Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 536 Intelligence and Visits! The Girl!

Inside the post station, in the sleeping quarters where Zhu Yunwen was temporarily resting, he had been staying for two days.

This move was not without purpose.

On the one hand, after days of long journeys and tiring travel, he really needed a good rest.

On the other hand, by staying here, we can make arrangements at our leisure, sending trusted confidants to secretly investigate the true situation in Henan Province, so as to make full preparations for the subsequent disaster relief survey and the rectification of the Henan officialdom.

At this moment, Zhu Yunwen was intently unfolding the thin slips of paper in his hand, which contained the latest intelligence that had just been presented.

Over the years, he has been busy with official duties and has reviewed countless memorials. He has almost always only read the concise and well-organized reports and rarely consults the original intelligence documents directly.

Only during this personal inspection tour did he deviate from the norm, not only reading the briefings as usual, but also personally reading some of the intelligence.

The handwriting on the note was clear, and several shocking passages immediately caught the eye:

"Many officials in Henan Province had private contact with the eunuchs and guards accompanying the emperor, and some even offered bribes in secret. However, most of these bribes were firmly rejected by the eunuchs and guards, because the chief eunuch Zhao Rui had issued a strict prohibition, warning the accompanying eunuchs and guards that they must never accept any bribes from local officials."

"The Grand Eunuch Zhao Rui recently generously gave a huge reward to the eunuchs and guards accompanying the emperor, with the total amount estimated to be as high as tens of thousands of taels of silver."

"Before their last audience with the Emperor, the Governor of Henan, Zheng Hongjian, and the Imperial Inspector, Zhao Qingzhi, had privately received guidance from the Grand Eunuch Zhao Rui. Zhao Rui said something to them... (details unknown, pending further investigation)"

"It is said that Zheng Hongjian, the governor of Henan, and Zhao Qingzhi, the imperial inspector, had a private audience with Zhao Rui. The specific content of their conversation is still unclear, but there are rumors that when the two asked to see a jade carving that Zhao Rui was playing with, they accidentally dropped and broke it. Afterwards, the two had to pay a huge sum of compensation. Zhao Rui then ordered the two to use all of this compensation to help the people in the disaster-stricken areas of Henan."

Upon reading this, Zhu Yunwen's deep eyes flickered slightly.

The intelligence reports were not written by the same person, but were obtained by different people through different channels.

However, these seemingly independent pieces of information are actually quite interconnected and corroborate each other.

It is not surprising that Zhao Rui sternly warned his entourage against accepting bribes from local officials.

However, it is quite puzzling that he would give such a huge reward to the eunuchs and guards accompanying him.

How much salary would a chief eunuch receive in a year?

How could they possibly take out such a huge sum of money to reward others?

However, if we juxtapose the news of Zheng Hongjian and Zhao Qingzhi's private meeting with Zhao Rui with this, all the doubts will be resolved.

It is obvious that this money was "gifted" by Zheng Hongjian and Zhao Qingzhi.

Part of it was used to provide relief to people in disaster areas, while the other part was used by Zhao Rui to reward the palace maids and eunuchs who accompanied him.

Of course, it is highly likely that some of the money has quietly flowed into Zhao Rui's own pocket, but the exact amount is difficult for intelligence agencies to ascertain precisely.

After all, although they can uncover many secrets, they are not all-knowing gods.

Another matter is that in the past two days, the Governor of Henan, Zheng Hongjian, and the Imperial Inspector, Zhao Qingzhi, unexpectedly submitted memorials to apologize, admitting in their memorials many of their past mistakes.

At the same time, they also gave a new report on the actual disaster situation in Henan.

The newly reported disaster situation is ten times more severe than the previously reported figures.

In addition, the two also attached detailed plans for the future management of the Yellow River.

Rumor has it that, although Zheng Hongjian and Zhao Qingzhi have not left the emperor's residence for the past two days, their behavior has changed from the previous perfunctory and slack manner.

They are doing their utmost to urge officials of all ranks in Henan Province to devote themselves wholeheartedly to flood relief and disaster relief work.

Urgent telegrams and express mail were being sent out one after another from their hands, reaching all parts of Henan.

The two stayed by the telegraph machine almost day and night, tirelessly coordinating and deploying disaster relief efforts.

His dedication to his work was so great that he would forget to eat and sleep.

It should be noted that when Zheng Hongjian was furious about Li Jichuan's death and immediately dispatched Yang Rong to Kaifeng to thoroughly investigate the case, Zheng Hongjian and Zhao Qingzhi still appeared to be detached and indifferent.

But now, they have suddenly changed their ways, which is very likely due to Zhao Rui's guidance.

Zhu Yunwen sighed softly and fell into deep thought.

Throughout history, for those in high positions, the most difficult thing has been to accurately grasp the true situation on the ground.

It's important to understand that even CEOs of large corporations in later generations were often misled by reports from their subordinates and were unable to understand the true situation of their companies for a considerable period of time.

The so-called "big company disease" is largely caused by the lack of understanding of the actual situation at the grassroots level by the company's senior management, resulting in decisions that are seriously out of touch with reality.

If this is the case for a single company, imagine how difficult it is to govern a large and complex country.

The industrialization process of the Ming Dynasty is advancing rapidly, the financial industry is developing at breakneck speed, the logistics system is extensive and well-connected, and information is spreading at an explosive pace. The entire social structure is undergoing drastic transformation and change, becoming increasingly complex.

Although Zhu Yunwen had anticipated this and made many meticulous arrangements, the more complex a system is, the more loopholes and variables it has, and the more difficult it is to control the entire system.

Governing the Ming Dynasty today is far more difficult than it was a few years ago.

However, human nature remains unchanged throughout history.

This applies even to those closest to us.

For example, Zhao Rui, who was just an insignificant eunuch in his own mansion a few years ago, has now become a powerful figure who is sought after by high-ranking officials.

Zhu Yunwen chuckled to himself.

He knew that to govern the world, he first had to manage the people around him.

What should we do with Zhao Rui?
He was lost in thought when Xu Miaojin's clear voice came from the back room, breaking the silence inside.

"Brother Tong, are we going to stay here in the inn and not go to the disaster area?" the little girl asked in a cheerful voice as she walked in with light steps.

"I think Zheng Hongjian and Zhao Qingzhi are not very honest, and they may not have reported all the facts truthfully."

She looked up at him with a hint of worry in her voice: "If Brother Tong doesn't actually investigate, he might be kept in the dark."

Zhu Yunwen smiled faintly, a hint of amusement in his eyes, and asked softly, "Then, in your opinion, what should we do now?" Xu Miaojin immediately perked up upon hearing this, her clear voice filled with longing: "In plays, there are often stories of emperors traveling incognito to seek justice for the common people!"

"Brother Tong, now that you're out here, don't you plan to go out for a walk and see the world?"

Zhu Yunwen reached out and gently flicked her smooth forehead, his voice full of affection: "You little rascal, all you ever think about is going out to play."

His eyes flickered slightly, and his tone changed again: "However, what you said does make some sense."

"Now that we're here, there's no reason not to go out and see for ourselves."

Upon hearing this, the little girl was overjoyed. Her face flushed with excitement, and she clapped her hands excitedly, asking, "Great! Great! When do we set off?"

"There's no time to lose. We should immediately select a few shrewd and reliable guards and set off right away!" Zhu Yunwen made the decision swiftly without the slightest hesitation.

He had indeed long harbored this intention, hoping to go deep into the grassroots and have close contact with ordinary people, rather than simply relying on reports from officials at each level to understand the situation below.

However, as the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, with the fate of the country resting on his shoulders, how could he, like those depicted in plays, casually go on incognito visits for ten days, half a month, or even one or two months without regard for state affairs?

If the emperor mysteriously disappears and even the central ministers of the court cannot contact him, the entire court will inevitably descend into madness, and chaos will ensue.

At that time, the first thing the ministers will have to do is to spare no effort, mobilize all available resources, and devote the entire nation's strength to bringing the emperor back as soon as possible.

Allowing the emperor to "travel incognito" without knowing his whereabouts or maintaining constant contact with him is something that even high-ranking central ministers wouldn't dare to imagine!

Such a scene could probably only be imagined and arranged by ordinary people in plays, using their beautiful and sincere wishes, and sung about it during their leisure time.

If the emperor really wanted to go on an incognito trip, he could only go and return quickly.

Taking advantage of the fact that the ministers were unaware, he quietly went out and then quietly returned.

The trip should not be too long; it is best to go and return on the same day.

Only in this way can we avoid causing a stir in the court and an uproar throughout the land.

Soon, Zhu Yunwen gathered his guards, made arrangements, and then quietly left the post station, heading straight for the disaster area.

……

the other side.

On the official road leading from Beshbali to the Ming Dynasty, a special convoy is slowly making its way forward.

Aside from the Ming Dynasty officials and soldiers leading the way, the clothing and attire of this group of travelers were significantly different from those of people from the Central Plains, exuding an exotic charm.

In the very center of the caravan, inside an exceptionally ornate carriage, the carved window was gently pushed open, and a pretty head peeked out.

She possessed a pair of deep, bright sapphire-like eyes, a pert, delicate nose, and luscious red lips. Her facial features were clear and well-defined, and coupled with her flawless, delicate skin, she was undoubtedly a charming and exotic young woman.

Unlike the gentle and reserved temperament of women from the Central Plains, she exudes a unique charm and allure.

"The Ming Dynasty is indeed incredibly prosperous!" the girl exclaimed sincerely, her voice clear and melodious, filled with undisguised longing. "Any city we've passed through along the way is more than a hundred times more prosperous than our Beshbalik."

It is said that there were hundreds or even thousands of such cities in the Ming Dynasty.

"Compared to this, our Beshbali is like a dilapidated little village."

The girl's eyes sparkled with longing, filled with envy and yearning: "I've heard that the prosperity of Nanjing, the capital of the Ming Dynasty, surpasses that of other cities by a thousand times. I wonder when I will have the opportunity to witness its splendor firsthand."

"We won't be heading directly to Jinling, but rather to the place where His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty is currently inspecting." Another equally melodious voice came from inside the carriage, picking up where the girl left off.

The girl who spoke was equally beautiful, in no way inferior to the girl by the window.

Without a doubt, the two people in the car were the "Two Beauties of the Western Regions," Gulizaba and Dinaruoya, who were famous throughout the desert and grasslands and drove countless men to the brink of madness!
Not long ago, under the strong pressure of their elder brother Shamichagan, the two sisters were forced to board a carriage bound for the Ming Dynasty.

For girls who had never traveled far from home, this sudden and drastic change terrified them, causing them to wail and cry uncontrollably.

However, the tide of fate rolled onward, and they had no choice but to accept it helplessly.

Fortunately, after entering the territory of the Ming Dynasty, all that could be seen along the way were beautiful green mountains and clear waters, which brought ultimate comfort and tranquility compared to the desolate scenery of the Western Regions with its endless yellow sand.

The two sisters are still young and are filled with boundless curiosity about the vast outside world.

As their journey deepened, they witnessed firsthand the bustling prosperity of the Ming Dynasty. Gradually, their childlike curiosity overcame their fear, and the two became lively and cheerful again, their laughter ringing out like silver bells.

"I wonder what the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty looks like," Dina Ruoya murmured softly, a hint of melancholy in her voice.

As the older sister, Gulizaba, though not much older than her younger sister, always tried to show the composure and responsibility expected of an older sister: "No matter what he looks like, he is still a young monarch."

She tried to comfort her sister, and also seemed to be convincing herself: "Compared to marrying those elderly tribal chiefs, being able to marry the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty is actually much better."

Gulizaba recalled the marriage her father had originally betrothed to, Huxida.

That was a very old man, more than thirty years older than her!

Among her older sisters, some married Timur of the Turan Empire, and they were also twenty or thirty years older than her.

The fates of the other sisters were mostly similar.

As daughters of the Khan, they were also "tools" in the process of marriage alliances.

In contrast, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty was a young man in the prime of his life.

When you think about it carefully, marrying into the Ming Dynasty is actually a pretty good choice.

The only drawback is that it's too far from home, and homesickness sometimes creeps in.

Dina Ruya said softly, "I hope he's a good person."

……

(End of this chapter)