Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 57 The Most Powerful Imperial Uncle: Is His Majesty a fake?
"Quick, call Yang Guifang." Zhu Qizhen ordered.

"Your Majesty, I have brought him here and he is waiting outside the palace," said Yu Qian.

The eunuch chief, Jin Ying, immediately went to bring Yang Guifang in. Yang Guifang entered the main hall and paid respects respectfully. This was his first time in the Qianqing Palace, and he was inevitably excited.

In those days, his father Yang Rong played with Emperor Taizong, Emperor Renzong, and Emperor Xuanzong here. During Emperor Taizong's time, Yang Rong had already entered the cabinet and was promoted to Grand Secretary of Wenyuan Pavilion; during Emperor Renzong's time, he was Grand Secretary of Jinshen Hall and Minister of Works; during Emperor Xuanzong's time, he was promoted to Junior Tutor and was the minister entrusted by Emperor Xuanzong to take care of his son; at the beginning of the Zhengtong period, he was promoted to Junior Teacher, and died of illness in five years. He was awarded the titles of Guanglu Dafu, Zuozhuguo, and Taishi, and was posthumously named "Wenmin".

In Yang Guifang's heart, having a father who lived a glorious life was not enough! He wanted to do better than his father, to be a famous minister through the ages, second only to the emperor, and then realize his ambition.

"Your Majesty, I am Yang Guifang, your servant." Yang Guifang bowed.

"Get up and tell me your evil plan." Zhu Qizhen raised his hand.

He has always valued Yang Guifang, who is smart and not bound by rules. After Yang Guifang stood up, he thought for a while and said, "Your Majesty, you know the Great Edict, right?"

Zhu Qizhen picked up the "Great Edict" on the imperial desk and shook it. He was reading it recently.

In order to punish corruption, Taizu personally wrote the Imperial Edict, in which the most interesting part is to encourage people to sue officials. This shows that Taizu, who started with a bowl, did not trust officials at all.

"In the twelve provincial governments, prefectures, states, and counties, I have prohibited officials and servants from going to the countryside to disturb the people. This prohibition has been in place for many years. Some greedy people often do not fear the death penalty and go to the countryside against my order, causing disturbances to the people. In the future, if anyone dares to do so, I will allow the elderly and virtuous people in the people to lead the strong and healthy people to bring them to the capital."

After the promulgation of "The Great Imperial Edict", it did produce effects.

"In the ninth year of Hongwu, two people from Jiading County, Guo and others, held the Great Edict and went to Beijing to report that the county leader, Yang, and others, were plotting to murder the people and oppressing the good. On the way through Chunhua Town, the inspector He deliberately made things difficult for them and sent the archer Ma to extort money. Taizu finally followed the law of the Great Edict and severely punished He and Ma. The archer Ma was sentenced to death and his head was hung up for public display; the inspector He had his feet chopped off and was put in shackles as a warning to others."

"Gu Ying, an official in Changshu County, oppressed the people and made them suffer. The people of Changshu County captured him and decided to take Chen Shouliu as their leader to lead dozens of people to Beijing to file a complaint. Taizu heard about it and verified that it was true. He gave Chen Shouliu and others money and clothes, and exempted them from corvée for three years to reward their bravery."

……

When Zhu Qizhen thought of this, he began to understand what Yang Guifang meant.

The Imperial Edict became distorted later because it was difficult to enforce. Some people used the Imperial Edict to threaten officials, and some officials forced people to falsely accuse officials who refused to embezzle. This led to a lot of problems.

Yang Guifang's eyes flashed with cunning:
"Your Majesty, please issue another decree. If the royal family members break the law, they will be punished the same as the common people. If the common people have grievances and cannot seek redress, they can go to the capital and beat the drum to report it!"

"When the time comes, let the Royal Guards do something and have a few waves of people come to the capital to sue the princes, so that their crimes will be exposed to the world and despised by the people. Your Majesty, it will be easy for you to punish them, won't it?"

Yu Qian, who was standing by, heard this and said, "Why don't we wait for the people to file a complaint? Jinyiwei is behind this? Isn't that fraud?"

Zhu Qizhen shook his head: "How can it be said to be fake? The people are afraid, and the Jinyiwei are just encouraging them."

"Yes, encouragement and protection." Yang Guifang agreed.

The two men laughed at each other, and both understood what the other meant. Yu Qian, who was standing aside, had a strange look on his face, and muttered in his heart: "I have a bad feeling. It seems that the tyrant met the poisonous scholar and they hit it off immediately."

Zhu Qizhen immediately issued an imperial decree to encourage the people to go to Beijing to file complaints.

Dare to invite anyone who blocks the way, Xiao Ling!

……

Kunning Palace.

Huichang Marquis Sun Jizhong came to see the Queen Mother in a hurry. The Queen Mother was watering the flowers, and her beautiful eyes blinked slightly: "What's the matter? Why is it so urgent? I am tending to the flowers and don't want to be disturbed."

"Empress Dowager, His Majesty has just issued an imperial decree." Sun Jizhong said, "People from all over the country who have grievances and nowhere to seek redress can bring the "Imperial Edict" to the capital to file a complaint."

The Queen Mother, who was cutting flower leaves, was slightly stunned: "Huh, is he trying to imitate Taizu? There's nothing new about that." Sun Jizhong took a few steps closer and said in a low voice: "This time, the people can not only sue the officials, but also the princes."

Duang!

The scissors in the Queen Mother's hand fell to the ground, and she immediately understood the Emperor's intention. This was aimed at the vassal kings. With the evil deeds of those vassal kings, once someone started to take the lead, there would be many people suing them.

"This plan is vicious!" she said coldly.

"Should we stop it?" Sun Jizhong asked.

"No need. The bigger the fuss, the better. I'll wait and see how it ends." The Queen Mother sneered.

Sun Jizhong was worried. He bowed and said, "I am worried that if he succeeds, many ministers will support him as the emperor. Then, his prestige will rise."

The Queen Mother bent down to pick up the scissors, with a cold look in her eyes: "We must be on guard. Go and invite the King of Xiang."

"Yes!" Sun Jizhong nodded and left.

……

An hour later.

Prince Xiang came out of Kunning Palace with a gloomy face. He was still thinking about what the Queen Mother had just said. She had mentioned the fake emperor in Yesen's hands intentionally or unintentionally.

The fake emperor looks exactly like Your Majesty. In fact, when Yesen coerced the fake emperor to attack Datong, he also issued an imperial edict to the defending general Guo Deng, which was stamped with the imperial seal.

"What does the Queen Mother want to say?" Prince Xiang muttered to himself as he walked, "Your Majesty, could it be fake? Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

As soon as this thought came to his mind, he forced himself to interrupt it immediately. This kind of thing cannot even be thought of!

Unconsciously, he arrived in front of the Qianqing Palace. When the eunuch Jin Ying saw him, he hurriedly came up to greet him: "Greetings, Prince Xiang."

"What is your majesty busy with?" asked King Xiang.

"Only the Minister of Finance, Lord Xu, has come to pay respect to Your Majesty today," Jin Ying said. "Your Majesty is free at the moment. He is reading the Great Edict written by Taizu himself."

"Your Majesty is truly hardworking," said King Xiang.

"Yes, after the Battle of Tumu, Your Majesty worked even harder, not only practicing martial arts, but also studying hard." Jin Ying sighed, "He said he wanted to avenge the humiliation and make the Ming Dynasty strong again."

As he spoke, he led King Xiang into the hall.

Zhu Qizhen was reading a book, writing something down with a pen in his hand. When the King of Xiang came to him, he bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

"Uncle?" Zhu Qizhen stood up and greeted him warmly, "I was just looking for you. I have been studying the Great Edict these past two days and have gained a lot. I was just thinking of chatting with you. Please give me some advice."

King Xiang smiled slightly and asked, "Your Majesty, will you issue an order to allow the common people to sue the vassal kings?"

"Yes!" Zhu Qizhen nodded, his eyes full of helplessness and melancholy, "Uncle, did I do anything wrong? Alas, I just want a strong Ming Dynasty."

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(End of this chapter)