Di Ming

Chapter 445 The prince is like a prisoner with no freedom, and the lieutenant is like a beggar with no money.

Zhu Yin took one look and saw that the girl had an oval face, slightly wheat-colored skin, large and bright black eyes, well-defined lips, a pair of arched eyebrows that slanted upwards, a delicate and slightly full nose, and her features looked dignified and generous, with an undeniable air of heroism.

Moreover, she actually had unbound feet. As the daughter of a prince, not having bound feet was simply an anomaly, extremely rare.

From Zhu Yin's perspective, or even by the standards of later generations, this girl was definitely a beautiful and sunny young woman with high looks, and very pleasing to the eye.

But from the perspective of the Ming Dynasty, she was an ugly girl. Her biggest flaw was that she had unbound feet.

In today's social customs and aesthetics, only women of low social status who do manual labor mostly have unbound feet. Women of slightly higher status consider foot binding beautiful, or consider it a sign of good upbringing, and a way to distinguish between high and low social classes. This is especially true for a princess.

The Han people consider fair skin to be beautiful, but this Princess Shuning's skin was slightly wheat-colored. It wasn't dark, but it was quite different from the description of "snow-white skin".

Although she was considered "ugly" by the world, she herself did not seem to think so, and instead appeared poised and generous.

“No need for formalities, cousin.” Zhu Yin chuckled and returned the greeting while sitting upright. “We’re family, so there’s no need to stand on ceremony. Please sit down and let’s talk.”

Princess Shuning looked at Zhu Yin with her bright and beautiful eyes, appearing a little bold, and said with a smile, "Then I won't stand on ceremony. Father, I'll sit down."

He then bowed again to his father and Zhu Yin, his jade pendants jingling, and sat down at the lower seat.

Her actions also violated the etiquette expected of a well-bred young lady today. Normally, she should have left after bowing, but instead, she sat down and didn't move.

Zhu Xuanqi couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. He pointed at the girl and said, "I'm sorry to make you laugh, Grand Tutor. I haven't disciplined this girl well. She's called a princess, but she's actually quite uncouth and doesn't behave in refined manners. Her sneaking into Cunxin Hall to eavesdrop was her own decision, not my arrangement."

After saying that, he glared at the girl and said, "Why are you so rude, daring to hide here and spy on us?"

Princess Shuning stood up and pretended to apologize, saying, "Father, please forgive me. It was my rashness and rudeness. I heard that you went to invite my brother to the mansion. I knew that you would invite him to Cunxin Hall for a talk, so I hid here in advance to see my brother's demeanor and what kind of hero he is."

"Today's meeting proves that you, my brother, are indeed as magnanimous and refined as the legends say, a reincarnation of a star lord. Moreover, you are my daughter's savior. If you hadn't personally led your army to our aid, Chengdu would have been a living hell long ago, and I would have committed suicide when the city fell."

This woman is eloquent and articulate!
Upon seeing her, Zhu Yin couldn't help but feel a surge of affection and exclaimed with a smile, "My sister is truly a paragon among women, exceptionally intelligent and with a crystal-clear mind. Uncle Shu, I adore Shuning; she is truly the phoenix of my family."

Zhu Xuanqi chuckled, taking it as Zhu Yin being polite. He genuinely loved this extraordinary daughter, treating her like a precious jewel. But he didn't believe Zhu Yin would truly like this unconventional cousin.

Little did he know, Zhu Yin truly loved him.

The King of Shu said with a slight headache, "Grand Tutor, please don't blame her. Her mother is a Qiang woman, not a Han Chinese. She is the daughter of the Su family, the chieftain of Changning in northern Sichuan."

Zhu Yin certainly knew about the Su clan of Changning in northwestern Sichuan; they were the Baima Qiang. The Baima Qiang were actually a hybrid ethnic group of the Qiang and Di peoples. The Su clan, the chieftain of Changning, was just a local official with only 10,000 people and 1,000 soldiers, but they were all Qiang cavalrymen with considerable fighting strength.

The Prince of Shu continued, “In the sixth year of the Wanli reign, Zhang Juzheng was campaigning against the Duzhang barbarians. The court conscripted five hundred cavalrymen from the Su family to assist in the campaign. Su Di died in battle at Jiusi Mountain. His daughter, who was not yet betrothed, was sent to the Prince’s residence to become my concubine. Later, she gave birth to a daughter, Shuning.”

“Shuning’s mother was a Qiang person with a strong and unruly personality. She especially forbade Shuning to bind her feet. When Shuning was three years old, the princess wanted to bind her feet, but her mother resisted to the death and argued with the princess, eventually forcing the princess to stop caring about it.”

"The lady was prevented from binding her feet by her mother, and influenced by her mother, she became ignorant of manners and rude. As a result, even now, as a princess, no one has proposed to her! She was indeed misled by her mother."

The King of Shu looked deeply saddened as he spoke.

In Han Chinese society, girls as young as eleven or twelve would have matchmakers propose marriage. They could marry at fifteen.

Ke Shuning is fourteen years old, and as a princess, no one has proposed marriage to her yet. This makes him very embarrassed.

However, his favorite daughter was Shuning.

This girl is straightforward, honest, resilient, and courageous, possessing a boldness and integrity that other princesses lack. Despite her young age, she is very opinionated and has a personality almost like a man.

Moreover, she enjoys horseback riding and hunting, displaying a strong and independent spirit.

Zhu Yin laughed and said, "So it turns out we have a connection with the Qiang people. The Shang Song says: 'In the past, there was Cheng Tang, and from the Di and Qiang people, none dared not come to offer sacrifices, none dared not come to be king...' These Qiang people have a deep connection with our Han people, and our relationship has lasted for thousands of years."

"Uncle, there's no need to worry about no one proposing marriage. In my humble opinion, no ordinary man is worthy of my sister. If we're talking about natural feet, my wife and her sister, as well as my younger sister Wu You, all have natural feet. In my humble opinion, natural feet are a natural beauty. Wasn't Empress Xiaoci Gao a woman with natural feet? Our Zhu family must not despise natural feet."

"The Grand Tutor is absolutely right!" The King of Shu felt a chill run down his spine. "I almost forgot. It is said that the Grand Tutor's wife, and her younger sister, the Physician Qingchen, both have unbound feet."

Zhu Yin waved his hand and said, "Uncle Wang is an elder, and I am a junior, so please don't call me Grand Tutor. Today we are just exchanging family greetings, so just call me Zhihu."

After speaking, he stood up and bowed deeply, saying, "Nephew Zhu Dazhao greets Uncle Prince of Shu."

The King of Shu quickly said, "Young Tiger, no need for formalities! Let's sit down and talk, uncle and nephew."

Unbeknownst to him, Zhu Yin's politeness towards his uncle was a ploy to gain his support. Firstly, to collect household registers and compile the Yellow Register in Sichuan. Secondly, it was also a preparation for future reforms within the imperial clan. Zhu Yin needed his cooperation in these reforms as well.

Princess Shuning suddenly laughed and said, "I've long heard that you, sister-in-law, also have unbound feet. Some audacious scoundrels have called you 'Big Feet Ning,' but I think you're a heroine among women..."

"Enough!" The King of Shu was quite embarrassed. "You're always spouting nonsense without any restraint. You're the one who talks about your sister-in-law behind her back? Get out!"

"Look at you! No one has proposed marriage yet. You've completely disgraced me! What are we going to do now?"

"What do you mean, what should we do?" Shuning chuckled. "If no one proposes marriage, I can just stay in the Prince's mansion and enjoy a life of luxury, and be filial to my father."

"Filial piety towards your old man?" The King of Shu slammed his teacup down. "If you can marry into a respectable family in a grand manner, that is filial piety towards your old man!"

"It's alright," Zhu Yin said with a smile, glancing at Shuning. "Uncle Wang doesn't need to worry about Shuning's marriage. If they don't propose, it's because they're blind. Shuning isn't a member of the imperial family and can leave her fiefdom. It would be better for her to return to Nanjing with the younger generation, and leave the marriage to her sister-in-law."

With younger relatives and her sister-in-law overseeing the process, it won't be difficult for her to marry into a good family.

He actually had the idea of ​​a marriage alliance!
Although Shuning was a Han woman, she had Qiang blood. She was easygoing, loved horseback riding, and had unbound feet, making her the perfect candidate for a marriage alliance.

However, he could not mention these thoughts to the King of Shu and his daughter at this time, lest he appear too opportunistic.

Whom will they marry?

The best candidate, of course, is the crown prince of the Tibetan king, Danjiong Wangbu!

Danjiong Wangbu is the eldest son of Tudo Namgyal. He is fifteen years old this year and has a handsome appearance. At the age of nine, he became a disciple of Gu Bingqian, the Tibetan Grand Minister and a traitor to the Han Chinese, and studied Han Chinese classics. Under the influence of Gu Bingqian and his son, he has a great longing for the Han Chinese culture.

Gu Bingqian wanted to influence Crown Prince Wangbu, to make him Sinicize, so that he could continue to rely on him and his son after he ascended the throne. This was originally the selfish intention of a major traitor. But by sheer luck, he not only made Crown Prince Wangbu begin to Sinicize, but also made him admire the Central Plains.

Gu Bingqian went a step further and persuaded Zanpu Tuduo Nanjie to betroth his daughter Gu Xian'e to the Crown Princess, with the wedding scheduled for the autumn of the following year.

Who knew that Gu Xian'e had secretly gone on a trip half a year ago. When she went to Jinlian Temple to offer incense, the Tibetan monks did not know that she was the daughter of the Grand Minister. They drugged her and hid her in a secret room, where she caused trouble.

Gu Xian'e awoke to find herself subjected to "dual cultivation," and filled with shame and indignation, she committed suicide. Only then did the Tibetan monks realize she was the daughter of a high-ranking official, but it was too late.

The monks of Jinlian Temple were almost all killed, their skins and tendons removed. Only one great monk named Sangye Lingpa escaped, and his whereabouts are unknown.

With Gu Xian'e dead, the Crown Prince had to choose a new consort. However, since the Prime Minister's daughter had died unmarried, according to Tibetan custom, the Crown Prince could not be engaged for three years, otherwise it would be considered unlucky.

Therefore, the selection of the future Crown Princess is now vacant. It cannot be decided for at least two years.

This window of opportunity is here!
If we defeat the Later Tubo Kingdom within two years and force it to submit and pay tribute, we can compel them to form an alliance between uncle and nephew and submit to the Ming Dynasty.

Of course, we must first eliminate Gu Bingqian and his son.

Although Gu Bingqian was a traitor who served the Tsangpa Khan after failing the imperial examinations, he was indeed a very capable person. In just eight years in Tibet, he helped the Tsangpa Khan, who originally only occupied a small part of Tibet, to unify the various tribes of the plateau and rebuild the Great Tibetan Empire.

History is truly ironic; the Later Jin dynasty collapsed, but the Later Tubo Kingdom emerged. Under Gu Bingqian's eight-year regency, the Later Tubo Kingdom's territory stretched west to Greater and Lesser Bolu (Kashmir), east to Dajinchuan, north to the Kunlun Mountains, and south to Phagmodrupa (Bhutan). It had over a million subjects and more than one hundred thousand cavalry. It was indeed a powerful nation.

Now, Gu Bingqian is even urging the Zanpu to conquer Sichuan and contend for hegemony in the Central Plains.

This later Tibetan dynasty must be destroyed. The plateau has no need for a backward, barbaric, and ignorant serf system, much less for a separatist and arrogant regime.

But how did the court govern after the destruction of the Tubo Dynasty?

Legally, Tibet belonged to the Ming Dynasty, and nominally it was part of the Ming territory. However, before the Xuande Emperor's reign, there was a certain degree of indirect rule. After the Xuande Emperor's reign, the Ming Dynasty gradually lost control over Tibet, and by the mid-Ming period, even this indirect rule was lost.

The plateau is a very special place, and the central government found it difficult to govern it in the same way it governed the Han territories. Even in highly developed later times, the governance model differed from that of the inland provinces, let alone in the backward ancient times.

The so-called Han and Tibetan people share the same origin. The Tibetans and Han people share a common ancestor and are also of the same lineage as the Chinese people. They should be given space to live.

The most scientific approach, of course, would be for the upper-class nobles to intermarry and gradually assimilate into Han culture, using Tibetan nobles and court officials to jointly govern, so that the court's control over Tibet would exceed that of the previous tributary system, making Tibet the true territory of the Ming Dynasty.

The Qing dynasty's approach was to support and utilize Tantric Buddhism to control the plateau. However, Tantric Buddhism was also a natural obstacle to Sinicization; with its powerful influence, Sinicization was extremely difficult.

The Ming Dynasty could not support the Tantric forces, but it had better methods: intermarriage, education, and the imperial examination system.

The Qing dynasty produced generations of reincarnated living Buddhas, while the Ming dynasty produced generations of secular princes.

That's right, it's about replacing the esoteric Buddhist Living Buddhas with secular princes!

The arrival of a Ming princess in Tibet to marry a Tibetan king was the first step in governing the plateau. Afterwards, the court bestowed the title of princess upon women of the imperial family, who were then married to Tibetan princes generation after generation. Every Tibetan queen was required to bear the surname Zhu. Simultaneously, Tibetan princesses were required to marry Han Chinese nobles.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yin suddenly asked tentatively with a smile, "Shuning's mother's clan is Qiang. Have you ever thought about marrying a Qiang man?"

If the Shu king and his daughter don't even consider the Qiang people, then it's even more difficult for them to consider the distant Tubo.

Zhu Xuanqi said, "I no longer care whether they are Qiang or not. Even if they are Yi chieftains, as long as they are from a prominent family, it's not unacceptable. But even the chieftains are unwilling to form marriage alliances with the royal family. It's not because of unbound feet, but because they are worried about the court's suspicion."

He dreaded just thinking about it. Not only did Shuning have huge feet, but she was also completely devoid of gentleness and virtue, the exact opposite of her title. She knew nothing of needlework or cooking, and only loved riding horses and hunting like her mother.

Her reputation had already spread far and wide, and no respectable Han Chinese family wanted to marry her. She couldn't very well marry a peddler or a country bumpkin, could she?

If it were a chieftain or nobleman, it wouldn't be out of the question. However, such a marriage would violate the court's taboos, and the Ministry of Rites would not approve it. If handled poorly, it could be considered a crime of plotting rebellion.

It’s difficult.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yin immediately understood the situation.

Judging from the tone of the Prince of Shu, if the court agreed, he would agree even if Shuning married the Tibetan prince.

Having learned the Shu King's bottom line, Zhu Yin made his decision.

He planned to take Shuning back and personally teach her for two years to hone her skills. Then, he would bestow upon her the title of princess, marry her off to the Tibetan king, and help the Ming Dynasty control Tibet, thus bringing the plateau completely under its control!

According to Tiger Tooth's secret report, Prince Wangbu is obsessed with Chinese studies, is of upright character, and yearns for the rule of the Central Plains. He is even very dissatisfied with his father and teacher's ambition to seize Sichuan, believing that it would provoke war and bring disaster to the Tibetans.

According to Huya's analysis, Prince Wangbu is a very good noble young man and a good match for Shuning.

The King of Shu suddenly glared at the Lady Princess, "How can you be so shameless? I and my brother, the Prince of Li, were discussing your marriage, and you still have the nerve to sit here and listen? Get out!"

The virtuous princess showed no fear of the King of Shu, and smiled without batting an eye:
"Although it is an arranged marriage by my parents and a matchmaker, it concerns my marriage, so why shouldn't I listen? I would be more than happy if you were willing to take me back to Nanjing."

Zhu Xuanqi snorted coldly, "What are you going to Nanjing for? To cause trouble for your brother and sister-in-law? The best place in Nanjing for hunting is Zhongshan, where Xiaoling Mausoleum is located. Are you going to go and shoot the deer at Xiaoling Mausoleum? Are you going to bring disaster upon your father?"

Zhu Yin chuckled: "Zhongshan is indeed full of deer. But it's a pity that the Prince of Shu can never go to Nanjing. There are plenty of hunting grounds outside Nanjing."

Zhu Xuanqi asked, "Can you really take her to Nanjing?"

Zhu Yin nodded: "If Uncle Wang is willing to release her, then I can take my cousin with me. She has a personality very similar to mine. Her sister-in-law and I will teach her more often, and she can become an extraordinary woman who is different from others, and bring honor to our Zhu family. In recent years, the reputation of our clan has really not been good."

The King of Shu no longer hesitated and said, "Then I'll trouble you. An elder brother is like a father, and an elder sister-in-law is like a mother. I'll entrust the young lady to you. You're right. Since she's not presentable, shameless, and heartless, then let her be a so-called extraordinary woman."

He then said to Shuning, "You can go to Nanjing with your cousin. But you must be obedient and not cause trouble for your brother and sister-in-law. Understand?"

Princess Shuning was very happy, her smile was very bright, "Father, don't worry, I am the most obedient and well-behaved, and I will not cause trouble for my brother and sister-in-law."

At this point, she stood up and gracefully bowed, saying, "Father and brother, please continue your conversation. I will now take my leave."

She was quite perceptive; knowing that the two of them had important things to say next, she took the initiative to leave at just the right moment.

When it's convenient to stay, they linger. When it's truly inconvenient to stay, they leave immediately!
Her ability to maintain a proper balance surpasses that of many women her age; no wonder the King of Shu favored her as his daughter.

Seeing his daughter leave, the King of Shu couldn't help but sigh. Suddenly, his expression turned somber as he said, "You're right. Over the years, our royal family has really been outrageous."

"If things continue like this, the fate of the nation is in grave danger. Especially in recent years, the retired emperor has been incompetent and negligent in governing, and the eunuch faction has been flattering the emperor. It seems like the end of the world is nigh. If the Ming Dynasty falls, what will become of the imperial family? When the nest is overturned, how can any egg remain intact?"

“A few years ago, when Prince Qing started his rebellion, that kid Shuai Xin was really capable. He actually managed to conquer the Western Regions, destroy the Yarkand Kingdom, and establish the Western Ming. At the time, I thought, this is good. Shuai Xin’s success in the Western Regions can be considered a way out for our Zhu family.”

"But ultimately, the Western Regions are not the Central Plains. Who would want to go to the Western Regions unless absolutely necessary?"

"When I heard that you were in Nanjing fighting the rebellion, I suddenly saw hope. I saw hope for the imperial clan."

As he said this, he poured Zhu Yin a cup of tea. "I can guess what you're going to do. The throne originally belonged to the eldest son's family, and the power of the Southern Dynasty is in your hands. It's not wrong for you to take back the throne, since you're all descendants of the founding emperor anyway. But if that day really comes, can you make life a little easier for your relatives? There can't be two Zhus."

Zhu Yin gave a slightly enigmatic smile, "Aren't the members of the imperial family living a good life?"

"Alright?" The King of Shu shook his head with a bitter smile. "Zhihu, I'm just an elder, so I'm being presumptuous. Don't be angry. When has our royal family ever had an easy time?"

"The prince is like a prisoner without freedom, and the lieutenant is like a beggar without money!"

He pointed to himself, “Child Tiger, look at the life I live! I’m living a life of luxury and wealth, as rich as a prince. But I can’t even leave Chengdu! Every step outside the city requires a petition to the Emperor! I have to ask the court for approval! Even when I go out of the city every year to sweep the tombs and pay respects at the graves, I have to petition the court and return immediately afterward. I can’t go anywhere outside the cemetery!”

He pointed outside, "Those scenic spots like Qingcheng Mountain, Wuhou Temple, Du Fu Thatched Cottage, and Emei Mountain are all famous sights in Sichuan, right here. But I've never seen them!"

"Is this what you call living well? What's the difference between this and being a prisoner? At least a prisoner has the hope of being released! For us high-ranking relatives, it's a lifelong matter; we can only leave the city and be buried outside after we die!"

"The lowest-ranking lieutenant of Fengguo, although he can travel a hundred miles from home, is often deprived of his salary and is strictly prohibited from engaging in other occupations. Most of them are starving and have no food left over from the previous day. Women even become prostitutes, selling their smiles at the door. There are many men who are beggars."

“Child Tiger, you say this is what it means for the imperial family to be doing well? Your eldest branch fled to an island nation in Southeast Asia, and although you lost the throne, you've gained freedom. Meanwhile, the rest of us are all prisoners of the Ming Dynasty!”

"Was this the original intention of the founding emperor? How did the imperial family live in the early years of the dynasty, and how are they living now?"

"The Ming Dynasty belongs to the Zhu family, yet the Ming Dynasty treats its imperial relatives like thieves, regarding them as a monstrous flood!"

...

P.S.: I'm not feeling well today, so I'll stop here. I feel terrible...

Regarding Tibet, some people think the unification of Tibet is absurd, which shows a lack of familiarity with relevant history. The unification of Tibet was a historical inevitability. Historically, the Tsangpa Khan almost unified the Tibetan Plateau, occupying more than two-thirds of the territory—wasn't that close to unification? He was only destroyed by the Gushi Khan who entered Tibet. Then, Gushi Khan unified Tibet. Therefore, by the end of the Ming Dynasty, Tibet was already unified, only by the Mongols. During the Qing Dynasty, the Tibetan region was also unified, with the so-called Dana as the supreme leader. Since the unification of Tibet was a historical trend, the fact that it was unified by a secular regime several decades earlier, as described in the book, is logically sound.

(End of this chapter)