Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 255: The Eight Princes Come to Beijing to Worship Their Ancestors and Support the False Emperor

Qianqing Palace.

After the morning court session, Zhu Qizhen listened to the report of Shi Biao, the commander of the Jinyiwei, as usual, to understand the intelligence from various places before making the corresponding decision. Shi Biao looked nervous: "Your Majesty, the King of Shu has escaped."

"What? Why did he run away again?" Zhu Qizhen was shocked.

Shi Biao bowed quickly and continued, "But he is still in Shu, and the Jinyiwei are tracking him. It has been found out that the King of Shu colluded with the Ming family and ran away before the Jinyiwei arrived."

Ming family?

Zhu Qizhen knew that they were the descendants of Ming Yuzhen, who established Daxia in Shu at the end of the Yuan Dynasty and was deeply supported by the local people. Because he reduced taxes and implemented many policies to pacify the people, Shu was able to recover and develop in just a few years.

"Is there anyone still supporting the Ming family? It's been two hundred years." Zhu Qizhen was puzzled.

"Back then, one of Ming Yuzhen's sons escaped and has been secretly resisting. That force has gradually grown and mixed with the White Lotus Sect and the Ming Sect, forming a powerful dark force in Shu." Shi Biao said, "The King of Shu must have been hidden by them. Your Majesty, the Jinyiwei will find him."

Zhu Qizhen nodded slowly, with murderous intent flashing in his eyes: "No need to find him, just kill him as a traitor."

He wanted to use the life of a vassal king to intimidate other vassal kings. Moreover, if he killed the King of Shu while catching the rebels, no one in the government or the public would complain.

"In the southwest, after Duke Xia's army arrived, they have temporarily become obedient." Shi Biao said.

"Send an order to Yu Qian, tell him to keep an eye on Annan when he has nothing else to do." Zhu Qizhen spread his hands and smiled, "I have nothing to do anyway, it will be convenient for us to attack Annan in the future."

Shi Biao nodded in response and continued to report: "The U-Tsang coalition has arrived at the northwest border, but they are only stationed at the border and have not continued to move north. They are probably waiting and watching. Humph, this is simply cheering for Guanxi."

Zhu Qizhen frowned slightly. This was not beyond his expectations. It just depended on whether the U-Tsang tribes had the courage. Anyway, Yang Guifang would deal with them after he pacified Guanxi.

"True or false... the emperor's rumors are still spreading, almost all over Ming Dynasty." Shi Biao continued to report, "But the vast majority of the people support your Majesty, except for some... gentry, who only dare to oppose secretly."

Zhu Qizhen spread his hands and said, "It's normal. After all, my new policy affects their interests. Jinyiwei should not be idle. Pick a noble family as your target. You can collect all the charges. We need to make them shut up and stop causing trouble for me at this time."

"Yes, sir." Shi Biao took the order and left.

……

This day, the sun is shining brightly.

Outside the Taimiao, the morning light shines, and the golden sunlight sprinkles on the ancient and solemn red walls and yellow tiles, adding a bit of sacredness and solemnity.

The civil and military officials were dressed in court robes, red and blue, but in an orderly manner. They lined up, each with a solemn look. At the front of the line was the emperor wearing a dragon robe, the gold thread on the dragon robe sparkling in the sun.

The eight princes followed closely behind the emperor, all with respectful expressions, and followed the emperor up the stairs. The stairs were long and steep, and every step they took seemed to bring them one step closer to the ancestors of the Ming Dynasty.

Arriving at the main gate of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, the emperor stopped, turned to face the ministers, raised his hands slightly, and signaled everyone to be quiet. Then, he slowly walked into the Imperial Ancestral Temple, followed by the eight princes. Inside the Imperial Ancestral Temple, incense smoke lingered and candlelight flickered.

The emperor stood in front of the altar, holding the incense sticks in both hands, bowed three times devoutly, and then inserted the incense sticks into the incense burner. He closed his eyes and silently recited the prayer in a loud and clear voice:
Oh! Heaven and Earth, please see my clear mind. Today, I stand respectfully in the temple of my ancestors to remember their virtues.

In the past, our Emperor Gaozu flew to Huaidian and established his capital in Nanjing. He founded the Ming Dynasty with his sagely military power and laid the foundation for the Ming Dynasty. He granted lands and territories and passed down the "Huang Ming Zuxun" to pass on to his descendants and protect the country forever. I have inherited the teachings of my ancestors and have worked diligently day and night to carry on their aspirations and fulfill the will of heaven.

The Imperial Ming Ancestor's Instructions is the great canon of the state and the eternal rules of the emperor. Since I ascended the throne, I have followed them with great respect and have never violated them. I have improved domestic affairs and pacified the barbarians abroad, making sure that the people live and work in peace and contentment, and that the country is at peace. These are the teachings of our ancestors, how dare I forget them?
Today, I wish to carry on the aspirations of my ancestors, rule the world with benevolence and justice, and educate the people with propriety and music. I respect the "Huang Ming Zuxun" and build a prosperous Ming Dynasty. I hope that the spirits of my ancestors will always bless our country, so that I can complete the unfinished work of my ancestors and pass it on forever.

I offer this sacrifice to the spirits of our ancestors.

Shang Xiang!

The eight princes and civil and military ministers lined up behind him, listening attentively. They were all moved and followed the emperor in performing the ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows. The entire Taimiao was filled with the solemn and dignified sound of the ceremony.

After the memorial ceremony, the eight princes returned to the city.

"Your Majesty is amazing." King Zhao spread his hands, "He didn't ask the eight princes to jointly announce it to the world, but just held a ceremony to worship the ancestors, which made the people of the world believe that he was the real one."

Prince Ning nodded and said, "First, we have to spread the words of support for him in the capital, curse the fake emperor of Dunhuang, and then hold a ceremony to worship our ancestors. He seems to have said nothing, but also said everything."

"This is the clever part." Prince Lu said, "He is the emperor, he certainly would not bother to respond directly to the fake emperor of Dunhuang."

King Zhao pondered for a moment and said, "We can only play along. Our lives are in his hands. Fortunately, as long as we are in the capital, he will not restrict us. We can probably only return to our fiefdom after we have conquered Guanxi."

"Just treat it as a trip." King Ning smiled, "I'm going to Feiyan Tower later, do you want to go?"

……

Northwest, Dunhuang City.

The caravans suddenly disappeared, and the city was extremely deserted. The scene of merchants gathering seemed like a dream from another world. When the sandstorm started, the sky was full of yellow earth, and the setting sun on the top of the city was as red as blood, reflecting a solemn scene. In the streets and alleys, the bustling caravans in the past suddenly disappeared without a trace, as if time had gone back to that lonely year. The city gates were closed, and occasionally the wind blew through the streets and alleys, bringing waves of sad echoes.

Patrolling city guards, wearing iron armor and walking with heavy steps, shuttled through the empty streets. Their eyes were as sharp as eagles, scanning the surroundings, and every sound could make their tense nerves tense. Pedestrians saw this and all looked panicked, hurriedly avoiding, fearing that if they were not careful, they would be swallowed up by this tense atmosphere.

Children no longer played in the streets, and old men closed their doors. The whole city was shrouded in an indescribable depression. Why? Everyone knew that the imperial army was coming.

The checkpoints have been set up in Shaanxi and Gansu, and the caravans from the Central Plains no longer come to the northwest. Therefore, the city of Dunhuang suddenly became deserted. The palaces and halls in the city also had a depressing atmosphere.

"Yang Guifang's 200,000-man army has arrived in Shaanxi and Gansu," Xu Bin reported. "They are gradually advancing toward the northwest, seemingly in no hurry, and have not encountered any serious resistance wherever they pass."

Wu Xingdao waved his hand and said, "The various tribes in Guanxi are just a bunch of scattered sand. They know they can't defeat the imperial court's 200,000-strong army, so it is wise for them to choose to surrender."

"Then what should we do?" The orthodox emperor frowned.

The five princes sitting on his left and right were even more worried. Didn't you say in your letter that the situation was very good? What? Is it like this? We are no match at all?

"We never thought that Guanxi could stop the imperial army." Wu Xingdao smiled, "Be prepared to withdraw Chagatai. Fortunately, we already have dozens of cities and hundreds of thousands of troops there."

The Zhengtong Emperor knew that he had to encourage everyone, so he nodded and said, "Yes, that's why I didn't call Yuan Bin back. Also, the Golden Horde will send troops to support us, and they will come down from the north."

In fact, the Golden Horde also came to divide Chagatai.

Wu Xingdao would be happy to see this happen. By then, he would ally with Timur in the west and the Golden Horde in the north, and together they could resist the imperial army's continued westward advance.

……

Northwest, Suzhou.

This is a small town. Yang Guifang's 200,000 troops arrived. Heading northwest, they entered the hinterland of Guanxi. Yang Guifang, Wang Yue and Zhu Yong stood on the city tower.

"It's boring." Wang Yue spread his hands, "To take Guanxi, we don't need 200,000 troops, 50,000 will be enough."

Zhu Yong agreed with a smile: "Give me 30,000 and I can get it."

Yang Guifang glanced at him and said, "That's because the main force of Guanxi entered Chagatai. If Wu Xingdao had some ability, he would have captured dozens of cities in Chagatai, so he had a way to retreat."

"Let's just fight Chagatai." Wang Yue shrugged.

"We'll push all the way to Dunhuang this time." Yang Guifang frowned. "If we want to continue westward, we'll have to ask the court for permission. The situation in Chagatai is much more complicated, and it will involve the Timurid Empire and the Golden Horde."

Zhu Yong's eyes were full of fighting spirit: "Are we afraid of them?"

Wang Yue patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Of course I'm not afraid, but we can't go to war with two empires at the same time, right? That would be stressful. Besides, didn't Ding Xiu say a few days ago that the southwest, Shu, and U-Tsang are all unstable."

Yang Guifang waved his hands fiercely: "Let's pacify Guanxi first! Don't you two want a fight? In this case, why not split up into two groups and meet up in Dunhuang."

After hearing this, Wang Yue and Zhu Yong were eager to try it out.

……

Beijing, Feiyan Tower.

In a private room, there were bursts of women's giggles and men's slutty laughs. The two servants standing at the door, who were actually Jinyiwei secret guards, listened with frowns on their faces.

"Well, Marquis Huichang meets Prince Ning, two guys who know how to have fun, this is going to be fun."

"There won't be any conspiracy."

"I listened for a long time but didn't understand anything. If I listen again, I can't help it anymore. I'm going to find a girl."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

At this time, there were beauties dancing in the private room. Marquis Huichang and Prince Ning were both hugging girls, drinking and flirting with them. Marquis Huichang was already dizzy and said, "My lord, I'm your bosom friend. I didn't expect that we are kindred spirits. In the next few days, I will take you around the capital."

"Okay, Brother Sun." King Ning raised his glass and drank.

The two men pushed aside the girls, faced each other and drank a few cups. Marquis Huichang came closer and lowered his voice and asked, "My Lord, have you heard of Junshan Club?"

Prince Ning was stunned and sobered up immediately. But he remained calm and whispered, "My Lord, you are so brave to ask this of me?"

Marquis Huichang chuckled and said, "Your Majesty, if I get into trouble, you will die first. So, I am not afraid."

(End of this chapter)