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

The sky was getting brighter and the rising sun cast a golden glow on the glazed tiles of the Forbidden City.

Inside the palace, palace maids and eunuchs who had gotten up early were hurriedly cleaning every corner. The entire imperial city remained as orderly as usual.

But the atmosphere in the imperial study was particularly tense.

Chu Ze sat upright on the dragon throne, the table in front of him was piled with secret reports from various places, each of which touched the nerves of the entire court.

Ever since Chu Ze ordered a thorough investigation of the wealthy gentry and salt gangs in Jiangnan and the southeast, officials in the court have become extremely vigilant.

Some officials who had close contacts with local gentry began to submit their resignations in order to avoid being punished.

But Chu Ze was dismissive of it.

What he wanted was not the resignation of these people, but a complete purge.

"Want to escape?"

"I will never give you another chance."

"Everyone has to pay for what they did."

Chu Ze said coldly, his voice filled with murderous intent.

At this time, Eunuch Wang gently pushed the door open and walked in, with a solemn and cautious look on his face.

"Your Majesty, the arrest operations in various places are still continuing."

"Lord Lu Bing has already controlled most of the officials involved in the case, but news came from Nanzhili that several important officials got wind of the incident in advance and have already fled."

"I am worried that they will flee to foreign lands and surrender to those foreign enemies who are ready to make a move."

Chu Ze frowned slightly, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

"get away?"

"These people are so bold!"

"Do they think that by fleeing to a foreign enemy's land, they can escape my punishment?"

"Send a message to Lu Bing to immediately send people to hunt down these fugitives."

"If necessary, we can even go deep into the enemy's territory to capture them!"

"I will not allow any fish to slip through the net!"

Eunuch Wang's heart trembled, and he quickly bowed his head and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

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

Chu Ze stared coldly at the secret report on the table and swore secretly in his heart.

"Escape to the ends of the earth, and I will find you!"

"Over the years, you have formed gangs and factions in the local area and have been lawless."

"Today, I want to let you know what the supremacy of imperial power means!"

He slowly stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the gradually waking capital city outside the window, with a cold light in his eyes.

"The cleansing operations in Jiangnan and Southeast have already begun. Next, I will thoroughly investigate all the problems in the capital."

"None of the old officials in the court who are in collusion with the local gentry should be spared."

"Anyone who dares to take action must pay the price!"

At this moment, Lu Bing hurried into the imperial study, with a solemn and urgent look on his face.

"Your Majesty, I have brought you the latest intelligence."

"Among the several officials who fled from Nanzhili, some have already fled into Mongolian territory."

"Moreover, the spies in Mongolia reported back that these people were secretly discussing with a certain Mongolian prince, and seemed to want to use the power of the Mongols to counterattack Jiangnan."

When Chu Ze heard this, a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

"These traitors actually dared to surrender to the foreign enemy!"

"Do they think they can fight against the imperial court in this way?"

"Pass the order down, all the traitors who have fled to the enemy's land will be arrested and brought to justice."

"Anyone who obstructs will be killed without mercy!"

"I want to let these people know that even if they flee to the grasslands of Mongolia, I can still wipe them out completely!"

Lu Bing quickly bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

"I have already sent out the elite Jinyiwei to track down the whereabouts of these traitors."

"As long as we find their traces, I will take action immediately."

Chu Ze nodded, a hint of coldness in his eyes.

"very good."

"These traitors must not be let off."

"I want everyone to know the consequences of betraying the court!"

Lu Bing clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

"I will do my best to catch these traitors in one fell swoop!"

After saying that, he turned around and quickly retreated, beginning to deploy the arrest operation.

Silence returned to the imperial study. Chu Ze stood quietly in front of the window, murderous intent surging in his heart.

"The storm has begun in the south and southeast of the Yangtze River."

"Next, it's time to give those old guys in the capital a good beating."

He sneered, turned back to the table, picked up the memorial on the table and read it carefully.

The memorial recorded in detail the secret collusion between several old officials in the court and local gentry.

These old officials have long supported each other with local gentry, forming a huge network of interests.

If we want to completely eliminate local forces, these old ministers in the court must be removed.

Otherwise, even if the local forces are disintegrated, they will quickly make a comeback.

"These old guys seem to be loyal, but in fact, they are all criminals who protect local forces."

"Do they think that I dare not touch them because they are old?"

"This time, I will root out these cancers completely!"

He said coldly, with a gleam of determination in his eyes.

"Eunuch Wang."

Chu Ze called softly.

Eunuch Wang outside the door immediately walked in and bowed.

"Your Majesty, what do you want?"

Chu Ze looked at him coldly and said slowly: "Convey my order to secretly monitor several old officials in the court."

"Report any unusual behavior immediately."

"If we find that they are still in contact with local forces, we will arrest them immediately and will not show any leniency!"

Eunuch Wang nodded quickly and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

"I will arrange it immediately."

Chu Ze nodded slightly, with a hint of sharpness in his eyes.

"Go."

"This time, I will uproot them completely and never leave any hidden dangers!"

Eunuch Wang hurriedly retreated. Chu Ze looked at his departing back and swore secretly in his heart.

"I have been forbearing all these years, but you have become more and more rampant."

"Today, I want everyone to know that the majesty of the imperial court cannot be violated!"

"All local forces, local gentry, and those who collude with foreign enemies must be eradicated!"

He snorted softly, his heart filled with determination and resoluteness.

……

At the same time, in a secluded mansion somewhere in the capital, an old minister with white hair and beard was sitting at his desk with a frown on his face.

In front of him were several secret letters.

Each secret letter described in detail the purge operations in Jiangnan and the southeast, as well as the court's crackdown on local gentry and salt gangs.

"It seems that His Majesty is serious this time."

"The power of the gentry in Jiangnan and the southeast was almost uprooted, and all officials who colluded with the salt gang were also controlled."

"Even those officials who fled were hunted down by Lu Bing's men."

The old minister sighed softly, with a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

"We coexist and prosper together with local forces. If the local forces are completely eradicated, we will also lose all our foundations."

"But your majesty's methods are so strong that even we old ministers have to bow our heads."

"What should I do?"

The old minister gently clenched the secret letter in his hand, frowning.

Just as he was lost in thought, a servant walked in quietly, looking somewhat anxious.

"Master, I just received news that several officials in the court have been secretly monitored."

"Your Majesty seems to have become suspicious of them."

"If we don't make a decision, I'm afraid disaster will befall us."

When the old minister heard this, his face suddenly changed.

"what?"

"Your Majesty has begun to monitor us?"

"Could it be that... even elderly ministers like me are not going to be spared by His Majesty?"

A chill surged in his heart, as if a cold wind was blowing from behind.

"At this point, the only option is to give it a try." (End of this chapter)