Chapter 5: In Zhao Wenhua Hall, Declining Again

"I ask Your Highness if you are well." Gao Gong was at the head of both the civil and military classes.

"I am well." Zhu Zhu Yijun replied.

"Looking up at the monarch's face, your ministers have a memorial to submit." Gao Gong said again.

"Submit it." Zhu Zhu Yijun replied.

The Grand Secretariat, the Six Ministries, the Nine Ministers, and the Censors bowed again.

"Respectfully, following the bright light and continuing the illumination, it has long been in harmony with the hearts of the people."

"As for our late Emperor, his benevolence was vast, and his virtue was towering. He listened to the six classics, managed ten thousand affairs, and always did it himself without slackening."

……

"Respectfully, the Crown Prince's Highness is intelligent and outstanding, with a nature of benevolence and filial piety. It is appropriate to ascend to the throne, but you are humble and follow the festival."

……

"Your ministers believe that the sacred vessel cannot be without a master, and the heavenly position cannot be left vacant for long; we hope that Your Highness will allow the spirits of the nine temples to have a place to rely on, and the common people of the ten thousand directions will have boundless benefits."

Zhu Zhu Yijun had no expression, but in reality, his spirit had wandered outside the sky, and he hadn't heard the content at all.

To summarize in his words: the sixth year of Emperor Longqing, the first day of the sixth month, the second representative meeting of the Great Ming Dynasty's thirteenth new Emperor election was held in Zhao Wenhua Hall.

Representatives from all walks of life, led by Gao Gong, cited classics and made speeches, recommending him, Zhu Zhu Yijun, to be the person in charge.

After listening, Zhu Zhu Yijun showed a bit of sadness, and replied in a reciting tone, word for word: "You ministers are planning for the ancestral temple, and your words are earnest. Hearing this, my grief increases, and I cannot bear to ascend the throne so suddenly; the request is not granted."

This was hiding his clumsiness; it was fine to be a bit smart, but it wasn't good to look too much like a veteran actor; a reciting-style reading was the most suitable for the persona.

"Your Highness, think thrice!" Zhang Zhang Juzheng advised again.

"My heart is decided!" Zhu Zhu Yijun was firm.

"In that case, the country cannot be without a master for a day; please, Your Highness, preside over the government as the successor, and ascend the throne after your grief has faded." Gao Yi came out to respond.

"Presiding over the government is fine, the rest can be discussed later!" Zhu Zhu Yijun retreated.

"We request Your Highness to choose a day to move to Qianqing Palace to correct the main position of the imperial city!" The crowd kowtowed.

"Yes! Let the Ministry of Rites discuss and propose a date." Zhu Zhu Yijun agreed.

These were all procedures discussed by the Ministry of Rites, and the monarch and ministers just needed to recite their lines, and the process went very smoothly.

Zhu Zhu Yijun didn't have the idea of making big news at this time; the form of etiquette was the content, and it was also his foundation at this time, so he couldn't easily damage it before establishing another basic base.

Every declination had its practical significance.

The declination at Huiji Gate was in full view of everyone, under the bright sun, symbolizing the Emperor's passing and the determination of the successor, carrying the meaning of announcement.

This declination in Zhao Wenhua Hall, the Emperor's secondary hall, with officials bowing, confirmed Zhu Zhu Yijun's responsibility for presiding over the government through the process, and at the same time, planned the move to the dormitory and the correct position in Qianqing Palace, which could be called the boundary between the outer court monarch and ministers, and the division of positions between the inner court and the upper and lower.

After the third time, he could legitimately accept the request to ascend and call himself "I."

Zhu Zhu Yijun moved his somewhat stiff neck; he was now a child, and it was somewhat difficult to sit for a long time.

Fortunately, it didn't take long for the monarch and ministers to finish the dialogue, and the process was completed.

Afterward, the military and civilian representatives who were making up the numbers, as well as officials whose ranks were not high enough, left one after another, leaving only the important officials such as the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers.

Zhu Zhu Yijun realized that it was time to start discussing affairs.

Requesting to ascend required people to make up the numbers, but the discussion of state affairs in the center naturally wasn't something everyone was qualified to participate in.

The so-called "big things have small meetings, small things have big meetings."

Zhu Zhu Yijun wanted to observe carefully, but two little eunuchs moved a screen and placed it in front of the imperial desk, isolating the inner and outer sight, making him unable to see clearly.

He shook his head helplessly; this was the so-called "listening to politics"—he could listen, but he couldn't interject.

Having just enjoyed the kowtowing of the officials and the shouting of "Long Live," the gap was not small when he found out that he only had the qualification to attend the meeting and couldn't discuss affairs.

He looked at Feng Bao, who was standing on the side of the screen, in a position to communicate between the inner and outer.

As the Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Ceremonial Guard, he held a high position and great power, and naturally, he was qualified to deliberate on matters during court discussions.

Zhu Zhu Yijun asked Feng Bao from behind the screen: "Big Companion, is it only those above a certain rank who can attend the regular court?"

Feng Bao moved two steps from the side of the screen to a closer place: "Your Highness, there is no fixed number for officials entering the court for the regular court; the Grand Secretariat leading the class is the convention. If there are things to be discussed and handled by the various ministries and offices, they will come. Ministers and Vice Ministers can come directly; it is not determined by rank. For matters involving specialized things, low-ranking officials also occasionally attend."

Zhu Zhu Yijun understood and nodded.

He didn't know much about these things; if it weren't for his predecessor's memories, he would have thought it was the kind of path where hundreds of people stood below and he sat above shouting, "If there is anything to report, report it; if not, retire."

Now it seemed a bit like the way his previous life's team discussed affairs.

He looked at Feng Bao again; this old eunuch's expression was respectful, and he couldn't see any resentment.

He suddenly grabbed Feng Bao's sleeve, his eyes looking aggrieved: "That Gao Gong is overbearing and arrogant; I had no choice but to make you lose face, I have wronged you, Big Companion."

Politics, you know, acting young isn't shameful.

It was necessary to appease Feng Bao; he should just tear Gao Gong apart, don't let himself get burned.

His predecessor was forced to kneel in the wrong place before the spirit and issue a self-accusation edict, which made him alert.

Making Feng Bao suffer is fine, but the hatred should still be borne by Gao Gong.

Feng Bao bowed his head deeply: "Your Highness is killing your servant!"

A sinister flash passed through his eyes.

Zhu Zhu Yijun said in a low voice: "Big Companion, rest assured; once I ascend the throne, I will definitely make Gao Gong look good!"

After saying this, he even waved his fist and snorted coldly.

Seeing Feng Bao raise his head, his eyes filled with crystalline hot tears that were about to fall: "Your Highness..."

What a powerful crying performance, Zhu Zhu Yijun sighed; if the fresh meat (young actors) of his previous life had half this level, he wouldn't have been unable to watch TV dramas.

The two of them had their own ghosts in their hearts, and the discussion in the hall began in an orderly manner.

The Minister of Justice and the Chief of the Court of Judicature and Revision looked at each other, and the former took out a memorial from his sleeve and stepped out: "This is a case that came from Huguang."

"It says that a mining tax eunuch intended to molest a woman and had his tongue bitten off; the matter involves the inner court, and the local government and the Ministry of Justice dare not decide it arbitrarily."

He looked at the Grand Secretariat and then at Feng Bao: "Several Grand Secretaries, Feng Dandang (Chief Eunuch), the Ministry of Justice's meaning is, should we have a court trial? Let all parties set a procedure, so that our ministry can report it to the palace."

Zhu Zhu Yijun almost coughed out behind the screen; a eunuch molesting a woman? Are you kidding? Did he hear wrong?

He couldn't help but look at Feng Bao.

Feng Bao only moved to the side of the screen, his expressionless face replying: "The Ceremonial Secretariat has already been informed of the specific case; the Ministry of Justice can handle it according to the law."

Gao Gong, who was below, also immediately said: "Handle it according to the law and report it truthfully."

Handling it according to the law meant they were really going to handle it as a eunuch molesting a woman; the two rarely reached a consensus.

This made Zhu Zhu Yijun pause; don't the two of them think this matter is outrageous?

Mining tax eunuch...

Huguang local...

He suddenly reacted!

What kind of criminal case! This is clearly burning the imperial envoy!

Eunuchs naturally don't go to collect taxes, but to patrol taxes; to put it bluntly, they are imperial envoys sent by the center to audit accounts.

But this imperial envoy who audits accounts, a creature without eggs, didn't audit accounts properly when he arrived at the local area, but went to molest women?

Who are you fooling!

This is no difficult case; this is a naked game between the local area and the center; no wonder the Ministry of Justice didn't dare to handle it and poked the matter to the court discussion.

Huguang reported this matter to the Ministry of Justice with the reason of a eunuch molesting a woman; don't they know how ridiculous it is?

This is being fearless! It might even be intentional!

Using such a ridiculous reason to drive people away is simply daring to be bold.

What's even more outrageous is that the center, facing such a provocation, actually retreated without hesitation!

How deep is the water in Huguang's mining lessons?

It's a pity that he couldn't interject at will in the court, even worse than Feng Bao.

He could only wait for the Ministry of Justice to report, and the Grand Secretariat to propose an opinion to the two palaces, before he could ask about it.

This matter passed by lightly, seeming insignificant; the Minister of Justice and the Chief of the Court of Judicature and Revision looked at each other and breathed a sigh of relief.

Afterward, Zhang Zhang Juzheng took over the next topic.

"A few days ago, I requested the Empress and the Imperial Noble Consort, in order to avoid delaying the Crown Prince's studies, to let the Crown Prince preside over the court every month on the third, sixth, and ninth days, and to study the classics as usual on other days; I also requested to organize the Crown Prince's curriculum and add classics, and both palaces agreed."

"Let the various ministries and the Ceremonial Secretariat know."

After saying this, he stopped speaking.

Zhu Zhu Yijun couldn't see clearly, and his body leaned forward, looking at Zhang Zhang Juzheng through the screen.

His current daily lectures were only in the morning, and the content was only the recitation of the Four Books and Five Classics, which was not heavy, equivalent to only attending half a day of classes in modern times, and only having one language class.

But looking at Zhang Zhang Juzheng's meaning, he was going to add a burden to him.

Good, he is truly his good teacher; is he afraid that his studies are too light and he has too much leisure to think about state affairs?

He could anticipate this, which was why he had considered it when he entangled Gao Yi in front of the hall; after all, he knew Zhang Zhang Juzheng as a famous and harsh imperial teacher.

Gao Yi was different; a "good old man" with no presence; now he pushed Gao Yi out to stand in the middle, which was very necessary to give himself a breathing space.

The most important reason was that compared to Gao Gong and Feng Bao, he didn't dare to act in a rival play with Zhang Zhang Juzheng, who was known for his wisdom.

What Zhang Zhang Juzheng said didn't cause any waves among the officials.

The Ming Dynasty was not like the Han or Northern Song dynasties; the major schools of Confucian classics were keen on fighting for the right to speak in the scholar-official circles, but had no interest in fighting for the Emperor's right to education.

Is the Emperor's study heavy? What does it have to do with me?

Gao Yi saw that this matter was revealed, and followed closely.

"The Right Hai Yushi-in-Chief and Minister of War, concurrently the Grand Coordinator of Three Xuan-Da Military Affairs, Wang Wang Chonggu, has a memorial to submit; let's discuss it together."

Zhu Zhu Yijun asked Feng Bao behind the screen in confusion: "Big Companion, is this three people or one person? If it's one person, how can there be so many important positions?"

A long string of official titles confused him.

Asking if you have questions is a good habit, and it is also the meaning of listening to politics.

Feng Bao lowered his body: "Your Highness, our dynasty's official system is like this. The latter Grand Coordinator is a dispatched official, only temporary, meaning he manages the military affairs of Xuanfu and Datong; the position is high and the power is heavy, so it can only be appointed temporarily."

Zhu Zhu Yijun understood and nodded.

This was to prevent him from sitting big; this position could be abolished at any time.

Feng Bao continued: "The former is an official position, not actually held, just to clarify the identity and treatment. The Right Hai Yushi-in-Chief means the Grand Coordinator has the right to report rumors and reach the heavenly hearing; the Minister of War means the Grand Coordinator has the right to mobilize troops."

Zhu Zhu Yijun understood it this way.

However, having said that, this Wang Wang Chonggu was truly a frontier official with real power.

He only heard Gao Yi continue: "Grand Coordinator Wang said that the Tatars learned of the late Emperor's passing and were lingering at the border, repeatedly making extortionate demands, fearing turmoil, and asked the center to make a decision."

"At the same time, he requested the allocation of silver to repair the autumn defense to prepare for the unexpected."

As soon as Gao Yi finished speaking, the hall was silent for a while.

The Hai Yushi-in-Chief Ge Ge Shouli asked strangely: "Isn't this the words of a steady and prudent person? It should naturally be granted; why does it need to be brought to the regular court for discussion?"

Gao Gong suddenly turned his head and looked at the Minister of War, Yang Bo: "Minister Yang, do you think so too? Is this the result of your Ministry of War's discussion?"

Ge Ge Shouli was suddenly startled, and seeing that the atmosphere was wrong, he immediately shut his mouth.

Yang Bo was pointed out by Gao Gong and was silent for a while.

He said hoarsely: "I really don't know about this matter; let my ministry discuss it and then present it to the Grand Secretariat."

Gao Gong snorted coldly, displeased.

Zhu Zhu Yijun was outside the situation, based on the principle of not being ashamed to ask: "Big Companion, what is the meaning of this?"

Feng Bao smiled: "Your Highness, your servant is a person without ability; I don't understand the big affairs of the country, and I don't dare to talk nonsense."

Zhu Zhu Yijun took back his inquiring gaze and sneered inwardly; this old fellow is pretending to be stupid and not giving face now, there will be a day for you to cry later.

He took back his thoughts and thought quietly.

He also thought like that Hai Yushi just now, thinking it was a plan for the country and there was nothing wrong with it, but looking at Gao Gong's reaction, it was clear that there was something tricky about it.

What exactly is wrong with it...

Wait!

He almost forgot, this is the Ming Dynasty, not that information age!

The late Emperor passed away for only a few days? Five days!

How could the Tatars know so quickly? And repeatedly extorted!? The memorial had already reached the imperial front!

What Tatar extortion; I'm afraid it's the extortion of the center by that Grand Coordinator of Three Xuan-Da!

"Harboring bandits to bolster one's own position"—suddenly a term flashed into his mind.

No wonder, no wonder the civil and military officials were stammering, no wonder Gao Gong suddenly turned his face.

Then, what does this have to do with this Minister of War, Yang Bo?

Wang Wang Chonggu, Yang Bo... Zhu Zhu Yijun chewed on these two names in his heart.

He didn't have a deep impression of these names, but when he heard about the "Jin Party," he immediately remembered it; it was truly familiar.

The backer of the Jin merchants who swept the country.

The reliance of Three Xuan-Da's almost separatist rule.

The guide for the Manchus who supported the Qing.

The first day of presiding over the court was truly a great meeting gift.

No, it was more than that.

Zhu Zhu Yijun suddenly reacted.

Today seemed to be all meeting gifts.

Huguang's tax resistance was the muscle display of local powerful families, a test and warning to the center's financial power.

The Jin Party's extortion was the Three Xuan-Da military town's harboring of bandits to bolster their position, a threat and mockery to the center's military power.

Even Zhang Zhang Juzheng increasing his curriculum was the Grand Secretariat's restraint and limitation on him.

Was this his first lesson in presiding over the court?

And who was giving him the lesson?

Yet he couldn't vent his anger.

His predecessor didn't have this ability, and now that he had come, even if he had a plan in his chest, he could only do it slowly.

Why? He didn't dare!

The Ming Emperor is a high-risk profession.

The imperial physician Liu Wentai killed two generations of emperors, Xianzong and Xiaozong, and returned home with honor.

Wu Sect and Xizong both fell into the water while boating, were treated for a long time, and passed away.

Shizong, the Emperor Jiajing Emperor, was almost strangled by a palace maid, and during his southern tour, the temporary palace caught fire three times; if Lu Bing hadn't carried him out, he would have been roasted.

Who can guarantee there was no trickery in this?

As for whether he was being a conspiracy theorist?

After the Guangxu Emperor died, the medical records were complete and the illness was clearly stated, but in modern times, the coffin was opened for autopsy, and there was arsenic residue in the hair; he was clearly poisoned!

Of course, in academic research, one should assume innocence until proven guilty, but he was in the game now, so he could only believe it was true and be careful.

So, how should he take this lesson today? ——

Note 1: Xuanfu requested to restore the exemption of Henan's spring and autumn classes from defending Xuanfu official troops for three years, and each year still discounted 17,000 taels, which was specifically prepared for the town's repair work. — "Veritable Records of Ming Shenzong"

Note 2: The mining tax eunuchs in the Emperor Longqing era only patrolled taxes, not collected taxes. It wasn't until the twenty-fourth year of Emperor Wanli that they started collecting mining taxes, which also triggered the Huguang mining tax case that shocked the court and the public.

Note 3: (Eunuchs) supervising the army, purchasing, grain taxes, mining passes, etc., those that are not permanently established cannot be counted. — "Collected Statutes of the Great Ming"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 7 =====

After the Guangxu Emperor died, the medical records in the history books were complete and the accounts of his death from illness were definitive; yet, in modern times, when the coffin was opened for an autopsy, arsenic residue was found in his hair—he had clearly been poisoned!

In academic research, one naturally presumes innocence until proven guilty, but since he is now caught in the middle of the situation, he can only choose to believe it is true and prioritize caution.

So, how should he respond to this lesson today? —

Note 1: The Xuanfu region requested an exemption for the Henan Spring and Autumn defense troops stationed in Xuanfu for three years; each year, 17,000-plus taels were still converted into silver for the local garrison to use for repairs and construction. — "Veritable Records of the Ming Shenzong"

Note 2: During the Emperor Longqing era, the mining tax eunuchs only patrolled for taxes and did not collect them. It was not until the twenty-fourth year of the Emperor Wanli era that they began collecting mining taxes, which triggered the Huguang mining tax case that shook the entire court.

Note 3: (Eunuch officials) serving as army supervisors, purchasing agents, grain tax collectors, and mining customs officials, whose positions were not permanently established, are too numerous to record. — "Collected Statutes of the Great Ming"

(End of Chapter)