Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 616 Imperial Decree! Resolution!
Gu Panjun raised an eyebrow and said, "Right now, all the royal family members are overseas. So, who is Lord Wang referring to when he speaks of establishing a regent?"

Wang Zuo bowed and said, "Although most of the royal family members are overseas, there are still some royal family members in Jinling City who are too young to go overseas."

“Choose one of them to temporarily serve as regent, and the people’s hearts will be stabilized.”

"Although they are young, it is not a problem for us ministers of state affairs and ministers of military affairs to handle the specific political affairs on their behalf."

After hearing what he said, Gu Panjun seemed about to explode, but she managed to hold back and asked, "What do the rest of you think?"

Xu Huizu stepped forward and asked, "What is the current situation in Qufu? The Imperial Concubine was able to send a telegram to mobilize troops and communicate with the Empress. Does this mean that the Imperial Concubine is still safe?"

He was very worried about his sister's safety.

Gu Panjun nodded slightly and said, "Not only is the Imperial Concubine safe, but she has also taken control of the telegraph room and the soldiers surrounding the Confucian Temple, and has killed the traitorous accomplices outside."

"The traitor is now surrounded inside the Confucian Temple. Sending a large army there is only as a precaution."

"Even without mobilizing a large army, the Imperial Concubine has already taken control of the situation."

"But His Majesty is still inside, and that's the most troublesome part."

Lan Yu flicked his sleeve and said angrily, "First, send men to arrest all the family members of Wang Shoulian and the other traitors."

"If they dare not release His Majesty, then kill them one by one."

"I refuse to believe that these traitors will actually dare to stand their ground!"

Yang Shiqi shook his head slightly and said, "There's no time to save us."

"His Majesty is still inside the Confucian Temple. Every minute that passes increases the danger."

"Wang Shoulian's family members are all in Jinan City."

“Jinan is more than 300 miles away from Qufu. Even if we arrest him now and send him to Qufu, it will take at least a few days.”

"We absolutely cannot allow His Majesty to be held hostage by traitors for even a few days."

Lan Yu was so anxious that she paced back and forth, clapping her hands together and saying, "This won't work, that won't work, so tell me, what should we do?"

He has always been straightforward in his approach to leading troops into battle.

Although all's fair in war, and they employ all sorts of schemes and tricks, they are never constrained by any rules.

This is the first time I've encountered such a situation.

It's incredibly difficult to handle.

Yao Guangxiao said, "Don't be too hasty and lose your composure. Let's discuss it first and see if there's any way to safely rescue His Majesty."

"Your Majesty, in my opinion, it would be better to grant the request of the traitor Wang Shoulian first," Wang Zuo advised again. "Immediately send a telegram throughout the country to abolish the new schools."

"In this way, we can persuade the traitor Wang Shoulian to release His Majesty."

"May His Majesty be safe and sound."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent once more.

Only the sound of breathing could be faintly heard.

Gu Panjun's face showed anger as she said, "How can the court yield to traitors? If His Majesty were here, he would never agree to this request."

"If His Majesty had agreed, he would have sent an imperial edict long ago."

"If His Majesty disagrees, then we are even less likely to agree."

“That is incorrect!” Wang Zuo retorted, “Your Majesty is of noble character and will never yield to a traitor.”

"But as your subjects, we must prioritize Your Majesty's safety."

"His Majesty has not issued an imperial edict, but my Office of State Affairs can."

"As long as His Majesty can be rescued and return safely, I, Wang Zuo, am willing to take on this responsibility."

"If His Majesty questions me in the future, then punish me alone, Wang Zuo."

He spoke with unwavering conviction and great spirit.

After saying this, he added, "There is no time to lose. I will go and draft an edict to have it immediately telegraphed throughout the country to abolish the new schools."

“Send someone into the Confucius Temple again to tell the traitor Wang Shoulian that his request has been issued to the whole country and that he should release His Majesty immediately.”

Gu Panjun countered, "What if Wang Shoulian still refuses to release them?"

“We have already issued the decree to the whole country, he has no reason not to release us,” Wang Zuo said in a strong voice. “Besides, the people outside are all our people, so Wang Shoulian has no choice but to release us.”

Gu Panjun said coldly, "If we can force Wang Shoulian to release the people, then we won't have to submit to them."

Wang Zuo still refused to give up, saying, "No matter what, this is a way to save His Majesty. As long as there is a glimmer of hope, we should not give up."

He continued, "Furthermore, Your Majesty should also carefully consider the matter I just mentioned, which is to appoint a member of the imperial clan as regent."

He then cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to the crowd around him, saying, "I also urge all ministers of state affairs and ministers of military affairs to consider this matter carefully."

“No need!” Gu Panjun refused decisively. “His Majesty is in the prime of his life and is only temporarily confined to the Confucian Temple. He will soon be out safely. The court does not need to go to the trouble of establishing a regent at this time.”

"Your Majesty, His Majesty has no heir yet. If anything were to happen to him, and there were no one in the court to make decisions, the consequences would be unimaginable," Wang Zuo advised again.

Gu Panjun stared at him and asked, "Do you mean to choose someone from the royal family to inherit the throne?"

Wang Zuo immediately knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I am only thinking of the fate of the Ming Dynasty. If it is unavoidable..."

Before he could finish speaking, Gu Panjun calmly interrupted him: "I am already pregnant."

Not loud.

The sound reverberated like thunder in the ears of the officials in the hall.

"Really?" Zhan Hui blurted out.

Gu Panjun said calmly, "What? Do you think I would lie about this?"

She pointed and said, "The two imperial physicians who treated me today are waiting for Your Highness. Summon them in and you will know the answer."

As they were speaking, two imperial physicians entered the hall and said, "We have examined Her Majesty the Empress, and she is more than two months pregnant."

Then he stepped back.

Lan Yu breathed a long sigh of relief and said, "That's wonderful, that's wonderful! His Majesty has an heir! His Majesty has an heir!"

Everyone else also looked pleased.

Only Wang Zuo showed a flash of surprise in his eyes, and then said, "But after all, Her Majesty the Empress is only pregnant, and it is still unknown whether it is a boy or a girl."

"Moreover, there are eight months from pregnancy to delivery, and there are too many variables in that time."

"A country cannot be without a ruler for a single day. I'm afraid we can't afford to wait that long."

"His Majesty is perfectly fine, what is your intention in clamoring for a new emperor?" Lan Yu said with dissatisfaction, "His Majesty is blessed by the heavens and will surely return safely."

He changed his tone and said, "Even if something were to happen to His Majesty, the child in the Empress's womb should inherit the throne, not an outsider."

“Unless…” Lan Yu paused, then said, “Unless Her Majesty the Empress gives birth to a girl, but we’ll have to wait until after the birth to discuss that.”

Everyone else chimed in.

Even if she's carrying a boy or a girl, she won't know.

And it will take a long time before she is born.

But the fact that the Empress was pregnant gave them at least a glimmer of hope.

This means that imperial power will remain in the hands of the emperor's lineage and will not fall into the hands of outsiders. This point is of paramount importance.

Historically, the most important reason why Zhu Qizhen, a student from the Oirat Mongols who returned to the Ming Dynasty, was able to successfully launch the Tumu Crisis and regain the throne was that Emperor Jingtai had no son.

Since Emperor Jingtai had no son, his ministers had to think about their own future, which led to various ulterior motives.

If Emperor Jingtai had had even one son, Zhu Qizhen would have had absolutely no chance of successfully restoring the throne.

Right now, Gu Panjun's simple statement that she is pregnant has reassured many people.

Even if something were to happen to the emperor, the son in the empress's womb could still be their hope.

Seeing that the ministers' attitude had changed, Gu Panjun immediately stood up and said, "It is His Majesty's oral decree."

The ministers of state and military affairs were taken aback, and then they all knelt down.

"If communication breaks down or other unforeseen events occur after my northern tour, the court need not appoint an heir apparent, nor should there be a regent."

"All government affairs shall be handled by the Minister of State Affairs."

"Military affairs shall be handled by the Minister of Military Affairs."

"For any important matters, the Political Affairs Office and the Military Affairs Office shall convene a meeting of all political ministers and military ministers to discuss and decide."

"When it comes to making decisions, all ministers of state affairs and ministers of the armed forces shall vote, one person, one vote."

"The principle of majority rule shall be implemented."

"All matters of state and military affairs require the consent of the majority to be approved; otherwise, they are not permitted."

"It should not be based on ranking or seniority."

"Any matter that has the consent of the majority of ministers of state affairs and ministers of military affairs may be issued in my name to govern the whole country and to command all ministries, provinces, government offices, and the army."

"Anyone who disobeys or disobeys will be punished for defying imperial orders."

"Ordinary matters are decided by the Political Affairs Department and the Military Affairs Department in separate meetings, and each department votes on them separately."

"Major issues concerning national policies are decided by holding joint meetings."

"No minister of state affairs or minister of military affairs may issue an edict in his personal capacity or under the guise of an imperial decree before a collective resolution is formed by a majority vote."

"If there are equal numbers of supporters and opponents but different decisions, then we respectfully request the Empress to make the final vote."

"A decision is a collective decision if a majority agrees or a majority opposes it. Unless it is overturned by a collective vote, no one may interfere."

"Once a collective vote passes, even those who oppose it must obey; otherwise, it is considered disobeying the imperial decree."

"Once you can contact me, I will issue an imperial edict, and the Ministry of State Affairs and the Ministry of Military Affairs will no longer need to hold meetings and vote."

"This method was conceived by me; it's a method for how the court should operate when I'm not around."

"If the future emperor of the Ming Dynasty is too young to govern, this method can also be used to assist him."

After Gu Panjun finished reading the imperial edict, he asked, "Did you all understand?"

"His Majesty is not here, cannot be contacted, and cannot be consulted. Therefore, the decision made by your collective meeting shall be the highest decision of the Ming Dynasty."

"Military and political affairs are all decided collectively by you, one person, one vote, and the minority obeys the majority."

"This is Your Majesty's decree."

The ministers looked at each other and then said in unison, "Your Majesty, we obey your decree."

After announcing the decree, Wang Zuo asked again, "For such a momentous matter, didn't His Majesty leave any written instructions?"

"No!" Gu Panjun shook her head and said, "This decree was mentioned by His Majesty when I was chatting with him."

"Therefore, I have not conveyed it to you."

"His Majesty is now trapped by the traitor Wang Shoulian and others."

"I have just come here to read out the imperial decree."

"You ministers of state affairs and ministers of military affairs may act according to the decree."

Wang Zuo frowned and said, "Such a big matter, it is not appropriate to only issue an oral decree."

"What's wrong with it?" Lan Yu questioned, "The imperial court set up the Political Affairs Office and the Military Affairs Office precisely to assist His Majesty in handling important military and political affairs."

"As ministers of state affairs and ministers of military affairs, we should shoulder our responsibilities in His Majesty's absence."

"Moreover, Your Majesty's method is excellent."

"Although I, Lan Yu, am ranked first among the ministers of state affairs."

"But we are also willing to discuss and decide with others."

"The principle of majority rule is a good one."

"Moreover, His Majesty has long said that although the Minister of State Affairs and the Minister of Military Affairs are ranked in order, their powers are not different."

"From this perspective, it is quite reasonable for one person to have one vote to decide the major military and political affairs of the court."

"Not to mention that Her Majesty the Empress also conveyed His Majesty's decree."

"Even without this imperial decree, this is the best solution at present."

Others chimed in, expressing their agreement.

Seeing that he could not go against the will of the people, Wang Zuo had no choice but to accept it.

Gu Panjun nodded and said, "Now that the Minister of State Affairs and the Minister of Military Affairs are both here, let's start the meeting immediately."

"Just now, I said that Your Majesty's prayer for the sage should be proclaimed to the world."

"Lord Wang Zuo said that he should submit to the traitor Wang Shoulian and issue an edict to abolish the new school."

"Time is of the essence, and there's no need to discuss this matter any further."

"Let's just vote on it."

"Those who agree with Wang Zuo's suggestion, please raise your hands; those who agree with me, you need not move."

Upon hearing her words, no one reacted. Wang Zuo looked around and found that not a single person raised their hand.

He desperately tried to signal to Zhan Hui with his eyes, but Zhan Hui gently shook his head.

Wang Zuo stomped his foot lightly in frustration.

"Very well, since they all agree with my decision, then let the Ministry of State Affairs and the Ministry of Military Affairs convey the decree."

Gu Panjun's authoritative voice rang out: "Remember, this is a collective resolution. According to His Majesty's decree, in His Majesty's absence, the collective resolution formed by all ministers of state affairs and ministers of military affairs is equivalent to an imperial edict."

"Even if it is the Minister of State or the Minister of the Armed Forces, if anyone disobeys the order after a collective decision has been made, or even secretly obstructs it, making it difficult to implement the collective decision, he or she shall be punished for disobeying the order."

After giving his instructions, Gu Panjun said, "Now let's discuss how to save His Majesty."

"Let's all share our opinions and see if we can come up with a better way to rescue His Majesty from the traitors."

She looked at Yao Guangxiao and asked, "Yao Guangxiao, have you come up with any ideas?"

Zhu Yunwen had mentioned to her many times that Yao Guangxiao was skilled in intrigue and the art of Yin and Yang. To save Zhu Yunwen, this kind of wisdom was needed, so Gu Panjun thought of him first.

Yao Guangxiao stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that the key to saving His Majesty lies in 'adapting to changing circumstances'."

……

(End of this chapter)