My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

In fact, given Zhu Cilang's current power and the almost tacit reliance Chongzhen had shown after all the previous events, there was absolutely no need for him to come and discuss things so "formally".

Once the time is right, the carriage is ready, and one can casually say:
"Father, there are some matters in the south that require your personal attention. Please accompany me to pacify them."

Even if Chongzhen was unwilling, he would probably just sigh and go with him.

This model, which is almost like "using the emperor to command the disobedient," was the most efficient but also the most helpless choice before.

But times have changed. The relationship between Zhu Cilang and Chongzhen is no longer as tense and delicate as it once was, almost to the point of drawing swords.

Having weathered many storms, especially after he turned the tide and pulled the Ming Dynasty back from the brink of collapse, the father and son had essentially reconciled.

Furthermore, forcing Chongzhen to make a southern tour is entirely different from making him willingly go along.

The former is still a continuation of the power struggle by the minister, which is bound to be discovered and may easily sow the seeds of resentment in the hearts of father and son again.

The latter, however, is a beautiful story of unity and harmony between the emperor, his ministers, and their sons, and it is more persuasive in pacifying the remaining loyalists in the south.

What Zhu Cilang wanted to establish was a stable, orderly, and hopeful new order, not a military government that continued to rely on force to suppress all dissent.

Therefore, having Emperor Chongzhen participate in the southern tour in a proactive manner was an important part of building this new pattern.

Besides, if possible, who would willingly spend their days coldly facing, scheming against, and guarding against their own biological father?

Being able to get along well is naturally the best outcome.

Zhu Cilang was always efficient. The day after finalizing the arrangements for the southern tour with Chongzhen, a standard draft of the imperial edict was copied by the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial and then solemnly delivered to the Cabinet Office in the Wenyuan Pavilion.

On this day, in the Wenyuan Pavilion, the charcoal brazier crackled and popped as several cabinet ministers sat around a huge rosewood table, piled high with memorials and petitions from all over the country.

The sky outside the window was overcast, and there seemed to be snow in the air, which made the room feel warmer, but also filled with a solemn atmosphere unique to busy government affairs.

When Wang Chengen presented the draft imperial edict regarding the southern tour, the expressions of several ministers became somewhat subtle.

They exchanged glances, but did not immediately show much surprise.

The reason is simple: the southern tour was a strategy that Xue Guoguan had privately discussed with several key cabinet ministers a few days earlier.

In their view, having Emperor Chongzhen personally tour the south was indeed an excellent strategy to appease the south and stabilize public sentiment.

Therefore, everyone already understood the contents of the imperial edict, such as "I wish to make a southern tour to Yingtian and other places when the spring is warm next year, to comfort the hopes of the people of Jiangnan."

However, as they continued to look down, their calm was gradually replaced by astonishment.

Because the imperial edict clearly stated:
"Crown Prince Cilang is prudent and wise, and he is hereby ordered to accompany me on the southern tour to assist in state affairs and to understand the people's conditions."

"During my absence from the capital, I hereby appoint Prince Cijiong of Jin to temporarily oversee state affairs. He shall handle all routine government matters in conjunction with the cabinet and the heads of the six ministries. For major matters, he shall report to the emperor by express courier at a speed of 600 li!"

"This this."

Fan Jingwen couldn't contain himself any longer. He raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as he looked at Xue Guoguan, who sat at the head of the table, and asked in a barely perceptible tremor:

"Grand Secretary Xue, what exactly is going on?"

Xue Guoguan also frowned at this moment. He took the imperial edict and read it carefully from beginning to end, especially the few sentences about the Prince of Jin overseeing the country. He almost read them word by word.

After putting down the imperial edict, a helpless, bitter smile appeared on his face. He raised his hand to rub his throbbing temples and sighed, saying:

“When the former Cabinet met with His Highness the Crown Prince, His Highness did mention his desire to travel south with His Majesty. At that time, I also strongly advised against it on the grounds that ‘the foundation of the nation should not be lightly touched.’ However, His Highness said that he had his own arrangements to ensure that the capital would be safe.”

"We only thought that His Highness would appoint powerful cabinet officials or temporarily appoint nobles and generals to govern the country. We never expected that His Highness would make this arrangement! Appointing Prince Jin to oversee the country!"

"This is really..."

He shook his head, ultimately refraining from uttering the latter part, "too reckless," due to his status as a subject, but his disapproval and concern were clearly evident in his tone.

If Xue Guoguan had known that Zhu Cilang would do this, he would never have agreed to Zhu Cilang's southern tour.

In an instant, the duty room fell silent, with only the occasional soft crackling from the charcoal brazier and the howling north wind outside the window.

The cabinet ministers looked at each other, and they could all see deep worry in each other's eyes.

Moreover, their concerns are highly consistent.

Although Prince Zhu Cijiong of Jin is the Crown Prince's younger brother from the same mother and is only thirteen or fourteen years old this year, the title of "Regent" carries immense weight!

This was not merely about handling routine government affairs; it was also a symbol, signifying that when the emperor and the crown prince were both away from the capital, he was the temporary core of the empire.

Since ancient times, the imperial family has been ruthless, and power corrupts people's minds. Who can guarantee that a young prince, after experiencing months or even longer as "regency" and tasting the taste of supreme power, will not develop inappropriate thoughts?

If one is instigated and misled by some people with ulterior motives, it is hard to guarantee that a tragedy of "brothers fighting among themselves" will not occur.

This is a risk that every minister striving for political stability tries his best to avoid.

After a long silence, Jiang Dejing spoke:

"Should this proposal be reconsidered? Perhaps we could submit a joint petition requesting His Highness the Crown Prince to rescind his decision and select another member of the imperial family or a minister of high moral standing?"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Zhifa, who was standing to the side, thoughtfully interjected:
"Gentlemen, please don't worry. Have we forgotten another important matter?"

He paused, looked around at everyone, and continued:
"Is this the policy of 'sending princes to their fiefdoms overseas,' which His Highness the Crown Prince had already suggested and which His Majesty had tacitly approved?"

These words seemed to pierce the heavy atmosphere like a ray of light.

Everyone was taken aback at first, then they all looked enlightened.

Yeah, how could I forget that!

According to the previously formulated plan for the princes, after the country was completely pacified, all the princes of the imperial clan, including this Prince of Jin, Zhu Cijiong, would eventually leave the Central Plains and go overseas to establish their own fiefdoms.

In other words, regardless of what "ideas" Zhu Cijiong might have had during his regency, his ultimate fate was already sealed: overseas, thousands of miles away.

He might be able to stir up some trouble in the Central Plains, but once he leaves the Ming Dynasty and loses his foundation and support, his so-called "unreasonable ambitions" become like water without a source, posing no threat to the Crown Prince's position.

The Crown Prince dared to make this arrangement, probably because he had absolute confidence in this strategy.

This is not condoning risk, but rather guiding risk in a controllable and harmless direction.

Having figured this out, the cabinet ministers' expressions softened considerably.

Xue Guoguan coughed lightly and continued:

"Gentlemen, now that the imperial decree has been issued, and His Highness the Crown Prince must have given it much thought, this proposal must have been approved by His Majesty." "As his subjects, we should do our utmost to assist him. In my opinion, His Highness Prince Jin is still young. During his regency, all specific government affairs still require the concerted efforts of our cabinet and the six ministries to handle them carefully, so as to ensure the stability of the capital and the peace of the world."

"As for the rest, let us act according to your orders."

His words not only highlighted the reality that the emperor's will was difficult to defy, but also offered a pragmatic direction for resolving the problem:

Strengthen the actual operation of the cabinet and ministries to ensure that the Prince of Jin's regency is more of a symbolic act.

The others listened, their expressions varied, but they all nodded silently in the end.

Fan Jingwen also sighed:

"Very well, as long as it doesn't lead to a struggle for the foundation of the nation and cause discord between the brothers, we will follow what Grand Secretary Xue says."

"Besides."

He changed the subject, his tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of ease.

"If Your Majesty and the Crown Prince can really make a southern tour together, lasting several months, we will have fewer obstacles in our work."

While these words may seem somewhat disrespectful, they do reveal a significant truth.

Without the emperor and crown prince constantly monitoring things in the capital, the cabinet would indeed have much more autonomy in handling government affairs, and its efficiency might be even higher.

Thinking of this, several cabinet ministers even felt a faint sense of anticipation for the southern tour.

Thus, this imperial edict concerning the power arrangements for the empire in the coming months was barely passed at the cabinet level.

Next, all that is needed is for the Directorate of Ceremonial to affix the Emperor's seal according to procedure, and the decree will be made public throughout the land.

However, the cabinet ministers all knew that the southern tour was not something that could be accomplished overnight, and the imperial edict clearly mentioned the time, which was the beginning of next spring.

It is still December, the weather is freezing cold, the canals are frozen, and land travel is also difficult. We can only set off after March next year when the ice and snow melt and spring returns.

In addition, there are several other crucial things that must be done before that.

The first thing was that as the year-end approached, the palace would hold a series of elaborate celebrations to worship heaven, earth, and ancestors, and the emperor and his ministers would celebrate the New Year together.

More importantly, Emperor Chongzhen's birthday celebration also happened to fall during the first month of the lunar calendar. As his son and subject, we could not allow the emperor to celebrate his birthday hastily while traveling. This was a matter of etiquette and law and could not be taken lightly.

The most important and most demanding event is the Guiwei imperial examination scheduled for February next year!

This is a triennial talent selection ceremony, a fundamental system for the nation to select pillars of society, and its importance is in no way inferior to any military action or fiscal reform.

In the minds of the scholar-officials, it was even more important.

Therefore, no matter how important the emperor's travel plans were, they had to give way to the imperial examinations.

Only after the provincial and palace examinations are successfully completed, and the newly appointed scholars pass the imperial examinations and parade through the streets on horseback, can the court shift its attention to the southern tour.

Coincidentally, the core topic of discussion among the cabinet ministers gathered in the cabinet office today was the preparations for next year's imperial examination, especially the selection of the most crucial and attention-grabbing chief examiner!
At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, the number of examiners for the imperial examinations was not fixed and depended on the needs.

However, in the later stages, the system became more and more perfect. The chief examiner of the imperial examination was usually one chief and one deputy, who were usually officials of high status and profound learning, such as Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet or Ministers and Vice Ministers of the Ministries of Personnel and Rites.

Being selected as the chief examiner is the highest honor and a great practical benefit for any civil official.

This benefit does not refer to an increase in salary, but rather stems from the extremely important network of master-disciple relationships in ancient officialdom.

Once appointed as the chief examiner, all the successful candidates in this imperial examination become his "disciples," and the chief examiner becomes their "master."

In ancient times, this relationship was regarded as an important ethical bond second only to that between ruler and subject, father and son, and it was valid for life and widely recognized in official circles.

The disciples would regard their master as a guide and a patron in their official careers, while the master would build an incredibly powerful political alliance through his disciples who were spread throughout the court and the country.

Whether they support each other in daily government affairs or stand together through political turmoil, this vast network woven from the "teacher-student" relationship can unleash astonishing energy.

Zhang Juzheng, the powerful Grand Secretary during the Wanli reign, was able to implement his reforms largely thanks to the support of his vast network of protégés, which he had accumulated through his many years of serving as an examiner.

Furthermore, serving as the chief examiner is itself the highest affirmation of one's academic standing and moral character, which can greatly enhance personal prestige and influence.

It was precisely because of this enormous temptation that, although the cabinet ministers present maintained the composure of scholars and gentlemen on the surface, deep down they all harbored the hope of becoming the chief examiner of the Guiwei examination.

However, according to convention, the final selection must be made by the emperor, and the cabinet usually only recommends a number of candidates for the emperor's reference.

Of course, as high-ranking officials, Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet could also submit private memorials to subtly express their willingness to do their best to select talented individuals for the country.

In some cases, the emperor would also consider the circumstances.

However, this approach ultimately carries a hint of "self-recommendation," appearing too hasty and lacking the dignity of a high-ranking official. Unless there are special circumstances or absolute certainty, ordinary people would never attempt it lightly.

At least the few people present couldn't bring themselves to do it.

However, just as everyone was discussing the details of the examination and pondering their own thoughts, creating a subtle atmosphere, the Grand Secretary Xue Guoguan, who had been silent all along, suddenly cleared his throat.

His voice was slightly lower than usual, carrying an indescribable complex emotion.

"Gentlemen, as we discuss the important matter of the imperial examination today, I am filled with many emotions. There is something concerning my own future that I would like to take this opportunity to inform you all."

Upon hearing this, the cabinet ministers all stopped what they were doing and turned their gazes toward Xue Guoguan.

The air in the duty room seemed to freeze instantly, and even the sound of the charcoal brazier seemed to quiet down.

Everyone sensed that what Xue Guoguan was about to say was no ordinary matter.

Xue Guoguan slowly stroked his white beard, a weary yet relieved smile appearing on his face, and said slowly:
"To be honest, I am getting old and lately I often feel that my energy is not enough. When dealing with government affairs, I often feel that I have the will but not the strength."

"When reviewing memorials, I would feel dizzy and lightheaded after only one or two hours, and I could not continue. I realized that I had been holding a position without doing my job for too long, which was not a long-term solution for either the country or myself."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the astonished faces of the crowd, and continued:
"Therefore, I have decided that after the imperial examination ceremony concludes successfully next March and the opening of the seas is completed smoothly, I will submit a memorial to His Majesty, requesting to retire and return to my hometown to enjoy my remaining years."

"what?"

"Your Excellency, this is absolutely unacceptable!"

"Your Excellency, the court is in dire need of capable people. How can you so easily leave?"

A chorus of voices advising against it immediately filled the duty room. (End of Chapter)