The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 146 Sword Pointing at the King of Han
As dawn broke and the palace gates had just opened, Li Xianmu entered the palace and went straight to pay his respects to His Majesty the Emperor.

After entering the palace, he met his father-in-law, Duke Zhang Fu of Yingguo, who was also receiving orders in the Huagai Hall.

Upon seeing Li Xianmu enter the hall, Zhu Di smiled and waved, "Perfect timing, Xianmu, you've arrived too. You two, father-in-law and son-in-law, come and receive orders together."

Li Xianmu only learned after arriving that Annam had indeed made some unusual moves, and that his father-in-law was about to lead troops to Annam again. Zhu Di pointed to the geomantic map and said, "This time, we will go to Annam by both land and water routes, just as we said before."

"Xianmu, you are about to tour the Jiangnan region. Besides investigating the matter of sorcery, there is another extremely important matter concerning the maritime transport of summer grain from Jiangnan. Now that Zheng He has led his fleet to Japan, I entrust the matter of Jiangnan's grain supplies to you. Do you have confidence?"

This was the first time that grain from Jiangnan had been transported to Beijing since the advent of maritime trade. It was a matter of great importance and should have been the responsibility of Zheng He. However, since he was on a mission to Japan to find silver for the Ming Dynasty, the task fell to Li Xianmu, who had proposed the idea of ​​maritime trade.

Moreover, Li Xianmu could tell from Zhu Di's words that he was responsible not only for transporting grain from Jiangnan to the capital, but also for supplying the logistics for the army that was conquering Annam. These were the two most important tasks of the dynasty at present, and they had both fallen on his shoulders. It was clear that he was highly valued and trusted.

As soon as the emperor finished speaking, Duke Zhang Fu of Yingguo's expression changed drastically. Such an important matter was entrusted entirely to Li Xianmu, which even he found alarming.

He was worried that if Li Xianmu made a mistake, the consequences would be unimaginable, so he wanted to suggest to the emperor that another person be sent to handle one of the matters.

"Your Majesty, I will certainly not fail in your trust!"

Before he could even speak, Li Xianmu had already agreed. The emperor laughed heartily, while Duke Zhang Fu of Yingguo was somewhat helpless.

The emperor's words were exactly what Li Xianmu meant. After returning from mourning, he had decided to make a name for himself by achieving meritorious service in the world, and there was no better choice than that.

After discussing for a while, Li Xianmu and Duke Zhang Fu of Yingguo left the palace together. As soon as they stepped outside the hall, Zhang Fu said helplessly to Li Xianmu, "Xianmu, I know you have always been courageous in taking on responsibilities, but you were too impulsive in the hall just now."

We must ensure that the summer grain arrives in the capital intact, supply the needs of the southern expedition to Annam, and investigate the matter of sorcery. Moreover, I believe that your trip to Jiangnan this time will not be solely for investigating sorcery, but will surely involve suppressing the Jiangnan gentry once again.

Completing even one of these major tasks would be quite an achievement; trying to do several at once inevitably leads to distraction. If any mishaps occur, not only will you have accomplished nothing, but you'll also have made a mistake. It was far too impulsive!

"Uncle, there's no need to worry too much. I never act impulsively. Although these matters are all difficult, I'm not without the confidence to accomplish them all. As the saying goes, there's opportunity in danger. Otherwise, how can I demonstrate my abilities? Otherwise, how can His Majesty promote me beyond the established mechanisms of the court?"

Li Xianmu laughed loudly, “Just like this time, my nephew was promoted from a fifth-rank scholar to a fourth-rank junior tutor, yet there was not a single word of ridicule in the court or among the people saying that my nephew was a person who was promoted by chance, because my nephew has made several meritorious achievements in succession.”

To gain the respect of the people, practical achievements are the most effective way. As long as I accomplish great things in Jiangnan, even if His Majesty promotes my nephew to the third rank, no one will dare to say a word against it.

After my father's death, my disciples in the School of Mind dwindled. When Minister Chen of the Court of Judicial Review retired, there was no one left among the Nine Ministers. The Li family was in dire straits, with no one to uphold its reputation. It is my duty, your young nephew, to take up this mantle.

Zhang Fu was taken aback at first, then comforted him, "If that's all there is to it, there's no need to rush."

Our families are related by marriage, so I am like a father to you. I will protect you from harm in the court.

You were born into a noble family, a family of great wealth and honor. Now your family has been exonerated and you are no longer considered a criminal.

With your talent and intelligence, you could easily rise through the ranks and stand proudly among all the officials in the land if you followed the proper procedures. Why are you in such a hurry? I truly don't understand."

Li Xianmu calmly replied, "If it's only for one family, then of course I have no objection."

Although the world appears peaceful on the surface, Mongolia lies to the north and Annam to the south. Our fleet crosses overseas, yet the storms continue. My father, in his lifetime, spoke of the lost territories of the Han and Tang dynasties, which have yet to be recovered.

The policies left by the late emperor are no longer suitable for the times.

The world is in turmoil, and diseases are rampant!
There is much suffering in the world!
My nephew felt that time was of the essence and wanted to bring peace to the world amidst all the chaos.

Now that the Holy Emperor is on the throne, it is time for him to demonstrate his abilities. However, I am currently of lowly status and have little influence. Only by constantly climbing upwards can I realize my aspirations!

Li Xianmu will never forget the seven regrets his father left behind before his death.

The last four regrets were too difficult to mention for now, but the first three regrets were to make Li Shimin known to the world, to promote the philosophy of mind, and to restore the old territories of the Han and Tang dynasties. These three were his lifelong ideals.

Through the efforts of his father's generation and his own, it is a foregone conclusion that the Li family will gradually regain its former glory.

What followed was also quite difficult.

Zhang Fu looked at Li Xianmu, who was full of youthful vigor, and was stunned for a moment, as if he saw himself galloping on horseback in the frontier when he was young. Then he laughed and said, "Truly worthy of being the son of Lord Li Zhongwen, you have ambitions that are higher than the sky. In the present Ming Dynasty, there are no more than five young men like you!"

If all noble families were like yours, why would we worry about the decline of our Great Ming Dynasty? Why would we worry about the Great Ming Dynasty not lasting for thousands of years?
No wonder His Majesty likes you so much, even more than his son.

Is there anyone in the world who wouldn't like you?

"I am honored that my daughter is to marry you!"

The father-in-law and son-in-law walked out of the palace. Li Xianmu smiled and said, "When the late emperor was alive, he also praised my nephew in the same way, saying that I am the unicorn of the Ming Dynasty and a person who brings good fortune to the Ming Dynasty."

Upon hearing Li Xianmu's words, Zhang Fu suddenly remembered that Li Xianmu had frequently visited the palace to see Emperor Taizu when he was young, especially during the later years of Emperor Taizu's reign, when he was the only grandson who stayed by Emperor Taizu's side for an extended period.

"Your father once served as an official in the Imperial Clan Court..."

Zhang Fu suddenly realized something, and with a hint of speculation, said, "Given your age and seniority, one day you might very well take charge of the Imperial Clan Court?"

hiss.

Zhang Fu thought about it more and more and felt that his guess was not unfounded, but a very likely thing to happen. Although Li Xianmu was young, he was the grandson of Emperor Taizu. Now it seemed that he would live longer than Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi. At that time, with his official position, prestige and status in the imperial clan, who else but him would be the head of the Imperial Clan Court?
"Lord Li Zhongwen, what kind of son-in-law have you sent me?"

Zhang Fu then thought of his current eldest son, who was weak and sickly, and wondered if he could outlive him. He had few descendants and had been fighting for many years; he didn't know how much longer he could live.

"In the future, the lineage of the Duke of England will probably really have to rely on this son-in-law to maintain its prestige."

Zhang Fu was unaware that he himself had an exceptionally long lifespan. If he hadn't been tricked and killed at Tumu Fort by the Ming Dynasty's war god Mingbao Zong, he would have easily lived to be eighty or ninety years old, which was ridiculously long among military generals.

After the two parted ways upon leaving the palace, Li Xianmu sat in his carriage, gazing in the direction Zhang Fu had left, lost in thought.

Regarding Zhang Fu, his father had specifically told him why he had chosen such a father-in-law for him.

First of all, Zhang Fu was a good person and would not abandon the Li family when they were in a low point; he was an excellent ally.

Secondly, Zhang Fu lived a long life. In politics, the victor is always the one who survives to the end. Just like Sima Yi, who was not outstanding in the late Eastern Han Dynasty of the Three Kingdoms period, he became the winner in the end because of his long lifespan.

During the Yongle era, Zhang Fu may have only been the top general, but once the Yongle Emperor passed away, Zhang Fu's status immediately became extremely important.

During the Hongwu era, someone like Zhang Fu would have been dealt with in a major case.

If Li Xianmu ever wants to truly rule the world, he will definitely need a military ally.

For example, Yu Qian in history, who controlled the military power in the capital as Minister of War, or Zhang Juzheng, Li Chengliang in the north, and Qi Jiguang in the south, all had military support in order to consolidate their power.

The most secure relationship is marriage.

Li Qi's plans were far-sighted; he paved this path for Li Xianmu even before Li Xianmu knew his future.

"But can Your Majesty trust the two of us, father-in-law and son-in-law, one a civil official and the other a military officer, to occupy positions in the court?"

Li Xianmu frowned deeply. "It seems I need to create a few seemingly equal political enemies for myself, and I must not say too much about the matter of the vassal kings. I need to make the emperor believe that there is a force in the court that can check and balance the two of us, father-in-law and son-in-law."

Qiu Fu, the Duke of Qi, was the most meritorious during the Jingnan Rebellion, so it should be feasible to let him compete with his father-in-law.

"When the time is right, we can take them down." Previously, Li Xianmu had planned to suggest abolishing the hereditary system of vassal kings and replacing it with a system of succession by lower ranks, but now he thought that it was not the right time yet. Weakening the power of the royal family was too sensitive, and although the current emperor rose to power through the Jingnan Campaign, he might not be willing to accept it.

Qi Guogong Qiu Fu, Li Xianmu knew that this man was ambitious but incompetent, just a fierce general who charged into battle but had no political acumen. Such a person might be useful on the battlefield, but in the court, it would only take a few words to destroy him, which could be done effortlessly.

"Who should I choose to check and balance me?"

People probably never dreamed that Li Xianmu would start creating political enemies for himself before he even gained power over the world.

Respect yourself!

"The only people the emperor can trust and who he considers capable of checking and balancing me are those in the cabinet. All of them are talented and intelligent!"

A talent fit for a prime minister!

After I have made some contributions, I can take the initiative to recommend Yang Shiqi and others to the emperor to improve their status in the court and the Eastern Palace, so as to prevent them from becoming too powerful.

In this way, he should be able to safely navigate the Yongle reign and acquire sufficient prestige and seniority.

It is now the eighth year of the Yongle reign. I wonder how many more years His Majesty will remain on the throne—ten years, or twenty? By then, I will be nearly thirty, or even over thirty, old enough to lead all the ministers of the realm!

……

Before leaving the capital, Li Xianmu's last stop was naturally the Eastern Palace.

In reality, ever since he argued for the Crown Prince's sorcery, he had become extremely distant from the Eastern Palace. However, the rumors that he was a member of the Crown Prince's faction continued to circulate in the court and among the people.

He remained steadfast in his duty to avoid suspicion. Now, as he was about to leave the capital for Jiangnan, as the Junior Chamberlain of the Eastern Palace, he was obligated to meet the Crown Prince; otherwise, he would be considered impolite.

"Xianmu, the events in the capital won't have too much of an impact on you now, will they?"
If so, I will have someone arrest the person who spread it.

Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi said to Li Xianmu with some worry, "Alas, it's all my fault. If these rumors reach Father Emperor's ears, he will probably become suspicious of you again. Father Emperor's suspiciousness is truly rare."

Li Xianmu said coldly and sarcastically, "Does Your Highness think that the matter that is being spread like wildfire in the capital is merely the work of the common people and the Crown Prince alone?"

If one were a normal person, how could one not guess that such words would damage the trust between me and the Emperor, and also be detrimental to His Highness the Crown Prince?

Does Your Highness believe that no one is behind this?
Your Highness, why don't you guess who is spreading these rumors?

Zhu Gaochi sighed, "I also have my suspicions about this. I'm afraid it was done by my good brother, the Prince of Han, again."

After this repeated experience, he must now understand that with Xianmu protecting me from the wind and rain, my position as crown prince is as solid as a rock.

He must now see you as a thorn in his side and want to get rid of you as soon as possible. This is just a scheme to sow discord between you and your father, make you lose His Majesty's trust, and then deal with me.

But even if we knew, what could we do?
This is an open conspiracy, and what he said is true. You are a member of the Crown Prince's faction, so even if you argue to the bitter end, you can't say anything. Even in front of the Emperor, you can only try to cover it up. What can you do?

Zhu Gaochi lamented the difficult situation, but Li Xianmu didn't seem to care much. He looked around the furnishings in the Eastern Palace, which were quite simple, with only a few wisps of incense rising from the incense burner in the corner. He had heard that the Prince of Han's residence was quite luxurious, and the two brothers were quite different.

"Your Highness, please do not worry. I already guessed what was going on in the capital back when I was arguing for you. The reason I didn't respond was precisely to wait for the matter to ferment and reach His Majesty's ears, so that I could turn the tables and annihilate the Prince of Han's ambition to seize the throne in one fell swoop!"

Li Xianmu spoke these words so casually, as if he were talking about what to eat for lunch, that even Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi was taken aback, thinking he had misheard.

He asked blankly, "Xianmu, what were you saying just now? To cut off the Prince of Han's ambition to seize the throne?"

Zhu Gaochi's first reaction was that it was impossible. He knew all too well how strong the Prince of Han's desire to seize the throne was, so how could he give up so easily?

"Your Highness became the ruler of all because of the ancient rites and laws, the ancestral system of the founding emperor, and the concept of establishing the eldest son as the heir for thousands of years. Therefore, even if Your Highness does nothing, you will naturally have thousands of troops following you!"
All of His Highness's assistance is an obstacle for the King of Han!

The Prince of Han's succession is based solely on His Majesty's favor; if His Majesty dislikes or doubts him, then he is nothing!

Zhu Gaochi understood yet was somewhat confused, and asked in bewilderment, "But Father Emperor likes the Prince of Han the most, so how could he dislike and doubt him?"

Zhu Gaochi thought Li Xianmu would explain how to make the emperor suspicious and disgusted with the Prince of Han, but to his surprise, Li Xianmu shook his head and said, "No ministers, and no one, can dictate an emperor's preferences!"

Of course, Li Xianmu would not reveal to the Crown Prince how he had sown discord between the Emperor and the Prince of Han, after all, they were his own father and younger brother, and he had to always remember the principle of not interfering in the affairs of his own family.

Unless your lord is Li Shimin!

As expected, Zhu Gaochi was slightly disappointed but also relieved when he heard Li Xianmu say this. If Li Xianmu had really told him how to sow discord between the emperor and the Prince of Han, he would not have known what to do or how to face his cousin who was almost supernaturally intelligent.

Li Xianmu patiently explained, "What we need to do is not to make His Majesty dislike and doubt the Prince of Han, but to let His Majesty know his true feelings for the Prince of Han."

Does Your Highness truly believe that His Majesty is fond of the Prince of Han?

Does Your Highness really believe that His Majesty neither dislikes nor suspects the Prince of Han?

I do not think so!

I believe that His Majesty prefers the Crown Prince to His Highness the Prince of Han, because the Crown Prince is benevolent and filial, and parents in this world always prefer filial children.

Your Majesty's fondness for the Prince of Han is essentially Your Majesty's fondness for yourself!
But the Prince of Han is ultimately not His Majesty himself.

Now Your Majesty is keeping yourself in the dark, neither seeing the true face of the King of Han nor seeing your own truest thoughts.

But once this matter escalates, His Majesty will surely summon me to question him, and then I may reveal what I have said.”

Li Xianmu uttered a sentence he had prepared beforehand. Upon hearing it, the Crown Prince's eyes widened, and he asked in shock, "Did my brother, the Prince of Han, really say that?"

"Doesn't the Prince of Han know whether or not His Highness the Crown Prince has said this?"

Zhu Gaochi was stunned for a few moments before slowly sighing, "He actually said it. I had heard about it before, but... I never expected his words to be so fatal."

"Your Highness, the matter that is taboo is one of paramount importance to the nation!"

Li Xianmu laughed heartily, "Why did Ji Gang die? Wasn't it because he violated the taboo of calling a deer a horse?"
Have you forgotten?

If a student were to write a poem after failing the imperial examinations, saying that he would wait until the ninth day of the ninth month in autumn, would His Highness the Crown Prince really think that he would be able to leave the capital alive?
Your Highness, the reason you have been forgiven by His Majesty time and again is because all the officials who support you are civil servants. In other words, His Majesty does not consider you a threat!

Otherwise, no matter how eloquent I am, I will not be able to save Your Highness!

But the King of Han is different!
Does Your Highness still believe that His Majesty has no suspicions about the Prince of Han?

The Eastern Palace fell silent for a moment. Sunlight shone through the window lattices, and dust particles floated and sank in the beams of light, each one distinct, like fleeting shadows.

The hall was quiet and silent, except for the heavy breathing of Zhu Gaochi's obese body, which did not cause any panic. Li Xianmu even had the leisure to raise his hands and carefully examine the bright red blood streaks, as if they were attached to jade.

"His wisdom and discernment in judging people's hearts are truly remarkable, making him a man of extraordinary talent who can rival the creation of heaven and earth. According to this, the Prince of Han is indeed a great threat to Father Emperor!"

After a long silence, Zhu Gaochi finally sighed and uttered this long passage, his tone filled with deep admiration. If it weren't for Li Xianmu, he would never have imagined that liking and disliking could be two sides of the same coin!
"How many things in this world are truly black and white?"

Li Xianmu stood up, his eyes shining brightly. "Only a saint can stand in the light, but even a saint can only trample the darkness in his heart underfoot. You could say he suppresses it, or you could say he transcends it!"

(End of this chapter)