Compared to the time traveler, the historical Ivan IV was far more benevolent. Although he participated in the barbaric campaigns where nobles beat villagers and forcibly conscripted women, he never killed a family in court political struggles.
However, the time traveler, viewing Ivan IV with a historical perspective, sees this history differently.
All the great nobles were corrupt factors hindering the rise of Tsarist Russia. They squandered the Kremlin's treasury to enrich themselves, exploited the serfs under Tsarist rule, and even demanded the virginity of their daughters from their slave owners.
What Ivan IV wanted to do was far more than just historical reforms.
A benevolent monarch only breeds a group of incompetent and foolish ministers. The time traveler, educated in Machiavelli's *The Prince*, fully realized that a tyrannical emperor is far more stable in ruling than a wise and benevolent one. Especially in managing a group of ruthless subjects, tyranny is the lubricant that drives the course of history!.
When Ivan IV arrived at the gates of the Shuysky residence, Prince Shuysky had just arrived at the militia. He jumped hastily from his carriage, ignoring the muddy ground, and rushed towards
the front of the carriage. Yusorov was the one who came out to greet Prince Shuysky. The anxious Prince Shuysky didn't notice that Yusorov's face was even paler than his own. He walked grimly to Shuysky, and the surrounding militia gradually gathered around him.
"My brother, I need your help now,"
Shuysky hurriedly explained to Yusorov. "Tsar Ivan IV killed my son, and if we don't act now, our entire family will be wiped out. The Tsar doesn't just want to deal with me; he wants our whole family exterminated. If I die, you won't escape the same fate. For the sake of the Shuysky family, and even more so for your own sake, please help me!"
"How can I help you?"
Yusorov's attitude was very cold, but Shuysky mistakenly thought that the other party did not believe him. He hurriedly explained, "This matter is extremely urgent. I need you to immediately mobilize the militia to enter the Kremlin and surround the Tsar's palace. I will poison Ivan IV, then announce that the Tsar has suddenly died, and install his mentally challenged brother Yuri on the throne. In this way, the Shuysky family will have a firm grip on the entire country."
After hearing Shuysky's audacious explanation, Yusorov simply shook his head regretfully and sighed, "My brother, do you know how I am different from you?"
"The Tsar has promised not to pursue our family's involvement in this conspiracy."
Andrei Shuysky was not quite sure what the other was talking about, but the tent behind him was lifted, and his political enemy, Tuchkov, was clapping as he walked towards him.
"A very honest confession, Grand Duke Shuysky, you know that what you just said has confirmed your crime of treason. Ivan will never let you go."
"You betrayed me! You betrayed the entire Shuysky family!"
Shuysky roared, trying to rush forward and tackle Yusorov, but was stopped by his guards. They gripped the Grand Duke's shoulders tightly and pressed him to the ground.
Most of Shuysky's face was sunk in the mud, but his eyes remained fixed on Tuchkov not far away.
"I am forever loyal to His Majesty the Great Tsar."
Yusorov offered a small compliment to Tuchkov, also trying to curry favor with the Tsar.
However, Tuchkov ignored him. Yusorov was no longer of any use; he had now arrested one of the princes Ivan IV hated most.
"It seems our Grand Prince never understood why he was captured. By the way, Ivan IV asked me to tell you something so you can understand why he has always wanted you dead."
"The Shuisky family and Valish III, who is now His Majesty Ivan, are also descendants of the illustrious Grand Prince of Novgorod. You didn't covet a close advisor to the Tsar; you planned to usurp the throne. To clear the way, you imprisoned Terepnev, exiled Ivan's wet nurse Agrafina to a monastery, and took away the Tsar's only relative. You treated the young Tsar like a stranger or a beggar, depriving him of any freedom. Prince Ivan Shuisky even dared to put his legs up…He lay languidly on the late king's bed. You removed his crown at the palace ceremony, stripped him of his royal robes and jewel-encrusted fur coat, and rudely banished him back to the harem. You plundered Ivan IV's treasures, then melted down the gold and silver to make tableware, even engraving your family crests on it. In front of the Tsar, you skinned the nobleman Mishurin alive and then beheaded him."
Tuchkov bitterly recounted the crimes committed by several noblemen in front of the young Tsar over the years, and mercilessly exposed them, "He remembers everything you've done. You taught the young Tsar to associate God with poison, the gallows, and swords. This is all the consequence of your own evil deeds; don't blame His Majesty."
Shuysky's crimes, if committed by the late King Valisi III, would have already resulted in him being skinned alive several times over. Yet he remained unrepentant.
Unwilling to accept defeat, Shuysky cursed Tuchkov viciously, "I'm unlucky to have fallen at the hands of a child, but remember this: the Shuysky family will not let you go. As long as our bloodline remains, revenge will not cease. You just wait!"
Tuchkov, as if he had heard a funny joke, viciously humiliated his prisoner.
"I forgot to tell you some bad news earlier. Just as you left the mansion, Ivan IV arrived with his guards. I think I don't need to explain what he's up to, do I? Do you really think that a vengeful Tsar would leave your family's bloodline intact?"
Hearing this, Grand Duke Shuysky turned pale. He roared angrily, trying to break free of his restraints. Yusorov, standing to the side, felt a lingering fear, thankful that he had made the right choice.
"Let me go!"
"I will haunt you even in death! I will never let you go!"
"I curse all of you."
"I'll be waiting in hell!"
Tuchkov, who had turned to leave, stopped in his tracks upon hearing this. He turned his head, half-closing his eyes, and uttered a cryptic remark to the incessantly cursing Shuysky.
"Foolish Shuysky, haven't you grasped the facts yet?"
"Hell? It is the hell Dante described!"