Chapter Sixty: Change the Strings and Revise

  They exchanged a glance, Yang Lian and Zuo Guangdou both shook their heads with wry smiles. What they said was true, but those people were insatiably greedy. In their eyes, since they already had such power, why not do it? Even if they were unlucky in the future, at worst they would just be dismissed from office; even if it was a capital offense, it would only affect one family member, and a large clan like theirs could still afford the loss.

  Humans are the most forgetful creatures, and people have long forgotten what happened during the time of Zhu Yuanzhang and the Yongle Emperor. Those major cases that involved beheading nine clans and killing tens of thousands of people, those bloody memories have been faded by time.

  "Brother Zhou, are you speaking too harshly?" Zuo Guangdou looked at Zhou Jiayou and said slowly, apparently he didn't think the situation was life-threatening yet.

  Zhou Jiayou glanced at Zuo Guangdou and then gave Yang Lian a look, shaking his head in inquiry.

  "Don't worry, brother Zhou, this place is very safe and won't be overheard." Yang Lian naturally understood what Zhou Jiamou meant. These people had long been aware of the all-pervasive Eastern Depot and the Imperial Guards. Therefore, every high-ranking official's home had a highly confidential place like this one. The guards outside were very strict, and ordinary people couldn't get close.

  "Two days ago, after the morning assembly, I was summoned by the Emperor to the palace. There, I heard some things." Zhou Jiamou's eyes narrowed and he continued: "Originally, a gentleman should not listen to rumors behind someone's back, but that day it was unintentional, and once I heard it, I couldn't help myself. Our emperor is not as simple as imagined. On the day of the previous emperor's death, His Majesty killed an eunuch before leaving the Qianqing Palace. Only Wang An, the head eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, knew about this matter. He didn't tell outsiders, and the palace eunuchs were also ordered to keep it a secret. That day, I overheard Wang An's conversation with Ke Baobao. These words were spoken by Wang An to Ke Baobao: His Majesty personally killed an eunuch who blocked his way, and was splashed with blood on his face without changing color. Wang An praised the emperor for having the style of Taizu." Zhou Jiamou's expression kept changing, and his voice was extremely low.

  As soon as they heard Zhou Jiamou's words, both of them suddenly inhaled a breath of cold air, and their faces turned very unsightly.

  Seeing their expressions, Zhou Jiamou continued: "The surprising thing is yet to come! Do you remember that eunuch Wei who followed the Emperor?"

  "Isn't it Wei Chao? The current head of the Eastern Depot." Zuo Guangdou nodded and said slowly.

  According to Wang An, on the night of Your Majesty's ascension to the throne, the eunuchs and palace maids in the palace were purged by this Lord Wei, with over a thousand people killed. The imperial palace was about to be bathed in blood, and Zheng Guifei and Li Xuan were both placed under house arrest.

  Yang Lian and the other person exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes. This was simply too unbelievable, yet there wasn't even a hint of rumor outside. Perhaps they had really underestimated this young emperor.

  "Do you know? When I was talking to His Majesty, His Majesty's sword was placed on my neck." The two had not yet stabilized when Zhou Jiamou reported another shocking statement.

  "What!" This time both of them stood up, their bodies even trembling slightly.

  "How could this be? What else do you know? Why are you only speaking out now, what else can you say quickly?" Zuo Guangdou fiercely shook Zhou Jiamou's shoulders, his eyes bloodshot, shouting loudly.

  Looking at Zuo Guangdou's appearance, Zhou Jiamou could only shake his head and smile wryly. After waiting for Zuo Guangdou's emotions to stabilize a bit, Zhou Jiamou continued: "I also know very little about it, I just heard a rough idea back then."

  Yang Lian and Zuo Guangdou were completely stunned at this time, especially Yang Lian. He didn't dare to imagine that the timid sixteen-year-old child would have such courage.

  "Do you know? I saw not only the shadow of Taizu on Your Majesty, but also another shadow." Zhou Jiamou said cautiously, looking at Yang Lian.

  "Who?" Yang Lian and Zuo Guangdou both had a solemn expression, asking in unison.

  "Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, when Emperor Wu ascended to the throne, the ministers in the court were in power, and the Huang-Lao school was in charge. Internally, there were various vassal kings, externally, there was the powerful Xiongnu, but this Emperor Wu internally pacified the vassal kings and externally drove out the Xiongnu, he is indeed an emperor for the ages." Zhou Jiamou's face at this time was full of reverence, as if making a pilgrimage.

  Zuo Guangdou and Yang Lian exchanged a glance, nodded, and Yang Lian said to Zhou Jiamou: "But with His Majesty being so bloodthirsty, it's not necessarily a blessing for the world! If in the future the cunning rabbit dies and the running dog is cooked, have you thought about your own fate, Brother Zhou?"

  "They were killed because they were guilty of great crimes. Moreover, since ancient times there has been the saying 'to follow a king is to follow a tiger'. I trust my own judgment. Your Majesty is certainly not an ordinary ruler. In chaotic times, harsh measures are needed. Since ancient times, which famous emperor did not have blood on his hands? In your hearts, at this time in the Ming dynasty, if you do not use bloody means, what can be done?" Zhou Jiamo didn't put Yang Lian's words to heart at all, in his view, Emperor Tianqi was a magnanimous and generous ruler.

  After a slight pause, Zhou Jiayou continued: "I have passed the age of knowing heaven's will, and now I see the light. For my youthful ambitions, for the Jiangshan Sheji of the Great Ming, for the people of the world, I am willing to gamble this once. Maybe if I lose, I'll be defeated and my name will be tarnished, but I can still leave a name in history. If I win, not only can I leave a name in history, but also become a duke for generations to come. Do you remember Wen Tianxiang's phrase 'reading the books of saints and sages, what is it for?'"

  Yang Lian and Zuo Guangdou finally understood why Zhou Jiamou had changed so much in recent days, it turned out that he had changed his ways.

  Yang Lian hadn't spoken yet, when Zuo Guangdou pointed at Zhou Jiamou with his finger and said seriously: "You're not making sense, bringing up something like this at a time like this. Although we aren't the Peach Garden Oath's Liu, Guan, Zhang, we are also sworn brothers who have been through life and death together. You know my ideal, Zuo Guangdou; since there's something like this, I naturally should stand on your side."

  Yang Lian heard Zuo Guangdou's words and suddenly let out a cold hum, sneering: "Brother Zuo, how can you say such things? It seems like I, Yang, am a timid and cowardly person who fears death."

  "I naturally understand Mr. Yang's idea, but what should we do now?" Zuo Guangdou said with a smile to Zhou Jiamou, not paying attention to Yang Lian's tone and expression at all.

  Zhou Jiamou also had some regrets at this time, he just told them about the Tianqi Emperor's affairs like that, it seemed a bit unfair to the Tianqi Emperor. Moreover, these two were already prepared to abandon the dark and turn to the bright side, but how should he explain it to the Tianqi Emperor? Would the Tianqi Emperor blame him?

  I want votes, I need votes, I'm rolling on the ground begging for votes