Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

Zhu Youjian was not surprised by this question.

Because the ultimate goal of ministers in restraining imperial power is, of course, to control the deposition and enthronement of emperors.

This is also why Yi Yin and Huo Guang, despite being subject to much criticism, are still considered virtuous ministers.

The ministers needed them to set an example, as a basis for deposing and installing emperors.

A prime minister of the Song Dynasty once publicly said, "I can do what Yi Yin did," which was a threat to the emperor.

Zhu Youjian promised his ministers that he would abide by the rules of propriety and law, and even required future emperors to follow the same principle.

The courtiers believed his promise because they knew that Zhu Youjian valued the restoration of rites and music most.

However, they were not so confident that later emperors would abide by the three major rites.

If someone pretends to be well-behaved before ascending the throne, but then violates the three major rites and acts recklessly after taking the throne, what should the ministers do? How should such an emperor be restrained?

Zhu Youjian also had many thoughts on this, and he discussed it with Qian Qianyi:

"That's an excellent question, sir!"

"Being able to think of this and bring it up before me already makes him worthy of being called a minister of the state."

"The reason why I agree with the abdication of the emperor is actually due to this reason."

"If a new emperor has the guidance of a retired emperor when he ascends the throne, the probability of him acting recklessly after taking the throne will be reduced."

"Moreover, with the retired emperor still alive, if the new emperor is willful and cruel, he can consult with his subjects to depose and install the emperor to salvage the situation."

"What do you think of this method, sir?"

Qian Qianyi pondered for a moment and felt that this was a solution.

But whether this method is good or not, nobody can say for sure right now.

Even between father and son, suspicion lingered over matters concerning the throne.

After an emperor ascends the throne, he may not necessarily be willing to be constrained by the retired emperor.

He said to the emperor:

"Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty abdicated and lived a long and peaceful life of more than 20 years, which can be regarded as a good precedent."

"However, his adopted son, Emperor Xiaozong, also abdicated, but Emperor Guangzong suspected him and did not visit him to inquire about his health."

"Emperor Xiaozong was so depressed and indignant that he fell ill and died."

"Emperor Guangzong, on the other hand, incurred dissatisfaction from both the court and the public due to his lack of filial piety."

"At the request of the court officials, Empress Dowager Wu presided over the funeral from behind a screen and requested that Emperor Guangzong abdicate in favor of Emperor Ningzong."

"This happened during the Song Dynasty, and we can learn from it."

The different consequences of the two inner meditation sessions, which led to a third inner meditation session, illustrate the instability of inner meditation and the failure to establish a stable system.

Zhu Youjian was also well aware of this, and remarked with emotion:

"The emperor's power is too great. Whether the abdication is successful depends on the emperor's virtue."

"Emperor Xiaozong of Song was worthy of the title 'filial piety,' which is why Emperor Gaozong was able to enjoy his later years in peace."

"But his son, Emperor Guangzong of Song, was hardly a good emperor."

“When his unfilial behavior becomes apparent, we should decisively ask him to practice meditation.”

"Emperor Guangzong of Song violated filial piety, which can be described as a loss of morality!"

"Even if the new emperor who abdicates takes the throne, he should still be respected as the retired emperor."

This topic was also very sensitive in the Ming Dynasty:
Because the Ming Dynasty had a retired emperor who was restored to power.

If the retired emperor and the new emperor do not distinguish who is superior, it will only lead to suspicion in the end.

Therefore, Zhu Youjian made it clear that the retired emperor should be respected.

However, this also presents a problem: "There cannot be two suns in the sky, nor two rulers among the people." Since the retired emperor has already abdicated, how can he still be respected? Are the officials supposed to pay homage to the retired emperor after court sessions? If so, whose authority should the court follow?

Especially with an emperor like Emperor Guangzong of Song who was forced to abdicate, would the new emperor still have to listen to his instructions?

In response, Zhu Youjian said:
"The emperor who abdicates should be an adult and able to rule directly."

"An emperor who voluntarily abdicates retains the right to veto state affairs and can veto the emperor's decrees."

"Because of his moral failings, he was forced to become the retired emperor, but he did not have the power; he only enjoyed the corresponding honors."

Qian Qianyi could understand the difference between these two types of retired emperors.

The problem is, if the retired emperor dies, who will preside over the abdication of the immoral emperor?
If there is an empress dowager or grand empress dowager, it's easier to say. But if there isn't, are we supposed to delegate power to the ministers?
What if an emperor forced to abdicate wants to follow Emperor Yingzong's example and be restored to the throne? These are all problems.

Qian Qianyi felt a headache coming on just thinking about it, and his instinct to back down kicked in, so he offered the following suggestion:
"I believe that the abdication of the emperor should be approached with great care."

"Your Majesty is grooming a crown prince; you may order him to oversee the state."

"This way, even if problems arise, there will be less turmoil."

"Emperor Chengzu once allowed Emperor Renzong to oversee the country six times, which is a successful precedent."

Zhu Youjian nodded, feeling that the system of regency was worth considering.

However, there is a difference between a regent and an emperor; some things will only be revealed after one becomes emperor.

For example, if Emperor Chengzu had known about Emperor Renzong's policies toward Jiaozhi in advance, he would certainly have given him instructions and guidance.

Therefore, Zhu Youjian still needed to improve the system of abdication and let the crown prince become emperor to see if he was a qualified ruler.

If minor problems arise, you can provide guidance and instruction.

If someone is immoral and wicked, then find a new successor.

In particular, with the advancement of medicine, Zhu Youjian knew that it was highly likely that a long-lived emperor would emerge in the future.

If an emperor is seventy or eighty years old and still unwilling to abdicate, given his energy and ability, he will lose control of the country.

That would be a great disaster for the Ming imperial family. To avoid this, Zhu Youjian said:
"I have previously decreed that officials should retire at the age of sixty and should not remain in office without a special decree."

Even if someone over seventy years old is granted a special decree, they can only remain in office for one year at a time.

"Emperors should also abide by this requirement: emperors over sixty years of age should abdicate, and those over seventy years of age must abdicate."

"As I get older, I am not as wise in handling affairs as before, which is why I have asked that there be an age limit for my ministers."

"The same goes for emperors. If Emperor Xuanzong of Tang had abdicated at the age of seventy, he might have been a wise and capable ruler."

When Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was seventy-one years old, the An Lushan Rebellion broke out, and he became an emperor who was wise in the early period but tyrannical in the later period.

The Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty was different. In the year he abdicated, the White Lotus Rebellion broke out in Sichuan and Hubei. This war, which lasted for nine years, was no less large than the An Lushan Rebellion.

But this did not affect Qianlong's reputation in the slightest. He was even hailed by some as one of the greatest emperors of all time and a perfect political machine.

Zhu Youjian did not want to tarnish his reputation in his later years, nor did he want the Ming Dynasty to have such an emperor. Therefore, he planned to stipulate in the succession law that the emperor must abdicate at the age of seventy.

Therefore, the system of abdication must be improved so that there is a system to follow when the emperor abdicates.

Qian Qianyi felt a pang of regret upon hearing this, and regretted mentioning the abdication system.

This is a really troublesome matter, but unfortunately he can't let it go right now—

He raised this topic with the emperor, and he is currently the Minister of Rites and the head of the Datong Academy. Regardless of his responsibilities, he cannot avoid this matter.

This made him deeply aware of the meaning of power and responsibility:
"well!"

"The only thing we can do is try to improve it."

"Fortunately, there are vassal states, so we can try it out there, as His Majesty said."

"Institutions that function well in vassal states can be written into the code of rites and laws."

The plan is to find several vassal states that meet the criteria and pilot the system of abdication to allow for early succession. (End of Chapter)