Di Ming

Chapter 299 The Emperor's Reward!
Emperor Wanli did not wear the usual attire he would wear when summoning ministers. Instead, he wore a loose and comfortable silk casual dress with a cross-collar and wide sleeves, decorated with Buddhist swastika patterns.

He wore a hat with the six-fold unification on his head, no boots on his feet, only a loose silk robe without a belt. Even the jade pendant that a gentleman should not remove from his person without good reason was not worn.

Moreover, his sitting posture was not upright, but rather he was leaning back on the soft couch in a limp and fluffy manner.

In Zhu Yin's view, it's just like Ge You lying down.

This outfit is too loose and casual, almost disheveled and dissolute. It doesn't resemble the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty at all, but rather is no different from a wealthy idler.

Why summon ministers dressed so casually?
This is indecent.

Throughout history, emperors who were knowledgeable and respected etiquette would never have acted so casually.

This was certainly not Wanli's intention, but rather a reflection of his lazy and rude nature. He himself probably didn't think there was anything wrong with summoning Zhu Yin in this way.

However, Wanli's appearance was quite dignified. He had a face like jade, a face like a silver plate, a high nose and a square mouth, earlobes like pearls, sparse eyebrows, and half-closed, sharp eyes. He looked both dignified and noble, yet imposing without being angry.

He truly possessed a dragon-like face with prominent features, a striking skull, and a majestic appearance.

Although he was very fat, his fatness was imposing, like a Buddha statue. At least by the standards of the ancients, this was a very auspicious appearance.

The emperor's appearance was certainly up to standard, as evidenced by his words, actions, and writings, giving him the air of a great Ming emperor.

His appearance and frivolous attire seemed somewhat incongruous.

However, the emperor's dark circles and heavy eye bags were a drawback, and his teeth were somewhat yellowed, which was definitely related to his excessive indulgence in wine, women, and opium.

At this moment, the emperor's expression was a half-smile, a somewhat inscrutable look as he gazed at Zhu Yin. His eyes moved with curiosity and scrutiny, his lips unconsciously twitching twice before slightly pursing. At the same time, his eyebrows twitched involuntarily a few times.

It's enough to make someone feel uneasy and anxious.

This somewhat uncontrolled facial expression, coupled with slightly trembling legs, suggests that the emperor had many fidgety movements. While fidgety movements are normal, when they occur in an emperor, they seem out of place and detract from the solemnity of a sovereign.

Zhu Yin was a shrewd spy. With just a subtle glance, he could capture the emperor's appearance, expression, and posture like a camera, and then professionally create a rough psychological profile.

"This person is frivolous, quick-tempered, capricious, lazy, pleasure-seeking, lacks self-discipline, is mean-spirited, suspicious, withdrawn, outwardly fierce but inwardly weak, and all bark and no bite..."

"In short, he has many character flaws and is not fit to rule the world."

"However, this person had piercing eyes, a melodious voice, and a radiant complexion. He was clearly a gifted and intelligent man with a talent that surpassed that of ordinary people. He could have achieved great things, but alas."

Thinking of this, Zhu Yin couldn't help but feel a little regretful, feeling sorry for the history of China.

He discovered that Wanli was actually capable of being a wise ruler and had the potential to revitalize the Ming Dynasty.

This is a talented person, not a dull one.

However, his character flaws and self-indulgence led him to defeat himself, ultimately turning him into a mediocre and incompetent ruler.

While Zhu Yin was evaluating the emperor, the emperor was also evaluating Zhu Yin.

Emperor Wanli was now quite jealous.

Because Zhu Yin was only fifteen, a young man in the prime of his life, yet possessed the handsome appearance of Chen Ning, with a refined and elegant demeanor. Truly, he was like a jade tree orchid, with the graceful bearing of a crane and the pine tree.

The young man, simply standing on the throne, was like the bright moon in one's embrace; his appearance was like a painting, as solitary as a pine tree standing alone.

When the emperor saw Zhu Yin, a line of poetry came to mind: "Zongzhi is a handsome and dashing young man, as elegant as a jade tree standing in the wind."

He truly lives up to his reputation as Zhu Lang of Jiangzuo. His eyebrows possess the elegance of three mountains, and his eyes capture the charm of five lakes.

A true gem!

What's more, this handsome young man is also a child prodigy who has passed the imperial examinations three times in a row!

"If my daughter were to marry him..." The emperor sighed inwardly at this thought.

Zhu Yin was already married and was a distinguished scholar who had achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations. How could he possibly marry a princess?
What he didn't know was that Zhu Yin was actually a member of the Ming imperial family. Even if Zhu Yin wasn't a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) and wasn't married, it was impossible for him to have a marriage alliance with the royal family.

The Emperor couldn't help but exclaim, "The brilliance of Jiangdong owes three-tenths to you. It is said that you, Zhu Qing, possess the elegance of the Wei and Jin dynasties, and indeed it is. Now that I have seen you, your talent and reputation are well-deserved and not exaggerated. Your demeanor is as beautiful as a rare gem, truly a pillar of the nation."

"People say that Zhu Qing is the reincarnation of Wenqu, a sign of good fortune for the country. Zhu Qing's presence in the court is a celebrated story of the dynasty."

The emperor wasn't exaggerating; Zhu Yin was indeed a rare handsome man, and coupled with the unique temperament of a time traveler, he was truly a rare find.

As the emperor, he should have favored this kind of subject.

pity…

Zhu Yin solemnly cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty flatters me. I am deeply ashamed and have nowhere to hide. Your Majesty's bearing is like that of a dragon and a phoenix, your appearance is as bright as the sun and the moon, and your presence over the vast land is like that of a god. You truly possess the majestic majesty of an emperor! I am too ashamed to look up at you."

"Your Majesty is like the sun and moon, while I am but a firefly. How can the faint light of a firefly be seen under the blazing sun and moon? I dare not accept Your Majesty's praise."

At this point, Zhu Yin, in a dramatic display of emotion, spoke with great feeling:

"Today I am fortunate enough to be summoned by Your Majesty. I am deeply grateful and speechless. I am overjoyed to see Your Majesty's face and countenance. I am so happy to see Your Majesty in such good health."

"May the Holy Emperor reign supreme, and may this prosperous era last for ten thousand years."

Emperor Wanli couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Minister Zhu is truly a remarkable man. Bring him a seat!"

Zhu Yin's words were very pleasing to the ear and he found them quite agreeable. Unlike other ministers, who spoke in a rigid and formal manner and were too lazy to say anything good about their emperor or father.

After a round of mutual flattery between the emperor and his ministers, they finally finished their polite exchanges.

Emperor Wanli had mixed feelings about Zhu Yin. He did dislike Zhu Yin for two reasons: first, Zhu Yin supported his eldest son, Zhu Changluo; and second, Zhu Yin was too young and might hinder his son from becoming a powerful minister like Zhang Juzheng.

However, at the same time, he also admired Zhu Yin. He admired Zhu Yin's talent, and even more so, his filial piety.

As for the idea of ​​him being the reincarnation of the God of Literature, he didn't take it seriously. So what if he's the God of Literature? Before me, even the God of Literature is a subject.

As for Zhu Yin, he both needed to use him and suppress him, both trusted him and guarded against him. The so-called "using his mistakes is worse than using his merits" approach. Once Zhu Yin had achieved new merits, he would find a crime to demote him, or even dismiss him and leave him out in the shadows for ten or eight years.

Only when Zhu Yin is no longer young and his sharp edges have been worn down can he be reinstated as an official, and only then can he be used with peace of mind.

Soon, a eunuch brought over a stool and invited Zhu Yin to sit down.

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty." Zhu Yin expressed his gratitude and then carefully sat down, but only dared to sit on half of his buttocks, deliberately putting on an expression of fear, trepidation, and tearful gratitude.

After all, being granted a seat before the emperor, even if it's just a small stool, is a great honor. Going out and saying, "Sitting before the emperor, Jian is deeply appreciated," would be perfectly acceptable.

However, Zhu Yin knew very well that the emperor bestowed the seat mainly because of the money. Over the years, he had sent a considerable amount of money into the imperial treasury, and the emperor remembered this favor.

Otherwise, given his young age and status as the tutor of the eldest prince, he would have long been dismissed from office or banished from the capital by the emperor under some pretext.

At this moment, Zhu Yin did not know what the emperor was thinking, but he knew that the emperor harbored ulterior motives.

Sure enough, the emperor suddenly said, "Minister Zhu previously advocated war, but now he advocates peace. This is not a matter of fickleness, but rather that the affairs of the world are inherently unpredictable, like flowing water. When it is time to change course, one should follow the trend, which is perfectly reasonable."

These words are double entendre and have a profound meaning.

Zhu Yin, feigning ignorance, said, "After arriving at the Ministry of War, I found that military preparations were unsatisfactory, and the funds and provisions were in dire straits. Only then did I realize that war is extremely difficult and military operations are inevitably arduous. Therefore, I changed my stance from advocating war to advocating peace."

"We trust in His Majesty's wise decisions and boundless blessings, which inspires the army and motivates both inside and outside the army, thus giving the royal army the determination to win."

Upon hearing this, the emperor was immediately displeased. He decided to abandon any more subtlety and speak bluntly:
“A month ago, at the victory celebration banquet in Wuying Hall, Chang Xun attended on my behalf. After returning, he told me that he felt close to Zhu Qing and admired her immensely. Chang Xun’s fondness for Zhu Qing was not surprising to her mother, who said that Mr. Zhihu was a child prodigy and could serve as a role model for Chang Xun.”

Previously, Zhu Changxun clearly wasn't representing him, but now he's saying without batting an eye that the Third Prince was representing him.

Then what about the eldest prince? Just a nobody? Zhu Yin thought to himself, utterly disgusted.

This money-grubbing emperor is shamelessly trying to steal the crown prince's wife.

These words were so blatant that Zhu Yin felt contempt in his heart, but he said aloud:
"Your humble servant is of limited talent and learning; what merit or ability do I possess?"

"Initially, I was fortunate to receive Your Majesty's favor and the magnanimity of the eldest prince. I was honored to serve as the eldest prince's teacher, but my virtue and ability were meager, and I was fortunate to usurp the throne at that time. My strength was weak and my responsibilities were heavy, and I was filled with fear day and night."

"Today, I am deeply ashamed to receive such favor from His Highness the Third Prince and such praise from the Imperial Concubine."

Seeing that Zhu Yin was feigning ignorance and had no intention of switching allegiance, the emperor's smile grew even more distant. Since things had been said to this extent, Zhu Yin's continued silence indicated that, at least for the time being, he would not abandon Changluo and support Chang Xun.

Although this person is young, he is a cunning fellow!

This temperament is unlike Zhang Juzheng's; it's more like Yan Song's.

The emperor, not wanting to continue the conversation, had no choice but to get to the point:
"Some people always like to come up with 'coastal defense strategies' and 'Japanese situation studies,' but nobody really knows what Japan is like. Do you have a plan for your trip to Japan?"

Only now does it begin to sound like a formal call to prayer.

Zhu Yin bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty, I have some understanding of Japan. They are cowardly and do not appreciate virtue. They are narrow-minded and perverse, and most of them are single-minded and will not turn back until they see a wall. My trip to Japan for peace talks this time was nothing more than a combination of soft and hard tactics, coercion and enticement, and feigned compliance."

"But to force Japan to withdraw its troops and cease hostilities, we must focus on the Korean battlefield. If the royal army fights well, I will be able to thrive in Japan and gain favor from both sides. If the royal army suffers a setback, I will find it difficult to achieve anything in Japan."

Zhu Yin made it very clear: don't expect me to negotiate peace in Japan. If the imperial court suffers a defeat in Korea, I will be powerless at the negotiating table.

Emperor Wanli certainly understood this principle, and he did not expect that Zhu Yin could persuade the hundreds of thousands of Japanese troops in Korea to withdraw and return home simply by talking.

Isn't that ridiculous?
But at the very least, we need to investigate the true state of affairs in Japan and figure out where Japan's bottom line is.

At the same time, it is also a delaying tactic.

If we could truly subdue the enemy without fighting, that would be the best outcome.

The Emperor said with a hint of warning, "You are mature beyond your years and capable of handling great matters. Now that the plan is in place, I will say no more. I will reiterate the twenty-four characters in the edict: The national dignity of the Celestial Empire must not be tarnished! The majesty of the Imperial Ming Dynasty must not be compromised! The resources of China must not be spared!"

Zhu Yin could only obey the order, saying, "Your subject obeys! Even if I am torn to pieces, I dare not disobey Your Majesty's great teachings! In any case, the dignity of the Celestial Empire must not be dishonored!"

Emperor Wanli said, "The journey is long and fraught with danger. Zhu Qing, take good care of yourself on your journey to Japan. May you have a smooth journey, fulfill your mission, and return to the capital safely."

Zhu Yinli sat down and bowed, saying, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty! On my way to Japan, I will bow a hundred times to the west, and even if I die ten thousand times, I will still be unable to repay Your Majesty's kindness."

The emperor nodded, yawned slightly, and immediately a eunuch lit a white jade pipe and handed it to him.

The emperor took a satisfying puff and immediately felt refreshed again.

Zhu Yin glanced at the white jade pipe seemingly casually, secretly amused.

The money-worshipping emperor would never have imagined that he himself invented this opium pipe. How truly loyal and filial he was to his emperor and father!

The emperor took two puffs of his pipe before giving his orders:
"Bring me the nine newly made jade pipes, and also fetch some of the opium ointment that Siam is offering as tribute."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" A eunuch immediately took the order and left.

Zhu Yin couldn't help but feel a tremor in his heart. No way, no way?

A moment later, the eunuch presented nine exquisitely crafted jade opium pipes, along with a balm packaged in a sandalwood box.

The Emperor laughed and said, "This longevity ointment, also known as black incense, is a top-quality medicine. In particular, the method of smoking it with a pipe is wonderfully indescribable. I have created this method of consumption and have experienced it firsthand."

Actually, this method was presented by Zong Qin. However, the emperor unceremoniously claimed it as his own, saying that he had created it himself.

The emperor, with the expression of bestowing a reward upon his subject, said, "This jade pipe was originally a gift to Marquis Wuqing and his men, but today I bestow one upon you. The jade is as green as blood, its brilliance shining through history."

The eunuch immediately presented a jade pipe and said, "Mr. Zhihu, please express your gratitude."

Zhu Yin's face turned green. He trembled as he took the opium pipe and the opium, looking quite excited.

"Your Majesty's grace is beyond words..." Zhu Yin's voice choked with emotion. "I... am at a loss for words..."

The emperor laughed heartily, “Zhu Qing will know once he tries it. Come, light a candle for Zhu Qing and let him taste something new.”

Immediately, someone lit a cigarette for Zhu Yin.

Zhu Yin looked bitter, but appeared to be moved to tears of gratitude.

The emperor was not playing a prank; he genuinely wanted to reward Zhu Yin and win over his ministers. After all, Zhu Yin had already sent a considerable amount of silver, and now he was risking his life to travel across the ocean. As the emperor, he naturally had to show his appreciation.

Furthermore, the emperor suddenly discovered that smoking with others felt better; it was truly a case of sharing joy rather than enjoying it alone.

"Zhu Qing, give it a try." The emperor took two more puffs and gestured for Zhu Yin to join him.

Zhu Yin wanted to cry but had no tears. He could only pretend to be happy and take a breath, but he didn't dare to inhale it into his lungs at all. He just let it stay in his mouth for a moment before it came out of his nostrils.

Then, with a look of utter delight, he exclaimed, "Wonderful, wonderful indeed! Your Majesty, I thank you for your reward!"

He was starting to regret it. Fortunately, the ointment was expensive and most people couldn't afford it, so it wouldn't become widespread.

The emperor was also pleased to see Zhu Yin, and felt even more pleased with himself, saying:
"Take the remaining eight opium pipes and two large chests of opium to Japan and present them to the King and Prime Minister on my behalf, so that they may know my benevolence and forgiveness. People are all made of flesh and blood, and I hope they can turn back from the brink and repent."

Zhu Yin tried hard not to laugh and accepted the order:
"Your Majesty is truly benevolent. If the King of Japan were indifferent and unmoved, he would be worse than a beast."

Just then, Gao Cai came in and reported, "Grandpa, the Tibetan Buddhist monks have arrived. Shall we perform a ritual?"

The emperor nodded and said, "Let's perform a ritual to pray for blessings."

Immediately afterwards, a group of Tibetan lamas entered the main hall, holding various ritual implements, and began to perform rituals by jumping and hopping around.

Emperor Wanli immediately sat up straight, fiddled with the dzi beads in his hand, and muttered incantations.

The entire Qianqing Palace was immediately filled with a mysterious atmosphere.

Seeing this, Zhu Yin was truly at a loss and could only follow the emperor, pretending to be his attendants and muttering incantations.

He never expected that while the emperor was summoning him, he would suddenly order a lama to perform a ritual!

Is this reasonable? This is just acting on a whim, so capricious.

But Zhu Yin wasn't surprised. Many people in later generations thought that only the Qing emperors valued Esoteric Buddhism. In fact, he knew that most Ming emperors also valued Esoteric Buddhism.

Not only did the Yongle, Xuande, and Chenghua emperors receive esoteric Buddhist initiations and confer titles upon Tibetan high monks as Dharma Kings, chanting mantras in the palace, but they also issued edicts twice to compile and print the Tripitaka.

Emperors such as Chenghua and Zhengde were also obsessed with the Tantric "pleasure arts," favored lamas, and even had Tantric Buddhist halls in the palace to facilitate the emperor's "practice of esoteric methods," which repeatedly aroused opposition from civil officials.

Those who did not believe in Tantric Buddhism were mainly the Taizu Emperor, the Jianwen Emperor, and the Jiajing Emperor. The Taizu Emperor and the Jianwen Emperor regarded Tibetan Tantric Buddhism as a "heretical path" and restricted and suppressed it.

After Jiajing ascended the throne, he banned the Tantric Buddhist ceremonies in the palace and the capital, expelled the lamas, and burned the Tantric Buddhist implements, Buddha statues, and temples in the palace.

However, after Jiajing's death, Esoteric Buddhism revived in the palace.

Take the current emperor, Emperor Wanli, for example. He was quite obsessed with Tantric Buddhism. Not only did he practice "enjoyment techniques," but he also collected the Tantric ritual implement "Vajra" as a plaything, though it was unclear what it was for.

Right now, in the Qianqing Palace, there are a large number of murals depicting the Vajrabhairava Thangka, a tantric Buddhist painting.

Empress Dowager Li was also a believer in lamas and funded the construction of the Xiantong Temple, a Tantric Buddhist temple. Lamas frequently came to the palace to perform rituals and preach.

Even the Great Temple and Huguo Temple in Beijing are Lama temples. Mount Wutai has become a sacred site for Esoteric Buddhism in Central China.

The emperor and his consorts would bestow gifts upon the lamas every year, at considerable expense.

It wasn't until Wei Zhongxian came to power that, due to his hostility towards Tibetan monks, he prohibited the bestowal of rewards upon lamas and esoteric Buddhist temples, promulgated the "Three Dynasties' Essentials," denounced esoteric Buddhism as "heretical arts," and banned its practice among the common people. Only then did esoteric Buddhism decline under the severe suppression of the "Nine Thousand Years Old" (Wei Zhongxian).

Soon, the lamas finished their rituals and bowed to the emperor, addressing him as "Manjushri Bodhisattva" and "Light-Brightening Emperor."

Emperor Wanli then ordered the bestowal of gold, silver, and precious artifacts, showing great generosity.

Zhu Yin suddenly had a thought and said:

"Your Majesty, these eminent Tibetan monks are profound in their teachings and possess dignified appearances, truly inspiring my deepest respect. I would like to take some of these Tibetan monks to Japan to spread their teachings and atone for our sins. Is this permissible?"

Emperor Wanli nodded with delight and said, "Excellent! Zhu Qing's words are worth ten thousand merits!"

P.S.: The characterization of Wanli in this chapter might be controversial, but it's just a novel, so don't take it too seriously. Thank you, goodnight! Please leave a comment and vote with your monthly tickets!

(End of this chapter)