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

Chapter 1408 Taking Control of the Situation

In the evening, the sky inside the Forbidden City was dyed with a gorgeous red glow.

The wind blew gently, rustling the leaves around the palace.

Chu Ze stood on the high platform of the Imperial Garden, overlooking the imperial city which was firmly under his control.

He put his hands behind his back, his eyes deep and cold.

Ever since his conversation with the Empress Dowager in the Cining Palace, his mind has become clearer.

Whether it is the court or the harem, he must have firm control.

Any slackness will give enemies lurking in the dark an opportunity to strike.

This country belongs to him.

No one can take it away from him!

"Lu Bing."

He spoke softly, with a hint of coldness in his tone.

Lu Bing, who was standing not far away, immediately stepped forward and bowed.

"Your Majesty, here is my minister."

Chu Ze turned his head slightly, a sharp look flashing in his eyes.

"I want you to mobilize all the Jinyiwei spies in the capital."

"Whether it is the dignitaries in the court or the concubines in the harem, any unusual movement must be reported to me immediately."

"I don't want any more accidents to happen."

Lu Bing quickly clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will make sure everything is properly arranged."

"Recently, I have stepped up monitoring of several senior officials."

"According to the spy's report, Minister of Revenue Guo Hong has been meeting frequently with Vice Minister of War Zhao De recently."

"And Zhao De's son Zhao Yan has appeared in several restaurants in Beijing recently, and seems to be in contact with people in the underworld."

Chu Ze's eyes moved slightly, and he sneered, "Zhao De and Guo Hong, these two old guys, are really restless."

"They frequently contact people in the underworld, presumably hoping to use the power of the underworld to fight against the imperial court."

"Do they think they can threaten me like this?"

Lu Bing whispered, "Your Majesty, if you want to take action, I suggest you do it as soon as possible."

"To prevent them from contacting more people. Once they form a force, it will be more difficult to deal with them."

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

"Not urgent."

"I don't want quick success."

"What I want is to catch them all in one fell swoop!"

"Do these old guys really think they can hide it from me?"

"Tell the spies to keep a close eye on Zhao Yan."

"Find out all the people in the underworld he has come into contact with."

"No matter who they are, put them on the list."

"When the time is right, I will settle accounts with you all!"

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

"I will make arrangements now."

After saying this, he turned and left, his steps steady and firm.

Chu Ze watched his back disappear around the corner of the Imperial Garden, with a cold light flashing in his eyes.

"Zhao De, Guo Hong..."

"Over the years, you have relied on your stable position in the court to repeatedly and secretly restrain my decrees."

"I have already lost my patience with you."

"This time, I will make you lose everything."

He snorted softly, turned and walked towards the imperial study.

Along the way, his thoughts kept turning in his mind.

Although the struggle in the harem was temporarily suppressed, with the secret struggle between the Queen and the Imperial Concubine, the major forces in the court began to stir.

Behind this, far more than just the families of the queen and the imperial concubine are involved.

There are even more powerful people hiding in the dark who think they can escape the scrutiny of imperial power.

"I will reveal your true colors one by one."

"No one can escape."

Chu Ze had a sullen face, but he kept walking and soon walked into the imperial study.

He sat down on the dragon chair and picked up a few memorials on the table.

He glanced at the content and frowned slightly.

These memorials came from three governors-general in the southeast, southwest and border areas.

The memorial described in detail the situation in various places, especially in the southeast coast, where recent unrest has become increasingly serious.

"Pirates are rampant, and the people are suffering?"

"In the southeast region, the salt gang is rampant, and the imperial court's orders cannot be passed on?"

Chu Ze snorted coldly and tapped lightly on the memorial with his fingers, making a crisp sound.

"The situation in the southeast is indeed turbulent."

"Salt Gang, Pirates..."

"Over the years, these forces have become more and more rampant with the help of the protection of local gentry."

"If we don't eradicate them in one fell swoop, the southeast region will sooner or later become a major concern for the imperial court."

He thought for a moment, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

"Lu Bing!"

He called again.

This time, Lu Bing almost immediately walked into the imperial study, his face showing a bit of solemnity. "Your Majesty, I am here."

Chu Ze handed him the memorial in his hand and looked at him coldly.

"Look at these memorials."

“The situation in the southeast is also unstable.”

"The salt gangs and pirates have begun to shake the foundation of the imperial court."

"You should immediately send people to various places in the southeast to thoroughly investigate the relationship between the salt gang and the local gentry."

"Any local officials who colluded with or protected the salt gang will be put on the list."

"Wait for my order and capture them all at once!"

Lu Bing took the memorial, glanced through it quickly, and a hint of cruelty flashed in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, rest assured that I will investigate this matter thoroughly."

"However, I am worried that the Southeast Salt Gang is very powerful and they are deeply rooted in the underworld."

"If we act rashly, it may lead to greater unrest."

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

"The Salt Gang is a huge force in the underworld, but no matter how big it is, it is just a clown."

"No matter how rampant they are, they are just a mob."

"If I want to deal with them, it's just a piece of cake."

"If officials in the southeast dare to protect the Salt Gang, I will start with them."

"By then, the people of the Salt Gang will naturally be in a panic and won't be able to make any progress."

Lu Bing nodded and said, "Your Majesty is absolutely right."

"I will immediately arrange personnel to conduct a thorough investigation of officials throughout the southeast."

"In addition, I will send Jinyiwei to infiltrate the Salt Gang to collect more evidence."

"In this way, when the time is right, the Salt Gang will have no chance of turning things around."

Chu Ze nodded slightly, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

"very good."

"I want you to be personally responsible for this matter."

"Whether it's the salt gang or the local officials in the southeast, no one should be spared."

"I want to let them know who is the real ruler of the Ming Dynasty!"

Lu Bing's heart trembled, and he immediately clasped his fists and said, "I understand, and I will definitely live up to your trust!"

After saying that, he turned around and quickly retreated.

Chu Ze looked at his departing back and sneered in his heart.

Southeast, Southwest, Jiangnan...

The forces in these places are intertwined.

If it is not eliminated sooner or later, it will become a serious threat to the court.

"Whether it's the salt gang, pirates, or those powerful officials with evil intentions."

"I will settle all of them one by one."

"All their forces will be completely eradicated."

He slowly stood up, walked to the window, and looked into the distance with cold eyes.

The turmoil in the capital city subsided temporarily, but the unrest in other places intensified.

If the rebellion is not quelled quickly, the entire Ming Dynasty will fall into endless chaos.

"The world is in turmoil and the undercurrent is surging."

"I will use thunderous means to suppress all restless forces."

"This country must be firmly controlled in my hands."

He snorted coldly, his eyes revealing determination and coldness.

Anyone who dares to challenge the imperial power will pay the most painful price for it!
**
It was late at night and the palace was completely silent.

Chu Ze was still sitting in the imperial study, reading secret reports from various places, but his mind was not relaxed.

At this moment, there was a sudden sound from outside the door.

Light footsteps.

Eunuch Wang walked in quietly, with a cautious look on his face.

"Your Majesty, there is news from the imperial physician's office."

"Nothing unusual was found in the calming tea sent by the Queen."

"It's just that a few soothing herbs are added to this tea."

"If taken for a long time, it may cause mild dependence."

Chu Ze frowned slightly, and a complicated look flashed in his eyes.

"Will long-term use lead to dependence?"

"What is the Queen planning?"

He pondered for a moment, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.