Huangming

Chapter 41 The Dragon-Slaying Technique: A Terrifying Thing to Think About

Ciqing Palace.

In the Duanben Hall.

Wei Chao knelt on the ground with his buttocks sticking up high. Although fine sweat kept dripping from his forehead, he deliberately controlled his breathing.

Those officials were indeed difficult to deal with.

They dared to reject His Majesty's very first decree!
Wei Chao was terrified, fearing that the emperor's wrath would implicate him.

However, when Zhu Youxiao saw the signatures of the six departments rejecting the proposal, he was not angry at all; instead, a smile appeared on his face.

"There are still many loyal ministers in my Great Ming Dynasty!"

Yang Lian, Zhou Chaorui, Hui Shiyang
Good, very good!
what?
The Wei Dynasty is somewhat unbelievable.

Isn't Your Majesty angry?
Or was he so angry that he lost his mind?
Wei Chao raised his head slightly and said, "Your Majesty, don't be angry. Drag those ungrateful officials out of the Meridian Gate one by one and punish them with a beating, so that they will know Your Majesty's majesty."

"Who said I'm angry?"

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Wei Chao and said, "Get up."

Wei Chao slowly stood up, glanced at the emperor sideways, and was surprised to find that his master was indeed not angry.

"Isn't Your Majesty angry?"

The emperor issued his first imperial edict, but it was rejected by the censors.

This is a provocation!

Any normal emperor would be angry; a more short-tempered one could even cause death.

Before the new emperor had even ascended the throne, he had already punished Zuo Guangdou with a beating during his first court session, which shows that he was not a man of good temper.

But why isn't Your Majesty angry now, faced with the provocations of your ministers?
Why should I be angry?

Zhu Youxiao put the refutation booklet from the six departments back on his desk, stretched, and showed no displeasure whatsoever.

"The officials of the Six Ministries are all loyal, good, and virtuous ministers, and I will give them important positions."

Does His Majesty have masochistic tendencies?

Right?
This goes against common sense!

Wei Chao frowned, his face full of doubt.

Zhu Youxiao clearly had no interest in answering Wei Chao's questions. He said to Wei Chao, "Summon Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe, and also summon Duke of Ying, Zhang Weixian, Wei Zhongxian, and Luo Sigong, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, to come for questioning."

Wei Chao left, looking completely bewildered.

Zhu Youxiao, on the other hand, sat back on his throne, picked up "The Essentials of Governance in the Zhenguan Era," and continued to read it.

He had already read the book "Zhenguan Zhengyao" once and benefited greatly from it.

of course
What benefited him most was not this book, but the book on slaying dragons written by the future Taizu Emperor.

The sudden issuance of the imperial edict was precisely to test the reactions of these officials.

The Censorate submitted very few memorials today, indicating that the officials are not of one mind.

Even among the Donglin Party members, there was no monolithic group.

Zhu Youxiao had already made up his mind about dividing and weakening the regime, and whether to promote or demote officials.

With the Dragon-Slaying Technique in hand, I refuse to believe that I cannot govern this Ming Dynasty well!

Ciqing Palace is only a few hundred meters away from Wenyuan Pavilion. Fang Congzhe arrived in a hurry and went to Duanben Hall to pay his respects.

"Your Excellency, there is no need for such formalities. Please take a seat."

When Fang Congzhe delivered the six official rejection documents to Cining Palace, based on his understanding of the new emperor, he knew that there might be bloodshed in the capital.

He had come to advise the new emperor against unleashing a reign of terror.

However, upon entering Duanben Hall, the new emperor did not seem to be as furious as he had expected.

Fang Congzhe carefully sat on the small stool and began to speak: "Your Majesty, please allow me to report:

These officials, though arrogant and rebellious, certainly deserve severe punishment. However, given that this is during the period of mourning for the late emperor, a massacre in the court would likely tarnish Your Majesty's reputation for benevolence and filial piety. Emperor Wuzong's execution of a minister who offered advice after his southern tour was thwarted is still condemned in historical records. I earnestly request Your Majesty to emulate Emperor Shizong's wise decision, temporarily quell your anger, and appease the hearts of your ministers.”

"When did I say I would severely punish the officials in charge of the censorate?"

Zhu Youxiao chuckled and said, "I am still young, and I suddenly issued an imperial edict. I did not know that it would violate the ancestral system. The reason I summoned the Grand Secretary is to have him draft the memorial according to the regulations and send it to the Six Ministries for review and copying."

what?
No.

Fang Congzhe was completely stunned.

So, Your Majesty's imperial decree was an accident?
Fang Congzhe turned to Wei Chao, who was standing to the side, his eyes full of doubt.

Wei Chao appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly he was in turmoil. "I have already explained the crux of the imperial edict to His Majesty," he thought.

Why is His Majesty pretending to be confused at this time?

Fang Congzhe quickly figured out the key point.

Your Majesty is so precocious and shrewd; it is impossible that you were unaware of the meaning behind the imperial edict.

But he still insisted on issuing it, and he chose to issue this imperial edict based on something that the Donglin Party members did not want to happen.

The Donglin Party members wanted to dismiss Xiong Tingbi and promote Yuan Yingtai, but Your Majesty insisted on doing the opposite.

It seems that the six ministries will reject the imperial decree.

Or rather, to test the attitude of the ministers.

What His Majesty wants is not the imperial edict to be passed, but a test.

I understand!

I understand everything!
Fang Congzhe gasped, a chill running down his spine as he pondered the matter.

Is this the composure a fifteen-year-old should possess?
This is preparation that Your Majesty has made in advance to gain control of the censorate!
Since the passing of the late Emperor, Your Majesty first took control of the inner court, recruiting nobles and eunuchs as your henchmen, with the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard as your arms.

He then won over officials and intimidated the cabinet, and now he wants to control the imperial examination system.

Today's imperial decree is ineffective; once His Majesty cleans up the bureaucracy, the Grand Secretariat may truly be rendered useless.

At that time, who can reject the imperial edict, and who dares to reject it?

If it were a powerful minister like Zhang Juzheng or Gao Gong, they would probably already be preparing to retaliate.

However, after Fang Congzhe figured things out, he did not want to resist.

He was tired of his powerlessness and tired of partisan strife.

If he still has a political future, he will fight.

but.
Everything is gone, what's the point of his resistance?

Was all of this also within His Majesty's expectations?

"Does the Grand Secretary have something he is reluctant to say?"

Zhu Youxiao's words interrupted Fang Congzhe's thoughts. Fang Congzhe gradually regained his composure and said as if resigned to his fate, "This old minister obeys."

"I have only recently ascended the throne, and the mourning period for the late emperor is not yet over. The coffins of the two empresses are still lying in state, and the people of the world are watching closely. If I were to have an official beaten to death for disobeying my imperial decree, it would likely damage my sagely virtue and cause widespread panic among the people."

"In my view, although Wei Dazhong and Yang Lian are upright and somewhat blindly loyal, and lack insight and thorough consideration, they ultimately act for the sake of the country and are not slandering out of personal motives. I hope the Grand Secretary will not be too harsh on them."

Blame?

I?
Fang Congzhe was so shocked that his whole body went limp.

His Majesty.

With such a deep and cunning mind, why pretend to be innocent?
Zhu Youxiao looked at Fang Congzhe with wide eyes, his innocent expression as pure as Ding Zhen from Litang or a white lotus from Tianshan.

Fang Congzhe was speechless and had no choice but to get up and take his leave.

No wonder the Donglin Party members have repeatedly failed in front of His Majesty.

When the emperor becomes shameless, how can his subjects possibly stand a chance?

"Your Excellency, please wait."

Zhu Youxiao called Fang Congzhe to a stop.

"Your Majesty, do you have any other instructions?"

"Yang Lian, the Chief Censor of the Ministry of War, is outspoken and courageous, loyal and upright, and has the spirit of Wei Zheng. He is hereby promoted to Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate and bestowed with a unicorn robe and an imperial silver seal inscribed with 'Iron Heart and Ice Shield.' He is permitted to report any misconduct by officials or any grievances suffered by the people, and to present them directly to the Emperor."

Zhu Youxiao chuckled and said, "Loyal ministers are hard to find, and good ministers are even harder to come by. The cabinet should draft an edict to promote Yang Lian to the position of Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate."

Fang Congzhe felt a chill run down his spine.

"Your humble servant will obey Your Majesty's command."

The Censors of the Censorate and the Six Ministries were collectively known as the Censorate Officials, who were responsible for impeaching officials from all departments, clarifying injustices, and supervising various circuits. They served as the eyes and ears of the emperor and the authority to maintain discipline. Because their duties included "offering advice" and even "reporting on hearsay," they were also collectively called "speaking officials."

The Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate held considerable power and was ranked as a fourth-grade official.

It is an honor to be promoted from the seventh rank to the fourth rank.

In Fang Congzhe's view, His Majesty the Emperor had already begun to take control of the Imperial Academy.

Promoting Yang Lian, who led the rejection of the imperial edict, was merely a way to appease the Donglin Party members and prepare for future actions.

The Six Ministries may soon become His Majesty's henchmen!
(End of this chapter)