Ming Dynasty: Is a mere unruly commoner rebelling against heaven?

Just then, a figure of a eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial appeared on the Meridian Gate tower.

Grand Secretary Liu Jian of the Inner Cabinet shouted towards the Meridian Gate tower, "Why isn't the Meridian Gate open, esteemed sirs?"

"Please open the Meridian Gate quickly so we can attend the court session and meet with His Majesty!"

The young eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial on the Meridian Gate tower replied indifferently.

"Today, His Majesty has decreed that the court session will be held in front of the Meridian Gate."

"Please, esteemed officials, quickly stand in the formation as if you were attending the court session and wait for His Majesty to arrive."

"Ah? How could this be?!"

"Attending court in front of the Meridian Gate? Unheard of!"

"How can we attend court at the Meridian Gate? This... this is against etiquette!"

"This! This! This Meridian Gate Plaza is where officials are executed! How can we hold court here?!"

"Heavens! His Majesty wants to..."

"Silence! Don't say such unlucky things!"

"..."

The young eunuch's words were like a stone thrown into a pond, instantly causing ripples.

Many officials whispered to each other, their words filled with shock and fear.

After all, holding court at the Meridian Gate, such a sensitive place, was far too unusual.

It was hard not to overthink.

Xie Qian and Li Dongyang exchanged glances, their faces overflowing with worry.

Liu Jian, Wang Shu, Liu Daxia, and other high-ranking officials from the Six Ministries were also like ants on a hot pot, anxiously pacing back and forth.

Liu Jian looked up at the surrounding high walls, this environment of being surrounded on all sides, like a trapped beast, made him restless.

Only Xu Pu stood silently in the leading position on the left, with his eyes closed.

Looking at his indifferent appearance, Liu Jian didn't know if this Grand Secretary had figured things out or not.

Amidst the anxious emotions of the court officials, time slowly passed, and the officials gradually stood in their respective positions.

At a quarter past Chen Shi (7:15 AM), Zhu You樘, accompanied by Huai En, Wang Zhi, and Mou Bin, appeared on the Meridian Gate tower.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

With the announcement of the young eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial, the civil and military officials on the Meridian Gate Plaza simultaneously knelt and paid their respects to Zhu You樘.

"Long live His Majesty! Long live! Long live!"

On the Meridian Gate tower, the young eunuchs from the Directorate of Imperial Accoutrements had already brought up the dragon throne.

Zhu You樘 sat on the dragon throne, overlooking the officials below, and frowned slightly in anger after a brief scan.

"The Censorate!"

The current highest official of the Censorate, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, Tu Yong, who was in charge of the affairs of the Censorate, immediately stepped forward.

"Your humble servant, Tu Yong, Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, kowtows to Your Majesty!"

"Immediately take roll call!"

"Give you a quarter of an hour to report the names of all the officials who are absent from court today!"

Zhu You樘 had only glanced over briefly and noticed that the number of officials attending court today was significantly less.

In fact, at every morning court session, some officials would always request leave due to illness, ranging from a few to dozens of people.

And Zhu You樘 did not particularly make things difficult for these officials who requested leave, usually just nodding to acknowledge it.

At each court session, dozens of people absenting themselves was considered a small number.

After all, attending court tormented both the emperor and the officials.

Don't look at how later generations of officials cursed Emperor Shizong and Emperor Shenzong for not attending court for decades.

But in reality, these officials were secretly grinning from ear to ear, they loved emperors who didn't attend court.

When the late emperor was alive, he held court every day, but each time the roll was called, hundreds of people were absent.

The most absent were six hundred and thirty-four people who didn't come to court.

And this time, just from what Zhu You樘 could see with his own eyes, there were no less than two hundred officials who were absent.

Plus, Zhu You樘 was about to make a big move at this court session, so it was no wonder he was so angry that so many officials were absent.

Hearing Zhu You樘's order, Tu Yong quickly accepted the decree.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Tu Yong immediately got up and organized the censors of the Censorate to begin signing in and taking roll call of all the officials.

The civil and military officials below the stage were first shocked, then secretly rejoiced.

What was the difference between the emperor taking roll call and Yama taking roll call?

Especially since this emperor was Zhu You樘.

Tu Yong first came to the Minister of Personnel, Wang Shu, and asked in a low voice, "Minister Wang, how many people have requested leave due to illness today?"

Wang Shu's face was troubled, and he sighed twice before replying.

"The Ministry of Personnel alone has received leave requests from two hundred and thirty-seven people."

Tu Yong's face changed drastically: "How can there be so many? Foolish!"

Wang Shu sighed and lowered his head, no longer speaking.

Tu Yong also shook his head and continued to check the identity plaques of the officials one by one.

Soon, the censors of the Censorate compiled the list of absent officials and handed it to Tu Yong.

After Tu Yong received the list, a small opening appeared in the Meridian Gate, and a young eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial walked out from behind the Meridian Gate.

The young eunuch walked to Tu Yong, took the list from Tu Yong's hand, and returned to the Meridian Gate the same way, closing the Meridian Gate again.

Soon, this list arrived in Zhu You樘's hands.

Just one glance was enough to make Zhu You樘 burn with anger.

Today, five hundred and sixty-two officials claimed to be ill and requested leave!

This number was almost about to exceed the record of official absenteeism set during the late emperor's reign!

Zhu You樘 angrily threw the list on the ground, so angry that he sneered repeatedly.

"Good! There are actually more than five hundred officials who dare not attend court!"

"I want to see if these people are really sick or pretending to be sick!"

"If they are pretending to be sick, I will not spare them!"

"Mou Bin!"

Zhu You樘 shouted loudly, and all the officials kneeling on the Meridian Gate Plaza trembled.

"Have people check house by house according to the list, if they are really sick, then so be it."

"If they are pretending to be sick, immediately arrest them and bring them into the palace!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After Mou Bin received the order, he immediately picked up the list from the ground, quickly left the Meridian Gate tower, and sent people to thoroughly investigate the absent officials.

At this time, the court officials were still kneeling on the Meridian Gate Plaza.

Without Zhu You樘's approval, they would never dare to get up without authorization.

Zhu You樘 waved his hand impatiently: "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The civil and military officials secretly breathed a sigh of relief, secretly reaching out to rub their sore knees, and slowly got up.

"If there is anything to report, do so."

Huai En stepped forward and, on behalf of Zhu You樘, gave orders to the officials.

After a slight silence among the civil and military officials, Xu Pu of the Inner Cabinet broke the silence and reported to Zhu You樘 according to the original plan.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject has a memorial to present!"

"Present."

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Tao River in Taohe, Lin洮 Prefecture, Ganzhou, burst its banks this summer, resulting in a poor autumn harvest."

"The prefect of Lin洮 Prefecture has requested that Your Majesty reduce the autumn tax of Lin洮 Prefecture by 50 percent."

Zhu You樘 narrowed his eyes slightly and pondered silently.

Although the Ming Dynasty is currently experiencing constant natural disasters, the frequency of disaster reports from various places is also abnormally high.

The Two Capitals and Thirteen Provinces report disasters to the court from three or four prefectures almost every year.

They either request tax reductions or request the opening of granaries to provide disaster relief.

But the court has no way to verify whether the disasters are real or fake, or whether the degree is severe or minor.

But when a disaster is reported, the court cannot but provide relief, otherwise, if it is a real disaster, it could lead to tens of thousands of people being displaced.

"Granted."

After thinking for a moment, Zhu You樘 still approved the memorial from the prefect of Lin洮 Prefecture.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After Xu Pu returned to the ranks, Jia Jun, the Minister of Works, also took the initiative to report to Zhu You樘.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject has a memorial to present."

"Granted."

Jia Jun, holding his ceremonial tablet, stepped out of the ranks: "Your Majesty, the Yunnan Provincial Administration Commissioner reports that one hundred Southwest Phoebe zhennan logs have departed from Dian Prefecture and are en route to Huguang."

"It is estimated that they will reach the port of Tuozhou Prefecture in one month."

"Understood."

"Your Majesty, I have a matter to report!"

"Report."

"… …"

As before, no official dared to mention the events of last night.

The civil and military officials all pretended to be ignorant, hoping only to end the court session early and return home safely.

While the civil and military officials were holding court in the Meridian Gate Square,

in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, separated from the Meridian Gate Square by only a wall, hundreds and thousands of people were kneeling before the spirit tablet of the late Emperor Zhu Jianshen.

Among these people, a small number were officials from the court, and some were imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital.

The vast majority, however, were the family members of these officials.

The Imperial Ancestral Temple was solemn and silent.

Hundreds of Eastern Depot secret agents, with their hands on their daggers, stood on both sides of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, their eyes fixed on the crowd kneeling in the square.

At this time, Liu Wentai, unrecognizable, Shi Qin, the main person in charge of the Imperial Hospital, Zhong Lan, and Geng Wenxin, the commander of the Central City Garrison, were all kneeling before the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The officials kneeling in the square knew that they could not escape death, and their faces were all deathly pale.

But they still had a glimmer of hope in their hearts, which was that Zhu Youtang could give their families a way out.

Under this high pressure, even crying was done cautiously, with sobs suppressed.

And from time to time, Eastern Depot agents would enter through the Yongtai Gate, bringing more people into the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The Eastern Depot's purge was still ongoing!

… …

At the same time, under Mu Bin's command, the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise, the four great guards of the Embroidered Uniform Guard,

each led their Embroidered Uniform Guard subordinates, tracking down the five hundred or so officials who had not attended court according to the list.

Because the situation was urgent, the number of people was large, and there was not enough time, this investigation was led by Embroidered Uniform Guard centurions.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards were divided into one hundred small teams, each with ten people, who went to the officials' residences to investigate and arrest people.

Among these officials who claimed to be sick and asked for leave, some were really frightened by the events in the capital last night and had fallen ill.

But the vast majority of officials were afraid in their hearts and dared not go to court to face Zhu Youtang.

Their absence from court was not because they were bold, as Zhu Youtang thought.

On the contrary, it was because they were too timid, so frightened by Zhu Youtang that they dared not go to court.

The Black Tortoise Guard knocked on the door of the Left Staff Advisor of the Department of General Affairs for a long time without a response.

They ordered people to break down the wooden door and rush into the residence.

"Ah! ! !"

The maids and servants behind the door were frightened and screamed in horror.

The Black Tortoise Guard ignored the others and rushed directly to the main house.

They saw the Left Staff Advisor lying on the bed, looking nervous and coughing constantly.

"Cough cough… I'm sorry, sir… cough cough… This official is too sick… cough cough… can't…"

The Black Tortoise Guard tilted his head, and immediately an Embroidered Uniform Guard stepped forward and touched the Left Staff Advisor's forehead and back.

"Sir, there is no fever."

"No fever means no illness, take him back to court!"

"Yes!"

Before the Left Staff Advisor could react, two Embroidered Uniform Guards immediately grabbed him, helped him up, and dragged him out of the house.

The Left Staff Advisor shouted anxiously: "I am not suffering from a feverish disease, I have a mental illness and need to rest…"

No one was listening to his explanation, there were still many officials they had to check, and not a moment could be wasted!

At the same time, scenes like this of breaking into homes and arresting officials who claimed to be ill were taking place in every corner of the capital.

For those officials who were obviously pale, listless, and feverish, they did not disturb them.

Those they arrested were healthy officials like the Left Staff Advisor, with rosy complexions and full of energy.

… …

The Forbidden City.

The Meridian Gate.

The boring court session continued, with Zhu Youtang approving state affairs reported layer by layer from the Thirteen Provinces of the Two Capitals.

At this time, Mu Bin walked to Zhu Youtang's side and reported in a low voice: "Your Majesty, the officials who claimed to be sick and asked for leave have been investigated."

"Among them, forty-nine officials are really sick."

"The remaining five hundred and thirteen officials are feigning illness."

"The officials feigning illness have all been arrested."

Zhu Youtang nodded and looked down at the Minister of Works, who was speaking eloquently below the Meridian Gate.

What he was reporting was not a big deal, just the usual impeachment of the Grand Secretaries, a war of words.

"Alright, step down."

The Minister of Works immediately shut his mouth and respectfully saluted.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After returning to the ranks, the Minister of Works breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that he had successfully gotten through another time.

Zhu Youtang ordered: "Bring those officials who claimed to be sick to me!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

On the Meridian Gate, Embroidered Uniform Guards immediately took orders and went to pass the order to the other Embroidered Uniform Guards guarding the officials.

Soon, the Duan Gate, located behind the Meridian Gate Square, slowly opened.

One by one, the officials who feigned illness and did not attend court were arrested by the Embroidered Uniform Guards and escorted from the Duan Gate to the front of the Meridian Gate.

Their faces were pale, their expressions nervous, and some people's legs were so weak that they could not walk, relying entirely on the Embroidered Uniform Guards behind them to push them forward.

The officials on both sides stepped back a few steps, giving way to these Embroidered Uniform Guards in the middle.

Fearing that these vicious Embroidered Uniform Guards would accidentally injure them.

At the same time, they were also silently mourning for these poor officials in their hearts.

After all, none of the officials who had been escorted by the Embroidered Uniform Guards to Zhu Youtang's presence had survived so far.

Xu Pu, Liu Jian, Liu Daxia, Jia Jun, and others in front of the Meridian Gate retreated even further.

Lest their blood splatter on them later.

Not only did the surrounding civil and military officials think that these officials who feigned illness and did not attend court would die,

but even these officials who were being escorted up felt that their end was near and there was no way out.

When they passed through Chengtian Gate, they also saw countless Trap Camp soldiers in black armor.

The last time they saw the Trap Camp was when the Trap Camp was outside the city, executing one hundred and ninety-one officials.

Especially since they were now in front of the Meridian Gate.

You must know that this was previously a place specially used for executing officials.

They were already officials with relatively small courage, and now they were brought before Zhu Youtang, under the Meridian Gate.

Immediately, everyone was shaking like a sieve, their faces as pale as paper, without a trace of blood.

Some were even so frightened that they had lost control of their bowels, and a stench filled the Meridian Gate Square.

Zhu Youtang looked coldly at the group of officials who claimed to be sick below and asked coldly.

"Why did you people feign illness and not attend court?"

Faced with Zhu Youtang's question, none of the five hundred or so officials who feigned illness dared to answer.

They just kept kowtowing, crying bitterly, repenting, and begging for Zhu Youtang's forgiveness.

"Please have mercy, Your Majesty! This humble official was confused for a moment, confused for a moment!"

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty! This humble official will never dare to do it again! Never dare to do it again!"

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty! Please forgive me, Your Majesty! Please spare my life!"

"… …"

Chapter Three is on the shelves!