(Yesterday I had a fever of 40 degrees and passed out. I took antipyretics and today it’s 38 degrees and I’m still typing.)
…
Jiming Temple
The monk in black opened his triangular eyes like a sick tiger, and saw the emperor wearing a dragon robe leaning in front of the railing by the lake, his eyes wandering, taking in the beautiful scenery of green mountains and green waters on the other side, and breathing like he was puffing out clouds.
"What are you looking at?" Yao Guangxiao asked.
He and Zhu Di were emperors and ministers, as well as close friends. Based on his understanding of the emperor, Zhu Di's behavior must be brewing something unknown.
Zhu Di looked at the scenery on the other side and said in a deep voice: "I was thinking about deposing the crown prince and establishing King Qi. What do you think?"
When Yao Guangxiao heard this, everyone was dumbfounded.
He knew that His Majesty the Emperor must be thinking of something big, but he didn't expect it to explode like this as soon as he opened his mouth!
Deposing the crown prince and establishing King Qi, are you crazy? !
"Your Majesty, are you joking?" Yao Guangxiao thought that the old emperor's mind was stuck.
Zhu Di shook his head: "I'm not joking."
As we all know, Zhu Di suffers from "indirect cerebral convulsion syndrome". Based on Yao Guangxiao's observations over the years, the emperor's convulsions are within a certain range. Sometimes Zhu Di may do some puzzling things, but in the end It will not shake the foundation of the country too much.
The emperor had mentioned before that he would depose the crown prince to establish King Qi, but Yao Guangxiao didn't take it to heart because Zhu Di seemed to have just mentioned it casually and didn't seem to be serious.
But this time it was different. Yao Guangxiao could feel that the emperor was serious this time!
He really wants to abolish the crown prince and replace him with King Qi!
Yao Guangxiao asked with doubts: "What crime did the prince commit that caused Your Majesty to have the idea of deposing the prince?"
Can this prince be abolished at his will?
Nowadays, the crown prince Zhu Pangpang is deeply supported by the civil servants, and his party members are spread all over the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty. If he wants to depose the crown prince, how many people's interests will be shaken, and if he is not careful, the country's capital will be wasted!
Zhu Di touched the tip of his nose: "You may not believe it, but I can see the future of the Ming Dynasty."
Yao Guangxiao was silent for a while: "Are you trying to make me laugh?"
Although the prime minister in black was a master of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, he chanted sutras and chanted Buddha's name all day long, and worshiped the Three Pure Ones saints when he had nothing to do, but Yao Guangxiao was actually an atheist.
He does not believe that there are any strange powers or gods in the world. If there is a god in the world, it can only be him.
As for seeing everything in the future, that's nonsense. What's even more nonsense is that these words came from the emperor's mouth.
"To tell you the truth, it's like a great dream in the Spring and Autumn Period, I saw the Ming Dynasty a hundred years later."
Zhu Di murmured to himself, "In the first year of Hongxi, the new emperor Zhu Gaochi died, and his temple name was Renzong; in the tenth year of Xuande, Ming Xuanzong Zhu Zhanji died. At the age of thirty-six, he passed the throne to his eldest son Zhu Qizhen; in the fourteenth year of Zhengtong, Emperor Zhengtong The imperial commander of Zhu Qizhen personally conquered Oara, but was defeated and captured, losing power and humiliating the country..."
"etc!!"
Yao Guangxiao's head was buzzing now, "What did you say?!"
WTF?
The crown prince Zhu Gaochi and the emperor's grandson Zhu Zhanji were tied together and became the emperor in the early ten years?
What is this Zhu Qizhen? The emperor personally conscripted troops to defeat and humiliate the country?
Are you, Zhu Di, kidding you, cursing your children and grandchildren like this?
Zhu Di stretched out his hand from the lake in front of him, as if touching the long river of time, and said softly: "I saw that when the Ming Dynasty was about to sink, it was the old King Qi who stood up, helped the building to collapse, and tried his best to save it. Heaven falls to save all the people from the fire and water, King Qin protects and seals the wolf as a slave!"
Zhu Di had never said these words to anyone else.
Sometimes he really hoped that all of this was just a nightmare, but Zhu Di knew in his heart that all of this was real.
Zhu Di didn't know how he would meet Emperor Taizu Gao after his death. Could it be that Zhu Di wanted to tell Zhu Yuanzhang: "Dad, your son, I have a lot of potential. I'll kick your precious grandson off the throne. I'm awesome." No? What's even more awesome is yet to come. Your son and my descendants are all talented people, such as the Cricket Emperor...such as the emperor...such as the mighty general...such as the Taoist Emperor..."
Yao Guangxiao said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, are you sure you want to depose the crown prince and establish King Qi just because of an illusory dream?"
Zhu Di thought for a moment and said slowly: "King Qi has the Ninety-Five Styles, does the Prince have it?"
Yao Guangxiao: "?"
What the hell is this Nine-Five Style?
It was rare for Zhu Di to see the prime minister in black looking so stunned like today, and he couldn't help but laugh out loud.
He wanted to establish King Qi not because of the Lao Shizi Type 95 musket. The prince, the heir apparent, is the foundation of the country. If Zhu Di wanted to change the throne to a prince, he had to consider multiple aspects.
"Since ancient times, the prince has been established, the eldest son is established, and the virtuous son is established." Yao Guangxiao said, "The prince may not be very to your liking, or maybe he really can't compare with King Qi. But the prince is mellow, and he is the eldest son, and he is deeply loved by all the officials. If you support it, how can you abolish it?"
Zhu Di was a little helpless: "I didn't say that I would directly depose the prince, why are you anxious?"
Yao Guangxiao said seriously: "That's very good. Even if you really want to change the position of King Qi, you should do it slowly. This matter cannot be solved in a short while."
Zhu Di shook his head: "I know it well."
Seeing that the emperor had made a decision, Yao Guangxiao stopped talking.
Whether Zhu Gaojie or Zhu Gaochi becomes the prince, it will have no impact on Yao Guangxiao, and he will not favor anyone.
…
[Choose to simulate Zhu Yijun’s emperor’s life. 】
Zhu Di was sitting alone by the lake fishing. In fact, he had been able to simulate it for a long time, but Zhu Di couldn't bear to watch it anymore. He knew that Ming Dynasty was on the verge of collapse. The treasury was depleted, the border troops were depleted, the struggle between the DPRK and China was raging, the people were starving, and the emperor became a mascot.
How can such a country survive?
Zhu Di really wanted to travel back in time and give his children and grandchildren two big pockets!
Well, calling Men Tianzi requires two more slaps!
[On August 17, the 42nd year of Jiajing, you were born in Prince Yu’s Mansion. Your father was Prince Yu Zhu Zaijing. 】
[Your grandfather, Emperor Shizong of Jiajing, believed in Taoism and "If you say anything about Chu Er, you will die if you mention it." Therefore, no one dared to report your birth to Emperor Jiajing, let alone give you a name. 】
[It wasn’t until the tenth day of the first lunar month of the first year of Longqing that your father, Emperor Longqing, gave you the name Zhu Yijun when the court officials asked for the establishment of a crown prince. Emperor Longqing said: "I give you a name, Jun. The Holy King controls the world, just like making a weapon and turning the Jun."]
[On March 11th of the second year of Longqing, because you became the eldest among the children of Emperor Longqing, you were canonized as the crown prince and took the throne in the East Palace. 】
[The Crown Prince is the future Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. In order to govern the country and the people in the future, he must receive education from an early age, understand the experiences and lessons of past emperors in governing the country, be familiar with court regulations and allusions, and master the ability to control his subjects. Although you are young, you understand this very well. The emperor appointed a group of ministers as instructors to tutor him in his studies. You study very hard. 】
[Until the 22nd day of May in the sixth year of Longqing, Emperor Longqing was critically ill and summoned the cabinet bachelors Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng, Gao Yi and others in turn. 】
[After the emperor summoned Zhang Juzheng, Emperor Longqing once again summoned you, who was only ten years old. 】
[Emperor Longqing said to himself, saying that these civil servants are so heartless and have lost their power and humiliated the country. They are all rebellious officials and traitors who should be killed. They should be killed! 】
[On the occasion of the emperor's deathbed, he weakly said to you: "Zhu Yijun, from now on when the emperor is gone, you have to listen to Mr. Zhang. Do whatever he tells you to do. I entrust the Ming Dynasty to you. Already.”]
Although he was an extremely powerful emperor, he had to rely on outsiders for all his hopes. Zhu Di felt that his three views had been impacted.
Whether in the Yongle Dynasty or the Hongwu Dynasty, Zhu Di and Zhu Yuanzhang treated ministers like dogs for a walk. The prime minister at that time, Hu Weiyong, was so arrogant that he had all the power in the government and the opposition. In the end, Zhu Yuanzhang killed all the nine tribes and took away 30,000 people.
In order to restrict civil servants, Zhu Yuanzhang abolished the Zhongshu Province and the prime ministers, and divided the power of the Zhongshu Province into six ministries. The emperor was directly in charge of the government affairs of the six ministries and hundreds of departments, which was actually equivalent to concurrently serving as prime minister.
In the past, the prime minister had the power of decision-making, deliberation and administration.
After Zhu Di established the cabinet, he firmly held the decision-making power originally possessed by the prime minister in his own hands. He assigned the legislative power to the cabinet and the executive power to the six ministries. The local government is divided into three departments, responsible for justice, military affairs, and administration, and are directly responsible to the six ministries.
Under the control of the emperor, the cabinet and the six ministries performed their respective duties. The country's highest administrative orders were issued from the imperial city to every corner of the country through 1,936 post stations across the country and a total length of 143,700 kilometers.
Although Zhu Di has discovered through simulation that the cabinet he established has become the source of the evil in the Ming Dynasty, and a mere fifth-rank cabinet minister has become the prime minister at the head of the hundred officials!
But Zhu Di felt that this was not his fault. Zhu Yuanzhang could be called a model worker among emperors. After deposing the prime minister, he could do everything by himself. However, Zhu Di couldn't bear it after being the emperor for half a year. This is something a human can accomplish. Workload? !
In Zhu Di's case, the cabinet was as cowardly as a dog. And the reason why the cabinet can develop to such a huge power in later generations, apart from the reasons of the cabinet system itself, isn't there the reason of the emperor?
But no matter how much he said at this time, it was of no use. Zhu Di could only suppress his anger and continue the simulation.
[Zhang Juzheng’s ability is beyond everyone’s imagination. In the first year of your ascension to the throne, before the reign name was changed, Zhang Juzheng had already defeated all the political opponents in the court and eliminated the position of Gao Gong’s first minister in the cabinet. , He is truly a god. 】
[According to the last words left by your father, you and this Mr. Zhang cooperated tacitly and jointly managed the court, killing each other indiscriminately. Mr. Zhang is responsible for the random killings, and you are responsible for the killing. The two were very close, and under the emperor's unlimited support, Zhang Juzheng was in the limelight for a time and became the sword-wielding man of the empire. 】
[One time you were reading "The Analects of Confucius" and when you read "色博如叶", you pronounced "博" as "back" sound because of your quick speaking. What's the big deal if a teenage child mispronounces a word while studying, but Zhang Juzheng, who is standing by, suddenly yells: "This word should be pronounced 'bo'!"]
[You were so frightened that you trembled. Not only did you not dare to talk back, you also hurriedly corrected it to show that you would not read it wrong again in the future. 】
[At this time, you didn’t realize that there was a gap between you and Zhang Juzheng. The supreme emperor was actually being humiliated like this. 】
[One night in the eighth year of Wanli, you were drunk and wandering around the palace. You met an eunuch by chance. By some mistake, you beat the eunuch. However, when you sobered up, you realized that you were in serious trouble - Queen Mother Li wanted to see you. 】
[When you saw Empress Dowager Li, you didn't make any excuses. You just knelt down and admitted your mistake and cried loudly. You thought that this matter should be over by now. You, the majestic emperor, beat an eunuch. How could you do it as if you were violating heaven's laws? 】
[Empress Dowager Li took out a book, opened an article and handed it to you. You are suddenly struck by thunder because this article is called "The Biography of Huo Guang". 】
Huo Zhongru, a small county official in the Han Dynasty, gave birth to two immortal sons. Among these two immortal sons, the elder brother is named Huo Qubing and the younger brother is named Huo Guang. One is a general who enfeoffs the wolf to Juxu, and the other is a powerful official who monopolizes the government.
Emperor Wanli certainly had no interest in the Huo brothers, Guang Zong Yaozu, but he was interested. To be precise, what scared him was the most cruel thing Huo Guang had ever done: deposing the emperor.
In this situation, Empress Dowager Li was undoubtedly hinting to Emperor Wanli: Huo Guang is very capable, but he is also too capable. If the emperor disobeys, he has the ability to change the emperor.
What a coincidence, Emperor Wanli also had a Huo Guang next to him - Zhang Juzheng.
[After realizing that you were almost alive, you showed a strong desire to survive, kowtowed and admitted your mistake without hesitation, and said that you would not do it again in this life, let alone hit the eunuch. You would have to avoid the eunuch when you saw him in the future. Way to go! 】
[Admitting your mistakes is not enough, you have to write an edict of guilt. To put it bluntly, it means writing a self-reflection. You have to make this self-reflection public and show everyone in the world that I know I was wrong and I will never dare to do it again. Fortunately, you don't have to write the review yourself, Mr. Zhang will do it for you. Mr. Zhang is very good at writing self-criticisms. He just finished writing, and then went directly to the Supervisor of Ceremonies to stamp and announce it. 】
[You are a little confused now. You don’t know and you think the emperor has done some heinous deeds, burning, killing, looting and committing evil. After all, he was an emperor of his generation, but he almost lost his throne and his life because he got drunk and beat up a eunuch. 】
[The seeds of revenge are buried deep in your heart. You look at Zhang Juzheng. This Mr. Zhang is no longer your previous mentor, but your enemy. 】
[On June 20, the 10th year of Wanli, Zhang Juzheng, the Grand Master and Crown Prince, Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Grand Scholar of Zhongji Palace, died of illness. The emperor resigned from the court in order to honor him and gave him the posthumous title Wenzhong of Shangzhu Kingdom. 】
[Shortly after Zhang Juzheng's death, you ordered his family to be ransacked, and his palace status was reduced. You forcibly took away the seals and imperial edicts given to him during his lifetime, and showed his guilt to the world. Zhang Juzheng also narrowly escaped having his coffin opened and his body whipped. His family members either starved to death or were exiled. The eldest son committed suicide and this son was sent to the army. Under the pressure of public opinion, you carried out further persecution. Some of the officials employed by Zhang Ju during his lifetime were dismissed from their posts and some abandoned the market. 】
[After Mr. Zhang’s death, your mental state improved immediately and you began a four-year period of diligence, working day and night to govern the country. 】
[In a few years... you will be completely ruined and lying flat. 】
[When you are an emperor, there is nothing comfortable about being arrogant. Let’s be arrogant! 】
(End of chapter)
