Ming Dynasty: pacifying the rebellion and defending the border, dominating the world

Chapter 321: I have a great scholar to argue for me
Zhu Jinzhen sat on the throne and asked again.

"Now that I'm in this position, is there anyone who objects?"

The moment he slew a mortal immortal from the lower realm, across the celestial and mortal worlds, two sword strikes forced a Dao Integration Realm immortal giant, known as the Heavenly Emperor, to bow his head and retreat.

Zhu Jinzhen's mindset had already changed.

Those who follow me will prosper, and those who go against me will perish.

I don't want to explain the reasons, and those who oppose me don't deserve to hear them.

The entire court remained silent.

Oppose?

Is there anyone left who dares to stand up and oppose this?

The Ming Dynasty certainly did not lack upright and principled civil officials. Although the civil official group was beginning to show signs of corruption, it was not as spineless as the Donglin Party after the Wanli Emperor in history.

This Fengtian rebellion is exactly the same as the one a hundred years ago.

It remains an internal matter for the Zhu family.

The difference was that the court officials did not have high hopes for Emperor Jianwen at the time, and instead placed their bets on Prince Yan, Zhu Di, which led to the emergence of ministers like Fang Xiaoru, who later became the leading figure among scholars.

It’s different in the past.

The true inside story of Zhu Jinzhen's Fengtian Campaign was known to most of the civil and military officials in the court.

Regardless of how many conspiracies and tricks are involved, it all comes down to compromise of interests.

Ultimately, Zhu Jinzhen did indeed possess an imperial edict from Emperor Zhu Houzhao, giving him a legitimate reason to launch a rebellion.

Now that the emperor is dead, there is no heir to carry on the throne.

Furthermore, with the immense power Zhu Jinzhen held, it wasn't just a matter of the Ming Dynasty becoming emperor; he could easily crush all the other nations in the land several times over.
The knife is in Zhu Jinzhen's hands, and so are truth and justice.

Oppose?

Have!
Just now, they were all dead.

The courtiers were all waiting for the first person to step forward, so that they could comfortably support Yun and make Zhu Jinzhen the new ruler of the Ming Dynasty.

Minister of Justice He Jian stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Emperor Taizu left behind an instruction that if any treacherous officials cause trouble in the court, the princes of various regions may lead their troops into the capital to defend the emperor and eliminate the traitors, thus ensuring the foundation of the Ming Dynasty and its continuation for thousands of generations."

"Now, there are treacherous officials like Zhu Wushi in the court who dare to plot for power and usurp the throne, and even dare to harbor rebellious thoughts and plot to kill the emperor."

"Your Highness is acting in accordance with the imperial ancestral instructions to quell the rebellion for the country."

"His Majesty has been murdered and has no heir."

"Therefore, Your Highness shall take that position. Your subject, Minister of Justice He Jian, has no objection."

With He Jian leading the way, other court officials followed suit.

“Your Highness Prince Su is truly the chosen one. Now that His Majesty has been murdered, there is a need for someone who can take charge of the court and stabilize the country. In my humble opinion, Your Highness is the only suitable candidate.”

"Wei Chen seconded the proposal."

"For the sake of the Ming Dynasty and its people, I dare to ask Your Highness to take your place before the spirit tablet and clear His Majesty's name, so as to put the people at ease."

“A country cannot be without a ruler for a day, and a family cannot be without a head for a day. Your Highness is also capable of succeeding to the throne, inheriting the weight of our Great Ming Dynasty, and becoming the new ruler of our Great Ming Dynasty.”

The civil and military officials of the court were all eager to speak, hoping to leave a good impression on Zhu Jinzhen. The military generals and nobles, especially the Five Military Commissions and the Ministry of War, were particularly competitive.

People's hearts can be won over in an instant.

Princess Yunluo stood before the assembled officials, looking at the bustling scene before her, her expression somber, her heart filled with bitterness: "Royal brother, is this what you longed for most? To command the world with a single word, and for all officials to obey!"

Princess Yunluo was not entirely ignorant of the political situation at court.

I have heard Zhu Houzhao speak of these words with a heavy heart and a silent sigh countless times.

Zhu Houzhao's ambition to navigate between officials and regional princes, using imperial tactics to maintain a balance among them and gradually achieve his goals, still resonates as if it were yesterday.

But it was precisely what her imperial brother had been working tirelessly to achieve.

Just because Zhu Jinzhen, who was now sitting on the throne, asked a question, all the civil and military officials, as if afraid of being left behind, echoed him one after another, and even listed dozens or even hundreds of reasons for Zhu Jinzhen to ascend the throne. "Is this what people often say, 'A great Confucian scholar will debate the classics for me'?" Princess Yunluo looked at the scene in front of her with a half-understanding, feeling both sad and ridiculous.

Everyone knows that Zhu Jin's goal in launching the Jingnan Campaign was to seize the throne.

But now, with the praises of the court officials, it seems as if he really came only to punish the traitors, quell the national crisis, cleanse the court of evil, and sweep away the treacherous ministers.

Even when he was on the throne, his officials would come up with all sorts of elaborate and ridiculous reasons for him to be included.

Fortunately, the officials were unaware of Princess Yunluo's thoughts at the time, otherwise they would have been eager to pour out their grievances to her.

Are they willing to act so spineless?

Uh...it does have an element of flattery towards the new ruler.

But the real reason they were willing to shamelessly praise Zhu Jinzhen was that one thing.

The knife was in Zhu Jinzhen's hands.

After Zhu Jinzhen asked that question again, the Cangyun Army and Tian Ce soldiers stationed inside Fengtian Hall had already placed their hands on their weapons. Those who were closer could even hear the sound of some Tian Ce soldiers gripping their spears tightly.

There are several cautionary tales to be learned from.

How could they not understand that if they choose sides today—no, if they fall behind in their words or are slightly off in their attitude—this day next year could be the anniversary of their death, or even the death of their entire family.

Under such circumstances, the fact that they didn't immediately kneel down and fawn over Zhu Jinzhen shows that they possessed some integrity as scholars or pride as warriors.

……

In the Fengtian Hall.

Zhu Jinzhen looked at the officials' wise choice and couldn't help but smile, saying, "What you ministers have said comes from the bottom of your hearts, so please don't say anything against your conscience!"

Indeed, words are like knives, but in the end, nothing beats wielding a real knife.

As long as he is strong enough, and as long as his knife is sharp enough.

The saying "Great scholars will surely debate the classics for me" will become a reality.

Regardless of whether he follows etiquette, transgresses social norms, or acts recklessly.

Others would exhaust all their words to embellish his behavior.

“Every word we uttered came from the bottom of our hearts and was absolutely true. We beseech Your Highness to see for yourself.”

All the civil and military officials bowed in unison and replied.

Some of them, with their heads bowed, looked ashamed, especially the more shy ones.

It comes from the bottom of my heart, it's true.

They were forced to either speak from the bottom of their hearts or wait to have their true feelings exposed.

But isn't this also a heartfelt statement?
"If that's the case, let's finish this matter today."

“Choosing an auspicious day and time, all officials followed Gu Dao to the Imperial Ancestral Temple for worship and other matters.”

"Do any of you ministers have any objections?"

"We have no objection; it is the proper way," the ministers replied in unison.

Now that Zhu Jinzhen's legitimacy has been acknowledged, no fool would dare to object to the subsequent procedures of choosing an auspicious day, having officials pay their respects, and holding sacrifices at the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

After all, it's pointless except for courting death.

But at this moment, He Jian, the Minister of Justice, stepped forward again: "Your Highness, the former Minister of Rites, Yan Song, colluded with foreign powers, betrayed the country, forged military tallies, and conspired with the Minister of War to mobilize troops from all sides, intending to join forces with the Mongols to eliminate Your Highness. After their conspiracy was exposed, he has been arrested and imprisoned by the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"In this case, from the Minister of Rites and the Minister of War to the Vice Ministers and Assistant Ministers, there are many people involved or implicated in the case."

"Currently, most of the positions in the Ministry of Rites are vacant. For Your Highness to perform sacrificial rites such as worshiping at the Imperial Ancestral Temple and selecting auspicious dates, Your Highness will need to appoint new Ministers and Vice Ministers of the Ministry of Rites to oversee the overall situation."

He Jian was not trying to oppose, but simply stating the facts.

Upon his reminder, the civil and military officials of the court also recalled that there was indeed such a thing.

(End of this chapter)