Jiajing Chengming

"I originally didn't intend to use you, Yan Song. After all, Yang Tinghe and other upright people said that you are too cautious and self-protective, and you are smart but not ambitious enough."

“I quite agree with this.”

"But Grand Tutor Zhang insisted on recommending you, saying that you are at least a decent official and have real talent. I couldn't persuade him, so I appointed you as governor and promoted you to the rank of Seven Ministers."

"Now that you have become a minister, you should know that you are shouldering the heavy expectations of me and the people of the world!"

After Yan Song returned to Beijing, Zhu Houcong also summoned Yan Song and said some things to him that should not be told to outsiders.

After hearing this, Yan Song couldn't help but look up, and tears filled his eyes.

He had to admit that the luckiest thing in his life was marrying Zhang Cong while he was serving as the imperial examination examiner. When he first met Zhang Cong, he thought that Zhang Cong would bring him misfortune.

Therefore, Yan Song bowed his head and said, "I dare not forget the grace of the Grand Tutor's recommendation, nor do I dare to be ashamed of the grace of Your Majesty and the Grand Tutor's recommendation! I will work hard!"

While Zhai Luan's sudden death led to a series of personnel changes in the court, Tang Long and Qiu Luan were eventually taken to the execution ground and sentenced to death, and their nine clans were also exiled.

In addition, Datong Governor Zhai Peng and many senior officials of Xuanda were also punished because Altan provided evidence of their conspiracy to bribe him.

The Xuanda system therefore underwent a major change.

However, Zhu Houcong also suspended further attacks on Altan.

After all, Altan admitted his mistake decisively.

Zhu Houcong also needed to let the various tribes on the grassland know that he encouraged them to give in and actively betray the traitors within the Ming Dynasty who colluded with them.

More importantly, Zhu Houcong's next foreign military focus was in the south.

Therefore, Zhu Houcong did not pursue Altan's crime any further.

People like Tang Long and Qiu Luan were naturally filled with remorse and were quite disgusted with Altan's behavior.

"Those who are truly not of our race must have different hearts. Once the emperor goes crazy, these Tartars will abandon us like old shoes!"

"Won't this force the generals of the nine frontiers to only be willing to make military achievements in the future and not to make money through private trade?"

After learning about recent events, Liaodong Governor Yang Xueli became furious and complained to his trusted colleagues.

Zeng Junsheng, the military governor, followed up with a look of despair: "Yes, this will force us scholars to be both civil and military in order to gain a foothold in the court in the future!"

"More importantly, this will further consolidate the system of Your Majesty promoting a higher military status. Once this happens, the co-governance of the monarch and his subjects will become even more unthinkable. We, the literati, will be called literati, but in reality we are no different from the untouchables, or even worse than the untouchables!"

"It would be great if the Mongolian tribes were unified. Then there would be another Yuan Dynasty that could threaten the imperial court and even retake the Central Plains!"

"Or if there are some who rise up among the Jurchen tribes, such as the Jurchens of the Three Guards of Jianzhou, they may fish and hunt, but they also farm. If they rise up, they will surely be able to provide foreign aid to the gentry in the future!"

Yang Xueli said.

Zeng Jun advised: "That being said, it is better for the governor not to send them any more equipment craftsmen, so as to avoid being discovered by the imperial court. It would be no small matter to implicate the nine clans! After all, even Altan has no chance to unify the Mongolian tribes, let alone other foreign invaders?"

"I know, but it's just talk."

"Although from the heart, it is better to let the foreigners become strong than to let the country ruled by a single king become strong."

"Because if the world cannot be ruled by the ruler and his subjects, then even if it is powerful, it actually has no meaning!"

As Yang Xueli spoke, he slammed the table and stood up, his face full of anger. He was good at martial arts and knew about military affairs, so he was able to become a governor by virtue of his meritorious service. However, because he came from a noble family, his position was on the side of the civilian nobles.

……

……

"Brother-in-law, they have been inviting me to banquets these days in order to know whether you hope that the emperor and his subjects will rule the world together. What do you think I should tell them?"

Not long after Yan Song was appointed Minister of Rites, Ouyang Bijin also asked Yan Song about his political views.

Yan Song stood up, put his hands behind his back, and paced around the room, saying, "As long as Your Majesty wants the Ming Dynasty to be strong again, then the co-governance of the monarch and his subjects will not be possible."

“How come you see?”

Ouyang Bijin asked at this time.

Yan Song smiled and said, "Because the monarch and his subjects rule together, it must be the monarch who is unwilling to do it, and few of the literati are really willing to reform the world's major abuses and strengthen the country and enrich the people. Otherwise, the two Song dynasties would not have failed to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun and unify the world, but instead fell to foreign hands one after another. This dynasty is no exception. After the monarch became weak, not only did they start to lose territory, but the number of refugees also increased greatly, which meant that both external and internal troubles were intensifying. For example, the Xuande Dynasty lost Jiaozhi, and the Hongzhi Dynasty lost Hetao. The people became more and more difficult, while only the gentry and wealthy families became more and more comfortable."

Ouyang Bijin couldn't help but say: "But we are also civilians."

"That's right, but hoping for a promotion in the future is more hopeful than hoping for the monarch and his subjects to rule together again."

Yan Song smiled slightly after he said this.

Ouyang Bijin nodded: "Then how should I respond to them if they ask about your attitude again?"

Yan Song replied without hesitation: "Let them pretend to be nice and let them think I am the same as them, so that I can report their situation to Your Majesty at any time, so that Your Majesty can see our loyalty!"

After Zhang Cong left the court, Zhu Houcong put the issue of conquering Annan back on the agenda.

The ceremonial officer Yan Song first reported the emperor's intentions: "Annan has not paid tribute for 20 years. The governors of Guangdong and Guangxi said that 'Li Yi and Li Xun are not the legitimate heirs that Li Xun should establish, and Mo Dengyong and Chen Hao are both usurpers'. The Ministry of War decided to use military force the day before yesterday. Your Majesty also thought that Annan had not paid tribute for a long time and should be attacked. Wuding Hou Guo Xun, retired Taifu Zhang Fujing, and Yuanfu Xia Yan all strongly supported it. It was only because the internal traitors colluded with the foreign barbarian Altan that the emperor fell asleep. Today, the traitors have not been attacked and the ritual order of the world has not been protected. Please order the Chinese and foreign troops to attack again!"

After receiving Yan Song's memorial, Zhu Houcong convened a court meeting.

"Compared to conquering Annan, how to rule Annan is the most fundamental thing."

"Recently, Tang Zhou, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, submitted a memorial stating seven reasons why we should not invade Annan. Among them, he mentioned that Emperor Taizong first established counties because he could not obtain the empress of the Chen family. Later, the war continued without a break, and Emperor Renzong always felt resentful. Emperor Zhang fulfilled his father's wish and abandoned the defense."

"Of course, setting up counties in Annan will make it difficult to control for a while. But today, the traitors in Annan have usurped the throne and killed their master, and the etiquette and laws have been greatly damaged. This also shows that abandoning them is not a good strategy. If this continues, how can the royal authority of our Celestial Empire to uphold the etiquette and laws be preserved? The four barbarians in the world will only think that etiquette does not need to be followed. If so, even the Chinese people may think that etiquette does not need to be followed! If this happens, won't the world be in great trouble?!"

"So, we still need to think of new ways to govern Annan to prevent this kind of situation from happening again."

"You all can tell me how to properly govern Annan?"

Wenhua Hall.

During the court meeting that day, Zhu Houcong asked the court officials.

Xia Yan spoke at this time: "As Your Majesty said, if you want Annan to be stable and peaceful for a long time, you must first correct etiquette, and correct etiquette requires getting rid of stubborn bandits who refuse to be educated! Secondly, you should help the people and not rob them, so that you will not be resisted by the local people; finally, you should promote education, teach and teach, so that more southern barbarians will know etiquette and be kind, just like us Chinese, so that they will be willing to be content with peace and serve us Chinese!" "Tell me more."

Zhu Houcong nodded.

"Yes!"

Xia Yan responded and continued, "To correct the etiquette, of course, we should punish Mo Dengyong and Chen Hao. At the same time, we should send generals to guard the important places and set up direct-controlled areas to conveniently suppress the bandits and maintain the etiquette. There is no need to set up counties everywhere. We can only send civil officials to the direct-controlled areas to promote industry and serve as a model for the barbarian-governed areas in Annan. To help the people, we should send capable officials to stay in Annan and help Annan to establish benevolent policies. As for promoting education, we should also send Confucian officials to Annan to set up schools, and we can also let Annan send the children of nobles to come to Beijing to study in official schools!"

After hearing this, Zhu Houcong asked other court officials to speak.

Among other court officials, the Minister of Personnel Huo Tao, the Minister of Revenue Wu Wendi, the newly appointed Minister of War Zhang Zan, and the Minister of Rites Yan Song had all long seen that Jiajing was determined to expand outward, and had no objection.

Zhu Houcong then adopted Xia Yan's suggestion and prepared to strengthen his control over Annan.

During this period, Wu Tingju and Guo Xun had begun to lead troops south in accordance with imperial orders.

The Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, Zhang Jing, had even received another imperial decree to strengthen the defense of the Guangdong and Guangxi areas adjacent to Annan and to raise food and fodder.

Not long after this, the powerful Annan official Mo Dengyong learned from Ouyang Yan, a spy student in his own Ming Dynasty, that the Ming Dynasty was planning to attack him.

This made Mo Dengyong look horrified, and he said to Ouyang Yan: "It seems that the Emperor of Ming is determined to use military force against Annan!"

"There is no way. The emperor of the Ming Dynasty is rich and powerful, with a strong army and horses. He has even implemented the land reclamation well. Now I am afraid that no one can stop his will."

Ouyang Yan also replied helplessly.

After hearing this, Mo Dengyong couldn't help but sigh and clenched his fists: "It seems that I can only send people to ask for tribute."

"Didn't Jiajing blame me for not paying tribute to Annan for twenty years?"

"Then I, Annan, will send people to ask for tribute, and this may make Jiajing stop attacking me."

Mo Dengyong said.

Ouyang Yan agreed and said, "This is a solution. Not all Ming officials and scholars support the emperor's foreign military operations and waste of national resources. If we really send envoys to ask for tribute, we might be able to stir up some opposition. This way, we can at least delay the war for a while, and strengthen military preparations in various places."

Mo Dengyong actually did so.

Therefore, not long after this, the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, Zhang Jing, submitted a memorial stating that Mo Dengyong had sent envoys to ask for tribute.

Pan Zhen, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of War, therefore discussed with Zhang Zan, the minister of war, and said, "Your Majesty should stop the previous order."

Zhang Zan thought about it seriously and said, "How can this be possible? The army has already set out, and all the money and food have been spent. It's like the arrow is on the string, there is no reason to stop."

"But at least this will save money compared to actually going on a conquest."

Pan Zhenyan said.

Zhang Zan said: "The court is now strong and there is no need to be so frugal and ignore the maintenance of etiquette. Mo Dengyong is indeed a traitor who usurped the throne. If the court recognizes his throne, it is tantamount to trampling on the dignity of the suzerain state, unless you can really persuade the Ministry of Rites to persuade His Majesty not to care about the etiquette of the world!"

Pan Zhen had no choice but to come to Yan Song, hoping that Yan Song could, in his capacity as a ritual official, persuade the emperor not to launch large-scale wars just to maintain something that was only superficial, such as rituals and laws.

But at the same time, Pan Zhen also said frankly because Yan Song was also from a civilian background:

"You should know that these rules and regulations are meant to be talked about, not to be maintained!"

"If this ritual law is really used to maintain, and everything in the world must conform to the righteousness of the monarch and his subjects, how can we achieve the co-governance of the monarch and his subjects?"

"If that were the case, the gentry, especially the civilian gentry, would be in a lower position than before. Therefore, we cannot really let the court strictly maintain the order of rites and laws. If that happens, the foreigners will have to be more submissive. How can we civilian gentry wait for the foreign invaders to become powerful in the future and let the future king know that rites cannot be truly maintained?"

"How can a gift be just for talk, not for action?"

Yan Song smiled disapprovingly at this time, and then said: "In the early Jiajing period, the conflict in Wudinghou Mansion and the conflict in Zuoshunmen both showed that the civil and military officials in the court were very concerned about whether the etiquette and laws were correct, and countless lives were lost because of it!"

"You should understand that it is only when we scholars and officials need to use etiquette and law to restrain the emperor and father."

Pan Zhen was speechless and had to whisper the bold words again.

Yan Song also whispered: "We can't only uphold etiquette and laws when the scholars and officials need them!"

"We can't discard etiquette and laws when they are no longer needed!"

"Your Majesty is now strong in military power and rich in wealth. If we want to avoid being confiscated and beheaded by Your Majesty, we can only use etiquette and law to restrain us. If we really don't take etiquette and law seriously, then is it necessary for Your Majesty to explain the rules of etiquette and law to us? Then, doesn't it mean that Your Majesty can confiscate our property and behead us at will?"

"That being said, we can persuade Your Majesty to stop the war by using Mo Dengyong's initiative to ask for tribute in the name of saving the country's financial and people's strength! At the same time, we can persuade him with Emperor Yang of Sui's expedition to Korea. After all, conquering Annan will involve facing a huge mountain range, which is not an easy task. In this way, Your Majesty may feel at ease and stop the expedition."

Pan Zhenyan said.

Yan Song knew that Jiajing preferred ministers with their own opinions rather than ministers who just followed the emperor's orders, so he said:
"I won't advise you!"

"I am the Minister of Rites of the Ming Dynasty, not your Majesty's servant. I am responsible for the country and society of the Ming Dynasty, and I am also responsible for maintaining the order of rites and laws in the world. Therefore, I will not allow the rites and laws to be destroyed just to save some of your Majesty's private money. Even if your Majesty really wants to stop the war because of such advice, I will also write a memorial to persuade your Majesty not to damage the prestige of the country and undermine the foundation of your rule over the world! If the rites are not right, then the throne is not right. If the throne is not right, then the world cannot be at peace!"

Yan Song said as he brushed his sleeves and stood up: "Go now! I won't tell anyone what I said today, but I hope you will think more about things with a loyal heart in the future, don't just think about the little benefits of being a commoner and a noble, and don't really treat etiquette and law as concubines that you can use when you want and abandon when you want. Don't forget that the foundation for us scholars to be the leaders of the four classes is because we read books and know etiquette!"

"Yan Weizhong! Are you really so upright, or are you deliberately pretending to be a traitor?"

At this time, Pan Zhen also stood up and asked Yan Song with a serious face.

Yan Song smiled faintly: "Why do you ask this? Have I ever been dishonest? If I were dishonest, how could I have a good student who could be regarded as a role model for scholars and officials?"

"So you admire Zhang Fujing very much!"

"Of course!"

"This is the greatest pride of Yan's life!"

After hearing this, Pan Zhen smiled coldly and continued to say to Yan Song:

"You should understand that this world has always belonged to us gentry, not to the Zhu family, the Zhao family, or the Li family! They are just the rulers of the world temporarily. If you ignore the public opinion of the gentry who are holding on to the empty inner world and the empty outer world, aren't you afraid of being abandoned by public opinion in the future?!"

"You said public opinion and I want to laugh?"

"The gentry and common people in the world have begun to be divided into the military and civilian classes, so how can the opinions held by us civilian gentry still represent public opinion?" (End of this chapter)