Aspiration

Chapter 213 The Monarch
Emperor Chongzhen also knew that Li Zicheng was not dead, so Li Laiheng had to be very surprised.How did he know that Li Zicheng was not dead?
This is a big mystery.

Li Laiheng worried that Li Zicheng's life was in danger.

Li Laiheng met Emperor Chongzhen in the early morning of the fifth day he came to Chengdu.It took Li Laiheng a lot of effort to transfer Emperor Chongzhen out of Wuhou Temple. They met in a ruined temple in the south of the city.

Zhang Wenxiu's people were very vigilant, it would be very difficult for Chongzhen to get out of Wuhou Temple if it wasn't for masters like Li Laiheng and Lao Jiu.Even for top experts like them, it took a few days to get Chongzhen out.

"You are Li Laiheng?"

Emperor Chongzhen sized up Li Laiheng carefully, and it was hard to believe that he was so young and handsome, that he was the number one general in the world, making all his opponents fearful.

Li Laiheng smiled and said, "You think I'm a three-headed and six-armed ugly guy, don't you?"

Chongzhen did not spend too much time on this topic. After all, he is the king of a country, or he was the king of a country once, and this temperament cannot be changed for a while. "You drove away the Manchus, that's good. Thank you. I have fought against them for 17 years, and I lost every time. If Li Zicheng hadn't defeated Beijing, we might still be fighting now. That's fine, the Manchus are nothing to worry about. Thank you."

"Everyone is responsible. You are welcome. Li Zicheng is not dead, how do you know?" Li Laiheng asked.

Chongzhen sneered a few times proudly, "Don't think I'm really an idiot, okay? My East Factory, Jinyiwei, and a secret West Factory, do you think they really just eat? Hehe, there are people around you too. My people, do you believe it or not?"

Li Laiheng said lightly: "I believe it. Dongchang, Xichang and Jinyiwei are famous for thousands of years, of course I believe it. But, believe it or not, I know how many people you have by my side, seven, right?"

Chongzhen was stunned for a moment, smiling bleakly.

He was convinced, the people he went in in several batches, even the people lurking around Li Laiheng didn't know each other how many of them were inside, let alone who was who, only Emperor Chongzhen himself knew these things.Li Laiheng said seven, and it was seven, he had to admit defeat.Chongzhen didn't think it was a pleasant topic, so he changed the subject again.

"Don't worry, no one else will know where Li Zicheng is."

Li Laiheng believed in Chongzhen's guarantee.Because of Chongzhen's character, Li Laiheng was very convinced.Chongzhen then said: "The reason why you are looking for me is probably for the emperor's jade seal, right? It's in the mezzanine to the east of the Palace of Compassion and Ning, so you can find it yourself. If you want any other documents written by me, please feel free. Now, Nanming won’t listen to this. So, Nanming, it’s very difficult for you to win without a fight. However, I can write a letter to Shi Kefa, whether he believes that I’m still alive or not, I don’t know.”

Emperor Chongzhen was not a fool, his IQ was not low, and his political wisdom was not bad, so he said everything first.Li Laiheng can only laugh.

Li Laiheng thought that it was a good thing that Emperor Chongzhen could do this. What he wrote was not important, the important thing was whether others recognized it or not.Seeing Chongzhen being so magnanimous and reasonable, Li Laiheng suddenly remembered, how about a constitutional monarchy?At this stage, rashly implementing a capitalist republic will definitely have many unexpected problems. With a constitutional monarchy, there is a "god" in the hearts of the people of the whole country, and it is much easier to solve key issues if this god comes forward.Li Laiheng thought that there are only two people who can be "emperors", one is Li Zicheng and the other is Zhu Youjian.In terms of comparison, the most suitable person is of course Zhu Youjian.

Thinking of this question, Li Laiheng felt that the matter was very important, how about trying his idea now?
"I, Li Laiheng, have come all the way here to look for you. I want to discuss something with you. If I invite you to be emperor, will you do it?" Li Laiheng asked.

"Don't do it." Chongzhen replied very simply, "Why do you let me be the emperor? Do you want to hold the emperor to make the princes? You are so powerful now, you can be the emperor, don't you need me, a hanged ghost?"

"No, I want to implement a constitutional monarchy." Li Laiheng said.

The so-called constitutional monarchy, also known as constitutional monarchy, or "virtual monarchy republic", is a state system relative to the dictatorship of the monarchy.Constitutional monarchy is to establish the sovereignty of the people, limit the power of the monarch, and realize a de facto republic through constitutionalism on the premise of retaining the monarchy.A constitutional monarchy is characterized by the fact that the head of state is a monarch (emperor, king, grand duke, etc., the pope is sometimes considered a monarch).Unlike other heads of state, the general monarch is life-long, and the status of the monarch is already higher than other citizens of the country by definition (this is a difference between the monarch and some other heads of state such as dictators, and the general dictator defines himself A member of the citizen, but out of objective needs he must take power to serve the country), often the monarch belongs to a special class (nobility), and hereditary system is often a feature of the monarch.

Emperor Chongzhen must have heard this new term for the first time.Li Laiheng only understood in general.But he felt that in the late Ming Dynasty, this kind of system might be the easiest to realize.Therefore, he was ready to abandon the republic.

The reason he gave up the republic was because now there was someone who could be the "monarch".

Chongzhen is the most suitable candidate.

So Li Laiheng explained to Emperor Chongzhen what a constitutional monarchy was.

Chongzhen was very smart and politically wise. After listening to Li Laiheng's explanation, although he was still a little confused, he still saw some light. He also seemed to see the prospect of a very powerful Chinese Empire standing in the world.

Slowly, Chongzhen became a little tempted.He was not tempted by the glory and wealth, but he felt that the prosperous age of "Yongle Years" would appear soon, and the grand scene of Zheng He's voyages to the West would be repeated again.Therefore, Chongzhen basically agreed with Li Laiheng's suggestion.

Chongzhen discussed with Li Laiheng, and Zhang Xianzhong, Wu Sangui and Hong Chengchou had to rely on Zhang Xianzhong, Wu Sangui and Hong Chengchou for the success of this matter.Didn't they mobilize Emperor Chongzhen to come out of the mountain again?

A few days later, Zhang Xianzhong came to Wuhou Temple again.

"Your Majesty, have you figured it out yet?" Zhang Xianzhong asked.

"Oh, I figured it out, but I'm just a little worried." Chongzhen said.

"What are you worried about?"

"I am worried that you will not obey orders."

"Impossible!" Zhang Xianzhong and Wu Sangui said at the same time, "We absolutely obey your orders, Your Majesty. As long as you are willing to come out, we will do it even if we hand over our military power!"

"Oh? Really?"

"Of course!"

"Okay, I'll make a good plan. Hong Chengchou, help me think about it. Wu Sangui, Zhang Xianzhong, listen to my plan in five days."

(End of this chapter)