SFS Chapter 644 Trouble Begins with Xiao Qiang
Chapter 644 Trouble Begins with Xiao Qiang
Chapter 644 Troubles within the family
Since ascending the throne, Zhu Youjian has taken famous emperors throughout history as his role models, aspiring to be a revered ruler, and he has been working towards this goal.
For Zhu Youjian, he was willing to do anything for the country and for the good of the Ming Dynasty. He could even tolerate being cuckolded. But he really couldn't tolerate Wang Wenzhou!
This time, Wang Wenzhou quelled the southern pirates and won a great victory over the Dutch barbarians, capturing tens of thousands of prisoners. For the Ming Dynasty, which was riddled with problems, this was like a long-awaited rain after a drought. However, that bastard Wang Wenzhou managed to firmly control the military forces of Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian in less than two months.
To Zhu Youjian, Wang Wenzhou's actions were utterly despicable. Wang Wenzhou had a history of such behavior; he had already turned Hanshan into a state within a state of the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Youjian had tolerated that, but Wang Wenzhou's ambition to seize control of Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian was something Zhu Youjian could no longer tolerate.
How many provinces did the Ming Dynasty have in total? If these three provinces also fall into Wang Wenzhou's hands, then Emperor Zhu Youjian's reign as emperor will soon be over.
At this moment, Wang Chengen led Lin Qing into the imperial study.
"This humble subject, Lin Qing, greets Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!" Lin Qing bowed deeply.
"Raise your head!" Zhu Youjian said coldly.
Lin Qing quickly bent over and looked up at Zhu Youjian.
Zhu Youjian smiled and said, "Young Master Lin is indeed a man of great talent. I am aware of your background and your grudge with Wang Wenzhou. How are the men you have been training these past few days?"
A month ago, Lin Qing was released from the secret prison by Zhu Youjian. Afterwards, Zhu Youjian transferred personnel from the Eastern Depot to Lin Qing, who then trained them to become assassins.
"Your Majesty, our brothers are now well-trained. As long as Your Majesty gives the order, they will all die for the country!" Lin Qing wasn't stupid. He guessed that Zhu Youjian wanted to use him to get rid of Wang Wenzhou, since Zhu Youjian didn't kill him but instead asked him to train assassins.
Zhu Youjian thought for a moment and then said, "In a few days, it will be the birthday of Wang Wenzhou's father, the Earl of Xinjian, Wang Xianda. I plan to send you to offer your birthday wishes."
"Hmm?" Lin Qing was very puzzled. "Your Majesty, do you not want me to kill Wang Wenzhou?"
Zhu Youjian continued, "On the occasion of this birthday celebration, I want you to get rid of Wang Wenzhou, that treacherous minister who has brought disaster to the country and its people!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Qing knelt on the ground, sticking his buttocks out, and kowtowed loudly with a series of thuds. After a few kowtows, blood started to ooze from Lin Qing's forehead.
Lin Qingyi kowtowed solemnly and said, "This humble subject obeys the imperial decree! Your Majesty, please rest assured, this humble subject will surely execute Wang Wenzhou and rid the Ming Dynasty of this traitor!"
"Very well!" Zhu Youjian nodded and said softly, "Rise."
"This humble subject accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude." Lin Qing hurriedly stood up slowly, his head spinning from kowtowing so much.
"Sigh..." Zhu Youjian sighed. He had made up his mind, but he couldn't understand the grudges between him and Wang Wenzhou. The two brothers, who were originally inseparable, had become sworn enemies.
Zhu Youjian truly regarded Wang Wenzhou as a brother, but that scoundrel Wang Wenzhou not only slept with his beloved concubine, but also acted lawlessly, always harboring thoughts of seizing power and becoming king.
As the saying goes, harmony in the family brings prosperity in all things. Zhu Youjian and his brother Wang Wenzhou initially worked together as a team, and with Wang Wenzhou's assistance, the Ming Dynasty's treasury became abundant. With money in hand, Zhu Youjian was one step closer to his dream of becoming a great emperor.
But every family has its own troubles; marital discord and sibling rivalry are commonplace, and internal strife is the most painful thing. Zhu Youjian now has no choice but to deal ruthlessly with his former brothers.
Lin Qing was very puzzled. He saw that the Emperor was sitting there motionless, deep in thought for a long time. Lin Qing could only be cautious, looking down at the ground, waiting for Zhu Youjian's instructions.
Zhu Youjian thought for a moment and said softly, "Although Bo Xin is now a great villain, he has also served the Ming Dynasty and shed blood. When you go to Nanjing, kill Bo Xin and his wives and concubines, but leave him a bloodline. The newly established Bo family will not die out because of this."
Wang Chengen's eyes welled up with tears; the Emperor was truly too merciful. It is said that to weed, one must pull out the roots. Wang Wenzhou was so rebellious, yet the Emperor still wanted to preserve his bloodline and prevent his family line from dying out.
Wang Chengen sighed inwardly, "Boxin, oh Boxin! If you could know this after your death, would you weep bitterly and regret that you shouldn't have harbored such wicked intentions and lost His Majesty's trust?"
Lin Qing originally wanted to take this opportunity to kill Wang Wenzhou's entire family, but then she thought that leaving Wang Wenzhou with a seed would not be bad, so that Wang Wenzhou's son could experience the pain of losing all his relatives.
"This humble subject obeys the decree!" Lin Qing hurriedly accepted the decree and expressed his gratitude.
"Step down!" Zhu Youjian waved his hand, and in that instant he seemed to have aged many years.
Lin Qing respectfully withdrew.
Zhu Youjian looked at Wang Chengen and asked weakly, "If Lin Qing's assassination attempt succeeds this time, will I regret it?"
Wang Chengen thought for a moment and then said, “Your Majesty, there is no need to blame yourself! You have placed such importance on Lord Wang, yet he has betrayed your trust. If he is not killed now, this traitor will surely bring disaster to the Ming Dynasty in the future.”
"Sigh..." Zhu Youjian sighed. For some time now, he had been struggling with whether or not to kill Wang Wenzhou. He understood that as long as he lived, Wang Wenzhou would not rebel. Moreover, just like when he quelled the Fujian pirates, if the Ming Dynasty were in trouble, Wang Wenzhou would step forward to answer the call.
However, with each new achievement Wang Wenzhou made, Zhu Youjian's apprehension towards him grew stronger. Wang Wenzhou was now so powerful that his merits overshadowed the emperor's, and no reward was due. Wang Wenzhou's son was already the Duke of Zhongyi! What more could Zhu Youjian possibly bestow upon Wang Wenzhou?
Moreover, Wang Wenzhou didn't treat Zhu Youjian, the emperor, as an emperor at all. In Hanshan, he used the banner of recovering Liaodong to mislead the people.
Hanshan is a thousand miles away from Liaodong, yet it has now become the base for the recapture of Liaodong. Ambitious men of the Ming Dynasty, especially those foolish scholars, are abandoning their studies to join the army and head to Hanshan. Is this reasonable?
Zhu Youjian was truly driven to a dead end by Wang Wenzhou, and had no choice but to secretly send assassins to eliminate him. Zhu Youjian had no other option; although he had largely eliminated Wang Wenzhou's influence...
However, Wang Wenzhou has nearly 10 elite troops in Hanshan, and the military forces of Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian provinces are currently firmly under his control.
Moreover, since Wang Wenzhou had made new contributions, Zhu Youjian had no choice but to reward him. Zhu Youjian could not find Wang Wenzhou a sinecure, but he also could not recall Wang Wenzhou to the court.
The court officials all wished Wang Wenzhou dead. Wang Wenzhou was too restless; if he returned to court, who knew what trouble he would cause in Beijing? Moreover, when Wang Wenzhou left the capital, he burned down his residence. If Zhu Youjian were to recall Wang Wenzhou, it would be a slap in the face to himself.
"You have not betrayed me, and I will not betray you!" Zhu Youjian murmured to himself, "Boxin, I am sorry for you! Rest assured, after your death, I will raise your son as my own. I will definitely educate him well and raise him into a loyal and patriotic minister and general."