The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 713: Three Years Without Changing the Father's Way

All attempts to dissuade Emperor Guangde were meaningless.

The two empresses dowager had lost their real power and were nothing more than mascots of the empire.

But Liu Kan has grown stronger.

It is time to change the direction of the empire and establish a new order for the Great Qi.

Jin Yu Ji was unaware of the change in the situation. She still regarded Liu Kan as the helpless prince from twenty years ago.

"The Taoist priests were burning herbs and refining elixirs, stirring up trouble. If it weren't for them, the Emperor wouldn't be where he is today! The marriage between Da Qi and Sweden, and the expansion into Europe, was a national policy the Emperor had long ago established. How much manpower and financial resources did Da Qi spend on this... Just when things were about to get going, Your Majesty suddenly broke off the engagement? How would the King of Sweden view Da Qi?"

Yang Qing'er glanced at Emperor Guangde and said nothing.

Emperor Guangde bowed to the Empress Dowager and said calmly:
"Mother, please calm down. It's not that I want to break off the engagement, but the situation forces me to do so."

After saying that, he waved his hand behind him, and the young eunuch Li Juying immediately stepped forward and unfolded a giant map in front of the three of them.

Liu Kan pointed to the location of Europa on the map and said meaningfully:

"My two queens, please look! Europe is thousands of miles away from Great Qi. Dozens of nations, large and small, possess powerful ships and artillery, and their people are fierce and warlike, far surpassing even Japan. Great Qi hasn't even conquered Russia, so it's presumptuous to talk about conquering Europe... Little Leo, I'm marrying a Swedish woman and conquering Europe. What do you think?"

Little Li Juying was a recently promoted attendant of Emperor Guangde, with a status similar to that of Dongfang Zhu.

Hearing the emperor's question, Li Juying was terrified and quickly put down the map and knelt on the ground.

"Your Majesty, I am only a boot-washer in the laundry department. How can I know about the affairs of state? I dare not speak carelessly."

Liu Kan waved his hand and laughed, "I don't like to hear that. Let's not talk about the distant past. Before Eunuch Dongfang became successful, he was just an aphrodisiac merchant in Linqing. He was from a poor family, but he followed the retired emperor and accomplished so many great things. If he can shoulder such important responsibilities, why can't you?"

The two empress dowagers had heard the hidden meaning and their faces turned ugly.

Li Juying smiled flatteringly and said, "How dare I compare myself with the chief steward? But since Your Majesty said I can do the job, then I can do the job."

"Okay, well said."

Liu Kan corrected:
"Dongfang Zhu is no longer the Grand Steward. I have issued an imperial decree ordering him to retire and return to his hometown, Linqing, to enjoy a peaceful and comfortable life. You will be the Grand Steward from now on."

Li Juying was so excited that her whole body was shaking, her face flushed, and she rubbed her hands subconsciously. He banged his head on the ground and thanked loudly:
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace! I am your Majesty's servant in life and your ghost in death. I will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Liu Kan reminded the eunuch, "Then you should tell me about Europa first. Let me and the two queen dowagers hear it."

Jin Yu Ji looked at Liu Kan with strange eyes and suddenly felt that this child had become very strange.

"Your Majesty, I believe that the Swedish princess is unworthy of Your Majesty. How can a princess from a small country like the Red Haired Barbarians be the Queen of Da Qi? Moreover, Da Qi's enemies are not external, but internal. If you don't eliminate the internal traitors and unite the people, it sounds unreliable to intervene in European affairs."

Li Juying raised her head and glanced at the two queen dowagers before continuing:
"I dare to add one more thing. The Emperor is too harsh on his officials. Many county officials are replaced every year. County magistrates and prefects across the north have been beheaded or skinned alive for embezzling even a few taels of silver. Their families have also been exiled... As a result, many people are afraid to take up official positions now."

"I just said that the enemy of the Great Qi is not outside, but within. If the harsh policies are not changed, I am afraid..."

Before Little Li could finish, Liu Kan flew into a rage:
"The sage said, 'If one does not change his father's ways for three years, he can be considered filial. Great Qi governs the world with filial piety, and we should follow the teachings of our father..."

Li Juying continued, "To resist foreign aggression, we must first stabilize the country. I don't understand warfare, nor do I understand the principles of war. However, I have heard from foreign ministers that the Great Qi has been at war for years, and the people are exhausted. We cannot afford to fight any more. All troops stationed in foreign countries should be withdrawn immediately, and plans to attack Guangdong, Guangxi, and the southwest should be postponed. Otherwise, the Great Qi will be in danger."

Jin Yuji and Yang Qing'er had nothing to say.

Liu Kan smiled and praised:

"That makes sense. I've heard the cabinet say it several times, suggesting cutting military spending and streamlining the military and government. I remembered my father's teachings and have never made up my mind. In this case, let the Imperial Household Department draft an edict to announce to the world that my father's whereabouts are unknown, and I am heartbroken. How can I have the mind to marry into the Europeans? The expansion plan of 100,000 new recruits formulated this year will be halved to only 50,000, and the war in the south will also be stopped. In addition, the most important thing is to let the Ministry of Rites discuss how to handle the funeral of the retired emperor..." Li Juying was at a loss. After all, he was just a laundry eunuch promoted on the front line of the laundry bureau.

"Your Majesty, this servant cannot write."

Liu Kan said, "Little Li, you will be the chief eunuch in the future. If you can't write, learn it quickly. Think about Wei Zhongxian, who couldn't write before entering the palace in the Ming Dynasty. He worked hard and eventually helped the emperor review memorials."

"If Wei Zhongxian can do it, so can you."

The pie painted by Emperor Guangde was big enough and tempting enough that it was impossible for Li Juying not to be tempted.

Jin Yuji knew that another bloody storm was coming, and she said tremblingly:

"I hope Your Majesty will treat your old ministers well and stop killing people."

"My son knows."

Liu Kan stammered something, but Jin Yuji and Yang Qing'er didn't hear clearly.

When I looked up, Emperor Guangde had already walked away, surrounded by his entourage.

Jin Yuji murmured to herself:
"Kan'er has changed."

~~~~~
On the eighth day of the eleventh month of the fifth year of Guangde, the State of Qi "courteously escorted" the Swedish envoys out of the country, and they set off by boat from Chongming Island and returned to Europe.

The leader of the delegation was very angry at Qi's fickleness, but he just waved his fist and did not make any other moves.

Because the young supreme ruler of the Great Qi Empire was cruel and tyrannical.

Completely different from his father, he would not preach to his subjects. He preferred to use violence against those who disagreed with him, and severely punished those who were stubborn and determined to be enemies of the new dynasty.

The Swedish envoys left Nanjing in disgrace. Before leaving, the big-nosed red-haired barbarian did not forget to advise everyone they met that Qi had broken the treaty without reason this time and it would be difficult for it to have a place in Europe in the future.

Emperor Guangde was not interested in European affairs, and there was still a war going on there. Liu Kan would not easily intervene before a group of blond-haired and blue-eyed red-haired barbarians decided the outcome.

The expulsion of Taoist priests also took place in November.

On November 11, Liu Xingzuo was ordered to lead the蓑衣卫 to suddenly surround the major Taoist temples around Nanjing. Jiang Liuer led the imperial guards to search the Taoist temples in the imperial palace.

The two sides acted simultaneously and the intelligence work was done flawlessly. They thought they could catch all the Taoist priests inside and outside Nanjing who pretended to be gods and cheated people for money and sex, but they didn't expect that they would come up empty-handed in the end.

The Taoist priests who had originally surrounded the retired emperor, such as Zhang Yixing, Qiu Fenghui, etc., had long since disappeared without a trace, and only some small fish and shrimps were caught.

Jiang Liuer and Liu Xingzuo rushed back to Fengtian Palace overnight to report to Emperor Guangde. They gained very little, only capturing more than 300 ordinary Taoists. It should be noted that at the peak period, there were 2,000 wandering Taoists staying in Hanshan Temple alone.

"Your Majesty, those key members fled long ago and are nowhere to be found. That evil Taoist priest Zhang Yixing even left behind a crooked poem before he left."

Emperor Guangde asked with great interest, "What poem?"

Jiang Liuer was uneasy.
These are all extremely treasonous words, and I dare not say them.

Liu Kan disagreed and said, "Speak, I pardon you!"

Jiang Liuer took out a piece of rice paper covered with words from his arms and read it with gritted teeth:

"Guangde sought out virtuous men and flattering ministers, and Li Huan's talent was unmatched. It's a pity that Taizu's body is still cold, so there's no need to seek immortality to destroy Qi.

(End of this chapter)