Huangming

Chapter 227 Working tirelessly day and night, amidst the deep spring of spring.

Outside the Qianqing Palace, Hong Ruifeng's figure gradually faded into the distance.

Zhu Youxiao stood with his hands behind his back on the steps, his gaze as cold as a blade as he stared at the departing figure.

Did the Westerners want to take advantage of the Ming Dynasty's power?
can.

But first, let me see your abilities!

He slowly turned around, a deep look flashing in his eyes.

Prince Gwanghaegun Yi Hun was indeed an eyesore. He was two-faced, secretly colluding with the Jurchens, and even dared to stab them in the back during the Battle of Sarhu.

but……

Will Prince Rei Jong be more obedient than Prince Gwanghae?

Zhu Youxiao needed to weigh the gains and losses.

Between nations, there is no affection, only interests!
What Hong Ruifeng brought today was nothing more than two tribute girls and a few empty promises.

With such meager bargaining chips, do you really think you can get the Ming Dynasty to stake its Liaodong strategy?

Zhu Youxiao is not so easily fooled!

He wanted to see for himself whether the Westerners really had the ability!
If they can really turn North Korea upside down...

It won't be too late to issue an edict then!

As for Zhu Youxiao's deliberate evasion and silence towards Hong Ruifeng, that was precisely the brilliance of the negotiation.

If we readily agree, it would make the Ming Dynasty appear impatient, allowing the Westerners to gain the upper hand for no reason.

Only by making them understand that it is Korea that is begging the Ming Dynasty, not the other way around, can we gain the upper hand in the subsequent negotiations.

Zhu Youxiao knew that every concession at the negotiating table had to be paid for with real money.

If the Westerners truly want to take advantage of the Ming Dynasty to overthrow Gwanghaegun, they should first offer a genuine pledge of allegiance.

For example, North Korea's military intelligence, control of key border areas, and even a tangible guarantee of future submission and tribute.

Otherwise, why would the Ming Dynasty risk its life for them?

Besides
Interfering in North Korea's internal affairs now is ill-timed.

The Tianjin Three Guards have not yet completed their training, and the Dengzhou-Laizhou Navy is still under construction. If we rashly support Lord Lingyang at this time, and if Lord Guanghai becomes alert and joins forces with the Jurchens to launch a counterattack, the Ming Dynasty will be caught in the predicament of fighting on two fronts.

"Wait a few more months..."

He muttered to himself, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Only when the Tianjin New Army is formed and the naval warships are fully equipped can the Ming Dynasty truly gain absolute control over Korea.

At that time, whether supporting Lord Lingyang's ascension to the throne or directly intimidating Hanyang City with force, they will have no problem handling it.

Who would truly submit unless a knife was held to their throat?

Zhu Youxiao recalled how later Korean history books distorted the truth and slandered the Ming Dynasty's reinforcements as invaders.

Human nature is inherently vulnerable to temptation, let alone the ambivalent Korean gentry.

krd is absolutely unreliable!

If the Ming army had not been stationed outside Gyeongbokgung Palace, and if the naval warships had not blockaded Busan Port, who could guarantee that Prince Neungyang would not have become the second Prince Gwanghae?

"A dog must be kept on a leash."

Hong Ruifeng's so-called sincerity today is nothing more than a test of the Ming Dynasty's attitude.

The real game has just begun.

What Zhu Youxiao wanted was never temporary submission, but permanent control.

The Ming army stationed in Korea was a necessity.

When the Ming army's advance is so great that no one in Korea dares to defy them, that will be the time for him to truly make his move.

The most critical point.

How much of what this North Korean envoy was telling was true?

To Zhu Youxiao, Hong Ruifeng's so-called oath that "the Westerners are willing to submit to the Ming Dynasty forever" was nothing but empty words.

He knew all too well the ways of the North Korean yangban.

If they can betray Gwanghaegun today, they can betray the Ming Dynasty tomorrow.

"Wei Dynasty".

"Issue the Imperial Guards: I want to see the secret reports on the recent exchanges between the Westerners and Prince Gwanghae within three days."

"Slave, you obey!"

This was Zhu Youxiao's true reliance.

As early as the beginning of his reign, he laid an invisible net in Hanyang.

Those "pro-Ming" figures mingling in the Joseon court, those merchants who accepted money from the Ming Dynasty, and even the close attendants of Prince Gwanghae could all be spies for the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Sometimes even Zhu Youxiao himself found it ironic.

Watching those Korean collaborators eagerly serving the Ming Dynasty, he couldn't help but think of the behavior of a certain superpower in later generations.

Damn it, the Great America is actually me!

I just hope that the Ming Dynasty version of 'Black Hawk Down' doesn't happen in North Korea.

After dealing with the affairs of Korea, Zhu Youxiao rubbed his aching temples.

Dusk had fallen outside the window, and the candles in the Qianqing Palace lit up one by one, casting swaying shadows on the blue brick floor.

He stretched his back, which had become stiff from sitting for a long time, and his bones made a slight cracking sound.

"Wei Dynasty".

"The slave is here!"

"Present all the memorials submitted today."

The old eunuch bowed in agreement, but as he turned away, he let out a barely perceptible sigh.

A moment later, more than ten eunuchs filed in, carrying six neatly arranged bamboo baskets of memorials. The red lacquered bamboo baskets gleamed with a dull luster under the candlelight.

Zhu Youxiao's eyelids twitched suddenly, and he asked, "Why are there three more baskets than yesterday?"

Wei Chao replied cautiously, "Your Majesty, the war in Liaodong is critical, and most of the reports are about transporting grain and allocating military equipment. There are also reports of disasters from Shanxi and Shandong, and reports of silted-up canals."

He fell silent before he could finish speaking, for he saw that the emperor's brows were furrowed into a deep frown.

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand, but in the end he suppressed his annoyance and unfolded the memorial by candlelight.

Governing a country is like playing chess; the more agitated and irritable you are, the more you need to remain calm and make your moves.

If he loses his composure here, who knows how many demons and monsters will emerge below.

"Practice ink."

The emperor's voice had regained its composure.

"Send for the kitchen to prepare a few more bowls of hot soup."

After giving these instructions, Zhu Youxiao immediately began reviewing the memorials.

Yang Lian's memorial was deliberately placed at the top, the ink still fresh:
"The Jiyun River between Tianjin and Shanhaiguan is silted up, causing grain ships to run aground for seven days. The Liaodong garrison's food supplies may be insufficient."

The joint memorial from the provincial governors of Shanxi and Shandong revealed a tendency to shirk responsibility:

"Years of drought and locusts have exhausted the people's strength; we request a 30% reduction in the Liaodong military tax."

The urgent documents from the Ministry of War were even more shocking:
"The Liaodong Firearms Battalion is in dire need of gunpowder, and the saltpeter from Fujian has been delayed due to pirate raids!"

Zhu Youxiao's brows furrowed more and more deeply.

"Of the more than 1,000 laborers from Zhuozhou who were transporting grain, 600 deserted en route. This was not a natural disaster, but a man-made one!"

Even the post horses were exhausted to the point of dying, and military intelligence was delayed by three days before reaching the capital. How could we possibly fight this battle?!

"deliver an imperial order."

"The Vice Minister of Works is hereby ordered to go to Tianjin within three days to oversee the dredging of the Grand Canal!"

"Order the Governor of Shanxi to thoroughly investigate the provincial treasury—if there is truly no grain and no officials are found to be embezzling, then reduce the Liaodong military pay by 30%! If any corrupt officials are found, their property will be confiscated and they will be executed on the spot!"

"The Ministry of War shall immediately requisition ships from Fujian merchants and have them escorted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard to transport saltpeter northward!"

Just as Wei Chao was about to accept the order and leave, the emperor added another sentence:
"Tell the Shuntian Prefecture—the evaded laborers will be spared. But all the corrupt officials who condoned it will be exiled to Liaodong as soldiers!"

By the time the cabinet ministers and officials from the six ministries rushed to the scene, Zhu Youxiao had already regained his composure.

He pointed to the Liaodong defense line on the map, his voice as steady as iron:
"It is difficult, but not impossible."

"Today we will discuss three matters: the canal transport, the laborers, and the saltpeter. Let's address them one by one."

The machinery of the empire will eventually turn slowly under the will of the emperor.

Time flies by, and before we knew it, it was already late.

Zhu Youxiao drew the last red line on the memorial with his vermilion pen before putting down the pen and rubbing his sore wrist.

The memorials on the desk were piled up like a small mountain, and the cabinet ministers, including Fang Congzhe and Liu Yizhu, already looked exhausted, their backs slightly hunched, clearly unable to support themselves any longer. "Your Majesty, it's getting late, you should rest."

Wei Chao, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, bowed and offered a bowl of hot soup, carefully urging the servants to help.

Zhu Youxiao looked up and saw that although the old ministers were trying to keep their spirits up, they could not hide their weariness, and he couldn't help but laugh.

That's enough for today!

"Yes!"

Fang Congzhe, Liu Yizhu, and the others felt as if they had been granted a pardon, letting out a long breath as their tense backs finally relaxed slightly.

His Majesty is diligent in his duties, but it has also made things difficult for these old men!
It should be noted that the Tianqi Emperor reviewed more than two hundred memorials a day and often held meetings until late at night. His diligence rivaled that of the founding emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang!

In the past, court officials always advised the emperor to be diligent in his duties; now, however, they all advise the emperor to take care of his health.

Looking at their exhausted appearance, Zhu Youxiao felt a pang of emotion.

Although these veteran officials sometimes disagreed with his political views, they were ultimately pillars of the country who had worked hard for decades.

Although he was young and ambitious, he was not an arrogant and self-willed ruler.

Whenever there is a major event, the cabinet ministers and the six ministries are summoned to discuss it together.

Whenever a dispute arises, we always gather evidence from multiple sources and weigh the pros and cons.

For this reason, even though there were occasional disputes in the court, these veteran officials who had served three emperors could not help but feel a sincere respect for this young emperor.

Even if they harbored reservations about the new ruler, they couldn't help but sigh from the bottom of their hearts at this moment:

Our Great Ming Dynasty has finally welcomed another diligent and wise ruler who works tirelessly day and night!

"Wei Dynasty".

"The servant is here."

"Before the morning court session tomorrow, summon the Minister of Revenue to see me first."

".yes."

Upon hearing this, Fang Congzhe and the others' lips twitched slightly, and they sighed inwardly:
Your Majesty, Your Majesty, are you really not planning to let us old bones live a few more years?!
"Your Majesty, please leave!"

Fearing that the emperor would keep him there, Fang Congzhe quickly made his escape and resigned.

"Wait a minute."

Zhu Youxiao's voice made Fang Congzhe stiffen. He slowly turned around, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace.

"May I ask, Your Majesty, is there anything else you require?"

Seeing Fang Congzhe's expression, Zhu Youxiao almost burst out laughing.

"My dear ministers, please don't be in a hurry. Have some snacks and a bowl of hot soup before you go back."

Before the emperor had finished speaking, Wei Chao had already led several eunuchs to serve steaming hot soup and delicate snacks.

Fang Congzhe and the others looked at each other in bewilderment, and could only thank him and take their seats with trepidation.

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

The old chief minister's hand trembled slightly as he held the soup bowl, fearing that the emperor might suddenly remember some important military or national matter to discuss.

He sipped his hot soup slowly, but his eyes kept glancing toward the palace gate, just like a schoolboy waiting to be dismissed.

Liu Yijuan was calmer, but he chewed the pastry in his mouth for a full quarter of an hour without swallowing it.

Zhu Youxiao took all of this into view.

He was well aware of what these veteran officials were thinking, but the discussion had indeed gone on long enough, so he had no intention of making things difficult for them.

"Alright, my dear ministers, please enjoy your meal. I will not keep you any longer."

These words were like a pardon, and Fang Congzhe and the others breathed a sigh of relief. They quickly put down their bowls and chopsticks and respectfully bowed deeply.

"We take our leave. We hope Your Majesty will take care of your health."

After the senior officials left the hall, Zhu Youxiao looked at their slightly flustered backs and couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle.

Wei Chao promptly handed over a cup of ginseng tea and whispered, "Your Majesty, Grand Secretary Fang and the others..."

"It doesn't matter."

Zhu Youxiao took a sip of tea and said, "Let them rest well. We have important matters to discuss tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Wei Chao couldn't help but feel a pang of worry for the elders.

After the officials left, the hall finally returned to tranquility.

Zhu Youxiao rubbed his aching temples and looked down at the mountain of memorials piled up on his desk.

This morning, afternoon, and evening, he spent a full six hours discussing politics. Even with his extraordinary energy, he couldn't help but feel somewhat tired at this moment.

"Your Majesty, would you like to choose a concubine?"

Wei Chao held a gilded lacquer tray and stood bowing below the steps.

Several green-headed plaques were neatly arranged on the plate, gleaming warmly in the candlelight.

Zhu Youxiao's gaze swept over the brand-name items, and he pondered for a moment:

He summoned a beautiful woman to his bedchamber.

Upon hearing this, Wei Chao's wrinkles immediately smoothed out like a chrysanthemum, and he bent his waist even lower.

"This servant will go and deliver the imperial decree immediately!"

As he turned around, the hem of his robe fluttered in the wind, and even his usually steady steps seemed to reveal a hint of joy.

Consort Yu was someone he personally recommended. Now she enjoys the Emperor's favor, and His Majesty's expression is exceptionally warm after each time she serves him in bed. As a result, the lives of these close attendants have become much easier.

Your Majesty should visit the beauty more often!

After Wei Chao left, Zhu Youxiao got up and stretched his limbs. Gazing at the deepening night outside the palace, his thoughts drifted even further.

A ruler must not only be diligent in governing, but also ensure the continuation of his family line.

The Ming Dynasty's imperial family had a thin bloodline.

Both the Zhengde and Jiajing reigns faced the crisis of having no heirs.

This is not a good thing for the imperial family.

Besides
Zhu Youxiao's ambitions extended far beyond the nine provinces.

His goal is the whole world.

Once the navy is strong enough, princes will be appointed to govern India, the Americas, and Australia.
At least ten capable princes need to be cultivated to sustain the British Empire.
"Your Majesty, hot water is ready. Would you like to bathe and change?"

The eunuch's request interrupted the emperor's thoughts.

Zhu Youxiao withdrew his gaze, a slight smile playing on his lips:

"No rush, I still need to review memorials and issue an order to the Imperial Kitchen to bestow an extra cup of bird's nest upon Consort Yu tomorrow."

Since we want to have many children, we must first take good care of the woman's health.

Inside the hall, the candlelight flickered as Zhu Youxiao sat upright before his desk, his vermilion brush drawing bold and powerful red lines on the memorials.

Time flowed by at the tip of his pen, and when he looked up again, half an hour had passed.

Zhu Youxiao rubbed his aching wrist and looked up at the outside of the palace.

As night deepened, the bright moonlight cascaded down like a silver waterfall, draping the white marble steps in a hazy veil, and enveloping the entire Forbidden City in this dreamlike, ethereal glow.

"Your Majesty, the bedchamber is ready."

Wei Chao's voice rang out softly outside the hall, carrying just the right amount of respect.

Zhu Youxiao got up and, surrounded by eunuchs, went to his bedchamber.

Pushing open the carved wooden door of the sleeping quarters, a warm fragrance wafts out.

Inside the gilded incense burner with the animal head design, wisps of agarwood smoke curl upwards; twelve curtains with cloud and dragon patterns hang low, swaying gently in the night breeze.

Yu Peizhen sat gracefully on the edge of the dragon bed, her skin as white as snow accentuated by her lotus-colored gauze dress.

In the candlelight, the girl's face was as radiant as the morning sun, her long eyelashes drooping and casting a faint shadow on her fair cheeks.

"look up."

The emperor's slender fingers gently lifted her chin, the skin his fingertips touched as smooth and warm as mutton fat.

The moment their eyes met.

The girl's eyes shimmered with tears, a mixture of surprise and fear in them.

The emperor's eyes held a deep, unfathomable depth.

The silk curtains gently fell, concealing the springtime beauty of the room.

The sound of the water clock outside the window faded into the distance, with only the faint clanging of the metal hooks mingling with a few suppressed gasps, dissipating into the sandalwood incense smoke.

A major battle is inevitable tonight.

(End of this chapter)