Ming Dynasty: I am truly not the Emperor of Longevity

It's not to say that the two cabinet ministers didn't have disagreements on previous matters.

Instead, the two had already discussed and resolved the issue privately before the vote was even drafted.

But this time is different; clearly, neither of the two Grand Secretaries wants to back down!

It seems there are still considerable differences of opinion regarding the successor to the Governor-General of Xuanfu, Datong, and Shanxi!

In fact, Lu Chen felt that both Mao Bowen and Liu Tianhe were qualified to take the position.

He had just returned to the capital after quelling a rebellion in a vassal state and enjoyed great prestige.

The other one has a resume of having served as the governor of the three border regions, as well as experience in fighting against Ji Nang many times.

If the two Grand Secretaries were truly acting out of public interest, why couldn't they have resolved the issue internally first, instead of refusing to yield to each other and bringing it to their own attention?

Ha ha.

Lu Chen chuckled softly.

There are only two possibilities: one is to avoid suspicion, since it concerns the appointment of a regional governor who commands hundreds of thousands of troops.

This was a sensitive period, marked by the assassination of the emperor by his concubines and palace maids, the emperor's serious injury and coma, and the fact that the regent prince himself had also been assassinated and injured.

If the cabinet is also very unified in its opinions on important military and national affairs, the emperor might become suspicious of them after he wakes up.

In the other case, what the two Grand Secretaries really wanted to fight for was their own interests.

The Governor-General of Xuanda and Shanxi was originally a very important regional official, with a status equivalent to the Minister of the Six Ministries. The Governor-General would also usually hold the title of Minister of War.

This time, he will also serve as the commander-in-chief to quell the Maitreya sect rebellion.

During interrogation of the prisoners, Liu Nie, the governor of Shanxi, learned that Zhang Yin had used two other names.

During the Hongzhi reign, he used the name Li Fuda and followed Wang Liang, the leader of the Maitreya sect at the time, in a rebellion.

By the time the Maitreya sect rebelled during the Zhengde reign, the man had changed his name to Li Wu and become its leader.

After his defeat, he escaped again, changed his name to Zhang Yin, and became the commander of the Taiyuan Left Guard.

This man served three emperors and rebelled three times. Except for the one during the Hongzhi reign, he was the leader of the bandits in the other two. He can definitely be considered the number one rebel of the Jiajing reign!

Moreover, this Maitreya sect rebellion was different from the past. More than 5,000 banner soldiers of the Taiyuan Left Guard were all sect bandits, and there were several thousand more well-trained and well-equipped young and strong sect bandits on Heimu Cliff in Pingding Prefecture.

With nearly 10,000 regular soldiers as the backbone, the fighting power of the cult bandits was incomparable to that of the previous two times.

This point has already been recognized by the Ministry of War and the Cabinet.

This means that the credit for quelling this rebellion will be enormous!

It can even be compared to Wang Shouren's suppression of the Prince of Ning's rebellion during the Zhengde era!

However, given the strength of the Ming Dynasty, it is certain that it will be able to quell this rebellion.

It's simply a matter of how long it takes, how many troops are mobilized, and how much military spending is involved.

Obtaining the position of commander-in-chief in suppressing the rebellion is equivalent to obtaining the key to becoming a hereditary noble!

In the Ming Dynasty, nobility was divided into two categories: hereditary nobility and official nobility.

Although many of the maternal relatives of emperors throughout history were granted the titles of earl or marquis, these were all temporary titles, granted only to the individual and not hereditary.

The truly valuable one is Spyker.

The hereditary titles and honors that were passed down through generations and were meant to benefit the nation were mostly those who were founding heroes or meritorious officials during the reigns of Hongwu and Yongle.

After that, very few new titles were conferred, and almost all of them were military generals who had made great contributions.

After the Yongle reign, no civil official was granted the title of Duke or Marquis, and only three people were granted the title of Earl.

Wang Ji during the Zhengtong era, Wang Yue during the Chenghua era, and Wang Shouren during the Zhengde era.

The three of them were the envy of all civil officials in the land.

The position of the newly appointed Governor-General of Xuanfu, Datong and Shanxi is probably already a coveted prize in the eyes of various powerful figures.

Whoever is recommended, there's likely an underlying exchange of interests.

For me, this is also a good opportunity.

Appointing the commander-in-chief to quell the rebellion is a matter of great military and national importance, and should have been decided by the emperor alone. Now that the emperor is unconscious and the crown prince is only a seven-year-old child, it is only natural that the younger brother should take over the task.

The farce of Emperor Jiajing neglecting state affairs and engaging in seclusion for cultivation over the past two years has come to an end with the palace coup and the deaths of Duan Chaoyong and his apprentice.

According to the imperial edict issued two years ago, the emperor would resume his rule after leaving the capital.

As a prince regent, I should return to my vassal state.

Having finally reached this point, are you really going to go back to Chengtian Prefecture or Yunyang Prefecture to become a vassal king?

Since that's the case, I should take advantage of the emperor's coma and take a step forward!

In times of emergency, one must act expediently!

Lu Chen picked up the vermilion pen and wrote the same words on both drafts.

This time, it wasn't a matter of "yes" or "no," but rather "a court meeting tomorrow!"

Let's break this rule starting today!

. . .

In the afternoon, at the Marquis of Wuding's residence.

"Father, you wanted to see me."

Guo Shoulu hurriedly entered the study and came to Guo Xun.

"Shoulu, Lu Bing came to see me just now."

Guo Xun gestured for his son to sit down.

"Lu Bing?"

Guo Shoulu was somewhat puzzled.

"His Highness Prince Ying personally promised to ensure the safety of my Guo family."

His Majesty remains unconscious. The Lu family has deep ties with His Highness, and Lu Bing would not disobey His Highness's wishes to cause trouble for my father.

"As long as your father sits here properly, it's naturally not a disaster."

Guo Xun laughed.

"Today, regarding the selection of the new Governor-General of Xuanfu, Datong and Shanxi, the Grand Secretary Xia Yan and the Second Grand Secretary Zhai Luan disagreed. His Highness, unusually, did not give a direct approval, but instead ordered 'Tomorrow's court meeting to discuss it.'"

Lu Bing asked his father to do something at tomorrow's court assembly, and his father agreed.

Since the court is to discuss the selection of the Governor-General of Shanxi, all officials participating in the court assembly may offer their suggestions.

At that time, Lu Bing would secretly instruct several minor officials to propose that his father go to Shuozhou to take over the post.

"It's one thing for Father to be appointed Duke and Commander-in-Chief of the Capital Garrison, but he's one of the three great border commanders. How could the civil officials possibly agree to that?"

Guo Shoulu quickly objected,

"Moreover, my father committed the crime of deceiving the emperor by recommending Duan Chaoyong to His Majesty, and was originally a person awaiting punishment."

Although we cooperated with His Highness to set a trap at the Marquis's residence to capture the assassin, we have already made amends for our mistakes.

But before His Majesty awakens and handles this matter personally, Father, it would be best to keep a low profile. How could you possibly vie for the position of Governor-General?

"As your father, I am certainly not fit to be the Governor-General of Xuanfu, Datong, and Shanxi."

Guo Xun shook his head.

"That's just an excuse."

It is an ancestral system that meritorious officials, when appointed to office, shall be given the seal of a general and serve as the commander-in-chief.

No matter what, my father is a Duke, and in terms of seniority and prestige, he is certainly qualified to be the governor.

What I really need to do is to use my advanced age, poor health, and inability to serve as governor as an excuse.

During the court assembly, I requested Your Highness to resign from the title of Duke of Yi, and instead pass on the title of Marquis of Wuding to you, so that I may peacefully enjoy my remaining years.

"Didn't Father say that we should resign in person after His Majesty wakes up?"

Guo Shoulu was somewhat surprised.

"Surely Your Highness doesn't have the authority to make such a decision directly in court?"

"According to His Majesty's decree from two years ago, that is naturally not possible."

Guo Xun stood up.

"But things are different now. No one can be sure when His Majesty will wake up or what his condition will be after he wakes up!"

On the grounds that a country cannot be without a ruler for even a day, I, as your father, request Your Highness Prince Ying to formally assume the role of regent in place of my elder brother!

Lu Bing dared not say these words in person because he wanted to avoid suspicion and was worried that His Majesty would blame him after he woke up.

But I'm different. I'm going to beg for my life anyway, so what's there to be afraid of?

It's most appropriate for me to bring this up!