Rule over Ming Dynasty

Chapter 155

Different from the concept of "sharing the blessings of peace" advocated by the rulers of the Ming Dynasty, the Annan Li Dynasty, as one of the strongest countries in the Indochina Peninsula, has always treated neighboring countries such as Champa, Laos, Siam, Java, and Raja as The big bullies the small.

Relying on its strong military strength, the Le Dynasty conquered the surrounding small countries such as Champa, Laos, Siam, Java, Raja, etc., and made these vassal states pay tribute to them every year, creating an "sub-vassal system".

For example, in the sixth year of Chenghua, Li Sicheng personally conquered Champa, captured the capital of Champa, and captured Panluo Chaquan, the king of Champa alive, and set up Guangnan Province to govern three prefectures and nine counties.

In the 15th year of Chenghua, Li Sicheng personally conquered Laos and won a big victory. His king escaped, but he took a lot of property, population and land from the Laotians.

It's just that on this vast land in the east, there is the most powerful country in the world after all, and it is also the nominal suzerain of all the countries in the Indochina Peninsula.

In November of the 22nd year of Chenghua, the Prince of Champa, Gulai, led his troops to invade the territory of the Le Dynasty. He was afraid of the counterattack of the Le Dynasty army, so he led his concubine, prince and grandson, and thousands of people from the tribe to Guangdong. Ask Daming for help.

Xianzong was a master who was not afraid of troubles. After learning the whole story, he did not adopt the suggestion of the civil servants to "verbally warn Li Chao".

After all, the distance between the two places is too far. Even if Emperor Xianzong wants to teach Li Dynasty a lesson, he still needs to understand the whole story.

After Tu Yu went to Guangzhou to understand the whole story and knew that the Li Dynasty was at fault, he asked Xianzong to move to the Li Dynasty and order him to cease military service.

He personally led thousands of people to escort Prince Champa Gulai back to his country on [-] ships owned by Zhang Xuan, a maritime merchant in Dongguan.

Despite the strong intervention of the Ming Dynasty, Annan and Champa ceased their military truce, but the two sides have already forged a deep blood feud.

This time when the envoys of the two countries met in the capital of Ming Dynasty, Annan envoy Li Guangdu, as the victor, continued to directly humiliate Champa envoy Wen Jin with words.

Although the king of Champa has returned to the country since ancient times, most of the territory has fallen into the hands of the Li Dynasty and the rebel generals. Today's Champa can be said to be lingering.

"Haha... the taste of your Zhancheng women is really amazing. I heard that your wife was defiled by our soldiers, but unfortunately I didn't taste it!" Just at the banquet just now, Annan's envoy Li Guangdu deliberately used Words angered Champa envoy Wen Jin.

Champa envoy Wen Jin was poked in the sore spot, and he no longer cared about Ming's rules, so he rushed to Li Guangdu angrily and said, "Take your life!"

The Ministry of Etiquette arranged for Zhang Mao, a British official living at home, to host the banquet. When he saw that the two sides were about to fight, he stood up and tried to persuade them to fight.

"The British public is good at shooting bows and arrows, but fighting is not his strong point, so he got punched in the eye socket!" Xu Qiong, Minister of Rites, observed Zhu Youtang's reaction and reported bitterly.

Zhu Youtang finally knew why Xu Qiong was so flustered. Although no one was killed at the banquet, the British public Zhang Mao was injured when he attended the banquet instead of him.

This matter is not big, but it is not small.

In the great Ming Dynasty, all the world proclaimed their vassals, and all nations came to the court. In the end, a small Annan envoy dared to beat the envoy. How can there be any face when this matter spreads?

Zhu Youtang realized that the nature of the problem was very serious. Although Zhang Mao, such a noble waste, had lost the face of his ancestors, he still unequivocally defended him: "Who beat the British Duke?"

"Annan envoy Li Guangdu, at that time he kicked the Champa envoy Wen Jin fiercely, and the Champa envoy was not his opponent at all!" Xu Qiong swallowed secretly, reporting the report cautiously.

Among the five envoys this time, the most difficult one was undoubtedly Annan Lichao.Although the strength of this foreign vassal is average, there are too many mountains and forests there, which is a difficult bone to crack.

"It's really arrogant! According to the usual practice, how should such incidents be handled?" Zhu Youtang naturally wouldn't be a coward, and immediately said with a sullen face and angrily.

Since he was determined to build Daming into the world's textile center, he needed to re-establish the prestige of the suzerain of Daming, so he needed a massacre to establish his prestige.

Not to mention that the Le Dynasty under Li Sicheng's administration sometimes offended the Guangdong and Guangxi regions. An independent Le Dynasty is not conducive to controlling the Indochina Peninsula. The peninsula's prestige is declining.

That's why, once he has a suitable excuse, he doesn't mind launching a war, a battle like the bloodbath of Annan during Zhu Di's time.

Xu Qiong, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, felt Zhu Youtang's killing intent, but replied bravely: "Your Majesty, this matter is not custom-made, and it has never happened before, and I don't know how to deal with it!"

"Liu Jin, go and call Mr. Wange over to discuss!" Zhu Youtang ordered helplessly when he noticed that obedient courtiers would often lose track.

Wan An is already an old man in his seventies. Although he has been pampered for many years, his lack of exercise has made his health worse, especially coughing from time to time.

As Zhu Youtang officially moved his office here, the current cabinet also moved to the South Pavilion outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

After Wan An learned the whole story, he made a proposal: "Your Majesty, the Duke of England represents your face, and now he was hurt by Annan's envoy for persuading the fight. This matter has to be punished! However, Li Guang'an is an envoy of foreign vassals after all. Daming is also a country of etiquette, so it is not appropriate to punish too much and cause troubles! The old minister thought that Annan's envoys could be banned from the Huitong Hall, and he will send Annan's envoys out of Beijing tomorrow. The mission has nothing to say!"

After hearing this solution, Xu Qiong couldn't help giving a thumbs up secretly.

"It's a good deal for him! Chen Qing, you can deal with it according to Wange's method!" Although Zhu Youtang was unwilling, he also knew that Wan'an had handled it properly, so he ordered Xu Qiong.

Even if I want to fight, now is not the best time. After all, this reason is too far-fetched, and there is no suitable leader right now.

Seeing that the diplomatic dispute had been resolved, Xu Qiong immediately said respectfully, "Your minister leads the order!"

"Old Wange, I'm going to the Spring Festival tomorrow, so stay in the capital if you have trouble with your legs and feet!" Zhu Youtang found out that this old man who was belittled by later generations was actually a diligent old man who was sincerely seeking for the country, so he made arrangements and said .

Wan An's body is indeed not suitable for mountain climbing, and he said gratefully: "Your Majesty is so sympathetic! The old minister will stay in the South Pavilion tomorrow to relieve His Majesty's worries!"

More than half of March has passed, and green seedlings are growing in the farmland outside the capital.

A mighty team came out from the Fucheng Gate in the west gate, the flags were dazzlingly illuminated by the sunshine of Jichun, and in the middle of the team was the golden palace chariot that only the emperor could ride.

It was never a trivial matter for the emperor to travel. Except for the school captains in armor, Jin Yiwei alone dispatched as many as 5000 people, followed by the accompanying civil and military officials.

At this time, the green grass on both sides of the official road, the spring swallows pecking new mud, and the green willows swaying in the wind, this field presents a scene full of vitality.

Today, Zhu Youtang was taking a break from his busy schedule. He was sitting comfortably on the palace carriage, admiring the scenery of the fields on both sides, and he could see the lake from time to time.

But what caught his attention the most was the farmland. Although the two sides of the road were mainly rice fields, some fields were also planted with cotton.

Cotton has just emerged now, and the seedlings that are very similar to bean sprouts show a thriving vitality, and seem to be working hard towards the world's textile center.

Zhu Youtang deliberately checked the tax situation of Daming cotton. Although it was not comparable to the output of millions of tons in later generations, he was satisfied when he saw that he could receive 120 tons of cotton every year.

As long as he insists on promoting planting and making cotton a high-return economic crop, Huaxia will not need to worry about the raw materials of cotton cloth.

Although the difficulty of the flying shuttle loom has not been overcome, the spinning jenny is a thing to break the inertial thinking, so it is only a matter of time before it comes out.

Stay overnight in the Shahe Palace, and the Royal Guard of Honor came to Tianshou Mountain near noon the next day.

Tianshou Mountain originally had a very common name—Huangtu Mountain. Zhu Di chose this place as the mausoleum for Empress Xu. Naturally, it was also his eternal resting place, so he changed its name to "Tianshou Mountain".

Tianshou Mountain is not only the mausoleum of Zhu Di, but also the mausoleum of the Ming emperor behind. The only exception is Jingtai Mausoleum of Emperor Jingtai.

Not long after the change of seizing the door, Emperor Jingtai was reduced to the king, and after his death, he was buried as a prince in Jinshan Pass in the west of Beijing.

After Emperor Xianzong ascended the throne, although he regained the imperial title for Emperor Jingtai and rebuilt the mausoleum, Jingtai Mausoleum was not moved to Wanshou Mountain, and the green glazed tiles were still used, which was obviously much smaller than the Ming Emperor's Mausoleum.

Such treatment is the difference between Emperor Dazong and Emperor Xiaozong. More importantly, Emperor Jingtai not only lost his blood, but also lost his heir.Even if he was treated by the emperor, how could Zhu Youtang go to sacrifice again?

Just seeing the treatment of Emperor Jingtai, Zhu Youtang secretly made up his mind to have more children.

If history has not changed, Zhu Houcong was clearly given the title of Emperor Dazong, but he wanted to make his own father Emperor Dazong.

Even if you can't exchange the throne, people will call you daddy. This is the worst deal in the world. The Queen Mother Zhang who chose the emperor is even more worthy of being "the world's number one cheater".

Zhu Youtang personally offered sacrifices to the Changling Tomb of Emperor Taizong Wen, the Yuling Tomb of Emperor Yingzong Rui, and the Maoling Tomb of Emperor Xianzong Chun, and the other tombs were sacrificed by ministers on their behalf.

Since the Xiaoling Mausoleum of Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang is in Nanjing, the Chang Tomb of Emperor Taizong Wen is the first among all the tombs, while Yuling and Maoling are grandfathers and fathers, so this is the most suitable three tombs.

It's not that Zhu Youtang doesn't want to pay homage to the other two tombs, but the distance between the imperial tombs is not too close, and the three imperial tombs are already a hard job, which is really not allowed by physical strength and time.

It's just that the first stop is not Changling, but Maoling, which has just been built.

"Your Majesty's blessings, servant girl!" Liang Fang, the eunuch in charge of the Changling Temple, saw Zhu Youtang's arrival, and immediately saluted respectfully.

Zhu Youtang saw that Liang Fang's white hair was obviously much more, and asked with concern: "Liang Fang, how are you doing recently?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. Your servant is well!" Liang Fang said happily when she saw Zhu Youtang coming.

Zhu Youtang originally wanted to continue to use Liang Fang, but Liang Fang insisted on coming here to guard the tomb, so he added a respect to this loyal eunuch.

Although in Wenchen's pen: Wenchen is more loyal, eunuchs are more treacherous.It's just that when the soldiers approached the city, all civil and military officials were busy opening the city gate to welcome the new master, and the only eunuch who accompanied Chongzhen, Wang Chengen, died for the country.

"Your Majesty, the servants have already made arrangements. Please go up the mountain to worship the late emperor! The late emperor will be proud of you knowing that you are so good at martial arts and martial arts!" Liang Fang kept paying attention to the court, smiling sincerely.

Although the late emperor said that "the crown prince is not like me", the late emperor was wrong after all, and the current Hongzhi must be better at power than the late emperor.

Zhu Youtang looked at the newly built several hundred meters of sacred road in front of him, as well as the layers of palaces and buildings above. In fact, this was the second time for him to come here.

At the end of December last year, when Zhu Jianshen was buried, he personally attended the funeral once.It's just that at that time only the Xuan Palace was repaired, but the buildings on the surface had not yet started.

It's just that when I come here again now, what I see in front of me is the most standard imperial tomb.

Zhu Youtang walked into the road paved with stone bricks. This road is called Shinto. Since there is a stream in Longevity Mountain, a stone bridge will be built in each mausoleum of Shinto.

Today's sun is rather sunny. Although there are eunuchs holding umbrellas, it is not too easy to climb Fangcheng on foot.

The first thing to appear is the wordless stele pavilion, which stands in the middle of the Shinto.

Going forward, it is similar to the layout of Fengtian Temple in the Outer Dynasty.The frontmost one is the Enmen Gate, which is a three-room hall gate with a single eaves resting on the mountain, with a gable extending far away on both sides.

After passing through the Yan'en Gate, the front is the Yan'en Hall.This hall is on the top of a mountain with a single eaves, five rooms wide and three rooms deep, and the construction cost alone has reached 20 taels.

"Your Majesty, do you want some water?"

"Need not!"

"Your Majesty, this servant will wipe off your sweat for you!"

"Need not!"

……

Zhu Youtang discovered that being an emperor was also a hard job, and even the emperor couldn't shirk this kind of sacrifice. In particular, Maoling also found a reason for the minister to make a statement.

On the third day after the completion of the Maoling Mausoleum, thunder, lightning and hailstorm suddenly struck the area of ​​Tianshou Mountain, and many mausoleum buildings, halls, kitchens, pavilions and prison halls were smashed, and many tile decorations were smashed.

After learning about this incident, many officials went to Shushu to ask Zhu Youtang to cultivate virtue.

Zhu Youtang knew that he couldn't just take the throne and do nothing, so if he didn't sell some physical strength for this spring festival, it would be really not kind, so no matter how hard he worked today, he had to persevere.

There are three gates at the back of the Yan'en Hall, which are in the shape of glazed flower gates, and the gate tower of the middle gate is in the shape of a single eaves resting on the top of a mountain.Fortunately, passing through the gate is the last Lingxing Gate.

If it was said that it was the outer court area just now, then now it is entering the real bedroom.

Entering from the Lingxing gate, you will see the five offerings of stone, and behind it is Fangcheng, and above Fangcheng is Minglou.In front of Minglou stands a mausoleum stele, which is inscribed: The Mausoleum of Emperor Xianzong of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Youtang was out of breath when he arrived here, but he still gritted his teeth and went straight through a coupon hole, and came to the stone offering table in the square behind, where he needed to perform sacrifices facing the treasure top on the treasure city.

Today is destined to be a day to torment the emperor. After the sacrifice here, he has to walk down the mountain, and there are two other imperial tombs to sacrifice.

Spring festival, the emperor's catastrophe day.

(End of this chapter)