Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

Zhu Qiyu was about to speak when Prince Zheng suddenly stood up.

He bowed deeply and said, "Your Majesty, I have a few words to say, but I don't know if I should."

Zhu Qiyu looked at him, his gaze slightly narrowed: "Please speak, Imperial Uncle."

King Xiang slowly said, "I believe that Your Majesty should persuade people with reason and emotion when it comes to reforming the imperial clan, and should not simply force them."

The Prince of Zheng, the Prince of Liao, and the Prince of Shen are not entering the capital today solely for personal gain.

Their fiefdom was located thousands of miles away.

"Has His Majesty ever personally witnessed the lives of those princes, generals, and lieutenants below?"

"What does the Imperial Uncle want to say?"

King Xiang said, "Your Majesty, I dare to ask that you show some consideration."

After the reduction of stipends for members of the imperial clan in border and distant vassal states, they were able to receive actual stipends.

Those lieutenants who were stripped of their titles and reduced to commoners were granted a three-year grace period and a five-year tax exemption.

Then the hearts of the imperial princes can be at ease, and the reform can be carried out.

Next, King Zheng began to recount the plight of the Huaiqing royal family.

The King of Liao then went on to describe how the members of the royal family in Jingzhou were struggling to make ends meet.

Prince Shen then detailed the plight of the imperial clan in Luzhou.

After the three finished speaking, Zhu Qiyu nodded: "I heard everything you said."

Life was indeed difficult for those on the frontier and in distant territories.

The Prince of Dai submitted a memorial a few days ago, and he was talking about these same things.

I have already approved it: those below the rank of Zhenguo Zhongwei shall receive their stipends in rice and shall not be able to offset them with paper money.

As for the grace period and tax exemption you mentioned, I can think about it some more.

However, the reduction of salaries by 30% will not be changed.

The rank of Lieutenant-General or below in Fengguo will not be changed after the removal of their titles.

The system of imperial clansmen taking the imperial examinations to enter officialdom will not change.

If you cause any more trouble, don't blame me for not showing any kinship!

King Zheng, King Liao, and King Shen exchanged a glance, and finally knelt on the ground: "Your subjects obey the decree."

Zhu Qiyu waved his hand: "You may all leave. I will send someone to escort you out of the city first thing tomorrow morning. This is a one-time exception!"

Stepping out of the palace gates, the King of Liao spat angrily, "Is that all?"

King Zheng smiled bitterly: "What else can we do but forget about it?"

I now understand that His Majesty has made a drastic decision.

If this continues, we might all have to have our titles stripped.

Oh, I really shouldn't have come here.

As he spoke, King Zheng glanced at King Liao. If it weren't for King Liao's instigation, he wouldn't have come to Beijing with him.

Prince Shen asked in a low voice, "So, are we really going back tomorrow?"

King Zheng nodded: "Go back, go back."

The next day, the Prince of Zheng, the Prince of Liao, and the Prince of Shen entered the palace to pay their respects to Empress Dowager Sun.

Empress Dowager Sun declined to meet with them, citing poor health.

However, Empress Dowager Sun also sent a message to them: she supports the reform.

The following day, five red-wheeled carriages with ornate canopies slowly drove out of Yongding Gate under the "escort" of the Imperial Guards.

Zhu Qiyu also sent the Prince of Dai and the Prince of Xiang back together.

Subsequently, Zhu Qiyu received more than ten more memorials from princes in various regions.

He kept them all hidden.

After seeing off the princes, Zhu Qiyu summoned Jin Lian: "Minister Jin, how is the matter of providing stipends and grain to the border regions progressing?"

Jin Lian cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue has already drafted the regulations."

Starting from the first day of the first month of the first year of the Jingtai reign, all members of the imperial clan below the rank of Zhenguo Zhongwei were included.

Annual stipends must be paid in full in the form of grain, rice, cloth, and silk; they cannot be offset by paper money.

The required grain was allocated from the tax grain of the prefecture and county where it was located.

If the shortfall is insufficient, neighboring prefectures and counties will provide assistance.

Zhu Qiyu nodded: "Alright, have the cabinet draft it as soon as possible."

Jin Lian accepted the order and withdrew.

The court assembly was held at the Tianhua Hall across the hall.

As soon as Zhu Qiyu sat down on the throne, a person stepped forward and knelt down.

"Your subject, Yang Shan, Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, has a memorial to the throne!"

Zhu Qiyu looked at him: "What is it, Minister Yang?"

Yang Shan kowtowed and said, "Your subject, at the risk of death, hereby submits this memorial:

The Emperor Emeritus has been on a northern expedition for more than three months.

As the emperor, to be trapped in the enemy's court is a disgrace to our great Ming Dynasty!

Now that the Oirat have retreated, Esen has repeatedly sent envoys to say that the Emperor can be returned.

Your Majesty, I implore you to swiftly dispatch envoys to welcome the Emperor Emeritus back to court, to uphold the brotherly bond and to comfort the hearts of all subjects!

These words caused an uproar in the hall.

Many ministers looked at each other, unsure how to react.

Zhu Qiyu looked at Yang Shan calmly.

Yang Shan continued, "Your Majesty, the Tumu Crisis was not the fault of the late Emperor."

Wang Zhen abused his power, misled the country and the emperor, and has been executed.

The current emperor is trapped in the enemy's court and longs for his return day and night.

If Your Majesty ignores this, what will the people of the world say of Your Majesty?

What will future historians say about Your Majesty?

After saying this, he kowtowed again, making a thud.

Zhu Qiyu slowly spoke: "Has Minister Yang finished speaking?"

Yang Shan prostrated himself and said, "I hope Your Majesty will reconsider."

Zhu Qiyu's gaze swept over the assembled officials: "Is there anyone else who wants to speak?"

After a brief silence, another person stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I, Wang Xuan, a Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Rites, second the motion of Governor Yang! We request Your Majesty to welcome the Retired Emperor back to court!"

Then came the third person, the fourth person...

Within moments, more than a dozen people stepped forward and knelt, shouting in unison, "Your Majesty, please welcome the Emperor back to court!"

Zhu Qiyu looked at those people; some were from the Ministry of Rites, some from the Ministry of Personnel, some from the Six Ministries, and some from the Censorate.

Most of these people were those who gained power during the reign of Zhu Qizhen.

Zhu Qiyu waited until they finished shouting before slowly speaking: "Have you finished speaking? Then I'll say a few words."

You all say that the Tumu Crisis was not the fault of the former emperor.

I ask you, who issued the decree for the imperial expedition?

Who led the 500,000-strong army?

Did the Emperor Emeritus know that Wang Zhen was abusing his power?

And why didn't you stop it?

Yang Shan prostrated himself and said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor Emeritus is young and has been misled by treacherous people..."

Zhu Qiyu interrupted him: "Young?"

I am only twenty-two years old this year.

While I was defending the city walls of Beijing, the Emperor Emeritus was in the Oirat camp.

You say he's young, but I'm younger than him.

Yang Shan opened his mouth but couldn't say a word.

Zhu Qiyu continued, "Minister Yang said that the Emperor Emeritus is trapped in the enemy's court and longs for his return day and night."

How do you know he longs to return to court day and night?

Have you seen or read the letters that Esen sent?

Yang Shan hurriedly kowtowed, "Your subject has never seen him!"

I wouldn't dare admit that so easily.

After all, even the current emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Qiyu, had never received any letters from Esen.

Even if these ministers learned of Zhu Qizhen's whereabouts through certain channels, who would dare to admit it?

To admit it is to betray the enemy!

The war between the Ming Dynasty and the Oirat Mongols was not over yet.

We can't say that the Oirats can come and go as they please.

They left without paying the price.

Zhu Qiyu simply wanted to leave Esen hanging.

The longer it drags on, the more you'll get in the end.

Zhu Qiyu spoke again: "You haven't seen it, how do you know?"

You believed him when he said he could send them back?

Who was Esen?

He was the enemy who had just killed tens of thousands of Ming soldiers.

You believe what he says?

Yang Shan was speechless when asked the question.

Zhu Qiyu turned and walked back to the imperial steps, looking down at the crowd: "I can tell you clearly."

"I will definitely welcome the Emperor Emeritus back, but not now."

After speaking, Zhu Qiyu's gaze swept over the kneeling figures, and his voice became stern: "You were the ones who begged me to become the emperor."

Now that I have become the emperor...

Everything must be done according to my will!

Don't think I don't know what you're thinking.

Today, I will make things clear here and now.

If my decision harms the interests of the Ming Dynasty, you may advise me or even refute it.

But if it's just for your own little schemes...

Don't blame me for not showing any loyalty between ruler and subject!