Yongli Ming Dynasty

Chapter 21 Edict
Guangzhou government office. As soon as Chen Bangyan entered the lobby, two figures in the hall stood up to greet him.
The man on the top has a three-inch long beard, a bright red official uniform, and a Liang crown on his head. This man is Su Guansheng, the former Longwu University Scholar.
On the left below is also a man in a red official robe, with his hair and clothes neatly combed. This is Gu Yuanjing, the governor of Guangdong Province.

These two officials were high-ranking officials, so they didn't need to personally welcome Chen Bangyan, a small official from the Ministry of Revenue. However, when they saw Chen Bangyan walking into the hall, they all stood up, showing their impatience.
"Master Chen, you have worked hard all the way."

“Working for the country, why is it hard?”

Chen Bangyan glanced at the anxious expressions on the two people's faces, and his heart was moved, but his face remained calm and he said

After the two sides exchanged greetings, they sat down in the hall.
"Sir Chen, how is this trip going? What is the opinion of the Zhaoqing government?" Su Guansheng asked anxiously as he sat down.
Since the persecution of Emperor Longwu, he had retreated to Guangzhou for more than a month. Although he was still in control of the prosperous city of Guangzhou, he had a very hard time during this month. It was as if everyone had forgotten him.

Rumors were spreading everywhere in Guangdong Province. One day, the late emperor encountered the Qing army on the road and was stabbed dozens of times. He and the Empress Dowager died on the road. Another day, the late emperor was captured by the Qing army and taken to Fuzhou. Another day, the late emperor was not dead but had hidden his tracks and secretly fled to Guangdong Province.
All kinds of rumors were spreading. There was no order from the court and no news from Fujian Province. He felt like he was on an isolated island. Even he himself didn't know what to do now. He was really at a loss.
Even when he found out that the late emperor had been in trouble and that Ding Kuichu and others were going to support the King of Gui, he learned about it by accident. No one came to inform him.

After learning about this, he found someone to understand the situation of the King of Gui, and immediately sent Chen Bangyan to Zhaoqing to prepare to jointly support the King of Gui.

The King of Gui is the most legitimate. Among the existing kings of the Zhu family, no one can compare to the King of Gui. He is also the only remaining bloodline of the previous emperor in the Ming Dynasty.
Although the previous emperor was a bit too much, no one in the government or the public would raise any objection to supporting the King of Gui.
Chen Bangyan's face darkened slightly, he put down the teacup in his hand, and did not speak immediately. Seeing Chen Bangyan's reaction, Su Guansheng and the others also felt depressed.

"I received your order and traveled day and night. I arrived in Zhaoqing on September 27th. I found that Zhaoqing City was full of central government officials who had fled from Fujian Province. These officials all came from Fujian with Grand Secretary Lu Daqi. It is certain that the late emperor suffered."

"The late emperor"

When Su Guansheng heard this, even though he had been prepared, his heart still tightened, his eyes turned red, and he cried out in grief.

If he had not been trusted by the late emperor, how could he have become a university scholar?

On the day he received the imperial edict, he had already made up his mind to repay the emperor's kindness by dying.

He could still vividly remember the time when he met the late emperor in Zhejiang Province and went boating on the lake. The two of them discussed state affairs day and night. The passionate scene was still vivid in his mind. However, only a year later, the heroic emperor, to whom he was determined to serve until his death, had passed away.

"And what do the officials in the court say now?"

Seeing Chen Bangyan stopped talking, Gu Yuanjing couldn't help but urge him

He and Emperor Longwu had no intersection, so what happened to Emperor Longwu had nothing to do with him. What he wanted to know most now was how the emperor and his ministers in Zhaoqing arranged them. This was a matter of great importance to his future.
Su Guansheng heard this and stopped sighing in his heart. He looked closely at Chen Bangyan below.
"On the second day after I arrived in Zhao, I immediately wrote to the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, Ding Kuichu, but Ding avoided me and did not even let me in."

"Then I rushed to Lord Lu's house, and the people in the house said that Lord Lu was busy with official duties and had no time to meet me, so I was not allowed to enter the house either."

"I had no choice but to go and pay a visit to the Governor of Guangxi Province, Mr. Qu Shisi, and was finally summoned."

Su Guansheng and Gu Yuanjing's eyes lit up when they heard this. Chen Bangyan looked at their expressions, his eyes turned, and he continued to speak.

"But Lord Qu invited me into his mansion and only asked me about the recent situation in Guangzhou. He kept silent about my support for the establishment of the King of Gui. I only stayed in Qu's mansion for a cup of tea before being asked to leave."

When they heard Chen Bangyan say this, their faces changed completely and became gloomy in an instant.

"I have been in the city for several days, but I have been denied entry despite many requests for an audience. I have no choice but to write directly to the Governor's Mansion in the hope of a response from the court."

"But after submitting the letter, there is still no response from the Governor's Office. It is like a stone sinking into the sea. I have no choice but to go to the Governor's Office again to ask for a reply."

"But who would have thought that this time I didn't even get to see the governor's official. It was just an official from the governor's office who told me to ask Lord Su to guard Guangzhou and not to meddle in other people's business." Chen Bangyan looked humiliated.
"How dare you!" Su Guansheng slammed the table and stood up angrily, his face full of anger.

"What a great Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, what a great Cabinet Grand Secretary, what a great Governor of Guangxi Province"

Su Guansheng's face was filled with anger, and his voice was trembling. He was obviously extremely angry.
After all, Su Guansheng was a Dongge Grand Secretary who was officially appointed by Emperor Longwu. Not to mention Ding Kuichu and Qu Shisi, the two local governors, even Lu Daqi was just on an equal footing with him.
But now these people are beating him around like a clerk in the government office. How can he not be angry?

Su Guansheng had an angry look on his face, while Gu Yuanjing, who was standing beside him, had a pale expression on his face.
After listening to Chen Bangyan's words, he also found that it was obvious that the current Zhaoqing central government disliked Su Guansheng very much.

Although he had no contact with Su Guansheng before, he and Su Guansheng had been in the same boat since Su Guansheng entered Guangzhou City.
If Su Guansheng is not well received, then Gu Yuanjing's future in the new dynasty will be worrying. Not to mention further advancement, he may not even be able to keep his current position as the governor of Guangdong Province.

Gu Yuanjing's face turned even paler when he thought of this. He had worked hard for half his life and finally got promoted to the position of governor of this province. But before he could enjoy the position for two years, he was about to leave. Moreover, it was highly likely that he would never be able to be an official again in the future. He was even more heartbroken when he thought of this.
He was regretting it now, extremely regretting it. If he had not let Su Guansheng into the city that day, it would have been fine. As long as Su Guansheng did not enter the city, he would still be a clean governor. Whether it was Ding Kuichu or Lu Daqi, he would have a good future.

But thinking of the three thousand soldiers under Su Guansheng, he felt powerless again.

He didn't want to let Su Guansheng enter the city. Wouldn't it be good for him to be the local emperor in Guangzhou? But what could he do? The other person had a knife in his hand, so he had to obey even if he didn't want to.

When Gu Yuanjing thought of this, he recalled all the sorrows he had gone through, and for a moment he was stunned.
Gone, his official position was gone. When he thought of this, he felt as if a piece of his heart had been dug out.

The people in the field were silent, their faces were gloomy, and the atmosphere in the field was extremely dull for a while.
Su Guansheng's face was gloomy, and a nameless anger rose in his heart, but then he felt powerless.

Although Ding Kuichu and others treated him like an inferior official, he had no other options now.
He has soldiers under his command, but Ding Kuichu has more soldiers. He is a university scholar, but Zhaoqing has more university scholars now, and they even have the orthodox regent, the King of Gui.

He suddenly recalled the situation when he first became an official. Back then, he was a student of the Imperial Academy and was recommended to be the county magistrate. When facing the local evil gentry and local tyrants, he once made a bold statement: I don't want promotion, wealth, or life. What can you do to me?

In those days, he punished evil gentry and investigated corruption, and the people were all happy. However, he was eventually driven out of the pastoral area by the local gentry and the forces in the court.

"After decades of hard work and sacrifice, this is the end."

Su Guansheng had a desolate look on his face. He just didn't want to get promoted, make money, or even die. What was the point? Others just wanted to drive him out of the court. The scene now was so similar to that of the past.
Seeing that both of them looked depressed, Chen Bangyan straightened his face and suddenly spoke loudly:

"Sir, you were trusted by the late emperor and rose to become a minister in the court. I wonder how many people envy you. Sir, do you still remember the late emperor's kindness? Are you still willing to work hard for the Ming Dynasty until your death?"

"The late emperor was very kind to me. He raised me from the dust. Even if I were to be torn to pieces, I would never forget the late emperor's kindness. Sir Chen, if you have anything to say, just say it directly. Don't make random comments."

Su Guansheng's face straightened, but a hint of displeasure flashed across his face.

"Yes, yes, Lord Chen, if you have something to say, just say it now, don't keep us in suspense."

Gu Yuanjing's eyes lit up at this moment, as if he had thought of something. He didn't care about Chen Bangyan's disrespect and urged him repeatedly.
Chen Bangyan suddenly said this at this time, there must be a reason. He originally thought that his future was hopeless, but now it seems that there is still a chance.

Gu Yuanjing stared at Chen Bangyan, but Chen Bangyan did not reply. Instead, he turned his gaze to Gu Yuanjing again.

"Master Gu, do you still remember the great favor of the court and are willing to continue to serve the Ming Dynasty with loyalty and never regret even if you die?"

Chen Bangyan's face was serious. Su Guansheng also noticed Chen Bangyan's abnormality at this time, but he did not say anything and just watched Chen Bangyan's actions quietly.
"Of course, I am appreciated by the court. I am able to realize my ambitions and govern a region. How can I forget the court's kindness?"

"Master Chen, please tell me what you want to say. No one in this place is an outsider."

Gu Yuanjing's face flashed with impatience. Seeing Chen Bangyan's serious expression, he pretended to be serious and said something, and then urged

Chen Bangyan looked at Gu Yuanjing in front of him, frowning slightly, but didn't say anything.

His expression became serious. He walked to the center of the hall, took out an envelope from his arms, held it with both hands on his head, and then spoke loudly:

"The Imperial Regent Gui of the Ming Dynasty has issued an edict, and Grand Secretary Su Guansheng has received it."

Su Guansheng was startled when he heard this, but then he seemed to have thought of something, and a hint of excitement flashed across his face, and his expression suddenly became serious.

Su Guansheng walked from the upper part of the hall to the lower part, bowed deeply to the edict in Chen Bangyan's hand, and Gu Yuanjing's face flashed with joy, his eyes kept moving.
"Your Highness Su Guansheng, the Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion, respectfully accepts the Imperial Edict of the Regent Gui."

Su Guansheng lowered his head and spoke loudly. He took the letter from Chen Bangyan with both hands respectfully. He just stared at the ground in front of him, but a startling light flashed in his eyes, like an eagle.

Thanks to Luming Ye Jingqiang for the reward, yeshao for the recommendation, thank you

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(End of this chapter)