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

Grand Secretary Xue Guoguan, acting as the representative, pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands and said:

"Your Majesty, the abdication is a grand ceremony of the state, concerning the orthodoxy of rites and law, and is watched by the world. It must be done with utmost solemnity. This old minister has privately discussed with the Ministry of Rites, the Imperial Clan Court, and the Imperial Observatory that, to be fully prepared, at least two months of preparation are needed. An auspicious day must be chosen, a complete set of ceremonial procedures must be drafted, the imperial edict and ceremonial rites must be prepared, the seating arrangements for officials, imperial relatives, vassal kings, and foreign envoys must be arranged, relevant palaces must be repaired, and the Beijing Garrison and the Embroidered Uniform Guard must also strengthen their security..."

He addressed each point clearly and logically, demonstrating that he had given it considerable thought and was not making excuses.

"Therefore, I believe that it would be safest to wait until the end of April or the beginning of May at the earliest."

Emperor Chongzhen listened quietly, his fingers lightly tapping the edge of the kang table.

After Xue Guoguan finished speaking, he nodded, showing no displeasure, but rather a hint of "that's how it should be."

"Minister Xue's considerations are thorough. Two months is quite ample time."

After a moment's thought, Emperor Chongzhen said:

"Then let's set it for early May. As for the specific date, let the Imperial Astronomical Bureau select a few auspicious days in April and report them for final decision. At that time, the weather will be warm and clear, and all things will flourish, making it the perfect time for the grand ceremony."

He paused, his gaze sharpening and hardening as he slowly swept over the five people:

"My mind is made up on this matter, and there is no need for further discussion. The Ministry of Rites, the Court of State Ceremonies, and the Imperial Clan Court shall begin preparations immediately. The Crown Prince and I will also fully cooperate."

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear and powerful, striking a chord in everyone's hearts:

"In these last two months, I hope that all my beloved ministers will wholeheartedly assist me and the Crown Prince in handling all government affairs, ensuring a stable court, and a smooth transition between the old and new dynasties. This is not only my entrustment, but also a responsibility to the Ming Dynasty."

"I will obey your orders!"

The five men stood up in unison, bowed, and accepted the order.

The emperor had made his point clearly and his plan was firm. As his subjects, they had no choice but to obey and ensure a smooth handover.

As Hong Chengchou bowed his head to accept the order, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

Early May... Abdication Ceremony... New Emperor Ascends the Throne...

The era that belongs to Hong Chengchou is about to begin with this young and ambitious new emperor.

With the position of Grand Secretary looming and power within reach, he must make the most of this final transition period and establish an irreplaceable position in the new emperor's heart.

"Alright, you can discuss the specific details yourselves. I'm tired, you may all leave."

Emperor Chongzhen waved his hand, picked up the "Complete Treatise on Agriculture" again, and looked at the pages, seemingly no longer concerned about such a "minor matter" as abdication.

The five bowed again and quietly left the West Warm Pavilion.

The palace doors closed, and the warm pavilion returned to tranquility, with only the occasional soft rustling of pages turning and the faint chirping of birds outside the window.

That evening, at 5 PM, in the East Warm Pavilion of Qianqing Palace.

Unlike the West Warm Pavilion, which was used to receive officials, the East Warm Pavilion was more private and its furnishings had a more homely feel.

At this moment, only one exquisite octagonal glass palace lantern was lit in the pavilion, its light adjusted to be soft and hazy, barely illuminating the kang bed area in the center of the warm pavilion, which was covered with a thick velvet carpet.

On the kang (heated brick bed) was a small sandalwood table, on which sat an elegant celadon tea set, a white porcelain wine pot, and two plates of delicate pastries.

Emperor Chongzhen had changed out of his daytime Taoist robe and was now wearing a dark-colored, patterned everyday dress. He was not wearing a crown, but had his hair loosely tied in a bun, and was leaning against a large pillow on the kang (heated brick bed).

Zhu Cilang sat opposite him, also dressed in casual clothes, with an upright posture but a relaxed expression.

The eunuchs and palace maids had long been dismissed, leaving only Wang Chengen, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, standing respectfully in the shadows outside the warm pavilion, like a silent statue.

The father and son sat facing each other, separated by a small table on a heated brick bed.

The wine in the pot was warmed and emitted a faint fragrance of pear blossoms, but the cups in front of the two contained clear tea.

Emperor Chongzhen did not speak immediately, but quietly observed his son across from him in the dim light.

At nineteen, Zhu Cilang had long since shed his youthful naiveté. His brows revealed the composure and decisiveness that came from weathering storms and wielding power. His face was sharply defined, with a straight nose, and his eyes appeared exceptionally deep and bright under the lamplight, as if they could see into people's hearts.

He sat there, relaxed, yet naturally exuding an understated dignity.

This is Zhu Youjian's son, the heir who will soon take over the vast empire from him.

After looking at it for a long time, Chongzhen sighed softly. The sigh was long and complicated, breaking the silence in the room.

"Lang'er".

He spoke, his voice somewhat low.

"Do you know what kind of Ming Dynasty I inherited when I first ascended the throne seventeen years ago?"

He didn't wait for Zhu Cilang's reply. His gaze seemed to pierce through time, looking towards the distant past, and he continued speaking to himself, his voice calm yet carrying an indescribable sense of vicissitude:

"Within the court, the lingering poison of Wei Zhongxian remains unpurged. In the imperial court, the Donglin Party, the eunuch faction, and the various factions from Zhejiang and Hubei are locked in endless infighting, concerned only with their own private interests and neglecting national affairs. Outside the court, the Jianzhou Jurchens are eyeing us covetously beyond the Great Wall, their iron cavalry knocking on our gates year after year, plundering our people and destroying our cities. The land of Liaodong is almost reduced to ruins. In the northwest, Shaanxi and Gansu suffer from consecutive years of severe drought, leaving thousands of miles of barren land, with corpses of the starved littering the fields, and people resorting to cannibalism..."

However, instead of providing relief, the imperial court, due to the war in Liaodong, imposed additional "Liaodong taxes" and "suppression taxes," forcing even more destitute people to rise up in rebellion. Gao Yingxiang, Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong… the banditry gradually spread like wildfire.

He paused, his tone tinged with bitterness and self-mockery:

"What about the national treasury? It's empty. The treasury is infested with rats, and the imperial treasury has long been squandered by my brother. The border troops are behind on their pay, the capital garrison is exhausted, and officials' salaries are often not paid... What I inherited is not the glorious Ming Dynasty, but a mess riddled with problems, beset by internal and external troubles, and on the verge of collapse at any moment."

Zhu Cilang listened quietly, his expression solemn.

He knew all of this; it was recorded in history books, and he had some vague memories of it. But hearing it from his father, the emperor, in such a self-analytical way, made him feel completely different.

He could hear the weight, anxiety, and even despair buried deep beneath that calm tone for seventeen years. Chongzhen's gaze grew even more distant, as if recalling those sleepless nights:

"When I ascended the throne, I was also full of ambition, vowing to sweep away the accumulated evils, revitalize the Ming Dynasty, and achieve something no less than that of my ancestors. I worked day and night, abstained from women, lived frugally, and poured huge sums of money from the imperial treasury into military expenses... I replaced the Grand Secretary, executed the Commander-in-Chief, and mobilized troops, doing everything possible..."

His voice gradually lowered, carrying a hint of weariness and confusion:

"But why? Why is it that the more anxious and diligent we are, the worse the situation becomes? Killing Yuan Chonghuan only made Liaodong more chaotic; replacing fifty Grand Secretaries only made the court more confused; the more troops we send to suppress the bandits, the more bandits appear? Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night, looking at the mountain of urgent documents on my desk, and I feel a chill run through my body..."

I once thought that the 270-year reign of the Ming Dynasty was truly going to end in my hands, Zhu Youjian. I... have no face to meet the late Emperor Taizu Gao in the afterlife.

These words were almost a naked self-disclosure, the true thoughts that Emperor Chongzhen may never have uttered to anyone—including Empress Zhou—during his seventeen years on the throne.

Now, facing his son who is about to succeed him and is clearly doing a better job than him, he finally shed all the defenses and reserve of an emperor, revealing his deep-seated powerlessness and fear.

The warm pavilion was completely silent, with only the occasional soft popping of the lamp wick.

Looking at his father's pale and aged profile under the lamplight, Zhu Cilang felt a surge of complex emotions.

There is sympathy, understanding, and also a faint sigh from a historical bystander.

After a long while, Chongzhen let out a long sigh of relief, as if he had finally released the pent-up emotions that had been building up in his heart for many years.

He raised his head, his gaze refocusing on Zhu Cilang's face. His eyes were no longer confused; instead, they became exceptionally bright and sharp, filled with undisguised admiration and satisfaction.

"Until you—"

Chongzhen's voice suddenly rose, carrying a clarity as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun:
"Until you stepped forward to reorganize the Beijing garrison, clean up the guard posts, train soldiers with new methods, raise military funds with ingenious strategies without increasing the burden on the people, pacify the displaced people and provide relief through work; and employ people without being bound by convention, Hong Chengchou, Sun Chuanting, Qin Liangyu, Zheng Zhilong... all were put to good use."

The Battle of Songjin turned the tide of the war, launching a surprise attack on Liaodong, sweeping away enemy strongholds, recovering Korea, expanding territory, and even crossing the sea to conquer Dongfan...

Each and every one of these events, single-handedly, pulled this collapsing edifice back from the brink of collapse!

He leaned forward slightly, staring into Zhu Cilang's eyes, and said, word by word:

"Although the world is not entirely at peace now, and there are still many problems that need to be addressed, everyone can see that the Ming Dynasty's fortunes have returned! I, the emperor, have worked hard for more than ten years and almost became a ruler who would bring about the downfall of the country; while you, in just a few short years, have shown the world signs of a revival."

"I...at least I haven't become a sinner against the Ming Dynasty. This empire is in your hands now. I'm at ease and at peace."

He paused, his tone shifting to a final confirmation, his voice low but carrying an undeniable resolve:
"Therefore, it is time for me to completely entrust this immense responsibility to you. Are you... ready for the abdication ceremony in early May?"

Zhu Cilang raised his head and met his father's burning gaze. He could feel the expectation, the entrustment, and a hint of reluctance to let go in that gaze.

He took a deep breath, his expression sincere, even with a perfectly measured hint of apprehension, and began to speak:

"Father, I am young and lack virtue. Although I am willing to serve the country, I know my abilities are limited. Father is in the prime of his life, and his prestige extends throughout the land. He should be sitting in the central government, ruling over all directions. I wish to continue learning and gaining experience under Father's command, handling specific government affairs, and sharing Father's burdens. As for the throne..."

"No need to say anything more."

Emperor Chongzhen waved his hand, interrupting him, a knowing yet slightly amused expression on his face:
"My mind is made up. I have sat on this dragon throne for seventeen years, long enough and I am tired. From now on, it is your world, young people. You are capable of shouldering this responsibility, and you must shoulder it."

He looked at his son, then suddenly changed the subject, leaning forward slightly and lowering his voice to a whisper, as if he were speaking of a secret only the two of them could hear:

"I ask you, have you decided on a reign title?"

Zhu Cilang seemed not to have expected Chongzhen to ask this question suddenly. He was slightly taken aback, and then a hint of embarrassment at being "seen through" appeared on his face, but he quickly regained his composure.

He pondered for a moment, then slowly said:

"To be honest, Your Majesty, some ministers have indeed privately offered their opinions and discussed this matter. The reign titles they proposed mostly contain the character '武' (wu, meaning martial/military), such as '显武' (Xianwu), '昭武' (Zhaowu), '奋武' (Fenwu), '天武' (Tianwu), and '宣武' (Xuanwu). I have pondered these titles in private, and each one has its own meaning: '显武' (Xianwu) signifies military prowess, '昭武' (Zhaowu) signifies martial virtue, '奋武' (Fenwu) signifies the development of military strategy, '宣武' (Xuanwu) signifies the promotion of military might, and '天武' (Tianwu)... further emphasizes the mandate of heaven."

However, this matter is of great importance, and I dare not act on my own initiative. I have instructed the cabinet ministers to discuss it first, in case of any unforeseen circumstances.”

Upon hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen was slightly taken aback at first, then burst out laughing. His laughter was filled with undisguised teasing and deep satisfaction. Pointing at Zhu Cilang, he said:

"You rebellious son! Your ministers have already come up with several alternative reign titles, and you're still here talking to me about 'being in the prime of life' and 'continuing to gain experience'? You're just saying that to put it bluntly!"

When his father pointed it out to him, Zhu Cilang showed a rare hint of embarrassment and whispered in defense:
"Your Majesty, you are wise. I only... I only asked my men to make some preparations in advance, so as not to be caught off guard..."

"Alright, alright, I'm not blaming you."

Emperor Chongzhen smiled and waved his hand, his expression gradually turning solemn. He pondered for a moment, then slowly said:
"However, their discussion of these individuals, with 'martial arts' as their core, is correct. You are the reincarnation of the True Martial Emperor, possessing the destiny of martial arts. Establishing your title with 'martial arts' aligns perfectly with the will of Heaven and the hearts of the people. However..."

His eyes flickered, as if he were considering something:

"'Manifest,' 'Illuminate,' 'Strive,' and 'Proclaim' are all things that the ruler actively does, which are good, but they seem a bit deliberate. Only this 'Heavenly Martial'..."

Emperor Chongzhen paused, a glimmer of reminiscence and enlightenment flashing in his eyes, and slowly recited:
The Book of the Later Han Dynasty, Annals of Emperor Guangwu, states that Emperor Guangwu, Liu Xiu, possessed "the appearance of a heavenly warrior, destined for the world." This "heavenly warrior" describes his innate martial virtue, which was bestowed by Heaven and could not be forced by human power.

Emperor Guangwu, rising from humble beginnings amidst the decline of the Han Dynasty, swept away rival warlords and restored the Han Dynasty, thus becoming known as the restorer of the dynasty.

He looked at Zhu Cilang, his gaze intense:
"You use 'Tianwu' to compare yourself to Emperor Guangwu's restoration, which aligns with your ambition to revive the Ming Dynasty; it also subtly reflects your status as the reincarnation of Zhenwu, demonstrating divinely granted authority and abundant martial virtue; moreover, it embodies the grand spirit of 'Heaven's mandate is on my side, and martial fortune will prosper.' Cilang, what do you think?"

Zhu Cilang listened to Chongzhen's explanation, and his eyes seemed to understand.

He originally preferred "Tianwu" in his heart, but after Chongzhen's erudite explanation and in-depth interpretation, the meaning of this reign title suddenly became incredibly profound and fitting, as if it were tailor-made for him.

He immediately stood up, walked around the kang table, and solemnly bowed to the ground in front of Chongzhen:
“Your Majesty is wise! Your humble servant was foolish and only thought that ‘Tianwu’ sounded impressive, but did not think deeply about its origins. After Your Majesty’s guidance, I realized how wonderful this title is, how perfectly fitting it is! Your humble servant… also feels that ‘Tianwu’ is the most fitting!”

Seeing his son's heartfelt approval and excitement, Chongzhen smiled with satisfaction and reached out to support him.
"Get up. It seems that you and I, father and son, are of one mind."

The father and son exchanged a smile, the atmosphere in the warm pavilion incredibly harmonious. (End of Chapter)