Chapter 45: The Emperor's Furious Wrath

“In this battle, not only were two hundred thousand of our Ming dynasty’s most elite soldiers slaughtered by Esen, but fifty-two distinguished nobles and ministers, including Duke of England Zhang Fu and Duke of Cheng Zhu Yong, also perished!”

“The wealth and strength accumulated over seventy years were all lost, leaving the nation’s fate withered and the empire in turmoil!”

Zhu Youjian let out a deep sigh.

“We once erected an iron stele, inscribed with an edict forbidding eunuchs from meddling in state affairs…”

Zhu Youjian quickly interrupted, “Grand Ancestor, that iron stele was also destroyed by Wang Zhen on your behalf.”

At these words, Zhu Yuanzhang, sitting on the Hongwu Dragon Throne, fell silent, as motionless as a wax statue, his stillness almost terrifying.

“This eunuch, during the Yongle reign, should have been sentenced to death by three thousand cuts,” old Zhu Di snarled through clenched teeth.

Zhu Di’s face was dark and murderous as he asked coldly, “This Zhu Qizhen, which of Zhu Zhanji’s consorts bore him?”

“Consort Sun Ruowei. During the Yongle and Hongxi eras, she had already been deposed by imperial decree,” Zhu Youjian replied.

Zhu Di nodded, his expression revealing that mere deposition was far from sufficient.

“Fool! He heeded only the words of a eunuch unversed in military affairs, disregarding the counsel of seasoned generals. Such a useless wretch, to die so easily on the battlefield is letting him off lightly!”

The corpulent Hongxi Emperor, his face grim, had already resolved in his heart that upon his return, he would order Sun Ruowei’s execution to eliminate all future troubles.

It was truly appalling. Never had he imagined that he would have a grandson such as this, a disgrace to his ancestors, a calamity to the throne, and a blight upon the people of the realm!

Little Zhu of the Hongxi era drew a deep breath and solemnly vowed, “Great-grandfather, grandfather, father, rest assured—over my dead body, even if I must leap from the heavens, I will never allow such a son to be born!”

Only then did the emperors’ anger subside somewhat, but they still paid him no heed. Little Zhu felt aggrieved; after all, during the Hongxi era, he had not yet fathered Zhu Qizhen.

Could he really be blamed for this?

By now, the Xuande Emperor was no longer sitting on the Dragon Throne, but had obediently knelt upon the ground.

For he was the one who had sired him.

And not only that, he had already made him Crown Prince, and nearly allowed him to ascend the throne!

The accusing gazes of the emperors burned into him like blades, forcing his head lower in shame and regret. If only he had known, he would have dashed the child against the wall.

It was all Sun Ruowei’s fault—she was far too alluring, and her charms too great; who could resist?

Zhu Di had placed great hopes in him and had been too strict in his upbringing. Thus, when faced with such a beautiful and compliant consort as Sun Ruowei, it was inevitable he would lose control.

“Not so!”

“Zhu Qizhen did not die on the battlefield, but was taken captive by Esen while in the army; this is the origin of his title as the God of War of Ming.”

Zhu Youjian shook his head.

As soon as he finished speaking, silence fell over the celestial court, so profound that even the chattering of the Xuande Emperor’s teeth was audible.

Ignoring the ancestral warnings, he entrusted power to a eunuch, squandered the finest troops accumulated over seventy years, and allowed the Son of Heaven of Great Ming to become a prisoner of the Oirat…

Zhu Yuanzhang’s body trembled, veins bulging on his hand gripping the Dragon Throne, his breath catching for a moment.

“Are you all right, Grand Ancestor? Should we pause for a while?” Zhu Youjian asked anxiously.

Zhu Yuanzhang forced out four words through clenched teeth:

“No need. Continue.”

Worried, Zhu Youjian glanced at his ancestor and then pressed on: “After the calamity at Tumu Fortress, the northern expedition turned into the defense of Beijing. With the capital’s elite wiped out, Esen broke through Xuanfu, advanced rapidly, and surrounded the capital…”

“Before capturing Xuanfu, this Ming emperor Zhu Qizhen even personally persuaded the defending general to surrender and open the gates to let the Oirat cavalry in!”

“That is why Zhu Qizhen is known as the Gate-Opening Emperor.”

Gate-Opening Emperor!

All the emperors were stunned. What manner of imbecile could commit an act so infamous?

The Xuande Emperor was filled with anguish and, regarding his beloved son Zhu Qizhen, had fallen from disappointment into bitter resentment.

He had spent his life striving to uphold his grandfather’s legacy. Although he had contracted the borders somewhat, he had preserved much of the Ming’s remaining strength, hoping to grant his descendants the chance to earn glory and success.

Yet it had all been recklessly squandered!

And lost, utterly and completely!

Seeing that all listened in silence, Zhu Youjian continued, “After Zhu Qizhen was captured, his brother, Prince Cheng Zhu Qiyu, became regent and wisely entrusted Yu Qian as Minister of War.”

“In the end, Yu Qian turned the tide, winning the battle to defend the capital, forcing the Oirat army to retreat and preventing a catastrophe like the Jingkang Disaster from befalling the Ming.”

“Zhu Qizhen was taken north to the Oirat, euphemistically termed the ‘Northern Hunt.’ The nation could not go a day without a sovereign; unlike this emperor, the Ming court was not without backbone. The ministers supported Zhu Qiyu’s ascension as emperor, styling him Emperor Daizong.”

Daizong!?

The emperors’ expressions darkened. From this temple name, they sensed deep foreboding.

“Grandson, what is the meaning of this Daizong temple name?” Zhu Yuanzhang asked gravely.

“It is as you suspect,” Zhu Youjian replied, shaking his head. “A year after Zhu Qizhen was taken captive, the court brought him back. Emperor Daizong honored him as the Retired Emperor, housing him in the Southern Palace.”

“Seven years later, when Daizong fell gravely ill, the leading ministers and generals, headed by Shi Heng, stormed the Southern Palace in the Coup of the Gate, restoring Zhu Qizhen to the throne. Eight years after his abdication, he once more became emperor of Ming, changing the reign title to Tianshun!”

Just as they feared!

“Outrageous! How dare he show his face again! I… I want to behead him!” Zhu Yuanzhang was so furious his chest heaved violently, and, pounding the table, he cursed, so enraged that dizziness and ringing in his ears overcame him.

“Father, please calm yourself.”

Zhu Biao, sensing danger, suppressed his own anger, took out a golden pill, and helped the old emperor swallow it.

Old Zhu Di, hands trembling, swallowed a pill himself and soon felt much relief; the portly Hongxi Emperor even took two, his complexion returning to normal.

Zhu Di, his chest still tight, looked at the others taking medicine and was at a loss—just a moment ago, everyone looked equally grim, and in the next, he was the only one left feeling unwell?

Zhu Youjian braced himself to finish: “Upon his restoration, Zhu Qizhen still yearned for the eunuch Wang Zhen, so he ordered the eunuch Liu Heng to prepare sacrifices for Wang Zhen and even wept as he established a Shrine of Loyal Devotion for him at Zhihua Temple…”

Zhu Yuanzhang could scarcely believe it: “What!? He even erected a Shrine of Loyal Devotion for that eunuch? Is there nothing but dung in his head?”

Old Zhu Di slammed the table and shouted in fury, “Intolerable! Such villainy—how can the Ming dynasty face the souls of two hundred thousand fallen soldiers with any dignity?”

“From the reigns of Jianwen, Yongle, Hongxi, and Xuande, let it be decreed: henceforth, eunuchs are forbidden to study or learn to read, and are barred from all matters of state. Any descendant who disobeys is unfit to be emperor!”

Zhu Yuanzhang stood, speaking with icy composure.

“At your command!” the emperors responded, rising as one—except for the Xuande Emperor, who dared not stand, remaining kneeling in deep obeisance.

Old Zhu turned to Zhu Youjian and asked in a low voice, “Grandson, tell me one thing!”

“Grand Ancestor, please speak!”

Zhu Youjian bowed deeply.

Zhu Yuanzhang’s gaze was as sharp as blades. His rough, veined hand gripped the Dragon Throne with murderous intent as he demanded,

“When do we set out for the Orthodox reign?”

…