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

As the morning light breaks, the Forbidden City exudes a solemn and dignified atmosphere under the reflection of the dawning light.

Chu Ze sat in the imperial study with a sharp gaze. The desk in front of him was filled with intelligence and memorials from all over the country.

He stared at several of the secret reports, a sneer appearing on his face.

"The cleansing operations in Jiangnan and Southeast are coming to an end."

"Next, I will thoroughly investigate the undercurrents in the capital."

"Those self-righteous old officials in the court should pay the price for their actions."

Chu Ze whispered to himself, his tone revealing unquestionable majesty and decisiveness.

He waved his hand gently, put a few secret reports aside, then picked up a pen and quickly reviewed the memorials.

Every approval document is like a heavy hammer, striking the hearts of those powerful people hiding in the dark.

"The storm in the capital will be stirred up by me personally!"

Just as Chu Ze was concentrating on reviewing memorials, Eunuch Wang gently pushed the door open and walked in, looking a little anxious and nervous.

"Your Majesty, I just received news that one of the officials who fled from Nanzhili has been captured."

"But he was attacked while being escorted back to Beijing."

"The people who kidnapped him are a mysterious armed force, whose identity is still unclear."

"However, according to the spies' reports, those people are highly skilled in martial arts and are likely to be private assassins raised by some ministers in the capital."

Upon hearing this, Chu Ze's eyes suddenly became sharp, and he slammed the table with his voice as cold as a knife.

"Robbery?"

"These people really can't stand it anymore. They dare to kidnap the imperial prisoner in broad daylight!"

"Who gave them such courage?"

Eunuch Wang bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, I have asked Lu Bing to mobilize all the Jinyiwei to investigate the origins of these assassins."

"However, there are no clear clues at present. I suspect there are many people involved in this matter."

"Perhaps it is directly related to some old officials in the capital."

Chu Ze smiled coldly, with murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

"Old official in the capital?"

"Huh, it's true."

"Over the years, they have relied on their connections in the court and thought they could do whatever they wanted in front of me."

"Now, I will meet them in person and see how long they can last!"

He stood up suddenly, his eyes as sharp as a hawk.

"Order Lu Bing to summon all the important officials in the capital immediately!"

"I want to ask them face to face how many shameful things they have done in secret over the years!"

Eunuch Wang was shocked and quickly bowed and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

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

Chu Ze coldly watched his departing back, then slowly walked to the window, looking at the capital city under the clear sky, murderous intent surging in his heart.

"These old guys think they're smart."

"Today, I will reveal your true colors!"

……

At noon, inside the Forbidden City, the atmosphere in the court was extremely solemn.

All the important officials of the court were present, and civil and military officials stood in the court, with a sense of uneasiness and tension in their expressions.

They all noticed something unusual today.

His Majesty suddenly summoned all the important ministers without explaining the reason. This kind of situation is rare.

Many veteran officials were even more worried, as they knew that this time His Majesty might be really angry.

A low sound of footsteps was heard, and all the ministers bowed their heads in salute.

"May your Majesty be safe!"

Chu Ze walked slowly into the hall, his eyes swept across the whole place coldly, then he walked straight to the dragon throne and said in a cold voice: "Everyone, get up."

All the ministers stood up quickly, lowered their heads and dared not speak.

Chu Ze sat on the dragon throne with a stern expression and a hint of sharpness in his eyes.

"I summoned all of you here today because I discovered that some of the old officials in the capital are not paying attention to state affairs, but are secretly colluding with local forces and even colluding with foreign enemies!"

As soon as he finished speaking, there was an uproar in the court. Many officials turned pale in an instant and lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

Several old ministers frowned and looked solemn.

Chu Ze sneered and continued, "I already have some evidence in my hands."

"But I don't want to see anyone in the court putting on a show in front of me."

"So, I'll give you one last chance."

"Any officials who have colluded with local gentry, salt gangs, or foreign enemies should immediately come forward and confess their crimes."

"If you still have any hope, I don't mind taking action myself and catching you one by one!"

His words were like thunder, shocking the officials in the court.

Several old ministers looked at each other, with a hint of fear and panic in their eyes.

"His Majesty……"

An old minister stepped forward, bowed, and spoke with a hint of fear in his tone.

"Your Majesty is wise. We have never colluded with local forces or foreign enemies." "If Your Majesty has any doubts, I am willing to be investigated."

Chu Ze looked at him coldly, with a hint of mockery in his eyes.

"No collusion?"

"Then why was the fugitive captured by my spies kidnapped during the escort?"

"Those robbers are highly skilled in martial arts and have mysterious identities. Could they be assassins hired by local forces?"

"If there is no one in the capital who has given instructions, how dare they take the risk of kidnapping people under the eyes of the imperial court?"

When the old minister heard this, his face suddenly changed and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

"Your Majesty, I really don't know..."

Chu Ze snorted coldly and slammed the dragon throne suddenly, with a strong sense of pressure in his voice.

"What a clue!"

"I think you are a bunch of old foxes!"

"Since you don't know, I will let you learn something new today!"

After saying that, he waved his hand suddenly, and several Jinyiwei behind him immediately stepped forward and brought up a prisoner with disheveled hair.

The prisoner was one of the escaped officials who was captured by the Jinyiwei a few days ago.

He was pushed to the center of the court, trembling all over, his face pale, and it was obvious that he had suffered a lot of punishment.

"This person is Huang Xin, the prefect of Nanzhili."

"He has confessed that several important officials in the capital secretly instructed him to collude with local gentry to obtain a large amount of money."

"Moreover, some of this money even fell into the hands of foreign enemies!"

"Who among you dares to stand up and say that this matter has nothing to do with you?"

Chu Ze said coldly, his eyes sweeping across all the officials like a knife.

The court was completely silent. All officials kept their heads down and said nothing. The atmosphere was so tense that it seemed as if the air had frozen.

The faces of several old ministers turned pale, with fear and despair in their eyes.

They didn't expect that His Majesty had such detailed evidence.

"His Majesty……"

"I am wronged!"

"I really don't know about this!"

An old minister fell to his knees with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly, his voice filled with extreme fear and panic.

Chu Ze looked at him coldly, with a hint of disdain in his eyes.

"Injustice?"

"What an injustice!"

"I have given you opportunities long ago, but you have challenged my bottom line again and again!"

"In that case, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

He stood up suddenly, pointed at the old ministers, his voice cold and full of majesty.

"Somebody come!"

"Take down all these old ministers!"

"The charge: colluding with local gentry and the salt gang, secretly communicating with foreign enemies, and plotting rebellion!"

"Detain him in the prison and investigate thoroughly!"

Several Jinyiwei immediately stepped forward, pinned down the old ministers, and handcuffed them with iron chains.

There was an uproar in the court, and many officials' faces turned pale in an instant.

They knew that His Majesty really wanted to kill this time!
"His Majesty!"

"

Your Majesty, spare my life!"

"I am wronged!"

"I have absolutely no second thoughts!"

Those old ministers were dragged out of the court, kowtowing and begging for mercy, their voices filled with despair and fear.

But Chu Ze remained unmoved. He watched all this coldly, with an extremely determined light in his eyes.

"Starting today, I will completely eliminate the undercurrents in the court!"

"All officials who collude with local forces, the salt gang, and foreign enemies will be eliminated!"

"Who dares to disobey?"

"Who dares to resist?"

He looked around the room, and his voice resounded throughout the court like thunder.

All the officials bowed their heads, remained silent and trembled.

Chu Ze sneered and slowly sat back on the dragon throne, his eyes filled with endless majesty and determination.

"Remember all of them."

"This is your last chance."

"If anyone dares to do this again, I will make sure he dies without a burial place!" (End of this chapter)