"Master Cheng, what is going on?"
"I don't know. Our General Affairs Department is only responsible for notifications. I don't know the details. Ask Mr. Sun Ge and the others!"
"Don't look at me, I don't even know!"
"Mr. Yuan Ge, could it be related to the royal family? Otherwise, why would the members of the clan attend the court meeting?"
"It's very possible, but there's nothing big going on with the royal family!"
Yuan Keli, Sun Chengzong and others were shaking their heads, and their hearts were full of doubts.
It's not a great dynasty or a ceremonial dynasty, so why would the seventh-rank officials in Beijing be notified to go to court?
While waiting in confusion, the bell on the corner tower rang, the corner doors on both sides opened, and civil and military officials lined up to enter one after another. The huge Huangji Hall was full of people.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
Wang Chengen's voice sounded outside the door, and the faces of the officials suddenly became solemn. After the emperor sat down, they all saluted.
After everyone straightened up, Wang Chengen's voice sounded again: "Empress Xuan has an audience!"
After a while, Queen Zhou entered the Huangji Hall with Zhu Cixiang in her arms and saluted Chongzhen.
"I see you, Your Majesty!"
"Queen, please take a seat!"
After Empress Zhou hugged Zhu Cixiang and saluted, she went up to the platform and sat down on the seat on Chongzhen's left hand side.
The ministers were a little confused. The harem was not allowed to interfere in politics. This was a custom.
Not to mention sitting next to the emperor's dragon chair, it is taboo for the queen to enter the Huangji Palace, except for major ceremonies. But what grand ceremonies are there now?
"Time flies so fast. In the blink of an eye, my eldest son Zhu Cixi will be one year old. I summon all my dear friends to come here. I thought I would take this opportunity to canonize him."
The ministers who were still confused just now suddenly realized that it was no wonder that the queen was here, and no wonder that the seventh-rank officials in Beijing were summoned to the court.
The age at which princes can be canonized as princes was clearly stipulated in the Ming Dynasty. Except for the prince, the other princes were canonized at the age of ten and became vassal at the age of twenty.
But there are also special circumstances, such as a certain prince who is very popular with the emperor and will be canonized in advance. This is possible.
However, according to the ancestral system, in order to prevent the prince from crying, urinating, falling and crawling in the Huangji Palace, those under the age of ten can only be held in the harem or receive canonization at the Qianqing Gate.
But Zhu Cixiang has now entered the Huangji Palace.
Do you want to directly establish him as the crown prince? Although Zhu Cixiang is the eldest son, the emperor is only twenty years old now. Is this too early?
Yuan Keli, Sun Chengzong and others looked at each other. Although the establishment of a prince was a royal matter, and Zhu Cixiang was the eldest son born to the queen, there was nothing wrong with establishing him as the prince.
But the prince is the foundation of the country, but it is related to the future of the Ming Dynasty. They must ask the emperor to think twice.
It’s not that it won’t be established, it’s that it will be established a few years later.
"I am determined to canonize Zhu Cihong as King of Wu!"
As soon as Chongzhen finished speaking, the ministers breathed a sigh of relief. It was easy to say that it was not just a matter of appointing a prince, but then they were a little surprised.
Because Zhu Cixi's prince title was King Wu.
The title of the royal family is divided into one-character king and two-character king. The status of one-character king is much higher than that of two-character king, because it is the title of prince, and the title of prince is divided into four parts: "Jin, Qin, Qi, and Chu" The title is the most noble.
Although the status of the four titles is equal, according to statistical data, the King of Jin is the highest. Since the beginning of the feudal system, there have been 29 titles, 12 of which have become emperors.
From the perspective of the succession order of the throne, the probability of King Jin inheriting the throne is second only to that of the prince. From this aspect, King Jin is the most noble among all kings.
Now that the King of Jin has been deposed because of the Eight Locust Merchants, and the entire lineage of the King of Jin has been kicked out of the royal family tree, it stands to reason that it is only natural for the eldest son to be canonized as the King of Jin. How come he becomes the King of Wu?
Sun Chengzong, Yuan Keli and others were thoughtful. Although the King of Wu was one level lower than the four kings of Qin, Jin, Qi and Chu, he was the most special existence in the entire Ming Dynasty.
Just because the title of King Wu was the royal title that Taizu had before he ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor.
I don’t know about other dynasties, but in the Ming Dynasty, the King of Wu was definitely the most special existence. Zhu Ji, the fifth son of Taizu, was granted the title of King of Wu, and was immediately changed to King of Zhou. Zhu Biao’s son Zhu Yunxi was also canonized as King of Wu, but was demoted by Chengzu. For King Guangze.
Since then, the title of King Wu has been empty, and it has not been used by dozens of princes for more than ten generations, which fully shows its special nature.
The emperor was so young, and he could only seal the territory and split the land before his eyes. The future heir might not be as wise as him, but at worst he would be a steadfast leader.
It is true that Zhu Cixiang is the eldest son, but he is too young to tell. Whether he can inherit the throne in the future remains to be seen.
If he cannot inherit the throne, then the King of Wu is the best destination for Zhu Cixiang. After all, this is the most special prince in the Ming Dynasty, and he is the eldest son of the emperor.
The title of King Wu can be regarded as one that can be attacked when advancing, and one can be defended when retreating.
Chongzhen naturally knew what the officials were guessing, but he did not explain it.
As a person from later generations, I dismiss the idea of inheritance that "it is not a matter of virtue to establish a direct descendant, and it is not a matter of virtue to establish a son," and I even think it is a bit crazy.
It is said that the purpose of establishing heirs and elders is to prevent the royal family from killing each other. In fact, the previous emperor was too obsessed with the throne and had to wait until his death to read out the edict of succession, such as the most famous case of nine sons seizing heirs.
And his idea is very simple. He treats all princes equally. How far he can reach depends on his own efforts and talents.
It is not required to be able to write pens to bring order to the world, or to be able to use horses to determine the world, but at least to be able to control power, know people and appoint them, be decisive in killing, and govern with good principles.
After reaching the level that he is satisfied with, he goes directly to the Zen position.
The emperor seems to be a noble person, but in fact he is the highest-ranking worker who is imprisoned. This is not good, and that is not good. There is no way to live freely.
Secondly, he had a hunch that there was a high probability that his son would not survive him. Since there was a high probability that he would not inherit the throne, he would make an idle prince.
After all, he personally decided that the prince would be prosperous in three lifetimes and decline in fifth lifetime. This can be regarded as some selfish motives of a father!
"My dear friends, do you have any different opinions?"
"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"
Listening to the emperor's question, the ministers responded directly in unison, indicating their acquiescence.
Now he is a prince, not a vassal king. There is no vassal state, fiefdom, rewards, etc. What do they object to?
Object to being too young? Taizu's eighth son Zhu Zi and ninth son Zhu Qi were less than one year old, and his tenth son Zhu Tan was less than three months old. Zhu Jianjun, the seventh son of Zhu Qizhen, was less than two years old and was canonized as King Ji.
"Since you all have no objections, I will go up to the palace to receive congratulations and perform twelve salutes. All other rituals will be waived. As for the prince's golden treasure and golden book, he will not be given to him until he reaches ten years old. The Ministry of Rites drafted an edict to inform the world. !”
Even with such a simplification, it took half an hour to complete.
Since then, the most noble prince of the Ming Dynasty has appeared, and that is His Royal Highness King Wu.
After the emperor accompanied Empress Zhou and left the Huangji Hall with Zhu Cixiang in his arms, Wang Chengen on the platform shouted: "His Majesty has ordered that the Cabinet, the Sixth Ministry, the Firearms Research Institute Xu Guangqi, and the Military Discipline Supervision Department Li Banghua come to the Wuying Hall to discuss matters!"
A quarter of an hour later, everyone saw the emperor in Wuying Hall. After saluting again, everyone sat down in order.
"My dear friends, spring has begun, and in a month, the weather will completely warm up. I have decided to personally march north to conquer the slaves, destroy the Mongolian tribes, and destroy Fuso's army in Korea along the way!"
