allonlinenovel Chapter 266 Coercion and inducement
Chapter 266 Coercion and inducement
Chapter 266: Coercion and Inducement
"Brother Zhu, please don't be angry. I was just joking with you today. How could I possibly steal someone else's love? I'll go back to my residence right now and send someone to bring Miss Fangfang to the palace for you. Brother Zhu, you have to believe me, I really didn't touch Fangfang." Wang Wenzhou knew that the hatred of having one's woman stolen was a man's greatest hatred, and he didn't want Chongzhen to hold a grudge against him. Damn it, it's very easy for the emperor to kill someone if he wants to. Even if Wang Wenzhou is smart enough not to give Chongzhen any leverage, if Chongzhen really has his eye on him, he will still be in a terrible situation.
"Haha..." Zhu Youjian laughed loudly, "Wang Wenzhou, you have opened my eyes today. Some people will sell everything for money. Do you want to open my eyes again that some people will sell everything for power?"
"Um..." Wang Wenzhou was very embarrassed. Damn, this was a real slap in the face!
“I’ve had too much to drink today. This is my first time meeting Fangfang. How could I possibly fall in love with her? Brother Zhu, you met Fangfang first, and I came later. How could I steal my brother’s woman? I’m not a treacherous person!” Wang Wenzhou explained.
Zhu Youjian said irritably, "I am not like you. I will not be a philanderer. I only want to govern the Ming Dynasty well so that all the people of the Ming Dynasty can live in peace and happiness."
Wang Wenzhou quickly said, "Brother Zhu truly deserves to be called one of the greatest emperors of all time. He is upright and sets a good example, has the world in his heart, and loves his people like his own children. I really admire him!"
"Wang Wenzhou, I can grant you a marriage, but you must do me a favor," Zhu Youjian said with a smile.
"Brother Zhu, if you need anything, just give the order, and I will go through fire and water for you!" Wang Wenzhou said, patting his chest.
Wang Chengen frowned deeply. In all his years of serving Emperor Chongzhen, this was the first time he had seen the emperor act this way with anyone. He couldn't understand why the usually stern and unsmiling emperor would address Wang Wenzhou, a man with no manners, as a brother.
Zhu Youjian truly found a sense of friendship in Wang Wenzhou. Anyone else, knowing his identity and having been beaten, would have been terrified.
Wang Wenzhou, on the other hand, not only put on a farce, but also genuinely didn't treat him like an emperor, addressing him as "Brother Zhu" at every turn, acting as if he were a childhood friend.
Although Zhu Youjian knew that Wang Wenzhou's enthusiasm was largely feigned, he still enjoyed the feeling. Going on silly adventures with Wang Wenzhou was quite fun.
"I intend to adopt your strategy and negotiate peace with the Tartars," Zhu Youjian said.
Wang Wenzhou curled his lip and advised, "Brother Zhu, I think we should forget about it! My plan is good, and if it is implemented, it will definitely crush the Tartars. But how could the court officials possibly agree to peace talks? Even if you speak up, you will be attacked to death by those moralists who only care about face and not substance."
Zhu Youjian smiled and said, "Of course I know, but for the sake of the Ming Dynasty and the happiness of the people, I don't mind if you play the villain!"
"Wait a minute!" Wang Wenzhou frowned and asked in surprise, "Brother Zhu, are you planning to make me take the blame?"
"Haha!" Zhu Youjian laughed loudly, "Wang Wenzhou, you are a descendant of loyal officials and serve as an official in the court. For the sake of the political situation and the people, don't worry about a little bit of criticism!"
"Damn it! No wonder!" Wang Wenzhou thought bitterly. No wonder Chongzhen didn't kill him; he wanted to use someone else to do his dirty work!
"Thump!" Wang Wenzhou knelt down on the ground, pleading, "Your Majesty, please spare me! I only hit you a few times, how about I compensate you with an arm?"
"Pfft..." Wang Chengen's brain was a bit off. Was Wang Wenzhou a government official or a street ruffian? This was practically the talk of a street ruffian!
Zhu Youjian smiled and said, "Today you bought someone else's wife. I have thought about the whole thing for a long time. I have found that in the court, only you can facilitate peace talks."
"Why? Brother Zhu! Stop it! My five wives are all pregnant. You can't let my children never see their father, can you?" Wang Wenzhou pleaded, his face contorted with grief.
"Haha!" Zhu Youjian walked to Wang Wenzhou's side, pulled him up, and solemnly said, "Wang Wenzhou, you have always called me Brother Zhu, so today I acknowledge you as my brother. As long as you can accomplish this task, and your plan is perfectly implemented, eliminating the threat from the Tartars, I will bestow upon you the title of a prince of a different surname, to be hereditary and perpetual!"
"Fine! Brother Zhu, you're being too unfair! How can you fool your brother like this? Don't think I'm just a nobody; even if I were the Grand Secretary, if I dared to speak up for peace talks, those civil officials would immediately tear me apart. They'd throw all sorts of accusations at me. At first, you might trust me, but in the long run, my head will be gone!" Wang Wenzhou said with a wry smile.
Zhu Youjian patted Wang Wenzhou on the shoulder and said in a serious tone, "Wang Wenzhou, this matter is none other than yours. The jade pendant I bestowed upon you is my most cherished possession, which I have always worn. Take it out, and I will personally engrave an inscription on it for you. This jade pendant will be your pardon."
Wang Wenzhou shook his head with a wry smile and said helplessly, "Brother Zhu, you know that this is simply impossible. So many emperors in your family could not contend with the power of the ministers. Even if you don't kill me, those ministers will find a way to kill me."
Zhu Youjian had given it much thought. Even for an emperor, negotiating peace with the Tartars was impossible. However, negotiation was the best course of action. Furthermore, given Wang Wenzhou's shamelessness, he felt that if Wang Wenzhou made an effort, it might be feasible.
Zhu Youjian smiled and said, "Wang Wenzhou, I will not force you. If you do not agree, you can continue to be the prefect of Hanshan."
"Brother Zhu, you're a true brother!" Wang Wenzhou said gratefully.
"However..." Zhu Youjian said, drawing out his long throat, "The Empress wishes to invite your wives and concubines to stay in the palace for a while. My dear brother, rest assured, we are brothers, and I will not do anything immoral. I will take good care of your wives and children, and when you pass away, I will definitely allow your wives and children to come and pay their respects."
Wang Wenzhou swallowed hard. Damn it, Zhu Youjian, you're shameless! This is practically a blatant threat!
The babies were Wang Wenzhou's precious darlings; without them to feed him, he would starve to death. How could he bear to be separated from them? Moreover, judging from Chongzhen's tone, they would be separated forever, never to see each other again until death.
Wang Wenzhou frowned, pondering whether to agree or not. He felt that with his knowledge from later generations, if his plan succeeded, crushing the Tartars would be no problem. However, regardless of the final outcome, Wang Wenzhou's name, like Qin Hui's, would be condemned for eternity in the history of this timeline.
Wang Wenzhou said with a wry smile, "Brother Zhu, if you're not afraid that I'll turn the court upside down, I'll accept this job."
"Alright! It's a deal!" Zhu Youjian said happily.
"Wait a minute!" Wang Wenzhou wanted to annoy Chongzhen, so he asked, "Brother Zhu, how old is the Princess this year?"
"Six years old." Zhu Youjian looked at Wang Wenzhou with a smile. Did Wang Wenzhou want to arrange a marriage for his son? And add a protective talisman to himself?