Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

Yu Qian was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting Zhu Qiyu to suddenly jump from Tongzhou Grain Affairs to historical records from hundreds of years ago.

After a moment's thought, he replied, "When I was young, I read the entire Book of Tang. The reign of Zhenguan is a model for later generations."

Zhu Qiyu stood up and slowly walked to the window: "Then what is your opinion on Li Shimin and Wei Zheng?"

Yu Qian then stood up and stood to the side and behind him: "Emperor Taizong of Tang was open to advice, and Duke Wenzhen of Wei spoke frankly and dared to remonstrate. The emperor and his minister got along well, which became a famous story throughout the ages."

Wei Zheng once said that listening to both sides leads to enlightenment, while believing only one side leads to ignorance. Emperor Taizong kept this on his desk and reflected on it from time to time.

This is the essence of governing a country, and also the way of the relationship between ruler and subject.

Zhu Qiyu turned around, his eyes piercing: "Li Shimin is like a fish in water with Wei Zheng."

However, if Wei Zheng had not met Li Shimin, his advice would likely have brought him death.

As the saying goes, a wise minister needs to meet an enlightened ruler, and an enlightened ruler also needs to tolerate the courage of a wise minister.

Yu Qian's heart stirred slightly, and he vaguely sensed that Zhu Qiyu's words had a hidden meaning, so he lowered his head and said, "Your Highness is absolutely right."

Zhu Qiyu walked back to his desk: "Now the court is filled with impeachments, and although you handled the Tongzhou matter well, you have been framed. If I were to believe these slanders, what would you do?"

Yu Qian's voice was calm: "I have acted uprightly and sat honestly, and have no regrets. If Your Highness does not see the truth, I will have no choice but to die to prove my innocence."

Zhu Qiyu shook his head: "If Wei Zheng had died in the early years of the Zhenguan era, how could there be the lament of using others as a mirror?"

Minister Yu, I do not want a loyal minister who would die to prove his loyalty.

What I need is a trusted minister who can help me create a prosperous era and rebuild the Ming Dynasty.

He paused, then looked intently at Yu Qian: "In the Tumu Crisis, hundreds of thousands of soldiers were wiped out."

This is not a natural disaster, but a man-made one!

The government was corrupt, the military was in disarray, eunuchs held power, and the border towns were in disarray...

You know these things better than I do.

Yu Qian remained silent; how could he not know all this?

It's just that over the years, there have been some things I couldn't say and some things I couldn't do.

Zhu Qiyu continued, "Now I have been entrusted with a critical mission and will soon ascend the throne."

This throne is not a place of wealth and glory, but a heavy burden.

I wish to emulate Emperor Taizong, to rectify official corruption, strengthen the army and enrich the people, so that my Ming Dynasty may regain the prosperity of Hongwu and Yongle.

I need a mirror, and a Wei Zheng who dares to point out my mistakes.

Minister Yu, would you be willing to be my Wei Zheng?

Yu Qian raised his head, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Zhu Qiyu didn't urge him, and just waited quietly.

Half an incense stick later, Yu Qian suddenly lifted his robe and knelt down, solemnly kowtowing: "If Your Highness treats me as a national hero, I will certainly repay you as a national hero! However, I have another question, and I hope Your Highness will answer it frankly."

"speak."

"Your Highness wishes to emulate Emperor Taizong of Tang. Besides his willingness to accept advice and his creation of a prosperous era, should you also emulate his actions at Xuanwu Gate?"

Zhu Qiyu's pupils contracted slightly; he hadn't expected Yu Qian to ask so bluntly.

Silence spread between the two.

After a long silence, Zhu Qiyu slowly spoke: "Minister Yu, you have read the Book of Tang. Do you know what became of Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji's sons after the Xuanwu Gate Incident?"

Yu Qian was startled and said in a hoarse voice, "Kill them all."

"And what about Li Yuan?"

He abdicated and became the Retired Emperor, residing in the Da'an Palace.

Zhu Qiyu nodded: "If Li Shimin had lost at Xuanwu Gate that day, what would have become of the entire Qin Prince's mansion, including those meritorious officials who later entered the Lingyan Pavilion?"

Yu Qian did not answer.

The victor is king, the loser is villain; this has always been the case.

Zhu Qiyu said slowly, "I have no intention of imitating the events of the Xuanwu Gate Incident."

Yu Qian breathed a slight sigh of relief, and then Zhu Qiyu spoke again: "But I would like to ask Minister Yu."

If my elder brother returns, what should we do?

Let him live peacefully in the Southern Palace and enjoy his old age?

But he was the retired emperor, and also a former emperor.

He raises his arm and commands a gathering of old ministers. Will they listen to him, or to me?

Yu Qian was drenched in cold sweat.

Zhu Qiyu continued, "If he behaves himself, then so be it."

But what if he is unwilling to accept this and secretly contacts his old subordinates to plot a restoration?

Will I abdicate and hand over the throne to a more capable person, or will there be another palace coup?

"Your Highness, the Emperor... the Emperor Emeritus is, after all, Your Highness's own brother. Moreover, the whole world is watching. If the Emperor Emeritus were to fall, Your Highness would likely be condemned for all eternity."

Zhu Qiyu leaned down, almost at eye level with the kneeling Yu Qian: "If Li Shimin had spared Li Jiancheng's life after the Xuanwu Gate Incident, imprisoning him in a separate courtyard, what do you think?"

Yu Qian pondered for a moment and sighed, "I fear this will cause future trouble. If Jiancheng is still alive, the old faction will harbor resentment, and the court will be difficult to stabilize."

Zhu Qiyu straightened up and paced back and forth, saying, "That's exactly right. I'm facing an even more difficult situation than Li Shimin."

The emperor's elder brother was also held hostage by Esen, and they were knocking on the gates of Xuanfu and Datong.

This matter has spread throughout the land, and is known to both soldiers and civilians.

If I ascend the throne, he will be the retired emperor.

It is a disgrace to the Ming Dynasty for an emperor who has been captured and forced to surrender to the authorities to still be alive.

My death is my fault.

Minister Yu, tell me what to do?

Yu Qian knelt on the ground, feeling as if a thousand pounds were weighing on his back.

He understood what Zhu Qiyu meant.

This regent, the future emperor, was not seeking his opinion, but rather demanding his stance.

"Your Highness, I believe the most urgent task is to defend the capital and repel the Oirat Mongols. The matter of the Retired Emperor... can be discussed at a later time."

Zhu Qiyu chuckled: "Minister Yu, you are a smart man, why say such foolish things?"

He walked back behind his desk and sat down, his tone softening: "Get up, sit down and let's talk."

Yu Qian stood up but did not sit down; he remained standing with his head bowed.

Zhu Qiyu did not press the matter, and continued, "I know you are loyal and righteous, and I know you value your reputation."

You don't want to be accused of regicide, and neither do I.

But circumstances are beyond our control. You have seen what happened in Datong today. Liu An and others left the city without permission and offered money to save the city.

They still considered their elder brother, the emperor, as their ruler.

If this continues, how can military orders be unified?

How can government orders be effectively implemented?

Yu Qian immediately said, "Your Highness should severely punish Liu An as a warning to others."

Zhu Qiyu shook his head: "It's easy to punish Liu An, but what if all the border generals think like that?"

I need a great victory, a victory so great that the world will forget Tumu Fortress and the Emperor who called for the gate.

Before this victory, I need unity of purpose and action from the government and the people.

Do you understand?

Yu Qian certainly understood.

What Zhu Qiyu wanted was "unity of mind and purpose," which meant that everyone, especially important ministers like himself, had to clearly express their loyalty to the new emperor and sever ties with the old master.

Yu Qian took a deep breath: "Now that I have supported Your Highness's ascension to the throne, I will do my best to assist you."

As for the Emperor Emeritus...

If the Oirats take him as a hostage and demand money, grain, and land, I will insist on not giving up an inch of land or a single penny.

If the Emperor were to suffer this consequence…

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear: if Zhu Qizhen died "accidentally" at the hands of the Oirats, it would be the enemy's fault, not the Ming Dynasty's.

Zhu Qiyu shook his head: "Esen is not stupid. He knows that it is more valuable for the Emperor to live than to die."

The study fell silent once again.

Finally, Zhu Qiyu broke the silence: "Minister Yu, I will tell you another passage from the Book of Tang."

He picked up the now-cold tea and took a sip: "In the fourth year of the Zhenguan era, the Turkic Khagan Jieli was captured and taken to Chang'an."

Emperor Taizong did not kill him, but instead granted him an official position and a residence, treating him with great respect.

Some in the court were puzzled, so Emperor Taizong said: "In the past, the Turks were powerful, commanding a million archers, and bullied the Central Plains. They became arrogant and reckless, which led to the loss of their people. Now they have fallen to this state; it is Heaven's will, not human will. I govern the world with benevolence and righteousness; how can I emulate the tyranny of Emperor Yang of Sui?"

Yu Qian listened quietly.

"And then?" Zhu Qiyu asked himself, "Jieli was depressed in Chang'an and often sang sad songs with his family."

Emperor Taizong took pity on him and appointed him as the governor of Guozhou, allowing him to roam freely and hunt to suit his nature.

Jieli declined the offer, so he was instead appointed Right Guard General and granted land and a house.

In the eighth year of the Zhenguan era, Jieli died. Emperor Taizong ordered his son to inherit his title and, following Turkic customs, cremated and buried his body.

Finally, Zhu Qiyu looked at Yu Qian and said, "Emperor Taizong tolerated Jieli because the Turks had been destroyed, and Jieli was all alone, without soldiers or power, and could no longer cause trouble."

Moreover, Emperor Taizong was a man of great talent and ambition, whose power extended throughout the land; he was not afraid of a ruler who had lost his country.

"Your Highness means..."

Zhu Qiyu said calmly, "If I had the majesty of Emperor Taizong, I could certainly allow my elder brother to live out the rest of his life in peace."

Yu Qian suddenly realized.

Zhu Qiyu's long and complicated plan had this real purpose: he did not want to kill his brother with his own hands, but if Zhu Qizhen "died of illness" or "died unexpectedly" on the way back, he would not investigate further.

If Zhu Qizhen were to return alive, he would need sufficient authority and control to ensure that the retired emperor behaved himself.

The former requires using someone else to do the dirty work, while the latter requires absolute power.

Yu Qian slowly said, "Your Highness, when I read history, I often pondered one thing: Wei Zheng repeatedly offended the emperor, how could Emperor Taizong tolerate him?"

Zhu Qiyu replied, "Because Emperor Taizong knew that although Wei Zheng's advice was unpleasant to hear, it was beneficial to the country."

Yu Qian continued, "What if Wei Zheng's remonstrance touched upon matters of the monarch's family or the proper relationships between brothers?"

Zhu Qiyu's gaze sharpened: "That depends on whether this family matter concerns the foundation of the nation."

Their eyes met, and they both saw the deeper meaning in each other's eyes.

After a long silence, Yu Qian bowed deeply: "Your Highness, I am willing to be your Wei Zheng, to offer loyal and honest advice, and to correct your mistakes."

However, I have a request: if the Emperor Emeritus returns one day, regardless of whether he is alive or dead, Your Highness must treat him with the proper respect.

If they are alive, treat them well; if they die, give them a proper burial.

In this way, the people of the world will know of His Highness's benevolence, and future historians will record his magnanimity.

Zhu Qiyu was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright."

Yu Qian knew that this was the biggest promise he could get for Zhu Qizhen.

"Alright, it's getting late, you should go back and rest. Remember, what I said today is mine alone, and no one else will know it."

"Your subject understands."

Yu Qian bowed and took his leave.

Watching Yu Qian's departing figure, Zhu Qiyu slowly sat back down in his chair.

He muttered to himself, "Li Shimin... Wei Zheng... I hope you are not another Wei Zheng, and I will not be another Li Shimin."

He remembered the historical record: After Wei Zheng died, Emperor Taizong suspected him of forming a faction and angrily toppled the stele inscribed by himself.

It wasn't until the campaign against Liaodong failed that he lamented, "If Wei Zheng were here, I wouldn't have had to go on this campaign."

In the end, suspicion is inevitable between rulers and their subjects.

However, at least for now, their goals are the same: to defeat Esen and protect the Ming Dynasty!

Zhu Qiyu's actions can be considered a calculated move.

Yu Qian, aren't you the one who values ​​your reputation the most?

Didn't you disdain associating with those parasites?

Aren't you loyal to the Ming Dynasty?

Let me tell you clearly, my goal is to rebuild the Ming Dynasty and create a golden age that rivals, or even surpasses, the Zhenguan era.