Chapter 25: Chongzhen: I Suddenly Feel Like I Can Do It Again!

At the same time, after hearing Zhu Cilang’s words, Chongzhen was completely stunned. His mind went blank, utterly incapable of coherent thought.

Yet Zhu Cilang seemed unwilling to give him time to reflect; even more explosive words burst forth again.

“Besides them, today I have executed thirteen nobles and stripped or downgraded fifteen more.”

“Additionally, nearly a thousand people are set to be executed tomorrow at noon!”

In an instant, Chongzhen’s mind exploded. Even Empress Zhou at his side was dumbfounded, staring at Zhu Cilang as if he were a monster.

Clearly, Zhu Cilang’s actions far exceeded their wildest imaginations.

Before they could even ask, Zhu Cilang reached into his robe and handed several lists to Chongzhen.

“Take a look! Once you see these, you’ll understand why I had to do this!”

Chongzhen mechanically accepted the lists, his gaze drifting into the past. In just moments, his expression changed drastically.

He knew the nobles had long been skimming from the military and five-army headquarters’ payrolls, but he hadn’t expected them to reach into the Imperial Secret Police—the embodiment of imperial authority.

What exactly were these men plotting? A rebellion?

Then he saw the inventory list of confiscated goods, along with over thirty million taels of silver and a glaring cache of thirteen hundred armors...

“Damn it! Damn it! They actually embezzled over thirty million taels of silver?”

“These parasites of the Ming dynasty are devouring it from within!”

“And these thirteen hundred sets of armor!”

“What are they planning? Is it not enough to devour the dynasty, they also seek to usurp the throne?”

“Damn them all! They deserve death!”

“I will annihilate their entire clans!”

At this moment, Chongzhen was nearly driven mad with rage. He knew the nobles were corrupt, but never imagined their greed was this vast. He never dreamed they dared to hoard thirteen hundred suits of armor!

Combined with the death of his son Zhu Cihuan, his fury reached its zenith.

He wished he could slaughter the entire clans of these nobles.

“Not just thirty million taels; including those voluntarily surrendered, the total reaches about fifty million taels of silver and over three million taels of gold!” Zhu Cilang added.

Chongzhen was once again shocked.

He had never even dreamed of such sums.

Had he possessed such funds, how could the Ming have fallen into its current state?

In extreme anger, Chongzhen suddenly calmed inexplicably.

He slumped dejectedly into his chair and looked at Zhu Cilang.

Faced with this rebellious son again, he found himself at a loss for words.

All these deeds were things he dared neither to imagine nor undertake.

In just a single day, this son had accomplished them all—and secured over fifty million taels of silver for the Ming!

After a long pause, Chongzhen slowly said, “You handled this matter well.”

Of course, it would have been better if there were no rebellion...

Zhu Cilang found this somewhat amusing, as this was the first time since his rebellion that Chongzhen spoke to him kindly—and even praised him.

Then Zhu Cilang said, “Father, do you still doubt my ability to govern this country well?”

“Hmph!”

Chongzhen snorted coldly, then said with some reluctance, “I admit you do have some skill! But have you considered this?”

“Though those nobles deserve death, they serve as a balance against the civil officials in court.”

“Now that you have executed so many nobles and greatly weakened their power, won’t the civil officials become even more reckless?”

Zhu Cilang smiled faintly.

“I anticipated this long ago. Soon, I will turn against those civil officials.”

“And I promise, more of them will die than the nobles!”

“They too have embezzled silver, and I will force them to disgorge every last tael.”

Chongzhen was utterly speechless.

Judging by Zhu Cilang’s previous actions against the nobles, he might indeed be capable of such feats.

Yet it was almost unbelievable—after all, he was but a thirteen-year-old boy, how could he possess such deep cunning and strategy?

In this, as a father, Chongzhen felt thoroughly outdone.

Now, holding the confiscation lists, he longed to return to the court and use these fifty million taels to accomplish a world-shaking feat.

For in his view, the Ming’s downfall was due to lack of funds.

But now that money was available, he could save the dynasty!

Indeed, at this moment, Chongzhen suddenly felt capable once more...

With this thought, his tone softened.

“Cilang, your father wishes to discuss something with you, perhaps—”

“Stop! I know what you’re going to say, but it’s better not to!” Zhu Cilang interrupted before Chongzhen could finish.

No need to guess; Zhu Cilang knew exactly what Chongzhen intended—to have him resume his role as emperor or something similar.

Having finally brought some hope to the Ming, Zhu Cilang refused to let Chongzhen continue to bring ruin!

Seeing his words rejected before completion, Chongzhen’s anger flared again.

“Rebel son! Traitorous son!”

“You seek to usurp the throne, traitor!”

Empress Zhou was speechless.

Moments ago, everything seemed fine—how had it suddenly turned to accusations of rebellion?

She had overheard the conversation between Chongzhen and Zhu Cilang.

At first, she thought her son was too ruthless.

But upon hearing what the nobles had done, she felt relieved.

From the old Zhu family’s perspective, these nobles truly deserved death.

That said, her own father was one of those nobles.

Thinking of this, Empress Zhou quickly asked,

“Cilang, did this matter involve your maternal grandfather?”

“If so, Mother begs you not to kill him—after all, he is my father and your grandfather!”

Zhou Kui, Marquis of Jiading, was Chongzhen’s father-in-law, Empress Zhou’s father, and Zhu Cilang’s maternal grandfather.

To be honest, Zhu Cilang held no affection for this grandfather.

Zhou Kui was notorious among the nobles for greed, often lending money to commoners at exorbitant interest rates—in short, a loan shark!

Due to his special status, ministers and nobles alike sought his favor.

Sometimes he was even tasked with spying on palace affairs.

When the Ming neared collapse, Chongzhen, unable to pay the troops, borrowed money from Zhou Kui, who stingily produced only ten thousand taels of silver.

He even embezzled three thousand taels from the five thousand given by Empress Zhou.

But the worst was that, according to unofficial records, it was Zhou Kui who handed him over to the Manchus, leading to his death...

All these facts sealed Zhu Cilang’s resolve not to spare Zhou Kui.

Of course, he could not kill him outright—after all, he was his grandfather, and killing him would be impossible with Empress Zhou to answer to.

So Zhu Cilang did not execute him, but raided his household instead.

They confiscated a total of three million two hundred thousand taels of silver!

No doubt, Zhou Kui was still hiding at home, weeping.