The establishment of the Dark Forest Department by Zhu Yunwen was only a reorganization and application of the Emperor's personal guards. It did not require the cabinet's approval. However, in order to avoid panic among the cabinet and court officials, Zhu Yunwen deliberately issued an edict. The Dark Forest Division was mainly in charge of preventing and attacking actions that endangered the safety of the Great Ming Dynasty. They carried out the work of fighting the enemy on the hidden front lines, protecting the safety of the Great Ming Dynasty, and maintaining the stability of the country.
As for gathering intelligence, investigating the military situation, and hearing news, it was naturally done for the safety of the Darming Dynasty.
In order to prevent the Dark Forest Division from having too much power, Zhu Yunwen ordered that without his or the Cabinet's permission, the Dark Forest Division could not arrest, detain, or interrogate any officials.
In other words, the Dark Forest Division only had the right to investigate and take action, but they did not have the right to arrest or interrogate. If they needed to interrogate someone, they had to work with the three divisions and could not interrogate them independently.
Compared to the Embroidered Uniform Guards, the Dark Forest Division had already lost its fangs.
Even if the cabinet wanted to oppose it, they could not. Some officials in the court also expressed their concern and prepared to submit a memorial to oppose it. However, before the memorial could be submitted, it was detained by the cabinet. It might be burned tomorrow.
His Majesty had given the cabinet and the six ministries face, so the cabinet and the six ministries had to take care of His Majesty's face, right?
Even Fang Xiaoru, who advocated civil governance, did not say a word of dissatisfaction with the Dark Forest Division's setup.
In essence, the Dark Forest Division was no different from the Embroidered Uniform Guards. They were both independent intelligence and protection agencies responsible for His Majesty.
However, judging from their characteristics, the Jinyiwei were like hungry wolves that had lost their reins. When they saw people, they would pounce on them and bite them. They would not stop until they were dead. They would bite one to death and then bite another. However, the Dark Forest Tribe was different. It was more like a horse with its reins held by someone. Even if it could neighed and run, it would not bite.
Fang Xiaoru did not object to such an organization because it was the means of the emperor.
The few big shots didn't say anything, so it was useless for the people below to shout.
The Dark Forest Division stepped onto the stage of Ming Dynasty's history and became a blunt and thick sword in Zhu Yunwen's hands. It was not sharp, but it was unstoppable!
Outside Yangzhou Prefecture.
Zhu Di looked at Li Zengzhi, who came to welcome him from afar, and a smile appeared on his face. He said to Qiu Fu beside him,"These people are still useful.”
Qiu Fu glanced at Li Zengzhi and said with a smile,""Your Highness is right."
The distance was getting closer.
Li Zengzhi dismounted and shouted,"Li Zengzhi, the Left Commander of the front army, greets the King of Yan."”
Zhu Di quickly dismounted and shouted,"Governor Li, please get up." After running around for more than a month, he was able to see his family in Yangzhou Prefecture. It was a happy thing.”
Li Zengzhi saw that Zhu Di did not put on airs and called him family. The corners of his mouth suddenly smiled and he quickly asked,"Uncle, I've made the necessary arrangements in the city. Uncle, please rest before rushing to the capital.”Li Zengzhi was the second son of Li Wenzhong, Prince of Qiyang, and Li Wenzhong was Zhu Yuanzhang's nephew. From this relationship, Li Wenzhong and Zhu Di were cousins.
As such, Li Jiujiang and Li Zengzhi had to address Zhu Di as uncle.
When he was young, Zhu Di had followed Li Wenzhong to learn about war. Naturally, he had a close relationship with Li Jiujiang and Li Zengzhi.
Zhu Di had rushed from Beiping to Jinling, the capital. He was naturally gratified to meet his " family " in Yangzhou Prefecture. Li Zengzhi was very good at doing things, so he arranged for Zhu Di and the others to enter Yangzhou Prefecture. He directly booked a restaurant and ordered the soldiers to guard it, not allowing anyone to approach.
After three rounds of drinking, Li Zengzhi dismissed the people around him. Zhu Di remained calm and raised his hand to let Qiu Fu and the others leave.
Li Zengzhi was relieved to see that there was only him and Zhu Di in the room. He raised his glass to Zhu Di and said,"Uncle, we're family, so let's not talk about the two families.”
Zhu Di nodded silently.
In terms of blood relations, it was true that they were family.
Li Zengzhi asked in a low voice," Uncle, it's hard to predict what His Majesty is thinking now. He first pushed out the cabinet a while ago. Not long after, he pushed out the new recruits. A few days ago, he set up the Dark Forest Division. Everyone in the court is panicking."”
"Oh? What do you mean?"
Zhu Di asked Li Zengzhi.
Zhu Di had heard and supported Zhu Yunwen's methods.
Even if he were to take over the throne, there would definitely be a group of people who would work for him. Otherwise, with the Emperor directly managing the central control, he would have to look over all the big and small matters. Even if he was not exhausted, he would be annoyed to death.
Zhu Di thought that the cabinet was a genius.
As for the new recruits, Zhu Di could accept them. He did not think that these measures would cause panic.
Li Zengzhi sighed and said,"Right now, the power of the court has been taken over by the six ministries and the cabinet. Officials can only see His Majesty twice a month. Even if they submit a memorial to impeach someone, they may be detained by the cabinet. In the long run, the Ming Dynasty will become the cabinet's territory.”
Zhu Di sipped the wine calmly.
Zhu Di knew how much power the cabinet had. Li Zengzhi's words were too alarmist.
Seeing that Zhu Di was silent, Li Zengzhi said,"The new recruit policy requires a reduction of 100,000 soldiers, and this 100,000 is all on us. In particular, some of the soldiers and generals who were close to us were directly stripped of their official positions and left the capital camp with their brothers.”
"If these brothers come looking for us, should we care or not? He could not care so much, but he could not go against the Emperor's will. He could not care less and let them wander the streets. As former comrades, how could he tolerate it?”
"Your Majesty only cares about the new recruits, but it has shaken the foundation of the capital camp. It is a sign of chaos. Moreover, the Dark Forest Division was clearly the Embroidered Uniform Guards. How long had His Majesty been in power? He had already defied the wishes of the Great Ancestor and restarted the Embroidered Uniform Guards. It could be seen that His Majesty had not understood the Great Ancestor's strategy of governing the country.”
Zhu Di looked at Li Zengzhi. The words " I didn't understand the strategy of governing the country " flashed across Zhu Di's mind like a thunderbolt.
This was the perfect reason!
The Prime Minister was abolished by Emperor Taizu, and Zhu Yunwen set up a cabinet to replace him.
The capital camp was expanded and Zhu Yunwen abolished the capital camp.
The Royal Guards were abolished and Zhu Yunwen set up the Dark Forest Department.
From Zhu Yunwen's recent actions, his style and methods were obviously against Taizu!
If he used the excuse of " disrespecting Taizu and changing the strategy of governing the country " to prove that Zhu Yunwen was not a qualified successor of Ming Dynasty, then when the time came, he could use the slogan of " founding the country and restoring the ancestral system " to tell the world that I, Zhu Di, was the one who understood Taizu's strategy the most!
Li Zengzhi saw the gleam in Zhu Di's eyes and his silent desire. He tapped the table with his finger and said,""Uncle, we are a family.”
Li Zengzhi said the word "we" very slowly. He communicated with his eyes to express the hidden meaning.
Zhu Di was a smart person, so he knew what Li Zengzhi meant.
Li Zengzhi was telling Zhu Di that if Zhu Di had the heart, they would be his strength and help him achieve his great cause.
Zhu Di put down his wine glass and chuckled."I've been running around for days, and I'm indeed tired. Now that he was drinking some wine, he was actually unable to drink.”
"It's not difficult to change the wine. Li Zengzhi raised his eyebrows, picked up the wine pot beside him, and poured it on the ground. He looked at Zhu Di and slowly said,""Since the wine has been poured, we can only serve new wine.”
Zhu Di narrowed his eyes and listened to the sound of wine pouring on the ground. It sounded like the neighing of thousands of troops. He calmed down and said,"When the wine is about to be poured, many people will straighten it.”
Li Zengzhi stared at Zhu Di and asked softly,""Many souls died under Taizu's blade, and no one could stop the King of Yan's horse.”
Zhu Di took Li Zengzhi's wine pot, poured a glass of wine, and drank it in one gulp. He said,""I wonder if the winds in the capital are strong. If the weather is good, this king would like to go to Mount Zhijin.”
Li Zengzhi nodded solemnly and said,""Your Highness will definitely be satisfied."
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