Ming Dynasty: I am truly not the Emperor of Longevity

"Appointing a high-ranking official at the governor-general level involves numerous vested interests; wouldn't the high-ranking officials in the court all recommend their own people?"

Li Dali thought for a moment.

"Only the emperor can make a quick decision on the selection of such a person."

Otherwise, the various factions in the court would definitely have a lot of wrangling over the selection of candidates.

When we left Blackwood Cliff, my father also felt that the new governor's appointment would be delayed for some time, and that I would be able to collect more grain and supplies from several counties around Pingding Prefecture.

This speed is indeed much faster than we expected.

With the emperor in a coma, Zhu Houyu had no right to directly appoint a governor-general, right?

Could it be that the emperor has already woken up?

"I have heard about how Zhai Peng became the governor."

Luo Ting chuckled softly.

"The Yingzhou branch under my command has also infiltrated the Daifan of Datong. Several members of the Daifan clan consider my subordinates as friends."

Upon learning that the new Governor-General of Xuanda and Shanxi was about to take office, his subordinates inquired about the matter with Zhu Chongzhuo, the General of Hechuan Fengguo.

This man was a cousin of Zhu Chongyao, the Prince of Dai, and their great-grandfather was Zhu Shiyuan, the Prince of Dai Yin.

Because the stipend for grain had been in arrears for many years, Zhu Chongzhuo was quite dissatisfied with the court. He secretly formed a private party with several members of the imperial family of the Dai princes and secretly developed underground forces in the Datong area.

His subordinates therefore deliberately sought to befriend him.

Zhu Chongzhuo harbored ulterior motives and naturally paid close attention to the court's movements; he likely had informants in the capital as well.

Although he didn't know my true identity, he knew that I had some underground influence in the Yingzhou area and was willing to win me over.

When I asked, Zhu Chongzhuo spoke disdainfully about the emperor's younger brother, Prince Ying, Zhu Houyu.

It is said that Zhu Houyu, taking advantage of the emperor's unconscious state after the assassination attempt, openly disregarded the imperial edict given to him by the emperor two years prior and directly appointed the new governor-general of Xuanda and Shanxi at the court meeting.

It is said that Zhu Houyu's initial choice was not Zhai Peng, but Duke Guo Xun of Yi!

"Guo Xun?!"

Li Dali's expression changed.

"Duan Chaoyong was recommended to the emperor by Guo Xun. Even though he later betrayed the emperor and sided with Zhu Houyu in an attempt to make amends, he still committed the crime of deceiving the emperor."

Once the emperor wakes up and learns the truth, he will surely punish Guo Xun severely.

Even if Zhu Houyu pleaded for Guo Xun, he could at most save his life, but his title and official position would certainly be revoked.

If he were to come to Shuozhou to replace Fan Jizu as the Governor-General of Xuanda and Shanxi, no court official would dare to agree.

Even Guo Xun himself probably wouldn't dare to take on this hot potato.

Has Zhu Houyu gone mad?

Or is it that this demon is finally about to wreak havoc on the court?

"demon?"

Luo Ting looked puzzled.

"This subordinate does not understand the Left Protector's meaning."

"You don't need to know the specifics."

Li Dali waved his hand.

"Tell me first, why did the position of governor-general fall to Zhai Peng again?"

According to Zhu Chongzhuo, Guo Xun resigned on the spot, citing old age and illness, and gave up all his titles and official positions, claiming that he wanted to live in seclusion to recuperate.

Even the hereditary title of Marquis of Wuding was to be passed down to his son, Guo Shoulu.

Luo Ting's pupils contracted slightly, and he continued,

Then, Guo Xun recommended Zhai Peng, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, to succeed Fan Jizu as the Governor-General of Xuanda and Shanxi.

Zhu Houyu immediately agreed and ordered Xia Yan and Zhai Luan to draft a proposal.

"How could Xia Yan and Zhai Luan possibly agree?"

Li Dali looked incredulous.

"Such behavior has completely exceeded the authority of assisting the Crown Prince in overseeing the country. As Grand Secretaries, they are fully entitled to refuse to submit a draft proposal."

Zhu Houyu wasn't the emperor, so he couldn't do anything to them.

"What the Left Protector says is absolutely right."

Luo Ting nodded repeatedly.

"Whether it was Guo Xun resigning to retire or Zhai Peng being appointed as the Governor-General of Xuanda in Shanxi, Xia Yan and Zhai Luan both refused to submit their proposals."

However, Zhu Houyu used a method to bypass them directly.

In front of the court officials, he directly bestowed upon Yan Song, the Minister of Rites, the title of Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall, and ordered him to immediately enter the cabinet to fill the long-vacant position of the Three Ministers.

According to Zhu Chongzhuo, Zhu Houyu's order in court was actually a chaotic one, and Yan Song could have ignored it.

However, Yan Song actually kowtowed to Zhu Houyu on the spot to express his gratitude and accepted the appointment.

If you don't accept this chaotic fate, no one will do anything to you!

But if you're willing to admit it, then no one can do anything to you!

After the court assembly, Yan Song, in his capacity as one of the three Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet, went to the Cabinet office.

The first thing he did was to draft two memorials: one requesting Guo Xun to resign and retire, and the other requesting that Guo Xun's title of Marquis of Wuding be passed on to Guo Shoulu. The other request was to appoint Zhai Peng as the new Governor-General of Xuanfu, Datong and Shanxi, with the additional title of Minister of War, and to have him immediately go to Shuozhou to take up his post.

Zhu Chongzhuo also said that, according to convention, the opinions of the cabinet should be summarized and submitted to the Grand Secretary, who would then draft a proposal.

However, the imperial court never made any explicit provisions on this matter. In theory, every cabinet minister actually had the right to draft proposals, it just depended on whether the emperor approved them or not.

Zhu Houyu approved Yan Song's draft proposal in vermilion ink, which was the final resolution with all the necessary procedures completed.

The two imperial edicts were officially issued early the next morning.

"Isn't this... collusion?"

Wu Nian was stunned.

"Is this Minister of Rites surnamed Yan the white-faced villain from the opera stage?"

"I've also heard my father mention Yan Song before."

Li Dali thought for a moment.

"This person has a good reputation in Shilin."

During the Zhengde era, Liu Jin caused chaos in the government, and Yan Song resigned due to illness. He spent ten years studying at Qianshan in Fenyi, Jiangxi, where he wrote "Qianshantang Collection" and associated with and exchanged poems with Li Mengyang, He Jingming, Yang Shen and others.

Later, he served as the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, and scholars praised him as "a model teacher with strict discipline, upright character, and impartiality."

After he was appointed Minister of Rites in the fifteenth year of the Jiajing reign, some people commented that he devoted himself to studying prayers and trying to guess the emperor's intentions in order to flatter him, but that was all.

I haven't heard of any publicly acknowledged bad deeds.

Public opinion is truly unreliable; who would have thought this person would lack even the integrity of a civil official?

"I'm afraid Yan Song doesn't realize that the person he's shamelessly currying favor with is actually a demon!"

Wu Nian shook her head.

"The demons and treacherous officials are colluding and causing chaos in the capital and the court. This may not be a bad thing for our religion."

"Master Luo, didn't you just want to ask what the demons we were talking about were all about?"

Li Dali pondered for a moment, then turned to look at Luo Ting.

"I'll tell you now that Zhu Houyu, the Prince of Ying who currently controls the government in the capital, is actually already dead."

Now, it is nothing more than a walking corpse whose body has been taken over by demons and evil spirits!

Not long ago, while the leader was chanting scriptures, he heard that Maitreya Buddha had issued a decree, ordering our sect to eradicate demons and restore a bright and clear world.

The cult leader immediately ordered me and six elders to go to the capital to eliminate the demons and protect the righteous path!

After we arrived in the capital, we devised a plan to lure the demon to the Marquis of Wuding's residence, where the six elders joined forces to slay the demon!

Unfortunately, the devil is always one step ahead of the saint!

This demon's cultivation was truly too high. Even after Elder Pang pierced its abdomen and liver with a single sword strike, it still moved freely without even bleeding.

Even with the six elders working together, they were no match for this demon.

After a great battle between good and evil, only two elders escaped with their lives, and Elder Wu, who is standing in front of you, is one of them.

In this battle, four elders of my sect were martyred, all dying at the hands of this demon!