Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 622 The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind! The Real Chess Player?

"Etiquette? Seniority?"

Lan Yu seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. He stepped forward, almost touching Wang Zuo's nose, and said, "I only know the laws of the Ming Dynasty! Overseas princes are not allowed to return without an imperial edict!"

"Since Zhu Gang dared to return secretly, he has broken the law!"

"In my opinion, an imperial edict should be issued immediately to severely reprimand him and order him to return to the New World at once!"

"Otherwise, he will be imprisoned and questioned on charges of treason."

"Let's see if he's connected to the rebellion in Shandong!"

"How dare you!" Wang Zuo retorted sharply, "His Highness Prince Jin is of the bloodline of the Supreme Emperor, and his contributions to the nation are immense! How dare you suggest imprisoning him?"

"Lan Yu, how arrogant and domineering you are!"

"His Majesty's body is barely cold, and you already intend to lay a hand on his own uncle?"

"You are going to chill the hearts of all the royal families in the land!"

Lan Yu sneered, "He made a grave mistake back then, which is why he was banished overseas. What great merit did he have?"

"Besides, even if he has done something meritorious, does that mean he can disregard the law?"

"Even if he has rendered meritorious service, does that mean he can covet the throne during His Majesty's great mourning period?"

Wang Zuo retorted, "He is the rightful heir, and his claim is legitimate! You are simply jealous of his talent and using this as a pretext for personal revenge!"

Lan Yu retorted angrily, "I think you're the one harboring malicious intentions, planning to let the wolf into the house!"

The two argued more and more fiercely, from court affairs to personal conduct, and it looked like a full-blown fight was about to break out in the Hall of Diligent Governance.

Behind the gauze curtain, Gu Panjun's cool voice finally rang out again.

"Shut up, everyone."

These three words, though few, carried an invisible authority that instantly silenced the two red-faced high-ranking officials.

Inside the main hall, deathly silence returned once more.

Gu Panjun said calmly, "His Majesty's last edict was to 'select a person of both virtue and talent' from among the imperial clan."

"The key is in the word 'merit and ability,' not in the age of the person."

"Although the Prince of Jin is the eldest, he is not necessarily the only 'virtuous and capable' one. Your statement is biased."

These words brought a hint of joy to the faces of the officials who supported Lan Yu.

But Gu Panjun's next words stunned everyone.

"However, His Highness Prince Jin is, after all, the head of the royal family, and it just so happens that he has returned to the country."

"Issue an imperial decree that he should immediately depart from Fujian and come to Nanjing to discuss state affairs."

As soon as these words came out, the whole hall was shocked.

No one could understand why the Empress would summon this tiger from afar into the bottomless murky waters of the capital, since she had already denied the natural legitimacy of Prince Jin's succession.

Isn't this self-contradictory and inviting trouble?
Gu Panjun didn't give anyone a chance to ask questions, and quickly added, "This matter is settled."

Wang Zuo looked delighted and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty the Empress is wise."

The other ministers all seemed lost in thought, their expressions varying.

At this moment, a palace attendant cautiously entered the hall to report that the imperial kitchen had prepared dinner.

"Prepare the meal," Gu Panjun instructed. "My dear ministers have been up all day and are all hungry."

Although the emperor's recent death was kept secret, everyone present knew the truth.

Who would be in the mood to eat right now?

But once the empress gave the order, no one dared to disobey.

Soon, a vegetarian meal was served.

Everyone sat down silently, picked up their chopsticks without any appetite, and pretended to eat only a tiny bit.

Even if they are starving, they must force themselves to look sad and unable to eat.

Otherwise, it will become a "handle" for "disloyalty and unfilial piety" in the future.

Suppressed silence is more unbearable than any argument.

After less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Wang Zuo stood up, bowed to the gauze curtain, and said, "Your Majesty, I... need to relieve myself, so I must take my leave for now."

Gu Panjun gave a noncommittal "hmm".

Wang Zuo strode quickly towards the outside of the palace.

Zhan Hui also stood up quietly and followed.

The two walked one after the other through the long corridor and arrived at a secluded corner where no one was around.

"Brother Wang, please wait." Zhan Hui's voice sounded particularly cold in the night.

Wang Zuo stopped and turned around, his brows furrowed: "Brother Zhan, what advice do you have for me?"

"I dare not presume to offer my instruction." Zhan Hui slowly approached, lowered his voice, and asked, "Was it your elder brother, Wang Shoulian, who instigated the rebellion in Shandong?"

Wang Zuo's expression changed, and he categorically denied it: "Why would Lord Zhan say such a thing! I have absolutely no connection with this matter!"

"Is that so?" Zhan Hui let out a sneer. "I don't believe it. Does Wang Shoulian, a mere Shandong provincial inspector, have the audacity to commit such a heinous act of treason?"

"If no one in the capital were to back him up, he wouldn't dare to do it even if he had a hundred lives!"

Their eyes clashed in the air, and after a silent contest, Wang Zuo finally succumbed.

He sighed deeply and admitted with a dejected expression, "I was indeed aware of Wang Shoulian's memorial to the throne and his death."

Seeing that Zhan Hui's face was growing increasingly grim, he quickly explained, "But what I asked him to do was to unite the officials of Shandong and, during His Majesty's sacrificial ceremony, to remonstrate with his life, earnestly requesting His Majesty to abolish the new learning and restore the moral order!"

“I did not order him to use weapons or to carry out a ‘military remonstrance’!”

“Now that things have come to this, the mistake has been made. What’s the point of saying all this?” Zhan Hui said coldly.

A hint of fanatical fervor appeared on Wang Zuo's face: "Do you think I want to?"

"If it weren't for those 'new learning's' heretical doctrines that have misled the masses and destroyed the rites, morality, and sense of shame that the sages have taught for thousands of years, we scholars would never have resorted to such a desperate measure!"

"The moral decay and moral depravity of the world all stem from this kind of learning!"

Zhan Hui coldly said, "Even if the new learning has its faults, if His Majesty had not implemented new policies based on the new learning and developed science, would our Great Ming Dynasty have achieved such a prosperous state today?"

"Lord Wang is an important official in the court. He should know how much the court's annual revenue was just a few years ago, and how much it is now! In just a few years, the revenue has increased so much."

"In just a few years, countless people across the country went hungry."

"Now, looking across the entire Ming Dynasty, are there still people who are starving?"

"In the granaries of the Ming Dynasty, grain was piled up like mountains. Even if a major disaster like the Yellow River breached its banks, there would be no shortage of food for disaster relief, and even the disaster victims would be able to eat their fill."

"These achievements are all thanks to the new policies, and are also inseparable from the theoretical support of the new learning."

Why must you oppose new learning?

Wang Zuo roared, "Just because of the corrupting influence of the new learning on people's hearts!"

“You’re right, the Ming Dynasty is indeed richer than before, and everyone has enough to eat.”

"However, in the present Ming Dynasty, everyone is looking at money, and everyone is only looking for wealth. They laugh at poverty but not prostitution, and have no morals or shame."

"Aren't all these negative trends caused by the new schools and new policies?"

"With people's hearts so depraved, what good is it if they can have enough to eat?"

"As the saying goes, 'Starving to death is a small matter, but losing one's integrity is a great matter!'"

"I would rather millions of people starve to death every year than see the morality of the people of the Ming Dynasty degenerate to this extent!" Hearing his almost insane words, Zhan Hui felt a chill rise from the bottom of his heart. He took a step back and said coldly, "It's too late to say anything more. Brother Wang, you should take care of yourself."

He turned to leave, but Wang Zuo grabbed his wrist.

Wang Zuo's eyes seemed to burn with two dark flames in the night. He stared intently at Zhan Hui and retorted in a hoarse voice, "I resorted to such a desperate measure? Zhan Hui, don't try to absolve yourself of all responsibility!"

"Let me ask you!" Wang Zuo's grip tightened, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force: "You, Zhan Hui, have always prided yourself on being the leader of the 'pure stream' of our dynasty, and a role model for all scholars in the world!"

“You keep saying that you oppose the new learning, but you just watch as that ‘new learning’ rises and, like a flood or a ferocious beast, erodes the foundation of our Confucian tradition that has lasted for thousands of years.”

"You remained silent the entire time, sitting calmly in the court, neither listening nor asking questions?"

"Today you finally admit it: you've always supported the new school! You've been deceiving us all along!"

Zhan Hui shouted sternly, "Wang Zuo, stop talking nonsense!"

"I'm talking nonsense?" Wang Zuo let out a shrill laugh, then shoved Zhan Hui against a pillar and demanded, "Didn't you just admit what you said?"

"Also, back then, you were the one who said that the time was not right and we should proceed slowly!"

"Okay, I'll wait!"

"Later, it was you who said that His Majesty's mind was made up, and it was impossible to stop him with a futile effort!"

"Fine, I'll put up with it!"

"But what did you get in return for enduring all that?"

"In return, those new heretical doctrines were brazenly incorporated into the sacrificial prayers to Heaven, proclaimed to the world, and became the officially designated 'orthodox Confucian school'!"

"In return, we got scholars like Wang Shoulian, who were forced to take this risky step in order to restore order!"

Wang Zuo's voice was filled with endless disappointment and resentment.

"Zhan Hui, ask yourself honestly!"

"Is your so-called 'forbearance' and 'big picture' truly for the sake of maintaining the sage's tradition, or for your own official position and personal wealth and glory?"

"Did you already think that we were like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, doomed to failure, so you distanced yourself from us early on, so that you could live a peaceful and stable life as a government official in the new dynasty?"

"Supporting the new school and new policies is what you truly believe in!"

These words, so piercing to the core, were like a sharp knife, stabbing deep into the most hidden corner of Zhan Hui's heart.

Zhan Hui's face instantly turned a deep purplish-red. He shoved Wang Zuo aside and growled, "Nonsense! I... I was trying to preserve the last vestiges of my 'Qingliu' lineage!"

"If we are all dismissed for speaking frankly and offering our advice, wouldn't the imperial court truly become a place where those new schools of thought dictate the word?"

"At that time, who will protect this last spark of the path to sainthood?"

"A spark?" Wang Zuo looked at him with disdain and said, "I'm afraid that spark was extinguished long ago amidst your wealth and glory!"

He persisted relentlessly until Zhan Hui could no longer bear it. He abruptly shook off Wang Zuo's hand and shouted angrily, "You say I'm greedy for wealth and status? Wang Zuo, look at the good things you've done!"

"Now it's all settled. Wang Shoulian has committed treason, and 'traitorous learning' and 'rebellion' are now inextricably linked!"

"This dirty water will never be washed away, not even in a hundred years!"

"After this battle, the rise of the new school is now unstoppable!"

"Your foolish actions have completely destroyed our shared commitment!"

Faced with Zhan Hui's roar, Wang Zuo showed no panic whatsoever, but instead revealed a strange and cold smile.

“That’s not necessarily true,” he said slowly.

Zhan Hui was taken aback: "What do you mean?"

“What I mean is,” Wang Zuo’s voice was as low as a devil’s whisper, “so what if we announce it to the world?”

"So what if we label traditional learning as rebellion?"

"Who issued the decree? It was the late Emperor!"

"But the late emperor... has now passed away."

Zhan Hui felt a jolt in his heart, vaguely sensing something.

Wang Zuo continued, "A new emperor, a new court!"

"Once the new emperor ascends the throne, can't the late emperor's decree be repealed?"

"Now, His Highness Prince Jin has returned."

"Given his status and prestige in the court and the army, unless the late emperor were to rise from his coffin, who in this world could stop him from ascending the throne?"

"Even if Lan Yu and the others object, it's like a mantis trying to stop a chariot!"

“Your Majesty the Empress,” he glanced in the direction of the Hall of Diligent Governance and said, “she is a wise woman.”

"She saw this clearly, knew that the situation was hopeless and irreversible, so she gave up the futile struggle and agreed to summon the Prince of Jin to the capital."

"This is the default!"

"No matter how much they criticize the old learning or praise the new learning now, once the Prince of Jin ascends the throne, all of this can be overturned and started anew!"

"Our Holy Sect's lineage can still see the light of day again!"

Zhan Hui looked at this "ally" who seemed to have gone mad, his expression changing repeatedly. After a long while, he finally said, "Did you collude with the Prince of Jin all along? Was all of this something you planned long ago?"

"I'll say it again!" Wang Zuo said solemnly, "I, Wang Zuo, have studied the classics and am loyal to the Ming Dynasty!"

"I never intended to stage a military coup, much less become a traitor!"

"What I asked Wang Shoulian and the others to do was to remonstrate to the death! To sacrifice themselves for the cause!"

"Is that so?" Zhan Hui's eyes were sharp as knives. "You may not have done it yourself, but you probably... had already foreseen it!"

Before Wang Zuo could refute, Zhan Hui continued, "Why would the Supreme Emperor suddenly leave the Western Expeditionary Camp, which was well-connected by telegraph, to inspect the far west, making it impossible for the court to contact him immediately?"

"I'm afraid it was you who secretly leaked the news of the Prince of Yan in Europe to the Supreme Emperor through the newly enthroned monarch."

"Taking advantage of his longing for his son, we managed to transfer him away quietly, didn't we?"

"What a brilliant tactic! What a clever scheme!"

Wang Zuo's pupils suddenly contracted.

"And there's also that Prince Zhou, Zhu Su, who fled to his fiefdom!"

"He disappeared for many years, so why did he coincidentally appear in Shandong and so coincidentally persuade Wang Shoulian?"

"Did you already know his whereabouts all along?"

"You used this desperate dog of his to turn a 'death plea' into a 'military plea'!"

"King Zhu Su of Zhou thought he had planned everything perfectly."

"But little did they know, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."

"He's just a pawn in your game."

He looked at Wang Zuo's bloodless face and sighed softly:

"Wang Zuo, oh Wang Zuo, your chess skills are truly superb!"

"You may seem to never take direct action, but in reality, you've been pushing things forward behind the scenes everywhere."

"You didn't get your hands dirty, yet you made everything go the way you wanted."

"Brilliant, brilliant, absolutely brilliant!"

……

(End of this chapter)