Daming: After self-explosive time travel, Lao Zhu's mentality collapsed

Wei Zhongxian, commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, walked slowly into the hall.

When everyone saw Wei Zhongxian coming, they fell silent.

"My dear Minister Wei, you have come from afar. I wonder what brings you here?" Chu Ze asked in a deep voice.

Wei Zhongxian clasped his fists and bowed, then said straight to the point: "Your Majesty, I have something important to report."

"Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong are respectively in Liaodong and Fujian, plotting rebellion. They intend to collude with Mongolia and Xixia, and work together from within and without to overthrow the Ming Dynasty!"

As soon as this statement came out, the whole hall was in an uproar.

Civil and military officials were talking about it, and everyone's face changed drastically.

"Hong Chengchou? Shen Rong? Aren't these two guys important officials at the border? How could they betray their country and surrender to the enemy?"

"Could this really be true? What should I do?"

Chu Ze was furious when he heard this. He slapped the armrest of the dragon throne and growled, "Come here, beat up this nonsense guy!"

Wei Zhongxian was so frightened that he stepped back repeatedly, trembling and saying, "Your Majesty, calm down! I never lied! This matter has indeed been verified to be true!"

"Bullshit!" Chu Ze shouted angrily, "Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong are loyal to the emperor and patriotic, and have made many military achievements. How could they commit such a shocking rebellion?"

"Wei Zhongxian, you are the commander of the Jinyiwei, but you lied to the emperor and falsely accused a loyal and honest person. What is your intention? Do you have another conspiracy?"

Qin Yunyun also raised her eyebrows and pointed at Wei Zhongxian and shouted harshly.

"Your Majesty, please understand! How dare I deceive the Emperor? But there is something fishy about this matter."

Wei Zhongxian was terrified and kept making excuses.

"Humph! You still dare to quibble? Come, drag him away and give him forty lashes!" Chu Ze stood up in rage and grabbed Wei Zhongxian by the collar.

"Your Majesty, wait a minute!" Wang Yangming suddenly spoke and walked slowly forward.

"I believe that Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong are both fierce generals who have fought for many years. If they really had ulterior motives, why would they leak the news for no reason?"

Wang Yangming pondered for a moment and said, "I think it would be better to send people to Liaodong and Fujian to question the two men in person. Let's see how they defend themselves. After all, this is a serious matter. Your Majesty, please think twice."

Chu Ze felt a little relieved when he heard this. He let go of Wei Zhongxian, snorted coldly, and sat back on the throne.

"Well, Lord Wang, you have a point. I will give them a chance to defend themselves."

"Come here, immediately send people to Liaodong and Fujian to convey my imperial decree. Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong are required to come to the capital to see the emperor within three days and wait for my decision!"

"Yes!" His Highness's eunuch took the order and left.

Wei Zhongxian secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he saw this, thinking that he had finally saved his life.

"Get out of here!" Chu Ze glared at him coldly and shouted in a muffled voice.

As if Wei Zhongxian had been pardoned, he hurriedly resigned.

"Your Majesty, is this matter true or false? I am a little unsure." Yang Jinglong looked embarrassed and asked cautiously.

Chu Ze rubbed his temple and sighed.

"I don't know either. I hope this is all just a misunderstanding."

He turned to look at Qin Yunyun and said softly, "Yunyun, go back to the palace and rest first. I'm here, don't worry."

"I obey your command." Qin Yunyun covered her face and shed tears, then reluctantly left.

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became solemn.

The ministers and Chu Ze looked at each other, each with their own thoughts.

Chu Ze frowned and fell into deep thought.

How true and how false are Wei Zhongxian's accusations?
Could it be that the loyalty of Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong has been shaken by the Mongols' inducement?

If they really have ulterior motives, how should the Ming Dynasty deal with it?

At once, a myriad of thoughts came to my mind.

Chu Ze was in a state of confusion. He waved his hand and ordered, "Pass on my order and adjourn the court. I want to be alone."

"Yes!" The ministers bowed and left.

The hall was empty in an instant.

Only the dim candlelight flickered alone.

Chu Ze sat on the dragon throne with a gloomy expression.

He knew that a bloody storm was coming quietly.
For three days, Chu Ze was restless, always feeling that something terrible was about to happen.

It was not until the morning court session on the fourth day that the eunuch came to report.

"Your Majesty, Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong have arrived!"

Chu Ze's eyes lit up and he stood up suddenly.

"Hurry up and announce it!" After a while, two handsome middle-aged men strode into the Golden Palace.

"Hong Chengchou, Shen Rong, pay your respects to the Emperor!"

The man knelt on one knee and spoke loudly.

Chu Ze sat on the dragon throne, his eyes sharp.

"My dear ministers, there is no need to be so polite. Please stand up."

Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong stood up with calm expressions.

"I wonder why the emperor summoned us to the capital?"

Hong Chengchou asked in a respectful tone.

Chu Ze hesitated for a moment and said coldly: "I want to ask you, have you ever colluded with foreign enemies and intended to rebel?"

"What?" Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong were shocked and looked at each other.

"What do you mean by this, Your Majesty? We two are loyal and devoted, and we will die on the battlefield. How dare we do anything to deceive you?"

Shen Rong knelt down hurriedly and shook his head.

"Well, I'll give you a chance to prove your innocence."

A trace of suspicion flashed across Chu Ze's eyes, and he said loudly: "Come here, call Wei Zhongxian!"

"I'm here." Wei Zhongxian had already stood at one side of the hall without him noticing.

"Lord Wei, didn't you say that Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong were plotting a rebellion? Do you have any evidence?"

Chu Ze looked at Wei Zhongxian and asked in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty, here is the evidence."

Wei Zhongxian took out a piece of document from his arms and held it high.

All that was written on it was: "The Liaodong army surrenders and is willing to serve the Mongolian Tartars." The handwriting was illegible, and the signature was clearly "Hong Chengchou"!
"This is impossible!" Hong Chengchou was shocked and angry when he saw this.

"Someone, come and capture Wei Zhongxian! He is clearly framing me!" Shen Rong also became furious and shouted sternly.

"You bold lunatics! Do you still dare to quibble?"

Wei Zhongxian sneered and waved his hand.

Suddenly, dozens of Jinyiwei rushed into the palace and surrounded Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong.

"Your Majesty, please understand! The evidence is irrefutable that Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong are traitors! If we don't deal with them, I'm afraid the Ming Dynasty will be destroyed!"

Wei Zhongxian fell to his knees and burst into tears.

Chu Ze's face turned pale when he heard this.

After a long time, he spoke slowly.

"Pass on my imperial decree! Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong are plotting a rebellion, and the evidence is irrefutable! Order the Royal Guards to arrest them immediately, give them forty lashes of the cane, and send them into exile!"

"Your Majesty! I am innocent!"

"I am a loyal and devoted minister, but I have suffered such an injustice! Your Majesty, please think twice!"

Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong cried out for justice until they were hoarse.

However, the Jinyiwei were as ferocious as wolves and tigers and pinned the two men to the ground in an instant.

"Go!" Wei Zhongxian ordered with a sneer.

Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong were dragged out of the palace, and their shrill screams echoed around the palace walls for a long time.

"Your Majesty is wise! These two traitors deserve this fate!" Wei Zhongxian stood up and said sinisterly.

Chu Ze was lost in thought, his expression changing from gloomy to bright.

He vaguely felt that this matter was not that simple.

But now that Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong have been captured, it is difficult to overturn the verdict.

He could only sigh and wave his hand tiredly.

"Let's adjourn. I need to rest."

"promise."

Wei Zhongxian looked strange and took the order to leave.

In a blink of an eye, Chu Ze was the only one left in the hall.

He rubbed his aching temple and slowly stood up. (End of this chapter)