Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 454 Old Zhu's Shock, and the Solution!

Compared to Magellan's first circumnavigation of the globe with a survival rate of only about 7%, Zheng He's fleet, thanks to Zhu Yunwen's meticulous planning and early preparations, completed the Ming Dynasty's first circumnavigation of the globe with a loss of less than 6% of its members.

What's even more exciting is that they didn't just embark on a simple voyage; they also conducted detailed geographical surveys, brought back countless precious supplies and local specialties, and accumulated a wealth of maritime experience.

Zheng He's return also meant that the map of the entire planet was officially unfolding in the eyes of the Ming people.

From then on, the Ming Dynasty's voyages were no longer limited to the East and South Seas, but extended to the entire planet Earth.

……

The inner palace, deep within the imperial city.

News of Zheng He's return from his voyage was quietly delivered to Zhu Yuanzhang's ears by secret agents of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, like a gentle breeze.

"Zheng He led his fleet around the world and returned safely!"

"Unexpectedly, the world is indeed perfectly round, like a sphere."

"Back then, when we first heard this, we were somewhat skeptical and found it hard to believe!"

Zhu Yuanzhang lay on a wisteria chair in the courtyard, swaying slightly and making a soft creaking sound.

He had just finished listening to Yoshigaki's report on the state of the nation and couldn't help but feel amazed and moved.

The idea that the earth is round has existed since ancient times.

However, in the early years of the Ming Dynasty, only scholars who were well-versed in astronomy and geography would devote themselves to exploring such mysteries and firmly believe that the earth is a sphere.

Ordinary people in the city, however, showed little interest in it.

Their beliefs are still deeply influenced by the ancient myth of "a round heaven and a square earth," and few people bother to try to understand the shape of heaven and earth.

Even those who occasionally hear of the "spherical earth theory" simply laugh it off, neither vehemently refuting it nor eagerly questioning it.

For ordinary people, life is mundane and practical. Praying to gods and Buddhas is nothing more than seeking protection, hoping for promotion, wealth, and good health.

Unless it concerns matters of daily necessities and personal well-being, they are mostly indifferent and too lazy to delve into them.

The debate between "round earth" and "flat earth" is a case in point.

Although scholars have long proposed the "round earth theory" and provided various observations to support it, such topics often go unnoticed by the general public, failing to generate any significant buzz.

For them, it doesn't matter whether it's round or flat, as long as they live a stable life and have enough to eat and wear, that's the most important thing.

Isn't Old Zhu the same?
This emperor, who rose from humble beginnings, was a thorough pragmatist at heart.

When he first heard about the "spherical earth theory," he only thought about it briefly, found it novel but impractical, and then put it aside and stopped bothering with it.

After all, governing the country, rectifying official corruption, and pacifying the four directions are all urgent matters, far more important than speculating on the shape of heaven and earth.

Can studying those vague and unrealistic things really feed ordinary people?

Can it ensure the stability of the country?

Since we can't do it anyway, why bother with all that stuff?

Now, Zheng He's return is like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples in his heart.

This navigator brought back many strange and wonderful stories from overseas, which were being continuously reported back to the capital.

Upon learning that Zheng He's fleet had circled the vast blue planet for a full lap and returned safely, Zhu Yuanzhang felt a complex mix of emotions.

It reflects both awe of the unknown world and pride in the power of the Ming Dynasty.

Ji Yuan stood beside Zhu Yuanzhang with a respectful smile on his face and a clear voice with a hint of flattery: "Your Majesty is wise and sagacious. By the grace of Heaven, you have bestowed upon Zheng He a nautical chart that is detailed and complete, with the direction of ocean currents and the location of foreign lands accurate to the last detail."

"Furthermore, there are the marine positioning instruments created in accordance with scientific principles, which are extremely accurate."

"It is precisely because of this that Zheng He's fleet was able to brave the winds and waves and return safely."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly, reached out and gently stroked his gray beard, a smile appearing at the corner of his eye: "Our grandson has truly received immense blessings."

"You say he's never set foot overseas, so how does he know so much about those distant places?"

Ji Yuan hurriedly bowed, his smile growing even more humble: "This humble servant is dull-witted; how could I possibly fathom His Majesty's profound thoughts?"

"Your Majesty is surely the Son of Heaven, blessed by Heaven and enlightened by the divine, possessing wisdom that is beyond the reach of mortals."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed loudly.

Indeed, Zhu Yunwen's erudition was so profound that it was perplexing.

The unheard-of knowledge, such as astronomy, geography, and navigation, left even well-read Confucian scholars in the court speechless, unable to verify it.

Zhu Yunwen's explanation for this was always understated, stating that he had obtained it from consulting ancient books.

Although Zhu Yuanzhang came from a humble background, he was well-read after ascending the throne, and the palace had a vast collection of books. Yet, he had never seen any ancient book that recorded these strange tales.

Not to mention, even the most learned scholars of the Hanlin Academy were completely bewildered by the grandson of the emperor's scholarship, having never heard of it before.

Zhu Yunwen's knowledge seemed to have fallen from the sky, and its origin remains a mystery.

However, Lao Zhu did not intend to get to the bottom of it.

As long as Zhu Yunwen is still his grandson and his blood flows in his veins, that's enough.

If the source of knowledge cannot be explained, it is attributed to divine will or divine grace.

This emperor, who had weathered many storms, always scorned the charlatans' superstitious tricks and disregarded the nonsense of so-called fortune tellers.

But Old Zhu firmly believed in destiny.

Whenever there were unusual celestial phenomena or shifting stars, he would always observe them intently and carefully ponder the warnings from Heaven.

However, Old Zhu only believed in what he saw with his own eyes and would never entrust this matter to anyone else.

Even the most eloquent officials from the Imperial Observatory could not persuade him in the slightest.

In Zhu's view, it was a desecration of imperial authority for mortals to convey the will of Heaven. Only he, the true Son of Heaven and the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, was qualified to communicate with Heaven.

It was also a serious challenge to imperial power!

But Zhu Yunwen was different.

He is of the Zhu family bloodline, the heir to the Ming Dynasty, and the emperor!
If he carries the will of Heaven and knows secrets beyond the reach of ordinary people, then it is only natural and in accordance with orthodoxy.

This not only does not undermine imperial power, but also further demonstrates that the Zhu dynasty is ordained by Heaven and solidifies the foundation of the empire.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang's smile deepened.

Although Yoshigaki's words were somewhat flattering, they also struck a chord with him.

His heart was filled with joy, and he felt that with such a virtuous grandson, the Ming Dynasty would surely be as stable as Mount Tai.

"By the way, is that imperial examination cheating case that caused such a stir still unresolved and delayed until now?" Old Zhu suddenly remembered something else.

"Furthermore, the plan to summon renowned scholars from across the land to the capital for a debate between the new and old schools of thought was prepared for a long time, but why did it disappear without a trace and never take place?"

Yoshigaki hurriedly bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, perhaps you have simply forgotten."

“A few days ago, I reported to you that the Ministry of Rites had made a secret report that the case of cheating in the imperial examinations had been completely resolved.”

He cleared his throat, his tone becoming increasingly cautious: "After a thorough investigation by the Ministry of Rites' Department of Etiquette, the Ministry of Justice's Special Inspection Department, the Ministry of Law's Department of Violations of Regulations, and the Censorate, and after review and approval by the Administrative Office, all the candidates' answer sheets and conduct were carefully examined, and no cheating was found."

"Deputy Chief Examiner Pei Yanbing, after repeated checks, also did not intentionally leak the questions."

"As for Fang Xiaoru, he was just a commoner. His daily lectures were purely out of personal interest and had nothing to do with the imperial examinations. He was innocent and blameless."

At this point, Ji Yuan paused slightly, stealing a glance at Zhu Yuanzhang's expression. Seeing that he was focused, he continued, "However, Pei Yanbing, as the deputy chief examiner and the one who set the questions, acted carelessly and lacked thorough consideration, resulting in the exam questions being similar to the topics circulating outside, which aroused controversy. In the end, he cannot escape blame."

"In order to set the record straight and enforce the law, the court demoted him by seven ranks as a warning to others."

"Fang Xiaoru has neither an official position nor any criminal responsibility, so he should be released and allowed to be free."

Since Zhu Yunwen implemented the new policies, all departments of the court have been transformed.

To strengthen governance, each department established a special agency for supervision.

The Ministry of Rites' Office of Rites was one such office, responsible for investigating violations of etiquette and the imperial examination system.

After the implementation of the new policies, the imperial court's control over local areas was greatly strengthened.

Nowadays, local education commissioners, provincial judicial commissioners, and legal commissioners are all subject to the control of the governors and provincial inspectors, as well as being directly under the jurisdiction of various central ministries.

This dual management system led to a surge in the workload of various government departments, making the responsibility of supervision increasingly heavy.

To eliminate abuses, internal oversight agencies were established in various departments, including the Special Inspection Division of the Ministry of Justice and the Division for Violations of Regulations of the Ministry of Justice.

These agencies not only rigorously investigate dereliction of duty by their own officials, but also take swift and decisive action against lawbreakers outside, striving to maintain strict discipline.

Pei Yanbing was originally an official of the Ministry of Rites, and the imperial examinations were also administered by the Ministry of Rites, so the Office of the Directorate of Rites naturally had to conduct an in-depth investigation.

The Special Prosecution Division of the Ministry of Justice and the Division for Violations of Regulations of the Ministry of Justice cooperated in the investigation to uncover the truth.

Working together across departments would also help avoid any suspicion of cover-up.

In the past, such a handling would have caused a huge uproar.

However, the imperial examination had ended seven or eight months ago, and as time went on, the once widely discussed matter gradually faded from public attention.

Furthermore, with the implementation of the new policies, the power of officials and the interests of bureaucrats in the court were re-established, and they no longer lingered on this matter.

With both the government and the public focused on the new policies, how many people are still concerned about this case?

More importantly, the direct stakeholders, namely the candidates who participated in the imperial examinations, even if they did not pass the exams, secured positions due to the implementation of the new policies, production innovations, and the surge in demand for talent.

The court's more refined management also meant an increase in the number of official positions.

Even without passing the imperial examinations, they could still become officials, so naturally they wouldn't cause trouble over the examination fraud case.

Thus, this case, which initially seemed like a "huge case," quietly faded away.

After Ji Yuan finished reporting the whole story of the imperial examination cheating case, he continued, "Your Majesty's wise decision is that the capital is far away from the surrounding prefectures and counties, and it will take time for local officials to select learned scholars."

"If a grand national event is hastily convened, many great scholars may not be able to attend as scheduled, which would diminish the dignity of the event."

"Therefore, His Majesty the Emperor decreed that the virtuous scholars who have arrived in the capital should temporarily reside in the guesthouses and wait for the candidates from various places to gather before the formal discussion can begin."

"Now that the date of the National Assembly has been set for early spring next year, there are still several months to go. With ample time for preparation, we are confident that we can achieve the best possible outcome."

Zhu Yuanzhang lightly patted his forehead and laughed, "Look at me, my memory is getting worse and worse!"

He leaned back in the wisteria chair, a hint of self-mockery in his eyes, and shook his head with a sigh: "You clearly told me about these things a few days ago, but I forgot about them in the blink of an eye, which made you have to waste your breath."

Yoshigaki stood with his head bowed, a gentle smile on his lips, but he did not dare to speak.

Old Zhu's memory wasn't really as bad as he joked.

Since moving to the inner palace, although Old Zhu was getting old and his spirits were occasionally failing, he might forget what he heard today by tomorrow.

However, more often than not, the old emperor's thoughts were as unfathomable as a deep pool. He seemed completely unaware on the surface, but in reality, he saw right through them.

He may have already known everything, but he deliberately pretended to be forgetful to test whether the person beside him had ulterior motives, or whether he dared to deceive him because of his old age and frailty.

The art of rulership is as profound as an abyss. Whether he has truly forgotten or is merely pretending to forget, outsiders have no way of knowing. How could Yoshigaki dare to be careless?
Serving this founding emperor requires utmost care; the slightest carelessness could lead to utter ruin.

Old Zhu's gaze seemed to sweep over Ji Yuan intentionally or unintentionally, then turned to the swaying branches in the courtyard, his tone revealing a hint of relief: "Yun Tong, that child, truly did not disappoint us."

"The implementation of the new policy was a natural progression, and it gained the upper hand before any debate even began."

"When we hold another grand gathering next spring, it won't be about winning or losing anymore. It will be about discussing how to press our advantage and expand our gains!"

"The memorials submitted recently all praise his governance achievements in the two years since he ascended the throne."

"After the implementation of the new policies, the Ming Dynasty took on a completely new look, with the people becoming prosperous and the government becoming clean and efficient. It was a complete transformation."

At this point, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly stopped smiling, turned his gaze to a wisp of cloud on the horizon, and said with a hint of melancholy, "It's a pity that we are now trapped inside these palace walls and can hardly witness the magnificent scenery outside."

"We can only imagine the scene of peace and happiness for all people from the memorials..."

His voice trailed off, as if he were talking to himself or reminiscing. A gentle breeze swept through the courtyard, bringing a touch of coolness, as if echoing the complex emotions of the old emperor.

Seizing the opportunity, Yoshigaki said, "With your permission, I secretly spread the word that I wanted to go out."

A fawning smile spread across his face as he lowered his voice and said, "This servant has also heard that His Majesty the Emperor intends to bestow upon you an honorific title, proposing to call you 'Supreme Emperor'."

"This move may be His Majesty's way of announcing to the world that you are still alive, welcoming you out of the palace and back into the light of day."

In fact, according to the rites and laws, the emperor's father was the one who was honored as the "Retired Emperor".

As for how to address the emperor's grandfather, the father of the retired emperor, there are few explicit records in ancient books and rituals.

This is because the situation where an emperor ascends the throne while his grandfather is still alive is unprecedented in the past thousand years.

Even those who formulated the rules of etiquette felt that they did not need to establish them.

Throughout history, only Emperor Gao Wei of the Northern Qi Dynasty has been an exception.

When Gao Wei was alive, he passed the throne to his son, who then passed it to his grandson. Thus, Gao Wei became the only emperor grandfather in history who was still alive after his grandson ascended the throne.

In response, the rulers and ministers of Northern Qi created the title "Supreme Emperor" to show their respect.

……

(End of this chapter)