Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 624

This sigh came from the bottom of my heart.

In his past life, he was addicted to video games where he played the role of a ruler vying for supremacy.

In that fictional world, everything was simple and clear.

To determine a minister's loyalty, players simply need to open his attribute panel, where the numerical value will be readily apparent.

Players are like omniscient and omnipotent gods, overlooking and controlling everything.

However, the real world is completely different from the game world.

The real world is a state of chaos.

The human heart is like flowing clouds and passing water, changing in an instant.

The loyal ministers who are devoted to you today may turn against you tomorrow because of a little greed or personal grudge.

This vast empire is like an incredibly large and sophisticated machine; one can set its direction, but can never fathom the minute changes in every single gear within it.

Therefore, any "accident" is actually within reason.

"So His Majesty deliberately held back at that time?" Xu Miaojin pressed, feeling that Zhu Yunwen's response in the Confucian Temple was somewhat abnormal.

"This is a rebellion destined to fail." Zhu Yunwen's face regained its confident, strategic air. "They are nothing but a rabble, without even a proper organized army. How absurd and laughable that a few military officers and government officials could think of staging a coup!"

"To put it arrogantly, even if you fail to control the outer perimeter in time, I am fully confident that I can call upon those coerced soldiers to immediately turn against me and become the hostage."

"The vast majority of them had no intention of rebelling; they were simply blindly following."

"If I don't speak, they will take it as my acquiescence and my weakness."

"If I were to truly unleash my power, they would dare not!"

Even today, in the eyes of many soldiers and common people at the grassroots level, Zhu Yunwen is not only the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, but also no different from a god.

The long-term propaganda and guidance of the Da Ming Daily have not been in vain. Many people have subconsciously come to believe that their Ming emperor was sent by heaven and has all sorts of incredible supernatural powers and abilities.

Moreover, the Ming Dynasty had truly undergone earth-shattering changes.

This further confirmed the propaganda in the newspapers, forcing them to believe it.

People's IQ tends to decrease when they are in a group.

When most people start to believe, the rest will follow suit.

If someone were to say that Zhu Yunwen was not a god, he would probably be ridiculed by countless people who would think he was too ignorant!

To put it bluntly, even if Zhu Yunwen were to actually "perform" a feat of summoning wind and rain or riding the clouds, the vast majority of the people of the Ming Dynasty would not find it strange.

Instead, they would think that the emperor of the Ming Dynasty should have such abilities.

The fact that there is no "performance" now is simply because the emperor does not want to cause a stir.

"The reason I have remained patient and let them run wild," a sharp glint flashed in Zhu Yunwen's eyes, "was simply to go with the flow and see how many big fish lurking in the abyss this sudden muddy water can actually expose."

After Zhu Yunwen finished speaking, he looked at Xu Miaojin with a mixture of surprise and admiration, and said, "To be honest, the only one I didn't expect was you."

"I never expected that you could be so decisive, taking control of everyone inside and outside the Kong family mansion in such a short time, and defeating Wang Shoulian's rebellion so quickly and thoroughly."

Xu Miaojin showed a hint of apology on her face and said, "Did I... disrupt your plans?"

“No, you did the right thing, very well.” Zhu Yunwen’s expression turned serious. “The appearance of Prince Zhou, Zhu Su, was truly unexpected.”

"Although I am confident that I can quell the situation amidst the chaos of war, people's hearts are unpredictable, and bullets are even more indiscriminate."

"Who can guarantee that in the chaos, no desperate criminal won't fire a shot at me indiscriminately?"

"If that's the case, then all my previous arrangements will have become a huge joke."

He grasped Xu Miaojin's hand and said, "You have swiftly and decisively taken control of the outer perimeter, ensuring my personal safety at least one hundred percent."

"It is precisely because you stabilized the situation that I dared to make a decisive move, turn the tables on you, and make this play even more convincing."

"I see." Xu Miaojin suddenly understood, but then frowned and said, "But how do you know there must be a bigger fish behind this?"

"Wang Shoulian is dead, and so is Prince Zhu Su of Zhou."

"Is it possible that the mastermind behind all of this is the Zhou king who fled to his fiefdom?"

“Absolutely impossible.” Zhu Yunwen shook his head decisively and said, “Zhu Su cannot command an old stubborn man like Wang Shoulian who claims to be a ‘disciple of a sage’.”

“What Wang Shoulian wanted was to ‘purge the court of corrupt officials’ and uphold the ‘orthodox tradition’ in his heart, while what Zhu Su wanted was the throne.”

"The two of them seem to hit it off immediately, but in reality they are not on the same wavelength at all."

"There must be someone in a high position in the imperial court in Jinling who is secretly supporting Wang Shoulian."

Xu Miaojin asked, "Then... who could it be?"

"Minister of State Affairs," Zhu Yunwen uttered, adding, "Moreover, I believe that behind this Minister of State Affairs, there must be another, or rather, several other members of the imperial family, providing support."

"Zhu Su is nothing more than a pawn pushed to the forefront to attract everyone's attention."

"Behind him, there was a... or a group of, more intelligent and more composed princes."

Xu Miaojin asked, puzzled, "But weren't all the princes already enfeoffed overseas?"

"They are thousands of miles away, beyond our reach, so how could they possibly cause trouble in the Central Plains?"

Zhu Yunwen laughed and said, "People are alive and can move. Can't they come back secretly?"

These words, like a thunderclap, exploded in Xu Miaojin's mind!

All her previous doubts suddenly became clear.

Yes, if Prince Zhu Su of Zhou could sneak back and stir up trouble in Shandong, why couldn't the other princes who were enfeoffed overseas secretly sneak back to the Ming Dynasty and make plans behind the scenes?
This is very simple logical reasoning.

However, being caught up in the situation, she overlooked even this point.

This is probably what they mean by "the one involved is confused".

Xu Miaojin stared blankly at the man in front of her for a long time before letting out a sigh that sounded both admiration and self-mockery: "I thought that just because I had read a few books, I could know the general trend of the world."

"Back in the manor, I often gave advice to my elder brother and the others, thinking myself clever."

"Only today do I realize that compared to His Majesty's extraordinary talent, my little bit of cleverness is truly like a firefly compared to the bright moon."

"So what are you planning to do next?" Xu Miaojin asked curiously, regaining her composure.

"I don't need to do anything." Zhu Yunwen's face showed confidence and composure as if he were in control of the whole situation.

"We will return to Jinling immediately."

"Quietly wait for them to jump onto the hook one by one."

"We can close the net soon."

"Those stubborn obstacles hindering the Ming Dynasty's progress have been largely cleared away this time." ...

……

……

In front of a large house by the sea in Fujian.

Zhu Gang stood at his residence, gazing at the sea before him. He took a deep breath of the salty sea breeze and a look of utter comfort spread across his face.

"The air in the Ming Dynasty is so much better!" he exclaimed, opening his arms wide with emotion. "It's moist, mild, and carries the fragrance of my homeland. It's a hundred times fresher than the air in that wild and untamed land of the New World! It's so good to be home!"

A strategist in a blue robe standing beside him, however, looked worried and whispered, "Your Highness, your unauthorized return to the country this time is a tremendous risk. What if the court blames you..."

"What's there to be afraid of?" Zhu Gang waved his hand dismissively, his face full of smugness and calculation. "Our father, the supreme emperor of the Ming Dynasty, is still alive and well."

"Even if Zhu Yunwen is dissatisfied, would he dare to turn against his own uncle?"

"Does he dare to disregard the old man's feelings?"

"Furthermore," he said, pointing to several large ships moored on the distant coastline, "this time I've brought Zhu Yunwen an incredibly generous gift!"

"A full 100 million taels of silver, and mountains of copper!"

"Zhu Yuntong wasn't lying about one thing. Although the New World is a wild and uncivilized land, and the natives there are incredibly savage and have no manners or education, that place is full of treasures, mountains of gold and silver, inexhaustible resources!"

Recalling his conquests in the New World, Zhu Gang couldn't help but sigh, adding, "One doesn't hit a smiling face."

"I've given him so much real gold and silver to replenish his national treasury. Even if Zhu Yunwen is unwilling in his heart, he still has to put on a smile for me."

"Moreover, the reason for my return this time is that I am homesick and have fallen ill from overwork, so I need to return to the Great Ming to seek medical treatment."

"It's reasonable and justifiable; he can't find any excuse to cause trouble."

“In the end,” Zhu Gang’s tone turned cold and resolute, “wealth and honor must ultimately be sought amidst danger.”

"How can we control the situation if we don't come back?"

"Once Zhu Yunwen dies, all the previous rules and laws will become nothing but a piece of waste paper!"

As the two chatted, the strategist brought up the matter of Shandong again.

Zhu Gang revealed undisguised contempt: "My fourth brother, Zhu Su, is a complete idiot!"

"No wonder Father always used to call him 'incredibly foolish'."

"He really thought he could control everything, but little did he know that from beginning to end, he was just a pawn."

"It would be perfect to let him take the blame for 'regicide and nephew killing'."

The strategist remained somewhat uneasy: "Your Highness, whether the matter in Shandong can be accomplished is still uncertain..."

"Success is assured!" Zhu Gang was full of confidence.

He paced back and forth, beginning to criticize Zhu Yunwen's national policies: "Although that boy has made the Ming Dynasty's treasury full and the people prosperous, he doesn't understand at all that the hearts of the people are the foundation of the art of emperorship!"

"What use is wealth if people's hearts are corrupted? The way to govern the people is to first and foremost 'impoverish and exhaust them'!"

Zhu Gang spoke of his philosophy of governance: "As the saying goes, when people are well-fed and warm, they think of lustful desires."

"If the people are well-fed, they will have the time and energy to think about things they shouldn't be thinking about."

"They'll keep causing trouble and will never be satisfied."

"We want the people of the world to forever struggle on the brink of starvation, to toil and run themselves ragged for their next meal!"

"Only then will they not have the mind to think about those messy things, and they will obediently listen to orders!"

Only when the world is at peace and stable can it enjoy lasting peace and security!

"This is the true way of an emperor!"

"Zhu Yuntong thinks he's clever, but in reality, he knows nothing!"

The strategist bowed and echoed, "Your Highness is wise! The Book of Lord Shang says, 'When the people are weak, the state is strong; when the people are strong, the state is weak.' The five arts of governing a country are ignorance, weakness, exhaustion, humiliation, and poverty. These are timeless truths!"

"That's exactly right!" Zhu Gang exclaimed with high spirits, beginning to envision his grand ambitions after ascending the throne. "When I rule the world, I will emulate the former Yuan dynasty and implement the military household system, making all the people of my Great Ming soldiers!"

"I will assemble an invincible army to sweep across the land and conquer all the rebellious territories within the four seas!"

"Instead of being as weak as Zhu Yunwen, engaging in womanly compassion by demarcating borders and signing treaties!"

"Repaying loans to overseas countries and stationing troops."

"It's incredibly stupid for the Ming Dynasty to rely solely on business to make money!"

Just as the two of them were talking animatedly and dreaming about the future, a trusted confidant came running over hurriedly, his face full of barely suppressed excitement and ecstasy.

"Your Highness! Your Highness! An urgent telegram from the Imperial Court!"

The trusted aide presented a translated telegram with both hands: "Urgent telegram from Nanjing! You are to depart immediately for the capital!"

"Furthermore, a secret report from Shandong states that the Qufu Incident occurred, and His Majesty... His Majesty has passed away!"

"What?!" Zhu Gang snatched the telegram, glanced at it quickly, and then burst into an uncontrollable, ecstatic laugh!

"Hahaha... Hahahaha! It's done! It actually worked! Heaven is helping me! It really is heaven helping me!"

The strategist leaned forward and read it. Although there was a look of joy on his face, he also had a thoughtful expression and said warily, "Your Highness, this matter has gone too smoothly."

"From the mutiny to the emperor's death, and then to the court directly summoning you to the capital, everything seems to happen in a way that defies common sense. Be careful, it might be a trap."

"A trap?" Zhu Gang was already blinded by immense joy, and he asked in return, "What trap could there be?"

The strategist frowned and said, "Even if Wang Dong's plan succeeds, the emperor has already passed away. But the empress is still in Jinling, and she can still step in to temporarily stabilize the court."

"Most of the ministers of state affairs and the ministers of military affairs are the emperor's confidants, and they will listen to the emperor."

"Even if it were to choose a new emperor, it wouldn't be so easy to agree to recommend you."

Zhu Yi sneered, his face full of arrogance, and said, "That's because they know their own limitations! They know that the tide has turned and the will of the people is irreversible!"

"Only if I return to the capital and ascend the throne can they save their lives and wealth; otherwise, they will face certain death!"

"This is their only option!"

With a wave of his hand, ignoring the advice of his strategists, he confidently and loudly issued his order:

"Men! Prepare the boat! Prepare the horses!"

"I, the King, shall depart immediately for Jinling!"

……

(End of this chapter)