Zhu Jinsong looked at Zeng Cheng with a half-smile and asked, "Are you scared?"
Zeng Cheng felt both hatred and fear.
Over a thousand scholars surrounded the gate of his residence, the home of the current Grand Secretary, demanding that he submit their writings to the throne in a kneeling plea. What kind of situation was this? Was he trying to buy a reputation for integrity? Or was he, the Grand Secretary, incompetent?
This was forcing him, the current Grand Secretary, to his death!
Furthermore, over a thousand scholars dared to clamor outside the temporary palace. What kind of situation was this? Disturbing the imperial presence? Or storming the temporary palace?
Disturbing the imperial presence was a vague charge; it could lead to the death of one person or an entire family, or it could result in no deaths at all. Storming the temporary palace, however, was tantamount to treason, punishable by the extermination of nine generations of relatives, depending on how the case was investigated and judged.
The crucial question was: were these over a thousand scholars instigated by someone? Was there someone planning and orchestrating this? How many people would be implicated behind them?
The mere thought of these chaotic issues gave Zeng Cheng a feeling of being on pins and needles.
However, Zhu Jinsong simply smiled and shook his head, then ordered, "Notify Ke Zhiming and have him send people to apprehend these scoundrels and interrogate them rigorously. I want to see how many ghosts and monsters are still rampant in this world!"
Zeng Cheng's heart leaped, and he couldn't help but bow and advise, "Your Majesty, please reconsider. These are over a thousand scholars. Even if these fools deserve death, the ramifications behind these fools are too extensive. With the slightest misstep..."
The smile on Zhu Jinsong's face disappeared, and he said with a cold laugh, "The empire of the Great Ming does not rely on a few impoverished and pedantic scholars, but on the three hundred million people! No matter how extensive the implications behind these scoundrels are, can they really involve all three hundred million people of our Great Ming?"
"If any of these scoundrels had read the history and governance textbooks of the county and prefectural schools, they wouldn't have answered such nonsensical examination papers, nor would they have dared to make such pronouncements outside the temporary palace..."
Just then, another shout came from outside the temporary palace: "Your Majesty, please recall the tax collectors and allow the people to rest!"
"Your Majesty, please reopen the imperial examinations!"
"We wish to meet Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty, please come out!"
The expression on Zhu Jinsong's face grew even colder.
How obedient they were under the rule of my Qing dynasty, and how disgusting they are now. They dare not argue with that deaf old dog Qian Long, but they have the nerve to confront me, the Emperor of the Great Ming?
These scholars are indeed quite capable.
There was still no movement from within the temporary palace, while outside, the emotions of the scholars gradually became agitated.
Should the imperial examinations be reopened? Should the Duke Yansheng be re-established? Should the tax collectors be recalled? As the Emperor of the Great Ming, you must give the world an explanation! What does hiding like this mean? What are you afraid of?
"Do you see those soldiers? They haven't dared to move!"
"They're guilty! His Majesty is also guilty!"
"Make way! We want to see His Majesty!"
Seeing the scholars' emotions becoming agitated, with signs of them attempting to force their way into the palace, Liu Heming, the Grand Governor of the Central Military Governor's Office, couldn't help but look grim. The prefect of Jinan and the magistrate of Licheng, while striving to maintain order, were constantly wiping the cold sweat from their foreheads.
Then, a voice rang out from the crowd: "Zhu Ni, come out and admit your mistake!"
Everything seemed to come to a standstill. The prefect of Jinan and the magistrate of Licheng, who had been wiping sweat, froze on the spot. Liu Heming narrowed his eyes slightly, and the scholars were completely stunned.
However, after the initial shock, the scholars raised their arms and shouted in unison: "Zhu Ni! Admit your mistake! Zhu Ni! Admit your mistake!"
Watching these scholars who were on the verge of madness, the cold glint in Liu Heming's eyes intensified. He raised his right hand and shouted, "Listen to my command! The first rank will fire a warning shot! The second rank, prepare!"
As Liu Heming's voice fell, the soldiers in the first rank guarding the front of the temporary palace fired warning shots into the sky. The soldiers in the second rank moved past the first rank, pointing their firearms at the scholars, while the soldiers in the first rank began to reload.
The scholars were completely bewildered. As they looked at each other in confusion, someone in the crowd shouted again, "They're killing people! The imperial hounds are killing people! The soldiers are killing people!"
Liu Heming's face darkened. Just as he was about to give the order to fire, he heard warning shots being fired from both sides of the long street. This was followed by the sound of orderly footsteps and the clatter of horse hooves. Immediately after, a group of锦衣卫 (Jinyiwei - Imperial Guards) officers, clad in flying fish robes, with embroidered spring sabers at their waists, and holding firearms, surged from both sides of the street, encircling the scholars.
Ke Zhiming, dressed in a dou niu (bullfighting) robe, sat on his horse and, after approaching, glanced down at the scholars and shouted coldly, "By imperial decree! Arrest these scholars and imprison them. Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy!"
When the Jinyiwei cavalry took action, it was truly extraordinary. The scholars no longer shouted about imperial hounds or soldiers. No one dared to demand that Zhu Jinsong, the Emperor of the Great Ming, come out and admit his mistakes. Instead, they obediently allowed the Jinyiwei to bind them.
Even those who wanted to stir up trouble were silenced. If they could force the imperial guards to kill people, it might have been worth it. But if the Jinyiwei killed them, what would be the point?
Ke Zhiming, while inwardly cursing these scholars for their foolishness, let out a sigh of relief.
How these over a thousand scoundrels would be interrogated and punished afterward was a matter for later. If these people continued to make trouble, he would have to resort to a massacre in front of the temporary palace – a night of cleanup was tiring work!
However, when Ke Zhiming delivered the interrogation transcripts to the temporary palace overnight, all the high-ranking officials in the Great Ming court were stunned.
Liu Huaiwen continuously puffed on his dry pipe, his eyes flashing with ferocity at times. Zeng Cheng, the Grand Secretary of the Great Ming, had a complexion as dark as dog excrement, muttering the word "disgraceful" incessantly.
Of the more than a thousand troublemaking scholars, more than nine hundred were brainless fools who had been easily incited to come. Among the remaining over one hundred scholars, two had been bought off by the Jurchens. The rest were basically mixed up with local gentry, scholars, and large workshop owners.
These hundred or so scholars had even harbored a death wish.
This was because the local gentry, scholars, and large workshop owners had promised that if these scholars could force Zhu Jinsong and the Ming court to change the tax system, recall the mining and tax officials from various regions, and abolish the detrimental system of guilds, they would receive treatment far exceeding that of the Five Martyrs' Tombstone. Their families would also be provided for, and they would receive a substantial sum of money.
For the Great Ming, having over a hundred scholars with ulterior motives was not a big deal. Even having two bought off by the Jurchens was not a significant problem.
However, the crucial issue lay with the remaining nine hundred brainless fools. If this matter were to spread, wouldn't it make Qian Long, the old dog, laugh himself to death?
As the high-ranking officials felt a headache coming on, Zhu Jinsong turned his gaze to the leaders of the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, and the Censor-in-Chief's Office: "These people gathered and made noise outside the temporary palace, clamoring that I am a rebel. According to the laws of the Great Ming, how should they be dealt with? And what about those who instigated them to cause trouble at the temporary palace?"
The leaders of the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, and the Censor-in-Chief's Office exchanged glances. Finally, the leader of the Ministry of Justice nervously stepped forward and replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, according to the law, the ringleaders shall be beheaded, the followers shall be hanged, and their entire families exiled three thousand li. As for the masterminds behind them, according to the law, their property shall be confiscated, and their clans exterminated! The ringleaders shall be subjected to Lingchi (death by a thousand cuts), and for three generations, they shall be forbidden from participating in the imperial examinations, holding office, or serving in the military."
Zhu Jinsong grunted and said, "Then, let them be dealt with according to the law. Later, their names will be published in the 'Great Ming Newspaper' along with a clear explanation of the cause and effect."
As Zhu Jinsong finished speaking, the high-ranking officials present felt a buzzing in their heads.
Over a thousand scholars, plus the masterminds, plus their families and relatives, would likely amount to several thousand, even tens of thousands. Such a major case, during the Qing dynasty, might not have been an issue. But in the Great Ming, it felt particularly... awkward?
The high-ranking officials didn't know how to describe it, but it felt particularly awkward.
Zeng Cheng couldn't help but advise, "Your Majesty, please reconsider. We all know these scholars deserve death, but..."
Zhu Jinsong waved his hand, interrupting Zeng Cheng's persuasion, "There's no 'but.' They are not children anymore. They are twenty or thirty years old and should be responsible for their actions."
"And don't tell me they have families behind them, and that killing too many at once will incur heavenly displeasure. That's nonsense."
"If they fail, their families will be implicated. But if they succeed, will their families not enjoy these benefits?"
"Since the Great Ming has laws, let them be handled according to the laws. Otherwise, what are the Great Ming Laws, the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, and the Censor-in-Chief's Office for?"
Speaking of this, Zhu Jinsong's expression also turned grim.
Scholars, as a species, apart from a very limited few, were all contemptible wretches. When the Great Ming was not yet in decline, it was these scoundrels who stirred up trouble with the local gentry and scholars, and even produced things like the "Record of the Five Martyrs' Tombstone."
After the Great Ming was declared defunct, apart from those who bravely faced death, the remaining spineless bastards joyfully welcomed the sage ruler, beat gongs and drums to celebrate the new emperor, their scalps itching.
However, those who eagerly offered themselves were not in good demand. These fools who willingly became dogs for the Qing dynasty discovered that the Qing was much more ruthless than the Great Ming.
Back in the days of the Great Ming, these scoundrels could gain fame by spewing a few words at the emperor. Occasionally, a few lucky ones would even receive a court beating, which would further enhance their reputation and provide more opportunities to make money.
And the wise and sagely rulers of the Qing dynasty did not indulge and spoil them as the foolish emperors of the Great Ming did. Anyone who dared to blabber was beheaded, and their property was confiscated entirely.
As a result, these scoundrels learned their lesson. Not only did they not dare to criticize the Qing emperors anymore, but they also tried their best to flatter them, until they flattered their way into the era of Kangxi and Qianlong – no, there was also Yongzheng, so it should have been praised into the prosperous eras of Kang, Yong, and Qian.
In the five years since Zhu Jinsong ascended the throne, there had never been a case in the Great Ming where people were punished for their words. The court had also repeatedly urged scholars to serve the country in the newspapers. Therefore, these scoundrels suddenly realized that the strange yet familiar Great Ming had returned.
So, what was there to say? Criticize him!
In any case, these scoundrels dared not cause trouble with the wise and sagely rulers of the Qing dynasty, but they had the courage to cause trouble with Zhu Jinsong, the Emperor of the Great Ming.
Zhu Jinsong was well aware that if he did not deal with them severely and decisively this time, they would dare to create even bigger disturbances next time. One could understand why the situation of "8 squared" led to a night of cleanup.
Therefore, Zhu Jinsong not only would not punish them lightly but would punish them severely and strictly to prevent more scoundrels from harboring improper thoughts.
Because there were too many scoundrels in the Great Ming, so many that Zhu Jinsong, the Emperor of the Great Ming, even wanted to unleash a massacre –
Although the Great Ming Laws promulgated by Zhu Jinsong after his ascension were partly copied from China and the United States, a significant portion was also directly adopted from the "Great Ming Laws" and "Hongwu Imperial Edict."
One of these articles was "All clans shall not intermarry," and the clause "The Kipchaks and various Hui peoples are not included in this list" was deleted.