Rule over Ming Dynasty

The Empress Dowager Zhou was facing the bright sunlight, squinting her eyes and slowly scanning the officials present.

She was filled with rage in her heart, and she wanted to teach the official who had first come up with this outrageous suggestion a lesson, even to the point of killing the chicken to scare the monkey.

Anyone with a little common sense knows what moving to Nangong means. Moreover, every official here is a well-educated person. This advocate clearly wants to imprison himself in Nangong and live out his life in solitude.

Wherever she looked, she initially suspected that it was Yin Tai or Wang Yue. After all, the person who made such a suggestion needed both courage and sufficient political wisdom.

Even he had to admit that once he was arranged to live in Nangong, the emperor would be able to rest assured and no longer worry about the threat he posed.

Empress Dowager Zhou found that it did not seem like the work of these two important ministers. She then glanced at the Minister of Works Chen Kun and other ministers, but did not find anything unusual. Instead, she felt that the looks of these officials seemed very strange.

Now she had made it clear that she was going to settle accounts with the instigator. Normally, the instigator and his relatives and friends would be somewhat panicked, but it was so peaceful here that she had a bad feeling in her heart.

Wang Yue, the chief minister of the Military Affairs Council, sighed and stood up to answer: "Your Highness, this man cannot be killed, and... he cannot be killed!"

"Why?" Empress Dowager Zhou realized that this person was of great importance, so she asked back which was exactly what she wanted.

In the world today, even the Hongzhi Emperor, who is superior to millions of people, is her grandson. Who else in the world can surpass her in status?

Yin Zhi, the chief minister of the cabinet, looked at the Empress Dowager with complicated eyes, and gave a direct answer: "Your Highness, this person is none other than Jia Jun, the former Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. He was the first to propose this plan in his memorial last year!"

It seems as if there are a pair of eyes watching all this, and today's sunshine seems particularly dazzling.

Wang Yue's "cannot kill" just now was not because this person had a high status, but because Jia Jun was already dead. Even if the Empress Dowager wanted to kill a dead person, she naturally couldn't.

As early as that windy and snowy night last year, after Jia Jun's condition worsened, he knew that he would not live long, but he still forced himself to leave a final letter to the emperor.

Since ancient times, it has been difficult to be both loyal and righteous, but Jia Jun has already achieved it.

It was righteousness for him to obey the order of the Empress Dowager and enter the palace despite the disapproval of the world. It was also righteousness for him to drink the seafood soup at the cost of his life. From beginning to end, he never forgot the kindness of his support.

But he was, after all, an important official of the Ming Dynasty, and a loyal official who always wanted to repay the emperor for his kindness, so before he died, he decided to break the impasse for the emperor.

Because of the status of Empress Dowager Zhou, Emperor Hongzhi was at a natural disadvantage in this struggle, and even if he won, it would be a defeat.

Killing her is impossible. There is no precedent for an emperor to kill his grandmother. This move will not only make Emperor Hongzhi infamous for eternity, but will also cause the Ming Dynasty, which is thriving, to fall apart.

It is impossible for him to stay. The existence of Empress Dowager Zhou in the Forbidden City is always a variable. The average life span of the emperor has already explained many problems. Maybe the Empress Dowager will take the opportunity to set fire to the Qianqing Palace again.

Jia Jun knew that the best approach was to follow the example of Emperor Jingtai of that year. He did not keep the retired emperor in the Forbidden City, but instead imprisoned the retired emperor Yingzong in the Nan Palace.

Confinement cannot be put on the table directly.

The advantages of the Nan Palace became apparent: it posed no threat to the emperor in the Qianqing Palace, was a residence of a size befitting the status of the Grand Empress Dowager, and was also under the emperor's nose.

If the Grand Empress Dowager was imprisoned in the Nan Palace, it would be difficult for her to do anything harmful to the Emperor, and people could not find any major faults with her.

This brilliant proposal became the best solution for the emperor to break the impasse.

It is worth mentioning that after the contents of the will were announced, officials led by Yin Zhi and Wang Yue successively submitted memorials to support Jia Jun's proposal to move the Empress Dowager to the Nangong Palace.

That's right. The proposal to arrange the Empress Dowager to the Nan Palace was put forward by Jia Jun when he was dying, and was later supported by all civil and military officials in the court.

The fate of Empress Dowager Zhou had already been arranged at the end of last year. Her fate had long been in the hands of the emperor, but Empress Dowager Zhou was trapped in it without knowing it.

The Empress Dowager Zhou's act of burning Guansui Palace meant that the Emperor no longer had to worry about any doubts, so he arranged for the Empress Dowager Zhou to move into Nan Palace today.

"Jia Jun?"

Empress Dowager Zhou opened her mouth slightly, her face full of disbelief.

She had suspected all the officials present, but she never thought that it was the deceased Jia Jun, the former cabinet minister she had once promoted, who was the instigator.

Facts have proved that even though she had helped Jia Jun, Jia Jun's heart was actually with the emperor, and he even stabbed himself before his death.

Wang Yue saw the Empress Dowager's shock and added: "Although Jia Jun was the first to propose this plan, all the civil and military officials think it is feasible. As early as last year, all the civil and military officials in the court had submitted a petition in support of the proposal, but Your Majesty has not responded yet!" At the end, he suddenly knelt down. Although his behavior was still respectful, he felt happy in his heart: "Please ask the Empress Dowager to move to the Nangong Palace!"

"Jia Jun, it's really... damn it!"

When Empress Dowager Zhou learned the whole story, she gnashed her teeth and cursed inwardly.

She never expected that the dead Jia Jun actually had such a trick up his sleeve, and that he gave her such a fierce blow. She was so angry that her nose was crooked.

I felt a little guilty about Jia Jun's sudden death last year, but I didn't expect that Jia Jun would give me such a fierce blow before he died.

Now this plan was initiated by Jia Jun, and seconded by all the civil and military officials in the court. Now that the emperor has officially approved it, there is no room for maneuver on this matter.

If I were really imprisoned in Nangong, then no matter how high my status was, I would just be a statue of Guanyin locked in a cage in Nangong, far away from the world.

The cabinet chief Yin Zhi and other officials had already made their decision, and they all knelt down to echo Wang Yue, saying, "Please ask the Empress Dowager to move to the Southern Palace!"

Although they knew that this behavior was inappropriate, they did not retreat in the slightest for the sake of the prosperity of the world and the safety of the wise ruler.

Only by inviting the Empress Dowager to live in Nangong and exiling the murderer of Jia Jun to Nangong can the harem achieve true peace and the world will usher in a prosperous era.

"All the civil and military officials in the court are treacherous! I will not go to Nangong, I want to live in Renshou Palace, don't even think about imprisoning me!" The Empress Dowager Zhou hated all the civil and military officials present at this moment, and suddenly she spoke angrily.

But just as she finished her words, the Phoenix Chariot started moving and was heading towards Nangong in front.

Seeing that the Empress Dowager wanted to say something, Liu Jin lowered his voice and kindly reminded her: "Empress Dowager, please consider your face. This is the last wish of the deceased minister Jia Jun, and it is also the unanimous request of all the civil and military officials in the court. Do you think there is room for maneuver?" Not to mention, the Empress Dowager naturally had no reason to dislike the place where the emperor could live. Now this was not the emperor's intention alone, but the decision of all the civil and military officials in the court. It was the common wish of everyone for the Empress Dowager to live in Nangong.

Empress Dowager Zhou was about to open her mouth, but she silently closed it, and then angrily cursed: "The whole court is full of treacherous officials, God wants to destroy our Ming Dynasty!"

"In the past, many people said that Your Majesty was a tyrant and that the Ming Dynasty would perish sooner or later, but the facts are just the opposite!" Yin Zhi, Wang Yue and other important officials looked at each other and sighed bitterly.

In the early days of the Hongzhi Dynasty, officials led by Ni Yue, the right vice minister of the Ministry of Rites at the time, believed that the emperor was a tyrant. As a result, under the governance of Emperor Hongzhi, the Ming Dynasty ushered in an unprecedented period of prosperity.

It was not that Emperor Hongzhi was cruel. It was obvious that he cared about the people and did not compromise with the powerful and wealthy.

Now the Empress Dowager thinks they are treacherous ministers and claims that the Ming Dynasty is going to perish, but they think that the Ming Dynasty will become better and they and the emperor will definitely create a more glorious Ming Dynasty.

"Congratulations to the Queen Mother!"

Officials such as Yin Zhi and Wang Yue watched the Empress Dowager being forcibly carried by eight eunuchs, and the corners of their mouths could not help but rise slightly, and then they solemnly bid farewell to her.

"Just wait for me, you bunch of treacherous villains. One day I will settle accounts with you!" The Empress Dowager was carried away, but she still made a harsh remark.

Officials such as Yin Zhi did not retreat because of this. Instead, they became more determined to kill Empress Dowager Zhou in Nangong so that this old witch would never come out to harm people again.

Nangong, where Emperor Yingzong was once imprisoned.

Although the trees that were cut down in the courtyard have grown back, the place still looks lifeless, and the huge palace seems like a haunted house full of stories.

The place has been tidied up and has all the furniture needed. All the palace maids and eunuchs were arranged by the Queen, and they were all unfamiliar faces to Empress Dowager Zhou.

If Empress Dowager Zhou wanted to meet anyone in the future, she would need the consent of the empress or the emperor. This time, she was already enjoying the treatment of the former retired emperor Yingzong.

Liu Jin personally arranged for Empress Dowager Zhou to stay here. Before leaving, she smiled and said, "Your Majesty asked me to bring you a message!"

"What?"

"Ji died of poisoning!"

Empress Dowager Zhou’s eyes widened, and a chill suddenly surged from her toes to her heart.

The door of Nan Palace slowly closed, directly cutting off all contact between this place and the outside world, and the Empress Dowager was about to officially withdraw from the political stage of the Ming Dynasty.

The sky is blue and high, with a few light clouds floating by occasionally. The March wind brings a hint of spring and a strong historical atmosphere, as if telling the story of ancient spring.

In the brilliant spring sunshine, the golden glazed tiles of the imperial palace sparkled brightly under the reflection of the morning sun, contrasting with the red bricks and stones on the city wall, highlighting the royal dignity and majesty.

Xiyuan, Yangxin Hall.

Wisps of ambergris rise from the copper furnace, and the aroma is filled with a solemn and dignified atmosphere, which also refreshes the people who are in it.

Zhu Youtang has been in office for thirteen years, and his imperial power has become stronger and stronger, his eyes are deep and full of wisdom. At this moment, he sits upright at the desk, holding the imperial pen in his hand, and is concentrating on reviewing memorials one by one.

Now the entire Ming Dynasty is politically stable and the people are harmonious. Except for some unavoidable natural disasters, there is no large-scale unrest.

Because the Ming Dynasty implemented a policy of strengthening the military, if a large group of bandits really appeared in a local area and harmed the people, the governors of each province would immediately mobilize troops to clear them out.

It is thanks to the governors and local officials who dared to take action that many dangers have been nipped in the bud. Now it is impossible to see the kind of bandits who dared to attack cities and seize land in southern Jiangxi.

Of course, it is impossible that the Ming Dynasty was completely free of any problems. At least the problems of the royal family were becoming increasingly acute, and some officials had already discovered the harm posed by the royal family.

Although members of the Ming royal family could not directly control military power, their large numbers and special status made them a potential threat to the court's rule to some extent.

In addition to this potential threat of force, many knowledgeable people are more concerned about the financial burden caused by the royal family.

According to statistics from later generations, at the end of the Jiajing period, the population of the royal family reached 28840. Assuming an annual average expenditure of 1153 dan per person, the total amount exceeded million dan, which brought tremendous financial pressure to the Ming court.

For example, Shanxi Province had 152 million dan of rice and wheat per year, but the imperial family needed 312 million dan of rice as salary. Henan Province had 84 dan of rice and wheat per year, but the imperial family needed 192 million dan of rice as salary.

Zhu Youtang actually always felt that the problem of the royal family was exaggerated. After all, a certain beautiful country owed so much money to countries all over the world, but can you really get it back?

The power of the royal family was just above that of ordinary people, but it could not compare with the imperial power, and naturally could not compete with the huge group of civil servants. Therefore, at the end of the Jiajing period, there were even people from the royal family who starved to death.

Zhu Youtang knew that the current court finances did not have much pressure to support these vassal clans, but he always believed that development was the hard truth, so he hoped to lead these clans to the chariot of economic development: "The Ministry of Rites ordered that first Prince Ning started things in Jiangxi, and then Prince Chong controlled the palace fire from afar, the clans must be guarded against! Those with little power will be given easy rewards with righteousness, and those with small countries will be discouraged from evil intentions. The "New Regulations for the Clan and the Ancestral Clan" will reduce the salary and rice, and cut the clan members. The three generations of the close relatives of Emperor Taizong are not limited to clan members, but after four generations, the number is limited, and the maximum number cannot exceed 1,500. The rest will be given gold and returned to agriculture and business!"

Faced with potential problems with clan members, he planned to have the Ministry of Rites draft a "New Regulations for Princes and Vassal States". The focus this time was not to reduce the rice salary, but to reduce the number of clan members, especially to set an upper limit on the number of people in each prince's palace.

The drawbacks of the royal family and vassal system did not exist from the beginning, but were a process of gradual evolution. After all, there were only 25 princes in the beginning, while by the end of the Ming Dynasty, the number of royal family members was said to be close to one million.

Zhu Youtang planned to establish a white list and conduct assessments on clan members who were already distant relatives. As for those clan members who could only receive 400 dan of rice per year, he would provide certain financial compensation to support them in entering the business field, but they would not be allowed to take imperial examinations.

In addition, the affairs of the Empress Dowager eventually caused sequelae, and some discordant voices emerged.

As the affairs of Empress Dowager Zhou fermented among the people, although many people were on his side, the reforms he had carried out over the years had also offended a large number of old dignitaries, so naturally some people would take the opportunity to put the blame on him.

For example, the Kong family in Shandong has been quite active recently, and even launched a blatant attack on their own unfilial emperor.

The Confucian family was suppressed by the imperial court because they falsely reported the disaster situation and defrauded disaster relief funds. Not only did they lose money, but they also lost face.

Zhu Youtang did not put his pen on the memorial, but wrote a modern phrase in the blank space next to it: "Let the bullets fly for a while!" (End of this chapter)