A century-old family that runs through the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 91 Jianwen’s last loyal minister

"You, you are so brave!"

With an angry shout, a figure stumbled out of the door.

That was the village meeting hall.

Several servants of the Yan family walked out with sticks in their hands, followed by an elderly woman.

The old woman held a cane in her hand and was quite luxuriously dressed. People around her couldn't help but lower their heads when facing her, demonstrating her extremely high status.

"How brave am I?" She sneered: "You came to Ningbo at this time and advised us to lead our clan soldiers and young people to support Nanjing. What is your intention?"

"Who doesn't know that His Highness King Yan has already reached the gates of Nanjing City? He may have already broken through the city and is ready to ascend the throne as emperor! If we go at this time, wouldn't we be striking an egg against a stone?"

"Sister-in-law! In the past, when my brother was here, the Yan family was famous for their loyalty. Now that the court is in trouble, how can you just stand by and watch?" Yan Ji shouted angrily, veins popping up on his head, obviously he did not expect to be treated like this. .

Feng Shuzhen's eyes became even more disdainful: "Loyalty also has its time. Going to Nanjing to show loyalty at this time is better to say that you are seeking death."

"You're a woman, what do you know!" Yan Ji was angry. He felt that the other party was just a philistine thinker.

In his mouth, he kept spitting out words such as "loyalty" and "integrity", but the servants around him were unmoved, and Feng Shuzhen's expression remained unchanged.

"In other words, you plan to use the lives of our tribe to clear your name?" She said lightly.

Yan Jiru was struck by lightning, and he made a "ho ho" sound, as if he wanted to refute, but he didn't know how to argue.

He turned around and looked around.

The servants looked at him with hatred.

No one wants to fight, especially when the situation in the world has become clear. To send troops to Nanjing now is simply courting death.

He finally turned around and left, that figure looking so lonely.

He finally understood.

The aristocratic family doesn't care who is sitting in the seat.

They only care about their own interests and will only cheer for the final winner.

Zhu Di was more in line with the interests of the Yan family than Zhu Yunzhen. There was the second son of King Jingping, but the Duke of Yue, who represented the nobles, was suppressed by Jianwen.

He traveled around, and as a Hanlin bachelor, he kept going to various guard posts stationed in Zhejiang, trying to get the support of the commanders.

To his disappointment, no one agreed. Some people expelled him mercilessly, and some even wanted to arrest him.

The last thing he relied on to escape was his identity as the younger brother of King Jingping, which made the other party afraid to take action.

He recruited soldiers, but the farmers didn't even look at him.

Someone told him that the city of Nanjing had been breached, Emperor Jianwen hanged himself in the palace, and everything was over.

He finally despaired.

Late one night, he returned to Ningbo. This time he never mentioned supporting Nanjing to anyone.

But when the servant brought breakfast the next day, he was found hanging in the room.

When Yan Ling in the secret room got the news, he could only sigh.

His younger brother, however, had read too many books by sages and put his loyalty to the emperor above himself and even his family.

However, he was also relieved for him.

The ancient history book deserves its name.

It was not only Yan Ji who committed suicide, but also many officials in the capital.

It's not that they are so loyal, but that they have a share of credit for their support back then.Zhu Di, who has adopted the banner of "upright emperor and righteous ministers," will never let them go.

Rather than suffer torture like Ling Chi, it would be better to commit suicide first.

And Zhu Di soon received the news that Zhu Yunwen had committed suicide.

He quickly rushed to the palace, then hugged Zhu Yunwen's body and cried bitterly:

"Nephew Yunwen! I was late! You were killed by an adulterer!"

According to him, Zhu Yunwen was only young and ignorant, and was helped to the throne by several treacherous ministers. As a puppet, he would do such a foolish thing as cutting down the vassal.But now those treacherous ministers saw that the situation was over and decisively killed the emperor to cover up their crimes.

Immediately, he raised his red eyes and gave the order:
"Bring Fang Xiaoru and Huang Zicheng to me... who killed my nephew!"

Huang Zicheng had already gone out to recruit troops at that time, so he couldn't catch him, but Fang Xiaoru was still in the city.

His hands were firmly tied and he was brought to Zhu Di.

"Look, this is what you did. You said you committed such a heinous crime, how could you possibly escape?"

Zhu Di looked at him coldly and held Zhu Yunwen's body in front of him.

Fang Xiaoru avoided those grabbing eyes.Even if he knew the truth, he didn't dare to tell it at this time and could only keep kowtowing:

"Your Highness, no, no, your Majesty, spare your life. From now on, I am willing to serve your Majesty in front of and behind my back, and I ask your Majesty to forgive me for my sins. These are all the faults of Huang Zicheng, Qi Tai and others. I am just a scholar. Spare my life, spare my life!"

("Records of Taizong": Filial children kowtow in prayer.)
Zhu Di sneered. Seeing him like this, he lost interest in talking to him. He turned around and ordered:
"Go ahead and treat me well."

A few days later, Fang Xiaoru, Qi Tai, Huang Zicheng and others who were escorted to Nanjing were beheaded in public display, implicating the three clans.Wu Bozong showed no clear signs of support, but as a member of the cabinet, he could not escape the blame and was demoted back to his hometown.

All the officials of the six bureaus who participated in the support of the establishment that day were all arrested and imprisoned. All the ministers of the six bureaus were killed, and the rest were either demoted or imprisoned.

Jianwen's ministers were completely shuffled.
-
In a bright room, two people who looked somewhat similar sat opposite each other.

There is a pot of warm wine in front of you and a few side dishes to go with the wine.

"Brother, long time no see." Yan Keng was the first to speak with a smile.

"You have become a celebrity, brother. Since King Yan came to Beijing, I don't know how many people have crowded at the door of your house every day. Even my butler spent a lot of effort to squeeze in when he invited you." Yan Ya smiled.

"They are looking for me, but they are looking for the wrong person." Yan Keng drank a glass of wine: "The person who should be killed, King Yan has made a decision in his heart. No one can change it except Master Daoyan and the Crown Prince; those who should not be killed As for people, Your Highness will not kill them randomly."

There was silence for a while.

"Congratulations, you succeeded." Yan Ya raised his glass with a smile on his face:

"I relied on my father's influence, but you relied on your own efforts to build such a huge career. Now that you are successful, you must have a lot of titles."

"No, it's our success." Yan Keng also raised his glass: "I have never forgotten where my roots are. I cannot get to where I am today without the support of my family."

The cups clinked, and the two brothers looked at each other and smiled.

"King Yan is already making preparations for his enthronement, right?" Yan Ya asked seemingly unintentionally.

Yan Keng nodded heavily:

"I will be proclaimed emperor soon."

"On the day you ascend the throne, I will take you to meet someone." Yan Ya smiled mysteriously.
-
"Ji traveled between prefectures and counties in search of troops to aid the capital, but to no avail. Someone reported that the emperor was dead and hanged himself in his room. Taizong was angry that he refused to comply, but felt his loyalty and ordered not to pursue the case. Ji Zi was then waived."

——"History of Ming Dynasty·Biography of Yan Ji"

　Thanks to my friends from "Shui'an" for the tip yesterday, and also to all my friends for the tip recently.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)