I open a history tutorial class in Daming

Chapter 123 Hu Weiyong Case and the Eastern Palace

When the other three people present heard Song Shen say that Hu Weiyong would die, they felt different emotions.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao were naturally somewhat understandable after being shocked - no wonder Song Shen had advised Chen Guorui's family to stay away from Hu Weiyong at that time, it turned out that not only was this guy really going to die, but he would also make such a big fuss.

In the past, Zhu Biao might have thought that his father was going too far, but seeing the big picture from the small, after learning last night that Hu Weiyong was so connected, he also thought that the prime minister had too much power.

But... involving the lives of tens of thousands of people, isn't it a bit too outrageous?

Zhu Biao looked at his father beside him with a very complicated look.

Zhu Yuanzhang was not a blind man like Song Shen, so he naturally noticed his gaze.

It was extremely quiet in Kunning Palace.

After thinking for a moment, he picked up his pen and wrote.

[Do you think we are too murderous? Biao'er, things that can bring down a prime minister are bound to involve a wide range of people, nothing more than forming cliques, treason, etc., or even worse. If we don't kill enough at once, do you think we can make them remember it for a long time? ]

[Also, I think this is probably an opportunity, you should think about it carefully before you say I am cruel and brutal.]

What opportunity?
Naturally, he abolished the prime minister and the Secretariat, and at the same time killed those Huaixi nobles who were relying on their own merits and gradually forgetting their roots.

Zhu Yuanzhang admitted that he was a ruthless and cruel person, but he never thought that he would kill innocent people indiscriminately.

Those who were cleared out must have their own reasons.

For example, if Song Shen had not been blind and lost his memory, and had not entered the tutoring class to teach emperors and generals, he would have been just an ordinary grandson of Song Lian. When the court suddenly changed, Song Lian retired and returned home to retire. To put it nicely, he was not seeking fame, but to put it bluntly, he just didn't want to do anything for Zhu Yuanzhang.

Song Lian was an honest and upright minister, but that didn't mean he was a good minister in Zhu Yuanzhang's mind. A qualified minister should know what to do and when.

By then, it is not impossible that the anger will be directed at Song Shen.

Perhaps this is the "death disaster" that Song Shen mentioned?
Behind the screen, what the father and son communicated with pens did not affect the front.

Queen Ma looked at Song Shen, and her expression finally relaxed a little.

She knew what Song Shen meant by this, and she also knew that her husband was capable of doing such a thing, but she couldn't think of any words to respond for a moment.

If it was really for the good of the child, she should send Song Shen away now, far away from Yingtian Prefecture, and not let him get involved in court affairs again.

But Queen Ma couldn't do it.

She knew how important Song Shen was to Zhu Yuanzhang and the Ming Dynasty, so how could she send him away?

Even if we don't talk about other vested interests, Song Shen still holds the other half of the flintlock rifle's blueprint in his hand. If he gives it away, what will happen to the flintlock rifle?
"...Good boy, you've worked hard."

Queen Ma was silent for a long time before she finally spoke:
"Don't worry. Since you are willing to tell me the matter today, I will definitely protect your family's lives no matter what. But the premise is that you don't really do anything that can kill all nine clans."

"If it is an injustice, I will help you even at the cost of my life."

"But since we are talking about this matter, I would like to ask you, do you know why Hu Weiyong was killed?"

Song Shen was in a dilemma for a moment.

It seems that the current Ming Dynasty has changed a lot because of his butterfly effect.

For example, Zhu Di, who was supposed to train his troops peacefully in Fengyang and go to the north to be a fief in two years, has now returned to Yingtian Prefecture. Moreover, Zhu Yuanzhang has even issued an edict to reform the vassal system, and he is determined to make all the vassal kings stay in the capital, where they have been staying for who knows how many years.

How does this look like the Ming Dynasty?
It's clearly the Qing Dynasty's style!

All the princes stayed in the capital, under the emperor's nose, without military power or fiefdom, only an empty title. In the future, they might fall into poverty and have to sell their palaces... These things happened in the late Qing Dynasty.

Although it seemed that the Jingnan Campaign was avoided and Zhu Yunwen had died in the womb, Song Shen always felt that things were a little too weird.

I am just a blind man, no different from a butterfly in the rainforest in the food chain. Could it be that just because "he" learned fortune-telling from Liu Bowen and said a few words to Queen Ma, he could influence so many things?

Even if Empress Ma was stupid, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't be a fool.

There might be something else going on here... he just hasn't noticed it.

Then again.

Now that Empress Ma is right in front of us and is asking about the details of the Hu Weiyong case, what should we do?
There were many conspiracy theories about the Hu Weiyong case on the Internet in the past.

The historical records are vague. In short, it says that Hu Weiyong was guilty of treason and collaborating with the enemy and deserved to die. However, the history books did not record any specific information, such as confessions and why tens of thousands of people were killed over a period of ten years.

Perhaps this is also due to the Qing Dynasty compiling the History of Ming Dynasty, but this is not important. What is important is that he really does not know the details!
"I can't really see clearly."

Song Shen pondered and decided to give an ambiguous answer:

"Just now you mentioned the Prime Minister's affairs. I carefully calculated and a picture emerged in my mind, that is, the river of blood and the rolling heads of people."

"There was also a scene where a lot of axes, swords and knives were found in his home, but he was beheaded for shouting out his innocence."

"More specifically... the scene was too ominous. I dare not look at it in detail."

Queen Ma paused and did not ask how much he had looked at when he said he did not dare to look closely.

She just asked:
"You said that you had a fatal connection with Hu Weiyong before. So, roughly how many people died in this matter? Or do you know who some of them were?"

Song Shen originally wanted to say that there were too many, from founding nobles such as Li Shanchang to ordinary officials such as Chen Ning and Tu Jie.

But just as he was about to speak, he suddenly stopped.

He is a blind man now, and a blind man with amnesia. It is normal for him not to recognize people. It would be a problem if he recognized them.

In order not to expose his golden finger, Song Shen avoided the latter question and only answered the first half:
"Your Majesty, according to a rough estimate, about 30,000 people died in this incident, and it lasted for ten years."

Queen Ma took a breath of cold air.

If it was just a one-time killing, it would be fine, but he killed 30,000 people in total, and it took so long...

Thinking of what Song Shen said that he would die in the 15th year of Hongwu, Empress Ma roughly guessed something.

If she died, the ministers in the court would have no protection, and no one would be able to persuade her husband, so it would be very likely that her husband would go on a killing spree.

After such a killing, plus another killing after Zhu Biao's death, it is no wonder that Zhu Yunwen in history was like a fool and a waste. Not only was he surrounded by people who only gave bad advice, but even with the combined strength of the entire country, they couldn't even defeat the Fourth Prince!

Most of the talented civil and military officials have died, so he has to use their heads to deal with the fourth brother!
"Too much, too much..."

Queen Ma held the armrest tightly and muttered to herself.

It's not that she doesn't believe it. It's just that she knows too well what kind of person her husband is that she is afraid of it.

With so many lives, it's impossible that all of them should be beheaded according to the law, right? Even if her husband made all kinds of excuses, she had always spoken for the ministers over the years, so how could she not know that many people had only made minor mistakes, but when they fell into her husband's case, they would be executed directly.

The word Song Shen used was correct.

It is indeed a heinous murder!
"Empress, please don't be anxious. Calm down and don't hurt yourself."

Song Shen heard her rapid breathing and quickly comforted her:

"Although Hu Weiyong himself is doomed, you see, I was originally involved in this case, and now I have also been caught up in the robbery and earned a way out, right?"

"The most important thing is your health. If anything goes wrong with you, you could lose a hundred thousand, not to mention thirty thousand!"

"So you must, must pay attention to Feng's health. I am still waiting to ask you for help if something happens in the future!"

Queen Ma was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.

This kid's words don't make sense!
He had clearly said it just now that the Hu Weiyong case broke out around the 13th year of Hongwu, and Empress Ma lived to the 15th year of Hongwu. Even if she could not change his fate, she could plead for Song Shen and ask for a way to live.

These words are clearly meant to comfort.

Empress Tajima appreciated the gesture:
"Since you say so, if this old lady gets seriously ill in the future, I will ask you to treat her!"

Song Shen quickly agreed.

Then, as if he remembered something, he asked:
"Empress, how many children have you given birth to in your life? Princesses and princes combined."

Queen Ma didn't expect him to ask this suddenly. She was slightly stunned and said without hesitation:
"Seven, five sons and two daughters. The fourth and fifth were born consecutively, only one year apart in age. Before that, there was also a son and a daughter who were born consecutively."

"what happened?"

The corner of Song Shen's mouth twitched slightly.

Good guy.

Zhu Baba, you really don't care about your wife's life or death, you only care about your own pleasure?
Although he was a bachelor in his previous life and never had a wife until his death, he had common sense and knew that there were relatives and friends around him who had children.

So Song Shen knew clearly that, let alone in ancient times, even in modern times, childbirth for women is an extremely dangerous thing. An amniotic fluid embolism on the operating table can result in two deaths. What's more, in this era today where even heavy hemorrhage cannot be treated?

They dared to have so many children, and there were many times when they had two children in two years, especially when the world was in turmoil and wars were raging everywhere...

It is very normal that Empress Ma died earlier than Zhu Yuanzhang.

Maybe she didn't take good care of herself during the confinement period, or there are some sequelae from giving birth to too many children, or maybe it's the simplest thing, that she was physically exhausted after giving birth.

In short, her current physical condition is definitely not optimistic.

half an hour.

Song Shencai asked:

"Then, Queen, has the imperial physician examined your pulse in recent years? Is there anything abnormal about your pulse?"

Queen Ma smiled, probably guessing what he wanted to say:
"Ziwei, do you want to ask me if I have found any problem, and if so, why don't you treat it as soon as possible?"

"No."

"I think you have heard that I have never bound my feet. When I was young, I ran around in the military camp and helped the men move things. As for my physique, there is no woman in the palace who is stronger than me."

"It's a pity that there was a slight production shortfall in the past few years, but in the past ten years, His Majesty has sent the best supplements to Kunning Palace like water, fearing that they would not be effective, and not afraid of you making fun of me. I have almost had a nosebleed many times due to the supplements, and the imperial physician has been worried crazy."

"Other than that, there aren't really any major problems. They're just long-standing problems."

Song Shen fell silent again.

Now, he was deeply aware of one thing, that is, he must save the life of Queen Ma. As long as she was there, the old Song family could live in peace and stability for all nine clans.

The imperial doctors in the palace must be the best in the world. Since they couldn't find the problem, what use would it be for me, who only have half-baked knowledge of first aid and modern medical common sense?
From Empress Ma's answer, we can roughly judge that at least she is in good health now and speaks with full energy. Zhu Yuanzhang also desperately sends her supplements. So, why did Empress Ma, who had such medical conditions, die in the 15th year of Hongwu?
There was not much difference in age between her and Zhu Yuanzhang. The latter had fought many battles like Li Shimin and must have had many old injuries on his body. Why did she live so much shorter than Zhu Yuanzhang?
Song Shen sighed and was about to say something when a sudden idea came to his mind.

and many more.

In the fifteenth year of Hongwu, not only Empress Ma died, but also Zhu Xiongying.

The last time I came to Kunning Palace, I found that Zhu Xiongying was accompanied by Empress Ma all year round and occasionally returned to the Eastern Palace. The Crown Princess, who will die next year, also stayed in Kunning Palace.

This level of intimacy is as if the East Palace and Kunning Palace were built together.

"perhaps……"

Song Shen whispered to himself:
"Perhaps the Queen and the Emperor's grandson died of the same disease?"

"infectious disease?"

He suddenly remembered one of the conspiracy theories he had seen before.

If Zhu Xiongying contracted some fatal infectious disease in the Eastern Palace and returned to Kunning Palace without knowing it, and then he and Empress Ma fell ill at the same time, it would make perfect sense.

Who wants Zhu Xiongying to die the most?

Naturally, they are the vested interests.

It was already the 15th year of Hongwu. The Crown Princess Chang passed away, and the concubine Lu was made the legitimate heir. Zhu Yunwen was the second legitimate son, so as long as Zhu Xiongying died, he would become the legitimate eldest son of the Eastern Palace.

When Zhu Biao ascends the throne, he will be the real crown prince.

Song Shen's heart began to beat wildly.

When seeing conspiracy theories on the Internet, he just laughed it off, but when he was really at the center of the vortex, he found that in some times and places, human life was not important at all.

What is important is always the interests.

"Queen!"

Song Shen suddenly raised his head and looked in the direction of the voice. His lifeless eyes seemed to be able to see things at this moment.

He spoke word by word:
"Please thoroughly investigate everyone in the East Palace except the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess."

"This matter has a great bearing on your life and the life of the Emperor's eldest grandson!"

(End of this chapter)