Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 603 A Plea for Advice! A Coup!

In an instant, the scene fell into a deathly silence, as if the air had frozen.

The ministers looked at each other, seemingly wondering if they had misheard.

Today is a solemn ceremony to worship the saint, not a time for political discussions in the court.

If you have something to report, why choose this moment?

Why are you in such a hurry to disrupt the solemn atmosphere of the festival?

Could this matter be closely related to the sacrificial ceremony itself?

Without needing to say more, everyone was already secretly speculating.

Most of these objections point directly to the content of the prayers read by the emperor during the sacrificial rites.

This is no small matter.

The emperor's prayer had just been read aloud at the ceremony. To openly raise objections now carries far more weight than a regular refusal of an imperial edict, enough to shock the court and the public!

Before Zhu Yunwen could speak, Zhao Rui could no longer contain himself and strode forward, shouting, "The time for the sacrificial ceremony is no ordinary occasion. If you have anything to report, you can do so after the ceremony is over!"

The official remained unmoved, his back ramrod straight, and bowed, saying loudly, "Your Majesty, the matter I have to report must be addressed at this crucial moment!"

Zhao Rui was furious, his voice booming like thunder: "How dare you! Disrupting the sacred ceremony, what do you intend to do? What crime have you committed?"

The official remained unfazed and showed no sign of backing down. He then raised his voice again and said, "Precisely because today is a grand ceremony to worship the sages, His Majesty's pronouncements on national policies will resound like thunder throughout the land, concerning the fate of the Ming Dynasty and the well-being of its people. If I remain silent, it would be disloyal!"

"You...you madman, how dare you overstep your bounds like this!" Zhao Rui was so angry that his face turned red. He was about to call the guards to come forward and arrest the man when he saw Zhu Yunwen's expression turn cold and stern. He slowly raised his hand, signaling him to be quiet.

Zhao Rui's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly swallowed back the rebuke he was about to utter.

Zhu Yunwen stared at the official, his gaze as deep as a pool, and said in a calm tone, "If that's the case, then present your report."

The official stood tall, his imposing presence commanding, his voice booming like a bell, echoing throughout the palace: "Your Majesty, I believe that Your Majesty's statement in the sacrificial prayer, 'The essence of the sage's way lies in serving the public good,' is somewhat biased!"

"The core of the way of the sage is 'rites', which are the embodiment of the principles of Heaven."

"All things in heaven and earth are governed by 'reason'. Human nature is inherently good, and its origin lies in the purity of heavenly reason."

"Nothing in the world can transcend the realm of human nature, therefore no principle can surpass the boundaries of the Way of Heaven."

"All things follow the rules of propriety and exist in accordance with righteousness."

The Book of Changes says: "The continuous process of creation is called change," and also says: "What brings things together is nature."

"All things grow and flourish, embodying the principles of Heaven and carrying the meaning of the Great Way."

"If the human heart is blinded by selfish desires, it is as precarious as a pile of eggs; if the heart of the Way follows the principles of Heaven, it is profound and insightful. Only by abandoning selfish desires can the principles of Heaven be as clear as a mirror."

"The teachings of the sages throughout their lives, in thousands of words, all boil down to one principle: preserve the principles of Heaven and eliminate human desires."

"This is the true essence of the sacred path!"

The official spoke eloquently, quoting classical texts, but what he was talking about was the essence of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism: "Preserve heavenly principles and eliminate human desires."

After he finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent again, with only the low murmur of the wind whistling through the corners of the hall, making the atmosphere even more solemn.

Zhu Yunwen's gaze slowly swept over the assembled officials below, then swept over the surrounding guards, before withdrawing it and asking in a loud voice, "What do you all think? Do you have any other insightful opinions? Feel free to speak frankly and discuss them with me."

The hall remained silent, and no one dared to answer.

The officials bowed their heads, seemingly intimidated by an invisible pressure.

Who doesn't know what the emperor means?

Not to mention that it was clearly stated in the prayer just now.

Zhu Yunwen's gaze swept downwards again, then he suddenly took a half step back, his fingers hanging at his sides trembling slightly.

Zhao Rui understood immediately, and quickly stepped forward, bending down to get closer.

Zhu Yunwen lowered his voice and said softly, "Have you sent someone to inform the Imperial Concubine about the replacement of the guards?"

These words were so faint that no one else could hear them except for the two of them.

Zhao Rui was taken aback by these words, filled with doubt: Why did His Majesty suddenly bring this up at this time?

He glanced at the officials at the front of the crowd, each one still as immovable as a rock, like a group of iron statues.

A strange chill rose from the bottom of my heart, and a thought that I would never dare to touch on a normal day flashed through my mind like lightning.

In an instant, cold sweat poured down his forehead, soaking his clothes.

Zhao Ruiqiang composed himself, wiped away the sweat with his sleeve, and replied in a barely audible tremor, "Your Majesty, I have already sent a trusted servant to inform the Consort, and she should have arrived long ago."

Zhu Yunwen's gaze darkened, and he asked in return, "If that's the case, why haven't the guards been replaced even after I've finished reciting my prayers?"

Zhao Rui's heart pounded like a drum, her fear growing stronger. She stole a glance at the guards around her, wiped her sweat with her sleeve once more, and whispered, "This... this servant truly does not know."

Zhu Yunwen's expression hardened slightly, his gaze calm and unfathomable. He then asked in a low voice, "Can you be sure the telegraph machine is working properly?"

Zhao Rui bowed and replied, "Your Majesty can rest assured! The installation of the telegraph machine and the laying of the lines at the Confucian Temple will be personally supervised by this servant."

"To prevent any mishaps, I have specially arranged five telegraph machines, each connected to five independent lines, so there is absolutely no risk of any oversight."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunwen's tense expression relaxed slightly. He let out a long sigh, and his tone revealed a hint of relief: "That's very good."

Zhao Rui tentatively suggested, "Your Majesty, should I order the guards to apprehend this arrogant and ignorant fool?"

Zhu Yunwen waved his hand gently, a smile appearing on his lips: "No need. Besides, even if you wanted to capture him now, you probably wouldn't be able to."

The last glimmer of hope that Zhao Rui had held vanished instantly. His expression changed drastically, and he stammered, "Your...Your Majesty..."

He suddenly remembered something and quickly added, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. The twenty personal guards are all loyal men carefully selected by the Tian Shu Division. They have not been replaced by outsiders. They are all loyal to Your Majesty and there is absolutely no mistake on their part."

Zhu Yunwen nodded slightly and said calmly, "I understand."

The two spoke in hushed tones on the stage, their words barely audible to anyone else.

Among the assembled officials, another man stepped forward proudly, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, and said, “Your Majesty, I also believe that the way of the sage should be based on ‘preserving heavenly principles and eliminating human desires,’ rather than the idea of ​​‘the world belongs to all’!”

"Utterly absurd!" Fang Xiaoru, who had been invited to participate in the sacrificial ceremony, could no longer contain himself and suddenly stepped forward.

As the founder of the new school of thought, how could he tolerate such remarks shaking the foundation?
"The so-called 'preserve heavenly principles and eliminate human desires' sounds impressive, but in reality it is empty and meaningless, nothing more than empty talk about human nature and principles!"

"A true scholar should regard the universe and all things as one, integrate knowledge with action, and be down-to-earth, rather than indulging in abstruse theories and becoming detached from reality."

"Moreover, if we examine the reasoning closely, the idea of ​​'preserving the principles of Heaven' is ultimately inseparable from the essence of 'the world belongs to all'."

Fang Xiaoru spoke eloquently, his words sharp and incisive, revealing the brilliance of a master of modern learning.

Debating and arguing has always been his forte.

At this moment, he went all out, confronting the opponent head-on and refusing to back down.

The two sides engaged in a heated debate, much like the online debates of later generations. Zhang argued that he was right, while Yang argued that he was correct, each sticking to their own arguments and citing numerous sources, determined to overwhelm the other.

Such debates never have a clear winner or loser; they only cease when one side grows weary. As for who wins and who loses?

At least in the minds of both sides, neither was willing to admit defeat.

Just like the online debates that occur in later generations, the arguments are often heated, though they are based on differing ideas and have little to do with real life. In such cases, no one is likely to admit their mistake or concede defeat.

Moreover, today's debate concerns the foundation of Confucianism and involves the overall situation of the world, so neither side can back down even a little.

The fictional tale of Zhuge Liang debating with a group of Confucian scholars, leaving his opponents speechless with a laugh, is nothing more than a beautiful but fictional story.

In reality, even if one party knows they are in the wrong, they will still argue illogically or even engage in sophistry, and will never easily admit defeat.

Even worse, some people resort to "throwing a tantrum" when they can't win an argument, and resort to insults when they are wrong. Such tactics are also part of the "debate" strategy.

With these shameless tactics as a "safety net," there is never a winner or loser in the debate!

The outcome of the match will depend on a referee who can control both sides and deliver the final verdict.

Otherwise, it will never end.

For a time, the two sides went back and forth, their words clashing, their voices shaking the hall, and their spittle flying everywhere.

What should have been a grand sacrificial ceremony was turned into a chaotic verbal battle.

The argument escalated, and in the end, it was almost like two shrewish women hurling insults at each other, pointing fingers and cursing.

However, in reality, they are not much different.

Zhu Yunwen stood silently on the platform, gazing at the commotion below, but remained silent, observing the storm with a cold eye.

"Enough!" Suddenly, a sharp shout rang out like thunder, echoing throughout the hall, and the room fell silent once more.

Wang Shoulian suddenly stepped forward, his voice like thunder, shaking the entire audience: "Today is a grand ceremony to worship the sage at the Confucian Temple. How can you be allowed to quarrel like shrewish women in the marketplace? What kind of behavior is this?"

His gaze was fixed on Fang Xiaoru, and his words were sharp: "Fang Xiaoru, you are just a commoner, without official rank or title, what right do you have to make a fuss here?"

"It is the proper way for officials of the court to offer advice to His Majesty in court discussions."

"When did it become your place, a mere commoner, to dictate the affairs of state and presumptuously discuss national policies?"

"Fang Xiaoru, do you not even know these basic rules of etiquette?"

Fang Xiaoru's face stiffened, as if these words had struck a nerve, and he immediately froze on the spot.

It must be said that Fang Xiaoru was indeed as stubborn as a rock at times, clinging to the insurmountable "rites and etiquette" in his heart.

In his view, no one who is not an official has the right to speak during court discussions; this is an ironclad rule that must not be broken.

As a commoner, one can only respond respectfully when His Majesty inquires of me.

He took a deep breath, cupped his hands and bowed his head: "What Lord Wang said is reasonable, and it was I who overstepped my bounds."

"Mr. Fang should keep to his duty and listen attentively in silence."

After speaking, he stepped back a few paces, bowed his head and stood solemnly, and indeed did not utter another word.

Wang Shoulian turned to Zhu Yunwen, cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, what is the way of the sage? Throughout the ages, scholars and writers have already reached a conclusion."

"The Cheng-Zhu school of Neo-Confucianism has fully expounded the essence of the sages and can be called the standard."

"Your Majesty has taken advantage of the occasion of the sacrificial ceremony to suddenly change the prayer text. I fear that this move will shake the hearts of scholars throughout the land, causing the people to be in a state of panic and the country to be unstable."

"For the eternal stability of the Ming Dynasty and for the well-being of all people, I humbly request Your Majesty to withdraw the memorial and create a new one."

“We should proclaim to the whole world that the way of the sage is to ‘preserve the principles of Heaven and eliminate human desires.’”

"As for the so-called 'the world belongs to all,' it is a misinterpretation of the sacred way and a fallacy that is completely contrary to the orthodox doctrine. It should be strictly prohibited by decree."

"Anyone who spreads this doctrine in the future shall be punished for misleading the public, so as to set the record straight and uphold moral order!"

After speaking, he knelt down and kowtowed heavily, his voice filled with sorrow and despair: "These are my loyal words, spoken with the utmost loyalty and a heart full of patriotism. I only hope that Your Majesty will heed my advice, stay away from fallacies, and not be misled by temporary heresies. Then the Ming Dynasty will be blessed, and the people of the world will be blessed!"

Upon hearing Wang Shoulian's words, the crowd was stirred. Immediately, most of the civil officials below knelt down and shouted in unison, "We implore Your Majesty to heed our loyal advice, stay away from heresies, and not be misled by fallacies. The country is fortunate, the Ming Dynasty is fortunate!"

"I implore Your Majesty to heed loyal advice, stay away from heresies, and not be misled by fallacies. This would be a great blessing for the nation and the Ming Dynasty!"

The shouts rose and fell, growing ever louder, like crashing waves echoing across the square.

Zhu Yunwen stood upright on the high platform, his face expressionless, his gaze sweeping across the area below like ice.

The officials who knelt down to plead for their orders accounted for about half of the civil officials attending the ceremony. The rest of the standing people were all dumbfounded, their faces full of astonishment and disbelief.

At this point, everyone understood that what happened today was no small matter.

With so many people offering their advice at the same time, there must have been a pre-arranged conspiracy.

What kind of divine wrath would be provoked by such forceful remonstrance to the emperor?

Some of the timid ones were so frightened that they trembled like leaves, cowering in fear.

"What...what is the meaning of this? Do you intend to force the emperor to abdicate?" Zhao Duan suddenly stepped forward, blocking Zhu Yunwen's path, and rebuked him in a voice as loud as thunder.

Wang Shoulian stood tall, his face full of righteous indignation and without fear: "Since ancient times, military officials have died on the battlefield, and civil officials have died for their honest remonstrances. We are merely fulfilling our duty as loyal ministers!"

Zhao Rui stood frozen in place, his gaze fixed on Wang Shoulian, in disbelief.

The person in front of him had been respectful and humble in front of him for the past few days, and spoke cautiously, but now he was showing such amazing courage, as if he had become a different person.

He was slightly startled, and his gaze unconsciously swept around.

The twenty-odd guards nearby were all elites from the Tian Shu Division, familiar faces who had been protecting His Majesty every step of the way year-round.

However, Zhao Rui dared not say for sure whether those figures further away were still his own people.

With so many guards in the Heavenly Pivot Division, he couldn't possibly know every single one of them.

Suddenly, Zhao Rui felt a chill in his heart, and he suddenly remembered that Wang Shoulian had proposed to transfer Wu Ding from Shandong to take turns on duty.

It turns out that all of this was premeditated!
In that instant, Zhao Rui felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, a chill rising from his spine and spreading throughout his body.

His Majesty the Emperor just asked him about the replacement of the guards, which clearly shows that he had already suspected something.

Only at this moment did Zhao Rui finally realize the truth.

As a close attendant of the emperor, he knew he had no way out, yet he resolutely stood in front of Zhu Yunwen, adopting a posture of protecting his master to the death, his eyes like knives, staring intently at the other side.

"Wang Shoulian, what do you intend to do?" Just as the two sides were facing off and the atmosphere was tense, a furious shout suddenly rang out, breaking the silence.

Shandong Governor Li Chongwen strode out, his beard and hair bristling, and pointed at Wang Shoulian, sternly rebuking him: "How dare you, a subject of the Ming Dynasty, deceive the emperor like this?"

"Today is a grand ceremony to worship the sage at the Confucian Temple. With the sage above us, do you still have even a trace of the demeanor of a scholar? Do you still have a shred of loyalty as a subject?"

……

(End of this chapter)