Huangming

Chapter 4 Wen Hua ascends the throne, and the court officials meet for the first time.

No matter how agitated Sun Ruyou was, the proper procedures still had to be followed.

"Your Highness, I am but an old and feeble subject, holding a position in the Six Ministries. How could I possibly deserve such high praise? I have only been diligently serving the country and working tirelessly for the people."

Zhu Youxiao's eyes lit up, and he said, "What a fine example of sharing the country's burdens and working tirelessly for the people! If all the people of our Great Ming were like Li Qing, how could the country not prosper?"

The successor stepped forward, helped Sun Ruyou up, and patted his hand hard.

"I am still young and inexperienced in many things, so I will have to trouble you, Minister."

Sun Ruyou knelt down with a thud, his heart overflowing with gratitude, tears and snot almost streaming down his face.

Heaven knows how much pressure he has borne since Emperor Shenzong.

As Minister of Rites, he addressed the Empress Dowager and Consort Zheng's proposals regarding the relocation of the palace, as well as Consort Li's proposal to become Empress and to appoint the Crown Prince as soon as possible.
He faced immense pressure in many things.

The late emperor did not understand, and the people in the palace held a grudge.

His colleagues, however, felt that he was too weak, only daring to delay and not daring to refuse.

Sun Ruyou is like Pigsy looking in a mirror—he's neither a man nor a woman.

Thankfully, the heir is a reasonable person!
He understands me!
"Your Highness has the appearance of a divine ruler; in the future, you will surely be able to govern the country well, recognize talent and appoint people wisely. Our Great Ming Dynasty is truly blessed to have Your Highness in the two capitals, thirteen provinces, and all the people."

The heir naturally didn't take these auspicious words to heart, but simply nodded with a smile and turned to look at the Duke of England.

Since the Tumu Crisis, the influence of noble families in the court has been greatly diminished.

However, the lineage of the Duke of Yingguo is still acceptable. In the thirty-seventh year of the Wanli reign, he took charge of the rear office of the Five Military Commissions. Although the influence of the Five Military Commissions is not as great as that of the Ministry of War now, it is still a force in charge of troops.

As a member of the Zhu family, one is naturally more trustworthy than outsiders.

To prevent any coup d'état or the fall of Emperor Tianqi, Zhu Youxiao was determined to firmly grasp military power both inside and outside the palace and the capital.

Without military power, how can I deal with these people?
"I have lived in the deep palace for a long time and am not familiar with many things. I need the help of elders in many matters. For example, there are many confusing things about the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard. I need the Duke to enlighten me."

Zhang Weixian immediately replied, "Your Highness, whatever your question, I will answer to the best of my knowledge."

"Very well! Duke, come with me to the Wenhua Hall!"

Before Duke Zhang Weixian could react, Zhu Youxiao took the Duke's hand and headed towards the Wenhua Hall.

At this moment, in the Wenhua Hall.

The officials had been waiting there for a long time. Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe squinted his eyes, as if he were dozing off.

Han Kuang and Zhu Guozuo frowned slightly, realizing that what had happened today was somewhat different from what they had imagined.

"The Crown Prince has arrived!"

The eunuch shouted in a hoarse voice, which woke up Fang Congzhe, who was dozing off, and made everyone else stand up straight.

Soon, a young man dressed in a long robe strode over, followed by Sun Ruyou and Wang Anju, who were a few steps behind. Surprisingly, the heir apparent and the Duke of Yingguo came arm in arm, causing everyone's eyebrows to twitch.

Upon arriving at their destination, Zhu Youxiao released Zhang Weixian's hand, who was already drenched in sweat.

Good Emperor.

Aren't you putting me on the hot seat?

Those courtiers, seeing how close I am to Your Highness, will surely face no shortage of trouble in the future.

Hey ~
What His Majesty values ​​is favor and honor, something many people dream of but cannot attain.

But everything comes at a price.

The emperor's favor was not without reason. In the Cining Palace, Zhang Weixian knew that the heir apparent was no ordinary person.

I wonder how many heads the Duke of Yingguo's mansion has left to shed for His Majesty.

Zhu Youxiao didn't care about the British Duke's thoughts.

At this moment, he looked at the beasts filling the hall, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his sorrowful expression. He exchanged greetings with the ministers, his demeanor dignified and his manners impeccable.

"Since I first ascended the Wenhua Hall, I have relied on you, my pillars of the state, for all matters!"

Upon seeing this, all the officials bowed and paid their respects to Zhu Youxiao.

"Greetings to Your Highness!"

"We pay our respects to His Highness the Crown Prince!"

These ministers who were allowed to attend court were all at least fourth-rank officials (fifth-rank officials in the capital). Even if their rank was not high enough, they would be given additional titles. For example, a Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet was only a fifth-rank official and was not qualified to attend court, but he would usually be given the title of Minister.

In short, the officials who were able to arrive at the Wenhua Hall at the first opportunity were no ordinary people.

Many of them were seeing the heir for the first time.

They couldn't help but secretly peek at Zhu Youxiao.

The Crown Prince did not have a good impression of them before.

It can be roughly described in these eight words: "As pure as ever, cautious and meticulous."

But now it seems that the successor is elegant and poised, and his demeanor is measured. He shows no stage fright when facing his ministers, which seems to contradict the rumors.

Especially since everyone had been waiting since before dawn, and only because the Crown Prince had rewarded them with a bowl of hot porridge, preventing them from fainting from hunger, their impression of Zhu Youxiao improved even more.

Seeing that the proper etiquette had been completed, Fang Congzhe immediately stepped forward and said, "The late Emperor has abruptly abandoned the world, and the throne in the Wenhua Hall is vacant. Today, the Crown Prince is in charge of court affairs. We are like withered seedlings receiving rain, and we are overjoyed."

As if they had rehearsed it many times, the three cabinet ministers, Han Kuang, Zhu Guozuo, and Liu Yizhu, stepped forward and announced loudly, "Welcome the Crown Prince to the palace!"

The six ministries and nine ministers, along with all the officials in the court, echoed the sentiment, shouting, "Welcome the Crown Prince to the palace!"

Zhu Youxiao strode steadily across the towering threshold of the Wenhua Hall, and the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies immediately proclaimed loudly: "Welcome His Highness the Crown Prince to the Wenhua Hall!"

Before he finished speaking, four eunuchs had already carried the gleaming golden dragon throne and carefully placed it on the imperial desk.

Two stewards respectfully led the way, saying, "Welcome, Your Highness the Crown Prince, to the throne."

In an instant, the imperial guards, clad in heavy armor and with sharp blades at their waists, swiftly moved in front of the hall, lining up on both sides to guard every vital point, their presence solemn and dignified.

Zhu Youxiao walked slowly to the steps, pausing with each step, before ascending the stone steps of the Wenhua Hall.

He stood before the imperial desk, gently stroking the armrest of the dragon throne, closed his eyes to concentrate, took a deep breath, and then slowly sat down on the throne.

"Snapped!"

The sound of whips cracking suddenly rang out, and a young eunuch stood beside the entrance to the Wenhua Hall, loudly announcing: "Civil and military officials, enter the hall for an audience! Line up according to your rank!"

Zhu Youxiao opened his eyes and looked down at the scene inside the Wenhua Hall.

The court officials, dressed in ceremonial robes and caps, walked in a bustling procession, with the high-ranking official in scarlet robes leading the way, followed by officials in blue and green robes in succession.

The courtiers prostrated themselves inside and outside the Wenhua Hall, stretching as far as the eye could see.

The melodious music of the Yellow Bell resounded from the rear.

"Dang Dang Dang!"

Inside the hall, the assembled officials bowed five times and kowtowed three times, shouting in unison, their voices resounding throughout the entire hall: "Your subjects respectfully welcome the new emperor to the court!"

Upon seeing this, Zhu Youxiao took a deep breath.

No wonder everyone wants to be in a position of power; anyone who experiences that feeling of looking down on everyone else would find it hard to resist.

From the Liaodong Peninsula in the east to Jiayuguan Pass in the west, from Qiongya in the south to Yunshuo in the north, all of this land belongs to the king.

The more than 50 million people of the Ming Dynasty were all subjects of Zhu Youxiao, and his word could determine life and death.

This is the charm of power.

However, Zhu Youxiao also knew that the emperor's power did not come entirely from his status, but more from his cunning and skill.

When the emperor is weak, the ministers are strong.

The emperor was capable and efficient, and his subjects were obedient.

Zhu Youxiao did not want to have an official like Zhang Juzheng under his command who treated him like a grandson.

These two capitals and thirteen provinces—though my shoulders are weak, I can still shoulder them!

Why go through the trouble of relying on others?
PS:

Regarding the population issue in the 48th year of the Wanli reign.

Volume 582 of the Veritable Records of Emperor Shenzong of Ming (47th year of Wanli, 1619)
The Ministry of Revenue reported: "There are 9,832,600 households and 51,625,400 people in the empire."

This is an official statistic from the end of the Wanli era, recording only 5162 million, but the actual population was far greater due to hidden households, military households, and migrants.

The author used official data, but no one knows for sure how many people actually live there.

(End of this chapter)