The First Uncle of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 97 I will organize the family tree for the emperor

Some people, when they become successful, like to find a powerful ancestor for themselves, as if this would make their origins more prominent.

Finding a powerful ancestor for the emperor would also increase his sacredness, etc.

For example, many civil servants now hope that Zhu Yuanzhang can recognize Zhu Xi as their ancestor, because he is the founder of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism.

Last year, the imperial examination system was established based on the "transmission and annotations of Zhu Xi and others", but many people think that this is not enough.

Zhu Xi in the Southern Song Dynasty was considered the leader of pseudo-learning, which became the mainstream in the Yuan Dynasty, and now many people want to go further.

Once Zhu Yuanzhang recognized Zhu Xi as his ancestor, then for many people, this doctrine would be unshakable, and it would be natural to carry Zhu Xi into the Confucius Temple and strive to include him in the Twelve Philosophers.

Li Zhen seemed very angry and said, "No one knows your Majesty's family background better than me. Your Majesty's ancestors were tenants and gold diggers. They moved from Jurong to Xuyi and then to Fengyang."

Ma Xun also said, "My ancestors of the Ma family were originally from Yanzhou Prefecture. When the Jin people moved south, my ancestors moved south to Suzhou, Guide Prefecture."

Li Zhen was even more angry. "The lineage of the emperor and empress has always been clear. How can you make up a story and find someone else as your ancestor?"

"That's it!" Ma Xun also opened fire and blasted Song Lian and Wei Guan, "You don't recognize your own ancestors, but you find someone with the country's surname as your ancestor. What kind of logic is this?"

Song Lian explained hurriedly with sweat on his forehead, "My dear Marquis Enqin, my uncle, I have no such intention. I just traced the source and found some clues."

"Clues, what clues?" Li Zhen was even more angry. "I was allowed by Emperor Renzu Chun to marry Princess Longxi in my early years. How could I not know the genealogy of your majesty's clan!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was truly close to his second sister. When the Ming Dynasty was founded, she was posthumously named Princess Xiaoqin, and this year she should be named Princess Longxi.

This year, Li Wenzhong returned to his hometown to pay tribute to his mother, and he took great pains to find the dilapidated coffins of Zhu Yuanzhang's eldest sister and brother-in-law.

Out of face, Zhu Yuanzhang posthumously conferred the title of Princess Taiyuan on his eldest sister and the title of Duke of Taiyuan on his eldest son, Prince Qiyi, and reburied them in Taiping Township, Xuyi County.

Zhu Yuanzhang even posthumously conferred the title of king on his cousin, which shows how much he hated his elder sister and brother-in-law.

Song Lian, Wei Guan and others were unable to speak now, because Li Zhen and Ma Xun were at full fire. Judging from the trend, if anyone dared to mention the family background of the emperor and empress again, these two relatives would take action.

There is no way around it. The only relative of the emperor's companion is Li Zhen, an old man in his sixties. Who would dare to argue with him about certain things?

The queen has only this younger brother of the same generation as her, who is more than ten years younger than her. If anyone messes with him, the queen will be the first to get anxious.

The most important thing is that these two really understand the family background of the Emperor and Empress. If you want to find the ancestors, no one can stop them from agreeing unless they agree.

At this time, Zhu Biao was sitting on the Diaoyutai, not expressing any opinions, as if he had no opinions at all.

After Song Lian, Wei Guan and others fled, Zhu Biao smiled and said, "These matters have to be handled by my aunt and uncle. These people have no good intentions."

Li Zhen said with anger still lingering, "Your Highness, these people are going too far. How can you just recognize an ancestor casually?"

"We are now an imperial family, so we have to give in on some things." Zhu Biao said sarcastically, "If we recognize a good ancestor, all officials will be sincerely convinced and the people will think it is natural."

Afraid that Li Zhen didn't understand, Zhu Biao explained, "What these people are doing now is nothing more than wanting to establish a prominent school. Although they are all Confucian students now, there are still many schools of thought."

Li Zhen probably understood, "They all say that all schools of thought should be abolished and Confucianism should be respected alone. I think many schools of thought also have their own theories."

"It's true that they are all Confucianists, but there are too many Confucian sages." Zhu Biao said with a smile, "These people are from the Cheng-Zhu school. I'm afraid that the court will label Cheng-Zhu as a pseudo-school like the Song Dynasty."

Ma Xun also sarcastically said, "That's true. If Zhu Xi became the ancestor of the royal family, who would dare to say that this is fake learning?"

Zhu Biao then spoke up, "These people want to persuade me first, and then let me persuade my father. Although Mr. Song taught me, he is a scholar after all, and he is from eastern Zhejiang."

Knowing that Li Zhen and Ma Xun didn't know much about this, Zhu Biao explained, "The Song Dynasty's philosophy seems to include the principles of nature, governance, and achievements, which are closer to the teachings of Confucius and Mencius in the pre-Qin period, but in essence it is based on the Cheng-Zhu school, and also draws on Zhou Dunyi and others."

When Li Zhen and Ma Xun nodded, Zhu Biao continued, "This theory was founded by the brothers Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi, and then passed on to their disciple Yang Shi, then to Luo Congyan, and then to Li Dong. It was finally completed by Zhu Xi in the Southern Song Dynasty."

Zhu Biao patiently explained, "In the pre-Yuan period, many people defined Confucianism as the Confucian school. These scholars were mainly concentrated in Huizhou, Fujian, Jiangxi, and eastern Zhejiang, where literary styles flourished and where fish and rice were plentiful. These people were all Cheng and Zhu."

Ma Xun understood at once, "They are all from the south. I remember Zhu Xi was also from the south, from Wuyuan, Huizhou Prefecture."

Zhu Biao seized the opportunity to praise Ma Xun, "Uncle is indeed well-read. Master Zhu's ancestral home is from Wuyuan, and he was born in Youxi, Fujian. He served as the prefect of Nankang, Jiangxi, Zhangzhou, Fujian, and the governor of Zhejiang East."

Li Zhen also reacted at once, "After talking about this, all these are the places where the civil servants in the court are!" "These people are anxious now, the Secretariat has returned to the hands of the Huaixi people." Zhu Biao said with a smile, "They all think that they have taught me the classics, so they want me to come to the fore."

Zhu Biao was a crown prince who was not misled by Confucianism and only cared about the country and the people.

Some people who were misled by Confucianism wanted to restore the Zhou rites and rule the world with Confucianism, and even the names of the palaces had to conform to the Zhou rites.

I am talking about Zhu Yunwen, a typical example of someone who was taught the wrong way. He and a group of idealistic Confucian scholars started to govern the country without considering the actual situation.

Li Zhen said angrily, "Your Highness, if these people come to you again, you should summon me. I will have a good talk with them. Why don't they just find an ancestor for themselves?"

Ma Xun couldn't help but complain, "Maybe they have already found their ancestors, recognized their schools, and have a heritage. They are proper Confucian disciples."

Although Ma Xun's words are somewhat cynical and a bit sweeping, this is indeed what some scholars do.

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "Dad and I can't say much about these things. Some things should be handled by my aunt and uncle."

Ma Xun stepped forward and took the responsibility, "Don't worry, Your Highness. There is no need for Marquis Enqin to intervene in these matters. Next time someone troubles Your Highness with these matters, I will come and talk to them."

Li Zhen said disapprovingly, "No, I have to handle these matters. I know your Majesty's family background better than anyone else. Who dares to discuss these matters with me?"

Zhu Biao quickly said, "Aunt, Uncle, these things can be discussed no matter which of you two comes."

Zhu Biao did not agree with the idea of finding an ancestor for Zhu Yuanzhang. He did not want those people from eastern Zhejiang to do anything about this matter, and he did not want these people to have any political intentions.

Zhu Yuanzhang was even more disgusted by this. He was born in Huaixi as a commoner, and he never concealed this fact.

Li Zhen and Ma Xun also didn't want to see these things, because in addition to political factors, they were also closely related to them. If they really recognized some ancestors, they would be affected.

It was not easy to complete the family history and genealogy. If we allow those scholars to quote from classics and extend it at this time, the family tree will be modified a lot.

Zhu Biao asked with a smile, "Aunt, Uncle, what brings you to Wenhua Hall?"

Li Zhen patted his forehead, "I almost forgot something important. His Majesty ordered me and my uncle to come to Your Highness to discuss the matter of conferring the title of prince on the princes. In addition to the title of prince, the ceremony of conferring the title of prince also needs to be decided by Your Highness."

Zhu Biao complained with a smile, "Uncle, how can I do this? It is clearly what my father should do, but he pushed it onto me. How can I tell my brothers about this? It's hard to be fair."

Ma Xun couldn't help but look at Zhu Biao. Treating everyone equally?

Li Zhen said stubbornly, "These matters should be decided by His Highness. Even if His Majesty wants to decide this matter, he should ask His Highness for his opinion."

Zhu Biao also understood that this was a serious matter, so he said, "Uncle, uncle, you two have to preside over the ceremony of enthroning the kings this time."

Li Zhen asked, "Your Highness, these matters should be handled by the Ministry of Rites, right?"

"My uncle is highly respected and a relative of the clan." Zhu Biao said affectionately, "Now that my brothers are crowned as kings, it is natural that my uncle and I will preside over the ceremony. This is also a blessing and honor for my brothers."

Li Zhen thought about it and it made sense, so he said, "Then I won't refuse. But the uncle is the uncle of the second prince and his highness. The uncle should preside over the ceremony, and I can assist him."

Ma Xun said hurriedly, "This makes me embarrassed. After all, I am from the outside. Marquis Enqin is highly respected and the head of the clan relatives. How can I surpass Marquis Enqin?"

Zhu Biao also said, "Uncle, this is what I think. It was my uncle who proposed to confer titles on the kings, and you will be the one to preside over the ceremony of enthroning the kings."

Seeing that Li Zhen and Ma Xun no longer objected, Zhu Biao smiled and said, "Then this matter is settled. Let the officials of the Ministry of Rites go and talk to you two about the ceremony of enthroning the prince tomorrow."

Ma Xun and Li Zhen naturally had no objections. They also knew that some things were indeed suitable for them to do.

This also made Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao very happy. Li Zhen and Ma Xun's identities made them naturally suitable for appearing in some special occasions, and no one could pick on them.

Whether out of court etiquette or local customs and practices, these two relatives are the first choice.

The enthronement of the kings was settled in this way, without any difficulty at all.

Whether it is Li Zhen or Ma Xun, they only need to be responsible for hosting the event, and the specific arrangements will naturally be done by the Ministry of Rites and other government offices.

As for Song Lian and others, they may not give up. It is their unshirkable responsibility to improve the status of literati and scholars and the status of civil servants in eastern Zhejiang and the south.

(End of this chapter)