The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 69 What is a Loyal Minister?
Zhu Di pointed at Li Qi and said, "At that time, were there any people in the court like Li Jinghe who spoke out for the innocent suffering of the Prince of Xiang? If so, please go to the left."

The courtiers standing at the front of the crowd were immediately agitated, with more than twenty people moving to the left. Most of them were northerners, or southerners like Xie Jin who did not distinguish between north and south.

Most of these people looked excited, knowing that they would have a better political future.

Those who remained in the same place felt uneasy.

Zhu Di added: "After the Jingnan Rebellion, those who jointly submitted memorials to condemn and criticize me, or those who proposed policies for the emperor, have all gone to the right."

Almost everyone turned to the right, and most of them had livid faces, while a small number of them stood tall and proud.

Only a handful of people remained, their faces beaming with pride.

Li Qi shook his head slightly. They were about to die and still didn't realize it. Had they forgotten that after Zhu Di launched his rebellion, he, Li Qi, had indirectly advised Jianwen, but Jianwen simply didn't adopt his advice?

Sure enough, Prince Yan, Zhu Di, pointed to the mere dozen or so people in the middle and said sternly, "Take these people down and execute them in the autumn!"

The sudden impending disaster terrified everyone, leaving them bewildered. Even those destined to die, like Fang Xiaoru, were stunned, unsure of the Prince of Yan's intentions.

"Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?"

"Your Highness, I am innocent! I have never slandered you!"

Everyone was wailing and begging for mercy. Those minor officials and elders who were not qualified to attend court at the end of the line were filled with contempt. They never expected that there would be such people on the Nine Palaces Heavenly Palace.

Zhu Di said disdainfully, "One who eats the emperor's food should be loyal to the emperor."

Since you all did not submit to my command after the Jingnan Rebellion, it means you acknowledge me as a rebel.

Yet he served in the imperial court, receiving the salary of Emperor Jianwen, but did not do anything for him. He was truly a great traitor, even more shameless and hateful than Qi Tai and Huang Zicheng!

"My wrath upon the realm is to rebuild the state; how can I allow treacherous ministers like you to lord it over the heavens!"

Upon hearing this, the officials who had been walking to the right breathed a sigh of relief and looked at those who had been dragged out of the palace with mocking expressions. Even Fang Xiaoru, Huang Zicheng and others felt pleased with Zhu Di's actions.

"Heaven and earth have righteous energy, which flows in all forms."

Zhu Di stood with his hands behind his back, reciting the Song of Righteousness in the fierce wind. When he read about the loyal ministers in history who had devoted themselves to the country, some ministers below the steps were already shedding tears.

Besides Jianwen's loyalists such as Fang Xiaoru, Huang Zicheng, and Qi Tai, there were also ministers like Huang Guan who harbored a death wish.

"Since ancient times, even King Zhou of Shang had Bi Gan and Shang Rong who were willing to die for him, and even Emperor Yang of Sui had loyal ministers who were buried with him. Although the kings were not worth following, there were always loyal ministers and righteous men who would go through fire and water for them. Although I am not one of them, I still admire their loyalty."

Qi Tai, Huang Zicheng, and Fang Xiaoru brought chaos to the world, and their crimes are certainly unforgivable.

But what about other people, such as Huang Guan, and those who opposed me during the Jingnan Rebellion, like Ping An, Sheng Yong, and Tie Xuan? Can I really be too harsh on them?
What's wrong with being loyal to your king?
Perhaps the only mistake was failing to correct it in time, but to punish such a small mistake with the death penalty would be too cruel.
This is not how the imperial court rewards loyalty and righteousness.

The King of Yan's voice was no longer as sharp as when he had questioned him before.

"I here, before the people of the world and before the annals of history, make this promise—"

All loyal subjects of Jianwen, as long as they have not done anything immoral or heinous, and are willing to serve this king, will have their past transgressions forgiven.

"If anyone is unwilling to serve me and is willing to die for Jianwen, I will not hold their family accountable. I will even compile a 'Jianwen Martyrdom Monument' so that the whole world will remember that there were once such loyal and upright ministers who were willing to die for their monarch. They are an example for all the people." Only the voice of the Prince of Yan echoed throughout the court and palaces, leaving almost everyone speechless, whether ministers or commoners!

Fang Xiaoru felt dizzy and almost collapsed to the ground. His vision blurred. How could he not know that the Prince of Yan was about to win over the hearts of the people?

How can it be?

The King of Yan is a tiger and wolf, a jackal and a wolf. Just the other day, he was shouting and killing me. How could he be so magnanimous in such a short time?

Li Qi!

It must be Li Qi again!
He couldn't help but turn his gaze to Li Qi, who happened to be looking over as well. His eyes were indifferent, but upon closer inspection, he saw a hint of mockery.

It's exactly the same as it was a few years ago!
Fang Xiaoru knew that Li Qi had always looked down on them, from the first time they met when the Crown Prince entered the Eastern Palace, and it was still the same now. But the facts seemed to prove that they were really far inferior to Li Qi.

If only he had known this would happen, he would have made Li Qi the Imperial Tutor. His Majesty would not be in this predicament today. Regret gnawed at his heart. Even he, who had maintained a strong demeanor all day, could not help but shed tears of remorse. "Your Majesty, we have failed you. Only death can atone for our insignificant sins."

"Your Highness is wise and without fault!"

"Your Highness is wise and without fault!"

The thousands of subjects below the high platform of Fengtian Hall knelt down in waves, almost all of them shouting from the bottom of their hearts that the Prince of Yan was wise.

The Prince of Yan's actions were truly unexpected, especially considering that it had only been three years since the Hongwu era. When had anyone ever seen a monarch like the Prince of Yan?

Such a person should not have appeared in the Ming Dynasty, but rather in the Tang or Song Dynasties, as a wise ruler like Emperor Taizong of Tang or Emperor Renzong of Song.

As Zhu Di gazed upon the surging tide of kneeling worshippers, his heart was naturally stirred. This was not a coercion through force, but a sincere tribute from his ministers.

Only the wise and virtuous can win people's hearts.

The statement that Li Qi relayed, which came from Emperor Zhaolie of Han, was indeed true; perhaps his father's methods of governing the country were not entirely correct.

Li Qi was truly a loyal and capable minister.

After this matter is resolved and after I ascend the throne, I will first remove Li Shanchang, the Duke of Han, from the list of traitors as a way of repaying him for this matter.

Zhu Di's gaze involuntarily fell upon Li Qi, whose eyes were bright, and who bowed respectfully without being humble or arrogant.

"Everyone, please leave the palace."

"When the sun rises again, the Ming Dynasty will usher in a bright future!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

On the 27th day of the ninth month of the third year of the Jianwen reign, Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, finally obtained the throne he had longed for, in a manner genuinely supported by his millions of subjects. For a usurper, this was a dreamlike scene.

With his magnanimous heart, he mercifully forgave almost all the enemies who had tried to kill him, which earned him great prestige. After the fierce war, the upper echelons of the Ming Dynasty quickly unified and devoted themselves to the mission of economic recovery.

History has proven that he was the monarch who led the Ming Dynasty to prosperity. —From *Five Hundred Years of the Ming Dynasty*

(End of this chapter)