Zhu Cixiang looked at the civil and military officials in the main hall. In addition to Sun Yingyuan from Huguang and Lu Xiangkun from the capital, the generals of the National Defense Army, Zhou Yuji and Cao Bianjiao were all there, and even Huang Degong came from Zhejiang.

Local officials in Nanjing include Zhang Guowei, Xiong Mingyu, Zhang Shenyan, Gao Hongtu, Ma Shiying, Chang Yanling, Liu Kongzhao, Zheng Hongkui, Yang Yuncong, Xia Yunyi, Du Yinxi, etc.

Now it can be seen from the list that some well-known officials in the late Ming Dynasty have basically disappeared.

For example, Qian Qianyi, the leader of the Donglin Party in Shui Tailiang, Wu Weiye, who turned into a beauty in anger, and Wang Duo, Gong Dingzi, etc., were killed in the early stage.

Yin Xiong Mingyu, the Minister of Rites and Yingtianfu, was also a supporter behind the riot. Even when the nobles set fire, instead of putting out the fire, he went to Wei Guogong's mansion.

Because he had been hiding it well, Zhu Cixiang did not liquidate him at that time. When he saw Emperor Shenwu looking at him, Xiong Mingyu trembled slightly and quickly lowered his head.

Could Xiong Mingyu have escaped the disaster if he lowered his head and remained silent? Of course it was impossible. Emperor Shenwu wanted to completely eliminate the disloyal officials in the south this time.

If Emperor Shenwu had gone on such a killing spree in normal times, a royal censor would have jumped out to accuse him.

But today it was quiet in the Fengtian Palace. All the civil and military ministers were silent and silent. No one dared to speak, let alone accuse the emperor.

Seeing that they were silent, Zhu Cixi smiled coldly and said:

"The gentry, merchants and landlords went on strike and held classes and demonstrations for many days, causing unrest in the south and causing heavy losses to the people.

As an official of the imperial court, if you do nothing with your imperial salary and become a behind-the-scenes supporter of lawless elements, will Xiong Ming know your crime when he meets you?"

I was really worried about what was going on. When Emperor Shenwu called his name, Xiong Mingyu came forward and knelt down and kowtowed:

"Your Majesty, I am wronged. I did not support the demonstrations and riots. Please understand clearly..."

Zhu Cixi snorted coldly:

"Xiong Mingyu, do you think I have no evidence? Jin Yiwei has already reported everything you have done, and some nobles have reported that you are colluding with them. Take it down!"

"Your Majesty, spare your life. I will not die for my crime. Please, Your Majesty..."

Zhu Cixiang gave the order. Just as Xiong Mingyu was about to beg for mercy, he was already dragged out by several Jinyi guards.

Seeing Emperor Shenwu suddenly showing off his power and attacking ministers at the court, the local officials in Nanjing began to tremble, fearing for their heads.

Zhu Cixiang glanced coldly at the hall and shouted sternly:

"High ambitions and careful words!"

Gao Hongtu and Zhang Shenyan did not participate in the riots, but members of both families joined the demonstrators and rioters, and they ignored this.

When they heard Emperor Shenwu calling their names, the two men's legs went weak and they almost collapsed on the ground. They hurriedly knelt up and kowtowed and begged:

"Your Majesty, I know that I am guilty, please leave me a descendant!"

They did not defend themselves, they just hoped not to be exterminated.

Zhu Cixi nodded:

"I will not kill you, let alone destroy your three tribes. You should take the initiative to send soldiers back to your hometown to retire!"

These two current official positions are Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and Doctor of the Ministry of Hubu. Historically, they did not surrender and become slaves.

In response to their inaction and acquiescence in the tribal demonstrations, Zhu Cixiang let them go and allowed them to resign and return to their hometowns.

This result surprised many people, and they began to think that Emperor Shenwu wanted to kill the two of them.

Zhang Shenyan and Gao Hongtu knew that their tribesmen were involved in the riots, but they did not expect that they would survive. They just wanted to leave descendants.

When they heard that Emperor Shenwu only asked them to resign and return to their hometown, but did not take their lives, the two of them immediately felt like they had been pardoned. They hurriedly kowtowed their heads to express gratitude. When they looked up, their faces were covered with blood...

Zhu Cixiang looked at the civil and military officials in the main hall. At this time, there was nothing left to kill. He said in a cold tone:

"Today I want to warn you that as officials of the Ming Dynasty, you must serve the people wholeheartedly. If I find out that any official is corrupt and accepting bribes, you will be punished."

Hearing what Emperor Shenwu said, the ministers knew that the emperor had stopped, at least he would not attack them again, so they hurriedly stepped forward and bowed:

"Your Majesty, rest assured that I will never disappoint His Majesty's expectations. If there is any illegal behavior in the future, I will be willing to take advantage of you..."

Zhu Cixiang nodded and continued:

“The founding fathers were indispensable for the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, but their descendants are rotten to the core as they rest on the merits of their ancestors.

They have been separated from the country for more than two hundred years. They do not only dominate the people, but when riots occur, they do not want to serve the country and actually surround the imperial city.

Jinyiwei, immediately suppress the rebellious nobles, I want you all to take a good look at the faces of these nobles..."

"According to the order!"

Gao Wencai accepted the order and went to Zhao Prison in person to pick up the person.

Soon, Gao Wencai led the Jin Yiwei to escort the nobles to Fengtian Hall.

They are Wei Guogong Xu Hongji, Longping Marquis Zhang Gongri, Linhuai Marquis Li Zushu, Huaining Marquis Sun Weicheng, Lingbi Marquis Tang Guozuo, Anyuan Marquis Liu Zuochang, Yongchang Marquis Xu Hongjue, Dingyuan Marquis Deng Wenxuan, Xincheng Bo Zhao Zhilong, Xiang

Chengbo Chang Yingjun...

Except for a few nobles who escaped, almost all of Nanjing's nobles were captured.

Historically, these Nanjing nobles basically surrendered without a fight when the Qing army came to Nanjing with more than 100,000 Ming troops.

They were greedy for life and afraid of death. For the sake of their family's safety, they took the initiative to open the city to welcome the Tatars. They were the sinners of the Ming Dynasty and the eternal sinners of the Han people.

Xu Hongji is a descendant of Xu Da, King of Zhongshan, and Li Zushu is a descendant of Li Wenzhong, King of Qiyang.

Their ancestors were buried in the north of Shenlie Mountain, accompanying Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang.

Soon, Emperor Shenwu Zhu Cixiang would send them to plead guilty to their ancestors...

Zhu Cixiang slapped the dragon writing desk fiercely and shouted:

"The Ming Dynasty has treated you well. We have stayed with our country for more than two hundred years. What is the purpose of your rebellion? I hope you will tell the truth, otherwise you will all be put to death."

Duke Xu Hongji of Wei bowed his head and remained silent, and other nobles did not dare to tell the truth. Only Zhao Zhilong naively thought that telling the truth might have a chance of survival.

He knelt and crawled forward a few steps and kowtowed his head repeatedly. His forehead was bloody from the blows.

"Your Majesty, after you supervised the country, you were either reforming or on the road to reform. The Ming Dynasty's New Deal came one after another, causing great losses to the guilty officials and other families. Wei Guogong believed that after getting rid of Your Majesty, Emperor Chongzhen returned to the throne, and he might abolish the New Deal.

That’s why I took the risk..."

This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Zhao Zhilong not only explained why he conspired to rebel, but also put all the responsibility on Wei Guogong Xu Hongji. Xu Hongji rolled his eyes in anger and almost fainted.

After reacting, Xu Hongji yelled at Zhao Zhilong:

"Zhao Zhilong, you coward, when you made the plan, you were the highest jumper. How come you put all the responsibility on me..."

Then, Xu Hongji told them all what the nobles said during their private gathering, and he will drag Zhao Zhilong and the others to be buried with him even if he dies!"

After Xu Hongji said this, some nobles immediately started to criticize Zhao Zhilong...

Zhu Cihong and the other ministers did not expect that the nobles would start a dog-eat-dog mode in the Fengtian Palace, and they all scolded them for being shameless.

Zhu Cixi said coldly:

"A bunch of shameless people. If your ancestors knew what you were doing, they would have to climb out and personally kill you scum who have insulted our ancestors. Bring them down and publicly execute them tomorrow!"

"I am such an emperor, and such an iron-blooded man! Since God sent me to this troubled time, I must govern these thousands of miles of mountains and rivers to make them impregnable.

I will kill all those who have caused harm to the country and the people! If anyone dares to be presumptuous in front of me, I will let him die without a burial place!"

Emperor Shenwu gave an order, and a large group of Jinyi guards immediately stepped forward, preparing to take Xu Hongji and others back to Zhao Prison.

"Go away!"

Wei Guogong Xu Hongji suddenly pushed away a royal guard and said:

"Your Majesty, you can't kill me. Emperor Taizu once said that if the emperor's relatives commit crimes, the lighter case will be a meeting with relatives in Beijing, and the more serious case will be a meeting with kings outside and relatives in Beijing. They are all based on the judgment of the superiors. The crimes they committed

Family, only the judicial officer is allowed to report, and no questioning is allowed without permission!"

Xu Hongji shouted: "My lineage, Duke of Wei, is a family of relatives personally designated by Emperor Taizu. You can't kill me!"

Zhu Cixi laughed and said:

"What a coincidence. Read it carefully and think about it again. Don't miss it!"

Xu Hongji's expression changed instantly. Unexpectedly, the little emperor actually understood this and said hurriedly:

"Recalling one day carefully, I was suddenly shocked. It turned out that the sentence meant that no one would be forgiven except for treason..."

These six words were a reminder of death, and he never dared to say those words himself.

Gao Wencai shouted coldly: "Take it away!"

After Xu Hongji was captured, he always wanted to see Emperor Shenwu, mainly to persuade the emperor to spare his life, but he never had the chance to see him. Seeing that Jin Yiwei wanted to take him away again, Xu Hongji gritted his teeth and said:

"Your Majesty, I have a ticket to avoid death!"

The iron ticket to avoid death is the highest reward given by Zhu Yuanzhang to those who have meritorious service. If they break the law, holding this iron ticket can avoid the death penalty. Xu Da has a hereditary iron ticket to avoid death, which is preserved in Wei Guogong's lineage.

Hearing that Xu Hongji said there was an iron ticket to avoid death, Lingbi Marquis Tang Guozuo was overjoyed and hurriedly said:

"My family also has a death-free ticket!"

Linhuai Marquis Li Zushu was not to be outdone and said:

"I have one at home too!"

"I have one at home too!"

"..."
To be continued...