Huangming

Chapter 196: Overt and covert fighting, it’s difficult to clear the emperor

Inside the Wenhua Hall, incense wafted between the gilded dragon pillars. Zhu Youxiao, dressed in a bright yellow casual robe, sat on the throne, his fingertips lightly tapping the sandalwood imperial desk, his gaze calmly sweeping over the officials in the hall.

The Tusi (local chieftains) of Liaodong and the southwest, and the reorganization of the Beijing garrison.

With these three matters discussed simultaneously, undercurrents were already swirling in the imperial court.

The Grand Secretary bowed to the Emperor, then turned to face the assembled officials and announced in a loud voice, "Let's discuss the Liaodong matter first!"

Having said that...

Zhang Jingshi, the Left Vice Minister of War, stepped forward first, his voice booming like a bell, his tablet held high, each word ringing out:
"Your Majesty! The Jurchens are rampant, having captured Fushun and Qinghe in succession. Liaodong is in grave danger! Although Xiong Tingbi is doing his best to defend Liaoyang, the army is short of food and supplies, and the soldiers are hungry and exhausted. If no reinforcements arrive, I fear Liaoyang will not be able to hold out for long! I request that 20,000 troops from Jizhou be dispatched immediately to relieve this urgent crisis!"

Before the words were even finished, Zhu Guozuo, the Grand Secretary of the Dongge Pavilion, had already changed color and stepped forward, sternly refuting:

"Absurd! Jizhou is a crucial border town, guarding the gateway to the capital. How can it be moved lightly? If troops are sent north, the enemy cavalry will take advantage of our weakness and advance south, putting Shanhaiguan in grave danger! If Shanhaiguan falls, the capital will be thrown into turmoil, and the nation will collapse. Can Vice Minister Zhang bear this responsibility?!"

Zhang Jingshi's face flushed red, and he glared angrily:

"Your Excellency is mistaken! If the Jurchens capture Liaoyang, Liaodong will be lost. At that time, their power will be even greater, and they will try to move south again. How can our Great Ming resist? Rather than watching Liaodong fall, we should strike first!"

Zhu Guozuo sneered, refusing to budge an inch:

"A preemptive strike? Does Vice Minister Zhang know that every soldier in Jizhou is crucial to the safety of the capital? If troops are dispatched to aid Liaodong, the nine border regions will be left vulnerable, and the enemy cavalry will take advantage of this to invade, causing turmoil in the capital and chaos throughout the land! The Ministry of Revenue has neither money nor grain; how can it support a two-front war? Does Vice Minister Zhang think that fighting a war only requires a single order?"

The two argued and the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense.

At this moment, Liu Yizhu, the Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion, stepped forward slowly, bowed respectfully, and spoke in a steady and powerful voice:
"Your Majesty, I believe both of you have valid points. However, the situation in Liaodong is indeed critical and cannot be ignored. But the troops in Jizhou should not be mobilized lightly. It would be better to urgently summon the elite troops from Sichuan and Zhejiang to the north for reinforcement. The Sichuan troops are fierce and the Zhejiang troops are skilled in battle. Although the journey is long, they can be dispatched in batches without disrupting the defenses of the nine border regions. Furthermore, an imperial censor should be dispatched to thoroughly investigate the whereabouts of the Liaodong military funds to ensure that the supplies reach the front lines directly, lest embezzlement harm the country!"

After Liu Yiju made these remarks, although Zhang Jingshi and Zhu Guozuo were still dissatisfied, the momentum of their argument eased slightly.

The ministers in the hall also discussed in hushed tones, some nodding in agreement, while others still frowned in thought.

On the throne, Zhu Youxiao's gaze was deep, his fingertips lightly tapping the imperial desk, as if he were weighing the pros and cons.

The debate continues, with each side having its own demands and its own reasons.

An hour later, Zhu Youxiao had a better understanding of what his ministers meant and had also broadened his horizons considerably. He then tapped the imperial desk three times.

dong dong dong~
Wei Chao, who was serving nearby, immediately understood and shouted, "We will discuss the Liaodong matter later. Now let's discuss the matter of the southwestern chieftains."

With the imperial decree issued, discussions about the southwestern chieftains in the court suddenly became somewhat subdued.

Those court officials who had just argued heatedly about military affairs in Liaodong were now mostly silent, with only a few former officials who had served in the southwest stepping forward to speak.

"Sichuan's An clan has repeatedly rebelled. We should follow the example set by Emperor Wanli in pacifying Bozhou and send a large army to annihilate them!"

An official with a dark complexion and a booming voice, who had served in Guizhou, was well aware of the troubles caused by the Tusi (local chieftains).

Before he could finish speaking, another censor in a blue robe immediately retorted: "Absolutely not! She Chongming has not yet expressed his opinion. If we force the Yongning chieftain to rebel, Yunnan and Guizhou will surely descend into chaos!"

His fingers trembled slightly, clearly recalling the tragic events of the Yang Yinglong Rebellion.

A cold snort came from the corner of the palace: "Empty talk by civil officials ruins the country!"

The crowd looked in the direction of the voice and saw an elderly military officer standing with his ceremonial tablet in hand: "I hereby order Duke Mu Changzu of Qian to take command of all the armies, to first pacify and then suppress them!"

Zhu Youxiao sat upright on his throne, his gaze sweeping over his ministers.

These debates, though seemingly heated, are actually superficial.

He noticed that most of the court officials remained cautiously silent, and even the usually eloquent cabinet ministers rarely offered any suggestions.

The young emperor understood.

These high-ranking officials in the imperial court were mostly scholars who had passed the imperial examinations or nobles who had lived in the capital for a long time. Very few of them truly understood the situation of the southwestern barbarians.

Their suggestions either copied old practices or were empty talk about suppression and appeasement; they rarely offered any real insights.

Zhu Youxiao suddenly spoke, his clear, cold voice echoing in the hall: "The matter of the southwestern chieftains shall be discussed by the Ministry of War, then submitted to the Nine Ministers for discussion, and finally reviewed by the Grand Secretariat before being sent to the Emperor for a decision!"

This imperial decree not only demonstrates the emperor's absolute authority but also contains profound implications.

By entrusting complex local affairs to professional officials for detailed discussion and subsequent review at various levels, we can avoid the pitfalls of empty talk in the imperial court and gather wisdom from all sides.

Upon hearing this, Fang Congzhe immediately bowed and accepted the order: "Your subject obeys!"

The incense smoke from between the gilded dragon pillars rose gently, casting ever-changing light and shadow within the hall.

Zhu Youxiao knew that this rigorous deliberation process would surely provide a practical and feasible strategy for the affairs of the Southwest.

The silence in the court at this moment was less a sign of helplessness and more a sign of wise prudence.

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand casually, and Wei Chao, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial who was standing to the side, immediately understood and announced in a drawn-out voice: "Discussion—on the matter of the Capital Garrison!"

The shout was like a thunderclap that exploded inside the Fengtian Hall.

The nobles who came to participate in the court meeting immediately changed their expressions. Duke Cheng, Zhu Chunchen, clenched his fists until they turned white, Duke Ding, Xu Xigao, had fine beads of sweat on his forehead, and Earl Xiangcheng, Li Shouqi, couldn't stop the hem of his court robe from trembling.

Their biggest fears have finally been brought to the forefront.

Just as Wei Chao finished speaking, Duke Zhang Weixian of Yingguo suddenly stepped forward and knelt heavily on the gold brick with a thud.

The veteran of three reigns kowtowed, his voice choked with emotion: "Your Majesty, the three major battalions of the capital garrison are 70% empty! The weapons are rotten and the military preparedness is in disarray. I beg you to thoroughly investigate those corrupt officials who are lining their own pockets and drawing salaries without working!"

This tearful and impassioned speech was like a sharp sword, aimed directly at the nobles present.

Duke Dingguo, Xu Xigao, hurriedly stepped forward, his voice trembling: "Your Majesty is wise! The problems within the capital garrison are not a recent development. If we act too hastily, we fear unforeseen consequences. I believe we should consider this carefully and proceed gradually."

"slow?"

Cui Chengxiu, the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, interrupted sharply, his eyes wide open, his ceremonial tablet pointing directly at Xu Xigao: "If Liaodong falls, the Jurchen cavalry can reach the capital in a matter of days! The capital garrison is now in such a state of disarray, how can it protect the Emperor? How can it resist foreign aggression?"

His voice echoed throughout the palace.

"Does the Duke of Dingguo intend to wait until the enemy cavalry breaches Desheng Gate before he is willing to reorganize the capital garrison?"

In an instant, the Wenhua Hall fell completely silent.

The incense between the gilded dragon pillars seemed to have solidified, and the ministers even became careful with their breathing.

In the suffocating silence, the young emperor on the throne suddenly raised his sleeve to cover his mouth and coughed softly.

"Cough cough~"

The soft cough was like a sudden clap of thunder, silencing the entire court of officials.

All eyes were focused on the bright yellow dragon robe, awaiting the judgment of the supreme ruler.

Zhu Youxiao's deep gaze slowly swept over the assembled officials, finally settling on the trembling nobles, a barely perceptible glint of cold light flashing in his eyes.

"I am fully aware of what you have discussed."

The young emperor's voice was clear and cold, yet every word carried immense weight.

"In Liaodong, we will reinforce troops and increase funding to fully support the war effort. Regarding the southwest, the Ministry of War is required to submit a memorial within three days, and the Nine Ministers and the Cabinet must hold a meeting overnight. Failure to do so will result in my personal punishment. As for the Beijing Garrison…"

Zhu Youxiao's gaze swept across the nobles in the hall like a blade, lingering briefly on the pale faces of Duke Cheng, Zhu Chunchen, and others. He said coldly, "Order the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Military Censorate to conduct a thorough investigation of the Beijing Garrison together with the Ministry of War. Those who admit their crimes will be pardoned by me, but if they remain obstinate, don't blame me for not warning you!"

The shout was like a thunderclap, and Duke Zhu Chunchen of Chengguo swayed and almost knelt down.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his legs, beneath his court robes, trembled uncontrollably.

Duke Zhang Weixian of England straightened his back, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes, and nodded to himself.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

The courtiers sang in unison, their voices echoing throughout the Wenhua Hall.

But upon closer examination, a tremor was clearly hidden in these cries—some were overwhelmed with excitement, while others were filled with fear.

Boom~
Dark clouds loomed overhead outside the hall, and a bolt of lightning ripped through the sky, casting the gilded dragon pillars in a flickering light.

The dull spring thunder grew louder as it approached, as if the heavens themselves were drumming up support for this power struggle in the imperial court.

The copper bells on the eaves jingled in the sudden gust of wind, as if foreshadowing an impending storm that would sweep across the land.

Zhu Youxiao sat upright on the throne, his bright yellow dragon robe gleaming in the electric light.

He glanced coldly at the officials with their varied expressions, a barely perceptible sneer playing at the corners of his lips.

This investigation served not only as a deterrent to the nobility but also as a reshuffling of the court.

Those parasites clinging to the body of the empire, it's time for them to pay the price for their greed.

Raindrops began to fall with a pattering sound, hitting the white marble steps outside the palace and splashing up water droplets.

The new rain washes over the golden tiles and red walls of the Forbidden City, and will also wash away the long-standing ills of this dynasty.

Under the whole world, could it be the king's soil, the shore of the land, could it be the king's minister!
Do you dare disobey my imperial decree?

Two days later, at the residence of the Duke of Cheng.

Before the vermilion gate, gilded copper nails gleamed in the morning sun, and stone lions stood majestically in front of the mansion, as if guarding this illustrious residence.

The Duke of Cheng's mansion was exceptionally lively today. The mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, servants came and went in droves, and guests in brocade robes arrived in an endless stream.

Duke Zhu Chunchen of Cheng sent out invitations to twelve noble families, newly appointed Jinshi graduates of the first year of the Tianqi reign, and renowned scholars from the capital to his residence for a grand poetry gathering. For a time, carriages and horses filled the streets outside the mansion, making it a veritable traffic jam.

The eight-bearer sedan chairs of nobles, the blue-curtained official sedan chairs of successful candidates in the imperial examinations, and the exquisite carriages of famous scholars were parked in front of the mansion in turn. Servants loudly announced the names of the guests, and the sounds of welcoming guests rose and fell.

Inside the mansion, along winding paths and corridors, maids carried golden platters and jade cups, serving tea and wine to and fro; in the garden pavilions, the melodious sounds of silk and bamboo instruments filled the air, and literati and scholars either recited poems or engaged in lively discussions.

The nobles, dressed in fine clothes with gleaming jade belts at their waists, exuded an air of power and prestige as they chatted and laughed; the newly appointed scholars, on the other hand, were full of vigor and ambition, either discussing current affairs or exchanging ideas on literature, their words revealing their sharp wit and talent.

However, beneath this facade of clinking glasses and elegant revelry, undercurrents were surging.

The nobles' eyes darted around, their words full of probing; while the newly appointed scholars, though outwardly respectful, harbored sharp glints in their eyes.

Duke Zhu Chunchen of Cheng sat in the main seat with a smile on his face, raising his cup to invite someone to drink, but the smile did not reach his eyes.

Everyone knows that this poetry gathering is far more than just a simple celebration of nature.

The banquet lasted until late at night.

Inside the Duke of Cheng's mansion, the lights were on, and amidst the clinking of glasses, the guests were already quite drunk.

The twelve noble families were completely drunk, some laughing loudly while others recited poetry aloud, showing no regard for their usual dignity.

Although Duke Zhu Chunchen of Chengguo had a great capacity for alcohol, he could not withstand the constant toasts from everyone. In the end, he became so drunk that he lay down on the table and fell into a deep sleep, snoring loudly.

Upon seeing this, his son Zhu Chengzong immediately ordered his personal servant to step forward and help him up, whispering, "Father is drunk. Be careful to take him back to the inner courtyard to rest."

Several strong servants gently helped Zhu Chunchen up and carefully escorted him through the corridor to the inner courtyard.

Zhu Chengzong straightened his clothes, smiled, and continued to entertain the guests on behalf of his father, behaving with composure and displaying the demeanor of a scion of a prominent family.

Among the twelve noble families, some were so drunk they staggered and were helped by servants to their rooms in the Duke of Cheng's mansion; others, though still tipsy, insisted on returning to their mansions, muttering "I must not be impolite," and swayed as they boarded their own carriages.

Outside the mansion, servants carrying lanterns waited quietly for their masters under the moonlight. The sounds of horses' hooves and wheels were particularly clear in the quiet streets and alleys.

As the moon rose high in the sky, its gentle light bathed the air, bringing this grand poetry gathering to a close.

Zhu Chengzong stood in front of the mansion gate, watching the last carriage drive away before letting out a long sigh of relief and turning back to his mansion.

The night breeze was cool, dispersing the smell of alcohol and taking away the noise.

The gates of the Duke of Cheng's mansion slowly closed, leaving only a few solitary lamps burning quietly in the night.

However, at this moment, Zhu Chunchen, the Duke of Cheng, who should have been dead drunk and fast asleep, quietly appeared in the underground secret room of the Duke of Cheng's mansion.

The room was deep and dark, with flickering candlelight illuminating several faces with different expressions.

Besides Zhu Chunchen, only four people were present: Duke Dingguo Xu Xigao, Marquis Huaining Sun Chengmeng, Marquis Wu'an Zheng Weixiao, and Duke Chengguo's son Zhu Chengzong.

Zhu Chunchen's gaze turned gloomy as he swept his eyes around the room, his face suddenly turning ashen.

He hosted a banquet tonight, specially inviting twelve noble families, all of whom were long-time friends of the Jingnan faction, and some of them had been dependent on the Duke of Cheng's mansion for generations, sharing both honor and disgrace.

But now, only three families dare to come and discuss this in secret!
"Ah……"

Zhu Chunchen sneered and slammed his knuckles heavily on the sandalwood table, causing the candlelight to flicker.

"What a fine example of 'fellowship of the same blood'! They call each other brothers all the time, but now that we need them to do something, they all pretend to be deaf and dumb!"

Duke Dingguo, Xu Xigao, said in a deep voice with a solemn expression, "Duke Chengguo, please calm down. The imperial decree for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate the capital garrison has been issued in court today. Those people... are probably terrified."

Marquis Huaining, Sun Chengmeng, sneered: "A mere fence-sitter! Seeing that His Majesty is serious, he's eager to distance himself!"

Marquis Zheng Weixiao of Wu'an frowned and said in a deep voice, "But if they retreat in the face of battle, what will become of us..."

A cold glint flashed in Zhu Chunchen's eyes as he slowly said, "It's alright, three families... are enough."

Zhu Chengzong stood to the side, his eyes darting around, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

He knew that his father's anger at this moment was not only because of the retreat of those nobles, but also because—some people had probably secretly sided with the emperor.

The flickering candlelight illuminated the solemn faces of the people in the secret room.

The romantic escapades of the outside world have long since faded, and the real storm is just beginning.

Zhu Chunchen surveyed the crowd in the secret chamber, his face ashen, his voice filled with suppressed rage:

"When His Majesty reorganized the Beijing Garrison last time, my Chengguo Duke's Mansion cut off its own source of income to show our loyalty, and the income of the manor was reduced by 80%! But His Majesty is still not satisfied. He wants to wipe us out! If the salary of the Beijing Garrison is completely eliminated, where will the monthly salary of the thousands of servants in the manor come from? How will we raise money for the cosmetics of the concubines in each household?"

He spoke through gritted teeth, slamming his teacup heavily onto the table, the splashed tea resembling beads of blood in the candlelight.

Duke Dingguo, Xu Xigao, immediately slammed his hand on the table in agreement: "That's absolutely right! We've retreated again and again, and now we have nowhere left to retreat!"

A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes as he said, "Back then, Emperor Shizong wanted to reorganize the Beijing Garrison, but didn't he give up after we submitted a joint memorial? Emperor Shenzong was well aware of the implications and never took any real action!"

"hehe!"

Marquis Wu'an, Zheng Weixiao, sneered repeatedly, his heart filled with resentment.

"With the meager salary from the imperial court, he probably couldn't even afford to keep the stone lions in front of his mansion! His Majesty is young and impetuous, and doesn't understand the intricacies of the matter at all."

Marquis Huaining, Sun Chengmeng, was even more furious: "Over the years, we have managed to build up the Beijing Garrison into an impregnable fortress, and now His Majesty wants to take it away with just a casual remark? That's wishful thinking!"

He suddenly stood up, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

"If you ask me, we should teach His Majesty a lesson!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Chunchen's expression changed drastically.

He slowly rose and paced back and forth in the flickering candlelight: “Gentlemen, do not forget that our wealth and status were indeed bestowed upon us by the Emperor.”

Sun Chengmeng immediately retorted, "Our wealth and status were earned by our ancestors through countless battles, not by any emperor. Besides, even if it were bestowed by His Majesty, we have risked our lives for the court over the years; aren't we entitled to this small reward?"

The secret room fell silent for a moment, with only the crackling of the candlelight.

These nobles had long regarded embezzling military funds as a matter of course and the imperial court's favors as a matter of course.

The emperor had previously leniently dealt with the Beijing garrison during his reorganization, but instead of repenting, they were filled with resentment, as if they had suffered a great injustice.

Zhu Chengzong stood in the corner, listening to these treasonous remarks, his back already soaked with cold sweat.

He clearly saw that when his father said these words, his eyes no longer gleamed with the shrewd calculation of the past, but with an almost insane obsession.

These hereditary nobles had long regarded the Ming Dynasty as their own property and the emperor's favor as a bargaining chip.

Upon hearing Sun Chengmeng's words, a ruthless glint flashed in Zhu Chunchen's eyes.

He slowly rose and paced in the dimly lit room, the candlelight casting a grotesque and distorted shadow of him.

"Marquis Huaining is absolutely right!"

He turned around abruptly, his voice filled with suppressed madness.

"We, the nobles who have received the nation's favor for generations and whose fate is intertwined with the nation's, are it not only our due right to receive some small benefits?"

"His Majesty is young and impetuous, and inexperienced in the ways of the world. We, as his subjects, should help him correct his ways!"

The air in the sealed room suddenly froze.

Duke Dingguo Xu Xigao gasped, Marquis Wu'an Zheng Weixiao unconsciously placed his hand on his sword, and Zhu Chengzong's face turned ashen, almost losing his balance.

"If Your Majesty remains obstinate..."

Zhu Chunchen's voice suddenly lowered, but every word was like a knife.

"We, the nobles who fought in the Jingnan Rebellion, might as well follow the example of Emperor Chengzu!"

When these words were spoken, everyone in the room was shocked.

The candlelight flickered violently, illuminating the faces of the crowd, some filled with shock, others with fervor.

Zhu Chunchen's face flushed with a sickly redness, as if he could already see himself standing in the Fengtian Hall, in the glorious scene of "purging the court of corrupt officials" just like Emperor Chengzu had done back then.

"Father!"

Zhu Chengzong finally couldn't help but speak, his voice trembling.

"These words... these words are utterly treasonous!"

Zhu Chunchen burst into wild laughter and slammed his fist on the table: "Treasonous? Wasn't Emperor Chengzu treasonous back then too? But what happened to him in the end?"

He surveyed the crowd, his eyes burning with ambition.

"This Ming Dynasty already has half of its territory belonging to our Jingnan faction!"

The room was deathly silent, with only the jarring crackling of the candle wick breaking.

These hereditary nobles have finally torn off their masks of loyalty, revealing their ferocious fangs.

No matter who it is, even if he is the emperor, as long as his interests are infringed, they must rebel!

What about the rise and fall of a nation, what about national righteousness?
If you dare cut off my source of income, I'll fight you to the death!

ps:
What about monthly passes?
Where's my monthly pass?

*sobs* (╥╯^╰╥)
(End of this chapter)