Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 245: Fake Emperor: Forcing me to become the Longevity Emperor?
It’s winter in the blink of an eye.

The early morning court session was really exhausting, reminding Zhu Qizhen of the early morning court session when he was in college. No, it was much more painful than the early morning court session. However, he was the emperor and had to be a sage ruler, so he had to insist on attending the session and could not be late.

Emperor Taizu set a bad precedent.

Zhu Qizhen got up before dawn and complained while cleaning up.

From the time he ascended the throne to his death, Taizu hardly had a day off. In his will, he mentioned that he had been "worried about danger and worked hard every day" for 31 years. When Zhu Qizhen read the "Records of Taizu", it was recorded that in the nine days of the 18th year of Hongwu, he reviewed and approved a total of 1,660 memorials from various departments inside and outside the country, and handled 3,391 state affairs. On average, he reviewed more than 200 memorials and handled more than 400 state affairs every day.

Taizu also did everything himself, whether it was reviewing memorials, attending court to meet with ministers, or visiting incognito to understand the sufferings of the people, he did it all by himself. He even developed the habit of recording his thoughts anytime and anywhere, hanging pieces of paper on his clothes, and then dealing with them one by one.

"If a ruler is busy with all kinds of affairs and is lazy all his life, then all affairs will be blocked and the people will have nothing to rely on." Zhu Qizhen sighed, "Grandmaster, you are right."

He used Taizu's words to cheer himself up, and went to court with full energy. He was in a good mood recently. The witch queen was in the palace on the mountain. After leaving court, he didn't need to go to Kunning Palace, but went directly to play with his two sons.

"Your Majesty, please take the sedan chair. It's cold." said the eunuch chief Cao Jixiang.

"No need." Zhu Qizhen waved his hand and walked to the Fengtian Hall.

He was too busy and had no time to exercise, so he took this as exercise. When he arrived at the Fengtian Hall, the ministers were already in their positions outside. As the bell rang, the ministers entered the hall one by one.

"Chowshen!"

"Long live my emperor! Long live!"

Zhu Qizhen, sitting on the dragon throne, was stunned for a moment when he looked at the ministers kneeling in the hall. Compared with five years ago, almost all the people in the court were his own people, and he himself was the real emperor.

After the court session, the ministers began to report on state affairs.

Minister of Rites Yang Shan reported:
"I beg you to make a decision to appoint the Crown Prince to the throne to strengthen the country's ability. I believe that the foundation of the country depends on the talent and ability. The eldest son is the best person to take charge of the country. Therefore, a Han official said: To appoint the Crown Prince early is to honor the ancestral temple and the country. I look up to Your Majesty, who has received the grace of heaven, and has carried on the great plan of his ancestors, and whose virtues are spread throughout the world, and whose good fortunes are bestowed on his descendants.

Since the birth of the prince in the twelfth year of the Zhengtong reign, the emperor announced it to the world. Seven years have passed. Now, the unicorn is still rising, and it is appropriate to correct its name and position. The tomb is promoted every year to show the importance of the great instrument, and the young generation is passed on to the wise, so as to complete the work of nurturing. Now the prince is smart and capable, and has achieved success at an early age. The people at home and abroad have long been loyal to him. Now that he is getting older and his virtue is flourishing, it is appropriate to establish the etiquette for his enthronement.

I hope you will follow the old rules of our ancestors and think deeply about the great plans of the country. On this auspicious day of winter, you will order the ritual officials to establish a crown prince as early as possible to comfort the hopes of hundreds of millions of people and consolidate the foundation for thousands of generations. As for the ceremony of leaving the cabinet to give lectures and to greet the emperor, you can prepare for it in one or two years and then submit the request in order. I hope your wise judgment will be implemented. "

After he made this report, all the officials were shocked. It was obvious that no one expected Yang Shan to come out and talk about appointing a crown prince, and he even pointed out that the eldest son should be appointed as the crown prince.

Zhu Qizhen, who was sitting on the dragon throne, was also surprised. He thought, "I usually treat you well, why are you stabbing me in the back now?" He pondered for a moment and said, "The Yuan prince is weak, so wait two or three years before taking action."

He could only delay now, because Yang Shan's memorial was well-founded and could not be refuted. In the eyes of the civil and military officials in the court and the people of the world, if the emperor had no legitimate son, then he should establish the eldest son.

If there is a legitimate heir, the heir shall be appointed, if there is no legitimate heir, the eldest son shall be appointed. This has been the rule for thousands of years. It is also right to appoint a crown prince early. In every dynasty, there is a crown prince. The crown prince should be trained from a young age.

……

After court, Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Qizhen only summoned Xu Youzhen, Li Xian, Li Bing and other trusted ministers for a small court meeting. He asked directly: "What does Yang Shan mean? Why did he come out and talk about establishing a crown prince for no reason?"

Xu Youzhen pondered for a moment and said, "It can't be said to be without reason, because he is the Minister of Rites, and it is his job to petition Your Majesty to appoint a crown prince as soon as possible to consolidate the foundation of the country. However, this timing is a bit strange."

"Is there someone behind this?" Li Xian frowned.

Li Bing looked puzzled and asked, "Is there anyone in the court who is against Your Majesty?"

Li Xian shook his head and sighed, "It's not necessarily that we have to go against Your Majesty. After all, this is the Ming Dynasty, the Zhu family's kingdom."

He was implying that the ministers could be convinced by His Majesty, but still hoped that the country would return to the true hands of the Zhu family. Perhaps some ministers would use the position of the crown prince to manipulate this matter.

If there is a legitimate heir, the heir shall be appointed as the heir, if there is no legitimate heir, the eldest son shall be appointed as the heir. This has been the rule since the Zhou Dynasty and has been followed by all dynasties. If someone uses this matter to manipulate the dispute over the crown prince, it will be difficult for the emperor to appoint his own son as the heir.

"I will make Consort Xian the empress." Zhu Qizhen said, "Consort Xian's son is the legitimate son."

"Your Majesty, don't act too hastily." Xu Youzhen said, "The ministers will ask for Concubine Zhou to be made the empress, and it will never be Concubine Xian's turn, because Concubine Chen and Concubine Hui both gave birth to princes before Concubine Xian."

They are not my sons.

Zhu Qizhen cursed in his heart, but I was the legitimate emperor, and everyone in the court and the people believed that he was my son.

"Moreover, the lineage of Duke Ying is behind Concubine Xian." Li Xian smiled bitterly, "According to the rules of Emperor Taizong, it is best that the empress does not have meritorious service, so as to avoid the trouble of being a foreign relative."

Zhu Qizhen frowned.

He understood Xu Youzhen's hint that it would be best not to establish a virtuous concubine. He himself was also somewhat shaken, so he would just delay it a little longer. If the ministers continue to force me, I will become the Emperor of Longevity and not attend the court.

……

Hongwu Military Academy.

Hu Yi and Yu Qian came here to visit. On the parade ground, groups of young students were practicing. Their faces were covered with sweat and dirt, but they could not hide the youthfulness and unruly spirit. Some of them held simulated guns and shuttled between obstacles with agile and accurate movements; others formed tactical teams, cooperated tacitly, and carried out offensive and defensive training.

"What are those strange things?" Hu Yi asked, pointing at the facilities on the parade ground.

"Single and double bars, ladders..." Yu Qian pointed and introduced, "These are all ideas of your majesty. Soldiers can use them to train their physical fitness."

Hu Yi's face was full of pride, and he praised: "Your Majesty has so many clever ideas!"

Yu Qian glanced over and sighed, "It's great to be young. They are so lucky to have met a good sage king and a good era."

"Hey, you're not even sixty yet, but you act so old." Hu Yi was annoyed. "You still have a lot of time to see a strong Ming Dynasty."

Yu Qian smiled and shook his head: "Not everyone can live as long as you do. You are already 80 years old, right? And you are still so strong."

In fact, Emperor Zhu Qizhen also thought that Hu Yi could survive. In the Ming Dynasty, where medical conditions were backward, it was rare for people to live beyond eighty years.

"Okay, you go talk to Duke Jing." Hu Yi smiled, "I'm going to see an old friend."

He walked towards the dormitory area of ​​the military academy, came to a courtyard, pushed open the door and saw an old man hoeing the ground with his butt sticking out. He was stunned for a moment, and then shouted: "Old Zhang, why are you hoeing the ground?"

Zhang Fu turned around and saw Hu Yi. He was overjoyed and said, "Old Hu, why are you here? Didn't you go back to your hometown?"

"Your Majesty asked me to come out of retirement and be the president of Shuntian University." Hu Yi spread his hands, "After asking around, I found out that you are... not called a teacher, but an instructor in the military academy, right?"

Zhang Fu had seen Hu Yi last time, so he pretended to know him. He warmly invited Hu Yi to sit on a stool in the yard, and said while pouring tea: "I am digging the ground because I want to plant some sweet potatoes and corn next year."

"Those things from foreign countries?" Hu Yi asked.

"Yes, they are all good things." Zhang Fu said, "They don't need irrigation and can be grown on the mountains. If they are promoted, the people will not starve."

Hu Yi nodded in agreement, took a sip of tea and said, "Your Majesty is wise and advocated the opening of the great voyage, which brought these good things to the Ming Dynasty. In addition, there is a steady flow of gold and silver."

Zhang Fu's expression turned slightly cold: "Yes, he did a great job!"

Hu Yi looked at him, hesitant to speak, and finally spread his hands and asked: "Then you are still thinking about the one in Dunhuang?"

"Haha, I'm almost like a prisoner now, what else can I do?" Zhang Fu waved his hand, "No matter what, I can't do anything about it. I just want to pass on what I have learned to the young people of Ming Dynasty. Coming to the military academy is the best arrangement for me."

Hu Yi smiled slightly and raised his eyebrows: "Do you know that the court is discussing the appointment of a crown prince recently? His Majesty intends to appoint Prince Zhu Jianyang..."

"Don't tell me, I don't know anything, and don't try to test me." Zhang Fu waved his hand, "Keep talking nonsense, I can still treat you to a drink, and I will cook for you myself. If we are talking about government affairs, then you can leave."

"No need to say anything, just drink." Hu Yi smiled.

As the two were chatting, someone pushed the door open and came in. It was Shang Lu, holding a pot of wine and a food box. Shang Lu was slightly surprised when he saw Hu Yi: "Sir? You are here too."

"Shang Lu, are you still in the capital?" Hu Yi stared.

"The capital is prosperous, why can't I be here?" Shang Lu stepped forward, "I still have to be a teacher at Shuntian University."

As he spoke, he placed the wine and food boxes on the table. Zhang Fu looked up at him and asked, "Are you here to test me too? I'll say it again, the matter of establishing a crown prince has nothing to do with me. Chen Mao, the Duke of Jing, who is also the principal of the military academy, is keeping an eye on me, and I haven't been anywhere."

Shang Lu blinked and spread his hands: "What are you talking about? I just came here to drink with my old friend."

Zhang Fu waved his hand and said, "Okay, let's just drink. Wait a minute, I'll go cook a few more dishes."

Only Hu Yi and Shang Lu were left in the yard, and they looked at each other. Hu Yi seemed to have a problem with Shang Lu, and snorted: "We agreed to travel around the world together, but you secretly returned to the capital. Did you do something shameful?"

"Sir, you have returned to the capital, haven't you?" Shang Lu stared, "Only in the capital can we see the future of the Ming Dynasty."

"Who is the future Ming Dynasty?" Hu Yi asked.

(End of this chapter)