Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 1 A perfect start! Ming Dynasty, here I come!
On the 22nd day of the eighth month of the seventh year of the Tianqi reign (1628), inside the Prince Xin's residence.

Zhu Youjian sat quietly on the futon, his eyes closed in deep thought.

Wang Chengen was nowhere to be found in the Prince Xin's residence...

Isn't this the standard setup for time-traveling to the late Ming Dynasty during the Chongzhen era?
The emperor Zhu Youjian came and went, but Wang Banban remained constant.

Moreover, they are always loyal, never greedy or robbed, making them the perfect NPC for beginners.

But where is this beginner's guide NPC now?
……

Oh well, it doesn't matter if Wang Chengen isn't around.

After all, throughout history, no last emperor has had such an incredible start as Chongzhen.

If you don't believe me, just look at the predicaments faced by the last emperors of other dynasties:
Ziying, the son of Qin, reigned for only 46 days. He had just killed Zhao Gao when Liu Bang broke through Wuguan Pass. He was forced to surrender bound and surrendered, and was eventually slaughtered by Xiang Yu.

Emperor Xian of Han reigned for 32 years, the longest reign ever, but his early years were filled with hardship and displacement. Later, he met his general who was in charge of the westward expedition, and he spent his life as a rubber stamp out of resentment.

Emperor Ai of Tang reigned for three years, but he was merely a puppet emperor from beginning to end. He was eventually forced to abdicate and was poisoned to death by Zhu Wen the following year.

Emperor Shao of Song was only 4 years old when the capital fell. He fled south all the way, and when he was 7 years old, he finally had nowhere to escape and was carried by Lu Xiufu to jump into the sea to die for his country.

And what about Emperor Chongzhen?

At the beginning of his reign, the great empire he inherited from Tianqi was strong, though weak.

They were truly weak. They couldn't defeat the Jurchens, couldn't collect taxes, and were corrupt from top to bottom. Natural disasters and popular uprisings followed one after another.

It is strong, but it is still the strongest in East Asia. The population of Beizhili alone is over 800 million, not to mention Nanzhili, which pays half of the country's taxes.

Any last emperor in the country would probably be laughing in his dreams if he had such a start.

As a result, during his 17-year tenure, he changed prime ministers 19 times and cabinet ministers 50 times.

Through a series of maneuvers, he went from being the hope of the nation at the beginning to being so destitute that no one dared to mention the matter of his southward migration.

Zhu Youjian shook his head helplessly at this thought.

It can only be said that the succession of feudal dynasties sometimes really depends on fate.

Although he had not received imperial training, Emperor Jiajing was as shrewd as a ghost.

If Emperor Chongzhen had possessed even half of his abilities, he wouldn't have ended up hanging himself from a tree in the southeast.

It can only be said that a mediocre ruler who tries to maintain the status quo will make more mistakes the harder he tries when the dynasty is nearing its end.

Unfortunately, when Chongzhen ascended the throne, he was only a 17-year-old high school student who hadn't received much formal education, so his knowledge and abilities were only average.

But the most crucial factor wasn't his knowledge or experience, but rather his sensitive and suspicious personality!

It can only be said that one's family of origin can be incredibly detrimental.

When Chongzhen was four years old, his mother, Liu, was beaten to death by order of his biological father, Emperor Guangzong of Ming.

So, the person who killed his mother was actually his father... What kind of hellish joke is this?
After his father beat his mother to death, fearing that his grandfather, Emperor Wanli, would blame him, he simply threw her away and buried her hastily in the Western Hills.

When the four-year-old Chongzhen woke up, his mother was gone, and he didn't even know where her grave was.

No one knows what the young Emperor Chongzhen was feeling.

But perhaps there isn't even anyone left to comfort him.

After all, who would risk incurring the wrath of the crown prince for the sake of an unfavored grandson of the emperor?
But with her birth mother dead, and her four-year-old still so small, she couldn't be left unattended.

Therefore, Emperor Guangzong arranged for him to be raised by Consort Li.

When he turned nine, Consort Kang became pregnant and claimed that she was unable to take care of him and suggested that he be raised by Consort Li Zhuang.

The young Emperor Chongzhen stood with his head down in the crowd, not daring to speak.

He couldn't understand why Tianqi could take care of him, but he couldn't.

Fortunately, Consort Zhuang was gentle and kind, and treated Chongzhen as if he were her own son.

However, when Chongzhen was 13 years old, Consort Li Zhuang also died. It was said from people in the palace that she was angered to death by Wei Zhongxian and Madam Ke.

Now she's lost both her biological mother and her stepmother.

Hey……

As her thoughts drifted to this point, a tear suddenly fell onto the brocade robe, slid down the satin surface, and fell to the ground, silently shattering into seven or eight pieces.

Zhu Youjian wiped the corner of his eye with his finger without expression, but tears still flowed uncontrollably.

There's no way around it; perhaps I just transmigrated not long ago.

This body appears to retain a strong muscle memory response to its deepest obsessions.

He simply stood up, stretched his numb legs, and tried to distract himself.

Just then, a series of hurried and frantic footsteps approached from afar, accompanied by a shrill cry, shattering the tranquility of the Prince's mansion.

"His Majesty...has passed away!"

Before he could finish speaking, the door was suddenly flung open, and a gust of wind rushed in, scattering the talismans on the table, meant to pray for Tianqi's well-being, into a frenzy, like burning paper money.

Xu Yingyuan, the chief attendant of the Prince's mansion, rushed in, stumbling and crawling, followed by a group of eunuchs who all knelt on the ground, wailing and lamenting.

Xu Yingyuan lay prostrate on the ground, his voice trembling, his words filled with sorrow, yet he could not conceal a trace of excitement that even he himself was unaware of:

"Your Highness, His Majesty has passed away! Tu Wenfu, the head of the Imperial Horse Administration, has come to escort Your Highness to the palace for a mourning ceremony, as ordered by the Empress. He is currently waiting outside the residence!"

Xu Yingyuan's heart pounded. He waited for a moment, but there was no response from Prince Xin.

Unable to contain his elation and ambition, he quietly raised his eyelids and quickly glanced at the figure's back.

The merit of following the dragon!

These four words echoed wildly in his mind like a curse.

Throughout the Ming Dynasty, after an emperor ascended the throne, it was almost always the case that he himself became an immortal, and all his relatives and friends also ascended to heaven.

In the past ten days or so, he and the people in the Prince's Mansion had communicated and envisioned this bright future more than once, both openly and secretly.

And now, that day is finally almost here! Wealth and glory will be within easy reach, and power over the court will be just a matter of turning one's hand.

If Wei Zhongxian can be a high-ranking official, why can't I, Xu Yingyuan, be one too!

While he was lost in thought, Zhu Youjian finally slowly turned around.

Xu Yingyuan was shocked to see that Zhu Youjian's eyes were red and swollen, his face was covered in tears, and his expression was extremely grief-stricken.

A chill instantly shot from Xu Yingyuan's tailbone to the top of his head.

He realized he had lost his composure!

At this crucial moment, in front of the future new emperor, he was thinking about his own future and wealth, instead of mourning for the deceased emperor!
If this is seen through, forget about the merit of supporting the emperor, I'm afraid I'll lose my head immediately!

He was so frightened that he immediately banged his head on the ground and pinched his thigh hard.

When he looked up again, tears were streaming down his face; he was crying more heartbrokenly than anyone else.

Zhu Youjian slowly opened his mouth:
"Brother... Brother has only just come of age, I never imagined that Heaven would be so unjust!"

His voice was choked with emotion, as if he had used up all his strength to say those words.

"Oh, heavens, how cruel you are to make my royal brother abandon the country!"

He staggered, as if he might faint at any moment, and Xu Yingyuan rushed forward to support him.

Zhu Youjian leaned against Xu Yingyuan, but his mind remained calm.

It was all an act, nothing but an act.

The seemingly insignificant acting skills of later generations in officialdom, combined with the perfectly timed muscle reactions of this body, together created this Oscar-worthy performance.

He only left his residence at the end of last year, which is only nine months ago.

Before Tianqi fell seriously ill, he was just a young prince who was ignored by everyone and had no real authority.

For example, Xu Yingyuan, the seemingly loyal court official, is actually a veteran eunuch.

He was Wei Zhongxian's colleague and old gambling buddy, as well as the uncle of Tu Wenfu, the current head of the Imperial Horse Administration and commander of the Four Guards.

In the past, those who held these two identities often flaunted their power and embezzled from the Prince's mansion.

The rest of the group were not afraid of the so-called authority of the Prince of Xin, and sending out messages was extremely commonplace for them.

Even if these people are now thinking about their service to the emperor and intend to turn over a new leaf, it is still difficult to prevent them from passing on messages.

At this critical moment, his every move will be scrutinized under a magnifying glass by civil and military officials, eunuchs, and secret police.

Filial piety is the best expression at this moment.

First and foremost, his greatest support on this trip came from Empress Zhang, the widow of Emperor Tianqi, whose attitude was of paramount importance.

Secondly, this indicates to some extent that he will inherit some of the policies of the Tianqi era and that the old guard will not deny or purge everything so quickly, which is conducive to easing the attitude of the eunuch faction and reducing confrontation.

Ultimately, any reputation he accumulates will translate into real power and position in the future. Fame and position are two sides of the same coin, mutually reinforcing. He took a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent thoughts in his heart, concealing all his calculations beneath his grief-stricken face.

"To help me... change my clothes."

"Quickly, quickly help His Highness change his clothes!" Xu Yingyuan's eyes were swollen and painful, and tears kept flowing, but he still hurriedly arranged for everyone to do so.

Just as the eunuchs were busily dressing Prince Xin in mourning clothes, a figure stumbled in from outside the door.

"Your Highness!"

The person who arrived was none other than Princess Zhou. Her hair was slightly disheveled, clearly indicating that she had received the news suddenly, was in a state of panic, and had run all the way here.

Her face was deathly pale, and her beautiful eyes were filled with terror and bewilderment.

Zhu Youjian waved his hand to the crowd, signaling them to step back.

Xu Yingyuan understood and quickly led the group of eunuchs out of the room, gently closing the door behind them.

After everyone had left, Zhu Youjian stepped forward to support the swaying Princess Zhou.

"Changqiu, listen carefully to what I have to say."

Zhou Yu was startled and looked at him with teary eyes.

Before she could think it through, Zhu Youjian whispered in her ear in an unquestionable tone:

"As soon as I enter the palace, you must go and find your father-in-law and have him spread the news of my entry as far as possible."

"You must go in person, and have him use a trusted servant from within the manor. Under no circumstances should you use the troops from the South City Garrison, understand?"

Zhou Yu was caught off guard by this sudden change and was unable to grasp its profound meaning for a while.

She instinctively gripped Zhu Youjian's sleeve, asking in a panic, "Why...why do this? Wouldn't the Southern City Military Command be faster?"

Zhu Youjian looked at her, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. It was already rare that she could still ask the key question in such a panicked state.

He explained in the simplest terms: "Going to the palace is ultimately uncertain, and I doubt Wei Zhongxian would dare to make a move. But it would be best to spread the news. The more people know that I have entered the palace, the safer I will be."

"But things are accomplished in secrecy and ruined by leaks. If the use of the Southern City Garrison is discovered, it will make me seem treacherous and secretive. Between the two, it's better to use my trusted servant; it won't matter if it's a little slower."

Zhou Yu nodded vigorously and quickly repeated, "As soon as you enter the palace, I will go to my father and send a trusted servant from the manor to deliver the message."

She took a deep breath and added, "After I finish this, I will immediately return to the manor and arrange for the funeral to be held, so that the news can be spread as far as possible indirectly. Also, Sister Tian and Sister Yuan, their parents are in the capital, so I can make arrangements for them as well."

Zhu Youjian couldn't help but admire her. He patted her hand firmly and comforted her in a gentle voice, "There's no need to panic too much. Your sister-in-law is still in the palace to protect you. This is just to be on the safe side."

Having finished giving his instructions, he turned around, about to push open the door and leave.

"Your Highness!"

Zhou Yu suddenly called out to him at that moment.

Zhu Youjian paused, turned around, and saw the sixteen-year-old girl standing in the room, her hair disheveled, tears still on her face, but her eyes full of seriousness.

She gazed at him and spoke clearly, word by word:
"If you do not agree with me, I will not live on alone."

The sound was not loud, but it was like metal or stone falling to the ground, making a resounding noise.

Zhu Youjian was deep in thought when he was stunned by those words and couldn't react for a moment.

He opened his mouth as if to say something.

For example, from a rational perspective, it's not actually that dangerous; it's just a precaution.

Or, from a more emotional perspective, one might say that he is incredibly blessed and must be protected by his ancestors.

But all the words that welled up in my heart ultimately turned into a heavy nod.

Without saying another word, he turned abruptly, pushed open the door, and left.

The eunuchs waiting outside immediately surrounded him and quickly draped the last plain white cloak over his shoulders.

It was late afternoon, just before dusk, and a north wind blowing from the Mongolian Plateau made the cloak flutter loudly.
……

Outside the Prince Xin's mansion, Tu Wenfu stood for a long time, his face showing no resentment whatsoever.

"Godfather, should we go and urge them on?" The little eunuch behind him lowered his voice, with a hint of flattery.

"Silence."

Tu Wenfu didn't turn his head. His voice wasn't loud, but it made the little eunuch tremble and dare not say another word.

Urge? Urge what?

The person you absolutely mustn't rush in the world is your master.

Tu Wenfu was able to climb to the position of head of the Imperial Horse Administration in the palace, and that was all thanks to his keen insight and patience.

As the saying goes, "When you tread on frost, solid ice will follow," and the death of the Tianqi Emperor was like the first frost of late autumn.

If he still can't see the situation clearly and continues down the same path as his former master, then he's truly foolish.

Wei Gonggong may have once been a towering tree, but now the tree is about to fall.

He didn't want to be the monkey that got crushed.

He came today by imperial decree, an opportunity he had secretly obtained through his own efforts.

Even the short journey to the palace is an extremely precious opportunity.

Every encounter we have today will lead to a greater bond in the future.

Perhaps it's this little bit of extra affection that will lead to her being demoted from the Imperial Mausoleum to the Shrine Supervisor?

The wealth and power of the capital city are dazzling, and who would willingly step down unless absolutely necessary?

As long as one remains in the Emperor's sight, there will eventually be a chance to turn things around.

Just as he was pondering this, the tightly closed vermilion gate of the Prince Xin's mansion slowly opened with a creak.

Tu Wenfu hunched over and quickly stepped forward, adopting a sorrowful yet ingratiating expression to greet him.

"This servant, Tu Wenfu, is here by the Empress's decree to welcome His Highness Prince Xin into the palace."
-
This article discusses the personalities of the characters and the details of the events, referencing Ming and Qing dynasty public histories, private histories, and scholar's notes, such as the "Ming Shilu," "Guo Que," and "Manchu Old Archives."

Some statistical data on the economy, military, population, and products will be based on research papers by modern historians.

At the beginning of the story, when the protagonist's butterfly effect is not significant, the locations and official positions of each character are listed in the "Chronological Table of Officials in the Ming Dynasty".

Based on estimates from ancient texts, time and space factors are considered. For example, the journey from Beijing to Nanjing normally takes 30 days, while a fast horse takes 5 to 10 days.

In other words, there's no scenario where the protagonist suddenly announces Xu Guangqi's reinstatement, and Xu Guangqi instantly flies from Shanghai to Beijing. This book does not contain any "Anywhere Door" feature.

This is the first chapter, so I will explain it in the main text. Please bear with me.

Subsequent historical citations are placed in the "Author's Note" section and do not count towards the main text.

I will fill in the gaps and ambiguities in the historical records by deducing from the reference materials myself.

For example, this chapter mentions that the population of Beizhili was 800 million, but according to the population statistics in the Yellow Register during the Wanli period, it was only a little over 300 million.

I extrapolated this figure based on data from "A History of Chinese Population" and population data from Hebei during the Qing Dynasty, but I feel it is still somewhat conservative.

After all, hundreds of thousands of refugees poured into the interior from Liaodong.

I will also add extra annotations to these data that I have deduced or fabricated myself, so as not to make people think they are true historical facts.

There's already enough rampant cheap literature and low-level conspiracy theories; I don't want to become one of them.

Finally, the only fictional element in this chapter is Empress Zhou's given name... unfortunately, there's no way to find one.

There are many interesting anecdotes about Empress Zhou, which may not be mentioned in this book. I have a document titled "Memorial on Empress Zhou's Family Affairs" which I have included in the book's related section.

　Chapter Six: Ascension to the Throne.

　　I considered whether to skip all the preceding groundwork and descriptions and, as the market prefers, directly address the conflict upfront.

　　But I really can't bear to part with it.

　　The two days before Chongzhen ascended the throne served as a particularly good lens through which to look.

　　There was mutual suspicion between the people in and around the capital, and even cabinet ministers would pray for their safety before entering the palace.

　　What was the true state of the unrest among Wei Zhongxian, Empress Zhang Yan, Prince Xin's former residence, cabinet ministers, and even palace eunuchs?

　　I love this story unearthed from the History of the Ming Dynasty; real history is truly fascinating.

　　[Historical Materials in this Chapter]

　　1. Those who served Xu Yingyuan were his colleagues with the treacherous officials, and Tu Wenfu's uncle. — *Zhuozhong Zhi*. "Colleagues" refers to those who entered the palace in the same year, and "uncle" is not an uncle but a term of respect for someone of a lower rank than one's maternal grandfather.

　　2. On the day of Renyin, the Ministry of Rites requested that, for the wedding of Prince Xin, the princess should be conferred a title first, and her father, Zhou Kui, should also be granted the rank of military commander, as per custom. This request should be transferred to the Ministry of Personnel's Appointment Office. — *Veritable Records of Emperor Xizong of Ming*, Volume 73

　　3. As for Wang Chengen, a standard NPC in most late Ming Dynasty novels? He wasn't actually at the Prince Xin's residence at this time. Historically, he appeared around the mid-to-late Chongzhen period. I have a 500-word research piece on this in the work's related section—"A Memorial to My Friend Wang Chengen in the Seventeenth Year of Chongzhen's Reign."

　　
　
(End of this chapter)