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

The smoke gradually dissipated over the capital.

A red sun jumped out of the horizon, illuminating the earth red.

Chu Ze rode his horse triumphantly back to the palace, exhausted.

Qin Yunyun had been waiting in front of the palace gate for a long time. When she saw her husband returning safely, she burst into tears of joy.

"Your Majesty, I'm glad you're okay."

"No need to be so polite, Queen." Chu Ze soothed his wife gently and held her in his arms.

All the officials around bowed and congratulated in unison.

"Congratulations to your majesty for suppressing the rebellion and clearing out the traitors!"

"Your Majesty is in high spirits and is worthy of everyone's support!"

Chu Ze rubbed his aching temple and sighed to the sky.

Is there anything fishy about the case of Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong?
Did they really intend to rebel, or were they framed?
Chu Ze sent Qin Yunyun back to the bedroom, and then came to the desk alone.

He had to look into this matter again.
"Your Majesty, I have something important to report!"

Suddenly, a familiar voice interrupted Chu Ze's thoughts.

He looked up and saw Shangshu Li Shanchang kneeling in front of the hall.

"Lord Li greets His Majesty. May His Majesty be blessed with great fortune!"

"No need to be so polite, Minister Li." Chu Ze waved his hand to signal Li Shanchang to stand up.

"I wonder why you are visiting me so late at night?"

Li Shanchang looked solemn. He took out a yellowed booklet from his sleeve and bowed to present it.

"Your Majesty, please take a look. This is the secret file about Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong.

I discovered it by chance in the secret vault of the Ministry of Personnel, and I feel that it is of great importance, so I have come to report it.”

Chu Ze frowned, took the booklet and started flipping through it.

It only records in detail the various achievements of Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong when they were guarding the border.

However, on the last page, it was written: "Although Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong have made great military achievements, they are of foreign blood. The three families are intermarrying, and their loyalty to the emperor is hard to predict. We must pay close attention to them and prevent them from becoming overbearing and domineering, which will eventually lead to disaster!"

At the end, there is also the seal of the then Minister of War.

Chu Ze couldn't help but gasp, and the booklet in his hand almost slipped.

"So that's how it is! Although Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong appear to be loyal to the emperor and patriotic, they are actually descendants of foreign races. No wonder they colluded with foreign enemies and deliberately rebelled."

He muttered to himself, his expression becoming increasingly gloomy.

Li Shanchang, who was standing by, was also filled with righteous indignation and said in a hateful voice:
"These two foreign spies should have been eliminated long ago! Fortunately, the emperor saw through everything and brought them to justice. Otherwise, there would be endless troubles!"

"That's natural!"

Chu Ze snorted coldly, his eyes dark and unfathomable.

He closed the booklet and said in a grim tone, "The case of Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong for treason has been settled. They are guilty of serious crimes, and being exiled is already a light sentence. How can we allow them to bring disaster to the world again?"

As he spoke, he stood up, walked to the imperial desk, and wrote with a big stroke of his brush.

"Pass on my imperial decree, order the Jinyiwei to interrogate Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong, and make sure they give out their accomplices and catch them all in one fell swoop! Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy!"

"Yes!" Li Shanchang accepted the order and retreated respectfully.

Chu Ze sat back on the dragon chair and rubbed his temple.

At this point, the case of Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong's treason finally came to an end.

But why do I still feel uneasy?

It seems as if there is an invisible hand controlling all this behind the scenes.
Chu Ze recalled the scene at the banquet that day when Wei Zhongxian accused the two of treason.

At that time, he swore to it and the evidence he produced was solid.

Could he be the mastermind behind this?
But Wei Zhongxian was the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and had always been loyal.

How could you frame someone else for no reason?

For a moment, Chu Ze was filled with doubts. He rubbed his dry eyes and slowly stood up.

No matter what, the capital is currently deploying troops and the border is in crisis.

You should always put the safety of the country first!
Thinking of this, he sighed and strode out of the emperor's bedroom.

Early the next morning, Chu Ze summoned civil and military officials to discuss state affairs.

"The Ming Dynasty has gone through more than a hundred years since it established its capital in Beijing. However, the wars on the borders have continued, and people's livelihood has been devastated. The foundation of the country still needs the full support of you, my dear ministers!"

"Although the rebellion of Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong has been quelled, the Jurchens in the northwest are eyeing us covetously, and the Japanese pirates in the southeast are looting. Add to that the harassment from Western Xia and Dajin. Our Ming Dynasty is full of crises!" Chu Ze said in a heavy tone, looking around at his ministers.

"As for the war outside the Great Wall, I'll trouble you, Lord Yang and Lord Qi."

"Yes!" Yang Jinglong and Qi Jiguang responded in unison.

"The government affairs of the court still rely on the great help of all the ministers. Especially the land tax of the Ministry of Revenue and the selection of officials of the Ministry of Personnel, they must be honest and fair. There is a long way to go!"

Chu Ze gave some more instructions, and all the ministers obeyed his orders.

After the court session, Chu Ze was about to return to his bedroom to rest when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps.

When he turned around, it turned out to be Hai Rui, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

"My dear Hai, weren't you checking the land tax in Jiangnan? Why did you suddenly return to Beijing?"

Chu Ze was extremely surprised.

Hai Rui bowed and greeted, saying, "Your Majesty, I have been investigating in Jiangnan and have discovered a shocking case! It is a matter of great importance, so I have come to present it to Your Majesty."

"Oh? Feel free to say it." Chu Ze waved his hand.

Hai Rui took out a stack of memorials from his sleeve with a serious expression.

"While I was investigating the land tax in Jiangnan, I accidentally discovered evidence of corruption by the Minister of Personnel, Li Shanchang."

"He colluded with local tyrants and embezzled land taxes. He evaded taxes and enriched himself. He was extremely outrageous!"

"If this matter were to be heard by the common people and the gentry, it would surely cause an uproar!"

Chu Ze was shocked when he heard this and took the memorial in disbelief.

It only recorded in detail Li Shanchang's various acts of corruption and bribery. The evidence was overwhelming and outrageous.

"How is this possible?" Chu Ze was struck by lightning and was speechless for a moment.

His hands were trembling and his eyes were scanning the memorials.

Li Shanchang has always been his trusted and important minister with outstanding ability to handle affairs.

Unexpectedly, he colluded with the powerful and embezzled the national treasury.
Could it be that he went into the palace late last night to report the rebellion of Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong?

Is it also to divert attention and cover up one's own crimes?

Chu Ze was suddenly filled with grief and anger, and felt a little overwhelmed.

Could it be that he went into the palace late last night to report the rebellion of Hong Chengchou and Shen Rong in order to divert attention and cover up his own crimes?

"Your Majesty!" Upon seeing this, Hai Rui knelt down and apologized, "I am sorry for being rude. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Chu Ze waved his hand, motioning him to stand up.

"My dear Lord Hai, you did the right thing. I was completely unaware of the fact that there was a treacherous minister like Li Shanchang in power. I am truly a despicable ruler!"

Chu Ze slammed the table and stood up, his expression solemn.

"Come here, summon Li Shanchang to the palace to see the emperor, and tell him that I have something important to ask you!"

Soon, Li Shanchang knelt down in front of Chu Ze trembling with fear.

He didn't know what was going on, but he felt that the emperor's face looked very ugly.

"Li Shanchang, do you admit your guilt?" Chu Ze asked in a deep voice.

"I don't know. Please tell me clearly, Your Majesty." Li Shanchang answered tremblingly.

"Okay, I'll show you!"

Chu Ze suddenly pulled out the memorial from the table and threw it in Li Shanchang's face.

"You deceived the emperor, colluded with the powerful, and embezzled the national treasury. What else do you have to say about such crimes?"

Li Shanchang was so frightened when he saw this.

He took the memorial with trembling hands and glanced over it quickly.

It records in detail all his misdeeds over the years, and the evidence is solid.

He knew the situation was hopeless, his face turned pale and his mind went blank.

"Your Majesty, I am innocent." Li Shanchang stammered, trying to defend himself.

"Unfair?" Chu Ze sneered, "You hypocrite, you appear to be loyal to the emperor and patriotic, but secretly you are colluding with the powerful and enriching yourself!"

"What an honest and upright Minister of Personnel! I was so blind to employ such a treacherous villain like you!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shanchang trembled all over and could no longer speak. (End of this chapter)