Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 411 Everything is ready, except... death!
Just then, someone in the crowd asked, "Mr. Xie, I still have a question in my mind."

"Although that man was despicable, what he said was not entirely without reason."

"Since Your Majesty firmly supports the new policies and new learning, why not issue a decree to announce it to the world in a grand manner, instead of remaining silent?"

In an instant, the teahouse fell into a deathly silence once again, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

All eyes turned back to Xie Jin, hoping he would give a convincing answer.

Xie Jin smiled gently and shook his head slightly.

He knew perfectly well what these simple, honest people were thinking.

In their naive understanding, the emperor, as the Son of Heaven, is high above all others and holds supreme power. If he wants to implement any measure, he only needs to issue an edict to enforce it. Anyone who dares to disobey can be killed.

However, in reality, court affairs are rarely so simple or smooth.

Even emperors who appear to be all-powerful are actually subject to numerous constraints.
Xie Jin sighed softly, a sigh that seemed to carry endless helplessness and emotion.

There has been a saying since ancient times that "the powerful and wealthy gentry and the emperor jointly govern the country".

"Think about it, everyone. Which of those wealthy and powerful families isn't clinging to their old lands and property? How could any of them genuinely support the new policies and new education?"

"It is not that His Majesty does not want to push forward with bold and decisive measures, but rather that he has concerns and is unwilling to cause turmoil in the court or even chaos throughout the country by acting rashly."

"That's why we've been holding back, quietly laying the groundwork and slowly pushing things forward."

"You may wish to pay attention to the articles in the Da Ming Daily. Positive praise and negative criticism of the new policies and new learning will be published truthfully."

"At first glance, this approach seems fair and impartial, but in reality, it is precisely His Majesty's brilliance that makes it so."

"In this way, the ideas of the new policies and new learning can be like a gentle spring rain, silently permeating and gradually becoming known to the world and deeply rooted in people's hearts."

"Now that everything is ready and the time is ripe, His Majesty has summoned us to the capital to discuss important matters."

"Fellow villagers, your good days are coming!"

The teahouse immediately erupted in excitement, with everyone's faces beaming with joy and excitement. They whispered among themselves, their words filled with anticipation for the future.

Some people were so excited that their faces turned red, and they waved their arms.

Some people held tightly to the hands of those around them, as if trying to share their joy.

Seeing this, Xie Jin knew he had said everything he needed to say, so he said no more. He leisurely picked up his teacup and began to sip his tea, occasionally picking up some pastries from the plate and chewing them slowly.

Yang Shiqi glanced at Xie Jin briefly, then looked away and turned to Zhu Yunwen with a cautious expression. He said softly, "Mr. Zhu, although Xie Jin is indeed quite learned, he is too idealistic and knows nothing about the ways of officialdom."

He shook his head, his tone full of regret: "Such willful behavior and reckless speculation of the emperor's will are fortunate to have met His Majesty, who is kind, magnanimous, and broad-minded, and will not hold it against him."

"If it were any other monarch, I'm afraid even ten heads wouldn't be enough to chop him off."

"His character is really not suited to be an official in the imperial court."

"In my opinion, he would be better off leaving the capital, finding a quiet place to write books and give lectures, and no longer participating in state affairs. That would be the proper course of action."

"Someone like him could perhaps be of some use in editing and writing books, and all those books he read wouldn't have been in vain."

"Mr. Zhu, what do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunwen immediately understood the meaning behind Yang Shiqi's words.

On the surface, Yang Shiqi was criticizing Xie Jin for being too bookish and unsuitable for officialdom.

In reality, Zhu Yunwen knew that Yang Shiqi was pleading for Xie Jin.

Was he afraid that he might kill him in a fit of anger?

“That makes sense.” Zhu Yunwen smiled faintly. “It is indeed time for our Great Ming Dynasty to compile an encyclopedia that compiles classics, histories, philosophical works and literary collections.”

"Jie Jin is a man of great learning, and he is indeed very suitable for this task."

Upon hearing this, Yang Shiqi was slightly taken aback.

His original plan was to plead for Xie Jin and then find a way to send him out of Jinling City.

After all, Xie Jin's remarks just now had already disrupted His Majesty's plans.

Killing Xie Jin would undoubtedly discourage supporters of the new policies and new learning.

However, continuing to employ him would only exacerbate the conflict and intensify the opposition.

So, they simply pretended not to hear those words and preemptively sent him away outside the capital.

In this way, Xie Jin's life can be saved without him ruining His Majesty's grand plan.

But judging from His Majesty's words, it seems he still intends to use him?

Is Your Majesty truly not afraid that this person will cause trouble?

Yang Shiqi pondered to himself, but when he looked up, he saw that Zhu Yunwen had already stood up and was walking towards Xie Jin.

Seeing this, he was stunned again, hurriedly straightened his clothes, and quickly followed.

Zhu Yunwen sat down next to Xie Jin with a gentle smile on his face and said softly, "Mr. Xie, my name is Zhu Anping, from Jinling."

"I have long admired Mr. Jie's name and his talent."

"There are some things I'd like to ask Mr. Xie."

"It's too crowded and noisy here. Would you mind if I could move to a private room upstairs and speak with you privately for a moment?"

At this moment, he still harbored doubts and wanted to probe Xie Jin's background more carefully.

The teahouse was bustling with people, and Xie Jin was in the spotlight, which made things quite inconvenient for him.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Xie Jin glanced at him indifferently, shook his head slightly, and said in a calm yet polite tone, "Brother, we seem to be complete strangers."

"Brother, if you have anything to say, please speak frankly here."

Zhu Yunwen was slightly taken aback, then burst into laughter: "Mr. Xie is truly a remarkable person!"

After laughing, he composed himself, straightened his posture, and said, "Since Mr. Xie says so, then I will speak frankly."

"Just now, Mr. Xie mentioned that His Majesty supports the new policies and new learning, and also said that His Majesty has concerns and worries that it may cause turmoil in the court, so he has not yet issued an imperial edict."

"But His Majesty has not yet issued his decree, yet you have pointed this out so directly. Wouldn't that disrupt His Majesty's entire plan?"

"Mr. Xie, aren't you afraid that His Majesty will be furious if he finds out? Or perhaps..."

Zhu Yunwen narrowed his eyes slightly, staring intently at Xie Jin, and said, word by word, "Mr. Xie, you are using the guise of supporting the new policies and new learning to carry out sabotage?"

His voice was calm, yet it possessed a ruthless, knife-like quality.

Xie Jin did not answer immediately. Instead, he slowly picked up the blue and white porcelain teacup, gently lifted the lid, and took a sip of tea with an elegant demeanor, his movements unhurried and deliberate.

At this moment, Yang Shiqi also quietly walked over and stood behind Zhu Yunwen.

Beside Xie Jin, two servants glared angrily at Zhu Yunwen like wolves, as if silently rebuking him for daring to question their master's sincere intentions.

"I came to the capital with the resolve to die," Xie Jin said, gently setting down his teacup, his voice low and calm.

The voice was extremely soft, as if life and death were nothing more than trivial matters to him, like willow catkins in the wind.

Zhu Yunwen's pupils contracted slightly, a fleeting, almost imperceptible glint of something unusual flashing in his eyes before returning to calm.

His expression remained calm and composed.

He looked at Xie Jin's face, observing the changes in his expression as he spoke.

"The current emperor is a scholar of both heaven and man, and is well-versed in both ancient and modern times. His talent and knowledge are far beyond what ordinary people can hope to match."

Xie Jin did not rush to explain, but instead abruptly changed the subject and started talking about the current emperor.

“From a young age, Xie was praised by his neighbors as exceptionally intelligent, and his reputation as a child prodigy spread widely in the countryside.”

Xie Jin tilted his head slightly, a hint of arrogance on his face. "In this life, I have met countless people, and I believe that the mediocre are as numerous as carp crossing a river, while those with exceptional talent are as rare as phoenix feathers."

"However, the current emperor is completely different. Not to mention that his poems and essays are brilliant throughout the ages, and his military prowess and governance are unparalleled for generations."

"The science he pioneered is vast and profound, all-encompassing, capable of discerning the essence and origin of all things, and pointing directly to their true meaning."

Xie Jin's eyes were full of amazement: "At the age of the Emperor, I privately believe that the Emperor must be a genius born with knowledge."

"Otherwise, it's truly unimaginable how anyone in this world could possess such extraordinary talent and ability!"

"Heaven has sent such an emperor to the Ming Dynasty, which is truly a blessing for the millions of people of our Ming Dynasty."

"only……"

Xie Jin paused slightly at this point, extended his right hand, spread his five fingers, and shook them, saying, "As the saying goes, 'Every inch has its advantage, and every foot has its disadvantage.'"

“Look at these five fingers, they are all different lengths and each has its own use.”

"Although the current emperor is exceptionally intelligent and has lofty ambitions, his civil and military achievements are unparalleled among emperors throughout history."

"But he is too intelligent, mature beyond his years, and overly cautious, which sometimes causes him to miss some good opportunities."

"For example, the current new policies and new schools of thought."

His tone suddenly sharpened like a drawn sword, slicing through the air.

"As a scholar, I have been well-versed in the classics of sages since childhood, and have always cherished the ambition to assist the monarch and govern the world."

“If one knows that the monarch has shortcomings, yet hesitates and fails to speak frankly and offer advice, but instead stands idly by, how can I, Xie Jin, be worthy of calling myself a disciple of a sage?”

"Since ancient times, warriors have died in battle, and scholars have died remonstrating with the emperor."

"Jie had previously served as an official in the imperial court and had received great favors from the court."

"Moreover, I am honored that His Majesty has summoned me to the capital to discuss the new policies and new education."

"To repay the emperor's kindness, for the sake of the people, and to live up to the teachings of the sage, I, Jie, will certainly disregard my own life and death!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, and his speech became faster and faster.

At this point, he suddenly picked up the teacup in front of him, tilted his head back, and drank the tea in one gulp.

"Your Majesty pioneered the field of science, built factories, established banks, and promoted education, bringing about a completely new atmosphere in the Ming Dynasty."

"In foreign affairs, he quelled the Japanese pirates, attacked the Northern Yuan, and pacified the South Seas, achieving numerous military exploits."

Admiration appeared on Xie Jin's face as he meticulously recounted His Majesty's many achievements.

"Your Majesty's various measures are enough to make your achievements last for thousands of years."

“Those outsiders who don’t know the truth might think that His Majesty is acting rashly and recklessly.”

"Whether it was sending troops to quell a rebellion or carrying out vigorous reforms, there was never the slightest hesitation."

"Dare to do what no one else in the world dares to do, and take risks that no one else in the world dares to take."

"In fact, in my opinion, His Majesty never takes risks in these matters; His Majesty has already made up his mind."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he had already seen through the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty's deep and far-sighted thoughts.

Everything seemed extremely dangerous, but in reality, it was all under his control.

"However, His Majesty remains somewhat hesitant when it comes to implementing new policies and new learning."

"His Majesty is concerned that rashly implementing this policy will cause turmoil in the court, unrest among the people, and even disrupt the peace of the nation."

"But little did they know that opportunity knocks but once, and once lost, it is gone forever."

"How can we wait until we are absolutely certain before we start doing anything in this world?"

"Now the people of our Great Ming live a prosperous life, with no worries about food and clothing, and the granaries are piled high with grain."

As he said this, a gratified smile spread across Xie Jin's face.

"The world is at peace and tranquil, no one picks up lost items on the road, and doors are left unlocked at night; it is a scene of a prosperous age."

"There are no starving people in the fields, and no frozen corpses by the roadside."

"Our Great Ming Army has fought in the south and the north, and has been invincible and unstoppable, its might shaking the world."

"All these great achievements have made Your Majesty's wisdom and brilliance praised by all the people of the world."

"Moreover, the Ming Daily is now in charge of guiding public opinion."

He said with certainty, "In this prosperous era, His Majesty wishes to implement new policies and promote new learning. How could those mere bureaucrats and wealthy merchants possibly resist him?"

"Now that the people are well-fed and clothed, and have enough to eat, how can the local gentry easily incite and mislead them into rebellion?"

Xie Jin shook his head slightly, a confident smile appearing on his face.
"Furthermore, with the unparalleled fighting power of our Great Ming Army, if anyone dares to rebel, the Heavenly Army can suppress them completely without lifting a finger. What is there to fear?"

"In my humble opinion, Your Majesty's many worries are actually unnecessary."

"Perhaps the people around His Majesty are mostly high-ranking officials and wealthy merchants. Firstly, they are worried that their own interests will be harmed by the new policies, and secondly, their daily interactions are with bureaucrats and gentry, so they know very little about the real situation of the common people."

"They only knew the movements of bureaucrats and gentry, and exaggerated the opposition."

“Look, those local gentry and wealthy people just now, in order to oppose the new policies and new schools, did not hesitate to openly break ties with Mr. Xie.”

A mocking smile appeared at the corner of Xie Jin's mouth, but it vanished in an instant.

"However, the poor people in this teahouse wholeheartedly supported the new policies and new learning."

"If Your Majesty is determined to implement the new policies and new education, what can those gentry and wealthy people do even if they oppose it?"

His voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable air of authority.

"Do they dare to openly rebel? Without the support of millions of poor people across the country, could they possibly rebel?"

“No, they can’t!” Xie Jin shook his head.

"Those wealthy gentry could only helplessly accept reality in the end, unable to even cause the slightest disturbance."

"Therefore, what is lacking in the current situation is His Majesty's genuine determination."

“If I had not gone to the capital, then so be it.”

"But now that I have entered the capital, I will do my utmost to make this happen."

"Otherwise, all those years of studying the classics would have been in vain."

"The reason why I, Xie, have made Your Majesty's thoughts public is precisely to leave Your Majesty with no way out but to make up your mind to implement the new policies and new learning."

"As for incurring His Majesty's wrath, or even having my family property confiscated and me executed, so what?"

Xie Jin slammed his hand on the table, making the teacup jump, and said loudly:

"A great man is born between heaven and earth, and should use his useful body to seek the well-being of all people and do great things."

"Since ancient times, who has ever escaped death?"

"How can we shrink back from the challenge because we are afraid of death?"

Xie Jin looked up at the sky and laughed heartily.

"If I can die to solve the age-old problem of land annexation for the sake of the people, then I will have died a worthy death!"

"Now that I'm here, I'm prepared to die!"

……

(End of this chapter)