Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 607 The Real Test! A Solution!
Although the purpose of setting up the telegraph machine was to transmit the imperial edicts issued in the Confucian Temple to the world as soon as possible, the telegraph machine room was not actually inside the Confucian Temple, but in the Confucius Mansion, which was separated from the Confucian Temple by only one wall.

The reason is simple: as a place of worship, the Confucian Temple simply did not have a suitable place to put a telegraph machine.

Furthermore, the two places are separated by only a wall, making them very close. Therefore, setting up the Confucius Mansion would not cause any inconvenience.

Of course, if you come and go through the main entrance, there is still a little distance.

Therefore, Zhao Rui specially made a small door by chiseling through the wall next to it.

After Xu Miaojin arrived with her men, the first thing she did was replace the guards at the small gate.

Seeing that the telegraph machine was still under the control of their own people, and that the technicians doing the support work and the guards around were all from the Tian Shu Division, Xu Miaojin immediately felt relieved.

As soon as she arrived, the official in charge rushed to greet her and asked, "Do you have His Majesty's imperial edict?"

They had already made preparations and were just waiting to publish the emperor's prayer for worshipping the saint throughout the land.

Xu Miaojin did not answer his question, but instead asked, "Where is the nearest new army camp to Qufu? How far is it from here?"

The official was taken aback, not understanding why the Imperial Concubine would ask about this matter.

Fortunately, he had previously participated in the construction of cable lines, including those leading to military bases, so he was familiar with the subject and immediately replied, "The nearest New Army camp to Qufu is a hundred li outside Jinan, about two hundred li from Qufu."

Jinan is the capital of Shandong Province, and in the past, most of the army was stationed in the city center.

Each city served as a military center.

After all, the purpose of building cities was never to develop commerce, but to defend against enemy attacks; they were natural military outposts.

However, after Zhu Yunwen implemented military system reforms, the Ming army transitioned from the era of cold weapons to the era of firearms.

According to Zhu Yunwen's decree, the Ming Dynasty would no longer build new cities or reinforce city walls. The existing city walls, although not demolished, were basically abandoned. Even the city gates were no longer open during the day and closed at night, but were kept open as much as possible unless thieves appeared nearby. Such situations were extremely rare throughout the country.

We are now in a truly peaceful and prosperous era. There is no need to close the city gates anymore, and there is no curfew at night, allowing people to come and go as they please.

The troops that were originally stationed in the city also withdrew from the city.

The camps of the new army were often built in places far away from the city.

It was a purely military base, and had no contact with the surrounding residents.

The daily maintenance of public order in the city was handed over to the constables and yamen runners, as well as Wu Ding, who was under the command of the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's Office and also under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice.

Military affairs and political affairs were essentially separated completely.

Of course, in addition to the troops stationed on the border, the troops stationed in each province also have the responsibility of deterring bandits and maintaining stability within the territory, and they cannot be too far away from the provincial capital.

If the provincial government encounters a problem that even the local constables and yamen runners cannot solve, the provincial government can still request the garrison to intervene and handle the situation.

The situation in Shandong was just like that. It was about 300 li from Qufu to Jinan, and the garrison camp was exactly 100 li away from Jinan. It was exactly 200 li from Qufu.

"If the army sets off from there and marches here at full speed, how long would it take at the fastest?" Xu Miaojin asked again.

The man was even more confused.

Why would they send troops here out of the blue?

Has something unexpected happened?

His heart tightened, and he hurriedly said, "The new army was formed according to His Majesty's decree, and it is very different from the old army."

"The new army was not only equipped with advanced firearms and cannons, but also with a large number of horses and chariots."

"Moreover, from the New Army's garrison to Qufu, the entire route is a wide cement road, and it is all flat ground."

"It's a two-hundred-mile journey. If we march quickly, we can set off now and arrive here before dark."

After the grasslands were pacified, horses from the grasslands flowed into the Central Plains in a steady stream.

These horses greatly supplemented the New Army's military equipment.

Besides that, there were chariots.

Chariots were widely used during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, but were gradually phased out with the rise of cavalry tactics.

However, after Zhu Yunwen reformed the army, chariots regained importance.

The reason is simple: armored vehicles can carry a large amount of logistical supplies.

With the advent of firearms, the amount of ammunition consumed by the military in combat has surged, creating an urgent need for transportation to replenish supplies.

In the absence of automobiles, horse-drawn carriages were undoubtedly the best means of transportation.

The carriages used by the new Ming army were not the same as those used before.

Instead, it was a four-wheeled carriage produced by the modern factories of the Ming Dynasty, equipped with steel bearings, shock-absorbing springs, new brakes, natural rubber tires, and a new steering axle.

Even if the warhorse pulling the carriage is suddenly killed, this type of carriage will not overturn.

The cement road further accelerated its journey.

The journey of two hundred li, though entirely flat, would normally take infantry two or three days to complete.

You can ride in a carriage and it will take a whole day.

This is why Zhu Yunwen promoted the new type of carriage in the Ming Dynasty's new army.

Soldiers are valuable and quick.

Arriving a day earlier or later can often determine the outcome of a war.

"Immediately send a telegram to the garrison there, instructing them to set off immediately and come to the Confucian Temple in Qufu. They must march at the fastest speed, without a moment's delay."

The official in charge was taken aback and hurriedly asked, "Your Highness, what has happened?"

"You don't need to worry about that," Xu Miaojin said urgently. "Just go and draft the telegram immediately and send it out as soon as possible."

“According to the law, the mobilization of troops requires an order from the Military Affairs Department.” The official in charge tentatively inquired, “Should we send a telegram to the Military Affairs Department immediately, and then have them send another telegram to mobilize the troops?”

"No need!" Xu Miaojin waved her hand and said, "Send it directly to the garrison. There's no need to go through the Military Affairs Department to mobilize troops, and there's no need to send a telegram to inform the Military Affairs Department of this matter for the time being."

Although her speculation was that Wang Shoulian's military remonstrance had nothing to do with the generals in the military affairs department.

But with these kinds of things, it's better to be safe than sorry.

There is more than one Minister of Military Affairs in the Military Affairs Department.

She is currently in Shandong and has no idea who is on duty today.

If the Minister of Military Affairs on duty had also participated in today's mutiny, it would be hard to say whether he would obey the order to mobilize troops after the telegram was sent.

Furthermore, even if he complies with the order to mobilize troops, he can still delay the process.

The situation is urgent; new developments could occur at any moment, and there is no time to lose.

Xu Miaojin naturally wanted to bypass the Military Affairs Department.

Not to mention, even when a telegram is sent, the other party needs time to translate it, even in an emergency.

Sending a telegram once more would take an extra half hour to an hour.

“Your Highness, this is not in accordance with the system.” The official in charge said urgently, “Without the order from the Military Affairs Department…” “Just issue it when I tell you to, why all the nonsense?” Before he could finish speaking, Xu Miaojin interrupted him directly. At this moment, the young girl’s eyebrows were raised, her anger rising, and she rebuked sharply, “It is the Military Affairs Department that can mobilize troops, but His Majesty cannot mobilize troops?”

"If there are no telegrams, or if the telegram cable from Shandong to the Military Affairs Office is broken, does that mean the army can never be mobilized?"

"Hurry up and draft the telegram!"

"Any further hesitation will result in immediate execution!"

This shout immediately startled the official in charge.

He didn't know if the Imperial Concubine could mobilize troops, but she could certainly kill him.

When the emperor went on his northern tour, the affairs along the way were in the hands of the Imperial Concubine. Killing him was just a matter of a word.

Moreover, the Imperial Concubine herself brought guards with her when she came to the telegraph room, which shows how urgent the situation was.

The official in charge dared not delay any longer and quickly kowtowed, saying, "Your subject will send it immediately, but since this telegram was not sent by the Military Affairs Office, I fear the garrison will not obey orders."

"State in the telegram that this is His Majesty's decree," Xu Miaojin replied quickly without hesitation.

Follow the authority in urgent matters.

At this moment, falsely conveying imperial orders is of no consequence whatsoever.

Upon hearing that it was the emperor's decree, the official in charge immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Many officials believe that if things are done according to established procedures, there will be no mistakes.

This official in charge was no exception.

The reason he kept making excuses was that he felt it didn't conform to the established procedures and was afraid that the court would hold him accountable later, which would implicate him.

It must be said that this mindset is beneficial for getting things done properly.

If you follow the procedures strictly and act in accordance with the rules and regulations, you usually won't make any major mistakes.

However, when faced with an emergency requiring flexibility, these rule-bound officials become a major obstacle.

For example, if a fire has already occurred, but according to procedures, opening the door requires approval, should the door still not be opened before approval is obtained?
Was the fire allowed to spread, or did the perpetrators take responsibility and open the doors to fight the fire without waiting for approval, while also releasing the people inside the fire?

Handling matters that require decisive action on the spot is where an official's true ability is tested.

If you always follow the procedures without any flexibility, to put it bluntly, it's like putting a dog in that official position and having it just use its paw to press the seal—it's the same thing.

Becoming an official is the easiest thing in the world, because all you have to do is follow the procedures.

Being an official is one of the most difficult things in the world, because it requires flexibility when necessary, taking on enormous responsibilities, and making the right decisions. This is the true test of an official.

In fact, the imperial court always included catch-all clauses when formulating regulations.

This "catch-all clause" would grant officials the power to make on-the-spot decisions in emergency situations.

However, this is not something that can be used casually.

Once this power is exercised, it means that officials will bear unprecedented responsibility. If they do well, they will be promoted and given a higher position; if they do poorly, they will be dismissed, or even beheaded and have their property confiscated.

Many officials act cautiously, and in order to protect themselves, they would rather never use their positions!
The imperial court could never use this method to evaluate officials, as it would always be an unknown until something actually happened.

The official before him was like that; upon hearing that it was the emperor's decree, he immediately felt much more at ease.

As for the absence of a handwritten edict, since the Imperial Concubine herself came to deliver the decree, the handwritten edict was no longer important.

In fact, most of the time, the emperor's decrees were not issued in writing.

However, his heart had barely settled down when it quickly tightened again.

Why are troops being mobilized without being informed of the military affairs department? What major event has occurred?
He dared not ask any more questions and hurriedly went to send a telegram.

"In addition to the troops stationed near Jinan, two more troops, totaling three brigades, should be transferred from other relatively nearby locations and must be dispatched immediately."

After a moment's thought, Xu Miaojin then issued orders.

Normally, most of the generals of the new army were personally trained by Zhu Yunwen, and many of them had even participated in the war to conquer Japan.

They were the first core members of the new army, and now they are found throughout various military units.

Furthermore, the new army implemented a dual-command system, making it highly reliable both in terms of the system itself and its personnel.

However, in times of crisis, Xu Miaojin was still worried that he might not be able to rely on them, so he called in several more troops to check and balance each other, which made him feel more at ease.

Just then, someone reported: "The State Administration Office has sent a telegram inquiring when His Majesty will send out the prayer for the sacrifice to the saint?"

Xu Miaojin frowned slightly.

Zhu Yunwen's visit to offer sacrifices to the sage was a major event that attracted widespread attention in the court and among the public.

The government office should have been waiting for the prayer to be read so that it could be quickly announced to the world. Judging by the time, the prayers for the sacrifice should have been read by now, so they sent a telegram to inquire.

"Send out the full text of the prayer for the saint to the administrative office!" Xu Miaojin decided immediately.

“But we haven’t received any prayers from His Majesty,” an official asked, puzzled.

They had been waiting.

But no one ever brought the full text of the prayer through that newly opened little door.

"I have it!" Xu Miaojin took out a folded manuscript from her body, which contained Zhu Yunwen's prayer for the upcoming sacrifice to the sage.

This kind of article is, of course, written in advance.

Although Zhu Yunwen was known as the "Number One Talent of the Ming Dynasty," he knew very well that it was because he had copied poems. In terms of writing, he was far inferior to the real scholars of the Ming Dynasty.

Fortunately, as the emperor, writing articles was something he didn't need to worry about.

He had a great scholar by his side to write for him.

Xu Miaojin, who spent all her time with Zhu Yunwen, already knew about this prayer.

When the court scribes presented the manuscript, there was a copy already made, which was conveniently brought out at this moment.

If before it was merely a suspicion that Wang Shoulian had ulterior motives, now it is basically confirmed.

After all, if nothing had gone wrong over there, the prayers should have been delivered to the telegraph room long ago.

Something must have gone wrong at the Confucian Temple.

Since the situation at the administrative office was unclear, Xu Miaojin decided not to inform them of the situation for the time being.

First, send out the prayer for the saint. This will serve as an opportunity to inform the world and prevent Wang Shoulian and others from taking action.

Secondly, it's also a good opportunity to test the current situation of the Political Affairs Department and the Military Affairs Department, so as to make a decision on the next step.

"Immediately translate the prayer from the telegram and send it to the Political Affairs Department and the Military Affairs Department as quickly as possible."

"The telegram instructed them to reply immediately upon receipt and to have all the ministers of state and military affairs present sign the telegram."

……

(End of this chapter)