Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 56 Your Majesty, do you want to be Emperor Jianwen?
early morning.

On the imperial road, ministers gathered in groups of three or five. All that was seen was red and blue. Those who were qualified to attend the morning court in the Fengtian Hall were of the sixth rank and above.

Officials of the first to fourth ranks wore scarlet robes. The patterns on the patches of civil officials were: crane for the first rank, golden pheasant for the second rank, peacock for the third rank, and cloud goose for the fourth rank. The patterns on the patches of military officials were: unicorn for the first rank, lion for the second rank, leopard for the third rank, and tiger for the fourth rank.

Officials from the fifth to seventh ranks wore blue robes, but there was an exception among them, Yu Qian insisted on wearing a blue robe. His words "Red official robes are stained with the blood of the people, I wear blue to be clean" angered the then cabinet chief Yang Shiqi so much that he rolled up his sleeves and beat him.

When Yang Guifang accompanied Yu Qian to court for the first time, she reached the stone steps in front of the Fengtian Hall and looked back. She saw crowds of people and the sound of jade clattering.

His eyes were burning as portraits of famous officials throughout the ages flashed through his mind. He thought that one day he would be able to be like them, go down in history and leave behind a story of a great monarch and his subjects.

"Your Majesty has imprisoned the Prince of Jing in the Dazongzhengyuan and sent the Prince of Zheng directly to Zhaoyu. Isn't this too hasty?"

"Strong remedies for a serious illness! I think your majesty is decisive. If you don't do this, the land annexation case will not be able to proceed."

"Your Majesty should proceed step by step. If you start by touching the vassal kings, the situation will become complicated. If things go wrong, there will be unrest in the government and the country."

Yang Guifang was listening to the discussion of the ministers and wanted to interrupt, but was stopped by Yu Qian. Before coming, Yu Qian warned him that in the court, he could only listen and watch but not speak.

After entering the hall, Yang Guifang could only stand at the end. He was curious about everything. He looked around and saw the dragon throne in the hall and the steps in front of the hall. When the powerful officials who were qualified to enter the hall for court meetings stood in their seats, the emperor in a yellow dragon robe came. At the same time, there were many figures behind the curtain. Naturally, it was the empress dowager.

……

After attending the court, the ministers announced their affairs.

In the past, the ministers would report to the empress dowager, and the emperor would listen attentively. This time, the Minister of Rites Hu Yi reported directly to the emperor: "Your Majesty, I heard that you imprisoned the King of Jing in the Dazongzhengyuan and put the Prince of Zheng in Zhaoyu. This... this is against the rules, Your Majesty, they are all the emperor's closest relatives."

Zhu Qizhen frowned slightly. He didn't expect that the first person to stand up and oppose was the Minister of Rites Hu Yi.

Didn't this old man support me in handling the land occupation case? He was the first to jump out now. What did he want to do? He looked anxious.

"Minister Hu, your majesty's actions are in line with the Imperial Ming Dynasty's ancestral teachings." Yu Shiyue, the Minister of Justice, bowed, "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. At this time, your majesty needs to use drastic measures."

"I second the motion!" Minister of Rites Wang Wen bowed. "I was worried before. After all, 'land occupation' is a chronic problem of the three dynasties. Seeing your majesty's determination, I feel relieved."

Wang Zhi, the chief minister of the cabinet, shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, you can't be too harsh. The Imperial Ming Ancestor's Instructions stipulates that for royal family members, the facts must be clearly interrogated and then punished. In serious cases, they will be demoted to commoners. There is no punishment."

Zhu Qizhen, sitting on the dragon throne, was a little confused.

Those who stood up against him today were all those who had previously agreed with him to vigorously handle the "land occupation" case. Hu Yi and Wang Zhi had clearly expressed their support. And those who stood up to support him today were actually the Queen Mother's people, such as Yu Shiyue, the Minister of Punishment, and Wang Wen, the Minister of Rites.

Zhu Qizhen glanced at Yu Qian, but the guy just lowered his head and said nothing.

At this time, the Queen Mother's voice came from behind the curtain: "Your Majesty is handling the case impartially, and this palace is very pleased."

As soon as she said this, most of the court officials echoed her. Zhu Qizhen felt something was even more wrong. Why did it look like she was being flattered?

……

After court, Qianqing Palace.

As soon as Zhu Qizhen arrived, the Minister of Rites Hu Yi followed him in, looking anxious: "Your Majesty, just now in the court, there are some things that I cannot say directly."

"Now, you can speak freely." Zhu Qizhen smiled.

He ordered someone to serve Hu Yi a cup of tea, but Hu Yi had no intention of drinking it. He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I know your determination and guess that you want to take action against that vassal king. However, this is too risky. By then, all the vassal kings in the world will oppose your Majesty. Do you know how many vassal kings there are in the Ming Dynasty now?"

Zhu Qizhen frowned.

How many vassal kings are there? I haven't really counted them, but starting from when Taizu conferred titles on his more than 20 sons, and later on when Taizong, Renzong, and Xuanzong continued to confer titles on vassal kings, there must be at least dozens of vassal kings in the world, right? They are spread all over the Ming Dynasty. Although they lost their military power after Taizong, their influence is still huge.

"I know what's going on, but this matter has come to the point where it has to be done." Zhu Qizhen looked helpless.

"Your Majesty, you can't do this!" Hu Yi's voice was a little higher in a hurry. "What are the similarities and differences between what you are doing now and what Emperor Jianwen did when he was eager to reduce the power of the princes?"

Zhu Qizhen snorted coldly: "Is there any other vassal king who dares to rebel?"

Hu Yi bowed and said in a deep voice: "It is not impossible! Even if no vassal king dares to rebel, they will unite against you, and the ministers will add fuel to the flames. Your Majesty, don't even think about ruling the country by yourself, you...you..."

"The throne is in danger?" Zhu Qizhen stared.

Hu Yi did not answer, but knelt down directly: "Your Majesty, you should think twice."

A cold light flashed in Zhu Qizhen's eyes. He waved his hand, and Hu Yi bowed and retreated.

……

He rubbed his face with his hands.

It can be seen that Hu Yi came to advise sincerely. Among the six ministries, Xu Youzhen, the Minister of Revenue, is his own man, and Hu Yi, the Minister of Rites, is also gradually leaning towards him.

The other four ministries were all the Queen Mother's people. In the cabinet, the chief minister Wang Zhi and the cabinet minister Shang Lu were neither on the side of the other and were respectful to both sides.

Fortunately, I still have Yu Qian!

"Your Majesty, Yu Shaobao requests to see you." The eunuch chief Jin Ying came to report.

If you really say Cao Cao, Cao Cao will be there.

Zhu Qizhen muttered to himself and waved his hand: "I have told you many times that Yu Shaobao is here. You don't need to report it. Just come in directly."

Jin Ying looked embarrassed: "I have told him, but Yu Shaobao must maintain the etiquette between the monarch and his subjects."

Zhu Qizhen held his forehead with his hand.

As an emperor, he also wants to make friends, but now he finds that it is too difficult for an emperor to make friends.

"Your Majesty, I am Yu Qian. I pay my respects to you." Yu Qian came in and bowed.

"Old Yu, you didn't say a word in the court just now." Zhu Qizhen spread his hands, "Why do you come to me now?"

Yu Qian grinned and said, "Your Majesty, I am in charge of military affairs, and I am already a prominent figure in the forest. I dare not speak casually on other matters. However, I have some advice for you."

Zhu Qizhen was very upset and asked with a glare, "What's the bad idea?"

"It wasn't my idea, it was that kid Yang Guifang." Yu Qian lowered his voice and said, "He said that if we want to deal with the princes, we have to discredit them first, so that the people are angry. Who would dare to protect the princes then? It was this guy's idea, it's a bit sinister."

Zhu Qizhen's eyes lit up.

Vicious? I like it!
……

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(End of this chapter)