Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 127 Buddhist Law and Worldly Law, Yao Guangxiao Meets the Emperor!
Zhu Yunhuan was such a smart person that when he heard the old monk's words, he immediately understood what he meant and took him back to the Prince of Wu's Palace.

When they arrived at an empty area in the mansion and there were no other people around, Fang asked, "Master Daoyan, do you have any plans?"

Yao Guangxiao was originally Zhu Di's man.

Zhu Yunhuan told Zhu Di that it was he who instigated Zhu Di to deal with him, so he took Zhu Di to his house on the pretext of disciplining him strictly.

With Lao Zhu's cleverness, it was impossible for him to be fooled by this little trick at that time.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang did not want to severely punish his son Zhu Di. Zhu Yunhuan's decision to push a monk out to take the blame for Zhu Di was exactly what Zhu Yuanzhang wanted, so he was naturally happy to see it happen.

In Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, this showed how much Zhu Yunhuan valued family affection and how he protected his fourth uncle, Prince of Yan.

But later, Zhu Yunhuan began to use Yao Guangxiao and put him in charge of the "Da Ming Daily". He also sealed up the accounts and treasury silver of the Ministry of Revenue, which surprised Zhu again.

Just a monk.

How could it not be strange that the court chose to use a monk instead of using so many officials?

Today, just as Zhu Yuanzhang left the palace to go to Tianjie Temple to worship Buddha, Zuo Shanshi from the Buddhist Registrar's Office sent someone to deliver a message. Zhu Yunhuan naturally understood that Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to meet Yao Guangxiao.

Otherwise, knowing that Yao Guangxiao was working for His Royal Highness the Prince of Wu, how could the Buddhist Registrar's Office easily summon him?
Even if there really was something, Zuo Shanshi should have come to visit in person instead of sending someone to deliver the message like this.

"Amitabha!" Yao Guangxiao chanted the Buddha's name softly: "In two days, it will be Lu's birthday."

"Your Majesty has already sent someone to remind Your Highness."

"You summoned me to the Tianjie Temple at this time. I think that firstly, Your Majesty wants to test me, and secondly, Your Majesty is also concerned about your safety and wants to know how you plan to deal with this matter."

"The third one." Yao Guangxiao's eyes gleamed with brilliance: "Your Majesty is already preparing to formally establish the crown prince."

"This time, I will do my best to fight for Your Highness."

Zhu Yunhuan hurriedly said: "Master Daoyan, you must not do anything risky. It is better to play it safe."

"I know what's going on!" Yao Guangxiao said, "If something can't be done, I won't force it."

"Your Highness must not think that you can rest easy now that you have great power in your hands."

"You must know that as a person in a higher position, if Your Highness wants to do something, it will inevitably affect thousands and thousands of people."

"The difficulties and obstacles involved are thousands of times greater than those in the court."

Zhu Yunhuan felt a chill in his heart.

How could he not know this?

Just because you have great power and no political enemies does not mean you can do whatever you want.

Because in addition to power, there is also momentum.

During the Ming Dynasty, the feudal monarchy gradually developed to its peak, and the emperor's power was very great.

A word is as good as gold, and the order is followed by the law.

It is difficult to find any powerful minister in the court who can compete with the emperor.

But the absence of powerful ministers does not mean that the emperor is truly free from any constraints.

In particular, he wanted to carry out major reforms.

How could the vested interests give up their interests easily?

What he has to deal with is not one or two specific individuals, but a huge and complex interest group.

Holding up the butcher knife, you can kill a thousand or ten thousand people.

But to implement the reform, it is not simply a matter of killing a lot of people.

Historically, there were almost no powerful ministers in the Ming Dynasty who could pose a serious threat to the imperial power.

However, the emperors of the Ming Dynasty were restrained by a huge invisible and intangible force, making it difficult for them to do anything.

"I came here to ask Your Highness what your plans are for future administration. I hope Your Highness can tell me so that I can respond to Your Majesty."

Yao Guangxiao and Yang Shiqi were Zhu Yunhuan's right-hand men and women. In the power struggle in the court, both of them were able to offer advice and help him achieve his goals.

However, neither of them knew Zhu Yunhuan's specific strategy for governing the country.

But I vaguely felt that the King of Wu had his own plans and was determined to do something big.

The two had no doubts about this and never asked any questions.

The King of Wu has great talent in governing the country and should follow the great kingly way.

All they have to do is help him clear the obstacles along the way.

It was just that he was going to meet Old Zhu today, and Yao Guangxiao was afraid that he would have trouble dealing with the situation, so he came in a hurry to inquire.

The old monk vaguely felt that Zhu Yunhuan's succession to the throne would not be smooth sailing.

I always feel as if there is an invisible net covering my face.

But for a moment, I couldn't tell what was wrong.

Zhu Yunhuan thought for a moment, then told Yao Guangxiao what he had said to Fang Xiaoru.

Yao Guangxiao's eyes were filled with shock. After chanting the Buddha's name, he said, "Your Highness's ambition is commendable, but you must not act too hastily."

"This matter has a ripple effect on the entire body. If we are not careful enough, the whole world will be against it, making it difficult to implement the government's orders."

"And I'm afraid that His Majesty may not support this matter."

Zhu Yunxi nodded.

People were divided into different classes, and gentry did not have to pay taxes or perform labor service. This was the national policy set by Zhu Yuanzhang himself.

He smiled and said, "I naturally know the importance of this matter."

"If you meet Grandpa Huang today, you don't have to mention this matter."

"I'm telling you this so you know what's going on."

Although Lao Zhu came from a low-income family and deeply hated corrupt officials and those who oppressed the poor, he also supported the hierarchy and the division of people into different classes.

Zhu Yuanzhang also approved of the fact that noble landlords, scholars, etc. did not pay taxes or grain.

Many ideas have been passed down for thousands of years and have left a deep imprint in people's hearts, and they cannot be reversed in a short period of time.

Especially at this critical moment when Zhu Yunhuan is about to be appointed as the crown prince, there is no need to have any conflict with Zhu.

After all, he is different from Zhu Biao.

Zhu Biao could quarrel with Old Zhu, but he needed to avoid it as much as possible.

"I know!" Yao Guangxiao nodded, then looked around and confirmed that no one was around. Then he whispered, "Your Highness, I have heard some news about the assassination that day."

Zhu Yunhuan's expression changed slightly.

Yao Guangxiao said, "Someone witnessed that before the remnants of the Pu family assassinated His Highness, someone else had gone to the courtyard where they were. That person was called Nie Huan'er, and he was the eunuch who came to convey the imperial decree to bestow the sword on the day His Highness captured Duke Liang."

"He was later banished by His Majesty to Prince Xian's Palace."

"On the day of the incident, Nie Huan'er also went to see the King of Qin."

Yao Guangxiao reported the intelligence collected by the Intelligence Bureau to Zhu Yunhuan, which was basically the same as the information Yoshigaki reported to Zhu. Then, Yao Guangxiao said, "If the Intelligence Bureau can find out this information, there is no reason why the Jinyiwei spies and inspectors cannot find out."

"Your Majesty must have known about this."

"They didn't catch Nie Huan'er. They must be waiting for Concubine Lu's birthday party."

Zhu Yunhuan's eyes flickered and he pondered for a moment.

"I always felt that Nie Huan'er was not a simple person, so I went to check his background."

"It was discovered that this man was actually from Taiyuan, Shanxi. He was selected to serve as a eunuch in the second year after the King of Jin was enfeoffed in Taiyuan."

"But the one who recommended him to the palace was the King of Qin."

Zhu Yunhuan frowned again.

He was from Taiyuan, but was recommended by the King of Qin.

But on the night when he delivered the imperial edict, he was obviously helping Zhu Yunwen in secret.

Later, Zhu Yuanzhang drove him to Prince Xian's palace based on this.

But why did he go to the Prince Qin's Palace?

This matter is becoming increasingly confusing.

The Prince of Qin, the Prince of Jin, and Zhu Yunwen were all involved.

"I think that this person is very important in the assassination of Your Highness that day, but it is not easy to arrest him so as not to alert the enemy."

Zhu Yunhuan paced back and forth for a long while before saying, "Don't touch him."

"Since Grandpa Huang is also secretly investigating, the decision on how to deal with it will be up to Grandpa Huang. We should not do anything."

"Yes!" Yao Guangxiao clasped his hands together.

It was getting late and he could not delay any longer, so he said goodbye to Zhu Yunhuan.

"If the Emperor asks about Nie Huan'er, you must report the truth and don't hide anything."

Before leaving, Zhu Yunhuan gave another instruction.

Yao Guangxiao took the order, left the Prince of Wu's Palace, and went straight to Tianjie Temple.

After about an hour's carriage ride, we arrived at the foot of the mountain where the temple was located.

This place is shaded by green trees. Looking up, you can see gray bricks and golden tiles standing out among the mountains and forests.

The environment is simple and quiet, like a secluded place.

Yao Guangxiao had previously been a monk in Tianjie Temple. When he revisited the old place this time, he couldn't help but feel filled with emotion.

Today, His Majesty the Emperor came to worship Buddha, and all the outsiders had already been dispersed.

When Yao Guangxiao arrived at the temple gate, he gave his name and handed over his identity documents, and immediately a monk in charge of reception led him into the temple.

After a while, the abbot of Tianjie Temple, Zuo Shan Shizong Le, the monk registrar, came to greet him.

Yao Guangxiao and Zong Le were old acquaintances.

It was thanks to Zong Le's recommendation that he was able to enter Tianjie Temple and obtain a position as a monk.

Later, it was through Zong Le's recommendation that Yao Guangxiao got to know Prince of Yan Zhu Di.

"Amitabha!"

When meeting an old friend, there was a look of surprise in Zong Le's eyes.

"I heard that Brother Daoyan was highly regarded by the King of Yan in Beiping, and now he is serving the King of Wu. He is indeed a man of talent in assisting the King."

More than ten years ago, when Yao Guangxiao first entered Tianjie Temple, Zong Le was the abbot of Tianjie Temple.

At that time, Yao Guangxiao treated Zong Le with respect as a teacher and regarded himself as a disciple.

Zong Le also accepted it calmly.

Now, when he saw Yao Guangxiao again, he called him senior brother.

Zen Master Zong Le was not only well versed in Buddhism, but also had great experience in understanding human relationships and worldly affairs.

As the abbot of the first temple in the Ming Dynasty, he had dealings with all the powerful and influential people, and he handled the situation just right.

At that time, Yao Guangxiao never formally worshipped him as his master, nor was he given a Buddhist name by him.

It was only because he had just entered the temple and was living under someone else's roof that he lowered his status and observed the etiquette of a disciple.

Now that times have changed, Yao Guangxiao's status is no longer the same, so Zong Le naturally can no longer treat him by the same name as he did back then.

Yao Guangxiao felt very happy to be called "senior brother".

"Senior Brother Zong Le's words make Dao Yan feel ashamed."

Yao Guangxiao also responded with the word "senior brother".

This is a respectful title between monks of the same generation.

"A monk should be free from all worries. Daoyan is trapped in the secular world. I'm sorry to make you laugh, Senior Brother Zongle."

Zong Le smiled and shook his head: "No, Buddhism and worldly laws are not contradictory. If you have the energy to practice both, it is a good thing."

Yao Guangxiao's eyes lit up, and he put his hands together and said, "Brother, your opinion is profound. Daoyan will learn from you."

The two exchanged greetings for a while before Zong Le took him to the back hall.

Along the way, we saw many guards with swords patrolling everywhere.

There is a guard post every three steps and a sentry every five steps, and the security is tight.

But when they saw that it was Zong Le who led the way, no one stopped them or asked them any questions.

When he reached the entrance to the backyard, Zong Le stopped.

"Your Majesty is already waiting inside, please come in, Senior Brother."

Yao Guangxiao returned the greeting and then walked into the backyard.

The courtyard is full of towering ancient trees, elegant and peaceful.

There was no one here anymore, only the cold wind blowing gently, making low whispers.

Yao Guangxiao followed the tree-lined avenue and entered the majestic hall.

The Buddha statue in the hall is tall and majestic, looking down on all living beings with compassion.

There is an incense table in front of the Buddha, and the candlelight flickers.

An old man in his sixties, dressed in plain clothes, sat cross-legged, silently reciting Buddhist scriptures.

"I, Daoyan, pay my respects to Your Majesty!"

……

(End of this chapter)