Southern Ming: A boy soldier at the beginning, supporting the world

Chapter 333 The imperial commander’s personal expedition
Bumbutai knew Shunzhi's character very well, and knew that Shunzhi was very sensitive and cared about his reputation, so she persuaded him with just a few words.

However, Shunzhi soon went from one extreme to another. He asked the eunuchs to find armor and swords, put on the armor with great enthusiasm, and threatened to lead the army in person.

Bumbutai could only smile bitterly. This little ancestor was really fickle, one moment he wanted to run away, the next he wanted to lead the army himself, and as a mother, she could no longer persuade him.

The eunuchs were also in a panic, kneeling on the ground, trying to persuade him.

The chief eunuch Wu Liangfu was intelligent and intelligent, and said, "My lord, a descendant of the emperor, how can you easily leave the capital? And how can you, as the emperor, go on a dangerous expedition?"

The other eunuchs could not say such elegant words, so they could only persuade him in plain language: "Master, is it not possible for the emperor to lead the army in person?"

"My Lord, if anything happens to you, I won't be able to redeem you even if I lose ten heads!"

"What a bastard!" Bumbutai cursed, "You said such unlucky words on a sunny day! Take him out and give him twenty slaps in the face!"

The unfortunate eunuch knocked his head against the marble floor tiles, begging for mercy: "I know I am wrong, please forgive me, Your Majesty."

"Yes!" Two Manchu guards entered the hall and carried the eunuch away.

Most of the Manchu guards were children of aristocrats. They were very dissatisfied with Shunzhi's closeness to eunuchs and were happy to add insult to injury.

Bumbutai was very sensible and did not like to interfere in politics. The inner court was originally managed by the Imperial Household Department and had always been the private land of the royal family. Bumbutai was used to pacifying the royal family through the Imperial Household Department. However, Shunzhi believed Wu Liangfu's slander and used the Thirteen Yamen to bypass the Imperial Household Department, which made Bumbutai very dissatisfied.

With everyone watching, she could take this opportunity to give Shunzhi and Wu Liangfu a warning, so as to prevent the Qing Dynasty from repeating the fate of the eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty.

When beating a dog, you have to look at its owner first. Shunzhi was very angry. He drew his sword out of its sheath with a whoosh, his face full of anger.

Everyone was shocked, and Bumbutai leaned back involuntarily.

Shunzhi knew he had lost his composure, but he did not stop. He chopped at the table with a knife, cut off a corner, and said, "Anyone who dares to stop me from leading the army is like this wood."

Jirgalang watched this farce with cold eyes and told the eunuch beside him: "Go and invite Mr. Tang quickly."

Mr. Tang is Tang Ruowang, also known as Daowei. He was born in Cologne, Germany, and was a Jesuit missionary. He came to China in the 48th year of Wanli. He worked in the Imperial Observatory of the Ming Dynasty for a long time and was promoted to the position of Director. He was the first foreign director in Chinese history. During his tenure, he helped Xu Guangqi complete the Chongzhen Calendar, wrote the book "Essentials of Fire Attack", and cast cannons for the Ming Dynasty.

The Qing dynasty inherited the Ming system, and Dorgon retained the Imperial Observatory, with Johann Adam Schall von Bell continuing to serve as its director. Although Shunzhi was young, he was well aware of the merits of having foreigners serve as its directors: these foreigners were more accurate in predicting astronomy, and would not use the term "heaven's will" to satirize the court.

Tang Ruowang also gained the trust of Shunzhi and his mother. Bumbutai was seriously ill and was cured by Tang Ruowang. For this reason, Bumbutai hung the cross given by Tang Ruowang on her body and treated Tang Ruowang with fatherly courtesy. Shunzhi often called Tang Ruowang "Mafa" (Grandpa in Manchu) and gave him the title of "Tongxuan Teacher".

In addition to his official position as the director of the Imperial Observatory and the title of "Tongxuan Teacher", the blond-haired and blue-eyed Tang Ruowang also had three additional titles: "Tongyi Dafu, Taipu Temple Minister, and Taichang Temple Minister". This made him a civil servant of the third rank.

In addition, Emperor Shunzhi also gave him unprecedented courtesy, including: he could directly enter the inner street to meet the emperor without the need for eunuchs to inform or summon him; and he did not have to perform the three kneelings and nine kowtows when facing the emperor.

It was already evening when Tang Ruowang arrived at the Qianqing Palace. Shunzhi was in high spirits and asked the guards to bring him a map so that he could study the route of his expedition.

Bumbutai and Jirgalang remained calm and were having their meal in a side hall.

Tang Ruowang hurried into the hall, knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you." His Han colleagues in the Imperial Observatory, the moralists in the court, and the Manchu nobles who had made great contributions had long disliked him. Tang Ruowang had been involved in the officialdom of the Ming and Qing dynasties for many years, and he knew that arrogance brings harm, while humility brings benefit, so he was very restrained in everything.

"Mr. Tang, please stand up."

A eunuch had already come forward, helped Johann Adam Schall ...

Tang Ruowang had not sat down yet. Just as he was about to speak to persuade him, Shunzhi pointed to the broken corner of the case and said, "Sir, I just said that anyone who dares to stop me from leading the army in person will be like this corner."

"Well," Tang Ruowang smiled and said, "Your Majesty, do you know the story of Emperor Wuzong of the previous dynasty?"

Emperor Shunzhi naturally knew the story of Emperor Wuzong Zhu Houzhao. Under the guidance of his teachers, Zhu Houzhao was shaped into a cynical and fallen king. However, Emperor Shunzhi was still a teenager after all, and sometimes he secretly admired Zhu Houzhao.

After all, the civil officials of the Ming Dynasty were feared. Zhu Houzhao played the civil and military officials of the Ming Dynasty in his hands, and even dared to proclaim himself as the General Military Governor of the Ming Dynasty, the Commander-in-Chief of the Rear Army, the Grand Tutor, and the Duke of Zhenguo Zhu Shou.

Just for this reason, Shunzhi felt inferior to him.

"How could I not know?" Shunzhi said confidently, "Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty used the pseudonym Zhu Shou, the general, and often led troops to fight in person. People all say that he used the name of leading troops to go out for fun. I think that Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty reorganized the army and made great achievements outside the Great Wall, and he deserves the temple name of Emperor Wuzong."

"Yes." Tang Ruowang persuaded, "As the emperor said, Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty was very interested in military affairs throughout his life. During his reign, he reorganized the army, improved the status of military officers, and fought against the Mongolian prince. His performance was remarkable.

"In fact, when he was young, Emperor Wuzong was quite intelligent, with a photographic memory and the ability to speak eloquently. He ascended the throne at the age of 14 and ruled the country himself. He was smart and capable, and had the appearance of a wise ruler."

Is this true? Or is Tang Ruowang satirizing himself?

Shunzhi became interested, but he heard Tang Ruowang continue to say: "Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty established the Leopard Room, and everyone said that he had sex in the room. However, few people know that Wuzong used the Leopard Room to bypass the cabinet and the six ministries, monopolize power, and avoid being constrained by civil servants.

"In addition to border affairs, Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty was also very interested in foreign affairs. He was fluent in Tibetan and named himself "Daqing Dharma King"; he was proficient in Sanskrit and read Buddhist scriptures; he learned palindromes and took the Hui language name Shaji Aolan, which is a pun, meaning "young king" in Persian and "brave king" in Turkic. He named himself King Suleiman; he learned Mongolian and named himself "Kublai"...

"In addition, Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty was also known as the Old Man of Jintang. He gave himself so many titles, but the world has already regarded it as licentious. Why is that?"

Shunzhi was silent, quite inspired.

"The emperor is the common ruler of the world. His duties are to respect heaven and earth, worship ancestors, make the country long-lasting and benefit the world for generations; to rectify the world, clarify the laws and regulations, establish the rules and regulations for the four seas, and determine the rituals and music for the eight directions; to care for the people, implement benevolent policies, treat the people like their own children, reduce taxes and levies, help the poor and the needy, and make the people live and work in peace and contentment.

"If you want to punish the Red Bandits, what the Emperor has to do is to gather the princes and ministers to discuss state affairs; to send orders to the six ministries, to mobilize soldiers, to raise military pay; to select a great general, to build a platform to worship him, to swear an oath to the heavens. Leading the army in person is not something a young emperor should do."

Shunzhi listened to it, and Tang Ruowang struck while the iron was hot and said: "The emperor is the Tiancong Khan of Manchuria, the Bogda Khan of Mongolia, the Great Emperor of the Central Plains, the incarnation of Manjusri Bodhisattva, the ruler of Korea, the Great Yimamu of the Western Regions, the commander of Bohai, Khitan, Jurchen, Tubo, Uighur, and Khoja, and the guardian of the Yellow Sea, Bohai, East China Sea, and South China Sea.

"This title is granted by heaven. Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty used the pseudonym Zhu Shou and appointed himself the commander-in-chief, which only made the world laugh. Your Majesty is the ruler of the world and must not put himself in danger and leave others to talk about him."

"Good, I understand." Shunzhi finally stopped insisting on leading the army in person and said, "Tomorrow, I will call together the elders and important ministers to brainstorm and plan the expedition against the Red Bandits."

(End of this chapter)