Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 618 Imprisoning the Dragon! Calming the Storm!

Like the first domino to fall, voices of agreement immediately followed:
"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

……

A chorus of seconding voices echoed throughout the court.

At this critical juncture, any attempt to defend "traditional learning" could be interpreted as colluding with the traitor Wang Shoulian.

The accusation of treason and collusion with the enemy could crush anyone.

Even Zhan Hui, who had always been on good terms with Wang Zuo, could only utter three words with difficulty after a moment of struggle: "Your subject... seconded the motion."

This final sound became the last straw that broke Wang Zuo's back.

He staggered, glancing around at his former "colleagues" with whom he had shared drinks just yesterday, his eyes filled with despair and resentment, muttering, "You...you..."

He suddenly turned to Gu Panjun and let out his final lament: "What wrong has the Cheng-Zhu school of Neo-Confucianism done in its hundred-year history?"

"There are more than a million scholars in the country who believe in Neo-Confucianism. If the imperial court issues an order to denounce them as heretics, it will surely stir up a huge wave and shake the foundation of the country!"

"Your Majesty, please consider this matter carefully!"

Gu Panjun simply looked at him indifferently, her tone completely calm: "His Majesty's decree is that all ministers of state affairs and military affairs shall collectively discuss matters and the minority shall obey the majority."

"Although I am the Empress, I can only make a final decision when both sides are deadlocked."

"Apart from you, Lord Wang, all the ministers of political and military affairs have no objection to this matter."

"This is the imperial court's decision."

She paused, her gaze suddenly sharpening: "Wang Zuo, as a minister of state, you should prioritize national affairs and obey the overall situation, rather than clinging to your own opinions and being stuck in your ways."

"Do I really need to teach you this principle?"

Wang Zuo was struck as if by lightning; his body jolted, and his face instantly turned ashen.

He slowly lowered his head, all his persistence and resentment shattered in that moment: "Your Majesty... I understand. But this old learning..."

"Discard the dross and select the essence." Gu Panjun's voice softened, but he also gave the final conclusion: "Establishing the new learning as the orthodox Confucianism is not only His Majesty's grand wish, but also the common will of all officials. This matter is inevitable."

"As for traditional learning," she changed the subject, "the court does not intend to completely destroy it, but rather to 'get it back to its roots'."

"You must understand that whether it is new learning or old learning, its essence is the exposition and inheritance of the way of the sages."

"However, the old learning only scratches the surface and becomes rigid; while the new learning has touched the essence of the sage's 'practical application to the world'."

"This is the reason that the court will announce to the people."

“Alright,” Gu Pan-jun waved his hand, ending the debate. “The decision has been made. Send a telegram to the whole country immediately.”

As soon as the decree was issued, a palace attendant immediately took the order and rushed out of the main hall to deliver it.

The atmosphere in the hall was tense. Gu Panjun's voice rang out again, even colder and more resolute than before: "His Majesty is in grave danger, and the nation is in peril. From this moment forward, the Ming Dynasty, and all areas inside and outside Jinling City, shall enter the highest state of alert!"

Her gaze shifted, striking Lan Yu, the head of the military, like a sharp sword: "The Military Affairs Department shall immediately issue an order to transfer five more brigades of elite new troops to the capital region to protect Nanjing and prevent any villains from taking advantage of the situation to cause trouble!"

She paused slightly before saying, "Duke Liang, Duke Wei, you two will take the lead in this matter, and discuss it with the officials of the Military Affairs Department to ensure that nothing goes wrong!"

This decision was made after careful consideration by Gu Panjun.

Although Lan Yu was arrogant and had a bad temper, she knew in her heart that blood ties were the strongest bond, especially in life-or-death situations.

Lan Yu was Zhu Yunwen's maternal uncle, and Xu Huizu was Consort Xu's elder brother. From any perspective, their interests were deeply intertwined with Zhu Yunwen's.

One glory and one glory.

In terms of loyalty, they are the most trustworthy people to rely on right now.

As for mobilizing the new army, Gu Panjun only knew that the new army was created by His Majesty himself and that its loyalty was absolutely reliable, but she was not familiar with which generals under his command were available or who should lead the charge.

This matter requires the assistance of Lan Yu and Xu Huizu.

One was a veteran general in the Ming army, whose prestige was enough to subdue the entire army.

The other was the eldest son of Xu Da, the Prince of Zhongshan, who had deep roots in the army and whose disciples and old friends were spread throughout the various armies.

Together, the two of them are enough to suppress any dissent and criticism.

As for the newly promoted nobles like Zhang Fu and Zhu Neng, who have made outstanding military achievements and are extremely loyal, they are still relatively inexperienced and their foundations are not yet stable. At this moment, their more suitable role is to serve as the deputy to Lan Yu and Xu Huizu, ensuring that orders are carried out without fail.

Lan Yu and Xu Huizu exchanged a glance, both seeing solemnity in each other's eyes. They stepped forward together, their voices booming: "Your subject obeys the decree!"

Gu Panjun nodded slightly, then looked around at all the ministers in the hall and announced another decision: "From this moment until His Majesty's safe return, in order to stabilize the court and respond promptly to changes in the world, I and all of you present will reside together in this Qinzheng Hall!"

"All political and military affairs are gathered here and placed here!"

"Memorials to the throne shall be approved immediately upon arrival, and telegrams shall be replied to immediately upon receipt!"

“My dear ministers, please continue to perform your duties as usual.”

"If there are matters that require collective discussion, they should be decided and voted on on the spot!"

Her voice suddenly rose, resolute and piercing:
"During this period, no one is allowed to leave this place even for a moment!"

"Meals are provided by the Imperial Kitchen, and bedding can be retrieved from the residence by sending palace guards."

"Everyone, did you all understand?"

These words effectively placed the entire central government under her direct control and declared her determination to face the national crisis together with her ministers.

All the ministers of state affairs and the ministers of military affairs immediately replied in unison: "Your Majesty, we obey!"

This time, Gu Panjun didn't even give any room for discussion before issuing this decree, which was tantamount to "house arrest."

However, all the ministers in the hall expressed their approval, and not one of them voiced any objection.

Everyone knew perfectly well that the Emperor was in trouble and the country was in turmoil. It was only natural and proper for these high-ranking ministers to stay overnight in the palace to help the country in its time of crisis.

At this moment, anyone who dares to say "no" is tantamount to proving their guilty conscience and revealing that they have an ulterior motive.

The ultimate purpose of Gu Panjun's presence here today is to keep all these ministers who hold the reins of the empire under his watchful eye, ensuring that none of them escape his control.

Now that the situation was settled, her tense nerves finally relaxed a little.

At this moment, Yang Shiqi stepped forward again, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, it is our duty to remain in the palace to guard the country. In times of turmoil, we should protect the Ming Dynasty's land and its people, even at the cost of our lives."

"But Your Majesty's body is precious, not to mention that you are carrying the dragon's offspring, so you must not overexert yourself."

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you move to the rear palace to rest. If there are any military or political matters in the court, we will report them immediately."

Gu Panjun raised her hand to stop him, saying, "I appreciate Lord Yang's kindness, but there's no need for that."

“His Majesty has long prepared a bedroom in a side hall of the Hall of Diligent Governance, with everything he needs, just like in the Kunning Palace.” Her tone revealed a hint of weariness and worry as she said, “Furthermore, His Majesty is currently imprisoned and his safety is uncertain. How can I sleep alone?”

"Stay here with my beloved ministers and wait for news from the front lines. This makes me feel more at ease."

Seeing her unwavering resolve, Yang Shiqi and his ministers ceased their attempts to dissuade her, and instead felt a sense of admiration for her.

However, at that moment, a discordant voice rang out again.

Wang Zuo stepped forward from the crowd, respectfully cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty has ordered us to remain on duty in the Hall of Diligent Governance, and I will obey."

"However, the affairs of the key government offices under my supervision are complicated, and I am afraid that I will need to personally supervise them to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

"Especially in these extraordinary times, if we are all in the palace and no one is patrolling outside, I'm afraid some lawless people might take the opportunity to cause trouble and bring disaster."

"Your Majesty, please understand the intricacies of this matter."

These words were spoken in a grand and impeccable manner.

Gu Panjun's gaze suddenly turned cold. She stared at Wang Zuo and asked, word by word, "What? If your ministers don't come in person, are all the government offices of the Ming Dynasty paralyzed?"

"Our Great Ming Dynasty has a vast territory, and you ministers of state affairs, don't you sit in Nanjing and remotely control everything?"

"Does this mean that government affairs in all regions have come to a standstill?"

Her voice suddenly rose, carrying the imposing force of thunder: "Lord Wang, unless you have something to hide or ulterior motives, you have absolutely no need to leave this Hall of Diligent Governance!"

"If you want to see someone, you can simply summon them to the palace for questioning."

"You can also send someone to convey any orders you need to give."

"Moreover, the telegraph offices are located in the Political Affairs Department and the Military Affairs Department, and orders can be issued at any time."

"This matter is settled! There's no need for further discussion!"

This time, she skipped the voting process and directly made the decision unilaterally as the Empress.

Wang Zuo was speechless, his face turning pale and then red. In the end, he could only retreat meekly, not daring to say another word.

The other ministers in the hall were even more terrified, completely abandoning any hope of getting away with it.

Soon, the eunuchs brought in dozens of tables and arranged them on both sides of the main hall.

In the blink of an eye, the solemn and dignified Qinzheng Hall was transformed into the empire's most central command post.

Orders, passed through the hands of ministers, were drafted into clear telegrams and sent to all parts of the empire in an orderly manner.

Everyone performed their duties efficiently, handling the flurry of military and political affairs while silently awaiting the telegram from Qufu that would determine the fate of the empire.

……

Qufu, Confucian Temple.

The heavy temple doors groaned as they slowly opened.

Tie Xuan, dressed in a scarlet official robe, strode in like a burning flame under the clear sky.

As soon as he stepped inside, several armored soldiers wielding muskets crossed their weapons and blocked his way.

The leading general shouted sternly, "Halt! His Majesty is currently performing a sacrifice to the Holy One; no one is allowed to trespass!"

Tie Xuan sneered inwardly. Just as expected, although Wang Shoulian had entrusted him with the important task of guarding the gate, he did not trust him at all and had placed another group of trusted men inside.

He didn't even glance at the weapons blocking his way, but instead swept his cold gaze across the general's face and asked in a deep voice, "Whose order is this? I am the Shandong Provincial Governor, ordered to protect the Confucian Temple."

"When did His Majesty issue such an edict? Why am I unaware of it?"

The general was intimidated by his official authority and was momentarily speechless. He could only force himself to say, "Under no circumstances are you allowed to enter!"

Before he could finish speaking, he heard a series of synchronized machine clicks.

Behind Tie Xuan, dozens of personal guards simultaneously raised their guns, the dark muzzles instantly locking onto the guard.

The shadow of death loomed over them, and the commander's face turned deathly pale in an instant.

"What do you want to do? Are you trying to rebel?!" he roared, his voice sharp but weak.

Tie Xuan let out a cold snort, and instead of retreating, he advanced step by step, closing in on the guard until their official robes were almost touching.

Tie Xuan raised his hand and tapped the badge on his chest heavily with his knuckles. The brightly colored wild goose looked lifelike in the sunlight.

"Open your dog eyes and see clearly!"

"This is the insignia of a fourth-rank civil official!"

"I have urgent business to attend to and must see His Majesty immediately!"

His voice wasn't loud, but every word struck the other man like iron: "You, a mere low-ranking military officer, dare to obstruct high-ranking officials of the imperial court? This is treason!"

"Make way! Lead the way!"

The fierce look on the guard's face melted away instantly, replaced by a fawning smile, and he even slumped his back a little: "My lord, please calm down. It's not that I'm unwilling, but it's simply my duty."

“Look… you’re taking so many brothers armed with muskets to meet the Emperor. Even if I had a hundred times the courage, I wouldn’t dare let you pass.”

Tie Xuan's voice boomed like a bell, "I am here alone to see you. They shall all remain outside!"

The garrison commander was taken aback again, then beamed and said, "If it's just you alone, sir, then there's no problem at all! Please, sir, I'll show you the way right away!"

Although the garrison commander knew what had happened inside, he was unwilling to engage in battle with Tie Xuan's men there.

After all, in his view, Wang Shoulian and others were only offering advice and had no intention of rebelling.

If someone like Tie Xuan were to force his way in, dealing with him would be like handling a hot potato; handing him over to the adults inside would be the wise choice.

Having said that, he personally led Tie Xuan respectfully into the depths.

And so, Tie Xuan walked through courtyard after courtyard.

He was constantly checked at various checkpoints, but the guards, seeing that he was just an unarmed civil official, alone, and with an imposing demeanor, did not make things difficult for him and allowed him to pass through without hindrance all the way to the last gate in front of the inner palace.

There is another reason for this: the "rebels" that Wang Shoulian recruited were actually acting independently. In order to keep it secret, apart from Wang Shoulian himself and a few core members, the others were unaware of each other's actions.

Therefore, they didn't know whether Tie Xuan was "one of their own".

Ahead lies the plaza where the grand festival is held.

Two rows of menacing armored soldiers stood guard here and stopped him.

"Get out of the way!" Tie Xuan's official authority grew even stronger: "I have important matters to discuss with Inspector Wang in person!"

……

(End of this chapter)