Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

Zhu Qiyu suddenly asked, "What if we also bypass Datong first?"

Historically, Esen bypassed Datong and headed straight for Zijing Pass with the help of an inside agent, thus reaching the outskirts of Beijing.

Yu Qian had obviously taken this into consideration: "Esen will inevitably bypass Datong and head east to Zijing Pass. The general guarding Zijing Pass, Han Qing, is brave but lacks wisdom and strategy."

Sun Xiang can be dispatched to assist Han Qing. He is skilled in defense, having guarded Zijing Pass for three years and is familiar with the terrain.

Zhu Qiyu nodded: "That's excellent."

At this moment, Wang Zhi stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, I have a concern. What if Esen were to use the same old trick again, taking the Emperor to the walls of Datong and ordering the garrison commander to open the gates?"

This was also the issue that the courtiers were most worried about.

With the events of Xuanfu still fresh in our minds, if Zhu Qizhen were to speak again at the gates of Datong, would the defending general obey the imperial decree or disobey?

After a moment of silence, Zhu Qiyu said, "Send my decree to Datong and all border towns."

Whenever the Oirat Mongols kidnap the emperor and bring him to the city gates, no matter what imperial decree the emperor issues, the city gates must never be opened!

Anyone who dares to open the door will have their entire family, including nine generations, executed!

As soon as Zhu Qiyu finished speaking, Yu Qian exclaimed, "Your Highness has made a wise decision! This is the way to survival; without this, we cannot extinguish the enemy's hopes!"

"We second that proposal!" Chen Yi and other senior officials also expressed their opinions.

Yang Shan stepped forward and said loudly, "The order to open the door can be disregarded, as can the order to send money and gifts."

The garrison commander sent some gifts, and Esen was able to treat the emperor well!

Zhu Qiyu glanced at Yang Shan. This old man was indeed a loyal supporter who would sell his house to bring Zhu Qizhen back.

Zhu Qiyu slowly announced, "Apart from the envoys sent from the capital, no one else may send any gifts!"

The Oirat Mongols, having marched thousands of miles, were desperately short of food. Giving them food would make it even less likely that they would retreat.

As for money, the Ming Dynasty itself doesn't even have enough to go around, so where would it get so much money to buy Zhu Qizhen's life?

Yang Shan exclaimed urgently, "Your Highness is putting the Emperor in a perilous situation!"

Zhu Qiyu shouted sternly, "Yang Shan! You keep talking about sending money and gifts. Are you a subject of the Ming Dynasty or a subject of the Oirat Mongols?!"

These words immediately drew sidelong glances from the assembled officials.

When Zhu Qizhen knocked on the door in Xuanfu, Yang Hong had already delivered money and food.

The recent court assembly also organized a delegation to meet with Esen to discuss terms.

Prior to this, the Ministry of Rites had even sent a nine-dragon python silk brocade as requested by the Empress Dowager.

You've already given away so many things, are you still going to keep giving them away?

Yang Shan looked at the unfriendly gazes of the others and didn't know how to speak for a moment.

At this moment, Wang Zhi, the Minister of Personnel, knelt before Zhu Qiyu and said, "Your Highness! A country cannot be without a ruler for a single day, much less issue two different decrees in a single day!"

The current emperor is trapped in the enemy's court, and his words and actions are not free; he is in fact a puppet of the enemy.

We have been thinking about this for days and nights and have been unable to sleep.

Only Your Highness has already assumed the throne and clearly announced to the world that from now on, military and national commands will originate from Beijing and from Your Highness.

Only then can the soldiers guarding the borders feel at ease keeping the enemy outside the country's gates, without any fear of disobeying their sovereign!

"I second that proposal!"

Suddenly, everyone in the hall knelt down.

Officials from the Six Ministries, Five Offices, the Censorate, and the Hanlin Academy all bowed their heads in unison: "We beseech Your Highness to prioritize the well-being of the nation, to follow the will of Heaven and the people, and to ascend the throne as soon as possible to stabilize the foundation of the country and reassure the army!"

This time, far more people knelt down than before.

Yang Shan's eyes were red-rimmed. He wanted to say something, but seeing how many officials were kneeling, he shut his mouth and quietly knelt down as well.

Zhu Qiyu's face showed struggle and bitterness.

"My lords... how could I not know what you are saying?"

The morale of the army was wavering, the soldiers were bewildered, and I was worried day and night, and my heart was breaking.

However, my elder brother is my only brother, and blood is thicker than water.

He is currently trapped in the enemy camp, while he lives a life of luxury in the palace, yet he intends to take his place...

Such behavior is no different from that of beasts! How will the world view me? How will history record my story?

With a choked voice and slightly red eyes, he perfectly portrayed the image of a prince who was forced into a vortex and suffered immense inner torment.

Yu Qian kowtowed heavily, his forehead hitting the ground with a resounding thud: "Your Highness, this matter is beyond the scope of your personal relationship with the Emperor."

This is a matter of great importance concerning the fate of the Ming Dynasty and the lives of millions of people in the Central Plains!

In the past, Emperor Suzong of Tang ascended the throne in Lingwu and quelled the An Lushan Rebellion.

Emperor Gaozong of Song ascended the throne in Yingtianfu, continuing the Zhao Song dynasty.

This is because extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures!

If Your Highness cherishes the empty reputation after death and ignores the real crisis facing the nation.

"I fear that if the capital falls and the land is destroyed, Your Highness will not be able to obtain the title of a wise king, but will instead become a sinner for all time!"

Hu Ying, trembling, stepped forward. This most honorable minister, who valued etiquette above all else, was now speaking in a manner contrary to propriety:

"Your Highness, this old minister has studied the Book of Rites all his life and knows that the greatest purpose of rites is to bring peace to the country and stabilize the state."

With the nation's foundations faltering and powerful enemies pressing in, to cling to conventional wisdom and sit idly by while the situation remains perilous would be to abandon the fundamental for the trivial.

The old minister agrees with the Minister's words.

Your Highness, please consider the well-being of all people and inherit the throne. Only in this way can you truly uphold the great rites!

Even Hu Ying changed his attitude, and the officials in the hall who were still hesitating all knelt down.

Zhu Qiyu stood with his back to the assembled officials, looking up at the caisson ceiling of the palace.

The ministers all thought he was deep in thought, struggling with something.

Only he knew that he was actually calming himself down—he had almost burst out laughing just now.

Finally, Zhu Qiyu slowly turned around, his face showing a resigned and resolute expression:

"All of you are pillars of the nation, and your words and concerns are all for the sake of the Ming Dynasty and the common people."

"Though I am of meager virtue and limited ability, at this critical juncture of life and death, if I were to refuse again, I would not only betray the trust of the Empress Dowager and the expectations of the officials, but also fail my ancestors and the millions of living beings under heaven."

"Your Highness is wise!"

A thunderous roar of worship erupted, and many people's eyes welled up with tears, whether from excitement or something else, it was hard to tell.

Zhu Qiyu raised his hand, and after the commotion subsided, he spoke: "Xing'an."

Xing'an quickly bowed and said, "Your subject is here."

"The Imperial Astronomical Bureau is ordered to immediately calculate when is the most auspicious time in the coming days and select the nearest lucky day to hold the coronation ceremony."

"The Hanlin Academy was ordered to draft an edict to announce to the world that a new emperor was about to be enthroned."

"The Ministry of Rites and the Court of State Ceremonial were appointed to oversee the preparations for the grand ceremony."

All ceremonies should be simple and swift, with all extravagant entourages and red tape eliminated.

My ascension to the throne is aimed at stabilizing the people's hearts and governing against enemies, not for pleasure or boasting.

"Draft the imperial edict, and after the ceremony, print it and send it to the nine border regions."

From the date the new emperor's edict of ascension to the throne arrived, all military and defense matters shall be subject to the orders of the Beijing court.

All previous chaos will not be investigated; I hope all generals will diligently perform their duties and defend the territory.

Seeing that Zhu Qiyu's orders were clear and logical, it was obvious that he had already thought it through.

Some ministers looked worried; they seemed to have really misjudged this Prince Cheng, and they didn't know whether this was a blessing or a curse for them.

Xing'an said loudly, "Your subject obeys the decree!"

Officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Court of State Ceremonial, among others, responded in unison.

Zhu Qiyu's gaze slowly swept over the assembled officials below: "I hope that you will all work together with me to overcome these difficult times. Let's leave it at that for today. I still need to inform the Empress Dowager about such an important matter."

"Your Highness, we respectfully see you off!"

This time, the farewell greetings were much louder.

Zhu Qiyu nodded slightly, then turned and left.

Only Xing'an, who was closest to the emperor, vaguely saw that at the moment Zhu Qiyu turned around, the corners of his mouth curved slightly upward.