected..."
At this moment, Yang Sichang walked out of the hall with a calm and composed demeanor, a hint of smugness on his face. He saw Wen Tiren and took the initiative to approach him and say, "Grand Secretary, are you here to see His Majesty? His Majesty is not seeing anyone at the moment. Grand Secretary, please return. After 5 pm, you may leave the palace on your own. Xuanwu Gate will be open for you to enter and exit at that time."
Wen Tiren hesitated for a moment, then set aside his airs as the chief minister and asked in a low voice, "Wenruo, could you please tell me what is going on that requires such a great deal of effort?"
Yang Sichang chuckled softly, "His Majesty might leak even a whisper, but since the Grand Secretary is no outsider, revealing a little won't hurt. Not only are the Grand Secretaries forbidden from leaving the palace, but all civil and military officials of the third rank and above in the capital have received His Majesty's decree that they must not step out of their residences between 3 PM and 5 PM. This is both to prevent leaks and to protect everyone's safety. At 3:15 PM, the capital's garrison will gather in the southern part of the city, heavily besieging it, allowing entry but not exit. At 3:45 PM, the Shenji Battalion's cannons will fire in unison, and a certain place will be razed to the ground. The Ming Dynasty will thus be rid of a great scourge!"