Huangming

Chapter 107 Discussing Martial Arts at the Xuanjie Terrace, Encouraging Loyalty with Imperial Edict

After the three princes left, Zhu Youxiao finally relaxed.

He teased his younger sister, Zhu Huiti, and tested his fifth brother, Zhu Youjian, on his studies.

Snowflakes were falling heavily in the Imperial Garden, and the subtle fragrance of plum blossoms wafted through the air, offering a brief respite.

"Your Majesty, you should read more military books in the future. It won't hurt to read less of those classics that are full of empty rhetoric. If you have any questions in the future, you can come to me for advice."

The task of training subordinates can indeed begin now.

After all, if someone like Emperor Jing of Han had multiple Liang kings as assistants, the country would be easier to govern.

Zhu Youjian nodded emphatically, as if he had thought of something. He clenched his small fist tightly and said, "When I was studying, I did have a question."

Zhu Youxiao raised an eyebrow and smiled, saying, "Tell me about it."

Zhu Youjian frowned and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, the other day when the teacher was lecturing on the Spring and Autumn Annals, he used the story of 'Duke Ling of Jin's lack of loyalty' to say that Emperor Chengzu had been too harsh in punishing the former officials of Emperor Jianwen. He said that if the court could pardon the families of Qi Tai, Huang Zicheng and others from their exile, and follow the example of Emperor Wen of Han in treating Ji Bu leniently, it would surely make the scholars of the world grateful for the emperor's virtue."

As he spoke, Zhu Youjian glanced at his elder brother's expression and hurriedly added, "Your Majesty, I find this matter suspicious. I specifically checked the 'Imperial Ancestral Instructions of the Ming Dynasty,' which clearly states 'Those who plot rebellion will be executed along with their entire clan.'"

Zhu Youxiao snapped the plum branch he was holding with a "crack," and sneered, "What a clever way to use the past to satirize the present! Duke Ling of Jin was tyrannical and was assassinated. Is he comparing Emperor Chengzu to a tyrant?"

The emperor threw the broken branch into the snow, stared into his younger brother Zhu Youjian's eyes, and asked, "Did your master ever say how Qi Tai and others instigated the emperor to force the Prince of Xiang's entire family to commit suicide when Jianwen was reducing the power of the princes?"

Seeing Zhu Youjian shake his head blankly, the emperor grabbed his shoulder and said, "Then let me tell you: Before the Prince of Xiang committed suicide by burning his palace, Huang Zicheng was saying in court, 'Now that we are discussing the reduction of the princes, we should first eliminate the Zhou and Qi princes. The Prince of Xiang has always been arrogant and can be charged with rebellion!'"

Zhu Youxiao said disdainfully, "Did they ever think about how to write the words 'win the hearts of the people' back then?!"

The exoneration of Jianwen's former officials was nothing more than a power struggle within factions.

As for whether this move will be able to win back hearts?

Indeed, he could, and he could even earn praise from the civil officials.

They would praise him as a benevolent and wise ruler.

However, is this really a good thing?
At the very least, in Zhu Youxiao's view, this was definitely not a good thing, but rather a bad thing that shook the very foundation of the nation.

Zhu Di once referred to the former officials of Jianwen as "rebellious party." If he pardons their descendants, does this mean the court denies the legitimacy of the Jingnan Campaign?
So, Emperor Chengzu became a rebel who seized power through rebellion?

With his lineage from Emperor Chengzu, how could he possibly become the emperor of the Ming Dynasty?
All I can say is that these pedantic scholars are all ill-intentioned.

There was a reason why Zhu Yuanzhang looked down on them.

Zhu Youxiao said to Zhu Youjian, "Tomorrow, I will replace your master with a new one."

Zhu Youjian was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately said, "Find a less rigid and serious master, definitely not the kind who uses a ruler."

Zhu Youxiao: ? ? ?

So you're a scheming fellow, saying all this just to drive your master away?
You've gone astray, but historically you weren't like that!

Zhu Youjian realized he had said the wrong thing, stuck out his tongue to feign innocence, and immediately buryed his head in the sand like an ostrich.

"They don't learn the good things, they learn the bad things."

Aside from being a bit wicked, do you think I have nothing else worth learning from me?

Zhu Youxiao grabbed Zhu Youjian's ear, immediately forcing the boy to beg for mercy while clinging to Zhu Youxiao's hand: "Ouch~ Your Majesty, I dare not, I dare not do it again, ouch ouch ouch~"

You little rascal, you actually feel pain?
After satisfying his urge to masturbate, Zhu Youxiao's anger subsided considerably.

Moreover, the words of this unfortunate younger brother also gave Zhu Youxiao a lot of inspiration.

"Your words have reminded me."

Zhu Youjian touched his ear, looking completely bewildered.

"What did my brother remind me of?" How come I don't know?
“Civil officials can create a momentum by asking me to pardon the exile of Qi Tai, Huang Zicheng and other family members, and I can also use similar things to tell the whole world my attitude.”

Zhu Youjian was still somewhat confused.

"Your humble servant is dull-witted."

Zhu Youxiao had no intention of explaining to Zhu Youjian, and said, "Go ask your master."

With that, Zhu Youxiao got up to leave.

Zhu Youjian hurriedly asked, "Your Majesty, should we ask the new tutor?"

Zhu Youxiao glared at Zhu Youjian with annoyance and said, "It's still the same master."

I think that master didn't whip him enough; we need to find him a master who knows how to whip people properly. We should whip this brat like a spinning top!
Zhu Youjian pouted and muttered under his breath, "What happened to the emperor's word being law? My brother's mouth is a liar!"

Zhu Youxiao gave the grumbling little boy a flick on the forehead, and then returned to the Qianqing Palace.

After returning to the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Youxiao summoned Fang Congzhe, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, Liu Yizhu, the Second Grand Secretary, and Sun Ruyou, the Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Dongge Pavilion.

The three were summoned by the emperor and soon arrived at the East Warm Pavilion from the Wenyuan Pavilion.

"Your Majesty, I, Fang Congzhe (Liu Yijing, Sun Ruyou), the Grand Secretary (Second Grand Secretary, and other Grand Secretaries), respectfully wish Your Majesty a long and peaceful life!"

Upon entering the hall, the three of them immediately paid their respects to the emperor.

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said, "I am well, please take a seat."

After the three were seated, Zhu Youxiao slowly said, "I have summoned the three of you today to discuss state affairs with you."

Discussing state affairs?

Liu Yiju frowned slightly, wondering what the emperor was thinking.

Fang Congzhe calmly asked, "What country's affairs are these?"

Zhu Youxiao's eyes were clear and bright, and he immediately said, "This matter concerns the life and death of the Great Ming Dynasty!"

Life or death?

The three men, unsure of the emperor's true intentions, immediately straightened their backs and waited for his next words.

Zhu Youxiao said in a heavy tone: "The country has been using both civil and military means. Recently, we have enjoyed peace for a long time, and military officers have been treated no less than slaves, which has led to the disintegration of heroes. Now, there are many troubles on the border, Liaodong is in danger, and war is breaking out in various places. This is because brave men have no way to realize their ambitions. Even if someone has the courage to take the head of a general from the midst of ten thousand troops, there is no one to use them!"

The Ming Dynasty now governs the military through civil administration. Does Your Majesty mean to promote military officials and use military force to govern civil administration?

Upon hearing this, Liu Yizhu immediately rose, cupped his hands, and solemnly advised, "Your Majesty! I believe this is absolutely unacceptable! The stories of the past dynasties are still vivid in our minds: the separatist warlordism at the end of the Tang Dynasty and the continuous warfare during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period were all caused by the power of military men. If Your Majesty sets such a precedent, I fear that powerful figures will hold onto their troops and disrupt the court!"

Seeing that the emperor's expression remained unchanged, he stepped forward again, his voice becoming even more earnest: "Our dynasty's founding emperor established the principle of 'using civil officials to control the military,' which is precisely a strategy to nip problems in the bud. Even with capable generals like Xiong Tingbi and Chen Ce, they still need the supervision of civil officials. If military officers gain power, at best, they will become like the arrogant and unruly soldiers during the Japanese pirate raids of the Jiajing era, and at worst... at worst, they will overthrow the Tang dynasty like the An Lushan Rebellion!"

In the end, he even lifted his robe, knelt down, and kowtowed heavily.

The heavy reliance on military officers certainly touched a nerve with these civil officials.

How could they easily hand over the power they had painstakingly earned through the corruption of past dynasties?
Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said, "My policy of using civil officials to control military officials remains unchanged!"

Civil officials wielding military power naturally posed less of a threat to imperial authority than military officials.

After all, a military officer who holds military power could very well be suddenly draped in a dragon robe by his subordinates.

Zhu Youxiao was well aware of this.

"Now that border troubles are brewing, I must make good use of military officers and soldiers. Otherwise, who will fight this war? Who will shed blood?"

Zhu Youxiao looked at Liu Yizhu, the implication of his words quite clear.

I do not value military officials, but civil officials. Are you here to shed blood and kill the enemy?

Fang Congzhe seemed to have figured out the emperor's intention and immediately said, "Your Majesty is right. Now that the country is in danger, it is the time to make good use of military officers. But I don't know how to make good use of them?"

If we're talking about giving important military officers a chance, how do we do it?

Does he have to surpass the status of civil officials?

Zhu Youxiao's gaze swept intently over the three cabinet ministers, and his voice suddenly rose: "I recently reviewed the 'Military Personnel Selection Register' and came across the story of Wu Wending, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner of Jiangxi during the Zhengde era. Back then, when the Prince of Ning rebelled, he personally donned armor and charged into battle, capturing the rebel general alive, but because he offended the powerful eunuchs, he was not rewarded!"

He suddenly grabbed the teacup on the table and slammed it down, splashing tea onto Liu Yizhu's robe: "What's even more hateful is that during the 'Great Rites Controversy' in the early years of the Jiajing reign, generals like Yang Tingwei shed their blood at Zuoshun Gate to protect the country, yet they were labeled as 'treasonous'!"

Fang Congzhe's beard trembled slightly as he saw a strange fire burning in the young emperor's eyes. The emperor abruptly pushed aside the map and stood up: "These loyal souls have been crying out for justice in the underworld for decades! The cabinet must immediately draft an edict!"

"The Ministry of Rites is hereby ordered to immediately deliberate on bestowing upon Wu Wending the posthumous title of 'Loyal and Resolute,' and posthumously grant him the title of Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate!" Zhu Youxiao's fingernails dug into the carvings of the rosewood table.

"All military officials who were demoted during the reigns of Zhengde, Jiajing, and Wanli for speaking frankly shall be listed and submitted to the Emperor within three days!"

Just as Sun Ruyou was about to speak to dissuade him, the emperor drew the Yongle sword from the wall, its blade slicing through the air with a clang: "I will use this sword of Emperor Chengzu to tell the soldiers of the world!"

"Those who shed blood for my Great Ming Dynasty, even a hundred years from now, I will surely use the mountains and rivers as monuments and the annals of history as sacrifices!"

"The border regions are currently beset by troubles, and I am deeply concerned about the brave and valiant men. Therefore, I hereby order the relevant officials to carefully select capable generals from the mountains, forests, and marshes."

I will surely win over the hearts of military generals!
PS:

Day 8 of the 10,000!
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(End of this chapter)