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

Chu Ze stood in the imperial study, staring coldly at the map of the Ming Dynasty hanging on the wall.

His fingers tapped lightly on the map, which was the location of Jiangnan.

It is not surprising that the Minister of Justice fled to Jiangnan.

After all, the local forces in Jiangnan have always had close ties with the aristocratic families.

The supporters behind the Minister of Justice are most likely from the aristocratic families in Jiangnan.

"Jiangnan."

"Over the years, most of the imperial court's taxes have come from Jiangnan, but those powerful people have always refused to truly submit to the imperial court's control."

"Do they think they can manipulate the court behind the scenes because they have financial support?"

"I want them to understand that no matter how much gold and silver they have, they cannot outweigh my orders!"

He said this coldly, then turned and looked at Lu Bing beside him.

"Lu Bing, how is the defense situation in Jiangnan?"

Lu Bing quickly bowed and reported: "Your Majesty, the defense forces in Jiangnan are relatively weak."

"Although there are garrisons, most of the garrison commanders have close ties with local aristocratic families and are difficult to fully control."

"In addition, several major chambers of commerce and aristocratic families in Jiangnan have great influence in the local area. They secretly control a large amount of food and weapons, and even have a group of well-trained private soldiers."

"I am worried that the Minister of Justice has fled to Jiangnan and is likely to rely on the support of these noble families to fight against the imperial court."

After hearing this, Chu Ze smiled coldly, with a hint of coldness in his eyes.

"Secretly controlling a private army?"

"These noble families are really bold."

"Lu Bing, I want you to immediately dispatch a team of elite Jinyiwei to Jiangnan."

"Catch the Minister of Justice and all his accomplices as quickly as possible."

"If necessary, if any powerful family dares to resist, they will be killed without mercy!"

Lu Bing's heart trembled, and he quickly clasped his fists and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

"I will arrange it immediately."

Chu Ze looked at Jiangnan's position with cold eyes, and he already had a plan in mind.

"The aristocratic families in Jiangnan have been entrenched for many years. If they are not thoroughly cleansed, they will sooner or later become a hidden danger to the court."

"Lu Bing."

"Convey my decree and order all officials at all levels, including the Governor of Jiangnan, the Governor-General of Jiangnan, the Provincial Governor of Jiangnan, and the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner of Jiangnan, to come to the capital to report on their work."

“No one may refuse for any reason.”

"I want to completely eradicate the roots of those aristocratic families in Jiangnan."

"All the noble families that have colluded with the Minister of Punishment, the Vice Minister of Revenue, and the Right Vice Minister of War will have their property confiscated!"

"Anyone who dares to stop us will be killed without mercy!"

Lu Bing quickly responded, "Yes, Your Majesty."

"I will go and convey your order right away."

Chu Ze looked coldly at Lu Bing's departing back, then slowly walked to the window and looked at the sky outside the hall.

He knew that the situation in Jiangnan was more complicated than that in the capital.

The major families in Jiangnan have been entrenched in the local area for decades and control enormous financial resources and connections.

It will not be possible to completely eradicate these forces overnight.

But Chu Ze would never back down.

No matter how cunning these powerful families are, or how deeply rooted they are, he will use iron-fisted means to uproot them.

"Jiangnan."

"Shang Shu of the Ministry of Punishment."

"Do you really think you can escape my pursuit by fleeing to Jiangnan?"

"I want you to know that no matter how far you run, you can't escape my control!"

Just as Chu Ze was deep in thought, the eunuch Wang Gonggong quietly walked into the imperial study and reported in a low voice: "Your Majesty, there is news from the front line."

"The Mongolian army has assembled at the border, with a strength of 200,000."

"They could launch a massive attack at any time."

"The generals at the frontline ask Your Majesty whether to send reinforcements immediately."

Chu Ze frowned slightly, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.

"The Mongolian army has assembled 200,000 troops?"

"It seems that they are determined to fight with the Ming Dynasty this time."

"Hmph, do they really think that they can shake the Ming Dynasty with only 200,000 troops?" "Order the generals on the front line not to attack without authorization."

"Also, order all troops stationed on the border to enter a level one combat readiness state."

"Report any unusual movement immediately."

"I want to see what tricks the Mongols can come up with this time."

Eunuch Wang quickly whispered, "Yes, Your Majesty."

"I will convey your majesty's order right now."

Chu Ze nodded slightly and watched Eunuch Wang leave.

Although the Mongols' actions seemed sudden, he knew that there must be a deeper conspiracy behind it.

Over the years, the Mongolian army has repeatedly challenged the border, but has never gathered on such a large scale.

This time, they were clearly fully prepared.

But Chu Ze would never sit still and wait for death.

"The Mongols want to take advantage of the chaos, I will grant your wish."

"Since you dare to come, don't even think about leaving easily!"

Just as he was thinking, Lu Bing hurried into the imperial study again, with a hint of anxiety in his expression.

"Your Majesty, there is news from Jiangnan."

"The Minister of Justice has successfully arrived in Jiangnan under the protection of the Wu family and several wealthy gentry."

"Several major families in Jiangnan have begun to gather their forces. They seem to be intent on uniting to jointly counter the power of the imperial court."

Chu Ze smiled coldly, with a hint of disdain in his eyes.

"Unite to fight against the imperial court?"

"Those aristocratic families in Jiangnan are really wishful thinking."

"Do they think that they can compete with the imperial court with their wealth and private soldiers?"

"Lu Bing, convey my order."

"Immediately dispatch the Jinyiwei team to the south and quickly launch a raid."

"Bring back the Minister of Justice and all the powerful families involved to the capital."

"I want to let them know that anyone who dares to challenge the authority of the court will end up dead!"

Lu Bing's heart trembled, and he quickly clasped his fists and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

"I will go and pass on the order right away."

Chu Ze watched Lu Bing leave, with a hint of cold murderous intent in his eyes.

"Since those aristocratic families in Jiangnan have chosen to stand on the side of the Minister of Justice, don't blame me for being merciless."

"I will wipe out all of you!"

At the same time, in the Wu family mansion in Jiangnan.

The Minister of Justice was standing in the hall, looking at the heads of several Jiangnan families in front of him with a gloomy face.

"Master Wu, Master Li, Master Zhang."

"The situation in the capital has changed now. Your Majesty is determined to deal with the aristocratic families."

"If we don't unite, we will probably be defeated one by one."

Wu Tianyang, the head of the Wu family, changed his expression slightly and asked in a low voice: "Sir, since His Majesty has already started the purge in the capital, I am afraid that the power in the capital is no longer enough to support us."

"How can we contend with His Majesty?"

"If we are not careful, I am afraid that the entire Jiangnan region will be suppressed by the troops sent by His Majesty."

The Minister of Justice smiled coldly, with a hint of cruelty flashing in his eyes.

"Master Wu, don't worry."

"The major families in Jiangnan have joined forces and have enough financial resources to support a war."

"Besides, we also have a group of well-trained private soldiers."

"As long as we can delay the imperial court, we can force His Majesty to give up the purge against us."

"As long as we hold out until the Mongolian army invades, the situation in the capital will be in chaos, and Your Majesty will definitely have no time to take care of Jiangnan."

"By then, we can take advantage of the chaos and negotiate with Your Majesty using the power of Jiangnan."

"As long as we get the imperial court's promise, we can still continue to consolidate our position in Jiangnan."

Wu Tianyang frowned slightly, with a hint of hesitation in his eyes.

"But, my lord, if His Majesty refuses to compromise and is instead determined to completely eradicate us, how should we respond?"

The Minister of Justice sneered, with a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes. (End of this chapter)