Di Ming

Chapter 274 "Little Tiger, you're right!"

(Did someone miss the previous chapter? If you missed it, please read the previous chapter first.)
The current emperor not only does not attend court, but also rarely summons his ministers.

Aside from spending every day with eunuchs, he was rarely summoned even by cabinet ministers, let alone the Nine Ministers.

But he actually wanted to summon Zhu Yin. If Zhu Yin knew, he would probably be flattered.

Consort Zheng said, "This Zhu Zhihu is indeed a young man of great talent. But whether he is a lucky charm for the court depends on himself. If he can support Xun'er, that will be his good fortune."

She was always quick-witted. In her view, if even Zhu Yin, a teacher with a great reputation, betrayed Changluo, it would be a significant blow to Changluo and his supporters. On the contrary, Xun'er's popularity would rise.

Zhu Yin's attitude was of great significance.

Therefore, she hoped that Zhu Yin would change his allegiance, abandon Chang Luo, and support Xun'er instead.

However, Zhu Yin was a civil official, and he was very concerned about his reputation. Even if he were to switch allegiances, it would likely be a gradual process; he couldn't change his attitude immediately. Otherwise, his reputation would be ruined.

With this in mind, Consort Zheng did not immediately intend to have Zhu Yin submit to her.

This matter cannot be rushed.

Wanli said, "The path is one's own choice. Some people will go down a dead end, while others will choose a different path. Ultimately, it depends on their own fate. If they want to enter the cabinet and become prime minister in the future, won't it all depend on my will?"

He was certainly concerned about Zhu Yin's young age. But he never considered that Zhu Yin might have rebellious intentions. It wasn't that he trusted Zhu Yin, but rather that there had been no precedent for a civil official to rebel since the Song Dynasty, nor did civil officials have the ability to rebel.

However, he worried that Zhu Yin would become a treacherous minister who formed cliques and pursued personal gain, or someone like Zhang Juzheng.

Emperor Wanli leaned back on a rosewood dragon-carved couch, smoking aphrodisiac. His soft boots idly kicked the gilded bronze incense burner beside the couch. The smoke from the incense, mixed with the smoke from the aphrodisiac, made the corners of his eyes red.

Consort Zheng sat casually on the edge of the dragon bed, removed the gold filigree nail guards from her hands, and began massaging the emperor's legs and feet, asking:
"The lights are already on. The Empress Dowager goes to bed early. Would Your Majesty like to stay up late? It's been a while since Your Majesty last visited the Empress Dowager."

According to the Ming Dynasty palace system, the emperor was required to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager morning and evening, and the evening greeting was called "evening greeting".

The emperor shook his head and said, "I'm tired, I don't want to go anywhere."

Consort Zheng was not surprised at all. The Emperor rarely visited the Empress Dowager, let alone left the Qianqing Palace. His health was too poor; he preferred to rest in the palace.

However, there are two exceptions.

Sure enough, just as Wanli was saying he didn't want to go anywhere, he suddenly added:

"I will personally inspect the Chengyun Warehouse tomorrow and check the accounts. Gao Huai usually manages the Chengyun Warehouse, but he is going to Korea to supervise the army. We must not let anything go wrong during the handover of the accounts."

"After inspecting the transport warehouse, we went to Xiyuan to watch the water show."

Even Gao Cai smiled slightly. In the past three years, apart from the Qianqing Palace, the places Grandpa visited most often were the Inner Storage Warehouse and the West Garden.

The Inner Transport Warehouse wasn't even inside the Forbidden City; it was located outside the Donghua Gate, north of the Elephant House, a considerable distance—farer than the three main halls of the Outer Court. The Western Garden wasn't in the Forbidden City either; it was located outside the Xihua Gate.

But Grandpa preferred to go to the West Garden and the Inner Transport Warehouse rather than the three main halls of the Outer Court, which were just a stone's throw away.

Consort Zheng couldn't help but laugh and said, "Gao Huai is a clever and quick-witted servant, but does he really understand warfare? Military affairs involving 100,000 troops are such a big deal, just thinking about it makes my hair stand on end. Is Gao Huai really that capable?"

She certainly didn't have a problem with Gao Huai; it was purely out of her own suspicion.

Gao Cai, who was standing by the pillar, listened expectantly, hoping that the emperor would also say that Gao Huai was no good, and then he would be the one to supervise the army.

To everyone's surprise, the plump and fair-skinned emperor nodded and said:

"Judging by appearances, you'll miss out on Ziyu. My lady, don't let Gao Huai's fair and plump appearance fool you; he may not look like a warrior. In fact, he's an expert in military strategy. He's thoroughly familiar with military texts like Sun Tzu's Art of War and the Six Secret Teachings, and he can also ride a horse and shoot arrows. Back when he raided Feng Bao's house, he personally killed several of Feng's private soldiers who tried to stop him."

"Really? I really didn't see that coming." Consort Zheng chuckled. "Then when he goes to Korea, he'll definitely make the Emperor proud."

Upon hearing this, Gao Cai realized that he could no longer replace Gao Huai as military supervisor, and he couldn't help but feel a little depressed.

The emperor nodded: "When it comes to military supervisors, it's best to have someone close to you. They're much more reliable than civil officials who supervise the army."

Gao Cai immediately smiled obsequiously, "Grandpa's wisdom shines alone, his plans are profound and far-reaching. What do those foreign officials know? It's almost 7 PM. Grandpa and the Empress, are you going to watch a play, a dance, or play mahjong?"

Consort Zheng said, "I won't watch any plays tonight, there aren't any new ones. Let's play a few rounds of mahjong instead. Old nanny, I want to beat you."

Upon hearing about mahjong, the emperor immediately perked up, "What do you want to beat me for?"

Madam Zheng said, "If I win, I don't want gold or silver jewelry. If His Majesty wants me to lose, then give me the estate below Yuquan Temple in Xishan. Next month is Guowang's birthday, so consider this estate as a reward to him."

The emperor laughed and said, "Your younger brother is, after all, a scholar who passed the imperial examination through the proper channels. He has a very high opinion of himself and the pride of a scholar. If you were to bestow a manor upon him, he might not accept it and would most likely decline."

Consort Zheng was certainly not after a manor; seizing the opportunity, she changed the subject with a charming smile:

“Your Majesty is right. My younger brother has been upright and aloof since childhood. Although he is somewhat arrogant, that is the nature of an honest civil official. His impeachment of Zhu Yin this time was entirely out of public interest and could not have been a frame-up. Even if the impeachment fails, he should not be punished. What does Your Majesty intend to do with him?”

Wanli sighed, "His impeachment failed, and Zhu Yin even turned the tables on him, revealing that he instructed others to impeach Zhu Yin and used public office to settle personal scores. This is a major taboo in the court. In the court discussion, with everyone watching, if I don't punish him, the ministers will not let him off the hook."

"Instead of the three judicial departments convicting him, I'd rather convict him first, raise the issue high and then lower it lightly. Hmm, I'll fine him for half a year, withhold his military merits in the Northwest, strip him of his censorate title, and reassign him as the Left Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies. Next month, I'll appoint him as a deputy envoy to accompany Zhu Yin on his mission to Japan. After they return, I'll reward him for his merits and promote him."

"As for Hao Yunlai, he is quite loyal and diligent, but we still have to make an example of him and deal with him, otherwise the court officials will not let him off the hook. Let's strip him of his title of censor and send him to Sichuan to serve as the prefect of Chongqing."

Before they knew it, the mahjong tiles were set up. The emperor, the imperial concubine, Gao Cai, and a female official, the four of them started shuffling mahjong tiles together, making a clattering sound.

Emperor Wanli frequently played cards, drank, listened to operas, and read supernatural tales with his concubines and eunuchs. He was also addicted to sensual pleasures and extramarital affairs, a fact known even to his ministers.

Many court officials advised the emperor to be diligent and not to be frivolous or neglect his duties, but the emperor ignored them all. When he got angry, he would beat the advisors in court and demote them.

Emperor Wanli was originally obese and preferred to lie down rather than sit. But now, when he played mahjong, he became energetic and vigorous.

But you could see his pair of white and plump hands, which picked up the cards with quick and skillful movements, and he could tell what kind of cards they were just by pinching them with his fingertips.

Zhu Changxun also stood to the side with great interest, watching his father and mother play cards.

"Crack! Crack!"

"Ninety thousand!"

"East Wind!"

"Haha! I won!"

"The three of you have ruined my life!"

"Hehe! Old nanny, are you deliberately trying to lose to me?"

"Haha! I am the Emperor, I can afford to lose! As long as my wife is happy!"

On an autumn night, the Qianqing Palace resembles a slumbering golden beast, with twenty-four cloisonné enamel palace lanterns illuminating the gilded dragon pillars throughout the hall as bright as day.

"Dong—" The drum on the drum tower outside the palace sounded, signaling the arrival of the first watch of the night.

The gates inside and outside the palace were all closed.

The eunuchs on duty at each palace gate shouted in unison, "Time to distribute the grain and money (lock the palace gates)!"

The emperor and his entourage fought for an hour, until the fourth quarter of the hour of Xu (7:45 PM), before finally stopping.

A gust of autumn wind returned, and the palace lanterns swayed incessantly. The bronze bells on the eaves shattered into a mournful sound in the autumn wind.

"Okay, no more fighting."

Emperor Wanli yawned, and drool almost dripped onto his Taoist robe.

"Pass on the order!" the discerning Consort Zheng immediately said, "Have the Imperial Bedchamber Bureau arrange for a concubine to serve the emperor. Hmm, tonight, let the Hu woman serve the emperor. And tell the female officials of the Imperial Bedchamber Bureau to remember, do not leave any offspring."

Consort Zheng knew the Emperor's thoughts well, and she also knew that he was a womanizer and couldn't go a night without women. The ministers outside advised the Emperor to stay away from women, and they weren't entirely without reason.

If he wasn't lustful, how could he have even laid hands on his mother's personal maid, causing a palace scandal and giving birth to that scoundrel Zhu Changluo?

The reason why the emperor did not attend court was largely because he played too wildly and stayed up too late at night, and was used to sleeping in late and could not get up in the morning.

However, Lady Zheng was clever; she never offered advice, lest the emperor think she was jealous. Moreover, although the emperor was lustful, he was ruthless and would not favor any woman because of this, nor would he distance himself from her.

At Consort Zheng's command, someone immediately went to the Imperial Bedchamber to convey the Imperial Noble Consort's decree. Two quarters of an hour later, Consort Zheng personally served the Emperor his medicine. The medicine was said to be a very effective aphrodisiac, a precious new medicine purchased from the south, with excellent effects; after taking it, one would be full of energy and valiant in battle.

Originally, these were also fine items presented by Emperor Zongqin as a gift. After he used up all the gifts, he specially purchased another batch.

After taking the medicine, Wanli quickly became somewhat intoxicated. Immediately afterwards, two Hu women, who had bathed and burned incense, were led into the Qianqing Palace in a covered carriage.

Seeing that there was no time left, Consort Zheng quickly asked, "The Double Ninth Festival is in a few days. Does His Majesty intend to go to Wansui Mountain?"

It turns out that the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty would always go to Wansui Mountain (Jingshan) to celebrate the Double Ninth Festival in September and climb to a high place to enjoy the view.

The emperor shook his head as expected, "I won't go. You and the empress go with the empress dowager."

Helpless, Consort Zheng gave some more instructions to the female official in charge of the Emperor's bedchamber, then took Zhu Changxun and bid farewell to the Emperor, returning to Yikun Palace.

Although she was the most favored concubine in the harem, she didn't serve the emperor every day; it was only four or five times a month. Yet, she was already unique in the harem.

Soon, two Hu women were brought into the emperor's tent; their allure was beyond description. (One hundred words omitted here)

Amidst the myriad enchanting sights, the emperor was instantly bewildered, his spirit soaring like a dragon and a tiger.

The female official in charge of the emperor's sexual affairs stood boldly outside the main tent, seemingly not a woman at all, showing no trace of shyness, but rather an air of worldly experience, calmly recording in the "Daily Records of the Emperor's Inner Life":

"In the ninth month of the year Renshen (1272), at the hour of Xu (7:45 PM), the Emperor visited two Hu women..."

Emperor Wanli, the Son of Heaven, behaved in such a manner on ordinary nights in the Qianqing Palace. One wonders what the common people would think if they knew.

However, the Ming Dynasty's daily records system had become defunct since the Yongle era, no longer recording the emperor's daily life, but only events such as court assemblies and sacrifices. Records of daily life were briefly restored during Zhang Juzheng's reign, but were abolished again after Wanli assumed personal rule.

With no one constantly watching over the emperor's daily life, Wanli was naturally happy and carefree.

As for the "Daily Records of the Inner Court" kept by the female officials, they all pertain to matters of serving the emperor in bed, which are related to the succession of the Ming emperor's children, and therefore cannot be omitted.

As time passed, the gilded water clock pointed to the fifth quarter of Hai hour, and the emperor, having had his fill of madness, finally had his fun.

Immediately afterwards, the two Hu women were escorted out of the Qianqing Palace. The enchanting scenery deep within the Qianqing Palace vanished like a pink dream.

Emperor Wanli did not go to sleep immediately. After Zhang Juzheng's death, he indulged in pleasure and slept very late every night.

After the palace maids entered the imperial tent and tidied up, they changed the incense and presented the novels that the emperor had been reading every day for the past few days.

Everyone in the Qianqing Palace knows that the Emperor loves reading novels. To please him, the eunuchs often collect fantastical or erotic novels to present to him.

Emperor Wanli picked up a novel and became completely engrossed in reading it.

The autumn wind sighed amidst the magnificent palaces, while a cold, clear moon looked down upon the Forbidden City.

It seems as if there is a pair of eyes in the dark, indifferently watching the Forbidden City and the supreme emperor within it!
...

It was the last quarter of Hai hour. The autumn night was already deep.

Inside the Zhu family mansion, on the Hanzhang Terrace, the lights still shone brightly. The night was silent, save for the ticking of the water clock and the faint chirping of autumn insects.

Zhu Yin and Ning Qingchen were also still awake.

Zhu Yin sat at his desk, creating a map of the area surrounding Japan. His homemade charcoal pencil scratched across the paper, and islands, mountains, and straits appeared on the drawing.

There was also a stack of secret intelligence letters from various places, as well as secret letters and instructions ready to be sent.

These secret messages and instructions all contain coded language that is generally incomprehensible to the average person.

Feeling a bit hungry, Zhu Yin took a sip of milk while working.

The little black cat lay at his feet, seemingly asleep, but its tail would occasionally flutter and wag.

Ning Qingchen, sitting opposite him, was also organizing his medical data, holding a pencil, sitting upright, and working with complete focus.

"Qingchen, go to sleep." Zhu Yin looked up and said, "You're only six years old, you need to sleep more. Things aren't accomplished in a day."

The little girl lowered her head and said, "You're only fifteen, still developing. You should take care of yourself, young man."

Suddenly the bell in the hall rang again.

Zhu Yin put down his pen, walked out of the inner room, and went to the outer room.

Kang Qian's voice came from outside: "Reporting to the lord, an urgent military intelligence report from the Western Regions has arrived from the Tiger Fang Northwest Station."

Zhu Yin frowned, opened the door, and took a wax pellet from Kangxi and Qianlong's hands.

Tiger Tooth Northwest Station has been established for two years, mainly monitoring intelligence on the Northwest Border Army, Northwest Mongolia, and the Western Regions.

On the surface, Huya Northwest Station belongs to Ning Caiwei's Northwest Trading Company and operates under the guise of a businessman.

He returned to the inner room, cracked open the wax ball, took out a slip of paper, and opened it, his heart sinking slightly.

"On the tenth day of the eighth month, the false crown prince Zhu Shuaixin personally led the Han-Mongol allied forces on a long march of eight hundred li, launched a surprise attack on the city of Hami in Yarkand, and defeated the Yarkand Eastern Army, capturing more than 40,000 people, killing the Yarkand Khanate's Eastern Governor Babai'er, and capturing Turpan."

"On August 12th, Zhu Shuaixin announced his ascension to the throne in Hami City, proclaiming himself Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty and Khan of Heavenly Mandate, continuing to use the Tianming era name..."

Zhu Yin's expression immediately darkened upon reading the secret letter.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Shuaixin, this prince who was kept in captivity, actually caused such a big commotion.

Although he caused trouble in the far-off Western Regions, he still declared himself emperor!
Fortunately, the Western Regions were not under the jurisdiction of the imperial court, so the court would not receive this news in the short term. If Zhu Shuaixin had deliberately blocked the passes, the court might not have learned of the changes in the Western Regions for a long time.

Zhu Yin immediately wrote an instruction:
"The affairs of the Western Regions are to be kept secret; dissemination and dissemination are strictly prohibited..."

Ning Qingchen asked, "Little Tiger, what happened?"

Zhu Yin handed the intelligence to the little girl. Ning Qingchen looked at it and shook her head, saying:

"That's normal. Zhu Shuaixin desperately needs territory, so of course he'll attack others. Are you afraid the court will find out and use this against you, saying you didn't achieve your goal completely, or even let a tiger cause trouble?"

Zhu Yin nodded: "That's for sure. I really underestimated Zhu Shuaixin. It's certain that he's causing trouble in the Western Regions, but I didn't expect it to happen so quickly. Speed ​​is of the essence in war. A surprise attack on Hami from Jiayuguan in ten days... swift and ruthless, it's a bit like Genghis Khan's style."

"Hehe, as expected of the bloodline of the Great Ancestor, this is a return to ancestral ways."

Ning Qingchen said, "Then what can we do? He has already proclaimed himself the Emperor of the Great Ming, commands tens of thousands of troops, and has taken hundreds of thousands of Han people to the Western Regions. This is no small matter, and the court will definitely investigate."

Zhu Yin stood up and paced under the lamplight.

"I have ordered Tiger Fang to keep this a secret as much as possible. We know about this because we have intelligence points in the Western Regions. But the court and the emperor don't know, since the Western Regions are not the court's territory. But how long can we keep it a secret, we don't know. I estimate that at most half a year, the court will find out about this from merchants in the Western Regions."

"We can only take it one step at a time. I do have a way to make Zhu Shuaixin fail immediately, but I don't want to do it."

Ning Qingchen was very clever and immediately understood, "The method you mentioned is to have Huya provide intelligence support to the Yarkand Khanate to deal with Zhu Shuaixin's Ximing?"

Zhu Yin nodded and said, "That's right, this method can defeat Zhu Shuaixin. He can't afford to lose, and he'll be finished after losing twice. But I still rejected this idea."

“Little Tiger, you’re right!” Ning Qingchen praised. “I agree! No matter what, Zhu Shuaixin is a member of the imperial family, and most of his subordinates are Han Chinese. What is the Yarkand Khanate? It’s a barbarian foreign country.”

"I would rather Ximing destroy Yarkand than Yarkand destroy Ximing!"

She yawned as she said this, "I'm sleepy, let's go to sleep! We'll talk about it tomorrow."

The two climbed onto the thousand-piece canopy bed, one lying inside and the other lying outside.

"Little tiger," Ning Qingchen said with her eyes closed, "Do you miss home? I'm talking about your home in your future life."

"I have no home in the afterlife." Zhu Yin rested his head on his arm, gazing at the lanterns above the brocade curtain. "The intelligence agency is my home."

“I don’t really have a home,” Ning Qingchen said, as if talking in a dream. “If I really have to say who my home is, it’s my older sister Ning Caiwei. She’s the only person in the Ning family who cares about me.”

"Now, little tiger, you are my home too."

P.S.: Little Tiger (Wanli) definitely wouldn't help Yarkand destroy the Western Ming Dynasty. Those who still think I'm criticizing Wanli can look up the deeds of Gao Huai, Gao Cai, Chen Zeng, and Chen Feng. There's actually a lot; just looking at these four is enough.

(End of this chapter)