Chapter 388 Don’t save me until you die
"Your Majesty, the Jinyiwei reported that after the death of the Duke of Qian, Mu Chaobi frequently convened people to discuss matters, and he almost cleared out all the people left by the old Duke."
The secret reports from the Embroidered Uniform Guard came one after another, which showed how tense the local atmosphere was.
"Mu Chaobi has evil ambitions." Yan Song and others also offered suggestions, "Your Majesty, I think the court should be tougher."
"I second the motion." Cui Yuan said, "If the court is weak, it will encourage this man, and he will push his limits. If things go wrong, Yunnan will see a drastic change."
"Nothing can happen in Yunnan." Zhu Xizhong said cautiously: "Once something happens in Yunnan, the entire southwest... Your Majesty, the Ming soldiers in the southwest may not be able to control the situation."
Once Mu Chaobi rises up and sweeps across the entire southwest, what reform will the Ming Dynasty still have to talk about? Everyone can just forget about it!
"We cannot give in." Yan Song said again: "Your Majesty, the death of the Duke of Qian is not simple. It may be a test by Mu Chaobi. If the court allows him to inherit the title, it will encourage his ambition."
Cui Yuan said: "I remember that the Duke of Qian has a brother?"
"It's also a child." Zhu Xizhong smiled bitterly and said, "The old Duke is good in everything except that his sons are too young."
Yunnan was too far away for the central government to reach. The suspicion of the ruler and his ministers made the situation in Yunnan unstable.
Someone went to investigate and came back to report, "The Duke of Qian has a brother named Mu Gong, who is only three years old."
This is still a young baby!
The emperor and his ministers could not help but remain silent.
"If Mu Gong is allowed to inherit the title... the court must be tougher," Cui Yuan said.
……
Mu Shu's residence.
Jiang Qingzhi stood in the hall with his hands behind his back, and Mu Xi stood at the door with his fists clenched.
"Does Chang Wei Bo mean that the governor intends to rebel?" Mu Xi said in a deep voice: "The governor was loyal to the Ming Dynasty and assisted the Duke wholeheartedly...but the Duke died.
The governor is currently working hard to maintain the situation in Yunnan. The Duke's words are a humiliation to the governor's loyalty!"
"Mu Chaobi is loyal and devoted?" Jiang Qingzhi smiled. "How did the Duke of Qian go there?"
"He is seriously ill." Mu Xi said.
"Mu Chaobi must have done this!" Jiang Qingzhi bluntly revealed the possibility that everyone was speculating about. "Does he think the court doesn't know? That idiot is so bold, does he really think he can cover the sky with one hand in Yunnan?"
Jiang Qingzhi said sternly: "Tell Mu Chaobi that the court will investigate the death of Duke Qian thoroughly."
Mu Xi lowered her eyes, "The governor has no regrets."
Jiang Qingzhi said to Mu Shu: "I'm back."
Mu Shu didn't expect that he would leave so soon. "Chang Wei Bo, the court is concerned about this..."
"I came here to ask about the person who can inherit the title of the Mu family, but it seems there is no need to ask now." Jiang Qingzhi strode out.
Mu Xi laughed behind him, "The chieftains of Yunnan are very ambitious. If there were no governor, the country would have been in chaos long ago."
Mu Shu sneered, "The Duke has the help of the people left by the old Duke, and he can control the situation instinctively. Mu Chaobi, however, has colluded with the chieftains in various places through marriage and other means, either driving them to cause chaos or driving them to praise Mu Chaobi... Don't you think I don't know his wolfish ambitions? Tell Mu Chaobi, if he does too much evil, he will eventually perish!"
Mu Xi looked at her coldly, "You have done a lot in the capital during this period. But now that the Duke is gone, the governor must be in charge of Yunnan. Think more about your parents and family."
This is a clear threat!
Mu Shu said, "If Mu Chaobi has the guts, then go ahead and do it. I'm in the capital so I can promote him."
Once something happens to Mu Shu's parents or family members, and Mu Shu cries in the capital, Mu Chaobi's reputation will instantly become a bad name.
"Don't be so proud." Mu Xi sneered and left.
After leaving Mu Shu's residence, he asked, "Where did Jiang Qingzhi go?"
The attendant said, "He went to the direction of Xiyuan."
"The Embroidered Uniform Guard must have reported the news of the Duke's death, and it's time for us to report it now." said the accompanying scholar.
"Go to the Ministry of Rites!" Mu Xi got on the horse.
"Isn't it too late now?" asked the scholar.
"It's not too late." Mu Xi said calmly: "The governor wants to test the attitude of the court. If the court is weak, the governor will prepare..."
"Take action?" The scholar's eyes lit up.
"People like you are just waiting for the governor to take action so that you can be considered a founding hero." Mu Xi cursed, "The only one who has been able to successfully quell the rebellion over the years is Emperor Chengzu. Governor..."
The scholar said: "Once the governor raises his army, he will be able to sweep across the entire southwest in an instant. If the southwest is corrupt, Altan Khan will certainly march south with his army. At that time, the world will be divided equally between the south and the north. The governor will also be able to achieve his imperial ambition..."
"That's a good idea, but in the past two years, His Majesty has gradually moved away from Xiyuan."
“It’s just a gesture.”
"The last time you cleaned up the Beijing Guards, they were almost like rebuilding them. This shows your majesty's determination." Mu Xi's face was solemn. "The governor must be hesitating. This matter... must be handled steadily."
"What if the court takes a tough stance?" asked the scholar.
"No matter how tough the court is, can it still send a large army south?" Mu Xi sneered, "We have seen a lot about the strengths and weaknesses of the garrisons in the southwest when we went north. Those are not officers and soldiers, they are no different from slaves."
"This is the best time." The scholar said, "I am worried that after the Beijing Guards are rebuilt, His Majesty will rebuild the Ming army."
"You think too much." Mu Xi smiled and said, "The entire Ming army is involved in the interests of countless people. The interests of the scholars are in the fields and the population. The interests of the army are in the generals and officials.
The army is like slaves. How much profit does it bring to the generals every year? Every year, the food and wages allocated by the court are embezzled by civil officials and generals. If the army is completely rebuilt, these people will be completely offended.
Your Majesty already has enemies all over the world. If the army also stands against him, this world... will be in danger!"...
"Your Majesty, Long Wilbur requests to see you."
The emperor and his ministers were discussing matters concerning Yunnan when Jiang Qingzhi returned.
"Your Majesty." Jiang Qingzhi saluted. "I just saw Mu Chaobi's men in the capital. He seemed to be confident and fearless."
"Yunnan must not be in chaos." Cui Yuan said, "This is Mu Chaobi's greatest reliance. As long as he doesn't dare to come openly, it will be fine. Now the Duke of Qian has passed away, but he has a younger brother who can inherit the title."
Jiang Qingzhi frowned, "Let Mu Gong inherit the title? A three-year-old child... it's better to let Mu Chaobi inherit the title. The court can justifiably restrain him."
"Position is important." Cui Yuan said calmly, "Even if he is just a child, he is standing in the position of the Duke of Qian. Mu Chaobi must restrain himself. Otherwise, he will be a traitor and be condemned by everyone."
Speaking of this, Cui Yuan thought of the situation of Jiang Qingzhi and the Mo family, and couldn't help but smile.
Jiang Qingzhi said: "But what if Mu Gong dies again?"
Cui Yuan was stunned. "How could it be... Duke Qian was almost certainly killed by Mu Chaobi. Would he dare to kill him a second time?"
Cui Yuan glanced at Yan Song and decided that it was time for Old Yan to express his opinion on behalf of the Council of State.
Would Mu Chaobi dare to do it a second time?
Yan Song was in despair, and after a long while he said, "Your Majesty, regardless of whether the Duke of Qian died of illness or was not harmed, I think that his brother should inherit the title!"
This indirectly agreed with Cui Yuan's opinion: Even if the Duke of Qian died at the hands of Mu Chaobi, he would not dare to attack again.
Optimistic people are always hopeless... Jiang Qingzhi envied their optimism and secretly hated some of his own prophets.
When he traveled to Yunnan in his previous life, he learned about the chaos within the Mu family, which was truly a wonderful palace drama.
"Yunnan is the territory of the Mu family." Jiang Qingzhi used the word territory. Emperor Jiajing snorted and Yan Song looked at the tablet uncomfortably.
This is a scar. When Emperor Taizu let Mu Ying take charge of Yunnan, he probably wanted this adopted son's family to guard the southwest for his own children and grandchildren for generations.
At first, Mu Ying did a good job and had a close relationship with the royal family, as if they were a family. Even after the death of the crown prince Zhu Biao, Mu Ying was so heartbroken that he followed him.
But times have changed, and the Mu family is now too powerful to be eliminated.
It would be fine if Yunnan was a wild area, but Yunnan is rich in resources and has a pleasant climate. Over the centuries, the Mu family has accumulated a huge fortune.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard reported many times that the luxury of the Mu family was unimaginable, and even said without fear of taboos that your majesty's life could not compare to that of the Mu family.
If a person is too rich, he will feel that life is boring and meaningless. At this time, wealth is like poison, and power is the best antidote.
"Mu Chaobi has tasted the sweetness of power. No one can make him give up controlling Yunnan." Jiang Qingzhi's voice echoed in the hall.
"I can say with certainty that the death of the Duke of Qian is not simple, and Mu Chaobi is the biggest suspect." Jiang Qingzhi said with a firm attitude: "If Mu Gong's child is allowed to inherit the title, I dare say he won't live long!"
"Haha!" Cui Yuan laughed and said, "Isn't Mu Chaobi afraid of the army marching south?"
"Can we go south?" Jiang Qingzhi asked.
"Of course you can." Cui Yuan said.
These people are really optimistic!
Jiang Qingzhi sighed in his heart, but suddenly felt that this was not a bad thing.
He needed to use this opportunity to let the emperor and his ministers in the court see Mu Chaobi's evil ambitions and the many troubles that would be caused by Yunnan being in the hands of the Mu family.
As long as Mu Chaobi was in charge of Yunnan, Jiang Qingzhi would find an excuse to go south.
How much can the country's destiny be increased by controlling Yunnan?
Jiang Qingzhi's breathing quickened for a moment, and he found that the speed of Mr. Ding in his mind had increased a little.
Obviously, Uncle Ding was also looking forward to it.
But as a leader of the Mohist school, Jiang Qingzhi had to show his vision in the court.
"Your Majesty, I think if Mu Gong is allowed to inherit the title, Mu Chaobi will definitely kill him." Jiang Qingzhi first gave Mu Chaobi a bad idea, and then said casually: "If this continues, Yunnan will really become the property of the Mu family. I suggest that instead of doing this, it is better to let Mu Chaobi inherit the title."
But it was obvious that both the emperor and his ministers felt that Jiang Qingzhi was worrying too much. Yan Song even said with a smile that Chang Wei Bo had worked so hard in disaster relief that he was physically and mentally exhausted and needed some recuperation.
Old Yan, when the news from Yunnan comes, I’ll see where you can put your face!
"In this case, warn Mu Chaobi. Also, the Ministry of Rites is preparing to send someone to Yunnan to let Mu Gong inherit the title!" The Taoist priest made the final decision.
Then they all dispersed, and the Taoist priest left Jiang Qingzhi behind.
"Are you feeling unwell?" Dao Ye asked, "Reach out your hand."
Uh!
Jiang Qingzhi stretched out his hand, and the Taoist took his pulse. After a while, he said, "Change your hand."
Jiang Qingzhi stretched out his right hand, "Isn't it that men use the left hand and women use the right hand?"
The Taoist glanced at him, and his naked contempt made Jiang Qingzhi laugh dryly.
"Not bad, but a little weak. I'll ask the imperial physician to prescribe a prescription for you later. If you feel it's not right, I can prescribe a prescription for you..."
How could Jiang Qingzhi dare to ask the Taoist priest to prescribe a prescription? After fooling him with a few words, he quickly said goodbye.
Walking out of Xiyuan, Jiang Qingzhi looked at the clear sky and suddenly thought of Mu Gong.
Am I considered as not helping someone in need?
(End of this chapter)
