My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 343 What is the Central Hub?

After all the officials had paid their respects to the Longqing Emperor, the Emperor immediately said:
"My beloved subjects, you may dispense with the formalities!"

Immediately afterwards, Feng Bao, the Grand Secretary of the Directorate of Ceremonial, stepped forward and explained in detail the contents of the secret memorial sent from Nanjing to the assembled ministers.

Su Ze lowered his head and glanced at the assembled officials out of the corner of his eye.

All the ministers wore expressions of surprise, even Shen Shixing, who was standing next to him, pretended to be shocked.

Of course, Su Ze was equally "shocked".

All I can say is that everyone who can stand in the Imperial Study is a master of acting.

After Feng Bao finished reading the secret memorial, Grand Secretary Gao Gong was the first to express his opinion:
"Mu Chaobi left Yunnan without the court's permission, and Yingtian Governor Hai Rui was right to surround the dock."

Emperor Longqing nodded; Gao Gong's words set the tone for the discussion.

This demonstrates the weight the Grand Secretary carried in Ming Dynasty politics.

Speaking first sets the tone, and once the tone is set, the direction of the discussion is determined.

For example, regarding the case of Mu Chaobi, once it is determined that Mu Chaobi was at fault, then the criticism of Hai Rui can no longer be discussed. Today's imperial conference will only focus on one topic—how to deal with Mu Chaobi.

With just one sentence, Gao Gong seized the initiative, and Su Ze could only say that this tutor was indeed formidable.

The Longqing Emperor nodded and said:

"The Grand Secretary is absolutely right. Let us all discuss how to deal with Mu Chaobi."

That's the biggest challenge tonight.

This problem made the cabinet ministers frown.

The Longqing Emperor looked at the cabinet ministers, but no one took the initiative to speak.

This is a very tricky situation.

Mu Chaobi made a mistake, but executing him for that reason would destabilize the situation in Yunnan.

But if he is not punished, where will the court's prestige be?
At this moment, Zhao Zhenji said:

"Your Majesty, although Mu Chaobi is arrogant, he did it to help his mother's coffin return for burial. Filial piety is the most important virtue. The court can issue an edict to reprimand him for his crimes and temporarily pardon his offenses."

However, Zhao Zhenji's focus was clearly not on that; he added:
"From Yunnan to Nanjing, Mu Chaobi led a thousand personal guards and traveled without any hindrance. The government and military forces along the way need to be properly disciplined!"

The Longqing Emperor nodded repeatedly.

Mu Chaobi was escorting his mother's coffin to her burial. If he really intended to rebel, then this conclusion is chilling!

Moreover, the fact that Hai Rui was able to surround the dock with the yamen runners of the Yingtian Governor's Office shows that Mu Chaobi really did not intend to rebel. So why did no one from the many government offices and garrisons along the way stop Mu Chaobi from going against the flow like Hai Rui did?

Not only did they not stop him, but these local officials and garrisons also failed to report to the imperial court, allowing Mu Chaobi to go directly to Nanjing!

The memorial submitted by Wang Bengu, the eunuch in charge of Nanjing, also explained Mu Chaobi's route into Nanjing.

He traveled from Kunming to Guizhou, then from Guizhou into Huguang (Hubei and Hunan provinces), and then by boat all the way south to Nanjing.

Along the way, there were numerous ferries, post stations, military posts, and passes, and he had to pass through countless prefectures and counties, but he arrived directly in Nanjing.

With over a thousand people to feed and graze their horses, the local officials along the way were eager to escort them out of the country as quickly as possible and also provided Mu Chaobi with provisions.

Thinking about this made the emperor restless and unable to eat or sleep.

However, the ministers present understood the mindset of these local officials.

Mu Chaobi traveled such a long distance, and it wasn't just through his own territory. If the court were to hold him accountable, it would probably be a case of "the law does not punish the masses."

However, if he stops Mu Chaobi and lets him cause trouble locally, he will be the one to suffer.

Therefore, serving Mu Chaobi well and sending him out of the country as soon as possible is the best option.

It seems that Grand Secretary Zhao intends to use this as an excuse to continue his policy of reorganizing the military.

The Longqing Emperor then looked at Cao Bangfu, the Minister of War, and asked:

"Minister Cao, what do you think?"

Cao Bangfu, however, said:

"Your Majesty, this time when Mu Chaobi escorted the coffin eastward, he brought out the imperial edict and the royal command flag from the Duke of Qian's mansion, so the civil and military officials along the way naturally dared not intercept him."

"The imperial court is currently preparing to build a new army, so there is no need to make a big fuss about it."

Su Ze silently watched Cao Bangfu.

Cao Bangfu actually contradicted Zhao Zhenji.

It's been said that the conflict between Zhao Zhenji and Cao Bangfu, the Minister of War, has become public, and this is indeed true.

Su Ze glanced at Shen Shixing, whose face showed a sour expression.

When the cabinet minister in charge of military affairs has a conflict with the Minister of War, the officials of the Ministry of War suffer the most.

Whether you listen to Grand Secretary Zhao or Minister Cao, you're bound to offend the other side, which is a nightmare in the workplace.

It seems that Shen Shixing has suffered a lot of mistreatment recently.

Seeing that the two were about to go off-topic, Gao Gong coughed and said, "Gentlemen, let's discuss Mu Chaobi's matter first."

When Mu Chaobi was mentioned, both Zhao Zhenji and Cao Bangfu fell silent.

In the imperial study, Lei Li stood like a stone statue, his eyes lowered, showing no intention of speaking.

Yin Shidan had a similar attitude. Both of them were cabinet ministers who did not understand military affairs. This was obviously a mess, so they naturally did not want to get involved.

The second-in-command, Zhang Juzheng, also remained silent. Seeing the emperor's gaze fall upon him, Zhao Zhenji could only sigh inwardly before saying:

"Li Tingzhu, the Marquis of Linhuai, is currently serving as the Commander of the Left Army of Nanjing and concurrently as the Commander of the River Defense. He is currently in Nanjing."

"He is a family member of Lord Li, so it is sure that he will persuade Mu Chaobi to disband his personal guards without any problem."

Su Ze looked at Zhao Zhenji and realized that this Grand Secretary Zhao was indeed capable.

Mu Chaobi's mother, Lady Li, came from the family of the Marquis of Linhuai.

In terms of seniority, Mu Chaobi should also call Li Tingzhu his uncle.

Having the uncle lead troops to "persuade" his nephew would certainly not escalate the conflict, and should easily relieve Mu Chaobi of his military power.

This incident shows that Zhao Zhenji was indeed very familiar with the military deployment of the entire Ming Dynasty and immediately came up with the best solution.

As expected, the Longqing Emperor was overjoyed.

If Mu Chaobi were to stage a mutiny in Nanjing, not only would the Ming Dynasty lose face, but it would also damage the prosperous Southern Zhili region.

"Granted! Immediately issue an imperial edict to Li Tingzhu, ordering him to command the Yangtze River Navy to persuade Mu Chaobi to disband his troops."

But an even more pressing question arises: how to deal with Mu Chaobi?
The emperor's gaze swept around before finally settling on Su Ze.

"Minister Su, what do you think?"

Su Ze said:

"Your Majesty, Mu Chaobi prioritizes filial piety and escorted his mother's coffin back to Nanjing for burial. Such a pure and filial heart should be rewarded by the court."

The officials present frowned, and Shen Shixing was even more puzzled. Judging from Su Ze's words, did he intend to reward Mu Chaobi?
Su Ze said:

"Your Majesty may grant Mu Chaobi's request and issue an edict ordering him to build a thatched hut in front of his mother's grave and observe mourning for three years to fulfill his filial duty."

After hearing Su Ze's suggestion, Shen Shixing almost wanted to applaud and cheer!
As expected, the atmosphere in the Imperial Study immediately relaxed after Su Ze raised his opinion.

A smile appeared on the Longqing Emperor's lips. Su Ze's idea was indeed brilliant.

By using the pretext of observing mourning, Mu Chaobi was allowed to stay in Nanjing, and he had no reason to refuse.

If Mu Chaobi stays in Nanjing, the current Duke of Qian can eliminate Mu Chaobi's influence in Yunnan.

Three years later, when the imperial court deals with Mu Chaobi, there will be no reaction from Yunnan.

The emperor said with satisfaction:

“Minister Su’s method is excellent! We shall follow your method and issue an imperial edict to Nanjing, ordering Mu Chaobi to build a hut by his mother’s grave for three years to fulfill his filial duty!”

After the emperor finished issuing the decree, Zhang Juzheng stepped forward again and said:
"Your Majesty, Mu Chaobi's arrogance stems from the fact that the court lacks a strong army capable of fighting in the southwest."

"Your Majesty, please grant Shen Shixing's proposal to establish the Annam Army in the capital."

The Longqing Emperor nodded, and the assembled officials could no longer voice any objections.

The Longqing Emperor glanced at Shen Shixing beside Su Ze and nodded, saying:
"The proposal for the new army submitted by Shen Shixing, the Military Selection Officer of the Ministry of War, is well thought out. The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs shall approve and promulgate it after it is stamped with the seal."

The ministers present all exclaimed, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Just as the emperor was about to dismiss the officials, Gao Gong stepped forward again and said:

"Your Majesty, I impeach Wang Bengu, the eunuch in charge of Nanjing."

The Longqing Emperor looked at Gao Gong.

High archway:
“The eunuchs who guarded Nanjing were responsible for defending the city. When Mu Chaobi broke through the gates into Nanjing, Wang Bengu did not stop him and even watched as Hai Rui, who was in charge of enforcing the law, confronted Mu Chaobi.”

"He who holds a position does not think of sharing the burdens of his sovereign and father, but instead submits secret reports when matters arise."

"Your subject requests that Wang Bengu be relieved of his post as the eunuch in charge of the Nanjing garrison."

After listening, the Longqing Emperor nodded slightly, and then looked at the three people from the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Feng Bao also said:
"Your Majesty, Wang Bengu has served as the eunuch in charge of Nanjing for many years without accomplishing anything. The eunuch sent this year to repair the mausoleum of Emperor Taizu has also reported that the ancestral mausoleum and temples in Nanjing are dilapidated and the guards are lax."

These words sealed Wang Bengu's fate, and the Longqing Emperor roared in anger:

"I only kept Wang Bengu in office because he was recommended by Grand Secretary Xu. This fellow doesn't appreciate the Emperor's favor, what use is he to me!"

"The Directorate of Ceremonial drafted an edict to remove Wang Bengu from his post, but considering his advanced age, he was allowed to leave the palace to retire."

"According to the order!"
-
After leaving the palace, Shen Shixing felt completely exhausted.

So this is what the Imperial Council is all about!

In less than half an hour, the fate of a former duke and a Nanjing garrison eunuch was decided!

If it weren't for Chief Minister Gao's intervention, a purge of officials from Yunnan to Nanjing would have almost taken place!

Shen Shixing's heart pounded. So this was the real center of power!

After leaving the palace, Shen Shixing sought advice from Su Ze to thoroughly review the meeting that day.

Su Ze explained many of Shen Shixing's doubts, and finally Shen Shixing asked:
"Why did Chief Minister Gao protect the officials from Yunnan to Nanjing, and why impeach only Wang Bengu, the eunuch in charge of Nanjing?"

Su Ze smiled and said:

"The Prime Minister understands the helplessness of the local officials. Mu Chaobi is a former Duke and leads an elite personal guard. How could the local government dare to obstruct him?"

"However, the eunuch in charge of Nanjing's military power allowed Mu Chaobi to break through the pass, which ultimately required the intervention of Hai Rui, the governor of Yingtian."

“Wang Bengu submitted a secret memorial first, attempting to shirk responsibility. How can such a person remain in such an important position?”

Shen Shixing nodded.

Of course, Su Ze's reasons were just the surface-level ones.

The underlying reason, as the emperor just mentioned, is that Wang Bengu was recommended by Xu Jie.

Xu Jie himself was from Songjiang Prefecture. Before retiring, he recommended Wang Bengu to the position of eunuch in charge of Nanjing, naturally to secure his retirement.

After Wang Bengu took office, he did indeed allow Xu Jie's family to annex land, and Xu Jie's good days only came to an end when Hai Rui took office.

The fact that the eunuch in charge of Nanjing was Xu Jie's man was enough for the cabinet to work together to remove him from office.

It was Gao Gong who jumped out to submit the memorial impeaching Zhang Juzheng, and Feng Bao, an ally of Zhang Juzheng, also joined in the attack. Su Ze did not believe that Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng had not reached a tacit understanding.

For the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs, this meant the addition of a lucrative position as the eunuch in charge of Nanjing.

This cannot be described as Gao Gong suppressing his political enemies.

If Wang Bengu, a former official of the previous dynasty, had simply performed his duties diligently, Gao Gong might not have removed him from office.

But Wang Bengu, wanting to be clever, submitted a secret memorial to the emperor before the Nanjing officials could submit their collective report.

This naturally aroused Gao Gong's disgust, and it was only natural that he was impeached and dismissed.
-
The "Proposal for the Establishment of the New Beijing Garrison" was approved, and the establishment of the new garrison and army began.

The newly formed Beijing garrison became the source of modern armies and the starting point for the reform of the Ming Dynasty's army system.

The Khrushchev army became a formidable elite force that dominated the steppes, and the most glorious cavalry unit before the advent of mechanized forces.

The Zhenbei Army accumulated extensive experience in snow warfare for the Ming Dynasty, stabilizing the Liaodong border region.

The Annamese army became an important force for stability on the southwestern frontier, and its power continued to sway the nations of the Indochina Peninsula centuries later.

[National fortune +2.]

[Prestige +300.]

[Remaining Prestige: 1220]

After reviewing the settlement report, Su Ze spent 400 prestige points to forcefully submit the memorial, but only gained 300 prestige points in the end. This memorial submission was still a loss.

It seems this is the price of following others in signing petitions.

Shen Shixing did most of the work this time, so he also gained most of the prestige.

However, Su Ze didn't care about this.

He already holds multiple positions, including the Dean of the Military Academy. If he were to establish a new army, even the emperor would lose sleep over it.

Moreover, building a new army is a meticulous task that requires coordinating the interests of all parties. Su Ze's personality is not suited for this task, so it would be better to entrust it to Shen Shixing, who is best at mediating.
-
Time flies, and it's already the end of May.

News came from Nanjing that Marquis Li Tingzhu of Linhuai had led the Yangtze River Navy to surround the docks. Mu Chaobi accepted the emperor's decree to stay in Nanjing to observe three years of mourning for his mother.

The thousand personal guards who followed Mu Chaobi were scattered by Li Tingzhu and reorganized into the Nanjing garrison, thus finally disarming Mu Chaobi.

Wang Bengu, the eunuch in charge of Nanjing, probably received advance notice and chose to submit a letter requesting to resign.

The Longqing Emperor treated him with dignity, withdrew his memorial to dismiss him, and accepted his resignation.

Hai Rui, the governor of Yingtian, received commendation from the emperor.

Hai Rui's official rank rose from the fourth-rank Vice Censor-in-Chief to the third-rank Deputy Censor-in-Chief, which was the highest position in the Censorate system, second only to the Left and Right Censors-in-Chief.

Hai Rui made outstanding contributions as the governor of Yingtian Prefecture. He first cleared the fields in Yingtian Prefecture, and then led officials to fight floods and epidemics, earning the deep respect of the people of the ten prefectures of Yingtian.

Wang Ting, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, repeatedly requested to resign, and rumors began to circulate in the capital that Hai Rui would be transferred back to the Censorate to succeed him as Grand Censor.

June arrived, and Su Ze finally got busy, ending his days of slacking off.

The recruitment of the new batch of students for the Martial Arts Academy has finally been completed, and Su Ze is now preparing for the entrance ceremony for these students.

(End of this chapter)