Emperor Ming: Your Majesty, you have caused me so much suffering.

The emotions still lingered in the palace, and the ministers were deeply moved.

Zhu Qiyu felt that the groundwork had been laid enough, and there were some things he should remind his ministers of; he was also a man of principle.

Zhu Qiyu had no interest in outwitting his ministers. They were all shrewd individuals who had fought their way out of millions of people. The most intelligent group in the Ming Dynasty was gathered in this hall. Just because he could win today did not mean he could win in the future.

He slowly straightened up, glanced at the assembled officials, and said, "Recently, I have been reading the Doctrine of the Mean and have come to a profound conclusion, which I have pondered day and night as the foundation for the stability of the dynasty and the nation: 'All things grow together without harming one another, and different paths can coexist without contradicting each other.' I wonder if any of you gentlemen could enlighten me on this?"

Upon hearing this, the ministers naturally understood its meaning, but they were more concerned with the deeper implications behind Zhu Qiyu's sudden remark.

Wang Zhi and Hu Ying, these clever people, instantly grasped the key point, acted carelessly, and were eventually reprimanded.

Chen Xun didn't care about anything else. Since his good student had asked a question, he naturally had to answer it. He simply replied concisely, "Your Majesty, this sentence can be explained by the four words 'harmony without uniformity'."

"Thank you, Mr. Chen, for clearing up my doubts," Zhu Qiyu glanced at Chen Xun, silently approving of Chen Xun's support, and continued, "Harmony in diversity allows each to appreciate its own beauty, and together we can create a beautiful world."

Upon hearing this, all the officials looked up instantly. Even Chen Xun, who had been smug just moments before, secretly marveled at how well he had explained it!

It's true that there are differences in student aptitude.

Zhu Qiyu disregarded the thoughts of his ministers and stated the most important purpose of the day.

"Gentlemen, the Imperial Ancestral Instructions of the Ming Dynasty state: 'Our dynasty has abolished the position of Chancellor and established the Five Offices, the Six Ministries, the Censorate, the Office of Transmission, the Court of Judicial Review, and other government offices to manage the affairs of the empire. They are mutually supportive and do not dare to suppress each other. All matters are under the overall control of the court, which is why things are stable.'"

"All things in heaven and earth, including plants, trees, birds, beasts, mountains, rivers, clouds, and rain, each have their own nature and their own principles. They can coexist in the universe without harming each other, which is why heaven and earth are constantly regenerating. The way of governing the world is the same. The way of civil officials is to uphold the rule of the court, establish laws and regulations, manage finances and ensure the well-being of the people, and investigate evildoers, thus upholding the rules of the state. The way of military generals is to wear armor and defend the borders, train troops to defend against enemies, fight bloody battles to defeat the enemy, and protect the four directions, thus safeguarding the peace of the country."

"The civil and military paths are not inherently conflicting or opposing. If they complement each other, national revival can be expected; if they contend with each other, the nation's affairs will be depleted internally."

Zhu Qiyu had to admit that the book "Huangming Zuxun" left by Zhu Yuanzhang was still useful. Although it caused him some trouble in terms of legal system, it was very helpful in other aspects. He was well-versed in "Huangming Zuxun" and would definitely be able to talk about it.

As for whether the ministers listen or not, he is certain that he is in the right.

Just like now, Zhu Yuanzhang emphasized early on that all departments should perform their duties and not usurp power from each other. The civil and military affairs should be in a state of balance, otherwise the court would be unstable.

Upon hearing this, how could the officials not understand the meaning behind Zhu Qiyu's words?

The new ruler saw through the thoughts of his ministers from the very beginning.

He immediately pleaded guilty, saying, "We are guilty!"

"What crime have they committed?" Zhu Qiyu paused and said, "My point is simply that we should take this as a warning. Now that the country is in peril, it is only natural for people to be suspicious of each other occasionally, and we should not be too harsh on them."

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Zhu Qiyu pressed further, "Gentlemen, in your opinion, what is the most crucial issue in the current political situation?"

Zhu Qiyu wanted his ministers to make a promise. Wang Zhi and the others exchanged glances and gestured to each other, reaching an agreement.

Wang Zhi, speaking only on behalf of the officials, hurriedly replied, "Stability is crucial; the court must remain stable!"

"Mr. Wang's words are spot on; the political situation needs to be stabilized at the moment." Zhu Qiyu, having heard what he wanted, hurriedly stepped forward and helped Wang Zhi to sit down.

Wang Zhi's speech indicated that, at least for a period of time, the ministers would calm down and unite against external threats.

"Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish. The court is most susceptible to turmoil, and the affairs of the state are most vulnerable to disturbance. A century-old foundation cannot be built in a single day; a single day of chaos can shake the very foundation. The country is now facing a great calamity. The Oirat Mongols are eyeing the northern border, and the people on all sides are unsettled. Everywhere we look, there is a situation that needs to be reorganized. At this time, the most precious thing is the stability of the court, and the most important thing to safeguard is the unity of the ruler and his ministers."

Zhu Qiyu's subtext was quite clear: the immediate priority was to defeat the Oirat Mongols, not to take advantage of their vulnerability to seize power.

"Your Majesty, we obey!" the officials replied in unison.

As the officials left the Wenhua Hall, Zhu Qiyu felt a light sweat break out on his back. Reflecting on his performance just now, he believed there shouldn't be any major problems. At least until the Oirat Mongols marched south, the court officials would put aside their other thoughts.

However, Zhu Qiyu was not so naive as to think that his heartfelt gesture would put his ministers at ease. In terms of power, imperial power and the power of officials are almost mutually exclusive. The pie is only so big; if some people take more, others will naturally take less. This is a fundamental issue that cannot be reversed by human effort.

Seeing the officials file out, Xing'an hurriedly rushed into the Wenhua Hall. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Zhu Qiyu was safe and sound. He then stepped forward and stood aside without saying much.

After a short while, Zhu Qiyu came to his senses and looked at Xing'an, saying, "The matter of monitoring the court officials must not be neglected. Any abnormalities must be reported immediately."

"This servant obeys the decree!"

Wang Zhi and the others lagged behind, taking the opportunity to ask Yu Qian, "Tingyi, what are your thoughts on the list of border guards?"

Yu Qian frankly replied, "I have no other concerns. I simply do not want the border to surrender without a fight. Even if we cannot defeat the Oirats, we can at least hold them off and cause Esen to suffer heavy losses. I hope that the Oirats will arrive in the capital as a weary army, not a force at the height of its power."

Wang Zhi and the others exchanged glances and accepted Yu Qian's explanation. After all, killing the retired emperor was such a treasonous act, contrary to the duties of a subject. If they made any mistake, they would be condemned by everyone.

"As for the matter of military power, let nature take its course. Do what is possible, and abandon it if it is not. This may be the last time I and you all serve a sovereign. I am sincerely convinced by Your Majesty's actions today. Perhaps, as Your Majesty said, it will truly bring a prosperous era back to the people."

Hu Ying nodded upon hearing this, while the others seemed thoughtful and did not immediately agree.

The current emperor is a wise ruler, but the successor may not be. Only by eradicating the problems in the system can the officials be truly at ease. However, the current political situation cannot afford to be chaotic any further.

For Wang Zhi and Hu Ying, they are now in their seventies, with Hu Ying being even older at seventy-five. In the past, at this age, they would have already retired from officialdom, and even if they persisted, they probably wouldn't have many more years.

Zhu Qiyu is still so young. It is likely that the two of them will die before Zhu Qiyu reaches middle age. Their competitive spirit will be much less intense. They should be thinking about living out their remaining years in peace and retiring with honor. Some things need to be left to the next generation.

Seeing that the others had not been completely persuaded, Wang Zhi could only add: "What Your Majesty says is very true. At present, the court needs stability, and everything should be done to repel the Oirat. I don't care what you think, but before you act, you must inform us. Actions like Chen Yi's must never be repeated."

"We shall do as the Grand Chancellor says!"