The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 39 It's Imperative
“Jinghe, if His Majesty entrusts me with the task of investigating the unofficial emperor, what am I to do? Where am I supposed to find an unofficial emperor for him? You really shouldn’t have said those shocking things in front of His Majesty.”

What if it's another case like Guo Huan's?

You know perfectly well what's happening nowadays...

Li Qi immediately interrupted sharply, "Ji Ying, be careful what you say!"

He then said in a low voice, "If you have any resentment, just keep it in your heart."

Chen Ying immediately stopped talking, and unconsciously glanced around a few times. Only when she saw that no one had heard her did she breathe a sigh of relief.

Li Qi could tell that Chen Ying was clearly anxious; when she talked about Guo Huan's case, she couldn't hide her fear and panic.

The Guo Huan case, one of the four major cases during the Hongwu reign, resulted in the execution of all officials below the level of the Six Ministries, with more than 50,000 people killed. The number of people punished, imprisoned, or exiled was more than ten times that, amounting to at least 500,000, or even as many as one million. This case can be considered the biggest case during the Hongwu reign.

The two walked quickly towards the palace gate. Chen Ying felt more and more frightened as he thought about it. "Jinghe, you have extraordinary talent. You couldn't possibly not have thought of this. Even if some things are inappropriate, why do you have to do them in this dynasty?"
You have Princess Lin'an's protection, so His Majesty won't implicate you, but we people might even die innocently.

I'm begging you, please don't resort to such large-scale warfare again.

In the end, Chen Ying even appeared to be pleading.

Li Qi sighed inwardly.

Chen Ying's words represent the thoughts of the vast majority of officials today. They just want to live a peaceful and orderly life in the Hongwu reign and do not want to cause any trouble.

The reason is simple: Zhu Yuanzhang in his later years was unreasonable, yet he was still the emperor with supreme power.

In the later years of the Hongwu reign, those who did not perform their duties properly would naturally die, but those who performed their duties well for Zhu Yuanzhang would also die. It was impossible to know which matter would trigger the emperor's nerves and cause him to unleash a massacre.

Li Qi took advantage of this aspect of Zhu Yuanzhang to maneuver freely in the court, killing three ministers and a marquis without leaving a trace.

But all of this has one prerequisite—he is the prince consort!
Without this identity, Li Qi would not do anything.

"Jiying, do not be afraid. If the Guo Huan case had not happened before, I would not have brought this up."

Although His Majesty blamed the people for the involvement in the Guo Huan case in his grand edict, he knew in his heart that the reason so many people were implicated in the Guo Huan case was because of his mistakes.

Therefore, he wouldn't make the same mistake again. That's why, just now in the palace, he didn't issue an edict directly, but instead ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate in the three provinces south of the Yangtze River.

"Really?"

"Of course! You know I never do anything without a certainty."

Having recovered from his fear, Chen Ying's intelligence once again took over his mind. Having known Li Qi for several years, he understood him quite well. He asked in a low voice, "Jinghe, since you've considered this beforehand, you must have made some preparations."

"Most of the prominent families in Jiangnan are families of scholars and officials; are you now targeting the Jiangnan gentry again?"

Li Qi knew he couldn't hide it from Chen Ying, so he nodded slightly. "His Majesty's authority is very strong. If we don't take this opportunity to suppress him, it will be difficult to control him once the Crown Prince ascends the throne."

After a moment of contemplation, Chen Ying still whispered, "Jinghe, what you've done can only suppress things temporarily. In the end, it's all in vain. Jiangnan's dominance is inevitable."

Li Qi understood why Chen Ying said that; it was an economic issue.

Studying is a full-time activity, and in ancient times, the more economically developed a place was, the better its education was.

Jiangnan is the wealthiest region in the world, and Li Qi, who traveled from the future, understands that even in the future, it will still be the most economically developed area in China.

Once the Ming Dynasty enters the Age of Exploration, the geographically advantageous South will take off completely, with only the Pearl River Delta able to rival the Yangtze River Delta.

“Although you have a great wish to reconcile the North and the South, most of the Southerners will not understand you. They will only resent you, and it may even bring disaster to your descendants. So let it go.” Chen Ying was genuinely concerned for Li Qi, but Li Qi’s thoughts were completely different.

It is precisely because the economy of the South is developed that the literati of Jiangnan will inevitably become too powerful, which is why they must be continuously suppressed. Otherwise, where would the Northerners have a chance to survive?

The Ming Dynasty suppressed the government for over two hundred years, yet the Donglin Party, Zhejiang Party, and Chu Party still managed to grow powerful. The Qing Dynasty suppressed the government for over two hundred years, yet the Southeast Mutual Protection Pact was still established. If the government hadn't suppressed them, wouldn't the country have split apart?
“Jiying, the world’s affairs change with the times. How do you know that the future trend won’t be behind me?”
As for the misfortune extending to one's descendants...

No one could have imagined that Emperor Jianwen would be so incompetent as to allow the Prince of Yan to succeed in his rebellion!
After the Prince of Yan succeeded in his rebellion, he moved the capital to Beijing. Although later generations have criticized the move, from a political perspective, it was actually an excellent move.

This move almost set the stage for the national policy of controlling the south by the north for the next five hundred years during the Ming and Qing dynasties, playing an indispensable role in balancing exchanges between the north and south.

"As for the consequences for my descendants, they will inherit my will and pass it down from generation to generation. Whether they win or lose, only the future will decide!"

Hearing Li Qi's resolute words, Chen Ying knew she couldn't persuade him. Li Qi, who wanted to be a saint, was different from ordinary people. His mind was as firm as steel. As long as he believed it was right, he would do it even if it meant getting hurt.

"Besides."

Li Qi said leisurely, "Jiying, you're overthinking it. I am a virtuous and upright sage. How could His Majesty ask me to do such dirty work? I only mentioned that there is a wild emperor. As for who it is, I didn't say. The Embroidered Uniform Guard will take care of it."

Chen Ying felt she had been incredibly foolish to forget about this matter; Li Qi's image as someone "determined to suppress the literati of Jiangnan" was simply too firmly established in her mind.

"Li Qi!"

The two had just stepped out of the palace when they heard an angry shout. Turning around, they saw that it was Fang Xiaoru.

His face was flushed red, clearly furious. "Li Qi, we scholars from Jiangnan have already been kind to you. Why are you still so aggressive? Do you know how many families will be ruined and destroyed because of your words?"

"Do you really have to fight to the death like this?"

Li Qi stopped in his tracks and said sternly, "Before the palace gates, I urge you, esteemed scholar, to be careful with your words. Everything I, Li Qi, say is for the sake of the Ming Dynasty and its people, and I have no personal gain whatsoever. Do you think the existence of an unofficial emperor is something I made up?"
They disregarded the laws of the imperial court, and did I force them to harbor criminals?

Did I fabricate the claim that they placed the people under their control instead of being ruled by the court?
Instead of criticizing me here, Mr. Zhengxue would be better off investigating his own clan to see if such a thing has happened. If so, he should deal with it in advance to avoid being implicated as a usurper.

My father entrusted this matter to the Embroidered Uniform Guard for investigation. It has little to do with me. Even if I wanted to cover up for the scholars, I couldn't. I can only hope that you are clean to begin with.

I have said all I need to say; Mr. Zhengxue, please do not mislead yourself further!

Fang Xiaoru was speechless after being bombarded with Li Qi's barrage of angry rebukes. "You!"

"Truly worthy of being called Li Jinghe," Chen Ying thought to himself, praising him inwardly. "His words are so sharp that no one in the court can match him."

Li Qi himself felt that it wasn't that his words were sharp, but rather that he was always right, which intimidated those petty people, making them unable to say anything.

“Mr. Zhengxue, since the Emperor has appointed you to assist the Crown Prince, I advise you to focus on your duties and avoid getting involved in these matters, lest your reputation be ruined like that of Li Yuanming, the traitor.”

After saying this, Li Qi boarded the carriage that was parked outside the palace.

"Fang Xiaoru, there are only four years left in the Hongwu reign. You'd better behave yourself. If you die in the Hongwu reign, who else will be worthy to be my gift to Zhu Di?"

Inside the car.

Li Qi's eyes were filled with a chilling light. There was a reason why he didn't retaliate after Fang Xiaoru provoked him twice.

The Confucian Master of the World!

These are truly excellent resources, enough to pave a bright future for the Li family during the Yongle reign!

Live well!
(End of this chapter)