Zhu Yuanzhang, Liu Bowen, Zhu Biao, and Zhu Di exchanged glances, understanding each other's thoughts.
"Father Emperor, I believe we should start preparing grain, horses, cotton cloth, and other supplies!"
"With the favorable weather and peace we have now, give me three years. If we grit our teeth, the national treasury will still be able to produce enough for a million-strong army to sweep north and eliminate the foreign tribes."
Zhu Biao, who had always been responsible for internal affairs, bowed to Zhu Yuanzhang and spoke in such a manner.
"Father Emperor, your son requests to fight, willing to be the vanguard to conquer the foreign tribes!"
Zhu Di eagerly offered, being the youngest present. Influenced by Wu Tao's earlier words, he was already wary and seeking a way to save himself.
"This kind of war not only pits national strength against each other but also talent."
Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang felt a sense of weariness.
At this moment, he clearly understood that his original plan to discard those who had served him, using Hu Weiyong as bait and his authority to weed out the officials of the Huaixi faction, was no longer feasible.
He now needed to find a way to deal with Hu Weiyong and reinstate Li Shanchang as the Left Prime Minister of the Central Secretariat.
While his son Zhu Biao was skilled in internal affairs, he was still far from being comparable to Li Shanchang.
Especially in the collection of grain and funds, the title of the contemporary Xiao He was not for show.
The grain consumption of a million-strong army campaigning in foreign lands would be extremely taxing even for the current prosperous Ming Empire!
Therefore, the rear must have Li Shanchang, a prime minister comparable to historical figures, to ensure smooth operations.
Liu Bowen also spoke at this moment.
"Your humble servant also suggests that we should strike outwards. Even if we lose, it would be strategically successful, as they cannot outlast us."
"It is always more beneficial for the flames of war to burn on foreign territories than on our own soil!"
"I request Your Majesty to grant me an imperial decree. I am willing to be an envoy to the Jurchens and sow discord between them and the Mongols, thus weakening their forces for the empire in advance."
The meaning behind Liu Bowen's words was clear!
This time, he would emerge from retirement again to help Zhu Yuanzhang conquer the world!
Zhu Yuanzhang, who had been feeling agitated, smiled upon hearing these words.
As expected of Liu Bowen, when he put his mind to it, he was undoubtedly the world's top strategist!
Just then...
Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!
A series of earth-shattering thunderclaps struck, shaking the ground instantly, and lightning danced wildly. Everyone felt as if the sky was collapsing, and the heavens above seemed to shatter.
Several bolts of lightning, resembling true dragons, descended from the sky, piercing the roof of the great hall. Without any hesitation, they struck directly at Wu Tao, who was "directing the country's affairs."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The immense impact sent everyone nearby flying, and the intense blue light caused temporary blindness for all.
"Guard the Emperor! Guard the Emperor! Guard the Emperor..."
The guards outside the hall, upon witnessing this drastic change, cried out in alarm and rushed into the hall in panic.
Torrential rain poured down from the heavens through the ten-foot-wide hole in the roof that had been struck by lightning. Only then did everyone see that a large pit had appeared where Wu Tao had been standing.
And at the bottom of that pit lay a charred corpse. Could it be anyone other than Wu Tao?
"True Master Qingyunzi!"
"Brother Dao!"
"..."
Liu Bowen let out a mournful cry and was the first to rush to the bottom of the pit, disregarding Wu Tao's charred body, which had been struck by lightning.
He fumbled and pulled him out.
Upon seeing the charred remains that were no longer human-shaped, Liu Bowen's heart sank. He let out another mournful cry and could not help but shed tears.
"Brother Dao, you... you... why did you have to do this..."
Tears streamed down Liu Bowen's face, and he felt immense self-reproach. If only he had stopped Brother Dao earlier, how could he have leaked heavenly secrets and suffered such a divine punishment?
After a while, Zhu Yuanzhang waved away the imperial guards who were protecting him and approached the charred corpse...
Perhaps out of guilt, Zhu Yuanzhang, who had been silent for a long time, said with a hoarse voice, "Summon someone! Convey My decree: True Master Qingyunzi leaked heavenly secrets, angering the heavens, and has been recalled by the heavens."
"Order Hu Weifu, Li Jin, and other civil and military officials of the third rank and above to enter the palace to see off True Master Qingyunzi and discuss posthumous honors!"
Immediately after, Zhu Yuanzhang turned to Liu Bowen and said, "Do not worry, I will absolutely not treat True Master Qingyunzi unfairly!"
Not treating him unfairly? When he was already dead, how could he be treated unfairly? Liu Bowen remained silent.
Seeing that Qingyunzi had completely breathed his last, Zhu Yuanzhang summoned Mao Yifan, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
After hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words, a flash of killing intent flickered in Mao Yifan's eyes. He then led a large contingent of the Embroidered Uniform Guard away.
Tonight in the imperial palace was destined to be filled with a bloody storm.
While Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma were busy in the imperial palace, the spies from various factions in the court also began to relay the information they had gathered to their respective patrons.
In the Hu mansion, after hearing the report, Hu Weiyong's face was filled with confusion. He slowly said, "These damn pieces of news are all over the place and make no sense. I can't figure anything out. I've spent so much money, and they can't even uncover something this simple..."
Upon hearing Hu Weiyong's lament, Hu mansion's chief steward, Shi Song, hesitantly said, "Then, Master, do you think we should stop providing financial support to those spies in the palace?"
Shi Song was extremely loyal to Hu Weiyong. Seeing his master suffer a loss, he was very anxious.
However, Hu Weiyong gently shook his head and said calmly, "Matters in the imperial palace are not as simple as you think. There is a reason why the spies are reporting like this..."
Morning court.
As the morning court officially began on this day, a proposal made by Zhu Yuanzhang diverted the attention of the officials!
Zhu Yuanzhang proposed to bestow upon Qingyunzi the title of Xuan Su Ta Xian Kun Yang Dao Jun!
In fact, as soon as Zhu Yuanzhang made this suggestion, countless officials who wanted to flatter him agreed!
"As Your Majesty said, True Master Qingyunzi sacrificed himself for the country, and he indeed deserves the title of True Lord!"
"Your humble servant agrees! True Master Qingyunzi is an immortal, and he should be treated with such honor after his death!"
"Your humble servant also agrees! True Master Qingyunzi labored diligently and made great contributions, dying for the Ming Empire. No matter how great the posthumous honor, it is justifiable!"
Hearing the flurry of flattery in the imperial court, Lü Meng, the Censorate's Deputy Minister,'s pupils narrowed, and he felt a slight tightening in his heart.
He thought to himself: True Master Qingyunzi has just passed away, and Your Majesty wants to proclaim a general amnesty, reduce taxes, and pray to heaven for him...
"It is ordered that the common people must not kill any living beings before True Master Qingyunzi's burial. However, if this is truly done, not only will the court's income be greatly reduced, but the common people will also complain endlessly..."
Thinking of this, Lü Meng calmly stepped forward and said sternly, "Your Majesty, absolutely not! True Master Qingyunzi, after all, was just a Taoist priest. How can he be given such a high-profile funeral? This is not in accordance with the rules..."
As soon as Lü Meng uttered these words, a silence fell over the bustling hall.
On the dragon throne, Zhu Yuanzhang slightly furrowed his brows: "Minister Lü, are you questioning My decision?"
Upon hearing this, Lü Meng, showing no fear, took another step forward and said, "Your Majesty, please grant me mercy. It is only for the sake of the Ming Dynasty's foundation and its empire that I must remind Your Majesty..."
With Lü Meng taking the lead, a few discordant voices soon appeared in the court.
"Your Majesty, since ancient times, no Son of Heaven has ever treated a Taoist priest in this manner. We implore Your Majesty to reconsider!"
"Indeed. Your Majesty says that True Master Qingyunzi died because he leaked heavenly secrets and benefited our Great Ming..."
"However, how great the benefit was, and what the heavenly secret was, Your Majesty has not said, nor do we wish to know!"
"But as it concerns the national interest, everything must be handled with caution..."
"Why should a mere recluse like Qingyunzi have the honor of Your Majesty deigning to such a level?"
"Furthermore, Qingyunzi was a person detached from the secular world. Why does he need Your Majesty to arrange a funeral ceremony befitting a feudal lord for him?"
"Precisely. In our opinion, if Your Majesty wishes to express gratitude, bestowing some titles upon him would suffice. Why go to such great lengths?"
"Your humble servants agree..."
There were about a dozen people speaking, led by Lü Meng, most of whom were officials from the Censorate.
"Haha! I say, Old Lü, isn't it just that True Master Qingyunzi was once the foremost Taoist in the world, and your elder brother who became a monk is the master of Longhu Mountain..."
"Your brother was suppressed by True Master Qingyunzi his entire life, and eventually died of anger!"
"As a result, you actually resent True Master Qingyunzi."
"As the Deputy Minister of the Censorate, are you really going to quarrel with a recluse like him?" It was Hu Weiyong speaking.
However, Hu Weiyong had already noticed Zhu Yuanzhang's attitude.
With the mindset of supporting the strong and not the righteous, Hu Weiyong directly retorted Lü Meng.
"Enough, all of you, shut up!"
Zhu Yuanzhang, his face filled with rage, stood up and slammed the dragon throne: "True Master Qingyunzi had compassion. His death was for our Great Ming, and for the eternal prosperity of our Great Ming..."
"Lü Meng, you all do not feel the grace of True Master Qingyunzi, and yet you try to stop Me. What are your intentions? Are you trying to put Me in a position of being unrighteous and unjust?"
"Your servants dare not, may Your Majesty calm your wrath!"
The dozen or so officials who had joined Lü Meng's clamor immediately wilted and hastily apologized.
Only Lü Meng still wanted to say something.
But Zhu Yuanzhang would not give him another chance.
He then coldly snorted and said, "It is good that you know your offense. Let this matter be dropped..."
"Tomorrow, when True Master Qingyunzi is buried, I will also attend the funeral to see him off. Those of you who wish to attend may do so. Those who do not wish to attend, stay at home honestly. Court is dismissed!"