Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

After waiting for a while outside Renshou Palace, the eunuch Li Yongchang came out to announce: "Your Highness, the Empress Dowager requests your presence."

After entering the palace, Zhu Qiyu reported to Empress Dowager Sun the results of the meeting that day, as well as the appointments of relevant personnel.

Empress Dowager Sun didn't care much about any of this, and simply nodded and said "okay".

It wasn't until Zhu Qiyu mentioned Yu Qian's advice not to send too much wealth that Empress Dowager Sun asked seriously, "Did you send people to retrieve the treasures?"

Zhu Qiyu quickly replied, "I did not send anyone. These are all items Your Majesty requested; how can I refuse them?"

Empress Dowager Sun finally breathed a sigh of relief: "Yes, you may continue."

Zhu Qiyu then said that he had ordered the execution of Wang Zhen's entire clan and that the eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs needed to be reappointed.

Empress Dowager Sun gritted her teeth and said, "Fine! If it weren't for him, how could the Emperor have ended up wandering outside?"

"By the way, since the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs is short-staffed, let's transfer Li Yongchang there. He has served me for many years and is capable of handling the job."

Zhu Qiyu immediately bowed and said, "Your subject obeys the decree."

He understood that Empress Dowager Sun wanted to plant a spy in the outer court, after all, their previous spy, Jin Ying, had already been killed in a flurry of punches at Zuoshun Gate.

Empress Dowager Sun then inquired in detail about the mission, and Zhu Qiyu answered all her questions without reservation.

On the other hand, Yu Qian began arranging work after Zhu Qiyu left.

First, he ordered the reserve troops and anti-Japanese forces in Shandong, Henan, and Hebei to come to Beijing immediately.

However, Yu Qian added a request: that they not go directly to the capital.

Instead, they went to Tongzhou first to collect their individual rations before heading to the capital.

Subsequently, Yu Qian ordered the Ministry of Revenue to organize all the large carts in the city to transport grain to Tongzhou.

In addition, an announcement was issued summoning all the people and idle officials in the capital to Tongzhou to transport grain.

In addition to the normal transportation fee, those who transported grain back received an extra tael of silver for every twenty shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain they brought back.

At the same time, all officials and garrison troops in the capital can receive an advance of half a year's salary, but they must go to Tongzhou to collect it.

Yu Qian then instructed Wang Hong, a supervising secretary in the Ministry of Revenue, to organize the people in the suburbs to speed up the autumn harvest, recruit militia, and implement a scorched-earth policy.

After arranging the deployment of troops and the transport of grain, Yu Qian then went to the Ministry of Works.

The Ministry of Works was instructed to organize personnel to repair the city walls and to do its utmost to manufacture military supplies and equipment.

Afterwards, Yu Qian instructed the Hanlin Academy to issue an imperial edict to the commanders of Datong and Xuanfu.

They were instructed to carefully leave the city and collect weapons left behind by the Ming army while Esen's main force was away.

They couldn't possibly use all the equipment of the 200,000-strong army; a large portion of it must have been scattered around the scene.

The series of orders left the other ministers and censors present stunned.

It seems that Yu Qian had already planned what to do, rather than making the decision on a whim when Xu Cheng proposed moving south today.

After doing all this, Yu Qian went to the Five Military Commands' Office.

The current Five Military Commissions are truly... well, let's just say they're not a good place.

All the governors died gloriously outside Tumu Fortress.

It's a pity about the military generals and ministers like Duke Zhang Fu of England.

The remaining highest-ranking officials were only Vice Commander-in-Chief, and there wasn't even a Deputy Commander-in-Chief.

Yu Qian ordered Sun Tang, Wei Ying, Zhang Yi, Zhang Yi, and Lei Tong to each lead two thousand men to guard the nine gates.

Yu Qian then ordered someone to summon Shi Heng.

At this time, Shi Heng was imprisoned in the Imperial Prison after escaping from the front lines following a defeat.

Yu Qian thought about it for a long time, and now he is the only one who can take on this important task.

When Shi Heng arrived at the Five Military Governor's Office and saw Yu Qian, he was stunned.

It was highly unusual for a civil official to be seen in a military officer's office.

Even if a transfer order were to be issued, the Left Vice Minister of War would not need to personally intervene.

He was unaware of what had happened in the court that day, nor did he know that Yu Qian was now in charge of the defense of the capital.

After being explained by others, Shi Heng finally understood the current situation.

Shi Heng bowed to Yu Qian with an uneasy expression, wondering why Yu Qian wanted to see him, a disgraced official.

Yu Qian didn't mince words: "General Shi, the capital is counting on you."

Shi Heng said in a panic, "This... I am a defeated general..."

Yu Qian interrupted Shi Heng: "Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war. How can a hero be determined by a single victory or defeat? Tomorrow I will submit a memorial to the Prince of Cheng, requesting that you take command of all the troops in the capital."

Shi Heng bowed deeply in gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Minister Yu. I will certainly live up to your expectations."

After leaving Empress Dowager Sun's place, Zhu Qiyu made a round of visits to the Six Ministries, the Five Offices, and the Grand Secretariat.

This was his first time setting foot in these Ming Dynasty power institutions.

Zhu Qiyu did not return to the Prince of Cheng's residence until evening.

As soon as he entered the mansion, Cheng Jing greeted him: "Your Highness, the banquet has been prepared. The Princess Consort and Consort Hang are waiting for Your Highness with the Princess and the princes."

Zhu Qiyu nodded: "Let's go. By the way, Cheng Jing, you should prepare to report to the palace tomorrow."

Cheng Jing immediately knelt down, terrified, and said, "Your Highness, please forgive me, my family... my family..."

Zhu Qiyu laughed heartily: "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, it's not about laying you off. The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs in the palace is currently short-staffed, so I'm transferring you to assist me in handling affairs."

Cheng Jing was relieved and bowed excitedly, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness. I... obey your decree."

From a eunuch dispatched by the Tenth Prince's Mansion, he quickly became the managing eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs in the palace.

Happiness came so suddenly that Cheng Jing was a little at a loss for what to do.

Zhu Qiyu looked at Cheng Jing with satisfaction.

Cheng Jing watched him grow up, and he knew Cheng Jing quite well.

At first, Cheng Jing was indeed ordered to keep watch, but as time went by, he completely regarded himself as Zhu Qiyu's retainer.

Now that Zhu Qiyu is about to take control of the palace, he needs to place more of his own people in positions of power.

Otherwise, one day while you're sleeping, someone else might be sitting in the Fengtian Hall.

Soon the two arrived at the dining hall, where two young and beautiful women were waiting at the door, each leading two men and two women.

Two women, accompanied by a child, bowed and said, "Your Highness (Father) is well."

Zhu Qiyu quickly stepped forward and helped the two up: "Oh dear, didn't I tell you not to have so many rules in the manor?"

Leading the two daughters was Zhu Qiyu's principal wife, Princess Wang Wanyi of Cheng, whose father was the Left Commander of the Jinwu Guard.

Her marriage to Zhu Qiyu was arranged by Empress Dowager Sun.

The other woman leading two boys was Zhu Qiyu's concubine, Hang Yunxian, whose father was just an ordinary commander.

However, Zhu Qiyu and she were in a free-choice relationship.

As it turns out, Zhu Qiyu's fertility was perfectly fine.

However, whether it's a coincidence or not, Wang Wanyi gave birth to two daughters, while Hang Yunxian gave birth to two sons.

Zhu Qiyu gestured for everyone to sit down: "Come, come, let's eat. I'm starving after a long day."

She had only been eating for a short while when Wang Wanyi spoke up, "Your Highness, my sister-in-law summoned me to the palace today..."

Zhu Qiyu interrupted her: "In the future, if anyone in the palace comes to see you, just say that you are unwell and unable to enter the palace. The current situation is rather special, so don't get involved."

Wang Wanyi hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Your Majesty, I understand."

Zhu Qiyu knew that Wang Wanyi was close to the current Empress Dowager and Empress, and would often come to the palace to chat.

Zhu Qiyu could ignore it before, but not now; he doesn't want to let too much gossip go by.

After the banquet, Zhu Qiyu began telling his son and daughter bedtime stories.

Transforming a dynasty is never something that can be accomplished by one person or one generation; it requires a successor.

An hour later, Zhu Qiyu instructed Cheng Jing to take the children away to rest.

He then said to Wang Wanyi and Hang Yunxian, "Go wash up, and come to my room tonight."