Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 591 Tests and Good Fortune! A Request!
Xu Miaojin wouldn't pay much attention to a medical officer from the Western Regions, let alone associate him with a fugitive prince wanted by the Ming Dynasty.

In Xu Miaojin's mind, the medical skills of the imperial physicians of the Ming Dynasty were unparalleled, especially since His Majesty advocated "science," and the medical arts have been advancing by leaps and bounds.

If the two women from the Western Regions truly suffered from chronic illnesses or were simply unaccustomed to the local environment, the imperial physicians accompanying the emperor would certainly provide treatment.

However, the physician's words were not without reason. After all, he had accompanied them all the way and was most familiar with the two women's constitutions. Staying behind to hand over the duties to the imperial physician was indeed a prudent move.

Furthermore, the two women are new to this place and have no relatives or friends. Having someone from their hometown accompany them would put their minds at ease.

This can be considered a favor.

In a flash, she made a decision.

They agreed to Zhu Su's request to stay.

Having received permission, the huge weight that had been hanging over Zhu Su's heart finally lifted, but he dared not relax in the slightest. He immediately prostrated himself and kowtowed, his posture extremely respectful: "Your humble servant thanks Your Highness for your divine grace!"

After Xu Miaojin and her entourage had gone far away, Inspector Wang Shoulian snorted coldly and took his leave.

Li Chongwen stepped forward with a smile and took the initiative to curry favor with Zhu Su: "The two princesses are both of unparalleled beauty. Now that they have met His Majesty, they will surely be showered with boundless favor in the future."

"For Doctor Cao to stay by my side is a golden opportunity for him to rise to the top."

"In the future, when I am before His Majesty, I hope that the divine physician will remember the favor I did by introducing you today and say a few kind words to me."

Zhu Su quickly returned the greeting, speaking humbly: "Your Excellency is too kind."

"Your Excellency is a pillar of the Ming Dynasty, and your control over a region is comparable to that of a king in the Western Regions."

"I am but a humble physician of lowly status. How dare I accept such high expectations from you, sir? I am ashamed, I am ashamed."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhu Su changed the subject, his gaze falling on Li Chongwen's face. He feigned concern and frowned slightly, saying, "Forgive my bluntness, but judging from your appearance, sir, your complexion is sallow and you appear somewhat swollen. This is a sign of weakness in both the heart and spleen, and mental strain."

"It must be because you, sir, have been overworked with the affairs of the province, which has led to this."

"If this continues, it may harm your health."

Upon hearing this, Li Chongwen's heart stirred.

He naturally trusted the imperial physicians of the Ming Dynasty, but as is common sense, ordinary people around him are never as convincing as mysterious people from afar.

Just like many people in later generations who do not believe in the medical skills of top hospitals, but prefer to seek treatment from "quack doctors".

In addition, this "Miracle Doctor Cao" has treated many people along the way.

He had heard that this person possessed miraculous healing abilities.

Since His Majesty decided to make a northern tour, Li Chongwen has been working tirelessly day and night to prepare for the arrival of His Majesty, leaving him exhausted.

Zhu Su laughed and said, "I have some knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine and have a few prescriptions for regulating vital energy. Many people have said that they are quite effective after taking them."

"If you don't mind, sir, I will prescribe a medicine for you. Please follow the prescription and get the medicine; it may alleviate your symptoms."

Li Chongwen had already intended this, and upon hearing this, he laughed heartily: "I am deeply grateful for Dr. Cao's kindness, then I will trouble Dr. Cao!"

Zhu Su immediately had someone bring him pen and ink, and with swift, flowing strokes, wrote down a prescription, handed it to Li Chongwen, and carefully instructed him on how to decoct and take it.

Then, seemingly casually, he remarked, "I come from the Western Regions, and only after entering the Ming Dynasty did I realize what the grandeur of the Celestial Empire truly means."

"Cement roads, steam engines, department stores full of dazzling arrays... all of these were things I had never heard of or seen before!"

"Especially when I arrived in Shandong, I was deeply impressed by the prosperity of the place."

"The Great Ming is truly a blessed land. As long as you have wealth, even if you are not a member of the imperial family, a noble official, or a high-ranking official, you can enjoy all the pleasures of the world. You are ten thousand times happier than the kings of the Western Regions!"

These words, seemingly sincere praise from a foreigner, actually conceal a subtle probing of the "money-first" mentality.

Hearing this, Li Chongwen stroked his beard and laughed heartily, his pride evident in his words: "Divine Physician, you may not know this, but the Ming Dynasty of the past, though prosperous, had experienced the chaos of the late Yuan Dynasty and was far from the splendor it enjoys today."

"Several years ago, we couldn't have imagined this!"

"All of this is thanks to our Lord's divine wisdom and for establishing 'science' and vigorously promoting new policies!"

Zhu Su lowered his eyes, already understanding the situation.

This man is a staunch supporter of the new policies and a fanatical follower of Zhu Yunwen. Trying to turn him against his cause would be as difficult as climbing to heaven.

However, Zhu Su was still not giving up. Seeing that he was unmoved, he had another thought and sighed, "The officialdom has always been like a river, with mud and sand mixed together, making it difficult to distinguish between the pure and the impure."

"I have heard that when the Supreme Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was in power, he deeply hated corrupt officials and established a cruel law that punished those who embezzled sixty taels of silver by skinning them alive."

"It has repeatedly stirred up major cases, with heads rolling and blood flowing like rivers on the execution ground, but in the end, it is like a wildfire that cannot be extinguished, and springs up again when the spring breeze blows."

He then changed the subject, seemingly casually saying, "The current emperor is renowned throughout the land for his benevolence and kindness. He is kind to his officials and benevolent to the people."

"But recently, due to the breach of the Yellow River, the imperial tour to Henan and Shandong has repeatedly resulted in major prisons."

"In Henan province, countless officials have been dismissed; in Shandong, a small case has implicated more than a hundred people, and further investigation is likely to follow."

"The emperor's thunder and rain are all forms of imperial grace."

"But the power of this thunder is beyond what ordinary people can withstand."

"Your Excellency, you hold a high position and are in the eye of the storm, so you must take extra care of yourself."

These words, ostensibly out of concern, were in fact a test.

Upon hearing this, Li Chongwen finally wiped the smile off his face, and his sharp, restrained eyes gave Zhu Su a deep look.

There was scrutiny and amusement in his eyes, but no panic whatsoever.

He remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, his tone revealing a clear understanding: "I understand your concerns, sir."

"The saying goes, 'If the water is too clear, there will be no fish.' Unless Your Majesty slaughters all the officials in the country, the corruption of officials can only be curbed and prevented from going too far, but it can never be completely eradicated."

"Your Majesty is exceptionally wise and insightful; how could you not know this principle?"

"What His Majesty wants is not absolute incorruptibility, but rather that officials have 'a line' in their hearts."

What is a 'line'?

"To smooth things over in officialdom and to act expediently is human nature and a long-standing practice in officialdom. As long as it doesn't go too far, Your Majesty can turn a blind eye."

"But if they cross this line and become corrupt, oppressing the people, then they can't blame His Majesty for being ruthless."

"What His Majesty needs are capable ministers and officials to implement new policies and establish a lasting dynasty."

“If the criticism is too harsh, everyone will feel insecure and will hold their positions without doing anything in order to avoid making mistakes. That is the situation that Your Majesty least wants to see.”

"I have been in officialdom for many years. Although it is said that 'one is not in control of one's own destiny when one is in officialdom,' I would never dare to cross this 'line.'"

"Even if the Emperor were to question me one day and investigate the details, and find any violations, I would likely only be dismissed from my post. I, the Governor, could still return to my hometown and live a comfortable life as a wealthy man, which would be fine." After saying this, Li Chongwen picked up his teacup, took a sip, but his eyes remained fixed on the "Divine Physician Cao" in front of him.

In his view, this person was no ordinary person; his medical skills were superb, and he was well-versed in Central Plains culture. He would never be content to remain subordinate to others for long.

His probing today, ostensibly out of concern, was in reality an inquiry into his "way of survival" in the Ming Dynasty's officialdom.

Since that's the case, I might as well do him a favor and offer him some guidance.

If this person is fortunate enough to gain favor with the king in the future, then what I said today will be a blessing in disguise.

In Li Chongwen's view, Zhu Su, under the guise of being a physician and treating Gulizaba and Dinaruoya, stayed by the side of His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, perhaps because he wanted to become an official in the Ming Dynasty.

His question likely stems from lingering doubts.

Li Chongwen could never have imagined that a minor medical officer from the Western Regions was plotting to assassinate the Ming emperor, overthrow his rule, and establish himself as emperor.

He thought that if "Dr. Cao" really served as an official in the Ming Dynasty, then with his "special relationship" with the two Western Region princesses who had just been presented to the emperor, he would have a place even if he was not appointed to a high position.

Most importantly, Li Chongwen had just met Princess Gulizaba and Princess Dinaruoya, and they were indeed beautiful enough to make fish sink and geese fall from the sky, and flowers blush with shame.

Moreover, she was a woman from a foreign land, and her appearance was very different from that of ordinary women from the Central Plains.

Men all have a sense of curiosity, and they will have a stronger and more unusual attraction to exotic beauties who are not commonly seen.

Even emperors are men, and no exception.

Moreover, Li Chongwen had long heard that the current emperor was a womanizer.

As long as Gulizaba and Dinaruoya aren't too stupid, and have even a little bit of intelligence, they will surely be favored after entering the palace.

The connection between "Dr. Cao" and the two women, who were from the same hometown, remained constant. To form a good relationship with "Dr. Cao" was to form a good relationship with the two future imperial concubines.

Furthermore, this was a simple matter requiring only a few words of guidance, so Li Chongwen was naturally happy to do it.

Zhu Su listened quietly, but her heart felt icy cold.

He finally understood.

People like Li Chongwen are not blindly loyal; on the contrary, they are the smartest "pragmatists" of the new era.

They accurately grasped the pulse of the new policies and the emperor's bottom line, and within the rules, they skillfully seized their own interests.

They had long since formed a strong symbiotic relationship with Zhu Yunwen's new policies, bound by shared interests and ideals.

Trying to bring him down by starting with "corruption" is nothing short of wishful thinking.

Upon realizing this, Zhu Su no longer harbored any intention to recruit him, but his face perfectly displayed an expression of sudden understanding and sincere admiration. He bowed deeply and said, "Hearing your words today is better than reading ten years' worth of books! Your Excellency's insight is profound, and I, Cao, have learned a great deal!"

After exchanging polite pleasantries for a while, Li Chongwen finally took his leave, satisfied.

As Zhu Su watched Li Chongwen leave, the perfectly timed smile on her face gradually froze, eventually turning into a deep chill.

Li Chongwen was a beneficiary of the new policies and a fervent follower of Zhu Yunwen. Trying to win him over was tantamount to asking a tiger for its skin.

On the contrary, the imperial inspector Wang Shoulian, who had previously been indifferent to him, was dissatisfied with the new policies and took it upon himself to restore the old ways. Perhaps... he was the one who could truly be considered a kindred spirit.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

With this in mind, Zhu Su no longer hesitated.

He returned to his residence, carefully took out a long, narrow object wrapped in brocade from a hidden compartment in a package, and neatly tucked it into his sleeve. Then, he straightened his clothes and went straight to Wang Shoulian's residence.

Both of them were following Zhu Yunwen's imperial procession, so their destinations were not far apart, and Zhu Su arrived quickly.

Wang Shoulian's temporary residence was simply furnished, with only books on the four walls, exuding a cool and austere atmosphere, just like his personality.

He did not refuse to see him, but his tone still carried a distant and unapproachable air: "Doctor Cao, what important business does the delegation have to discuss with you?"

In his view, aside from official business, he had no personal relationship whatsoever with the Western Regions delegation that was trying to curry favor with the king.

"Lord Wang, you misunderstand." Zhu Su's face was full of smiles as he bowed first. "I am not here for official business, but for personal reasons."

Despite Wang Shoulian's cold attitude, he seemed oblivious, sighing to himself with a voice carrying a sense of vicissitude: "To be honest, my ancestors were also from the Central Plains. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, they had no choice but to move to the Western Regions to avoid the ravages of war."

As the old saying goes, "Things are more valuable away from their hometown, but people are less valuable away from their hometown." Only after leaving one's homeland can one truly appreciate the beauty of China!

Wang Shoulian's stern face remained unchanged, but his eyes flickered slightly.

Seeing this, Zhu Su continued in a heartfelt tone, "What I long for day and night is to return to my homeland as soon as possible."

"But my family and possessions are all in the Western Regions, thousands of miles away. How easy would it be to come back?"

"To be frank, I am extremely reluctant to escort the princess here."

"A ruler should be close to virtuous ministers and keep away from petty men, so as to govern the world with virtue."

"How is this practice of offering beauty as tribute any different from the Jade Terrace of King Zhou of Shang?"

"This is not the way of a subject; it is an act of flattery and favoritism!"

"I came here on orders, and every time I think of this, I feel deeply ashamed!"

These indignant words finally caused a slight change in Wang Shoulian's expression.

"But the king's command is hard to disobey. If I do not come, someone else will."

"After much deliberation, I have finally agreed to this matter."

"The purpose is to take this opportunity to return to this homeland that I have been longing for, to see it with my own eyes, and to walk around it in person."

After Zhu Su finished his reflections, he bowed deeply to Wang Shoulian and said, "The Great Ming is a land of sages who taught and guided the people, and it inherits the civilization of the sages."

"Although I am in the Western Regions, I dare not forget my roots. I have been studying the Four Books and Five Classics since childhood, for fear of failing the teachings of the sages."

"I have come here with a request that I would like to ask of you, and I hope that you will grant it."

Before Wang Shoulian could ask a question, Zhu Su continued, "I have heard that His Majesty will personally visit the Temple of Heaven in Qufu during his tour of Shandong."

"I humbly request Your Excellency to grant me permission to accompany His Majesty in the Confucian ceremony."

He bowed deeply and said with utmost respect, "In this life, I have no other wish but to be able to come to the temple of the sage, burn incense and pay my respects, so as to comfort my life."

"I earnestly request Your Excellency to grant this overseas wanderer's request for a sincere heart for the Sage and for his homeland!"

"If it can be done, I will be extremely grateful!"

……

(End of this chapter)