Huangming

Chapter 226 The Appointment of the Envoys to the Court, and the Internal Affairs of Korea

A gentle night breeze blew through the training grounds of the West Garden.

Zhu Youxiao stood on the high platform, his brows slightly furrowed, his gaze sweeping over Wei Chao, who was kneeling on the ground, as sharp as a knife.

"The Korean envoy has arrived?"

His voice was deep, yet it carried a subtle, almost imperceptible sharpness.

Wei Chao's forehead was beaded with sweat, and he quickly kowtowed, saying:

"Your Majesty, Hong Ruifeng has arrived at the meeting hall and is awaiting an audience."

A hint of surprise flashed in Zhu Youxiao's eyes.

"They gave us an answer after just over two months?"

The Ming emperor lightly tapped the jade belt at his waist with his fingertips, seemingly lost in thought.

The round trip from Beijing to Seoul is nearly 4,000 li (approximately 2,000 kilometers), and even at the fastest pace, it would take more than a month.

How could Hong Ruifeng be so swift?
Wei Chao, observing the situation, quickly explained:
"Your Majesty, Hong Ruifeng did not travel by land this time, but instead crossed the sea from Dengzhou directly to Huanghai Road. Although the sea route is very risky, it saves the trouble of detouring through Liaodong..."

Zhu Youxiao naturally understood the intricacies of the matter.

There are two routes from Beijing to North Korea.

One route is by land: passing through Shanhaiguan and Liaodong Commandery, crossing the Yalu River to Uiju, and then reaching Seoul. Although this route is safe, it is time-consuming.

Another route was by water and sea: sailing from Beijing to Dengzhou, taking advantage of the monsoon to head straight for the west coast of Korea, which was fast but required risking one's life (Note: maritime disasters were frequent in the Bohai Sea during the Ming Dynasty).

"To make the Korean envoy willingly risk the dangers of the whale waves..."

Zhu Youxiao squinted and asked:

What did Hong Ruifeng bring?

Wei Chao forced a fawning smile and whispered:

"Your Majesty, Lord Hong has brought two noble ladies from the Joseon royal family with him this time..."

He rubbed his hands together, a hint of ambiguity creeping into the wrinkles around his eyes:
"It is said that she has skin as white as snow, can sing and dance, and is well-versed in the 'Admonitions for Women' and 'Inner Teachings,' making her a hundred times better than the Silla maid from last time!"

Zhu Youxiao stroked the gilded quiver expressionlessly.

A member of the imperial family?
Is Prince Lingyang, Li Zong, trying to emulate the old story of Consort Quan during the Yongle era?
Seeing that Wei Chao was still praising the beauty of Korean women to the skies, Zhu Youxiao frowned slightly and said coldly, "The good news I want is not two women!"

Wei Chao dared not say any more and knelt on the ground, slowly saying, "Hong Ruifeng said: Guanghai Jun is unwilling to send troops to aid Liaodong and jointly fight against the Jurchens, but is willing to provide some food and logistical support for the Ming army at the front."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao frowned deeply.

What a cunning King Gwanghae! Trying to have his cake and eat it too, playing the balancing act, huh?
Zhu Youxiao then asked, "What are the attitudes of Lord Lingyang, Shen Jingzhen, Ju Hong, and Ju Renhou?"

Wei Chao was immediately stumped by Zhu Youxiao's question.

He immediately said somewhat awkwardly, "I'm afraid His Majesty will only know the truth when he summons Hong Ruifeng. He's very tight-lipped."

At this juncture, if Nurhaci could unite with Korea to attack Hetu Ala from the rear, he would be caught between two difficult situations.

In Zhu Youxiao's view, North Korea was simply a useful pawn.

After figuring out the key point, Zhu Youxiao slowly said:
"Arrange a carriage at the Qianqing Palace to summon the Korean envoy!"

Zhu Youxiao gave the order, his voice booming like thunder.

The Imperial Guards standing on both sides immediately stood at attention with their hands on their swords, and twelve guards dressed in flying fish robes quickly stepped forward and lined up on both sides of the imperial road to guard the area.

The eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs shouted in a shrill voice, "Rise—the carriage—"

In an instant, the entire training ground fell silent.

The noble sons who were still eating hurriedly dropped their bowls and chopsticks, and the generals of the Beijing Garrison didn't even have time to wipe the rice grains from the corners of their mouths.

Zhao Shuaijiao dropped half a steamed bun in his hand with a thud, rolling a few times and getting covered in dust; Cao Wenzhao hurriedly swallowed the food in his mouth, almost choking; Man Gui took a step forward to his position, his armor clanging loudly.

"I will respectfully send you off to Your Majesty!"

The crowd shouted in unison, their foreheads pressed against the ground.

The sound of the imperial carriage rolling over the bluestone imperial road could be clearly heard. Eight burly eunuchs carried the imperial carriage on their shoulders, their steps steady and swift.

The night wind lifted the bright yellow curtains, and the silhouette of the emperor sitting inside could be vaguely seen.

The drill ground was silent, except for the fluttering banners.

Only after the imperial carriage had passed the screen wall did the crowd dare to slowly raise their heads.

Zhang Zhiji and Xue Zhao exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise and doubt in each other's eyes—was His Majesty so eager to summon the Korean envoy because something had happened in Liaodong?
Zhu Youxiao arrived at the Qianqing Palace not long after, and hadn't even had time to sit down properly.

Wei Chao then bowed low, took small steps forward, a fawning smile plastered on his face, and whispered:
"Your Majesty, Hong Ruifeng is already waiting outside the palace."

Zhu Youxiao frowned slightly, his gaze lingering for a moment on Wei Chao's oily, chubby face.

This eunuch is being quite attentive today.

He sneered inwardly. Hong Ruifeng's smooth entry into the palace for an audience, and the fact that Wei Chao was so at her beck and call, must have meant she had given him a lot of benefits.

'It seems this Korean envoy is quite adept at using money to influence things.'

However, from another perspective, Hong Ruifeng's ability to lavishly manage the inner court suggests that his return to Korea must have been strongly supported by the Western People's Party.

This is good news for the Ming Dynasty.

"Let him in."

Zhu Youxiao spoke calmly, his voice neither hurried nor slow, yet carrying an undeniable air of authority.

Wei Chao felt as if he had been granted a general amnesty, and immediately kowtowed, saying, "This servant obeys!"

A moment later, the palace doors opened slightly.

Hong Ruifeng walked in slowly, her steps steady but her exhaustion hard to be concealed.

Compared to two months ago, he looked much more haggard: his eyes were sunken, his face was bluish, and even his court robes looked loose.

Traveling between North Korea and Beijing within two months would be too much for even the strongest body to handle.

He walked to the emperor's presence, knelt respectfully, and lightly touched his forehead to the gold brick:
“Hong Seo Bong, a vassal of the Joseon Kingdom, respectfully obeys the king’s order and goes to the palace to pay homage to His Majesty the Emperor.”

Although his voice was hoarse, he still maintained the solemnity of an envoy.

Zhu Youxiao's eyes flickered slightly, and he raised his hand in a gesture:

"Get up and give me a seat."

He was never stingy with his generosity when it came to usable pieces.

Hong Ruifeng dared not sit on the round-backed chair, her back ramrod straight, appearing very reserved.

He slowly took out a scroll of gilded official documents from his sleeve, respectfully presented it with both hands, and spoke in a low and solemn voice:
"This is a letter of state written by our sovereign, and we request His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming to review it!"

Wei Chao stepped forward quickly, accepted the letter of state with both hands, and bowed as he presented it to the emperor.

Zhu Youxiao lightly flicked his fingertips, unfolded the silk, and calmly swept his gaze over the neat regular script on it.

The entire letter was filled with flattery.

Prince Gwanghae, Yi Hun, went to great lengths to flatter Zhu Youxiao, comparing him to "the reincarnation of Yao and Shun" and praising the Ming Dynasty for its "power over the four seas," but he made no mention of the military expedition to Liaodong.

The only real "sincerity" they offered was two daughters of the imperial clan as tribute women to serve the emperor, along with several thousand bushels of grain.

Zhu Youxiao's expression remained unchanged, only his fingertips paused slightly at the edge of the silk.

Li Hui is quite the character; he truly knows how to please everyone and remain unyielding on the fence.

He raised his eyes, his gaze as calm as a still well, yet it made Hong Ruifeng, who was secretly observing, feel a chill in her heart.

Why wasn't the emperor angry?
Hong Ruifeng's Adam's apple bobbed, and her palms were sweating.

Gwanghaegun's letter appeared respectful, but it was actually a pretext for delaying action. It would have been quite reasonable for the Ming emperor to be furious on the spot.

But now, the Ming emperor is so calm.

Could it be that the Celestial Empire still has patience with its ruler? Or... is there a deeper scheme hidden behind this "patience"?
Finally, Hong Ruifeng couldn't hold back any longer.

He immediately dropped a bombshell.

"Your subject has a capital offense to confess!"

His voice trembled, yet every word was like a knife:

"On the surface, Prince Gwanghae appears to be obedient to His Majesty, but in secret he is colluding with Nurhaci! During the Battle of Sarhu, it was he who leaked the Ming army's movements to the Jurchens, which led to the Ming Dynasty's disastrous defeat. Prince Gwanghae deserves to die!"

Zhu Youxiao narrowed his eyes slightly.

The air in the hall suddenly froze.

Wei Chao turned pale with fright.

The defeat at Sarhu, in which 100,000 Ming soldiers were buried in Liaodong, was somehow attributed to Korea's 'contribution'?
The young emperor suddenly chuckled.

Of course he knew what kind of person Gwanghae was.

When Gwanghaegun ascended the throne in the 47th year of the Wanli Emperor's reign, the Ming Dynasty refused to confer a title upon him, which was a warning to this "fence-sitter".

It wasn't until the first year of the Taichang reign, when he saw that the king had secured his throne, that he reluctantly admitted that it was merely a temporary measure.

but.
“Hong Qing.”

Zhu Youxiao slowly rose, his black dragon robe gleaming coldly in the candlelight:

"If I were to depose or install a vassal king based on my personal likes or dislikes, how would I be any different from the Jurchens?"

He stared intently at Hong Ruifeng and said:

"King Yi Hui of Joseon has indeed done wrong and is guilty, but he is, after all, the king of Joseon. As long as he is the king of Joseon, even if I were to punish him, what could I do?"

"North Korea's internal affairs should be resolved by the North Koreans themselves."

"I just want results."

Hong Ruifeng trembled, her forehead pressed against the gold brick, yet she could still feel the oppressive gaze of the emperor.

The meaning of the Ming emperor couldn't be clearer.

Although Gwanghaegun is hateful, if the Western People's Party's uprising fails, Joseon will definitely turn completely to the Later Jin.

At that time, the situation in Liaodong will worsen.

This is a concern for the Ming Dynasty.

"Your Majesty clearly shows you!"

Hong Ruifeng suddenly looked up, her eyes flashing with determination, her voice low and urgent:

"Gwanghaegun has acted perversely and has long been abandoned by his people!"

He listed the crimes one by one, each word like a knife:

Imprisoning his stepmother, Queen Inmok—an act of extreme filial impiety—enraged the royal family.

The murder of his brothers, Prince Linhai and Prince Yongchang, terrified the royal family and caused them to lose all popular support.

Excessive taxation to fund the army—the people were filled with resentment, and a popular uprising was imminent.

"More importantly—"

Hong Ruifeng lowered her voice, but spoke each word clearly:
"The training commander Shen Jingzhen and the naval commander Li Shibai have both secretly pledged their allegiance to Lord Lingyang!"

"Kim Ryu is in charge of the Ministry of War, and Lee Seok controls the capital garrison. If His Majesty issues an edict, Prince Gwanghae will surely become a lonely figure!"

Zhu Youxiao's eyes flickered slightly.

Hong Ruifeng's words were eloquent, but the Ming emperor was not easily swayed.

The political situation in North Korea cannot be determined by a few grand pronouncements.
“Hong Qing.”

Zhu Youxiao's voice was unhurried, yet it made Hong Ruifeng secretly swallow.

"What I want is not empty promises."

Hong Ruifeng's forehead was covered in a fine sweat, but she remained kneeling on the ground, not daring to raise her head.

The emperor's silence is the most chilling thing.

Zhu Youxiao weighed the pros and cons:

If King Injo's coup succeeds.

How much actual support can North Korea provide? Food supplies? Troops? Or just verbal allegiance?

Will Lord Lingyang truly be able to fully assist the Ming Dynasty in resisting the Jin Dynasty, as Hong Ruifeng claimed?
If the coup fails.

In his fury, will Gwanghaegun completely side with the Later Jin?

Will this worsen the situation for the Ming Dynasty in Liaodong?
Seeing that the emperor still did not express his opinion, Hong Ruifeng gritted her teeth and kowtowed again:
"Your Majesty! As long as Prince Lingyang ascends the throne, Joseon will surely devote all its national strength to helping the Celestial Empire to annihilate the Jurchens!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao's lips curled slightly, but there was no smile in his eyes.

The entire nation's strength?

He knew perfectly well the extent of North Korea's national strength.

He still needed to confirm how likely this coup attempt by the Spanish National Party was.

"You're saying Shen Jingzhen and Li Shibai have secretly pledged allegiance?"

Zhu Youxiao suddenly changed the subject, his gaze sharp as a knife:

Is there any empirical evidence?

The training commander-in-chief took control of the garrison of Seoul, and the naval commander-in-chief blocked the Han River waterway.

If these two individuals have indeed defected, the coup d'état certainly has a chance of succeeding.

But if Hong Ruifeng is just bluffing... wouldn't he be making a fool of the Ming Dynasty?

Zhu Youxiao didn't want to be taken advantage of.

Hong Ruifeng trembled and kowtowed repeatedly:

"How dare a subject deceive the emperor?! But this matter is confidential, and... I really dare not leave any evidence!"

His forehead slammed heavily against the gold brick, making a dull thud, his voice carrying a hint of fear and urgency.

Zhu Youxiao gazed at him silently for a long time before speaking softly:
"I understand."

"Go back."

The Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty's seven casually uttered words sent a chill down Hong Ruifeng's spine.

A bead of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his gaze unconsciously drifted to Wei Chao, who was standing to the side, his eyes filled with a hint of pleading.

Wei Chao looked at his nose and his heart with his eyes closed, remaining completely still.

How could a mere eunuch dare to interfere in such important matters of the court?
If you speak rashly, you might lose your head in the next moment!
Noticing Hong Ruifeng's gaze, Wei Chao nodded almost imperceptibly, giving her a reassuring look.

Hong Ruifeng took a deep breath, straightened her clothes, and bowed respectfully once again:
"Your Majesty, I have brought two noble ladies from the Korean royal family with me on this trip. They are proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and have also learned the 'Admonitions for Women' and 'Inner Instructions'. They have come to serve Your Majesty."

His voice trembled slightly, but every word was clear:
"I humbly request Your Majesty to accept this."

Zhu Youxiao's eyes flickered slightly, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"I appreciate your kind offer."

Upon hearing this, Hong Ruifeng's tense shoulders finally relaxed a little.

Since the emperor was willing to accept this 'gift,' it means there is still room for maneuver!
He thought to himself:
It seems that persuading the Ming emperor to support Lady Lingyang is not entirely impossible.
However, even greater sincerity is needed!

An even more crucial bargaining chip!

However, Hong Ruifeng hesitated:

What exactly would it take to move this Ming emperor?
(End of this chapter)