Chapter 180: Killing
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Hu Weiyong and his smile grew wider.

This decree, spoken from Zhu Yuanzhang's mouth, sounded very plain.

But the content of this decree created a bone-chilling chill throughout the entire hall.

Thirteen transport envoys, all of whom were ministers with great wealth and promising futures, were just... killed.

Some people even vaguely remember that one of the transport envoys was a former member of the Huaixi army and had made many contributions.

But... just because of such a simple sentence, everyone lost their heads and even their families were in trouble.

Hu Weiyong felt as if he had a thorn in his back. He was speechless at this moment.

After a long while, he finally said, "Your Majesty...Your Majesty is wise."

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered and said, "So, Lord Hu also agrees with the decree. That's good. I was worried that you would object."

"Your Majesty..." Hu Weiyong's scalp tingled, and he gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty has no objection."

Zhu Yuanzhang put his hands behind his back and continued, "I have also heard that Japanese pirates have appeared on the southeast coast. These scattered Japanese pirates have killed many of our Ming soldiers and civilians. What do you think of this? Mr. Hu, you go first."

Hu Weiyong's mind was extremely confused at this time, but he had to cheer up now. He took a deep breath and said, "Order the coastal areas to prepare for the Japanese invasion and strengthen defense. Order the officials to suppress the invasion. The Ministry of Rites should immediately issue a letter to reprimand the Japanese king and ask him to deal with the situation. Otherwise, the tribute and rewards will be cut off."

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at the ministers thoughtfully and said, "These methods are indeed useful. Send an order to the commanders of the Japanese guards in various places. Within three months, I want to eliminate all the Japanese pirates along the coast. If there are still one or two who harm the people, more than a thousand households, they will all be executed."

Zhu Yuanzhang said, sitting back on the imperial chair, "Well, tell me, Mr. Hu, what is the matter with you for coming here to apologize?"

Zhu Yuanzhang paused, leaving no room for Hu Weiyong to retreat, and then said, "If the report of the Tongzhengsi is correct, there will be many people accompanying you, Hu Weiyong, to the audience."

Hu Weiyong's face turned pale and he immediately lost his confidence.

The words he had prepared now felt like a thorn in his throat.

He could only say angrily, "These days, we have been harassed by the Yiluansi and Chunhe Palace Qianhusuo. We are all meritorious officials who have served Your Majesty at all times. Isn't Your Majesty aware of this over the years?"

After saying this, Hu Weiyong began to cry, saying, "We have worked hard all these years. If we are really guilty, we should be executed. But...if the Yiluansi and Chunhe Palace Qianhusuo still haven't found any evidence, it's fine for us, but Your Majesty...there are so many meritorious officials here. They are loyal to Your Majesty on weekdays, and the world can bear witness to it! But now they are insulted for no reason, and their relatives are all in fear...Your Majesty...what crime have we committed? Please tell me clearly."

After saying this, Hu Weiyong, not knowing whether it was because he was frightened just now or because he felt extremely humiliated at this moment, actually burst into tears.

When he cried like this, many meritorious officials and civil officials also shed tears.

"Your Majesty, if I have been corrupt and perverted the law, I would be pierced by thousands of arrows. I beg Your Majesty to understand my mistake."

"Your Majesty, there are now lieutenants from the Yiluansi and spies from the Chunhe Palace outside my house. It's okay for me to suffer some humiliation, but my female relatives have been crying every day... Your Majesty... If you want to execute me, just issue an order, why do you have to do this?"

"His Majesty……"

There was chaos in the hall.

This time, both the Yiluansi and the Chunhe Palace Qianhusuo have stirred up a hornet's nest.

After all, there are too many so-called Hu Weiyong followers, and these people are not ordinary people.

Who could have thought that such high-ranking and powerful people would cry like tearful people in front of the emperor, which was shocking.

Even those ministers who had nothing to do with Hu Weiyong couldn't help but feel sad for him.

After all, no minister would have a good impression of the Yiluansi and Chunhe Palace Qianhusuo, which are government offices that monitor ministers. Even people like Hu Weiyong have been forced to this point. How can I survive in the future?
As a result, everyone in the hall was in mourning.

So much so that Wang Guangyang, who had originally planned to pursue the victory, could not help but look sideways. The public was very angry at the moment. If he added insult to injury to Hu Weiyong at this time, he would probably be criticized by people all over the world.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat steadily and watched all this coldly.

I have to say that Hu Weiyong's move was truly amazing. His control over people's hearts had reached the extreme.

If we turn a blind eye to this now, not only the subjects of the world, but even the meritorious officials who followed Zhu Yuanzhang to start his career in Huaixi will be disheartened.

But if we appease them, then... Then again, since Hu Weiyong and others are innocent, and Deng Qianqiu has become a traitor by spying on ministers, shouldn't he be punished?
Zhu Yuanzhang said calmly: "Call Deng Qianqiu."

When Hu Weiyong and others heard this, they already had an idea in their minds, which made Hu Weiyong feel a lot more at ease.

The problem now is whether Deng Qianqiu can find out anything. If not, how can Your Majesty protect Deng Qianqiu with so many ministers?

Besides, he was confident that he had been cautious enough in many things over the years.

Although Hu Weiyong was arrogant and domineering, he was cautious in taking every step.

With the Chunhe Palace Thousand Households Office? Not to mention finding Hu Weiyong, I'm afraid they can't find any of the meritorious officials and civil officials who are related to him.

After all, Zhu Yuanzhang hated evil and could not tolerate any grain of sand in his eyes. Since these close ministers who had followed Zhu Yuanzhang for many years understood his majesty's temperament, how could they not be on guard at all on weekdays?
It is almost impossible to have conclusive evidence of a crime!
And if there is no evidence of guilt... then...

A hint of sharpness flashed across the depths of Hu Weiyong's eyes.

Soon, Deng Qianqiu came to the palace. As soon as Deng Qianqiu entered the palace, he noticed countless malicious eyes.

Deng Qianqiu saluted without looking away and said, "Your Majesty, I am Deng Qianqiu. Long live the emperor."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "Mr. Deng, do you know why I summoned you here?"

Deng Qianqiu said: "I don't know."

Hu Weiyong said at this time: "Captain Deng, the Chunhe Palace has been in chaos these days. They must have returned with a full load by now. May I ask Captain Deng, what crime have I, Hu Weiyong, committed?"

Deng Qianqiu glanced at Hu Weiyong, smiled slightly and said: "Well... according to the investigations in recent days, at present... many..."

Hu Weiyong interrupted him with a sneer: "What I'm asking is, what crime have I committed? Don't be so evasive!"

Deng Qianqiu said calmly: "Mr. Hu... is not guilty for the time being."

"Innocent means innocent." Hu Weiyong smiled even colder. Sure enough, everything was just as he had judged.

It is impossible for Deng Qianqiu to find any evidence of Hu Weiyong's guilt in such a short period of time. You know, he is the right prime minister, holding a high position and power. If it is just some one-sided statements or unfounded evidence, it is impossible to bring it to this palace.

Since there is no witness or physical evidence, no irrefutable proof, even if you, Deng Qianqiu, have the courage of heaven, you would never dare to say that Hu Weiyong is guilty.

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned.

Hu Weiyong would not give up and took the opportunity to say, "Since I am innocent, then I would like to ask, what is Chen Ning's crime?"

Deng Qianqiu: "Not guilty."

Hu Weiyong pressed on: "Where is Tu Jie?"

Deng Qianqiu said: "Not guilty."

Hu Weiyong asked again: "Is the governor Mao Yu guilty?"

Deng Qianqiu said: "We have not found any evidence of his guilt yet."

Hu Weiyong sneered again: "Where are Tang Shengzong, Zhao Yongren and others?"

Some of the people Hu Weiyong mentioned were marquises who had made great contributions to the founding of the country, some were governors of the Five Military Commanderies, some were imperial doctors, and even a vice minister of the Ministry of Justice.

Although these individuals may not be considered to be the most powerful officials, they are also people who can shock the whole world with just the stomp of their feet.

And all these people were in the hall, and at this moment, they all looked at Deng Qianqiu with resentful eyes.

Hu Weiyong laughed: "Haha... Deng Qianqiu, oh Deng Qianqiu, since they are all innocent, then the Chunhe Palace Qianhu Office regards many pillars of our Ming Dynasty as enemies, just like the prisoners. Let me ask you, what is your intention? Are you trying to alienate the ruler and ministers of our Ming Dynasty?"

He asked loudly: "When we were assisting His Majesty, who were you, Deng Qianqiu? Today, you are slandering the ministers in front of His Majesty. Are you trying to imitate Lai Junchen and Zhang Tang?"

This sentence is already extremely harsh. All the people mentioned by Hu Weiyong are well-known cruel officials in the world.

Throughout history, cruel officials, like eunuchs, have always been hated characters.

Hu Weiyong's words obviously made many people more angry.

Lai Junchen's metaphor alone is actually equivalent to sentencing Deng Qianqiu to death.

Deng Qianqiu smiled slowly and said, "Mr. Hu, let's not rush. Can you let me say something?"

Hu Weiyong looked at him coldly and said, "What else do you want to quibble about?"

Deng Qianqiu said: "Although I haven't found any evidence of these people's crimes, it doesn't mean that I haven't made any breakthroughs. Now the case has made great progress."

Hu Weiyong sneered and thought to himself, the people I just mentioned are all the core members of his party. There is no evidence even against these people. Even if you, Deng Qianqiu, say everything, you will not be able to prove their guilt.

"Oh? I'd like to listen to your advice. May I ask Captain Deng, what is the progress you mentioned?"

"We have captured a man who is extremely evil. He is now being interrogated."

Hu Weiyong smiled: "I don't know who this person is. Could it be that he wants to rely on an unknown person to implicate me?"

Deng Qianqiu said: "This person is indeed a nobody, but his father is well-known."

Hu Weiyong asked, "Who is his father?"

Deng Qianqiu shouted: "His father is Hu Weiyong, the right prime minister of the Ming Dynasty!"

"..."

(End of this chapter)