PNB Chapter 271 Death
Chapter 271 Death
Shen Lian took the memorial and glanced at it. Good heavens! Almost the entire Aisin Gioro royal family was involved. These guys really wanted to eliminate them completely!
"Your Majesty is magnanimous and benevolent, unprecedented in history! These remnants of the Manchu Qing dynasty not only show no gratitude but also plot to rebel, their crimes are unforgivable. We beseech Your Majesty to issue an edict to have them executed by slow slicing and their entire families exterminated." Chang Le, due to his merits, now holds the position of Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, making him one of the most high-ranking officials in the court.
"Your Majesty, dynasties have come and gone throughout history. Yet some dynasties have treated the former imperial family well! But those were all my Han dynasty."
"After the Manchus entered the pass, they not only wantonly slaughtered people of all ethnic groups, but also exterminated the former Ming imperial family. Zhu Cihuan, the fifth son of Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty, went into hiding after the fall of the Ming Dynasty and made a living by teaching."
"In the 47th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, Zhu Cihuan revealed his identity to an old friend while drunk, and was subsequently arrested by the Qing government!"
"He was already 75 years old at the time and had no intention of rebelling. However, Kangxi still had him executed by slow slicing and also beheaded all his children and grandchildren."
"Your Majesty is kind and benevolent. However, the crimes committed by the Manchus against China are countless. Your Majesty must not be lenient towards this barbarian race!" Wang Kaiyun stepped forward and reported. He then knelt on the ground.
"Your Majesty, please do not be soft-hearted and swiftly execute the remaining Manchu rebels!" All the ministers stepped forward and knelt down, shouting in unison.
"We have no choice but to kill them!" Shen Lian shook his head. But if they really did what they said—exterminating nine generations of relatives—wouldn't that mean killing hundreds of thousands of people?
Shen Liandao didn't think these people deserved to die, but he felt it was a waste.
"Mr. Wang, please rise quickly. All my ministers, please rise!" Shen Lian hurriedly gestured to the eunuchs to help Wang Kaiyun up. The old man was over seventy years old; he shouldn't kneel too long.
After Wang Kaiyun stood up, he did not return to his seat, but stood with a bow, as did the group of ministers behind him. They were clearly pressuring the emperor to make a statement.
Our emperor is good in every way, except he's too soft-hearted. How can an emperor be so soft-hearted, especially when dealing with the previous dynasty's royal family?
They had already gathered all the charges against them; today, the Emperor was determined to convict them. The entire court would not be at ease until these members of the Manchu royal family were executed.
"Alright! Then let's behead all these traitors and exterminate their entire families! All other members of the Manchu imperial clan and the Gioro clan shall be demoted to commoners."
"Furthermore, Yi Kuang's family has rendered meritorious service in reporting this matter, so they will be spared death but demoted to commoners!" Regardless, although Yi Kuang was greedy, he had helped him a lot in the past. Shen Lian decided to spare his life.
"As for Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu, execute them! Just bury them anywhere in the Qing Imperial Mausoleum!" Shen Lian waved his hand.
Empress Dowager Cixi's underground palace has already been built, but she certainly can't be buried there now. It's already a great favor from Shen Lian that they were allowed to be buried near the imperial mausoleum.
On a personal level, he felt some pity for Emperor Guangxu. He had been a puppet his entire life, without committing any truly evil deeds. But since he had ascended the throne, he had to die. Consider it an atonement for his ancestors!
"Your Majesty is wise!" Although not entirely satisfied with the Emperor's reply, the ministers still shouted in unison.
Having killed thousands in an instant, Shen Lian felt no pleasure. He only felt a growing sense of unease; the Emperor's power was truly immense, a single decision could result in the deaths of tens of thousands.