The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 723: The Great Loyalty Record

Nanjing Forbidden City, Fengtian Hall.

The expulsion of the high priest Francesco was being personally presided over by Emperor Guangde.

Wearing a yellow robe and sitting high on the dragon throne, Liu Kan read in fluent Portuguese to a group of Europeans whose future was uncertain:
"Francisco, listen to my words: you must tell all Europeans in Nanjing and Da Qi, and tell them as soon as possible."

"If other European envoys come again in the future, you must also inform them in advance and remind them that the era of the Emperor Retired is gone forever."

Emperor Guangde took the tea handed to him by the palace maid and let her take a sip before drinking it himself.

"Even if the Pope and the kings of various countries come to Da Qi in person, I will not change my original intention. The demands you made when the retired emperor was in power were unreasonable. If they were reasonable, I would agree to them as soon as you put them forward. Please do not involve your kings in this matter! I allow you to stay in Nanjing and Guangzhou, allow you to travel from here to Guangzhou, and from Guangzhou to Europe by mail. This is enough. Haven't many people accused you of preparing for rebellion?"

Francisco was trembling all over, his jaw was dislocated by the straw raincoat guards, and he was whimpering and unable to speak, unable to express any objection to Emperor Guangde's words.

Emperor Guangde looked at the Portuguese man's miserable appearance, and recalled how he had acted like a bully in front of his father. He suddenly felt an inexplicable satisfaction in his heart.

It's like defeating the father.

He put down the teacup with a smile and looked back at Kang Jingxiu and others. A group of scholar-official representatives immediately bowed to Emperor Guangde and expressed their utmost respect to the emperor.

"However, I understand that you are good people. The recent rebellious acts in the north should have nothing to do with you. However, if a monarch with less cultivation than me were sitting here, such as the former Ming Emperor Zhu Youjian, he would have torn you into pieces long ago. I will punish the wicked and recognize the good. However, I do not need missionaries, and Great Qi does not need Europe."

"The Celestial Empire has everything. We don't need to trade with foreign countries, at least not yet."

"If I were to send monks—even though there are no monks in Da Qi anymore—to your European countries, your kings would certainly not allow it."

Liu Kan expressed satisfaction with his eloquence and continued:

"Emperor Ming of Han employed Indian monks, and Emperor Taizong of Tang employed Tibetan lamas, earning both emperors the hatred of the Chinese. The late emperor also damaged the reputation of the Holy Emperor by allowing you to establish churches in various provinces and participate in the politics of the Great Qi as technocrats."

"As the Crown Prince of Great Qi, I once strongly opposed this. Unfortunately, my father was deceived by you blond-haired, blue-eyed foreigners."

"How could I allow these churches to exist when they damage the reputation of the late emperor? How could I help you introduce a doctrine that condemns Chinese teachings? How could I allow such teachings to spread as others have? Lamaism is closest to your religion, while Confucianism is far from it. You are wrong. You are only twenty people, yet you attack all other doctrines. You must know that the good things you possess are also possessed by the Chinese. You have the Ten Commandments, which is good, but you have a God who became a man (referring to Jesus), and you also have eternal suffering and eternal happiness. These ghostly and divine theories are absurd."

Just as the guards drew their swords and prepared to end the lives of these red-haired barbarians, Emperor Guangde once again demonstrated his kindness and wisdom.

"I order you, the European ministers, along with the Liaodong Envoy for Observing Customs and Rectifying Morals (Tang Tiezheng), and fourteen other newly minted Jinshi, Zeng Jing, Lü Houliang, and others, to carry the 'Record of the Great Loyal Awakening of Confusion' northward to resolve the doubts and confusions of the officials and people of Da Qi along the way."

In the sixth year of Guangde (1658), the scholar Wang Tiezheng (Wang Tiezui) and his apprentice Zhang Xi were dissatisfied with the fact that the barbarian Emperor of the Great Qi ruled the world, so they publicized the illegal access to power of Emperor Guangde and his ten major crimes (the book includes the ten major crimes accused by Tang Tiezheng and others of Emperor Guangde himself (for example: plotting against his father, forcing his mother, killing his brother, slaughtering his younger brother, greed for money, love of killing, alcoholism, lust, suspicion, killing loyal people, flattery and flattery). Emperor Guangde himself personally defended and refuted these absurd remarks one by one).

Wang Tiezui hid in Tianjin and, under the advice of a Taoist priest, used storytelling as a cover to spread the idea of overthrowing Qi and restoring Ming. However, he was soon sent back to Nanjing by the local Suoyi Guards and later personally interrogated by Jiang Liuer in the Imperial Prison. Under Jiang Liuer's "cordial comfort", Wang Tiezui and his apprentice quickly realized their mistakes and changed their ways.

At the same time, Francisco, a close minister of the Tai Shang Dynasty, was dissatisfied with Emperor Guangde's perverse policy on the Zongjiao, and actively planned a coup by the Tianzu Sect in the country. He was arrested in advance because he was exposed by a traitor.

Liu Kan then ordered the collection of the imperial edict on the case, Wang Tiezui's confession and the "Guirenlu", as well as Francisco's various slanders against the new dynasty, totaling 300,000 words, to be compiled into the "Da Zhongjue Milu".

Emperor Guangde ordered the release of Tang Tiezui, Francisco and other conspirators, allowing them to make meritorious contributions while serving their sentences and travel to various places to give speeches and eliminate the harmful influence. The ministers were very dissatisfied with this "strange measure" and wrote letters to the emperor demanding that Francisco, Zhang Xi and other conspirators be executed by slow slicing. Even if their bodies were cut into pieces, it would not be enough to appease the anger of the ministers.

Liu Kan rejected the majority opinion. He believed that if Tang Tiezui had not fallen into the trap himself, how could Francisco and others have exposed the many people who spread rumors and misled the people to rebel, as well as the treacherous gang that slandered the emperor?

"How could I, deep in the palace, know? How could I investigate everything? And how could I let all my subjects know that my succession to the throne was legitimate?"

If we look at and handle the problem in this way, then the two people still have merit.

Therefore, the emperor did not investigate his past or his crime, but decided to release him without charge and allow him to reform. He also said, "Do not submit this matter to me again in the future. Even if you submit a memorial, I will not read it."

Furthermore, Emperor Guangde issued a directive to his descendants: "My descendants in the future shall not seek to kill anyone for slandering me."

At the same time, Emperor Guangde compiled and published the secret records of all the imperial edicts, interrogations, and confessions in this largest literary inquisition case, and attached the confession letter "Guiren Shuo" by Tang Tiezui and others. The book was titled "Da Zhongjue Mi Lu" and distributed to all prefectures, counties, and remote areas across the country, so that scholars and common people in the countryside could know about it.

"One copy should be stored in each academy," and it should be archived permanently so that it can be known to everyone.

"If there are those who have not seen this book and have not heard my orders, I will find out at any time and will severely punish the provincial education official and the county instructor." "This is to prevent the ignorant scholars from far and near from being indulged in evil doctrines."

~~~~
Ningguta

"My lords, why can't you spare the Pu family? Do you have to kill General Pu?" "I told you to stay away and not obstruct the imperial envoy. Are you deaf? Get out!"

With a bang, the flintlock pistol spewed out a proud flame, and the lead bullet flew over the old soldier's head and hit the window frame not far behind him.

Suddenly, wood chips flew everywhere, the yard was in chaos, and the faint sound of a child crying could be heard inside.

Li Juying sat in the carriage, holding a cup of tea in one hand, and asked:

"What's going on? I told you to search the house, not tear it down. What are you guys doing?"

Ningguta Commander Zhou Tiedong stepped forward and whispered, "Old Ancestor, it was one of Pu Gang's old soldiers who was blocking the door and preventing the Suoyi Guards from entering to investigate. Zhong Shen got angry and attacked him with a musket."

Li Juying frowned. When he was in Nanjing, he heard that Pu Gang was followed by a loyal old servant who had been with Pu Gang for more than 20 years. He didn't expect that after arriving in Ningguta, this old man was still protecting his master.

"Did you hit him?"

"The lead bullet grazed the skin and flew out." Zhou Tiedong said calmly.

Seeing Li Juying's unfriendly expression, Zhou Tiedong quickly spoke to the loyal lieutenant general.

"Old Zhong said that scaring the evil slaves of the Pu family will make it easier to search later. Pu Gang is said to have many assassins under his command."

Eunuch Li angrily threw the teacup back into the car and said angrily, "Did you scare me?"

Zhou Tiedong shook his head and quickly added, "What can an old soldier do to me? Besides, Pu Gang is in a difficult situation now, so there is no need for you to worry..."

Li Juying waved her hand and dismissed this fierce and brutal subordinate like a fly.

"No matter what, we must conduct a quick search. We don't want to stay in this shabby place of Ningguta for even a quarter of an hour. Once we find the evidence, we'll take the airship tomorrow morning and return to Nanjing to report. Don't do anything else."

Zhou Tiedong nodded quickly and was about to leave when the old ancestor called him in a low voice.

"We think that Zhong also wants to leave Ningguta and pursue a bright future in the interior. Since he's eager to make a contribution, let him do the dirty work. Your men shouldn't rush to the front. Pu Gang still has some influence in the court, and several corps commanders have given him face. Be careful not to get into trouble..."

The expression in Zhou Tiedong's eyes kept changing, and he immediately understood the meaning behind these words. He was considered one of the four great Vajras of the Suoyi Guard. After Zhang Dong was expelled from Nanjing, Zhou Tiedong became the second most important figure in the Suoyi Guard after Liu Xingzuo.

This time, Emperor Guangde specifically asked Zhou Tiedong to accompany General Li to the north to assist in supervising the collusion and rebellion of the old ministers. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that this was to make an exception and promote Zhou Tiedong, and use him as an important bargaining chip to check and balance Liu Xingzuo.

~~~~~
Pu Gang’s “mansion” in Ningguta was an extremely simple thatched hut. Of course, it would be an exaggeration to call it a thatched hut. In fact, it was a large courtyard with four entrances, but the plaque on the gate was inscribed with “Wind and Rain Thatched Hut”.

When Pu Gang was demoted from the capital to Ningguta, his family had no money left. He originally wanted to die of old age in that bitter and cold place and fulfill his reputation as a loyal righteous man.

However, General Pu's former subordinates, relatives and friends began to pool their money and bought him a house in Ningguta in advance.

There were even some businessmen who understood the sense of loyalty and invested money to buy 800 acres of land for Pu Gang.

After Pu Gang left the capital, he was disillusioned with the Great Qi and did not care about those empty reputations. He accepted all the gifts from relatives and old friends without refusing them. This was the reason why he later had a leisurely pastoral life of "cooking mutton and lamb during the New Year holidays".

The old soldier in front of the courtyard gate held his chest high, looking righteous and awe-inspiring.

The old soldier was about fifty years old, with a hunched body and white hair and beard. His tattered black robe was covered with arrow holes and bullet holes, and fluttered slightly in the wind, clearly showing off his glorious military achievements on the battlefield in the past.

"Get out of the way! The Suoyi Guards are on duty. Everyone else, please stay away!"

Two young eunuchs stepped forward and pushed the old soldier aside, saying impatiently, "We're here to search under orders, not to kill everyone. If you dare to say anything more, we'll punish you for misleading the people and arrest you too!"

After saying that, a large group of straw raincoat guards followed behind and rushed into the house.

"Stop right there, you bastards!"

The old soldier rolled up his sleeves, clenched his fists, and punched the young eunuch left and right, knocking both men to the ground with two punches.

Seeing this, he smiled coldly, and three or four strong guards in straw raincoats rushed forward and pinned the old soldier down. One of the eunuchs who had just been beaten picked up horse manure on the ground and stuffed it into the old soldier's mouth.

(End of this chapter)