Some people might think things will be easier from now on, with less pressure. But as someone close to the Crown Prince, Song Zhong knew those people were definitely overthinking it.
The Crown Prince is not someone to be trifled with. Never assume he is a kind-hearted person, and never underestimate his resolve. Once he has made a decision, no one can change his mind, even if there is great resistance in the court.
Because the Crown Prince is similar to His Majesty the Emperor in temperament, when faced with difficulties and obstacles, they will only resolve those obstacles instead of backing down.
And once that time comes, it might turn into a bloody power struggle in the imperial court. Those who try to stop it will be swept away by swift and decisive action, like autumn leaves being swept away by the wind.
The reform of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was imperative, and some people were worried that the Embroidered Uniform Guard might have a final, desperate act. In addition to the fear of 'rebellion,' some people worried that the Embroidered Uniform Guard would engage in framing and slander, but it seems that this is not the case.
Mao Xiang "feared punishment and submitted to the law," while Jiang Huan was demoted to the position of Chief of the Criminal Division. Even more ridiculously, he became a subordinate of the Crown Prince Cheng'en.
These are things that many people probably didn't expect before. They didn't expect His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince to be so ruthless, actually wiping out the high-ranking members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and even in a way that was somewhat humiliating.
However, many people feel that such a thing is perfectly normal. The current emperor has even humiliated Confucian scholars to an extreme degree, let alone the Jinyiwei, who are like servants. It is perfectly normal for the emperor to discard them after they have served their purpose, and there is nothing to be surprised about.
Emperor Zhu was undoubtedly angry, because news from various sources indicated that the Embroidered Uniform Guard was no longer the reliable weapon it once was. They were accused of illegal acts of humiliation and mistreatment of prisoners, and most importantly, the Embroidered Uniform Guard was now showing signs of corruption; the sword was no longer firmly in the hands of the Emperor.
Ultimately, the Embroidered Uniform Guard constantly fabricated charges to gain merit and rewards, resorting to any means to expand the scope of involvement, creating countless wrongful convictions and miscarriages of justice. They also frequently colluded with various forces to eliminate dissidents.
Emperor Zhu decreed the burning of the Jinyiwei's (Imperial Bodyguard) instruments of torture, which significantly reduced the Jinyiwei's power; they were no longer authorized to torture prisoners. When Emperor Zhu abolished the Jinyiwei's duties of handling both internal and external criminal justice, transferring these responsibilities to the Ministry of Justice, the Jinyiwei ceased to be the terrifying secret service organization it once was.
For many, this was a huge victory, as the status of the Embroidered Uniform Guard had been greatly diminished.
However, Zhu Xiong Ying felt that this was just an illusion. He was also very confident that the Jinyiwei, which had been lying low for a period of time, would bring many people a greater surprise, or rather, a sense of terror.
Zhu Xiong Ying appears to have gained some benefits, even though the imperial decree was issued by the late Emperor Zhu himself. However, many people know that this disbandment and reorganization of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was authorized and led by the Crown Prince, which led many civil and military officials, as well as scholars, to sing praises to Zhu Xiong Ying.
This is probably a misunderstanding, but Zhu Xiong Ying doesn't need to correct it. Let those people continue to misunderstand. Such a misunderstanding doesn't really do Zhu Xiong Ying any harm.
For Ren Hengtai and his associates, they were, after all, high-ranking officials. This time, they inflicted a great loss on the Embroidered Uniform Guard, which also greatly enhanced their reputation.
To be honest, they were all striving to climb to higher positions. This incident, to some extent, proved their abilities, so it could be considered a win-win situation.
The matter of the Embroidered Uniform Guard cannot be completely resolved in a day or two; many things still need to be sorted out gradually.
Fortunately, Zhu Xiong Ying didn't need to personally handle every single detail. As long as he grasped the overall direction, that was enough for him. As long as things remained under his control, that was sufficient.
Ultimately, even though Zhu Xiong Ying could be considered diligent in his duties, he simply had too many things to handle personally.
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