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

In the afternoon, the sun shines all over the palace, and the glazed tiles sparkle brightly in the sun.

In the imperial study, Chu Ze sat upright on the dragon throne, his expression calm and stern.

He was flipping through the latest secret report, tapping his fingers on the table, as if he was deep in thought.

After a moment, he raised his head, his eyes flickering slightly.

"Lu Bing."

Following his low call, Lu Bing outside the door immediately walked in quickly and bowed respectfully.

"Your Majesty, here is my minister."

Chu Ze handed the secret report in his hand to Lu Bing with a hint of coldness in his eyes.

"Look at this secret report."

"Jiangnan is also starting to get restless."

Lu Bing took the secret report, quickly glanced through it, and frowned slightly.

"Your Majesty, Jiangnan has always been prosperous, and the people live and work in peace and contentment."

"But the secret report mentioned that recently the salt gangs, tea merchants, textile owners, etc. in various parts of Jiangnan have contacted local gentry and seem to be brewing a large-scale riot."

"How dare they plan such a thing in Jiangnan? Is there really some power in the court behind this?"

Chu Ze snorted coldly, with a cold light flashing in his eyes.

"The local gentry in Jiangnan are in contact with the salt gang and tea merchants. This is by no means an ordinary economic dispute."

"There must be a bigger conspiracy behind them."

"In recent years, the Jiangnan region has become independent due to its prosperity, and many local forces no longer take the imperial court seriously."

"If I don't deter them, they will only become more rampant."

"Lu Bing, you must immediately send someone to Jiangnan in secret to investigate the mastermind behind this unrest."

"If you find out that there are any forces in the DPRK involved, submit the list immediately."

"I want to know who they are."

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

"I will immediately mobilize the elite troops of the Imperial Guard to penetrate into various parts of Jiangnan."

“Anyone involved in this matter will be investigated one by one.”

"In addition, I heard that Zhang Yunlong, the leader of the Jiangnan Salt Gang, has been active recently."

"He secretly had close contacts with many Jiangnan gentry and may have been one of the core figures in this unrest."

"Should we send someone to keep an eye on him first?"

Chu Ze's eyes moved slightly and he nodded gently.

"Zhang Yunlong... I have heard of this person."

"He was born into the Salt Gang and is well versed in the various power relationships in Jiangnan."

"If we can capture him, we may be able to dismantle the main force of this unrest."

"Arrange a few skilled spies to keep a close eye on him."

"If he makes any unusual movement, arrest him immediately!"

Lu Bing clasped his fists and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will do it right away."

After saying that, he turned and walked away with a hint of caution and nervousness.

Chu Ze watched him leave, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

"Jiangnan, Southwest, Border..."

“There is unrest everywhere.”

"In this world, we really can't relax for even a moment."

He snorted coldly and said in a deep voice: "Eunuch Wang!"

An eunuch immediately walked in from outside the door and bowed respectfully.

"Your Majesty, the old slave is here."

Chu Ze looked at him coldly and said slowly: "Pass the order down."

"Immediately mobilize Jinyiwei spies from all over the country to closely monitor the developments in various places."

"Report any unusual movements by any local force immediately."

"I want to make sure that everyone is under my control."

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

He turned and stepped back, conveying Chu Ze's order.

Chu Ze sat alone in the imperial study, his eyes calm and deep.

He knew that the situation was becoming increasingly complicated.

Not only the dignitaries in the court, but also the sects in the martial arts world, and even the local gentry forces, were secretly ready to make a move.

If these hidden dangers cannot be eliminated in time, it may bring a huge crisis to the Ming Dynasty.

"Guo Hong, Zhao De..."

"Jiangnan Salt Gang, Southwestern Bandits..."

"Everyone is restless."

"I must completely remove these obstacles and bring true peace to the world."

Just as he was lost in thought, there were sudden sounds of light footsteps outside the door.

An eunuch hurried into the hall, knelt down nervously and reported: "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother sent a message, asking Your Majesty to go to the Cining Palace immediately, saying that there is something important to discuss."

Chu Ze frowned slightly when he heard this.

The Queen Mother never interfered in state affairs, but today she suddenly summoned him. There must be something fishy about this.

"Did the Queen Mother say what it was?" He asked with a hint of displeasure in his tone.

The eunuch bowed his head and replied, "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother did not explain it, she only said it was an important matter concerning the situation in the capital."

"Your Majesty, please move to the Cining Palace."

A hint of doubt flashed across Chu Ze's eyes. He pondered for a moment and then stood up.

"Well, I want to see what the Queen Mother has to say."

"Let's go to the Cining Palace."

After saying this, he strode out of the imperial study and went straight to the Cining Palace with his entourage.

Inside the Cining Palace, the Queen Mother was sitting in the main seat with a calm expression.

Seeing Chu Ze walk in, she slowly raised her head, her eyes showing a hint of kindness, yet also a bit of majesty.

"Zer, you're here."

Chu Ze walked up to the Queen Mother and bowed slightly. "Mother, I wonder what you have summoned me for?"

The Queen Mother waved her hand gently, signaling the palace maids to leave.

After everyone left, she focused her eyes slightly and spoke with a serious tone.

"Ze'er, your mother called you here today because she wants to talk to you about the situation in the capital."

"The situation in the court has been complicated recently, and there have been constant disturbances in the harem."

"As an emperor, you are at the center of power, so it is inevitable that you will be constrained by various forces."

"Mother knows that you have always wanted to calm down these turbulent situations."

"But you have to know that some things can't be rushed."

Chu Ze frowned slightly when he heard this.

"Mother, what do you mean by this?"

"As the emperor, I should be in control of everything."

"If we don't rectify the power in the court in time, those powerful officials will only become more rampant."

"Do you want to persuade me to let go for now?"

The Queen Mother shook her head slightly, with a complicated look in her eyes.

"Mother is not advising you to let go, but I hope you can ease up temporarily."

"Recently, your actions have been a bit too radical, causing dissatisfaction among many senior officials in the court."

"Although these people dare not oppose openly, they will inevitably feel resentful in their hearts."

"You are the emperor, so you should adopt a gentle approach."

"If we just suppress them with thunderous means, it will only intensify the conflict and make these people secretly join forces."

"By then, the situation you have to deal with will only become more complicated."

After hearing this, Chu Ze frowned slightly and felt a little doubtful.

"Mother, have you heard any rumors?"

"Could it be that someone in the court is secretly contacting and wants to harm me?"

The Queen Mother sighed softly and said slowly: "You are my son."

"Of course the Queen Mother won't let anyone hurt you."

"But you have to understand that sometimes you can't control the harem and the court just because you want to."

"Those powerful people and their families have complicated connections, and it is not possible to completely eliminate them in a short period of time."

"If you want to consolidate your power, you must proceed step by step."

“Don’t rush into anything, otherwise, it might backfire.”

Chu Ze was silent for a moment, with a thoughtful look in his eyes.

He knew that what his mother said was not without reason.

The powerful people in the court today do have enormous power, and if they act rashly, it may cause greater turmoil.

But he is the emperor and the ruler of the Ming Dynasty.

If he does not dismantle the power of these powerful people one by one, how can he truly control the government?

"Mother, I understand your painstaking efforts."

"But I will never compromise easily."

"

If these people refuse to obey, I will make them obey.”

"As for how to implement it, I know how to do it."

The Queen Mother looked at Chu Ze, her eyes revealing a hint of helplessness, yet also a hint of relief.

She nodded gently and sighed, "Ze'er, you are my son. I only hope that you can sit on this throne safely and securely."

"If you insist on your own way, the Queen Mother will not say much."

"But you have to remember, never let anger and resentment blind your eyes."

"You are an emperor. You need to see further and think more deeply."

A hint of determination flashed in Chu Ze's eyes and he nodded slightly.

"Don't worry, mother. I will keep your teachings in mind."

"But I will never be lenient when it comes to what needs to be done."

"Those who have evil intentions will eventually pay the price for their actions."

He looked coldly into the distance, as if he could see the turbulent situation in the capital through the window of the Cining Palace. (End of this chapter)