SFS Chapter 1165
Chapter 1165
Therefore, when the Jiujiang Navy attacked, they did not say they would not put in any effort, but they would certainly not give it their all!
While Xu Shan unleashed his domineering attack and uttered those words, Yuan Tiangang remained silent.
But the slight upturn of his lips clearly indicated that he had grasped the true meaning of Xu Shan's entry into the palace.
These ministers who had secret dealings with Zhou, Jia, and others were mostly radicals who opposed His Majesty's "opening of the seas".
The reason is simple: His Majesty intends to transfer this profit to the imperial treasury for the construction of the army, which not only affects their interests but also indirectly weakens their voice.
It should be understood that a ruler who is wealthy, has an army, and is highly independent will break the situation where the imperial family and the aristocratic families of the two dynasties jointly govern the country.
If the Ming Dynasty were in a stable period, Xu Shan would simply need to fight his way through.
But now?
Beset by internal and external troubles, the Ming Dynasty needed these aristocratic families to maintain stability, while simultaneously forcing them to bow down to the Emperor.
To achieve this, some political wisdom is required.
Clearly, Xu Shan deliberately threw the evidence of the Zhou and Jia families' rebellion into the cabinet, and his assertive behavior in front of so many ministers, even his attitude of wanting to investigate thoroughly, was a case of playing the good cop and the bad guy.
I'm going to follow the Zhou and Jia line and fight my way down.
are you ready?
As things stand, the only thing that allows him to handle it with care is...
In the court, only His Majesty and the Celestial Master remain!
Xu Shan's entry into the palace this time may seem like a 'spur-of-the-moment' decision, but in reality, it was a way for His Majesty to gain more control over the court.
Otherwise, he would have dared to slaughter the entire Zhou family and force the concubines in the harem to their deaths. Why would he wait in the Imperial Study for Lai Mingcheng and the other Grand Secretaries to verify the evidence?
Zhou Ge, Jia Ke, and the others are doomed. But how will they die? Whom will they implicate before their deaths, and which families will be affected...?
Xu Shan, who was notorious for his ruthlessness, handed the list back to His Majesty and the Celestial Master!
Of course, it wasn't just the Celestial Master who saw this. Which official in the court wasn't a cunning old fox?
Therefore, after seeing Xu Shan act so ruthlessly and speak so arrogantly, the ministers involved could no longer stand by and watch.
They all condemned Xu Shan's arrogance and his disregard for the law.
They are professionals at nitpicking and analyzing words.
They can quote extensively from classical texts without hesitation.
They even attempted to coerce the Celestial Masters into standing up for them by appealing to the laws, moral principles, and code of conduct.
Hearing this, Xu Shan, who showed no mercy to them, said lightly, "Zhou Ge, with only 100,000 Jiangnan naval troops behind him, disregards the law, etiquette, and shame. In fact, recently, he has been extremely arrogant and domineering in the court and in private."
"And you lot? Not only do you turn a blind eye, but you even flatter and aid the wicked!"
"And I, Xu Shan, know just as much as they do, don't I?"
'Gulu! '
As Xu Shan finished speaking arrogantly and swept his sharp eyes across the room, many of the ministers who had just been so emotionally charged couldn't help but swallow hard.
Although they didn't know exactly how many troops Xu Shan controlled, the fact that he dared to lead 100,000 Jiangnan naval troops into the capital with such composure indicated that he was extremely confident.
Xu Shan's next words were like a heavy hammer blow, striking them straight to the heart.
"It seems that I, the imperial envoy, have been too modest."
"So much so that you are still living in your own world."
"The naval forces of Jiujiang and the two lakes are all under my control. The troops stationed in Jiangxi, Shu, and even the Central Plains are now carrying the 'Xu' flag."
"Of the troops stationed in Jiangnan, I have sole command of forty percent..."
"Except for the Guanzhong Army and the Beiliang Army, all the capable and battle-hardened troops of the Ming Dynasty are in my hands, Xu Shan."
'Crack! '
As he spoke, Xu Shan tore at the hair of a minister and slapped the man's cheek with one hand, then added, word by word, "That's not all. The entire capital is under my control."
“Zhou Ge and Jia Ke, with a mere 100,000, can disregard the law, morality, and shame.”