The Heavenly Tribute Hall was filled with cheers!
All the officials looked at Zhu Rong with respect and humility.
From today onwards.
Zhu Rong would become the number one person with real power in the Ming Empire. His status would be noble, second only to one person and above millions of people!
"Ministers, there's no need to be so polite!”Zhu Rong cupped his hands in return. He was humble and did not become arrogant because he had been conferred the title of prince.
"Hahaha, are you satisfied now?”
"Zhen has set up a banquet in the Hall of Cultural splendor.”
"Today, we won't talk about court politics. Let's eat and drink as much as we want to celebrate the official unification of the Ming Empire!”
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the ministers who were beaming with joy and said to them with a smile.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Long live my emperor!”
All the officials revealed excited smiles as they thanked Zhu Yuanzhang.
After Zhu Yuanzhang left, the ministers also left Fengtian Hall and headed to the Cultural Hall. They walked in groups of twos and threes and congratulated each other.
After a while.
The civil and military officials of the court gathered in Wenhua Hall.
The hall was filled with tables, on which all kinds of wine, delicacies, and fresh fruits were placed. Beside each table was a palace maid and an inner servant.
The names of the ministers were placed on each table, arranged according to their official positions.
The higher the official position, the closer it was to Zhu.
The left row was led by Xu Da, followed by Tang He, Chang Yuchun, Deng Yu, Feng Sheng, Li Wenzhong, and the other generals.
On the right was Li Shan Chang, followed by Liu Bowen and the other officials.
As for Zhu Rong, he had surpassed these ministers. His position was directly on the left side of Zhu Yuanzhang, and on the right side was the position of Crown Prince Zhu Biao.
When the officials saw the arrangement of the seats, their eyes sparkled, and their respect for Zhu Rong grew even stronger!
In this ancient feudal society with strict hierarchy, the arrangement of seats was very particular!
The emperor was below the son of heaven and made peace with the prince.
This meant…
The position of the King of Yan in Zhu Yuanzhang's heart was as important as that of the Crown Prince, Zhu Biao!
"Dear ministers, I, Zhu Yuanzhang, was originally a commoner on the right side of the Huai River. It was all thanks to your help that I could have today!”
"This first toast is to you!”
Zhu Yuanzhang raised a cup made of pure gold and carved with a five-clawed golden dragon to the civil and military officials in the hall. Looking at the civil and military officials in the court, he was determined to build the Ming Empire into a prosperous empire that surpassed the Han and Tang Dynasties!
"We dare not!"
"To Your Majesty!"
All the officials stood up and raised their wine cups, bowing to Zhu Yuanzhang.
Everyone present was not a fool. The Emperor was giving you face by giving you a toast. If you really let the Emperor toast you, then you would be a fool!
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at everyone's attitude and nodded in satisfaction. He raised his glass and drank it in one gulp.
When the ministers saw Zhu Yuanzhang put down his wine cup, they raised their heads and drank the wine in their hands.
"I've already drunk this wine, so I'll leave first.”
"You guys eat and drink as much as you want!”
"Biao 'er, Pin' er, you two accompany me!”
Zhu Yuanzhang knew that the ministers would be restrained by his presence, so he instructed Zhu Biao and Zhu Rong, put down his wine glass, and turned to leave.
"Farewell, Your Majesty (Father)!”
Everyone stood up and bowed. They watched Zhu Yuanzhang leave, and the restraint in their hearts lessened a lot.
"Brothers, Imperial Father has left. Don't pretend to be serious anymore.”
"Today is all the fine wine from the imperial palace's collection. There won't be another shop after this village!”
Zhu Xiong put down the small wine cup in his hand and picked up a large jar of wine from the side of the table. He stepped on the table and raised the wine jar in his hand as he shouted to the generals.
Zhu Rong, who had been following them since he was eight years old, knew their natures too well. Each and every one of them was a big drunkard!
"Hahaha!"
"Your Highness, the King of Yan, understands us brothers. Stop pretending. Drink!”
All the generals picked up their wine jars and gestured to Zhu Xiong. They licked their lips and gulped, looking eager.
"He Da Ming unifies!"
Zhu Xiong shouted loudly, picked up the wine jar, and gulped it down. The clear and fragrant wine poured into Zhu Xiong's mouth and flowed down the corner of his mouth, soaking his clothes. It was indescribably wild and bold!
"He Da Ming Unifies!!!"
The generals echoed loudly and imitated Zhu Rong, raising their wine jars and drinking.
On the other side.
Zhu Biao and the other officials agreed, but they were using wine glasses.
After three rounds of wine, the dishes are more delicious.
The atmosphere gradually became lively. Everyone's faces were flushed red from drinking, especially the generals. Their bodies were already swaying, and they could fall at any moment.
They indulged in fine wine and delicacies.
However, it also numbed their nerves and made them speak their hearts.
Deputy General Liu Dalin was sitting in a corner of the back row. He took a gulp of wine and slammed the table."Sigh, I've risked my life for more than ten years, killed more than a thousand people, and made many contributions. But I didn't get a title!”
"Brother, who says so? I didn't get it either!”
"Even Wu Yong, the coachman who led His Majesty's horse, was conferred the title of Marquis, but we brothers weren't conferred the title. This is too unfair!”
Deputy General Li, who was beside him, also spoke up indignantly.
"That's right! This is so unfair!"
"We brothers are really in the same boat. Come, drink, let's get drunk!”
Liu Dalin picked up the wine jar and gestured to David Li. He raised his head and gulped down the wine, trying to use the strong wine to calm down his unwillingness.
David Li was the same.
Right now, the entire Hall of Cultural Splendor was filled with noise, and no one could hear the two of them.
But…
The Embroidered Uniform Guards in the dark heard their words clearly.
Because of Zhu Rong, the Jinyiwei was born in advance. After Zhu Rong returned from the Northern Expedition, most of the Jinyiwei were sent to various departments in Jinling City to monitor the officials.
Without a doubt.
The Jinyiwei immediately reported their words to Zhu Yuanzhang.
Earth Peace Palace.
After Zhu Yuanzhang left Wenhua Hall, he went to Empress Ma's place and made a few dishes to drink with Empress Ma.
"Hehe, Chongba, are you so assured that the officials are in the Hall of Cultural Splendor? Aren't you afraid that they will drink and cause trouble?”Empress Ma poured a glass of wine for Zhu Yuanzhang and said with a smile.
"What are you afraid of?"
"With our son around, who would dare to cause trouble!？”
"Our Zhu Yuanzhang is blessed by the heavens. He married a virtuous woman like you and gave birth to two Qilin sons, Biao 'er and Pin' er. The two of them are enough to suppress the entire imperial court!”
Zhu Yuanzhang drank a mouthful of wine happily, looking very proud.
Just as Zhu Yuanzhang was feeling smug, the right deputy commander of the Jinyiwei, Jiang Wei, hurried in and handed a small note to Zhu Yuanzhang."Your Majesty, the Jinyiwei has a secret report.”
Zhu Yuanzhang put down his glass and took the note. He opened it and saw that it was the conversation between Liu Dalin and David Li.
"Ha! He dared to spout nonsense in the Imperial Palace. If this was anywhere else, wouldn't he be rebelling against the heavens?”
After reading it, Zhu Yuanzhang was furious. He slammed the paper on the table, causing the dishes on the plate to spill out.
"What's wrong?"
"Why are you suddenly so angry?"
Empress Ma picked up the note on the table and read it, then sighed faintly.
"Sigh, the thing that you were most worried about has happened. In the end, there are still some officials who are dissatisfied with the reward.”
"They only remember their contributions, but they forget their mistakes.”
Empress Ma had followed Zhu Yuanzhang through troubled times, so she naturally knew everything about him. She had even personally compiled the records of the merits and demerits of these soldiers.
These two people had made great contributions to the establishment of the Ming Dynasty. Their achievements were enough to be conferred the title of Marquis, but the mistakes they had made were enough to behead them several times.
It was just that Zhu Yuanzhang had given them a chance to make up for their mistakes and did not punish them because he cared about their old friendship. However, that did not mean that this matter was over.
"Humph!"
"We should have killed them all when they embezzled their belongings and killed the captives!”
"You really don't know what's good for you!"
"Go!"
"Call them over. Zhen wants to ask them what title they should be given!”
Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guards.
"Understood!"
After a while.
Without alerting anyone, Liu Dalin and David Li were brought to the royal study.
"I... Greetings, Your Majesty!"
"Long live my emperor!”
Their faces were red, and their expressions were a little uneasy. Their faces were filled with nervousness, and their hearts were a little terrified.
After all, they had just said something bad.
"Do you know why I asked the two of you to come?”Zhu Yuanzhang stared at them with a dignified expression. His sharp gaze sobered up their dizzy heads.
"Your Majesty, I... I don't know." The two of them stammered.
"I don't know!?"
"Humph! Have you forgotten what you just said?"
Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly.
Liu Dalin and David Li shivered when they heard that. They quickly kowtowed and did not dare to say another word.
"Do you know why I didn't give you a knighthood?”
"Liu Dalin, do you still remember how much money you embezzled when you attacked Yingtian Prefecture?”
"David Li, do you remember how many captives you killed and how many merchants you robbed when you attacked Fang Guozhen?”
"Eh?"
"Do you still remember?!"
Zhu Yuanzhang slammed the table and stood up. He shouted loudly, causing the two of them to be as silent as cicadas in winter and break out in cold sweat!
They didn't expect Zhu Yuanzhang to know everything that they thought no one knew. No wonder he didn't give them titles!
"I want to give you a chance to redeem yourself and turn over a new leaf, but not only are you not grateful, you even dare to complain.？”
"I dare not!"
"I know my sins!
Liu Dalin and David Li knelt on the ground and trembled. They did not dare to complain.
"Humph! It's good that you admit your guilt!"
"Men! Drag them down and behead them in public!”
Zhu Yuanzhang had never been a merciful lord. He could use the two of them to establish his might and kill the chicken to warn the monkeys!
"Imperial Father, wait!"
At this moment, Zhu Xiong walked in and stopped him.
As the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guards, Zhu Rong naturally knew about the conversation between the two in the Hall of Cultural Splendor.
Although the two of them were not famous generals, they could be considered fierce generals. They fought without hesitation and were not afraid of death. They felt that it was a pity to be killed just like that.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。