Di Ming

Chapter 355 Prince Xin, Zhu Changluo!
Jilan never imagined that, six years later, the Han Chinese baby she had once breastfed would come to Jianzhou to see her. Even more miraculously, Qingchen actually remembered her; Qingchen was just a baby back then.

If it weren't for the century-old wild boar tusk she gave to Qingchen, she wouldn't have dared to recognize it.

Jilan was both happy and surprised. She hugged Ning Qingchen and said excitedly:

“I prayed to Mother Buddha and Mother Flat-billed Duck, asking them to bless Princess Qingchen. I dreamed that Princess Qingchen was still nursing, and when I woke up, I would think of you and miss you. I never thought that the gods would really bless me and let me see you again today!”

Ning Qingchen didn't quite understand Jilan's Jurchen language, but she could guess the meaning. She threw herself into Jilan's arms, feeling that familiar presence, and said with tears in her eyes:

“Grandma Jilan, I’ve been thinking about you all along. One day I dreamt that you were carried away by jackals in the forest, and I woke up in fright. Seeing you today puts my mind at ease.”

Seeing that Jilan was safe and sound, Ning Qingchen felt a great weight lifted from her shoulders. On her journey to Liaodong, she had both longed to see Jilan and feared hearing bad news.

Ning Qingchen grew up without a mother's love, and in her heart, she regarded her wet nurse, Jilan, as her own mother. This feeling wasn't limited to Jilan; she felt the same way about another wet nurse, Zhao Chan'er, from Qingqiao in Jiangning. However, because Jilan had been a lifesaver, her feelings for Jilan were deeper than her feelings for Zhao Chan'er.

As Ning Qingchen and Jilan recognized each other, Zhu Yin also discovered Meh's parents: Uncle Boroli and Toroa.

There is also Niman and Galo's grandfather, the old clan chief.

"Father! Mother!" Meh cried out and rushed toward Boroli and Toro.

Toro, seeing Mech dressed entirely in Han Chinese attire and much taller, initially hesitated to recognize him, blinking briefly. Her husband, Boroli, however, recognized him immediately and exclaimed with delight:
"Oh my! Isn't this my silly, good-for-nothing son, Mech?!"

Toro recognized his son and immediately burst into tears. He rushed forward and slammed his fist into Mech's chest, howling:

"My son Mech, I thought I would never see you again!"

She looked her son up and down, then exclaimed in surprise, "Meh, you look like a nobleman now! You even look more imposing than the city lord!"

At this moment, the old clan chief also saw his grandson, Niman.

“Grandpa!” Niman cried with joy, “You’re like an old pine tree, still so healthy and strong.”

The old clan chief, who was sixty years old, said tremblingly, "Niman, I never thought I would live to see you again. The gods have been kind to me! Where is your sister, Galo?"

Niman held his grandfather's body and said with tears in his eyes, "My sister didn't come back. She has already given birth to a son, and she didn't come back because she had something to do for Princess Caiwei."

The old clan chief looked at Niman, who resembled a Han Chinese youth, and said with great pleasure, "He looks quite distinguished now, unlike the poor folks from our old forest. He's definitely made something of himself, like a big shot now."

He was right. Although Niman and Meh were merely Zhu Yin's bodyguards, their relationship was almost like that of sworn brothers because they had followed him the longest. Zhu Yin's treatment of them and Lancha was far more than just that of bodyguards.

Over the years, Niman followed Zhu Yin and enjoyed the same treatment as the sons of prominent families in the Central Plains. His perspective and status were far superior to those of a hunter in Liaodong.

Niman and Meh's attire had already been Sinicized, and their families did not object; on the contrary, they were quite pleased. This was because the Ming Dynasty was still in power, and many Jurchens admired Han customs and etiquette, and did not reject Han clothing.

At this time, the Jurchens still looked up to the Han people.

Only then did these acquaintances recognize Zhu Yin.

"Uncle Boroli, Toroa, I'm late," Zhu Yin said with a beaming smile. "Seeing you all safe and sound makes my heart as joyful as a fawn and as tranquil as a lake in the forest."

"We almost don't recognize each other!" Boroly and Toro exclaimed in surprise and delight. "How should we address you? It's such a dilemma..."

As they spoke, they were about to kneel down.

They're not stupid; how could they not see that Zhu Yin is now a very important person?
Zhu Yin quickly said, "I am still the same Zhu Yin. Don't bow to me so much, or Mother Foduo will be unhappy."

After saying this, he said to Nurhaci, "Brother Wild Boar Skin, they are my friends, but now they are your prisoners. I hope to redeem them according to the rules of the Jurchens."

Nurhaci nodded solemnly and said, "I am eager to grant your humble request. I welcome you to redeem them. However, because they are your friends, the ransom is extremely high and cannot be measured in gold and silver. Therefore, I can only give them to you without a ransom."

He used this reason to refuse to accept any ransom.

Zhu Yin said very seriously, "Then thank you, Brother Wild Boar Skin."

Then, all the more than one hundred Jurchens in the fence where Boluoli was located regained their freedom and were no longer slaves. Boluoli and the others were overjoyed and surprised that Zhu Yin had freed their entire clan with just a few words; they didn't know how to express their gratitude.

...

After making proper arrangements for Boluoli and the others, Zhu Yin returned to the Beile Mansion to discuss the matter of sending troops with Nurhaci and his brothers.

The plan is for the Jianzhou army to be reviewed early tomorrow morning at Sarhu, not far away, before changing their flags and awaiting the arrival of the Yehe and other tribes to join them. The day after tomorrow morning, the allied forces will march south together.

The military situation is dire; we cannot linger any longer. We are just waiting for the arrival of the Jurchen armies from all directions before heading south to the Yalu River under cover of night.

That evening, Zhu Yin had just lain down on the scorching hot kang (heated brick bed) when he received intelligence from Beijing.

As Zhu Yin had predicted, Zhang Jing stirred up a storm as soon as he left Beijing.

On the first morning of February, the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard suddenly mobilized in large numbers. Taking advantage of the grand court assembly on the first day of the lunar month, they arrested more than forty court officials, mainly officials from the Censorate and the Imperial Censorate. The charges against them were nothing more than fabricated accusations such as embezzlement, dereliction of duty, spreading rumors, framing others, and bending the law for personal gain. It can be said that three words could constitute a prison sentence.

Then that afternoon, more than seventy courtiers were arrested again under the pretext of confessions!

In just one day, the secret police arrested more than a hundred court officials!
The scale and the heinous nature of this action were unprecedented since the Jiajing era!

Instantly, the whole world was in turmoil!

The court officials were astonished to discover that the Imperial Guards, who had been honest for many years, had once again revealed their fierce and savage nature under Zhang Jing's control.

The Imperial Guards didn't ask for permission or go through the Three Judicial Offices when they arrested people; they just arrested them directly! They showed no respect whatsoever. The ferocious Imperial Guards officers pounced on them, put them in chains, and dragged them to the Imperial Prison!

The Imperial Guard had only one reason: "By imperial decree!"

Even though the court officials were somewhat prepared, they were still stunned by Zhang Jing's unruly arrest.

The entire court suddenly fell silent!

The very next day, Zhang Jing suddenly led a petition to grant the titles of three kings simultaneously!
They requested that no crown prince be appointed yet, and instead that Zhu Changluo be made Prince of Xin, Zhu Changxun be made Prince of Fu, and Zhu Changying be made Prince of Gui!

This seems fair, but it's actually meant to lower the eldest prince to the same status as his two younger brothers!
At this time, most of the Qingliu faction ministers, who had initially reacted most strongly and were mainly composed of officials from the Censorate and the Imperial Censorate, were imprisoned. The remaining ministers were either frightened or had been transferred out of the capital by Zhu Yin ahead of schedule.

Surprisingly, there were hardly any voices of public opposition in the imperial court.

Taking advantage of the situation, Zheng Guowang led his followers to second the motion!
Grand Secretaries Wang Xijue and Shen Yiguan both supported the joint conferment of titles upon the three princes, while Zhao Zhigao and Zhang Wei did not object.

Although most of the ministers opposed it, it was already pointless.

This time, under Zhang Jing's fierce and decisive actions, the emperor, contrary to his usual behavior, acted unilaterally and arbitrarily.

The Ming Dynasty's political situation underwent a dramatic change at the crucial moment of the decisive battle with the Japanese army. This shows that the emperor's personal interests had led him to disregard national affairs.

The emperor had no intention of holding a court discussion at all. Instead, on Zhang Jing's advice, he directly ordered the cabinet to draft and issue an edict!
On the third day of the second month, the emperor issued an imperial edict: Zhu Changluo was enfeoffed as the Prince of Xin, Zhu Changxun as the Prince of Fu, and Zhu Changying as the Prince of Gui!

Once the imperial edict is issued, it's a done deal.

Even though Zhu Yin had already anticipated this, he still found the intelligence absurd upon receiving it.

History has been completely altered!
The Ming Dynasty's large-scale, rule-breaking arrests of court officials mainly occurred in the early Ming period, during the reigns of Emperor Yingzong, Emperor Zhengde, Emperor Jiajing, and Emperor Tianqi. Each time, it was the secret police (also known as the Imperial Guard) who carried out the arrests, and these arrests were mostly related to eunuchs.

However, during the Wanli reign, there was no large-scale arrest of court officials by the secret police. Such a politically damaging event did not occur until the Tianqi reign, when Wei Zhongxian came to power.

But it happened ahead of schedule!

The attempt to simultaneously enfeoff three princes in history failed, and Zhu Changluo was ultimately made crown prince at the insistence of the court officials.

But now, Zhu Changluo has actually been granted the title of Prince Xin, the same title that his son Zhu Youjian had in history!
Prince Xin, Zhu Changluo!
P.S.: Sorry, that's all I can update today. I took the day off and didn't have the energy to update much more. I feel much better tonight, but I want to rest early. You wouldn't believe it, Zhu Changluo has been granted the title of Prince Xin. Thank you, goodnight, and please vote with your monthly tickets.

(End of this chapter)