Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 324: Arrangements complete, blackmail!
Feng Sheng's eyelids twitched.

There is nothing wrong with Zhu Su's strategy.

But for some reason, he just felt very uneasy.

Taking a deep breath, Feng Sheng slowly said, "Since Your Highness has already made preparations, why did you summon me here overnight?"

Zhu Su smiled and said, "As the saying goes, even a wise man makes a thousand plans, but he still makes mistakes."

"Although I think I have handled this matter perfectly, it is a matter of great importance. I would like to ask you to come and discuss it with me so that I can be completely relieved."

His tone condensed, and he asked, "How is it? Father-in-law, do you have any better suggestions?"

I don’t want to rebel anymore!
This sentence suddenly popped up in Feng Sheng's mind, but he never said it out loud.

He thought for a moment and said, "Your Highness has thought it through properly, so there is nothing wrong with it."

"But no matter what it is, someone has to do it in the end."

"Your Highness still needs to select loyal and reliable people."

"As for the people in the imperial kitchen, will they really do things for you if your Highness confirms that they have taken the money?"

The imperial kitchen has always been very strict in employing people.

The most important thing is not being a good cook or being able to cook, but having a clean family background and being loyal and reliable.

After all, you can learn how to cook, but if the person is unreliable and poisons the food while cooking, it will be a big problem.

"Don't worry about this, father-in-law." Zhu Su said confidently, "The imperial kitchen used to have too much money and made too much money. The people there were used to living a good life of extravagance."

"Now that they can't make any money, how can they bear to live on salaries alone?"

"I have promised them a large sum of money, so I am not afraid that they will not work for me."

"As for the people in this palace, there is even less need to worry."

"They are all old men who have followed me for many years. They are absolutely loyal and reliable."

Feng Sheng's expression changed again and again, and finally returned to normal. He nodded gently and said, "If that's the case, then there is no problem."

He changed his tone slightly and said, "Jinling City is different from Kaifeng. We need to be more cautious in our actions."

"Your Highness, if there is nothing extremely urgent in the future, please do not summon me to see you again."

"The Imperial Guards and the Inspectors are omnipresent, and the Intelligence Department has troops all over the city. Even the newly established Intelligence Department of the Military Affairs Department is not easy to deal with."

"After all, I am the Minister of Military Affairs and a nobleman in the court. If I were to be discovered entering and leaving the palace without permission, I would not be able to explain myself even if I had a mouth full of words."

"If it goes wrong, it will ruin your highness's plan."

Zhu Su nodded slightly and said, "Father-in-law is right. I summoned you here tonight because of an emergency."

"If we meet again in the future, we'll have to find another way to be safe."

He paused, and said, "This prince will personally take charge of the matter of secretly transporting Shang Xingyu into the harem."

"But if this is the case, I'm afraid we still won't be able to leave Jinling City for the time being."

"Please, father-in-law, go outside the city and take charge of the three guards I brought with me."

"First, we will receive the muskets and artillery sent by Zhu Gaoxu's brother, and second, we will be able to coordinate in case of any changes."

Feng Sheng was stunned for a moment, frowned slightly, and shook his head, saying, "Don't be so hasty."

"After all, I am the Minister of Military Affairs. If I leave the capital without reason, I will surely arouse suspicion."

"It would be better to wait for Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaochi's muskets and artillery to arrive before leaving the capital."

Zhu Su thought for a moment and said, "That's fine. As long as the news doesn't leak out, it's never too late to leave the capital."

"My father-in-law is the Minister of Military Affairs. The guards at the gates of the capital are all led by the Military Affairs Office. If you want to leave the capital, no one can stop you."

Unexpectedly, Feng Sheng shook his head and said, "When the emperor was in court today, he issued an edict that the gates and checkpoints in the capital will no longer be guarded by the army. Instead, the Yingtian Prefecture will send yamen runners to guard them, and the tax bureau will set up checkpoints to check taxes."

"From now on, except for the border checkpoints, the military will no longer be involved in the defense and inspection of all the city gates and checkpoints within the territory of the Ming Dynasty unless there is a special order."

Zhu Su was stunned for a moment and said in a lost voice: "What does Zhu Yunhuan want to do? He doesn't even send soldiers to guard the city gates?"

Feng Sheng said: "Your Majesty said that these places are frequented by civilians and businessmen. If the army sets up defenses and checkpoints, it is very easy to clash with the civilians, which will damage the image of the military."

"Besides, the army's salaries are paid by the imperial court. Setting up checkpoints to collect money will only allow generals and soldiers to profit from it and lead to corruption."

"Therefore, the military will no longer be involved in such matters in the future."

Zhu Su's expression changed slightly, and he said, "Isn't he afraid of any unexpected events? The gates of Jinling City are guarded by the yamen runners only. Will they be invaded by foreign enemies?"

Hearing this, Feng Sheng couldn't help but recall Zhu Yunhuan's domineering manner when he announced his decree in the court. He was distracted for a moment before returning to normal and said, "Your Majesty said that if there is any emergency, it is not in the danger of the city wall."

"Besides, the city will expand outward on a large scale in the future, and important factories will not be protected by the city walls."

"In order to make transportation more convenient, more gates will be built in the existing city in the future."

"The city gate guards are not very useful."

"By the way, His Majesty has also issued an edict that from now on, unless there are special circumstances, the city gates will no longer be closed, and people can travel freely day and night."

Zhu Su was stunned when he heard this, then he burst into laughter and said, "Zhu Yunhuan's doing this just makes things convenient for me."

"I was originally worried that the three guards I brought with me were stationed outside Jinling City. It might not be easy for them to enter the city."

"Now he has even withdrawn the guards at the city gates, leaving only a bunch of yamen runners behind. What can they do?"

"My army entered the city smoothly and without any worries."

He laughed triumphantly, but there was no joy on Feng Sheng's face.

“Although the guards at the city gates were withdrawn and the checkpoints in and out of the city were no longer under the jurisdiction of the army, the number of troops stationed in the city did not decrease.”

"There are troops stationed near all important government offices."

"Once there is a change, we only need an imperial decree to send the garrison troops out of the camp to quell the rebellion."

"Besides, although the city gates are under the control of the yamen runners from Yingtian Prefecture, the Ministry of Justice has also sent people to supervise them."

"Whether it's the runners of Yingtian Prefecture or the people of the Ministry of Justice, they are not the kind of idle and miscellaneous conscripted officials, but full-time officials."

"They also received strict military training. Although they are not the army, they are almost the same as the army."

"The Administrative Office has also decided to form a special internal guard. These internal guards, except for not being equipped with the heavy artillery of the army, use guns of military standards, and the personnel training is no different from that of the army."

"The Internal Guard is led by the Ministry of Justice and commanded by local government offices at all levels to handle emergencies and prevent civil unrest."

"Yingtian Prefecture was established the fastest. At present, there should be soldiers and horses of the inner guard stationed near each city gate."

"The Internal Guards were originally the troops under the command of the provincial commanders, and they were simply transferred over."

"But the internal guards are more strictly managed, receive better treatment, and are equipped with muskets. Compared to the old army, their combat effectiveness may have been enhanced."

Zhu Su couldn't help but frown and snorted, "Zhu Yunhuan's art of separation of powers and checks and balances is really good."

"But no matter what, it's always a good thing for us as long as the city gates are open."

He talked to Feng Sheng for a while, and learned the details of many changes in the court before letting Feng Sheng leave.

Early the next morning, Zhu Su quietly left the palace and came to the side door of the palace, outside Donghua Gate.

The imperial kitchen was located on the east side of the front of the imperial palace. People would enter and exit through the Donghua Gate when buying groceries.

Of the twenty-four palace supervisors, the one who dealt with the outside world the most was the Shangshan Supervisor, who was in charge of the imperial kitchen. After all, the Shangshan Supervisor had to go out to purchase all kinds of fish, meat, vegetables and fruits every day.

Not long ago, Queen Gu Panjun proposed to expand the palace. The entire Ming Dynasty imperial palace was to be expanded outward in a large circle.

The land has been fenced off and is now under construction.

Outside Donghuamen, there are construction sites everywhere, and wherever you look, you can see busy craftsmen.

This is a construction site and no outsiders are allowed to enter.

But given Zhu Su's status as a vassal king, even if he intended to conceal his identity and come in disguise, he would still have a way to enter this place.

Looking at the construction sites around him, Zhu Su couldn't help but snort coldly.

People from all walks of life in the court and the country praised Zhu Yunhuan as a rare benevolent and wise monarch in history, and the "Da Ming Daily" praised him to the sky.

It was as if he was the king of the world, and no one could match him.

Just looking at the scale of the palace he built, the area it occupied was several times larger than the original one.

Although its specific appearance cannot be seen now, it is said that it was built according to the design drawings and is extremely luxurious.

Isn't it the behavior of a tyrant to be so greedy for enjoyment?

What is hateful is that the ministers in the court only try to please and curry favor, and turn a blind eye to such extravagant behavior, and no one speaks out to advise against it.

Zhu Su waited outside Donghua Gate for a while, and then saw Sun Deying, the chief eunuch of Shangshenjian, come out.

Zhu Su gave a signal, and his trusted men hurried forward to bring Sun Deying over, then patrolled the surroundings to prevent anyone from approaching.

"Eunuch Sun, how have you considered the matter I entrusted to you last time?"

Zhu Su had already sent someone to contact Sun Deying.

I came here in person today because this matter is of great importance and I would not feel at ease if I did not handle it in person.

Secondly, it is also to show sincerity.

Sun Deying bent over and said respectfully, "Your Highness, you are joking. If you have anything to say, just tell me. How dare I disobey you?"

When Zhu Su heard this, he was overjoyed and said hurriedly, "Then I'll have to trouble Eunuch Sun."

He waved his hand and asked someone to bring a basket woven with bamboo strips.

The basket looked ordinary on the outside and was tightly covered with a lid.

Zhu Su instructed: "Please send a basket of vegetables to the harem."

Sun Deying smiled slightly, glanced at the basket, and said, "I dare to ask, what kind of vegetables are in it?"

Zhu Su's face suddenly froze, he coughed dryly, and said, "This... Eunuch Sun, you don't need to ask about it, right?"

Sun Deying looked at Zhu Su deeply, lowered her head and said, "Your Highness is right, it was I who spoke too much."

"But..." He paused and said, "Although I am the chief steward of the Imperial Kitchen, there are many people in the Imperial Kitchen and I am afraid that there will be those who don't know what is good for them and talk nonsense outside, ruining the prince's good deeds."

"We need to take good care of everything to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

This statement is very clear.

Zhu Su cursed the old fox in his heart for daring to demand bribes from him, a vassal king of the Ming Dynasty. If it wasn't for the important matter at hand, he would have to teach him a lesson and let him know how powerful he is.

On the surface, he still looked pleasant and said with a smile, "Eunuch Sun is absolutely right. I have already made preparations."

As he spoke, he handed over a silver note issued by the Ming Bank.

Sun Deying took a glance and saw "one thousand taels" written on the banknote, with another line of words underneath, "Payable on presentation of the note, issued by Daming Bank", and the official seal of Daming Bank's Jinling branch underneath.

The Ming Bank did not print large veils.

In order to make it easier for merchants to do business, the check business was launched.

With the check, you can go to Daming Bank to exchange it for the corresponding amount of money.

One thousand taels of silver is not a small amount, but Sun Deying refused to accept it.

"Your Highness, there are many people in the Imperial Kitchen, and the waters in the palace are deep." He said in a low voice.

Zhu Rui was slightly startled.

Are you thinking that I gave too little?

It's just a gift, isn't one thousand taels of silver too little?
This Sun Deying is too greedy.

Zhu Su was furious, but he didn't dare to vent his anger. He smiled and said, "It was my mistake. It was my mistake."

As he spoke, he took out a silver note for one thousand taels.

But Sun Deying still shook his head.

Zhu Su became even angrier, gritted his teeth, and took out another check for one thousand and two taels of silver.

You know, as a vassal king, he originally had an annual salary of 50,000 taels of silver, plus rice and other supplies.

But later the court reduced it to 10,000 taels of silver a year, and also cancelled most of the other rice and supplies.

Although it is still a lot of money, the royal palace is large and has great expenses.

These salaries are totally not enough for him to spend.

They mainly lived by collecting rent from the palace's fields.

In the past, they could seize the people’s land and collect rent for themselves.

Later, the imperial court reformed the clan system and strengthened supervision over princes and royal relatives, and this path was cut off.

Right now, the royal palace is relying on this salary to survive.

If there is not enough left to cover the expenses, we have to rely on our previous savings.

Three thousand taels of silver, even for him, would feel bad for a long time.

Sun Deying still did not take the money, but bent down and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, if you want to accomplish this matter, I'm afraid it will cost this amount."

He held up two fingers.

Zhu Su's pupils suddenly dilated, and he asked in a lost voice, "Twenty thousand taels?"

Sun Deying said with a smile: "Your Highness wants to do something big, so you can't be reluctant to spend this little money."

He quickly explained, "I dare not take the prince's money. This money is used to bribe people in the palace so that things can be done!"

I'm afraid it all went into your own pocket!

Zhu Su's anger boiled in his heart, and his breathing became heavier, but he soon calmed down and said, "Okay, then twenty thousand taels."

"Thank you, Eunuch Sun."

He searched everywhere on his body and collected 20,000 taels, which he handed to Sun Deying.

Sun Deying thanked him quickly, bowed again and again, and said with a smile: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will leave this matter to you. I will do it beautifully for you, and not let any news leak out."

After saying this, he waved his hand and ordered the two young eunuchs who had followed him out of the palace and had been standing waiting in the distance to come over, lift the basket, enter the Donghua Gate, and walk into the palace.

……

(End of this chapter)