Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 621 A flawless plan? Who is the mastermind behind it all?
Lan Yu stepped forward, pointed in the direction of the gauze curtain, and said in a voice that shook the roof tiles: "Her Majesty the Empress is carrying the imperial heir, and this is the most legitimate successor of our Great Ming!"

"After His Majesty's passing, the Empress's legitimate son should rightfully succeed him!"

"Before this, the talk of selecting from the imperial family was nothing but the nonsense of traitors and rebels!"

Wang Zuo was intimidated by his imposing manner, and his face turned pale. However, this matter was of great importance, so how could he easily back down? He immediately retorted, "Duke of Liang, you are mistaken!"

"A country cannot be without a ruler for a single day; this is an eternal truth!"

"Although the Ming Dynasty is currently powerful, if the court is without a ruler for several months, great chaos will surely ensue!"

"At that time, who will be able to shoulder this responsibility?"

He then changed the subject, saying, "Moreover, it is still unknown whether the Empress is carrying a prince or a princess."

"What if the child is a princess? What will become of our Great Ming?"

"Do we intend to emulate the former Tang dynasty by having an empress rule as regent, engaging in the practice of a hen crowing at dawn?"

"The late emperor's dying edict clearly stated, 'Select a person of both virtue and talent from among the imperial clan'!"

"This is the Emperor's will! How can we, as his subjects, disobey the late Emperor's edict?"

"Don't you dare bring up the imperial edict!" Lan Yu roared in anger, spitting almost onto Wang Zuo's face. "When His Majesty left this edict, he didn't know that the Empress was pregnant. If he had known, he would never have issued this edict!"

"As Her Majesty the Empress previously stated, His Majesty had already decreed that we, the ministers of military and political affairs, should collectively discuss matters of state. Very well, then let us discuss it here today. The throne of our Great Ming Dynasty must be inherited by the late Emperor's own flesh and blood! Who dares to utter a single word of dissent!"

"Whether Your Majesty gives birth to a prince or a princess, they are all the late Emperor's only bloodline!"

"Wait, what's wrong with that?"

"Will the sky fall down if we wait a few months?"

"I refuse to believe that with so many ministers of state and military affairs, we really can't hold this up."

"You..." Wang Zuo trembled with rage, "This is sophistry! This is contempt for the imperial will!"

The two men were like two bulls locked in a fierce battle, locked in a tense standoff in the hall, neither willing to yield, creating an atmosphere of extreme tension.

"Your subject seconds the Duke of Liang's proposal." A calm voice joined the fray at this moment.

Yang Shiqi slowly rose, bowed to the gauze curtain, and said clearly, "Lord Wang's concerns are not without merit."

"But choosing someone from the imperial clan to succeed to the throne in a hasty manner poses even greater risks."

"Among our clansmen, there are varying degrees of wisdom and foolishness, and it is difficult to determine who is wise and who is not."

“Once this precedent is set, in the struggle for the throne, people will inevitably form factions and try to win over court officials.”

"At that time, the imperial court will inevitably fall into endless factional strife, and may even turn into armed conflict. That would be the real calamity that shakes the foundation of the country!"

“On the contrary,” Yang Shiqi emphasized, “waiting for Her Majesty the Empress to give birth is the safest course of action at present.”

"Firstly, it can preserve the direct bloodline of the late emperor, making it legitimate."

"Secondly, it can also prevent a split in the court, unite people's hearts, and help the country overcome difficulties together."

"As for the throne being temporarily vacant, it doesn't matter."

"As the Duke of Liang said, with us ministers collectively discussing state affairs and temporarily taking charge of national matters, it is enough to stabilize the overall situation."

Yang Shiqi's words were more persuasive than Lan Yu's roar. Several ministers in the hall immediately echoed his sentiments.

However, Wang Zuo also has a considerable number of supporters.

Most of them believed that a country cannot be without a ruler for a day, and that the emperor's edict cannot be disobeyed.

In an instant, the officials in the Hall of Diligent Governance were completely divided.

One side advocated "waiting" and supported the absolute right of the unborn child in the empress's womb to inherit the throne.

The other side advocated for "establishment," demanding immediate compliance with the will and the selection of a virtuous successor.

Both sides cited classical texts and argued their points logically, and the calm debate quickly escalated into a heated argument.

"The ancestral family rules cannot be abolished because of one person!"

"Nonsense! The bloodline of the late emperor is the greatest ancestral law!"

"A country without a virtuous ruler is destined for chaos!"

"A hasty establishment of a ruler is the root of all chaos!"

……

The main hall was in complete chaos.

The ministers shed their usual gentle and refined masks, their faces flushed, spitting as they spoke, almost ready to fight on the spot.

The grief that had just arisen from the national mourning had long been washed away by this sudden power struggle.

In the heart of this hustle and bustle, behind that thin veil, all remained silent.

Gu Panjun was like a deity standing aside, coldly listening to the great debate unfolding outside the curtain because of her husband's death.

Besides her, there was another person in the Hall of Diligent Governance who remained detached from worldly affairs, like an old monk in meditation.

That was Yao Guangxiao.

Throughout, he sat quietly in his seat, eyes slightly closed, muttering incantations as if reciting scriptures, as if all the disturbances before him were illusory.

That detached composure formed an eerie and stark contrast with the surrounding chaos.

The argument lasted from the afternoon until dusk.

The officials in the hall were all parched and exhausted.

No one can convince anyone.

In the end, all eyes could only helplessly turn once again to the silent veil behind the curtain.

"We are foolish and ignorant, and we beg Your Majesty the Empress to make a wise judgment!" Wang Zuo was the first to bow.

"We beseech Your Majesty the Empress to make a wise judgment!" the crowd echoed in unison.

Behind the gauze curtain, Gu Panjun's voice slowly rang out: "Gentlemen, have you all finished your discussion?"

No one answered.

"I would like to hear Master Yao's opinion." Gu Panjun did not make any decision, but instead turned her gaze to the minister who had been chanting scriptures with his eyes closed.

Yao Guangxiao then awoke from his meditation.

He opened his eyes, and there was no ripple in them, only a deep, unfathomable clarity.

Upon hearing the Empress's call, he stood up, bowed to the curtain, and asked calmly, "May this humble monk ask you gentlemen a question: how does your wisdom compare to His Majesty's?"

He did not refer to himself as "the late emperor," but rather as "Your Majesty."

The question seemed abrupt and left all the ministers momentarily stunned.

But no matter what they thought in their hearts, no one dared to disrespect His Majesty verbally.

Lan Yu said, "I, Lan Yu, am but a crude and uncouth warrior. How dare I compare myself to His Majesty!"

Wang Zuo also bowed and said, "Your Majesty is a sage ruler for all ages. How can we, mere fireflies, compete with the sun and moon?" "Well said." Yao Guangxiao nodded slightly and said, "Your Majesty's wisdom is unparalleled throughout history."

"If His Majesty has not made any arrangements for this matter, it is only right for us to gather our wisdom and discuss it here."

"But now that His Majesty has left an edict and made thorough arrangements, you gentlemen are still arguing endlessly. Does this mean that you all think you are wiser and more capable than His Majesty?"

The moment those words were spoken, the entire room fell into a deathly silence.

All the arguing ministers instantly turned red in the face and were speechless.

Yes, they can question each other, but no one dares to question the emperor who has just "passed away" and whose prestige is still at its zenith.

Lan Yu remained unconvinced and argued stubbornly, "But...but His Majesty did not know that the Empress was pregnant when he made the will!"

Yao Guangxiao slowly turned his head, looking at him quietly with those eyes that seemed to see through everything: "Duke of Liang, His Majesty has always been shrewd and insightful. How do you know that His Majesty really doesn't know?"

These words, like a thunderclap, exploded in Lan Yu's mind!
He froze, his eyes filled with shock.

"But...but His Majesty did not foresee...that he would suffer such a calamity!" Lan Yu murmured to himself.

Yao Guangxiao sighed softly and uttered a sentence that sent chills down everyone's spines: "How could you know that His Majesty...didn't anticipate this?"

Upon hearing this, the temperature in the entire Qin Zheng Hall seemed to drop several degrees.

An invisible chill rose from everyone's spine.

Everyone stared at Yao Guangxiao in astonishment, but he still wore that compassionate yet indifferent expression.

No one dared to ask any more questions, and no one dared to speak again.

Inside the main hall, only heavy breathing could be heard.

Behind the gauze curtain, Gu Panjun's gaze pierced through the thin veil, staring intently at Yao Guangxiao's back, lost in thought.

After a long silence, Yang Shiqi was the first to break it. He bowed deeply and said in a hoarse voice, "Your Majesty, I am foolish. I obey Your Majesty's last edict."

"Your Majesty, we obey your last will and testament."

Once there was a first, there was a second.

This time, no one objected. Lan Yu also lowered her head dejectedly, accepting the outcome.

Gu Panjun said calmly, "In that case, let us follow His Majesty's will and select a virtuous and capable person from among the imperial clan to succeed to the throne. Gentlemen, do you have a candidate in mind?"

Silence fell again in the hall.

This is undoubtedly another difficult problem.

Most of the imperial family members who are qualified to inherit the throne have been enfeoffed overseas by His Majesty, far away.

Just as everyone was pondering, Wang Zuo suddenly raised his head and said:
"Your subject recommends one person."

"Formerly Prince of Jin, Zhu Gang. Now, the ruler of a vassal state in the New World!"

Wang Zuo's words were tantamount to throwing another spark into the already extinguished ashes.

The entire hall was instantly set ablaze again.

Facing the astonished gazes of the crowd, he calmly listed his reasons: "Prince Zhu Gang of Jin is the third son of the Supreme Emperor, and is also the most senior and highest-ranking member of the current imperial family."

"By virtue of primogeniture and the eldest son, it is in accordance with natural law and human ethics for him to inherit the throne, and it is perfectly justified!"

"Absurd!" Yang Shiqi immediately retorted, "The Prince of Jin has already been stripped of his title and enfeoffed in the New World!"

“Its vassal state is separated from our Great Ming by vast oceans and thousands of miles.”

"Even with the current prosperity of maritime transport and the ability to send messages by fast ships, it would be absolutely impossible for him to return to the Ming Dynasty from the New World in less than a year or two!"

"How can the throne of the Emperor of my Great Ming Dynasty remain vacant for so long?"

He stepped forward, staring intently at Wang Zuo: "Besides, by the time he returns, the Empress's child will have already been born!"

"At that time, why should we go to such lengths instead of establishing the late emperor's legitimate heir, and instead support a 'former prince' who has already gone to sea to serve as a prince?"

Wang Zuo seemed to have anticipated this question, and immediately bowed towards the gauze curtain, saying loudly, "Lord Yang is overthinking things!"

"I had previously learned through private channels that His Highness Prince Jin had set sail several months ago to present his achievements in expanding overseas territories. Now, his fleet has probably already arrived at the Fujian coast!"

"The imperial court only needs to send an urgent telegram, and His Highness Prince Jin will be able to arrive in Jinling within ten days to take charge of the overall situation!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Shiqi's expression changed drastically: "The Prince of Jin returned to the country without authorization? Such a matter of national importance, why were the Political Affairs Office and the Military Affairs Office completely unaware of it, while you, Lord Prince, were the first to know?"

Xia Yuanji, standing to the side, also frowned and said coldly, "Lord Wang! According to the imperial court's regulations, overseas vassal kings are not allowed to return to the Central Plains without a special imperial decree!"

"The Prince of Jin's actions are a blatant violation of the laws of the Ming Dynasty, tantamount to treason!"

“Lord Xia, you are mistaken!” Wang Zuo retorted emphatically, “Times have changed! The Prince of Jin has been away from his hometown for a long time, and it is only natural for him to be homesick.”

"Moreover, His Majesty once said that if overseas vassal kings can expand their territories and achieve great merit, they can return to the capital to report!"

"His Highness Prince Jin has expanded the territory of the Southern New World by thousands of miles, subjugated countless local natives, and discovered huge gold and silver mines and endless fertile land, which can bring immeasurable wealth to the treasury of our Great Ming!"

"With such unparalleled merit, what crime would I commit upon returning to the capital to present it to the Emperor?"

He looked around at everyone, his voice suddenly rising: "Does the imperial court mean that by enfeoffing these princes overseas, it means it will turn a blind eye and leave them to fend for themselves?"

"That's not what His Majesty said when he was alive!"

"'Throughout the world, all shall obey the Ming Dynasty's calendar'—this is His Majesty's grand vision!"

"The return of the Prince of Jin is precisely the proper way to fulfill such a grand ambition!"

"Now that the nation is facing a great calamity and His Majesty has unfortunately passed away, it is not the will of Heaven that His Highness Prince Jin, who has made outstanding contributions and is the eldest in line to the throne, has returned to the court to inherit the throne."

“Fate? I think it’s a scheme!” A cold laugh interrupted Wang Zuo’s impassioned speech.

Lan Yu crossed her arms and looked at him with a mocking expression: "Lord Wang, isn't the timing of Prince Jin's return a bit too coincidental?"

"His Majesty suffered a calamity in Shandong, and he appeared in Fujian shortly afterward. Could it be... that he had long been colluding with the rebels in Shandong, and was one of the masterminds behind this plot to assassinate His Majesty?"

These hurtful words instantly enraged Wang Zuo: "Lan Yu! Don't you dare make false accusations! Without any evidence, you are framing a member of the imperial family!"

"The Prince of Jin is far away in Fujian, and His Majesty met with misfortune in Shandong. They are thousands of miles apart. How can he participate?"

Lan Yu snorted coldly and retorted, "Lord Wang, have you forgotten that such a marvelous invention as the telegraph machine already exists in this world!"

"What difficulty is there in sending a message from thousands of miles away in an instant, and remotely controlling Shandong from Fujian?"

Wang Zuo trembled with rage: "You...you're just trying to frame me! You can always find a reason!"

"To slander a prince and accuse him of plotting rebellion—do you know what a grave crime that is?!"

Lan Yu flung his sleeves and said arrogantly, "I don't care about any crimes! Anyway, if Zhu Gang wants to sit on this throne, he has to ask me, Lan Yu, first for my consent!"

"I absolutely disagree!"

Wang Zuo retorted angrily, "The Ming Dynasty's rule isn't something you, Lan Yu, can decide alone! According to etiquette and seniority, the Prince of Jin should succeed to the throne!"

……

(End of this chapter)